FOUR YEARS WILL MAKE FOREVER

Catechism and Food feeding programs

Breaking the Bread
December 28, 2012

The Breaking the Bread will turn four years old on January 1, 2013, the day of the Solemnity of Mary, the Mother of God - the birth of the first dogma of the Church on Mary, the BTB is fully  guided by the mother of our Lord to flourish and journey in the apostolate  for the poor.

So much to speak about the journey, the rocky and bumpy trail pursuing the compelling truth of serving the needy, the less, the unfortunate, forgotten, the unlike,  - which is Christ!

Our work is the discovery of a treasure, a goldmine indeed, for in these little children is  the kingdom of God, the Lord said, "do not hinder them, let them come to me", and to realize it, when you do this to the children, it is then that you had taken the spot to take them to our Lord, and to take care and filling them with constancy of Christ, they will remain in the company of the almighty.

An anniversary is the time to look back, it is to rejoice in the triumph over difficulties and adversaries in the path where failings and trials overturned, and firmness and a greater resolve in the Lord gained. The greatest threat is within,  our human nature, we are consumed by our own infirmities, and sometimes lured to abandon ship, but the fact that our anniversary is the day of the Mother of God, it is with great relief and joy that we are guided and led always by our mother to her son Jesus which is eternal in happiness and comfort.

The Lord knows the deepest of the deep, our ardent prayers and supplications to administer this task, to rise and survive in our given resources of talents, strengths and time, and most of all to pass through  the odds and walls we face, but confident and only trusting God, that the deepest is known to him of what we need to keep BTB moving on.

"Let the children come to me"  - so we do.
God bless us all with the help of our Mother.

CATHOLIC SCHOOLS- A LEGACY

Catholic Schools for new Age.

The educational system in our country was pioneered by the Church, not only that, the social community and every aspects of our common lives before was initialized by the religious orders and basically, we owe to it the cradle of our beginnings as a nation.

With the establishment of our community, we were nourished with what we need, first and foremost, education as one of the apostolate of the church. Thanks to the convictions of religious groups, orders and congregations who were really inspired by the Spirit of God in spreading the gospel through learnings. These manifestations seen in the promotion of education are truly the guiding lines of the promise of our Lord to guide His church.

The achievement of the Jesuits in creating the biggest names of universities and colleges all over the world for example is actually the beacon of what we say that the church is the builder of mankind and its civilization.

There's rise and fall everywhere, as the sun rises and sets in, so do the times are changing, but the reality of  catholic education and its future is really a struggle. As the secularism rises and ever since it began,  the two became opposed with each other in the standard of morals. The development of our society turning secular has its roots from the failings of Catholic Schools and these are the consequences and catastrophes brought out of  the best intent of the church that it cannot avoid.

As the church was the biggest in the world in the service for education, there are drops and failures  today in the last twenty years. So many high schools, colleges and universities had closed in the US alone. There were about 1,500 schools closed shop in the last decade. Enrollment failing, and though even subsidized by their diocese, still the closures of schools came. Catholic schools in the US not subsidized by the federation is saving them to about 23 billion dollars a year of taxpayers money, a legacy of the church unparalleled.


There are certain things we could not avoid, and everything under human control is not perfect. Part of the problem is that diocesan and archdiocesan policies "have enabled Catholic schools to fail" by subsidizing them but not challenging them enough to find new ways to become self-sufficient and attract new students. (NCR)

In our local atmosphere, it may happen. As the  diocese are taking over the running of every schools in its reach, the specifics and detailed approach of localized situations may rise to the death of our parochial schools and the slack down of that parish, for they may overlook and lose the touch of the reality of school situations under local conditions. Biologically, the Parish and their school is just one and parochial is always an advantage for the school, as the parishioners are mostly their own clientele. This nature, the local parish itself with it's own parishioners united to plant the school in the beginning  may loss the love and support with this set up of diocesan form, for they are taught to "love parish and  think parish". This format may contribute to the loss of market share as everybody now is going elsewhere.

The nearest relation between the Diocese and the Parish in operating theirs schools should be co-partnership, not totally and absolutely in the hand of the other side, or vice-versa. Also, the third party in the local operation should be the Pastoral Council of that parish to facilitate control.

The intent of the Catholic Education is for the poor, this should not be lost. Though viability and finances are needed, education for the impoverished should be kept alongside.

Catholic schools should not be jeopardized by paying low its staff in exchange for god service. Though accounted as their widespread service to children of low-income families is the greatest educational gift Catholic schools have to offer is "God"


Parents of educationally at-risk children "want God" because they realize that if their children grow up with a living faith in God, they are less likely to end up in prison or in other self-destructive lifestyles.

May we put more and plant more schools or diversify to bring up god-fearing individuals in our community, and create leaders for our country honed by our catholic faith,where in them the truth and teachings of Christ be embedded and so shall prevail in our land a true christian community. A secular society is godless and the only answer to it is the Spirited education that will spread the faith more, and sustain a stronger and updated catholic schools today and in the future.

The gospel is dynamic, so in every aspects of Catholicism, may in truth, faith, education and moral guidelines for the secular and spiritual lives of men, the presence of God should never fade in our hands.



Related readings reference and source:  The National Catholic Reporter


This writing is inspired by the article written in the National Catholic Reporter.
The italic lines are taken from the report. Seminar: Catholic school crisis calls for creative responses

CATHOLIC ON LINE PRESENCE

On line Presence of Catholics Needed.

As it is said, we need to field ourselves in the spectrum of new ways to spread the gospel, which is the social media networks available today. Catholics should be aware of this powerful tool to reach and let the word of God be spread all over the planet and the conversion of every creature as commanded forth by our Lord Jesus Christ.

I suppose every Priests, Deacons, or leaders of the church should be involved in the online media by blogging and having their own pages and accounts which are frequented by many people today. It is is the statement of Pope Benedict XVI that every priests should be involved in the space and I think this is the time to flood the medium to press the presence of truth in the darkened cold blankness.


There is a little problem today with the habits of where the mass of users in the web goes to, it is hardly we can find that even ourselves, Catholics do not open or use media applications of our own parishes, and websites  of the church. The secular lives of our own brothers invade this supposed to be our rightful practice, and we should be aware and reckon our usage of the web leaned on the church' sites.

There is a climb today of  awareness in the presence of the church in social media and it is being done with speed as the church focuses on the enormous impact of the on line communications, we are like being enlisted by the Spirit to be there. In all local levels, it is now moving, and with acceleration as asked by Rome  .

