March 2009 VOLUME 3 · ISSUE 1

embrace the cross

Passion of the Christ

Passion of the Christ   

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The District Servant Leader (DSL) of our Toronto Administering District, Brother Pat Canlas, came to St. Catharines on March 6, 2009 accom-panied by our District Mission Stewards Manny and Bessie Gorospe, to give an orientation with respect to the BLD global emergence process to select new Community leaders who will have pastoral and governance authority over their respective Districts for the next three years. This process will begin to take place following the gathering of all covenanted disciples of each District on a specified “Nomination Day”, to be held during the period from April 1 to April 5, 2009. Nomination Day in St. Catharines is scheduled on Friday, April 3rd, following its regular corporate worship.

Globally, all Districts will emerge its own new DSL and a new set of District Council of Stewards (DCS). All Districts in Process (DIP), such as St. Catharines, having its own governance with its respective District Shepherds, will not be taking part in the nomination of the Toronto District DCS. Its active covenanted disciples, however, shall participate in the process of emerging Manila’s Executive Council of Servant Leaders (Manila ECSL), which has overall governance of the BLD Global Community.

Toward this end, St. Catharines DIP will be provided with a profile of all the ECSL nominees, which will include their present and previous positions held in the Community. St. Catharines’ covenanted disciples will likewise participate in nominating Toronto’s DSL.

The process involved is relatively going to be a long one, because it will entail tabulating all the incoming global results and the ensuing discernment process to be under taken by Archbishop Lagdameo, BLD’s Global Spiritual Director, of the new set of Manila ECSL and the full term Districts’ DSL. Thereafter, the newly emerged Manila ECSL will wait on the Lord to help it in its own discernment of the DCS for all the global Districts. The process will come to a conclusion some-time during the period May 15–30, when Bishop Lagdameo will announce the emerged Manila ECSL and DSL for all full term Districts. Manila ECSL, in turn, will announce the emerged DCS for the global Districts.

The ne wly e me rged g loba l Community leaders (Manila ECSL, as well as the DSLs and DCS), will assume their office on July 1, 2009. The transition period from the old to the new leadership will take place from June 1-30.

The Emergence Process

Raising Up

New Leaders

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Abba Father, we praise You for You are the source of all goodness and love. We thank You for uniting us, the BLD members, into a community of love.

During the following weeks of discernment for our next Servant Leaders and

District Stewards, we place ourselves, the Nominees, the Nominators and all those participating in the BLD General Emergence process, under the power and light of Your Holy Spirit. We unite ourselves with all our brothers and sisters in other ministries, homesteads and Districts of the BLD Global Community in pray-ing for the General Emergence Process.

Dear Jesus, we pray for all those who will be involved in the selection process,

especially Archbishop Angel Lagdameo, BLD Global Spiritual Director and the Manila District Executive Council of Servant Leaders that they may be guided by Your wisdom in all the decisions they make and that they may carry out their emergence functions with humility and compassion.

We commit to be attentive to Your voice by immersing ourselves in Your Word

daily; to fast, pray and offer sacrifices so that Your will shall prevail with peace, love and joy amongst us during this important process of discernment for the new leaders of our BLD Global Community.

Mary, our mother, intercede with the Lord that He may instill in all of us a

great desire to be filled with the Holy Spirit, to yield to His Word, to give freely of ourselves, and to love and serve one another as we seek His wisdom and truth in this process.

This we pray, in Jesus name. AMEN

Emergence Commitment Prayer

Brothers and sisters, as one body in Christ, let us join our Global Community in prayer that all those who will be taking part in the emergence process will be guided by the Holy Spirit of God in determining who among His servants will be set apart to lead our Commu-nity for the next three years.  

Olie and Menchu Ealdama District Shepherds 

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… Also known as Passion Sunday. Red vestments are worn by the priest instead of the usual purple. Today’s liturgy is two-fold. First, we re-live Christ’s triumphant entrance into Jerusalem. People cheered Him and waved palm branches in His honor. They hailed Him as their King. Palm branches given to us now help us recall this event and remind us the Church sym-

bolizes the kingdom of heaven and that Christ, our Savior, will lead us to eternal hap-piness if we live the Christian life.

