My Dearest... by Michael Del Rosario: Christ the King

Friday, November 25, 2011

LAST Nov. 20, 2011, I had the privilege of being a speaker-sharer at Brevstock.12, a yearly activity organized by the Breviarians, a group of Catholic Youth, founded by Alex Manongdo, also known as “Brother A”.On that night too, at the auditorium of the University of the Cordilleras, Bishop Cenzon handed over to Brother A his trophy for being one of 25 John Paul II awardees from all over the Philippines, in recognition of his work among the youth. It was an award that he truly deserved. He was highly recommended by the bishop and the diocese of Baguio in recognition of his selfless contribution in helping mold the youth with Christian values, especially thru music, while keeping them out of “trouble” and “bad company”.

The Cercado Sisters, an upcoming popular singing group originally from Tuguegarao entertained the audience with their lively songs. The Brevs Music Ministry as well as the San Pablo seminarians inspired us with their well-rehearsed songs, too.

Allow me to share excerpts of my sharing that night, together with some lines, I may have missed out:

This Sunday, we celebrate the feast of Christ the King. In our secular world, what kings are we familiar with? King Bhumibol of Thailand, the King of Saudi Arabia, and locally: Tapa King, Burger King, ChowKing, and even China BanKING.

The establishments have the word ”KING” to denote being lord over the others in their respective fields of businesses… except of course for “banking”, which in ILOCANO means “tilted” or “tabingi”. Of course, Burger King is not King of the Burgers, its McDonald’s! (based on facts and on my biased opinion)

The Kingship of Christ is different from the Kingship of this world. It is not based on human power. It is not obtained thru superiority, nor passed on by royal blood or royal decree. Neither is it obtained thru goons, guns, and gold. No campaigning to be elected is needed for the Kingship of Christ.

The Kingship of Christ is based on love, humility, and service. If we consider Christ our King, we must obey Him. And His commands are found in the bible and in the 10 commandments.

How does the kingship of Christ relate to our family lives? In our families, who is the head? Our father! There is no need also for any decree that the father of the family is the head, for it is already written in Ephesians 5:22–24: “Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands as you do to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, His body, of which He is the Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything.”

Of course, it is also written, “Husbands, love your wives as Christ loves the Church, and gave His life for it.” Thus, for the males among you, someday, you may be “fathers” and heads of your families, be ready to say what Joshua said in:  Joshua 25:14 “As for me and my household, we will serve the Lord”.

Lead your families in serving God. When the head of the family decides on something that is not evil or sinful, we must obey. We may discuss, but in the end, we should obey. Partial obedience is disobedience. Delayed obedience is disobedience. Obedience unlocks understanding. Many things, we have to obey first, before we can understand. Obedience is more important than sacrifice, because obedience is the sacrifice of the will. It requires humility, the absence or reduction of pride.

Thus, obey your parents. And if you do so, someday when you become parents, you shall have the right to say to your children, “obey” as I once obeyed and continue to obey, for as long as your parents are alive.

Ephesians 6:1-4 says, “Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. Honor your father and mother”—which is the first commandment with a promise— so that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth. Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord”

Fatherhood is about loving, disciplining, teaching, and serving. In the same way, the father in the family is head, but does so by serving the wife and the children.

If there is no “kingship” in your family, there will be disharmony, and the family will be weak. Pray for yourselves, that you may love and respect your parents, and that you will obey and sacrifice your will, and together with your parents, you will all serve the Lord.

Yes, the kingship of Christ and the kingship of a father is about servanthood.

Christ is King, but He does not Lord it over us. He leads, and does so by serving us.

Allow Christ to reign in our minds, that we may believe His teachings and the teachings of our church.

SAY “NO” TO THE RH BILL.

Allow Christ to reign in our wills, that we shall submit to, and obey the laws and teachings of God.

OBEY YOUR PARENTS.

Allow Christ to reign in our hearts, that we will desire to love God above all things.

LIVE SIMPLY. USE THINGS BUT DO NOT ALLOW THINGS TO USE YOU. USE MONEY BUT DO NOT LET MONEY USE YOU.

Allow Christ to reign in our bodies, which serve as instruments for the inner sanctification of our souls.

AVOID PRE-MARITAL SEX!

Allow Christ to be king in our lives.

My Dearest Angie and My Dearest Children,

Join me in praying what Lancelot Andrew once prayed,

“Be Lord within me, to strengthen me. Without me, to preserve me. Before me, to direct me. Behind me, to turn me back. Above me, to shelter me. Below me, to support me. And around me, to fortify me”.

Together, let us say, “Christ, be our King”, and may our household serve the Lord!

