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8/16/2019 Kerygma Magazine February 2016
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No. 308 Vol. 27 FEBRUARY 2016
Inspiring You to Live a Fantastic Life
HE CAME. HE LEFT.
WHAT NOW?
MARVEL ATPOPE FRANCIS’
TEACHINGS:THE JOY OF THE GOSPEL
CARE FOR OUR COMMON HOME
COMMUNICATE AND RELATE
Philippines P100US $8.14 AUS $8.14Euro 5.07UK 4.49CDN $7.95SING $9.42HK $51.83RUPIAH 103,000
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PUBLICATIONS,
Are You Ready to Get Rid of theGarbage That You’ve Carried in Your
Heart for Many Years?
Warning: You don’t read this kind of book for entertainment.You read this kind of book because you want a Total Life Overhau
You want a Heart Detox.
• Discover how to dig deep and uproot the poisonous thought habits that have
been buried inside you for long. These dysfunctional thought habits
have given birth to toxic feelings that have robbed you of yourhappiness, health, abundance and future.
• Learn three important steps to help you manage your most
difcult emotions.
• Apply ve powerful handles to take charge of your most toxic
feelings.• Specic and practical instructions on how to overcome bitterness,
pettiness, despair, insecurity, worry and fear.
Are you ready to get rid of the garbage that you’ve carriedinside you for many years?
Are you ready to experience radical healing now?
It’s about time.
Read this inspiring book by bestselling author Bo Sanchez and receive God’s inner healintoday.
For orders, call 725-9999 local 101 to 108or log on to www.kerygmabooks.com
8/16/2019 Kerygma Magazine February 2016
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Sister Aida Manongdo, one of the leaders of the young Charismatic group Te Light of Jesus Family then,prophesied to a 13-year-old Bo Sanchez that he would be preaching God’s Word to the nations.
Serving as God’s lighthouse on earth, the Light of Jesus Family continues to spread God’s life-saving and lifechanging Word even to the peripheries as light travels far and wide, even to the edges, in search for those whoare lost at sea. We shine Jesus’ light to a dark, broken world in search of the truth, for real love, for meaningand direction in life.
As we celebrate 35-25-20 years of ministry, media and mercy, may we continue to shine the Light of Jesuas faithful stewards entrusted with the mission to bring His lost children safely back in the Father’s embraceguiding them towards the right direction, until they reach heaven – their true home.
Experience the Journey with us through the Light of Jesus Coffee Table BookGet it for a minimal donation to our media ministry
Call 725-9999 locals 101-108 for more information. Shine His light
PUBLICATIONS, IN
K E R
YG M A
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You probably know my story. My past was bad. I got abused as a child and I fell into all
sorts of addictions. I fell into sin and couldn’t get out. For many long years, I got really
broken. I was ruled by shame and insecurities. I was so messed up.
But I thank God I went through that because I understand the sinner who seeks
God. Because of what I went through, my life and my mission is completely fixated
on welcoming every kind of sinner in this world.
Here’s what I noticed: Religious leaders who have been broken accept broken people. This
is one of the reasons why we accept anyone in the Light of Jesus Family — adulterers, thieves,
prostitutes, drug addicts, alcoholics, gamblers, perverts…. (They’re all sinners like me!)
Let me declare this from the rooftops: My little community is 100 percent for the
unchurched.
Here’s an insight from another preacher named Steven Furtick. If you found Jesus just
last week at The Feast (that’s what we call our prayer meeting), then that was the last time thiscommunity was for you. After you found Jesus, The Feast is no longer for you. You’re no longer
my target. You’re no longer my market. You’re no longer my audience. You’re no longer my
customer. You should be my coworker now!
Let me share with you a powerful story…
When I was in Sydney, I heard Joyce Meyer share the moving story of her life.
As a child, Joyce was sexually abused by her own father. Because it was a pattern and
would happen at specific days of the week, Joyce knows how many times he abused her —
her father molested her for more than 200 times. And sadly, her mother let him.
Joyce grew up from that horrible past, gave her life to Jesus, and went on to preach
the Gospel. And God asked her to forgive her father — which she did. Twice, she mustered
courage and told her father that she forgave him — but in both times, he denied ever doing
anything wrong.
But one day, God asked her to follow the Bible when it says, “If your enemy is hungry, feedhim; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink” (Romans 12:20).
Her parents lived far from the city and they were growing old. That was when God
spoke to her heart, “Buy a house for them in the city near you, so you can take care
of them.” She couldn’t believe what she heard. But she obeyed. She bought a nice
house for them and cared for them.
For 30 years, her father never said “I’m sorry” to Joyce. One day, three years after
they moved into their new house, her mother called up and said, “Can you visit your
dad? He has been crying nonstop every day for three weeks.” So Joyce visited him. And
this is what her father said, “For the past three years, I’ve been wanting to say this to
you. I’m sorry. I’m sorry for what I did to you when you were a child. I didn’t know it was
going to do so much harm.” Joyce learned that her father’s family was incestuous. It’s true
that hurting people hurt people.
The next Sunday, Joyce brought him to church and he gave his life to Jesus. Joyce saidshe thought she was buying a house. Actually, she was buying a soul.
Growing up, Joyce went through horrific pain — a pain that God never intended her to
have. But it was a pain that shaped her in a way that made her stronger, better and wiser.
Today, Joyce Meyer is being used by God to heal thousands of broken women who have
also been abused.
What pain have you gone through? I believe that your purpose is connected to your
pain.
Remember… “nothing just happens.”
May your dreams come true,
Wh I H t GTrug M P
by Bo Sanchez
T Bo
y
KERYGMA FEBRUARY 2016
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Mlr
CONNECT WITH US!EMAIL: editsvp@shepherdsvoice.com.ph
OR SEND TO: The Editor, 60 Chicago St., Cubao, Quezon City
Website: www.kerygmabooks.com
Landline: 725-9999, 470-4091, 881-3082
Mobile: 0923-378-4941
kerygmabooks
FOR SUBSCRIPTION-RELATED CONCERNS:
Email: subscription@shepherdsvoice.com.ph
Mobile: 0922-814-7031 (Sarah Discutido)
Landline: 725-9999 locals 101 to 108
KERYGMA FEBRUARY 20162
I am very much grateful to Kerygma because
it ills me with so much hope and inspiration.
Every time I read the stories of the contributors, I
become motivated and eager to attend The Feast
as well. I pray that sooner or later I can also join the
celebration at The Feast.
I thank God that He used my aunt as an
instrument to introduce me to this magazine.
Jen
Ilocos Sur
I always read Kerygma magazine during my leisure
time. I am inspired by its articles. “Choosing God’sPath” from the November 2013 issue is one of my
favorites. I love reading this magazine. Thank you,
Shepherd’s Voice Publications, for inspiring and
motivating many people.
Keep up the good work. Thank you very much
and God bless!
Dr. Joy Kenneth Sala Biasong
Cebu City
Thank you, Kerygma, for the 25 years
that you have been blessing the reading
public. I am especially grateful because this
magazine has been one of my companions
in my spiritual journey.
I pray for more blessings for Bo and the
entire Kerygma team!
Gaye B.
Project 8, Quezon City
Your November 2015 issue reached me at
the time that I needed it most. I have been
struggling with debts brought about by myson’s rehabilitation from drug dependency.
I have hope now that I can get out of my
situation and that God will soon lead me to
inancial freedom.
Thank you, Kerygma!
Gracia R.
Silang, Cavite
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Jus BrethLiving by Grace
T
here were three kids trying to
outdo each other.
Kid #1 said, “My grandma
waited 10 years before she
found her One True Love.And after 10 years, she met a handsome
actor. That’s why my grandfather is Eddie
Gutierrez.
Kid #2 said, “Oh, that’s nothing
compared to my grandma. She waited 20
years before she found her One True Love.
And after 20 years, she met a super rich
businessman. That’s why my grandfather
is Henry Sy.”
Kid #3, not to be outdone, said, “Oh,
that’s nothing compared to my grandma.
