COVER
ABOUT THE
The cover (illustrated/painted by Cody F. Miller of codyfmiller.com) shows us a mother who stands firm even when she’s sorrounded by trouble. Similiar to our mothers, with their genuine love, they would overcome everything to protect their children even if it cost them their lives. The illustration also reminds us of Mary, the Mother of God, who stands firm in her faith to God even during the greatest pain of her life - seeing her son Jesus Christ dying on the cross. Cover design by AARON SALVAÑA Text by: CHARMAIN GRACE CASQUITE
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS We would like to send our joyful gratitude to all who continually and faithfully support the official publication of the Diocesan Commission on Youth - the Banagbanag; To our respected Bishop, the Most Rev. Jose Araneta Cabantan, D.D; our ever generous mother, Sr. Leizyl G. Corre, FdCC; our ever supportive father, Rev. Fr. Ritchell S. Quita. To our sponsors and benefactors who have always been there to assist us in our financial needs; To our ever faithful contributors and readers who’s been our inspiration to produce a quality and formative issue every quarrter; To the Almighty Father for the unceasing Divine Providence which sustains us in every step of the way; And to all that we’ve failed to mention, may you never cease to support. Let us all continue our mission to proclaim His good news and live by His example
Dios Mabbalo! Serving with Love and Faith,
THE BANAGBANAG STAFFERS
EDITORIAL BOARD EDITOR IN CHIEF Charmain Grace Casquite ASSOCIATE EDITORS Shiela C. Lumambas Cristine Mae Baguio CIRCULATIONS MANAGER Jessa C. Aranas LAYOUT ARTISTS Aaron Don V. Salvaña Alexander C. Alonzo STAFF WRITERS Aris Jay Lapizar, Nestor Delig Jr. Joven Dela Peña, Jr., Jollibert Lozada Melbert I. Guipetacio LIAISON OFFICERS Rachelle Darl Loayon, Rondel Marcelino Igpit, Charamie Gempisao CARTOONISTS Jesse Cahanap, Mayela Lou Adajar CONSULTANTS Jorrie Mae D. Hernandez, Sr. Leizyl G. Corre, FdCC Fr. Ritchell S. Quita CONTRIBUTORS Anion Fredrick Cabugsa, Dharling Vain L. Bernas Honey Lit Menil, Alexa Abejuela Kevin Jay Dinapo John Omongos, Jiebert Dalahigon Ryan Ray Balagolan, Sharon Care Sorial Geneses Benson, Ely Aguitong Azure Gly 2015, Ghon Marcelino Ms. Carmen L. Sayo, Roger Macahis Villaflor
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Prep. Meeting for CYC 2016 PYGA Cathedral... IEC 2016 pilgrim symbol... NYD 2015 prep. formation... MCYA Teambuilding... DCYGA 2015
Features 13 - 15 - 16 - 17 - 18 - 21 - 23 -
A Forest Priest Ang Balay ni bukyo... Icc tribute to mary... called to be holy Pope’s Message to wyd 2015... Aldub... DYFT Aspirants’ Journey
Musings 29 31 32 35 41
My Borrowed masterpiece To my surpise naa bay poreber... Hapag usapan the gospel story of Ate Carmen...
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43 - 44 - 45 - 47 -
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Youcat literary attempts Dear Papang Schedules
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what’s inside?
Messages Buknews 01 03 04 06 07 08
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Message From the Shepherd’s Desk MOST REV. JOSE A. CABANTAN, D.D. Bishop of Malaybalay
“The Gentle Heart of a Mother…” Mary as the Mother. Mary is the mother of Jesus. Like any other mothers, Mary had her share of pains and joys of being a mother to our Lord. We heard from the gospel account how she became the mother of Jesus and the consequences of accepting the role of becoming the mother of God-incarnate. She suffered persecutions more than we could ever imagine - persecution from the people who most probably look at her as sinner according to their standards. She suffered the pain of seeing her Son judged, crucified and died on the cross. Yet in all of these, she remained steadfast in her faith and being true to what she said at the moment the Angel gave her the message, “I am the handmaid of the Lord, let it be done to me according to your word.” Mary as our Mother. While on the cross, Jesus gave Mary, His Mother, to the church to become her mother too. Like any
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other mothers, Mary felt the pain of seeing her children drifting away from God because of sin. The pain of seeing her children fought each other. But like any other mothers, Mary never failed to come to rescue her children when in need. With gentle heart, she guided the church from the very beginning, always pointing to us the right path to take and always challenging us to do the will of her Son in our lives. We remember the words of Mary to the servants in the gospel of John, “Do whatever He tells you.” Never claiming any merits for her, she always points us to Jesus her Son. With a gentle motherly touch, she always sees to it that her children learn the values of following the will of God in their lives. We are her children. We are very fortunate to have Mary as our mother. We know that in every struggle we have, we are never alone. We always have the help and guidance of our Mother.
The Gentle heart of a mother
Message The Director’s cut REV. FR. RITCHELL S. QUITA Spiritual Director
Maayong adlaw mga palangga! Ang atong mga inahan maoy hinungdan nga kita nabuhi. Gibitbit kita nila sa siyam ka bulan sa ilahang tiyan ug dili sayon kining tanan kay nanginahanglan kini ug dako nga sakripisyo. Apan tungod kay kita gihigugma nila, wala kita nila gibiyaan ug ila kitang gi amoma hangtod nga nakita nato ang kalibotan (ug hangtod karon nga nangdagko na ta taliwala sa atong pagkagahi ug ulo ug kabadlungon), mao nang dili sayon para sa usa ka inahan nga makita ang ilang mga anak nga masakitan. Kung pwede pa lang nila akuon ang sakit, ilaha na gayod gikuha.
The Gentle heart of a mother
Sama sa usa ka inahan, dili sab sayon alang kang Maria nga makita ang iyang anak nga si Hesus nga gipasakitan ug gipatay human siya gisalikway sa katawhan. Pero bisan pa niining dakong hagit, wala kini nagdaot o nagpahinay sa iyang pagtuo diha sa Ginoo. Sa mga panahon na kung kita makasulay ug mga dagkong problema o hagit sa kinabuhi, hinaot nga mamahimong inspirasyon si Maria sa atuang tanan, nga unta susama niya, atong ma endure ang mga kasakit ug dili unta kita mawadan ug pagtuo ug pagsalig diha sa Ginoo. God bless us all.
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Message A Mother’s note
SR. LEIZYL G. CORRE, FDCC Diocesan Commission on Youth Chairperson My dear KaBukYo,
indifferent and bitter person.
Gentleness is a virtue that I too, am struggling to practice because of the tendency of focusing only to the tasks well-done or preoccupations that I need to attend to. I found myself too work-oriented rather than a person-oriented, more on the doing aspect rather than giving emphasis first to the being.
Constant practice of inner silencing and evaluation of self, heighten our consciousness of what is going on within us. Feelings and emotions are not controllable but it is always our choice through the harmony of mind and thoughts to either stay in reactive or proactive state.
Our theme for this time stressed on the gentle heart of a Mother, where we are encouraged to ponder on the attitudes of Mary at the foot of the Cross of her dying Son. How did Mary stay composed and attuned to the interior stirring of her heart and still aware of the present realities around her? How did she manage her emotions and choose to be proactive rather than reactive? It is indeed, a true spirit of prayer and reflectiveness. Mary exhibits an intimate relationship of herself which often requires an inner examination of one’s very being rather than remaining on the blaming stage against the external factors which oftentimes claim to be the perpetrator of making us
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KaBukYo, may you not be carried away by too much noisiness and reactivity of this times because of the inability to listen to your heart. It is in your heart, the core of your being that you can find the gentle voice of God, the One that calms the storms within you, the One who is in control of everything. Continue to seek God in your hearts. Let Him direct your passions, your emotions, and your feelings. He alone can grant you a unity of mind, heart and spirit. Thus, gentleness and serenity may become your way of life in spite of the worst situations that challenges you. Continue to ask the gentle heart and the motherly help of Mary. God bless you, my dear BukYo!
The Gentle heart of a mother
Message a sister’s swan-song Dearest Bukyo,
MS. JORRIE MAE D. HERNANDEZ Diocesan Youth Leader
I haven’t been a mother by blood yet, but I guess I knew how it feels to be one. In my three- year term as your DYL, I felt that I instantly became a mother to all the young people of the diocese. I learned then, that you don’t really have to carry a child in your womb for nine months to become a mother; it only takes a mind ever mindful of others and a heart that loves unconditionally. Most of my friends told me I was too overwhelmed with my position that I tend to be always “imageconscious”. Perhaps, in some ways, they are right. Since I became a DYL, I was always careful with what I say, or do, including what I wear and where I go. I was always watchful of what I post in facebook and what I send in my text messages. It was like I enclosed myself to a cell I myself created. Despite the limitations I set for myself, I learned to be honest and practiced the graceful way of saying my thoughts even in its worst state. Like a mother, I strived hard to be fair in my judgment, to be outspoken when things go wrong and learned to consider shortcomings. I caught myself celebrating victories, embracing mistakes and loving my imperfections. Today, as I am drafting this message, I felt that it was mother Mary’s life that encouraged me to keep going. To love even if it hurts; to give even if there’s nothing left; to let go even if it means losing; to die within so others may live. And like her, when I was called for this responsibility, I was set to answer: “I am a servant of the Lord, be it done unto me according to your word.”
The Gentle heart of a mother
When I was called to be a leader, I had my reservations because I thought I couldn’t make it. And yes, I was right! I couldn’t make it… ALONE. Along the way, it was mother Mary’s guidance and Jesus’ strength that sustained me. Some say that I am a good leader, but I will tell you a secret… I am a good leader because I had a great back- up (the PYLs and DnYLs) , best mission partners (the DCYCC officers) and ONE BIG GOD behind me. To Bishop Jose A. Cabantan, DD, Bishop Emeritus Honesto Ch. Pacana, SJ, Fr. Ritchell, Fr. Norman, Fr. Felix, Fr. Nilo, Fr. Joel, Fr. Bombom, Fr. Dopong and all the clergy, Sr. Leizyl, Sr. Lerma, Sr. Cecille, Sr. Imay, Sr. Virgie and the canossian sisters, thank you for your guidance and prayers; To my family, my DYFT and PYA- Impasugong families, for the support; To all who have entrusted their votes on me, the active and dedicated parish and deanery youth leaders, for the trust and committed cooperation and involvement, without you, I could have not made any difference; And to our almighty Father for the blessings of wisdom, courage, strength, hope, and love through the years, I lift up all the glory and honor. Thank you so much for this gift of a lifetime! This is Jorrie Mae D. Hernandez, glad to be of service to you for three fruitful years as your Diocesan Youth leader, signing off. To God be the glory!
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Preparatory Meetings for CaBuSTaM Youth Congress 2016
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eries of meetings were conducted and facilitated by the different dioceses of CaBuSTaM Region. The occasion was held in Saint John Seminary Pastoral Center, Surigao City, Surigao Del Norte on July 1011, 2015.
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The members were guided and were given the chance to share their ideas and initiatives as part of the preparations for the upcoming activity. The gathering also established camaraderie among the members and let them share their journeys on how each ministry went through. The origin where the Ecclesial Communities were raised and Banagbanag November 2015
{Joven Dela Peña}
their different hidden treasures were also presented. Enclosed with the long months of preparations were the updating of informations and the linkage strategies among the other involved Dioceses. This was held responsible by the Diocese of Tandag, Surigao del Sur, the host venue for CABUSTAM-YC 2016. Fr. Richard Bantugan , Tandag’s Youth Director was also appointed as the over-all chairperson for the event. He will direct and support the core group as the governing body for the next year’s youth congress. The Gentle heart of a mother
st n i a g ness a
in
T
he Diocesan Commission on Health Care together with the Diocesan Commission on Youth worked hand in hand for an information drive about HIV/AIDS. The aim is to have a vast information dissemination and to make the people aware especially the youth in this pandemic disease. Since July of this year, the Commissions entered into the different schools like Bukidnon State University (BSU), San Isidro College (SIC) and Central Mindanao University (CMU). The high school and college students are the target participants of the said forum. We may commonly heard about HIV and AIDS but many have not known the basic facts on it. HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) breaks down the immune system which is the body’s protector against any diseases. A person with HIV may easily affected by any illnesses like lung infections which weakens the body. AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome) is a long
The Gentle heart of a mother
{Joven Dela Peña}
term condition to those who have already HIV. According to information, some people develop HIV symptoms shortly after being infected while others, may take effect after 10 years before it will be known by the victim and it’s already severe. The primary HIV symptoms may include swollen glands in the throat, armpit or groin. Other early HIV symptoms include slight fever, headaches, fatigue, and muscle aches. These symptoms may last for only few weeks. HIV effects is difficult to observe unless we undergo HIV Tests. About 1 out of 6 people with HIV are not aware that they are infected so reliable testing is very essential. The Youth Commission came to a communal initiative to avail schedules for massive testing especially for the young people who are the direct subjects of this fatal disease. The Commission on Health will arrange the schedule to make this initiative accessible to many. Banagbanag November 2015
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ns i o j Y DC
re a w a g n i s i a r
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PYGA Cathedral, Ginanap!
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{Joven Dela Peña}
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gosto 2, 2015, nahalal bilang bagong Parish Youth Leader ng Cathedral na noon ay isang PYL external na si Emmanual Jay Tadlas, sa isinagawang Parish Youth General assembly na dinaluhan ng mahigit sa 80 na mga Youth Leaders mula sa ibat-ibang kapilya na kabilang sa cathedral. Inanyayaan rin upang mag bigay ng talk ang DYFT at kasalukuyang DCY Secretary na si Aaron Don Salvaña. Sa nasabing pagtitipon , dumalo rin ang PYA
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Chair na Si Sr.Jocelyn Densing,Fdcc at mga DYFT’s kasama ang bagong DCY Chair na si Sr.Liezel G.Corre FdCC . at sa pag kakataon iyon nag pasalamat din ang Dating PYL ng Cathedral Na si Joven Dela Peña Jr. para sa lahat na naging katuwang niya sa panahon ng kanyang panunungkulan. Kinabukasan ,ay isinagawa ang Rights of Commitment sa loob ng 6:30mass , at pinasiyaan ito ng mhal na Obispo ng Diocese Most Rev.Bp.Jose A.Cabantan,D>D at Rev.Fr.Janrey Zaballa ang Spiritual director ng PYA Cathedral. The Gentle heart of a mother
IEC 2016 pilgrim symbol miabot sa Diyosesis sa Malaybalay
M
ALAYBALAY CITY— Septiyembre 10, 2015 miabot ang International Eucharistic Congress (IEC) 2016 pilgrim symbol sa Diyosesis sa Malaybalay nga gidawat sa San Isidro Labrador Cathedral, Malaybalay City. Kini gihatod sa mga membro sa komitiba sa umaabot nga ika-51 nga IEC karong Enero 24-31, 2016 ug ipahigayon sa Arkediyosesis sa Cebu. Ang IEC cross symbol gilibot sa mga membro sa komitiba sa IEC sa tibuok diyosesis ug arkediyosesis sa nasud aron nga mas masayod pa ang katawhan mahitungod sa umaabot nga katiguman sunod tuig ug aron mas daghan pa ang mosuporta ug mamahimong kabahin niini. Si Fr. Rogen Leyson ug Seminarian Dave Cantillas, ang mga custodian sa IEC 2016
The Gentle heart of a mother
{Shiela C. Lumambas}
pilgrim symbol nga maoy miuban ug mouban niini gikan sa arksdiyosesis sa Cebu ngadto sa mga nagkadaiyang parte sa nasud sa Pilipinas. Gitagbo sa mga estudyante sa San Isidro College (SIC) ang maong simbolo kauban sa mga kaparian, kamadrehan ug mga deboto o membro a nagkadaiyang apostolado ug komisyon sa diyosesis.
