News
Read the news from events, activities and other updates on the different communities here in the Philippines
 “Enlarge and open your life to the work of the Spirit” Verbum Dei Family Assembly, Tagaytay On Sunday January 27, the Verbum Dei Tagaytay community held its 1st Local assembly. Following the mass celebrated by Fr Tony Pegon, SVD and concelebrated by Fr James McTavish, FMVD, the participants began the assembly with some opening remarks by Sr Grace, the local responsible of the Tagaytay community. Thereafter followed guidelines and a time of prayer. Separate guidelines were given for the kids & teens group. The theme of the guidelines was to grow in the desire to be led by the Spirit, to make this Verbum Dei Family mine, my own. We were reminded of our mission as Verbum Dei “to be at the service of the Word of God.” And to allow our hearts to be enlarged – “enlarge the space of your tent” (see Isaiah 54:2-3) and as a missionary family to be able to “build itself up in love” (Eph 4:16). An input was given by Sr Rana sharing the results of a survey of the VDMFam in Tagaytay and it shed light on the activities they found helpful. Sr Gaby and Sr Lupita challenged us to dream for our community and to strive to reach out to the whole of Tagaytay and beyond! After lunch, various groups such as Teens, Youth, Adults and Couples met together to project together the year ahead. They then presented a symbol of their group’s wishes and needs for 2019. Time was spent explaining various ministries and committees and the participants had a chance to indicate which area they would like to serve in. A presentation was given by James on the Verbum Dei National communications project. He emphasized that the Church sees social media as the new pulpit. He also reminded us of the words of Pope Francis in his message for World Communications Day 2019 when he wrote “love always communicates.” Where there is fire and conviction, one will look for ways to share Christ, especially in social media, the so-called digital continent, where so many, especially the youth are gathered. As Verbum Dei we are also called to announce the Good news on Facebook, Twitter and in the digital world. After this he also gave a short introduction to our NGO called Friends of Verbum Dei.  The overall fruit for the Verbum Dei Tagaytay community was the challenge for each one to be pro-active in building up the Verbum Dei Family. From the WordNews team
 Saturday January 12, after our monthly FaMVD mass, we surprised Darwin with a Despedida Party, in thanksgiving for his missionary life in Cebu for the past 5 years. He is now preparing himself to embark in a new mission, to be part of the misioneros team starting Verbum Dei in Vietnam. Darwin, originally from Cebu, met Verbum Dei in 1997 and joined the missionary life in 1999, all this in Cebu. Afterwards, he went to CDO, where he studied Theology at the St John Vianney Seminary. Darwin’s missionary apostolic life was in Manila, Mexico (where he did his final vows) and mostly in Cebu. We are all very grateful for Darwin’s self-giving as the ecclesial coordinator of the AC, promoting the participation of our lay disciples in the Verbum Dei mission and their spiritual growth, his work with teens, his contribution in the running of our Verbum Dei Apostolic Center and his work part of the vocational promotion team. These were the words the members of the AC (Apostolic Council) told about Darwin: D – Dedicated A – Amigo R – Reference point W – Wise spender I – Industrious N - Noble “The despidida party was filled with warm goodbyes. I was not expecting it to be fun but I guess the Verbum Dei family has already matured enough to know that though Darwin was leaving, we are one with him in prayer.” (words from one disciple) “Thank you, Darwin for being a brother to us, very easy to relate with, in our ecclesial relationships and apostolic work.” (words from the misioneras) Here is a short interview to Darwin: 1. What does the option of being a brother mean for you?
2. What are your highlights of these years in Cebu?
3. What are your learnings from your time in Cebu? Openness to dialogue in our relationships in Ecclesiality; Discernment in key moments in the Verbum Dei Family and Accompaniment the disciples in their spiritual and missionary growth. Here are some photos of the event: From the WordNews team
As 2018 ended, we decided as Pansol community in Quezon city to look back at our year and the different apostolic activities we had. It was an enjoyable year and various photos captured a sense of the moments of mission. We put this video together then to show the good work the Lord has been doing through our lives. We do not want to “hide the light under the table,” so we share it with you, so all may see the light and give God the glory - “All glory and honor is yours almighty Father!”
Let us pray that all of us, in our Verbum Dei mission, can continue to be light in the world of today remembering the advice of Jesus, the light of the world: “Instead they put the lamp it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:15-16)
Having problems viewing the video? View it on Google Drive. Link below:
From the WordNews team
1/3/2019
Looking Back to the Future The Verbum Dei missionaries based in the Philippines, along with some Verbum Dei married couples discerning their vocation, gathered in our retreat house in Tagaytay for 2 days of formation. During the first day we reviewed the history of each community in the Philippines to see the path walked and lessons learned. The first communities in 1977 in Manila have over 41 years of history, with Pansol opening in 2009, and Pasig in 2016. We give thanks to God for all the work he has done, noting the teaching of Jesus, “My Father is always working and so am I” (see John 5:17) and recalling the words of St Paul “What is Apollos, after all, and what is Paul? Ministers through whom you became believers, just as the Lord assigned each one. I planted, Apollos watered, but God caused the growth. Therefore, neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who causes the growth” (1 Cor 3:5-7). On the second day we sought to project the priorities of the future in the light of our recent General Congress. The invite of Saint Pope John Paul II inspired us: “to remember the past with gratitude, to live the present with enthusiasm and to look forward to the future with confidence” (Novo Millenio Inuente, n. 1). We had the Eucharist together and a time of prayer as well as moments of bonding. We also celebrated together the 22 years of marriage of Mau and Jess, a Verbum Dei missionary married couple. After our 2 days of formation we felt rejuvenated and inspired to work together as one missionary community in this beautiful charism and mission entrusted to us. May Mother, the Mother of God and our Mother, guide us with her maternal embrace in the journey ahead. Here are some photos of the event: From the WordNews team
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