She waited 50 years before she found her
One True Love. And after 50 years, she
met St. Peter!”
For single people, waiting for
your lifetime partner can sometimes
feel like forever. I know. It felt like
an eternity for me. It’s the hardest
thing to do because it feels like
nothing is happening when
you are waiting.
Once, I had a final
casting for a soft drink
commercial. I had a date
with my girlfriends buthad to leave before they
watched a movie to get
to my appointment
on time. You can just
imagine the regret
I had after having
to wait two and half
hours for my turn. I
could have stayed and
watched the movie
with my girlfriends and
I’d still have made it to
Are you waiting in the desert?
By Rissa Singson Kawpeng
When It Feels Like Nothing’s Happening
the casting!
But the woman who sat beside me
during that long wait opened up her life
to me. She caught her husband having
an affair. He showed no remorse. After 13years of marriage, she’s now undergoing
an annulment. Her once-perfect princess-
like life was suddenly shattered. I shared
about the Lord to her and began to pray
for her daily.
See? Nothing is wasted in the Lord.
Waiting for His plan to unfold can
transform us into a people of growing
faith. The story of Moses is a testament of
this. He stayed in the desert for 40 years
before he became Prince
of Egypt. Then he killed
an Egyptian whom he
saw was abusing an
Israelite. When people
found out, he fled to
the desert. He spent
the next 40 years
in the desert as a
shepherd. He was
80 when the Lord
spoke to him from a
burning bush and
told him to lead His
people to freedom.Because
Moses stayed in
the desert and
learned what
he could
there, he
not only
found
a wife
and family but was also honed into the
kind of servant that God could use to
liberate His people.
Sometimes we want to cut short ou
time in the desert. When we come froma breakup, we want to jump right into
another relationship. When we’re facing
a tough challenge, we want to get over
right away. We are not able to digest an
reflect on the lessons that God wants us
to learn because we want to hurry out o
that painful place of waiting.
But our God is the God of the Now.
You may be waiting in one area of
your life, but what can you do now in th
other areas?
The lessons we learn in the desert a
required stock knowledge when we rea
the Promised Land.
Therefore the Lord waits to be gracious
to you, and therefore he exalts himself
to show mercy to you. For the Lord is
a God of justice; blessed are all those
who wait for him. (Isaiah 30:18)
Email me at justbreatherissa@gmail.com or
follow me on Facebook.
What to Expect This Month
It’s the love month, and if you’re
single and praying to find your
lifetime partner, the One True Love
Club can help you prepare and make
wise choices in dating. Get tons of
resources and support you need at
www.onetrueloveclub.com. Sign
up today!
8/16/2019 Kerygma Magazine February 2016
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GPRSINTRAMUROS@YAHOO.COM.PH
742 VICTORIA ST.
INTRAMUROS MANILA 1001
+632 708 4617
+63 917 828 4926
+63 932 868 0165
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chairman of the board and CEO BO SANCHEZ • president HERMIE R. MORELOS • vice-president for corporate services WENG CEQUEÑA • assistant vice-president for production RISSA KAWPENproduction manager TESS V. ATIENZA • sales and marketing manager JOSEPH MARTINEZKerygma. A Greek word meaning “Proclamation of the Gospel.” It is a Catholic inspirational magazine. It aims to be an evangelistic tool for all nations, providing Scriptural, practiand orthodox teachings to Catholics, particularly those in the Catholic Renewal, as an alternative to present-day magazines. It is also committed to fostering the renewal and unof the whole Christian people. Philippine copyright Shepherd’s Voice Publications, Inc. 2016. No part of this magazine may be reproduced without permission. Published monthly
Shepherd’s Voice Publications, Inc., whose editorial and business offices are located at 60 Chicago St., Cubao, 1109 Quezon City. Tel.: (632) 725-9999, 411-7874, 725-1190, 470-40and 881-3082 (Production Department). Fax: 727-5615. Email: editsvp@shepherdsvoice.com.ph. Website: www.kerygmabooks.com
founder and publisher BO SANCHEZ • editor-in-chief RISSA SINGSON KAWPENG • managing editor TESS V. ATIENZA • assistant managing editor MAYMAY SALVOSA • creative director MIKE CORTEassistant layout artist LEAH KIM RECTO • graphics director REY DE GUZMAN • sta writers MARJORIE DUTERTE, KARREN RENZ SEÑA, DINA PECAÑA • contributing writers JUDITH CONCEPCION, DWIGCASTILLO, KRIZELLE TALLADEN, KIRAE GENECIRAN, FR. BENNY TUAZON, DWIGHT CASTILLO • photographer DANIEL SORIANO • columnists MICHELE ALIGNAY, BOGGS BURBOS, DEAN PAX LAPIDproduction assistant ANGIE ESPUERTA
© iStock.com/Nico_Campo
Pope Francis’ visit to the
Philippines in January 2015
was phenomenal. People
followed and waited on him at
every place he went to. People
listened to his every talk,
every homily.It’s now 2016. Do we still
follow and listen to every word
he utters? More so, do we live
out the words we so readilyapplauded then?
The Bo FilesPoint of Contact
The BossWHY I HAD TO GO
THROUGH MY PAIN
1
48
Mailroom
Daily Pause
New You
Real Stuff
Kfam Insider
GIVING LOVE LIKE NEVER
BEFORE
Dear K
Feast Snapshots
THE BIRTH OF THE NEWEST
FEAST IN THE EAST
It Happened
FROM ASHES TO NEW LIFE
One Last Story
A GIFT WORTH THE WAIT47
19
17
2
6
8
9
10
13
Departments
Februar 2016
IntroductionIN LOLO KIKO’S WORDS
Teaching
YOU CAN’T WIN OTHERS TO CHRIST
WITH A LONG FACE
Testimony
A KISS FROM HEAVEN
Teaching
WHO ELSE, IF NOT US?
Teaching
WHEN WILL WE EVER LEARN?
Teaching
ON MEDIA AND COMMUNICATION:
POPE FRANCIS’ PRINCIPLES THAT
WILL MAKE YOU UNFOLLOW HIM
33
36
31
30
25
23
Special Section
Catholic Soul
CHRISTMAS 2015
Columns
3
45
Just Breathe
WHEN IT FEELS LIKE
NOTHING’S HAPPENINGSeasons
THAT THING CALLED “CRUSH”
K Preacher
DON’T MIND THE HEART
Faith @ Work
MY HEART FOR TEACHING
41
43
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1
7
13
19
25 2726
20 21
14 15
8 9
2 3
“Jesus wants to talk with each o us
about our lives, our real situations,
so that nothing is kept rom Him.”
“Parents, can you ‘waste time’ with
your children? It is one o the mostimportant things that you can do
each day.”
“God blesses human love. It is
He who joins the hearts o tw
people who love one another
in unity and indissolubility. Tshows us that the goal o conj
lie is not simply to live togeth
or lie, but to love one anothe
lie!”
“Moments o suffering and conflict
are or God occasions o mercy.
Today is a time o mercy!”
“This is the temptation: a ‘spirituality o
illusion’: We can walk through the deserts
o humanity without seeing what is really
there; instead, we see what we want to see.A aith that does not know how to root
itsel in the lie o people remains arid and,
rather than oases, creates other deserts.”
“Never allowing ourselves to b
tarnished by pessimism or sin
let us seek and look upon the
glory o God, which shines or
in men and women who are u
alive.”
“Faced with people who seek power
and success in order to be noticed,
who want their achievements
and efforts to be acknowledged,the disciples are called to do the
opposite.”
“Service is the way or authority
to be exercised in the Christian
community. Those who serve
others and lack real prestigeexercise genuine authority in the
Church.”
“Jesus calls us to see things
differently, to pass rom the
thirst or power to the joy o
quiet service, to suppress our
instinctive desire to exercisepower over others, and instea
exercise the virtue o humilit
“Today we experience the paradox o a
globalized world filled with luxurious
mansions and skyscrapers, but a
lessening o the warmth o homes and
amilies; many ambitious plans and
projects, but little time to enjoy them…”
“The number o people who eel
lonely keeps growing, as does the
number o those who are caught
up in selfishness, gloominess,
destructive violence and slavery
to pleasure and money.”