Buknews
MELBERT I. GUIPETACIO
Ang International Eucharistic Congress 2016 Pilgrim Symbol atol sa paghatud niini sa Diyosesis sa Malaybalay niadtong Septiyembre 10, 2015 nga gidawat sa San Isidro Labrador Cathedral.
Usa ka hamubong liturhiya ang nahigayon pag-abot sa simbolo pinangulohan ni Fr. Noel Suarez, ang Cathedral rector, diin nahitabo usab ang pagpasabot sa tumong sa pagpabisita sa pilgrim symbol sa tibuok nasud nga gihatag ni Fr. Leyson. Ang IEC gisugdan tuig 1881 ug sa pinakaunang higayon, pagahimoon kini sa Pilipinas. Nahibaloan kini pinaagi sa deklarasyon ni Santo Papa Emeritus Benedicto XVI niadtong Hunyo 17, 2012, continued to page 48 Banagbanag November 2015
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LEAGUE OF CHAMPIONS
“W
CFC-YFC Northeastern Mindanao’s 19th Regional Youth Conference
e are ruled by the love of Christ, now that we recognize that one man died for everyone, which means that they all share in his death. He died for all, so that those who live should no longer live for themselves, but only for him who died and was raised to life for their sake .” 2 Corinthians 5: 14-15 This was the anchor verse of the theme for the 19th Regional Youth Conference of North Eastern Mindanao region of CFC-Youth for Christ last October 30-31, 2015 in Camiguin Convention Center, Mambajao, Camiguin. This year’s RYC was attended by thousands of YFCs from all over Surigao del Sur,
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{ANJON FREDRICK CABUGSA}
Surigao del Norte, Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Camiguin, Misamis Oriental and Bukidnon. DAY 1 The conference began with an opening worship led by the Camiguin’s Provincial Youth Head, Jester Ibahay. All were welcomed by Mambajao’s Vice Mayor, Roldan Chan. The rest of the time was spent for sports and creative competitions. Hon. Mayor Jurdin Jesus M. Rumualdo also gave his inspirational speech to the YFCs. In the afternoon, different workshops were prepared like Chasing Chastity (100% Free Workshop), The Champs continued to page 48 The Gentle heart of a mother
Delegates to the NYD reflect on the Pope’s Message {Shiela C. Lumambas}
This Pope Francis’ message was addressed for the 30th World Youth Days (WYD) for this year. Every year, the WYD MALAYBALAY is celebrated locally in each country CITY—Prior to the with varying dates. Dioceses in Rome National Youth Days hold the local celebration during Palm (NYD) 2015 proper, Sundays. Every after two or three years, the Catholic Bishops’ there is an international celebration Conference of the Philippines-Episcopal of the WYD. The last international Commission on Youth (CBCP-ECY) celebration was held in 2011 at Rio de furnished a copy of the pre-NYD Janeiro, Brazil. After the closing mass in formation program for each of the Rio, the Holy Father announced that the participating dioceses and member- next international WYD will be hosted organizations of the Federation of by Krakow, Poland on 2016. National Youth Organization (FNYO). During his message also, he encouraged The NYD 2015 will be hosted by every young people to go back, read and the Archdiocese of Tuguegarao in reflect on the Eight Beatitudes or the Cagayan Valley on November 11-15, Sermon on the Mount from Matthew 2015. To prepare oneselves from this 5:3-12. The essence of his message this upcoming youth gathering, the 18
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official delegates to the NYD from the Diocesan Commission on Youth (DCY) of the Roman Catholic, Diocese of Malaybalay reflected on the message of Pope Francis as part of the pre-NYD formation. It was done on 31 October 2015 at DCY Office.
continued to page 49
Blessing of Bishop Joe Cabantan, DD to the NYD delegates to Tuguegarao, Cagayan Valley on Nov. 11-15, 2015. It was done on November 4, 2015 (Wednesday) within the 5:30 pm mass celebration
The Gentle heart of a mother
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Leaders Are Made Not Born
The Maramag Catholic Youth Apostolate Leadership Seminar
Buknews
{DHARLING VAIN L. BERNAS}
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T
he Maramag Catholic Youth Apostolate of San Andres Parish successfully accomplished the Christian Leadership Seminar last September 12, 2015. The activity was made possible due to the generosity of Diocesan Youth Formation Team who prepared and gave the seminar upon the request of the host parish. It was participated by 40 young individuals allover Maramag specifically, the chapel youth and youth organization presidents and officers. The formation was given in the morning where the participants listened to the different concepts and ideas on successful leadership. It reawakens the leaders’ consciousness to develop the same values and enhance the abilities they have already possessed. In the afternoon, series of team-building
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activities were prepared and joyfully participated by the youth leaders. It was a funfilled moment for the participants since they need to successfully pass through the obstacles by strictly following the rules set beforehand. As a result, youthfulness, laughters, enjoyment, boosting intellects, learned strategies, cooperation and other attributes were radiated from among the young leaders. They were given the privilege to apply what they have heard through the practical situations presented. With that, they were able to think deeply and realized the true essence of leadership and a team which were essential for a servant-leader. It was indeed a graceful and fruitful activity for all. Now, the apostolate is looking forward for better young servant-leaders, it will not be easy, but it will never be impossible! The Gentle heart of a mother
DCYGA gipahigayon, mga bag-ong opisyales sa komisyon gipili {Shiela C. Lumambas}
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GLAYAN, Malaybalay City—Human sa tulo ka tuig nga pagpadagan sa mga programa, pormasyon ug uban pang mga aktibidades sa mga batan-on pinaagi sa Diocesan Commission on Youth (DCY) sa Diyosesis sa Malaybalay, gipahigayon na usab ang DCY General Assembly (DCYGA) niadtong Nobiyembre 21-22, 2015 sa parokya ni San Lorenzo Deacono sa Aglayan, sakop sa dakbayan sa Malaybalay. Ang duha ka adlaw nga katiguman gitambungan sa mga batan-on nga opisyales o representante sa tanang parokya nga sakop ning diyosesis, organisasyon sa mga batan-on nga aktibo sa simbahan o sa mga tunghaan ug sa mga membro sa Diocesan Youth Formation Team (DYFT). Gigrasyahan ang maong kasaulogan sa pagtambong ni Sr. Mary Jane Caspillo, MMS isip tigpasayon sa nahitabong recollection sa 21 sa buntag ug tigpasayon usab sa nahitabong eleksyon sa mga bag-ong opisyales sa mga batan-on nga mamuno sa komisyon sulod sa umaabot nga tulo ka tuig (2015-2018). Naghatag usab og kalipay sa mga batan-on ang presensya ug suporta ni Fr. Felizardo Tibayan, ang kura paroko sa maong parokya ug ni Fr. Ritchell S. Quita, ang spiritual director sa komisyon sa mga batan-on. Kapin kon kulang 103 ka mga rehistradong partisipante ang mitambong sa katiguman gikan sa mga nagkadaiyang parokya ug organisasyon.
The Gentle heart of a mother
Mga bag-ong opisyales
Sa maong katiguman usab, gipili sa mga opisyales o representante sa mga parokya ug organisasyon sa mga batan-on ang mga bag-ong opisyales nga mamuno sa Diocesan Commission on Youth sa Diyosesis sa Malaybalay.
Buknews
MELBERT I. GUIPETACIO
Mga bag-ong opisyales sa Diocesan Commission on Youth (DCY) sa Diyosesis sa Malaybalay nga gipili atol sa DCY General Assembly niadtong Nobiyembre 21-22, 2015, kauban si Sr. Leizyl G. Corre, FdCC (tunga). Gikan sa wala (naglingkod): DCY Treasurer - Ivelien Batistis, DCY Secretary – Charry Casinabe, DCY Asst. Youth Leader – Jorrie Mae Hernandez, Diocesan Youth Leader Joven dela Peña; gikan sa wala (nagtindog): DYFT Chair Shiela C. Lumambas, DCY Social Action head Emmanuel Tadlas ug DCY Liturgy head Dharling Vain Barnas.
Ang mga bag-ong napili mao sila si Joven dela Peña, Jr. isip bag-ong Diocesan Youth Leader (DYL) gikan sa San Isidro Labrador Cathedral ug kanhing DCY Treasurer; misunod kaniya ang kanhing DYL nga si Jorrie Mae Hernandez isip Assistant DYL gikan sa parokya sa Immaculada Conception sa Impasug-ong; Charry Casinabe isip DCY Secretary gikan sa parokya ni San Ignacio de Loyola sa Kalasungay, Malaybalay City ug si Ivelien Batistis gikan sa parokya ni San Jose sa Sinayawan isip Treasurer. Gipili usab ang mga mopadagan sa mga programa alang sa Liturgy, Formation ug Social Action (LiForSA) sa maong komisyon. Sa Liturgy, napili si Dharling Vain Barnas gikan sa parokya ni San Andres sa Maramag; sa Formation kining tigbalita; ug sa Social Action sa komisyon mao si Emmanuel Tadlas gikan sa San Isidro Labrador Cathedral. Ang mga bag-ong opisyales sa komisyon awtomatikong membro sa DYFT ug gikinahanglan moapil sa mga pormasyon ug programa niini.
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s o m e a s o n u p s o p a t i g 5 1 0 2 NYD
TUGUEGARAO CITY, Cagayan—Puno sa emosyon nga gitapos sa mga kabatan-onang Pinoy ang kasaulogan sa National Youth Days (NYD) 2015 nga gipahigayon sa Arkediyosesis sa Tuguegarao, sa Cagayan Valley. Gitapos kini pinaagi sa Santos nga Misa sa usa sa mga festival sites – ang Cagayan State University (CSU) niadtong Nobiyembre 15, 2015 pinangulohan sa auxiliary bishop sa Tuguegarao nga si Bishop Ricardo Baccay, kauban ang mga kaparian sa mga nagkadaiyang diyosesis ug arkediyosesis sa nasud kauban usab ang pipila sa mga Obispo. “The church has a special concern for you. You are our new revolutionaries. You are our new rebels. As new revolutionaries and rebels, we expect you to do more and go against the present, modern culture of relativism; a culture that is devoid of fidelity and responsibility and instead, dwells on what is ephemeral and temporal,” tipik ug kabahin sa homiliya ni Bp. Baccay ngadto sa mga batanon.
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Iyang gibase ang iyang homiliya sa mga pulong ni Santo Papa Francisco ngadto sa mga batan-on, “I ask you to rebel against this culture.” Matud ni Bp. Baccay, usa kini ka “mandato” gikan sa Santo Papa ug angay lamang nga ang mga batan-on ang mangunay sa pagsugpo sa kultura nga Banagbanag November 2015
nakapahimong ulipon sa kasamtangang panahon. Dugang pag-awhag niya sa mga batan-on nga dili sila magmakuli sa pagsagubang sa mga inadlawadlaw nga mga problema ug dili nila kalimtan ang misyon nga ilang nakat-onan sa kasaulogan sa NYD. “Go, therefore, to all parts of the world and remember that true happiness is possible, and lasting commitment is still a good option.” Nakaangkla usab ang homiliya sa Obispo sa tema sa NYD 2015 nga gikan sa ikaunom nga Beatitude sa Mateo 5:8, ‘Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God’ (Bulahan ang putli og kasingkasing, makita nila ang Dios). Sa usa sa mga festival sites usab, sa St. Paul University Philippines (SPUP) sa Tuguegarao, gikan sa pamulong ni Sr. Merceditas Ang, SPC, ang presidente sa maong tunghaan, iyang gipahinumdoman ang mga batan-on nga ang tinood nga kalipay magsumikad sa kaputli sa kasingkasing, sa bisan unsang butang ug sitwasyon. Kini ang gipaklaro sa mga Obispo nga sulod sa lima ka adlaw nagpaambit diha sa ilang homiliya – nga ang kaputli sa kasingkasing magdala og tiunay nga kalipay. Awhag ni Bp. Baccay sa mga batan-on, “Tell all people that true happiness is not conditioned by economic profit; that life can go on even if we don’t have these ‘panandaliang ligaya’. Go and see God in the face of the poor, in the face of our tribal Filipinos... Go and see God.”
The Gentle heart of a mother
a g m , oy o y r a n o y s u l bo
syon
AMBAS}
{SHIELA C. LUM
The delegates of the Diocese of Malaybalay in their iconic ‘tudlo’ pose in front of St. Paul de Chartres Chapel in SPUP Tuguegarao during the 2nd day of NYD 2015
Mr. Vincent Acodile a.k.a Budoy in his festival attire waiting to perform for the Grand Festival Night
The Gentle heart of a mother
Ms. Charamie S. Gempisao offering a Higaonon-inspired doll as a token for the host diocese
The delegates at the entrance of the famed Callao Cave in Peñablanca, Cagayan Valley; a site a visitor shouldn’t miss when staying in Cagayan Valley
Sr. Leizyl together with her foster Tita Jema Baricaua during the Prayer with the Community Night.
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Sa Susama Tulomano Bag-ong
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ng bugtong programa nga nagdala sa tingog sa mga kabatanonan ba kay daghaaaaaaaan na kaayong mga anchors ug titulo ang nangagi. Kini gisugdan sa pangalan “Batan-on asa ka paingon?”, gisundan dayon sa “Hugyaw Kabatan-onan”, misunod dayon ang “Hugyaw Kabatan-onan, Level Up!”, ug ang pinaka bag-o karon nga gilunsad niadtong Hulyo 2015 mao ang “Hugyaw Kabatan-onan, Level Up pa MORE!” …hahaha… Igo ra gisumpaya’g more noh? Hehehe mao gyud na ang resulta sa pagbagyo sa among mga utok (brain storming) hahaha…sa dihang kami nagmeeting mahitungod sa pag bag-o sa titulo ug sa mga segments sa maong tulomanon sa kahanginan.
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Dunay pipila nga nangutana diri kanako kong nganong MORE man an gisumpay? Ug dili man CHAR, PABEBE, PASTILLAS ug ALDUB ug uban pa? hahaha! Showbiz ra kayo na mga guys. Hehehe! Anyway balik ta sa MORE ha? Ug nia ra ang tubag nianang inyong mga pangutana. Diri ta una sa M (Makagiya), ang segment para ani kay ang MIB (Mga Issue ni BukYo), diri nato pagahisgutan ang nagkadaiyang issues susama sa pagtaas sa mga panaliton! Hehehe joke! Ang mga nag-unang issue bitaw oy, example: Vocation, Sexuality, Addiction, Social Media, etc… ug daghan pang mga issues ug mga pagsabot niini aron kita magiyahan pa gayud. OHRYT! Hehehe! So diri na pud ta sa O The Gentle heart of a mother
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ang on, g Titulo ug Segments Gimugna!
