Relevance of the IFI as a Church

What is the relevance of the IFI as a Church in the present crisis for truth?

 

          To answer the question above, let me first go back on the essential missionary task of the IFI Church "To promote the good of everyone, of the whole person and the whole human community that they may grow into "mature manhood in Christ"(Eph.4:13).

          The situation of the country today – suffering from poverty, abuse of power, political killing, corruption, injustices and veil the truth to protect personal interest.

Enough is enough…

          Fundamentally, we can now spot the relevance of the IFI as CHURCH. She must now massively exercise her ministry and mission as it is deeply-rooted in word and work of Jesus Christ. To cries out against those who possess power but perverse the poor of our land, calling to do what the Lord requires; to do justice and to love mercy and to walk humbly with God and observe the weightier mattes of the law: justice, mercy and faith.

          The Church should now respond, get involved and participate in promoting a just, abundant and humane society. Working for God and for our country.

          Enough is enough… enough for the corrupt leaders, enough for those who suppress truth and enough for all of them working for there own satisfaction.

          Finally, the IFI should be consistent in everything to get the Gospel out. Torment is too horrible and infinity is too long for the Church not to spend every waking hour sharing the Gospel of truth through every way possible. Let us be courageous as much as necessary. We know, beyond a doubt, the Lord will saved us. If not, cry out to Him today and He will surely  save us. He is our only hope. Cry for Truth.

Note: forwarded message attached.

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My Christmas Experience - Bro. Greg

My Dear Classmates:

 

            May the peace, hope, love and joy reigns on you this 2008!

 

            It was a great and very remarkable experience I had last yuletide season.  Maybe, some if not all of you were assigned in the cities or towns, but my assignment was in the hinterland - the same assignment I had during my summer field exposure. The Mission Parish of Dawis requested me to serve them.

 

            I left the seminary on the afternoon of Friday, December 21, 2007 together with Brothers Junjun and Eberson. We have to stay overnight in my hometown considering the time element. The following day, Saturday, December 22, 2007 after taking our breakfast, we left for Ayungon, Negros Oriental to drop off Brother Eberson where he was assigned. We were fortunate enough as we were invited for lunch with Father George, my brother.  Brother Junjun and I proceed to our respective assignments after our lunch.  I arrived in the Mission Parish of Dawis before dark, meeting the Vice Chairman of the Parish Council at the same time Lay Reader.

           

            I had to prepare myself for the seventh Misa de Gallo, particularly my Reflection.  I was then so glad to see that many members attended the service as they were expecting my presence. Many new faces attended that day. It challenged and inspired me to do a more meaningful ministry.

 

I got the chance and opportunity to extend my efforts with the parishioners during the "dagyaw" in finishing the floor of the altar, the work they had started last summer. My own little efforts inspired and touched the members to continue serving the church in their own respective capacities.

 

            During my stay in the parish, I was able to visit some of the members and somehow was able to listen to their personal concerns and views on our church.  I also had the chance to see a member who was sick last summer and had the chance to administer "healing" on him. He had been attending Sunday masses and even helped in the "dagyaw" before he got sick.

 

            I was also able to attend the Diocesan Laymen's Congress, held in the Parish of Bais City last December 27, 2007 with some of the Clergy and Brothers Junjun and Eberson.  It was a great opportunity to witness such gathering, witnessing the men of our church.

 

            The following day, we attended the birthday celebration of our bishop at the Cathedral with the clergy.  We got the chance to talk and listen to our bishop and some of the clergy.  We spent the rest of our time shopping with my nieces and Brother Eberson. I went home ahead with them for I have to travel back to the mountain.

 

            I had also the chance to attend a "Pista Pangani" with Fr. Caday in one of the outstations. An experience that is worth reflecting in my part.  We rode on an army-type service car passing on a very tricky and risky road. We were like in the "Extra-Challenge" passing through several obstacles before reaching our destinations.  Due to constant heavy rains in the past days, the barangay roads were impassable so we had to walk about five kilometers passing through a creek and a hill.  Doing our ministry would not only be a "bed of roses" but then I realized that it is also had to be a "bed of nails".  Yet, seeing our brothers and sisters in the hinterlands could ease the tiredness and inspired me more in doing my ministry.

 

            I should have concluded my vacation with the clergy meeting as we were asked to attend but I opted to spend the rest of my vacation to my family in Cebu.

