Greetings! And may the peace of the Risen Christ be with us all!
Today, we celebrate 35 years of existence as encountered couples and individuals in a covenant relationship with the Lord. “You are a people sacred to the Lord, your God; He has chosen you from all the nations on the face of the earth to be a people peculiarly His own,” (Deut. 7:6).
It is indeed something we can all be truly proud of and grateful for. We rest in the assurance that this grace has been granted to us because of God’s unending and awesome love for us in the Sacred Heart of Jesus and through the intercession of the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
Yes, being made up of fallible human beings, BLD has encountered many storms in the course of its journey. But we are comforted and assured, as the Psalmist declared: “He pardons all our iniquities, heals all our ills. He redeems our life from destruction, crowns us with kindness and compassion,” (Ps103:3-4). Thus, our benevolent and loving God has turned our storms into blessings as we persisted in prayer, seeking Him and knocking at the door of His Heart.
In BLD’s mission and evangelization activities, the Holy Spirit never failed in enabling and empowering us to be living witnesses for transformation in Christ, evidenced by tens of thousands of people, families, communities, and parishes, local and foreign outreaches BLD has ministered to and evangelized. This is simply because we believe in and act on our vision and mission for the greater glory of our Triune God.
Today, our faith, mission and evangelization activities are being tested again by Covid19. Because of quarantine, we cannot physically meet for worship, form our word sharing circles and conduct teachings; more importantly, celebrate the Eucharist and receive Jesus. In addition, we cannot bond and break bread with each other for which we are known for.
But BLD members do not easily give up. Bishop Rey and the Council of Servant Leaders have witnessed, viewed and even participated in almost all districts, relentlessly conducting live streaming worship, WSC’s and teachings. All because we love and care for one another, “… let us love one another, because love is of God… if we love one another, God remains in us and His love is brought to perfection in us,” (1Jn 4:7, 12).
Do BLD members believe there is an end to Covid19? Of course they do. The Sacred Heart of Jesus assures us in Matthew 11:30, “Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, I will give you rest.” We also rely on this promise, that we will continue to see one another in our 40th, 45th, 50th and endless anniversaries because the Triune God is with us; and who can be against us! (Rom. 8:31).
As we celebrate today our 35th Anniversary, we also remember the 103rd birthday of Fr. Ado, our lightning rod and founding SD. Happy Birthday, Fr. Ado!
You may consider this providential, but today, we mark the 34th Sacerdotal Anniversary of Bishop Rey Evangelista, our current Community Spiritual Director. Happy Sacerdotal Anniversary, Bishop Rey Evangelista!
And to Archbishop Angel Lagdameo, you have been a blessing to BLD for the past 22 years. God be with you always.
Happy Anniversary, Bukas Loob Sa Diyos Catholic Charismatic Covenant Community!
The Council of Servant Leaders,
Jojo and Koi Jalandoni
Presiding Servant Leader