“People are less and less seriou
about building a solid and ruit
relationship o love: Love which
is lasting, aithul, conscientiou
stable and ruitul is increasing
looked down upon, viewed as aquaint relic o the past.”
“Today let us ask the Lord that through
the intercession o the Archangel
Michael, we may be protected rom the
snares, the ascination, the seductions
o this ancient serpent called Satan.”
“Like Jesus, the more humble
your service is, the more ruitul
and the more useul it will be or
us all.”
“In your work, pray ofen so tha
the Lord may saeguard you ro
giving in to every temptation,
rom every temptation to
corruption or money, or riches
rom vanity and arrogance.”
Dl Pus wt Pp Frnci
KERYGMA FEBRUARY 20166
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28 29
23 2422
181716
10 11 12
4 5 6“Jesus does not answer (the devil)
with His own words; He answers
in the words o Scripture, all three
times. One cannot dialogue with thedevil, and this helps so much when
temptation comes: I will not speak
to you; only through the Word o the
Lord.”
“Jesus believes in us, more than we
believe in ourselves.”
“Only an encounter with
Jesus gives a person thestrength to ace the most
difficult situations.”
“This is God’s dream or His beloved
creation: to see it ulfilled in the
loving union between a man anda woman, rejoicing in their shared
journey, ruitul in their mutual gif
o sel.”
“Let us ask God to turn to us with
His healing and saving gaze,
which knows how to radiate light,as it recalls the splendour which
illuminates it.”
“Jesus is the Servant o the Lord.
His lie and death, marked by
an attitude o utter service (c.Phil 2:7), were the cause o our
salvation and the reconciliation
o mankind with God.”
“Jesus shows us that He enjoys
dominion because He is a servant,
glory because He is capable o
abasement, kingship because He isully prepared to lay down His lie.”
“There can be no compatibility
between a worldly understanding
o power and the humble service
which must characterize authorityaccording to Jesus’ teaching and
example.”
“All o us can receive the charity
which flows rom Christ’s open
heart, or ourselves but also or
others, and become “channels”
o His love and compassion,especially or those who are
suffering, discouraged and alone.”
“God made men and women or
happiness, to share their journey with
someone who complements them, to
live the wondrous experience o love:
to love and to be loved, and to see
their love bear ruit in children.”
“The Church is called to carry
out her mission in fidelity, truth
and love… conscious o her
duty to seek out and care or
hurting couples with the balm o
acceptance and mercy.”
“Corruption is everywhere: or two
pence many people sell their soul,
sell their happiness, sell their lie,
sell everything. This also always
happens to us all in small things:
we are too attached to riches, weare pleased when we are praised.”
“May the Lord help us in our daily struggle, but not or
ourselves; the struggle is or the service, because you
are men and women on duty; whose duty is to render a
service to society, a service to others, a service to make
goodness grow in the world.”
“Our lie is not a pointless wandering. We have a
sure goal: the house o the Father.”
KERYGMA FEBRUARY 2016
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Blessed Teresa of Calcutta once said, “Charity and love are the same — with charity you give
love, so don’t just give money but reach out your hand instead.” And since it’s the time of
the year where heart-shaped crafts surround us once again, why don’t we give some love b
volunteering to community services, outreach programs and parish activities? Here are som
beneits of volunteerism:
1) New friendships. Volunteering opens you to many friendship opportunities. You mee
people with the same passion and interest as you do. Why exhaust your energy getting
sentimental this Valentine month if you can use it to help and meet others?2) A happier heart. As a volunteer, one cultivates an increased sense of empathy and a
positive shift of priorities. A study from the London School of Economics revealed that
such changes improve a person’s happiness by seven percent. As American author Mar
Twain remarked, “The best way to cheer yourself is to try to cheer someone else up.”
3) A life with signiicance. To live a successful life is one thing; to live a signiicant life is
another. By reaching out to help, especially those who need your presence, skills and
time the most, you are setting an example on how to live meaningfully. The love you
share to others, in whatever way, can empower, impact and inluence their lives big tim
And that goes on forever.
Gather your family and friends now and plan your volunteer activity. It’s deinitely one of th
best ways to celebrate the love month!
Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com
Quick Health TipSeaweeds
Seaweeds or sea vegetables are very good source
o vitamins A, B1, B2, B6 and C, and pantothenic
acid. They are rich in minerals especially iodine,
manganese, zinc, potassium, and copper. The
combination o minerals packed in seaweeds
are hardly ound in other vegetable groups. Sea
vegetables, which are not limited to nori alone,
can detoxiy our body, help fight constipation, and
prevent thyroid problems.
Source: http://www.whfoods.com/
VOLUNTEER. SERVE. LOVE
SURPRISINGLY
COMMON
WAYS TO SAVE
MONEYPractical Tips We Ofte
Overlook
New YTips for Personal Development
1) Practice the 30-day rule. It’s one o the most unpopular but
very essential rules in finance. When you have an urge to buy
something, hold the desire or 30 days. During the waiting
period, you’ll be able to weigh i such purchase is really
necessary.
2) Know the essentials. This isn’t only or the shopping list and
house expenses, but more importantly in our relationships.
Instead o spending a lot o money to buy expensive stuff
or the kids or throwing big parties, remember that nothing
compares to the time you spend with the people you love.It’s good to give gifs and hang out once in a while, but keep in
mind that we cannot base the quality o our relationships on
the amount o money we dish out to offset what’s really asked
o us — our presence.
3) Go for water. While most people opt to have soda and coffee
when eating out, water is still the best resource to combat
dehydration and to cleanse our body. You will not only save
your body rom illnesses, you’ll also cut back your meal
expense.
Source: http://www.thesimpledollar.com
KERYGMA FEBRUARY 20168
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THREEPOLITICALHOPEFULS
YOU SHOULDNOT VOTE
Re Stuff
Saints-at-a-Glance
St. Barbatus of Benevento
Born and Died: 610, Italy – 682, Benevento, Italy
Feast Day: February 19
Barbatus was born in Italy and was ordained as priest in Marcona. He drew people
in by his zealous preaching. When he was sent to Benevento, he converted many
pagan worshipers to Catholicism. In 663, the city was besieged by Byzantine Empero
Constans. Barbatus prophesied and assured the people that the violence would stop
It happened just as he declared, and soon he was conerred as bishop o the city. He
died on February 29 and is now known as the patron saint o Benevento.
Source: www.catholic.org
While commercial
centers primp their
places with Valentine
decorations, the entire
archipelago is teeming
with election posters,
color-coded banners, and
big tarpaulins. Campaign
season, as always,
proves to be a rowdy and
dramatic period.
With all the charges
and counter-charges, debates and public appearances, suggested
accusations and implied emotional appeals that bombard us
every day, here are some helpful guides in discerning whom to
entrust your vote.
Let’s simplify our decision-making with this list and be
vigilant enough not to let anyone with the following traits take a
seat in public oice:
1. Someone who is biased and gets swayed easily. A leader
should know how to keep an open mind and listen to what
reliable sources have to say. His or her decisions should not
be driven by personal views and interest but by impartial
causes. Further, he or she must be able to stand irm for the
public’s welfare and not move as dictated by political allies.
2. Someone who loves to play the blame game. Our nation deserves
accountable leaders. With the power that comes in our vote, it’s time
to stop hearing the endless attacks that traditional politicians throw
against each other. We can and should put people who will use their
time in solving the problems, not on highlighting the ineffectiveness of
their opponents without actually doing something to help.3. Someone who gives more value to politics than morals. While the
nation calls out for competent, results-oriented, and charismatic leaders,
may we not forget that honesty, respect for others and for human
life, and integrity should have more value. If someone running for a
government post can set aside his or her morals for political ambitions,
be warned. We need more people of character. It’s alarming to entrust
our country’s future to someone who can
steal, kill, speak ill of others, and violate law
just to demonstrate how powerful he or sh
can be.