Every individual also should be involved. Each and every Parishioners should develop the habit and practice. All of us should accept the importance of connection and being constantly present in the media networks. It is not anymore to be seen as a leisure and a habit worthless, but of worthy conduct of struggling to put the gospel upfront in the stream.

Every youngsters and students  should be taught to use the social media in spiritual etiquette and manners that they will radiate the faith and expand them. The biggest users of the space are the youth, and in them  lies the biggest part of promoting the church, that's why in all aspects our young's should be well taught  in speech, manners, and ways that reflects Catholicism.



The clergies today should be open  to these new ideas and accept that the new mission  of evangelization is in the universe of the net. Actually it should be one of the main thrust of parishes to pursue the presence of the church everywhere specially in this time and generation.

I hope that everyone will be encouraged to recognize the vastness of the new horizon and be involved in it, give their presence wielding Christ. Each one, Mothers, brothers, sisters, relatives and friends should start and not let the evils and twisters of truths will dominate, it is our responsibility to rise and be there in the cyber space.

CHILDREN AT PRAY

CHILDREN AT PRAY.

Children of Breaking the Bread is constantly at pray to make alive in their young minds and spirit the habitual character of praying and worshiping God. Rosary prayer is a practice, and constantly invoking in their selves God in their lives. Every Friday program prayer is a must in the BTB, and changes and improvements has emerged in the children, a fruit seen in our efforts now. They have memorized the prayers, they have mastered the Rosary beads, and most importantly, they have touched connection with God in these forms.

We are thankful to God that our effort has gotten fruits, our tears and toils comes to shine in the way these Children came  and found love in God thru Breaking the Bread. The children will become men and women of our society , they will become parishioners of the Sto. Nino Parish Shrine, and they will become the leaders and men of the church and our society. These little children will someday take our place, someday to become the Church, the Body of Christ.

We have to survive the battle, the war, the fight to make Christ win today, just to assure tomorrow that the Church will remain alive thru these little ones that some of us neglect. The Church does not belong to the rich and famous, to the elite, to the able, but the Church is established by Christ for the poor. The church will not stand if not for the little ones, for our Lord did not come for the righteous but for the poor and sinners, for salvation is for them.

Children praying  in BTB is much louder than the prayers of anyone of us. It is much sweeter and heard by God than my own, and it is much answered, than in all our petitions.

Thank you Lord for giving us the privilege to serve the children, the Breaking the Bread.

BTB, WINNING THE BLOCK 5

Full house, and God pleased.

May 11, 2012 - Thanks God it's Friday. Our program was filled with love, care and sharing for the Children,  It was made regularly an appointed time to be with each other, children long to be with Friday to come and enjoy the company of us, of God, of Jesus, which has become part of the body routine of the children to fill  Friday, their Breaking the Bread Day.

See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that in heaven their angels always see the face of my Father who is in heaven. Matthew 18:10

The verse turns to be a battle cry. Environment had exploited so much these "little ones", their deprived conditions had been their prison cell to contain them,  and  the persecution of society pushes them to the corner of neglect. The war is within ; it is morals, spirituality, emotions, physical, where all them are the despising of environment and culture.  The world speaks of this judgement, and the truth is biblical, for there is no choice for us but to  carry this load. We have to be deaf  of criticisms to hear the voiceless, and dumb to serve the powerless. It could be ascertain that physical world is opposite with that of spiritual, for it is where god dwells.

BTB CHILDREN IN THE PARISH CATECHISM 2012

BTB May 3, 2012-  The Breaking the Bread Ministry has made a great leap forward in the caring and love for the spiritual growth of the children by integrating them in the Summer Catechism 2012 of the Sto. Nino Parish Shrine. This is a great step towards bringing them  into social integration and  part of the good works being missioned by the BTB specially for this month of May for Mama Mary devotion.

Almost half of the summer Catechism class are BTB children. The most unique situation here is that this is just the time in  many years that the Block 5 children are integrated in the summer catechism classes of the parish, and the good effect is that they start to mingle and socialize with the upper class children of the parish. Remember our children are brood of impoverished families not only that of hostile nature (their comment) of our society. There is a good feeling and an uplift spirit on our part that there is now a good result in our struggle to prove  that these children are worthy to become good citizens of our country and we have snatched them out of their dark uncertain future.

MAMA MARY OF BTB

March 10, 2012 - Breaking the Bread, Bago Bantay
Mama Mary always leads us to Jesus. It is not a thing of being the Mother of the son of God, but being her as mother is also a mother for all of us which She always show her son  Jesus to  the world, but the world cannot  recognize Jesus by not acknowledging  Mary who can speak about her son fully to us, for Mary is the person who gave the sone of God to the world

Many other believers are not believers by itslef, it s a kind of a cafeteria faith which they chose only to believe on what they like to believe and what they  comfortably and conveniently love to do. Mostly, our other brothers in the faith, the protestants and other denominations chose to be that way, the importance of doing good works like in the church's teaching they deny, as the only thing needed is a personal relaltionship with the Lord Jesus Christ.

We have to love what God loves. Jesus loves her mother, and so also we should also give love to her, he gave her respect, so do we also. This is the problem with the others, they despise more the mother of Jesus. And this is why we Catholics are fortunate to see and recognize all these things, we should honor her as Jesus had jhonored her and given a place in heaven.

This is the Breaking the Bread, we continue to do the works commanded by Christ, for we are guided and lead to the way of Jesus through her mother Mary.

Breaking the Bread- A CHALLENGE FOR LENT

February 24, 2012- Ilocos Norte St.. Bago Bantay.
It is Lent, the season of  recalling back ourselves to god, the moment to reflect on, repent, and seek forgiveness.

There are challenges in these times, as to be forgiven is to forgive, and  also there are temptations, to test us how strong we are in the face of adversities, thus the work particularly in the breaking the bread is also part of these challenges.

Let's put ourselves in the desert where Jesus himself stayed there for forty days. No one would like to be in an arid condition of the desert, but the necessity  to experience it is part to become fully with god in life. In our times, we need not to be in the physical place of the desert, what then we need is to simulate in our lives the desert life through animating charity in our ways, taking care of the needy, helping those impoverished families, sponsoring education, help the street children, sharing food, visiting the sick, etc.etc., these all resembles the "desert" in life, for this is the new way and the meaning Jesus like to impart to us not only in every Lent season but for a lifetime mission of every Christian Catholics.

