VICAREX-4 – MISSION: BECAUSE OF YOU!
San Matias Parish. August 21, 2008

VICARIATE OF CHRIST THE KING celebrated its 4th VICAREX (Vicarial Renewal Experience) last August 21, 2008 at San Matias Parish, Sto. Tomas. IT WAS A GATHERING OF FORMATION-SEMINAR. Our keynote speaker was Rev. Fr. Ramon Torres. He Gave us a transforming message on the MISSION.

Important points of his talk are:
1) Each and everyone of us has a mission to fulfill in life. In the end we should be able to say, like our Lord Jesus Christ, “IT IS ACCOMPLISHED.” We are all sent, commissioned and entrusted. Therefore, we are responsible and accountable for the things entrusted to us. Whenever the priest says, “GO, THE MASS IS ENDED,” IT IS THEN THAT OUR MISSION BEGINS.

2) There are two moments in MISSIONING, namely, discipleship and apostleship. DISCIPLESHIP is the moment when we come to Jesus to listen, to learn and make bonding with Him. APOSTLESHIP is the moment we go from Jesus to others to fulfill and share in HIS mission and to share HIS LOVE to others. We cannot give what we do not have.

3) WHEN ARE WE IN MISSION? We are in mission when we PROCLAIM what we have heard; when we LIVE what we celebrate; when we PRACTICE what we have learned; when our worship becomes SERVICE.

4) Information should lead to formation. And formation should lead to TRANSFORMATION. We are in mission when we are being TRANSFORMED by what we have heard and celebrated; and when our service transforms us into a Christ-like person.

5) Mission is not a place. MISSION IS PEOPLE. MISSION IS TO BE WHERE THE ACTION IS. It is attending to our daily concerns in the parish, in our work and in our families. Nung nukarin mamaus ing kasuyuan, karin ing misyun mu.

MISSION LEADS TO TRANSFORMATION:

1. When we become instruments of God’s love.
2. when we become men of hope and peace
3. when we experience joy in embracing the cross
4. when we empty ourselves of emotional baggages and hurt feelings; when we let go of pride, anger, greed, sloth, envy, avarice, lust, so that we can freely and truly serve others.

To be in mission is to be empty, and to be filled with Christ. When Mary Magdalene went to the tomb early morning, she was deeply troubled. Isip na kingwa re ing Ginu. Ya na kabud kaya kingwa re pa. Y Hesus yang meging “tanging yaman” na. It was in her nothingness that she became an apostle to the apostles. Y Maria ning Magdala, magdala yang Kristo at ing sabla atyu na kaya.

Mission is having CHRIST in our hearts and sharing his life and love to others. When Mary conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit her feet brought her to the house of her cousin Elizabeth to share her life and love with her. Ing taung MAGDALANG KRISTO maging misyunero ya.

ABE-ABE, SAUP-SAUP TAMU KING MISYUN NING GINU.

THANK YOU & CONGRATULATIONS to Fr. Arnel Pineda (parish priest) and the PPC of San Matias parish headed by Bro. Ronald Estrada, for hosting and organizing the VICAREX 4. It was very well-prepared and well-organized. Thank you for Fr. Ramon Torres, a true-blue MEN OF BRIGHT, for his mission-booster input. Thank you for our Vicar Forane, Fr. Greg Vega, for initiating and moving the Vicariate through VICAREX. Thank you for our parish priests, Fr. Joel, Fr. Ariel, Fr. Rey who continue to guide and accompany us in our missionary journey. Thank you to all delegates from the six parishes of the vicariate, for your presence and moral support in our vicarial gatherings of PRAYER AND FORMATION. Thank you for the merienda. Thank you for our VICAREX-4 love-offerings.

God bless us all and see you all in our VICAREX-5 on September 18, Thursday, 5:00 pm, at the Holy Rosary Parish, Pau, Sto Tomas. GO, THE VICAREX HAS ENDED!

LUID YA ING VICARIATO NING KRISTONG ARI!

Submitted by:
Sis Leng Manalastas, VPC Secretary, Christ the King
Sis Linda Elepaño, PPC Secretary, San Matias Parish