New Disciples

​This year, Verbum Dei’s 60th, the Lord of the harvest has sent more lay ‘workers’ into His vineyard. On Aug 28, several college students, young professionals, and adults from the Pansol-based Schools of the Word (SOW) made a formal year-long commitment as Verbum Dei ‘missionary disciples.’ The commitment rite was done during mass and witnessed by the Luzon communities and key members of the Verbum Dei General Board. On October 1, more adults from the SOW based in Christ the King Parish made similar commitments.

​Who are Verbum Dei’s missionary disciples?
They are lay people who have experienced the fruits of journeying with Verbum Dei and feel called to grow more in their following of the Lord through the path of the Verbum Dei charism. After discernment and dialogue with Verbum Dei missionaries, disciples make a formal commitment for a year, and may renew that commitment yearly, and at some point, permanently.

​Disciples commit to daily prayer with the Word of God, seeking a personal encounter with Jesus.

​They also commit to having a missionary apostolate field where they can accompany others in the faith.
They also commit to participating in ‘revision of life’ (a regular faith sharing within a small group of disciples). They are also asked to participate as much as possible in what is called the School of Apostles. This is a special Verbum Dei formation program which offers different opportunities for prayer, formation, training and spiritual accompaniment to help the disciples integrate faith and life—so that they too may eventually also help form others to be followers of Jesus and evangelizers.

John Allan Garcia, a college student, shares:
“Because of Verbum Dei, my outlook on life changed, and they helped me see God's love for me and they also helped me to grow in my life …
so now I am one of the missionary disciples who can help even more people who are looking for God's love…“

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This article is part of the 6th issue of the Verbum Dei newsletter in Quezon City, Philippines (page 2).
​You can read the whole newsletter at this link. 
​Verbum Dei QC Word News - Issue 6