Published in the Sun.Star Baguio newspaper on November 26, 2011.

http://www.sunstar.com.ph/baguio/opinion/2011/11/25/del-rosario-christ-king-192603

25 youth ministers conferred with JPII awards at NYD celebration

Antonio Alex Manongdo, Breviarian Founder and Head, with Bishop Carlito J. Cenzon

PASAY City, Nov. 20, 2011—Twenty Five youth ministers from all over the Philippines were awarded with the Blessed John Paul II youth ministry awards, Nov. 18 at the National Youth Day’s Grand Festival Night in Cuneta Astrodome.

The youth ministers were awarded for their service in the youth ministry and for being an inspiration and model to the next generation of Catholic youth leaders and ministers.

The awarding ceremony was dedicated to the Episcopal Commission on Youth (ECY) of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines which is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year in time for the declaration of the CBCP Year of the Youth.

Called “the pioneers”, the first batch of awardees was the spark that led to the creation of Youth Ministries which took place in their own particular fields.

Sr. Maria Victoria Artoz Del Rosario, OND, was at the forefront in the Creation of the Mindanao-Sulu Pastoral Conference-Youth Council in 1985, after which she became the Archdiocesan Youth Coordinator of Cotabato. Fr. Danilo Tolentino Imperial of the Archdiocese of Caceres, known to be the Father of Campus Ministry in Bicolandia, was also one of the five-person committee which proposed the ECY. Today, he serves as Program Director of Religious Education in Ateneo de Naga. Most Rev. Jose Crisologo Sorra, Bishop-emeritus of Legazpi, became the first Bishop-Chair of the Commission while Ordinary of the Diocese of Virac. It was during his time that it was instituted that the National Youth Day will be held every December 16 and Youth Councils were established in Dioceses. The Youth Encounter was born during his helm.

The next awardee was someone special for many have benefited from what he had done.

Msgr. Jose “Ping” Borja Molina of the Diocese of Virac is the Father of Youth Encounter.

The next awardees were two lay people who may look old, but their hearts burn for the young. Jose Socito Tacorda, from the Military Ordinariate of the Philippines (MOP), fondly called Bro. Joe or Tatay Joe, became the first Diocesan Youth Coordinator, and was responsible for the MOP to be recognized as part of regions of the ECY, while Maria Teresita Rita Elvina Nitorreda of the Student Catholic Action of the Philippines had served the Student Catholic Action of the Philippines (SCAP) since the 50’s. She still continues today as the SCAP Executive Director.

“At this point, what can I say? I can say to God be the glory. This is very life giving to me. You see, I gave my age, 80-1… this isn’t a matter of age but service in the youth ministry is in the heart. It makes you live more, love more,” said Tita Tet (as she is commonly called) in her message after receiving the award.

“At first I refused because I am not worthy for an award, but I was persuaded because this is for you. This is for the glory of God. This is inspiring to me. This should serve as force to move you forward and upward to serve God and country,” she added.

The next batch of awardees called the “prime movers” was responsible in making the youth ministry move in their respective dioceses.

Most Rev. Leo Murphy Drona SDB, Bishop of the Diocese of San Pablo was bishop of San Jose de Nueva Ecija, when he became the second chairman of ECY. It was during his time when the biggest ever delegation to WYD was sent. Fr. Jose Thor Rondillo Villacarlos, from the Diocese of San Pablo initiated formation programs when he was the Diocesan Youth Coordinator from 2001 to 2008 and as QUEMARLABARO Regional Youth Director from 2004 to 2006. Ronnel Pineda Dela Cruz of the Archdiocese of San Fernando, Pampanga was once the National Coordinator of SCAP, currently the Regional Youth Coordinator of Central Luzon while being the Executive Assistant at the Municipal Office in his hometown in Porac, Pampanga. Ellen Castillo Batisan, from the Diocese of Cabanatuan is notable cancer survivor. Victoria Estoque Anghag, from the Archdiocese of Davao was conferred the prestigious award of Papal Award Pro Ecclesia Et Pontifice during the celebration of Diamond Jubilee Year of the Archdiocese in 2009. Charlito Zamora Manlupig of the Archdiocese of Cotabato was the first leader of the MSPC Youth Council and today the President of the Balay Group, an NGO based in Cagayan de Oro City. Fr. Laure Tipay Helar of the Diocese of Ipil never let his physical limitations hindered him from ministering to the young. He formally organized the BALIAKAG (Batan-ong Lihok Alang sa Kaangayan ug Gugma/ Youth Movement Towards Justice and Love). Joel Torres Cruz, from the Archdiocese of Zamboanga is an “honorable kagawad” who in life was a model of Church and community leadership in his own city of Zamboanga. Danny Boy Ramos Villanueva, from the Diocese of Antipolo is a young man who just recently organized their own “parangal” for their outstanding youth ministers in his diocese. Most Rev. Rolando Joven Tria Tirona, prelate of Infanta was the third ECY chair when he was then Bishop of Malolos. In 1998, he organized a regular national gathering of young people which now became the National Youth Day. It was in his term when the National Catholic Filipino Youth Survey and the Kalakbay were made. Bro. Elmer Cobar Rodriguez, a Salesian of Don Bosco, was for many years was in charge of the Training Center, the out-of-school program of the Salesians giving hope to many poor youth. He established the Ampon, that cater to poor youth from the provinces who can avail of a 15-month technical course.

