The First Sunday of Lent

On the first Sunday of Lent we see Jesus being tempted by the Spirit which sent him out into the desert (Mk1:12). One of the temptations enticed Jesus to use his power to save himself. To which Jesus replied that he trusts the Father and he lives for Him.

So many times, just like Jesus, we have been and are still confronted by temptations at all fronts. Can we also trust and live for  the Father like Jesus? Or do we instead personify the devil by challenging God to save us? Yes, we do blackmail and manipulate God when we trade on his care- "If you are God, then, save me from my financial woes, from my frustrations and loneliness, from a loveless life, etc. etc, etc.." Or,  "Why this?" and "Why me God?" Yet, despite of all these . . . God beckons us to just come home. . . where we will find the salvation that we've been looking for.

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“Come to me all you who are weary and are burdened, and I will give you rest.” – Matt. 11:28

Join us in our mini-retreat : Road Trip- Finding God in Your Life's Journey. Send email to wholeingcenter@yahoo.com.ph. Scroll down to previous posts for more details.

Retreats and the Blessings of Giving

"For it is in giving that we receive."- Francis of Assisi

The Road Trip spiritual retreat to be held on March 16, 2013 finds for its venue Villa Maria Social and Educational  Center located at #53 Cuenco St., Sta. Mesa Heights, Quezon  City, Philippines. The Center is run by the sisters of Religious of Mary Immaculate. The sisters will definitely benefit from the minimal fee given the generosity of retreat attendees since the use of the venue will be properly compensated.  By participating in this spiritual retreat, you will also be giving and sharing your treasure with the sisters. Be more generous of your time, talent and treasure this Lent.  Join a retreat.

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“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."- Matthew 6:16-21

ROAD TRIP

Finding God in Your Life Experience

March, 16, 2013; 8am-5pm

Venue: Quezon City, Philippines

Fee: P800 per person w/ lunch and snacks

For questions and to reserve a place call tel. no. 7819140 and/or 
send an email to: 

wholeingcenter@yahoo.com.ph

v  walk prayerfully through the many phases of your life

v  discover God as your constant companion on your journey

v  reflect on your transitions in the light of the Paschal Mystery of Jesus

v  uncover the gifts of these transitions

Feeling So Confused, Lost, Weary And In Need of Prayer Support? There is power in praying together and for others. Let our intercessory team pray with and for you. "Where two or three have come together in my name, I am there among them."- Matthew 18:20 Your name will be included in our daily prayers and masses. Sign up in the form below. Name: Email: We value your privacy. Your info are secured with us. We won't share them with anyone.

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Retreats and the Heart of A Pilgrim

Are you happy? February is love month and February 14 is heart's day!

"Where your pleasure is,  there is your treasure; where your treasure, there your heart; where your heart, there your happiness." - Augustine of Hippo

The heart of a pilgrim and meeting God in every transition he encounters along the way in his life's journey-  is the inspiration of the retreat called ROAD TRIP: Finding God in Your Life's Journey* which will be held on March 16, 2013.  To find God in my heart . . . is to find true happiness! Join us in this lenten mini retreat (recollection-workshop)-  a  meeting of heart with Heart and to seek no more.

Source of Image: agodman.com

* The Road Trip spiritual retreat is based on a retreat by Joyce Rupp (author of Dear Heart Come Home) with insights from William Bridges (author of Transitions)

 Venue will be at Villa Maria Social and Educational Center, #53 Cuenco Street, Sta Mesa Heights, Quezon City, Philippines.

Retreat Director will be Ms. Nina Robledo, Master of Theological Studies, Franciscan School of Theology (a member school of the   Graduate Theological Union, Berkeley, California).

To defray expenses, there will be a minimal fee of P800 per participant inclusive of lunch and snacks.

Send email to wholeingcenter@yahoo.com.ph

In Need of a Prayer Partner? Intercessory Prayer is Powerful. Let our intercessory ministry pray with you. For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them." - Matthew 18:20 We value your privacy. We won't share your information with anyone. Be in our daily prayers by signing up below.  Name: Email: Your name will be offered in our altars and masses for daily prayers. Let us lift  your hearts' intentions unto the Lord.

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Retreats . . . God Filling Up My Boat

Attending the Holy Mass on a relaxing and calm Sunday afternoon, I heard the homilist  say - "Complaining, doubting and seeing only the negativities of life and the world around you . . . is coming back to shore with an empty boat."  "Giving up and allowing hopelessness to overcome you is coming home empty handed with no joy to bring home."  What does this account got to do with a spiritual retreat?

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Yet,  just like when the apostles who were so distraught for not catching any fish, have  allowed Jesus into their boat and obeying his command for them to cast down their net, doing so despite their misgivings . . . then, after a while, looking back again at the net, they saw it suddenly teeming with fish. And their boat,  which was then empty  . . . is now filled with catch.

Let Jesus come into your boat; heed his invitation and put out your net of faith. Come home with a boat full of aliveness.  To go on a retreat is a way of saying "yes" to that invitation of Jesus so that he may come into your boat. . . you and Jesus together  . . . in this journey of life.

"The unexamined life is not worth living". - Socrates

Retreats . . . a pilgrim's stopover

Life is a journey. A retreat- our layover. It has always been that way . . . from our conception in the womb of a woman we call mother, from our grasping the first gasp of air at birth,  toward our expansion amidst the daily grind, and through the end of our mortal forms, we've been on a constant journey through life.  Thus, we aptly call our selves - pilgrims.  This earth is our temporary home with heaven within us and beyond as our eternal destination.  A retreat is our stopover to ruminate and to appreciate this journey even more. And so for us pilgrims. . . here's a psalmist's prayer to help us in remembering . . .

Source of Image: travelblog.org

PSALM 84 (vs 6-8)

Prayer of a Pilgrim to Jerusalem

Happy are those who find refuge in you,

whose hearts are set on pilgrim roads.

As they pass through the Baca valley,

they find spring water to drink. 

also from pools the Lord provides 

water for those who lose their way.

They pass through outer and inner wall

and see the God of gods on  Zion.

ROAD TRIP
Finding God in your Life's Journey
March 16, 2013
Text (097) 7945354
Email: wholeingcenter@yahoo.com