The second part of today’s liturgy is the Mass of the Passion of the Lord. Through

-out the whole Mass but especially the Gospel—the account of Chris’s sufferings and death—we are reminded of the value of all men and the extent of God’s love for us.

… is the beginning of the Easter triduum, the three days during which Christ died, was buried and rose from the dead. These are days spoken of by Christ when He said, “Destroy this temple, and in three days, I will raise it up again.”

On this day, at the last supper, Christ instituted the sacrament of the Holy Eucha-rist, His legacy to all mankind through which all men throughout the ages are united with each other through Christ himself. It is really the day of Christian Community, the day on which we stress our interest in, our concern for each other; the day on which we acknowledge the equality, the importance of all members of the Church in dignity, in commitment, in vocation. We are reminded that in order to serve our Lord, we must be humble.

Holy Thursday

ake up your mind now to arrange the family schedule during Holy Week so that as many members of your family as possible will be

free to re-live the events of Christ’s last days on earth. M

The goal of this guide to the Holy Week ceremonies is to have a fuller participation by the faithful. I encourage the reader to share this guide with each member of the family including the children.

Guide

HOLY WEEK to

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The tabernacle is open as Mass begins. The Eucharist for both Holy Thursday and Good Friday is consecrated in this evening Mass of the Lord’s supper. In some churches, in the procession before the Prayer over the Gifts, some item for the poor is included as a sign of community concern and responsibility for and to each other. Communion under both species is allowed if the Ordinary permits it.

The blessed Sacrament is transferred to the Repository not as a reminder of the burial

of Christ but to provide Communion for Good Friday when no Mass is celebrated. The stripping of the altar reminds us of the custom in the early Church when the altar

was prepared and cleared before and after each Mass was celebrated. All crucifixes, where possible, are removed from the sanctuary.

… or “Easter Sunday during the night,” as it is called, echoes the happiness of all Christians at Christ’s Resurrection. Through-out the fifty days which follow, known as Easter time, our happened will summarized for us in the knowledge that—CHRIST HAD DIED. CHRIST  IS RISEN, CHRIST WILL COME AGAIN.

The Easter Vigil

… The Church … The People of God, stands at the tombs of the Lord on Holy Saturday thinking about the meaning of His sufferings and death. No mass is cele-brated today either. The altar is stripped. Holy Com-munion may be given today only as viaticum.

Holy Saturday

… Mass is not celebrated today. The altar is bare, without cloth, candles and crucifix. Christ death is the thing for us to remember today; to remember not as an event which happened centuries ago but as one which is repeated in the sacrifice of the Mass, the Mass which unites us as the People of God.

Red vestments are worn for celebration of the Lord’s Passion which takes place in the afternoon at approximately three o’clock and consists of three parts: (A) the lit-urgy of the Word; (B) veneration of the Cross; © Holy Communion. As a reminder of Christ’s death, the unveiled crucifix remains on the altar after the veneration of the Cross until the vigil services of Holy Saturday.

Good Friday

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White vestments are used in the vigil ceremonies and in the Mass. The entire cele-bration of the Easter Vigil takes place at night. Participation in the Mass of the Easter Vigil fulfills one’s obligation to participate in the Mass at Easter Sunday because it is the first Mass of Easter. Those who receive Holy Communion in the Mass of the Easter Vigil may receive once again at a second Mass on Easter Sunday.

The Easter Vigil has four parts: (A) The service of lights; (B) the liturgy of the

Word. © the baptismal service; (D) the Eucharistic service. The Service of Light is used to focus one’s attention on Christ’s Resurrection.

Originating in the 5th century liturgy of Jerusalem, this ceremony has been enlarged by the Church. The starting of the new fire outside or within the darkened Church; the procession with the Easter or Pachal Candle (a symbol of the universal rule of Christ); the three-fold proclamation—CHRIST OUR LIGHT answered each time by our—THANKS BE TO GOD; the lighting of the Church all remind us that Christ is risen to do away with death and to bring us to eternal life.

