A JOURNEY OF FAITH @ BICOLANDIA

FIDELITY TO THE GOSPEL.. FIDELITY TO CHRIST

BE A CATECHIST 2

WALA AKONG MASABI

ni Rev. Fr. Fortunato Dumlao

"Wala akong masabi."

I have nothing to say.  I'm tongue-tied.  I'm dumbstruck.

I woke up very early to prepare for this homily and this became the lingering theme of my reflection.  And ang hirap magnilay at gumawa ng sermon kung ang slogan mo ay "wala akong masabi" dahil baka malamang sa hindi ay wala nga talaga akong masasabi.

Wala akong masabi.

An expression of great admiration, gratitude and joy.  Walang masabi dahil manghang-mangha.  Walang masabi dahil ubod ng ganda.  Walang masabi dahil nadama ang ligaya.  In our first reading, our God spoke to the prophet Nathan concerning King David's future.  God assuring David inspite of all his weaknesses: "Your house and your kingdom shall endure forever before me."  The Son of David will live forever". as the responsorial psalm proclaims.  You will really be speechless in front of God.  God has all things covered: our past, present, our future.  What more can we say?

Wala akong masabi.

An expression of disappointment, of unworthiness, of helplessness.  Minsan wala ka ding masabi dahil alam momng may kakulangan at mali.  We are at loss in words sometimes to exhale the sigh of our weaknesses.  The most talkative person lang in our readings yata was Saint Paul, pero letter naman talkaga yun sa Romans kaya kailangan n'yang magsalita.  But still, it wasn't St. Paul's lone words; yes he was speaking yet God's word was louder through his words.  And he was speaking about righteousness, from Abraham to his weak descendants, faith in God alone should make all things right.  We will commit mistakes pero wala kang masasabi sa kabutihan ng Diyos.

Wala akong masabi.

An expression of obedience, of sacrifice, pagsunod na walang reklamo.  Of letting the person speaking, be powerful and empower the one listening.  This was really the message instilled to me by St. Joseph through the readings of his great feast.  In our Gospel it was more evident, God sent an angel and spoke to St. Joseph in a dream, and kahit na sa panaginip hindi nagsalitra si Jose.  Take note, kahit sa panaginip!  Yung iba nga sa atin, kahit tulog nagsasalita.  But St. Joseph was silent.  what can he say?  He was flabbergasted by the grace of God.  What more can he say, but obey.  In submitting to God's will, Joseph's silence became the loudest expression of God's word.  Ang pagsunod sa nais ng Diyos ay nag-ingay sa katahimikan ng buhay ni San Jose.

Dearest kuya, Father Jojo, (kuya Choi) wala akong masabi.  Nagpapaslamat kami sa Diyos dahil biyaya ka sa amin.  Kahit ganyan ka.  After six years that we have ordained; may you still be overwhelmed by God's grace, as His priest, as his chose pastor.  Let us thank God always for guiding us through the years.

Wala akong masabi.

May mga pagkakamali tayo.  May mga kahinaan tayo.  Ako, kahinaan ko, pagkain, ikaw hindi ka kumakain.  In front of God, kuya, we are unworthy still. May mga nagawa na tayong mali, magtiwala tayo pa rin na itatama tayo ng Diyos.  We humbly offer to the Lord our weak selves.

Wala akong masabi.

Halina't sumunod pa rin tayo sa kanya.  Kahit na tayo ay may kahinaan.  He empowers you to be strong.  Let our patron St. Joseph inspire us again to follow God's call: to serve His Church, His people.  Ang pagsunod nawa sa Diyos ang mag-ingay pa rin sa ating buhay.

Wala talaga akong masabi sa Homily na ito.  We continue to thank God.  We continue to ask God's mercy for oue weaknesses.  We continue to promise God silently that we will follow him, now and forever.  Amen.

St. Joseph, Husband of Mary, Pray for us.

BE A CATECHIST

INSTITUTE OF CATECHETICS OF THE ARCHDIOCESE OF MANILA

SUMMER PROGRAM 2013

IT'S MORE FUN TO BE CATECHIST!

PEARLY SHELL

TINY BUBBLES

Principals Lenten Recollection: March 10, 2011

Principals Advent Recollection: Dec. 7, 2012

CARAMOAN: SURVIVOR CHALLENGE

For 2 days and  2 nights (Feb 4-6, 2013),  19 CFAM volunteer catechist coordinators took the survivor challenges during the planning and team building activities held at the La Villa del Leonila Tourist Inn, Brgy. Paniman, Caramoan, Camarines Sur – the very site where some scenes of the Survivor USA were held as seen over Channel 7.

Challenge #1--- 12 ½ Hours Trip Challenge

Departing at 7:30 pm from Raymond Bus Line Alimall Station,  the team arrived 5:30am at Sabang Port where we boarded an 80 seater wooden motor boat bound to Guijalo Port, Caramoan.

