 By Santino, Cecilia & Resti Bautista The Camino is Life, and Life is the Camino. Before our trip, we heard this sentiment often; on our journey, we discovered its profound truth. Walking the Camino de Santiago is a living parable. Each step is an encounter with those who walked before us, and every fork in the road is a reminder of our own "Following"—our response to the Call to Love in the footsteps of the Lord. For us, the road echoed the Life and Love teachings of our Verbum Dei 𝘛𝘦𝘮𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘰. The rhythmic hours of walking triggered deep questions and realizations about the quality of our lives and revealed a common thread among all pilgrims: a yearning to discover what truly moves and sustains us, what gives us life. We returned from Santiago with hearts full of wonder. Here are the treasures we gathered along the Way:  1. PACK LIGHT The Camino forces us to reflect on what is essential. Every kilometer turns a heavy backpack into a metaphor for the mental clutter we carry. As unnecessary items are discarded, clarity emerges: fulfillment comes from simplicity, not accumulation. What weighs down your Following? What must you leave behind?  2. FOLLOW THE SIGNS It is virtually impossible to lose your way if you trust the signs. Even when the yellow arrows seem to disappear, a local or a fellow pilgrim is usually nearby to point you home. These detours often become the most memorable parts of the journey. As you follow the Way, can you grow in trust and faith?  3. FIND YOUR OWN PACE The Camino is a marathon, not a sprint. Slow down to smell the earth, listen to the birds, and feast on the colors of the trees. By honoring your body’s unique tempo, you shift from simply "reaching the destination" to truly inhabiting the present moment.  4. REST, DRINK & EAT On the Camino, keep it simple: rest and sleep, eat and drink, to gain strength for the journey. 𝘌𝘴𝘵𝘰 𝘦𝘴 𝘮𝘪 𝘤𝘶𝘦𝘳𝘱𝘰, 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘥 𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘲𝘶𝘦 𝘦𝘭 𝘤𝘢𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘰. (This is my body, eat because the road is long.)  5. DISCOVER YOURSELF This is a journey of self-discovery—an opportunity to embrace your gifts and your quirks. 𝘐 𝘱𝘳𝘢𝘪𝘴𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘣𝘦𝘤𝘢𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘐 𝘢𝘮 𝘧𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘧𝘶𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘸𝘰𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘧𝘶𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘮𝘢𝘥𝘦. (Psalm 139:14) By stripping away daily distractions, the trail reveals a resilient inner strength that often goes unnoticed in the rush of ordinary life.  6. WE GO FARTHER TOGETHER Experiencing the Camino as a couple is a gift. Walking alone might be faster or simpler, but together we go farther. The road allowed us to learn each other’s rhythms and needs more deeply. Like the disciples on the road to Emmaus, Jesus enters our dialogue and walks alongside us. “𝘞𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘴 𝘣𝘶𝘳𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯 𝘶𝘴 𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘦 𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘵𝘢𝘭𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘶𝘴 𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘳𝘰𝘢𝘥?” (Luke 24:32)  7. LETTING GO We have witnessed our son’s milestones with joy, but the Camino taught us a different lesson: letting him go. We learned to let him walk ahead, find his own path, and experience the world on his own terms. We trust him to achieve dreams even greater than those we imagined for him.  8. GRATITUDE FOR THE PATH The Way of St. James has been trodden since the 9th century. We walk in gratitude for the feet that smoothed the path before us, those walking with us now, and those who will follow. 𝘏𝘰𝘸 𝘣𝘦𝘢𝘶𝘵𝘪𝘧𝘶𝘭 𝘶𝘱𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘦𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘳 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘢𝘯𝘯𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘴 𝘱𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘦, 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘣𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴 𝘨𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘯𝘦𝘸𝘴, 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘢𝘯𝘯𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘴 𝘴𝘢𝘭𝘷𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯, 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘴𝘢𝘺𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘡𝘪𝘰𝘯, “𝘠𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘎𝘰𝘥 𝘙𝘦𝘪𝘨𝘯𝘴.” (Isaiah 52:7)  9. THE WAY OF SUFFERING The hills brought us face-to-face with physical suffering: aching legs, blisters, and exhaustion. To encounter a suffering body is to encounter Christ, remembering that His Way is also a Way of Suffering—granted to us so that we may not only believe in Him, but grow through Him. 𝘍𝘰𝘳 𝘪𝘵 𝘩𝘢𝘴 𝘣𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘰𝘯 𝘣𝘦𝘩𝘢𝘭𝘧 𝘰𝘧 𝘊𝘩𝘳𝘪𝘴𝘵 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘰𝘯𝘭𝘺 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘦𝘷𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘩𝘪𝘮, 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘢𝘭𝘴𝘰 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘶𝘧𝘧𝘦𝘳 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘩𝘪𝘮… (Philippians 1:29)  10. ANTICIPATION We learned to walk with anticipation for what lies around the next bend. We are still unpacking the treasures of our adventure, looking forward to the path ahead. “𝘕𝘰 𝘦𝘺𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘴 𝘴𝘦𝘦𝘯, 𝘯𝘰 𝘦𝘢𝘳 𝘩𝘢𝘴 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘥… 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴 𝘎𝘰𝘥 𝘩𝘢𝘴 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘴𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘩𝘪𝘮.” (1 Corinthians 2:9) ¡𝘉𝘶𝘦𝘯 𝘊𝘢𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘰! Resti and Cecilia Bautista are the first married missionary couple of the Verbum Dei Fraternity from Luzon. In 2023, they joined a Verbum Dei pilgrimage from Pasig-Manila, Singapore, and Spain to walk the Camino de Santiago with their 15-year-old son, Santino.
