Spreading hope and trust in today’s social media environment

Source: (www.signis.net)

Amid the turmoil that the world is facing nowadays made magnified by the endless commentary that we get in the media, whether correctly or not, the Holy Father's message for 51st World Communications Day provides for us some perspectives on how we should give more priority on achieving positive solutions to society's problems and focus less on controversies and scandals that often are the staple of news.

This is not to say that we gloss over the reality of human suffering that happen around us and elsewhere in the world. However, to be bombarded with too much “bad news” day in and day out will surely leave us numb at some point, and may create in some a feeling of hopelessness.

In the face of what is happening in our country and in other parts of the world today, the chosen theme for this year’s World Communications Day, “ ‘Fear not, I am with you’ (Is. 43:5) Communicating Hope and Trust in our Time” seems to be an answer to a prayer.

The theme is right on target given the situation we are going through as a nation at this time. There are a lot of uncertainties that we are experiencing which also raise questions in our minds and provoke fear in our hearts. Killings, bombings, kidnappings, corruption – these are the normal reports that we get in the news nowadays. These are what we usually read in the papers, these are what we get when we surf the internet or browse through social media. These are the things that are being fed into our minds, which according to Pope Francis, echoing what St. John Cassian said, is like “a constantly grinding millstone”. So it is up to us what kind of things to feed this “constantly grinding millstone.” Either good or bad, positive or negative, uplifting or denigrating. These realities are all the more magnified by social media.

However, the theme also reassures us that God’s presence is constant in our life. “Fear not, I am with you.” This passage from the prophet Isaiah promises us that we will never be alone in our struggles in life. God is always at our side.

What counter narrative can we offer to the message that we get from social media?

The potential of social media to generate and amplify message at high speed is not only a boon but also a bane. Facebook, which has the most traffic in terms of usage compared with other social media, averages photos and other information uploads at around 300 million a day. We are aware that not all those being uploaded are wholesome. It is normal to encounter posts that are gory, inhumane, denigrating or something that promote or glorify dystopian ideas that are quite becoming popular to certain segments of social media users.

Social media offer us immense possibilities to counter the false narrative and alternative facts with positive and constructive messages. What could be more constructive than the values promoted by the Gospel? By sowing the truths of the gospel, one seed at a time, anyone can become a beacon of hope and trust.

True, a little effort may seem insignificant at first, but if there is persistence, fidelity on our part and good intention, it will gain momentum and will make a difference in someone’s life later on.

Some key points from the message of Pope Francis are worth remembering which can help us a lot when using social media, especially in the effort to promote positive messages to counter the false narratives being propagated.

Constructive communication

First is to encourage everyone to communicate in a way that is constructive and uplifting.

I do not know if it is cultural, but it seems we are not so spontaneous in praising the good in other people, or just pointing out some positive aspects of a person. On the other hand, it is so easy to spot the negative and just as easy and quick to talk about it.

In today’s social media environment, news spread so fast and multiply so quickly as well. A lot of shaming is happening in the internet. Many times the news being spread around is false, but before it was nipped in the bud harm had already been done because it has already made the rounds all over the internet. There are also people who make a living in spreading false news and attacking people or institutions, including the Catholic Church.

It is regrettable that there are individuals who would use social media to spread false news to set their own agenda. Overtime, people come to believe false news to be true because that is what they hear and see all the time. On one hand, facts can be ignored and regarded as false, and on the other hand, lies can be accepted as real when it is consistently promoted as such.

Never allow pessimism get the upper hand

Nowadays, we hear and read so many bad news, whether natural or man made.

When we are assailed with so many bad news, there is the temptation to grow apathetic about it, isn’t it? Pope Francis says, “we have to break the vicious cycle of anxiety and stem the spiral of fear that results from this constant focus on the “bad news”. He warned us not to allow the idea that “evil has no limits” to form in our head. When we are bombarded by these kind of news left and right, we will really be desensitized. But no, we should never allow ourselves to be unconcerned or indifferent in the face of human suffering or injustices that happen around us.

Focus on the Good News 

We all interpret reality according on the lens we use to view it. We may all be looking on the same object but we interpret it differently, because each of us is using a different lens.

Professionals or otherwise, we are all communicators. The impact of the message we communicate will depend on how we reframe that message. Sadly, in today’s social media environment, so many negative messages are being propagated by trolls. Instead of sowing positive values, these trolls would rather sow negative and destructive information, incite anger and hatred and put down the dignity of people.