In the part of BTB, we are greatly challenged. We work in a mission to save the street children through catechisms, sharing god's loving word to them in their very young minds, feeding them of food physically and spiritually, preparing these young street children to become good catholics tomorrow as well as to be good citizens for this country. But the challenge are numerous, not only in our  minimal resources, but the way our other brothers and sisters take the view of these children, and undermining and putting down the value of the hardwork  of this Ministry. The condition is difficult for us to move along a way upstream of a flowing river. But there is only one things sure, Breaking the Bread is the handknit of the Lord, and his spirit is driving us to overcome these challenges. 

Breaking the Bread  is always a desert place, come,  be with us to experience it.

THE FAITH IN THE DESERT

Pope Benedict : the Lent

February 22, 2012- Ash wednesday starts the Lent season, and for forty days we are invited to meditate and come back to god because we've sinned.

Breaking the Bread, in it's form makes Lent the center of it's mission - to make changes in our lives, changes that will bring us forth before god to his kingdom. The challenge is how can we realize the need to break ourselves and recognize god's importance in our lives? We are called everyday by god to listen to him, hear his voice, to be with him and do what we are commanded to. We are in the midst of mature decesion for this time of Lent, as Pope Benedict spoke In his homily just this Ash Wednesday. He called for the church to see itself like pilgrim in the desert, "desert" that gives the church to pursue and work for more in these times that what this generation had done in our faith. The condition of the church is like  a place in the desert that it should live itself to meet the needs of procaliming the gospel in these difficult times.  The arid condition we are in, in negative view like poverty of faith and physical needs, the spiritual deformation of mankind,  the sad social and moral conditions of the world is a desert for the church.

Breaking the Bread in a level we are in for our community, will serve the purpose of bringing forth souls to god through the little resources, talents, and time we're given, but the point of it all is that quantity doesn't matter to god, it is the quality  in a little space given that we are to work with in the breaking the bread. Everyone is tasked to work for god, and in evey little way, short accomplishments is enough and needed today in a desert place and time.

UP FOR ASH WEDNESDAY

Fr. Aloy after the 6 am Mass, the rite of old palm fire up

February 19, 2012, Sto. Nino Parish Shrine- Looking up ahead for the Lenten season was one of the highlighted activities last sunday of the SNPS as led by Rev. Fr. Aloy through the rite of burning up the old palms to be used for the next wednesday ashes impositions. 

Fr. aloy after his 6 am Mass, proceeded outside of the foreground of the church and led the ceremonial  rite on the burning of the dried plam leaves. With a short liturgical ceremony, he emphasized and deepened the meaning  of the coming season of Lent as signalled by the Ash Wednesday as the time to reflect and recall all our sins and come back to god. We will all finish life and end everything, our lives just being  temporary, and death as inescapable through the reminder of the ash,

There are so much to look forward this Lent, just as we've seen in the previous gospel readings, we are taken to a ride of healing sorties by Jesus, reminding that illnesses, leprosies, paralysis are just signs and symptoms that we should seek forgiveness of our sins and live with god in these difficult times. The healings made were  messages that god is merciful and ready to give us forgiveness, comfort, refuge, for all the sufferings and struggles we've had when we're away from him, and if we'll only submit ourselves and let god heal us if we ask for his will, to let him enter our lives, and let his divine will direct us, as he is ready and more than willing to grant us peace.

MINISTRY FOR THE CHILDREN IS MINISTRY FOR THE PARENTS

the parents are joining the Breaking the Bread

February 17, 2102- Ilocos Norte St., Bago Bantay, Sto. Nino Parish Shrine- Friday and it's BTB day once again. Our weekly program for the children has advanced further with the faithful attendance of some parents in the BTB, and this indicates that we are effectively evangelizing the word of God through the way of the children.

We're thankful to the Lord for bringing us the parents of these children, and this gives us the message that we are commanded to undertake the Ministry for  the Parents, evangelize and extend formation programs to them. Looking back, Father Richard has given us  before ways to reach to the parents of the children, evangelizing them, use BTB as a way to pursue more of good works. What is revealed now is the reality of expanding the Ministry to the adults, the Parents, and these signs does crop up now and we are given the hint that this work should start asap.

In the coming programs we are laying out plans specially for the parents separately, and in the coming days  this lent season. Just after our program, the staff held a short meeting and discussion for the children's program this Lent, and because the time is now to attend to the given situation for the Ministry for the Parents, we will be engaging in such line in the coming days to catch up with the season in the case of the parents. We know that God is showing us ways  to where we should go,  and by his given time we will answer to it.

HEART FOR YOU

Happy Valentines to Mama Mary

Feb. 14, 2012-  Valentines day, is for our loved ones and ofcourse for Mama Mary, Our lady of BTB, something we need to share and give her for this special day. Love is the spirit and and the spirit is love, that is for this moment, we need to remember that god is love and should it be given first to him. Thanks for his love.

Is love in us? If only love is true in our hearts today, there would have been joy and peace  in everyone, but in reality, love is something to be further  investigated by the senate if love is really there in our pinoy hearts. We have love, yes, love for money, power, influence, honor, etc., etc., where this kind of love wreck misery and griefs to others, the still unresolved issues of our society, poverty, illiteracy, unemployment, vis-a-vis is the product of our kind of love today we foster today. We need to change and employ real love in this world. Love and Greed over material things and selfishness, make this world a place of war and conflicts, an imbalance distribution of wealth and an unfair practice of justice to favor the few and the powerful, has diminihsed away the meaning of love, and it has just  reduced it as  decoration and lipservice in our time.

True love is from god, but at least we have to try in us to have this love rule in our hearts and in this world. 

PERFECTING THE NOVENA ROSARY

The ninth of the Rsary Novena

BTB Feb 11, 201, Bago Bantay Ilocos Norte St.-  Perfecting the rosary Novena for the Our lady of Lourdes, was the highlight of prayers in the month of February for the Breaking the Bread and also the Church, the Sto. Nino Parish Shrine.

Thanking god for all the blessings we received from him, and the opportunity to serve him through varied ways in the Ministries of the Church, the novena rosary for the Our Lady of Lourdes is not simply an act of prayer asking the son of Mary our Lord Jesus Christ to help us heal our sickness, may it be physically, morally, or spirtually, but to intervene in us to go beyond what is commanded by her son, to do the act of helping the lesser ones of our community.

Mary's help or intercessory works as we journey ourselves in the life of prayers,  is also like asking her to touch our heart to listen to him not only to his voice but to the voice of the needy where god himself is there in their images of the poor. God speaks in so many variant of ways just to make us heed on the call to be with him, but to be with him through the voices and pleadings of those who seek help, by shelter, food, medicines, compassion, etc.,  that takes god's presence physically in the images of the poor.

