Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

“Be a channel of My peace and joy!” This is God’s word for the BLD Community for the month of December given thru the CSL. As we rejoice in the celebration of the birth of Jesus, our Savior and King, we are reminded to work for unity and harmony in our Community, mindful of our need for one another despite our individual differences. This is the essence of the theme for the Inter-district Conference in February 2020 – Service through Solidarity and Teamwork, inspired by the verse in Philippians 2:2 – “Make my joy complete by being of the same love, united in one spirit, intent on one purpose.”

It is not a coincidence just as it is divinely inspired, that our IDC 2020 theme parallels the theme chosen by the Philippine Catholic Church for the new liturgical year which is, Ecumenism, Dialogue towards Harmony.In part, it applies very well to our global Community. To fully realize BLD’s Vision and Mission, we have to join hands to be instruments of peace, to work as a team, respecting individual differences in the spirit of fraternal love. Fraternal love asks us ‘to always be ready to seek forgiveness for the wrong said and done to others and to forgive others for the wrong done to us.’

Our Yuletide celebration will be truly meaningful and joyful when we follow the example of Jesus in living a life of faith, charity and servanthood, sharing our time, talent and treasure with the less fortunate, SOH scholars and their families, the CIW inmates, indigent hospital patients and our other mission beneficiaries.

Finally, beyond our present challenges, may we all see the joy and hope that we are called to share by proclaiming the truth that Jesus was incarnated to be the Light of the world, to banish the darkness of hardship and uncertainty.

Merry Christmas and a Blessed New Year to all!

The Council of Servant Leaders

Nato and Maride Limlengco
Presiding Servant Leaders
December 2019