The next awardees are pillars of their dioceses in their own right.

Antonio Alex Ayo Manongdo, from the Apostolic Vicariate of Baguio is a multi-talented and anti-drug advocate and radio announcer who founded the Breviarians in 1999 with the motto, “Bring Every Soul to Christ the King”. As a youth, he got lost in faith but today, he commits his life to the young so that the next generation will not experience what he had undergone. 

 Freddie Hernandez Bernardino, from the Diocese of Antipolo, is a diocesan youth coordinator who has a soft spot for children in conflict with the law. On top of that, he is a team member preparing young professionals to be firm in the faith in order to become missionaries; Nestornuevo Dubduban Lansin, from the Diocese of Surigao, is a head teacher whose forte on formation goes beyond the classroom. He has always been the adviser of the Diocesan Formation Team, organizing and facilitating programs for the youth. Rhoderick Gavero Hernandez, from the Archdiocese of Davao, is a multi-awarded youth minister because of his involvement in pastoral advocacies relevant to Mindanao. He is a member of Operation Build-Up and Coordinator of Sagop Kinabuhi in his Archdiocese. Salesian Society of St. John Bosco, whose three confreres became National Youth Directors of the NSYA, while others serve as Regional Directors in the places they were assigned. They opened their doors to national youth events like World Youth Day preparations, Taize in Manila and even during this National Youth Day. They have been running for seven years now the John Paul II Catechetics and Youth Ministry Conferences. Loreto Salvador San Juan, from the Student Catholic Actions of the Philippines, is part of the organizing committee of this year’s NYD and of the Executive Team for this year’s double celebration. He is part of SCAP since high school days in Ramon Magsaysay High School. He rose from the rank of leader to Executive Secretary. Jessica Joy Vasquez Candelaria, started back in her parish in Las Piñas when she was invited by her parish priest. She got involved and fell in love with the ministry and has just stepped down as Executive Secretary of the Youth Desk of the Federation of Asian Bishop’s Conference’s Office of the Laity and Family.

National Youth Commission Commissioner Asec. Earl Saavedra, one of the luminaries said that many criteria were set to choose the awardees.

“First is the minister who initiated the best practices done in their parishes, not just practices but those that possess good initiative and that sustain. Another is that how many were affected by those practices. Finally is the involvement of the society,” he explained

Asked why he accepted the invitation to be one of the judges he said that he had the passion to be in the youth ministry for he was a former seminarian.

“This activity should not be hindered for this is done by a non-payable organization. This awarding promotes a sense of volunteerism. Ideas, values and attitudes of an ideal youth that can serve as a model will be found in those awardees-those people who serve in the Church,” Saavedra said.

He also remarked that the youth minister must continue what he or she has started and become an instrument to the youth in serving the community and God.

Around 70 youth ministers from different parts of the country were nominated, then shortlisted to 25 by five luminaries who were invited to choose the awardees for the John Paul II National Youth Ministry Awards last Oct. 28.

The Recognition Committee was headed by Most Rev. Roberto Mallari, Auxiliary Bishop of San Fernando, Pampanga. Other members of the committee were Bishop Gerardo Alminanza, Auxiliary Bishop of Jaro, Ambassador Henrietta “Tita” de Villa, Former Philippine Ambassador to the Holy See and presently the National Chairperson for the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPC-RV); Commissioner Earl Saavedra, Commissioner for Mindanao of the National Youth Commission; and the Vice President of the Ayala Young Leaders Alumni Association, Mrs. Clarissa Geron-Riva. (Narwin Gonzales/Jandel Posion)

sources:  http://www.cbcpnews.com/?q=node/17625/319735

              http://youthpinoy.com/index.php/yp-latest/yp-news/252-25-youth-ministers-awarded

FR. JOEL BAYLON, CBCP Episcopal Commission on Youth