Archbishop Socrates Villegas, D.D. , Archdiocese of Lingayen-Dagupan

An excerpt from the sharing with Archbishop Soc Villegas, Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Lingayen-Dagupan

It is a great joy to impart with you an excerpt from the sharing of His Excellency Archbishop Socrates

B. Villegas, D.D (Archdiocese of Lingayen-Dagupan) dur-ing our one-week mission in Dagupan, on the occasion of Year of Faith: “You can only create fire with fire, and you can only start new fervor if we ourselves are on fire with the faith. That is why Mother Theresa says, evangeliza-tion is Jesus in my heart reaching out to your heart. The celebration of Year of Faith is not just a celebration of a set of doctrines. The celebration of the Year of Faith is a celebration of the way we live our faith. And the way we live our faith is the one that will inspire other people. Let us not be too concerned about the formulation of dogmas and doctrines, because what is more important than the formulation of dogmas and doctrines is our imitation of Christ. Because the world will believe in Christ not through a set of doctrines; the world will believe in Christ if they see us and they say we have been imitating Christ. Imitation before procla-mation; imitation before prayer; imitation before wor-ship, because the essence of Christianity is imitation of Jesus.” Witnessing of our Catholic faith is important nowadays, as people listen and believe not only with one’s sharing by words or in goods, but most especially by how we try to live an authentic Christian life that is rooted in Christ himself. Together, let us celebrate this Year of Faith with the whole Church, being Christian; imitators of Christ,our Lord and Savior!

-the Editors

Mission in Sawata:

Mission of God-with-us, the Emmanuel!

Last December 22, 2012, we had a-day mission for the children at Sawata community in Navotas, Manila. This mission is in collaboration with the Sisters of the Good News, Sister Anne, Sister Marie and some volunteers. Some members of the Emmanuel Community in Manila also joined us in sharing the joy of Christmas with the chil-dren in the said community.

Sawata is a slum area: with so many container vans, big trucks, rocky and muddy road. I was not able to imagine how the people can live in this place, most espe-cially the children. This situation reminds me of the birth of our Lord, Jesus Christ, who was once born in most likely similar to this place. I was really moved about the life in that community, until a particular event happened. A little girl came beside me along the way, and offered her hand to me with a smile. She wanted to accompany me on the way to the meeting place of our activity. Eventually, I re-ceived her hand and let myself be guided. This encounter was so strong which made my heart go-in tears, that mo-ment made me see Jesus in this child, and while walking I felt being with Jesus, and he takes good care of me. I realized what I brought is a very small thing. It is not my own mission but it’s the mission of God. I enjoyed playing, singing and shar-ing my joy with them. This mission taught me to be simple, not to worry too much about the things to do, but the most impor-tant thing is to prepare our heart to love our mission and love the people whom we are called to meet.

MustardSeed The Official Newsletter of ESM-Manila

The Four Pillars of ESM-ManilaMission Spiritual

LiFeCommunity life Intellectual

formation

December 2012 – April 2013

www.esm-m

anila.com

Year of Living the Faith

Robert, Indonesia

The official Newsletter of ESM-Manila December 2012 – April 2013MustardSeed The official Newsletter of ESM-Manila December 2012 – April 2013MustardSeed

32

First Parish Mission:

The Joy of Faith“It is truly a

great joy to be Christians…”

House-to-House VisitYun , China

During our first parish mission, we had the house to house activity where we are sent by two or three, and we knock on the doors of the houses in the assigned community. We intro-duced ourselves and tell them at once that we are Catholic and we are inviting them for the Mass and activities in the Parish and Cathedral of St. John; we listen and share to them, and eventual-ly pray with them (if they want), before going to the next house. The people whom I met were very simple. They only wanted to have a good life, good health, good family, they had no special wishes. Some people had a big

School VisitsHuy, Vietnam

It was the first time for me to visit a school and share with the students about faith. In the beginning, I was think-ing that they would not welcome us warmly. Because they are students, they will not like what we bring to them. But actually, the students paid very much attention to our sharing, I was really amazed. They have shown me that even we are young, faith is also part of our lives, and it plays a very important role in our daily lives. Each one of the stu-dent is a gift for me because they taught me that in faith, we learn to know who we are, how can we treat each other, how to be joyful in the love of God, how to love one another as God loves us and give ourselves for the common good of the others.

Evening ProgramsMikee Claveria, Young Parishioner at St. John Cathedral

Having participated in the three nights of formation for the young people with the ESM students, I was inspired with their stories, personal sharing, and the teachings given during the encoun-ter. For me this is a blessing from God, since it is Christmas season, I consider it as advance gift from Him. I will keep it in my heart; sow it there, and let it grow in me while I am alive. I cannot explain more what I feel, but what I am sure is that it is truly a great joy to be Christian!

Prison Visit James, Philippines

During our first Parish mission held at St. John the Evangelist Parish in the Archdiocese of Lingayen-Dagupan, we had the chance to have a visit in a prison. That was my first time to be in a prison. I didn’t have any idea

what would happen,

I feel a bit nervous when

we arrived. But I’m so amazed

when they wel-comed us, because

there are so kind, in contrary to my initial

expectations, and I even saw some of them having a rosary, bible, and prayer book in their hands.

The Welcoming of the Local ParishionersJean Claude, Burundi

I am very impressed by the way the parishioners from the St. John the Evangelist Parish and Cathedral in Dagupan City welcomed us warmly. We arrived during one of the Christmas Party celebration of a particular Ministry of the Parish. They paid great attention to us, being mis-sionaries among them, and as if they were really thirsty for the Good News we brought there.

