Philippine Conference On New Evangelization

A conference on the New Evangelization will be held from October 16-18, 2013 at the University of Santo Tomas. You can find all the details of this event on their website including online registration. Don't forget to like their Facebook account to stay updated. Register ASAP and avail of their early bird promo.


The changed social, cultural, economic, civil and religious scenarios call us to something new: to live our communitarian experience of faith in a renewed way and to proclaim it through an evangelization that is “new in its ardor, in its methods, in its expressions”, as John Paul II said (Discourse to the XIX Assembly of CELAM, Port-au-Prince, 9 March 1983, n. 3).

This is the call of the Church through the XIII Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops on the New Evangelization for the Transmission of Faith.

Twenty-two years ago, the Second Plenary Council of the Philippines (PCP II) envisioned a renewed integral evangelization in the Church in the Philippines. Today, this Church in South East Asia, in particular the Archdiocese of Manila, joins the journey of the universal Church towards new evangelization. This Philippine Conference on the New Evangelization (PCNE) is a milestone in the Church’s journey and a concrete response to her call as well as a reawakening to PCP II’s vision of renewed integral evangelization.

The Synod Fathers recognize that in heeding the call for new evangelization, “we cannot remain indifferent to the process of secularization.” Moreover, “ the proclamation of the good news in different contexts of the world – marked by the processes of globalization and secularism – places different challenges before the Church: at times in an outright religious persecution, at other times in a widespread indifference, interference, restriction or harassment.”

Today, we Filipino Catholics find our country and the Church not far from the contexts described by the Synod Fathers as PCP II already observed. Urbanization, globalization and communication technologies are bringing changes in Philippine society. We are still challenged by pluralism, burdened by much graft and corruption in politics and governance, saddled in economics with “inequalities of the grossest kind” and widespread poverty resulting in the poor becoming poorer and the rich becoming richer, and confronted with increasing imbalances in the educational sector. We cannot ignore the emergent powerful culture developed by developments in information technologies, new media and social networking that influence our way of thinking, feeling and relating with others.

However, one with the Synod Fathers’ optimism and trust in the Lord, we still strive to preserve the culture and faith of our ancestors; many of us still anchor ourselves on basic faith and trust in God’s mercy. Our religiosity is even more heightened among overseas workers who have migrated in Europe and America.

Thus, for us Filipino Catholics, the call for new evangelization is both “entering into the long path of proclaiming the Gospel with the apostolic courage of Paul who would go so far as to say ‘Woe to me if I do not preach the Gospel!’ (1 Corinthians 9:16)” and making the spirit of PCP II come alive and rekindle this in the hearts of the clergy, those in the consecrated life and the lay faithful to move forward.

The Synod Fathers declared: “We need not invent new strategies as if the Gospel were a product to be placed in the market of religions. We need to rediscover the ways in which Jesus approached persons and called them, in order to put these approaches into practice in today’s circumstances.” Applying this basic approach in new evangelization, three events in the life of Jesus serve as inspiration and framework in organizing the PCNE. These three events point to the phases of the conference.


Phase One: "Come and See" - A Personal Encounter with Jesus: The Beginning of All Evangelization

Phase Two: "Stay With Us" - We Encounter Jesus in The Church Through The Word and The Eucharist

Phase Three: "Duc In Altum" - Go and Preach The Gospel to The Whole Creation (Mission and Spirituality)


(Reposted from the PCNE website)



"Behold, I make all things new." - Rev 21:5

Jesus is THE End

This is a guest post by a fellow Courage brother. In our SSA journey, let us not forget that the ultimate goal is complete union with Christ. All else are secondary. To have Christ is to live.


Jesus is the END.

Some people with SSA think turning straight is the end, and that Jesus is just a means to that end. But they're missing the point...BIG TIME!

Just ask the straight guys who've found Jesus. These guys have never had to struggle a single day with the BIG SSA, and then they find Jesus, and they experience a JOY like they've never had till they realized JESUS IS the END...that everything else is just "icing on the cake".

