News
Read the news from events, activities and other updates on the different communities here in the Philippines
Heirs… and Apostleship Local Assembly Cebu, 10 Feb 2019 The Verbum Dei family in Cebu was happy to hold its … (guess what number…) tenth Local assembly! This was a moment for the local community to share, review, plan and celebrate its commitment to the mission entrusted to them. The day kicked off with the Eucharist where we all had the chance to reflect on the Gospel (Luke 5:1-11) and the call of Jesus to “push out into deep waters.” Where are those deeper waters? To take more risks in our missionary outreach? To bring our charism more to the world of today? In the call we understand it also presupposes going deeper into the love of Christ. It was very encouraging to see the participation of all the missionary family in their reports – from the enthusiasm of the kids, through the energy of the youth and teens, the singles, the mamas, up to including the faithful apostles at 83 years old (no names mentioned). Teambuilding followed where the differing realities were represented by a creative symbol. The various committees gave updates and there followed a job fair where you could sign up, knowing that “the harvest is big and the laborers are few” (Luke 10:2). A Local Assembly is fully in line with the call of the Church. Pope Francis wrote “In virtue of their baptism, all the members of the People of God have become missionary disciples (cf. Mt 28:19). All the baptized, whatever their position in the Church or their level of instruction in the faith, are agents of evangelization, and it would be insufficient to envisage a plan of evangelization to be carried out by professionals while the rest of the faithful would simply be passive recipients. The new evangelization calls for personal involvement on the part of each of the baptized. Every Christian is challenged, here and now, to be actively engaged in evangelization; indeed, anyone who has truly experienced God’s saving love does not need much time or lengthy training to go out and proclaim that love. Every Christian is a missionary to the extent that he or she has encountered the love of God in Christ Jesus: we no longer say that we are “disciples” and “missionaries”, but rather that we are always “missionary disciples” (Evangelii Gaudium, no. 120). As Verbum Dei we are heirs of a very rich charism, received from the Holy Spirit through the life of Jaime Bonet. This charism is to be shared to the Church and the world of today. If we believe, we will speak (see 2 Cor 4:13), and pray and also invite new people. We are called to form apostles. As Jaime Bonet reminded us “People are formed by doing and above all by enabling others to also do; making others to act, forming School of Apostles – practicing -- where everyone really can do something… The disciples to be apostles have to act. If they do not act, they do not advance” (See “Form Apostles” by J. McTavish, pages 39 & 43). As Verbum Dei, we are called not just to be listeners or mere hearers but we are called to be doers who act according to what we hear in God’s Word (see James 1:22). It was very encouraging to see our disciples active in various ways including signing up to help lead various forthcoming Lenten recollections. What are you doing to build up the Kingdom? Don’t just sit there, do something! May the Holy Spirit always move us as Verbum Dei to be faithful. Mother Mary, Queen of Apostles, thank you for the gift of our Local Assemblies. May we be faithful to all we have discussed and decided there. Amen. Here are some photos of the event: With thanks to the WordNews team
Last February 16, 2019, the Verbum Dei Youth and Teens from Cebu facilitated a song forum in front of a crowd of around fifty teenagers and kids on a beachside that night. The activity was called "Just Love." On the occasion of Valentine’s Day celebration, the song forum was prepared with the intention to convey the message that Jesus will always love us no matter what and He is always there and we are called to love others back as form of thanksgiving to him. The mini concert was held at the Baybayon Beach compound in Tingo, Olango Island and was comprised of more than ten songs both secular and Christian ones. The guitarist were Jay-anne Desabelle and Angeleo Marquez, KD Artajo for the box drum, and vocals by Antonette Jañala, Kim Travero, Angeleo, and Jay-anne. It was a smooth transition of songs together with reflections and a powerful testimony by Ena Clavel, who shared with us what it means to be a young follower of Jesus. There were also games like "The Boat is Sinking," facilitated by Thea Payos and action songs like “Young Man, Get Up.” The forum ended with the song and giving off of souvenirs for the young attendees. Here are some photos of the event: Thanks to Fritz Payos (VD Teens Cebu) and the WordNews team
6/5/2017
News in Cebu: Called to be Spirit-Filled Evangelizers - Pentecost Vigil (Jun. 4, 2017)Cebu City - Last June 3, the Verbum Dei family in Cebu celebrated the coming of the Holy Spirit through a vigil. It started in the afternoon at 4pm with the welcome. Followed by a "gymkhana", a fun obstacle course where the participants were grouped into teams and were put into different challenges/tasks. These tasks were related to the coming of the Holy Spirit, and promoted the spirit of family and working as a team. Afterwards a group sharing was done to share about their experience.
Cebu City - Our family here in Cebu has just recently concluded the 6th local family assembly last Feb. 5, 2017 which was held in the apostolate center in Banawa, Cebu City. The theme was on the passage on Isaiah 54:2: "Enlarge the space of your tent
Hymn of Christ’s Mercy - Mission Trip in BoholIn celebration of the 90th anniversary of Mission Sunday of the Catholic Church, the Verbum Dei Family Cebu went to Tagbilaran, Bohol on October 22, 2016 to hold a mission trip in the form of a song forum with the theme “Hymn of Christ’s Mercy”. With the declaration of Pope Francis of Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy (December 8, 2015-November 20, 2016), the song forum aims to let the participants experience God’s mercy through the fun and spirit-filled songs and dynamics, and to create more awareness that all baptized Christians are called to be missionary disciples.
11/25/2016
News in Cebu: Verbum Dei Missionary Family Cebu - 25 years in God's Grace (November 20, 2016)The Verbum Dei Missionary Family in Cebu recently celebrated their 25th anniversary last November 20, 2016 in the apostolate center in Good Shepherd Road, Banawa.
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