IF YOU HAD ONLY 30 DAYS LEFT

Transcription

Inspiring You to Live a Fantastic Life
No. 294 Vol. 24
Nov. 2014
NOVEMBER 20 - 23
PICC | SMX | MOA ARENA
MEET JASON EVERT,
INTERNATIONAL
CHASTITY SPEAKER
photo
of jason
evert
Jimmy and LJ Alapag:
Foster Parents to
a Grace to Be Born Baby
IF YOU HAD ONLY 30 DAYS LEFT,
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Can you hear God speak to you?
We’ll help you hear the Shepherd’s Voice loud and clear this 2015.
Starting with Companion
Listen to God’s voice as He speaks to you through His Word. Companion compiles the Mass readings
of the day in a handy book that you can take with you anywhere you go.
A priest provides an introduction to the daily readings that will give you insight into His Word and help
you to understand it better. Your Companion also includes prayers said during the Mass and novenas
that will help in your daily talk with God.
Followed by Didache and Gabay
Find out what God’s message is for you as He speaks through the testimonies of fellow Catholics who
experienced God’s love and faithfulness in their own lives.
He wants to give you the same healing, miracles and encouragement in your own
circumstances. Be inspired with the heartwarming and faith-filled reflections by ordinary
people whose lives were touched and transformed by God who is very much involved in
the daily events and details of our lives.
Deepen with Sabbath
Listen more deeply to God’s word as explained by Catholic priests
who have spent their lives studying the Bible. Sabbath is written in simple language that you and I will
understand to help us know more about God as He nourishes us with His life-giving Word.
Hear God’s Voice more clearly this year!
He will lead you to the joyful, victorious and abundant life that He desires for you.
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Feeling insecure?
Plagued with self-doubt and worries?
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This could be you or someone you know.
God wants you to be happy, healthy and whole.
It’s time to Love Yourself as God Loves You.
Find healing in these pages.
“This is a beautiful book. Let my friend Marj teach you how to heal the unloved parts within you and guide you to the pathways
of accepting, forgiving and celebrating your true self.” – BO SANCHEZ, bestselling author and Catholic lay preacher.
Love Yourself Today!
Available in print and e-book versions.
Visit us at www.KerygmaBooks.com.
I
believe that heaven and hell start here — right here, right
now. How? By the way you live your life each day.
Your afterlife will be a mirror image of what is in your
heart. But it will be eternally multiplied.
I know of people who are living a life of hell on earth.
Carl, a 73-year-old man, rang the doorbell of the house
of a former high school classmate. When the man opened the
door, Carl asked, “Are you Norman Johnson?” When Norman answered, “Yes,” Carl pointed a .45-caliber gun
and shot Norman twice, blowing up his entire face.
Why did Carl kill Norman? According to Carl, he was still
mad at Norman because when they were in high school 56 years
ago (my gosh!), in a locker room prank, Norman put his smelly
supporter over Carl’s head!
It only happened once. But for the next 56 years, Carl replayed
that scene over and over again in his mind.
I repeat: Norman did it only once, but Carl did it thousands of
times — putting that sweaty, smelly supporter over his head — in
his imagination.
And if Carl heard good stuff about Norman — how he got a
job, how he got promoted, how he got an award — he would feel
terrible. The seed of bitterness that was planted 56 years ago was
nurtured every day and it grew bigger and bigger, until it became
a gigantic monster. Carl was living with this monster of bitterness,
eating him up inside. I don’t know what hell is like, because I’ve never been there,
and I don’t have plans of going. But I bet it must be very close to
that. Bitterness in your heart is hell. And if you don’t ask Jesus to
heal that bitterness, hell continues even after death.
But if you live a life of love, you experience heaven now. Have you noticed? The happiest people in the world are those
whose hearts are overflowing with love.
Let me say it again: Heaven and hell start now.
And so does purgatory… Everything that is happening in your life right now is purifying
you, sanctifying you, shaping you, and transforming you to
become more like Jesus — until you become perfect. And just like
heaven and hell, purgatory continues even after you die.
Let me describe purgatory to you: When you die, you’ll see
God and you’ll run towards Him. I believe you’ll see God running
towards you, too. When you take one step, He takes 10 steps. As
you move closer to each other, you realize His love is burning away
all your imperfections. The closer you get to Him, the more perfect
you become. So that at that moment when God embraces you, all
By Bo Sanchez
The
Boss
your weaknesses totally vanish. You become perfect as
He is perfect.
What is that “running towards God” and God “running
towards you”? That’s my definition of purgatory. I can imagine that when Mother Teresa died, this
run was pretty short — perhaps a hundred-meter dash.
(Gosh, I’m wrong; perhaps it was only five or six steps!) But other very imperfect people (like me) may have
to run a few miles. (I just hope it’s not a marathon.)
Friend, love more and shorten your race.
May your dreams come true,
DO HEAVEN
AND HELL
START NOW?
NOVEMBER 2014 • KERYGMA
1
Mail
room
A SPECIAL MESSAGE
FROM BO SANCHEZ
I didn’t like to read long articles before. But
then I read Kerygma when one of my co-workers
in our parish gave us copies of past issues from
Assumption School. Now I love and enjoy reading
Kerygma. It is like my monthly vitamins. I now
recommend Kerygma to everyone.
Quet Rafallo
Youth Ministry
Parish of the Immaculate Heart of Mary
Antipolo City
I am an avid reader of Kerygma magazine since
1999, when my brother in Singles for Christ gave
me a copy. Now I am attending The Feast in
Montalban and continue to enjoy reading it. God
bless and more power!
Jun Frondozo
Montalban, Rizal
I have just read Kerygma’s March 2013 issue.
“The Boss” talks about faith and trust. Thanks
be to God for the staff of such an anointed
magazine. Every time I get it, I am always blessed.
Mabuhay!
Marisol
College instructor, General Santos City
Kerygma magazine is the best! I feel so blessed
after reading it. I pray that I’ll be part of Kerygma
Family. It is a stress-reliever because of its inspiring
messages.
Would you believe Kerygma is almost 25 years old?
Yes, we’re celebrating our silver anniversary next year.
Gosh, I can’t help but wonder — how we have survived
this long without depending on advertisements?
It’s by God’s grace that Kerygma is still around.
From printing a mere 2,000 copies, which we gave
away initially, we are now printing it in tens of thousands.
And it’s been blessing a greater number of people around
the globe — even those at sea.
But in the last 25 years, would you believe that we
increased our prices only a few times? The last one was
in 2012.
For many years, we’ve been shouldering the
incremental cost and have avoided passing it on to you,
because we want to make it more affordable to you.
Sadly, we can’t do that for long. To continue to publish
what Bishop Ted Bacani prophesied as the “publishing
miracle of Asia,” we are increasing our prices effective
March 2015 issue.
The new retail cover price is P100. But when you
subscribe, you pay only P800 for 12 issues, or a 33%
savings.
With the price increase comes a promise — we will
continue to give you what you deserve: a magazine that
will help you live a fantastic life!
Rachel Hipolito
Feast Bicutan
We Want to hear from you!
Send your message via email to [email protected], through text to 0923-378-4941,
or by snail mail to The Editor at 60 Chicago St., Cubao, Quezon City, Philippines 1109.
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2
KERYGMA • NOVEMBER 2014
Living by
Grace
Just
Breathe
By Rissa Singson-Kawpeng
The Miracle of Guadalupe
Rissa’s outfit courtesy of Elite Garments/ENSEMBLE
T
No one prays as powerfully as Our Lady does
he preachers’ wives from my caring group came over to the house
for a visit. I had been on sick leave for weeks since my breast biopsy
and the lumpectomy that followed. But more than that, they came
to pray for me.
Dinah, wife of author and preacher George Gabriel, brought
a replica of the tilma of Our Lady of Guadalupe. The original tilma
was the cloak of a peasant named Juan Diego to whom our Blessed Mother
appeared on Tepeyac Hill in Guadalupe, Mexico.
Our Lady instructed Juan Diego to tell the bishop to build a chapel in her
honor. Understandably, the bishop asked him for proof that it was really Mama
Mary who appeared to him.
Our Lady instructed Juan Diego to collect flowers growing on the rocky hill
where normally only cactus and scrub grew. It was December, definitely not
the season for roses, but Juan Diego used his mantle as a sack and filled it with
blooms.
At his audience with the bishop, Juan Diego unfurled his cloak and out
poured the flowers. But what startled the bishop was the image of Mary that
was miraculously imprinted on his tilma.
Five hundred years later, that tilma is still intact, surviving wars, fires,
bombings and the punishing onslaught of nature, even when scientists say
that fabric of that kind can last for 40 only years max. Scientific investigations
have found that no trace of paint can be found on the cloth. What’s more, they
discovered that the tilma maintains the body of a human body. Gynecologists
determined that the proportion of Our Lady was that of a pregnant woman.
When they put a stethoscope on her tummy, they heard the heartbeat of a baby
in its mother’s womb!
Since then, I’ve been praying to Our Lady of Guadalupe. I’ve also started to
pray the rosary more often, asking Mama Mary to intercede for my healing. She,
being a woman and a mother, would understand what getting breast cancer
means.
And since then, Our Lady of Guadalupe has been making her presence felt
in my life.
One day, I shot some episodes for Kape’t Pandasal, a two-minute Jesuit
Communication production that airs on ABS-CBN at the start of weekdays.
(I’m on every Friday.) Cardinal Chito Tagle is also on the program and I shared
with him my recent health concern. After he prayed over me, he told me that
someone had sent him tilmas from Mexico which had been consecrated to the
original one. He promised to send me one.
I was misty eyed as I thanked him. One of the episodes I shot earlier that
day was about how I first encountered the
tilma.
Today, I bring the tilma along with
me when I go for therapy. I lay it on me
and believe that Our Lady of Guadalupe
accompanies me with her prayers as I lay in
the clinic receiving my megadose infusion
of vitamins and other antioxidants.
I also share this amazing story with
others that they may share in the awe and
wonder that our Catholic faith brings.
Our Lady of Guadalupe, pray for us.
You also must help us by prayer, so that
many will give thanks on our behalf for
the blessing granted us through the
prayers of many. (2 Corinthians 1:11)
Email me at [email protected],
subscribe to my Facebook updates, or visit my
website rissasingsonkawpeng.com.
What to Expect This Month:
It’s Kerygma Conference month! Haven’t
registered yet? Don’t miss the chance to
experience God’s amazing presence at
the biggest Catholic learning event of
the year. It’s happening on November 2023 with the theme “Lifted High.”
Choose from over 50 classes and
be ready to be lifted high with powerful
talks from our very own Bo Sanchez and
international speaker on chastity, Jason
Evert, as well as other notable speakers.
So get your tickets now! Visit www.
kerygmaconference.com or call 7259999.
3
What’s
01 The Boss
DO HEAVEN AND HELL START NOW?
Inside
THE BO
FILES
November 2014
40Point of Contact
19IF YOU HAD ONLY 30 DAYS LEFT,
HOW WILL YOU LIVE?
20 LIVE LIKE YOU’RE DYING
26HOW WILL YOU GIVE?
SPECIAL
SECTION
DEPARTMENTS
2Mailroom
5New You
6 Wounded Family
HEALING OUR FAMILY
ONE HOSPITAL AT A TIME
8Kfam Insider
TOUGH BASKETBALL SUPERSTAR
NOW A TENDER LOVING FOSTER
FATHER
9Feast Snapshots
FAME: Welcoming New Attendees
in Feast Alabang
15 It Happened:
THE ROAD TO RESURRECTION
39One Last Story:
IT’S A MIRACLE!
