ii YAHWEH YAHWEH angang

Official monthly publication of the Bukas-Loob sa Diyos Covenant Community– San Pablo District March 2009

H ow can we make our Community a more loving and caring community built on trust? This was the question posed by Pastoral

Steward (PS) and teaching facilitator Vini Cadiz as the disciplers of the District came together to attend the first scheduled teaching for disciplers last 22 February 1:00 pm at the St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Brgy. Pulo, Cabuyao, Laguna on Community 1. Formation Stewards Paul & Charity Zafaralla led the opening prayers and FS Charity gave the overview of objectives, desired outcomes, and general schedule of the whole Discipling Program, hopefully culminating in October. The key question:” How can we make our Community a more loving and caring community built on trust?”, was posed as all of the attendees have long realized that our

BLD Community is not a perfect community; and that we all have our wishes for a more loving and caring Community. Everybody agreed that there is much room for improvement after a lengthy review of the BLD teaching on Community. PS Vini went through the key aspects of what makes for a vibrant Christian community: Caring for Each Other; Bearing with one another; Sharing with one another; Submitting to one another; and Serving in the Lord’s Vineyard to bring about the Kingdom of God. The talk also dealt with the imperfect community and identified the communitarian sins that build walls within community to divide us. Many commented that after going through the teaching again (after at least 7 years ago when they first attended the teaching on the CMP1), they have experienced and

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Community Disciplers Meet for Teaching on Community

11 COUPLES JOIN ME WEEKEND CLASS NO. 39

E leven couples responded to God’s invitation to a Spirit –filled encounter with the Lord during a marriage encounter weekend last February 27-

March 1, 2009 held at the BLD Covenant House, Dasmariñas, Cavite. The ME Weekend Class No. 39 was organized by the BLD-North Sector. The Pastoral Team was led by Rev. Fr. Thor Villacarlos, BLD-SPD Spiritual Director who presided over the conferences and teachings on Friday & Saturday. Rev. Fr. Richard Buenaventura took over the role of Fr. Thor on Sunday. The presenting

couples were Remie & Boy Hernandez and Afin & Nancy Ramos. The successful candidates were Jojo & Jenny Acuña, Jun & Malou Apurado, Mon & Violy Aven, Boy & Irene Epino, Darwen & Myrna Gorgod, Vhin & Mitch Hernandez, Leo & Malou Hernandez, Mckoy & Mary Ann Lara, James & Meth Mendoza, Boy & Joy Nataño and Phil & She Zialcita. They will be guided by incoming shepherds Gabby & Joset Ramos. Jim & Emyrose Mejia was the Admin Couple during the weekend with Eric & Babes Ramos serving as instrumentalists.

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Reflecting on the life of Tito Roger from where I write, he reminds me so much of St. Joseph, whose feast we will celebrate this March.

It is said that the word “dream” appears in the New Testament only five times, and four out of those five times the word is used in reference to Joseph the carpenter. In all these cases, he is always being persuaded to do exactly the opposite of what he was planning to do.

Tito Roger must have been immensely living up and enjoying his bachelorhood while running a profitable insurance firm from Majayjay, Laguna, and marriage was farthest from his mind. Then the angel of the Lord asked him to marry Tita Ludy Eala.

Not that Tita Ludy was embarrassingly pregnant, like the Virgin Mary, but the call of the Lord for Tita Ludy was to found a family that will be consecrated to the Lord -- and it’s about time too, her friends and relatives would comment.

And as St. Joseph went ahead and took the Virgin Mary as his wife contrary to his original plan, so did Tito Roger give up his bachelorhood to take Tita Ludy as his bride and pursue the Lord’s purposes for them to start a family. And Tito Roger’s life was never the same again. So was St. Joseph’s.

And then the angel told St. Joseph to move his business to Egypt to protect the child from the evil King who meant to eliminate a potential competitor to his crown. Despite being already settled in his business and comfortable in his homestead, Joseph packed up and obeyed the command from the Lord. In like manner, Tito Roger, despite being quite settled in his ways and comfort zone, opted to relocate to College, Laguna to live in the home of the Ealas and found a family.