“Witnesses and communicators”

We are called to witness the Risen Jesus. We are called to be communicators of the good news that Jesus has risen. The worst that can be said about us Christians is that we don’t witness the Risen Christ.

Before his ascension into heaven, Jesus gathered his disciples and instructed them to go out into the whole world and spread the light of the gospel to everyone. As Christians, we live by that mandate. Wherever we are, whatever we do, we ought to be like a candle that diffuses light around us, beacons of hope and trust, so the darkness of evil will not prevail.

FSPs attend 51st International Eucharistic Congress

FSP participants in the IEC Congress

It’s an experience worth a lifetime.

For the thousands of people who participated in the recently-concluded 51^st International Eucharistic Congress held January 24 to 31 in Cebu, the statement couldn’t be more true.

Eighteen FSPs attended the congress, 11 of whom came from Pasay that include members of the Provincial Government and sector heads. Other FSP participants came from the communities of Lipa, Baguio, Tacloban, Naga, Cagayan de Oro and Davao.

The Sisters of Cebu community also put up a book display which was flocked by Congress participants looking for reading materials and other religious souvenirs.

Around 15,000 delegates from 70 countries across the globe participated in the Congress. Outside of Philippines, Taiwan had the most number of delegates at 600, headed by their vice-president.

But more than a million faithful turned up and joined the Eucharistic procession, the highlight of the Congress, on Jan. 29 from Cebu Capitol Building to Plaza Independencia.

The Congress officially opened on January 24 with a Eucharistic Mass led by His Eminence Charles Maung Cardinal Bo, the Archbishop of Yangon, Myanmar and Pope Francis’ personal representative to the Congress, at the Plaza Independencia.

The Cardinal, who is a Salesian won the Filipino people’s admiration by his simplicity and down-to-earth demeanor. His homily during the opening and closing Mass of the Congress was punctuated by Cebuano and Tagalog phrases, much to the delight of his Filipino audience.

The closing Mass was highlighted by a personal video-message from Pope Francis who also announced that the next Eucharistic Congress will be held in 2020 in Budapest, Hungary.

Most applauded

Two of the most applauded speakers during the Congress were Most Rev. Robert Barron, DD and His Eminence Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle, DD who gave catechesis on the third and fifth day, respectively.

With SSP brothers and APC after a session at Waterfront Hotel

Bishop Barron, who spoke on the topic “The Eucharist: Celebration of the Paschal Mystery” highlighted the vibrant faith of Filipinos, noting that their fidelity in living the Catholic faith wherever they are keeps the Church alive amid the challenges it faces.

In his catechesis “The Eucharist and Dialogue of Culture” on Day 5, Cardinal Tagle drew attention on the Eucharist as a “culture of convocation” as against the “culture of alienating individualism” which seems to afflict our society today. He urged Congress participants to create a culture of communion that would “make a Eucharistic community, a real [and] credible presence of Christ” in the world.

Aside from the daily morning catechesis and testimonies given by different speakers, concurrent sessions were also held in the afternoon.

One of the speakers in the concurrent sessions was Fr. Luciano Ariel Felloni, an Argentinean priest ministering at Our Lady of Lourdes,  an urban parish in Caloocan.

Fr. Felloni spoke about the “Washing of the Feet of the poor: The Eucharist and the Priesthood”, stressing that “it is the Eucharist that makes the Church”.

“The washing of the feet remind us that Jesus at every Mass is kneeling before each and everyone of us to assure us that he knows all our misery and dirt but he is here to love us, not to send us away,” he said.

Other activities include parish encounter between participants and parishionerson Jan. 27, Visita Iglesia to seven city parishes on Jan. 28, a youth day  and overnight vigil on Jan. 28-29, and sinulog presentation on Jan. 30.

His Eminence Ricardo Cardinal Vidal presided the Holy Eucharist on January 30, attended by 5,000 children who received their first Holy Communion.

Cardinal Vidal was also a first communicant during the International Eucharistic Congress held in Manila in 1937.

Pathways of Mercy

Photo: Pinky, fsp

The overflowing mercy of  God manifests his readiness to forgive and let go of our transgressions. When God forgives, he forgets. Such is the greatness of his love and mercy for all of humanity. The very reason for sending his Son, Jesus Christ into the world and embracing our human nature so that he will become like us in all things except sin.