LANDED HOME- THE NEW FR. RICHARD

Father Richard is home again in India

February 13, 2012, Manila- By counting, Rev. Father Richard has landed back in his home country, India. Varanasi his diocese, where he will continue his mission of priesthood. Calculalting by this time, he is now in New Delhi, at the CBCI, where he will have a short stint of stay before going back home to his province somewhere in the part of the north India, sorry I do not specifically knew.

The importance and relevance of this blog is nothing but a personal trailing of our spiritual adviser whom breaking the bread in the Bago Bantay owes much to this person and man of God the good works that we're now blessed with. Not actually watching his every move, but sensing his presence in our parish and what had he'd done good for us is enough to spot him randomly in our hearts, a kind of connection that is we are bonded as spiritual brothers. He's not far away, and he is fondly in contact and communication with us through the vantage of technology available to us today.

Future is what I'm speaking about here, it is not only about the greater good of Fr. Richard's journey in his mission but also, his legacy is one footprint of protracting this priest to make  something better for the church in the next decades.

As god is good and in all the time, we  pursue the works needed to be done. Thanks.

THE YOUTH, HOPE OF THE CHURCH

the 8th day of the rosary of the children

The rosary, in the novena a way to start them young

February 10, 2012, BTB Office, 4 pm: thus, the usual time to gather and pray the Rosary in the Breaking the Bread, this friday starts our program for the Children. We had made significant change in our street children, a discipline and a good behaviour is seen with good results. The way to build our church is to build our children, and those children we deal with is the little ones and the biggest in our community. The hope of the church is the youth, and they are being prepared to be real catholics by the BTB.

If there is time to spend on, it is the time to give to them to the children for they are the future of our church, for they are the future parishioners, and for they are the leaders to be tthat will hone our church, and to be apt with  the modern age of our time. The chances on the growth of the body of Christ  relies on how we build the youth, our children to become the faithful catholics in their generation.  The sweetest thing about our apostolate is that we harness the  strength and the future of the church from those in the lesser ones of our community, the street children and what we do not know is that in a few more years they can become members of any  Ministry of our Parish, like choirs and the PYM, etc.  Father Richard is right in his discerment of our apostolate minstry and there is a reason and  time to give more power to this noble work where gospel is applied to the fullest.

The strength of our church and specially the faith will remain on one question ;" what have we done to our children, wether it may had came from the upper or middle social class of our society, does not matter, but in the critical, the biggest chunk of them is the lower and the lowest portion of our society- the Poor -  where we need to lay our eyes on.

May we ask the Lord that, we members and staff of the BTB having answered the call to serve God, may gather our strength through prayers and  faith to god, and through the gospel of our Lord to bring more fruits in our work amidst our own strength and gifts we received from Him, and He may always bless us for the things that we need spritually and materialy to keep His church alive forever and ever ,Amen,

THE CHILDREN IN THE ROSARY

BTB children  in the 5th day

The Rosary prayed by the children

February 6, 2012 -Breaking the Bread 4PM.  The children of the BTB say the segment of the series of Novena Prayers in the Home Office of the Breaking the Bread. The continued practice for the children's prayerful life in the ways of the novena rosaries is one example and a training ground of the BTB for the children.

This novena rosary prayers will bring forth fruit of spirituality for the children, and will extend to their homes the light of prayers for their families. When we teach the children to be with god, we teach also their parents to be aware of god.   What is unknown to these children and also to the community of the Bago Bantay is the culture of getting and being close catholics in our parish. What will be reaped in these priograms is like a "buy one take one" scheme, as we take to catechize the children,  we also catchize their families. The adult parents themeselves which are in hostile life conditions brought about by their impoverished conditions in life is slowly and unknowingly  embracing god. Our less ones cannot meet or comprehend sprituality when their stomach is burning in hunger and in  their minds are the  concerns for their daily food and their basic needs for needed forn existence, and prayers and church going is less in mind and forgotten in their chores. If we are suceeding in the children, we also are slowly suceeding in their domestic lives most importantly we are conquering  their families.

The work is active to go deeper in the Block 5, sooner or later, we will succeed to reform the families. In god's time that we are there. Thank you.

the 4th day Our Lady of Lourdes Rosary Novena

the 4th day rosary novena to our Lady

BTB members pray

February 5, 2012,  the BTB home office, 8:30 PM. The continued rosary novena for our Lady of Lourdes in the BTB home office is kept alive. This devotion to our lady shines brightly in the BTB as prayerfullness and religious deeds, to the veneration of saints and specially mother Mary, kowing that holy ones is helping us throught their prayers to god, so do also we pray to them that they may always pray for us and help us.

In relating this blog article about praying to the saints, it is best to discuss them to add up good understanding of our faith as catholics. In an apologetic way to be able to answer questions made by our brothers in christian faith .

The historic Christian practice of asking our departed brothers and sisters in Christ—the saints—for their intercession has come under attack in the last few hundred years. Though the practice dates to the earliest days of Christianity and is shared by Catholics, Eastern Orthodox, the other Eastern Christians, and even some Anglicans—meaning that all-told it is shared by more than three quarters of the Christians on earth—it still comes under heavy attack from many within the Protestant movement that started in the sixteenth century.

One charge made against it is that the saints in heaven cannot even hear our prayers, making it useless to ask for their intercession. However, this is not true. As Scripture indicates, those in heaven are aware of the prayers of those on earth. This can be seen, for example, in Revelation 5:8, where John depicts the saints in heaven offering our prayers to God under the form of "golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints." But if the saints in heaven are offering our prayers to God, then they must be aware of our prayers. They are aware of our petitions and present them to God by interceding for us.
Some might try to argue that in this passage the prayers being offered were not addressed to the saints in heaven, but directly to God. Yet this argument would only strengthen the fact that those in heaven can hear our prayers, for then the saints would be aware of our prayers even when they are not directed to them!
In any event, it is clear from Revelation 5:8 that the saints in heaven do actively intercede for us. We are explicitly told by John that the incense they offer to God are the prayers of the saints. Prayers are not physical things and cannot be physically offered to God. Thus the saints in heaven are offering our prayers to God mentally. In other words, they are interceding.

NOVENA ROSARY FOR OUR LADY OF LOURDES

The 3rd day rosary novena

The Mama Mary grotto of the BTB

February 4, 2012, the BTB- The regular rosary  novena at the BTB is held in honor of the Our Lady of Lourdes. Coinciding with this global event, in having the novena Masses at the Sto. Nino Parish Shrine and in all the Church,  the rosary for the Virgin Mary is extraordinarily important for the Breaking the Bread as BTB itself was founded on the January 1, Mother of God dogma of the Catholic Church.

