Going Back...To Find The "Treasure" of Family

http://stjudedamilag.org/default.htm_files/Page2692.htm

Holy Thursday morning and i felt agitated and irritated. I had from minor to major complaints. I was not able to frankly tell my husband how i felt. Instead i asked for his permission that I would sort of hybernate at the beautiful mountains of Bukidnon. I wanted so much to go home. I gathered all my courage just to get that "yes" from him. To simply put it, I needed the space for myself and my tiny growing baby in my womb.

I thank God for giving me an understanding husband. He really noticed the uphill climbs and downs of my emotions. I guess he just wanted to give me that rest. Thank you God. I opted to stay with my older sister's family. My other sister and her family were there already and I felt the guilt of not bringing along my husband. I reminded myself that I needed that "space" hoping that i would reap better insights when i get back to our home in 2 days time.

The first thing i did, i ate lots of vegetables. Then i slept the entire afternoon and went to the Church with my sisters' families. Oh i missed my husband so much. Where was I? I admitted I never felt so lost in years. Not like this. As i was skirting myself during the Eucharistic celebration, I felt the calmness of the reality of the strong foundation that families build such that the community that i visited - Damilag Bukidnon prioritized formation of families. I touched my tummy from time to time trying to communicate that love and mentioning my husband during my prayer time.

What more did i hear after that? My brother in law and sister mentioned to me the leadership of their parish priest and i was simply astounded at how such one person could have made so much difference in the lives of the people in their community. This dedicated priest was able to lead their community into the following :

1. Children's mass every Sunday (3pm) - this priest distributes "goodies" to kids when they are able to answer his questions during mass. He also gives assignments to kids -bible verses to read and ask questions to them. Kids also receive coupons when they go to mass. They present these as "passport" during Fridays - except first fridays for movie watching. Films according to my brother in law are filled with good values for children to emulate.

2. Basic Ecclessial Community (BEC) - divided each sub parish into BEC involving families (i knew also that the priest himself involves in this. He has his own group too)

3. Project 2BC - raising 2 million in 2 months for the baptistery. A baptistry is that small pond (sorry for the word) filled with blessed water where baptismal rites are held in the olden time. This priest just wants that tradition come alive. I like it very much. I saw this in old Catholic Churches and it seem to have no use anymore...(just a thought)

4. Parish website - you may take a look at the first ever parish website in Bukidnon (http://www.stjudedamilag.org)...hmmm i dont know if we have any in Cagayan de Oro City.

5. The Parish was awarded with GOOD GOVERNANCE in Mindanao as he is able to organize the parish well and the people and able to maintain a good relationship with the Barangay and established good linkages with them.

6. Encouraged gardening of families in their yards (this great priest leader has his own too at the Church yard).

7. "Lingaw Lakaw" (Fun Walk) was a project headed by the priest himself where people in the barangay walked together to pick litters and trashes

8. Kwarenta sa Kapilya (40 for Chapels) - where each family prepares empty can and drops any amount for 40 days to a help a chapels in the barangay with whatever needs they have

9. Kwarenta sa Trahedya (4o for Tragedy) - each family prepares and empty can and drops any amount for 40 days to a help victims of earthquake in Negros).

10. 40 Words for 40 days - this project I witnessed myself when i visited my sister's subdivision chapel where 40 words are placed on 40 separate small rolled sheets of paper. You pick one and you get your message to live by. My message was "Envy" (hahahha it seems like the heavens just poured fire on me...thank you God for purifying me).

11. Instead of 7 last words in the afternoon of Good Friday where only few are present and some present obviously were bored with those words rolled over and over again every year, this priest initiated a more engaging activity by holding a synchronized Basic Ecclesial Community sessions. This one i guess is more interactive, participative and would be able to bring in more involvement of families. I have nothing against the 7 Last Words of Jesus... It is just that i would rather have it translated and that people could relate with it with their own lives ...making it come alive with them than just simply listening a one - way delivery from a speaker that may have rehearsed it so well but would not know what's in the mind and heart of his listeners. This initiative of this priest is outstanding.

12. Newsletter - with the so very busy schedule of this priest being a province Chancellor to the Bishop (i hope i got it right), he is able to produce a weekly newsletter called "Paglaum" (Hope) discussing weekly theme and any other parish updates.

13. Bible Study every Saturday at 6pm - there is no other best teacher and translator of the word of God but through someone that has gone through the arduous theological studies. A priest can do this. Though some lay people may have gone through this Pastoral study, but the initiative of this one pries even for just an hour in a week may make such huge difference in the lives of families. This program is participated in by families. My sister's family- husband and kids do join this one and i tell you, it was such a good sight for me seeing my 2 nephews so active in other Church activities other than this.

14. Strengthened different church organizations by giving formations / workshops / seminars

15. Segregation of garbage

16. St Jude Shrine at the Parish Church

17. High regard and support with Church organizations

As I was spending some time reading story books under nearby tree, i felt the calmness of the moment spending some time with myself and my "baby" (strange mom that I am). And as i gazed the trees, I had a passing thought of the "Wow" feeling of one priest that take his vocation so seriously doing so much. Did i mention his name yet? He is Fr. Bobby V. Cena. I got his full name in their website (hehe i hope i won't be penalized for publishing his name here without his permission).

Why am I putting this together here? When I went to visit my older sister, I was searching for myself. I thought of something that would just relaxed my nerves and soul. I wanted some nourishment to that extent of diving into the risk of "leaving" my husband for 2 days to get to the heart of my search. I prayed for God's guidance. When I went back home, I told the good news to my dear husband of the need of strengthening our family values and prayer so as to build up that family modeling Christian values.

I had such wonderful time with my husband discussing the "treasures" i found with my apologies for insisting on being "alone" for a while which for me reaped a great "harvest" of realization. Together, we were able to celebrate our simple family "resurrection" through the following:

1. Continue to pray together as a family.
2. To ask for guidance to be able to join a Christian community that would strengthen family relationships
3. include Bible sharings in our family time at night rather than indulging in our favorite hub ...the internet and books.
4. Find time to do things together
5. Not to be carried by the temptations of materialism (we simply decided to continue to share and to live simply even in abundance...hehe we are not rich but we feel so blessed despite many challenges)
6. To be more patient with each other
7. Stay healthy and take care of our upcoming baby
8. To model good values as future parents
9. To stay and stick together as a family
...and a lot more...

One last thing. I thought that priests can do so much like that of Fr. Cena. Sadly, it is my first time to see such kind of priest so "madly" involved in the lives of his people in the parish. I hope and pray there will be more of them. One thing that i saw when he raised the cup during the mass...he was simply "lost" in his singing and praise that i saw him in tears. Wow...he must have that strength of his spirituality that he is able to sustain and get so much strength, nourishment and protection in his ministry.


Oh my...we lay people...our families...need a good shepherd in our parishes...we need great Help....this one i realize to be an urgent need of our time. Priest leaders...with strong spirituality...we need to protect our families... through the help of these men of God...

Dear God help us...

PS...I never thought God would just lead me back to my old place to be able to pick up this wonderful story to share and get so much strength in my own family journey. Thank you God:-)