The Liturgy of the Word is an important part of the Easter Vigil since its scripture

summarizes how God redeemed His people through Christ, His Son. On this night, in the early Church, the Cathecumens were given their final instruc-

tion in the Faith before being baptized. With the blessing of the water used to regen-erate man in Baptism, through the renewal of Baptismal Promised and the Profession of Faith, we are reminded of the life of grace which is our inheritance by our spiritual birth. The litany reminds us that we have the example of the Saints and their interces-sion for us with God to depend upon in our daily efforts to save our souls.

The first Mass of Easter ends with the Eucharistic Service in which we are fed by

Christ in Holy Communion; in which we are filled with the Spirit of love and in which we are made one in heart through Christ.

As the Mass ends, we are sent back to our homes … To our families … To our

friends … To our neighborhoods … To our jobs with the words—GO  IN  PEACE TO  LOVE AND  SERVE  THE  LORD. If we do that, we will have understood the meaning of the events of the Holy Week! 

by Mabel Perlas Word Ministry 

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My

My experience during Toronto’s YLSS weekend, held on March 14-15, was sacred and spiritual, but at the same time great and fun-filled. I learned so much from Fr. Tony’s teachings. All the sharers gave very inspiring talks and it was awesome to see how the Holy Spirit changed their lives.

During the bap-tism I rested in the Spirit and at first I felt as though nothing happened. Then, after maybe 2 minutes on the ground, I felt something inside me. It wasn’t a feeling of hunger, pain, or any other familiar emotions. It felt as though a new source of power flowed in me. I knew this could only be one thing, the Holy Spirit. I felt as if I was in the arms of Jesus, touching me, ministering to me, mold-ing me, healing me, and loving me. With these new kinds of emotions, I started to cry uncontrollably. It was as though my tears were spilling out my pains, my hurts, my anger, my suffering, my bur-dens, and putting them at the foot of the cross.

I had many things flowing through my mind when I was on the ground but one of the images I saw was Jesus in front of me, face to face, with an aura of blinding light right behind him, a picture I have never seen before and it felt so real. After the lights came back on, I tried to get up but I could hardly stand.

I was wobbly, and felt as though I was going to fall again but I did-n’t. My shepherd was there for me and his other lambs to help each of us. On Sunday, after our graduation, all of us had a fun time sing-

ing, dancing and jumping, all for God . As I said, everything about the YLSS was awesome. If I were asked if I would do it again, I would say “yes”! I will also recommend this to many so that they can experience what I felt and what many others felt too. I thank all the Titos and Titas who were there to make this YLSS #10 a great success. I can’t thank you enough for how much this will surely change my life!

by John Paul Tabios 14

YLSS No. 10

Experience

“May the God of Hope fill you with all joy and peace

in believing, so that you may abound in hope by

the power of the Holy Spirit.”

Romans 15:13

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My YLSS experience was another way to build my relationship with God. Though I already go to church and at-tend a Catholic school, I felt I should keep on building that relationship. I chose to go because I thought maybe this could help me become a better per-son.

At first, I thought that this was just like church only for young adults, but I realized that it was something different. It wasn’t boring. When I arrived, the people were really welcoming and were nice to me. The music was very lively and my shepherd was always open and listened to anything I had to say. It was then I realized that this isn’t just like church, it’s more intense! Especially when Ruth, Avie and JC came up to tell their story about themselves. They touched my heart … how hard it was when they were growing up. It made me feel more at ease, knowing that I am lucky that I did not have to go through that. It also made me feel more com-fortable talking to my shepherd about what happened to me and how some things bothered me.

by Louell Palparan 13

The baptism for me was the biggest thing that happened there. When the baptism was happening, I felt really un-easy and unsure of what would happen to me. But as soon as something touched my forehead, I felt really unbal-anced. As soon as I fell, someone was behind me, ready to catch me and to make sure I was going to be all right. Lying on the floor, I thought of the things that upset me, or delight me, and I became emotional. But as soon as I heard my shepherd speak in my ear that God loves me and that I have to accept God, suddenly it seemed all my troubles went away. I had such a feeling of relief to realize that all my sins were taken away from me. I cannot forget this ex-perience because God opened up my heart.

I would like to thank my family for their love and support. Without them, I wouldn’t have joined the YLSS. Thank you also to Tito Cip and Tita Emmy who made sure that we were safe and secure; they were like our parents during the seminar. And to all who extended their help for the success of the YLSS, thank you!