COLUMNS
TESTIMONIES
24 YOLANDA: A Life-changing
experience
30 A FINAL BOW OF BENEVOLENCE
3 Just Breathe
The Miracle of Guadalupe
33 Seasons
My Dreams The Next 10 Years
35Catholic Soul
Seven Times Seventy Times
37 K Preacher
Worry-free Life Equals Heaven
ABOUT OUR COVER MODEL
Jacqueline Diaz, usually called Jacky, began her faith journey
when she was 12 years old, as she read the books of some
famous authors, especially Bo Sanchez. She would laugh, cry,
smile and get totally inspired by the wonderful teachings and
stories of and about God, as delivered by Bo. Originally from Albay in Bicol, she came to Manila for
college. She would go to The Feast PICC and attend the annual
Kerygma Conference, all by herself. Remembering those times
— the long four-ride trips from Diliman to PICC, the two-day allalone-but-amazing KCON experience, the she-invited-herself-toserve memories at Campus Feast — she says it has been crazy
following God. “But how can I not follow Him? All my life, He’s
dead crazy following me,” she asks.
She believes that the fantastic people around her,
her awards and accomplishments, and all the beautiful
stories in her life are because of His grace and all for His
glory. She dreams and strives to be bread broken for His
kingdom, just like Jesus did.
Jacky’s friends say she has an outgoing bubbly
personality, but she does enjoy silent hours of
reflection and reading. Apart from God and her
family and friends, she loves coffee, movies, praise
music, acoustic songs, road trips, long chats, math
and hosting. She is a senior student at the University
of the Philippines-Diliman, taking up B.S. Business
Administration and Accountancy. She currently
heads the student arm of the UP Campus Feast.
founder and publisher BO SANCHEZ • editor-in-chief RISSA SINGSON KAWPENG • managing editor TESS V. ATIENZA • creative director MIKE CORTES • graphics director REY DE GUZMAN • assistant
layout artist LEAH KIM RECTO • staff writers MARJORIE DUTERTE, KARREN RENZ SEñA, DINA PECAña • contributing writers ELEANORE TEO, JOY SOSOBAN-ROA, REYLINDO ORTEGA, KIRAE
GENECIRAN, OSY ERICA, LELLA SANTIAGO • photographer DANIEL A. SORIANO • columnists OBET CABRILLAS, EDGARDO DE VERA, ALLAN AND MARIBEL DIONISIO
chairman of the board and CEO BO SANCHEZ • president HERMIE R. MORELOS • vice-president for finance and administration WENG CEQUEÑA • assistant vice-president for production RISSA SINGSON
KAWPENG • production manager TESS V. ATIENZA • sales and marketing manager JOSEPH MARTINEZ
Kerygma. A Greek word meaning “Proclamation of the Gospel.” It is a Catholic inspirational magazine. It aims to be an evangelistic tool to all nations, providing Scriptural,
practical and orthodox teachings to Catholics, particularly those in the Catholic Renewal, as an alternative to present-day magazines. It is also committed to fostering
the renewal and unity of the whole Christian people. Philippine copyright Shepherd’s Voice Publications, Inc. 2014. No part of this magazine may be reproduced without
permission. Kerygma is published monthly by Shepherd’s Voice Publications, Inc., whose editorial and business offices are located at 60 Chicago St., Cubao, 1109 Quezon
City. Tel. Nos.: (632) 725-9999, 411-7874, 725-1190. Fax: 727-5615. Email: [email protected]. Website: www.kerygmabooks.com
4
How to help CHILDREN
prepare for Christmas
T
his year, the first day of Advent will fall on November 30. It’s a
time to prepare for the coming birthday of Jesus — the best
time to teach our children the significance of Christmas and
help them celebrate it more meaningfully.
“Children love to anticipate,” wrote Helen McLoughlin in her
book Advent and Christmas in a Catholic Home. The following
practices will help your children prepare spiritually for Christmas:
• Have an Advent wreath at home: Made of evergreens bound
to a circle of wire, the Advent wreath holds four candles. Three
purple ones are lit on each Sunday of Advent and a pink one for
Gaudete, the joyful third Sunday of Advent. It symbolizes the
many years from Adam to Christ in which the world awaited
its Savior. It can help the children prepare for Christmas, one
candle at a time. Look for prayers and hymns in the Internet
that can accompany your family’s Advent wreath ceremony.
• The nativity scene and the Christmas manger: Make
one manger for the whole family. The children can cut out
cardboards and make the nativity scene, shepherds and sheep
out of recycled materials. Give your children a piece of straw
that they can put in the manger whenever they do an act of
kindness, as a birthday present. Baby Jesus is placed in the
manger on Christmas morning. Encourage the children to
make Jesus’ bed as “comfortable” as possible through their
good deeds.
• The Christ candle: Buy a large white candle that can be used
for the Christ candle. Use old Christmas cards, sequins and
recyclables to decorate the candle with symbols of Christ. The
candle can be lit on Christmas Eve to show that the Light of
the World has arrived.
The family that goes to Mass together and participates
in activities during Advent and Christmas seasons will grow
closer to Christ, “The Reason for the Season,” and give a great
witness to relatives and friends.
Source: http://www.catholiceducation.org
New
You
Tips for
personal
development
Five Simple
Tips for a
Healthy
Holiday
T
he busy Christmas season is fast approaching. How
do you keep your health in tip-top shape amidst
the holiday stress? Try these simple tips.
1. Don’t forget to exercise. When you’re tired, the last
thing you might want to do is to move. But do make
time for exercise. Even a brisk walk can be more
effective than a nap or a cup of coffee in fighting
fatigue.
2. Partake of the fish. Don’t snub the fish at parties.
Salmon, sardines and mackerel contain omega-3
fatty acids that are good for you. People who
consume higher amounts of these fats are less likely
to have dry eyes.
3. Eat garlic. Don’t put garlic or onions aside on your
plate when you eat your pasta. They will help
keep you healthy. Both foods possess antiviral and
antibacterial properties that are believed to boost
immunity to prevent sickness.
4. Eat Japanese food. You can help prevent cavities by
adding more shiitake mushrooms and wasabi to
your diet. Both foods contain compounds that help
fight the bacteria that cause plaque and cavities.
5. Drink water. Sans the heavy traffic and long lines,
dehydration can trigger headaches. Drink a full glass
of water or bring a water bottle with you to prevent
migraines. If the headache is bad, try wrapping your
head with an Ace bandage so that it covers your
eyes, then lie down and breathe deeply. This often
helps the pain pass more quickly.
Source: http://www.wholeliving.com
Quick Health Tip
Pumpkin
P
umpkin, also known as kalabasa in Filipino, is an abundant source of vital antioxidants
and vitamins A, C and E. Natural foods rich in vitamin A protect us against lung
and oral cavity cancers. Pumpkin is very low in calories and contains no saturated
fats or cholesterol. It is one of the food items recommended by dietitians in controlling
cholesterol and reducing weight. It is a good source of B-complex group of vitamins like
folates, niacin, vitamin B-6 (pyridoxine), thiamin and pantothenic acid. It is rich in minerals
like copper, calcium, potassium and phosphorus.
Source: http://www.nutrition-and-you.com
5
Despite the struggles she was going through before, Beng just kept on serving
God through The Feast.
HEALING OUR FAMILY
ONE HOSPITAL AT A TIME
By Beng Umbalin as told to Joy Sosoban-Roa
L
oving others? I have a lot of good friends, so I never
thought I had a problem with that. But I realized
that loving others is not all about that, and it’s not
all about them.
When I was in high school, my parents
separated. Since then, life was never the same. It
was not a secret to us that my parents had a problem in their
marriage because I would often see my mom crying after an
argument with my dad. They never explained these things to
us, so we made our own interpretation of the events — that
my father was the kontrabida (villain) while my mother was
kawawa (pitiable).
One night, my mother decided to just leave us — without
even saying goodbye. She just did not come home to us.
Days passed and we wondered what happened to her. As the
eldest of three (my brothers were then 14 and 9 years old), the
hardest part for me was how to explain her disappearance to
my siblings.
After two weeks, she came back, explaining why she had
to leave. She said that things were not working anymore and
she was tired of dealing with my father. The saddest part of
it was she had to leave all of us to my father because, at that
time, he was more financially stable and we were all studying.
That was the first painful goodbye I experienced. Reality bit
hard — we had to deal with life without her.
We lost contact with my mom. For some reason, she
6
did not contact us again — no calls, no communication
at all. It was very painful — first Christmas without her,
first birthday without her. It was very difficult for us to
celebrate special occasions without her. And that made
me hate my father even more.
Pain and Christmas
I still remember our first Christmas without her. We just
had dinner on Christmas eve, but there were no gifts, no
special food on the table, and no storytelling. I could not
get emotional at that time because I felt the sadness of
my brothers, too. I had to be strong for them. Christmas
is also my birth month. So until now, I would feel that
deep sadness every time December comes. And I would
be envious of family pictures taken during Christmas.
Perhaps for some it’s just a tradition. For me, it was a
dream.
Growing up, we were all distant from my father
because he reminded us of great pain. I spent most of my
time with my friends. Thank God that most of my friends
were a good influence to me and they introduced me first
to Singles for Christ, then to the Light of Jesus Family.
It was different for my youngest brother. He was
greatly affected by the separation and he rebelled. He did
not finish college and got hooked on different vices. He
did a lot of bad things.
Getting Reconnected
One day, I received a call from my mom. After five long
years, I finally heard from her! I was so excited to meet her
and to tell her I’d finished college and that I was working
already. I wanted to tell her about our achievements.
But before I could tell her all of that, she told me why
she stopped communicating with us — and that it was
because she already has a family of her own. It never
crossed my mind — and that broke my heart. Now, not
only did I hate my father; I also hated my mom more for
what she did.
It was too much for me and I would cry out to God.
“Lord, this is too much to handle — separated parents, a
brother ruining his life. It’s too much.”
I’d pray for healing, both for the relationship of my
parents and forgiveness for my brother.
“My Superhero”
When my father retired from work, that’s when he
became a “mom” to us. He cooked for us and took care of
everything that we needed, even if he was also getting
old. That’s the time I appreciated everything he did for us
— sending us to school, providing for our needs. I said to
myself, “Enough of hatred. I want to forgive him. I want
to spend more time with him. I want to give back to him
a little. To make him experience that he is my superhero.”
God sometimes answers our prayers in ways that are
difficult to understand.
In September 2011, I noticed that my father’s feet were
swelling. I brought him to the hospital for a checkup. But
things happened so fast. That same day, he got admitted,
had a series of blood tests, and had blood transfusions. He
was diagnosed with kidney failure. So I took care of him in
the hospital. I had to handle all the decision-making, all
the bills. Everything.
God used that incident to heal my relationship with
him. A lot of “firsts” happened in the hospital. It was the
first time that I was with him for a whole day. Not only that.
Because his body got so weak, I had to feed him, change
his clothes, bring him to the comfort room. Seeing him
getting weaker by the day really broke my heart. “Lord,
please don’t get him yet. Please give me a chance to make
him feel that I love him a lot.”
One night, while he was sleeping, I kissed his
forehead. Then I gathered all the courage to whisper
words that I had never said for the longest time: “I love
you, Tatay! Thank you for everything! Mahal na mahal po
kita!” (I love you very much!)
I believe in the healing power of words and touch.
After two days, he got better, was able to eat, and slowly
was able to walk again. I would sleep in the hospital
beside him. One night, I woke up and saw him seated at
the visitor’s chair. I asked him, “Tay, why are you there?”
And he said, “Binabantayan kita!” (I’m looking after you.) It
was then that I realized that he loves us so much through
the little things that he has been doing for us. I realized
that perhaps he, too, suffered with us during the breakup
but he to had to be strong for us.
Christmas is now a happy time for Beng and family.
First family picture with mother after 20 years, minus one brother
who was at that time in the hospital.
Time Heals
We stayed in the hospital for almost two months. All that time,
I was on leave from work. A friend asked me, “Why not ask your
mom to help you out, even if just to watch over your father at
the hospital? She’s probably willing to help.” Since they had not
spoken after the breakup, I didn’t know how my father would
react. But when I asked him, he just said yes. So that I could rest
a bit, he said. Now, my mom can visit us any time in the house.
She’s the one who brings my father to the dialysis center. Time
really heals all wounds.
But God was not done with us yet. Remember my younger
brother? You might have wondered where he was all the time
my father was at the hospital. Instead of being there for us, he
did the unthinkable. He went on with his vices. But from the
time my mom left us, I was there for him. I’ve always believed in
him and felt a deep sadness for him for I know what a respectful
and loving person he truly is.