And what do guys with SSA have to look forward to when they find true JOY in Jesus?

"But I'm still stuck with my SSA...why do I have to end up with the short end of the stick...that's the story of my life...why do straight guys have it all?"

WRONG!

When you have Jesus, whether you are straight or have SSA, you have the ONE THING that your soul has always longed for and needs, or rather that ONE PERSON, and He is Jesus.

In Jesus we can only be pure in heart.

Jesus is the Alpha and the Omega.

Jesus is our End.

To have Jesus in this lifetime is our redemption.

To have Jesus for all eternity is our ultimate prize and reward.

May God have mercy on us who have used our sweet Jesus as a means to a lesser end.

Jesus IS our END.

He has already given His life for you and me.

Let us say YES to Him today and every other moment that we live.
Let us give our lives completely to Jesus so He lives in us and we in Him.
Let us surrender all to Him including our sexuality.
Let us live our lives fully for Christ.
Let us live joyfully because we have Christ within us and we belong to Him.
Let us share Christ and the joy we have found in Him to the whole world through the witness of our lives, through daily prayers, through loving service of our neighbor.

Jesus is The Way, The Truth, and The Life.
In Him alone we find our purpose and direction.
In Him alone are all the answers.
In Him alone are we fully alive.

In Christ there is selflessness.
In Christ there is healing.
In Christ there is peace.
In Christ there is faith, hope and charity.
In Christ we want for nothing.

Christ Jesus is Lord.
He is the beginning and the END.
Hallelujah!

Real Love Revolution 2013: A Pro-Life/Chastity Conference

Renowned chastity speaker Jason Evert is back and this time his wife Crystalina will be joining him! He will be conducting talks on chastity and pro-life issues in Cebu and Manila so reserve your tickets now.


For the past 2 years, CATALYST, a student organization of the University of Asia and the Pacific, has been organizing pro-life and chastity conferences for the youth participated in by more than 23,000 young people. The first one was held in SMX Convention Center in February 2011 with 8,000 participants, and another one in World Trade Center in September 2012 with 15,000 participants. This year, we are bringing back to Manila Jason Evert, world-renowned speaker on chastity and modesty. With his wife, Crystalina Evert, Jason will return to the Philippines for another extraordinary event that promises to be a memorable experience.


Jason and Crystalina Evert

The first speaker is Jason Evert, a world-renowned speaker on chastity. Through his highly popular chastity seminar called “Romance Without Regret”, Jason has spoken internationally to more than one million people. He is also a best-selling author of a dozen of books, including Theology of the Body for Teens and Pure Love and Pure Manhood. He earned his master’s degree in theology, as well as undergraduate degrees in counseling and theology, from the Franciscan University of Steubenville.

The second speaker is Crystalina Evert, founder of Women Made New and the author of three books: Pure Womanhood, How to Find Your Soulmate Without Losing Your Soul, and Theology of the Body for Teens.

8,000 People at the Philippine International Convention Center

On September 7, 2013 (Saturday), more than 8,000 people from different walks of life are expected to attend the “Real Love Revolution 2013” at the Philippine International Convention Center (Pasay City). There will be two sessions: one in the morning from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM and one in the afternoon from 2:00 PM to 5:30 PM. The second one will start with a Holy Mass. They will also address the various issues in Philippine society today such as the RH Law, contraception, divorce, pre-marital sex, and teenage pregnancy.

For more information, discounts or bulk orders you may contact (02) 701-4181 or (0922) 860 3200.

Website: www.positiveagent.org
FB: www.facebook.com/catalyst.uap
Twitter: www.twitter.com/CATALYST_uap
E-mail: catalystorganization@gmail.com

To our fellow kababayans in Cebu, Jason and Crystalina will also give a talk on September 6, 2013 at Waterfront Cebu City Hotel. For inquiries and reservations, call or text Ms. Klyde Llena at (032) 514-6707/(032) 514-7227; Globe 09063524909; Sun 09222138200.

