The Verbum Dei Married Couples Branch (MCB) in the Philippines did a 3 day on line retreat recently from May 28-30, 2020.

The topic was the Holy Spirit and various themes were addressed including the Spirit helps us to pray, the Spirit battles for our consecration, and the Spirit gives fire in the mission. Guidelines were given via Zoom by Poncho and Adriana Martinez, the General responsibles of the MCB worldwide, Marisol and Antonio (Spanish members of the MCB with perpetual bonds) and by James McTavish.

The couples were invited to “Seize the fire, missionaries of the Word of God!” (Fr Jaime Bonet, FMVD). The retreat was also a time for the couples to pause, reflect and breath in the Holy Spirit knowing as Pope Francis stated that families and “the Church urgently needs the deep breath of prayer” (Evangelii Gaudium, n. 262). The missionary married couples are also guided by our Verbum Dei directory: “We will strive to make real a contemplative-active life from our various personal, marital and family situations” (Directory, Married couples, n. 22).

The couples experienced various fruits from the retreat such as joy, perseverance and boldness - “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control” (Galatians 5:22-23). How great is the Holy Spirit - he is never in lockdown!

We continue to pray for the growth and spread of the Verbum Dei married couples branch. 

Cagayan de Oro family got a surprise visit yet again from the General Responsible of the Married Couples Branch, Alfonso Luna Martinez (without Adriana) last October 18, 2019.  It was for him a short break from his jam-packed schedule - an opportunity he would not miss for it would be his last visit for a long time to the city he considers his second home.

However, a man on fire could not keep himself hidden. His missionary heart and spirit led him to the ‘deserts’ of the those who heard him give a formation on Mary, Mother of evangelization, which was timely as most of us were to go on a mission that weekend.

As the visit days ended, we bade Poncho goodbye and wished him all the best as he continues his journey into the deep waters looking for people better than him, forming them so that in turn they too can form others to be disciples of this charism and of Christ above all!
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Safe travels dear friend, from your Verbum Dei family in Cagayan de Oro, Philippines. Many thanks or as we say “Daghang Salamat”

Here are some photos of the event:

​On the 13th of May, 2017, we celebrate 100 years of Mother Mary’s first apparition in Fatima, Portugal.  It was also on this same day that we celebrated the inauguration mass for the formation course of the Verbum Dei couples’ branch in Cebu, Philippines.  Thus, for nine couples (seven from Cebu and one each from CDO and Sydney), together with the team of formators, begins a two year program of formation and further deepening in the Verbum Dei charism.  We were also honoured with the presence of Lucia, president of the Verbum Dei Fraternity, James, ecclesial responsible for the Philippines zone, and Miguel-Angel, general administrator for Verbum Dei.  It truly was an ecclesial moment that hopefully would have put a smile on Jaime’s face had he been there to participate, as we really felt like the early Christians in where the females, males and married members of the first Christian communities would celebrate and worship Jesus as one.