Last June 25, I received a call from the hospital. And my
other brother also texted me — my brother got shot! At the
hospital, when I arrived, he said, “Sorry.”
I was speechless, but I told him to be strong and that
everything would be all right. I had to tell my mom and dad
what happened. At that time, I did not think of what my brother
had done to me. I did everything I could to save him, financially
and otherwise — especially to be there by his side during his
surgery. Praise God, the operation turned out well.
Once again, God used a hospital episode to heal our
relationships — this time with my mom. And if God wants
to use the hospital to heal us physically and emotionally as a
family, what greater gift of healing is there than that?
7
K Fam
Insider
True to what the tatoo on his
arm says, Jimmy is “his brother’s
keeper.”
TOUGH BASKETBALL
SUPERSTAR NOW A TENDER
LOVING FOSTER FATHER
By Rey Ortega
Photo by Dave Apalla
I
t took me a while to decide whether
we will adopt a child or not. But once
we made a final decision, we went
all-out for it. Why? Because I believe
every child deserves to become part
of a family — every child needs and
deserves parental care and love.”
So said Jimmy Alapag, now the foster
father of baby Joseph (not the baby’s real
name).
For those who know nothing
about sports and are woefully ignorant
of show business, Jimmy Alapag is a
basketball superstar who recently led
the Gilas Pilipinas team in its first FIBA
(International Basketball Federation) win
after a 40-year drought.
LJ (Lari Jeanne Ricafort–Alapag in
real life), on the other hand, is a movie and
television actress, a former commercial
model, and a successful entrepreneur on
the side, managing her very own unique
fancy cakes business when not facing the
cameras. She now prefers to be called as
Jimmy’s wife and mother of Joseph.
Childless for quite some time, the
8
couple prayed hard for discernment.
Both Jimmy and LJ are actively living
out their faith, seriously committed to
Bible-based spirituality. So when their
inquiries led them to the Department
of Social Welfare and Development
(DSWD) and then to Grace to Be Born
(one of Bo Sanchez’s mercy ministries),
they immediately fell in love with the
babies in the shelter’s nursery.
A series of meetings with Ester
Palacio, senior social worker and center
directress of Grace shelter, made them
realize how easy it is to become foster
parents. The couple then applied for a
foster parents’ license at DSWD after
attending a seminar that lasted only
for a few hours.
Complying with the requirements
for foster parents was a breeze for
the couple. They simply submitted
health certificates, police and NBI
clearances, proof of stable source of
income, photos and marriage contract.
(NOTE: Even unmarried individuals
are now allowed to become either
foster parents or adoptive parents. Even
ordinary persons, not just the rich ones,
can easily adopt a child. They don’t have
to pay any fee to Grace shelter or to
DSWD. So simple!)
Jimmy and LJ first went to Grace
shelter in January 2014, applied for a
license in February, and they brought
home Joseph in early May.
So what are their plans for baby
Joseph? Train him to become a star
basketball player when he grows up? Or
carve his own niche in the glitzy world of
show business perhaps?
The couple simply smiled. “All we
want for him is to become healthy and
strong and develop a healthy respect for
other people. We will not pressure him
to take up a career he does not want.
Whatever he desires, we will be there for
him,” said Jimmy.
“We want him to grow up with solid
values and lead a God-centered life,
that’s all,” added LJ. “Jimmy and I are busy
persons but we make sure we find quality
time for Joseph.”
When asked if they have any message
for other couples who are considering
adopting a child, Jimmy said, “We would
like to encourage families out there to
adopt a child. In this country, there are
so many children in orphanages and
shelters waiting for adoptive parents. So
many kids need love.”
As it turned out, Joseph had brought
joy to the Alapag couple in more ways
than one. Not long after Jimmy and LJ
made Joseph a member of their family,
God blessed LJ with a surprise gift: she
became pregnant! The adoptive parents
will soon have their very own child! But
that’s another story.
Married and unmarried persons hopefully
would seriously consider becoming either
adoptive parents or foster parents. A foster
parent may take care of a child for six
months, one year, or even more than two
years, then return the baby to the shelter.
An adoptive parent, on the other hand,
will take care of a child permanently and
may even legally change the surname of
the child and give him or her the adoptive
parents’ surname.
For further inquiries, please visit Grace
to Be Born shelter at 53 Dr. Sixto Antonio
Ave., Kapasigan, Pasig. Look for Center
Directress Ms. Ester Palacio. Or you may call
654-1377 or 0932-888-0780 to make initial
inquiries.
FAME:
A
s one of the pioneer
Feasts, Feast Alabang has
truly been unstoppable
in discipling more and
more people closer to
God for the past five
years. With this, Feast Alabang Senior
Builder Arun Gogna had this big idea
to connect with the new attendees
in a more personal way by holding a
special gathering every three weeks
called Feast Alabang Meet and
Engage (FAME).
FAME aims not just to welcome,
but more importantly, to honor and
love all new members of The Feast
Alabang family. By coming to FAME,
new attendees are encouraged to
belong to Connect Groups at the
Feast. FAME is also an opportunity
to honor The Feast Ambassadors or
those who invite people to attend The
Feast.
One Year of FAME
The gathering that afternoon of
August 9, 2014 was extra-special
as FAME celebrated its first year
anniversary. Despite the heavy traffic,
almost 100 new attendees flocked
together to be blessed and welcomed
to their new community in Feast
Alabang.
Upon their arrival at The Feast
Alabang Center, the new attendees
were seated according to their life
groups (Youth, Singles, Couples, and
Solo Parents) and each table was
handled by a CG (Connect Group)
head. Snacks were served as the life
groups got to know each other.
Arun Gogna graced the event
Welcoming New Attendees
in Feast Alabang
By Kirae Geneciran
Photos by Ann Austria
Feast
Snapshots
and shared more about the Light
of Jesus Family and The Feast. In his
welcome remarks, he also mentioned
the other builders under Feast Alabang
and the schedules of their respective
Feasts. The attendees laughed with
him and were truly inspired to involve
themselves more through service and
most especially, the connect groups.
Arun ended his short talk by rewarding
The Feast Ambassadors with FAME pins
to remind them to continue planting
seeds of love in others by bringing
them to The Feast.
After Arun’s talk came the first
Connect Group experience of the new
attendees. The groups were led by CG
heads and were asked to share their
current blessings in life and their prayer
intentions. It was evident in the smiles
of the attendees that they were truly
filled with love and a lot of them also
signed up for regular connect groups.
It was a memorable “meet and
engage” afternoon not just for the
dedicated servants of FAME, but also
for the people who desire more of God
in their lives.
More Fruitful Years of FAME
For a year now, Feast Alabang Meet
and Engage has been loving the new
attendees in the best way possible. Just
like all The Feasts, Feast Alabang family
is living up to the ultimate mission of
our service — discipleship. This truly is
an inspiration to continuously rejoice
in and share the greatest FAME of all —
and that is Jesus’.
9
Dear
K
MY UNCLE IS IN LOVE
WITH ME
Before 2011, I had not met my uncle. We barely saw each other
when I was a kid and so I did not remember him at all. I only
got acquainted with him when my father died. I found comfort
in him. His presence helped fill the vacuum left by my dad. He
became so attached to my family since 2012 and we saw each
other almost every week.
Our times together were filled with laughter and happiness.
We exchanged text messages often. He became my confidante,
though I never saw him alone. I was always with my family.
Until one time, there was an event in our house and he was
among our guests. There was drinking and singing. When it was
almost midnight, my uncle went inside our house and asked me
to read something on his mobile phone, saying that he could
not read it as he had taken too much alcohol. He tapped me
on my shoulder and then his hand slowly caressed my back. He
even hugged me and kissed my head. Shocked by what he did, I
left him and went out.
I never told anyone about this. I’m afraid to make an issue
of it and destroy the relationship that he has built with my
family.
Via text, I confronted him about what he did and he told me
that because of our closeness, he has developed some feelings
for me. He admitted that he loves me more than a niece. I told
him it’s wrong and now he’s asking me out so we could talk.
He said he had a lot to explain; he wanted to apologize and
reconcile with me.
Honestly, I’m afraid of him now, but I feel I need to hear his
explanation. I lost my trust in him but a part of me still wants to
love him as my uncle. My conscience bothers me. I might have
unconsciously done something that led him to feel that way.
I’m bothered. Should I see him and listen to his explanation?
Should I forgive him? Should I tell about this to my mother and
sister? What should I do?
Monna
10 KERYGMA • NOVEMBER 2014
Dear Monna,
I understand how you feel and you have all the right to
feel bothered. His recent actuations show that he doesn’t
look at you as a niece. Being drunk doesn’t also justify how
he treated you that night. He disrespected you and, in a way,
your family as well, considering how you allowed him to be
part of your family.
I strongly suggest that you tell your mother and sister
about his advances. If he wants to apologize and explain to
you, then he must go to your house and not just meet you
elsewhere. If he is sincere, then he must do it in the presence
of your mother and sister. This is also for you own safety. You
don’t know what he might resort to if you are alone with him.
You also need to stop confiding in him as it might be
sending him a wrong signal since, as you said, you might
have unconsciously done something that led him to feel
that way.
If he asks for forgiveness and he is sincere in doing so,
then you have to forgive him. However, you have to make
it clear that you will not welcome any advances from him
anymore.
Reng
Reng Morelos gave up her corporate
job years ago to become a full-time wife
and mom. She supports her husband,
Hermie, in his ministry as one of the
leaders of the Light of Jesus Family and
now as president of Shepherd’s Voice
Publications and Shepherd’s Voice Radio
and Television Foundation. She has been
with LOJ since 1981 and once handled
the single sisters of the community.
BIBLE STUDY WITH
BORN AGAIN CHRISTIANS
I’ve been attending Bible study sessions with
Born Again Christians. A friend invited me and
it was hard to refuse. I know that she had good
intentions for inviting me but, over the months
that I’ve been attending, I noticed that they have
some teachings that are opposed to what I know
as a Catholic.
Now, I’m being asked to form a cell group
and they’re telling me I can be its leader. I am in
a dilemma. I don’t want to commit myself to it
because I am getting more confused now.
I don’t know how to tell my friend that I am
having second thoughts about attending their
sessions. I want to ask you, is it bad for a Catholic
to attend non-Catholic Bible studies?
Chris
Email your questions to [email protected]. Or if you need to talk
to someone, call (632) 726-4709 or 726-6728 to contact a Light of Jesus Pastoral
Care Center counselor. Pastoral counseling by telephone is 24 hours from Monday
to Friday, and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays. Face-to-face pastoral counseling is by
appointment. For correspondence pastoral counseling, email lojcounseling@yahoo.
com or go to www.kerygmafamily.com.
Or Call
(632) 725-9999
Pregnant? Confused? Abortion is not the answer. Contact Grace to Be Born at
0917-816-4700 or email [email protected]. You may also contact Pro-life
Philippines at (632) 733-7027.
Dear Chris,
First of all, let me congratulate you for attending Bible study sessions and
being eager to learn more about the Word of God.
In the spirit of ecumenism, it is good to join non-Catholics. But, as you
realize now, the group you have joined is using the Bible for their own beliefs,
which may contradict Catholic teachings. Unfortunately, such groups are
usually not open to accept an objective approach to the Bible. I heard once
on TV how Fr. Tapiador tried to point out the real meaning of a passage to a
Born Again preacher by going back to the original text. The only answer he
got was, “Then there is something wrong with the original text.”
Now that you are asked to form a cell group, you would be forced to
share non-Catholic teachings and so betray your faith. After praying to the
Holy Spirit for the right words, tell your friend in a very kind and charitable
way that your conscience does not allow you anymore to join in their
activities. Hopefully you find a Catholic Bible study group where you will be
able to learn the real meaning of the Word of God. You may attend The Feast
and ask to be connected to a Bible study group.