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I attended the YLSS #10 from March 13-15. Before

I went to the seminar, I had a lot of thoughts in my mind. Most of them were thoughts about how the weekend was going to be like and what was going to happen. I also wondered if the YLSS was going to be like the Youth Encoun-ter I had gone to a while back.

When I was at the venue on the first day, to me it felt just like any other re-treat. But I was wrong. On Saturday, my viewpoint totally changed. It was during the baptism that I knew that this retreat was like no other. I remember seeing Fr. Tony going to the candidates before me with the golden cross. Each one of them had their heads down for a few seconds, and then they just fell back. For me, it looked just like the healing masses I went to at BLD. When it came time for me, I stood there thinking about God and everything I had done. Suddenly, after a few seconds, I felt a small force push me back and before I knew it, I was on the ground. As I lay there, I con-templated everything in my life. For once in my life, I felt like a new person. I felt like all my troubles had disap-peared.

The YLSS weekend changed me. I think it changed everyone who was there too. It gave me a whole new out-look on life. Now that I look back, I just want to go back and relive the whole experience.

I want to thank God for giving me this wonderful experience that I had. I also thank everyone at BLD for making this YLSS happen.

My experience at the YLSS was a spiritual awakening. The people were open-hearted and honest. I especially appreciated the sharers for the courage to stand in front of us and tell us their flaws on their journey to finding God. At first glance, you would never expect their real life experiences and hardships; afterwards, it made me realize that peo-ple fall but in the end one can always rely on God to hold your hand and help you up again.

The baptism in the Holy Spirit was unforgettable. I could see others around me falling to the ground after being touched by the cross. A thousand thoughts of the past came rushing to my mind as the priest slowly approached me. One touch of the cross and my mind went blank. My eyes started to pour forth fountains of healing tears and I felt as if I were a child in a nursing room. I could hear row upon row of people next to me crying like newborn babies totally helpless. I was being re-born and could feel the Holy Spirit rest-ing inside of me. When I woke up, I felt new.

I am grateful to experience the Bap-tism at an early age and feel blessed. The YLSS is a life-changing experience that has brought me closer to, and will con-tinue to inspire my closeness to, God.

by Kristina Kehoe 16 by Arven Rebarter 14

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My experience at the YLSS was amazing! There were many emotions felt and many friends made. The week-end was filled with laughter and tears. Not tears of sadness or even joy, but tears of healing. When we got to As-sumption Church on Friday night, the St. Catharines kids all registered and we went up for mass. After mass, we all cramped into JC Yulo’s van to get something to eat. Who could forget the “million dollar” questions in JC’s van?

Arriving at Cardinal Leger next morning, everyone gathered in the Atrium talking, laughing and making new friends. That night, as Fr. Tony approached me to be baptized, I saw the entire row of people in front of me fal-ling down like dominoes. Then he came to me. With my heart racing and arms open, I was slain. I could hear everyone around me crying, as I cried. I felt my burdens just melting away as my tears hit the floor. The Holy Spirit was kind enough to bless me with the gift of tongues.

Listening to Fr. Tony’s talks was one thing, but hearing the testimonials from our shepherd was an entirely new level of learning. After listening to JC’s testi-monial, who was also my shepherd, I broke down in tears. I could feel the healing power of those tears. His life was the same as mine and that’s why I felt so connected with him and his story.

by Oliver Robles 18

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Everyone in YLSS #10 became real close. When it came time to leave, I didn’t want to leave. Who could forget all that “bro”-mance? I wish LSS was every weekend!

I’d like to thank Tito Olie and Tita Menchu for allowing the noisy boys of St. Catharines to stay at their home. Thank you to the Praise Team, the Co-ordinators and shepherds, especially my shepherd, JC Yulo for being not just my shepherd, but also becoming one of my greatest friends!

