SPEAK 4

Official Newsletter of Teachers in Sandals Fellowship July-August 2011 INSIDE: p3 What is Speech Project No 3?/4 “I Believe” by Bro Denis Tutaka/p5 Vatican Notes

NEW SEMESTER KICKS OFF

Teachers in Sandals Fellowship kicked off the second semester with a well-attended Teaching Night (TN) on 18 July 2011 in Newman Hall, Auckland.

The three speakers during the programme were Sis Juwela, Bro Jason and Bro Mel. Sis Juwela in Speech Project 1 made an emotional speech, telling the group that “Everything that has happened to me is a result of prayer.” Bro Jason (SP2) made the audience close their eyes as he concluded his speech with a prayer. Bro Mel (SP2) touched on the Big Bang theory saying that “Only a God can create the balance that exists in the universe.”

Four guests joined the activity, namely Jeff Lang, Angelo Abrogena, Dennis Kirkby and Debbie Libre. Two of the guests – Bros Jeff and Angelo - signed up to deliver their Speech Project 1 in the succeeding TN on 1 August.

Fr Sam filmed the entire programme saying that “henceforth, I shall document our proceedings as a learning tool.” For his part, Bro Denis used the computer and projector to make a thoroughly professional and brain-twisting Bible Quotient Quiz.

The participants concluded the 18 July TN with the blessing of the condo unit of Bro Shawn along Parliament Street in Auckland. There the group had fellowship as well. (see photo above) On 1 August, another fully-packed TN was conducted with Bros Jeff, Krishna and Denis delivering their respective speeches. Bro Andrew, acting as evaluator, gave each of the speakers passing marks with a suggestion to keep tab of the time, as all went beyond the maximum limit of five minutes.

Among the improvements introduced during the activity were the projection on the screen the different parts of the programme, the use of a medium-sized lectern to discourage leaning while speaking, the placing of the signage of the Auckland Catholic Tertiary Chaplaincy that has adopted the Teachers in Sandals Fellowship as part of its ministry, and the added programme feature: Call to.., where Bro Mel sang “Cherished Treasure”, a popular Filipino Christian song with English lyrics written by him. (Find below the lyrics) During the updates portion of the programme, the plan to hold a formal activity to recognise those who will complete the first five speech projects was discussed. Tentatively set in November, the activity will be formal with each member allowed two guests. Details will be announced in the next issue of SPEAK. To accommodate more speakers, the succeeding TN programmes will have four (4) speakers instead of three (3). Another change is the time limit for speech projects starting no. 3, from 5 minutes maximum to 7 minutes. It has been observed that the topics require more time to develop and that speakers have much to share about their faith and belief.

The four speakers for the TN on August 15 are: Bro Angelo (SP1); Bro Albin (SP1); Bro Shawn (SP2); and Bro Andrew (SP4).

CHERISHED TREASURE Chorus: You are my most cherished treasure You’re far beyond comparison All creations in this world Are but a glimpse of your perfection I will always seek for you Deep in my longing heart You are my joy You, you fill the morning, you fill my life Only you, O Lord

What is Speech Project 3?

The speech project is titled, “I Am Catholic”.

Time Allotted: 3- 7 minutes Objectives: 1.

To speak about how the speaker became a Catholic

A brief narrative can be included in the speech project on the manner by which the speaker became a Catholic.

2.

To touch on one or two basic Catholic beliefs that tie-up to the life of the speaker

The speaker is expected to relate life experiences that give relevance to one or two basic Catholic beliefs.

3.

To use reference materials (the Bible, quotes, teachings, etc) to give stronger impact of speech.

The use of authorities gives more impact to a speech. Biblical passages, papal declarations and writings from inspiring authors are among the sources for these materials.

JOIN TEACHERS IN SANDALS FELLOWSHIP Vision: Dedicated volunteers spreading God’s Word through teachings and through example Mission: To carry on the command of Jesus Christ to spread the Gospel to all peoples of the world Scriptural Guides: “And thou shalt speak unto him, and put words in his mouth: and I will be with thy mouth, and with his mouth, and will teach you what ye shall do.”

(Exodus 4:15) “Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus” (Colossians 1:28)

NOW OPEN TO STUDENTS

Delivered by Bro Denis Tutaka on 18 July 2011 during Teaching Night To believe in something is a journey. It is a search; a journey to the unknown; a journey of faith. I cannot have faith without knowing what to believe in. I must believe in something. I have to admit; I believe in so many things. I believe in obvious things. For example, I believe that the roof on top of my head right now is strong enough and won’t fall on me at this very moment. I believe in scientific things. For example that the earth is round; even-though I haven’t been into space to check it out myself. Then, there are the complicated things. I believe in Aliens and Santa Claus. However, there is something that transforms us. This will be my main focus tonight. I believe in God. This is the ultimate believe on top of all other beliefs I may have.

But why? Why believe in God? Let me start with a story.