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1/8/2025 0 Comments Rejoice as One: Verbum Dei Missionaries Unite for Year-End Formation and BondingDolly Celeste Tan, FMVD  Verbum Dei Missionary Fraternity In the waning days of 2024, the Verbum Dei Missionary Fraternity convened for an extraordinary three-day retreat that transcended mere reflection. This transformative gathering seamlessly interwove ecclesiality, spiritual enlightenment, communal strengthening, and visionary planning. The retreat, held from December 27 to 29 at the serene Verbum Dei Retreat House in Tagaytay City, Philippines became a nexus of diverse experiences and shared purpose. Missionaries from across the Philippines—Cebu, Cagayan de Oro, and Luzon—joined hands with their counterparts from as far as Australia and Vietnam, embodying the truly international spirit of the Verbum Dei Fraternity.
Looking ahead to 2025, the Verbum Dei Family stood poised for action. The retreat had served as both a culmination of the year's efforts and a springboard for future endeavors. In essence, the year-end gathering had not merely concluded; it had ignited a flame of passion and purpose that would illuminate the path forward. As bearers of the Verbum Dei—the Word of God—the Verbum Dei Missionaries stepped into 2025 with renewed vigor, rekindled call and the tenacity in spreading the light of the Gospel in an ever-changing world. The journey, both individual and collective, stood as a testament to the enduring power of faith, community, and shared mission in shaping a brighter future for all. Edited by: Lucio Pulmones, FMVD-NATCOMM
9/26/2024 0 Comments Our Newly Elected Verbum Dei Missionary Family President and General Responsibles!
Hello to all,
It is with joy that we inform you that the new President and General Branch Responsibles of the Fraternity are:
We pray for each of them that they may carry out this task entrusted to them by their Branch Assembly. Very united #VerbumDei #verbumdeionline #RESPONSABLES #congreso #entrega #mission
Let's listen to a message from Anne Healy, new president of the FMVD and the FaMVD.
Photos, videos, and article taken from the official Verbum Dei Online Youtube channel and Familia Misionera Verbum Dei Online Facebook page.
 Dear brothers and sisters of the entire VDMF, As you know, the VI General Congress of the VDMF will be held from 30 August to 27 September. It is an event of vital importance for the VD throughout the world, since the Congress is a privileged moment in which the whole Fraternity, represented by the Congress participants, opens itself in a special way to the Spirit, so that the Spirit may guide and orient its growth and development, in fidelity to the founding charism and to the signs of the times. The General Congress is the highest authority of the VDMF and has the competence to elect the President of the VDMF and the General Responsibles of the three branches of the VDMF. But in addition to this, the VDMF Congress is a vitally important event because:
This VI Congress has another characteristic which makes it even more important. In addition to what has already been said, the Constitutions of the VDMF will be revised at this Congress, with the intention of submitting them to the Holy See for final approval. For all this, and seeing the importance of this Congress, I would like to propose to the whole Verbum Dei Missionary Family a chain of prayer so that the whole FMVD may open itself to the Holy Spirit and allow itself to be guided by Him, so that we may be in the Church a Gift of God for the world. I invite all members of the VDMF, all VD missionary disciples, all LCMs and all people who are fond of Verbum Dei to join in prayer every day during the congress at 12 noon, according to the time zone of each country. I am grateful for all the initiatives that may arise in the local communities to pray for this very important event for all of us. May God bless you all. I also thank the whole Verbum Dei Missionary Family for their co-responsibility and for the journey made together in missionary communion. Rodrigo Carrizo Moya VDMF President  Father, you who create and sustain all things with your love, we ask you to make us artisans of communion, so that as we journey towards the Congress we may know how to welcome the diversity that characterises us as the Verbum Dei Missionary Family. Jesus, human face of God, consecrate us to your Word so that the Congress may be prepared and carried out in profound fidelity to your voice, listening to each one of us and to the signs of the times. Holy Spirit, you who open rivers in the desert, guide us in this time of discernment and decision, so that we may live, embody and offer our charism ever more fully, so that all the baptised may participate in the mission of Jesus entrusted to the Church. Accompany us, Mary, with your loving motherly presence and intercession, so that this Congress may be a channel of hope in which God transforms us and makes all things new. Amen. Visit the main Verbum Dei worldwide page for updates related to the upcoming congress at:
https://verbumdei.org/blog/eng_ordinary_congress_vdmf2024/ 5/12/2024 0 Comments My Joy May Be In You A Verbum Dei National Disciples Retreat held in Tagaytay City Twenty-nine (29) Verbum Dei Missionary Disciples from the Manila-Pasig, Pansol, Tagaytay and Cagayan de Oro Communities journeyed together to the National Disciples Silent Retreat from May 1 to 5, 2024, at the Verbum Dei Retreat House in Tagaytay.