We still have a few months to study
our options. Let us not ignore the power,opportunity and responsibility that we have
in our hands. Let’s be the people we want our
leaders to be — irm and objective, accountable
and trustworthy.
Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/
KERYGMA FEBRUARY 2016
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GIVING LOVE
LIKE NEVER
BEFORE FEAST ALABANG TOWN CENTER
VISITS HE CARES FOUNDATION
Kf Insder
By Kirae Geneciran
Photos by Chie Hernandez and Kirae Geneciran
KERYGMA FEBRUARY 201610
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”Give thanks with a grateful heart.Give thanks to the Holy One.
Give thanks because He’s given Jesus Christ, His Son. And now, let the weak say I am strong.Let the poor say I am rich.
Because of what the Lord has done, give thanks.” - “ Give Thanks” by Don Moen
Iwould always hear this classic, old praise song being
sung in church and in various community gatherings,
but I’ve never heard it so beautiful and heartfelt than
when it was sung last November 30, 2015 with the
children of He Cares Foundation. The home was filled
with resounding voices of love, gratitude and worship to
God.
That beautiful Monday, we, the servants and Light
Group members of Feast Alabang Town Center, left our
abode south of Manila and traveled all the way to the north
of the metropolis to spend time with 100 precious children
of God at He Cares, a streetchildren caring center.
Feast Alabang Town Center has been blessing God’s
people in Alabang for nearly three years now. Just last
July, we were granted the biggest blessing of having the
Holy Sacrifice of the Mass every Sunday at The Feast. Truly,
God has been so gracious and faithful to our family. We
just couldn’t contain the love that’s overflowing, and this
outreach was something we had all been looking forward
to.
No holiday could stop us from being a channel ofGod’s love to the streetchildren, even for just a day. Upon
arrival, we were welcomed by the people of He Cares
Foundation who were busy preparing the venue as well as
the food. Some rushed to the kitchen to help, while most
of us started bringing in the goods and sacks of rice we
brought for the foundation.
Our excitement grew even more as He Cares founder
Joe Dean Sola welcomed all of us. He shared the story of
how He Cares started. Imagine, from feeding two street
kids who went up to him when he was young, his desire
to help has now built a new and bigger home for the
streetchildren. He’s been changing lives one plate at a time fo
20 years now. It was such a moving testimony and we were a
blessed to witness him in action.As the kids started to come in, we sat and mingled with
them. The program started with worship and we sang worshi
song like “How Great Is Our God” and “Your Grace Is Enough,”
which the kids surprisingly knew so well. To see these childre
raising their hands to God was a lovely sight.
Following the worship, the children were led to a dance
exercise. And of course, we couldn’t spare the children from a
the fun and energy, so the loving teachers of the Awesome K
Ministry led the children into a few games.
The children were all hyper after the games, but when
Joe Dean started to pray, they calmed down and listened to
him. He led us to prayer before meals by singing the song
“Give Thanks.” The children sang at the top of their lungs. Thatmoment was so pure and sincere that it moved most of us
servants to tears.
Even though these children went crazy during the games
we saw how Joe Dean and the He Cares family were able to
teach and discipline them. As we were prepared the garage
for lunch, the children rushed to the washing area where the
servants helped them wash their hands. Then we sat with all
100 of them for lunch. And as we bid them goodbye, we gave
each of them loot bags with lots of treats inside.
It was such a fruitful and fulfilling day, and seeing their
lovely smiles was priceless. Most of them longed for the touch
of our very hands, wanting to be hugged and carried. I realize
then that we could give them our undivided attention or lots
treats, but no other gift can compare to love. By holding them
and carrying them, I’m sure that we made them feel the love
Christ.
How fulfilling it truly is to give thanks to God by giving lo
and blessing others. May we all continue to give love like nev
before.
If you would like to share your time with the kids at He Cares Foundation
contact Joe Dean or Ardis at (02)928-8910. He Cares is located at No. 9,
Mines St., Barangay Vasra, Project 6, Quezon City.
KERYGMA FEBRUARY 2016
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HOW CAN I STOP FROM COMMITTING SIN WITH MY BOYFRIEND?
Der K
I’m 17 years old and currently in
a relationship. Although I know
that engaging in premarital sex
is wrong based on our Christian
belief, my boyfriend and I have
done it several times now. I’ve
wanted us to stop doing it, but
we always end up giving in to
the temptation. It has become
habitual and we are so used to
being intimate that I am afraid we
are committing tremendous sin
already.
Can God still forgive us? What
should I do to avoid doing it again
with my boyfriend?
We both love each other. It’s
just that we get tempted and fail to
do what is right. Please give me some advice.
I will wait for your response. God
bless!
Jessa
Dear Jessa,
I’m glad that you’re seeking help regarding your struggle. You’re so young
and you have so many things to look orward to — especially in the area o
relationships.
My advice or you won’t be easy, but I assure you that i you ollow it, you
will be set ree rom this sin. Jesus said in Matthew 5:2930, “So i your eye — even
your good eye — causes you to lust, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better or
you to lose one part o your body than or your whole body to be thrown into
hell. And i your hand — even your stronger hand — causes you to sin, cut it off
and throw it away. It is better or you to lose one part o your body than or your
whole body to be thrown into hell.”
The only sure way you can break away rom this sin is to break up with
your boyriend and cut your ties with him. I give you this advice because you’re
still young and have many more things you should be busy about than being
in a relationship — especially a sexual one. Pour your energies into loving the
Lord, studying well, making lots o riends, learning new skills, having hobbies
and volunteering or worthy causes. This will expand your world and make you
a better person so that when the time is ripe and God brings the right man into
your lie, you would be the right woman or him too.
Praying or you,
Rissa
Rissa Singson Kawpeng has been proclaiming God’s Word
through radio, TV and print media for over two decades.
She has served extensively in youth and singles ministries
and is an inspiration to many in living godly lives.
Rissa has written five books, the latest of which is
Audience of One. Visit www.kerygmabooks.com for orders.
Email your questions to editsvp@shepherdsvoice.com.ph. Or if you need to talk to someone, call (632) 726-4709 or 726-6728 to contact a Light of
Jesus Pastoral Care Center counselor. Pastoral counseling by tel ephone is 24 hours from Monday to Friday, and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on S aturdays. Face-to-face pastoral counseling is by appointment. For correspondence pastoral counseling, email lojcounseling@yahoo.com or go to www.kerygmafamily.
com.
Or Call (632) 725-9999Pregnant? Confused? Abortion is not the answer. Contact Grace to Be Born at 654-1377. You may also contact Pro-life Philippines at (632) 733-7027.
8/16/2019 Kerygma Magazine February 2016
18/52KERYGMA FEBRUARY 201614
8/16/2019 Kerygma Magazine February 2016
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MY NONCATHOLIC FRIENDS QUESTION OUR FAITH
My family and I have been
attending The Feast Alabang for
almost four months now. I never
imagined that we could experience
and learn this much and I’m very
grateful for that. I just have some
questions and I’m wondering if you
could help me.
I have friends from Jehovah’sWitness and they have questions
about our faith that I don’t know
how to answer. They asked the
following: (1) why do we use images
in our churches, and (2) why God
allows pain and suffering.
Hope you could guide me as
I walk deeper into knowing God’s
Word and His love for us.
Belen
Dear Belen,You are really blessed by your
experiences during the weekly
Feast. Thank the Lord or this and
ask Him to continue enlightening
you and leading you to an ever
deeper aith in and love or Him.
The questions your riends ask are
answered so many times already
but non-Catholics continue to ask
them and ofen conuse Catholics.
Der K
When Fr. Rudy Horst came to the Philippines in 1984, he was rst assigned to the Immaculate
Conception Parish in Cubao. It was where he came in contact with the still young Light of Jesus Family.
