Our Lady Of Good Counsel

Our Lady of Good Counsel Faith Formation Program has once again opened its doors to form our children, youth and adults to know, to grow and to deepen their faith in God. Another year has come upon all of us to take part in this program so as to continue to build the Church Jesus intended to be. I mentioned “us” because sharing our faith in God is not only the role of our catechists but every baptized Catholic. At the Sacramental Rite of Baptism, parents are asked if they clearly understand what they are undertaking when they ask the Church to have their child or children be baptized. That is, accepting the responsibility of training their child in the practice of the faith and their duty to bring them up to keep God’s commandments as Christ taught, by loving God and neighbor. So also, for godparents if they are ready to help the parents in their duty as Christian mothers and fathers. Thus, at baptism, parents and godparents enlist themselves to be witnesses for Jesus Christ as the child grows in faith. They become the first teachers of faith and living witnesses of Jesus.

I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to those who enlisted themselves this year for our catechetical program. They join you, parents and godparents, teach the faith to your children not only to prepare them to receive their sacraments but also to have a more profound and faithful relationship with Jesus. That, they only do not know about God but to know God and establish a loving bond with Him. With the help and guidance of our catechists, those who learn about God, the Church, the Saints, and more will have a thoughtful understanding what it truly means to have faith and be a disciple of Jesus.

As we celebrate Catechetical Sunday, we pray for our dear catechists. The mission entrusted to them is not easy. As volunteers, they also face the challenges of meeting the demands of their family and work. But they wholeheartedly opened up to share their time, talent and treasure to embarkin the journey of faith. They need our support, assistance and understanding. Our parents need to help our catechists and participate actively. It is your primary role to help your children to teach the faith as you made your promises to God when they were baptized. Our catechists are there to assist you in these tremendous tasks and when there is a joint effort, you may be able to reap the fruits of your labor, to have men and women of faith focused on Jesus.

The call to be a witness of Jesus is everyone’s call. His message needs to be proclaimed not only in the world but also in the church. His ways are to be lived every single day so that people will know that Jesus is truly present. He is the Only One who can renew our broken church with the Holy Spirit as inspiration and guide to the truth of the Gospel. The call to conversion and transformation are needed today. And this can only happen if we can have more and more people enlisting to be His witness, here and now.╬