Fr. Rudy
When Fr. Rudy Horst came to the Philippines in 1984, he was first
assigned to the Immaculate Conception Parish in Cubao. It was where
he came in contact with the still young Light of Jesus Family. In 1990,
he moved to Christ the King Mission Seminary, where he now serves
as head spiritual director of the seminarians and teaches Religious
Education. He also teaches Holy Scriptures at the Maryhill School of
Theology and the Divine Word School of Theology in Tagaytay.
NOVEMBER 2014 • KERYGMA 11
Jason and wife Crystalina go around the world preaching
and sharing about the beauty of chastity.
NOVEMBER 20 - 23
PICC | SMX | MOA ARENA
Jason Evert: His Five Loves
T
hree years ago, international speaker and bestselling
author Jason Evert visited the Philippines to speak on the
virtue of chastity to an audience of 8,000 people at the SMX
Convention Center.
This coming November 23, he will be sharing this very
important message to 22,000 people set to attend the Kerygma
Conference at the SM MOA Arena.
Many high school and college students are also looking
forward to attend his talk at the Youth Conference at the Philippine
International Convention Center on November 22.
But before speaking to such huge crowds, the seeds of Jason’s
mission to speak on this topic find their roots through giving crisis
pregnancy counseling, when he had to counsel many women, 30
minutes away from having an abortion.
At that time, Jason felt that he was always late. He felt that if they
had learned about chastity early on, they wouldn’t find themselves
in that predicament.
The urgent need to save unborn children and the need to teach
chastity among the youth who come up to him during his talks and
retreats, fueled the fire in his heart to spread the message of chastity
to as many souls as possible.
Today, Jason has spoken to more than a million young people
all over the United States and has written books such as Pure Love,
Theology of the Body for Teens, and How to Find Your Soul Mate without
Losing Your Soul to help support and guide them.
Early this March, Jason published his latest book in honor of
one of his favorite saints, St. John Paul the Great: His Five Loves. He
talks about the things closest to the beloved Pope’s heart — young
people, human love, the Eucharist, the Blessed Virgin Mary, and the
Cross.
They say we become that whom we admire. It doesn’t come as
a surprise that Jason’s loves are synonymous to one of his greatest
inspirations.
Young People
“Many young people are struggling with chastity. They want love but
By Marj Duterte
don’t know where to find it,” Jason shares.
Along with his kids whom he loves with all his soul,
Jason has a heart for the young ones whom he has
spiritually adopted as his own.
He recalls a youngster drawing a portrait of him with
fire coming out of his head. He explained that the fire
coming out of Jason’s ears meant that he heard them, and
that he understood what they were going through.
“I think what makes me an effective speaker is that I
listen well to them, I love them, and they know that.”
Using speaking and writing as a means to help the
youth, Jason has been going around campuses, speaking
about the virtue of purity. He knows that the root cause of
unwanted pregnancies is unchastity.
One thing that matters most to him is meeting the
young people who have heard his talk 10 years ago and
seeing them pull out of their wallet the commitment card
that they signed when they were in their teens.
“It doesn’t matter if I give a good talk. What matters is
that they live out the message,” he says.
There is a woman who heard his talk when she was 13
years old and who, years later, surprised her husband with
her chastity commitment card on the morning of their
wedding.
“It’s beautiful to see the ministry bear fruit like that,”
Jason says.
Human Love
Jason met his beautiful wife Crystalina in the Bahamas at
a chastity conference. After that event, they stayed friends
for a long time. Living in different states, Crystalina came
out to visit him in California just as he was scheduled to
give a chastity talk. He invited her to speak with him.
“She went onstage and gave a little 10-minute talk and
the teenagers loved it. They were coming up to her, crying
and hugging her, and breaking up with their boyfriends.
And I thought, we’d be a good team,” he recalls.
Jason proposed marriage to her in 2002 during a high school
assembly in front of 800 kids.
“I figured she couldn’t say no in front of that many people!”
They got married in 2003.
“One of the best things about being married to Crystalina is
that we share the joy of our faith and the joy of having children.”
Jason considers his five kids, ages 10, 8, 7, 4, 2 (and a baby on the
way), as his five loves.
The Everts go to morning Mass together every day. “We try to
pray the rosary together as a family, or at least a decade if things
are a little crazy.”
Jason and Crystalina go to Mass or adoration together. “That’s
been the core of our marriage — to have God at the center.”
who hardly know you. But the real challenge is to be a saint to
the people you live with. That’s what I want to try to succeed
at — being a great dad and a great husband.”
“If I’m not a good dad and a good husband, then in the
end, I don’t care how many books I sold or how many people
came to my talks. The ministry may be helpful to the Church
and it is important to me. But that’s not what I live for.”
“Marriage is hard work. It’s a very difficult vocation, but
the fact that we always have our faith in common, no matter
how hard the day has been, we have that to share with each
other.”
One of his college professors used to tell the students:
“Marriage is humanly impossible, that’s why God made it a
sacrament.”
The Eucharist
Given the demands on his time, Jason wakes up early every
morning as his kids and wife are still sleeping, to have some
prayer time.
“Every day I begin my day by consecrating it to our Lady and
doing the Liturgy of the Hours.”
He also has a spiritual director as an accountability partner. “I
go to confession once in about two or three weeks. Devotion to
our Lady, the Eucharist, and confession — those are the pillars of
my spirituality,” he shares.
Visit to the Philippines
One of the things he looks forward to in his return to the
Philippines are its people.
Jason said, “It is very beautiful to see how the Filipinos
practice their faith. They have a lot to teach the world in terms
of their spirituality.”
“I remember going to one church where they had eight
daily Masses, and it was just a Tuesday,” he recalls.
He also hopes to drop by the Doña Josefa apartment near
the Papal Nuncio’s residence. This was the place where some
people plotted to assassinate Pope John Paul II when he was
scheduled to come to Manila for the World Youth Day. But the
apartment caught fire while they were trying to make a bomb.
“It caught fire and the whole plot was ruined. They were
eventually arrested and Pope John Paul showed up a few days
later and celebrated the World Youth Day.”
The Blessed Virgin Mary
If he were to have a coffee date with any of the saints, Jason says
the first one he would choose would be the Virgin Mary. “Even
though I don’t drink coffee, I’d have one to spend time with her!”
“I would like to know how St. Joseph loved her and how to be
a good husband because she had the best one.”
Aside from the rosary, his favorite prayer is the “Memorare.”
“I pray that nine times before every presentation I give. It’s a
novena that Mother Teresa used to do. Before every speech I give,
I pray that nine times in thanksgiving for the fruit that God will
bring from that talk,” Jason shares.
When Jason was a teenager, he was confirmed under the
name of St. Joseph, his patron saint. Growing up, he practiced a
devotion to him on the virtue of chastity.
“There’s a book called The Promise of St. Joseph. It’s a little
prayer book that said that if you promise to stay pure for marriage,
St. Joseph will help you to find your vocation and your wife if God
is calling you to marriage.”
When he proposed to his wife and picked the day that he was
going to propose to her, he didn’t know until he came to the place
that it would be at St. Joseph’s high school. “It always gives me
peace that he has his hand on our courtship.”
“In the Divine Praises, of all of St. Joseph’s attributes, such as
his patience, his humility, and his strength, what he is remembered
and honored for is being the Most Chaste Spouse of the Virgin
Mary.”
“It’s important to meditate on that — how being chaste and
pure is being truly masculine. It’s being truly what God is calling
you to be as a man.”
The Cross
Jason believes that God is calling us to the vocation of sainthood.
“It’s easy to be a saint outside of your vocations, to the people
Catch Jason Evert Speak at the Kerygma Conference!
Instead of learning what you’re not supposed to do: don’t
have sex; don’t have an abortion; don’t use contraception
— learn from Jason what you are supposed to do, the things
that really matter to you: How do you find love? How do you
know if he’s the right person for you? How do you know what
vocation you’re called to?
Jason says, “The singles and married people will learn how
it is to be happily married. I’m going to talk about the beauty
of the Catholic Faith and Pope John Paul II. I look forward to
seeing you all!”
Jason Evert’s Talk Schedule AT THE KERYGMA CONFERENCE:
November 22 (Saturday)
9 am, Plenary Talk
SMX Convention Center
2:45 pm – 3:45 pm
Destination: Chastity
Parenting for Purity
4:15 pm – 5:15 pm
Reservation for Two
How to Save Your Marriage Before
Meeting Your Spouse
Youth Conference
8 am to 6 pm
Launch: Get High on Purity
Philippine International
Convention Center
November 23 (Sunday)
2 pm, Plenary Session
SM MOA Arena
Hi,
I’m Sarah!
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It
With God by her side, Anna Katrina is fully alive.
Happened
D
ear family, I am so sorry, but it
has to be done. I feel trapped,
hopeless, and helpless...”
The ink flowed from my
pen onto the white parchment
to reveal the feelings I had
bottled up inside me. For the longest time, I had
felt trapped. And I thought that freedom can
only be sought when my soul finally leaves this
mortal body. Even as I walk this earth, breathing
its air, I never felt I had truly lived anyway. Death
would not make much of a difference.
As I folded the last evidence of my existence,
I thought of the best way to die. Maybe I’d slash
my wrist. Or maybe an overdosage would
suffice. However way I shall face death, it had
to happen. Nothing was going to hold me back.
Or so I thought.
THE ROAD TO
RESURRECTION
How I survived the many deaths in my life
Death of Identity
I can’t remember how young I was when I
learned the truth. My initial reaction was, “Why
me?” The answer to that question never came,
but the truth remained the same: the parents I
came to know were, in fact, my uncle and his
wife. At seven months, I had been put up for
adoption by my biological parents who were
residing in the province.
The pain of knowing the truth was somehow
alleviated by the love my adoptive mom had
showered on me. She was a wonderful woman.
My adoptive dad, on the other hand, was a man
of few words, but I believed he loved me just as
much. Those were blissful seven years of my life
until things changed. That’s when my journey
to a slow death began.
Death of Heart
Mom and Dad grew cold and distant with each
other. Gone were shared family meals, my
parents stopped sharing a room, and weekends
were spent separately with Mom and Dad.
Finally, I was about eight years old when mom,
my sister and I moved out.
Unfortunately, that was also the time the
bullying in school intensified. Ridicule and
teasing welcomed me in class every day. My
arms would get sore with pinches from my
classmates, and my lunchbox and pencils often
got stolen. One time, I was even locked in the
classroom during recess time. The bullying and
By Anna Katrina Lopez as told to Osy Erica
Ankat with mom Bernadette, stepdad Frank, and sister Michelle.
the crisis in my family brought me down so much. Eventually, I
had become withdrawn.
Through all of these, Mom played the role of a single parent
so well. Though she was busy with work, providing for me and
my sister, she always made up for lost time with vacations, movie
dates and shopping on weekends. But then she remarried when
I was 12 years old, so we had to move to The Netherlands, where
my stepfather hailed from.
A lot of adjustments took place. I was in a new country with
a Jewish stepfamily. I entered an international school, where kids
smoked weed and thought differently than I did. The bullying
rose to a higher level, too.
At that point, I knew I was slowly dying inside; only the
breaking point remained alien to me.
Death of Body
I was in ninth grade when depression took over. From being an
achiever, my grades went down drastically. I became even more
withdrawn, hostile and negative. That’s when I began tinkering
with the thought of taking away my life. Had my friend not found
my suicide note and showed it to my mom and stepdad, I would
have been long gone. It was a postponed meet-up with death.
In an effort to save me, my mom had me attend therapy
sessions. Later on, it was decided that I go back to the Philippines
to stay with my dad and my half-brother. But Dad was hardly
home. His work took him on months-long assignments abroad. I
was left on my own, taking care of my young half-brother. Dealing
with my own personal issues and taking care of a household took
its toll on me. I began drinking and smoking to relieve stress. I
was only 16 then.
After graduating from high school, I moved to the US
to be with my mom and stepdad. It was in college that I was
diagnosed with non-verbal learning disability (NLD). Less known
than language-based learning disabilities such as dyslexia, NLD
causes problems in coordination, visual-spatial organization,
adapting to new and complex situations, and social perception,
judgment and interaction. I, for one, experience difficulty in
outwardly expressing how I feel and, at the same time, in reading
gestures and facial expressions. I also get easily disoriented in
time and direction.