In 1990, he moved to Christ the King Mission Seminary, where he now ser ves as head spiritual director
of the seminarians and teaches Religious Education. He also teaches Holy Scriptures at the Maryhill
School of Theology and the Divine Word School of Theology in Tagaytay.
1. Why do we have images? God prohibited in the first o the Ten Commandments
to worship them. In other words, He prohibits idolatry, replacing Him with idols.
But He did not prohibit making images in general. In Exodus 25, God told Moses to
ashion the images o two cherubims and place them on the Ark o the Covenant.
In Numbers 21, God told Moses to make a bronze serpent to be looked at or
healing. So, it is very much OK with God to have images.
Also, we keep photos o our loved ones to remind us o them and eel close to
them. Who could be closer to us and more loved than the Mother o Jesus and the
saints who are in heaven?
2. Why does God allow pain and suffering? This is a great mystery. Even St. John
Paul II struggled with this problem in his 1984 Apostolic Letter Salvifici Dolores
(On the Christian Meaning of Human Suffering). That “why” question goes back to
thousands o years ago. It was asked in the Old Testament by Job and the writers
o the Psalms. Why do bad things happen to good people? Even the innocent
Son o God asked this question when He was hanging on the Cross, “My God, My
God, why have You orsaken me?” I you ask me or any other person the question
“why?” the only answer I can honestly give consists o our words — “I do not
know.” I don’t have God’s mind. First Corinthians 13:12 says, “Now we see things
imperectly, like puzzling reflections in a mirror, but then we will see everything
with perect clarity. All that I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will
know everything completely, just as God now knows me completely.”I hope these answers help you to answer your Jehova’s
Witnesses riends. You can call me through Shepherd’s
Voice i you want some more help.
Fr. Rudy
KERYGMA FEBRUARY 2016
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L
ike the sun rising in the east, a
dream was born. The sudden
growth o The Feast Bluewave-
Marikina led to the search or an
alternate, bigger place that wouldcater to more people in and around
Marikina City. But this dream turned
out to be impossible to achieve. Feast
Bluewave builder Monching Bueno
and his team had been eyeing Sta.
Lucia East Grand Mall because o its
perect location — the intersection o
Marikina, Cainta, Pasig and Antipolo.
But when they inquired with the mall
administration, the high rental cost o
one o the cinemas discouraged them.
They couldn’t afford it.
In Lower Antipolo, a mission Feastdied. But the ew who remained aithul
to this Feast continued to gather like a
caring group. One day, they convinced
their good riend to open a Feast in a
mall that he owns — none other than
Sta. Lucia East Grand Mall.
Eventually, Woody Quiros, the
District Builder o Rizal, surprised
Monching that they could already
organize a Feast in Sta. Lucia. The
owner said yes to the call. They only
had to pay or electricity. They could
incorporate The Feast in the already-
established anticipated Mass every
Sunday in Cinema 5. The dying dream
was brought back to lie. What seemed to
be impossible at first led to the birth o thenewest Feast in the east — Feast Sta. Lucia!
The Birthday of Feast Sta. Lucia
On the evening o September 26, 2015,
The Feast Sta. Lucia (FSL) held its
grand launch, attended by more than a
thousand people, filling up not just the
main cinema but also the seats in the
balcony. Monching recalled how little
time they had to announce the new
event, but praise God or the support o
the attendees and servants o The Feast
Bluewave and also the endorsement oRev. Fr. Giovanni Yago, the parish priest o
Our Lady o Fatima Parish in Greenpark
Village, Cainta.
Father Vanni, as he is ondly called,
presided over the anticipated Mass
during the grand launch o FSL. The
Gospel that day talked about Jesus
reminding His disciples that “whoever is
not against us is or us” (Mark 9:40).
Afer the Holy Mass, the servants
rom The Feast Bluewave took over in
leading the praise and worship. Obet
Fea Snpsht
Cabrillas, the builder o Feast Manila
and Feast Valle Verde, was the guest
preacher or that day. His talk, taken
rom the series “TGIF: Thank God I’m
Filipino,” emphasized that Filipinosshould ocus on their innate qualitie
such as godliness, lovingkindness,
riendliness and hospitality.
Monching gave an inspiring and
powerul talk aferwards, expressing
his great gratitude and excitement
that their dream to open a Feast in St
Lucia has become a reality. He noted
“They said the sun rises in the east...
Today, not just the sun is rising rom
our area but the Son o God!”
Many regular and new Mass-
goers, especially amilies, were great blessed by this warm and loving
experience in FSL. Monching, in an
interview, expressed his confidence
that by God’s grace, this baby Feast
will have more regular attendees and
home-grown servants.
Come and experience God’s love in the newe
Feast in the East every Saturday, 7 p.m.,
Cinema 5, Sta. Lucia East Grand Mall. Also
check out the schedule o The Feast near yo
Visit ww w.lightam.com.
KERYGMA FEBRUARY 2016
THE NEWEST
FEAST IN THE
EAST
By Krizelle R. Talladen
Photos by Von Dela Vega
and Rey P. De Guzman
8/16/2019 Kerygma Magazine February 2016
22/52
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By Geraldine Samson
as told to Marjorie Duterte
From Ashes
to New Life True Love Heals
lone in my hotel room, away rom prying eyes, I wept.
I was ripped off o everything I was attached to afer my
marriage ell apart. I elt that the shattered pieces o mysel
were powdered like fine salt. The agony, the despair and the
brokenness, they were beyond words. I was exhausted romtrying to prove my worth.
“God, help me, save me!” my soul cried out. In that
abyss, peace beyond understanding suddenly rose rom
within me. I said, “God, i this is the price I have to pay to
experience this kind o peace I’ve been looking or all
my lie, I accept it.”
I Hppene
KERYGMA FEBRUARY 2016
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Glass Half-Empty
I was born to a prominent couple in
Baguio. My dad was a dentist and my
mom, a proessor. Baguio was just a
small town. Everyone knew everybody.
Growing up, I imbibed other people’s ear,
“Ano na lang ang sasabihin ng mga tao?”
(What would people say?)
My parents were already havingtrouble in their marriage even beore
my our other siblings were born. There
were times when my mom would ask me
where my dad and I went. At six years old,
I didn’t know that it was the place where
the girlriend o my dad was. Next thing
I knew was that they would be fighting
behind closed doors. My dad would yell
and my mom would cry. I figured it was
something I said. I ended up blaming
mysel and consequently watching
what I had to say. I didn’t know that I was
touching on issues that weren’t mine.
We were brought up with a lot o
criticisms. There was always something
missing in us. My mom and other aunts
were also raised that way. Although they
were coming rom good intentions, the
distorted thinking was that i you were
praised, your head might swell. We
weren’t taught to appreciate ourselves.
Looking in the mirror was considered
vain. I couldn’t look at it without
criticizing mysel.
The only way to deal with my
many ears was to be as perect as
possible. I couldn’t commit mistakes
because that would devalue my worth
as a person. I depended my worth on
what I did.I just had to keep on giving more
because i you don’t, you’re considered
selfish. I thought that to be loved, you
have to deserve it. And that conused
me when I was a kid. I always elt that
to be enough, one had to do more and
be more.
When I turned 10, my parents
separated. I already had a hal-sister
by then. It affected me so much that
I thought i I was a good daughter I
could bring them back together again.
In my child’s mind, I thought I was
responsible or their separation.
Just to prove to people that
coming rom a broken home didn’t
mean that I was broken too, I tried
hard to be a good daughter, sister and
student. I wanted to be accepted and
to belong. I thought that i I just tried
harder and be good, people would
stop talking. I didn’t know then that I
couldn’t control their speech. No matt
what I did, it was never enough.
I became the “super firstborn,
surrogate parent” to my siblings. I
identified mysel with the role o “the
ate” (eldest sister) so much, I orgot tha
my siblings will grow up and eventual
have minds o their own.When I was 18, I went through a
crisis that I wanted to take my lie. I
had no identity o my own. Whatever
people would say, that’s who I was.
My siblings no longer needed me. My
dad had his own lie already. My mom
remarried. I asked mysel, “Who am I?