Accompanying them was a team of missionaries from various communities – Fr. Michael Cheong (Pansol), Sr. Maribel Martin (Cebu), Sr. Angela Bedoya (Manila-Pasig) and the Missionary Married Couple Cookie Abrio (CDO). It was indeed a joyful encounter for the missionary disciples as they were able to receive and deepen their understanding of the four (4) different sources of spirituality. Indwelling with the Trinity. The first source of spirituality was introduced in the afternoon of Retreat Day 1, after the dynamics and the introduction of the theme in the morning. The Holy Trinity was then explored by likening it to a family that lives within the hearts of God's people – diverse but one. If we live with them, we can be one with them. Eucharist. A loving encounter between a person and Jesus is perfected in the presence of the Eucharist. It is always available for all of us – waiting. A source where we can always go when we need to be close to God. A reminder that our life is a school of presence – learning and remembering that He is always present for us, wanting to be close to us. Mystical Body of Christ. The map in our altars signifies the many different realities of our brothers and sisters all over the world, making us remember that we are a part of the whole body of Christ – all of different parts and functions but still forming one whole body. We are invited to remember that we do our mission not in the world but in Christ – in his body. Mary. Another source of spirituality in Verbum Dei is none other than Mother Mary – the one who makes the Word of God flesh. A source of spirituality who accompanies us and prays with us in our following of Jesus. We are all invited, just like the disciple Jesus entrusted his mother to, to take Mary again into our homes. Daily morning prayers, guidelines, rosaries, masses, and exams of prayer were also in place each day during the duration of the retreat. All were also asked to give a thank-you note to each source and were then asked to place their commitment to a specific area they are called to focus on praying for – Verbum Dei Family, Youth, Peace and Justice, or Families. By the end of the silence after the morning guidelines of May 5, the missionary disciples were asked to share one experience and one Word of God that touched them the most. The joy in each one is evident, though in different shapes and forms, as they express themselves to one another. The retreat was a beautiful reminder that we can draw from many different sources of spirituality depending on our current reality and needs. But no matter what we need from the Lord for our own spiritual nourishment, one thing is clear – He desires that His joy may be in us! 4/20/2024 0 Comments Sharing Love The Verbum Dei Way Singer-songwriter Jose Mari Chan performs during the ‘Share the Love’ fundraising event on Feb. 18, 2024 at the Valle Verde 6 Clubhouse in Pasig City. (Credit: onenews.ph) Verbum Dei is a Catholic missionary community that brings together individuals and groups of every state of life, age, culture and social condition to live and spread the Word of God. There are several missionaries from Verbum Dei, a Catholic community that we have come to know and love. These men and women live their lives serving our Lord through their charism of prayer, ministry of the Word and testimony of life that brings immeasurable comfort and joy to many. Some have left their native countries, their homes and families to help others right here in the Philippines. For Verbum Dei, a group of grateful souls led by generous couple Boy and Corito de Claro –together with their family, and Friends of Verbum Dei Inc. headed by Gerry Dumancas, Judy Tan and Marichelle Infante – banded together to organize an extraordinary fundraising event called “Share the Love” carefully designed to delight and inspire. This took place at the Valle Verde 6 Clubhouse in Pasig City on Feb. 18. The evening began with a thanksgiving mass celebrated by five Verbum Dei missionary priests. The sumptuous gourmet dinner prepared by Maia de Claro Fonacier of White Linen complimented the amazing entertainment. Singer-comedienne Mitch Valdes opened the show with her own unique blend of wit and humor. This extremely talented one-woman band who performed song, dance and comedy in spontaneous combustion left us all roaring with laughter. Jose Mari Chan generously shared his love songs. The singer-songwriter said, “We must give and use our blessings. God has blessed me with the gift of music all these years and I am very happy that my songs have brought joy to our countrymen.” He began with a song called “Thank You, Love.” He told the audience that he wrote this “on our 25th wedding anniversary to thank my wife Mary Ann for loving me and bringing up our five children.” His duet with lovely daughter Lisa Chan Parpan thrilled the lively crowd.  