“I AM”

“Our gospel says ‘the harvest is abundant but the laborers are few;’ but we are so blessed in our parish that many responded to God’s invitation as we are about to send forth today EMHC and PSL who offer themselves to serve in our parish and in our GKKs,” proudly proclaimed OLLP parish priest, Father Henry Campeon.

As the world celebrated Fathers’ Day, 64 men were sent forth as Extraordinary Ministers of the Holy Communion (EMHC) at the Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in Bangkal last 18 June 2023 by Most Rev. Romulo Valles, DD, through the authority vested upon the parish priest.

In the same liturgical ceremony, 82 Pangulo sa Liturhiya (PSL) were also sent forth by Father Campeon to administer the Kasaulogan sa Pulong in their respective Gagmayng Kristohanong Katilingban (GKK).

Father Campeon also acknowledged the Pangulo sa Katilingban (PSK) and the servant leaders of every GKK who are untiringly serving the parish; and he further recognized the importance of all fathers in every family, in celebration of Fathers’ day as they were blessed before the mass ended.

Few days prior to the sending forth, the OLLP EMHCs and PSLs had their joint recollect-bonding at the DonHills Spring Resort, through the generosity of its owner EMHC/PSL Donato Lallen, at Sitio Lomot, Kidapawan, last 12-13 June 2023, with Father Fernando “Anggong” Ingente, SM, as their recollection master.

“As we have our recollection away from our comfort zone, let us open our hearts and listen to one another,” inspired by Father Ingente, “to know more ourselves, let us reminisce our relationship with our very own self, our relationship with our respective family, as well as our relationship with our ministries, and with God.”

“The sharing of our personal experiences helped me look back to know myself well and my relation to my family, community, and especially to God who gives himself generously to me in Jesus Christ, that I can have him and be generous also to others, for as a Latin maxim says, ‘nemo dat quod non habet’”, expressed OLLP Lay Coordinator and EMHC Nestor Fruto.

“Our recollection was an opportunity for us to detoxify our mind from stress and get to bond, to unwind and relax,” as expressed by EMHC Coordinator Butch Brion, “it was a perfect soul-searching as we felt God’s presence, reflected on the true meaning of love, most especially on our faithfulness to the Lord; as we continue with our journey, let our faith and love in serving the Lord flourish that we may be able to touch the lives of other people.”

“What we had was a time to assess, evaluate and anchor our desire to serve the Lord through the body and blood of Christ in the midst of God’s beautiful creation,” exclaimed EMHC/PSL Genaro Abrantes.

“As I listened to your sharing, I asked myself: who is worthy anyway? I did not even consider myself as worthy in my vocation as a priest, what inspired us to continue is seeing you lay faithful keenly and eagerly serve in the Church despite problems you encounter with your respective family, with your spouses, with your children, and also challenges you confronted concerning their education, food, health,” said Fr. Campeon.

The two days joint recollect-bonding of EMHC and PSL made them more decisive to acclaim “I am” during their sending forth at the Our Lady of Lourdes Parish. (Vonz M. Hijada | Our Lady of Lourdes Parish SoCCom)