{MELBERT I. GUIPETACIO}
(Overloaded sa info), kini maong segment kay mahitingod sa BukYo KKB (Bukidnon Youth Kahibalo Ka Ba?) Atong pagahisgutan dinhi ang mga panghitabo sa palibot sama sa pista sa mga santos, dates to remember or schedules ug uban pang mga panghitabo sa atong Katolikanhong simbahan. Ang R (Relate Much), ang sulod ani mao ang (Love Never ends) Ooooooiiiiieeeeee nakarelate sila! Hahaha! Daghan gyud ang makarelate kong gugma na ang hisgutan di ba? Usa na ko diha. OHryt! Hehehe! Diri nato saw-an ang nagkalainlaing aspeto sa kinabuhi ni Bukyo, spiritual man , pamilya, komunidad ug sa iyang kaugalingon. Ug ang ika upat mao ang E (Extra-Extra sa saya), malipay gyud ta kong magreet The Gentle heart of a mother
ug makagreet sa mga minahal sa kinabuhi pinaagi sa kahanginan, ang segment ani (Pajoin naman sa saya, kamo nalang permi, BukYo igreet ko biii!). So, ano pang hinihintay nyo? Paminaw ug pag-greet na! hehehe! Madungog sa nag-inusarang Katolikong sibyahanan ning Diyosesis sa Malaybalay ang DXDB 594 khz Radyo Bandilyo, matag Domingo, sa alas dyes (10:00) hangtud alas onse (11:00) sa sayong kaudtohon. Inubanan sa atong mga anchors: Kapartner Bobet, Kaagapay Shiela, Kakulitan Ahdon, KaBFF Chang2x ug Darl, Kapanalig Joven, Kahudyaka Hurl ug Kahugyaw Jorrie. Diri lang sa bugtong programa nga nagdala sa tingog sa mga kabatan-onan, ang HUGYAW KABATAN-ONAN LEVEL UP PA MORE! Banagbanag November 2015
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fr. neri: A FOR
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lobal warming and climate change are the major environmental crisis that affect the modern world. Man, with all of his superior technologies found his possession powerless to stop the wrath of nature. The sign of times demand that man should give the nature what is due for her or else she may bear its retaliation through various forms of calamities. World leaders of today have this pursuance to combat this phenomenon. Many organizations and causeoriented groups have emerged to answer the call to save Mother Earth. Last May, Pope Francis issued his encyclical “Laudatu Si,” echoing the protection of our Common Home. With the same vision, we have also the same concern and story in our local areas. An elementary school pupil knows a certain advocate, Fr. Neri Satur, one of the martyrs for environmental cause. Every October 14 is the day dedicated for his heroic act. Various initiatives are organized in different parishes to promote the advocacy which was started by this priest. His example is the best inspiration for every man and woman to follow. Let
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k n o w deeper who F r.
Neri is. He was from Pangantucan, Bukidnon. Due to poverty he became a working student and known to be one of “kumbento boys” of Fr. Bob Cunnigham, SJ. His entrance to the seminary was not really his plan. He was just invited by his classmates to take the seminary exam in Malaybalay City. But in God, it was already arranged accordingly. On June 29, 1989, he was ordained as the fifth priest from the town of Pangantucan. He spent his priesthood for only a short span of time. An unknown gunmen from the hills of Guinuyuran Parish took his life with a bullet. The attackers were not contented of shooting him alone but also smashed his head with their riffle’s barrel - a manifestation of intense hatred who had the desire for revenge. Fr. Neri was honored by the Diocese for his heroic witnessing on October 14, 1991, more than two years after his ordination. Bishop Dency Rosales, who was then the Bishop of Malaybalay, tried to capture some important details of the short-lived life of Fr. Neri. A certain incident was mentioned on his book while Fr. Neri was still a seminarian. One day, in the seminary’s washroom while doing the laundry, Fr. Neri uttered his prophetic word of martyrdom to Fr. Nestor Climaco (now a priest of the Diocese of Tandag). He said, “[p]ity for the poor, they always lose, no place to hide in, no one believes on them. Apan maayo pa sila
The Gentle heart of a mother
REST PRIEST {ARIS JAY LAPIZAR}
na martyr na, samtang kita diri mao ra gihapon.”
Indeed, his words become a reality. He was prepared by the Lord for this. He knew the price being paid for those who follow Christ faithfully. The Diocese have not only givenup a parish priest but a “Forest Priest”. These words were also used by the bitter men to tease the Bukidnon clergy. It also become a common verbal expression and source of laughter to the people though it mean something to a priest and his community. It was remembered that on September 11, 1990, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) through Sec. Fulgencio Factoran signed DENR Administrative Order No. 80 series 1990 and was duly deputizing 45 priests and deacons of the Diocese of Malaybalay as Foresters. This proclamation granted an authority to priests to confiscate logs and to stop the on-going destruction of Bukidnon forest that would sustain the major rivers of Mindanao. The passion to protect the environment was continuously carried over year after year, Scarboro Fathers, Redemptorist and Jesuits are some of the groups who sustained it. Fr. Neri in his part had confiscated for about
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7,000 board feet of illegally cutted logs. With great love for the nature, numerous lives of priests like Fr. Godofredo Alingal, SJ, parish workers, alagads, catechists and even ordinary citizen gave up their lives because of this common goal. Though justice did not claimed for the death of the late “Forest Priest”, the inspiration brought by the courageous yet faithful servant of God reawaken the entire consciousness of the people in Bukidnon to protect the beauty of the entire province. The late Bishop Claver emphasized that Fr. Neri Satur’s story is part of the worldwide consciousness. It was not only his fight but also the fight of each and every people in Bukidnon. Fr. Neri showed us first the way. “Trees are worth dying and living for,” as Bishop Cisco remarked further.
Indeed, Fr. Neri’s life taught us that our existence was meant for the others. We are not created to dominate one another but instead, a source of life to the others. Men and nature were created by God to be relational, to be communicative and to be interdependent. It is a universal truth that nature may survive without man but it i s impossible for man to survive without nature.
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N Ang Balay ni Bukyo Kaniadto Ug Karon {MELBERT I. GUIPETACIO}
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aka dumdom pa ba mo sa advertisement sa Camella? Nia ra oh, 123 sing! hehehe “bulilit-bulilit ang liit-liit! Kung kumilos-kumilos ang sikip-sikip.” Hehehe! Mao na ang akong mahinumduman sa dihang ang opisina sa Diocesan Commission on Youth (DCY) nga kaniadto Diocesan Youth Apostolate (DYA) nahimutang pa sa Bukidnon Institute of Cathechitics (BIC). Tiaw ba?! Maigo gyud ming tanan didtong dapita bisan paman sa kagamay ug kagoot niini. Hehehe! “murag suman” ohryt! Pero ang nakanindot kay ang mga tao dinhing dapita kay nagkahiusa, nag-amumahay ug nagminahalay isip mga managsuon.
Ubay–ubay na pud ang mga office staff nga nangagi dinhing dapita. (sa ako lang naabtan!hehehe…) sila si Ate Cocong, Ate Dyulie, Ate Meloi ug ang nagpabilin hangtud karon nga si Ate Jessa. Ug syempre kauban pud ang Spiritual Director, Sister In- Charge ug ang akong mga igsoon sa Diocesan Youth Formation Team (DYFT), oh diba? ang saya-saya? hehehe! Daghang mga kakulian ang among gipang-agian sama sa WALAY KWARTA ug uban pa..hahaha! Naka all caps pa! Hihihi. Pero ang nakanindot diha kay mas daghan gyud ang mga formative ug mga happy memories. Ohryt! So much for that mga guys! Hehehe. Diri ta sa new house ni BukYo. Nangalipay The Gentle heart of a mother
ming tanan sa dihang nisugot ang amahan ning atong Diocese nga si Bishop Jose A. Cabantan, DD sa hangyo sa among Spiritual Director nga si Fr. Ritchell S. Quita nga mamalhin mi diri sa mas dako, mas lapad ug mas luag nga opisina. Ohryt! Hehehe! Diri kini nahamutang sa old convent sa Cathedral, kadto bitaw’ng kinder garten sa una? Oo, mao na siya mga igsoon. Daghan na kaayo ang mga kabag-ohan in terms of facilities labina para sa Income Generating Project (IGP) ug uban pang mga lagutmon! Hehehe. Naa na ta’y button pin maker, heat press for t-shirt printing ug mug, cutter plotter, laminator for PVC I.Ds ug bag tags, new computer set for layouting ug ang mga bag-ong teknolohiya kong unsaon pag print sa t-shirts ug uban pa. Mao nga gihinganlan na ug BUKYO Souvenir Center ang among lugar dili lang kay opisina siya kundili sentro gyud siya nga tambayan sa mga BukYo nga nanginabuhian alang sa panudlanan sa Commission on Youth aron makasustinar ang tanang diocesan level nga kalihukan sa mga batan-ona sa simbahan. So, pwede na gyud kaayo mo manawag diri sa opisina alang sa inyong mga orders guys. Hehehe! Oopss, dili pud nato kalimtan ang mga personahe nga naningkamot para marealize kining tanan, sila si Sr. Lerma A. Sotalbo FdCC, Sr. Leizyl G. Corre, FDCC ug si Fr. Ritchell S. Quita. Isa lang ang aking masasabi jan : Grabehhhh! Hehehe! Power gyud kayo si Lord mga BukYo no? So, mao na ang atong journey, hinaut nga dili ta mohunong sa pag-inampuay sa usa’g usa para sa padayong paglawig ug kalamboan mga Super Friends! Ohryt! To God be the Glory. The Gentle heart of a mother
ICC
TRIBUTE TO THE
Blessed Virgin Mary
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{MAYELA LOU ADAJAR} or the past years, giving tribute to Mary has been the tradition of Impalambong Community Chapel (ICC). The said event happens every 7th of September. Mary, the Queen of Peace, is the patron of our chapel. She continually inspires our community to live in peace in spite of diversity. In every tribute, talents are offered to give veneration to the Queen. This is also when as community, we became one as we portray the beauty of living with the intercession of the Blessed Mother. Presenters of our year’s tribute were the MCM Sisters, the Pope John XXIII pre-college and college seminarians, the Parish Youth Apostolate and the ICC Youth Apostolate. Mary’s presence shows so much blessings, not to mention the group of youth who journeyed with the ICC Youth Apostolate and found their ministry with us. Mary is indeed the Mother of all – to those who are abandoned, depressed, and unloved. Our mother is so worthy to be given tribute. She is worthy to be shown with efforts and love. The place of Impalambong is surrounded with different Christian churches yet, peace is still present in the place. According to Bishop Manguiran’s homily during the fiesta celebration, Mary is a Mother of Providence. She is the only one who have a lot of fiesta celebrations. Indeed, she has the ability to feed a lot of people during fiestas. As Mary prays for the humanity, the chance of hearing our prayer is so big. As a community, we strive to be like Mary, faithful, humble, and seeks peace and harmony in living. For the next year’s Tribute, we continually aim to be dynamic in portraying that even in the next generation, Mary will remain a mother of all and a Queen of Peace. Banagbanag November 2015
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Called to be Holy
{HONEY LIT MENIL }
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s we celebrate the Solemnity of All Saints, let us recall Pope Francis’ invitation for us to have the courage to be happy and who else could better show us this courage than our friends in heaven. (CBCP-ECY) “Courage to be Happy is Saintly! Today is the great, solemn feast of All Saints!” Let us look to the saints as people - like you and me - who strove to live by the beatitudes, all through the power of God! (CBCP-ECY) Everyone is Holy, and we are called to be with Him in heaven. Today, we commemorate the Solemnity of All Saints Day. But as what we had observed nowadays, people celebrate it on the other way like having Halloween Parties with those creepy and scary costumes instead of celebrating or giving our time to pray to the Saints. As young people, we are challenged to change the perspectives on how we celebrate the All Saints Day. To answer the call, the Diocesan Commission on Youth
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invited all the parishes of the Diocese of Malaybalay to do the March of Saints and portray our favorite saints instead of wearing those strange costumes. It was a great challenge for the Kibawe Youth to do the said activity. As a first timer, we announced it before the said date during the mass so that the people would be informed of the church activity. The youth as the organizers together with our Parish and Asst. Parish Priests made it possible. The young people and kids who portrayed their favorites Saints marched during the entrance hymn of the first of the mass. Fr. Andrew Boquilon told the parishioners why we did the activity; so that they would know or awakened that this is how All Saints Day should be celebrated. That once in a year, we could be saints or could portray our favorite saints. As what Fr. Felix Abadies said in his homily, “Every one of us are called to be holy, and everyone can be a saint.” In addition, “Dili mamili ang pagka Santo.” The Gentle heart of a mother
“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God” (Mt 5: 8) MESSAGE OF HIS HOLINESS POPE FRANCIS FOR THE THIRTIETH WORLD YOUTH DAY 2015
Dear Young Friends, We continue our spiritual pilgrimage toward Krakow, where in July 2016 the next international World Youth Day will be held. As our guide for the journey we have chosen the Beatitudes. Last year we reflected on the beatitude of the poor in spirit, within the greater context of the Sermon on the Mount. Together we discovered the revolutionary meaning of the Beatitudes and the powerful summons of Jesus to embark courageously upon the exciting quest for happiness. This year we will reflect on the sixth beatitude: “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God” (Mt 5:8). 1. The desire for happiness The word “blessed”, or “happy”, occurs nine times in this, Jesus’ first great sermon (cf. Mt 5:1-12). It is like a refrain reminding us of the Lord’s call to advance together with him on a road which, for all its many challenges, leads to true happiness. Dear young friends, this search for happiness is shared by people of all times and all ages. God has placed in the heart of every man and woman an irrepressible desire for happiness, for fulfillment. Have you not noticed that your hearts are restless, always searching for a treasure which can satisfy their thirst for the infinite? The first chapters of the Book of Genesis show us the splendid “beatitude” to which we The Gentle heart of a mother
are called. It consists in perfect communion with God, with others, with nature, and with ourselves. To approach God freely, to see him and to be close to him, was part of his plan for us from the beginning; his divine light was meant to illumine every human relationship with truth and transparency. In the state of original purity, there was no need to put on masks, to engage in ploys or to attempt to conceal ourselves from one another. Everything was clear and pure. When Adam and Eve yielded to temptation and broke off this relationship of trusting communion with God, sin entered into human history (cf. Gen 3). The effects were immediately evident, within themselves, in their relationship with each other and with nature. And how dramatic the effects are! Our original purity as defiled. From that time on, we were no longer capable of closeness to God. Men and women began to conceal themselves, to cover their nakedness. Lacking the light which comes from seeing the Lord, they saw everything around them in a distorted fashion, myopically. The inner compass which had guided them in their quest for happiness lost its point of reference, and the attractions of power, wealth, possessions, and a desire for pleasure at all costs, led them to the abyss of sorrow and anguish. In the Psalms we hear the heartfelt plea which mankind makes to God: “What can bring us happiness? Let the light of your face shine on us, O Lord” (Ps 4:7). The Father, in his infinite goodness, responded to this plea by sending Banagbanag November 2015
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his Son. In Jesus, God has taken on a human face. Through his Incarnation, life, death and resurrection, Jesus frees us from sin and opens new and hitherto unimaginable horizons.
