Be a Game-Changer Sparking with Innovation in 2014!!! Advent

Be a Game-Changer Sparking with Innovation in 2014!!!
“O my Jesus,
draw me
entirely to you.
Draw me with
all the love of
my heart. If I
knew that one
fiber of my
heart did not
palpitate for
you, I would
tear it out at
any cost. But I
know that I
could not
speak without
your help.
Draw me, O my
Jesus, draw me
completely. I
know it well,
my heart cannot rest until it
rests in your
heart.”
-St. Louis Guanella
What is a game changer? It is an idea, a
strategy, a product or service, a process
or person that can create a breakthrough
and take an organization to the next level.
We could say the ‗iPod‘ did it for Apple,
breakfast did it for ‗McDonald‘s‘, and cell
phones and the Internet were game
changers for the whole world.
We approach the New Year, 2014, with
hope, joy and expectation! Let us have a
quest for a moral and spiritual renewal in Photo courtesy of http://oilersnation.com/uploads/Image/stacks_image_993.jpg
restoring respect for life and truth and to
rebuild trust in proclaiming and living the sanctity of human life. God wants to win with His
love and wisdom, and He wants to build you up spiritually so as to live in His love and walk in
His ways.
The message of the Holy Father for the celebration of the ‗World Day of Peace‘ on January
1, 2014 was, ―Fraternity, the foundation and pathway of peace‖, needs to be discovered,
loved, expressed, proclaimed and witnessed.
The UN has declared 2014 as an International year of Family Farming ( IYFF). Family farming
includes all family-based agricultural activities and it is linked to several areas of rural development: organizing agriculture, forestry, fisheries, pastoral and aquaculture production.
Therefore, family farming has an important socio-economic, environmental and cultural role
and is inextricably linked to world food security.
"Our Mother May is full of beauty because she is full of grace," said Pope Francis. We are
blessed to bless others! Her grace, generosity, and recollectedness are with us. Let us pass
on and discover the joy of a never-ending cycle of blessing, joy and peace to others. The
mighty forces that will come to our aid are Father, Son and Holy Spirit and let us be
SMARTS! (Simple-Meaningful-Actionable-Relational-Transformational-Scalable) and become
the Spirit-filled Evangelizers of 2014!—Fr. Soosai Rathinam, SdC (excerpt from http://
www.servantsofcharity.org)
Advent Recollection 2013
Vocation during Vacation
Last December, in response to the challenge of Advent,
the Guanellian Community underwent a series of Advent
Recollection to prepare more everyone‘s hearts for the
coming of the child Jesus. December 1 was opened for all
the ministries of the Servants of Charity; December 7 was
conducted for the lay cooperators; and December 14 for
the seminary, staff, and volunteers.
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Last month of December, I was absolutely very happy. Why? Because
I was so excited to go home to spend my holidays with my family,
and also to keep in touch in with my parish. December 22, I arrived
in my house exactly nine o‘clock in the morning. I was surprised because of the many changes I saw! But my relationship to my family
never changed, I‘m still naughty and talkative, but most importantly, I
learned the value of being a good son to my parents, and a good
brother to my siblings.
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National Catholic Handicap Day 2013
07 December 2013 – The Guanella Center special
children joined the Inter-Diocese PWD Day at Cuneta Astrodome in celebration of the National Catholic Handicap Day. 60 participants, PWDs parents &
children together with GC staff, priest and seminarian
brothers, attended this event. Mass celebrated by
Abp. Soc Villegas kicked-off the day. The children enjoyed face painting and other arts activity. Food and
gifts for all the participants were also provided.—Luz
Ramirez
My December 2013 Experience
Last December 2013, we celebrated the Simbang Gabi. I was happy because that was my first time to attend the Simbang Gabi mass
in Quezon City. Many people attended the mass especially our special children like Sam, JP, Tommy, James, Carlo and Tomas, with
our staff. It was so nice to see them participating in the Holy Eucharist celebration.