The our lady of Lourdes is one appariton of the Blessed Virgin for helping and urging mankind to act more on prayers and conversion. The vision of Mary through St. Bernadette in 1858 was one of the signficant marks of Mary's helping the church eversince her time with the apostles. Please read more about this particular Marian apparition.

As the loving mother of Jesus devotes herself in helping his church to be with his son in prayers and likeness, we should imitate her as our model in following Jesus,  and the will of god in our lives. Mary is our guide towards God, she leads us to her son Jesus. By her help, we should thank her for her prayers.

The novena rosary in the BTB is on-going, you can share your time also to be with us as we invite all of you, in prayers and oneness with our church.

PRESENT IN THE BREAKING THE BREAD

Fr. Richard with the BTB members and some close friends

FATHER RICHARD Feb  4, 2012, Terminal 3 International Airport- By just about 5 am in the morning Rev. Fr. Richard Monteiro, the guest priest of the Sto. Nino Parish Shrine left the convent and flown back to India, his homeland and birth place. It was that early in the staurday morning that our beloved guest priest say goodbye to his friends at the airport, and bid safe journey back home, god bless him.

The footprint of Fr. Richard in the Bago Bantay is one strong legacy with reference to Breaking the Bread, his being the spritual founder and director of the group. The good work will continue and surely will flourish through by the spirit borned to it in the three years making of the BTB.

High hopes and high dreams , will both apply to Fr, Richard and the Breaking the Bread, as both will work together for a better community, and for our faith as catholics, specially applying the teachings of Christ through the images of the littles ones as the center of the apostolate of the BTB. The good work has no limits, only our physical bodies will tire but our spirits will not fail and never shall it stop before the odds.

Bago Bantay will always feel the presence of Fr. Richard, as he is in BTB, as Christ is identified in the Breaking of the Bread.

I CAN GO THE DISTANCE

 

FATHER RICHARD FAREWELL VIDEO - This video made for Father Richard summarizes his three year stint in the Sto. Nino Parish Shrine in the Bago Bantay that made him very popular to the parishioners. Being young and a dynamic priest,   he'd  given the Sto. Nino Parich shrine church a whole new way of celebrating masses through utilizing the media and the technology available.  It is not only that that made him loved by the people of the Bago Bantay  but through his friendly and dynamic friendship with them.

The great thing about Father Richard is he was able to establish Breaking the Bread as a pilot program for the street children of the Bago Bantay. Through BTB we had recoursed the path of our unloved little ones to get near to God in the best way possible. We had made changes in the children, and because of them, their parents too are coming to BTB, a chance to form and catechize adult parents. What we can see now is we are entering the roots of the poverty and illiteracy of this portion of our community, and by this events we are breaking grounds in our apostolate!

The intensity and the gravity of our work now is getting stronger, and the spirit poured on us is driving our hearts and bodies to work more given by these blessings. Father Richard is going just afar from us, but spiritually we are united with him and with God.

 

FATHER RICHARD FAREWELL PROGRAM

Fr. Richard with the BTB kids

January 27, 2012   @ 7:00pm at the Sto. Nino Parochial School - Was held the farewell program of Father Richard Monteiro which was attended by some of the Sto. Nino Parish Shrine's  Ministry members and friends, well wishers, Priest friends, members of the BTB, the BTB Kids  and all the people who are supportive of Father Richard's  service and stay as guest priest for the SNPS. 

Bro. Melvin, Catechist of the BTB

 The evening program was primarily for the street children of the Bago Bantay, with whom Fr. Richard started because of his love and affection  for them being of his neighborhood in the parish -and their state and condition in the community pushed him to the birth of the Breaking the Bread that came now into an established Program,  The children portion of the program came very alive  for the children and the guests.

The cheerful ladies of the BTB

Games for the BTB kids

The sponsoring guest for the food of the Breaking the Bread children, and the magic show given for the children was a great fun for all that was there. They commended father Richard fo the great work he had done to the commnity and such is an example that priesthood and the church look into this ministry and the apostolate started. This is regarded as a pioneering work of a priest in our community and just few of the exellent deed of an ordained man.

Father Richard will be going home to India, his native land to continue his mission as a priest but that will not mean the end and death of our BTB here, but rather, he had founded a work in the country that with  the guidance of the Holy Spirit, BTB will go the to depth depth of a catechized  "lesser" portion of our society.
Seeing BTB as becoming the "tower"  of love of one another in Christiandom.

BREAKING THE BREAD - FOOTPRINT OF FATHER RICHARD

JANUARY 27, 2012  BREAKING THE BREAD DAY -FATHER RICHARD FAREWELL PROGRAM

Yes, this coming Januaray 27, 2012, once more Breaking the Bread will be showcasing the Street Children as being part of our community and the Church. The subject of the poor and the marginalized specially in the object of street children is the most difficult reality of our Christian life. Jesus emphasized  "love your neighbor as yourself", but to love your own peers and coleagues that you "like"only does not give weight to these words of Christ. Unless we learn to love our lost and the least of our brethren  we cannot be an authentic followers of Christ. Breaking the Bread is the foot print of Father Richard in the Bago Bantay, and he's going and leaving us with this print engraved in our hearrts. Such will grow and flourish under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, because Father Richard is given to us to bore deeper the "Love" of God n us.   The program is under preparation and the people of the Breaking the Bread thus prepare for the event.

Further announcement of the program's schedule will be posted later. What we can ask for  the moment are prayers that the program may turn out smoothly as expected. For sure  some surprises are expected in the program. See you later.

The Birth of Jesus, revealed to St. Bridget

THE BIRTH OF JESUS IN THE VISION OF ST. BRIDGET.

God sends mystics and saints to be witnesses of the gospel, and by this means the faithful is given the confirmed teachings of the church and its magisterial authority that the church is the truth and interpreting the word of god, the bible,  compared through the  revelations of its saints. One is St. Brigitte of Sweden whom had mystical experience of our Lord Jesus Christ. You can read the full text of the blog [Here].

What is amazing is the mysticism of the god revealed natividty scene to st. Bridgite as to how should we know the way Jesus was born in an account and detail not found in the bible. If you read the blog in the link , you will be able to have a vivid  revelation on the sacredness of Jesus birth and how Mary did not suffer any pain for delivering birth as normal to a human person. Such an account describes the wonders of Mary as chosen to be the mother of god Jesus and her virginity intact and preserved. These revelations really gives confirmation on the church doctrines declared and proves that the church is taught and guided by God in its  magisterial authority all throughout.