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Dear young men and women, in Christ you find fulfilled your every desire for goodness and happiness. He alone can satisfy your deepest longings, which are so often clouded by deceptive worldly promises. As Saint John Paul II said: “He is the beauty to which you are so attracted; it is he who provokes you with that thirst for fullness that will not let you settle for compromise; it is he who urges you to shed the masks of a false life; it is he who reads in your hearts your most genuine choices, the choices that others try to stifle. It is Jesus who stirs in you the desire to do something great with your lives” (cf. Discourse at the Prayer Vigil at Tor Vergata, 19 August 2000: Insegnamenti XXIII/2, [2000], 212). 2. Blessed are the pure in heart… Let us now try to understand more fully how this blessedness comes about through purity of heart. First of all, we need to appreciate the biblical meaning of the word heart. In Hebrew thought, the heart is the centre of the emotions, thoughts and intentions of the human person. Since the Bible teaches us that God does not look to appearances, but to the heart (cf. 1 Sam 16:7), we can also say that it is from the heart that we see God. This is because the heart is really the human being in his or her totality as a unity of body and soul, in his or her ability to love and to be loved. As for the definition of the word pure, however, the Greek word used by the evangelist Matthew is katharos, which basically means clean, pure, undefiled. In the Gospel we see Jesus reject a certain conception of ritual purity bound to exterior practices, one which forbade all contact with things and people (including lepers and strangers) considered impure. To the Pharisees who, like so many Jews of their time, ate nothing without first performing ritual ablutions and observing the many traditions associated with
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cleansing vessels, Jesus responds categorically: “There is nothing outside a man which by going into him can defile him; but the things which come out of a man are what defile him. For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, fornication, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, licentiousness, envy, slander, pride, foolishness” (Mk 7:15, 2122). In what, then, does the happiness born of a pure heart consist? From Jesus’ list of the evils which make someone impure, we see that the question has to do above all with the area of our relationships. Each one of us must learn to discern what can “defile” his or her heart and to form his or her conscience rightly and sensibly, so as to be capable of “discerning the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect” (Rom 12:2). We need to show a healthy concern for creation, for the purity of our air, water and food, but how much more do we need to protect the purity of what is most precious of all: our heart and our relationships. This “human ecology” will help us to breathe the pure air that comes from beauty, from true love, and from holiness. Once I asked you the question: “Where is your treasure? In what does your heart find its rest?” (cf. Interview with Young People from Belgium, 31 March 2014). Our hearts can be attached to true or false treasures, they can find genuine rest or they can simply slumber, becoming lazy and lethargic. The greatest good we can have in life is our relationship with God. Are you convinced of this? Do you realize how much you are worth in the eyes of God? Do you know that you are loved and welcomed by him unconditionally, as indeed you are? Once we lose our sense of this, we human beings become an incomprehensible enigma, for it is the knowledge that we are loved unconditionally by God which gives meaning to our lives. Do you remember the conversation that Jesus had with the rich young man (cf. Mk 10:17-22)? The evangelist Mark observes that the Lord looked upon him and loved him (v. 21), and invited him to follow him and thus to find true riches. I hope, dear young friends, that this The Gentle heart of a mother
loving gaze of Christ will accompany each of you throughout life. Youth is a time of life when your desire for a love which is genuine, beautiful and expansive begins to blossom in your hearts. How powerful is this ability to love and to be loved! Do not let this precious treasure be debased, destroyed or spoiled. That is what happens when we start to use our neighbours for our own selfish ends, even as objects of pleasure. Hearts are broken and sadness follows upon these negative experiences. I urge you: Do not be afraid of true love, the love that Jesus teaches us and which Saint Paul describes as “patient and kind”. Paul says: “Love is not jealous or boastful; it is not arrogant or rude. Love does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrong, but rejoices in the right. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things” (1 Cor 13:4-8).
teachings of the Church on love, you will discover that Christianity does not consist of a series of prohibitions which stifle our desire for happiness, but rather a project for life capable of captivating our hearts. 3. …for they shall see God In the heart of each man and woman, the Lord’s invitation constantly resounds: “Seek my face!” (Ps 27:8). At the same time, we must always realize that we are poor sinners. For example, we read in the Book of Psalms: “Who can climb the mountain of the Lord? Who shall stand in his holy place? The one who has clean hands and a pure heart” (Ps 24:3-4). But we must never be afraid or discouraged: throughout the Bible and in the history of each one of us we see that it i s
In encouraging you to rediscover the beauty of the human vocation to love, I also urge you to rebel against the widespread tendency to reduce love to something banal, reducing it to its sexual aspect alone, deprived of its essential characteristics of beauty, communion, fidelity and responsibility. Dear young friends, “in a culture of relativism and the ephemeral, many preach the importance of ‘enjoying’ the moment. They say that it is not worth making a lifelong commitment, making a definitive decision, ‘for ever’, because we do not know what tomorrow will bring. I ask you, instead, to be revolutionaries, I ask you to swim against the tide; yes, I am asking you to rebel against this culture that sees everything as temporary and that ultimately believes you are incapable of responsibility, that believes you are incapable of true love. I have confidence in you and I pray for you. Have the courage to ‘swim against the tide’. And also have the courage to be happy” (Meeting with the Volunteers of the XXVIII Word Youth Day, 28 July 2013).
always God who takes the first step. You young people are brave adventurers! He purifies us If you allow yourselves to discover the rich so that we can continued to page 49 The Gentle heart of a mother
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{AARON DON V. SALVAÑA}
All this time, I thought, loveteams wouldn’t be my thing. Given that I am already approaching my silver age, too pre-occupied with stuffs and always wearing a boring garb everytime, AlDub wouldn’t be on the list. That was the case before my curiosity betrayed me. Therein, lies the entry point of AlDub for me.
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So, AlDub is a segment of a 36-yearold show on GMA Channel 7, Eat Bulaga. It was supposed to feature a lola (grandmother) who was actually one of
the hosts of a segment called Juan for All, All for Juan, a get-down-and-dirty show which situates in the Philippine streets, a slice of life, where viewers would see jobless, toothless (not to demean) citizens of the republic who would cry over about a hundred thousand pesos worth of cash and goodies from the show sponsors. They would greet the show’s main host Vic Sotto a happy birthday, never mind if it’s been several months ago and thank him with tears rolling down their cheeks for the generosity they have appreciated. Before that segment, they had a problem-solving portion where they would answer nonsensical and not so funny questions — like what to do about a husband’s asthma. The lady doctor — played by Wally Bayola prescribed a medication from the breath of a hyena, sprayed three times into the ears, but before that inhale and blow through the ears, the asthma will exit through the ears, something like that. She had to return to South Africa to attend a seminar on herbal medThe Gentle heart of a mother
icine. Dora D’Explorer left, and Lola Nidora the millionairess arrived, also played by Bayola for the question and answer. Towed by Lola Nidora is Maine Mendoza as Yaya Dub. “Yaya” is Pilipino for nanny. Dub is short for Dub Smash, a software to mimic the facial expression of a singer or artist using the original soundtrack, and it would elicit laughs. Maine achieved fame when she did an impersonation which garnered a million likes overnight, something like that. Eat Bulaga productions got her for her fame in Dub Smash. It so happened that on July 16, this year, she would come to see Alden Richards at the monitor where the moveable feast of Juan for All, All for Juan was staged. Alden was at the Broadway studio hours away from the Eat Bulaga
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outreach. The audience saw that she was taken in by the handsome young man’s looks; resident director Mike Tuviera of the show saw an opportunity. The rest as they say is history. The kalyeserye (street series) was born. Lola Nidora would move heaven and earth to separate the two but the attraction seemed to be mutual and coming from a deep well, to Lola’s consternation, and the audience got hooked because Yaya Dub seemed genuinely hooked on Alden, and vice versa. They wanted the two to meet each other in person, as young lovers would naturally want, but Lola always stood as sentinel, dishing out Filipino traditional values in the process. “Sa tamang panahon” (at the right time) became a meme, and the audience would switch on every day Mondays to Saturdays as the love story unfolded. Alden would willingly move mountains in consonance to Lola Nidora’s request just to see Yaya Dub. There would be instances that he (Alden) needs to fill tanks of water, ran kilometers with carry-ons, sing songs, and dance silly beats. This made the audience love the loveteam all the more, perhaps remembering how it was when Filipinos courted their lady loves in the days gone by before texting and social media dismissed traditional courtship and instead settled for eyeballs — eye-to-eye meetings at the instigation of texting within moments of first encounter. Banagbanag November 2015
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The DYFT Aspirants’ J
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t was around 7:00 am pag-abot nako sa Canossa Nakulbaan ko while gahulat sa ubang participants. After few minutes, niabot ang mga formators uban si Sr. Leizyl. Akong panan-aw nila kay mura sila og mga super heroes, kana bang taman tanaw rako nila with matching pakpak isip support sa ilaha.
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hen there are people asking me why I serve in the church and an active in the youth ministry, I am redundantly answering them that God had chosen me to share His Gospel and I want to make Him known in this changing society. I want to make a difference in the lives of the young. Those may be my personal mission why I am keeping in touched in the youth ministry.
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t was on the 2nd Sunday of formation that we have been tested with our capacity as leaders and a team. Lot of challenges and practical applications were presented. From those activities, I was guided to recognize my
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Sa tinuod lang wala ko nagexpect nga mosulod sa pagkaaspirants sa DYFT. Niabot lang na siya nga hagit sa akong kinabuhi. Mga butang nga gihan-ay na sa Ginoo alang kanako. During the orientation, nakurat ko, na-excite, nalingaw, naka-smile ug uban pang emotions nga pwede nako hinganlan. Kabalo mo nganong ing-ato akong na
feel? Well, ayha pa nako na gets na ang Holy Spirit diay ang nagdala sa ako para makaapil sa orientation. Ang Ginoo ang nagplano sa akong life nga mosulod ani nga team. Magjourney uban kanila, mutabang sa mission, mahimo silang parte sa akong kinabuhi ug mahimo nako silang ikaduhang pamilya. Tungod sa orientation, narealize nako nga naa diay
Jesus and Me – it was the theme for the first of the seven formations that we need to undergo in order to become an official trainee of the Diocesan Youth Formation Team (DYFT), which I always dreamt of. Excited na excited ako kasi naisip ko noon easy na easy lang ito. Sa tagal ko pa naman sa youth ministry in our chapel, I was so sure na hinding-hindi na ako mahihirapan dahil may alam na rin naman ako.
On the first formation day, I arrived with so much excitement at Canossa and waited for my colleagues to be there too. When the formation started, I said in silence, “ito na ang first step to become a DYFT, gagalingan ko to!” Ate Jessa, one of the DYFTs posted a challenge to rate ourselves from 1-10 on how well do we know Jesus. So, ako that time, with all humility daw, I rated myself an 8. Gusto ko pa sana higher pa, kaso nahiya naman ako sa iba. Still more questions
limits. But at the same time, encouraged me to risk and be courageous in order to succeed on the task entrusted to each team. The participation of each member and the initiative of being a leader in a team compliments the fulfillment of the common goal.
It took a lot of selfsacrifice, generosity to share any of my resources, simplicity and humbleness to follow the leaders with courageous yet respectful manner to express for clarification if things are not clear, are the capacities that I need to enhance to myself. The Gentle heart of a mother
Journey
koy misyon sa simbahan uban sa akong mg ka-Bukyo, kapamilya, kapuso ug kapatid ug tungod niini naabri akong paglantaw sa kinabuhi. Somehow, it was also an answer to my prayers which came in an unexpected way. There are instances that we pray for a certain virtue but God puts us in situations where, by His help, we develop those virtues.
My DYFT Orientation Momentum {ALEXA ABEJUELA}
were flashed on screen that needed to be answered. It was like a quiz! I slowly then found out how difficult it was. I was doubting if I could be able to answer everything. It was a brain cracking test. Sabi pa ni Ate Jess, basic information lang daw ‘yon about Jesus. I silently sighed, really? Basic pa na? Naawa tuloy ako sa sarili ko. I thought I knew Him a lot. My knowledge was not enough. There’s a lot to know
continued to page 50
But I never missed to have the listening skills and presence of mind to the reality of being in a team or community. All of these are essential help for me especially this time that I am availing myself to serve our fellow youth in the diocese. The Gentle heart of a mother
Jesus and Me
(1st Sunday of DYFT Aspirants’ Formation) {KEVIN JAY DINAPO }
Me and Others
(2nd Sunday of DYFT Aspirants’ Formation)
{JOHN OMONGOS}
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onflicts never hinder me to continue attending the second of the seven consecutive Sundayformation of DYFT Aspirants. During this time, I encountered a challenging moment. I had to choose between attending the DYFT session and attending the S.P.E.S orientation in our
municipality – that was a job opportunity that would support my studies in this second semester since I doubt if I could pursue it because of financial hard-up.
e discussed this time what the Bible is and its importance in our life and faith. As an aspiring Diocesan Youth Formator, I should know more of the Bible, its content, its relation to my faith and to my relationship to God and the church.
facilitated the discussion. He shared to us about some information on how the Bible was produced, its nature and elements like it was written in different languages (Arabic, Aramaic, Hebrew, Greek and Latin), its stories of both the old and new testaments, its different books and the different authors. It has also its different styles of writing such as poetry,
narration, fiction, history, law, and prophecy and must be interpreted in the context of the times when it was written. Rev. Eric also mentioned the history of the Bible and the characters of the themes. It was also stressed that the Bible is inspired written books and is inerrant. This means that it claims to be from God and that it is without error in everything it addresses.
also know that one of the best reasons for attending the mass is to give thanks to God and praise Him for all the good things He has done and all of His actions in our life.
of my best realizations during the 6th Sunday formation for DYFT aspirants: “Me and the Liturgy.” Sr .Leizyl stressed that we are all Jesus’ bride, “A Bride of His Church.”