The nature of God, who is all love and mercy are best exemplified by various Gospel parables that are devoted to mercy. In these parables, “Jesus reveals the nature of God as that of a Father wh never gives up until he has forgiven the wrong and overcome rejection with compassion and mercy.” (Misericordiae Vultus)

It is only possible to be compassionate when one has been touched and transformed by the infinite mercy of God.

In this year of Mercy, we are invited to look deeply into the recesses of our hearts. What do we see in there? Do we see the merciful love of  the Father etched in every recess of our heart? 

What are the pathways of Mercy that we can adopt; some kind of routes to tread; lines of action to follow especially this year? 

Mercy is what our world needs today. There is so much violence around us – violence inflicted not only on fellow human beings , but even in animals and the environment as well. 

In declaring the Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy, Pope Francis reminds us that at this particular time, more than ever, “we are called to gaze even more attentively on mercy so that we may become a more effective sign of the Father’s action in our lives.” (Misericordiae Vultus)

A Journey of Faith: 100 Years of Bringing the Gospel to the world

Sr. Shalimar Rubia and Sr. Lucia Kim, FSP General Councillors, 

cut the ribbon at the opening of the exhibit assisted by 

Sr. Noemi Vinoya and Fr. Alex Bautista.

DESPITE strong rains and howling winds, the launching of the Pauline exhibit titled “A Journey of Faith, 100 Years of bringing the Gospel to the world”, pushed through on August 21 as scheduled. Friends came, although not as many as we earlier expected because the bad weather indeed kept many indoors that day. But we were glad there were brave souls who defied nature and came to celebrate with us the launching of the exhibit that commemorates our 100 years as a congregation.  

Not even a very nasty weather can squash our joy and high spirits that day, made more so by the presence of our friends and some sisters from nearby Marikina and Lipa communities.

Fr. Alex Bautista delivered a beautiful and truly moving speech, which I am publishing in full below, explaining how the exhibit came about, and the process it took from the start until its completion.

Fr. Alex, by the way, is the Chairman of the Commission for the Cultural Heritage of the Church in the Diocese of Tarlac. How we came to know him is another story that would have to be told another time. Suffice it to say that meeting him was really an act of providence that led to the putting up of this beautiful exhibit that tells about the Daughters of St. Paul’s “Journey of Faith” in their “100 years of bringing the Gospel to the world.”

______________

Fr. Alex Bautista

CURATOR'S NOTE

Rev. Fr. Alex Bautista

The story of a fruitful journey is always a delight to hear, and a joy to be shared and a wonderful experience to cherish. Today, the Daughters of St. Paul, who ventured on a journey 100 years ago has a story to tell us, sharing with us their jubilation, and their ever grateful heart to God for the specific mission entrusted to them, that is: to live and communicate Christ through social communications, as envisioned by their Founder, Blessed James Alberione.

As the exhibit shares with us how the Pauline apostolate has progressed through the years, always in union with the Church's efforts in the work of evangelization of “bringing people to God and God to people”; it is Christ's action in our modern world that we underline. It is Christ, who is passing by through our modern society who begins his gospel of love, and salvation through the media apostolate of the Daughters of St. Paul.

These women are always full of courage... for they walk by faith. Their “Journey of Faith,” of their 100 years of bringing the Gospel to the world is a story worth hearing/reading, and their joy in bringing the Gospel message is contagious and worthy of emulating. Their experience is worth reviewing through this exhibit interpretation.

Coming up with an exhibit is not as easy as it may seem. What is tedious and work extensive is compensated by the generous, creative and collective efforts of the community who has a story to tell. What we are inaugurating today is an effort which passed, beyond months of preparation. I am happy to share with you my journey with these sisters whom I begin to feel part of my family. I become in the process, co-curator of this exhibit for it is the community itself who worked doubly hard in its 0 preparation. My duty is reduced to give them tasks to accomplish and make them feel responsible in the authenticity of their story. And the sisters did exemplary well! Congratulations! 

We started with a seminar/workshop on what is an exhibit; of its pastoral dimension; on the importance of informing the audience of the story without overwhelming them; how to affect the visitors’ perception as they view the exhibit; and to make it as enjoyable as possible through interactive presentation. The result exceeded our expectations and we are all happy.       

