True North Missionaries Journal

Ora Pro Nobis

I definitely ignored him in the past days but He always finds a way for me to be feel loved.

Last Monday, on my way to St. Benedict’s Chapel to attend mass, a young girl (found out later that she’s 18 months old) just ran up to me as I was walking towards the entrance of the chapel. Of course I love kids so there was no hesitation to be friends with her and to carry her (Also she had the expression of longing-ness). At this point, I was really amazed and happy and overjoyed because I may not why she did that but I know the Lord did it. While carrying the girl, I was talking to her mom and the mom told me that’s she’s just very friendly. I had to cut short our bonding because of mass which was a bit sad but good thing she didn’t cry, haha.

I was just in time for mass so I decided to stand at the back. And here’s this image (below) that really struck me. This image has been at the chapel for as long as I can remember but I haven’t really noticed it so deeply until that moment. I don’t know who are being portrayed in the image but I do know it’s a mother carrying a baby. And I quickly remembered the moment with the little girl I had a while ago. After that I was just mind blown. I kept thanking the Lord before and during the mass for His very intimate presence.

I searched the image when I got home and it was Our Lady of Good Counsel. Not only that the Lord wanted to remind me but also our beloved Mother. I should read up more on her and maybe she can help me even more with the things I am struggling with or praying/discerning about.

I remember reflecting on what had just happened and as much as the Lord is reminding me of His love, He is (more importantly) calling me to run to Him without hesitations, with all my pains, joys, frustrations, happiness, etc.

Bottom line, I know that the Lord wants to feel I’m loved and that He is always there ready to accept me and comfort me anytime I decide to run to Him

Praise You Only, Lord! You are amazing! Your love is beyond mysterious, so intimate!

“Lord Jesus, make me vigilant and attentive to Your voice that I may heed Your call at all times.” (Laudate, Aug. 28)

Discovered this song today and it really resonated with me on a deep level, beyond the current situations I’m facing. This song was a reminder that through all the craziness of life, God reigns supreme over everything. All the worries, doubts and fears mustn’t rule us because He has already overcome them.

 

 

“Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things” [1 Corinthians 13:7]

This year’s Singles For Christ True North Conference was a very personal one. You could see it in the eyes of everyone who shared their stories on stage, but just as much in the swelling eyes of those who were sitting, listening, and often times relating. Family is not always the easiest topic to speak about and it’s often the part of our lives that is kept somewhat hidden, especially the chapters that contain a seemingly dark past.

I’m so grateful for those who willingly shared with everyone the joys, and especially the crosses, that their families have carried. The resounding message I got from all their testimonies was that of hope and trust; that regardless of what situation the Lord placed their family in, there was always trust that He gave them what He knew they could handle. Through Him and with Him, they never let go of hope in greater things to come.

My family is like any other family – a mixed bag of the good, the bad, and the ugly – but overall I think I can confidently say that my family has been, and continues to be, happy and abundantly blessed with a lot more of the good than anything else. Dare I say that we’re maybe just short of being your “ideal” family, that is, if there ever was another one next to our Holy Family. Mom is generous and faithful, encouraging me to always do right and putting the family’s needs before hers, taking the burnt toast and the broken egg. Pop always made time to watch my highschool basketball games while working tirelessly to provide for our family, and still never lets a day pass without smothering me with hugs, kisses, and I love you’s even if I quite literally try to push him away. Kuya (older brother) is the patient brother-friend that is always there for me – to protect me, guide me, stand up for me, teach me, or just simply be there when I need him for anything. God has blessed me with exactly what He knew I needed in this life. As different as each family is, whether together, apart, broken, happy, struggling, or whatever the case may be, they have been given to each of us for a very specific reason.

God’s masterpiece, like any other artist’s work, is carefully planned. I believe that every brush stroke in creating our masterpieces was executed with meaning and purpose. The family is truly God’s masterpiece, but as each piece of work is different, so too are our families unique and different. Families come in many different forms and sizes according to His plan. Among all the differences, the constant thing that remains is that no one is exempt from being in a family, we are all called to be in a family – some to create a new family, some to find family in their service, some to discover family in the life as a consecrated religious. In all instances we’re called to love and serve our household, to trust and hope in His plans, and to remember that He is infinitely good to us.