W
It was Fr. Eric Cantones who
W
hy do we go to church
on Sunday? Is it because we need something? Is it because a friend had invited us? Maybe we do have our own reasons but we should
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I was on my way to the municipality to attend the orientation. I was thinking that it will be just for two hours, planned to fill up everything that is needed and then excuse myself so
that I can go to the DYFT formation. My plan was disrupted because the orientation did not start on time as we accustomed to have our own Filipino time. Finally, I could go to Canossa and catch up though it’s a bit shameful for being so late in the formation. The formation was ME and MYSELF with a specific topic, Personality Integration. I
Anyway, I wanted to I was moved to share with you the one continue to offer The Gentle heart of a mother
found it very interesting and while listening to it, I was able to venture deep down my very self, asking and reflecting about certain details which touched my interiority. Indeed, we have the nature and nurture dynamic of human development which inherited much in the family and the environment. The four kinds of environment continued to page 52
ME and MYSELF
(3rd Sunday of DYFT Aspirants’ Formation) {JIEBERT DALAHIGON}
God used the writer as His instrument to put His words into writings. The Bible is the account of the work of God in history bringing to fruition His prophetic declarations concerning Jesus. Jesus was born of the Virgin, died on the cross, and paid for our sins just as the Bible prophesied in the Old Testament and fulfilled in continued to page 53
myself to make Jesus the center of my daily life especially in receiving Him through Holy Communion and worship Him through the highest form of prayer in the Liturgy of the Eucharist.
ME and the BIBLE
(4th Sunday of DYFT Aspirants’ Formation) {RYAN RAY BALAGOLAN}
ME and the LITURGY
(5th Sunday of DYFT Aspirants’ Formation)
The Gentle heart of a mother
{SHARON CARE SORIAL}
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n the beginning, God created heaven and earth and in the sixth day of creation God made man and woman. Can you imagine that time nga si Adan and Eve lang ang nasa world, di ba hapsay kaayo? We know since the beginning that God made everything “good” and He was very happy about it. Earth’s resources and living creatures were all entrusted to us to till and reap the harvests of it but at the same time be reminded to become good stewards of all God’s creation. We are now in the age of technologies and people
I
t was the last sunday of the sessions for the DYFT aspirants and the topic was ME and My MISSION. This was also the time that the church is also celebrating the World Mission Sunday. The aspirants were very glad that finally the seven Sundays are over. We were thankful and blessed for having been journeyed together since the beginning of the program. Fellowship, fun, enjoyment, laughter
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seemed incomplete without it. A short distance is transported by a vehicle when it could be walked. Factories here and there, aircons, generators, etc. which is causing air and water pollution. Others keep advantage with the natural resources for their own sakes. Calamities here, there and everywhere….. Nganu kaha ni ba? I still remember when I was three years old, way back 1997 here at Malaybalay City. Daghan pa ang kahoy, limpyo pa kaayo ang Sawaga River, na-enjoy pa nako ang maligo before, malingaw ko sa mga sa isda nga gasalumsalom, klase-klase pa ang
and even struggles, challenges and difficulties along the way have also established among the 23 aspirants. Values and characters may slowly integrated to that of the Gospel, each of us has gradually trying to become Christ to ourselves and to others. Dedication and commitment of each one have contributed a lot. For me, those days in the formation were so fruitful and meaningful for we have given the chance to
mga birds nga galupadlupad ug grabe pa kaayo ka-fresh ang hangin, ma-feel gyud nako ang beauty of God’s creation. Nakaka-miss ang mga moments kaniadto. As it was said, “The Earth is essentially a shared inheritance, whose fruits are meant to benefit everyone. (Pope Francis-Laudato Si). What happened with our Mother Earth in the present? The earth cries out to us because of the harm we have inflicted on her by our irresponsible use and abuse of the goods with which Go has endowed her.” (Pope Francis-Laudato Si) So, unsa kaha and akong
be part of the program. It’s a grace that we were assisted to see deeply our very being, to affirm each of the weakness and the strength we have. And above all, to recognize how God really works in our lives and loves us so much as we are. Within the week before the last and 7th Sunday of the sessions, the aspirants were given the task to spend time in encountering the poor in any areas accessible to us. For sure, it was an The Gentle heart of a mother
ma-contribute on this continuous destruction of the earth? I need to be convinced of my decision and action that every initiative starts from oneself. I need to recognize that everything is from God and I am accountable of it. I need to do a concrete way of caring the environment. Segregation, recycling and re-using, trashes must be in the garbage areas and not found anywhere. It must be an attitude and part of my spirituality. “The greatest threat to our planet is the belief that someone else will save it” continued to page 53
ME and GOD’S CREATION
(6th Sunday of DYFT Aspirants’ Formation) {GENESES BENSON}
experience that marked the heart of each one. Different feelings and emotions evoked which reawaken the spirit to get involved on the mission of Christ. During the immersion, though we have limited resources to share, we truly give quality time and presence to the people we encountered. We were moved into tears upon listening to their stories. They really evangelized us to what continued to page 53
The Gentle heart of a mother
ME and MY MISSION
“What was hard to endure is sweet to recall” (7th Sunday of DYFT Aspirants’ Formation) {ELY AGUITONG}
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My Borrow e
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wondered upon my wanderings. How did Mama Mary survived from Jesus’ impending crucifixion? And how did she managed seeing her son suffer so much just to die, leaving her all alone? We prayed hard for a healthy baby. Beside the prayers, I was given proper nutrition and care and I never felt any healthier. He’s five months inside my tummy and very much alive, kicking all his best when the doctor showed us his first ultrasound stunts. Right away, we know he’s special. He’s ours. Yes, he smiled right away in his first day on
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wed Masterpiece fc
i {AZURE GLY 2015}
earth. His slumber made us teary eyed seeing the long wait has been worth it. He’s our healthy, cute, little boy thus the Newborn Screening said. However, he convulsed twice within his two years because of high fever. And for a mother, I know it is not just some fever. The fever does not respond well from medicines. High fever also means 38.5 degrees high but Gyu’s fever is 38.2 and he’s trembling, struggling liken to a corpse in its final state. It is not Dengue nor any other of those deadly illnesses. And after a year of trying to get away from the neuro-pedia’s advice, we finally got the diagnosis on March this year. He had a localized epileptic seizures. The sleep patterns don’t lie. And where was that healthy baby we prayed for? Why is he given to me when he will just leave me anytime and maybe quite sooner, all alone? If I don’t help it, how can I bring him to school each day, hear him sing the psalm of the mass The Gentle heart of a mother
one day, or see the dinosaurs especially in Baguio if he will grow up sickly like an epileptic child I saw on news or in my research? My wonders becomes a wandering. I was denying depression. I cry a lot. And I blame myself a lot especially from leaving him behind for a year to finish my studies, not that I don’t go home each night, but there must be no place for mistake. I must see to it he has proper nutrition and complete, extra TLC. And I tend to lure away from the best reality my husband tries to tell and assure me. He’s OUR precious beloved but he is of God’s first before us. He’s only ours for stewardship’s sake. We can give him the best that we can but it is God’s will that he was born and gives us inspiration and joy each day. He might be the Jesus that caused troubles to Mama Mary but I never heard of any mention that Mama
Mary was afraid to lose him like I am now. She took care of him in the ways a mother should be. She tried to help him grow up and fulfill his mission despite the hidden tears and the painful pricks in her bleeding heart. She never stopped doubting God’s purposes. But the best thing that she might have done was to offer everything to God of which I am a bit guilty. My prayers these days is to have that faithful heart Mama Mary got. I need to be strong for my son. I must not try to get away from the fact that he’s only a borrowed masterpiece from and for God’s greater glory! All my plans and dreams for him is nothing compared to why God made him. He is our precious beloved because God wills it. P.S. It is quite hard to be a prayerful, faithful mother. So please, every mother needs help. Count me in, BukYo. Pray for me and all of the mothers Banagbanag November 2015
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musings
team man usab nga nagpadagan sa maong I.G.P. {RON-RON}
Una n a kurat gayud ako sa m a o n g tahas kay kalit man lang nga ako ang murag nangulo sa maong initiative sa I.G.P. (income generating project) sa youth ministry sa diocese. Sa dihang nagsugod na ang panahon sa pagpamaligya, ako gayud nakapamalandong “ngano man nga nabutang ako niining tahas�?
Sa matag pamaligya, nakita gayud nako ang akong katakos sa pag manage ug pagpalihok niini. Nakita nako na aduna pa diay mga tao nga dako gayud ang pagsalig kanako. Kini usa gayod ka gasa gikan sa Ginoo nga iya akong gihatagan sa usa ka kalihukan nga magamit sa pagpalambo sa akong kaugalingon. Nakita usab nako ang hinay-hinay nga kabag-ohan sa akong mga batasan sa pag-atubang sa lain-laing costumers. Nagamit usab nako ang akong gasa sa pagka leader ug pagka follower tungod kay kami
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Dako ang akong pagpasalamat sa Ginoo sa maong higayon nga napalalom pa ang akong pagserbisyo sa Ginoo sa laing pamaagi. Tungod niini natabangan ako mga mahimo nga mas maayong tawo ug kini usa sa mga dako nakong naabot. Mga tawo nga akong nailhan, mga lugar nga akong naabot, mga experiences nga dili nako makalimtan, pagsabot sa mga sitwasyon, pagrespeto diha sa sa isig kaingon labina gayud ang akong kaugalingon diha sa mga stressful moments. Kining tanan gasa sa Ginoo nga akong angay ampingan. Ang akong involvement sa I.G.P. dili lang kalambuan sa among panginahanglan sa financial, kini mas labaw usab nga nagpalambo sa akong personal, social ug spiritual nga aspeto sa akong kaugalingon. Dinhi mas nasukod pa ang akong pagka-leader diha sa nagkalain-laing hagit sa kinabuhi. Busa mga ka-BukYo dili gyud kita mahadlok sa daghan pang challenges kay kini mga opurtunidad sa dugang pang paglambo sa atong kaugalingon. God Bless Us all!
The Gentle heart of a mother
Naay Bay Poreber? Sa Kanya Meron... egration Seminar Realizations on Personality Int {JOVEN DELA PEÑA}
S
ometimes mangutana kita, aduna bay forever? Dayon ingon “wala lagi forever...” Nasayod ba kita, nga diha sa atong pagkahimugso niining kalibutana, aduna nay nahiuna kanato? Sila ang mga tawo diin atong dali matubag-tubag, singhag-singhagan ug una masakitan kung kita bation ug kasakit. Sila ang atong mga inahan, inahan nga kanunay ug way puas nga nagpangga kanato. Sulod sa 9 ka bulan, kita iyang gi-amuma diha sa iyang sabakan. Kinaon ni mama maoy kinaon usab nato, imnon ni mama ato usab gi-inom , ug sa dihang kita iyang gipakatawo, iya kitang gibilar-bilaran, usahay makalimot na siya sa iyang kaugalingon aron lamang kita iyang maamumahan. Pila ka tuig ang ninglabay, sa dihang nakat-on na kita sa paglakaw iya gihapon kitang gigiyahan aron kita makatindog sa atong kaugalingon ug mahimong maayong tawo. Sa dihang kita nakamatngon ug adunay kaugalingong buot, hinayhinay kita nga nag bag-o The Gentle heart of a mother
hangtud kita mouban-uban sa barkada. Sa atong pag-eskwela si mama gihamon ang nag-atiman, sa pag andam sa balon kita pagapustan pa, sa problema sa eskwelahan si mama ang nag-atubang. Apan sa dihang si mama nagsakit , as aka man, anak? Anaa sa barkada ikaw nag uban-uban. Isip anak naka pangutana ka ba unsa kasayon ang mahimong ginikanan? O mamahimong inahan? Siguro, wala kay tungod kita naulipon sa kalibutanong mga butang. Diha sa panimalay pag-abot gikan sa eskwelahan, T.V., cellphone, computer maoy unahon makalimtan gani ang pag-amin sa mga ginikanan. Diha sa kan-anan, bisag gapangaon hala sige, facebook, COC , GM ug ang pag-ampo nakalimtan na. Diha sa mga trabahoon sa balay, sugoon usahay moingon ra og “unya na” masuko pagbalik balikon ang sugo. Bundakbundak sa tiil kung molakaw na apan sayod ba kita nga sa matag saypp nga atong mabuhat, ang gugma ni Mama Kanunay masinabtanon continued to page 53
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How Come You Catholics Pray to people?
“How come you Catholics pray to dead people? The Bible clearly says in Leviticus 19:26 that being involved with séances and trying to communicate with the dead is strictly forbidden. And yet you Catholics constantly try to pray to the dead, especially with all those idolatrous
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{BILL DUNN}
statues of the saints. Prayer and worship is reserved for God alone, which means you Catholics are committing a vile sin. That’s why you’re not real Christians!” *** Wow, have you ever been confronted with these questions by a friend or co-worker or, most zealous of all, a family member who USED to be Catholic? How do you respond? Is it really true that we Catholics The Gentle heart of a mother
Dead violate Scripture by trying to communicate with dead people? Well, there are a couple of things we need to clarify. First, some people define prayer narrowly, as being ONLY worship of God. But prayer is really spiritual communication. Of course, a lot of prayer is indeed worshipping God. However, sometimes our prayer is merely spiritual conversation, when we ask the saints in Heaven to intercede on our behalf. We never worship saints. We only ask them to pray for us. The other important point to understand is that when we Catholic pray to the saints, The Gentle heart of a mother
we are not communicating with the dead; Scripture clearly says that they are alive! When Jesus was confronted by the Sadducees about whether there really was a resurrection, Jesus said, “…have you not read…in the passage about the bush, how God told him, ‘I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’? He is not God of the dead but of the living. You are greatly misled” (Mark 12:26-27). Jesus was very clear: Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob—who physically died centuries earlier—are actually alive in the presence of God. The same is true for all the faithful saints who have physically died. Their souls and spirits are quite alive and in the presence of God. More proof that this is true in found in continued to page 54 Banagbanag November 2015
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Shaira Gene N. Balite KUNG WALA KA SA YOUTH MINISTRY UNSA KA KARON? Siguro, naa rako sa amoang balay, layo sa Ginoo UNSA NAKA 5 YEARS FROM NOW? Naka graduate nako, gapangita na ug trabaho ug ga-serve pa gihapon sa simbahan
Ever James Poquita
H
KUNG WALA KA SA YOUTH MINISTRY UNSA KA KARON? Siguro naa ko sa dalan nga dili maayo, sa batasan nga wala gigusto sa mga tao nga naa sa akong palibot! UNSA NAKA 5 YEARS FROM NOW? 5 years from now kay magpabilin gihapon ko sa pagserbisyo sa simbahan
Geneses Benson
Special
KUNG WALA KA SA YOUTH MINISTRY UNSA KA KARON? Maybe in positive way nag-work ko now sa Cebu. In negative way, maybe drug-addict na ko karon UNSA NAKA 5 YEARS FROM NOW? Samot ko ka-gwapo then millionaire nako, ilado na kaayo ko sa frontrow
Kevin Jay Dinapo KUNG WALA KA SA YOUTH MINISTRY UNSA KA KARON? Bugoy na kaayo ko, no direction sa kinabuhi kumbaga UNSA NAKA 5 YEARS FROM NOW? Good youth facilitator na ug naka-work na dayon ko
KUNG WALA KA SA YOUTH M Maybe nag minyo nako og sayo, t mga ginikanan, siguro pud dili ko ka focus naa ra sa bana ug sa mga kaila sa akong self, wala na tagaan ang mga ta
UNSA N Nag-mature na kaayo ko ana pamilya. Usa napud siguro makasuporta sa needs sa mga ba siguro ko anang mga panahona ug na ha (gina-ampo ko pa na nga maay puhon inig minyo basin diay gras ha! Salamat daan. Hehe Ga-travel country (Jerusalem / Ro
Shiela
KUNG WAL Kung wala ug dili ko
UNSA NAKA Five years ana og La
Rachelle Darl Loayon KUNG WALA KA SA YOUTH MINISTRY UNSA KA KARON? Naglatagaw ko karon sa kalibutan, barkada ray gi–atubang UNSA NAKA 5 YEARS FROM NOW? Usa ka gwafa nga DYFT japon 5 yrs. from now, usa gihapon ka batan-on nga madasigon ug malipayon ug nagtabang na sa akong pamilya
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KUNG WALA KA SA YOUTH M Usa nako ka traveler nga manim cguro usa na UNSA N Five years from now, cguro usa nko sa p
The Gentle heart of a mother
Hapag-Usapan Jessa C. Aranas
Kung wala ka sa Youth Ministry unsa ka karon? Unsa naka 5 years from now?