As for its layout, the exhibit breathes like lungs in two parts. The left part is dedicated to understanding the emblem of the Pauline Family; the Eucharist which is the core of the spiritual life of the sisters, where a monstrance brought in from Italy in 1949 is displayed; and a section dedicated to Blessed James Alberione, founder of the Congregation follows. There is a relic display of the original pen used by Blessed James Alberione to write his meditations and letters to his sons and daughters. He who said “Let us make ourselves the pen and the tongue of God through Jesus Christ,” leaves his pen as a graphic reminder of this task. The writing desk with a facsimile of his writing was recreated.

You may want to rest and enjoy “printing” your messages in a corner before you begin the part that will tell you the history of the Congregation from its foundation to its expansion. The image of St. Paul  marks the beginning of the story of the Congregation. The panel has dividing line that shows the years in progress. The upper portion tells the visitors the humble beginnings of the Congregation and its development. Below is read in parallel some momentous and significant events in the world. Such exhibit interpretation presents the significance of the charism of the sisters that is relevant in this modern world. The first timeline ends with expansion of the Congregation worldwide – at the end is a booth where one can enjoy listening to a broadcast from an interactive radio program. 

The right wing of the exhibit boasts of the development of the Congregation in the PMPT Province: Philippines, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, Thailand. One can hear a broadcast from our local station manned by the sisters. 

A panel on the canticle of social communications follows; next is the panel dedicated to the Venerable “Thecla” Teresa Merlo. The image of our Lady “Queen of the Apostles” marks the beginning of the panel dedicated to the Philippine Foundation that brings the viewer to the era of global communication.  Again parallel to their story are stories relevant and significant in our times both in the local and international scenario. 

The end panel highlights the apostolate of the sisters “Biblia sa Bawat Pamilya,” your generous donation to support this noble apostolate is most welcome. The Bible, the Word of God is displayed, and the apostolic logo of the Congregation explained, the World with a “P” as Blessed Alberione envisioned it “the World is our Parish.”

As you view the exhibit it is our hope that the joy of the Daughters of St. Paul in this great jubilee of their foundation be felt by our audience and the zeal to spread the Good News of our Salvation be proclaimed in many and various ways. “We have to be all things to all men” as St. Paul would remind us. Let us take this challenge as the members of the Daughters of St. Paul did, because it is Christ himself who impels us to “Go and make disciples of all nations... teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you, and behold I am with you all days.” (Mt. 28:19, 20)

A Journey of Faith

CELEBRATING the centennial of a religious congregation this year is extraordinary, in view of the fact that it coincides with the celebration of the Year of Consecrated Life as declared by the Vatican. For the Daughters of St. Paul, whose existence in the Church turns 100 this year, the Vatican proclamation gives an extra boost on the significant role consecrated persons fulfill in the life of the Church.

The Vatican’s proclamation of the Year of Consecrated Life was also inspired by the celebration of the fiftieth anniversary of the Dogmatic Constitution on the Church Lumen Gentium, which dedicates a chapter on the topic of religious life, and of Perfectae Caritatis, a Decree on the Renewal of Religious Life. So there is a common thread that holds all of these celebrations together.

Highlighting the importance of the occasion Pope Francis stressed in his apostolic letter that the celebration “would be appropriate for each charismatic family to reflect on its origins and history, in order to thank God who grants the Church a variety of gifts which embellish her and equip her for every good work” (cf. Lumen Gentium, 12).

As the Church’s event encourages all consecrated religious to take a profound look on their life of consecration, the pope also said it is important for all those called to consecration “to look to the past with gratitude.”

Gratitude

True enough, one cannot celebrate the present moment without looking at the past with a grateful heart and counting the innumerable blessings the Lord has showered upon the congregation in superabundance.

In this centenary of their foundation, the Daughters of St. Paul worldwide look back with gratitude to their founder Blessed James Alberione and co-foundress Venerable Thecla Merlo, two visionaries whose hearts were imbued with profound faith in Divine Providence and who, with enormous courage unhesitatingly responded to the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.

Themed "100 years of Pauline consecrated life, a journey of faith and love", the celebration is also an  occasion for all the Paulines to commend the pioneer sisters who bore the difficulties of the foundational years, trail blazing the path for each Pauline Sister who will follow them through the years.

