Despedida of Darwin (January 12, 2019)

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?

• Being a brother is an option that comes from the joy I experience of being with Jesus. ​The Word of God that accompanies me and affirms my option of being a brother is that of John 12: 26, ‘Whoever serves me, must follow me, and my servant will be with me wherever I am. If anyone serves me, my Father will honour him.’
  

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2. What are your highlights of these years in Cebu?

• What I enjoyed most was to give formation retreats, to live simply in Banawa, to work with the VDMFa, together in different missionary projects. Ah, and our ecclesial work and relationship too, they are a big highlight of these years living in Cebu.  

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3. What are your learnings from your time in Cebu?
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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:

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From the WordNews team