After getting comfortable and settled in Egypt, the angel asked Joseph to suddenly move back to Nazareth, to start the final phase of what would be St. Joseph’s last mission for God. The call to Tito Roger came just as he was getting settled in their married life, having sired two kids JR and Joel, his insurance business flourishing and a rising political career.

The call came in the form of an invitation to join the Marriage Encounter Weekend # 143 by the Bukas Loob sa Diyos Covenant Community. Together with Ben/Jovy Revilla; Joy/Maremi Ramos and Gerry/Julie Sison of the College Community, they hied off to Baguio that November in 1988. And their lives were never the same again.

Tito Roger and Tita Ludy went on to become covenanted disciples of the BLD Community that they helped establish in Los Banos, which grew on to become the BLD District of San Pablo. Tito Roger and Tita Ludy faithfully served God through their BLD community as LSS/ME sharers, community teacher, ministry coordinators, LSS shepherds, and Word Sharing Circle shepherd. They also served the STCJP as Extraordinary minister of the Eucharist and proclaimer of the Word, catechist and Pre-Cana counselor. Tito Roger’s drive to serve God was extended to His people when Tito Roger was elected

repeatedly as Kagawad of the Barangay Batong Malake, which he served with distinction and a proactive stance rarely seen in public servants.

The Gospels do not record a single word spoken by St. Joseph. Tito Roger, likewise, was a man of few words; he is more of an action man. If ever, he always had the last word with Tita Ludy, even if it was mostly “Yes, dear.” He is a good man, indeed.

In the Gospels we only read of gestures and one explicit reference to St. Joseph: vir justus – a just man. And since he was not a judge, it really means he was a good man. And all of us who have known Tito Roger and those whose lives he has touched, we know that he is a good man – a good father to JR and Joel, a good and handsome husband to match svelte Tita Ludy, a good and caring brother in the BLD Community, a good and honest businessman, a good and devoted public servant.

Tito Roger, like St. Joseph, transformed the tasks and mission given him by God into something sacred and, because of that, allowed miracles to be performed in their lives.

Tito Roger Resubal joined our Creator last 25 February 2009 – Ash Wednesday. And in solidarity with his family, we look forward to the coming 40 days of Lent full of hope, till we commemorate Easter and the Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ -- in whose resurrection Tito Roger pinned all his hopes and his life, knowing he will rise again with Christ, in Christ.

By Vini Cadiz Remembering Tito Roger...

MISSION TEAM GEARS UP FOR SE WEEKEND NO. 2 IN MULANAY

T he second Mulanay-BLD Single’s Encounter Weekend will be held on March 6-8, 2009 . It is estimated that 60 participants will answer the Lord’s invitation for a deeper

and more intimate relationship with Him coming from the faculty and students of PUP-Mulanay, graduating high school classes of the different high schools in Mulanay, particularly the Parish Catholic School of St. Peter and other out-of-school youth of Mulanay. The mission team will be led by our Mission Parish Services Coordinators, Danny and Lala Atienza, representing our Mission Steward, together with the composite team from the Single’s Ministry of the North & South Sectors of the BLD San Pablo District. The Mission Team will leave at 6am on Friday March 6, 2009 which will take them to a 5hr-200km journey towards the calm and friendly town of Mulanay, Quezon. Food and accommodation for the entire weekend shall be provided for by the generous and very hospitable people of Mulanay headed by it’s equally most accommodating parish priest Fr Jing Caparros and his assistant Fr. Nino. The gasoline and other miscellaneous expenses for this mission were solicited from our generous friends and brethren in our community. Truly the grace of the Lord is more than sufficient for all the works in His vineyard. The Mission Team exhorts everyone to pray for the success of the SE Weekend. (Danny Atienza)

BLD-SPD NORTH SECTOR UPDATES

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Photos above show the members of the Mission Homestead of the BLD-San Pablo District North Sector celebrating Valentine’s Day with the elderly at the Mary Mother of Mercy Home for the Elderly and the Abandoned in San Pedro, Laguna. This is in keeping with their promise to the elderly residents of the institution to visit them on a quarterly basis. Indeed, what a way to celebrate God’s love by putting God’s word into action—”Whatever you do to the least of my brethren, you do unto me..”.

