Category: CDO

9/25/2019 Comments

Couples' Talk Launched (September 13, 2019)

The Verbum Dei Missionary Family in Cagayan de Oro has recently launched “Couples Talk” last September 13, 2019 at Centrio Ayala Mall Conference Room with the theme “I DO”(see John 2,5 – “Do whatever he tells you”). This initiative, a collective effort of the members of the Couples reality, is a yearlong program with talks centered on the Theme Set. The talk titles were modified to make it leitmotifs striking e.g. Life & Love was given the title, “I’ve found a love…” , Your life is for loving was retitled, “I love you more today than yesterday…”, Unawareness and Sin is renamed “I didn’t see, I didn’t listen, I didn’t do…”(Catchy isn’t it!). All talks which offer everyone an exclusive encounter of the uniqueness of the charism, are designed to nurture marriages by progressing and developing their spiritual life at the onset.

The venue for this event will be at the Conference Room of Centrio Ayala Mall every 2nd Friday of each month, 7-8pm to start and end on time. Everyone is encouraged to invite married couple friends or relatives who are living in Cagayan de Oro and nearby cities or municipalities to join in this series of encounter with the one who instituted the marriage vocation. Daghang salamat and see you all.

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5/21/2019 Comments

Into the Heart of Every Family - School of the Word (May 18, 2019)

Into the Heart of Every Family

(May 18, 2019 School of the Word)

Yesterday’s School of the Word was extra special. It was special because the family in Verbum Dei Cagayan de Oro was able to do something extra creative and candid. Each family present was asked to make a poster of how love has been communicated in their family, based on the Gospel of John 13,34-35 “I am giving you a new commandment, love one another as I have loved you.”

The youths, single men and women who were there, were grouped accordingly, and individually were also asked to draw how love has been present in their homes. Each group came out with their unique drawings and theme – one group had their theme as ‘Banquet of Sharing, another ‘Fixed Love’ and another ‘ Extended Love’. Each may have had different depictions and themes but we all share the same struggles and limitations when it comes to love in marriage and in the family. However, at the end of the day, we choose love above and over everything.

Even with challenges and trials, love triumphs! Love conquers! “Many waters cannot quench love; rivers cannot sweep it away” (Songs 8:6). Love wins over all!

Here are some other photos of the event:

With thanks to Rey Bagares and the WordNews team

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5/14/2019 Comments

A Special Visit (May 11, 2019)

Alfonso Martinez, general responsible of the Married Couples branch

It is not always that the new General Responsible of the Married Couples Branch can come and visit us! (see Mt 8,8). Alfonso Martinez, or commonly called as “Papa Poncho” or “Poncho” to us in the community in Cagayan de Oro where he and Adriana stayed for almost 4 years until they had to go back to Mexico.

Poncho spent a day with us apart his busy schedule last Saturday, May 11 at Lestonnac Youth Center, giving guidelines deepening on the Joy of the Father (Luke 15), formation on the Language of Apology, and finished the day sharing to us the letter of Rodri Carrizo, the Verbum Dei President.

Regner and Mae Paguia, missionary married couples with their children.

Everybody then went to celebrate mass at the CU Chapel officiated by our dear friend from the Columban order, Fr Enrique Escobar; there was a salo-salo after the mass as part of a three-part celebration : Welcoming Papa Poncho (although for only a couple of days because he needs to return to Mexico soon), secondly, it was also a send-off party for the Paguia Family who will be relocating to Cebu as part of Regner and Mae’s apostolic mission to form apostles in couples and their families, and lastly, to celebrate Mothers’ day.

With the goodbyes the day was a little bittersweet but in faith we can be joyful as we are called to fulfill the mission mandate of Christ to GO TO ALL.

With thanks to Rey Bagares and the WordNews team

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4/26/2019 Comments

Easter Encounter 2019 - CDO (April 18-21, 2019)

I Know the Plans I Have in Mind for You

(Jer. 29:11)

Rejoice! God has definitely made clear his plans for us! This was the visible fruit for each one of us who attended the recently concluded Easter Encounter in Cagayan de Oro City, Philippines.

This year’s event was generously attended by 96 participants - mostly new members from our apostolate in Musuan, Bukidnon. There were also some new faces from our apostolate in a local university. We were honored with the presence of three couples,who for the first time together with their family, experienced what an Easter Encounter is really about. Unmindful of the Lenten heat, the participants and the facilitators were on top of their game, listening to the talks, sharing in every dynamic, and participating in the liturgy. And of course, everyone got to their feet with every animation and started dancing. Who said Holy Week isn’t fun in some moments?

Truly it was an amazing experience to be brought together as one missionary family in the holiest week of the year. At the end, we bade goodbye to each other but the memories, the friendships and the encounter of Christ of these days past will always be with us.

The community in Cagayan de Oro City, would like to thank Fr Iwao Ikegami, Sisters/Misoneras Gabriel Rocha and Rana Nina Elisino for their generous support since day one. Surely, this would not have been such a success if not for these beaming individuals.

Until next year!

Here are some photos of the event: