The 14 students of the Institute of Formation, Fondacio Asia (IFF Asia) who come from Malaysia, Myanmar, Laos, China, and the Philippines facilitated a club to 19 teenagers and 20 children of Santuario de San Vicente de Paul in Tandang Sora, Quezon City last August 14, 2010 from 9 am to 12 noon with the theme: “Let’s Hang Out!” A club is a Fondacio youth activity with different components including fun, food, learning and prayer. It was a fun-filled day for both the students of IFF Asia and the children and youth of Santuario. The club will be a monthly activity at Santuario and the next one will be held on September 18, 2010. The students are hopeful to have more youth attending this activity as it will help the youth to meet new friends, have fun, learn more about things that interest them and pray with others.
Bel Castillo
IFFAsia staff
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
Word of the Month (August 2010)
Luke 14: 1, 7-14
On one occasion when Jesus was going to the house of a leader of the Pharisees to eat a meal on the sabbath, they were watching him closely.
When he noticed how the guests chose the places of honor, he told them a parable. "When you are invited by someone to a wedding banquet, do not sit down at the place of honor, in case someone more distinguished than you has been invited by your host; and the host who invited both of you may come and say to you, 'Give this person your place,' and then in disgrace you would start to take the lowest place. But when you are invited, go and sit down at the lowest place, so that when your host comes, he may say to you, 'Friend, move up higher'; then you will be honored in the presence of all who sit at the table with you. For all who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted."
He said also to the one who had invited him, "When you give a luncheon or a dinner, do not invited your friends or your brothers or your relatives or rich neighbors, in case they may invite you in return, and you would be repaid. But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind. And you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you, for you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous."
On one occasion when Jesus was going to the house of a leader of the Pharisees to eat a meal on the sabbath, they were watching him closely.
When he noticed how the guests chose the places of honor, he told them a parable. "When you are invited by someone to a wedding banquet, do not sit down at the place of honor, in case someone more distinguished than you has been invited by your host; and the host who invited both of you may come and say to you, 'Give this person your place,' and then in disgrace you would start to take the lowest place. But when you are invited, go and sit down at the lowest place, so that when your host comes, he may say to you, 'Friend, move up higher'; then you will be honored in the presence of all who sit at the table with you. For all who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted."
He said also to the one who had invited him, "When you give a luncheon or a dinner, do not invited your friends or your brothers or your relatives or rich neighbors, in case they may invite you in return, and you would be repaid. But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind. And you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you, for you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous."
Thursday, August 5, 2010
China Summer Camp: Random Reflections
Participants to the recently held youth camp in China last July 20 - 31 share their thoughts and reflections on significant moments during the event.
Building Up the Chinese Youth
"This summer camp’s organizational scale and its effects would definitely benefit our country. I have always had this desire “to go on a pilgrimage” and through this camp, it is realized today.
Last July 20, filled with happiness, I boarded the bus for the venue and arriving there, I admired the place and felt so much at home. All the members of the service team, brimming with brilliant smiles, were welcoming the arrival of each participant. Their warmth, patience and attentive serving us took away our initial unfamiliarity. In this extremely friendly environment, I also blended with this group which exuded with Christ’s life and love.
This camp certainly helped so many young people’s faith and love to be nurtured further. Hopefully one day, it will lead the Chinese youth to the Lord allowing them to spread out in every corner and share the Lord’s love and fragrance with others."
Washing Each Other’s Feet
"This afternoon, the group dynamics on the “washing of the feet” touched me deeply. I didn’t have much predominant feelings within as I wash other people’s feet, but when it was the turn for the other person to wash my feet, I really didn’t relish it. In my daily life, the impression of not having the pardon of the Lord and that of my fellow brothers and sisters surface within me. Have I the virtue or the capability to allow others to wash my feet? As I watch my fellow brothers and sisters washing the feet of the others, I think of the future - of how I can use my heart to love and transform each brother, and also at the same time have much hope for my community to be like a devoted and loving big family.
Today, I surrender myself to wash the feet of the other, but tomorrow when I return home, can I wash the feet of my parents? Even though I think of allowing my love to be expressed, the gap between my parents and myself does not allow me to express it!
In this community I let go of myself, becoming a devoted and a loving family member, and tomorrow I take this kind of love to the big group, to my own family and to the whole society. For the moment, I hope that each one of us brothers and sisters, upon returning home, can seriously at least once wash the feet of our own parents."
Related story: Fondacio Asia Conducts Summer Camp in China
Monday, August 2, 2010
Everyday-Life Cooking
I still remember the first time I cooked in the restaurant that I was working in. I was very worried because I didn’t have the experience. I prepared the salad, mixed everything and made it presentable, and then I tasted it. Oh, wow, it tasted good! That was the first time I discovered that I can cook. I had been working in the restaurant since my first year in the University to help finance my studies. I started as a waiter and then after only one month, I was given the chance to be a cook when the assigned cook got sick, and I volunteered to be pan assistant cook because no one else wanted to. Thus, I started my journey into cooking.