MINISTRY UNSA KA KARON? then gasalig ra gihapon sa a lag-laag kay pirmi akong a anak. Siguro dili kaayo ko og chance nga ma-develop alento nga naa nako karon.
NAKA 5 YEARS FROM NOW? a. Nakatabang na sa akong ko sa mga gapaningkamot atan-on. Nag minyo na pud aa nay kambal na anak, ha, yo unta kambal akong anak syahan ni Lord. I ampo ko napod mi ana outside the ome) with my entire family.
a Lumambas
LA KA SA YOUTH MINISTRY UNSA KA KARON? a ko sa Youth Ministry, usa nako karon ka aktibista Katoliko. Siguro SDA ko karon.
A 5 YEARS FROM NOW? s from now, 29 years old nako. Nag-eskwela pako aw. grin emoticon hehe
Joven Dela Peña
MINISTRY UNSA KA KARON? mpalad sa kaulohan Manila, ako ka amahan sa pamilya NAKA 5 YEARS FROM NOW? o sa mga gahawid sa renda pangagamhanan sa syudad.
The Gentle heart of a mother
Samuel Banda KUNG WALA KA SA YOUTH MINISTRY UNSA KA KARON? Kung wala ko sa youth ministry. I’m still in the church but not as active as I am today. I was not able to meet the pope, my idol Cardinal Tagle and the youth of DYA who molded me to become strong and faithful to him UNSA NAKA 5 YEARS FROM NOW? Five years from now, I will be a head teacher in the division of Bukidnon
Jenny Rose Diwan KUNG WALA KA SA YOUTH MINISTRY UNSA KA KARON? Naa ko as Manila nag work UNSA NAKA 5 YEARS FROM NOW? 5 years from now minyo nko ug naa nakoy happy family
Sr. Gerarlyn V. Saldua, MIC KUNG WALA KA SA YOUTH MINISTRY UNSA KA KARON? KSingle and available...active in pastoral works as I was working in the parish as the Head Catechist and if not, I’m a teacher... UNSA NAKA 5 YEARS FROM NOW? Five years from now, with God’s grace...I’m already a full pledge Missionary Sister of the Immaculate Conception
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Hapag-Usapan Kung wala ka sa Youth Ministry unsa ka karon? Unsa naka 5 years from now? Honey Lit L. Menil
Special
KUNG WALA KA SA YOUTH MINISTRY UNSA KA KARON? Kung wala ko sa youth ministry karun I see myself like those young people who are away from God. Barkada here, or maybe ga-inom na, or nasalaag na gyud sa saktong dalan. Ug dili nko mailhan ang mga kabatan-onan nga naghatag nako og kalipay. I can’t see the beauty of true service, friendship, family and so on. Youth Ministry changed me into a better person. UNSA NAKA 5 YEARS FROM NOW? 5 years from now, I think I will be a successful environmentalist who protects and preserves our natural heritage. And of course, I’m still serving in the youth ministry. Either way around I’m going to be in that religious vocation sa pagka-madre. Hahaha
Sr. Lei, FdCC KUNG WALA KA SA YOUTH MINISTRY UNSA KA KARON? Kung wala ko sa youth ministry for sure dili ko Canossian …. supervisor ko sa Dep-Ed, dili pod ko maminyo kay indifferent man gyud ko nga pagkatao, snobbish ug maldita gyud. Pwede pod abogada kay pilosopo man pod ko! UNSA NAKA 5 YEARS FROM NOW? Wala na siguro ko ana diri sa youth ministry of Malaybalay but for sure enjoying more years being with the young people in the education and counseling field
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n
Anjon Fredrick Cabugsa KUNG WALA KA SA YOUTH MINISTRY UNSA KA KARON? Kung wala bitaw ko sa Youth Ministry, siguro dili ako ang Anjon na inyong nailhan. Siguro wala gyud koy mga friends from other places. Siguro wala ko nagasimba. Ug pinaka importante, Wala ko nahimong seminarista
Zian Demaine Amto KUNG WALA KA SA YOUTH MINISTRY UNSA KA KARON? Siguro I never believed on the power of service. I never see how great and loving our God is. Wala ko nakaapil sa mga gathering which incorporate not just fun but also values and teaching in the ministry. In other words, batan-on kung labad sa katilingban. UNSA NAKA 5 YEARS FROM NOW? Siguro I’am a regular teacher and single devoted to the youth ministry. Siguro kana nga time adviser ko sa amoang parish.
Glezel Diabordo KUNG WALA KA SA YOUTH MINISTRY UNSA KA KARON? Kung wala ko sa youth ministry, siguro I’m still a soul searching for a purpose. Wala siguro ko sa dalan nga akong ginaagian karon, wala siguro nako n recognize ang tawag niya nako to do my mission in serving others UNSA NAKA 5 YEARS FROM NOW? I am still in the road He prepares for me, continuing my mission in serving others and appreciating more the life that I have and living with its purpose, a life sharing the mission of Christ, a life of service, and a life with a strong faith to Him
Ahdon Salvaña KUNG WALA KA SA YOUTH MINISTRY UNSA KA KARON? Siguro foreman or head nako sa usa ka department sa Rebisco sa Alae, busy supervise nga ang biscuit maluto ug tarong (haha) or regular nako nga laborer sa Del Monte, nana ko own nga own nga house but single pa gihapon at my age now UNSA NAKA 5 YEARS FROM NOW? 5 years from now, dapat graduate nako pursuing a teaching career or in the BPO industry. Pwede pud nana ko work sa DepEd as a regular HS teacher or a teacher in a Senior High School. Pwede pud naa na ko New Zealand working while studying for another field or a post-grad course.
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MY PERSON
a story to tell
H
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i Ka-BukYo! Usa ako ka 26 anyos na batan-on ning atong Diocese. Sugod sa akong pagsulod sa youth ministry, daghan gayud ako’g natun-an ug nahibaw-an. Sa nagdugay ako niining kalihukan, hinay-hinay ko usab nga nailhan ang akong kaugalingon, ang “community”, ang Simbahan nga akong gilihukan, ang akong pamilya ug labaw sa tanan, ang Ginoo. Bisan sa akong “identity” nga usa ka bayot, wala gayod ako magpatara sa akong pagkatawo. Salamat nalang gayod sa Ginoo nga iya akong gigiyahan sa pagpaduol Kaniya pinaagi sa pag-alagad sa akong kapwa kabatan-onan. Ang mga gasa nga akong nadawat samtang naa sa ministry mao ang mga tawo nga akong nailhan mga halandon ug balaang mga tao ug ingon man nga ako usab ilang nailhan ug nadawat. Ug tuod man dili sayon ang The Gentle heart of a mother
NAL SPACE presents
Queer
akong pagpangalagad, daghan kini’g mga “trials” ug “challenges” apan tungod niini ako mitubo sa lainlaing mga aspeto sa akong kaugalingon. Ako usab nahatagan sa kahigayunan sa pag-eskwela sa “college”, pag-adto sa mga nagkalain-laing lugar ug pakiglambigit sa daghan pang mga katawhan. Ug tungod kay daghan na ako’g mga kaila, daghan na pod mitabang sa pagadvice ug paggiya kanako kung unsay sakto ug dili. Niining maong ministry, dinhi ko nadiskubrehan ang daghan ko pang mga talents sama sa pagkanta, pagluto, pag “make-up” ug pagka “leader” diha sa mga batan-on. Dinhi usab nako nahibaloan nga ang pagka-bayot dili babag para ako maluyahan o ma“discriminate”. Kay sa akong pag-angkon sa akong tinuod nga pagkaako, nakita ko ang kalipay ug kagawasan ug sa akong pagka-ako, nakaserbisyo ug nakapalipay pod ako sa The Gentle heart of a mother
uban.
Sa akong pagpaningkamot nga mahimong maayong tawo bisan sa akong pagkabayot, mas labaw pa akong gimahal sa akong mama ug papa ug sa tibuok kong pamilya. Nakita ug nabati usab nako ang ilang pagsalig ilabina sa akong mga amigang babae ug lalaki kay wala nila gi-isip nga ako lahi sa “community”. Adunay mga higayon nga mga babae tanan ang akong mga kauban sa usa ka lugar apan bisan pa sa maong panghitabo, wala gayud ako mibuhat ug dautan. Tuod man miingon ang akong mga higalang babae, “true friend gyud ka,, bayot gyud diay ka kay dili man ka pareho sa uban nga manghilabot.” Ug sa mga amigo o barkadang lalaki nga nahiuban ko gihapon sama sa nahisgutan sa akong mga amigang babae, wala silay nabantayan mga kahilas ug dautang buhat. Ang mga higala kong lalaki nag-ingon nga dili gyud
diay ko kiat nga pagkabayot ug diha naka “realize ug na “appreciate” nako ang akong kaugalingon. Salamat sa Ginoo nga kanunay naghatag ug kusog sa paglig-on sa akong pagkatawo. Mas nakita nako karon ang kalipay dili lang sa pagtagbaw sa lawasnong panginahanglan kun dili ang tinuod nga kalipay mao ang pagsabot ug paglig-on sa mas lawom nga panginahanglan sa kalag. Miabot na ako sa halos usa ka dekada sa pagpangalagad nga malipayon. Padayon sa pagpaningkamot nga magpuyo sa matarong nga makapalipay sa Ginoo ug sa uban. Alang sa mga sama nako, magpadayon kita sa pagpanginabuhing balaan. Dili babag ang atong pagkatawo sa pagpaduol sa Ginoo ug pag-alagad sa uban. Dili nato sayangon ang atong kinabuhi kay kini usa ka gasa gikan sa Ginoo! Salamat. God bless po! Banagbanag November 2015
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One of the phrases that I have always kept in my heart and mind which I would
always utter in the fulfillment of my mission is: “Mother of mine, those who see me be reminded of you.”
a story to tell
4
3
(Venerable Josefa Segovia, 1st President of the Teresian Association) We are 7 siblings (4 girls and 3 boys) in our family and I am the youngest girl. My parents were Jose Sayo and Virginia Llorente. Our language in the family is Spanish. My father passed away when I was just 12 years old. All of us four girls were schooled in St. Paul College, Manila where I studied from kinder till my undergraduate
2
GOD’S CALLING IS BLESSING! The Gospel Story of Ms. Carmen L. Sayo
MY JOURNEY IN DISCOVERING GOD’S PLAN FOR ME!
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course in Bachelor of Science in Secondary Education. My desire to be a teacher began when I was in grade three, upon observing that some teachers had favorites and I was one of them. I observed that the attitude of the teacher did not help all students and there existed inequality of attention in the classroom. This made some students unhappy. I sighed within myself and said, “When I’ll grow up I’ll be a teacher and I’ll see to it that I will have no favorites by dealing with all my students with fairness so I would give an
1 The Gentle heart of a mother
equal attention to all.” I was just a first year high school student when I volunteered to be a catechist in a nearby public school in Malate, Manila. I felt so blessed to have been born in a very Christian family and to have had the opportunity to study in a Catholic school where my faith in God was nourished. This caused me to have an ardent desire to share this blessing to other children who may not have the opportunity as I had. As a student, I would always belong to a “barkada” where we supported each other in our studies and wish only the best for each one. Frequently, we would go to jam sessions together. It was here where I would feel so empty from within. This incident has been the springboard for me to look deeper into what this emptiness meant. When I reached College, my yearning to continue, bringing the Good News
to public school students became more intense. During my free time, I would visit the school chapel where I used to spend most of my free time for prayer and reflection and where I would ask God to enlighten me and grant me a generous heart. There was always an immense silence within me. But from the innermost part of my heart I could sense that God was asking for my total commitment as a lay person. At that time, I had no idea where to go and answer God’s call as a lay person. I asked the Blessed Virgin for her guidance and inspiration to be able to say “FIAT: just as she did. While in College, I had great plans for my mother who took care of all of us for she was only 38 when she became a widow. When I was about to graduate at St. Paul nun, Sr. Teresita, my teacher in Pilipino, invited me to join the group who was being prepared to be catechists in the different public high schools in Manila. continued to page 54 Banagbanag November 2015
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YOUCAT #82 ISN’T IT IMPROPER TO CALL MARY THE “MOTHER” OF GOD? No. anyone who calls Mary the Mother of God thereby professes that her Son is God. [495, 509] As early Christianity was debating who is Jesus was, the tittle Theotokos (“God-Bearer”) became the hallmark for the orthodox interpretation of Sacred Scripture: Mary did not give birth merely to a man who then after his birth “became” God; rather, even in her womb her child is the true Son of God. This debate is not about Mary in the first place; rather, it is again the question of whether Jesus is true man and true God at the same time.
# 84 WAS MARY ONLY AN INSTRUMENT OF GOD? Mary was more than a merely passive instrument of God. The incarnation of God Took place through her active consent as well. [493-494, 508-511] When the angel told her that she would bear “the Son of God”, Mary replied, “Let it be to me according to your word” (Lk 1:38). The redemption of mankind by Jesus Christ thus begins with a request by God and the free consent of a human being- and a pregnancy before Mary was married to Joseph. By such an unusual path Mary became for us the “Gate of Salvation”.
# 85 Why is Mary our mother also? Mary is our mother because Christ the Lord gave her to us as a mother. [963-966, 973] Woman, behold, your son! ... Behold, your Mother!” (Jn19:26b-27a). The second command, which Jesus spoke from the Cross to John, has always been understood by the Church as an act of entrusting the whole Church to Mary. Thus Mary is our mother, too. We may call upon her and ask her to intercede with God.
# 147 WHY DOES MARY HAVE SUCH A PREEMINENT PLACE IN THE COMMUNION OF SAINTS? Mary is the Mother of God. She was united with Jesus on earth as no other human being was or could be in an intimacy that does not cease in heaven. Mary is the Queen of Heaven, and in her motherhood she is quite close to us. [972] Because she committed herself, body and soul, to a divine yet dangerous undertaking, Mary was taken up body and soul into heaven. Anyone who lives and believes as Mary did will get to Heaven.
