Almighty Father, in the richness of your mercy you sent your own Son Jesus into the world to suffer and die for us. As you did not spare your own Son, we confidently look to your granting us everything else besides. May your mercy and grace be always upon us.
Lord Jesus Christ, you told us to be merciful just as our Father is merciful. You showed us the way to mercy when on the cross you forgave those who crucified you. Such divine mercy is very challenging for us. Only in you and through your grace in our lives can we ever hope to be channels of mercy to others. Jesus, we trust in you.
Holy Spirit, help us to understand the mystery of divine mercy. Help us to forgive those who trespass against us. Help us to love our enemies. Help us to love and care for the poor. Enable us to effectively proclaim the gospel of God's mercy. Show us the way to holiness unto the Lord.
Mama Mary, full of grace and Mother of mercy, guide us in the way we are to go, and keep us in your loving embrace always.
Amen.
The scene is becoming disturbingly frequent in the United States - lifeless bodies strewn all over the place, and an assailant gone berserk who, by brazen thoughtlessness, changes lives and communities forever. With the families of those who lost their lives at Orlando, Florida, the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines grieves. We, bishops of the Philippine Church, unite ourselves with those who mourn in prayer. But a tragedy like this challenges us to ask ourselves how we can all, not Americans alone, become a better people after having recovered from our grief.
Talk on Divine Mercy
by Fr. Manny Cruz
Fishing boats constructed of fiberglass built by the No One in Need (NONe) movement in collaboration with the Archdiocese of Palo and Caritas. For distribution to fishermen displaced by typhoon Yolanda.
LCSC is our lay response to the call to the New Evangelization. Through LCSC we will do rapid and massive evangelization, focusing on the lapsed or non-practicing Catholics (though not exclusively). LCSC has 4 pillars, all of critical importance. They are Live Pure (youth chastity), Live the Word (focus on Bible appreciation), Live Life (pro-life advocacy) and Live Full (our work of building the Church of the Poor through the No One In Need movement).
esus came into the world in order to save us from our sins and win for us our salvation. “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.” (1 Tm 1:15b). Because God so loved the world, He does not want anyone to be lost. Jesus is the Good Shepherd who leaves the ninety-nine to look for the one lost sheep (Lk 15:4).
The much-awaited document from Pope Francis arising from the 2 meetings of the Synod of Bishops has come out, in the form of an apostolic exhortation entitled Amoris Laetitia (The Joy of Love). Given that there were opposing sides among the bishops in the synods -- the liberals and the conservatives (or the progressives and the traditionalists), we can expect, and indeed it is already starting, a flurry of analyses, and using what the pope says to promote their own respective stands and interests. There will be further confusion as bishops down the line give their own interpretations. Cardinal Kasper already says that this “changes everything,” and we can expect him to more strongly push his liberal agenda.
Our theme for 2016 is “Rich in Mercy.” This is taken from Ephesians 2:4. This theme also falls in line with our Church’s Extraordinary Jubilee Year (The Year of Mercy) which is from December 8 this year to November 20 next year.
Next year’s theme is intended to bring us ever deeper into the mystery of God’s plan for us. For the past few years our themes have been intense. In 2013 it was BE.LI.EV.E![1] We looked to the faith that works wonders.
My dear brethren, our theme for 2017 is “One in Christ.” Our theme verse is Romans 12:5, which says, “so we, though many, are one body in Christ and individually parts of one another.”
We are one people of God, one holy Catholic Church, one army of God. We look to our one Father, our one Lord, and the one Spirit. We have one call to holiness and discipleship, to which we continue to strive through the abounding mercy of God. “I urge you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God, your spiritual worship.” (Rom 12:1).
by: Jonathon van Maren
Reprinted with permission from The Bridgehead.
June 10, 2016 (TheBridgehead) -- "Man has always lost his way," G.K. Chesterton once wrote, "He has always lost his way, but now he has lost his address."
It was that wise analysis that popped into my head when I logged into Facebook yesterday and scrolled past dozens of stories from around the world, all announcing that the Canadian Supreme Court had just declared that "most bestiality is legal," in the words of Britain's Independent. I wasn't particularly enthused that Canada's last prance across world news was brought on by our freshman prime minister's smug stammerings and shirtless pics, but it seems new lows can always be achieved.
An ocean of stars giving praise to the Lord. 10,000 young people at the Araneta Coliseum in Manila during the annual Live Pure Conference. Pure happiness on August 30, 2015
"For to me life is Christ, and death is gain." (Phil 1:21)
The 2014 CCCB Forum with National Movements and Associations was held on September 12-14, 2014 under the auspices of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB), at Auberge de Basilique in St. Anne de Beaupre', Quebec. This was attended by 33 participating national movements and associations headed by lay person, nuns, priests, and bishops. CFC-FFL is represented by Bro Kit Galema (Second from right second row in the picture).
The Episcopal Standing Committee for Relations with Catholic Movements and Associations organizes such forum for assuring dialogue and links between the CCCB and the national Catholic movements and associations of Canada. The bishops of Canada have convened this forum with movements and associations from across the country in order; to enable personal contacts and sharing of faith and ideas amongst organizations, and to learn about the topic for this year's forum - "The Door to Missionary Evangelization" with a special emphasis being given to Pope Francis' apostolic exhortation, Evangelii Gaudium (The Joy of the Gospel).
CFC-FFL conducts Liturgical Bible Study (LBS) as its biblical apostolate. 166 members from the GTA Central and East clusters attended the first LBS seminar held at St. Thomas More Parish Hall on March 17, 2012. Similar seminars were also conducted in Brampton, Mississauga and Hamilton chapters as wells as in Ottawa and Sarnia. The LBS team is lead by Jose Lee with members, Aladin Matinong, Nell Gallardo and Florie Lee.
Retreat for Engaged Couples
Liebenzell Mission Centre, Milton, Ontario
September 10-11, 2016
All Leaders Power Weekend Retreat
Best Western Premium Hotel 135 Carlingview Drive, Toronto
September 17-18, 2016
Through
all of our 29 years, we have spoken much of our vision and mission, who we
are, what we are called to do. We know that we are an evangelistic and
missionary community. This has been true from the very beginning and has
never changed. We do our work within the context of family renewal. That
is one distinct factor that distinguishes us from other renewal movements.
Click here to read more
The Eucharist is the source and summit of the Christian life. The Eucharist is the greatest gift God gives to His people. The Eucharist is our path to holiness and Christian perfection. The Eucharist is crucial to our work of the New Evangelization. We must have greater understanding and appreciation of the Eucharist, so that we can go forth and truly be effective witnesses to salvation in Jesus.
The Episcopal Commission on the Laity (ECLA) of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) has given formal recognition to the Couples for Christ Foundation for Family and Life (CFC FFL) as a National Private Association of the Lay Faithful.
Click here to read moreClick on the image below to view the Recognition Letter.
The Archdiocese of Lingayen-Dagupan has given Ecclesiastical Recognition to the Couples for Christ Foundation for Family & Life on November 17, 2009. Click on the image below to view the Ecclesiastical Recognition document.
After having been re-appointed by Pope Benedict XVI to the Pontifical Council for the Family, the Padillas admitted that they are facing truckload of works to do with the Council given the numerous attacks being directed against the Church's doctrines on family and life.
Click here to read more ....
Click on the images below to view the Pontifical documents.
Last updated: Thursday, September 15, 2016
