It's a Sunny Day!

Last Friday night (Oct. 3), my wife told me of Joshua’s amazing drawing whose replica I painstakingly drew above. (Believe me it’s very close to the original work!)

I was simply astounded at the level of comprehension and vocabulary of our child who just recently turned six years old two weeks ago. Trained by Teacher Pearl Santos, a very good pre-school teacher, Joshua learned to read and write even before entering Mater Carmeli School as a prep student.

I’m sure we’ll see more moments of brilliance from Joshua.

For now…I’m just enjoying the simple beauty of his inspiring work.

And you what? He was right…the last few days have been sunny days.

Hoping there’s more to come.

CLP 2007 & 2008 Graduates : Welcome to the CFC Family

Facilitators’ Training at Sitio Ruby

The work of a Couples for Christ (CFC) community member is never done.

It’s a lifelong commitment to serve God through evangelism and spiritual renewal. In fact that how it starts with all CFC members, through hearing the Good News of Jesus Christ and spiritual renewal.

For this post, I look back at two of the most recent Christian Life Program (CLP) activities I’ve had the privilege to be a part of.

The CLP is an integrated course aimed at leading the participants into a renewed understanding of God’s call to Christian couples and how we should respond to that call.

Specifically, the CLP seeks to bring the participants to repentance and a renewed faith in Jesus Christ; empower their lives through the infilling of the Holy Spirit and incorporate them in a strong environment of Christian support and continuous formation.

Consisting of three modules with four sessions each, the CLP would normally run for 13 weekends as sessions are usually done on a Saturday or Sunday. The first module reiterates the absolute truths about Christianity. The second module presents the Spirit-filled life God call us to live. The third module provides the participants to further receive the Holy Spirit, thus enabling participants to empower their lives with His presence and, lays down the basis for continuous spiritual growth.

From February to May 2007, I was tasked to be a Unit Supervising Head to a CLP for North B-1D. Prior to the CLP, we conducted a Facilitators Training to prepare them both mentally and spiritually for their forthcoming responsibilities.

It was practically a unit effort as all households in our group shared tasks. Bro. Jun and Sis. Ivi Palma were the CLP Team leaders while Bro. Manny and Sis. Grace Cajipe served as Assistant Team Leaders. Another set of household leaders from our unit, Bro. Dodie and Sis. Eva Espera served as our CPL Servant couple. We’re also grateful to the other units in the chapter for their support in terms of food for the participants throughout the CLP.

Then on the evening of my eldest son’s birthday (Feb. 25), we conducted the orientation session at the Sitio Ruby Multi-purpose Hall. And the rest is history.

Bro. Vic Cabuquit – Psychiatrist and medical school professor

powerfully delivered Talk # 4: Repentance and Faith

Photo ops with our CLP speaker

Included in this picture are Bro. Ted and Sis. Heidi Khan, Sis Eva Espera,

Sis. Grace Cajipe, my wife Odette and myself)

The NB – 1C CLP Service Team

Fast forward to July 6 of this year.

Just a little over a week has passed when I said my “goodbyes” to our household leaders in our unit as I have been tasked to serve as acting Chapter Head in North B - 1C, a neighboring chapter in Barangay Sta. Lucia. I just met our CLP Service Team at home the night before and they had asked me to deliver the orientation talk at the start of the CLP.

I felt good and excited about this service and the people I was to work with. I miss our old unit and their dependability. Now with God’s grace, I pray that I may be able to inspire other brothers and sisters to have the same fervor and reliability we had nurtured in our old unit and CLP Teams.

Brothers pray over our Talk 1: God’s Love speaker Bro. Mar Ona and wife Sis. Emily

Not surprisingly, Sta. Lucia’s current CLP Service Team is not devoid of God’s faithful servants. Week in and week out, I saw many brethren who consistently served during the 3 month long activity.

Participants learn the various songs during the CLP

Fr. Mike Rabino, Assistant Parish Priest of the Good Shepherd Parish

delivers Talk # 2: Who is Jesus Christ?