Sr. Evangelina Canag, former provincial superior of the Philippine province and one time General Councilor said that Blessed James Alberione, whom Paulines used to addressed to as Primo Maestro, meaning “First Teacher” in honor of Jesus Master, had always insisted on the nuns to always trust in Divine Providence. Trust coupled with action.

“But trusting in God does not mean we do nothing on our part. During the early days, Primo Maestro used to send sisters to knock on doors and ask for old newspapers from families. The sisters would then bring all those old newspapers to the recycling plant in exchange of clean paper to use for printing books,” Sr. Evangelina said.

Alberione’s unfathomable faith in God led him to found five religious congregations, four aggregated institutes and an association of lay cooperators. The first of these religious congregations is the Society of St. Paul which was founded in 1914, followed by the Daughters of St. Paul in 1915. The other congregations include the Pious Disciples of the Divine Master, the Sisters of Jesus the Good Shepherd (Pastorelle) and the Sisters of the Queen of Apostles. The four aggregated institutes are the Institute of St. Gabriel the Archangel for men, Institute of Our Lady of the Annunciation for women, Institute of Jesus Priest for diocesan priests and Institute of the Holy Family.

Pauline heritage

The seed of foundation was planted in Alba, Italy, on a memorable night that divided the 19^th and 20^th centuries. The young Alberione, still a seminarian at that time was praying before the Blessed Sacrament exposed at the Cathedral of Alba. While deep in prayer, he felt the profound stirrings in his heart to do something for the people of the new century.

That initial spark from the Holy Spirit finally took shape on August 20, 1914 upon the foundation of the first branch of the Pauline family, the Society of St. Paul; and the birth of the Pauline charism, which defines the spirituality and mission of the Pauline family.

The congregation of the Daughters of St. Paul was established a year later, on June 15, 1915 with a handful of young women whom Fr. James Alberione gathered together to work for the apostolate of the press. The fledgling group was led by Teresa Merlo, who took the name of Thecla on her profession day in honor of St. Paul’s first woman disciple.  She became the first Mother General of the Daughters of St. Paul, and closely collaborated with Alberione in founding the other Institutes of the Pauline Family. Today, the Daughters of St. Paul have 2,267 sisters whose apostolic presence is spread in 50 countries across five continents throughout the world.

Inspired by the zeal of the Apostle Paul, who according to Alberione, would use every available means of communication in his time to spread the Gospel, he urged all Daughters of St. Paul to “travel the paths of the world, spreading the light of God everywhere, carrying out a ministry similar to that of St. Paul.”

A hundred years after that initial impulse, the flame of apostolic fervour continue to burn in the heart of each Daughter of St. Paul. Despite diversities in culture and language all the sisters are united to a common goal – to preach the gospel and to make Jesus known in every corner of the globe.

Every Pauline sister draws inner strength from the well of Pauline spirituality centered on Jesus Master, Way, Truth and Life in carrying out her apostolic ministry, always striving to reach the same goal as their patron, the Apostle Paul: “It is no longer I who live but Christ who lives in me.” The daily Eucharist, the Word of God, daily prayer and fraternal communion are source of light and support to help them “discern the signs of the times so as to respond to the needs of the Church and the world.”

Venerable Thecla Merlo urged all the Daughters of St. Paul to zealously proclaim the gospel with hearts ablaze with God’s love.  “How many people there are in the world who do not know and love the Lord! Apostles are needed – but genuine apostles whose hearts are filled with love for God… Our apostolate is participation in the apostolate of Jesus.”

The ever evolving technology of communication propelled the Pauline sisters to embrace its challenges with deep faith, always conscious of the admonition of the founder to bring the gospel to the people, wherever they are, with whatever means available.

“How many times do you ask yourselves: where, how and toward what is humanity moving, this humanity that is constantly renewing itself on the face of the earth?” (Blessed James Alberione)

With the vast possibilities that modern technology of communication has opened up, the Sisters have enthusiastically embraced its potentials to reach a broader audience that would benefit from the word of God. So, along with book publishing and other traditional means of communicating the Gospel, the Sisters now make their presence felt in cyberspace by maintaining blogs and social media sites so that through these multimedia platforms the Gospel will further spread and permeate today’s internet-savvy generation.