One day a Catholic priest decided to look for the best location to search GOD. He decided he would go to the Holy Land since it is where Jesus, God’s Son grew up. He prayed but could not find GOD in his heart. Then, he decided he would go to Rome since it is where the Apostles Peter and Paul died. He went, prayed but still could not find GOD. He then decided, perhaps in the wrong religion? He went to Mecca (where Muslim originated) and to Nepal (where Buddhism originated) but still could not find GOD. Frustrated, he returned home but on his way met an old man and told him his story. With surprise the old man told him not to worry for he’ll give him a solution to his problem and invited the poor priest to his house.

Excited, the Catholic priest followed the old man with no more exchange of words. As they walked for hours in silence and came to a small cottage next to a river. Again without talking, the old man went for a bathe in the river. Frustrated, the priest walked over to the old man demanding for the answer. As the priest came close to the old man, the man grabbed the priests head and plunged it into the water. The priest struggled and tried to escape the old man’s hands but couldn’t. The struggle lasted for about 10 seconds and the old man released the priest. Furious, the priest swore at the old man every swear word he can think of. Calmly, the old man said. Why are you upset? Why did you struggle in the water? Are you insane – replied the priest! I was looking for air to breathe! The man replied… and so was God looking for you!

The moral of the story is that the more we search for God, the more we find ourselves lost with only one thing to save us: God’s search for us. Our starting point must be our faith in this Magnificent Being; this Creator; this Almighty One; this friend of ours, GOD! Although so many distractions of this world make us drift from God, I have managed to go pass it and develop a relationship no words could truly explain. I pity those who find it hard to believe in God’s existence. I can only find one explanation to why many doubt God and that is experience in God. When one experiences what is of God, one will then realize that there is something greater than ones thought. The fact that I believe in God makes me vulnerable to share with Him my life-story. We are almost one with one another.

St Augustine once said, “You created me for you O God and my heart is restless until it rests in you.”

August 2011 General Intention: That World Youth Day in Madrid may encourage young people throughout the world to have their lives rooted and built up in Christ. Missionary Intention: That Western Christians may be open to the action of the Holy Spirit and rediscover the freshness and enthusiasm of their faith‌In the wake of two terror attacks in Norway that left at least 93 people dead, Pope Benedict XVI called for an end to hatred and ideologies that promote evil. "We are all deeply saddened by the serious terrorist acts," the pope said after praying the Angelus with pilgrims at the papal summer residence in Castel Gandolfo July 24. The pope launched an appeal "to abandon once and for all the path of violence and avoid principles of evil." As a further expression of his condolences and prayers for those affected by the attacks, the pope sent a message to Norway's King Harald V. The pope asked that the country "be spiritually united in a determined resolve to reject the ways of hatred and conflict and to work together fearlessly in shaping a future of mutual respect, solidarity and freedom for coming generations." Explosives ripped through Norwegian government headquarters in Oslo July 22, leaving seven people dead and dozens injured. Shortly after the bombing, witnesses said a man dressed as a police officer shot at people attending a summer youth camp run by the country's governing Labor Party on the island of Utoya. Police said at least 86 people died at the camp, but authorities were searching the island and the waters just offshore for several missing people... Marking World Maritime Day, Pope Benedict XVI met with a dozen people who have family members being held captive by pirates. At the end of his recitation of the Angelus prayer July 10, the pope offered prayers for seafarers, "who unfortunately have been kidnapped during acts of piracy." "I hope they are being treated with respect and humanity, and I pray for their families so that they will be strong in their faith and not lose the hope of being reunited soon with their dear ones," he told thousands of people gathered in the courtyard of his summer villa at Castel Gandolfo...Pope Benedict XVI said persistent world hunger was a "tragedy" driven by selfish and profit-driven economic models, whose first victims are millions of children deprived of life or good health. In responding to the crisis, international agencies should rediscover the value of the family farm, promoting the movement of young people back into rural areas, the pope said July 1 in an address to participants in an annual conference on hunger organized by the Rome-based U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization.

Meeting with the group at the Vatican, the pope strongly emphasized the theme of economic justice that has figured prominently in his encyclicals and other writings. He noted that millions of men, women and children remain without adequate nourishment today. "My thoughts turn toward the situation of millions of children, who are the first victims of this tragedy, condemned to an early death or to a delay in their physical or psychic development, or forced into forms of exploitation just to receive minimal nutrition," he said. The pope said the cause of such hunger cannot be found only in technical developments such as production cycles or commodity prices. "Poverty, underdevelopment and, therefore, hunger are often the result of selfish behaviors that, born in the human heart, manifest themselves in social life, economic exchange, in market conditions and in the lack of access to food," the pope said. The pope called for support of international efforts to promote the family farm as a key component of national economies. The traditional nuclear family, he said, has shown itself to be a competent instrument for agricultural production and for training of new generations in farming .

(All items taken from Catholic News Service)