Spirit Sunday: World Missions

Mission is a passion for Jesus and at the same time a passion for people.

~ Pope Francis

OLG with mums from my sis’ baby shower

Let’s follow Chris†‘s example by serving others ~ regardless of mistakes along the way (like my off-tune ♪singing♫ at Church yesterday) ~ as our fai†h will always prevail, our missions won’t fail!

#DISPObustAFlow✌

OLG with mums from my sis’ baby shower + rose in hand yesterday!

World Mission Sunday

Send me forth each day, O God,
to announce Your peace, love,
forgiveness and joy to all the earth. Like the Samaritan,
help me be a good neighbor.Like the Centurion,
help me confess my faith.Like the Beloved Disciple, help me to be a bold
and faithful witness to Your Resurrection.

All the world deserves to hear Your Good News.
Help me proclaim and live it today.

Amen.

~ Father Joseph R. Veneroso 

World Missions ☼Sunday☼ Reminder from Father Raymond J. Finch

Both Prayer and Reminder Courtesy Maryknoll Missions

Thirsty Thursday: CFG is for …

R.I.P.✌ all of the fatalities in today’s Oregon community college massacre.

Those who were shot and killed are modern-day martyrs.

While we live in a nation where we have the freedom to express ourselves (First Amendment) ~ including through our religion, we unfortunately may encounter those who express their animosity against our beliefs.

C is for …

CHRIST * Character * Confidence

F is for …

Faith * Football * Field of Life

G is for …

Guts * Grace * Glory

In Jim Grassi‘s Guts Grace & Glory, connections are made between the football field and Christianity. Dr. Grassi, who has worked with pro football players in my beloved Bay Area, makes athletes’ testimonies and scripture readings relevant with the game and our overall moral conduct as a whole…

Besides the textbook from which which I teach, I also refer to supplementary sources for my speech students! While I still separate religion from education in the public school system, I tie in certain codes of conduct practiced when relevant.

This leads me to pursuing my legacy, even at my age, because we never know whether we’ll still be here tomorrow ~ so

How will you be spiritually when you meet your maker?

Affirmations for Athletes and Non-Athletes Alike

• Grassi, J. E. (2013). Guts grace and glory: A football devotional. New York, NY: Thomas Nelson.

Another Inspirational Reading from a fellow Christian

• Tebow, T. R., & Whitaker, N. (2011). Through my eyes: A quarterback’s journey. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.

Thirsty Thursday: Spiritual DNA & Bootcamp

Our Holy Father has spread joy & hope all around the world leading up to his World Meeting of Families | Courtesy ABC‘s Pope Francis & the People special

¡Biénvenidos, Padre!

“Don’t walk alone, always be encouraged. Walk with courage. Courage gives you joy, and joy gives you hope. Always move with courage, and always move with hope. Ask GOD for these.” ~ Pope Francis tells young girl in Spanish (this translated message transcends to all of us) … Similarly, Bishop Mike advised me to always look at the †cross† to refresh my soul with new hope, ♥love♥ and trust. | Courtesy ABC‘s Pope Francis & the People special

As Pope Francis journeys on his well-anticipated trip to America (Philly to D.C. to NYC)

Pope Francis has addressed the *U.S. Congress* | Courtesy ABC‘s Pope Francis & the People special

our awareness has been raised on how we take care of our environment … and each other.

Pope Francis has connected with my previous home: el Valle | Courtesy ABC‘s Pope Francis & the People special

We also must consider how we take care of ourselves, in terms of our own †spiritual† health.

Pope Francis lifted up this young man’s spirits for taking care of his family | Courtesy ABC‘s Pope Francis & the People special

Lately, I’ve reflected on my self-centered tendencies and been praying to be relieved of them in order to put my life in GOD’s hands. This hasn’t been easy. Fortunately, more messages have reminded me to get more †spiritually-fit.

Has this already been part of our genetic disposition* or is this something that we can learn**?

