Temporal Bonds Formation on the Verbum Dei Charism

By Resti Ma. M. Bautista

The Married Couple Missionaries in temporal bonds resumed their formation last January 8, 2026 under their formators Marisol Diaz and Antonio Miralles, who are based in Madrid, Spain.  In the Philippines, there are currently 7 couples in temporal bonds, with the majority living on the island of Cebu and one couple based in Metro Manila.  Their monthly formation held via Zoom also includes one Filipino couple in temporal bonds who hail from Sydney, Australia. Marisol and Antonio are ably assisted in the on-going formation by local missionary couple Cookie and Bimbo Abrio.

The formation centered on the Verbum Dei charism, which is the Word of God, soul of our life and mission.  Antonio emphasized, “Our charism as 𝘝𝘦𝘳𝘣𝘶𝘮 𝘋𝘦𝘪 is simply 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘞𝘰𝘳𝘥 𝘮𝘢𝘥𝘦 𝘧𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘩 in us — especially in our vocation, in our marriage and family life — as a gift to the world.”  The couples were encouraged to receive the Word of God, incarnated in our identity as children of the Father, God of the Universe, chosen and beloved, receiving the free and undeserved gift of the Life-Love of Jesus Christ. 

One couple shared their reflection: “We are filled with much gratitude and hope that through the grace of the Holy Spirit, the Word of God is made visible and tangible in our ordinary everyday life as husband and wife, father and mother, healer and teacher, and workers in the Kingdom of God. And what we receive as a precious gift is given onward, as a gift to the world: the Word of God, an ancient song our souls sing and breathe and live, never changing, always new. ‘𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘞𝘰𝘳𝘥 𝘰𝘧 𝘎𝘰𝘥 𝘪𝘴 𝘯𝘦𝘢𝘳 𝘺𝘰𝘶, 𝘰𝘯 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘭𝘪𝘱𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘪𝘯 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘵’ — 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘪𝘴, 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘛𝘳𝘶𝘵𝘩 𝘰𝘧 𝘍𝘢𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘸𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘯𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘤𝘦. (cf. Romans 10:8)” 

And so as we begin the new year, we follow in the footsteps of Mary our Mother, who teaches us to always listen to the Word.  May we continue to learn to listen closely and ponder deeply on the Word, to take care, protect and guard the Word in our hearts, minds and bodies.

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In the Philippines, there have been 4 batches of consecrated missionary married couples, with the pioneering 3 couples with permanent bonds presently in mission in Cagayan de Oro City and the province of Bukidnon in Northern Mindanao. Resti and Cecilia Bautista are the first missionary couple in Luzon.