Today, I am a student at IFFAsia, and I have a big responsibility to my classmates. My task is to prepare the menu and estimate how much we need to cook. I am very happy every time I cook and see the smile on their faces when they eat my food. Every time I cook, I remember my family, because I give joy to them. In my family, everybody cooks together and helps each other to prepare the food. After, all of us join to eat together. My mother motivates me to cook for each other. She said, “Learn how to cook and have more patience because wherever you go, people will LOVE you if you know how to cook and you know how to be a servant for food.” Yes, it is true that my skill in cooking helps so that others can build their trust in me.
Cooking is part of my life. Whether I feel happy or sad, I just cook. I want to make others happy through cooking; it defines my service to people. Since I am a flexible person, I act depending on my environment. My life is just like the food I cook. It will taste depending on how I want it to be; but it doesn’t always taste good. In life, I sometimes struggle and it doesn’t go my way; but I try to find ways to make it better.
In relation to God, cooking is an act of giving love. Every time someone cooks, his goal is to make another person happy. This is also one of the characteristics of God. He makes our life happy. Cooking is a way of sharing one’s talents with others; similarly, God shares himself with everyone through his son.
We can see God in our everyday life, no matter how ordinary it may be to others. So, if you want to eat, I can share my time with you and cook for you.
Sonesacksith Solaphong (Baow)(Baow, 25 years old, comes from Laos. He is a civil engineering graduate. Before coming to IFFAsia, he was serving actively in the youth ministry of his diocese.)
Encountering the Forgotten God of the Trinity
“Since I was a child, I had always been happy whenever I received gifts; there’s always a joy in my heart which brings a genuine and vibrant smile of thanksgiving for those who gave me the gifts. However, when I grew up, I began to think that maybe it’s time that I be the one to give gifts rather than receive or ask for them. But, I deeply realized that even when I was still in my mother’s womb I already received a very precious gift from my Father, a gift that was waiting to be accepted and unwrapped - the gift of life and love.”
Last July 17-18, 2010, a Life in the Spirit Session was conducted for the students, interns and staff of Institute of Formation, Fondacio Asia (IFFAsia). It was animated by members of Fondacio Philippines. The session was an empowering and assuring weekend; it was an encounter with the forgotten God of the Trinity – the Holy Spirit. It helped me to reveal this beautiful gift of life and love from Christ Jesus and allowed me to experience the unconditional love of God through the Holy Spirit. During the session when we had our solitude, we reflected on three parables in the Gospel of Luke, which talks about how much God loves us. Pondering most especially on the parable of the prodigal son, I received this message, “I will always carry you in my heart. I love you as you are and I will never stop showing and letting you feel how much I love you.” It really assures me in my personal journey today.
I believe it is true when Manny San Luis, of Fondacio Philippines, said, “Real transformation can only happen in our lives when we allow the Holy Spirit to lead us.” That is, when we don’t fill our emptiness with worldly things that surround us, and instead allow ourselves to be open to the stirrings of the Holy Spirit that is in us and let Him be the one to fill our emptiness and brokenness. He added that in every person there are two wolves, the black and the white, that always fight within us, and then he asked, “Which of those two wolves do you think will win?”, which he also answered, “the one you are feeding is the one who’s going to win.”
He describes the Holy Spirit, the God in us, by using imagery of Milo, a chocolate drink. When we prepare a cup of Milo and just put hot water without properly stirring it, the tendency is that it just settles at the bottom of the cup. Similarly, when we receive the Holy Spirit, but don’t allow Him to lead us or become part of our lives, He gets stuck in the very core of our lives, waiting to be stirred and consulted.
Through the Baptism of the Holy Spirit and the process of allowing the Spirit to pray in my behalf, using my body in praising God, it touches the very core of my being which makes me say that I am truly a child of God.
Rod Babiera(Rod, 21 year-old Filipino, belonged to Batch 2009-2010 of Basic Formation at IFFAsia. He is currently undergoing a 2-year internship program at the Institute.)
Monday, July 19, 2010
Fondacio Asia Conducts Summer Camp in China
Following is the correspondence from Alice, of IFFAsia, who is currently leading a mission team in China.
Fondacio Asia is conducting a Summer Camp in China! The camp is organised by a local diocese for university students and youth in the parishes since some years now.
The theme of this year’s Summer Camp is “Youth, Hope of Families”. Topics include self-discovery, experiencing God, the meaning of love, the importance of family, and bringing hope not only to family but also to society.
The guiding text for this camp is: "You are the salt of the earth and the light of the world".
Schedule for the camp is as follows:
July 20 - 24 Leadership Training Camp (for 80 youth leaders)
July 25 - 31 Summer Camp (for 400 university students)
The team of animators composed mostly of former IFFAsia students from China (Wendy, Becky, and Lina) and from Malaysia (Mag, Nina, and Cecilia), and Alice has been sent on this mission trip to China. It is the first time for most of us to be sent here. The food, water and weather need adapting to. Some of us need to take extra care in terms of what we eat. Thank God, we feel very much being led by the Spirit and our sense of dependency and docility seems heightened.
Now, all of us are so much into speaking Mandarin. I feel that the team is doing well, and each one seems to be improving each day. God is truly with us!
To symbolize our solidarity and communion as one community, we carry the candle from the Fondacio Congress 2008, and will light this during our sessions and prayer time.
We ask you to be with us during this time. Please pray for us. We ask for the grace of docility to the Spirit and communion within our team, with the Church and the community.
In the spirit of mission,
Alice
We encourage each one to pray, most especially during the days of the summer camp, for the success of this mission trip and the well-being of everyone in the team.
Fondacio Asia is conducting a Summer Camp in China! The camp is organised by a local diocese for university students and youth in the parishes since some years now.
The theme of this year’s Summer Camp is “Youth, Hope of Families”. Topics include self-discovery, experiencing God, the meaning of love, the importance of family, and bringing hope not only to family but also to society.
The guiding text for this camp is: "You are the salt of the earth and the light of the world".
Schedule for the camp is as follows:
July 20 - 24 Leadership Training Camp (for 80 youth leaders)
July 25 - 31 Summer Camp (for 400 university students)
The team of animators composed mostly of former IFFAsia students from China (Wendy, Becky, and Lina) and from Malaysia (Mag, Nina, and Cecilia), and Alice has been sent on this mission trip to China. It is the first time for most of us to be sent here. The food, water and weather need adapting to. Some of us need to take extra care in terms of what we eat. Thank God, we feel very much being led by the Spirit and our sense of dependency and docility seems heightened.
Now, all of us are so much into speaking Mandarin. I feel that the team is doing well, and each one seems to be improving each day. God is truly with us!
To symbolize our solidarity and communion as one community, we carry the candle from the Fondacio Congress 2008, and will light this during our sessions and prayer time.
We ask you to be with us during this time. Please pray for us. We ask for the grace of docility to the Spirit and communion within our team, with the Church and the community.
In the spirit of mission,
Alice
We encourage each one to pray, most especially during the days of the summer camp, for the success of this mission trip and the well-being of everyone in the team.
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
Word of the Month (July 2010)
Luke 10: 25-37
Just then a lawyer stood up to test Jesus. "Teacher," he said, "what must I do to inherit eternal life?" He said to him, "What is written in the law? What do you read there?" He answered, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself." And he said to him, "You have given the right answer; do this, and you will live."
But wanting to justify himself, he asked Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?" Jesus replied, "A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell into the hands of robbers, who stripped him, beat him, and went away, leaving him half dead. Now by chance a priest was going down that road; and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan while traveling came near him; and when he saw him, he was moved with pity. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, having poured oil and wine on them. Then he put him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. The next day he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said, 'Take care of him; and when I come back, I will repay you whatever more you spend.' Which of these three, do you think, was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of the robbers?" He said, "The one who showed him mercy." Jesus said to him, "Go and do likewise."
Just then a lawyer stood up to test Jesus. "Teacher," he said, "what must I do to inherit eternal life?" He said to him, "What is written in the law? What do you read there?" He answered, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself." And he said to him, "You have given the right answer; do this, and you will live."
But wanting to justify himself, he asked Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?" Jesus replied, "A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell into the hands of robbers, who stripped him, beat him, and went away, leaving him half dead. Now by chance a priest was going down that road; and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan while traveling came near him; and when he saw him, he was moved with pity. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, having poured oil and wine on them. Then he put him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. The next day he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said, 'Take care of him; and when I come back, I will repay you whatever more you spend.' Which of these three, do you think, was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of the robbers?" He said, "The one who showed him mercy." Jesus said to him, "Go and do likewise."
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
A Voice of Sandakan Girl to Home
Dear all in the Diocese of Sandakan,
How have you been doing? I hope that you are all fine and happy. I am fine and happy and just recovered from my knee injury.
How have you been doing? I hope that you are all fine and happy. I am fine and happy and just recovered from my knee injury.
Today, 30th June 2010 is a historical event for the Philippines. Today is the 15th presidential inauguration for the newly elected president, Benigno Aquino III. In our morning mass earlier today, we offered up to God our prayer for the new elected president, hoping that he will make a change in the Philippines.
