FEAST NEWS
Issue 5/ 7 May 2012 5 YEARS IN HARMONY: HIGH FIVE”
TAWAGAWIT, AN OBLATION WE ARE CALLED FOR AS CHRISTIANS “I've looked at TawagAwit simply as an opportunity to serve the Lord, giving back a little considering all He does for us, through something we love doing and being fulfilled in the process,” Bro Mikki Guantero, Servant Leader of TawagAwit-St Mark’s Pakuranga chapter, told FEAST NEWS, in response to the question raised by FEAST NEWS on what message he had for all members of the ministry on the occasion of its 5th founding anniversary. He expounded on the challenges that members go through in the ministry, “I do understand some of us still struggle to find the time to practice and, much more, to participate in the activities of the wider group because of other priorities; if we look at this as really serving Him and giving ourselves, giving up some things and letting Him use us for His own purpose - which might lead us to do things other than singing - then perhaps we are able to see our being Tawag Awit servants as an oblation we are called for as Christians.” Bro Mikki said that he had always wanted to serve at church and thought of joining a choir, but never got around to joining one. “The urge has always been there and all I can say is that the Holy Spirit guided me to Bro. Chico's place for that first practice and provided me and my family the time to commit since then.” Though formed in 2010 through the initiative of Bro Chico “Estoy” Duhig, the chapter was attached to St Mark’s Pakuranga in the later part of 2011, as the members jokingly admitted that “they didn’t want to sing where people knew them.” So for more than a year, they sang in Good Shepherd Parish in Balmoral during the Filipino masses. When they learned that one of the music groups of St Mark’s disbanded, Bro Mikki contacted the parish of the group’s intention to sing; and the parish priest gladly assigned them a monthly schedule (every 4th Sunday at 8:30am). “We’re trying to get involved in the parish, not just in leading the liturgy but in all other activities,” the servant leader said, “We're blessed to be in a very multicultural community and the parish priest and other leaders highly encourage involvement in parish activities in pursuit of common goals.” Bro Mikki concluded, “Commitment is certainly an on-going challenge and we just have to keep the faith and support each other, following the path as we have for the last five years and going where His music and other acts of love would lead us.”
FEAST NEWS
Issue 5/ 7 May 2012
Our Theme: 5 Years in Harmony: High Five In May 2007, a handful of brethren signed a document that contained the vision, mission and core values statements of TawagAwit, a Catholic Ministry spreading God’s Word through music and other acts of love. Bro Mel B Libre responded to a Spiritual calling to organise a singing group that would make regular music offerings in church. While only three of those who attended the first meeting returned for the second one, others came forward to compose the group that would form the core that sang in its first full mass in St Mary’s Northcote. When the first accompanist Bro Dingdong Maderazo left for Australia, Fr Craig Dunford, parish priest, assigned pianist/arranger Thomas Tang and later, Jenny Fox, to help the group in its song selections, in its rehearsals and in its offerings. From one group, TawagAwit organised chapters in other parishes, first in St Thomas More Glenfield, followed by Our Lady of Lourdes-Glen Eden, St Mark’s Pakuranga, St Patrick’s Taupo, Blessed John Paul II Albany and, this year, Mt Mary’s Titirangi. Other than singing during the assigned masses, TawagAwit organised activities to strengthen the bond among members and to pursue its mission of “spreading God’s Word through music and other acts of love”. Among these activities were: Singalleluia!; OG: Open Gathering; Sow&Harvest; Outogether; Teaching Night; Songwriting Workship; Alay Laya Parish Reach Out; and Food & Music FEAST. In 2011, it started with GigAlive to raise funds to assist deserving youths in pursuit of their dreams. To ensure that members are updated on the plans and activities of the ministry, a monthly newsletter, NEW NOTES, has been published regularly since May 2007. Among the factors that contribute to the continuing growth of TawagAwit are: dedicated servant leadership; committed membership; friendship and camaraderie; joy in singing; and love of God. These factors have allowed the ministry to weather the challenges and difficulties encountered through the years. TawagAwit will celebrate on May 27, 2012 its fifth founding anniversary in Food & Music FEAST 2012 for the blessings that the ministry and its members have experienced; to express gratitude to its patron, Blessed John Paul II; and to affirm to the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit the pursuit of its vision of bringing “harmony in the world”. High five to one and all!
FEAST NEWS F o o d
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Issue 5/ 7 May 2012
M u s i c
FEAST 5 YEARS IN HARMONY: HIGH FIVE*
27 May 2012, 10:30am, Blessed John Paul II Mass Centre, Albany Highway, Albany *5
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Anniversary Celebration of TawagAwit: A Catholic Ministry Spreading God’s Word through music and other acts of love
FEAST NEWS
Issue 5/ 7 May 2012
TawagAwit OUR VISION: Harmony in the World OUR MISSION: To share God’s Word through music and other acts of love OUR CORE VALUES: Godliness. We believe in God and live His Word Offering. We share our talents, time and resources for God’s greater glory Devotion. We commit ourselves to the mission of the Ministry Love. We love God with all our heart, with all our soul, with all our minds and with all our strength Originality. We promote artistry and creativity to express our faith Victory over Sin. We fight Satan in each and every moment of our lives Evangelization. We bring the Light of God to those who are in the dark Sustainability. We contribute and manage our resources effectively Unity. We are one with the Lord, one with the Church, one with the community and one with the Ministry