On Philippine soil

The Philippine province, which celebrated its 75^th anniversary only last 2013, has at present 179 professed sisters living in 18 communities within the country and abroad. The Sisters carry out their apostolic ministry through book publishing, production of radio and television programs, media education and literacy, managing an online shop and 18 media centers throughout the country, conducting biblical animation and outreach, organizing book missions and visits to families, schools and parishes.

The Sisters’ outreach program has taken on a more meaningful dimension this year, as the local church celebrates the Year of the Poor. Each community in the province has intensified its outreach program to the poor through media animation, bible ministry and catechesis.

In Pasay, where the central house is located, a group of sisters from the community regularly conduct their outreach ministry to the inmates at Pasay City Jail, children in conflict with the law who are housed in Pasay City Youth Home and to poor residents living in Pasay cemeteries and nearby slum areas.

The program resonates well with the desire of Pope Francis for the Church to have a deeper commitment towards its most marginalized members, whom the pontiff said, suffer “the worst discrimination” not merely because of meager resources at their disposal but due to “the lack of spiritual care.”

Challenges

Always an inspiration and a source of strength for all those who followed him, Alberione urged all Daughters of St. Paul to make use of every means of communication that modern progress provides, with the aim of “forming a new mentality in society, …a mentality that will assure spiritual vitality for souls and Christian life for society.”

As true with any great endeavors challenges are not lacking, but faith in the God who calls is much greater. The Daughters of St. Paul’s Mother General Sr. Anna Maria Parenzan said as much, in a letter to all the sisters on the occasion of the centenary.

“Our Centenary offers us the opportunity to celebrate the memory of the marvels the Lord continues to work through our poverty and littleness.  The continual developments in the field of technology… give always [a] new face to our mission and […] challenge us to always start afresh, with the faith that marked our beginnings,” she said.

 “We think of the strength and courage of our sisters: especially those who live in perilous socio-political situations, and those who dedicate themselves without reserve to the Lord through illness and advancing age, transforming themselves into ‘living Gospels’,” she continued.

Despite challenges on all fronts, the Daughters of St. Paul strain ahead with hope, invigorated by the wisdom and sacrifices of their pioneers whose faith-filled life was a constant reminder of God’s fidelity and of his promise “I am with you always!”

Can you put down the phone, so we could talk?

HERE’S my take on Pope Francis’ message for World Communications Day 2015.

People, whether young and old,  always find time to tinker with their gadgets anytime, anywhere.

Imagine this scenario: a family gathered at the dining table for dinner, nobody speaks a word to another because each one is busy fiddling with his/her smartphone. Daddy is calling a business associate, Mommy is surfing the net for the latest news, their teenage son is playing games while another teenage daughter is busy updating her facebook status.

If you were a friend visiting and you come upon this scene, how would you feel and what would do? Shout at them? Make a hasty exit and never come back? Cough or break something to get their attention? None of the above?

The above-given scenario maybe a bit overboard, but the reality of such a thing happening is very close to home.

Today's young people and even adults too are so taken up with modern gadgets that they can't live without it. Tablets or smartphones, these are necessities that many people today can't do without because it makes them connected to the rest of the world. With a smartphone, they do not have to worry about not catching the latest news, whatever it is and wherever they are. They do not have to feel bored when they are caught with the pesky traffic that greater Manila is notorious for. They do not have to feel isolated or get afraid if they lose their way because they can consult Google map anyway to guide them. And they can always call home or text friends anytime they feel like it.

It is a blessing to have these modern gadgets at hand especially in time of emergencies, but there is also the danger to become enslaved by them. When the gadgets are given more importance than the presence of people in our lives, something is wrong there. And we have to be aware of that. To put it simply, it is bad manners. There you are.

Pope Francis, in his Message for World Communications Day this year speaks of the importance of communication in a family setting, and of "communicating the family" as "a privileged place of encounter".

Although the pope's message have many salient points that can help us reflect on the importance of communication in a family setting, I am highlighting here two points: first, the family as a place of encounter which the media should facilitate and not hinder, and second, communicating the family through the media.

Family as a place of encounter

"It is in the context of the family that we first learn how to communicate," the pope says. True, as babies, we learned to communicate our needs first by crying and then gestures. As toddlers, we learned to form words -- ma-ma, da-da -- words that made our parents very real to us. As we grew up and built up a vocabulary, our way of communicating also developed. As children we learned the "religious dimension of communication" when we were taught our prayers either by our parents or grandparents. As we learned to speak, so we learned to listen. Listening is also another form of communication.