The following is taken from the revelations given to St. Bridget regarding the Nativity of our Lord – for a biblical proof that Christ really was born in late December, please look to the excellent article by Dr. Taylor Marshall [here].

“When I was present by the manger of the Lord in Bethlehem I beheld a Virgin of extreme beauty wrapped in a white mantle and a delicate tunic through which I perceived her virginal body. With her was an old man of great honesty and they had with them an ox and ass. These entered the cave and the man having tied them to the manger went out and brought in to the Virgin a lighted candle which having done he again went outside so as not to be present at the birth. Then the Virgin pulled off the shoes from her feet, drew off the white mantle that enveloped her, removed the veil from her head laying it beside her, thus remaining only in her tunic with her beautiful golden hair falling loosely over her shoulders. Then she produced two small linen cloths, and two woollen ones of exquisite purity and fineness which she had brought to wrap round the Child to be born, and two other small cloths to cover His head, and these too she put beside her. When all was thus prepared the Virgin knelt with great veneration in an attitude of prayer; her back was to the manger, her face uplifted to heaven and turned toward the East.

“Then, her hands extended and her eyes fixed on the sky she stood as in an ecstasy, lost in contemplation, in a rapture of divine sweetness. And while she stood thus in prayer I saw the Child in her womb move; suddenly in a moment she gave birth to her own Son from whom radiated such ineffable light and splendour that the sun was not comparable to it while the divine light totally annihilated the material light of St. Joseph's candle. So sudden and instantaneous was this birth that I could neither discover nor discern by what means it had occurred. All of a sudden I saw the glorious Infant lying on the ground naked and shining, His body pure from any soil or impurity. Then I heard the singing of the angels of miraculous sweetness and beauty. When the Virgin felt she had borne her Child immediately she worshipped Him, her hands clasped in honour and reverence saying: ‘Be welcome my God, my Lord, my Son.’

“Then, as the Child was whining and trembling from the cold and hardness of the floor where He was lying, He stretched out His arms imploring her to raise Him to the warmth of her maternal love. So His Mother took Him in her arms, pressed Him to her breast and cheek, and warmed Him with great joy and tender compassion. She then sat down on the ground laying the Child on her lap and at once began to bestow on Him much care tying up His small body, His legs and arms in long cloths, and enveloped His head in the linen garments, and when this was done the old man entered, and prostrating himself on the floor he wept for joy. And in no way was the Virgin changed by giving birth, the color of her face remained the same nor did her strength decline. She and Joseph put the Child in the manger, and worshipped Him on their knees with immense joy until the arrival of the Kings who recognized the Son from the likeness to His Mother.”

Why is it god needs to reveal these to st. Bridget? Why is it needed for us to know more of these things? It must be really important I should suffice. There are only these things to say, it is because god wants to let it known that the Church is Him,  and that the church is not in error about its doctrines and dogma. Most importantly, it showed here that Mary must be  given reverence and respect  by every one of us just as god gave Mary the place and favor above us all.

ARTABAN THE FOURTH MAGI

ARTABAN the fourth Magi.

The story of the fourth magi about Artaban is neither true or fact is not necessary here, but the beautiful story is most appreciated when it comes to reflect on the story of a man perceived to be the fourth king or magi in the nativity of our Lord or in the solemnity of the Epiphany. If your have read about the story of artabn, I recommend for you to click here.

The fascinating story of Artaban can be called true or fiction but I have not researched of it , but as I say this story is truly inspiring and fully of spiritual gain if you really reflect on it.  It is spiritually inspiring for throughout their journey, because he was a man socially oriented missed the caravan to embark on a journey to seek Jesus and his story and his story of searching Jesus for about 33 years end up climaxing in the crucifixion.  The tirelessly searching for Jesus is the focus here, even though the man lost in the caravan, he went not to postpone his trip and the truly inspiring moment is that without delay he went to pursue the journey against all odds. Along the path of the journey for 33 years he encountered so many experiences the made him truly the quality of a follower of Christ. Let us receive the story of Artaban as a model in our own journey with Jesus, maybe we are at loss of the Lord right now, but the reality is we should never stop searching for Jesus in our lives for in everyday occurrences we are like Artaban and we should be like artaban.

May the Lord give us wisdom like Artaban, the perseverance and the faith to seek the Lord in the midst of hopelessness and failures may we learn to stand and persevere to seek  Christ. may our lives  be filled with gladness and joy when we find Christ in our neighbors, that we may be filled pity and compassion for others just like he did in his journey. We may not find Christ face to face but find we encounter Him in the image of oppressed and the neglected. Amen

THE EUCHARIST

 

THE FLESH AND BLOOD OF JESUS CHRIST  

In this episode of the Catholicism, Father Barron explains the event where Jesus went to the Capernaum in a synagogue and spoke about the Eucharist. Fr. Barron's explanation is awsome, and to that respect, I gained the dicernment that there is something else beyond that spoken words of Jesus that pertains to the eucharist today. Not only that, it's about the church, it's his body being the source of life for all believers. We take communion with Jesus through taking the host in the mass, but by making this passage of the bible being given by Fr. Barron, I can see the greater meaning about the eucharist and the church today. If the church is the body of Christ, the church is the Eucharist itself, . The wholeness of the the body of Christ is the church, and those that belong to it and is in communion with his body. as we are in the church, and we partake in his body, not only that, we are in his body, not his body in us. Our spirit in his spirit, not his spirit in our spirit. We are in his living body and not him living in our body. We are a spirit experiencing a body not a body experiencing the spirit.

The intensification mentioned by Fr. Barron about eating or gnawing his flesh is the intensification we should have in desiring him. Meaning, being a christian or having our faith or part of his body in the church we should unceasingly desire him of his word, of his commandments and teachings for these things will give us eternal life. For being in part of him, we will experience glory in Jesus if the level of our worship and prayer, and doing his words will bring us for his eternal kingdom.

MISCONCEPTIONS OF THE BIBLE?