But the most unforgettable experience was when one of our brothers, Atanacio, shared of his magnificent idea about the
work of John the Baptist. I‘m so glad when He felt nervous. You can see from him that he was really controlling and fighting what is
happening inside of him. I realized that even if it‘s his first time to be in front, he still managed to finish his mission like John the Baptist. Through events like this, I learn to become strong and attentive of what my experience is. And for all my difficulties in my life,
one thing that I always reflect on, and this is, ―when you feel the south wind, blowing, you say that it is going to get hot-and it goes.‖
Sometimes we decide not to be confident, but when the year 2013 ended, I promised to the Lord that I will do what is right and
believe more in myself that I can do it without judging anyone, especially my own being.—Sem. Erwin Azurin
Guanellian Community Christmas Party 2013
15 December 2013 – Around four o‘clock in the afternoon, the Servants of Charity community celebrated their Christmas Party in the Guanella Center.
Staff, volunteers and the seminary enjoyed the snacks prepared and participated in
the fun games. Brothers Gene and Filbert, and Fr. Charlton serenaded the crowd to provide additional enjoyment during the party. After the exchange gift-giving and gift-giving to
the staff and volunteers, the community went to ―Kamay Kainan‖ to continue the celebration. It was six in the evening when the community arrived in the restaurant. Spacious
place and sumptuous buffet tables welcomed the community inviting everyone for their
―eat all you can.‖ Fr. Charlton led the prayer before the meal. Afterwards, everyone was
already falling in line to have their stomachs full. Everyone were filled with blessing, enjoyed with the good food and conversations shared with one another. The celebration ended at seven in the evening with everyone
full in heart and stomach. Before the seminary went home, they brought one brother to his home for his vacation. It was a great
day of celebration aspiring more good moments to share.—Sem. Generoso Daing
New Year, New Hope, New Grace
Another page in our human years have been flipped, and a new year has dawned on us, symbolizing extra opportunity to journey
more towards holiness!
In the first reading during the Solemnity of Mary as the Mother of God, we hear the ancient prayer given by God to Moses
to also be handed down to Aaron and his sons, ―The Lord bless you and keep you! The Lord let his face shine upon you, and be
gracious to you! The Lord look upon you kindly and give you peace!‖ What an assuring prayer as we start this year that God will be
on our side as we continue our expeditions – taking that in our communities, in our ministries, in our families, in our workplaces!
We also run towards the Mother of Divine Providence, we invoke her to accompany us each day as we continue our missions of
evangelizing and befriending the whole world especially God‘s favorites – the poor and the needy.
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Holy Mary - Our Lady Of The Holy Rosary
Hail Mary, full of grace the Lord is with you Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus. Holy
Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and the hour of our death. Amen.
Every year during the 7th of October is the feast of our Mother Mary as Our Lady of the Holy Rosary. It is the grandest
and most historically significant Philippine-made icon which is housed at the historic Santo Domingo Church, in Quezon City.
This prayer to our Mother Mary is very significant for me. The Holy Rosary is a prayer of contemplation. The Hail Mary is
fifty four times repeated in a one Holy Rosary prayer. In my own reflection, the Holy Rosary is the summary of life of our Lord
Jesus Christ with Holy Mary, the angels and saints including two holy families namely (1) Zechariah, St. Elizabeth, St. John the Baptist; and, (2) Holy Mary and St. Joseph. Holy Rosary is about the life and ministry of our Lord Jesus with Holy Mary.
I remember many times in my life when I prayed the rosary especially during travel. I was being saved from accidents especially
from the very fast-moving buses in EDSA. Also I received a lot of blessings when I prayed the rosary with devotions to our
Mother. I trust and believe that there are many miracles like in La Naval De Manila and EDSA I People Power Revolution, because
of praying the rosary. And on a personal note, many miracles happened to me and to my family, including my ministry, because of
praying the rosary.
As a seminarian and catechist, I see that the devotion to our Mother Mary is very important in helping us deepen our faith,
hope, love, inner peace, and humility. I spent personal time in praying the rosary daily, and also in every religious program or teaching, ministry, and sharing the Word of God. Let us invite everyone to pray the Holy Rosary anytime and anywhere.
Mother Mary, Our Lady of the Holy Rosary, pray for us.