8:00 a.m. - High School Youth

1:00 p.m. - University & College Youth

6:00 p.m. - Parents, Educators & Young Professionals

When God Ran

Sharing God's unconditional love through this heartwarming video. Be blessed.

Wild at Heart - Book Review

 

Wild at Heart – Discovering the Secret of a Man's Soul by John Eldredge takes you to a journey and rediscovery of a man's heart. The book invites every man to look deeper into himself to gain a better understanding of why he longs for battles, adventures, and a Beauty far from what the society demands from him in the form of "shoulds" and "ought to's".

For purposes of presenting the core ideas contained in the book without revealing too much of it, I'm going to outline key themes with some short descriptions and quotes from the author. These themes relate in particular to the deepest longings of the masculine soul.


A Battle to Fight

Every man is called to have a warrior heart. There is a Great Battle going on around us and we men are called to be warriors and blood brothers – up to the challenge of overcoming and defeating the multitude of enemies that seek to destroy us.

John Eldredge quotes, "A man must have a battle to fight, a great mission to his life that involves and yet transcends even home and family. He must have a cause to which he is devoted even unto death, for this is written into the fabric of his being."


A Beauty to Rescue

Every woman looks for her knight in shining armor and every man wants to be a hero to the Beauty. Men need to know and understand how to treat a woman well by seeking to understand the longings of the feminine soul. According to Eldredge, every woman yearns to be fought for, to be wanted, to be swept off her feet. A man needs to be the valiant warrior who is ever ready to defend her and pursue her because she counts on him to be her hero.


An Adventure to Live

Deep inside every man's heart is the desire to set out and conquer, to explore, and to head into the unknown, but many of us men have sublimated these desires in exchange for control and security. In effect, we stifle our spirit and miss out on the adventures that really make us feel truly alive. John Eldredge says it best and I quote:

"Adventure, with all its requisite danger and wildness, is a deeply spiritual longing written into the soul of man. The masculine heart needs a place where nothing is prefabricated, modular, nonfat, zip lock, franchised, on-line, microwavable. Where there are no deadlines, cell phones, or committee meetings. Where there is room for the soul. Where, finally, the geography around us corresponds to the geography of our heart."


Final Word

Wild at Heart is not for the faint hearted. This book will challenge you to "saddle up" and "step up to the plate" in your true calling as a man made in the image of the "Wild One". This is not your 12-step guide to becoming a better man, but more of a road map towards an unchartered territory. The author did a good job of incorporating real-world experiences of men and anchoring it on a solid biblical foundation of godly masculinity.

There is more to Wild at Heart than the themes I've already mentioned above – a battle to fight, a beauty to rescue, and an adventure to live – he also touched on other subjects such as our woundings, true identity, fatherhood, initiation, and the 'question that haunts every man' that will help you to further know yourself and become the man God has intended you to be.

I highly recommend this book to all men who feel that there is more to their life than going through the daily grind and after reading it you are now better equipped to fight your battles, live your adventures, and find the 'beauty'.



Inside the Book


Chapter I - Wild at Heart

Chapter II - The Wild One Whose Image We Bear

Chapter III - The Question That Haunts Every Man

Chapter IV - The Wound

Chapter V - The Battle for a Man's Heart

Chapter VI - The Father's Voice

Chapter VII - Healing the Wound

Chapter VIII - A Battle to Fight: The Enemy

Chapter IX - A Battle to Fight: The Strategy

Chapter X - A Beauty to Rescue

Chapter XI - An Adventure to Live

Chapter XII - Writing the Next Chapter


About the Author

John Eldredge is the founder and director of Ransomed Heart Ministries in Colorado Springs, Colorado, a fellowship devoted to helping people discover the heart of God. John is the author of numerous books, including Epic, Waking the Dead, The Journey of Desire, and co-author of Captivating and The Sacred Romance. John lives in Colorado with his wife Stasi, and their three sons, Samuel, Blaine, and Luke. He loves living in the Rocky Mountains so he can pursue his other passions, including fly-fishing, mountain climbing, and exploring the waters of the West in his canoe.