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KASALANG BAYAN (Photo, left). A Mass Wedding or Kasalang Bayan was held on Saturday, February 21, 2009 at the Holy Family Church in San Pedro, Laguna officiated by Father Francis Calo. The Mission Homestead Ministry-North Sector participated in this parish activity by sponsoring the wedding of Raymond & Tina Ancheta and James & Meth Mendoza. Incidentally, James and Meth Mendoza are graduates of Marriage Encounter Weekend Class No. 39 held last February 27 – March 1, 2009 at BLD Covenant House, Dasmarinas, Cavite. Congratulations and Best Wishes to the newly married couples! May the Good Lord continue to shower you with His abundant blessings.

BLD-SPD BARES PLANS FOR VISITA IGLESIA What is Lenten Season without the traditional “Visita

Iglesia”? Thus, the BLD-SPD South Sector recently bared its plans to hold a unique Visita Iglesia in the Ilocos Region on April 3-5, 2009. This Lenten activity promises to be different from other such activities as it was designed in such a way that it will be a compendium of cultural, historical, educational and spiritual enrichment - calculated to bring every participant to a new kind of “high”. It is primarily for BLD members and their friends across communities.

Following is the itinerary in capsule form: Thursday, April 2: Bus arrives at the parking lot, UPLB

Administration Building at 9:30 p.m. and leaves at 11:30 pm. Friday, April 3: Arrives in Manaoag, Pangasinan, 6:00 am.

Overview mini –lecture (Station 1). Leave at 7 am. Arrives Agoo, La Union, 7 am. Breakfast at Jollibee (KKB). Our Lady of Charity Minor Basilica (Stations 2 and 3). Lecture in and out of the Church. Leaves at 9 am. Arrives Sta. Maria, Ilocos Sur, 10:15 am. (Stations 4 & 5). Lecture in and out of the Church. Free taste of Royal Bibingka in Bantay, Ilocos Sur, 11:45 am. Bantay Church (Station 6). Lecture again. Lunch in Vigan, 12:42 pm. Tour of Burgos House that keeps a treasure trove of true-blue, original, authentic samples of Ilocos material culture.

Saint Paul’s Metropolitan Cathedral (Station 7). Baluarte ni Chavit, a haven of domesticated wild animals like lions, snakes, deer, small horses, etc. Souvenir shopping at Crisologo St. Leave at 6 pm. Dinner in Batac (included in the registration fee), 7 pm. Proceed to PhilRice Dormitory.

Saturday, April 4: Mass at 6 am. Breakfast. Gen. Artemio Ricarte Monument and Plaza; Sarrat Church (Stations 8 & 9). Lecture will cover the following: renovated façade, detached campanile, obliterated sun-god, interior balcony, bridge that connects church to convent, kangaroo court, torture chamber, beheading chamber, recycling chamber, etc. St. William’s Cathedral in Laoag City, 11:00 am (Station 10). Ilocos Norte Museum. Shopping. Leave for lunch in Batac, 12:45 pm. Marcos Mausoleum, 2 pm. Back to PhilRice Dormitory, 2:45 pm. Resume at 3:00 pm. Paoay Church (Stations 11 & 12). Lecture. Malacañang of the North. Calayab Beach, Laoag City. Dinner.

Sunday, April 5: Mass at 6 am, Batac Church (Stations 13 & 14). Breakfast. Tour of Bangui windmills.

The registration fee for the entire journey is P2,900.00 per

person inclusive of 6 meals (Dinner, Day 1, Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner, Day 2, Breakfast and Lunch, Day 3), accommodation at

PhilRice Dormitory, all entrance fees, and airconditioned bus. Since this is a budget Visita Iglesia, only 44 persons can be accommodated. Please take note of the following pick up points or areas: UPLB Administration Building, Calamba Crossing (in front of RCBC for those coming from Calamba and Caltex SLEX for participants coming from San Pedro. A 50% downpayment must be made upon reservation. For more details, please contact Danny Atienza (0917 897 4792), e-mail address: dani.atienza@yahoo.com or Paul B. Zafaralla (0917 649 9573), e-mail address: ctzafaralla@yahoo.com.

