Belief in Jesus Christ, our Living Bread, leads us to eternal life.

Transcription

1 O P E N I N SPI R I T T O G O D (BU K Á S - L O Ó B S A D I Y Ó S ) C o v e n a n t C o m m u n i t y S t. F r a n c i s X a v ie r Mississa u g a D istrict (F F D ) Belief in Jesus Christ, our Living Bread, leads us to eternal life. Do not work for food that perishes but for the food that endures for eternal life. (Jn 6:27a)

2 WORD SHARING CIRCLE (WSC) REFLECTION GUIDE AUG 2018 COMMUNITY WORD FOR AUGUST 2018 (WORD, THEMES AND PROMISES) READINGS August 5 - Ex 16:2-4, 12-15/Ps 78:3, 4, 23-25, 54/Eph 4:17, 20-24/Jn 6:24-35 August 12-1Kgs 19:4-8/Ps 34:2-9/Eph 4:30-5:2/Jn 6:41-51 August 19 - Prv 9:1-6/Ps 34:2-7/Eph 5:15-20/Jn 6:51-58 August 26 - Jos 24:1-2, 15-18/Ps 34:2, 3, 16-21/ Eph 5:21-32/ Jn 6:60-69 COMMUNITY WORD Belief in Jesus Christ, our Living Bread, leads us to eternal life. ORDER Do not work for food that perishes but for the food that endures for eternal life. (Jn 6:27a) PROPHECIES: 1. Follow the ways of My word and live in My holiness. 2. As you find Me in the bread and wine, believe in My abiding presence amidst all pains and trials. DIRECTIONS: 1. Read and meditate on the daily word of God and regularly receive Holy Communion to enrich and deepen your faith. THEMES AND PROMISES Week#1 (18th Sunday in Ordinary Time) Theme: Our belief in the Living Bread leads us to accomplish the works of God. Promise: whoever comes to me will never hunger and whoever believes in me will never thirst. (Jn 6:35) Week#2 (19th Sunday in Ordinary Time) Theme: Our belief in the Living Bread allows us to listen and learn from our Father. Promise: They shall all be taught by God. (Jn 6:45b) Week#3 (20th Sunday in Ordinary Time) Theme: Our belief in the Living Bread inspires us to partake in the Holy Eucharist. Promise: the one who feeds on me will have life. (Jn 6:57b) Week#4 (21st Sunday in Ordinary Time) Theme: Our belief in the Living Bread compels us to stand firm in following Jesus. Promise: The words I have spoken to you are spirit and life. (Jn 6:63b) 2

3 Reflection for August 2018 Belief in Jesus Christ, our Living Bread, leads us to eternal life. This is the central community message for the month of August. Christ gave Himself to us as our spiritual food as we journey in this life. He feeds us by revealing the Father to us in word and in deed, giving us the knowledge and wisdom of God who satisfies our hunger for God. He says: I am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever, (Jn 6:51). Every time we participate in the celebration of the Holy Eucharist, we remember the redemptive, lifegiving love of God that culminated in the passion, death and resurrection of Jesus. Through our communion with Christ in this sacrament, we deepen our friendship with Him and allow Him to shape the way we see, decide and act. The Eucharist is a place where one comes to eternal life, (Gospel of John, Sacra Pagina p 224). The theme for the 18th Sunday in Ordinary Time is - Our belief in the Living Bread leads us to accomplish the works of God. As Catholic Christians and Eucharistic people, we are also a people of mission. We are commissioned to proclaim the goodness and greatness of Jesus Christ by word and deed in the witnessing of our lives. As we are blessed with His Real Presence in the sacrament, we are sent forth to make His presence real to others. As we are fed by the Bread of Life, we are also called to feed the hungry people that we encounter, to strengthen the bond of communion among members of our family, community and work places. As we do, all of God s people will be able to share in Jesus promise in John 6:35 - whoever comes to me will never hunger and whoever believes in me will never thirst. For the 19th Sunday in Ordinary Time the theme is - Our belief in the Living Bread allows us to listen and learn from our Father. To listen and to learn require humility, a key characteristic of a disciple of Jesus. One who listens to God will learn from God and will be drawn to Jesus, for Jesus is the one who speaks God s word and manifests His presence. A prayerful reflection is a learning process that brings us into conversation that connects us with God. It is noteworthy to mention that Christian listening requires patience with an act of love to one who is speaking. It allows the avenue to ask perceptive questions and readies us to minister words of grace to others (Continued on page 4) 3