 

            Spending Christmas and New Year away from home is not comfortable though I am not new to it. Notwithstanding the merry-making and sumptuous meals shared in every home of the members, still I felt homesick and my heart bled.  Intoxication of wine and beer may help ease but it is all temporary escape and will not really help.

 

            As a reflection, to be a Servant of the Lord is not that easy as I thought before.  It takes a lot of sacrifices and challenges to be a good Shepherd. Yet, a very satisfying experience for us is are the many and varied lives we have touched.  Serving the faith community is not just by bread alone.  We need to be like great men in the Old Testaments building and rebuilding temples for the glory of God.

 

            May you also have a fruitful and memorable Christmas break as I did.  May the New Year bring us a better way of life in our ministry as workers of the gospel.

 

Pro Deo et Patria!

 

 

Your classmate,

 

                                                                                   

Brother Greg I. Baricar

January 18, 2008

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Seek Peace and Pursue It (1 Peter 3:11)

Where is peace?

Inquirer News dated January 02, 2007 – ANOTHER LEFTWING ACTIVIST SLAIN IN BICOL, December 31, 2006 at around 5:00p.m.

Last Friday, afternoon, Jose Maria Cui, provincial coordinator of Katungod-Sinirangan Bisayas, was shot dead in front of his class at the University of Eastern Philippines in Northern Samar.

Dagdag pa natin ang lahat nang mga election related violence!

Where do we find peace today?

When the world have always promised to us the "good life" but has consistently failed.

In this seemingly endless world of misery

Where do we turn to find peace?

Seeking peace, finding Jesus

When we seek peace, we will turn out finding Jesus. Jesus is our peace. He is the prince of peace. The first among peacemakers.

Our patron Paul, was once a strict Pharisee. Perhaps he is the strictest of his time. In fact his name, Saul, was notorious. He is a persecutor of the followers of Christ.

But there is one element in Paul's notorious life that I would like to point out this evening/afternoon. He had always thought that what he was doing was right.

All the while Paul was convinced Christians violate the Jewish Law and that it is his bounding duty to run after and persecute them.

But when Paul met Jesus on that road to Damascus, he changed completely.

From being the arm of violence against the followers of Christ he became a bearer of Christ to many unbelievers.

Once Paul found Jesus, he shared in His peace.

When he was united with Christ, Christ gave him that peace, which the world cannot give.

With that, Paul without hesitation crossed borders and conquered gentiles to the Christian faith.

With that, he overcame persecution that came his way and successfully preached the gospel to the world even when he was in prison.

Tradition has it that Paul was martyred in Rome. I believe that even if Paul's death must have been violent, he died peacefully.

Finding Jesus, pursuing peace

Like Paul, we will only find true peace in Jesus.

And when we find that peace in Jesus, it will inspire us to become instruments of peace.

When we become instruments of God's peace we will eventually be aware of the forces of violence around us.

Our patron, Paul, in his letter to the Ephesians chapter 6 verse 12 wrote, "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the power of this dark world and against the forces of evil in the heavenly realms".

Living peacefully does not necessarily mean we keep silent in the sidelines.

Living a peaceful life does not really mean we are indifferent.

Peace lover and Peacemaker: the difference

Here stands the difference between the peace lover and the peacemaker.

A peace lover wants to stay in a peaceful environment.

That is why he goes somewhere peaceful.

A peacemaker does not only love peace.

He does not only go to a place of serenity.

Rather he engaged himself in a violent society and then sow and harvest peace out of that violence.

The peacemaker is a promoter of change.

Change from a violent world to a peaceful one.

A peacemaker works for peace.

He do not only seek peace, he pursue it!

In this essence, Jesus is the first among peacemakers.

He left that peaceful kingdom in Heaven and engaged himself into this violent world in order to sow peace, hopeful to harvest many.

Cost and Reward of peacemaking

But even our Lord Jesus Christ, the prince of peace, the first among peacemakers - being the peace himself - died a violent death. Shameful. Pitiful. On the cross.

This is the cost and reward of peacemaking. And many have trailed this path.

Jesus' peace triumphed over violence when he died a violent death.

It is a guarantee that if you find in you that peace of Jesus you will conquer violence in its own ground.

Brothers and sisters we must remember that we are not only called to be peace lovers; rather we are called to be peacemakers.

