This weekend retreat offers a reflective and creative space where you will contemplate Christmas images in art, pray on scripture texts, reflect on your life’s journey, and create your own art journal. Through these activities, you will pray and encounter the God who “pitched his tent among us” and became one of us.
The story of Christmas opens with history, an actual census ordered by Caesar Augustus, during the time when Quirinius was governor of Syria. It closes with a tale of an angel telling shepherds of the nightwatch to go see for themselves “an infant wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger.” The story of tonight is bookended by the truth of history and the truth of heaven. It starts with people moving to be enrolled because of a political decision and ends with the heavenly host rejoicing over God’s decision to enroll himself into our history. Quirinius we will not dispute. But when we hear of heavenlies talking at night, proclaiming, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests”, we wonder if Christmas is just some made up story we tell each other to distract or numb ourselves from the heartbreak of this world. And yet, the evangelist Luke, the story teller, takes pains to bookend the Christmas story with accounts from history and from something that is more than just fantasy. The wood of the manger foreshadows the wood of the cross. The birth in a stable at the margins of the city anticipates the death on a hill outside the walls. The swaddling cloths that wrap the infant prefigure the strips of burial linen in the empty tomb. The light of the Nativity is not without the darkness of the Passion. Mary’s tears are of happiness and sorrow. The Child has her eyes. Her tears are his as well. On this night, the stain of her blood on the earth is the same stain from the blood of the Lamb of God, the very stain which marks us for deliverance. Soon after, this family will be on the run, living as refugees in fear, fleeing to Egypt to escape the murderous wrath of a delusional king. So much for fantasy, this story. We are here tonight not just because of the inertia of tradition. We gather not out of obligation. We are here because we believe the story. We are here because this Child is true. And we believe his light to be the one light that shines in this “land of gloom”, the only light that outlasts the darkness outside. We do not deny that the darkness disheartens us. We confess how lost and afraid we are. We’ve had our share of delusional kings and their murderous greed in this country. We have witnessed how hatred and bigotry continue to shed the blood of the innocent. We have been distressed by the brazen distortion of truth and justice by those in power. The callousness terrifies us. Despite all this however, we will not let fear and desolation take hold. We will still celebrate this night of Christmas because we know it is amid terrifying darkness that God comes to us. And so before the wood of the manger and cross, we will dare to believe again in him who stays with us in the dark. We will dare to believe in him who is true. We will love again because only love can endure the night. Like the Christmas story, our own life stories are bookended by the truth of history and the truth of heaven. All throughout our lives, there will be enrollments to keep us moving from place to place. And angels as well, telling us not to be afraid, urging us to please go see for ourselves this infant wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. There will be tears of happiness and sorrow, swaddling cloths of tenderness and loss, moments of gladness and silence. At the close of our stories, perhaps we will be caroled too by some heavenlies proclaiming glory to God in the highest, and peace to all on whom his love rests. Wishful thinking and fantasy? Not really. We know the story. And we believe God’s story. Homily delivered by Fr. Jose Ramon (Jett) T. Villarin SJ Christmas Eve Mass Cenacle Retreat House 24 December 2023
The dedicated team of volunteers, through the accompaniment of Sr. Perry (Cenacle Sister in Cebu), has grown to inspire the community and now included the youth in action. Since May 9, 2021, the team has identified and opened a pantry in Inayawan Dumpsite, Cebu to serve those who are in need for daily sustenance. In 2021 and 2022, our Christmas project was successful because of many generous donors. We pray that you will again be one with us in making our poorer brothers & sisters feel the joy of Christmas in these difficult times. Thank you! Donations may be sent via Gcash 0915 7817214 under Sr Perry Inso’s name with a message “Christmas @ Inayawan” OR interbank transfer to Bank: BPI Account Number: 9200 0030 44 Branch: Cebu P. del Rosario Account Name: Maria Perry Casinillo Inso OR Elizabeth Lim Go FOR MORE INFORMATION, please visit this link: https://www.cenaclephilsing.org/little-hands-in-cebu/ Who is St. Thérèse Couderc? She is the foundress of the Religious of the Cenacle – an international religious congregation, born in Lalouvesc , France in 1826 – whose mission is to make Jesus known and loved through retreats, spiritual direction, and other spiritual ministries. While the world quarantines itself with safe distancing and stay home measures this past year, Sr. Perry chose to live the spirituality of Mother Thérèse’s “Goodness” & “Surrender” as she continues to accompany our lay partners and youth in prayer and discernment. St. Therese Couderc saw God’s Goodness permeating all things and the whole world itself, and she was moved to respond with “Se Livrer,” that is, “to surrender oneself” to this Divine Goodness. It is a vision of the world that is full of hope in spite of the presence of suffering. Moved to action, the team started with a FREE KITCHEN project since April 2020 and has been feeding 100persons in Inayawan [elderly and PWDs] and 68 children. Today, with the joyful addition of the youth in the team, they have organised a station to serve 6 areas of Inayawan community. Other ways of helping 1. Donate in-kind [food supplies] and send to 3886 First St., Forest Hills Subd., Banawa, Cebu City, 6000 Philippines. 2 . Live out Goodness in a creative way by celebrating life with the beneficiaries [anniversaries, birthdays, thanksgiving etc] For more inquiries and clarification on how you may support/assist, please email us at cenacle.philippines@gmail.com / Viber and Whatsapp 0917 570 3349 or FB messenger.