# 148 Can Mary really help us? Yes. Since the beginning of the Church, experience has taught that Mary helps. Millions of Christians testify to it. [967-970] Being the Mother of Jesus, Mary is also our Mother. Good mothers always stand up for their children. Certainly this Mother does. While still on earth she interceded with Jesus for others; for example, she protected a bride and groom in Cana from embarrassment. In the Upper room on Pentecost she prayed in the midst of the disciples. Because her love for us never ceases, we can be sure that she will plead for us in the two most important moments of our life: “now and the hour of our death”.
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MOTHER
by Roger Macahis Villaflor
The Gentle heart of a mother
literary attempts
M- for a million things that she gives me, O- that means she’s growing old, T- for the tears when she saves me, H- for a heart with pure as gold, E- for encouraging me as she always raises me up R- for the right and it should be. If you put them together, It is read as MOTHER, a word that means, A world to ME!
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Dear Papang,
lingaw2c corner
Magandang araw poh! Sa bisaya maayong adl aw diha kanimo Pang… ug sa mga tao nga him asa aning Dear Papang ug sa mga tao nga dili himasa niini, sagdi lang sila Pang, kay dili na sila ------------------- alam na, jowk…
Pang, ako diay si Marie Fe, gwapa kaa yo nga binuhat sa Ginoo, halos naa na kanako ang tanan Pan g, kung mo ingon kag hitsuraan, hitsuraan gyud ko! Kung pa sex y-hay, sexy kayo, gifted pa gyud. Sa gii ngun ko pa Pang nga mokanta dala sayaw ug gatula pa gyud. Sa giingon ko pa lang na anaa na kanako ang tanan, friendly man pud ko ug buotan nga pagkatao. Apan Pang, naa lang gyud koy nabantayan nga bisan naa na sa akoa ang tanan, in terms sa love life nganong dili man gyu ko swertehon. Ang gap d anguyab gani sa akoa Pang pila-pila gani intawon sila, kung suk don lagi pang, kung naa ko deri sa plaza murag ang pila taman sa mercado… hehehe… mao pud na Pang nga galibog ko kung kinsa sa ila akong sugton. Alangan man sad gud Pang ang uban gapami sita sa akoa sa among balay. Kung once man gud naay manguyab nak o Pang, ako gyud gusto, mamisita sa amo ng balay para makitan ug mailhan pud sa akong parents ug mga igsoon. Para mahimolbu lan daan Pang buh or mahimbisan daan … ang kapait ani pang kay pag naay mamisita sa among balay, ako gyud nang ginapahubo…p ahubo ug sapatos kay padayunon sa balay. Unya Pang naunsa nam an noon ni nga naay uban Pang baho mag tii l. Naa pud uban nga mamisita , manguyab nako, mga silingan nga ulitawo, wala pa gani kahilam-os kay mao pay pagmata sa bun tag, moadto sa balay kay mamisita , ug mag-ingon dayon nga nahigugma daw sya nak o. Ug gusto daw niya makuha ang akong kas ingkasing o gugma mao usahay makaana ko na ahh! Gusto niya makuha akong gugma, pero kan ang muta sa iyang mata ug hugaw sa iya ng ilong wala gani niy a makuha. Wow ha… Mao na Pang nga ma dis maya ko sa mga gapang uyab nako. Sa akong kagwapa unya pamisitah an lang ko og mga sam a ana nga mga tao. Akong gusto Pang mat abangan ko nimo og paminsar karon pinaagi sa imong mga pagtambag. Kung kin ahanglan pa ba gyud ko maka-uyab or magfucos na lang ko kung unsay matabang nako sa ako ng parents, mentras naa pa silay kusog. Daghang salamat Pang, Marie Fe
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Dear Maria Fe,
DEAR PAPANG
{ITOL UG BERTING}
anaa ang tagsaatan-onan. Hinaut nga Maayong adlaw mga kab was ug uban pang gla pan g yon maa , ang tagsa sa maayong kahimt sa pag-greet sa Mga igsoon, tugoti ko maayo alang kaninyo. an D.D, ug sa ant Cab a net , Jose Ara atong halandong Obispo nga Spiritual k bti gyud sa atong maa mg kaparian labi na andrehan ilabi na kam ng atu sa ta, Qui Director, Fr. Ritchell Leizyl Corre, ong DCY Chairperson Sr. sa walay pabor-pabor nat kabatan-onan mga nga pa gwa gwapo ug FdCC ug sa tanang mga pa, maayong usa aumak Malaybalay. Sa sa tibook Diocese sa buntang hurot! ner ug ilabina an sa Dear Papang Cor OK! Gi, welcome ang tan pud sya lain di ug n der nga walay lai gyud sa atong letter sen ie Fe. Salamat Fe Mar Si ! ain mal i dal ug dili pud unta siya kay tungod hapit yo baya kami nabalaka huh, sa pagpadala. Med padala og sulat nag pay wa g Banagbana na ang ting-release sa our best para do l wil tungod ana, we so salamat gyud Fe. Ug t! matabangan ka ok? Alrigh problema kay imong letter, ang imong a gyud mga Sa imo pang gisaysay sa wal kay , ayo samukan napaggugma. gikapoy na ka ug gisulat mo pa nga sa a Uny . hip ons ati klaro imong previous rel tanan na, pero ented, gifted ug tanangwapa man unta ka, tal rti. sa gugma wa gyud ka swe bot ra na siya maski dili pangitaon moa Abi nimo Fe, ang gugma naglinya kay nga aki lal mga ang ba kan importante sa tamang panahon o di ang ta bas a sil i lang na h‌‌! ayaw manguyab na nimo. Pasagd Ana . ing kas imong kasing age diba? l nga imong sundon ang usa opa pa man siguro ka men pataranta beshhhh‌ di Kaning isa ka n. aha erb obs na koy naa e. Hala Fe, Be Fe, kabalo baka nga desente ka nga pagkababa sa una nga sitwasyon nagpasabot nga n aho pan ng hinoon ko sa ako be naka hinumdom naman pero wa nadayon be ay bal ng amo sa ndo gipanguyaban ko ni Bra pa nila madawat ng ginikanan kay matod kay nasuko na nuon ako kabigaon dili. pag ang o per kabayot daw nila ang akong pag lang gyud na Mao ! huh ati lang gyud So anyway Fe, hulat-hul dam-ag. Maayo man ka og e sig i dil n aro Fe nga ayaw pagdali g na Fe. Hulatpero sure. So mao lan tong hinay-hinay lang gan ka sa true pla ika mah nga such time hulat lang sa, until e your family mak ug i t-hulat ka tabang love ug samtang gahula g sa pagserbisyo dan -un mag ta i dil nga happy, labina gyud n sa Dear lang Fe, kami sa buhata malibog sa Simbahan. So kana mas a par imo kan ab panguy kanimo. Papang motabang ug pag a par y una kan i ampo kam d nga ka hehehe, bitaw Fe mag iso mal ng imo ug pagshare sa Salamat Fe sa pagsalig a. ugm kasinatian sa paghig ss! We Love you and Godble Papang with Love :D
The Gentle heart of a mother
Banagbanag November 2015
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schedules
September 6, 2015 RMATION AYS) DFYT ASPIRANT’S FO OC TOBER 18, 2015 (SUND October 23-25, 2015 ENCOUNTER DYFT ASPIRANT’S YOUTH October 31, 2015 R THE YOUTH DELEGATES PRE-NYD FORMATION FO November 10-15, 2015 D) 2015 @ TUGUEGARAO, NATIONAL YOUTH DAY (NY CAGAYAN VALLEY November 21-22, 2015 YAN L ASSEMBLY (DYGA) AGLA DIOCESAN YOUTH GENERA November 29, 2015 ANNING IN DAY DCY CORE GROUP PL LY MI FA R FO G NIN AN PL DYFT CAL NYD PREPARATION FOR THE LO December 7-15, 2015 WEEK) H MINISTRY AWARENESS YMAW PER PARISH (YOUT December 13, 2015 EES FOR THE D REPORTING OF COMMITT FOLLOW-UP MEETING AN LOCAL NYD December 16, 2015 TION FOR THE H (SEPARATE MASS COLLEC WORLD DAY FOR THE YOUT YOUTH MINISTRY) December 20, 2015 DYFT FAMILY DAY January 9, 2016 DAY LOCAL NATIONAL YOUTH 6 January 17-19, 201 ANTS AND RKSHOP FOR DYFT ASPIR WO R NA MI SE R’S TO ITA CIL Y.E. FA YOUTH LEADERS January 7-29, 2016 PU CITY IC YOUTH DAYS AT LAPU-LA IST AR CH EU L NA TIO NA INTER February 20-21, 2016 DCYCC AT TALAKAG
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IEC Pilgrimage...
ang ulahing adlaw sa ika50 nga IEC didto sa Dublin, Ireland. Ang congress kasagara mahitabo matag upat ka tuig. Ang IEC usa ka katiguman sa mga katawhan gikan sa mga nagkadaiyang nasud nga nagtumong sa pagpromotar sa pinakasentro sa kinabuhi sa simbahan nga mao ang Eukaristiya, magtabang ug magpalambo sa pagsabot ug selebrasyon sa liturhiya ug magkabig sa katawhan ngadto sa katilingbanong dimension sa Eukaristiya. Nagsugod ang IEC niadtong 1881 sa nasud sa Pransya isip bunga sa eukaristikanhong apostolado ni St. Peter Julian Eymard ug lain pang mga personalidad sama ni Blessed Antoine Chevier, Venerable Leon Dupont ug Emilie Tamisier. Ang IEC pilgrim symbol nagpabilin sa Diyosesis sa Malaybalay hangtud niadtong Septiyembre 13, 2015. Lakip sa gibisita niini mao ang parokya ni San Agustin sa dakbayan sa Valencia. Gihatod kini sa Diyosesis sa Butuan niadtong Septiyembre 13 sa kahapunon.
The Gentle heart of a mother
League of Champions... Are Here (Champion of the Poor Workshop), Kapitan Kristo (Single Minded For God Workshop), Call of Duty (Missionary Workshop), Forces Unite (Source Of Unity In The Family Workshop), Power Up (Model of Excellence Workshop) and Hero’s Welcome (Patriot Workshop). Hereafter, the Holy Eucharist was then celebrated by Fr. Arthur Guevarra, SCJ. Sessions proceeded after dinner, namely: Session 1, Love That Conquers. It was given by Kuya Roger Miguel, a YFC NEM Regional Coordinator. It talked about God’s free, total, fruitful and faithful love which enabled us to be God’s Champions. Session 2, Mission Recall. It was given by Ate Deciery Pagara, FTPW of Surigao del Norte. She mentioned that a Champion is oftentimes tempted and wounded but with God, one can be empowered and commissioned to be one. A praisefest was held to close the long day affair
E. Genson, SSJV. The entire morning was directed into the last session. The Session 3, League of Champions was given by Fredylou Baybay, FTPW of Bukidnon. In his session, he shared that the league of champions are all of us as we are champions of God, united by His love. He ended up the talk and led the 1100 champions to a praisefest. The last part of the activity was the announcement of winners for the creative and sports competitions. Bukidnon was hailed as champion for 3 events namely: badminton for women, mixed categories and basketball. They will be representing NEM, in the 23rd YFC International Conference in Bohol on April 2016. Kuya Roger Miguel also announced to the assembly that the next RYC will be held in Bukidnon. All Bukidnon YFC delegates shouted for joy for they were given the privilege to host the forthcoming 20th NEM RYC in 2017.
DAY 2 It was started with a Holy Eucharist presided by Fr. Bon Banagbanag November 2015
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Delegates to the NYD... year for all young people is taken from the sixth beatitude, “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God” (Mt. 5:8). Delegates from the Diocese of Malaybalay focused their reflection on these following key points from Popes’ message and were basis for their group sharing during the formation: “the desire for happiness”, “Blessed are the pure in heart” and the third, “for they shall see God”. All youth delegates expressed their joy for this privilege moment and for having been chosen as representatives of the diocese to the NYD. Most of them poured out their inhibitions over financial matters. Albeit most of them haven’t yet paid in full the preliminary expenses (fare and registration). Sr. Leizyl G. Corre, FdCC was stressing on the generosity of God to those who love and serve Him. He always provides and never be outdone in his goodness especially if it is for His glory. She was encouraging each one to continue to do their part as God will do the rest.
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Message of His...
divine mercy which purifies us and renews our hearts.
When the prophet Isaiah heard the Lord’s call to speak in his name, he was terrified and said: “Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips” (Is 6:5). And yet the Lord purified him, sending to him an angel who touched his lips, saying: “Your guilt is taken away, and your sin is forgiven” (v. 7). In the New Testament, when on the shores of lake Genessaret Jesus called his first disciples and performed the sign of the miraculous catch of fish, Simon Peter fell at his feet, exclaiming: “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord” (Lk 5:8). Jesus’ reply was immediate: “Do not be afraid; henceforth you will be fishers of men” (v. 10). And when one of the disciples of Jesus asked him: “Lord, show us the Father, and we shall be satisfied”, the Master replied: “He who has seen me has seen the Father (Jn 14:8-9).
Dear young people, the Lord wants to meet us, to let himself “be seen” by us. “And how?”, you might ask me. Saint Teresa of Avila, born in Spain five hundred years ago, even as a young girl, said to her parents, “I want to see God”. She subsequently discovered the way of prayer as “an intimate friendship with the One who makes us feel loved” (Autobiography, 8,5). So my question to you is this: “Are you praying?” Do you know that you can speak with Jesus, with the Father, with the Holy Spirit, as you speak to a friend? And not just any friend, but the greatest and most trusted of your friends! You will discover what one of his parishioners told the Curé of Ars: “When I pray before the tabernacle, ‘I look at him, and he looks at me’” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2715).
come into his presence.