Identity

Change Is Possible

Interview with Bro. Alfie of Ichthus Community by local news TV program State of the Nation with Ms. Jessica Soho.

Just a quick comment on the video. Change is very much possible for the homosexual by the grace of God. If you want to find out more about reparative therapy, visit the NARTH website and not the American Psychological Association because the latter is not 'truth based' but 'ideology driven'. You don't believe me? Read this article.

Reparational Prayer Request for Gay Pride Month

The month of June is celebrated worldwide as gay pride month. Our friend from Toronto, Canada is asking everyone to sign up for an hour of prayer in the Blessed Sacrament to pray for these intentions. Please visit the weblinks below for more information. Thank you.

Dear Courage Manila,

Greetings again in the Lord!

I'm writing to ask for your support for our campaign of reparational prayer during Toronto's Pride Week, now underway. Our city is in great spiritual need, and this year's festival is the dress rehearsal before it hosts World Pride 2014.

In this our second annual campaign, Charity, Clarity, Chastity invites people to sign up for an hour of prayer in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament, to pray for those three intentions.

Would you please be so kind as to share this link on your blog.
http://www.signupgenius.com/go/4090C4DA8AA28A57-charity

Participation from the Philippines would be most helpful in covering some of the slots in the schedule that are harder for Canadians to fill because for us they are in the middle of the night. And regrettably, much debauchery overnight can be expected this weekend. So too can much desolation be expected.

I have posted some further thoughts on our blog here.
http://thesheepfold.typepad.com/the_sheepcat/2013/06/charity-clarity-chastity-prayer-pride-toronto.html

Of course we would be glad to reciprocate in prayer for you, as for example we did in connection with your country's "reproductive health" bill.

Thanks and God bless,

Alan

Sa Panahon ng Paghilom: Healing From Hurtful Relationships

Living Waters Philippines is inviting everyone to attend a full-day healing conference on August 24, 2013, Saturday.  This will be a great gathering of all Christian believers under the one cross of Christ who is our Divine Healer.  Main speaker will be Andrew Comiskey, founder of the healing ministry Living Waters and a recent convert to Catholicism. He will be coming all the way from Canada to conduct this conference.

"Sa Panahon ng Paghilom" is a full-day healing conference.  The conference will address the effects of our hurtful experiences and broken relationships in the way we look at ourselves and relate with others. It will show people how to access the hope and healing found in the love of God.

This gathering will also provide attendees with practical tools on how to effectively reach out and minister healing to their hurting loved ones.

Date:  24 August 2013, Saturday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Venue:  Meralco Multi-Purpose Hall, Meralco Compound (Gate 2), Ortigas Center, Pasig City

Cost:  P500 (Metro Manila), P300 (Provincial)

Registration:  (02) 910-0777; 09272845037; 09162112864 (Look for Juliet or Vicky)

Website:  www.livingwatersphilippines.org

Keynote Speaker:  Andrew Comiskey

A sought-after speaker and prolific author, Andy Comiskey is the Founder of Living Waters Ministry and current Director of Desert Streams Ministries. Witnessing first-hand the healing power of Jesus in his sexual struggles and broken relationships, Andy points people to the healing found in the Cross of Jesus and equips others to do the same. His new book Naked Surrender: Coming Home To Our True Sexuality is soon to be released in the Philippines. Andy and his wife Annette live in Kansas City, Missouri.
                         

A Complaint Against GMA-7's My Husband's Lover

Bro. Rollie, our group leader in Courage Philippines, just recently filed a letter of complaint addressed to the MTRCB against the airing of GMA-7's latest 'telenovela' My Husband's Lover because of its strong pro-gay message. He has also been fighting it out on MHL FB page with Suzette Doctolero herself, but sadly he was being severely criticized in that FB group discussion because of his dissenting comments against the airing of MHL and for promoting the truth about same-sex attraction.