Most of all, I’d like to thank God for giving me this most life-changing ex-perience! God is good? All the time! All the time God is good! God is where? Everywhere! Everywhere? God is there! God is hot? Oh sooo hot! Tsssss …

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My name is Kate Rebarter. Like my brother, Arven, I attended the YLSS. Before I went, I thought I had a good relationship with God. I went to church like a good little girl; I even altar-served. I went to a Catholic school and my friends were catholic and they didn’t do bad things. My religion classes at school were amazing. I was open to God. I joined the YLSS with an illusion of how I felt about God. I call this an illusion because there is so much more to a rela-tionship than I thought. In a relation-ship, you communicate. In my relation-ship with God, I didn’t really communi-cate and I only thought of Him when I was supposed to. The talks Fr. Tony gave us were very helpful in building my relationship with God.

On Saturday night, we had the bap-tism in the Holy Spirit. I saw Fr. Tony come out with a gold cross. He started to go up to the other candidates and I watched them fall. I started to panic and I started shaking. My shepherd Avie came behind me and said, “Just close your eyes and open your heart to God.” So I did.

by Kate Rebarter 13

When it was my turn, I felt so scared, so nervous, so terrified, but then I felt peace as I started to fall. A sense of calmness swept through me.

As I lay there, I started opening my heart, giving my pain and burdens up to Jesus. But then I thought, “No, why should I give it to Him? He doesn’t deserve my pain. He has already suffered so much and He wants my pain?! Mine, of all people? The pain and suffering I have had to deal with for so long and HE wants it?!” I did not understand, but my shepherd Avie came behind me and started whispering in my ear. She told me things such as “God loves you. He wants your pain. Just give it up to Him. It’s okay.” Then I started to feel something wet on my cheek. I was crying. When I got up, I was still crying but I wasn’t sad anymore. I felt reborn.

The YLSS changed me. I’m sure it changed everyone else as well. I am so happy that I decided to do the YLSS. I made so many new friends and I hope to see them again at the Grand Reunion. It was so funny when all my new friends came to me and hugged me as they called me the cutest one there. It re-minded me so much of the YIC.

The YLSS has been an amazing weekend. The only word everyone could say was “intense”. I am now very happy to say that, “Jesus, You are my best friend. You will always be.” For all of you gradu-ates, remember that song!

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knew was special and good for me, and I was right. Being surrounded by friends I knew and meeting even more friends there helped me go through what I was feeling.

The time I was most emotional and nervous was at our Baptism. It was when Fr. Tony was a few people away from me and seeing them fall right be-fore me. I was scared, excited and very confused but I knew what I wanted and I was ready for what was coming. Then it was my turn. I closed my eyes, opened my hands to the Lord and I felt like I was pushed by the Holy Spirit. I could-n’t help but fall. I had just experienced something that I would never forget; it was intense. When I got up, I had my shepherd behind me helping me and the other lambs get up. I had seen all of us at our most vulnerable time. It was re-lieving to see that not everyone is per-fect and can handle all of their problems and conflicts in their lives by them-selves. Sometimes all of us have to cry and open up to the Lord and ask for help and forgiveness.

Thank you, Heavenly Father, for this awesome and wonderful experience that you had given me and the other mem-bers of the YLSS #10. Bless them and their families who came to the gradua-tion and the BLD community which helped make the YLSS #10 happen. Thank you, dear Lord Jesus, for sur-rounding me with people who love me and care for me like you do. Thank you so much for being by my side when I need you the most. Amen.

by Raiza Anne Mativo 13

by Lester Bravo 17

GOD IS GOOD! ALL THE TIME! Wow, I had such a great time! This YLSS weekend was an experience I'll never forget. If it wasn't for Tito Cip, and especially Matt Panday, I wouldn't have heard about this YLSS. Also to my shepherd, JC, who helped guide me through this great weekend. Both of us have seen the change I personally went through, by starting this new life ever since my baptism.

I would also like to mention my good friends, Benson, Oliver, Roniel, and Matt, who have made this experi-ence "interesting" during the weekend nights. I had a real good time.

However, most importantly, I'd like to thank God for making all this possi-ble. Without Him, I'd be lost in this world.

I wish to see everyone again in future BLD events!