4 in need at the right time and place. It reflects our sincere and loving relationship with God because as John wrote They shall all be taught by God, (Jn 6:45). Jesus says: Everyone who listens to my Father and learns from Him comes to me. This is the promised assurance of Jesus for those who listens to His Father s word. Our belief in the Living Bread inspires us to partake in the Holy Eucharist is the theme for the 20th Sunday in Ordinary Time. Celebrating the Holy Eucharist is central to our faith as Catholic Christians. It is unique to us because we believe that bread and wine are not merely representation of Christ, but that at the moment of consecration, these species become transubstantiated into the Body and Blood of Christ. It is in the Eucharist that we discover who we are and to whom we truly belong, that we belong to and remain in Jesus. Partaking Holy Communion reinforces our commitment to God and fortifies our relationship with Jesus. In the Holy Eucharist, we are taking God into our body and into our lives, bestowing grace on us. Jesus promised us the one who feeds on me will have life, (John 6:57b). Finally, the theme for the 21st Sunday in Ordinary Time is Our belief in the Living Bread compels us to stand firm in following Jesus. The Eucharist sums up the mystery of our faith. In John 16:33, it is clear and evident that trials and troubles will be part of our life. Difficulties may pile up and at times, we may hardly see God at work. But our true and strong belief in Jesus as the Living Bread compels us to be resolute in embracing God s truth and in following Jesus. If ever we may not see God working, we can depend and take refuge in our Rock and Fortress (Ps 71:3). We should never fear or be discouraged, but be relentless in placing our trust and hope in the Lord and allow Him to work mightily in us, anticipating His promised deliverance. For He has assured us The words I have spoken to you are spirit and life, (John 6:63b). Prayer: O Heavenly Father, nourish and sustain us with the Bread of Life, our Lord Jesus Christ. Transform us for mission, strengthen us for service and let our hearts, minds and whole being be ready to receive You and offer You our thanks and praises. Amen. 4

5 Vol. 5 No. 8 Aug 2018 OSG/BLD SUMMER PICNIC RICHARD S PARK JULY 14, 2018 Last Sunday s Gospel reading of Mark 6:30-34 reminded me of the merit of taking a break from our hectic activities in our community. In the Gospel of Mark, Jesus invites his disciples to rest after their ministry. He invites them to come away from the crowds and rest. As I look back into our activities, I can see the following events that was bestowed upon to our community. They are as follows: January hospitality duty for the St. Francis Xavier relic. February 2 day retreat with Fr. Joseph LeClair at St. Marcellinus School. March we held our Seven Last Words Reflections. April we started our 6 weeks LSS program at St. Luke s Parish in Thornhill. May recollection with Fr. Charles Ogugbuaja 5

6 June we had our ME #5 Weekend & Despedida for Msgr. Ed Pan July Picnic at Richard s Park August we will be turning a new chapter in our community as we welcome our new Pastor, Fr. James Cherickal and as a new District (FFD), we conduct OSG/SFX emergence. We do not know yet what will be the result but if there is any indication will be busy as always like it says in Mark gospel Mark reports that the disciples don t even have time to eat. In an effort to get away, Jesus and his disciples board a boat in hopes of finding a deserted place. But the crowds noticed this and arrived ahead of them. The crowds were so persistent that Jesus and his disciples cannot find a place to be alone. Mark s Gospel tells us that Jesus is moved with pity and begins to teach the crowds. By Rey/Mabel Perlas 6

