Spanky Meer warmly acknowledges his election

The election for Senior Head Coordinator was done in accordance with the “Sector Empowerment Plan”, and synchronized with the end of the 6-year term of Kuya Tony Panajon.  Overseeing the election was the special commission on elections, composed of Eli Lademora, Tony Albayda and Mau Navoa.

The other candidates that were eligible choices were Andy Juan and Melmarx Marcojos, the Sector Coordinators of the North and the Central Sectors respectively.  Covenanted members had been consulted by their respective District Coordinators to gather inputs about all the candidates.

As a result of his election, Spanky will have to vacate his post as Sector Coordinator of the South Sector upon taking office as Senior Head Coordinator, and his replacement in the South Sector will have to be elected anew by the Sector’s covenanted members during a forthcoming special election.

NEW STATUTES DISCUSSED AND APPROVED

During the first part of their special meeting, the Council of Coordinators discussed the proposed changes to the Statutes of Ligaya.  These changes were crafted by a Statutes Revision Committee headed by Fr. Herb Schneider, SJ, Tony Panajon, Jake Yap, Beth Melchor, Willy Salvador, and Eddie Mendoza.  The revisions took into consideration the changes brought about by the sector empowerment plan which came in full swing last year with the election of Sector Coordinators. 

Coordinators listening to Tony Panajon and Fr. Herb elaborate a provision of the new statutes

While there were quite a number of issues that needed clarification, and that were voted upon by the body, discussions went very smoothly, and all Coordinators were satisfied with the result.

The final draft of the statutes are being prepared by the Committee for final signing by the Council of Coordinators.

- written by Eddie Mendoza.  Photos by Mau Navoa

 [Click on links below to open pages.]

FEATURE ARTICLES:

• The Great Downfall – Part I by Steve Clark
• Surrender to God: An orientation to Lent by John Henry Newman
• Salt and Light: Our Vocation to Holiness, by Donald Bloesch

FAITH & VISION:

• Spiritual Risk Taking by Jon Wilson
• Double Vision by W.E. Sangster
• Spiritual Receptivity by A.W. Tozer

HUNGER FOR GOD:

• Prayer – The Spokesman of Hope by Christoph Schonborn
• Prayer Shaped by the Word of God by Don Schwager

READINGS FOR LENT:

• Fasting and Feasting by A selection of readings from the early church fathers

HEROES OF FAITH:

• Who Will Raise Tomorrow’s Heroes? by Michael Shaughnessy
• Witnesses in the Jungle: Jim Elliot, Nate Saint, and Others, by Jeanne Kun

BOOKS AND MEDIA:

• Kairos Media: Launching a new web portal for Christians, by Toufic Elramy
• Tabor House: A publishing resource for communities, by Jerry Munk

I have joined the camp for four years (and counting) not as a happy camper but as a happy team leader. I don’t see myself petering out in the service soon, well, not until my body tells me to call it quits. Of course, I don’t want my team to run around with a lola in slow motion instead of an ate who’s as gung-ho as them. I am making the most out of it while I still can.

"Ate, you are like my mom .. "

It got me thinking—what draws me in? I could write a novel of the kids’ hilarious adventures and misadventures in the camp. But I might run out of space here. Let me just give you a good grasp of the top three reasons why I don’t want to pass up the chance to bond with the JYAs in the summer camp.

Being ‘trans-gen’ in the truest sense

You say forming significant relationships with the kids after becoming their Ate’s and Kuya’s in camp is enough to be thankful for. It will surely secure you a place in their memory banks and lives in general. Chances are you will be BFF’s as in best friends forever. Now here’s the equation: if you are friends with the kid, you will most likely be friends with the parents and the whole family, even with the yaya, because of a common denominator—love and concern for your BFF. Isn’t that what ‘trans-gen’ is all about, building relationships that cut across all age groups?

Singles in service to our Young Adults

Touching base with the nurturing side

Sometimes when we are so caught up with a multitude of concerns as single people we forget to exercise our maternal/paternal instinct, whatever you may want to call it. Yes we have that side which ought to be used should we or should we not plan raise our own kids. Handling a team of five to six kids with varying needs is a good practice. In one camp, a team member came up to me and said, “Ate, you are like my mom.” Then I asked, “Is that a compliment?” Innocently, she replied to me with a smile, “Of course! My mom is so caring and I love her very much!” I melted and could only utter, “Awwwww…” It was sweet.