What am I here or?”
What kept me rom taking my ow
lie was that I realized God must have
purpose or me. God gave me this lie,
have no right to take it away.
Fear vs. Love
I was 25 years old when I got married.
knew what it was like to have a broken
amily. I told mysel, “I’m not going to le
the same things happen because I don
want my children to experience the
same things I went through.”
My husband also came rom a
broken amily. I thought here’s a pers
who could understand me because
he’s been through it. What I ailed to
realize was that when you get marrieyou bring your amily with you. They
may not be living with you but you
take along your messed-up history.
There’s a great chance that the patter
will repeat itsel unless there’s healin
I told one o my counselor-riend
about how we decided to get married
not wanting the same things to happe
to us. He said, “Ang baba ng standards
mo” (You have low standards).
It was only when my marriage w
ailing when I realized what he mean
entered marriage coming rom a spaco lack. I kept trying to make up or it.
But it was never going to be enough
no matter how hard I tried. It makes a
difference — ºthe space you’re comin
rom. I wanted to raise my kids and
have a solid amily just because that’s
what a amily is — children growing
up with both parents there. I had goo
intentions o not wanting the same
things to happen again but that’s reall
coming rom a low standard.
Geraldine believes that lie is beautiul, that everything is a gif, and that nature reflects
God’s goodness and beauty.
KERYGMA FEBRUARY 201620
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25/52
I was coming rom a space o
ear o repeating the same mistakes.
I thought that marriage could also be
an avenue or healing but it’s a tougher
road to take. It’s more challenging.
I realized that one needs to have
a good relationship with one’s sel
first. I you’re coming rom a space o
wholeness, rom the ullness o who
you are inside, you will know your
boundaries and you will not expect
or demand anything rom the person.
When you just do things out o love,
you don’t expect things. When the love
or the avor goes back to you, it’s just
icing on the cake.
I also thought that the best thing
parents could give their children was
a good education. I realized the best
gif I could give them was who I am as
a person.
Burning Inside
I had psoriasis due to a lot o stress
in the marriage. My immune system
went down. In 2011, I had Stevens-
Johnson syndrome, a rare lie-
threatening skin condition. Only two
to six people out o a million get it. I
was taking supplements and I didn’t
know I was allergic to some o its
ingredients.
When I woke up one Monday, I
had turned purple. I couldn’t ingest
anything and I elt weak. I elt like I had
no bones. My symptoms were similar
to that o a burnt victim, except that
the burnt victim gets burned rom the
outside. I was burning inside, such that
my skin started to crust and turned
raw.
But there was a tree outside my
window and I’d look and appreciate
it. You don’t ofen get to see trees in
hospitals. It reminded me o what I
believed in ever since
I was a child, that
despite all the pain
I experienced, lie is
beautiul. I became
one o the astest
recovering patients
in the hospital.
Life Finds a Way
A year afer my
sickness, I was at the
Good Shepherd’s
convent. I asked,
“God, what does it
mean to accept, to
love more ully, and
not have to prove
anything?”
While I looked at the trees and the
plants, it dawned on me. “Look at that
simple flower, it doesn’t have to prove its
beauty and yet people admire it. People
pass by it, they may not even notice it,
but its beauty doesn’t ade. People may
not even like it but it remains unazed. Its
basic goodness is there. It doesn’t have to
try so hard.”There was also a lea that was makin
its way through a crack in the cement.
Lie always finds a way even as simple
as a blade o grass. It is still beautiul. It
has a purpose. Nothing is ever wasted.
Everything in my lie is a gif, even the
pain.
I was programmed to think I was
not good enough. But the truth is, I am
already ull and complete. My goodness
is inherent. I am made in the image and
likeness o God. I don’t have to try so hard
“In my brokenness, I ound my
wholeness,” I wrote to the kind Dr. Tony
Protacio who provided the hotel room I
stayed in afer my separation. It was when
everything ell apart and I had nothing to
cling to, that peace rose rom within me,
the wholeness that I’ve been looking or
since I was a child. My lie has come ull
circle.
Now, I am starting anew. With Him, I
am enough. When you have nothing lef
but God, you’ll find that He is enough.
Photo below: Geraldine with ellow Filipino meta-
coaches. Meta-coaching helped Geraldine break re
rom her negative mental programming adapted
rom her childhood. As a licensed meta-coach, she
now helps others overcome their limiting belies to
With L.Michael Hall, Ph.D, co-ounder o International Society o Neuro-Semantics
and the Meta-Coaching System. Metacoaching helps bring out the best o who you
are and empowers you to live the ull lie God intended you to live.
KERYGMA FEBRUARY 2016
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Spec SectIntroduction
In Lolo
Kiko’s
WordsMarvel AT
Pope Francis’
Teachings:
the joy of the gospel
care for the
environment
communicatE
AND RELATE
By Bo Sanchez
© iStock.com/neneos
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I love St. Francis of Assisi.In act, when I was 13, I bid goodbye to Superman
as my hero and replaced him with St. Francis.
Why?
Because o his simplicity, humility and
compassion.
Francis, born and raised in a wealthy amily,
lef his riches to ollow Jesus and serve the poor. He
joined them. Asked or alms with them. Lived with
them.
In my attempt to tread upon his heels, I lived
in the slums when I was 15. I played, preached and
prayed with the street people. To make mysel a
perect Francis kalokalike, I wore tattered jogging
pants topped by a dirty-white shirt. It matched well
with my old brown sandals. For consistency, I limited
my number o baths and stopped using deodorants.
No doubt I created a powerul impact that could slay
people. (Ugh, I know it’s not the same odor o sanctity
that the saints had.)
I didn’t do it quite perectly though. St. Francis
kissed a leper when he saw one. Me? The first time I
encountered a leper, I wanted to pretend that I was
Japanese and just bow to him reverently. Or simply
wave at him. Or nod. Anything that could spare me
rom touching him.Thank God, He changed my heart. I love them
now and I see God reflected in their hope-filled eyes.
Why am I telling you this story?
Because three years ago, someone rocked the
Catholic Church and the entire world by being a
living replica o the saint I love the most.
Jorge Mario Bergoglio, or whom we Filipinos
ondly call “ Lolo Kiko,” chose Francis as his papal
name in honor o St. Francis o Assisi. Fittingly, our
current Pope embodies the same simplicity, humility
and compassion that his namesake lived out.
Pope Francis kissed the lepers. Embraced the
least. Welcomed back the lost.And in this issue, we will get to know him more
by understanding his teachings. You see, beyond
this man’s gentle smile lies a proound wisdom and
genuine love or others.
Read on and be enlightened about the significant
issues that we ace… in Lolo Kiko’s words.
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By Dwight Christopher Castillo
Pope Francis’“Evangelii Gaudium”(Joy of the Gospel)
Spec Sect
hen Pope Francis visited the
Philippines in January 2015, I
prayed that I would be able to see
him ace to ace.
We were seated outside MOA
Arena during the Meeting with theFamilies. Pope Francis was just 10
meters away when he passed by our
spot in his open popemobile. And he
would stop again and again to bless the
people, to hug and kiss babies. Just a
smile rom him was worth all the hours
o waiting. To me, the experience was
like “God smiled at me!”
YOU CAN’T WIN OTHERS
TO CHRISTWITH A LONG FACE
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This article ocuses on
how he wants to transorm
the Church — and how his
daily actions show us how to
lead others to Jesus as well.
Afer all, when you see how he
relates with people, he portrays
Jesus to us. He loves the poor,
the atheist; he even loves the
sinners and everything that
God created.
One o the greatest Vatican
texts that has ever been written
is the Evangelii Gaudium — The
Joy of the Gospel, penned by
no less than Pope Francis. It is
a remarkable text and it lifsmy heart with joy because it
brings us back to what our true
mission is.
Called to Love the Least, Last
and Lost
Our true purpose in lie is to be
a blessing to others. We are all
called to love, and so we have
the responsibility to become
the ace o Jesus Christ to
others. We need to spread Hislove.
