I have really loved every household I’ve been a part of in this community. The household is truly what the community stands for: a communion of Love. It is a place to foster that love for God and for our neighbour. It’s the gathering of hearts in Christ that is the heartbeat of our community. Without that phileo love, or, fraternal love, this community would wither away. It’s in that phileo love that has helped me to experience that agape love—God’s love.
My brothers and sisters in the community have helped me love my faith and my family. They have also inspired me to be a true friend and brother to all. It has never been perfect and I’ve definitely gone through tough times with some because of differences, but that’s also why the community is so beautiful. We are not a business based on protocols and performance. We are not a perfect machine. We are the Church made up of imperfect people. We are a living organism that is constantly growing and bearing fruit in the good and bad by the grace and workings of the Holy Spirit.
Thinking about this makes me reminisce about the individuals I’ve shared this journey with in the Community of CFC-Youth. I would just like to say thank you to all my past household heads, parents and youth, and fellow members, for the example that you’ve shown me. Thank you for allowing God to use you, to love me.
Dear friends, may we continue to share that fraternal love with each other. As Christians we bear Christ in us, in the core of our hearts. Thus, let us always be quick to forgive each other most especially because we are brothers and sisters in Christ! Also, let us be quick to honour and encourage one another always. If we are preaching the peace of our Lord to people that don’t know Him yet, then we better be witnessing to that peace between each other. Let the world know that we are disciples of Christ by how we love one another.
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury,pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
and where there is sadness, joy.
O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek
to be consoled as to console;
to be understood as to understand;
to be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive;
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen
Prayer of St. Francis of Assisi