Last weekend, May 22-24, eighteen young adults said YES to a weekend with God at Graymoor Spiritual Life Center. They could have been somewhere else doing their usuals, but God handpicked each one of them and brought them together for Singles Encounter #34 weekend. It was facilitated by Paolo Nolasco, Molly Brilliantes, Patrick McGrail, and Jennifer Ompod with Deacon Serge Bernatchez as the spiritual director. The SE34 is likewise blessed with the guidance of their class shepherds, Tito Lito and Tita Elaine Fernando.
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Another successful Community Teaching Seminar was held at Connell Hall, last Saturday, May 9th, 2015. Father Paul Lehman lectured on “Contemplative Praying” and Patrick McGrail from the Singles Ministry, presented an overview of the “Cloud of Unknowing,” an anonymous work of Christian mysticism written in the latter half of the 14th century. This text from the Middle Ages is considered as the spiritual guide on contemplative prayer.
Divine Mercy Sunday, at the auditorium of Divine Mercy Parish, started with a loud chorus of Alleluias from the lambs, their shepherds and all who took part in LSS #44 this past weekend. The previous day, insightful teachings from Fr. Paul and sharings from both young and older community members touched many hearts, bringing tears to more than a few eyes. Then, during the Seminar’s Healing and Reconciliation, there were more tears which later turned into joyful tears as healing and reconciliation began for the lambs and their loved ones, even those who were only there in spirit. As for the Baptism itself, the Holy Spirit once again brought His awesome Power, making it seem like an early arrival of Pentecost.
While the Holy Spirit exuded its presence throughout the BLD Emergence, it also asserted its spiritual and healing prowess in the Youth ministry during the Youth Life in the Spirit Seminar #20 last weekend. The ministry was blessed with 29 willing candidates (20 from BLD Newark YM, 5 from St. Antoninus and 4 from DMP CCD Formation).
A few years ago, the U.S. Catholic Bishops proclaimed January 22 as an annual “Day of Prayer for the Legal Protection of the Unborn.” The selection of this day was made to coincide with the date, back in 1973, that the U.S. Supreme Court made its decision in the case of Roe v Wade that legalized abortion in this country.
“Well done, my good and faithful servant. Since you were faithful in small matters, I will give you great responsibilities. Come, share your master’s joy.” (Matthew 25:21)
God’s word this past Sunday is ideal for the occasion as we all share in the Master's joy for blessing our community with nineteen couples who are the members of ME #44. Our listening God answered our prayers and rewarded our efforts because of our Faith in Him. We feel the joy of serving because our efforts were done out of love and humility. Let us welcome the 19 members of ME #44 with the love of God through our prayers so their journey will continue, preferably with our community and through the guidance of their class shepherds, Nelson & Noemi Ilagan. “It was not you who chose me, but I chose you.” (Jn 15:16) Praise the Lord! It was another Spirit-filled encounter weekend for the Singles Ministry. This weekend saw thirteen young adults become part of SE Class # 33. It was beautiful to see our young adults - from the candidates, to the sponsoring class, the facilitators, the praise ministry, the auxies, and everyone else present at Graymoor Spiritual Life Center, spending an entire weekend focused on God. They could have been somewhere else, partying with their friends or spending their time doing more “fun” stuff, but they all chose “the better part.” The weekend served as a powerful reminder that we truly have an awesome and loving God!
There were 19 candidates who answered the call to attend the Aspirants Retreat on October 10-12, 2014 at CYO in Kearny, NJ with Fr. Paul Lehman as the Retreat Master. Our sharers P. Calingo, E. Lucero, A. de Castro, M. Camacho, and C. Claricia, truly inspired the aspirants, with the collaborative support of the Praise Ministry, Technical Ministry and Witness and Coach Development Ministry.
In the latest BLD Newark LSS, held this past weekend at Divine Mercy Parish in Rahway, New Jersey, LOVE once again filled the hearts of everyone who was there – lambs, shepherds, as well as auxies. Good feelings permeated the entire weekend. Adding to the victories claimed during the weekend was the LSS emcee’s own return from months of intensive chemotherapy. Vino Guiang, originally scheduled to be the coordinator for the LSS last April, found out last Friday afternoon, that his cancer is in remission…. Yes indeed, God is good all the time! September 27, 2014 – It was in May of 1954 that Fr. Paul Lehman, BLD Newark’s ageless Spiritual Director, was ordained by Archbishop Thomas Boland at the St. Patrick’s Pro-Cathedral in Newark, NJ. Last Saturday, in a Holy Mass at the Divine Mercy Parish Church in Rahway, he celebrated this milestone - his 60th Sacerdotal Anniversary, with BLD friends and families. |
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