Looking Back to the Future

​The Verbum Dei missionaries based in the Philippines, along with some Verbum Dei married couples discerning their vocation, gathered in our retreat house in Tagaytay for 2 days of formation.

During the first day we reviewed the history of each community in the Philippines to see the path walked and lessons learned. The first communities in 1977 in Manila have over 41 years of history, with Pansol opening in 2009, and Pasig in 2016.

We give thanks to God for all the work he has done, noting the teaching of Jesus, “My Father is always working and so am I” (see John 5:17) and recalling the words of St Paul “What is Apollos, after all, and what is Paul? Ministers through whom you became believers, just as the Lord assigned each one. I planted, Apollos watered, but God caused the growth. Therefore, neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who causes the growth” (1 Cor 3:5-7).

On the second day we sought to project the priorities of the future in the light of our recent General Congress. The invite of Saint Pope John Paul II inspired us: “to remember the past with gratitude, to live the present with enthusiasm and to look forward to the future with confidence” (Novo Millenio Inuente, n. 1). We had the Eucharist together and a time of prayer as well as moments of bonding. We also celebrated together the 22 years of marriage of Mau and Jess, a Verbum Dei missionary married couple.

After our 2 days of formation we felt rejuvenated and inspired to work together as one missionary community in this beautiful charism and mission entrusted to us.
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May Mother, the Mother of God and our Mother, guide us with her maternal embrace in the journey ahead. 

Here are some photos of the event:

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From the WordNews team