The de-stressing factor

The camp is usually action-packed and the activities designed for the kids’ energy level can often send you puffed and wanting to hit your sleeping bag before nightfall. Honestly, it is quite stressful because the demand is not only physical but emotional and spiritual especially when you are lucky to have a problem kid in your team. But then a hug, kiss or some silly jokes from the kids can easily ease the stress away. In those down moments in the camp when exhaustion set in, only a funny story or joke from my comic relief Josh Rivas can perk me up (it makes me sad realizing that he wont be in JYA camp this year as he is stepping up to YA). At the end of the day, the best ever rewards are the tight hugs and simple “thank you’s” from the kids, enough to convince you that roughing it up with them in the activities is indeed worth your while.

Serving the youth brings unadulterated joy!

The joy of serving the kids is so unadulterated that it leaves you hankering for more. I wish I could share my bagful of JYA camp experiences but I’d rather that you carve your own.

After all, Jesus said “Amen, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever receives one child such as this is my name receives me.” (Matthew 18: 3-5)

- Mae Chatto, North E

By 8:00 a.m., project coordinator Toby Estrella gathered everyone present and led the prayers and briefing. After coordinating who rides with whom, owners of vehicles that were not used were advised to transfer their cars to a safer area.

North Sector "Felix Team"

In a few minutes, the convoy towards our assigned area, Sitio Felix, Barangay San Andres, Cainta, Rizal started rolling through narrow streets. Along the way, we couldn’t help but notice the signs of the Ondoy tragedy. Murky water lines on the walls of houses, which reached up to chest level, were still visible. We could only imagine how much damage the flood caused the poor residents of the area.

Finally, we spotted the Sitio Felix Day Care Center. We were relieved to see that the area was not as “depressed” as we imagined it would be. The houses were relatively clean, the Day Care Center was compact but well built and equipped with colorfully painted wooden chairs, tables & shelves, and the toddlers were all washed up, tidied, and dressed as if a town fiesta was ongoing. As expected, the sewage and water supply system of the area left much to be desired, thus giving the air a tinge of pungent smell. This was, however, overpowered by the warm greetings of the DSWD volunteers headed by the feisty Teacher Jenny and Teacher Weng, as well as the well behaved and cheerful children.

We helped set up the activity area by transferring the chairs and tables from the Day Care Center to the Ynares Multi Purpose Hall. The men unloaded the boxes of donations that were hauled from Cradle of Joy. The tarpaulin was hung, and the sound system was connected.

To further arm us with strength and endurance needed for the activity, Acting District Coordinator Ruel Morales once again led the NDC volunteers in prayer.

Not wasting any time, our designated glib and witty emcee Aldem Salvana grabbed the microphone, gathered the children and made them sing and dance to warm them up. The today’s staple, “Nobody Nobody But You”, was led by yours truly.

Who's teaching whom?

Aldem then instructed the children to count off from 1 to 5 in an effort to group them by 10’s. Each team was assisted by one or two NDC members. The team games prepared by Celine Piezas and Letlet Cepeda commenced. First was “Isip-Isip”, a multiple choice question-and-answer game that determined the winner through a process of elimination. Questions asked were biblical in nature. Jake Yap had to step in to intensify the level of difficulty since the mothers present knew all the answers to the puzzles meant only for toddlers.

Next was the “Carolling” contest where teams were asked to present a one-minute Christmas carol complete with choreography. The winning team was a group of older grade schoolers who were excited onlookers, thus, were invited to join in.

The third game was the “Human Parol” where teams composed lantern designs using their own body parts, either in a standing, lying or pyramid position. One team displayed creativity by adding blinking lights to their parol, while another created an intricate star pattern with their arms held together.

Children and parents alike enjoyed the games. Prizes included practical items such as soap, toothpaste, bottles of alcohol, powder, notebooks, crayons, and lots healthy snacks, all costing Php 1,600. No child was left without any prize or token.