7 OSG/BLD SFX 1ST EMERGENCE PROCESS 7 Vol. 5 No. 8 Aug 2018 The Council of Servant Leaders issued the CIRCULAR NO A dated July 12, 2018 on Special Emergence for District Council of Stewards OSG/BLD St. Francis Xavier. Following the elevation of OSG/BLD St. Francis to a Full-fledged District on July 1, 2018 (CB A), a Special Emergence for District Council of Stewards (DCS) shall be held as provided for in the BLD Policy Section The Special Emergence process will follow the guidelines of the 2018 General Emergence (BLD Policy 12 as revised). From BLD POLICY AND GUIDELINES SECTION 12: THE EMERGENCE PROCESS: 1.1. Emergence is the process of discerning the promptings of the Holy Spirit in choosing the leaders. His voice is heard through the reading of the word, prayers, and sacrifices by the community members, but more intently by leaders anointed earlier by the same Spirit to exercise the three-fold office of Christian leadership priest, prophet and king. Therefore, we submit to the wisdom of the Community Spiritual Director (CSD) in selecting the Council of Servant Leaders (CSL) and Cluster Shepherds (CS). And, we defer to the wisdom of the CSL in selecting the District Council of Stewards (DCS) for all districts globally The Process of Emergence is a two-step normative process of nomination and selection of community leaders, namely, Servant Leaders, Cluster Shepherds and District Stewards of the BLD Catholic Charismatic Covenant Community, who are called to a higher responsibility The first step occurs at the district level where covenanted members (Nominators) prayerfully discern and nominate their leaders (Nominees) The second step occurs at the global level where the CSD prayerfully discerns and selects the CSL and CS; and the CSL prayerfully discerns and selects the DCS The discerning body does not rely solely on the quantitative result of the nomination, but evaluates other considerations which may have bearing on the nominees The emergence process is not an election exercise or a popularity race which rely on the number of votes as the sole basis of appointment Those who are qualified as Nominees should readily respond to the calling of the Holy Spirit with humble, obedient, trusting and submissive hearts. For discernment process tonight (Aug 2, 2018) are the Five (5) District Stewards who will be asked to serve for the next three (3) years to be Apostolate Stewards for: 1) Evangelization 2) Formation 3) Management 4) Mission 5) Pastoral

8 SFX PARISH EVENT Rosary Apostolate Visitor The Mother of God is actively working in Ontario... leading children and youth to Jesus through the Rosary Apostolate Volunteers! You are a prime candidate if you: Love Jesus and Mary Love children Pray the Rosary Willing to dedicate 2 hours a month What will be expected of me as a Rosary Visitor? To visit a school once a month, for a total of 8 visits from October to May. Screening will be part of the application process. Training and Orientation will be provided! If interested, please stfxrosaryapostolate@gmail.com Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary 2000 Hail Mary Vigil Wednesday, August 15, 2018 St. Francis Xavier Parish Main Hall Bring your family, friends and your petitions and statues. Light refreshments will be provided. 9:00am 2000 Hail Mary Vigil (Main Hall) 7:00pm Holy Mass Procession to follow OSG/BLD SFX PRAYER COMMUNITY CALENDAR Aug 2018 DATE TIME ACTIVITY VENUE Aug pm Mass / Emergence Church Aug pm Praise & Worship/LWG SFX Hall Aug-11 (sat) Aug pm Teaching/Trac 2 Upper Hall 7-9 pm Praise & Worship/ Teaching SFX Hall Aug pm Praise & Worship/LWG SFX Hall Aug pm Intercessory / Caring circle SFX Hall EDITORIAL BOARD: EDITOR: PHYOLA JAMES OSG/BLD SFX DIP INTERIM DCS TONY/MENCHIE VILLANEUEVA REY/ALMA PATRICIO REY/MABEL PERLAS LARRY/MYRNA NIEVA DIP SHEPHERD: ED/LU DUMLAO 8