Surprised at the diagnosis, I began to question God. Why did
I have to suffer such? Weren’t my past problems enough?
Death of Soul
The slow death I had been going through had gone beyond the
physiological; it had seeped through the bones and into my soul.
I had a myriad of questions for God, and the answers I searched
for outside the Catholic Church I grew up in. I became a Born
Again Christian and was active in ministry. I was seeking God.
But at the same time, my relationship with my family began to
crumble. Tension grew between me and my mom.
In 2010, I moved back to the Philippines and lived with my
dad again. Just when I thought I had escaped my problematic
family relationship, I was proven wrong. My dad and I got into
a conflict. It reached the point where we stopped talking. I tried
to reach out to him, but he just pushed me away. Once again, I
found myself questioning God. It was as if every aspect of my life
was drawing to a close.
Resurrecting the Dead in Me
Broken, diagnosed with an unfamiliar disability, and filled
with insecurities, I entered the halls of The Feast a year after,
following an invitation from a schoolmate. I was yearning
to find answers, to find God.
Being a regular attendee and, later on, a servant in
several ministries of The Feast, I was being genuinely
transformed, something beyond the “spiritual high” I used
to get in a different church. I was being revived.
One by one, the dead parts within me were
resurrected.
I visited my birth family. I learned that I was the sixth
in a brood of nine, most of whom had families of their
own already. Their home was near the ocean, and they
lived simply — fishing, growing fruits and vegetables, and
raising pigs and chickens. And for some reason, I didn’t
hate them. I was, in fact, grateful to have known them. My
relationship with my adoptive family, on the other hand,
has also improved. I learned to be loving, forgiving and
accepting of them and of myself.
I am slowly overcoming NLD with my renewed
confidence, knowing that I am loved by the people around
me. Gone is the shy, withdrawn and reserved Anna Katrina.
I have blossomed into the woman God intended me to be
but I am still in the process of knowing myself more.
Most importantly, I have started to see God in a
different light — as my loving and forgiving Father and my
Provider. Whenever death, in whatever form, approaches
me, I run to God for safety. I cling to Him in times of both
joy and sorrow.
When I look back at the moment when I wanted to
take away my life, I say a prayer of thanksgiving that the act
didn’t push through. It was God’s grace that had saved me,
and for that, I am grateful.
Today, the only goodbye letter I’d be writing is how
I have turned my back at death, because now I am truly
free, no longer helpless, and full of hope. I have been
resurrected.
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Introduction
Special
Section
By Bo Sanchez
IF YOU HAD ONLY 30 DAYS LEFT,
HOW WILL YOU LIVE?
I
magine this — when you woke up this morning, the
phone rings.
You’re still in your pajamas, drinking your
coffee.
You stand up and pick up the phone. You hear your doctor’s voice. In a very somber tone,
he says, “I have to say this to you because I’m your friend
and I’m your doctor. I’m now holding in my hand the
results of your medical tests. I’m very sorry, but you’re
going to die in 30 days.”
The shock is overwhelming.
The room around you starts to spin.
You sit down.
“Thirty days? But that’s so soon…”
I know this is scary.
Let me ask you.
How would you live your life during those
30 days?
What appointments will you make?
What appointments will you drop?
What will you include in your daily
schedule?
What will you not include?
What will you prioritize?
What will you give away?
What will you say to your loved ones?
What will you not say to your loved ones?
How will you pray? What will you pray for?
Starting today, live the next 30 days as
though they were your last.
Special
Section
By Bo Sanchez
LIVE LIKE YOU’RE
DYING
O
ne day, I attended Mass and the priest was in a hurry.
He was either very tired or had diarrhea. Because he was going through the motions and
doing it quickly.
So very different from my friend Bishop Honesto
Ongtioco.
For years, I’ve admired how the good bishop celebrates Mass. He
does it with so much passion. He speaks every word with fire. And his
every gesture is done with love.
One day, I had lunch with this great man. I asked him why he does
his Masses this way.
He said something so profound, I’ll never forget it. He said, “I
always imagine every Mass to be my first Mass and my last Mass.” For me, the key word is imagine.
He added, “What if I died in my sleep tonight? I really don’t know,
do I?”
Friends, in this issue, I invite you to take a very special 30-day
retreat with me. No, I’m not asking you to go to a retreat house with
me. You’ll just do it wherever you are. Using the power of your imagination, you’ll allow death to be
your teacher.
We’re a Dying People
Here’s a fact: According to statistics, if you gathered a thousand
25-year-olds in a room, 241 of them will not reach the age of 65. That’s scary.
We’re a dying people.
It’s just a question of when. Some sooner. Some later.
But all of us are dying.
But if people know they are dying, I’ve noticed that these dying
people will live more deliberately, laugh more joyously, celebrate
more happily, give more generously, serve more freely, love more
intensely.
Here’s my realization: If you really want to live a spectacular life, you
have to live like a dying man.
This became true with my friend Alvin Barcelona.
Wham!
Once upon a time, Alvin was an incredibly busy man.
Alvin, with his mom Aida, was running a flourishing school,
the Cardinal Academy. He was in politics. He was in theater studying
under Laurice Guillen. He was also a rock singer with the likes of
Freddie Aguilar. Plus, he and his wife Tes had a four-month-old baby
boy named Aio. Then it happened. First, he felt sharp stomach pains. Then he
began to bleed. He went through medical tests the result of which
would drastically change his life. The tests showed there were
tumors in his intestines and his doctor told him he must undergo
surgery. “Alvin,” the doctor told him, “you may not see the first birthday
of your baby.”
Wham! Colon cancer crashed onto his life like a train gone berserk.
His Life Totally Changed
Alvin says, “I was only 30 years old. At that moment, I understood the
Filipino saying, pinagsakluban ng langit at lupa,” Alvin recalls. “For I felt
it. I felt heaven and earth envelop and crush me.”
Alvin admits that at the outset, he thought of his family. “My wife
and I always thought we’d grow old together,” Alvin says. And his son?
“He was just a baby. I thought I’d play with him, teach him how to ride
a bicycle, fly a kite, play the guitar…”
Those days made Alvin realize what were essential in
his life.
He prayed like never before. He found himself visiting
the Divine Mercy church in Marilao. There, he knelt and
gazed at the image of Jesus clad in a long robe, His right
hand raised up to His shoulders, ready to bless anyone
who would come to Him, His left hand resting on His chest
where rays of hope from His Sacred Heart radiated down
to His feet.
Days turned to weeks, and weeks turned to
months. Alvin found himself in church the entire day. He
opened the gates in the morning and closed them late at
night. He begged God to give him a second chance at life. But on his journey towards death, something
happened.
“I’m Ready to Die…”
“One day,” Alvin says, his eyes lighting up in wonder,
“I simply felt the presence of God and I just knew I was
ready — I was ready to meet up with Him, to join Him in
heaven.” He was ready to die and surrendered his life to
God.
Alvin underwent surgery for an hour.
When he woke up, his doctor, flabbergasted, told
him the strangest thing. He said he did not see any tumor
in Alvin’s colon. What was confirmed through a barium
enema X-ray — that Alvin had three tumors and spreading
— had completely vanished without a trace!
It was Alvin who found something: a steadfast faith
in God.
Alvin’s four-month-old baby is now a teenager. Alvin
has done what he thought he wouldn’t be able to do —
teach him how to bike, fly a kite, and play the guitar. And
bless the world with his preaching and music. But here’s my point: During those precious months
when he thought he was dying, Alvin changed his life.
Friend, you don’t need cancer to change your life.
You can do it right now by the power of your
imagination.
Love Like a Dying Man
Are you afraid to die?
I don’t blame you.
Most people are.
Sometimes, people are afraid to die because they’re
leaving behind unfinished businesses in their world. Like
kids. Or dreams. Or projects.
But that’s just half of the story.
Most of the time, people are afraid to die because
they have unfinished business in their inner world. I’m
talking about stuff in their life that they know is wrong.
Stuff called sin.
Sins are excess baggage that weighs down our souls.
It steals away our joy.
It robs us of our peace.
When you know that you have 30 days left to live,
spontaneously, you want to get rid of sin in your life.
First, you want to be forgiven.
Second, you don’t want to sin anymore.
When you know you’ve washed your soul, then you’re
ready to die.
You’re not afraid of death.
afraid to die. Some look forward to it with acceptance and joy. They
are people who are at peace. They’ve reconciled with God and
reconciled with others. St. Paul was one of them.
Pray for the same gift — the gift of a happy death.
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud
of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders
and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with
perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our
eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who
for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its
shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of
God. Consider him who endured such opposition from
sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose
heart. In your struggle against sin, you have not yet
resisted to the point of shedding your blood.
– Hebrews 12:1-4
Imagine Your Own Death
When I did my 30-day retreat on the last 30 days of my life, I changed.
I’ve become corny. Sentimental. Mushy.
I’ve never said more “I love yous” in my life!
I wrote many mushy letters to my friends, telling them how
much I love them. I also asked for forgiveness for any hurts I caused
them.
I began to love like a dying man.
I noticed that it was purer love than whatever love I gave before.
I think I know why.
There are two kinds of love that the world passes as love.
One is true. The other is false.
False love says, “I love you so you can love me back.” It’s a codependent love. It’s manipulative. It’s insecure and jealous. Because
it’s not really love.
True love says, “I love you — period.” I don’t expect anything
back. I love you and set you free. If you notice, this is very close to parental love.
Compared to married love, parental love is even more unselfish.
Parents don’t love their kids so someone can do the laundry
for them. (At least, the good parents I know.) Parents love their kids
because they want to set them free. Parents love their kids so they
can one day watch them walk out of their home and conquer the
world.
Friends, this, too, is the love of a dying person. But the one
walking out into the sunset is the lover.
The dying person knows he’s dying. He doesn’t need love —
because deep within his spirit, he knows he’s going to a wonderful
place of profound love. So in his last days of life, he just wants to
love. He wants to fill the world with his love.
I repeat: We’re all dying.
If you want to live a spectacular life, I invite you to love like a
dying person.
And your life will never be the same again.
The Biggest Question
A few weeks ago, I prayed over a woman on her deathbed.
As I put my hand over her arm, in a very weak voice, she
asked me, “Brother Bo, where am I going when I die?”
It’s a question that dying people ask. Except for atheists
who don’t believe in souls, everyone nearing death asks the
question.
But that’s precisely my message for you: We’re a dying
people. Some today, some in 10 years, some in 50 years. We just
don’t know when. But it doesn’t matter. We’re all going to die.
So the question asked by that woman is important for us
all: Where am I going when I die?
I answered her question with another question, “Why
don’t we pray that God bring you to heaven?”
I held her hand and asked her to repeat after me. I let her
ask for forgiveness from God for all her sins. I made her invite
Jesus to enter her heart. Though
it was difficult for her to speak,
she repeated my prayer.
When we finished, she
had a smile on her face.
She was ready.
Over the years, I’ve
prayed for many people
on their deathbeds.
I’ve met some
people who
aren’t
Email me at [email protected].
BO’S ACTION STEPS
Get a partner or small group and
share the following:
1. What were your blessings this past
week?
2. If you had only 30 days left to
live, what will you tell God — and
what will you do for your soul?
“If I had only 30 days to live,
how will I live?”
That’s the question I want you to answer today.
And this is the big question for your 30-day retreat
with me.
I repeat: I’m not asking you to go somewhere.
Wherever you are, take this 30-day retreat. Just imagine that these next 30 days of your life are
your last 30 days.
Believe me, you’ll live a different life in these next 30
days.
Make this your big experiment.
In fact, don’t just decide.
Make it an agreement between you and God… (Print
this out and sign this prayer. Or get a piece of paper and
copy this prayer.)
What 10 Things Should I Do in the
Next 30 Days — If They Were My
Last?
Get a pen. Answer this question: What 10 things
should I do in the next 30 days — if they were my
last? Write whatever comes to your mind. You’ll be
surprised at the stuff that’ll come out. What will
come out are the most important things in your
heart.
1. ____________________________________
2. ____________________________________
Prayer:
Lord, I will live the next 30 days as if they were my last
30 days.