Seek peace therefore and pursue it!

In the Name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Homily delivered by Revd Fr. Christopher N. Ablon to the 7^th Novena Mass for the Feast of the Conversion of Saint Paul SPTS, La Paz, Iloilo City.

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Changed To Change

2 Kgs 5:1-15

1 Cor 9:24-27

Mk 1:40-45

Confused

Man is confused about the will of God. They have doubts whether God really care about our lives, our situations and even to what is happening in our society. Many attempted to raise questions but failed to hear direct answers. It's as if God did not hear their query. It's as if God is indifferent, it's as if he doesn't care. So many of us live in constant confusion as to what road to take, what life to choose, which direction to go, etc… So we live today the way we did yesterday and view tomorrow to be the same as today. We keep our aspirations under our pillow at night. We leave it just right there as we do our daily routine. And in the evening we hug it as we sleep hoping to find it again in our dreams.

No secret

But the will of God is no secret! It is well described in the bible. Our articles of religion says, "the bible contains all things necessary to salvation". The answers to the many questions of man can be found in the bible. In our gospel today, the question on whether God wants us to be clean? Whether God wants to restore us to our full humanity? Whether God wants us to be made new and pleasing in His sight? – was best answered by Jesus when He stretched out His hand and touched the leper and said, "I am willing, be clean". The question on whether God wants to uplift those who are overburdened? Whether God wants to put an end to misery? Whether God wants to transform this undesirable social condition? – was best answered by Jesus when he healed the leper. On the question of what should we do? He simply told us to follow him.

Not on our own

As person, we are, in a sense, lepers. We have in all of us the frailty of the flesh that stains our person and make us unclean. As individuals, we continually need Jesus to touch us and continually made us clean. We need Him to lead us the way to a clean and holy life. We can never do it on our own. It is only through Him that we can possibly made new.

The healed herald

As a church, we are in a sense, the healed leper. After he was cured of his leprosy, he began to speak openly and spread the good news. As a result many people come looking for Jesus so that they may experience for themselves the salvation that he experienced. He became an instant preacher and missionary of God. In fact, he was very effective. By his testimony he brought many to seek for the Lord.

As a Church, it is our task to proclaim the Gospel to all at all times. Like the leper, God changed us so that we may be able to change others. We are commissioned to preach God's love to the world. Many in our society today are still confused. God sends us to touch their lives and lead them to Him.

He is waiting

On our own we cannot fulfil the will of God. But with Jesus our everlasting helper, we can become a persevering and effective and preacher and missionary of God. If God wills it will be done. And it is His will to save us so that we can become instruments of His salvation. This was, is and will always be His will.

He is always here in our midst. Waiting for you and me to submit ourselves to His will and say, "Lord, if you are willing, you can change me so that I may change others".

In the Name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen!

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Sermon for the First Diocesan WOPIC Culminating Activity

Blessed Than Honored

It is indeed an honor to speak before all of you today , mga nanay. Apang, nakabalo kamo, sa tuod tuod gd lang, at this moment, I feel more blessed than honored. I consider it more of a blessing that today God has given me this chance to share with all the WOPIC of our Dioceses, in this celebration – 1^st Diocesan WOPIC Culminating Activity. More importantly it is certainly a blessing to give a homily to the nanays, not only of our Church but of the future – mga nanay in your womb the future is formed. How blessed am I today – ako nga ahaw lamang nga bunga sang balaan nga taguangkan sang isa ka iloy – sa subong nga natagaan sang tumalagsahon nga pasidungog nga inyo pamatian - mga nanay.