Tol, Sandali lang…

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By Wency Alimagno

‘TOL, alam mo ba na sa pangkalahatan ay mas mahaba ang buhay ng mga babae kaysa sa mga lalaki? Sangayon sa maru-runong, ang isa daw sa pangunahing dahilan ay sapagkat halos wala sa kalikasan ng mga lalaki ang tahasang pagpapakawala ng sama ng loob sa pamamagitan ng pag-iyak na katulad ng sa mga babae. Sa halip, ito ay kanilang itinatago at hindi ipinaha-halata upang hindi mapintasan ang kanilang pagkalalaki. Ito rin ang dahilan kung bakit sa pangkalahatan ay higit na marahas ang mga lalaki kaysa sa mga babae. Sa halip na lumuha kapag galit na galit, na ang tingin ng marami ay isang tanda ng kahi-naan at karuwagan, mas pinipili ng mga lalaki ang pagkilos na kadalasan ay marahas. Subalit ito ay kung hindi siya napan-gunahan ng takot, ng pagsasaalang-alang sa katunggali o sa mga maaring kauwian ng nasabing karahasan. –At ito ang pa-hamak sapagkat alam nating ang pinigil na galit ay may kakaya-hang magpataas ng presyon ng dugo at magpabilis ng tibok ng puso na sa malao’t-madali’y kikitil ng buhay. Samantalang ang mga babae’y hahagulhul (na lamang) sa t’wing maaala-ala ang isang away halimbawa, ang mga lalaki’y mamumula sa galit dahil sa pagtaas ng presyon ng dugo at bibilis ang pintig ng puso. At habang ang galit ay namamahay sa kanila, namama-hay din sa kanila ang pagtaas ng presyon ng dugo at pagsasal ng tibok ng puso. Mayroon din daw pagtaas ng presyon ng dugo at pagbilis ng pintig ng puso sa mga kababaihan sa mga gani-tong pagkakataon subalit kapayapaan daw ang naidudulot ng malayang pag-iyak, kapayapaang isa sa mga pangunahing tagapag-alaga ng magandang kalusugan. SANDALI LANG. Ang ibig bang sabihin ay panahon na upang ang mga lalaki ay mag-aral kung paano ang malayang pag-iyak? Tingnan muna natin at baka mayroong higit na magan-dang mapag-uusapan. ‘Tol, ang ibig ko kasing sabihin ay ito. Ang isa sa mga kahinaan ng tao ay ang pagkagalit. Katulad ng iba pa, ito ay kasama sa kanyang kalikasan. Alam natin na bilang tao, maging ang Hari ng Kahinahunan ay nagalit din (Mateo 21: 12-13). Bukod pa dito, sa buhay ay hindi nawawala ang napakaraming mga dahi-lan kung bakit tayo ay maaring magalit. Ang mga dahilang ito ay kabuntot natin kahit saan tayo naroroon, kahit na anong oras. Mangyari pa, kahit na nga natutulog na tayo maari pa ring ma-galit sapagkat napapanaginipan ang mga kagalit-galit. Hindi masama ang magalit. Narinig na natin ito. Ang ma-sama ay ang naidudulot ng galit; karamdaman sa nagkikimkim nito at ang mararahas na kilos na nag-uugat dito. Dahil dito, kahit saan natin matagpuan ay kitang-kita ang mapaminsalang bunga ng galit. Mahirap marahil patunayan na ang mga karam-daman ng marami sa ating komunidad, malala man o hindi, ay sa galit nag-uugat subalit alam natin na kapag ang isang ka-patid ay nagalit, na makikita rin sa anyong pagkainis, pagta-tampo at paghihinanakit, at hindi ito naapula agad, ang susunod ay ang unti-unting pananawa niya sa mga gawain, pag-iwas sa mga pagtitipon hanggang umabot sa marahas na kapasiyahang umalis na ng tuluyan sa komunidad na pinaglagyan ng Pangi-noon sa kanya. Kung magkaganito, wagi ang demonyo na s’yang may pakana ng lahat. Ang katotohanan ay nagdudumilat na ang kapatid na kinaiinisan, pinagtatampuhan at pinaghihi-nanak’tan ay kinakasangkapan lamang ng diyablo. Sinasaman-tala ng demonyo ang kahinaan n’ya katulad din ng pagsa-samantala sa kahinaan mo at kahinaan ko. Magkakatulad tayo sa kahinaan. Katulad mo at katulad ko, lahat tayo ay nadadapa. Ang maganda marahil ay itayo natin