Boarding the boat in the dark was the first hurdle encountered by the team -- slippery port, waves moving  the boat and small entry into the deck.    Thanks to the porters who assisted us with our heavy luggages (for a minimal tip).

During the 2-hour boat trip, there were times and places, the ocean waves were big enough to make many (including me)  sea-sick and throw-up. Thanks God I felt better by the  time we reached Guijalo port.

From Guijalo Port, a 30 minute  jeepney drive took us to our first stop  -- St Michael Parish.  Then to a very isolated location in Brgy Paniman  --- La Villa Leonila Tourist Inn where we were welcomed by Sr.  Hilda “Dahil”  Cederia, DM

St. Michael Parish, Caramoan

Early morning of Tuesday (Feb 5)  and Wednesday (Feb 6) saw us travelling through dark and narrow streets from Villa Leonila to the St. Michael Church where we attended  the Holy Mass celebrated by Fr Buddy Crucillo, Asst Parish Priest on Feb 5, (Tuesday) and  by Fr. Nonito Verzola, Parish Priest  Feb 6, (Wednesday).  

After the Holy Mass we said our Morning Praise.  Thanks to Mang Jimmy for picking us up as early as 5:00 to drive us to St Michael and back to La Villa Leonila.

Day 1 (Feb 4, 2013): Island Hopping  - Lahos and  Matucad Island

After a short rest and lunch, we boarded 2 small motor boats bound to Lahos Island.  During the 30 minute or so boat ride,  the  even bigger waves lead everyone to fervent prayer for a safe boat trip. 

This  reminded  me of the Gospel story about   Jesus calming  the storm after the apostles frightened by the storm woke him up  (Lk 8:22 ff).

From Lahos Island, we boarded back the boats for our next island – Matucad  -- where swimming and picture taking resumed. After washing up at the Villa, we had vespers  and dinner.

Challenge #2 – Walang Tulugan Challenge

For 2 nights after dinner, sleepy and exhausted from the whole day’s activities,  the team sat down for the finalization of the Volunteer Catechists Commission Action Plan for SY 2013-2014.  Professionals  as we are, we kept awake during the planning and evaluation sessions .... though a few could not help snooze while discussions were going on…

Day 2 (Feb 5, 2013): Survivors EXTRA Challenge – Our Lady of the Rosary Shrine, Tagbon Island

After breakfast, we boarded 2 boats bound to Tagbon Island – about 20-30 minutes boat ride from Villa Leonila.  This time the waves were very “behaved” compared to yesterday’s. 

Thanks much  to Big Boy and  Kuya Jason, tour guide up to the shrine who stayed closely behind those who needed assistance as we climbed up the Our Lady of the Rosary Shrine  --  557 steps equivalent to   750 meters above sea level (more than twice higher than the Grotto in Baguio, Kamay ni Jesus in Lucban, Quezon and Nuestra Sra de Asuncion Church in Sta Maria,  Ilocos Sur – a UNESCO Heritage CHurch).

According to Kuya Jason, the original statue was built in 1990 by Fr Felix Varella,  a  year after he dreamt of a lady who instructed him to build a shrine on said location.  In 2005,  a lightning struck the statue leaving  a heart-shape whole its back. The damaged statue is buried underground behind the existing statue built by Fr Noel Alfuerto  in 2007.  Fiesta Day is May 21-22.

All 19 CFAM volunteer catechist coordinators (including 7 senior citizens)  passed the survivors EXTRA CHALLENGE.  We could not imagine how we all made it to top – in about 45 minutes while praying the Holy Rosary in been gasps for breath and short stops to rest and/or take a drink.  Truly, our strength is in the Lord, who makes all things possible. We proudly declare ourselves ---  survivors in God’s care.

   

Going down, we were able to enjoy the breath-taking scenery which we failed to appreciate while concentrating on going up the stairs.

From the shrine, a 20-30 minute boat ride took us to  Baging Island where we had our lunch and  the adjacent Sabitlaya Island for swimming at  walang kamatayang pciture taking for facebook posting.  Baging Island with its numerous rock formation of various sizes and shapes is the very same place where the SURVIVOR USA challenges took place.  As in the other islands we “conquered”, sand was white and fine as iodized salt.

Tragic Last Night at the Survivor USA  Eviction Site (Feb 5,  2013)

After vespers (by the shore, facing the ocean),  we took a walk by the shore, to the place where Survivor USA eviction nights where held… with the  four tribal flags still up and waving high.

To complete the tour of the place, the CFAM volcat survivors walked through the wooden bridge where outcasts walked through on their way to the eviction point out of the island.  Unmindful of the caretaker’s warning that said wooden bridge is already weak and due for demolition to avoid untoward incident, the group posed for a last minute group picture. For the second shot, with Jhosie Olayres taking over the camera for Sir Art to join the group, the bridge collapsed!! … with 4 or 5 of the survivors hitting the ground… Thanks God, there were only two minor  casualties  ----  Aida Tuyor (wounded heel) and Jessie Galac –  flattened leg muscles that needed the soothing massage of Jhosie  Olayres and a dose of pain killer.   