Good To Me – Audrey Assad
Reflection song for Session 1

I put all my hope on the truth of Your promise
And I steady my heart on the ground of Your goodness
When I’m bowed down with sorrow I will lift up Your name
And the foxes in the vineyard will not steal my joy

Because You are good to me, good to me

And I lift my eyes to the hills where my help is found
Your voice fills the night, raise my head up to hear the sound
Though fires burn all around me I will praise You, my God
And the foxes in the vineyard will not steal my joy

Because You are good to me, good to me

Your goodness and mercy shall follow me
All my life, I trust in Your promise

` Dear God, you have truly called me to Love more this weekend. To be honest I was dreading this entire family retreat because truthfully I really didn`t think I needed to spend any more time with my parents. But after what we experienced here together, I`will be returning with my best friends, my shoulders to cry on, my main support, my celebrants, and of course my crew. Thank you Lord for bringing me here to experience this with them; thank you for allowing me to see Your Love through them`

That was the last letter I wrote for the Family Encounter retreat I attended with my family, hosted by the BLD ministry. My parents aren`t a part of the CFC community, but I`m happy nonetheless they are proactive in their faith in this way.

I`m not going to lie; the weekend was a complete disaster up until the last day. It was exhausting, frustrating, seemingly pointless and it really ran my entire family to the end of our nerves. I thought it was all just headed nowhere and would just create even more of a gap in our relationship. But something incredible happened on the last day; the Holy Spirit showed up. I`m not going to go into detail, but I swear I saw the Spirit itself entering my entire family and overwhelm all of us. it was beautiful, heart wrenching, and just plainly freeing. I always wanted my family to be on better terms with each other and the Lord really came and delivered just that. If there`s one thing I learned this weekend aside from how awesome my family really is, it`s that anything really is possible with the Lord.

Holy family, pray for us.

My little brother is growing up, and although still younger than me, he’s hardly “little” any longer. Physically he towers over me, but more than that, he’s living a more adult life – he’s graduated and works full time, has a group of friends that I don’t know, and more and more I’m losing my influence in his life. When I’m in town, instead of going to mass as a complete family, he’s oftentimes at work and honestly, I don’t know where he is anymore spiritually.

I was looking at him the other day, pointing out that although we’re away at a campsite, he continues to look cool, in non-camping attire. It made me smile, however, that whether he fully realized it or not, he was wearing a small gold necklace with Mama Mary holding the child Jesus on the pendant.

Yesterday, we were at the beach and while swimming, he had lost the necklace and we all began to comb the bottom of the water in search of it. Because of the current, I had thought that maybe it went further away, closer to shore, and I would dive down continuously, in hopes that I would find it there. Twenty minutes later and out of breath, I realized how metaphorical this was. My brother, who I’ve felt has slowly been losing his faith, and me, far away trying to see if I can somehow help him find it again, blindly diving down and coming up empty. I noticed also that some of us were unaware that he had lost anything at all, and continued to swim or play, and others just didn’t see it as much of a cause, but there was a good core of us who continued to search. After coming up for air once more, I looked around and saw the expanse of the beach and felt that maybe we wouldn’t find it, and maybe that would be okay… maybe he’ll find his faith on his own, in His time. But just as I was thinking this, I heard cheering and turned back and saw that someone was holding up the necklace. And by no coincidence, this person also happens to be Ottawa’s Area Head, Nelson… who is also technically Edward’s pastoral head, if he ever chose to come back. It doesn’t take one person, it takes a group of people, who don’t give up, who search together.

And maybe an older sister, who in a feeling of hopelessness and loss, lifted up a quiet prayer. You might be praying for a loved one’s conversion…. Know that it is not an easy process and you might feel that time and time again, you’re coming up empty. But the Lord will use who He needs, it won’t always be you, just continue to be unceasing in your prayers for them and loving in your actions.

St. Monica, pray for us.