Work With the Poor
An integral part of CFCFFL Social Ministry
Restoring ... Hope ... Dignity ... Faith.
"Restoring" Life in San Pedro
By Herbert Osio, Writer, May They Be One
The May They Be One (MTBO) Bible campaign, jointly spearheaded by the Episcopal Commission on the Biblical Apostolate of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (ECBA-CBCP) and the Philippine Bible Society (PBS), continues to gain ground following yet another successful Bible distribution.
In an effort to realize a vision of a transformed Philippines by making available five million copies of the Bible affordable to the poorest Catholic homes all over the country, the ECBA-CBCP and the PBS partnered with the Couples for Christ-Foundation for Family and Life (CFC-FFL) to distribute copies of the MTBO Bible at the Mother of Mercy Restoration Village in Sitio Bayan-bayanan, Barangay San Vicente, San Pedro, Laguna.
The May They Be One (MTBO) Bible campaign, jointly spearheaded by the Episcopal Commission on the Biblical Apostolate of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (ECBA-CBCP) and the Philippine Bible Society (PBS), continues to gain ground following yet another successful Bible distribution.
In an effort to realize a vision of a transformed Philippines by making available five million copies of the Bible affordable to the poorest Catholic homes all over the country, the ECBA-CBCP and the PBS partnered with the Couples for Christ-Foundation for Family and Life (CFC-FFL) to distribute copies of the MTBO Bible at the Mother of Mercy Restoration Village in Sitio Bayan-bayanan, Barangay San Vicente, San Pedro, Laguna.
Bro. Isaias “Bonjie” Bonjibod, who is the fulltime Pastoral worker of CFC-FFL’s Work With the Poor (WWP) Ministry, said the Bible distribution was but one aspect of their efforts to restore the lives of their Restoration Village (RV) beneficiaries. “As we address their physical needs, like a roof over their heads, we must also not neglect their spiritual needs,” he pointed out.
As part of their values formation program, RV beneficiaries take part in a nine-session Christian Life Seminar (CLS). Upon graduating, they receive a copy of the Bible as part of the organization’s Donate-a-Bible campaign, Bro. Bonjie explained.
“After graduation and receiving their Bibles, our restoration teams continue meeting them on a weekly basis through what we call ‘Bible sharing sessions,’ where their understanding of the God’s Word is deepened” he said.
The Mother of Mercy Restoration Village is a 6,800-square-meter plot of land that will house 120 families from various informal settler communities in the town of San Pedro. The CFC-FFL local restoration team, led by Bro. Larry Tuason, is also assisted by the nuns from the Sisters of Virgin Mary Immaculate in taking care of the new community.
The beneficiaries were very grateful, not only for the free housing, but more importantly, for the direction and guidance that the Bible provides. One CLS facilitator also shared that before the end of the last formation seminar, the participants repeatedly expressed their relief, delight, joy and a renewed sense of being. “Seeing their reaction when they come to know the Lord fills my heart with joy,” she said.
Lloyd Umbina, an RV beneficiary and a recent CLS graduate, shared that he considers knowing the Lord such a blessing, but not without its share of trials and tests. A construction worker by trade, this father of seven shared that he once almost met an accident at work that could have ended his life. He considers it a miracle that he was able to leave his work area before a corrugated sheet that was above it came crashing down.
Another time, he was beset with fever for three days, one of which was the very day of their scheduled baptism. Despite feeling weak, he trudged on to church to join the others and was baptized that day.
“Working with Couples for Christ and knowing God through His Word has impacted my life in a very huge way. It has led me to always do what is right and pleasing to God. It has also encouraged me to hear Mass more regularly,” he said.
While this Bible distribution was the first partnership between ECBA, PBS and CFC-FFL, it was not the first involvement of the Catholic lay organization in this Bible campaign. With members based in different parts of the globe, CFC-FFL in Eastern Europe was also instrumental in helping the Bible Society of Slovenia raise nearly PhP 200,000 which subsidized the printing of 2,000 copies of the May They Be One Bible. This partnership is expected to continue as both organizations continue to plan to line up more Bible distributions in communities under the CFC-FFL WWP Ministry.
Under the five-year program, copies of the Bible are made available to poor families at an affordable price of PhP 50. This is the Philippine Church’s response to the 12th Ordinary Synod of Bishops held in Rome last year calling for a deeper Bible engagement for all Catholics.
As of July 10, 2009, over 78,000 copies of the MTBO Bible have been distributed in 93 communities all over the country, including CFC-FFL Mission Villages in Pandi, Bulacan and Muntinlupa City.
As part of their values formation program, RV beneficiaries take part in a nine-session Christian Life Seminar (CLS). Upon graduating, they receive a copy of the Bible as part of the organization’s Donate-a-Bible campaign, Bro. Bonjie explained.
“After graduation and receiving their Bibles, our restoration teams continue meeting them on a weekly basis through what we call ‘Bible sharing sessions,’ where their understanding of the God’s Word is deepened” he said.
The Mother of Mercy Restoration Village is a 6,800-square-meter plot of land that will house 120 families from various informal settler communities in the town of San Pedro. The CFC-FFL local restoration team, led by Bro. Larry Tuason, is also assisted by the nuns from the Sisters of Virgin Mary Immaculate in taking care of the new community.
The beneficiaries were very grateful, not only for the free housing, but more importantly, for the direction and guidance that the Bible provides. One CLS facilitator also shared that before the end of the last formation seminar, the participants repeatedly expressed their relief, delight, joy and a renewed sense of being. “Seeing their reaction when they come to know the Lord fills my heart with joy,” she said.
Lloyd Umbina, an RV beneficiary and a recent CLS graduate, shared that he considers knowing the Lord such a blessing, but not without its share of trials and tests. A construction worker by trade, this father of seven shared that he once almost met an accident at work that could have ended his life. He considers it a miracle that he was able to leave his work area before a corrugated sheet that was above it came crashing down.
Another time, he was beset with fever for three days, one of which was the very day of their scheduled baptism. Despite feeling weak, he trudged on to church to join the others and was baptized that day.
“Working with Couples for Christ and knowing God through His Word has impacted my life in a very huge way. It has led me to always do what is right and pleasing to God. It has also encouraged me to hear Mass more regularly,” he said.
While this Bible distribution was the first partnership between ECBA, PBS and CFC-FFL, it was not the first involvement of the Catholic lay organization in this Bible campaign. With members based in different parts of the globe, CFC-FFL in Eastern Europe was also instrumental in helping the Bible Society of Slovenia raise nearly PhP 200,000 which subsidized the printing of 2,000 copies of the May They Be One Bible. This partnership is expected to continue as both organizations continue to plan to line up more Bible distributions in communities under the CFC-FFL WWP Ministry.
Under the five-year program, copies of the Bible are made available to poor families at an affordable price of PhP 50. This is the Philippine Church’s response to the 12th Ordinary Synod of Bishops held in Rome last year calling for a deeper Bible engagement for all Catholics.
As of July 10, 2009, over 78,000 copies of the MTBO Bible have been distributed in 93 communities all over the country, including CFC-FFL Mission Villages in Pandi, Bulacan and Muntinlupa City.
(Taken from Philippine Bible Society Official Website: http://www.bible.org.ph/)
“The Almighty!
Just and righteous is He.”