Worship Night - May 1, 2015

SOM 2015: Week 8 - Inner Healing

The Inner Healing week (week 8) has been one of breaking down and building up. During the course of this week, God has shown His faithfulness, kindness and mercy. We witnessed breakthroughs in the lives of our school participants. Many having come to the place of being vulnerable have allowed God to work in their hearts bringing healing to their spirits.

We are grateful for the anointed healer we have had in Diana who after tirelessly giving significant input, insights and reflections throughout the week also led the participants to a readiness for being ministered to in the prayer ministries. We concluded this week on ups and downs with viewing of the movie "Courageous".

We look forward to having the topic of “Worship” led by Derek as we resume after a week-long break. Do continue to keep all of us in your prayers that we may be protected and refreshed during this week.

God's abundant blessings!

School of Mission 2015 Duc in Altum

Testimonies from participants on Week 8 - Inner Healing

The first few days I had trouble connecting with the sessions and prayer ministries. But I prayed that God would reveal Himself in His own time, and I also know that a few prayer warriors were keeping me in prayer. So, I just tried to keep the faith. On the fourth day, God revealed to me a deep hurt from my childhood that I had refused to acknowledge or bring to light throughout my entire life. With His grace, I was able to be vulnerable, let myself feel the strong negative emotions of long ago and finally renounce them in front of His Divine Mercy. I’m thrilled to begin on a path of restoration as a daughter and woman of God. ~Beverley, Singapore

This week I was reminded of my many past hurts and each day, Jesus never failed to come into those hard times to shield me from the shame and tell me that I am unconditionally accepted by Him. ~Gabriel, Indonesia

SOM 2015: Week 7 Christian Character

“Be holy, for I, the Lord your God, am Holy.” (Leviticus 19:2)

This week, the School of Mission returned from a triumphant experience of the Easter Triduum and entered into a week focusing on Christian Character.

The participants were introduced to the vision of the crown of glory. Each one was called to Holiness...a calling to reflect and practice the foundation and pillars of our characters, that are the Theological Virtues of Faith, Hope and Charity, as well as the Cardinal Virtues of Temperance, Fortitude, Justice and Prudence.

In response to the growth in our journey of Holiness and Christian Virtues, we are called to be good servants and stewards and to be faithful. These are all rooted in our dignity and identity as Children of a Faithful, Abundant and Loving Father. The week ended with the topic on Community and Conflicts.

We are grateful and truly appreciate our speakers for the week: Sheila Libano, Fr. Francis D’Souza, Susilo Kentjana, Wimpie Santoso and Fr. Tony Alex.

Please pray for the School of Mission this week as we enter a week of Inner Healing. We pray for breakthroughs in the lives of the participants.

School of Mission 2015 Duc in Altum

5th Ordination Anniversary of Fr. Alliston Fernandes

“You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.” (Hebrews 5: 6)

Today (10.04.2015) marked the 5th anniversary of the Priestly Ordination of Fr. Alliston Fernandes. The celebration began with a Eucharist just for the Community in the morning, with Fr. Alliston, himself as the main celebrant and Fr. Francis con-celebrating with him.

The community also celebrated this special occasion over an appertising and relaxed dinner that consisted of deep-fried fish, baked potatoes, coleslaw and apricot-coconut cake with ice cream. The celebration was one that overflowed with love and joy especially evident in the words the community used to honour Fr. Alliston as our priest, brother and Director.

Many acknowledged and affirmed his smile, sense of humour, his wonderful homilies, his leadership, humility, and last but not the least his pastoral gifts of service and availability which have blessed and enriched all who approach him.

Let us all continue to keep Fr. Alliston in our prayers that God may fill him with His abundant love and wisdom in leading the flock that has been entrusted to him. May God strengthen and empower him to greater holiness to draw more people to God!

2015 Easter Triduum at St. Gerard's

Lent 2015 reached its climax with the Easter Triduum. To prepare for the celebration, we were graced with Penitential Service on Holy Wednesday with God reaching out to his people through the Sacrament of Reconciliation celebrated by fours priests.

With a heart cleansed, we went into Jesus’ passion at the Maundy Thursday mass where we enacted the washing of the disciples’ feet, the institution of the Lord’s Supper as well as watched and prayed with the Lord until midnight as the Blessed Sacrament was placed at the altar of repose. We reminded of our God who came to serve us and give us life as ransom for us.

Good Friday began with recitation of the Liturgy of The Hours; then undergoing the Way of the Cross at our local parish. At 3pm, Passion service we were filled with awe of the Lord’s love as each of us venerated the Cross. Following that we had the screening of the movie” Passion of the Christ”.

We once more joined St. Joseph’s parish to celebrate the Easter Vigil that highlighted Jesus - the light of the world; the sacraments of initiation for four members which was beautiful as they stepped into the waters of baptism and came out.

The Lord is risen indeed, alleluia! Celebration of the Lord’s victory over death continued in St. Gerard on Easter Sunday with mass and fellowship.