Courtesy United States Conference of Catholic Bishops

*Spiri†ual DNA

M is for …

Maryknoll‘s Father Finch uses a molecule metaphor about our spirituality already being part of our †souls, from the Holy Spirit to uncover GOD’s mysteries. By following these “spiritual† genetic instructions,” we serve and lead faithfully.

en español | Courtesy United States Conference of Catholic Bishops

**Spiri†ual Bootcamp

First, we must make sure that we maintain our religious practices for the mind:

• Go to Confession every month
• Pray the Rosary everyday ~ offering our daily duty to be closer to the Holy Spirit
• Scapular ~ “form me and shape me, Mother, in the form of Your Divine Son” (Marian way of life)

Furthermore, we must stay in good physical shape, so we have capable bodies:

• Calisthenics are effective to take care of our temples ~ this activity is more ideal for our spirit than pop culture (e.g., watching TV, going online)

Courtesy The Lake

Bearing in mind and ♥heart♥ all of the above advice plus last week’s scripture, I realize now more than ever that I’m no better than anyone else in the way that I treat others and ought to be treated; after all, as said every Ash Wednesday:

For you are dust, and to dust you shall return. ~ Genesis 3:19

 That being said, let’s follow the Pontiff‘s solid guidance to seek from GOD: courage –> joy –> hope ~ as I’ve studied this leadership practice for several years:

Encourage the ♥Heart♥

Courtesy Maryknoll

Spiritual Sources

• ABC. (2015, Sept. 4). “Pope Francis and the People.” [TV special].
• EWTN. (2014). Women of Grace “Marian Devotion: For Such a Time As This.”*
• Finch, Fr. Raymond J. (2015, Sept. 20). Reflections from Maryknoll.** [Email].

Inspired by Pope Francis | Courtesy Maryknoll

Thirsty Thursday: Lead Me LORD

Before Back-to-School

S is for … Spiritual * Scripture * Sports at the 1st school for my doc research!

I went through a few Bible reading plans:

Our Blessed Mother shrine at my aunt’s garden pond during my bday vacay

Find Purpose in Your Work

• 1 Samuel 3:7
• Ephesians 1:9
• Luke 24:28
• 1 peter 4:10
• Genesis 12:1
• 1 Corinthians 9:12
• James 1:17

†Lessons learned: Glorify GOD through the gifts with which He has blessed us, according to His plan

… Do small things with great ♥love. ~ Mother Teresa

For Leadership Effectiveness

• 2 Timothy 3:16-17
• Deuteronomy 17:18-20
• Joshua 1:8

Pope Francis, courtesy Catholic Relief Services

Good for Business: Devotions from Time of Grace

• 2 Thessalonians 3:11-12
• James 5:1-4
• Titus 2:9-10

†Lesson learned: Serve with care and respect for others

Throwback Thursday: There are 2 things you should practice in life: #gratitude & #forgiveness ~ Dr. Fe Reyes-Dollete #WordsOfWisdom from my Tita who wants us to uphold our family’s #legacy #TBT #ThrowbackThursday #ReyesReunion * #BirthdayTrip2015 #HappyTrip * Lolo Tico & Lola Rosa🌹 • Titas Fe & Aida • Mami Aya • Titos Art & Dr. @robert_chief_cpd #OurBlessedMother #FamilyTree #garden #love #Filipiniana #MagandaKaTalaga #MahalKita ☝🏽️✌🏽️🙏🏽👏🏽🌠🌟⭐️✨💫👑💐🌳🏡💝💖💟💗💓💞💕❤️💛💚💙💜

If I’d make time to teach Religious Ed again this year, I’d so show (& ♪sing♫ along) this to my Cathechism students:

5:55 ~ make a Bday/BTS wish!!! ✌

Study Saturday: Servant Leadership

A true leader is one who serves.

The philosophy of Robert Greenleaf is put into practice in the first book by Dr. Barbara Baggerly-Hinojosa, the first graduate of my cohort in our Ph.D. program.

In Are You a Ten?: The Ten Characteristics of a Servant Leader, Dr. Baggerly-Hinojosa includes journals for her readers to keep track of the progress through their servant leadership journey. She has taught workshops using this guide.

Following the publication of Are You a Ten?, Dr. B-H also released The Leadership Collection, an anthology of articles.

Now Are You a Ten? is also available en español!

My doc classmate who I met yesterday also reminded me to look out for the best interest of my own students, a true testament of servant leadership.

Keep serving!