Remembering and Renewing

I'm glad the district meetings is almost finished. We had to pause for awhile to give way to Holy Week. We are back with the Joy of Easter, as we are preparing for an important event in our community - the Feast of St. Joseph the Worker, our patron saint. We are trying to invite our former parish priests to join us this special occassion together with our present parish priest. Inviting our former parish priests means a lot to us. For in special occassion like this ... we want to reminisce our past.

REMEBERING....

The happy days of our community as well as our struggles in building St. Joseph the Worker Church.

We want to recognize the people who had been involved in our continuing effort of building the house of God in our community...

as we look back... we see individuals who have helped us, but along the way they were hurt or had become disoriented. Eventually they stop helping and distance themselves..

we also see individuals, those people who became our partners in building but in one way or another, we had to part ways with because they have to leave to settle somewhere else.

we also remember our new co-workers who are starting to take part in building the place of worship we call St. Joseph the Worker Church. Full of enthusiasm and desire..

we also remember those who have been with us for a long time...who have been hurt but decided to continue journeying with us.. some of them have moved to other places, but still drop by to attend meetings and help.

We also want to remember the mistakes we have made along the way... and try to learn from them....

But most of all we want to remember the happy days we have had...while building St. Joseph the Worker Church.... for these are our treasures... they give us hope and joy.... and in the future when we encounter difficulties, struggles and challenges in this journey .. we have these happy memories that would hold us together and make us smile...

RENEWING....

However, we don't just want to remember. After reminiscing, we desire also to renew ourselves, to renew our vision and mission... so we can continue building St. Joseph the Worker Church. We renew our desire, our hope... our commitments in continuing this humble endeavor to finish building a place of worship where we gather together despite our differences...despite our difficulties..and sometimes being hurt... to worship our loving and merciful God in the Holy Eucharist.

Renewing, like the Joy of Easter filled with love and peace.