The Lenten season has started already… And I started it with a simple silent retreat. Yep!! That’s right!! I started my Lenten season by attending a silent retreat by the Verbum Dei missionaries at Quezon City. I was emailed by my friend and former classmate at Don Bosco Religious Studies of this activity and I just said “Ok… I will at-tend” – no questions asked. For the past few months, I felt the Lord always has his ways to keep me in check… to always make me a part of something that would glorify Him… like a recent activity also that I was a part of: Alay Musika 24 - Love is still the Answer, which was an activity of Lisieux Music Ministry. Back to the retreat, we were told that coming back to Him doesn’t mean you have to sin first or you are bad first or you are really burdened first before coming back. It is a constant re-minder to us to always go forward, to be closer to God than be-fore. And of course being a silent retreat, we have hours and hours of silence to talk to God. At first, I panicked… I wasn’t used to the silence around me… and to be honest, I was really finding it hard to discern if God was really talking to me or not. At times, I found myself talking a lot to Him. At other times, my mind wandered. But later on, I felt His smile, His laughter and the feeling of overjoyed sensation and enlightenment. It was a great retreat. And then at the end we were reminded to still go on with the journey of “going back to Him” this Lenten season… that what we have done in the retreat is real world, reality in itself… we should just bring it along to the “outside-the-retreat-house-world”. That’s why I’m bringing it also to you… You may not need some special silent retreat to start your Lenten season right… but what you can do is at least give a “one-day-silent-retreat” of your own. Just go outside your house with no one with you and nothing – just a bible and a pen and notebook. Go to a place where there’s peace and quiet; a place where no one can bother you (and of course, make it known to your family that you will be out for a day to reflect… that is enough for them not to bother you for a while). You may want to reflect on the first Lenten Sunday readings (which is a timely one also because it talks about Jesus going to the desert) and start listening, not talking, to the Lord. You may not hear words like some do, but you can feel Him always… maybe the cool blow of the wind, or the warm touch of the sun… Or if you can find a retreat activity, grab the opportunity and go there, what is a few bucks to spend compared to the refresh-ing reward of a retreat right? So start your 2009 Lenten season with a journey to come back to Him with all your heart, and as the song goes (and I know that you will sing along also), don’t let fear… keep us apart. Trees do bend, though straight and tall… So must we, to others’ call… ang isa’t-isa sa pagpapatawaran. Gawin natin ito kahit mahirap sapagkat ito ang walang pasubaling turo sa atin. Mapapatawad lamang tayo ng Ama kung tayo ay magpapatawad sangayon sa aral ni Hesus. “..at patawarin mo kami sa aming mga kasalanan, tulad ng pagpapatawad namin sa mga nagkakasala sa amin.” (Mateo 6: 12). ‘Tol, higit sa malayang pag-papaagos ng luha kung nasasaktan at nagagalit, sa katulad lamang nito tayo makakatagpo ng tunay na kapayapaan.

Love Unlimited By TJ Monserrat

Come back to me with all your Heart!

ORDER “Repent, and believe in the Gospel.” (Mk 1: 15b) THEMES AND PROMISES Week#1 (1st Sunday of Lent) [Witnessing ]

Theme: We are faithful to God’s covenant when we live the Gospel. Promise: “Good and upright is the Lord, thus he shows sinners the way. He guides the humble to justice, and he teaches the humble his way.” (Ps 25: 8)

Week#2 (2nd Sunday of Lent) [Holiness ] Theme: We are faithful to God’s covenant when we listen to Jesus.

