Monday, September 22, 2008

FATHER"S LOVE...

Tito Andy emailed this wonderful video!

Just want to share this very inspiring video..So touching.. 

A son asked his father, 'Dad, will you take part in a marathon with me?'. The father who, despite having a heart condition, says 'Yes'.

They went on to complete the marathon together. Father and son went on to join other marathons, the father always saying 'Yes' to his son's request of going through the race together.

One day, the son asked his father, 'Dad, let's join the Ironman together.' To which, his father said 'Yes' too.

For those who don't know, Ironman is the toughest triathlon ever. The race encompasses three endurance events of a 2.4 mile (3.86 kilometer) ocean swim, followed by a 112 mile (180.2 kilometer) bike ride, and ending with a 26.2 mile (42.195 kilometer) marathon along the coast of the Big Island . Father and son went on to complete the race together. View this race at..... 

NOW WATCH THIS VIDEO:


Sunday, September 21, 2008

CFC THEME 2009



FORWARD IN CHRIST

September 19, 2008


Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

We rejoice that the Lord has given us our theme for next year - "FORWARD IN CHRIST!"

The scriptural basis for this theme is taken from Philippians 3:13-14: "Just one thing: forgetting what lies behind but straining forward to what lies ahead, I continue my pursuit toward the goal, the prize of God's upward calling in Christ Jesus".

Our rejoicing comes from the firm belief that this theme is God's gift to us, because, by His grace, it is consistent with the celebration of the whole Church of the Pauline Year (June 2008 to June 2009). This is to honor St Paul and his missionary zeal.

St Pauls's life was filled wtih his love for Christ and was focused on developing true communicon among the brethern in the early community.  Paul endured many hardships but he persevered and joyfully pursued his mission.

Our theme for 2008 - "Love One Another" - will officially be over at the end of this year but will remain our ways of life in the community.

Rejoice with us, dear brothers and sisters, at this beautiful gift, this guide for the life and mission that we continue to pursue.

May God bless us all!


THE CFC INTERNATIONAL COUNCIL

SPE SALVI


Faithful to the Holy See in Rome

"Spe salvi facti sumus”— in hope we were saved,

Spe salvi facti sumus”— "in hope we were saved"

Pope Benedict XVI's Encyclical on Hope ...
in this Advent Season of the greatest Hope given mankind.
November 30, 2007

Don't have time to read it?

LISTEN TO IT! ... 
one section at a time, at your own pace ...

Listen to:

Wednesday, September 17, 2008

INSPIRATIONAL

Starfishes and Pebbles in Building God's Kingdom

 

It is always fascinating to think how each one of us was called into a life in the Community and how each one of us uniquely contributes to the whole. It is said that the whole is the sum of its parts. Many times though, it is not by giant strides or earth shaking events that shape the work particularly of helping build God's Kingdom while in this life.

Read more...

MISSION AND EVANGELIZATION

MISSION AND EVANGELIZATION

Pope Benedict XVI, Shepherd of Truth

Notable quotations from Pope Benedict XVI and official
teachings of the Roman Catholic Church

Pope Benedict XVI

"ABSOLUTE PRIORITY"

The missionary mandate continues to be an absolute priority for all baptized persons who are called to be "servants and apostles of Christ Jesus" at the beginning of this millennium.

"PRESSING AND URGENT"

St. Paul had understood well that only in Christ can humanity find redemption and hope. Therefore, he perceived that the mission was pressing and urgent to "proclaim the promise of life in Christ Jesus" (2 Tm 1;1), "our hope" (1 Tm 1:1), so that all peoples could be co-heirs and co-partners in the promise through the Gospel (cf. Eph 3:6).

"URGENT DUTY"

It is ... an urgent duty for everyone to proclaim Christ and His saving message. St. Paul said, "Woe to me if I do not preach it [the Gospel]!" (1 Cor 9:16).

RESPONSE TO LOVE

By looking at St. Paul's experience, we understand that missionary activity is a response to the love with which God loves us. His love redeems us and prods us to the missio ad gentes.