There is no such thing as a perfect family. Sometimes we are tempted to look at others and envy them because they look so perfect before our eyes. But every family has its own challenges, imperfections and problems that it has to deal with.  A son who is into drugs... a daughter having an illicit relationship... a child with disability.... a drunkard father ....  an absentee mother who works abroad... These are problems that are very real in our families today. But even if faced with these challenges, true encounter can still happen if we open our hearts to forgiveness and welcome the other into our hearts. Communication which is rooted from the heart plays a great deal in solving conflicts within the family.

So it is in a family setting that true communication takes place provided we are present to one another not only in body but also in spirit.

Modern media should be a means and not a hindrance to encountering people, be they part of our family circle or outside of it. The pope says they become a hindrance when they are used to shut people out of our lives. The scenario in the opening paragraph of this article is an example. I'm sure many have experienced similar circumstances, seeing themselves as invisible victims, because they become invisible to the person in front of them, who is more emotionally present to the phone he is holding.

Media should facilitate encounter, Pope Francis says. If used properly and wisely, media can be a link to enable people to tell their stories, to stay connected with friends whom we may not have seen or heard of for a long time, to express our gratitude to people who means a lot to us and to also ask forgiveness from those we have  hurt one time or another.

Communicating the family

During his visit to Manila last January this year, Pope Francis spoke of "ideological colonization" that threatens to destroy the family. He mentioned of the dangers the family is facing nowadays due to "growing efforts on the part of some to redefine the very institution of marriage; by relativism, by the culture of the ephemeral, [and] by a lack of openness to life."

The family has become a hot button topic these days in the media. We are always confronted with news about divorce, abortion, same-sex marriage, same-sex parenting-- issues that threaten the very foundation of the family. These issues then become fodder for public discussion, which lead people to "take sides rather than to see things as a whole."

Pope Francis says we have to look and regard the family as “a community which provides help, which celebrates life and is fruitful.”

“Families should be seen as a resource rather than as a problem for society.  Families at their best actively communicate by their witness the beauty and the richness of the relationship between man and woman, and between parents and children.” 

We all know that the family is the foundation of society. Without the family and the children that it provides and nurtures, society won’t exist. But rather than looking at families as “rich resource”, they are oftentimes regarded by some sectors of society as problems that need to be resolved. And the tendency of the media to highlight negative reporting about the family does not help either.

So the challenge is upon us. As we celebrate World Communications Day, let us strive to improve our communication within the family, to make our own families truly a place where we encounter one another from the heart. Let’s put down the phone for a while and make time to really talk and listen to one another. Only in making that a reality would enable us to effectively communicate how important the role of a family is in today’s media saturated society.

Pope stresses humility, calls for peace in Easter message

Pope Francis delivers his Urbi et Orbi message on Easter Sunday. (Photo from Vatican Radio's Facebook Page)

HUMILIATION is the path to glory. Pope Francis in his Easter message for 2015 emphasized as much. Without exercising humility we cannot claim to be followers of Christ, because humility is the path to life and holiness. Jesus himself has shown this to us, through his suffering, death and resurrection, the pope said.  Paul’s letter to the Philippians tells us so.  “Though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God something to be grasped.  Rather, he emptied himself, taking the form of a slave ...” (Phil. 2:6-9)

It is only by experiencing humiliation that we will understand the true meaning of the resurrection and thus enable us to follow Jesus on the path that he traced for us. What Jesus teaches us by his examples are starkly different from what the world proposes to us, said the Holy Father.

In a society such as ours where being atop the economic ladder is considered the epitome of success, to consciously choose the path of humility and place the needs of others ahead of our own is something alien and unthinkable.

And yet that is what to be an authentic Christian is all about - "the seeds of another humanity, in which we seek to live in service to one another, not to be arrogant, but rather respectful and ready to help," the pope said.

We have to learn how to bend down, like the apostles who “bent down” in order to enter into the mystery of the resurrection. It is only by bending down on our knees in humility, according to Pope Francis, that we “can go towards the ‘things that are above’, towards God (cf. Col 3:1-4). He said, “the proud look ‘down from above’; [while] the humble look ‘up from below’.”

The pope emphasized that to choose the path of humility and service "is not weakness, but true strength" because "those who bear within them God’s power, his love and his justice, do not need to employ violence; they speak and act with the power of truth, beauty and love."