When someone wrote on the misconceptions of the bible that tends to sway faiths of others and discredit religion or Christianity as a whole and discrediting the word of god, well these are the signs of the times. The advent of so called intellectuals and agnostics and atheists to these days is a sign of the end coming. There are several misconceptions raised by some, who authors them or are prolific thinkers of our generation. I can say that their opinions are dangerously designed to eliminate god and religion today and mankind can go with his own knowledge by exploring his own science. If you want to read these misconceptions, please click here for their opinions put in question the word of god. If ever, the bible were written in Greek where the Lord or the apostles are not able to speak or write is something of deeper thought, by not just looking at it in that way, there must be something else. It was made written that way in another form of dialect or language to let Christianity or the gospel flourish and spread for the gentiles and god has plan for that. Or was the gospels written more than 70 to 100 years after the crucifixion of Jesus Christ could not be attributed to make the written words of the gospel imperfect or make unreliable because it was not written by the apostles themselves. This is another misconception of the misconceptions of the intellectuals today. There you can ask for ourselves what are the plan of god, if we are to base our arguments on the factual evidences of who were the original authors of the book of gospels, then we are truly of human intellectuals alone. In order to understand all these requires intellectuals with the breath of the spirit of god, we cannot understand directly both bible and history and facts together, we should be guided by the spirit of god to understand all your intended analysis and understandings. Well, there remains the misconceptions limited in the eyes and mind of man without guidance of the spirit.

The misconception alone that Moses died 300 years before the old testament was written is cannot be disputed as the written word of god became imperfect,  or Abraham died 900 years before the first content of the bible was written is not a big deal at all, but the reality of god is that any word and revelation transmitted orally through the guidance of the spirit of god cannot falter, and that's where intellectuals today cannot comprehend about the spirit and power of god. The rising of atheists and agnotics abound because their knowledge and learnings are truly of human concept because they don't seek god and put intense prayer before they start analyzing the cosmos.

SOLEMNITY OF MARY THE MOTHER OF GOD

THE SOLEMNITY OF THE MOTHER OF GOD.

The Solemnity of Mary, the Mother of God last January 1, 2012 marks the beginning of our year in the calendar but the meaning of this dogma being in January 1, is more than to understand its theological meaning as given. Though in the history of the church the date of this solemnity was originally different, in the west and eastern chruches, the day it is celebrated today confirmed deeper meaning and revelation of God to his church through the years. My simple opinion is that the precise date of this solemnity goes to the notion that in the beginning of  the year marks also the beginning of the church in its work for the evangelization of the gospel, the good news. Being Mary the theotokos, "god bearer" serves as a guide and helper to  take us  to his son Jesus Christ, and  Mary as the role model for all christians will lead us in the first step of our journey towards Christ in the beginning of a  year,

The good news starts with the proclamation of Angel Gabriel to Mary about her giving birth to Jesus and by her acceptance, she carried from her womb our god Jesus and rear the child unto 
fullness that Mary had accomplished all in her life, this implies the validity of Mary being able to carry and help us the "church" to guide it until the comig back of Jesus in the last days and this, the day of the solemnity takes the foundational ground for the church.

If Mary is the mother of God, she is also the mother of the church and this dogma will give us the understanding of the significance of the solemnity on Jauary 1.Read more on the homily of Pope Benedict

THE MYRRH FOR BABYJESUS?

Why Myrrh for the Baby Jesus?

In the Feast of the Lord's Epiphany,  the troubling question is why should one wise man got the idea that he will give gift of myrrh to the baby Jesus?  Myrrh is used for the preservation of dead bodies, and it's use as a gift contradicts birth to death. Something that difficult to comprehend about this gift but has got deep theological meaning, and this means that the three wise men's actions today just within the 2,000 years history of the Church has so much significant role for our christian theology and faith today.

The mystery is, maybe god has revealed to the magi the divinity and mission of Jesus for salvation of mankind? These magi's are Persians as always perceived, but to them made a great mystery that the baby they seek had been is known to them before their embarking to journey?

Or was it that the value of myrrh is so expensive and rare that this gift is a wealth for the family? We do not know, but the reality is that their presence before the baby Jesus is something also that what they spend for effort and time to do such is extra-ordinary. The symbolism of their journey and their worshiping before the baby Jesus is a manifestation of the revelation of the divinity of Jesus as having their foreknowledge.

  “The Magi’s fidelity to the inspiration of grace is wonderful. Doubt takes no hold upon their minds; without staying to reason, they immediately begin to carry out t heir design…They obey the divine call without delay or hesitation.” (Bl. C. Marmion, “Christ in His Mysteries,” 142)

Did they also received messages  from the angels in a dream like St. Joseph? possibly. Their exhausting journey reveals and compels us to think and consider that such a thing could have happened to them in the beginning, and only not written in the scriptures.

The Epiphany of the Lord has so much gifts for us than to the gifts they bring in their journey. Their trip to Bethlehem is a make or break journey, their very lives hang to it that these mysteries we think god may had revealed to them even in a dream is something near and posible to grasp. Read more about this.

SEEKER OF CHRIST

The Magi.

The three kings are the symbol of perseverance to seek Christ. Their story impose emulation to christians today, for the meaning of their narrative journey as hopefull beings seeking Christ the baby born is something else to shake our mind. First of all they're not Jews, and never knew about Judaism or for that matter, but their story in the gospel reveals that God has something for us to impart everytime we commemorate the Solemnity of the Lord's Epiphany. There is something deeper there that we should know about our journey like the Magi to seek Christ in our lives as individual persons. For what will they profit for takng such a long journey? Investing in all on what they have just to set  a trip like that? And what a fullfilment had they got when they found and saw the baby Jesus and offered their gifts? What a great beings were they.

Thre Epiphany of the Lord is really a way of God to tell us that Here I am with you to love and suffer for you.   

Breaking the Bread image as button for the internet browsing. This will be an icon for all those that seek to find Breaking the Bread.

THE PATH TO JESUS

In the difficult path to Jesus.

Staying in the path to Jesus is difficult for the way to him is  through by his commandments, and the difficulty is confounded by the hard way we take to be with him, we are in the Breaking the Bread. As such, Breaking the Bread is one of the many branches of the teachings and commandments of God, it is the production house of good works. The difficulty is visible around you, you can feel and can sense it courtesy by your neighbors.

Breaking the bread serves as a litmus test for people or for anyone who comes accross to it. The apostolate for the street children is a taboo for many and an unacceptable social reality in our community today and the difficult part in what you do is they wait for the littlest black spots in your work and then they'll scramble to criticize you and your program discrediting the street children. That's how people are today, hating the poor, hating the work of Christ, proving that nothing is changed after 2,000 years.

This is the difficult path to Jesus but it is sweet, for the more you are criticized in helping the needy, the poor, the helpless, God is pleased and elevate you more closer to his heart.

It is really a difficult path to Jesus because of our human nature, for we also  have our own sorrows and sacrifices, and are depressed by our failures, but yet we  struggle to stay and cling to the path to Jesus for we know that trampling along the way is part of it.