Imminence of Christ

Kaina sang kaagahon nag-umpisa na ang misa de gallo. Paskwa na guid! Kung natalupangdan ninyo ang pasayod sang surf sa television, sa ila promo: Knock! Knock! Wais der Promo, may nagpanuktok sa balay nila ni Lumen kag sa pagbukas sang puertahan may ara sila bisita nga nagpalipay sa ila. Ang bata nga Hesus ara na sa puertahan sang balay nila ni Lumen. Sa pag-umpisa sang misa de gallo aton mabatyagan nga ang paskwa yara na gd sa ganhaan sa aton mga kabuhi kag panimalay. Ugaling kay sa likod sa sini nga malipayon nga kamatuoran nga si Hesukristo nag-abot sa aton kabuhi paagi sa paskwa, bangud sang gugma sang Dios kag para sa aton kaluwasan – daw wala nagsanto ang nagaluntad subong nga sitwasyon sang aton pungsod sa subong. Daw makapamangkot kita, basi wala pa gd man nag-abot si Kristo sa aton mga kabuhi? Indi ako magpati sina. Para sa akon pareho sa kay Lumen si Kristo ara na gd sa puertahan sa aton mga panimalay kag kabuhi. Ugaling lang kay dako ang posibilidad nga wala ta siya makilala o nadiparahan. Kay bangud busy kita sa iban nga mga bagay specially sa mga material nga mga butang suno sa aton personal nga mga interes.

Nagapati ako mga utod nga ang presensya ni Kristo sa aton kabuhi magadala gd sang pagbag-o sa aton personal kag sosyal nga kabuhi. Ang mga kagamo sa aton pungsod sa subong nagapatimaan sang dako pa nga hilikuton sang simbahan, indi agud dal-on si Kristo sa tawo kay bangud ara naman siya kundi agud buksan ang tagipusoon sang mga katawhan agud maabli man ang ila mga mata kag makita nila nga ang bata nga Hesus yara na sa ganhaan sa ila kabuhi agud matandog sila sang iya presensya kag mabag-o ang tagsa-tagsa. Gani, mabag-o man ang kabug-usan nga katilingban. We need a change of heart not a change of constitution!

Theme

The presence of Christ to our lives in this season of Christmas is very much relevant to our theme today – "Patatagin ang Pamunuan; Palakasin ang Lokal na Simbahan; Pasiglahin ang Kalakhang Kasapian". Our theme acknowledges the bulk of the mission of the Church vis-à-vis the realities in our time. It connotes that we have to systemize our internal affairs as a Church indi lang para sa ikaayo sang aton simbahan kundi agud nga ang aton simbahan epektibo nga maka-perform sang iya misyon para kaayuhan sang katawhan sang Dios kag sa himaya kag kadayawan sang iya ngalan.

Gusto ko nga isa-isahon define ang pila ka mga importante nga tinaga sang aton tema.

Patatagin ang Pamunuan. Pamunuan – sin-o ang pamunuan sang aton simbahan? Sa diocesan level – ginapanguluhan kita sang aton Obispo, upod sang Diocesan Council kag aton mga kaparian. Ang kaparokyahan ginapanguluhan sang aton mga kaparian upod ang parish council. Agud mangin mapag-on ang ila pagpangulo sa aton simbahan kinahanglan ang aton suporta, ilabina na guid ang pagrespeto sa ila, not because of their person but due to their office.

Palakasin ang Lokal na Simbahan. Lokal nga Simbahan – ang lokal nga simbahan amo ang diyoses – indi ang parokya. If we say local church we mean primarily the locus of ministry. It is in the diocese as a whole that the ministry of the church takes place. It is also in the diocese as a whole that the fullness of ministry is being exercised. The bishop being the pastoral head of the diocese is the dispenser of ministry. Agud mangin mabaskon ang aton diyoses, indi na kita mag-kanya-kanya. No more parochialism! Ang tagsa ka parokya indi hamulag kundi isa lamang dira sa isa ka lokal nga simbahan – nga amo ang diyoses.

Pasiglahin ang Kalakhang Kasapian. Kalakhang Kasapian – ang katapuan, LAITY. The word laity actually includes the priests and the lay – meaning the whole membership of the church – ordained and non-ordained. Ang ordained ministry is primarily a ministry of guidance. While ang lay ministry amo ang ministry of witness. Agud mangin mapagsik ang katapuan kinahanglan himuon sang tagsa ka myembro "non-ordained", ang pagbantala sa maayong balita ni Kristo suno sa iya "gift" kag sa guidance sang aton mga ordained – pari pinangulohan sang obispo.

WOPIC

Karon, ang pamangkot amo ini: ano ang ma-share sang WOPIC sa bilog nga pagpasanyog sang misyon sang simbahan?

For me, being a woman is in itself sacred. To be a mother is more divine. The mother is the direct participant, medium and partner of God in His continuing creation of human life.