Photo shows Fr. Michael Cheong, Jose Mari and Mary Ann Chan, Corito and Boy de Claro and Judy Tan during the ‘Share the Love’ fundraising event. (Credit: onenews.ph) Superstars of the night were Verbum Dei missionary priests who gamely performed renditions of their favorite music idols to the extreme delight of the benefactors. Fr. Filipe Vaz Pardal as Stevie Wonder, Fr. JoJo David as Bruce Springsteen, Fr. Michael Cheong as Axl Rose and Fr. Bong Guinoo as Slash of Guns N’ Roses brought the house down, complete with their instruments, choreography and funky costumes. For their dance number, the younger missionaries chose the popular OPM hit song “Dahil sa ‘Yo” by Iñigo Pascual, which got everyone on their feet smiling and dancing along to the beat. The female misioneras regaled us with a colorful Latin dance. The Verbum Dei missionary team then all came together to sing the finale, “Heal the World,” written by Michael Jackson. The most touching part of the night were two testimonies. The first testimony entitled Beloved, Chosen and Sent, was delivered by 19-year-old John Luiz Valencia, a Verbum Dei youth missionary disciple. He broke the ice by introducing himself as a second year college student of Criminology saying,” I am hoping to be a policeman, not a criminal.” “I want to share with you how Verbum Dei affected my life and those people around me,” he said. “My life was a mess, I was living a life covered in darkness and had no love. Na-adik ako sa paglaro ng computer and cellphone games (I was addicted to computer and cellphone games). My life was like a machine. Wake up – games all day – sleep – and repeat,” John said. “My friends were living the same as me. There is this one kid na lagi na lang napapasubo sa gulo. He was always in trouble. There’s this kid na hindi mo talaga makakausap. You could not even speak to him. There’s this kid na mas malala pa ‘yung addiction. He was worse than me, “ John added. “Each had darkness on their own. Pero alam niyo? You know what? God had a better plan for us. He never planned for us to be stuck in a life like that.” On March 7, 2021, John was invited to attend a Verbum Dei spiritual recollection. Verbum Dei taught him how to pray, practice and preach the word of God. One by one his friends joined the Community too. “Through prayer and the Verbum Dei family, we experienced being loved by God, chosen and sent to help others too,” John noted. “We have experienced a love capable of satisfying our thirst. In a sense, it made us all a better version of ourselves. God transformed our lives.”  John Luiz Valencia shares his story during the ‘Share the Love’ fundraising event for Verbum Dei. (Credit: onenews.ph) “May kasabihan nga na kami ay mga dating lulong, ngayon tumutulong. Dating kunsumisyon, ngayon ay nag-mi- mission.” John and his friends are now serving the Lord, having found purpose and meaning in their lives. They have become the “Voice of the Word” proclaiming the Word of God. They organize prayer activities, recollections and retreats. They share their testimonies and give talks to different groups of youth like students of Balara high school, CICL (Children in Conflict with the Law) in Molave Youth Home Payatas and many more. John gratefully concludes, “We were stuck in our circle full of broken people, yet with the Lord’s help we were saved and now we are helping the Lord to save others. We are blessed, chosen and sent by God. On behalf of the Verbum Dei youth, thank you for making all of these possible.” The second testimony was delivered by Rosmarie Andol, 41. She and her husband, Ronilo, received the sacrament of Holy Matrimony through the Verbum Dei Community where they got to know God intimately. Then the entire family experienced a peaceful transformation. From a life full of deep despair, they now live a fruitful life of faith, prayer, service and gratitude. Here are some videos taken from the event:
This article is originally posted from the Life and Culture section of onenews.ph. Credits to Michelle Dayrit Soliven and onenews.ph for writing the article. Credits to onenews.ph for the photos. Videos taken by the guests and credits to their respective owners.