To all those who are not praying the rosary, to all those who have devotions to our Blessed Mother, and to the Servants
of Charity Congregation, THE GRACE OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST THE LOVE OF GOD AND THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE
HOLY SPIRIT BE WITH YOU ALL. (2 CORINTHIANS 13:13).—Sem. Atanacio Manalastas
Atan is inviting everyone to listen to Veritas 846 Radyo Totoo, the Catholic Radio Religious Program. Listen most especially for the Holy Mass (Healing Mass sa Veritas), Monday to Saturday from 12NN to 1PM live from Radyo Veritas Chapel. Other live mass schedules: Friday 4AM, Sunday 6AM. Veritas Kapanalig Makinig.
Advent FROM PAGE 1
The recollection focused its points on the Nativity narrated in the gospel of Matthew – Search, Found, and Offer. Each point having
its own dynamics to make the recollection more participative and more striking. All of the recollections ended with the adoration
to the Blessed Sacrament and group sharings. It was a great moment of preparing our whole self as we await for the coming of our
Savior.
Vocation FROM PAGE 1
I spent my time with my family sharing my experienced inside the seminary. As I have good conversations with my siblings,
I found out that they are very excited also for my vacation and I‘m touched by this.
Serving the parish also made my holiday unforgettable. My parish priest was a very welcoming person. Him being a young
priest made me more comfortable that‘s why we got close in a very short time. Giving communion to people was my service every
mass. It is so nice and good to see that people going to mass early in the morning. Thus I know that I still had my vocation during
my vacation – to be with Jesus always, with Jesus.).—Sem. Mark Lanuza
Literary Corner: “The Writer”
Oh melody is His words
And harmony is His voice
Thy writing is Thy passion
You speak beyond Your thoughts…
His wisdom is like an ocean
Deepest among the seas
So vast as the blue sky
Highest than any clouds, there be…
Your quotes whisper my heart
Singing verses from a song
The psalm that You’ve made
Even angels rejoice, in the heaven
and on earth…
The universe You created
Through Your word there is light
Now this world is full of life
As Your love for us reside…
Thy word is so powerful
No sword can defeat Thee
Thy offer - peace to everyone with greatness to those in distress
In Thy scripture, we found hope to seek Thy kingdom and embraced Thy
love…
Forevermore!!
—Sem. Filbert Neruel Maxino
Bridging a Gap to Launch a New
Year in and year out, it is relishing collecting significant events happened in one‘s life. Year 2013 has left everyone a challenge to
journey in discovering , appreciating, and loving one‘s self, in continuous discernment of God through prayer, in enjoying community living and treasuring moments of worthy sharings, and vocation in particular.
Right at the start of our modular class, Sojourn 2013-2014: A Journey towards Solidarity, last January 7 questions were
asked:
What significant events did last year that challenged your vocational?
Difficulties in taking care of special children
What were your sub ports?
Integration of myself from Oblates of St. Joseph Spirituality and friendship therapy.
In your wonderings and wanderings, what significant questions did you face?
If transfer, will I be happy.
Crossing the river of experiences what kind of SELF are you bringing in and offering to 2014?
A friendly person.
What are your hopes as you continue your journey?
To live a life of simplicity as Divine Providence will allow.
To have a life of love and faith.
Truly, my spirit and capacities were tested but as long as there is an inspiration that Jesus lived a poor and challenging
life I shall continue. In all things love!—Sem. Lester Nembra
New Year FROM PAGE 2
In our community, Divine Providence has already showered us with a new gift. Last December,
the Guanella Home for Abandoned Special Children became a bigger family with the addition of
Johnny. This young boy, with no reference of his family and even his real name and birthday came
to us as God‘s grace as the New Year came. ―Buboy‖ to many, will be named John Bosco Evangelista soon. Johnny has been found having Down Syndrome. He came to us having multiple injuries,
likely for a vehicular crash. He was sent to hospitals for proper medical treatment before arriving
in our shelter. This new fellow, still adjusting to his new environment, has already been showing
good developments in his less than a month stay with us. Johnny helps in preparing the tables by
arranging the fork and spoon, and by placing water glasses for everyone. Whenever you go to
Johnny, he‘s sure to show you his learning smile and a high-five awaits you.
Old has passed and this new year brings us new hope and for sure many more new graces! Let us imitate the three kings who, after witnessing the child Jesus, ―departed for their country by another way.‖