After all the games, the children had worked up an appetite and were therefore ready for snack time. They were served spaghetti, donuts, juice and bread products. Although we were told to prepare for fifty (50) toddlers, Elvie Escoto, who cooked and packed the snacks was ready for seventy (70), which was just as well because non-Day Care Center students who were eager observers, numbering an additional twenty (20), benefited from the surplus. This seemed to simulate the gospel on the multiplication of loaves and fishes.

Mission accomplished!

To heighten the Christmas spirit of spreading joy to the seventy toddlers and grade schoolers, the games and snack time were topped by the distribution of loot bags containing sweets and toys prepared by LNP, augmented by Noel & Dulce Echague.

After all the treats given to the children, it was time to honor the five DSWD workers who have been selflessly giving their time and energy in serving the youth of the community despite their measly salaries; sometimes even drawing from their own resources to fill in the inadequacies of the center. Apart from giving the volunteers a token gift, we gathered around and prayed for them to have more strength, perseverance, and to be blessed with material and financial provisions that they themselves need, as some of them were Ondoy victims as well.

We proceeded to turn over LNP’s donations of books, toys, sanitary supplies and appliances through the DSWD workers. Overwhelmed by the show of love and support, one of the volunteer Day Care Center parents led the praying over us, LNP members, for deeper faith in God and devotion to our call.

No event would be complete without photo opportunities and so we aligned ourselves for group shots and started clicking away.

We in North District C donated our resources, volunteered our time and energy, hoping to lend a helping hand to the weakest of the weak Ondoy victims — innocent toddlers of the Sitio Felix Day Care Center. In turn, our hearts were filled with joy at the opportunity to bring smiles to their faces, and to witness the selflessness of the DSWD volunteers who have gone beyond the call of duty, and made serving their full time preoccupation.

- Celine Piezas (NDC), December 19, 2009

Arinda Team from North B, D, and UD

The different districts headed to their assigned Day Care Centers in Cainta bringing with them not only valuable goods but also joy in their hearts and warmth in their hands.  

Our District, North B together with North D, University District, DSWD workers and PHH Team reps Jobaqs Baquiano & Avic Gaborni then proceeded to Arinda Day Care Center. We left the Cainta Municipal grounds a little delayed of our target time because the truck carrying our goods arrived late.

Serving the children at the Arinda Day Care

After an hour or so of traveling on rough road, we finally got to the site. We can still see and feel the devastation that typhoon “Ondoy” brought to the lives of the people in the area.

While waiting for things to settle, some brothers and sisters mingled with the children and the DSWD workers. Others helped out in unloading the goods from the truck to the venue. We started the program with an opening prayer led by Jutes Judith (UD). Jutes and Mac Panganiban (UD) facilitated the games (“Utos ng Hari”, “Bring Me”, etc.) which was participated in by the children who obviously had a great time and were excited to receive their prizes. We prepared pasta, sandwiches and juice for everyone including the parents of the children for snacks.

The LNP Team, headed by yours truly, also spent time to honor the DSWD workers of Arinda group for their dedication and service to the children and to the Day Care Center. Simple tokens of gratitude were also presented to them. The workers were prayed over after the honoring.

"How Good and Pleasant It Is for Brethren to ..."

The highlight of the event was the turning over of donations consisting of television sets, DVD players, electric fans, books & toys, weighing scales, vitamins, and cleaning materials to the Day Care Centers. On behalf of the DSWD workers, Jhing Ayap and Ofel Tagaduar expressed their gratitude to LNP for the donations. 

The activity was concluded with a closing prayer led by Paeng Cruz (NDD).       

- By Ronnie Oronce (NDB), December 19, 2009

As a TRANSGENERATIONAL community let us celebrate our CHILDREN and DEDICATE them to our Lord.  Please save the date:

DATE:  MARCH 21, 201O  (Sunday)
TIME:  9 to 11 am
VENUE:  ATENEO COLLEGE COVERED COURTS  

For parents who wish to dedicate their babies (2 years old and below), please read an important notice here: PARENTS ORIENTATION FOR DAY OF DEDICATION.