LOVE FROM THE HEART OF JESUS

...It is God ... Who leads the Church towards the frontiers of humanity and calls the evangelizers to drink "from the original source, which is Jesus Christ, from Whose pierced hear flows the love of God" (Deus Caritas Est, n. 7).

"WAITING FOR THE GOSPEL"

Today there are countless people who are waiting for the Gospel, those who are thirsting for hope and love.

"CONSTANT AID"

Let us set sail in the vast sea of the world and, following Jesus' invitation, let us cast our nets without fear, confident in His constant aid.

(Source: Message for World Mission Sunday, dated 5/11/08)

Published by: Presentation Ministries, 3230 McHenry, Cincinnati, Ohio 45211, (513) 662-5378, www.presentationministries.com

Thursday, September 11, 2008

UGNAYAN: The News Supplement of CFC


September 1-14, 2008
Volume 12 No. 18

CBCP Monitor CFC Supplement
click to view and save

PRAYER REQUEST FROM BAHRAIN FOR Sis. AU JAPITANA

--- On Tue, 9/9/08, prosy punsalan <> wrote:
From: prosy punsalan <>
Subject: Fw: Request for Prayers from Family
Date: Tuesday, September 9, 2008, 11:35 PM

Dear LORD,

We praise and thank You for everything that you have done in our daily lives, most of all the good health, body and mind. Lord God we offer to you our
Sis. Au Japitana for your healing power by removing the lump on her breast, as we truly believe in all your miracles that You have done especially to a woman who just touch Your cloak and she was healed, as You have said; "If you have a faith like a mustard seed, we can move mountains". We firmly believe in Your promises and your healing power, through the power of the Holy Spirit whom you left for us, our Sis. Au will be healed in Jesus name we pray. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, Amen! 

Please pass on to others!
Subject: FW: Request for Prayers from Family

In JESUS' MIGHTY NAME - we pray that this trial will pass... and Sister Au will even be spared from the knife...
 
God bless and please do let others pray for this intention.
 
Sister Jie Anne

Tuesday, September 9, 2008

RESPONSIBILITY OF THE PRESENT MOMENT!

Why Family Catechesis?

"For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also"
Luke 12:34
  
HOLY FAMILY

FAMILY CONSECRATION
THROUGH   
FAMILY CATECHESIS

I have this burning desire within me for years now and it only started to take shape only a couple of weeks back and now it is almost done. I think I've made enough noise now about the need to take Family Catechesis into every CFC homes - this is the right time to take this out-of-the-box and bring it to every Catholic homes! 

I am taking the initiative together with two other like-minded families who would take the eXtra-Mile for the Greater Glory of God! (XM-4-3G)

This is the responsiblity of the present moment: since parents have given children their life, they are bound by the most serious obligation to educate their offspring and therefore must be recognized as the primary and principal educators. Gravissimum Educationis, 3 (Declarationon Christian Education)

How can we do this? 

I got a big help from Pope Benedict XVI, here is what he has got to say...
"How can we do this? We cannot of course do it on our own. In the end, it is the Lord who helps us but we must be available as instruments. I would say simply: no one can give what he does not personally possess; in other words we cannot pass on the Holy Spirit effectively or make him perceptible to others unless we ourselves are close to him.

This is why I think that the most important thing is that we ourselves remain, so to speak, within the radius of the Holy Spirit's breath, in contact with him. Only if we are continually touched within by the Holy Spirit, if he dwells in us, will it be possible for us to pass him on to others.

Then He gives us the imagination and creative ideas about how to act, ideas that cannot be planned but are born from the situation itself, because it is there that the Holy Spirit is at work. Thus, the first point: we ourselves must remain within the radius of the Holy Spirit's breath." 

Again, here is what the Holy See said about taking the RESPONSIBILTY OF THE PRESENT MOMENT...