I remember an old English poem that says, "the hand that rocks the cradle, is the hand that rules the world". Siling gani sang mga eksperto, every great man traces back a history of good and happy childhood. Ang pagkamaayo kag pagpakamalain sang tanan nga tawo yara sa kamot sang iya iloy.

Ini nga quality nga innate sa inyo nga mga wopic amo ang inyo hinganiban agud makabulig sang dako sa misyon sang simbahan.

Ang maragtas sang aton simbahan nagpakita nga halin pa sadto ang aton mga wopic epektibo na nga nagabulig sa hilikuton sang simbahan. Bisan tuod nga laban kalalakin-an ang katapuan sang Union Obrera Demokratika nga amo ang nagtukod sang IFI, apang daw kabudlay hunahunaon nga natigayon ang ila mga hilikuton nga wala sang bulig sa mga kababayen-an, unabis, ang ila mga asawa. Dugang pa, in the second article of the first official organ of our Church, La Iglesia Filipina Revista Catolica, was listed was the first adherents of the IFI. First among those groups were the 63 residents of Navotas. And first on the list was a woman, by the name of Saturnina Bunda. Today we witnessed how the WOPIC consistently give their best in sharing with the mission of our Church. Hasta sa subong ang mga Saturnina Bunda, ang women, gihapon ang una sa listahan sang nagabulig sa simbahan.

Ako mismo witness sini nga kamatuoran. While I was studying in St. Paul's Theological Seminary bilang third year seminarian gin-skolar ako sang WOPIC sang amon diyoses. Ginabaydan nila ang isa ka tuig nga balaydan ko sa seminaryo kag ginapadal-an ako nila sang 500 pesos every month bilang allowance. Didto ko nadiskobre kag na-appreciate kun ano gd gali kadako ang ikasarang sang sini ninyo nga organisasyon!

Twofold Challenge

I will pose a twofold challenged for you today mga nanay, mga WOPIC.

1. Extend your good qualities and good deeds to others beginning in your home. The affirmation that we share in the love of Christ is when we extend that love to others. The affirmation of our faithfulness to Christ is when we bring others to him. Begin mga nanay, with your partners – husbands. Next to your children, bring them to share in the love of God and engage in the mission of our Church, IFI.
2. Find more ways of doing your share in the ministry of the Church. Do not be contented with what you have done. Do not be satisfied doing the same thing over and over again. Seek and discover more ways in which you can maximize your potentials as women, as individual and as organization to serve God and his people here in the IFI.

Lastly, merry Christmas to all of you!

May you find the baby Jesus in every cradle you rock!

I believe that you will always be number one in serving God and His Church.

Delivered by Revd Fr. Christopher N. Ablon in Sara Parish Church. December 16, 2006

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Continuing the Journey Together Inspired by the Ecumenical Spirit

Colossians 3:15-17

"Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him."

I Corinthians 12:26

"If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it."

Blessed not Honored

It is of course an honor to speak before us all today. To tell you the truth, I feel more blessed than honored. I consider it more of a blessing from God that today God has given me this chance to share with you all, in this celebration. More importantly it is certainly a blessing to give a homily to the ecumenical youth, you, the future leaders of your respective churches and also the hope of the ecumenical movement in this modern era.

Ecumenical Spirit is Jesus Spirit

Our theme is "Continuing Journey Together Inspired by the Ecumenical Spirit" is a great inspiration for me. I would like to make it a point in my homily this evening that this Ecumenical Spirit is the Jesus Spirit. The Jesus spirit that is not confined in the premises of a single religion. The Jesus spirit that is not contained in a single denomination. The Jesus spirit that is not a monopoly of the few. But that one Jesus Christ who is the Head of all our churches. One Jesus who is Lord of us all. One Jesus who loves us all. And one Jesus who saves us all. Irregardless of our denomination. That is the truth that inspires me, and I hope will inspire us all as we struggle to go on united in our ecumenical journey.

Ecumenism in the NT

According to Pheme Perkins in his book, Reading the New Testament.

We will see that there were a number of different group of Christians in the New Testament.

1. There were Christians of Jewish origin who continued to follow the customs and practices of Judaism.

2. Other Christians of Gentile origin focused their whole religious experience in the belief in Jesus and not the Jewish traditions.

We will also find in the NT that there are different lines of Christian traditions. Most of them linked with the apostles.