Have you watched movies
wherein one can hear the
thoughts o every person
around him? I we can the
thoughts o people around us, I
am sure we will be bombarded
with problems rom all sides.
And the good Pope says that “to
be happy, we need courage.”
It is difficult to be happywhen we have problems, so
we need courage to be the ace
o hope to someone even i
we have problems. The law o
reciprocity says that whatever
you want to receive, you must
give. Even i there are problems
in lie, you just have to breathe
deep and take courage and be
their sorrows will turn into joy
(John 16:20), and Pope Francisreminds us to be cheerul.
“Consequently, an
evangelizer must never
look like someone who
has just come back rom
uneral.”
– (EG, Article 10)
happy. Everything in lie is temporary
— and only God gives us things that last:
victory, joy and love.
Joy Amidst ProblemsAs believers o God, we are being
constantly challenged. The enemy is
more aware o what we do to achieve
peace, love and joy. We live in a
time wherein we are ed with many
distractions that do not allow us to hear
God’s call. We are at risk to not desire to
do well, to not desire to help the poor,
and to become worldly. We tend to
envy what others have.
“There are Christians whoselives seem like Lent without
Easter.”
– Evangelii Gaudium (Article 6)
Through our personal encounter
with God’s amazing love, we will be
filled with gratitude and love. We are
encouraged to open ourselves to God
and believe that no one is more special
than the other because in God’s eye we
are all equal — saints and sinners alike.
Most o the time, it is us who get
tired to ask Him or orgiveness. But
every time we want to be with God, He
will surely embrace us again back into
His arms. I we are looking or true and
lasting happiness, it can only be ound
in God. Because when we encounter
God in our lives, we let Him bring us
beyond ourselves.
At The Feast, I meet people who are
broken or who eel unworthy, yet they
continue to serve in our ministries. Andwhen I ask them why they still serve,
their answer is simple: “It’s because I
love God!”
That love heals their brokenness,
unworthiness and pain. It never ails.
Why? Because only God can fill up that
empty space in our hearts. By having a
relationship with God, we are restored.
Jesus promised His apostles that
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We have the responsibility
to be joyous and be ministers othe Gospel such that, as people
receive Christ, they receive the joy
we eel in proclaiming the Gospel.
An Inclusive Church
Time and again, we hear Pope
Francis say that our Church must
be one that accepts sinners, the
poor and the sick.
“A Church which goes orth
is a Church whose doors are
open… We have to be like
the ather o the prodigal
son who always keeps hisdoor open or when the son
returns…”
- EG (Article 46)
We have barricaded the walls o
the Church or so long that it’s time
that She needs to become a Mother
with an open heart. “The Church
is not a tollhouse, it is the house o
the Father, where there is a place
or everyone,” says the Pope. We
should look or the people whoare easily despised and who are
always overlooked, especially the
sinners who think there is no more
hope or them, the people who eel
unsatisfied, unhappy and eel they
are stuck in their situation.
“It is our responsibility to
make them realize God
never gets tired o orgiving
us.”
– Pope Francis
There are lots o people who
need our help, people who have
been imprisoned by addiction, sins
and other things in their lie that
prevents them rom having ullness
o lie all it takes is goodness. God
created us all with goodness and
everything He created is good
(see Ephesians 2:10 and Genesis
1:31). We have the responsibility to become the Church — the inclusive
Church — that sees these people
and treat them as our brothers and
sisters in aith.
All we can do is take delight in
evangelizing people. One thing is
or sure about goodness, it has a
pay-it-orward system. Every act o
goodness always tends to spread.
Our good Pope says:
“Goodness always tends
to spread. Every authentic
experience o truth andgoodness seeks by its very
nature to grow within us,
and any person who has
experienced a proound
liberation becomes more
sensitive to the needs
o others. As it expands,
goodness takes root and
develops.”
– EG (Article 9)
When we experience theauthentic goodness o others,
there springs within us a desire
to bless other people with our
goodness as well. When we grow
in goodness, we become more
sensitive to the needs o others.
When we thank the Lord every
day, we will experience Him every
day, too.
Those who have experienced
God become a source o delight
or those who eel discouraged,
hopeless and impatient. When we
experience the love o God, we
must become God’s love to other
people. And rom this act, they
will become God’s love to another
person.
Pope Francis challenges
us to be missionaries o joy
and love. He said, “Challenges
exist to be overcome! Let us be
realists, but without losing our joy, our boldness and our hope-
filled commitment. Let us not
allow ourselves to be robbed o
missionary vigor” (Article 103,
Evangelii Gaudium).
Friend, the uture o the
Church lies in our hands.
© i S t o c k . c o m / n e n e o s
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Spec Sect
a kiss fromheavenn November 2014, my 14-year-old daughter — a child with special needs and multiple
disabilities — was diagnosed to have hyponatremia. It is a lie-threatening condition
which may lead to coma i lef untreated. This is in addition to her battle against
progressive leukemia.
With ear and sadness that I might lose her, I went down on my knees and prayed
like I never prayed beore. I was in deep sorrow just like when I lost my husband to an
accident 12 years ago.
I held on to aith as my only hope. Through all the years that I’ve been a widow
and single parent to my two children, my aith never wavered. Instead, the trials and
tribulations made me stronger. I believe that God is my partner and He will never ail a
leave me.
It is or this reason that I looked orward to Pope Francis’ visit to the country in
January 2015. I promised mysel that I would bring my children along his route becau
just the sight o him would already be a blessing.
Silver Lining
On the day o his arrival in Manila, my riends and I waited on a roadside or several
hours. It paid off when Pope Francis passed us by and waved at us directly. It was enouI
Testimonial
By Elinore Malibiran
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enough to make me cry. For the
next two days — and with my
children, cousins and nephew in
tow — I went back again to where
he was scheduled to pass by. My
heart was filled with joy knowing
that my children were blessed byHis Holiness even rom aar. As
we waited or the Pope to return
rom his short visit to Tacloban, a
middle-aged guy volunteered to
help us carry my daughter on her
wheelchair. Little did I know that he
held the key to God’s surprise or us.
Apparently, the man was the
barangay chairman in the area. He
mentioned that he could help us
get near the gate o the Apostolic
Nunciature where the Pope stayed.
I we got lucky, we would beaccommodated by the Papal guards
and be allowed to get inside.
I was skeptical about his
sincerity at first because I’ve met
people who’ve volunteered to help
but used us instead. So rather than
give him our cell number, we got his
and contacted him that night. To our
disappointment, network signals
were jammed the whole time or
security reasons. We ound out the
ollowing day that he was trying to
call us too.The chairman inormed us that
we had to come at 4 a.m. the next
day so he could help us get closer
to the Pope. I was ecstatic. It was the
silver lining that I was looking or. It
was our first miracle.
Steadfast Hope and a Couple of
Miracles
But my happiness was short-lived.
I received a notice rom the airline
that I work or that I might be
called in just in case people were
needed or the day’s operation. I
was confident though that i it was
God’s will or us to have a personal
encounter with the Pope, He would
move mountains and pave the
way to make it happen. I asked two
o my closest riends to join me in
prayer or that one last chance.
That night, I dreamt o the Pope
alighting rom his open vehicle
walking towards me and my daughter.
When he came to us, he embraced my
daughter. I woke up crying.
At 3 a.m. the ollowing day, I checked
my phone to see i I had to report or work
but there was no message rom the office.
My second miracle! I took it as a sign that we
were to see the Pope upclose finally.
An hour later, we were escorted rom
the barangay chairman’s house to the rontgates o the Apostolic Nunciature. From
the time we lef our house, I was praying
unceasingly that God may give us the grace
to personally meet Pope Francis. The head
o the papal guards got my daughter’s name
and her medical condition. I was oblivious
o my surroundings that I didn’t notice there
were a lot o children in the area hoping or
their miracle, too. But I kept my aith
that since God got us this ar, He wil
make it happen or us.
A ew minutes later, the
security chie went out again
holding a piece o paper. I closed
my eyes and whispered onelast prayer. When he called my
daughter’s name, I cried almost
instantly. It was our greatest
miracle!