3. ____________________________________
Starting Date: _________ 5. ____________________________________
Ending Date: __________
6. ____________________________________
4. ____________________________________
7. ____________________________________
____________________
Signature
Teach us to number our days aright,
that we may gain a heart of wisdom.
– Psalm 90:12
8. ____________________________________
9. ____________________________________
10. ___________________________________
Invite Friends to Take the Retreat with You!
Get friends to take this journey of 30 days with you.
Invite one or more persons to do it with you.
Props for the Retreat
At our Sunday Feast, I gave people a tin can with 30 marbles inside. Inside the can is a little card that says:
Step 1: Each morning, pick one marble and thank God for the gift of a new day.
Step 2: Carry it in your pocket to remind you to live your last days with love.
Step 3: Each night, thank God for the whole day. Set the marble aside.
When the can is empty, thank God for your life of love. Pray for more days…
It doesn’t have to be a can. It doesn’t have to be marbles. Find your own props. Just something to
remind you of your 30-day retreat.
Have a great one!
Special
Section
Testimony
These scenes — of men clinging on to anything for
survival — will forever be imprinted in Bimbo’s mind.
YOLANDA: A Life-Changing Experience
By Bimbo Moreno
I
t was two months away from my wedding day, and there I was,
unsure of when and how I’d be able to get out of Tacloban. I
kept assuring myself, “I’m safe here in the hotel.” Still, I was afraid
because I could hear the howling wind outside and I could see
from my window the heavy rains pounding the entire city. The
glass windows could shatter any moment, so I stayed on my bed
and prayed.
I had a hard time praying the rosary — and interceding for all the
people affected — but that was the least I could do at that time. And
because all I could do was pray, I remember telling God, “I will strive to
be a better person after this. I will be more active in serving You and
Your people. I will use this experience to tell others how You gave me
a second chance in life.”
Preparing for the Coming Storm
I am a training officer in a multinational company and was assigned to
conduct a seminar in Tacloban from November 6 to 8, 2013. I arrived
in Tacloban on Tuesday, November 5, and was expected to go back to
Manila on November 9.
Upon learning that a super typhoon was to hit Tacloban by
Friday, we cancelled the sessions for Thursday and Friday. I tried to
secure a ticket for a flight back to Manila for Thursday.
Unfortunately, all flights were fully booked and the
earliest available schedule was on Friday morning. I had
no choice but to stay in my hotel and wait until then. So
on Thursday night, I prepared for the coming of the super
typhoon and bought food — bread, crackers, biscuits and
three 1.5-liter bottles of water. The last thing I did before
going to sleep was to pray for safety.
Unforgettable Days of My Life
I woke up at around 7:00 a.m. the following day to the
sound of howling wind. I went down and, together
with other hotel guests, watched the strong winds
outside. After a few minutes, we heard glasses shattering
somewhere in the hotel. Then lights went out and we
became incommunicado to the world.
People were already crying; some prayed. I went back
to my room, feeling as scared as the others. I prayed for
safety then took some videos of the storm through the
window. Rain poured heavily and water rose quickly.
Parked vehicles began floating.
In just a few minutes, the hotel lobby was almost submerged
in water. The impact of the storm surge broke the glass door.
By noontime, the winds and the rains stopped and the
flood subsided. I went out to see the aftermath of the typhoon.
Broken glasses were scattered everywhere, roofs of buildings
and establishments destroyed, vehicles turned upside town,
fallen trees and electric posts. I also saw rubble of what used
to be concrete walls, as well as dead animals. It was as if we
were in a war zone. There was looting everywhere. I saw people
dismantling iron gates and doors of different establishments.
As I witnessed these things, I prayed for safety and assured
myself that I would be back in Manila soon. That Friday afternoon,
I searched for a grocery store to buy extra food and water. Back
at the hotel, I prepared my things for my return flight and I slept
without electricity and water.
I woke up Saturday morning, November 9, and arranged for
transportation going to the airport for my flight in the afternoon.
The hotel staff informed me that the flight was cancelled. I also
learned from other staff that Tacloban Airport was completely
destroyed. I felt real fear for the first time. I was stranded in
Tacloban — and without electricity, without Internet access, and
without phone signal.
I felt helpless. I had money but there was no food, water
and other supplies to buy. There was no transportation because
the roads were not passable. Information was scarce. The food I
had left would only last the whole day. I worried about my being
stranded there for days, if not weeks, and I was unsure about
how to survive.
I did not know anyone in Tacloban and I was one of the
many people in need of help. I did not see anyone who would
care enough to help me. It was difficult for me to pray that day.
All I could do was to plead with the Lord, “I want to go home!” I
thought of my family and loved ones. It was hard for me to stay
in my room so I went out to talk to the other hotel guests. They
became my friends. We talked about ways to endure and survive
the calamity, and planned how to get out of Tacloban. We went
to different establishments, talked to soldiers, hoping to get a
ride in their choppers. We also looked for places where we can
buy food. Being with other people helped me a lot, rather than
being alone and letting my worries consume me. As I reflected on
my situation, I desperately prayed, “Father God, help us. Mama
Mary, help us. Lord Jesus, help us. I surrender everything to You.”
It was a prayer of surrender, of my total dependence on
Him. I surrendered everything to the Lord as we did all we could
to survive. With all my faith and courage, I placed myself in His
hands. This strengthened me to face the inevitable.
Our breakthrough finally came. We got information that we
could ride the C130 plane bound for Cebu or Manila, which the
soldiers use to bring relief goods to Tacloban and other places
stricken by Yolanda.
On Sunday, November 10, my newfound friends and I
journeyed on foot from the hotel to the airport for almost three
hours, carrying whatever we could, and hoping to get a ride on
the C130 plane. Though it was a long and tiring walk, I kept on
despite feeling weak and hungry. I needed to leave Tacloban and
this was the only option.
As we walked, I saw the devastation of the super typhoon
— dead people lying on the streets, entire villages wiped out,
After his Yolanda experience, Bimbo moved on to a life of marital bliss
with his wife, Op.
vehicles destroyed, stores looted, chopper planes hovering
above. Those were scary sights that will forever be imprinted
in my mind.
After six hours of waiting, my friends and I boarded the
C130 plane going to Cebu. From Cebu, a commercial plane on
mercy flight flew us back to Manila.
During the flight, I thanked the Lord for the friends I met
who helped and encouraged me, for the hotel owner and staff
for their determination to help us in whatever way possible,
for the opportunities that God provided so we can go out of
Tacloban. Most of all, I thanked the Lord for giving me hope
and the grace to surrender to and trust in Him, no matter what.
Life-Changing Experience
After super typhoon Yolanda, my life was forever changed. I
learned to enjoy more each day that the Lord has prepared for
me. The experience made me more grateful that the Lord has
given me the grace to be able to make it at the end of the day
with my family and friends.
I also realized the importance of interceding for others.
Part of my concern for other people’s welfare is to also pray
for them. Prayer is powerful, especially intercession from other
people. I felt that there were people praying for us in Tacloban.
I might not be able to provide material help for those in need
but I can intercede for, listen to, and just be there for them.
Most important of all, I learned to cherish my relationships
and not take for granted my family and friends. I finally got
married last January 4, 2014 to a beautiful and wonderful
woman. I thank the Lord for keeping me alive to be able to
marry her. He is indeed the author of our marriage and I believe
that He has a beautiful story to unravel as He continues to be
the center of our life as husband and wife.
Special
Section
By Bo Sanchez
HOW WILL YOU GIVE?
A
very wealthy man knew he was dying.
And he pleaded, “Lord, I worked
so hard for my wealth. Please allow me
to bring even just one suitcase of my
wealth to heaven!”
Each day, he prayed that prayer.
Until one day, an angel appeared to him and said,
“God has granted your wish.” The man was so happy.
He packed a suitcase filled with as much gold as it
can contain. The next day, he died.
In front of the Pearly Gates, he saw St. Peter.
Seeing the suitcase he was carrying, St. Peter said,
“Excuse me, but you can’t bring anything in here.”
The rich man said, “St. Peter, God gave me
permission to bring one suitcase of my wealth.”
St. Peter picked up his mobile phone, dialed the
Throne Room, and learned that the man was telling
the truth.
He said to the man, “OK, you can come in. But can
I first see what’s inside?”
The man smiled. He opened the suitcase and
showed its contents proudly.
St. Peter scratched his head. He asked, “You
brought pavement?”
And he told them this parable: “The ground of
a certain rich man produced a good crop. He
thought to himself, ‘What shall I do? I have no
place to store my crops.’ “Then he said, ‘This is
what I’ll do. I will tear down my barns and build
bigger ones, and there I will store all my grain
and my goods. And I’ll say to myself, “You have
plenty of good things laid up for many years.
Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.” “But God
said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life
will be demanded from you. Then who will get
what you have prepared for yourself?’ “This is
how it will be with anyone who stores up things
for himself but is not rich toward God.”
– Luke 12:16-21
The Lifestyle of Giving
Do you want to receive anything?
More joy? More wisdom? More friends? More
money?
Here’s what you must do: Give away the exact
same thing that you want to receive.
Because that’s how the universe works.
Whatever you give, you receive.
Take the case of wisdom.
I give wisdom to people. So far, I’ve
written close to 40 books.
But between the author and the reader,
who gains more wisdom? The reader reads
the book once. But the author rewrites his
book 10 times. Guess who remembers the
truths more? Yes, I give wisdom. But I gain
10 times the wisdom I give away.
Or how about happiness?
Who are the happiest people in the
world? Those who are able to give happiness
to others.
That’s just how God made the world. We
receive what we give away.
Even money.
When God Blesses Our Tithing
In one of our meetings, I asked Randy
Borromeo to share his story with us. Randy
is our Feast builder in Makati and the guy in
charge of our radio and TV ministry.
Like me, Randy gave his life to God when
he was 12 years old.
He shared how, as a young kid, he started
tithing or giving 10 percent of his allowance
to God.
When he was a teenager, he recalled that
life was hard. He had nine siblings. And one
day, their helper, Aling Esther, said, “Randy,
there’s no food in the house.”
Randy told her, “Pray to the Lord. God
will provide.”
So Aling Esther prayed, “Lord, give us four
viands!”
Randy was shocked. “Aling Esther, why
did you ask for four viands? One is enough!”
He turned around and prayed, “Lord, You
better answer her prayer. I don’t want us to
lose face.”
A few minutes later, someone rang the
doorbell.
Randy opened the gate and saw a
woman carrying a tray of food. It was Mrs.
Cabigao, their neighbor. “It’s my birthday
today! I hope you can use some food…”
Randy quickly counted the viands on the
tray. There were four viands!
As the family gathered around the table,
still mesmerized by how God blessed them,
the doorbell rang again.
When they opened the gate, it was Mrs.
Cabigao again, this time bringing ice cream
for everyone. God gave more than what they
asked for.
Randy said, “Even if life was hard, I tithed.
Because I saw that God cannot be outgiven.”
And almost 30 years later, he continues to tithe.
Whatever he gave, God gave back to him many
times over.
The Giving of the Surrendering Phase
One day, a woman was dying of cancer.
In a few days, she would celebrate her
birthday. And deep in her heart, she knew it
was the last birthday she’ll ever have. But there
was no bitterness or sadness.
So she called all her closest friends and
invited them all to a party. She told them the
truth: “You better come,” she said, “because I
think this will be my last birthday party.”
Her friends came and they had lots of
laughter together.
After the meal, she brought all of them to
her living room.
She faced them and said, “For years, I was in
BO’S ACTION STEPS
1.What
are
your
challenges this past
week?
2. If you had only 30
days left to live, how
would you give?
How generous would
you be? What legacy
do you want to leave
behind when you die?
the gathering phase of my life. Today, I’m no longer
in that phase. I’m in the surrendering phase. As I’m
about to depart this earth, I no longer need material
things. I have only one need in my life now. I need
to love. I need to love you. So before you go home,
please allow me to love you…”
She then spread on the table all her most precious
belongings — a favorite teacup, a lovely pitcher, a
scarf, a warm jacket, a watch, a few pieces of jewelry....