KFC Kuya Aaron and Ate Ianz ministers to the participants’ children

Consistent with my thrust for better integration by all service and family ministries to the chapter, I had asked certain Youth for Christ (YFC) leaders to take care of the participants’ young children during the CLP sessions as to focus on the talks and discussions rather than be distracted by their children’s hyperactivity or tantrums. The kids would be encouraged to join coloring or writing activities at one corner, calming their minds and channeling their energies into doing more productive activities.

CLP Service Team with Fr. Mike Rabino

Throughout the CLP I had personally invited many speakers to bring in fresh perspectives and a renewed interest in CLP talks. Fr. Mike Rabino, a relatively new priest in our Fairview parish is one of those speakers with fresh perspectives in life. Gritty in his homilies, Fr. Mike often conveys the hard truths in a very interesting and somewhat comical way without losing the relevant points of his message. By the end of his talk, you could feel the sensation that people wanted to hear more.

As in previous CLPs, we faced some challenges and difficulties…and overcame.

I remember the first CLP I headed in 2005. Early on the day itself we scheduled the important “Receiving the power of Holy Spirit” session, my family’s two nannies ran out on us, leaving me with my youngest baby roughly 3 months old to take care of along with her three other older brothers. Odette my wife was still in Sweden at that time virtually at the end of an official trip. I decided to stay at home that day and tend to my family knowing full well the rest of the service team’s capacity and competency.

In Bro. Jun Palma’s CLP last year, he had to take on one of the talk while I had to handle another over and above the other talk originally assigned to me due to last minute hitches with regard to speakers.

Sta. Lucia’s CLP was no exception. During our own Baptism in the Holy Spirit activity, wherein I came in very tired from two previous CFC related speaking engagements (one in North B – Feria, the other in another sector North A – Caloocan City), I was informed that our invited speaker had failed to show up or respond despite several calls from various people. In his default, people turned to me for a replacement….or more correctly as the replacement.

It was a “baptism of fire” as well for me that day as I had to ask strength and resolve from God as this was my first time to lead participants into receiving the Holy Spirit. I had consciously avoided or would have declined any invitation for Talk 9 because of the preparation and proper disposition I believed that every Talk 9 speaker would have to undergo for himself. I was going to this for the very first time…under these circumstances.

You know what? I did it and I believed I did I well! Not because I thought I was great but because God was good…and God was great! As always, I was able to do things by God’s grace. I relied in Him and He did not fail me.

Were these all oppressions from the evil one or were they tests from God Himself? I’m not sure I could generalize. But my countenance was always based on God’s unfailing promises. I knew I was on the victorious team…the winning team and He would never allow us to encounter such difficulties just to suffer. He always pulled us through. In the end, God just made us stronger.

NB – 1C Music Ministry household sings during CLP graduation

Speaking of strengths, a major strength of this service team and chapter is its music ministry. The members are all committed in their service and this was seen during the whole run of the CLP.

CFC International Council (IC) member Bro. Ernie Maipid, Jr. puts across the message of Talk # 12 (Transformation In Christ)

…as the participants listen

During the participants’ graduation last September 27, we had the opportunity to have invited one of the CFC’s International Council (IC) members, Bro. Ernie Maipid, Jr. A staunch advocate of pastoral formation, I had always appreciated his willingness whenever available to speak down to the chapter level. This time he delivered the last talk, Transformation in Christ where participants are encouraged to actively live out their new life in the Holy Spirit and excite them in becoming a part of the CFC’s mission and vision.

CLP Graduation picture

Couple participants share their experiences

The Lord’s Day celebration is introduced to the participants

A short informal program followed

Bro. Serge de la Cruz and Bro. Gus Balite announces

prize winners and distributes souvenir gifts to participants

A fellowship program was held after dinner where CLP participants showed their talents through short presentations. As a matter of tradition, some prizes are awarded to couple participants based on categories like complete attendance and every couple are given souvenir gifts like bibles or songbooks to help them in their renewed lives.

The end of every CLP is a new life for many people and an expansion to the CFC family. I welcome our new brothers and sisters to the chapter where God has presently placed me to serve Him.

Welcome to the CFC family!

May you continue to experience and share God’s love in this community!