The YLSS #10 was amazing, in-tense, fun and unforgettable. When I heard that I was going to the seminar, I was at first hesitant but I had an open mind to it and was up for a new adven-ture. It was my first time coming to a BLD event and it was something that I

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I was quite de-lighted and thoroughly intrigued when I was informed that 54 candidates were taking part in the Youth Life in the Spirit Seminar #10. Although at the same time, I was also a little concerned as to how it would turn out with such a large group as opposed to a smaller, more intimate affair, as the YLSS re-volves highly around such intimacy and confidence. Thankfully, my fears sub-sided as I saw such unprecedented en-thusiasm from the then-candidates and knew at that point that this aspect of the event would not be compromised at all. I knew that such keenness would keep the event still intensely spiritual but augmented by a strong group dynamic, which added to the whole experience.

I was very proud at the level of spiri-tual maturity that all of the graduates reached, and to exercise my right to bias, I must say that I was most espe-cially impressed by the St. Catharines graduates. By the end of the weekend, an animated look replaced the fatigued faces that first entered the venue.

My tenure as a co-shepherd re-minded me of my own YLSS experi-ence, allowing me to contemplate on how to better myself as a person, and most especially improving my connec-tion with God.

It was a pleasure to have accompa-nied the lambs as their relationship with

Under-Shepherd

Being God’s

by Matt Panday

Being a co-shepherd for JC Yulo of Toronto during the Youth LSS was a great experience. Seeing my friends be-ing lambs reminded me of how it was like for me when I myself was a lamb for my own YLSS. It was great to go "behind the scenes" as a co-shepherd.

It made me happy to see my friends go through their baptism and start this new journey in life. My experience as a co-shepherd helped me understand what a shepherd has to do with their lambs, and to help them through the baptism.

With so many great memories, both funny and serious, it was sad that the YLSS weekend had to end.

Thanks to everyone who made this possible with, of course, the help of God. I wish to be a shepherd for the future lambs in the YLSS that will come.

Congratulations candidates of YLSS #10!

by Paul Respicio

God was strengthened. I hope that each and every one of the graduates experi-enced something profound during the Youth Life in the Spirit Seminar and that its impact be pragmatically em-ployed.

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I like to read the Psalms every morning. The psalms of David speak of the same things I face each day. There are people at work looking to do me in. There are times when I am afraid. There are times when I am worn down by the sameness of daily life. There are times when I need to be re-minded to thank God, praise God and trust God. There are times when I need to hear the promises of God. All of these are there waiting in the Psalms. What amazes me is nothing has changed in human nature over the millennia. I face the same things David did.

The life of David gives me hope. David was a shepherd boy, a truly humble job. David the shep-herd boy was singled out by God. The youngest of

by Bill Krusky

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salm P

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eight sons David was even poorly liked by his father Jesse. When Samuel came to find the future king among the sons of Jesse, Jesse paraded each of the sons with pride before Samuel but the Holy Spirit rejected each one. Only when Samuel asked if there were any other sons did Jesse acknowledge there was one more. Scripture says;

I like the fact that God chose the least likely to succeed to be the greatest King of Israel. David subdued the ene-mies of Israel. David increased the wealth and influence of Israel. David established God as the center of his life and the life of his people. David had a close relationship with God. He didn’t always obey God but he repented when needed and humbled himself before God always. He was authentic.

The psalm that best sums up all psalms is Psalm 23. My maternal grand-father loved this psalm and since I loved my grandfather I love this psalm best of all. My grandfather was shaped in the trenches of World War I. He saw his best friend die there. He came home forever changed. His life touched mine.

The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I

lack. In green pastures you let me graze; to safe waters you lead me; you restore my strength.

Father thank you for giving me all I need, for sustaining me, for being there for me.

You guide me along the right path for the

sake of your name. Father thank you that I can trust

your leading for you are all good and can do no other but good to me.

Then Samuel, with the horn

Of oil in hand, anointed him in the midst of his

brothers; and from that day on, the spirit of the Lord

rushed upon David

1Samuel 16 verse 13

Even when I walk through a dark valley, I fear no harm for you are at my side; your rod and staff give me courage.

Father I remember the times you have carried me. I will take courage re-membering that I have already been delivered many times.

You set a table before me as my enemies watch; You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.

Father let me never forget you are in control and nothing is impossible to you. Let me never forget I have an im-perishable inheritance and I am already set apart. I am your child.

Only goodness and love will pursue me all the days of my life;

I will dwell in the house of the Lord for years to come.

Thank you Father for listening. I will be home soon. Please have my room ready.