Post expires at 12:00am on Monday March 22nd, 2010

Brothers,

FC 3 began last Sunday, January 10.  Based on the turn-out (more than 280 participants), and the responses I received from the brothers and sisters, I think we’re off to a good start.

Let me clarify some things about FC 3:

– It is our Senior Head Coordinator’s wish that all our covenanted members take FC 3.  However, because our venue (Hindang Herrera Hall) cannot possibly accommodate everyone, we announced that this FC 3 is being offered to Community Weekend Batches 1975-1990.  (Please note: We’re referring to the year they joined their Community Weekend, not to the year of their covenant acceptance.)

– The reason why we especially singled out Community Weekend Batches 2006 & 2007 is that these will be the next batches which might well be eligible for covenant acceptance this year or next year.  Now that FC 3 is a required formation course, it is vital that these batches don’t miss this chance to take FC 3.  As of now we do not know for sure whether we will offer FC 3 next year.  Hence, taking FC 3 this time should be a high priority for these batches.

– Allowable number of absences: As in other courses, we are following the general rule of not being absent more than 25% of the number of talks per course or module.  Applying this to the 3 modules of FC 3, we have the following maximum no. of absences:

• Module 1: Our Call (4 talks), maximum absence of one talk only
• Module 2: Vision for Christian Community (3 talks), max. absence of one talk only
• Module 3: Our Way of Life (7 talks), max. absence of two talks only

– The good news is this: those who were absent last Sunday, thereby missing two talks of the “Our Way of Life” module, can still begin attending at our next session, Jan. 24.  (Of course, they can no longer miss further talks, and they will need to make-up the talks they missed.)

– Speaking of making-up talks, I’d like to spell out our procedure: DVDs containing the two previous talks (raw video-recording, not yet edited) will be available from our sister, Emmie Catabijan.  (Emmie herself is attending FC 3.)  Those DVDs will be available on the Sunday when we have our next session (in this case, Jan. 24).  People can borrow (with a redeemable deposit of Php 100.00) or purchase (Php 100.00) a copy of the DVD, which they can make-up on their own.

– For underway members who are making-up talks by DVD, we apply our normal pastoral procedure: they need to do so together with their pastoral leader, discussing the talk after viewing it.

– Let me give you again the dates of FC 3:

Legend: Module 1 = Our Call = OC / Module 2 = Vision for Christian Community = VCC / Module 3 = Our Way of Life = OWL.
 
Jan 10  OWL  Talks 1-2
Jan 24  OWL  Talks 3-4
Feb 7   OWL  Talks 5-6
Feb 14  OWL  Talk 7 and VCC Talk 1
Mar 7   VCC  Talks 2-3
Mar 14  OC  Talks 1-2
Mar 28  OC  Talks 3-4

– Finally, the question might arise: Suppose a member missed one module entirely; can the member proceed to the next module?  The answer is: yes.

Thank you, brothers, for your kind attention to this matter.  Kindly forward this email to your leaders and members as broadly as possible, if it will help them to understand our approach to Foundations Course 3.

Yours truly,

Jake (Jan 10, 2010)

“When God is involved, it’s not necessarily the giftedness of the leader that prompts God’s blessing; it’s more often the leader’s willingness to move when & where He indicates.” – John Maxwell (from The 21 Most Powerful Minutes in a Leader’s Day)

I’ve also experienced the Lord’s blessing in the same way, and I would like to share my reflection about it — not as a leader, but as a disciple who desires to faithfully follow the Lord.

Three years ago, I heard the Lord prompting me to once again serve Him through the community. You see, I was at a point when I didn’t want to pursue community life any more.  So when I heard the Lord calling me, I was really not inclined to obey… simply because (nakakahiya mang aminin) I’m not a confident person. I would always avoid serving by pointing to another person and say, ‘Sya na lang Lord, he can do it better anyway.  Di ko kaya yan.’

For quite some time, that would work.  The Lord would just let me have it my way.   He would call.  I would plead and avoid.  But then the Lord, with all His love, desires my growth; and so He would get back to me calling me to serve yet again and again.  He wouldn’t stop.  And each time, I would look at my ungiftedness, and beg off.