I pray Lord that you may continue to give me strength always for the work you've given me is not easy. I know I should rejoice in the Breaking the Bread for this work you've given us is according  to your divine will, and that I take it as a gift. May the people around me will see the goodness of this apostolate and see your light and shine forth in their hearts, and let them have their eyes open to see you in the state of the street children. May Father Richard whom you've assigned to form Breaking the Bread in our community be guided by your spirit and endow him with the strength he needed in his vocation. Lord, forgive us for we complain sometimes in the pain and sorrows we feel due to the criticisms and persectuion of your little ones, and we shed tears  everytime we are troubled by it. Lord, we need to be with you, live in your spirit,  in the Breaking the Bread for there we've found you. Amen.

WE NEED THE LEAST TO BE THE GREATEST

It depends on how you understand it.

Each one has his own eyes, physically we use our eyes to view things around us. But our eyes is useless in the absence of light, for you cannot see anything when you're in darkness. For this, I will base my understanding and judgement on people or some of my friends who fail to see the goodness and the fruits gained by the children.

We are not dealing with normal children for they came from broken families of impoverished conditions whose basic needs are deprived in their lives.Their characters are molded by the rascal environments that they dwell in and they are at loss of natural and common behaviour of a child due for proper growth and development.

The children's behaviour is not their fault, or either that they  wanted to be like that, the real blame is poverty and the parents inadequate education, unready or untrained to become proper individuals to rear their children to become good citizens of our society is the bottomline of all the problem.

The situation is made by God purposely, to let the poor be present in our community not for them to stay in their suffering conditions but for them to make you turn to act on his commandments of "Love one another". Without poverty, there could be no God's commandment. For the commandment of God to love and care for those who suffer will be meaningless if no one is poor and in distress.  If Jesus is  in the least of our brothers and no one is least, where is He?.

The point is the least of our brothers are meant to change us. The poor is used as reasons to make his commandments alive, and because of them only we are being purified to enter his kingdom.

How can a rich man enter heaven if not to love the poor? His sin of ommission will condemn him to death and hell.

Don't say the children have'nt changed, it is you that have not changed till today. You do not see yourself.

To say that they do not improve, it is you that needs improvement
If your say your neighbor is hopless, it is you that has lost hope
If you judge them, it is yourself that you judge.
To disregard them, you disregard CHRIST.

FIRST PROGRAM FOR 2012

THE JANUARY 6, 2012 BREAKING THE BREAD PROGRAM

The january 6, 2012 BTB program is special. It is because this is the very first program of BTB for the year of 2012. This day is the beginning of a new Breaking the Bread, a more active and dynamic programs are lined in order to make the spiritual nourishment for the children become even more higher as we feel the power of the spirit in us through the BTB in its apostolate of the poor.

As scheduled, every friday will be our regular programs, and at about 6pm the program will start on a regular basis, nothing is changed. As we let the light of Jesus shine in us, the neighborhood is lit by the word. Our surprise is newcomers from around the place  is pouring in who would like to join our BTB program.

May  the Lord bless us more in the conduct of our work and give us strength to carry this noble work in your name. Prepare us spiritually and give us rightly what we need in everything we are to do for your Breaking of the Bread, for we know you are there in our midst among the children. Your image in the least and the suffering littles ones is our joy for you have created us to to be part of your light. Amen

CHANGE ME LORD

The wonders of Breaking the Bread.

There is a question of whether we have made accomplishments or not in the children of the BTB, and this is a question we oftenly heard and expect. By quick or easy observation one may say there is none, physically  or visually. But pausing for awhile, a real sense easily gives you  an idea and impression on the children, and if you are really spiritual enough to look at the merits and wonders of Breaking the Bread you will find it not worthy to give an opinion rashly because you've seen the children. Some say that three years is long enough to expect change, and change they wanted to see, but there are  answers to the question that will make you fully understand the changes transforming  the BTB children. The following may shed light on the changes.
1.  PRAYER  -  the children is now able to pray. The rosary particularly they know how to say. The mysteries, the decades, the glory be, the apostles creed, the our father, the  holy Mary, the Hail Mary, and to exactly pray it. They know how to bless the food,  and despite of their innocence, their lack of parental support to be religious in their tender age, they began a step to prayer through our efforts made in the Breaking the Bread.
2. SONGS OF PRAISE- They know how to sing praising songs. Today by their own, they are able to lead themsleves to sing the songs we've teached them.
3. RESPECT - They know how to seek blessing from the elders, respect for us and magnified this respectful habits to those around them, in their families and the Blcok 5 itself.
4. ATTITUDE & RESPONSIBILITY- Gained for themselves attitudes to tend them  to inculcate leadership among their groups and set a standard to eliminate habitual attitudes which are against the teaching Christ, like badmouthing.
5. WILLINGNESS to learn- willingness is one of the best developed character in them by showing perseverance to continue in the BTB not just by feeding programs we do, but of the company we give them, they feel love and affection in us. Learning about God is there, when they ask to let them lead prayers in our programs.

There are many other things I would like to enumerate more in these good changes we've done to the  children of the BTB and these are only partial of good changes to answer mis-observations of our dear friends. We are not magicians or can turn overnight success in our programs for the street children. changing them is not to shock them outright or electricute them to change, but a gradual process is required. You cannot evangelize the word of god directly to the unbelievers, it is you who are to show what is like to be Christ before you turn them to be  Christ like. To change the children is to change yourself. Show respect and you shall be respected, say kind and holy things to them and they will follow you. That simple.

Our work is a hope to change them, but one thing is sure that because of the presence of BTB in their lives we give them a chance and hope to be good citizen of this country and to God. 

The formula program for the street children is about you. Just show kindess to them and kindness they will copy from you. Actually I tend not to summarize the children's improving behaviour but it is in my dear friends that my eyes turn to observe them. Are we teachers of Christ? if we are, are we Christ llike? Frankly, I observe that we have not changed, we are still worse. To demand children's change for good is for you to change yourself first, and sadly, we need change and improvement.

Lord, may we be able to open our eyes that we are actually to change our lives and not the street children. May we learn to accept our faults that we are not a shining light to the children but instead still them in darkness and deprive them of your light. We are blinded by our own standards and forgotten that these children needs special and fragile spiritual guidance which we fail to possess, due to we are not humble enough to look before our own faults but the faults of the children. Lord forgive us, and change us, for we aspire to be your instruments of  light to them, and for that we pray to convert our hearts today. Amen.

Note: this is a narrow and short display of the topic, I will follow up more posts, watch for  it. thanks