Father you are the source of all that is good in me. Let me never forget that you will never leave me and always hear me.

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27 and the

by Margaret Fitzpatrick

mins.

Power of Prayer

o all this in prayer, asking for God’s help. Pray on every occasion, as the

Spirit leads. Ephesions 6:18 Prayer, along with almsgiving and

fasting, has always been one of the pil-lars of the Lenten experience. A recent event has reinforced for me the impor-tance of prayer. In February, I made an unplanned journey to Ireland to attend the funeral of my brother-in-law, Gerry. I travelled with confidence knowing I was in the prayers of members of my Rosary group and the BLD. On the way home, I flew into Newark, New Jersey and was to switch planes, and then fly into Buffalo Niagara International Air-port. The weather was terrible.

The plane was delayed for several hours. Two planes finally departed from Newark to Buffalo 27 minutes apart. I was on the second plane. When I ar-rived in Buffalo, a few other passengers and I could not locate our luggage. One passenger was particularly irate towards the airport employee who seemed in-creasingly upset. Finally she shoved forms at us and said fill them out. We heard that a plane had gone down but

did not know any details. It was several days later I learned I would not ever be getting my luggage back. It was on the first plane that departed New Jersey for Buffalo. That flight, Continental Flight 3407, crashed into a house in a Buffalo suburb, killing all 49 passengers and one resident of the house. But for 27 minutes, that could have been me on that plane.

This experience has reminded me of how fragile life is and of the message of Psalm 62 to trust in God alone.

Today I give thanks for every new day and I recall the closing words of the Divine Mercy prayer, "Jesus, I trust in You." I pray for Gerry, I pray for the souls that were lost on Flight 3407 and ask everyone, this Lent, to remember the power of prayer.

My soul, be at rest in God alone, from whom comes my hope. God alone is my rock and my salvation, my secure height; I shall not fall. My safety and glory are with God, my strong rock and refuge. Trust God at all times, my peo-ple! Pour out your hearts to God our refuge! Psalm 62:6-9

D

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by Karen O'Brien Lent Spirit of Giving

and the

“My commandment is this: love one another, just as I love you.”

Blessed Mother Teresa knew a thing

or two about almsgiving as she devoted her life to serving the sick, the poor, the disenfranchised in India.

But when she spoke of the poor, she said, “Being unwanted, unloved, uncared for, forgotten by everybody, I think that is a much greater hunger, a much greater poverty than the person who has nothing to eat.”

The world is experiencing a reces-sion now, so almsgiving -- a traditional Lenten practise -- becomes critical. But the provision of monetary donations or alms is just part of the solution. People who have lost their jobs or are having trouble making ends meet because of limited income are experiencing fear and need to be reassured of God’s love for them.

The food cupboard where I work is doing a thriving business. Every can of food donated in the bins is needed. “I wish we had canned fruit… I wish we had powdered milk… I wish we had disposable diapers…” Sometimes we do. Often we don’t.

I wish we could help everyone whenever they wanted, but we can’t. We just have to do the best we can with the resources we have. We can help with food but it is not enough. When people are in crisis, alone, sick, and afraid, they

John 15:12

“Love is a fruit in season at all

times and within reach

of every hand.”

Mother Teresa

need someone to take notice, to listen, to care.

When I sponsored a child in India, I thought my big contribution was money. But his mother wrote me and said, “Thank you for the love.”

We can shoulder heavy burdens when we know someone cares. Love is free and we can share it with everyone as Jesus commanded us to do.

So donate what you can. Then dur-ing Lent, express your love.

Smile at everyone you meet. Chat with strangers on the street, in stores or in lineups. Drop off some flowers or a plant to a senior citizen who lives alone. Forgive that driver who cut you off. Visit the sick. Call someone with whom you have been estranged. Send a card. Surrender your busyness, pay attention and truly see that person who feels in-visible. The possibilities are endless. As we are transformed by Jesus’ love for us, we can help transform the lives of oth-ers by reflecting that love outwards into our communities.

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07 Challenges/Objectives  Action Taken 

Address pastoral care for growing number

of singles coming to prayer meetings

• A “home” was established for the single members by creating the Singles Ministry. To form a Singles core, some members at-tended Toronto’s SE #10 in August 2007, which produced 7 graduates.