Finally the Lord said,  “Mark, what I’m asking from you is your availability. Are you willing to make yourself available for me?”    I couldn’t say No to that.

"It is our willingness to be available that the Lord seeks in our hearts." - Mark Dino

I started attending prayer meetings of Ang Lingkod ng Panginoon. My first service was playing the guitar during the worship because that is the only service that I know how to do decently well.  I was content in serving in the music ministry then.  But the Lord had a plan for me to grow, and He knew that I wouldn’t grow just by doing what I wanted to do.   And so, through my leader, the Lord called me to take another step in serving him.  I was asked to lead a prayer meeting.  I begged to be assigned to a prayer meeting three months from that day.   Then came a series of requests for service — each service involving an area that I’m not familiar with, nor confident to do because I know I’m not good at it or not gifted with it. And each and every time, the Lord would only ask me for one thing – my availability.

Looking back now, I’m thankful for every step of service that God called me to. For each commitment of availability that I made with the Lord, I was blessed more than anyone else. I learned new skills, I grew in character, and I was able to witness to my brothers and sisters.  Best of all, I was serving not man but God. 

Going back to Maxwell’s words, my conviction grew even more knowing that our God blesses those who are willing to step out of our comfort zone in order to please the Lord, willing to be used by the Lord despite insecurities of our incapabilities.  The very disposition of putting ourselves at the disposal of the Lord plays a big factor for God to bless us.   It’s ironic that when we give ourselves away for service, we realize at the end of the day, it is us who are blessed all the more.

I believe that God’s equation is: service = blessing.  Blessed, not in the material sense, but blessed in the sense that we can truly ask for whatever means it takes to do our service well, and He will grant it.  The Lord will supply the necessary grace that we need to do our service well.

“If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it.” (Lk 9: 23-24)

The bottom line: God desires that his people may have life to the full.  God desires to bless his people – his only requirement: our willingness to make ourselves availabile for His sake.

My experience says, when we give ourselves away for the service of the Lord, we are transformed, we are changed, and we are blessed.

– Mark Dino  (North District E, and Branch Leader for Lingkod, Quezon City)

That prayer was like a seed planted in my heart.  I felt that it was God’s way of leading me to embrace the way of life of community.  He made that prayer a blessing in disguise, and indeed He granted me the grace to fully live out my Christian faith through the community’s way of life.

Through the years, I have understood and desired to know more about the community through teachings and different events of the community.  When I joined North District E, I witnessed concretely the richness of our life together. And through my own experiences in attending several Haranas, serving either as a host and/or a choreographer of a dance presentation, it was simply a glimpse of God’s amazing love and faithfulness through the brothers and sisters who followed our way of life as their response to love and honor the Lord.

Here I am, choreographing and performing for Jojo and Maila's harana

As I pursue the vocation of Marriage, I have seen how my concept of Harana evolved from a simple child’s prayer to that of seeing it as a vital role as I transition to a new state of life. The Harana is more than the singing of Kundiman songs to express love or dancing Filipino Folk Dances to remember our culture and tradition. It is an integral part of our life as singles. It is a venue where brothers and sisters honor the couple for following the Lord and being faithful to our call in the community through our way of life. More than honoring the couple, it is also to prepare them for the vocation of marriage.

The Harana is a continuation of the courtship process, signaling the transition of a new state of life-from being single to that of pursuing the vocation of Marriage. Pursuing my state of life in the context of the community makes it more meaningful and significant. All the more that the prayer I said to the Lord during that first Harana I attended became so real and personal. As young as I was that time, the grace of God worked mightily in my life that enabled me to fulfill God’s call in Ligaya. Through the guidance of my family, my Pastoral Leaders and the sisters and brothers I am surrounded with, I have followed the Lord through our community way of life.

And now, my own harana: November 14, 2009

The night before my own Harana, it was as if I was brought back to that simple prayer I had, “Lord, I want to have my own Harana.” And indeed, I had my own. The preparations made by brothers and sisters and those who were present, were enough to honor both me and Paulo. Truly, it was an overwhelming fulfillment of my prayer. God’s answer to the desire I whispered years back, and now being fulfilled through His grace. A fitting response to the Lord is “Thank You for the gift of community, Thank You for my Announcement. Thank you for my Harana.”