The Caramoan - Naga trip is indeed an experience of a lifetime we shall always reminisce. We shall forever be thankful to the Catechetical Foundation of the Archdiocese of Manila (CFAM) for  giving us the opportunity to visit an exciting place such as Caramoan.  

Our special thanks go to  Sir Art Barbadillo and Sir Ed Frando, Volunteers Catechists Commission, Ministry Assistants – for their kind and caring patience   especially to the senior citizens in the group.  Words are not enough to express our gratitude for accompanying  us  to  the experiences we could not have imagine being able to go through without you by our sides.

Having  bravely gone through the Caramoan trip, anything in the future will  be less difficult to face. Next challenge: domestic mission assignment. Any volunteer ??  Taralets!!!  … while we still have some remaining physical agility to go on mission.

The Caramoan  trip was indeed an experience of a lifetime we shall always reminisce. We shall forever be thankful to the Catechetical Foundation of the Archdiocese of Manila (CFAM) for  giving us the opportunity to visit an exciting place such as Caramoan.  

Our special thanks go to  Sir Art Barbadillo and Sir Ed Frando, Volunteers Catechists Commission, Ministry Assistants – for their kind and caring patience   especially to the senior citizens in the group.  Words are not enough to express our gratitude for accompanying  us  to  the experiences we could not have imagine being able to go through without you by our sides.

Having  bravely gone through the Caramoan trip, anything in the future will  be less difficult to face. Next challenge: domestic mission assignment. Any volunteer ??  Taralets!!!  … while we still have some remaining physical agility to go on mission.

To our CFAM partners in mission …. looking forward to more exciting adventures as we continue to serve God together through the catechetical ministry. Praise God and  more power to the  CFAM Volcat Survivors!!!

ROMAN MISSAL: The New English Translation

  

AN INVITATION . . .

ITINERARY

FEBRUARY 15 (Friday)

5:30 pm —  Assembly Time

                     Institute of Catechetics of the Archdiocese of Manila [ICAM]

                     San Carlos Pastoral Formation Complex

                     EDSA, Guadalupe

6:00 pm —  Orientation before boarding 

                              

7:00 pm —  Departure

FEBRUARY 16 (Saturday):  LAOAG TOUR

7:00 am —  Arrival

8:00 am —  Eucharistic Celebration at Paoay Church

                   - Breakfast (personal expense)

                   - Sightseeing—Sand Dunes [Himala sa Buhangin]

                   - Malacañang of the North

11:00 am —  Lunch

                       Laoag City Proper

3:00 pm —  Departure from Vigan

                      Passing By Badok Churches

5:00 pm — Arrival: Vigan, Ilocos Sur

                              Pastoral Center (Dormitory)

                 - Tour: Heritage Village

                               Calle Crisostomo

                 - Dinner (personal expense)

9:00 pm — REST

FEBRUARY 17 (Sunday):  VIGAN TOUR

7:00 am — Breakfast (Pastoral Center)

8:00 am — Eucharistic Celebration

                     Conversion of St. Paul Cathedral

9:00 am — St. Augustine Parisg Church

                    Bantay Bell TowerChavit Singson's Baluarte Zoo

12:00 nn — Lunch (personal expense)

2:00 pm — Santa Maria Church

3:00 pm — St. William’s Cathedral

                     San Fernando, La Union

                 -  Marketing of pasalubongs and dinner (personal expense)

7:00 pm — Departure for Manila

Counterpart:  Php 2,500.00

It covers the following:

·         Bus fare from Manila to Ilocos and Ilocos to Manila

·         Overnight stay at the Pastoral Center, Vigan—Sept. 15 and breakfast on Sept. 16.

·        Entrance fee to Malacañang of the North and other sites, donations to pilgrim churches and other miscellaneous expenses.

NOTE:  Excludes: Meals — during the tours, sand surfing fee (Sand Dunes), pasalubongs and  other personal expenses.

REMINDERS

·     The organizer is not responsible or liable for any loss or damages of  personal belongings.

·     The pilgrims are expected to show proper decorum (e.g excessive noise inside the bus)  
      during the trip since this is a pilgrimage.

·     The pilgrims are required to follow instructions and maintain communications with 
      organizers to assure safety during the trip.

·    Scheduled activities subject to changes upon the organizers discretion.

For more details, please contact:

*Mr. Ed Frando      — 09296299672

*Mr. Art Barbadillo — 09394946508

  Tel. No. 564-36-50

*Diocesan Volunteer Catechists Coordinators 

E-mail address:  volcatcfam@gmail.com

Visit:  volcats.blogspot.com

Find us on Facebook:  A Journey of Faith

Follow us on Twitter: twitter.com/VOLCATZ

----------o0o----------