An update on our Reverse Carolling this year.. praise be to God for all the families, volunteers and sponsors of the project. We were all blessed to be a part of it!
Reverse Carolling 2012
Sunday, December 23, 2012
Monday, September 17, 2012
Tuesday, June 19, 2012
New life in the Lord!
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| Balikatan Life in the Spirit 2012 participants and team |
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| Each participant receiving a Tagalog Bible and notebook |
We welcomed nine women and two men from Montalban. Most of them had already been regularly attending the Balikatan prayer group for the past year. This seminar is to deepen their relationship with and commitment to the Lord. It is also an initial preparation for their commitment as Balikatan prayer group members.
It was an intense weekend. In the first session, Denzil shared on the revelation of God as father, and his invitation to us as children. The participants became aware of their distorted images of God - as one who is far away, and silent in their lives, or like the policeman waiting to catch them in the wrong, and punish them. The effect of these false images brought fear into their lives rather than love resulting in acts of superstition at times, and finding it hard to believe that God loves them as his precious children. Struggling with their lives, they feel burdened and overwhelmed by their poverty. In these struggles, it is easy to think that God does not love me or is punishing me. As Denzil gently presented the truths about God who loves as Father, the participants expressed that in the prayer time, they experienced the Father's love.
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| nailing their sins to the cross |
In the evening, Esther shared on the new life that Jesus offers us through his Holy Spirit. In order to receive the new life, we have to be willing to die to the old life, and to clothe ourselves with the new man or woman that Christ calls us to be. During our prayer, there was indeed the grace of letting go of old ways, and allowing Jesus to give us his new life in the Spirit. Many shared that they felt the grace to let go of their past, their wrong choices, and receive God's love anew in their hearts.At the end of the first day, there was joy in their hearts as they shared their experiences.
Day Two began with Mass at the neighbouring parish. One participant later shared that as she received Jesus in Holy Communion, she was overwhelmed with the joy of his presence. thanks be to God! In the next session, we prayed with the participants for a new empowering by the Holy Spirit in their lives that they may grow in their love and knowledge of the Lord, that their hearts be set on fire that they may be transformed into witnesses for the Lord in their families, and neighborhoods. We could experience the presence of the Holy Spirit setting our hearts on fire, transforming us from within.
As our journey of discipleship is ongoing, Jitka shared on the importance of growth and ongoing transformation in Christ. At the end , each participant wrote a letter to Jesus, expressing their thanks to him, and what they have experienced. In this letter, each also wrote the concrete steps they will take in their lives to respond to his love. This letter is then closed, and kept with us for the next three months. In three months' time, these letters will be returned to them, and they will read and see how they have lived their concrete steps.
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| Commissioned to go forth in the new life in Christ! |
One participant shared that his concrete step would be to stop his drinking bouts that he had once or twice a week. Instead he would spend the time with his family, and prayer. As heavy drinking is a real problem in their area, let us pray for our brother that the Lord will give him the grace to surrender his drinking to the Lord, and that our brother will not be put off by the sneers of his neighbors. Instead may he be a witness of Christ's light and freedom in this area. Alcoholism and gambling are the things that break up and keep families in much hardship.
During this weekend, the participants were very blessed as they had the space to receive from the Lord. One man expressed that he was touched by the way that the missionaries served them, that there was no division between us. Another shared that she was touched by the respect and dignity that the missionaries gave them. They were grateful for the food that they received, a sign of God's abundant provision and love for them.
We thank the Lord for the opportunity to serve our brothers and sisters and to witness God's liberating hand at work in their lives. This is a step towards empowering them in his love, to take responsibility for their lives,and make choices that lead to life, Thank you to our benefactors and friends who have made this possible through sharing generously with us your resources and prayers. May the Lord bless you richly!
Saturday, June 9, 2012
Renewed in the Holy Spirit for Christ!
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| Alive with songs and praise |
On 26 May 2012, twenty five members of our Montalban youth group, Seeds
of Faith, had a special time with the Lord at the Anawim Lay Missions
Foundation Centre. It was the eve of Pentecost, and like the disciples, huddled
in the upper room, we gathered to meet and together we welcomed the Holy Spirit
anew in our hearts.
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| Is my heart like the stony ground? |
We began the one day camp with a time of action song and Praise and
Worship. The core team leaders from the Seeds of Faith then performed the
Lifehouse Skit entitled “Everything”. Depicting the battle against sin and
Jesus gift of salvation in our lives, the skit touched many of them as it
highlighted their own struggle within to choose God and to overcome sin.
Ultimately, it is in and through Christ alone that we are more than conquerors.