Promise: “I will bless you abundantly…and in your descendants all nations of the earth shall find blessings – all this because you obeyed my command.”

(Gen 22: 17a-18) Week#3 (3rd Sunday of Lent) [Obedience]

Theme: We are faithful to God’s covenant when we zealously obey His commandments. Promise: “The fear of the Lord is pure, enduring forever; the ordinances of the Lord are true, all of them just.” (Ps 19:9)

Week #4 (4th Sunday of Lent) [Charity] Theme: We are faithful to God’s covenant when we do good works in His name. Promise: “For by grace you have been saved through faith.” (Eph 2: 8)

Week #5 (5th Sunday of Lent) [Service]

Theme: We are faithful to God’s covenant when we serve Him wholeheartedly. Promise: “The Father will honor whoever serves me” (Jn 12: 26b)

DISTRICT DIRECTIONS FOR MARCH 2009 1. Let our repentance be evident in the way we live, and draw others to believe in the power of the Gospel to transform us. 2. Be mindful of and faithful to the 8-point and 5-point pledges that we have made with the Lord in our BLD Covenant Community and make it our daily guide for Christian living. 3. Ask God in prayer how we may be of service to our Community, trusting Him that His purposes for each of us will be fulfilled as we obey and commit to serve in His vineyard.

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acquired a better grasp of the problems of Community. The key question thus whipped up a lively exchange of ideas and strong opinions expressed -- the need to be rooted in the Word to empower our struggles to be more Christ-like in dealing with brothers and sisters in Community were raised. There was strong agreement on the need for obedience to our covenant and Community concerns, especially after it was noted that very few disciplers from the South sector took the time to attend. Looking into the lively exchanges, it was striking that we still tend to look at others who in our perception are not doing their job properly. Very few raised the need for looking inwardly to see the need for a positive change in our own life. Discipline in attendance and diligence in assigned tasks; prayerful life surrendered to God; zeal to evangelize; becoming a compassionate person for others—these remained unspoken and unexplored, but hopefully in operation in all of us covenanted disciples of the Community. For these things must first be seen in us before we can mentor and form disciples out of our aspirants. (Vini Cadiz)

Community...continued from page 1

CALENDAR OF ACTIVITIES MARCH 2009

5 March, Thursday, 7:30 pm, Eucharistic Celebration, STCJP. Sponsors: Singles’ Ministry 7 March, Saturday, 8:00 pm, Eucharistic Celebration, BLD North, Holy Family Parish, Sampaguita Village, San Pedro, Laguna. 6-7 March, Singles Encounter Weekend #2, Mulanay, Quezon. 8 March, Sunday, Worship Leaders Forum, 2:00 pm, BLD South Sector, STCJP. 10 March, Tuesday, DLC Meeting, BLD North Sector. 11 March, Wednesday, DLC Meeting, ;7:30 pm, BLD South Sector, Cahbriba Pavillion, Los Baños, Laguna 15, March, Sunday, Encounter with Jesus, 8:00-5:00 pm, BLD North Sector, St. Joseph the Worker Parish Multi-Purpose Hall, Calendola Village, San Pedro, Laguna. 22, March, Sunday, Salubungan (Acquaintance and Orientation) Discipling Program, 9 am-12 nn, St. Joseph the Worker Parish Multi-Purpose Hall, Calendola Village, San Pedro, Laguna. 22, March, Sunday, Healing Ministry Workshop, 1-4 pm, STCJP. 27-29 March, Combined MEW Nos. 40 and 41 (Pila and Bay, Los Baños and Putho), Local Government Academy Training Center, Los Baños, Laguna. 29 March Sunday, FE Class No. 10 Reunion No. 5, 10:00 am, Divine Mercy Chapel, Calamba City.

WORD for March 2009

Obedience and commitment to Christ is faithfulness to God’s covenant.