Worship Night - March 2015

On Worship night which was held on the 27th of March, we were privileged to have Maria Vadia from the USA as our speaker.

The theme centered on worship and healing and we had full house that night beginning with resounding praise and worship that brought the whole congregation to worship God. Maria's teaching focused on living the reality of God's kingdom on earth. This is possible only if we allow God to lead and take charge of our life. In God's kingdom there is forgiveness and illness of any kind has its root in this truth. However, restoration is possible in God's kingdom only if we are willing to let go and forgive.

The night was filled with a lot of healing taking place and those people who experienced healing testified to God's promises of restoration and kingdom reality. We ended the night with shouts of praise thanking God for all that He had done and all that He will continue to do in our lives.

Lenten Recollection 2015

On Sunday 22 March 2015, a full-day Lenten Recollection was held at St. Gerard’s Church for two Filipino communities from Upper Hutt and Paraparaumu respectively. It was a time to prepare themselves in this great season of grace.

Three separate programmes were conducted simultaneously with the Cenacle sisters animating the recollection for the adult group, while the ICPE Mission team animated the sessions for 2 groups children and youth, age ranging between 6 and 25 years old.

The theme of the recollection was “God is Good, I am good.” The groups started their session with ice breakers and games to get them more acquainted to one another. It was then followed by a session on God’s love where they were introduced to the true image of God, who is Love, Compassionate and Merciful. The second session was based on their identity as Sons and Daughters of their Heavenly Father. The truth of who they truly are and how precious each and every one of them are was really spoken into their life. They had group dynamics, creativity and discussions running the whole day to reflect and share their views and understanding of the topics of the day.

The Youth were then invited to reflect on what they received throughout the day, and to see how God was speaking to them following which they brought what they had gained into a time of Adoration. During that time of silent adoration the sacrament of reconciliation was made available to them.

The day of Recollection ended with the adults and youth coming back together as a group to celebrate the Eucharist that was animated by the Filipinos. At the end of the mass some of the youth presented a song which declared their commitment to follow Jesus as Lord and Saviour.

Easter Sunday at St Gerard's

The Lord is Risen! Alleluia!

Come and join in this Eucharistic celebration of the resurrection of Jesus Christ which brings us our salvation!

See you here tomorrow (05.04.2015) at 10:30 am !

SOM 2015 - Week 4 & 5: Holy Spirit and Spiritual Warfare

“You belong to God, children, and you have conquered them, for the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.” (1 John 4: 4)

It has been an amazing 2 weeks with Maria Vadia sharing with us the power and the gifts of the Holy Spirit and how to engage in Spiritual Warfare.

The participants, including the staff, are enlightened, refreshed and empowered by the Spirit as we began each session every day with Praise and Worship, bringing the power of the Spirit within each of us to its fullness. The sessions were made interesting with Maria’s personal testimonies and experiences of the significance and power of the Holy Spirit in her life. The participants got to practice their spiritual gifts through out the sessions with each other and were encouraged to guard their tongues, so that their tongues are used to edify, encourage and empower others.

Now as we have entered the Holy Week, we ask for your fervent prayers so that with all that the participants have learnt about the Heart of the Father, Sin and Salvation, the Holy Spirit and Spiritual Warfare, the simple truth that God is Love be sealed in each one of their hearts!

Testimonies from participants on Week 4 & 5

We were told to practice Thanksgiving, especially in moments of problems and worries. As I looked at my biggest issues in life and started thanking the Lord for His faithfulness and breakthroughs, deep peace came into those areas and I was filled with lots of hope and joy. ~Sebastian Raber, Germany

He, who never sleeps nor slumbers never lets us out of His sight. How wonderful that is! Even when I stumble in disbelief, Jesus is ready to lead me back to the embrace of my Father.What love God has for me! Today, I fear no darkness because the light of Christ lives in me.Thank you for Your Spirit and for your unfailing love that is poured deep into my heart. ~Jokin Vallabaraju, India

School of Mission 2015 Duc in Altum

Good Friday at St. Gerard's

"It is finished." John 19: 30

Good Friday is the day we commemorate to passion and death of our Lord Jesus Christ. "Son though He was, He learned obedience even unto death" (Hebrews 5: 8). He endured all the sufferings - stricken, smitten, afflicted, pierced and crushed - all simply for the salvation of our souls for eternity.

Please come and join is to commemorate this great saving grace we received through the Passion of Christ tomorrow (3 April 2015) at 3pm.

ICPE Mission New Zealand

St. Gerard's Monastery

Maundy Thursday at St. Gerard's Church

On Maundy Thursday we celebrate one of the most pivotal days in the life of Jesus Christ. There are 3 aspects to it: Jesus gives a new command, to love as He loved as he washes his disciples’ feet. Secondly he gives of Himself as food and drink by becoming the Passover lamb in the Eucharist which he institutes; and thirdly, is the priesthood instituted and given charge of celebrating the Eucharist so that He would always be with us.

Come & join us then to celebrate this great feast as we begin the Easter Triduum at St Gerard’s Church, Mt Victoria at 7pm April 02nd.