To appropriate this truth in our lives, we need to be the good soil as
described in the Parable of the Sower (Matthew 13ff) and so the youth were
encouraged to reflect on the condition of their hearts as they went to
different prayer stations around the compound. They then returned to pray for
the renewal of hearts and to recommit their lives to Christ. For some, it was a
tearful moment of returning to the Lord and desiring to be the good soil
instead of being thorns where the seed falls and is quickly choked up by the
cares of the world. One member shared “In my prayer, I could see Jesus coming
to me and giving me a big hug. I felt so unworthy and so relieved as He held me
and forgave my sins.”
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| How is the Holy Spirit present in me? |
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| praying together for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit |
After lunch, we continued sharing about the Holy Spirit, the third
person of the Holy Trinity. Through short skits and a group activity, the youth
discussed the different actions of the Holy Spirit in our lives and how the He
is present in our lives through the Sacraments and in prayer. In our small groups,
we then started to ask for the same outpouring of the Holy Spirit as on Pentecost
so that the youth could be further activated to be better witnesses. In the
prayer time, all of them were led to receive the gift of the Holy Spirit and
many were released to pray in the Spirit. It was a truly wonderful moment as we
ended in thanksgiving and prayed as the Spirit led us in one harmonious chorus
of praise.
One youth shared, “As we prayed, I was so happy to receive the Holy Spirit.
I have always wanted to pray in the Spirit and I’m delighted to be able to do
so now.”
As each of them came forward to share their
experience, we could only give thanks to God for making His presence so
tangibly felt.
Special thanks to Amilia Chai,
our ICPE Companion from Singapore for serving with us in the camp and members
of the Anawim Lay Missions Foundation for allowing us the use of their
beautiful chapel and grounds. God bless you all!
Friday, March 9, 2012
Today we bring you news of great joy... the birth of a community
For some of them, the journey began 6 years ago when we started the Balikatan Ministry in Erap City, Montalban. They came as they wanted to grow in their faith. In this time, they walked shoulder to shoulder, and supported each other through the challenges that faced them and their families ranging. They are women who have faced adversity: struggling to find means to support their families, crying out to God for food, healing for their children, jobs for their husbands. Through it all, they have continued to hold onto faith despite their doubts and allow Jesus to walk with them.
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| Supportive husbands witnessing their wives take this new step |
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| Balikatan prayer group celebrating the birth of the Community |
They have been empowered... from women who lacked confidence to women who know
their dignity as beloved daughters of God who have been given a voice and can
make a difference in the world today. It has been a gift to have shared the
journey with them.
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| Their commitments |
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| The nine women professing their commitment |
On 4 March 2012, before their husbands and children and the Balikatan Prayer Group, Georgina Calanao, Noralyn Gacias, Jocellen Abbang, Reina Galupo, Maricor Cunanan, Janice Abelardo, Sonia Baduria and Susan Ranola signed their commitments as members of the Balikatan Community.
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| Jitka presenting a statue of the Holy Family, model for the Balikatan Community's mission to families |
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| Balikatan Community members withe their fanilies and Balikatan Prayer Group |
The journey towards community...
As the Balikatan Ministry developed, there were a group of women who were committed and wanted this ministry to develop and bless more people. They had experienced the goodness of the Lord and wanted to share with others. In 2010, they made a commitment in the Balikatan Ministry and in 2011, this was renewed.
In these two years, 8 of them were empowered and served as leaders of small groups in the Balikatan Ministry. The team also coordinated the small group meetings that occurred once a fortnight. During these two years, besides attending the usual ministry meetings in the morning, they were also receiving training as small group leaders in the afternoons. We saw them coordinating more our activities, and visiting families in the area. For the reverse carolling projects, they visited and found the 300 families that were in need.
At the end of 2011, they were ready for more. It was clear that the Lord was wanting to give them more. From December to February, we had some intensive formation towards community. This climaxed in our weekend in Tagaytay on 11- 12 February.
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| Community formation weekend in Tagaytay |
Over this weekend, we spent moments together in prayer, community building and planning for the Balikatan community. Jitka gave sessions on the blessings and challenges of community, team building and growing in relationship with each other. Other sessions focussed on the practical aspects of living out community. As it was also the feast of our Barangay and parish, Our Lady of Lourdes, we were invited and shared in the fiesta! Our time ended with nominations for the first leadership team of the Balikatan community. There was much excitement as we prayed for the Balikatan community. It was clear to all that the Lord is giving them a gift of the Balikatan Community and he was assuring them of his presence with them as they respond to his call and invitation.
Our journey as community begins today
Congratulations to our sisters of the Balikatan Community! May the Lord bless the Balikatan Community, and continue to give our sisters His joy, wisdom and courage to share Jesus in their neighbourhoods and make a difference. May Christ's light shine through them brightly!
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