DAY 2 – MAY 9, 2012 (WEDNESDAY)
Time
|
Activities
|
2:00
am
|
Rising
|
2:30
am
|
CD
3 Biblical Apostolate Dimension: Exodus Walk
Speaker/
Facilitator: Fr. RENATO MALBOG, SVD
(Biblical
Apostolate Coordinator, SVD Central Province with Divine Word Biblical Center
Staff)
Rest
|
11:30
am – 12:30 pm
|
Lunch
Break
|
12:30
pm – 1:00 pm
|
Afternoon
Games/ Ice Breakers/ Recap of Day 1
|
1:00
pm – 4:00 pm
|
CD
4 Mission Animation Dimension
Speaker: FR. SAMUEL AGCARACAR, SVD
(DWST Professor,
Mission Apostolate Director (DWST))
|
4:00
pm – 4:30 pm
|
Snacks
|
4:30
pm – 6:30 pm
|
Visioning
Activity: Input and Activity
|
6:30
pm – 7:30 pm
|
Dinner
|
8:00
pm
|
Ceremony
of the Light
“Lupakan-Sharing”
|
10:00
pm
|
Rest
|
I heard some people saying that they thought there was a typographical error in the schedule given because the very first activity would start at two o'clock in the morning. Unfortunately, it wasn't! Some managed to sleep for a few hours while a lot of people decided to stay awake until 2:00am. You would see people walking and chatting along the corridor.
It was 2:00am and everyone's preparing to leave.
CD 3 Biblical Apostolate Dimension: Exodus Walk
We witnessed the powerful story of Exodus. Exodus like the word EXIT means "going out". It is given this title because it tells the greatest story of the Israel's history - when Abraham's descendants escaped from the cruel slavery of Egypt.
Fr. Renato Malbog, who acted as Moses, had a simple stick when he led us, the Israelites, out of Egypt. This stick symbolizes our mission to be with one another in the journey, to stay together and to lead everyone to the promise land.
All
of us have the capacity to lead, the capacity to bring people to the promise
land. We began our journey and together we will fulfill our mission.
Station 1: Slavery in
Egypt
Gen 46.1-7,28-34; Ex
1.8-22,2.23-25
The
Israelites became a threat to the king that is why new born boys were killed.
Israelites groaned under slavery and they cried out for help from God.
We are slaves in different ways and forms. We may be enslaved by a
relationship with someone or a job/position. There may be a situation in our
lives now that keeps us from growing to our fullest potentials and from being
fully happy.
(Each one of us was asked to reflect and answer the question “In what
way am I enslaved at this time in my life?” Every group was given a rope and as
each person shares his/her reflection; he/she will tie him/herself after
sharing. Eventually they will be tied together through the rope. They will walk
to the next station while tied to each other.)
Station 2: Call of
Moses
Ex 3.1-15
In
the midst of Israel’s pains and cries for help, God responded. God hears us in
our sufferings. He desires to free us from our slavery. He longs to lead us to
greater freedom.
(At
this point, each group was to disentangle themselves. The rope was then thrown
into the burning bush.)
He called MOSES to be the leader of
Israel and to be the instrument for them to leave Egypt. Moses was a simple
man. In fact he couldn’t speak well. He even asked God, “Who am I that I should
go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt.” But God said, “I will be
with you…”
There are times in
our lives when we have responded to him in all earnestness. We were convinced
of God’s hand directing us into something noble, deep and life giving. But like
Moses, even in the midst of our “yes”, we felt insecure and lacking in ability.
(Each group was
then given a torch lighted from the flame. This guided us through the whole
journey. On the way to the 3rd station, the group sang “Here I am
Lord”.)
Station 3: The
Plagues
Ex 7.14-25
The
Pharaoh refused to let God’s people leave Egypt. So the Lord sent 9 plagues to
help him change his mind. They were: blood, frogs, gnat, flies, death of
animals, boils, hails, locust, darkness. The disasters created great havoc upon
Egypt that the Pharaoh grew in fear.
Young people like all of us are beset with
many plagues affecting their growth, hindering them from being truly
themselves. Situations that causes them fear and the desire for change
(We were asked to
reflect and share on one particular situation affecting young people now and asked
ourselves how this is personally affecting us. After which, each group offered
a spontaneous prayer for our youth.)
At this time in the life of our nation, we are experiencing many
plagues. Situations that cause us to fear and to desire for change. For example
we hear of the kidnappings of Filipinos here and abroad, we see the war in
Mindanao, and in many parts of the globe, many people dying in the crossfire
between soldiers at war. We see graft and corruption happening everywhere,
increasing prices of gasoline and basic commodities every week and people dying
of calamities and accidents, violence, sexual abuse and many more. All these
are bringing people into a state of alarm.
(In groups, we shared
our reflections; after which, we composed a statement to the President with the
theme: “If he were in our midst, what do you think should we tell him in the
light of all the things happening in the country?” Before leaving the station,
we sang the song “Pilipinas Kong Mahal”.)
Station 4: The Red
Sea
Ex 14.15-31
Though
the Pharaoh said yes to the Israelites flight, he changed his mind soon after
they left. The Egyptian soldiers with their chariots ran after the Israelites.
But God protected them and made them cross the Red Sea. The Egyptians and their
chariots drowned in the sea as the Lord brought back the waters upon them.
It is interesting to note that they were crossing from the west to the
east. The sun rises in the East. This is a symbol of human life, from birth to
death, from sunrise to sunset. It is a passage from slavery to freedom, from
death to life, from darkness to light.
(We were to think
about the slavery we are in at this time. Long to be freed from this. Each was
asked to answer the question “What are you challenged to do so that you can
overcome this slavery? What can you do to be able to move across to the other
side?” We wrote this on a strip of crepe paper which we tied around the torch
used by the group. Then as a group we crossed the bridge holding hands and with
the torch in front.)