In the same way, I saw also how great is the way our foster families welcomed us [the host families on the different areas within the Parish]. They showed great love by their shar-ing, taking care of us and by their self giving: for example patience to wait for us during our night programs, and being present the next days on table at 6.00AM for breakfast, and afterwards they bring us to the parish every

I got an opportunity to talk with one of the inmates, and he shared with me his sufferings inside the jail. When I asked him about his prayer for the coming Christmas, I noticed that all of his prayers and wishes are for his family that he left home. After staying with them for few hours, I realized and discovered something that is important in my life. I realized that I cannot judge people for what they have done, and try to recognize that many holy and humble people are as well inside the jail. I was also touched with this encounter because I was able to realize the prisons I have with me, in my heart, where only indeed choosing Christ and His salvation can make me free from them.

morning, etc. The people we encountered during our Mission showed the love and their avail-ability to listen and to discover something from us by the way they welcomed and received us as bearer of Good News.

For me, I witnessed that the true meaning of self-giving in mission is actually to give joy to others, to see that people are helped to encounter God, it is the same joy that gives life to other people. I discovered and received the joy of being mis-sionary.

The first parish mission of the Emmanuel School of Mission-Manila for this batch was held on December 2 to 9, 2012. One week mission in the Parish of St. John the Evangelist, in close cooperation with Rev. Fr. Alvin Platon, one of the

Parish Priests, and through the invitation of His Excellency Archbishop Socrates Villegas, of the Archdiocese of Lingayen-Dagupan. The said parish mission is guided by the theme: “Joy of Faith,” from the message of His Holiness Pope Emeritus

Benedict XVI on the celebration of the Year of Faith (Porta Fidei).

The Fruit of the

MissionRev. Fr. Alvin Platon , Parish Priest-St. John the Evangelist Cathedral

After a week-presence here in the Parish, and after talking to people, encountering them after all the activities that the students of the Emmanuel School of Mission had, people began to appreciate their identity as Catholics. People begin to again appreciate their own faith. Why? Because it is a challenge to them that people not from this place would have the time; would really have to take enough effort to re-ally come and share their Catholic faith. So, again I would like to thank the Em-manuel School of Mission, the students, for having their Par-ish mission here at the Cathe-dral of St. John the Evangelist, here in Dagu-pan City, the Archdiocese of Lingayen-Dagupan.

(top) Mercy Evening and (below) Youth Formation

faith. I remember when I visited a family; we asked the man “what do you want to receive from God during Christ-mas”. He didn’t say his wish, he only answered “God will give me every-thing, it’s enough”. It was very strong for me; it also is a teaching for my life.

The Team MEMBERS

Fr. Pierre, Vietnam

Freddie,

PhilippinesJeffrey,

Philippines

Thomas, Giao

& Giao-Thy,

Vietnam

Emmanuel School of Mission - ManilaNo. 7, 13th Street New Manila, Quezon City, 1112 Phil ippines

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et de la Fraternité de Jésus)Account Number : 00037286487-36

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The official Newsletter of ESM-Manila DECEMBER 2012 – APRIL 2013MustardSeed

D uring this year in ESM-Ma-nila, we had the chance to have a mission in a Catho-

lic university with the students attending the National Service Training Program (NSTP) at Siena College of Taytay, Rizal. Most of them are first year students. The series of encounter with them happened last January 20 and February 3. We were all excited to en-counter these college students. We wish to share with them the joy of being young and the trust in Jesus Christ. The first

time we arrived, many students were already there in the venue. By talking with them, we real-ized that some of them are a little bit reluctant to join us. We were really in a situation of mis-sionaries; being present with the people who would welcome us and as well with those who might not. Acknowledging these reali-ties, we tried our best to be with them, believing that God will do the rest.

Mission with the Young StudentsUnivers i ty M iss ion at S iena Col lege of Taytay

This mission gave me a strong experience of being a young missionary; to enjoy, share, and at the same time, to be ready to be rejected, to be hurt, and to accept one’s l imitation, so that we can be truly confident in the greatness of God. An invita-tion to become and “keep salt in

yourselves, and you will have peace with one another.” (Mark 9:50)

An ENCOUNTER

with Father Soc Villegas

more deeply about evangelisation and mission in the modern world. It was poignant to hear that the big component that will sustain ourfaith is not merely reason and feelings but a deep and personal encounter with God. He also very powerfully stressed, through the example of his own expe-riences, how important it is to have compassion for the poor because it is Jesus Himself in the poor and whatever we do for them, we do for Jesus. There is not enough space here to include all the enlighten-ing thoughts shared with us from Bishop Soc but

It was a very special blessing to be invited to have lunch with His Excellency Archbishop

Socrates B. Villegas, D.D., or Father Soc of Archdiocese of Lingayen-Dagupan. During the said lunch, we were treated to a delicious meal in his beautiful residence with the op-portunity to hear his testimony and to ask questions about his life and ministry as the Bishop of Dagupan. We were very deeply moved by his inspiring words, reminding us that the fundamental way to be mis-sionaries is to be imitators of Christ – that our very lives and actions, not just our words, can be a testament to the love of Christ. He shared many power-ful notions with us to help us think

Luong, Vietnam

it remains with us as a very special moment of our time on mission in Dagupan. Before we left, he gave each of us a gift and reminded us that we are always welcome back to enjoy more of Dagupan.

Myriam , France

Frances, England

Days in ESM-Manila