You can read the original article at: https://www.onenews.ph/articles/sharing-love-the-verbum-dei-way. 3/22/2024 0 Comments Lent, A Journey Towards Freedom by Lucah Flores, VD Missionary Disciple Verbum Dei Tagaytay "I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery." - Exodus 20:2  The Verbum Dei Missionary family in Tagaytay facilitated a day of recollection with the staff of Bukid Kabataan on March 9, 2024, with the theme, “Lent, a Journey Towards Freedom.” This event was inspired by Pope Francis's message for this year's Lenten season. The Holy Father centered his message on the book of Exodus 20:2, “Through the Desert, God Leads Us to Freedom.” The staff expressed gratitude to their superior for allowing them to rest with the Lord for at least one day. “Sit back and relax,” the Lord said in the Third commandment. "Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work; but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God; on it you shall not do any work.” This recollection provided the staff with an opportunity to spend more time with the Lord. It was a time for them to pause, reflect, and meditate on the presence of the Lord in their lives. They believed that this experience would not only give them the energy needed to be more patient and understanding towards the abused children in the center where they work but also help them fulfill their mission wherever they are and whoever is with them. The recollection commenced with a talk by one of the missionary disciples emphasizing that Lent is a journey to draw closer to Jesus. It is a journey hand in hand with Him towards triumph, victory over death, temptations, and all forms of sin. The preacher focused on Chapter 4 verses 1-11 of the gospel of Matthew for participants to contemplate Jesus's temptations in the wilderness for forty days. Subsequently, another talk centered on living with deeper joy derived from spiritual health through loving others as outlined in Rom. 12:9-21 by St. Paul. Participants had time to reflect on their Lenten journey during this day of recollection. Despite its brevity, it provided them with an opportunity to ponder their spiritual state during this season. They also had a chance to receive the sacrament of reconciliation which brought peace, hope, and freedom to them.  Attending this recollection was indeed a privilege as they also received the sacrament of Holy Eucharist officiated by Father Titus, an SVD priest based in Tagaytay. Following the mass, a talk focused on emulating Jesus as a shepherd was delivered. The shepherd leads the flock towards greener pastures ahead. This exemplifies Jesus's concept of freedom – guiding His people towards a better life while living in faith and love first. To enhance sensitivity towards others' needs, participants reflected on the story of the multiplication of fish and loaves. The recollection concluded with a sharing session where participants expressed feeling blessed and thankful to the Lord for making it possible.
One participant, a social worker at the center and newest staff member, shared her conviction that she was brought into the center by the Lord to care for abused children. She found inspiration in Matthew 4:1-11 when she reflected on the word “dinala.” This activity brought love and freedom not only to participants but also to those who accompanied them throughout this experience. 2/8/2024 0 Comments Permanent Formation
by the Word News Team with Fr. Michael Cheong, FMVD A fun-filled sportsfest and lights on synodality. These were the special features of 2023’s annual post-Christmas Day permanent formation for the members of the Verbum Dei Fraternity. The Fraternity consists of the consecrated members of the Verbum Dei Family - consecrated women (sisters), men (priests and brothers) and married couples with special bonds. “No one was expecting a sports festival,” recalls Fr. Michael Cheong, “but everyone thoroughly enjoyed it— the bonding, the team building, the games, the laughing together, the competitiveness. It was truly a refreshing moment of just having fun together, a fraternal bonding in a very natural and uncomplicated way.” A day of formation followed. The resource person was Fr. Jason Laguerta who heads the Office for the Promotion of New Evangelization of the Archdiocese of Manila. He gave rich input on synodality as a way of “being church”. Later, Fr. Michael recalls, “seeing Verbum Dei’s three branches there, listening to how we worked together and realizing that the spirit of synodality was already there right in front of him, he said, ‘I think that you can teach us what synodality is.’ He told us to value and to share this gift that our community has—because what we have been living since our foundation is really something new in the church in the Philippines.” Everyone felt quite encouraged and motivated to share the gifts of Verbum Dei even more. The next day was devoted to preparing for the 2024 Congress on Mission using the dynamics of synodality. Fr. Michael says, "We were able to practice what we learned from the formation by sharing with each other our dreams as individuals, as branches, as a Fraternity - all in the spirit of really listening to one another." This article is part of the 7th issue of the Verbum Dei newsletter in Quezon City, Philippines (page 8).
You can read the whole newsletter at this link. Verbum Dei QC Word News - Issue 7 1/17/2024 0 Comments 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…“  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 12/28/2023 0 Comments The Bohol Advent RecollectionThe Bohol Advent Recollection: A Joyful Waiting, Life-Changing |
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