Station 5: Desert
Experience
Ex 15.22-27
After
the flight from Egypt and a victorious crossing of the Red Sea, the Israelites
traveled along the desert. There they experienced trials as a community
struggling to live together and as a people struggling to believe in their God.
They thirst for water and when Moses cried out to God for help, they were given
sweet water from the waters of Morah. They lacked food to eat and though they
were given manna from heaven, they struggled to keep their confidence in the
Lord. They fought against each other with Moses trying to settle disputes among
them until he decided to appoint able leaders to handle such functions.
Throughout this time in the desert, the Israelites constantly asked “why did
God send us here? Does he want us to die? And constantly the Lord reminded them
of his presence, sending them what they needed and reminders to help them live
by.
We may have been through a desert experience one time or another or we
may be going through one now. It may be a stage where we feel we are tested in
many ways. It may also be a period where we doubt God’s existence. May be we
simply feel tired and dry.
Whatever
desert experience it is, like the Israelites, we are challenged to continue on
the journey. To believe that there is something in the end. To allow each step
to help us realize there is a God who loves us and has a great plan for us.
(Each group was
given a particular obstacle/activity to follow that would demand that us to do
some activities together. All the groups will meet up in a spring where we have
a drink of water.)
 |
| Obstacle |
 |
| Inside the red jar was the water. |
Station 6: Ten
Commandments
Ex 20.1-17
The
10 commandments are laws given to Moses on Mt. Sinai, summing up what God wants
in our relationships with Him and others. The first to the fourth commandment
spoke about the way we should treat God. The fifth to the tenth was about the
way we should relate with others. With a constant conversation with Moses on
Mt. Sinai, God makes a COVENANT with His people.
As
young people called to a life in the Lord, we are challenged not just to see
whether we follow the commandments to the letter but that we live out the
values implied in all of them. We may not be guilty of disobeying any of the 10
commandments but we may have failed if we look at the attitudes asked of us in
every commandment.
(As a group, we all
together read the 10 commandments written in a paper; after which, a period of
silence was given for each participant to reflect which among the 10
commandments they find the most difficult to follow in their life at this time.
Each participant then read the one they have chosen and tick mark at the back
of the paper signifying their intention to live the commandment in their own
lives. After this, they will roll the paper and put it in the jar provided.)
Station 7: The
Promise Land
Jos 6.1-16
They
finally reached the Promised Land, the place Yahweh has prepared for them as
his people. Moses’ successor, Joshua was the one who led the people to reach
the place. It starts with a crossing of the Jordan. It is the river where John
the Baptist preached and baptized people. It is the same place where Jesus was
baptized and received the word from the Father, “This is my beloved Son in whom
my favor rests.” After crossing the Jordan, they captured Jericho with trumpets
and loud shouts from the people. The walls of Jericho collapsed as they shouted
amidst the trumpet blasts.
This
is the way they entered the Promised Land – as a people purified (crossing the
Jordan) and affirmed by the love of the Father and as a community that stands
in unity and cooperation.
We have journeyed as
a community through the Exodus story. We have come in touch with our own lives
and have grown as a community discovering God’s word…
(As a community
growing in God’s word we celebrated by singing “Isang Pananampalataya”.)
End of CD3☺
 |
| Coastal Clean-up |
CD 4: Mission Animation
Actions speak
louder than words. Although a single word has a power to change one’s life,
what’s the point if we wouldn’t live it out? This is why the SVD has Mission
Animation as one of its four characteristic dimensions. Fr. Samuel Agcaracar,
SVD discussed about mission animation after we took our lunch. JPIC transforms
the world, communication dimension involves reaching out, and biblical is
God-centered. Mission animation is involving others.
We, as a part of
SVD, are witnesses to God’s kingdom by means of prophetic dialogue marked by
the four characteristic dimensions. Fr. Agcaracar also added that to make a
dialogue prophetic, it must be contemplative, proclamatory, transformative and
eschatological. Just like putting words into action, we must move from activism
to contemplation, individualism to collaboration, conquest to dialogue, and
evangelizing to being evangelized. Our speaker even showed a video of a dog
dancing with a man and a short film about the Pope, priests, and laities.
End of CD4☺
After giving his seminar, Father Samuel Agcaracar, SVD performed a song number while playing the guitar. The title of his song was "Kulang", which was composed by him. Everyone was entertained with the song. One of the lyrics goes like this, "Pusong walang pag-ibig, kulang." Frater Uili Ueva, the same with Fr. Samuel, performed a song number while playing the guitar. A picture taking followed afterwards.
 |
| Fr. Samuel Agcaracar, SVD |
 |
| Frater Uili Ueva |
Mr. Wyndell had a stone on his hand and asked us of the things we can think of upon seeing that. There were different responses. Some said, stone, tigas, etc. After that, a related activity proceeded, each school/ church was given the task to envision a possible project in their community that is related to the 4CD and everyone was asked to report.
After Dinner, the Ceremony of Light followed. All the groups sat on the grass and surrounded the big bonfire at the middle. Groups were also provided with candles for the liturgy readings. After every liturgy that will be read, a group will be called randomly to perform something related to the reading.
GALLERY
Exodus Walk
There was a cool morning breeze while we were all walking. The walk was very solemn and intimate.
Holy Mass
The Holy Mass was presided by Fr. Renato Malbog, SVD. Everyone had their renewal of baptismal vows along the beach.
Ceremony of Light
All the groups surrounded a big bonfire and there were lots of liturgy readings and reflections.
Lupakan
It was a bonding night for everyone! Everybody experienced how to make lupak: from pounding the bananas to mixing it with the flavorings. Every group shared their lupak with each other. The night became more colorful with the group of guys who sang!
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