...subsequently gives rise to those initiatives that cannot be programmed: communities of prayer, communities that read the Bible together or that even provide effective help for people in need, who require it, who are on the margins of life, for the sick, for the disabled and many other things. This is when our eyes are opened to see our personal skills, to assume the corresponding initiatives and to be able to imbue others with the courage to do the same. And precisely these human things can strengthen us, in a certain way putting us in touch anew with God's Spirit."

We will do our very best to see this take off the ground as we make ourselves available to be instruments of the One we adore, our Lord and Saviour JESUS CHRIST!

Please pray for us!


We are CFC taking the EXTRA MILE
For the Greater Glory of God!
3G  

Visit our site:

THE SECRET OF THE ROSARY

THE SECRET OF THE ROSARY

by Father Al Lauer

 

"When the designated time had come,

God sent forth His Son born of a woman,"

Galatians 4:4


 **THE HOLY SPIRIT, THE ROSARY, AND HARD TIMES


As we come closer to the end of the world, the emergence of the antichrist, and the mass apostasy (2 Thes 2), we urgently need the Spirit to guide us to the truth of the rosary (see Jn 16:13).  The Lord is calling us to rediscover why he gave us the rosary as a form of prayer.  The rosary was given through Mary to Dominic when he was fighting a losing battle against the Albigensian heresy, which denied that Jesus came in the flesh.  This is the spirit of the antichrist (1 Jn 4:2-3).  Dominic did not know how to pray as he ought, so the Spirit helped him in his weakness by giving him the rosary (Rom 8:26). And, as Dominic prayed the rosary, an impossible victory was won. We likewise need to claim by prayer a victory which seems impossible. 


**THE ROSARY, PROPHECY, AND THE BIBLE


Throughout the centuries, Jesus' disciples have asked the Master to teach them to pray (Lk 11:1).  Many people have maintained they had received prophecies or revelations from the Spirit about how to pray.  Many of these experiences are authentic, and many are not.  We must nor despise prophecy (1 Thes 5:20), while at the same time we must test the spirit of the prophets (1 Jn 4:1).  The revelation of the rosary is possibly one of the most tested in history.


The rosary is of the Spirit because it is Biblical.  The "Our Father" and the "Glory Be," as well as half of the "Hail Mary," are straight from the Bible. When we pray the rosary, we are for the most part repeating God's word.  The rosary also has a special relationship to the _Psalms_.  The full rosary is 150 "Hail Mary’s" representing the 150 psalms.  Also, the fifteen mysteries we reflect on during the rosary are either taken from or based on the Scriptures. Because the rosary is a Biblical prayer in thought, history, and word, we have good reason to discern that it is of the Spirit.


**THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT (Gal 5:22-23)


"You can tell a tree by its fruit" (Mt 12:33), and the fruit for those praying the rosary has been exceptional, especially for families.  I grew up praying the family rosary nightly, and I can testify that "the family that prays together stays together."  The rosary is a means of inestimable blessings for a family.  Pope Paul VI and Pope John Paul II affirm, "There is no doubt that. . . the rosary should be considered as one of the best and most efficacious prayers in common that the Christian family is invited to recite." (_Christian Family in Modern World_, #61) 


The rosary has also been a way of praying for peace (Fatima), victory (Lepanto), evangelization (Guadalupe), healing (Lourdes), and conversion (Medjugorje).  In effect the rosary is part of the Spirit renewing the face of the earth. 


I had largely given up praying the rosary in my mid-twenties.  I thought I was too sophisticated for such a simple prayer.  But as soon as I was "baptized in the Spirit," I was inspired by the Spirit to return to praying the rosary.  The first time I ever prayed in tongues was during the praying of the rosary.  Also, the greatest evangelistic explosion I have ever seen began with a rosary march.  The rosary in my experience has borne the fruit of the Spirit. 


**THE SECRET OF THE ROSARY 


When I share these experiences, some people are skeptical, because for them the rosary has not been so Spirit-filled.  Possibly, they don't know the secret of praying the rosary.  They know the wording and order of the prayers, but they may not know how to pray the rosary in the freedom of the Spirit.  The rosary is especially for simple, childlike, and creative people.  The rosary was originally a poor, illiterate man's way of praying the 150 psalms. He substituted part of Luke 1 for each psalm and in this way prayed the psalms in Spirit, even if he couldn't read.  Then he got his hands into the action by carving out some wooden beads, stringing them together, and fingering the beads.  Consequently, the rosary is a "hands on" prayer rather than just a "head trip". 