She said to her friends, “Please bring one gift
that you need. I don’t need any of them anymore. So
that every time you use it, hold it, or look at it, you’ll
remember that I love you. It’ll be our connection.”
Many tears were shed in that party — but much
laughter as well.
Six weeks later, this woman went to heaven.
She was a wise woman.
She gave until the last breath of her life.
She knew the language of heaven.
Email me at [email protected].
Bro. Bo invites you…
“Come,
have coffee
with me.”
Mechanics:
1. Open to all new subscriptions and renewal subscriptions for Kerygma
Magazine applied in October to December 2014.
2.
Sign up for Kerygma Magazine subscription for 2015 this October, November
and December and get a chance to bond with Bro. Bo Sanchez over coffee!
3.
One subscription sign up is one raffle entry.
4.
Give subscription sign-ups from friends and get more raffle entries. One per
subscription form. Each of your friends will get one raffle entry each. Forms
should be given to Shepherd’s Voice Publications Headquarters:
Shepherd’s Voice Publications Inc.,
c/o Coffee with the BOss
#60 Chicago St., Cubao, Quezon City 1109
9.
Winners will be notified via email, telephone call and registered mail.
10. The winners shall go to the Shepherd’s Voice office at 60 Chicago St., Cubao,
Quezon City and present the notification letter, valid I.D with photo and
signature. Winners may send a representative provided they present the
following:
a. Letter of authorization from winner
b .Proper identification
c .Letter sent by SVP
11. Schedule of coffee session will be within 60 days upon receipt of the
registered mail.
12. Winners can bring along one friend.
13. Prize is transferable but not convertible to cash.
5.
To get a subscription form, buy a copy of Kerygma at Shepherd’s Voice’s head
office or at any of our distributors/ outlets.
14. Promo runs from October 5, 2014 to December 31, 2014.
6.
Raffle Entry form should have the complete details:
a. Name
b. Address
c. Telephone Number
d. Email address
e. Signature
f. Date Signed Up
•
The promo organizer’s decision is final with concurrence of a DTI
representative.
•
AllSVPemployeesarenoteligibletojointherafflepromoincludingtheir
relatives up to the third degree of consanguinity or affinity.
•
A DTI representative will be on hand to witness the draws on November
14, 2014, December 12, 2014 and January 14, 2015 at Shepherd’s Voice
Publications Headquarters.
•
PerDTI-FTEBSPDPermitNo.4317,seriesof2014.
7.
8.
One Coffee date winner will be drawn each for October, November and
December. All entries received until October 31, 2014 will be qualified for
the raffle draw on November 14, 2014. All entries received until November
30, 2014 will be qualified for the raffle draw on December 12, 2014. All
entries received until December 31, 2014 will be qualified for the raffle draw
on January 14, 2015. Raffle draws will be done in # 60 Chicago Street Cubao
Quezon City, at 10:00am. Non-winning entries will be safeguarded at the
SVP Headquarters.
Guidelines:
• Ifunclaimedwithin60daysfromreceiptofnotification,thecoffeesession
will be forfeited with prior DTI approval.
A participant can win more than once.
Special
Section
Testimony
A FINAL BOW OF BENEVOLENCE
By Eleanore Teo
I
n today’s culture where global society encourages
us to place the needs of others before our own,
there are a few exceptions left that grant us the
permission to act in a self-serving manner. It is a
positive shift from asking ourselves, “What do I
want?” when making important decisions to now
asking, “What will work best for everyone?” This line of
thinking stems from our moral nature to use responsibly
whatever power or control we have for the interest of
others.
But sometimes, God’s plan for us may take an
unexpected direction. What if we suddenly found
ourselves with only a limited time left in this world and far
less than what we expected to have? It is in that instance
when resolutions may change, emotions may conflict,
and you find everyone reaching out to ask you: What do
you want to do?
You now have the chance to answer as honestly and
as freely as you wish with complete support and without
judgment. And it is that same question which we posed to
random people from different walks of life: If you only had
a few more days left to live, what would you do?
Their surprisingly similar responses were both
enlightening and perceptive, tearing away
prejudice and replacing it with points of
view that inspire hope even in the face of
despair.
Of Strengthening Relationships
Spend my hard-earned money. Travel the
world. Eat anything and everything that I
want. So many options become available
when we are given the freedom to fulfill
all our desires without any long-term
consequences.
That’s how we assume most people
would take advantage of their last few days
in this world but then, we would be wrong.
Across all the responses, the first thought
that came to their minds was unanimous.
“I would spend time with my husband
and family to create beautiful memories one
last time,” says Doris, a brand manager for a
multinational corporation. “Being generous
with my time with my loved ones is the best
gift I can give before I leave them.”
The reply of Miguel, an office
messenger, was in agreement.
“Pamilya ko pinakaimportante. Kahit
sila lang kasama ko sa huling oras ko,
tanggap ko na,” (My family is the most
important to me. Even if they are the
only ones I’m with in my remaining
time, I will accept my fate.)
Regardless of age, status or
whichever way they chose to phrase
their answer, it was clear that most
people were not primarily concerned
about themselves, but more
about the family, friends and close
individuals they would be leaving
behind. Rather than use the rest of
their limited days seeking personal
satisfaction, being in the company of
those they cared about was far more
meaningful to them.
For Jill, a choir singer, it was
about making sure it was quality
time well spent. “I would spend every second
left with my son. I would make my last few days
with him as wonderful as possible so he could
remember me for the rest of his life.”
Mending Broken Ones
In a situation where there is nothing left to
lose, we find that there is little space for anger
or resentment. “I would let go of my bitterness
and start acknowledging those who have hurt
me,” says Steph, a features editor. She was one
of many who admitted that one of their biggest
regrets was maintaining long-term disputes
with others. “I’ve been ignoring some people
and I would like to remedy that.” Rome, who
works as an OFW for the United Nations, also
shares that he would seek forgiveness from
those he harbored ill feelings towards. “I don’t
want to die with enemies.”
And for some, the mere idea of passing
away so soon was enough for them to rethink
their severed ties. “I say that I would patch
things up with people if I were about to die,”
was the response of May, a call center agent.
“But if you think about it, why
wait until that happens? It’s just
so much easier to make amends
when you might potentially
never see each other again but
I should probably make that
effort now, while I have no other
reason except that it’s the right
thing to do.”
And Creating New Ones
Preserving
memories
has
become widely integrated
into our lives with the different
gadgets and social media
channels available to this
generation. Even after we’re
gone, our online presence can
leave a permanent recollection that relatives and
friends can continue to come back to.
“I’ll share through a video, through photos or
through a blog how I chose to live my last 30 days,”
says CJ, a fresh college graduate. But, like those
who gave a similar answer, the reason behind it
was not to simply leave a reminder to loved ones
but to hopefully leave a legacy worth sharing with
the world.
“I want to inspire people to live life to the
fullest.” Richard, a financial advisor, also believes
that even after death, people can still continue
to make a difference for the benefit of others. “I
would like to document my remaining journey, to
help people learn from my mistakes and use my
experience to influence a positive change.”
As for Doris, she chooses to touch others by
means of the most heartfelt and effective manner
familiar to her and equally accessible by everyone
else. “Prayer. I would spend a lot of my time left
praying for those who need it most. I will pray that
they find the peace that I will soon find as I ready
myself to meet God.”
There are many profound insights that we can
gather from such brief excerpts but the fact that
everyone chose to occupy their last moments in
selflessness rather than selfishness is a vindication
of our faith in our fellow brothers and sisters.
Some may ask what the motivation is behind their
actions and no one summarizes the answer better
than Robyn, a high school student, who firmly
believes that her last days should be dedicated
to spreading love. “I would give as much love as
possible to those who have touched my life and
to those I have yet to touch. I won’t have much
time left, but procrastinating love is still valuable,
nonetheless. What matters most is the amount of
love that I’m willing to share.”
It’s a true gesture of generosity that we
should always consider regardless if we are living
on dwindling time or if we still have the rest of our
lives ahead of us.
You can now shop from home!
Why wait to go to the bookstore when you can shop right where you are? Shop for inspirational
books at www.KerygmaBooks.com and have the books delivered to your doorstep, free
of charge!*
You can GO DIGITAL! Have the books delivered straight to your gadgets!
Visit www.KerygmaBooks.com/ebooks to get the digital editions of your favorite inspirational
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non-Metro Manila deliveries.
My Dreams
for the Next 10 Years
W
e all have dreams: to be a great businessman,
to help educate in the school setting, to be a
doctor, to help in the government…
Many of these dreams are born
unconsciously. Some may have come from your
parents — and became yours unconsciously.
Some may have come from your teachers, friends, the children
you played with years ago, or the people you see on TV.
Wherever they have originated, your dreams are powerful
forces that shape your life goals. Making our dreams come true
are sources of joy. So it is important to know what they are, and
then consciously plan to fulfill those dreams.
List down your dreams and group them according to the
following: Relationship, Career, Hobbies and Interests, Parents,
Friends, Money, Marriage, Children, Recreation, Family, and others.
TIMETABLE
DREAMS / LIFE GOALS
2015
To write a book on teen
relationship
2015
To travel around Asia
2016
To travel to Europe
God in Every
Stage of
Your Life
By Allan and Maribel
Dionisio
3.
COMMENTS
4.
2017
2018
If you are single, it is important to find someone who
appreciates and supports your dreams. A key factor in relationships:
Dreams and life goals must be similar, complementary to or
supportive of each other.
Our dreams are also influenced by our life stage. Daniel
Levinson’s theory is very informative:
1. Entering the adult world (22-28) – Make initial choices in
love, occupation, friendship, values and lifestyle. At this stage,
your dream is usually to find the dream job and the love of
your life. So are you planning out your schedule to achieve
this? Or are you just so tied up with work that you do not
make time for meeting friends, face to face?
2. Age 30 transition (28-33) – Changes occur in life structure,
Seasons
5.
6.
either a moderate change or, more often, a severe
and stressful crisis. Ask yourself, is this what I want?
OK, this is the time to fine-tune things or maybe even
overhaul. Some people leave their dream jobs since
they prevented them from finding the love of their
lives. Could be a wise move. Get a job that you like
and allows for socialization.
Settling down (33-40) - Establish a niche in society.
Progress on a timetable, in both family and career
accomplishments. People at this stage are expected
to think and behave like a parent, so they are facing
more demanding roles and expectations. Oh yes, a
very busy period in life, and if married, the focal point
would be the spouse and the kids. Remember the
spouse. Many moms out there focus too much on
kids, such that the romance in the marriage wanes.
Better change gears fast!
Mid-life transition (40-45) – Life structure comes
into question, usually a time of crisis in the meaning,
direction and value of each person’s life. Be involved
in trying to leave a legacy and this usually forms the
core of the second half of his life. The kids are now in
their teens, and that gives you some time to dream
again, this time for yourself.
Entering middle adulthood (45-50) – Choices must
be made, a new life structure formed. The person
must commit to new tasks. This is the opportunity to
carry out your bucket list.
Late adulthood (51 and older) – Spend time
reflecting on past achievements and regrets. Make
peace with yourself and others, including God. Work
on your bucket list. You deserve to be happy.
There are dreams that may need to be delayed and
that’s OK. The key is the awareness and the continuous
planning to achieve these dreams in one’s lifetime. Be
realistic as well. Which ones need to be junked? In this way
we can reduce our frustrations.
DO YOU KNOW WHY YOU’RE HERE?
DO YOU KNOW YOUR LIFE’S PURPOSE?
We are called here to create a fantastic masterpiece that will allow you to
magnify God’s glory and bless the world.
Be inspired by the stories and insights of world-class Filipinos who have found their reason for
being here.
Start creating your own Masterpiece.
Order your copy now.
For orders, call 725-9999 local 101 to 108
or log on to www.KerygmaBooks.com
Catholic
Soul
By Edgardo C. de Vera
W
hen Peter asked Jesus whether we should forgive
seventy times, His reply was that we ought to forgive
not seven but seven times seventy times — which
means unceasingly and always unconditional at all
times. Christ stressed the importance of the ready
willingness to forgive without limits, in contrast to
Lamech’s twisted endless vindictiveness (Genesis 4:26).
