First Temporal Bonds of First Married Couple Missionaries in Luzon

​The Eucharistic Celebration of the First Temporal Bonds of Resti Ma. Bautista and Maria Cecilia Bautista was held on June 7, 2025 at the Verbum Dei Catholic Center of Formation in Pasig City.  The theme of this historic event was Romans 5:5: Hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit.  Historic indeed, as Resti and Cecilia are the first consecrated married missionaries in Luzon.
 
Guests from all the local communities of the Verbum Dei Missionary Family in the Philippines were in attendance, from Metro Manila and Tagaytay City in Luzon, from the islands of Cebu and Bohol in the Visayas, and from Cagayan de Oro City, Bukidnon province and Davao City in Mindanao.
 
The main celebrant of the Mass was Fr. Michael Cheong, FMVD.  In line with the Solemnity of the Pentecost, Fr. Michael began his homily with a familiar prayer:  Come, Holy Spirit! Fill the hearts of your faithful and enkindle in them the fire of your love… “Today, these words of invocation are fulfilled in a special way in the lives of Resti and Cecilia, and their son Santino.” Fr. Michael enjoined the congregation thus: “Let us witness the fire of the Holy Spirit that has led them to a step further in their love for God to consecrate themselves more fully to Him in this specific charism and mission of the Verbum Dei Missionary Fraternity.” 
 
The Rite of Profession of Bonds began with the calling of the married couple by the Formation Course Responsibles, Bimbo and Ivy Charisse Abrio, presenting the couple to Antonio Miralles and Marisol Diaz, the Delegates of the General Responsible Couple of the Branch. After the profession of their bonds of conjugal chastity, poverty and obedience, Resti and Cecilia received the Crucifix and the Verbum Dei Constitutions, as a sign of their missionary commitment.
 
“We thank God for loving us first, totally, truly, madly, deeply.  We thank Him for calling us both in our youth, in our marriage, and now, in this way - to be consecrated married couple missionaries,” Cecilia enthused. “Even before we met, God was already dreaming of this day for us - for our sake and for His, for our joy and for His. Today our joy is complete!” (cf. John 15:11)
 
After a hearty dinner, the festivities were capped by a short program. A warm welcome was given by Sr. Grace Gonzales, FMVD, who accompanied the couple during their 5-year discernment and formation. Antonio Miralles and Marisol Diaz, who hail from Madrid Spain, expressed the welcome of the Married Couples Branch across the five continents, as well as their personal commitment to the continuing formation of the couple. Santino Noel Bautista shared briefly of his own journey, as witness to the transformation of his parents on the road to becoming married couple missionaries.
 
The night would not be complete without impromptu song and dance performances by the misioneros, the misioneras, the Manila-Pasig disciples with the Pasig servant leaders, and the Pansol disciples. Lively community-dancing led by the matrimonios became the undisputed highlight of the fun-filled evening.
 
Resti expressed the couple’s gratitude to the community saying, “Each of you has lived, spoken and witnessed the Word to us. Through all these many personal encounters, these exchanges, these very human experiences you have shared with us, the Lord was drawing us to Himself, with cords of kindness, with ties of love (cf. Hosea 11:4).  Thank you for each of you is very much part of our call, part of our journey to the Trinity, who now calls us gently to mission.”
 
Let us continue to pray for Resti and Cecilia, for their family and missionary life.  May Mary our Mother and St. Joseph, the first disciples of Jesus, continue to teach them how to care for Him and know Him and love Him, how to live close to Him and follow Him faithfully. Amen.

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Resti and Cecilia Bautista, with their son Santino, live in Antipolo City, Rizal.  They will continue to be involved in various apostolates of the Verbum Dei Missionary Family across Metro Manila.