The Lord’s invitation to encounter him is made to each of you, in whatever place or situation you find yourself. It suffices to have the desire for “a renewed personal encounter with Jesus Christ, or at least an openness to letting him encounter you; I ask all of you to do this unfailingly each day” (cf. Evangelii Gaudium, 3). We are all sinners, needing to be purified by the Lord. But it is enough to take a small step towards Jesus to realize that he awaits us always with open arms, particularly in the sacrament of Reconciliation, a privileged opportunity to encounter that
Once again I invite you to encounter the Lord by frequently reading sacred Scripture. If you are not already in the habit of doing so, begin with the Gospels. Read a line or two each day. Let God’s word speak to your heart and enlighten your path (cf. Ps 119:105). You will discover that God can be “seen” also in the face of your brothers and sisters, especially those who are most forgotten: the poor, the hungry, those who thirst, strangers, the sick, those imprisoned (cf. Mt 25:31-46). Have you ever had this experience? Dear young people, in order to enter into the logic of the Kingdom of Heaven, we must recognize that we are The Gentle heart of a mother
poor with the poor. A pure heart is necessarily one which has been stripped bare, a heart that knows how to bend down and share its life with those most in need. Encountering God in prayer, the reading of the Bible and in the fraternal life will help you better to know the Lord and yourselves. Like the disciples on the way to Emmaus (cf. Lk 24:1335), the Lord’s voice will make your hearts burn within you. He will open your eyes to recognize his presence and to discover the loving plan he has for your life. Some of you feel, or will soon feel, the Lord’s call to married life, to forming a family. Many people today think that this vocation is “outdated”, but that is not true! For this very reason, the ecclesial community has been engaged in a special period of reflection on the vocation and the mission of the family in the Church and the contemporary world. I also ask you to consider whether you are being called to the consecrated life or the priesthood. How beautiful it is to see young people who embrace the call to dedicate themselves fully to Christ and to the service of his Church! Challenge yourselves, and with a pure heart do not be afraid of what God is asking of you! From your “yes” to the Lord’s call, you will become new seeds of hope in the Church and in society. Never forget: God’s will is our happiness! 4. On the way to Krakow “Blessed are the pure in heart, The Gentle heart of a mother
for they shall see God” (Mt 5:8). Dear young men and women, as you see, this beatitude speaks directly to your lives and is a guarantee of your happiness. So once more I urge you: Have the courage to be happy! This year’s World Youth Day begins the final stage of preparations for the great gathering of young people from around the world in Krakow in 2016. Thirty years ago Saint John Paul II instituted World Youth Days in the Church. This pilgrimage of young people from every continent under the guidance of the Successor of Peter has truly been a providential and prophetic initiative. Together let us thank the Lord for the precious fruits which these World Youth Days have produced in the lives of countless young people in every part of the globe! How many amazing discoveries have been made, especially the discovery that Christ is the Way, the Truth and the Life! How many people have realized that the Church is a big and welcoming family! How many conversions, how many vocations have these gatherings produced! May the saintly Pope, the Patron of World Youth Day, intercede on behalf of our pilgrimage toward his beloved Krakow. And may the maternal gaze of the Blessed Virgin Mary, full of grace, all-beautiful and all-pure, accompany us at every step along the way. From the Vatican, 31 January 2015 Memorial of Saint John Bosco
Jesus and Me...
more about God. I regretted my rate, sana 4 na lang ang inilagay ko instead of an 8. I reflected upon it and stopped for a while. I need to console myself. And a resolution came to me. I should know Jesus more. He should be in my heart and mind. Paano ko nga ba ipapakilala si Jesus sa iba kung ako nga di ko pa siya lubusang kilala. It was a great challenge then, kung saan ako magsisimula. God will make a way for me. Basta ang alam ko lang from that moment, I will know Christ more to become a Christ to others too. What dawned me throughout the formation were these words: LOVE, JOY, GENTLENESS, LONGSUFFERING, and TEMPERANCE. Kahit siguro almost every day I hear these words, iba pa rin if it was explained perfectly. These are the fruits of the Spirit that I need to nourish and develop. JOY, pumasok agad sa isip ko, kasi nga masayahin ako. Sa kabaliktaran naman ay TEMPERANCE. I reflected again na dapat the joy in me should also be shared to others. So, I should wear my smile always para everybody must be happy! And temper must be lowered as well. Basta pagbubutihan ko talagang mapanatili ang inner goodness na nasa akin. The Jesus and Me formation gave a direct realization that I should follow my inner desire. For just a couple of hour formation; it renewed my faith, changed my attitude and widened my views in life. It gave me a chance to share and serve others especially the young. I, one with the young formators, a catalyst of change and a bearer of light in today’s generation!
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AlDub... And so the story went on, and AlDub Nation was born. Lola Nidora discovered that she was part of triplets, Lola Tinidora played by Jose Manalo, and Lola Tidora played by Paulo Ballesteros creating a riotous mix of fun and hilarity as the three hosts hammed it up in drag, dressed identically, manly oil smearing makeup. And so the story went on; garnering millions of tweets and tags every episodes, hence the Aldub Nation was born. Well, this is not a first time that a pseudo-nation was born. During the time of my tatay, there was Beatlemania, it was still about love, but there was no physical presence of the opposite sexes and most was in musical poetry, generic, up in the clouds. There were the Spice Girls and One Direction, but they didn’t cut through the age groups, limited in scope. This time in the Philippines, the adulation for AlDub is like a tide, a flood, like weather, sunny or stormy, lingering, pervasive, encompassing, unlimited in its potential. AlDub is first of all a good break. Naysayers, doom-
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sayers, trolls, negativists sometimes are finding their mark, that the country is headed nowhere, that it will self-destruct, to become an adjunct of a powerful country in the near future. Why? Because music and faith — as identified by the brilliant Jesuit Father Horacio de la Costa — is not enough to unite us as a nation. Something is missing. Why would we ever venture out of our homes which are countries in themselves, safe and secure from outside vagaries, until traffic turns us in one seething mass, until Binay’s corruption turns us into one seething mass, until Grace Poe’s candidacy can throw a monkey wrench on Mar Roxas’s candidacy and turn us into one seething mass under the political leadership of the Binays, center of all evil.
thrilled by the experience of even just a peep, a brush, a love note, kisses on split screen. 2) Representing the OFW population and those who have long-distance relationships, and generally those who are in love. Flowers from Dangwa, small notes, the mere suggestion of a touch, that’s what we’re missing, and the OFWs know how it is to miss a loved one.
AlDub is a phenomenon. We must write about it, reflect on it. As Alvin Toffler would say: “Are we dying or are we being born?” Whether Alden Richards and Maine Mendoza are acting or not, we don’t know. What we know is that they’re:
3) Revisiting tradition by way of the lolas — especially the character of Wally Bayola. Reminding us of delayed gratification, obedience to elders, and the values that defined Filipinos in a forgotten time. Sex has become a mere handshake, for one. Answering back elders is another. AlDub is showing that love gathers strength if obedience to elders is present, if we are patient and tolerant enough. The message has some Godly significance considering Bayola was involved in a video with a woman who was not his wife. Sinners do make the best homilies.
1) Speaking the truth about being in love, being apart from their loved one, being
4) Improvising, making the most out of present circumstances, carrying our own The Gentle heart of a mother
weather, being happy in spite of the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune. That is a truly Filipino trait — observe the jeepney — something that increases our resilience in the most trying times considering our country lies in the path of storms, in the realm of volcanic eruptions, earthquakes and all other natural calamities. 5) Speaking to the average Filipino and Filipina. Forty-seven per cent of our population is composed of millenials, mean age 23. So if you’re selling tocino, life insurance or endorsing a politician, AlDub is the way to do it. Talk to this age group. That’s where our country is, the youth among us. “The secret [of our success] is the love of the fans for AlDub,” Malou Choa Fagar said, as reported in the Philippine Daily Inquirer. “After all, Alden and Yaya Dub impart a positive message to their fans. It was just accidental that turned into something magical: a long-distance love affair, a fairy tale come true. It’s all about love.” Yes, it’s all about love. Sometimes we forget. Sometimes we center on possessions, The Gentle heart of a mother
career, gadgets, social media, individual advancement, the least human touch the better. AlDub shows us how precious human contact is, don’t you agree? You don’t know what you have until you lose it, and AlDub shows us that they really want to sip from the same straw or touch shoulders or hold hands, but circumstances prevent them from doing so, but it’s all right, there’s always a next time, the future belongs to the patient. And the loving. I am just, err as affected as the next guy, as to how this story unfolds. God bless all of us that we have rediscovered how it is to fall in love, to stay in love. When we discuss how government sucks, how incompetent it is and how the thieves and pretenders can get away with almost everything, the lesson of AlDub is that love will find a way. As long as we want a good country, we will have a good country, but we will have to wait a bit, waiting for the “tamang panahon,” the right time, if we follow our values, our traditions, our kindness, our love. Aah, love. . . . Nothing is lovelier.
Me and Myself...
that influence human personality are the womb of my mother which is my first environment, the second is my family, third, the peers and fourth, my community at large. As I heard it from Nanay Esther Loayon, I discovered a lot from within why I am like this as I have known myself. I admit, I am wounded and pierced with painful realities and situations from my family history. I found myself hiding within my own space and so troubled digging-up with some issues. And yet, I found myself taking the journey towards self-integration: an attitude of self-acceptance and self-openness. I am on my way, starting to mend and renew myself by forgiving not only my family but above all my very own self. Broken as I have been, but I have found the beautiful side of myself and it is a great blessing. As an aspiring DYFT, I may not be the best among all but I claim to have a real, true self. To be an integrated person is to recognize goodness from within so that I could also see the goodness of others amidst the differences and challenges. The infallible love of God never gives up towards His beloved ones. Banagbanag November 2015
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Me and the Bible...
the New. In short, the Bible points to Jesus, “You search the Scriptures, because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is these that bear witness of me,” (John 5:39). For me, knowing a lot about the Bible was a wonderful experience because I learned to appreciate more of our Christian faith and the source of our faith which is God. I am very grateful that I was given the chance to listen to this formation not only for an increase of learning but for an increase of love to God whom I followed and served. My resolution is to gradually read the Bible, reflect upon it and see the movements of the Spirit through God’s words. The Bible is my road map for the perilous journey of my life. It is my refuge in trouble, in pain, in suffering and in mourning. As a future DYFT, it is a challenge for me to live in His words and to share it to others.
Me and God’s Creation...
(Robert Swan). Who else will save then? It is through you and me. It’s our primary concern to save Mother Earth so that the generation next to us will also experience how good God is through the beauty of His creation!
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Me and My Mission... is the realities of faith and life. We were led to pray and thankful for the love of God that in spite of the difficult situations of these poor brothers and sisters of ours, they remain trustful and dependent to God alone especially in times of necessity. May I follow the simplicity and humbleness of each of these people. I personally thank Mang Nicolas of Brgy. Kalasungay for his generous presence though we spent little but yet memorable time together. You are sent by God to me in order to recognize the true meaning of life. You inspired me and strengthened my faith. You taught me to continue the mission that God has entrusted to me so that together with Him I can be one of the channels to make His love and goodness known to many people. You are always in my prayers, Manong Kolas!
Naa bay Poeber... ,maloloy-on ug labaw sa tanan mapinanggaon. Like Mary while standing at the foot of the cross, her hope gives light to the dark corner of our hearts. A love of a mother stronger than any other creatures can do. From the love of a mother and the Son on the Cross, the redemptive value of God for His people has freely offered. The hope of the Church and of his suffering humanity was born in the presence of Mary. Reflecting in all of these, I thought of how the Mother of God was also suffered far much more than her Son. His cross became her cross, His passion, became her passion. And yet, with all of her fidelity she stood courageously beneath the Cross. So behold Mary, our real mother. Behold also our own mothers here on earth. Naay forever uban si mama kay basin ang krus ni mama mao kita nga iyang mga anak apan nakahibalo kita nga barugan ug unungan gayud kita niya hangtod sa kahangturan. Saludo kita sa atong mga inahan! The Gentle heart of a mother
How come you Catholics... the letter to the Hebrews. Immediately following a list of many famous saints of long ago, the author writes, “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us… persevere in running the race that lies before us” (Hebrews 12:1). The image here is an athletic stadium. Those of us on earth are fighting the good fight of faith, while the saints who went before us are in the stands, eating hot dogs and cheering us on. Finally, we are commanded in the Bible to pray for one another, for example: Colossians 4:3; 1 Thessalonians 5:25; 2 Thessalonians 3:1; and James 5:16. I know for a fact the same folks who are quick to accuse Catholics of committing sin by praying to the saints, do not hesitate to ask their friends and family to pray for them. Some of the prayer chains in Fundamentalist congregations are quite impressive. If someone gets into a car accident at midnight, by 1 a.m. word The Gentle heart of a mother
has spread and literally hundreds of people are out of bed and on their knees fervently praying for the injured person. We Catholics simply include the saints in Heaven—that great cloud of witnesses—in our prayer requests and our prayer chains. Who better to ask for intercessory prayer than those who are continually in the Lord’s presence? We sometimes say the Penitential Rite at Mass, which concludes: “…I ask the Blessed Mary, everVirgin, all the Angels and Saints, and you, my brothers and sisters, to pray for me to the Lord our God.” Asking fellow believers to pray for us is quite biblical. Including the saints in Heaven in our requests also is biblical. So don’t ever shy away from asking the saints, especially the Blessed Virgin Mary, to intercede on behalf of you and your loved ones. Oh, and one last thing, in case you’re not sure: Catholics definitely ARE real Christians.
The Gospel Story... She knew that I would gratefully accept the invitation. The Catechist Director was Fr. Jose Calle, a Jesuit Priest. While the training was going on, I felt so strongly the desire to commit myself to a lay association. I asked Fr. Calle for his guidance. I shared with him my aspiration and intense desire to listen to God’s call of committing myself completely to a lay association but that I did not know of any existing lay association. The training for catechists was about to end, when Fr. Calle asked that I see him. It was at that meeting when he suggested that it would be better for me to apply as a teacher at the Institucion Teresiana School (now, Saint Pedro Poveda College) instead of being a catechist. When he noticed that I was hesitant, he added that it was owned and managed by the Teresian Association, a lay Association. Then only did I agree to his proposal. Fr. Calle insisted that I go and see if God’s calling continued to page 55 Banagbanag November 2015
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The Gospel Story... was certainly as a lay missionary at the Teresian Association. That same afternoon, I proceeded to Institucion Teresiana School. After seeing the School Director, I was informed that they could not accept my application yet because they were waiting for another teachers’ response. I joyfully went back to the catechist group and told them that I was not sure of being accepted. But, Fr. Calle paved the way for me to teach in the Institucion Teresiana School by telling the School Director: “If you don’t take her in, you would lose her”. As I recall everything that has happened in my life while searching for God’s plan for me, I would sigh and say “God writes with crooked lines”. My first year of teaching at the Institucion Teresiana School was in Gr. 2 yet my course was to teach in the secondary. I accepted the assignment without questioning or complaining and it seems I did well as an elementary teacher because I was not
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laid off. I believe that in seeking what God has in store for us, one has to be open to generously give up everything even those that are close to one’s heart for He along knows what is best for us. What made me Opt to become a member of the Teresian Association? What is the Teresian Association? The Teresian Association is a lay of the Catholic Church founded by St. Pedro Poveda in 1911. It is formed by lay women and men committed to evangelization, human promotion and social transformation through education and culture. According to St. Pedro Poveda, education that transforms is vital to the essence of the Teresian Association Mission. He would repeatedly proclaim: “you are salt of the earth and light of the world”, referring to a vocation that calls members to carry out the mission in public place and hopes to “season what is tasteless”. A member of the Teresian Association (TA) has to be like the first Christians being leaven in the dough,
salt of the earth and light of the world. The members draw their strength from the Eucharist, from Mary, from prayer and from one another. It is before this image of Our Lady in Covadonga, Spain where St. Pedro Poveda was inspired to found the Teresian Association. Love for the Blessed Virgin is a distinguishing mark in the Teresian Association. St. Pedro Poveda in one of his writings said: “I would prefer to see the Work (Teresian Association) disappear rather than see the love for Mary diminish.” This is what I have been searching for, a lay association with this mission and way of life. Thus, I had the courage to commit myself totally to the Teresian Association as a core member and proclaim the GOOD NEWS trusting in God’s faithfulness despite my weaknesses and limitations. With Mary, my Mother with whom I walk with each day, I fulfill my mission with great joy, trust and faith in the good Lord’s providence and love. The Gentle heart of a mother