History tells us how a person's arrogance and pride can spawn violence and destruction. And no one at present can profess ignorance on the plight of Christians and other minorities in various parts of the world who are being persecuted because of their beliefs.

So, on Easter morning before hundreds of thousands of pilgrims gathered at St. Peter’s Square, the pope urged us to pray with him as he implored God for peace for various countries in the world that are in conflict and trapped in violence, especially Iraq and Syria. He called on the international community (and that include us, too) not to be indifferent "before the immense humanitarian tragedy unfolding in these countries and the drama of the numerous refugees."

Certainly, the persecution and various forms of violence directed at Christians and other minorities, as well as other vulnerable sectors of society is a “humanitarian tragedy” gigantic in proportions.

“In you, Divine Love, we see again today our persecuted brethren: beheaded, crucified, for their faith in you, beneath our eyes, or often with our complicit silence,” the pope said in a brief reflection after the Way of the Cross on Good Friday.

The magnitude of persecution and violence happening in the world could numb our senses because of the extent of brutalities the victims are subjected to, but this should not lead us to indifference.

As Fr. Raniero Cantalamessa, the papal household preacher, said during his Good Friday homily, the evils happening in our society today should not be spoken of collectively but should be taken as realities because they involve real people with “specific identities”.

"Let us think instead of the suffering of individuals, people with names and specific identities; of the tortures that are decided upon in cold blood and voluntarily inflicted at this very moment by human beings on other human beings, even on babies," he said.

Amid the ongoing violent persecution of Christians and minorities in various parts of the globe, our commemoration of the Lord’s Passion and the celebration of Christ’s resurrection have given each one of us a much profound and intense meaning on how it is to be a true follower of Jesus.

Foggy times

I drove my sister to work this morning. Actually it was my sister who drove herself to work. I accompanied her so I can take the car back with me. When we reached her workplace, I drove the car back to the house. That way, I can use the car to go to church or some place while my sister is at work. 

It was very foggy yesterday. Today the fog is much heavier.  It was zero visibility at 5 am when we left the house. It is already 10 am as I write this reflection, but the fog is still heavy. It will probably stay like this until this afternoon.

It was difficult to drive when it is foggy. The heavy mist can blind anyone and can also create confusion. When we walk into the mist we do not see the way, where we are heading. We can easily lose our sense of direction. 

As I drove back to the house, I noticed how the thick fog made the flickering traffic lights so small and distant. Ordinarily they would be very bright, but the heavy fog made them very dim. Even with full headlights on, the street before me was very hazy and dark.

But the lights are excellent guide. The street lights, traffic lights and the car headlights worked together and helped me navigate the road well and reached home safely.

In our spiritual life, we also experience foggy times. Sometimes we find ourselves enveloped with mists of doubts, despair, and all sorts of problems that tend to confuse us and make us lose our sense of direction. In these times of confusion, when we feel uncertain where we are headed, it is best to stop a while and take stock of our situation. We need something or someone to guide us to find our way again -- perhaps a counselor or a friend to talk to. Maybe we need to approach the sacraments so that we would be strengthened in our resolve. Perhaps we can meditate on the Scriptures and find out the message of God for us. Whatever help we think we need, we should not hesitate to get it so that we would find the way again. 

A feast for all

LORD, we live in a world so rich

And yet so many go hungry and deprived of basic necessities

To live a decent life worthy of the dignity of a human being.

This happens because of our indifference to others' needs and sufferings

Even as they struggle to put food on their table

Most of us throw away the surplus that crams our closets.

We celebrate your birth with glittering decors and sumptuous feast

Unconcerned that outside our gates sits Lazarus, waiting

For some leavings to be thrown his way.

When will our eyes be opened to see that we don't live for ourselves alone?

When will our hearts beat with concern for the least of our brothers and sisters

In whose imploring eyes are reflected your own image?

Advent Prayer 

Lord of hosts,

You promise "a feast of rich food and choice wines" (Is 25)

for your people

And yet many go hungry and deprived of basic needs

Simply because our myopic vision hinders us 

To see beyond ourselves

Level our mountain of greed and fill our valleys of indifference with love

Help us make this celebration of Advent 

Truly a season of your coming into our hearts and lives

Genuinely transformed in the awareness

That we co-exist with one another.

And together we can change the world as you envision it. Amen.