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ViDa

Verbum Dei

Missionaries

Singapore

73 Taman Mas Merah

Singapore 128195

Tel: 62740251

Email:

verbumdeispore@yahoo.com.sg

Website:

www.verbumdeisingapore.org/

Editor Says Special issue!!! Yes! This is a special

issue indeed. In this ViDa, you will

get a glimpse of Missionaries in

action, or rather in silence.

In May, the male and female

Verbum Dei Missionaries from

Philippines, Australia and Singapore

gathered for one month silent

retreat at Tagaytay. I must say that

it was a good time for all of us to

stop and simply be in silent

contemplation with Jesus. As

Verbum Dei Missionaries, we are

called to be active-contemplative.

Active and contemplative are two

sides of the same coin. This is who

we are. This is what we want to

share with all people: the gift of

prayer, contemplation in the midst

of an active busy life. This gift is not

just for the consecrated

missionaries, but also for all

Christians of every stage of life.

Often, all of us are so caught up

with the daily demands of life: from

screaming children to rushing for

deadlines to paying bills after bills,

and the endless list goes on.

In our focus on our comings and

goings, we somehow eliminate what

we most needed: time to

contemplate the presence of God in

the realities of our busy life.

After this retreat, I am so convinced

that we, as Christians, are called to

search for the face of God in

everything, everyone all the time.

We are to listen attentively to the

voice of God in each person, each

event. The God of Life speaks to us,

but do we really listen?

You might ask with scepticism:

‘Contemplation is a luxury. There is

no time to contemplate when there

are so many things happening

around me, demanding my attention,

calling out for my time.’

‘Muddy water, let stand, becomes

clear.’ ~ Lao Tzu.

We need to set time to stand back,

stop, listen and look. In the silence of

our heart, many happenings, little by

little, start to make sense because

the God of Life speaks.

May 2012

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Meetings of Australia- Asia

Before the start of Retreat

Missionaries engrossed in deep

discussion

Again, a picture of full attention

during meeting

Antonio with his faithful

translator, Pablo

Discussions of serious affairs

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Enjoying the tea break

Eucharistic celebration at the end of

the day

Posing outside our

beloved retreat house

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Start of the silent retreat @ SVD retreat house

Chapel of the

female

missionaries

“The spiritual life does

not remove us from the

world but leads us deeper

into it”

― Henri J.M. Nouwen

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First Half of retreat

Second Half of retreat

Faces of the preachers in the

silent retreat Angela &

Antonio

Maria,

James

& Gerson

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Half-way through the retreat, we had a break for a day.

The female missionaries headed for the famous Taal

volcano. It is actually a volcano within a lake within a

volcano. It is still actively alive! Fortunately, it did not

erupt while we were there!

Free day!

A good rest after a hot and tiring

trek up to the volcano

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Final Profession of Louise Byrne

2nd June At the end of retreat, Louise, an Australian missionary presently based in

Manila, did her perpetual vows.

We had the privilege to celebrate it with her.

Profession of the vows

Handing of the Crucifix and

Constitution

Signing of

profession

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Verbum Dei brothers and sisters

welcoming Louise to the family

The fantastic choir

Verbum Dei Female

missionaries

Verbum Dei Male and Female

Missionaries

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Fiesta!