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1
ViDa
Verbum Dei
Missionaries
Singapore
73 Taman Mas Merah
Singapore 128195
Tel: 62740251
Email:
Website:
www.verbumdeisingapore.org/
Editor Says Special issue!!! Yes! This is a special
issue indeed. In this ViDa, you will
get a glimpse of Missionaries in
action, or rather in silence.
In May, the male and female
Verbum Dei Missionaries from
Philippines, Australia and Singapore
gathered for one month silent
retreat at Tagaytay. I must say that
it was a good time for all of us to
stop and simply be in silent
contemplation with Jesus. As
Verbum Dei Missionaries, we are
called to be active-contemplative.
Active and contemplative are two
sides of the same coin. This is who
we are. This is what we want to
share with all people: the gift of
prayer, contemplation in the midst
of an active busy life. This gift is not
just for the consecrated
missionaries, but also for all
Christians of every stage of life.
Often, all of us are so caught up
with the daily demands of life: from
screaming children to rushing for
deadlines to paying bills after bills,
and the endless list goes on.
In our focus on our comings and
goings, we somehow eliminate what
we most needed: time to
contemplate the presence of God in
the realities of our busy life.
After this retreat, I am so convinced
that we, as Christians, are called to
search for the face of God in
everything, everyone all the time.
We are to listen attentively to the
voice of God in each person, each
event. The God of Life speaks to us,
but do we really listen?
You might ask with scepticism:
‘Contemplation is a luxury. There is
no time to contemplate when there
are so many things happening
around me, demanding my attention,
calling out for my time.’
‘Muddy water, let stand, becomes
clear.’ ~ Lao Tzu.
We need to set time to stand back,
stop, listen and look. In the silence of
our heart, many happenings, little by
little, start to make sense because
the God of Life speaks.
May 2012
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Meetings of Australia- Asia
Before the start of Retreat
Missionaries engrossed in deep
discussion
Again, a picture of full attention
during meeting
Antonio with his faithful
translator, Pablo
Discussions of serious affairs
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Enjoying the tea break
Eucharistic celebration at the end of
the day
Posing outside our
beloved retreat house
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Start of the silent retreat @ SVD retreat house
Chapel of the
female
missionaries
“The spiritual life does
not remove us from the
world but leads us deeper
into it”
― Henri J.M. Nouwen
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First Half of retreat
Second Half of retreat
Faces of the preachers in the
silent retreat Angela &
Antonio
Maria,
James
& Gerson
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Half-way through the retreat, we had a break for a day.
The female missionaries headed for the famous Taal
volcano. It is actually a volcano within a lake within a
volcano. It is still actively alive! Fortunately, it did not
erupt while we were there!
Free day!
A good rest after a hot and tiring
trek up to the volcano
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Final Profession of Louise Byrne
2nd June At the end of retreat, Louise, an Australian missionary presently based in
Manila, did her perpetual vows.
We had the privilege to celebrate it with her.
Profession of the vows
Handing of the Crucifix and
Constitution
Signing of
profession
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Verbum Dei brothers and sisters
welcoming Louise to the family
The fantastic choir
Verbum Dei Female
missionaries
Verbum Dei Male and Female
Missionaries
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Fiesta!