A Kiss from Heaven
When we walked in, tears kept
streaming down my ace. I was
trembling and crying as Pope
Francis approached. I was
overwhelmed by his presence.
He smiled at me and held my
hand as he touched my daughterand kissed her orehead. It was like
drawing close to heaven.
My heart stopped beating — as
i everything was lifed rom me.
I elt ree rom pain, worries, sins,
heartaches and misortunes. The
sadness o losing my husband
too soon, which I harbored or
years, suddenly went away. It was
replaced by a promise that rom
then on, lie would be OK. Even
my daughter knew what was
happening. When the Pope kissedher, she readily gave him a big smile
as i acknowledging his presence
and the blessing she received.
As we bid the Pope goodbye
that day, I brought with me his
blessing and the lesson that we
should never doubt the goodness
o the Lord. We should
never be araid to cry
because in crying we
come ace to ace with
our deepest ears and
eelings and we become
closer to God. And to be
closer to God, we should
allow ourselves to be
loved, to be surprised
by His overflowing love
through the people
around us. This is His
clear message to us. Elinore and her children, Riel and Rianne, will orever
treasure their encounter with Pope Francis.
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Who Will,If Not
Us?Wisdom from PopeFrancis’ Laudato Si’(On Caring for OurCommon Home)
aBy Tess V. Atienza
Spec Sect
uture inhabitants o Earth will
have, including our very own
children, grandchildren and great
grandchildren.
Pope Francis, as the caring pastor
that we know him to be, wrote anencyclical letter titled Laudato Si’ to
address this concern. He is worried
not only about what’s happening to
our land, but more so, how it affects
the poorest o the poor, Christians
and non-Christians alike.
He, however, firmly believes
in the innate goodness o man and
hopes that the spiral o destruction to
Mother Earth can be arrested i man
undergoes an ecological and moral
conversion.
t’s 10 days beore Christmas. Typhoon signal no. 1 is raised
over Metro Manila. Samar, Sorsogon and others on the path
o Typhoon Nona are under signal no. 3. Local government
units are on red alert or possible disaster. Classes in some areas
are already suspended. As usual, traffic is at a standstill almost
everywhere.I say a prayer as I curl in bed — thankul or the cold weather
but at the same time anxious and earul. Certain memories
flash through my mind each time heavy rains all.
Dead bodies lying around. People walking aimlessly, not
knowing where to go or what to do. Men and women looting
supermarkets, driven by hunger. People lining up or a ew kilos
o rice, some canned goods, and perhaps a ew bottles o water
to last them or a day or two.
Friends, the signs are upon us: Our common home — the
Earth — is in danger.
There is no escaping it now. Everything we do
— and not do — has an effect on the kind o lie the
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We all have a share in this work.
And our beloved Pope offers steps we
can — and should — take i we are to
seriously help in halting the destruction
Present Dangers
In his encyclical, Pope Francis said,
“The continued acceleration o changes
affecting humanity and the planet is
coupled today with a more intensified
pace o lie and work which might be
called ‘rapidification.’ Although change
is part o the working o complex
systems, the speed with which human
activity has developed contrasts with
the naturally slow pace o biological
evolution” (LS, no. 18).
We are all witnesses — evenaccomplices — to this. In our desire
to make lie easier, acquire more,
produce more, move around aster,
we have allowed the government
and big businesses to turn orests into
highways and high-rise condominiums,
to reclaim the sea and turn it into malls
and casinos, and to plunder whatever
natural resources can be converted to
profit.
Pollution is not only in the air that
we breathe or in the water we drink. It
is also in the tons o waste — especiallynon-biodegradable and toxic —
generated daily by households, offices,
hospitals, ood establishments, and
industrial sites. Many diseases are now
being traced to pollution o every kind.
Modern society has developed
a throwaway culture that quickly
considers a thing as rubbish i it no
longer serves us. There is a disposable
version o almost anything that we
use daily — rom cups and plates to
underwear and printers.
In the most recent years, we
have experienced and seen extreme
weather disturbances not only here in
the Philippines but in other countries as
well. We readily say it’s global warming,
climate change, etc. But it didn’t happen
just by itsel. Studies have shown that
most o it is caused by human activity.
Pope Francis’ heart or the poor
is evident when he wrote, “Climate
change is a global problem with
grave implications…. Its worst impact
will probably be elt by developing
countries in the coming decades.
Many o the poor live in areas
particularly affected by phenomena
related to warming, and their means
o subsistence are largely dependent
on natural reserves and ecosystemic
services such as agriculture, fishing
and orestry.” Does that sound like the
Philippines?
Extreme changes in climate affect
not just man. Plants and animals
cannot adapt to the changes to, orcing
rural olks to migrate because o loss o
livelihood. In turn, amilies disintegrate
— a clear case o environmental
deterioration leading to moral and
social degradation, with the poor being
most affected.
All the above is just a glimpse ohow seriously our common home is
going down to the brink o destruction.
What’s more important, though, is what
each o us can do to contribute to its
halt.
Ecological and Moral Conversion
In Chapter 6 o Laudato Si’, Pope Francis
says, “Many things have to change
course, but it is we human beings above
all who need to change. We lack an
awareness o our common origin,
o our mutual belonging, and o a
uture to be shared with everyone.”
Pope Francis proposes several
measures to do this, but let’s just
tackle some that are doable within
one’s amily and community.
Because i every amily commits
to do these, then communities
change, too, until entire countries
and the whole world change.
1. New lifestyle
Pope Francis says, “The emptier
a person’s heart is, the more he or
she needs things to buy, own and
consume” (LS, no. 204). The issue
o environmental degradationshould make us examine our
liestyle.
Take a look around your
house, or even just your
bedroom.
Are there things that you have
barely used or not used at all in
the last six months? Review your
purchases in the last ew weeks.
Did you really need that new
gadget or new branded shirt or
bag?
When you eat out or even inthe house, do you use disposable
and non-biodegradable stuff?
Are you easily swayed by
the powerul billboards and
advertisements that bombard our
senses day in and day out?
It’s about time that we become
more conscious o the things we
buy and use, as well as how we
dispose those that we have used or
don’t need.
Here’s a simplified guide
that we can reer to in our dailyactivities:
Rethink that whatever you
do impacts other people and the
earth.
Reuse whatever can still be
put to good use.
Reduce waste and segregate
them.
Recycle anything — rom
paper to bottles to apparel.
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Respect that there is a purpose or everything that God
created; don’t meddle with it.
Friends, it’s time we throw away that “throwaway” culture.
2. Environmental education for ecological covenant
More than giving scientific inormation and generating
awareness on the issue o environmental destruction, there
is a need to cultivate new habits and new virtues that are
ecologically sound.
Local governments have taken steps along this line, such
as banning the use o plastic bags in supermarkets and waste
segregation. Still, these are “imposed” limitations and not
everyone understands the reason behind it.
What will work best is i every household — rom the
youngest member to the oldest — will sit down and discuss
how their daily habits impact the environment and commit
to change their liestyle. Not only will this bring out the best
in us; it will also give long-lasting restorative effects on the
environment.Schools and parishes can likewise provide
environmental education and events. Media can best help in
this, too, instead o being on the oreront o consumerism.
3. Ecological spirituality
Have you ever thought o nature as a “book” through which
God shows us His beauty and goodness? In Wisdom 13:5, it
says, “Through the greatness and beauty o creatures, one
comes to know by analogy their Maker.”
St. Francis o Assisi, the model par excellence o
ecological spirituality, invites us to always see God in nature.
To him, all things that God created are a brother and a sister to
him.I we take on that spirituality, we will have more respect
not only or our ellow human beings but also or everything
that He created — including that little herb plant in the
backyard, that hill that looks too good to convert into a hotel,
that skinny dog running afer you as you walk down the
street.
We can only develop this level o spirituality i we have
a committed relationship with our Creator. No prayers or
religious rituals can lead us to this. It is by being o
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