I've read that this 'bekiserye' is popular not only among the gay crowd but even with the non-gay crowd, which is quite an interesting phenomenon. There are so many things going for MHL. It is the first of its kind to be shown on Philippine TV which undoubtedly contributes much to its popularity. You've got top-rate actors and actresses portraying their respective roles excellently. Not to mention all the hype and publicity that the media has created for its leading characters Tom Rodriguez (Vincent) and Dennis Trillo (Eric), tagging them with the monicker TomDen, one of the country's "hottest loveteam" at the moment. And of course, Kuh's rendition of its theme song 'One More Try' really adds to all that drama as well.  That's showbusiness what do you expect?

On the flip side, there is really nothing much to expect from MHL. The story of a married man who falls in love with another man has been tackled over and over again in most gay indie films. The character of Vincent's father, who is a retired homophobic military general is so stereotypical. You can almost predict where all this will lead to - the rekindling of old flame, infidelity, suspicion, discovery of the affair, and the ensuing family conflict and drama. Who will Vincent choose in the end - his wife or his lover? Sounds familiar? You bet.

-oOo-

Dear MTRCB Board,

I am a concerned citizen, and I would like to write about my disturbed spirit over GMA7's television show "My Husband's Lover" being aired every night as part of their Telebabad series of soap operas.

I am concerned that this show is guided by the gay agenda that deems to desensitize our viewing public with the following ideas about homosexuality:

* Homosexuality is a gift of nature.

* Homosexual behavior cannot be controlled.

* Homosexuals are preoccupied seeking romantic sexual relationships with the same-sex.

* The Church is homophobic and propagate a culture of hate against homosexual persons.

* Homosexuals who are accepted for what they are AND for what they do live happy lives.

* Once a homosexual, always a homosexual.

I am a person with same-sex attractions, and I see these ideas as perversions of the truth about homosexuality, as I counter these lies with the following truths:

* A homosexual is a person with same-sex attractions.

* There is a difference between homosexual attraction and homosexual behavior.

* Homosexuality is not all of genetics but more of environment.

* Homosexuals have choices.

* Change is difficult but possible for the homosexual.

* There are groups available to help homosexuals who decide to change.

* God, through the Church, loves the homosexual person.

=====================================
The Catechism of the Catholic Church clearly states that homosexuals “…must be accepted with respect, compassion and sensitivity. Every sign of unjust discrimination in their regard should be avoided.”

- Cardinal Ratzinger’s (now Pope Benedict XVI) Letter to the Bishops On the Pastoral Care of Homosexual Persons (1986)
=====================================

I am concerned because I have been engaging in dialogue with the writers of this show on their facebook account, but it seems that they are adamant in presenting their own beliefs about family life and individual human rights (gay rights). With this, it is most likely that they will transmit their own beliefs and values through this show upon our innocently watching viewing public.

I have reminded them of their responsibility as media persons to inculcate authentic Filipino values to our public, but they just scoffed at me and attacked me personally.

I would like to ask your good office to put this show under strict monitoring, for though this show is rated Strict Parental Guidance, we are after the fair treatment of this show on such a sensitive topic such as homosexuality.

Homosexual persons should be treated with respect and compassion, but the promotion of the homosexual lifestyle (having sex with persons of the same sex) as a good thing is a disservice to the general viewing public. Please note that I have viewed the latest data from DOH (March 2013) on HIV cases and homosexual acts is listed as the number one factor of transmitting this disease. This fact along with my own (and others like me) personal journey out of homosexuality begs to disagree.

We owe it to our people to show programs that will lead them to a better understanding of reality, but still inculcating authentic Filipino values about family and marriage.

I hope that my request of strict monitoring of this show would be considered.

Thank you so much and God bless you!

Rolando C. delos Reyes II

-oOo-

Addendum:  To those who want to express their disgust with GMA7's My Husband's Lover which has the subtle message of promoting homosexuality among our young people - please sign the petition below:

http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/we-stand-for-filipino-morality/