Forgiveness frees one from bondage to anger and its dire
consequence of damnation. A priest illustrated this point in his homily
of forgiveness: “Supposing somebody wrongs you and the offender
does not ask for forgiveness but prefers to live with it instead; where
do you think he will go if he dies in his unforgiveness? To hell. Now, if
you, the offended party should also harbor unrelenting and adamant
refusal to forgive, where will you go when you die? To hell also. Then
you will find yourselves together again.”
Are we not all familiar with that age-old adage, “To err is human,
to forgive divine”? Indeed. Forgiveness is not an attribute of our fallen
nature. Rather it is of divine origin and can only become possible
in hearts open to God’s — that which comes to us from Christ and
floods the world from calvary. Only by the grace of our Lord Jesus
Christ is forgiveness possible in hearts that can be infused with His
grace that overcomes all evil, hurts and unforgiveness.
Now we know that some offended parties would be wont to
say, “I will forgive you but I will never forget what you did.” Sounds
unforgiving, doesn’t it? It is a case when the ego prefers to harbor
the hurt as a modicum of leverage over the offender. Surely the hurt
will always be there but then it can be turned to empathy through
prayer. However, praying for the offender every time the repulsive
memory of the hurt comes to mind can turn hate to empathy which,
with constant prayer, turns to love. With the grace of Christ in us, no
offense is beyond forgiveness, however grave the wrong may have
been.
Prayer Helps
The remedy for hurts and unforgiveness is prayer. It is the salve
that soothes wounded psyches, heals the offended party to rally an
offender’s faltering resolve to seeking forgiveness. Prayer overcomes
pride and unforgiveness. And the best prayer to overcome this is
Mary’s rosary. From the Trinitarian blessing in the sign of the cross,
Seven Times
Seventy Times
to the Our Father setting the tone “forgive us… as we
forgive,” through the steady cadence of the scriptural
salutations of our redemption in the Hail Mary,
and Gloria of the Angels ushering the cumulative
meditations of each sacred mystery — seven times
seventy times is a certainty even for the most grievous
hurts and offenses.
Mother Mary helps the offender or offending
person discern the Gospel message against the
eschatological panorama of Salvation History. In the
progression of the beads and soothing cadence of Hail
Mary’s, the Old Testament promise and fulfilled reality
in Christ come to life.
The holy rosary is
perfect preparation for
confession, the sacrament
of reconciliation and
forgiveness
that
reunites us with God
and neighbor. With
Mother Mary as prayer
partner,
mentor
and
guide, her holy rosary is
the best antecedent
for the Eucharist.
Archbishop Fulton J.
Sheen articulated
it best: “As she
formed
Jesus
in her womb,
so she forms
Jesus in our
souls.
Email me at
catholicsoul@
gmail.com.
Bite-sized inspiration. Life-changing truths.
Good things come in small packages.
These little books will help you live a fantastic life!
Great gifts to give yourself and your loved ones.
Grab your copies now!
For orders call 725-9999 local 101 to 108
or log on to www.kerygmabooks.com.
K
Preacher
Worry-Free
Life Equals
Heaven
E
very thought brings about a specific emotion. That’s
why the saying, “Think Positive,” is really wise advice.
Positive thoughts bring about positive emotions.
Negative thoughts bring about negative emotions.
Hence, we need to monitor what happens from within
us.
More so, I learned somewhere that specific negative emotions
negatively affect certain body parts.
Fear affects the lungs.
Anger affects the liver.
Despair lowers the immune system.
Worry damages the stomach.
Today, through God’s grace, we’ll attempt to delete worry
from our system. We know we can because God is able!
I remember Fr. Jerry Orbos who said, “People who worry
actually hurry to the cemetery.”
Sounds practical and true. When worry comes, we’re flooded
with negative thoughts; we lose focus; we feel stressed out;
we’re overwhelmed; we lose balance; and nothing good seem to
happen.
Worry, at its worst, produces toxic people — who, because of
stress, causes people around them to be stressed, too.
Jesus discussed an entire chapter about worry (Matthew
6:25-34). Therefore, if He said, “Do not worry...” it means we have
the power to live a worry-free life! A life which is a foretaste of
heaven.
Why worry when you can pray?
The Scripture encourages us with the power of prayer:
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by
prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to
God” (Philippians 4:6).
This is how prayer works: When we act, we act; yet when
we pray, God acts! And when God acts, the possibilities and
opportunities are endless!
Also, since positive thoughts bring about positive emotions.
We need to make it a habit to think positive thoughts!
Again, the Word of God teaches us the right kind of thoughts
By Obet Cabrillas
to meditate on that brings on positivity in our lives:
“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true,
whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure,
whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable — if anything
is excellent or praiseworthy — think about such things”
(Philippians 4:8).
Let’s always pray, think positive, do what is humanly
possible, and always allow room for His Grace to move.
Do your best and let God do the rest!
And as to what He can do? Possibilities are
unbounded, limitless, overflowing abundance of God’s
universe.
Email
me
at
kpreacherobet@gmail.
com
YOU ARE AN ASPIRING AUTHOR AND YOU WANT YOUR DREAM BOOK PUBLISHED.
We can help make your dreams come true!
You have a fantastic message you want to share, and you want to bless the world with it.
Life Dream Books can help you turn your dream into reality through its wide array of self-publishing services. We offer different levels of
editorial, layout, proofreading and printing services that will best fit your need and budget.
Plan that book. Write it. We take care of the rest.
Here are some first-time authors we’ve helped to make their dream book a reality:
In his first book, Be Free from Painful Memories and Trauma in 30 Minutes, Jojo Apolo shares neuro-linguistic programming
(NLP) techniques that will help erase painful memories and traumas in mere minutes.
Discover the stories and insights of world-class Filipinos compiled in Marianne Mencias’s What’s Your Life’s Masterpiece?
and be inspired to create your own masterpiece.
Dr. Josephine Holgado lists down the important habits you need to learn to maintain a healthy body in The Doctor
Is in the House. Discover the 9 secret guides to your child’s health that will help cut down your visits to the doctor.
For a quotation, send your manuscript to [email protected] or call us at (632) 725-9999 loc. 218 and
look for Karren Seña.
lifedreambooks
We publish your dreams.
lifedreamsbooks halfpage ad.indd 1
4/21/14 6:13 PM
HOW HAS KERYGMA CHANGED
YOUR LIFE?
For 25 fantastic years, Kerygma has been featuring stories of ordinary people, whose lives are
made extraordinary by the grace, blessings, healing and miracles of God.
These amazing stories have inspired and changed thousands of other ordinary lives. It’s now your
turn share your K story!
For its special 25th Anniversary Edition, we are inviting you to submit stories on how Kerygma has
transformed your life.You may submit your testimonials and stories to Tess Atienza at theresa.a@
shepherdsvoice.com.ph. Or call us at (02) 725-9999 local 219 if, for some reason, you cannot
write.
By Dinn Mendoza
As told to Lella M.
Santiago
Photo by Khaye
Rodriguez
Dinn and Doy continue to serve the Lord with
gratefulness at The Feast Alabang.
IT’S A MIRACLE!
B
uhay ka, Dinn! Wala kang tama!” (“You’re alive, Dinn!
You weren’t hit!), my husband, Doy, cried with relief after
the gunmen left. I was as surprised as he was that I was
unscathed. When the shooting was going on, there was
only one thought running through my mind: I was going
to die and my children, Jane and Paolo, will have this last
image of me drenched in blood.
Shielded from Death
On February 4, 2011, I was miraculously saved from certain death. My
husband and I had just left the bank where we purchased dollars for
our trip. We were flying to Singapore in five days for a vacation. While
attending to our transactions, my sister, a bank teller, noticed a man who
kept looking at us while the dollars were being counted. She thought we
knew the guy so she didn’t think anything of it.
After we finished our business with the bank, my husband decided
to get gas and pick up his barong from the laundry. As he parked outside
the laundry shop, he told me to lock the door which I promptly did. Not a
minute had passed when two men on a motorcycle fired several shots at
our car, first on the driver’s side, then on my side. I saw they had another
gun pointed at the crowd where my husband was.
I could do nothing but flatten my body against the seat. I groped for
the lever to recline the seat but, in my panic, I just couldn’t move it. I did
manage to utter a prayer of surrender, “Lord, I leave everything to You.
Please take care of me.” I sat there frozen as the bullets rained on our car.
One
Last
Story
The gunman on my side tried to open my
door by shooting the handle. When he couldn’t
open it, the other gunman broke the glass on the
driver’s side with his gun. He grabbed my bag
where I had placed the dollars together with the
cash and checks from our store. I was so thankful
they didn’t fire at me anymore.
Sprayed with Miracles
The incident traumatized me. I could not sleep for
several nights. Even a simple knock on the door
would make me jump. During those times, I clung
to the Lord. I read the Bible to calm me when I
couldn’t sleep.
We believe the Lord was with us during the
shooting. He led us to make a stop so that my
husband was out of the car when it happened.
If the gunmen had reached us when we were on
the highway, both of us would most probably
have been shot dead.
People asked me if I had an amulet that
shielded me from the spray of bullets. Anybody
who looks at the bullet holes would assume the
person inside the car had died. There was one that
hit the seat just below my left leg. Another had
passed in between my legs. And most miraculous
of all was that the bullet fired at the door handle
veered and got stuck inside the door. If the bullet
had gone straight through, it would have hit me.
I tell people, it was not an amulet that saved me,
it was the Lord who shielded me from being shot.
We were undecided if we should still go to
Singapore since I was too afraid to even step
out of our house. Then someone who had a very
strong faith in God told me, “Don’t let the devil
win. God has already shown you how powerful
He is. Do you still doubt that He will shield you
from any harm?”
So we left on schedule and experienced
more of God’s miracles. My husband and I had
a wonderful vacation that we barely thought
about the incident while we were there. When we
returned, people noticed my aura was lighter, as if
the veil of fear had been lifted. It was an incredibly
quick recovery.
On June 14 this year, I was asked to give
the Love Offering exhortation at Saturday Feast
Alabang. Although I was nervous, I found the
courage to share this experience. I wanted to
glorify God for His graces and to thank Him for
the miracle that added years to my life. The date
happened to be my birthday and coincidentally,
the talk series then was entitled “It’s a Miracle.”
Point
of
Contact
by Bo Sanchez
I pray that you
receive your
miracles in Jesus’
name!
I pray that God lifts your trials, heals your
diseases, blesses your problems, and
directs you to the path He wants you to
take. I pray that God removes your fears
and gives you the courage to surrender
your burdens to Him.
So place your hand over my hand, and
let’s pray with trust, together with our prayer
team of intercessors praying for you right
now…
This page is our Point of Contact, our
spiritual connection.
Say after me…
In the Name of the Father, and of the
Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Lord, I surrender to You my worries and
anxieties. I surrender to You my needs, my
problems, my trials. I place them all in Your
big hands. And I open myself to all that You
want to give to me. On this day, I say yes to
Your love, to Your blessings, to Your healing,
to Your miracles. And Lord, specifically, I ask
for the following miracles for my life...
I believe that You answer my prayer
in the best way possible! And I thank You
in advance for the perfect answers to my
prayers. I also ask for the special intercession
of Mama Mary. I pray all this in the Name of
the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy
Spirit. Amen.
SPECIAL INTENTION FOR THIS MONTH:
Bless the readers of Kerygma, Lord. We all know that we are going to die, but sometimes we
live as if there’s no tomorrow. The temptations of the world lead many of us to think only of
the present life, not the eternal. Grant us the wisdom, Lord, to always remember to align our
lives today with the eternal one that we will enjoy in Your presence. Grant us the will to love
and give as You have exemplified. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Praying for you,
Email your prayer requests to me
at bosanchez@kerygmafamily.
com or write to me at Shepherd’s
Voice Publications, #60 Chicago
St., Cubao, Quezon City,
Philippines 1109.

IF YOU HAD ONLY 30 DAYS LEFT

Transcription

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