3. James, the leader of the Church in Jerusalem, becomes the focal point for Jewish Christianity.

4. Peter, who apparently left Jerusalem for missionary activity in the Antioch region becomes the sponsor of Christian mission which retains ties with the Judaism.

5. Paul, the apostle to the Gentiles, establish missionary churches. The

6. Johannine community is yet another New Testament church of different tradition.

If we remember the basic fact that the New Testament permits some differences in Christian traditions and practice, then we will understand that it is possible for a number of different Christian churches to all be faithful to the bible. I may even comment my brothers and sisters that the NT Christians were far more ecumenical than us because I believe they do not proselyte each other.

Hindi nyo man po naitatanong mga kapatid, 13 years old pa po ako ay ebanghelista na ako don sa amin sa Mindanao, Cagayan de Oro City. We were trained how to defend the Church from other denomination – memory verse! Debate! Actually the whole family is such. One day when in our tyange sa balay – a group of young men and women approach papa obviously to proselyte. But papa asked them one question: "How is my God related to your God? Are they cousins?" One of them replied no sir, its but one God. So my father said, "You go therefore to those who have other god's or have no God at all you are wasting time". That argument saved my father from being proselyted. But that same argument open my mind to accept and respect other denominations. If their God is our God then there is no need to argue.

Ecumenism Amidst Us

What is ecumenism in our own today? Is it a mere thought? A mere idea? A mere concept? or a true and actual reality? I can see there are many of us here who die defending that ecumenism is not a myth. Nick Primavera of the WVEC for example. I am a witness to several activity sponsored by the ecumenical council that gathers priests of the IFI, pastors of CPBC, UCCP and others, and lay workers also not in order proselyte nor to convert one another but sharing how the gospel is lived out in their respective churches and in the existing context – for me that is ecumenism.

This evening we are here youths of different denominations gathered together again, not for the purpose of winning over each other to be converted to our church, but according to Paul in his letter to the Colossians, to "sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God" – to the same God, the same Jesus Christ who inspired each and every one of us to come together at this very moment! Let us therefore be glad for God is with us! This for me is ecumenism.

But brothers have you seen ecumenism everyday? It's one question I ask myself while reflecting upon my sharing with us all this evening. Me, whenever I see Nick Primavera, I feel ecumenical. He is, for me, the most ecumenical man I've known. Of course because he heads the WVEC. Moreover, the WVEC office is located in the CPBC compound. And his office mate, nang Inday is a wife of a CPBC pastor. Whenever I see the Salvation Army, I feel ecumenical.

Upon asking myself if ever I witness an everyday ecumenism I come to realize that I do. Let me share this to you. I really feel blessed to encounter this unique opportunity. And I found it in the very seminary that I am teaching now. In the faculty.

1. Pastor June Frances Gange – UCCP resident pastor who teaches Christian Education subjects on Mondays.
2. Deacon Pete Pido – A Roman Catholic deacon, who teaches Thology and Philosopical subjects Tuesdays and Thusdays.
3. Mr. Nick Primavera – a UCCP churchman who teaches Ecumenics on Wednesdays.
4. Mrs. Nitz Guilliergan – A Convention Baptist and faculty in CPU who teaches Gender Stuidies on Fridays.

So in Saint Paul's Theological Seminary we got a daily dosage of ecumenical friends sharing with us in the formation of the future ministers of the IFI. That for me is a concrete example of ecumenism everyday. I share this to you so that you maybe more curious and conscious of ecumenism in your midst. And so that you may also be encouraged to development such an environment.

We go now to the challenge that I will leave us all. Fostering ecumenism is not an easy task because it might go against preserving our very own respective churches. I hope your church leaders are open and positive to your coming here. I am not sure if all of your parents are aware and is supportive of your ecumenical involvement. I pause a challenge therefore for all of you: you are EYF because you engage in ecumenism in your youth. But you become old and have a family of your own, why don't you encourage your children to ecumenical activities while they are young. In that way we can foresee a day when ecumenism is exercise everyday – a more practical reality. A day when no Christian will bark at each other and accuse or condemn each other but hold hands together, one in Christ and as one establish a more Christian community, of more Christian governance, where love, peace based on justice and love in Jesus Christ reigns. Amen.

Homily by Revd Fr. Christopher N. Ablon to the Ecumenical Choir Festival. November 19, 2006 at UCCP Church Iloilo, Dungon B Iloilo City.

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