Homily at Mass on Christmas Eve 2019 by Fr. James Gascon, sj One Wintry Christmas evening in December, in a faraway land in Minnesota, a father and his 5 year-old son decided to take a walk to the park after the family Christmas dinner. As they pass through the snow filled streets of the village, the father noticed his son staring at each house they would pass by, as if absorbed by what he saw in these houses. Finally, in a soft perplexed voice, the son asked his father. “Why are there purple stars hanged outside the doors of the houses in our neighbors?” With very caring voice, the father answered, “Each purple star represents every son who used to live in those homes, went to war, and died defending our country’s freedom.” And the father continues, “That is why, some have one, two, or three. Each star represents a son given away. That is our way of honoring them, and thanking them for giving their lives for our country.” And there was silence between them. As they continued walking until they reached the neighborhood park and had a perfect view of the clear sky, the got more excited. He looked up and with great awe and excitement pointed to the brightest star in the sky. “How about that star, dad?” Without hesitation the father replied, “That’s the star at the Father’s house. The star of Jesus. Our heavenly father gave us his only begotten son, that we might know how much he loves us and win our war against sin in the world.” And without hesitation the boy replied, “When I grow up, I too will give myself for our country, so that you can hang a purple star on our door, dad.” And the father could not utter a word. I think this is what Christmas is all about. For four Sundays we prepared for this day; for nine simbang gabi we listened to stories; stories that lead to The story, to the manger where Jesus gave of himself as a gift. We must remember that what was given is not a thing, not a material gift but a person, a baby. Helpless, but will grow into a man to save his people. And similar to the gifts we give each other, it is precious. Jesus is he who was sent, offered, and given up. But what kind of a gift does Jesus represent? Jesus is a gift for all. When the son of man became man, he was given to all. Not because everyone deserves him, but because all of us needs him. He was given 2000 years ago, he is given yesterday, today, and continues to be given every day, even beyond our generation. In our present consumerist culture, we always long for what we want, for what we like, which many times are not also what we really need. We truly need Jesus, thus, the father gifted us with Jesus. Thus, we need to know him, love him, and follow him, as the second week of the Spiritual Exercises of Ignatius summons us to do. Jesus is a gift that is priceless. What was offered in Jesus is not only his person, but more than his person, he offered a relationship. Through him we become sons and daughters of God. In him, we can call God “Abba,” our father. Because we have been connected and related with the Father, through Jesus, we can pray and ask for our needs. Priceless gifts and graces are showered upon us, and we cannot but respond in gratitude. Jesus is a gift of challenge. The gift should not stay with us alone. We need to re-gift Jesus. Perhaps in a new wrapper. “Parang recycled gift… uso na yan ngayon.” The more we recycle the gift, the better. And come to think of it, it is the best gift, because it is never consumed. Rather it consumes, and brings out the best in us as well as in others. So, Jesus is a gift for all, a priceless gift and a gift that challenges. So where does this bring us? To the real disposition of being a Christian. As a gift for all, we are called to interreligious and ecumenical dialogue. Jesus is not only for Christians. Incidentally, this year is year of interreligious and ecumenical dialogue, a recognition that Jesus is for all. We don’t own Jesus, He is for everyone. And if we really have received Jesus the priceless, we must give gifts that are priceless: forgiveness, love, time, listening, visiting the sick, caring for those who need us. These are the priceless gifts we can share having experienced the priceless gift who is Jesus. And finally, this is our challenge. Can we live the life we are called to live as Jesus lived? Our life is an eternal challenge. We should never give up. It is not easy, but through God’s grace, we can. We can accept the challenge. And perhaps, this is the reason why Filipino houses hang not purple stars but colorful parols on their windows and doors. Kumukutikutitap, bumubusibusilak, ganyan ang indak ng mga bombilya ng parol. Because we can offer of ourselves in many unique ways, through many means, not only with our lives, not only with what we have, for our love ones, for our neighbors, for our country, for the world. This is the reason why we have many kinds of parols, with many shapes and colors. If you hang a parol this Christmas in your home, now you know what it really, really means: Are you a gift for all that is priceless and a constant challenge? Otherwise, your parol will remain a decoration, a piece of paper or kapis that hangs there for nothing. And how would you explain it to a 5-year old boy? Maligayang Pasko sa inyong lahat.