But even so, the Spirit did teach those praying the rosary to reflect on "mysteries" from the Scriptures, in addition to repeating verses from the Bible and praying with their hands.  However, this was also done creatively in the Spirit.  For centuries there were many different mysteries to pray and, even though the mysteries are standardized today, there's no reason why we must limit ourselves to these. We should feel free to pray "new" mysteries. 


Furthermore, when we pray individually, we need not always pray ten "Hail Marys" every "decade."  We should begin with the "Our Father" and then pray as the Spirit leads. So a "decade" could be five, nine, twelve, or fifteen "Hail Marys." When the Spirit calls us to move on, we should thank the Lord for what He's doing with a concluding "Glory Be" and begin another "decade." 


The Lord blesses Spirit-led creativity in praying the rosary.  We see this in innovations such as adding the prayer: "O my Jesus, forgive us ...” We also see the Lord working through the rosary of Jesus, the Franciscan rosary, the Scriptural rosary, and the rosary in which we add intercessory prayers before each decade or even before each bead.  Also there are many chaplets, which are shortened variations of the rosary. 


We may be called not only to be creative in how we pray the rosary but also in where we pray.  The rosary is a perfect prayer not so much for the church as for the streets.  Despite noise and traffic, the rosary is a way to pray together with others.  The streets are where the Holy Spirit sent the church. We should be out in "the highways and byways," leading people to Christ (Lk 14:23).  We are called to put our faith on the lampstand (Lk 8:16) by publicly witnessing to the truth and waging spiritual warfare against abortion, pornography, perversions, and injustices of all kinds.  For example, some of the greatest rosaries I have ever prayed have been before an abortion chamber where I've seen the Lord save babies' lives. 


**THE ROSARY, COMMUNICATION, AND LOVE 


In conclusion, the purpose of any prayer, including the rosary, is to extend our communication with God so as to grow in His love.  We talk to God in our own words but what we want to express is often beyond words.  So we look for a way to extend our power to communicate.  We sing, clap, shout, and gesture. But still our power to communicate is inadequate to express our love for the Lord.  We receive the gift of praying in tongues (1 Cor 12:10), but still we need more.  The rosary gives us one more form of communication with the Lord. 


Thank you, Holy Spirit, for teaching us to pray, giving us freedom and creativity, extending our power to communicate with the Lord, and revealing to us the secret of the rosary.

 

Monday, September 8, 2008

Happy Birthday Mama Mary


 
Mama Mary Happy Birthday! 
At the dawn of every life, 
at the birth of every child, 
there is always a joyous thought
that brings memories of care, 
affection and also pains and anxiety, 
but all add up to a poem of Love.

Every human being carries with him or her
the seal of this Love and remembers
the maternal tenderness which is
very hard to remove from the heart.

Over the years, even when our hair
turns gray, there remains the
distant memories and the strong desire
to see once again Her, who carries
the affectionate name of Mother.
Her name is a fountain of peaceful thoughts, 
generosity, serenity and Love.

We always talk nice about our Mother
and we always speak highly of
her merits and good guidance.
and when She is around, a veil of
happiness surrounds our hearts.

There is a legend that says that
since God could not be physically
present amongst all His people at all times, 
he created Mothers to take His place.
Looking at the smile on the face
of a Mother as she looks at
her baby explains it very clearly.

If we look at Nature
we see so much beauty: 
the People, the Mountains, 
the Oceans, Rivers, Trees, 
the Flowers, Stars and the Birds...
But the Sun doesn't shine on anyone
more beautiful than you, Mother! 
Thanks for filling this World
with so much genuine love.
With sincere admiration, 
love and respect to you.

I love you mama Mary. 

by Mark Stephen Ancheta