Portia Domingo, NDE

MANILA, Jan. 3, 2010—Saying that a decorous and solemn celebration of the liturgy is a mandate imposed on priests by virtue of their ordination, a young Catholic prelate called on his clergy to celebrate the Eucharist with the dignity and solemnity it deserves.

Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Socrates Villegas, in a fraternal letter sent to his priests on December 31, said it is a solemn duty of priests to celebrate the Mass with utmost reverence and attentive care.

“Although we have many duties and functions as priests, in the mind of the ordinary Catholic faithful, we are priests because we can preside at the Eucharist and absolve sins in the confessional. We are priests called to bring to the Lord the sacrifice of thanksgiving from His worshipping people. We are priests called to bring the blessings of God to His chosen people. We are caretakers of the mysteries of God.” Villegas said.

The young prelate said a solemn and inspiring liturgical celebration does not just happen. Instead it becomes so because of the ardent and careful preparation that goes with it.

“Within this spirit, I wish to raise some issues in our Catholic parishes and communities to help bring about a more inspiring and truly edifying liturgical worship,” he said.

‘Cleanliness next to Godliness’

Quoting the maxim that cleanliness is next to Godliness, Villegas encouraged his clergy to preserve the cleanliness of sacred vessels even advising them to regularly subject these to “metal plating to maintain their luster befitting the divine worship.”

“God deserves the best,” he stressed.

He said the altar linens—corporal, purificator, and finger towel—should be used according to their specific purpose, and not to be interchanged with the other.

Explaining further, he said the corporal is called such because it receives the “corpus” crumbs that may fall from the Host when the priest breaks the Host at the Lamb of God.

“The corporal must be laid out on the altar only at the presentation of bread and wine and folded back after the purification of the vessels,” Villegas said, stressing that “it must not be left on the altar.”

He said the purificator is used to wipe the chalice for droplets of water and wine during the preparation of the gifts and for purifying the chalice, paten and ciborium after Communion, while the finger towel is used for drying the hands after washing.

The purificator has an embroidered cross in the middle while that of the finger towel is normally in the corner.

Villegas reminded the priests to instruct their sacristans and altar servers to observe the proper use of the altar linens.

He said it is important to keep the vestments used for liturgical celebrations clean and dignified while stressing that “cleanliness and dignity need not be expensive.”

“The church and its surroundings must be kept clean too from trash candy wrappers, soiled missalettes and even stuck chewing gums on the church flooring,” Villegas said, adding that “the church must be the cleanest place in the community.”

Singing together promotes unity

Villegas also reminded his priests on the importance of animating seriously the liturgical singing in their parishes. As a form of worship, singing together also promotes the spirit of unity and communion, he said.

“Please encourage the choirs to undertake their task as a ministry and not as a performance for public adulation,” the prelate said.

He said secular love songs, even with religious themes, should not be used for liturgical rites.

Villegas also advised the clergy to “refrain from the practice of having children or young people dance in the parish sanctuary” during liturgical celebrations until the Episcopal Commission on Liturgy approved the rules pertaining to dancing within the liturgy.

Observing silence in church

The prelate said it is likewise important to observe silence as a means of communing with God.

Quoting St. Charles Borromeo, he said: “You must realize that for us churchmen, nothing is more necessary than meditation. We must meditate before, during and after everything we do. Would you like me to tell you how to give God more pleasing worship? Stay quiet with God. Do not spend your time in useless chatter.”

Villegas told the clergy to teach again their parishioners the practice of genuflecting before the tabernacle, the observance of prayerful silence in the church, modesty in dress and the discourtesy of chewing gum or using cell phones in the church.

The archbishop concluded his letter by saying that celebrating the liturgy should bring the priest-celebrant to “become more caring and attentive to the needs of the least, the last and the lost.”

“Good liturgy can sanctify only to the extent that it leads us to serve, imitating the example of Him who stooped down to wash the feet of His disciples,” he said, adding that “Sunday must not only be the dies Domini. May it become too our dies caritatis.” (Pinky Barrientos, FSP)