Author: Nikki Dionisio

I was able to witness and experience something so beautiful. I am rarely given the chance to kneel and pray along side my mom. During this week, the statutes of the Blessed Mother and Sr. Santo Niño were at my house visiting. For the first time in a very long time I was blessed to pray the novena with my mom. I truly saw the Lord present. We both giggled with joy and happiness as we prayed. I was able to see the Lord within my mom. Praise God! Such a small and simple act, yet something so beautiful in my eyes, a small miracle I would even say. Though my mom doesn’t go to weekly mass I am able to witness the Lord working in her. And I know He has a beautiful plan for her. This has really allowed me to stay patient with my mom and trusting that the Lord has a plan it just needs to happen perfectly in His time.

Thy will be done.

“Poverty is someone who lacks a certain amount of material possessions or money.”

When I think of what poverty is, I see someone who lacks love, someone who lacks God. When I was in the Philippines I was privileged to experience living and building in the ANCOP Villages. I was able to spend time with the families who lived there. Though their homes were a concrete box with no electricity I was humbled by their love and joy. These families who lived in these homes knew the true meaning of life. Though they lived simply, their lives were filled with the love and joy of Christ. It made me question: What kind of life do I live? I don’t see these families living in poverty because they lack material possessions. If anything I’m the one living in poverty because of my attachment to the materialistic things of this world. In the wise words of Pope Francis, “Poverty calls us to sow hope.” Hope for the world to understand the true meaning of poverty. May we detach ourselves from the possessions of this world, live simply and love freely.

Affirmation of the day: When the Lord calls you, He calls you. There are things that are just meant for your eyes and only you will understand. The call is personal and the call is strong. Everything will happen beautifully in His time. Continue to have faith and trust in the Lord God, for He is good and deserving of our love.

Desiderio Domini

A common reflection that the Lord has revealed to me throughout this year has been these words: BE SILENT,  LISTEN, & SEE. 

Silent your heart and your mind. The Lord affirmed me that through the calm and still posture of silence, the louder the Lords voice will be heard and the clearer your thoughts may be.

Listen. Open your ears and listen to the voice of God. He has so much to share to you, and with the busyness of our lives, sometimes the stillness of an open ear and open heart may reveal more revelations through this posture.

See. Open your eyes and be a witness to His greatness! The beauty He has planted within our lives needs to be witnessed by all. 

Allow Him to dwell your heart. The greatest posture is to trust in Him and surrender.

My deepest desire is to evangelize Your word but I’m afraid. I’m afraid that my voice won’t be heard or understood by others. I try my best to show how compassionate I am in my service, by offering all the time I can give. I try volunteering at GA’s, going to events in my parish and even taking my own time to go downtown and help the less fortunate. But I feel as if my time and effort is going nowhere. No one’s acknowledging anything I do… Is this even worth my time?

My daughter, do not be afraid. I am with you. Though you may feel your work goes unnoticed, your work is guiding you to the banquet I have waiting for you. Your work unnoticed on this earth, is being smiled upon by the Holy Family. Continue to do my will. It is you I have planned the heart of a missionary. Be My instrument. Let Me work through you. Come, this awaits you.

Pacific Region | RSVP | Session 2: Taste and See

He graciously invites us to accept His invitation to come Home. It is now our choice to respond to His invitation. He says, “Come and See.” Will you follow?

It’s almost been a week since I walked across the stage and received my diploma. A new graduate of fashion school. Fashion school.. hm, in the eyes of people I surround myself with, fashion school sounds “fun and very girly”. In the eyes of my family, fashion school sounds “unappealing, a waste of time and a waste of money”. In this world we live in there is such a high standard of what you are suppose to do in this life to survive. Not only survive, but be successful. In my eyes, fashion school has impacted the way I view society and the way I view myself. Two years ago when I sent in my application for fashion school I knew this was my “calling”. I love to sketch, I love to sew, and I love clothes! This career suited me perfectly. Now that two years have passed and reality has sunk in. Who am I really? Am I a fashion design student who still believes this is my calling? Although designing is “fun and very girly” it has become “unappealing”. My views of this career has allowed me to see the girl I really am. The daughter I am. In my eyes, I don’t see a fashion design student. In my eyes, I see a child, a daughter of God still trying to discover herself, searching for something greater. I am a daughter of Christ who is called for greater things than just to be a designer. The Lord calls me to do greater things not only of this world, but for His glory. He has planted a desire in me to serve. Whether it is to serve within this community of CFC-Youth I know that I am called for greater things. I don’t just want to survive, I want to live. Live in the life Christ has set for me. And so I hold near to my heart this desire of mission He has placed upon me, asking for patience and perseverance so that I may truly do His will. Not my will, but Your will be done. Use me as your instrument and allow me to selflessly let go of all the materialism I hold near to my heart and replace it with your infinite and merciful love. It is only through Your eyes I may seek and find rest. 

Immaculate Heart of Mary, pray for us.

Sacred Heart of Jesus, have mercy of us.

“As the Father loves me, so I also love you. Remain in my love.
If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and remain in his love. “I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and your joy may be complete. This is my commandment: love one another as I love you. *No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. I no longer call you slaves, because a slave does not know what his master is doing. I have called you friends,* because I have told you everything I have heard from my Father. It was not you who chose me, but I who chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit that will remain, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name he may give you. This I command you: love one another.” – John 15:9-17

It is only through love, where we can live peacefully, dance joyfully, smile gracefully, laugh bountifully, and cry mercifully. Only through love will you experience God. When God commands us to love our neighbour and love even our enemies, He calls us to love this person because we love Him first. For God is love and He is enough. It is so simple, yet we tend to complicate it for ourselves. It is only through faith and trust in God to know that He has equipped us every day of our lives to go forth and to love our neighbour. Though our pride and selfishness may get in the way remember to humble your heart, and know that we are nothing without Christ. We are nothing without Love. “This I command you: love one another.” 

Deo Gratias