So it has been a month being in IFFA. In just a month I have learn to discover and unfold myself little by little. It is quite challenging for me because to learn to accept the past is very difficult unless we are willing to really let it go and be open to let God enter our life. It is rather funny as I flashed back the moment I told myself that I had let go everything in order for me to really focus in this formation yet God has HIS own way helping me dig up things that I do not want to remember. I can say that the formation I undergo now is all about me. I must first know myself, I must know who is God to me and I must first accept myself as being me before going for my mission.
Along my formation I learn to accept my fellow friends from other countries, formation team and the staff of IFFA. Living as a community here in IFFA is hard at first because we came from diverse part of Asia and culture. Yet the formation is inviting me to be open, to trust and respect.
In IFFA it is all about community. Each of us is scheduled to do out duty like cooking for the community, cleaning up the formation house, disposing the garbage and leading the evening prayer. Every once a month we will be having a community prayer. Every Tuesday and Wednesday we will be having class at St Vincent, School of Theology and every Monday, Thursday and Friday will be the in-house formation. Every Saturday is our weekly integration where we will reflect on the happenings of the whole week.
There are so many things to share. Hhhmmm the most significant experience to me is the “Self – Discovery and Uniqueness”. As I shared earlier it is about discovering me as me. In this session we reflected how life is when we are pretending to be somebody, someone else to hide the real us. I remembered wearing a mask to cover the hurts and difficulties that has been burdening me. It was painful. Did I really let go? No, I did not let go. There a point where I shared to the formation team that I hated the question. But as I reflected it again it is God’s way to heal me. I only have to trust and open to HIM. (^ v ^)….. God to me is the “EYES” to my life who will always keep watch over me. My new insight in this session is I am not a MISTAKE! I was created according to HIS image. No one can look down on me, only if I permit that person to do so and only in God that I can seek the special in me. I am a gift and I am a blessing! Wow….
Let me share you our class in St Vincent, School of Theology. All IFFA students took the four Gospel and Theology for Beginners subject. To be honest to understand the scriptures is hard. Ha ha ha ha ha our first day in class, we learn about Mathew 1: 1-17, the genealogy. Oh gosh only that verses we end up two hours and a half to truly understand the passage. Just imagine how much time we need for the whole bible…!!! For our Theology class we learn about God in our everyday living. What I like so much about this class is it is full of inspiration. I never think of God in my everyday doing like brushing me teeth, taking my bath, walking, drink water and etc… HE is everywhere, anywhere in my everyday life. I wonder if other people realize it…
I am looking forward to this formation. I really need your support and prayers. May your prayers be accompany me throughout this formation year. Once again thank you and may God Bless a special person like you every day. Till then Goodbye and have a nice day.
Here are some picture taken during my one month formation here in IFFA.
Anna Amandus
IFFA, Batch 2010-2011
IFFA, Batch 2010-2011
Monday, June 7, 2010
Word of the Month (June 2010)
Luke 15: 3-7
So he told them this parable:
"Which one of you with a hundred sheep, if he lost one, would fail to leave the ninety-nine in the desert and go after the missing one till he found it? And when he found it, would he not joyfully take it on his shoulders and then, when he got home, call together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, 'Rejoice with me, I have found my sheep that was lost.'
In the same way, I tell you, there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner repenting than over ninety-nine upright people who have no need of repentance."
So he told them this parable:
"Which one of you with a hundred sheep, if he lost one, would fail to leave the ninety-nine in the desert and go after the missing one till he found it? And when he found it, would he not joyfully take it on his shoulders and then, when he got home, call together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, 'Rejoice with me, I have found my sheep that was lost.'
In the same way, I tell you, there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner repenting than over ninety-nine upright people who have no need of repentance."
Friday, May 14, 2010
Word of the Month (May 2010)
John 17: 20-26
After Jesus had spoken these words, he looked up to heaven and said,
"I ask not only on behalf of these, but also on behalf of those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one. As you, Father, are in me and I am in you, may they also be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. The glory that you have given me I have given them, so that they may be one, as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become completely one, so that the world may know that you have sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. Father I desire that those also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory, which you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world.
"Righteous Father, the world does not know you, but I know you; and these know that you have sent me. I made your name known to them, and I will make it known, so that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them."
After Jesus had spoken these words, he looked up to heaven and said,
"I ask not only on behalf of these, but also on behalf of those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one. As you, Father, are in me and I am in you, may they also be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. The glory that you have given me I have given them, so that they may be one, as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become completely one, so that the world may know that you have sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. Father I desire that those also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory, which you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world.
"Righteous Father, the world does not know you, but I know you; and these know that you have sent me. I made your name known to them, and I will make it known, so that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them."
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