More flexibility in teaching, scheduling and

attendance eligibility

• Teachings rescheduled largely on a Friday night following corporate worship and made available to everyone present

Establish a different format after Friday

worship to appeal to more members.

• Aside from teachings and a healing mass on the last Friday of the month, format ex-panded to include personal testimonies, Living Word groups, as well as a night of fellowship

To keep all members in the loop as to

“happenings” in the Community

• First issue of “Living the Word” Newsletter published in March 2007

DIP has remained dependent on Toronto

for sharers. Develop local sharers

• During LSS#9 held November 2007, Cip and Emmy Tabios shared on “God’s Love” and Romy and Minda Panday, on “Transformation”

2007

It is the practice of our Toronto administering District to have a “Planning Meet-ing”, generally held in October, when its leadership - DCS, Ministry Coordinators, DIP District Shepherds - come together to identify critical issues and challenges which their respective Ministries and DIPs experienced during the year. Objectives and action plans for the coming year which will have the biggest positive impact for each Ministry and DIP are then established.

As one of the agenda items tabled at St. Catharines’ first General Assembly held last February 6th, Menchu Ealdama presented the challenges/objectives and action taken for the period 2007 and 2008, as well as the new challenges facing the Commu-nity in 2009 and corresponding action to be taken".

Planning and Growing What We’ve Done …

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08 Challenges/Objectives  Action Taken 

Make optimal use of gifts and talents

within the Community

• New set of DCS installed in January/28, as head of 4 Apostolates (Management, Evan-gelization, Pastoral and Formation);

• New ministries formed – Singles, Mark 10, Mission, Word, and Teaching - for a total of 13 Ministries;

• Singles Ministry sponsored its first SE in Sept/2008; Irene Gumolda was developed as a sharer;

• Mission Ministry involved in visitation of shut-ins, elderly and homeless; assisted in the birthing of a new prayer group in Mark-dale; assisted as Shepherds at an LSS given by a Hamilton parish.

Open more avenues of communication with all members

• To serve as a forum for DLCs to be in-formed, share views and exchange ideas on how to grow the Community, DLC Assembly meets every two months;

• General Assembly convenes every quarter

• Aside from the regular publication of the Newsletter, members can keep current about Community “happenings” by access-ing our Website

A revival of the spirituality of our local youth

• Cip and Emmy Tabios oversaw St. Cathari-nes’ participation at the BLD Youth North American Inter-District Conference (“YIC”) sponsored by Toronto in August 2008. 24 youth attended.

2008

It will be noted that, through God’s grace and the empowerment of the Holy Spirit, all stated objectives for 2007 and 2008 have been accomplished.   

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09 Challenges/Objectives  Planned Action 

Address the unique pastoral needs

of the solo parents of the Community

• Solo Parents Ministry formed in January 2009. Tellie Ferrenbach appointed as DLC. For now, continue to send them as candi-dates to Toronto’s next SPE

Sustain the interest of the Youth participants

who attended the YIC

• “Youth Group” formed. Youth with musical talent will be tapped from time to time to assist in Praise during Friday’s corporate worship;

• Will send 11 youth to Toronto’s YLSS in March 2009;

• Will send participants to Toronto’s YE #11 in July 2009

Continue to develop Gifts and talents

within the Community

• More local sharers will be developed;

• Initiatives in place to mentor and develop future teachers

Financial issues with continuing ability

of the Community to support its programs

• 15th Anniversary fund-raising dinner dance celebration in April 2009

Difficulty in recruiting ME candidates

• A concerted recruitment effort by all mem-bers should be ongoing year round. To ensure continued participation of gradu-ates, recruitment should generally focus on those living within the Niagara Region.

2009

Brothers and sisters, please join us in prayer as we leave all our plans in the hands of Jesus, trusting that He will pour out His blessings and graces in abundance as we continue to commit our faithfulness in the work we are privileged to do. May the work of our hands glorify His Name and set out to accomplish His plan for our beloved Community. Amen!

… and What’s Ahead?

21

BLD St. Catharines, District in Process

Bukas Loob sa Diyos Open in Spirit to God