World CLC Day at Sacred Heart Parish

CEBU, Philippines - March 25th, the Solemnity of the Annunciation of Our Lord's Birth, has been traditionally celebrated by the Christian Life Community (CLC) as the World CLC Day. It is a day that CLC all over the world – in over 90 countries, in all continents – celebrate the most important news of our salvation history. However, this year, 2012, March 25 fell on the Fifth Sunday of Lent. So, the Feast of the Annunciation was transferred to March 26, Monday. The three CLCs of our parish (the Sacred Heart CLC, the Barkada ni Kristo, and the Lumen Christi CLC) decided to celebrate on Sunday just the same, because on Monday people would be at work or in school. The three communities at the Sacred Heart Parish got together for an afternoon of celebration. The Dumaguete CLC

heard about it and sent two members to participate in the celebration to bring in a “regional” flavor to the event. Two members from the faculty of Ateneo de Cebu (Sacred Heart School - Jesuit) also came to join the celebration.

The event had the special blessing of the national leadership in the person of Mr. Kenneth Chua, our Representative to the Asia – Pacific Region of the CLC, and a member of the National Leadership Community. The program started at 3:00 P.M. with the singing of “Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam,” the CLC Hymn, followed by an Introductory Remark by Fr.

Ben, a video sharing of the CLC of the Sacred Heart Parish. Mr. Kenneth Chua also gave a video presentation of the National Leadership Community, the people, the structure, and the concerns. Questions and sharing of ideas followed the presentation.

Fr. Ben celebrated the Holy Eucharist, during which he commended the admirable efforts of the Dumaguete CLC. The group continues to grow even without the help of outside resources - just their sheer determination to survive and grow. A Community Agape followed the Eucharist with food contributed by the three communities. An added joy for the celebration was the college graduation of three Lumen Christi members, one of whom graduated cum laude. There was supposed to be some programs and games after the eating. But some people were too engrossed with their sharing, and others enjoyed the food so much that it was too much of an effort to spring into action. So, the event ended simply and quietly by 7:00 P.M. (Sacred Heart Parish News) (FREEMAN)