22 December 2019 was the fourth Sunday of Advent, and the day the FCC Gouda held its last mass for the year at the Sintjosefskerk on Aalberseplein 2.
Father Marcel, who’d been in Africa last year, proved to be a very capable emcee (master of ceremonies). After a brief welcome, he invited everyone to have a cup or two of coffee or tea and some baked goodies.
After everyone was refreshed, it was time for Stephanie de Jong to sing along to “Last Christmas” by Wham.
Then the FCC Gouda dance group – with Luz van Starre, Elpi de Clerq, Christy Seno, Marietta Boswinkel and Marivic Adema – entertained everyone with their red Christmas outfits and dance.
Father Marcel then called for Elpi, dressed as Mama Santa, to come in front and distribute gifts to the children, with a large dash of humor that had everyone laughing.
Then came the first game, the Trip to Jerusalem, or Musical Chairs, for the children, with the child who failed to get a seat when the music stopped being eliminated. Each child received a consolation prize but Dirk van Rijn prevailed and with his proud parents, posed for a photo with Elpi and Father Marcel, and his prize.
Then it was time for the adults to play the same game. After a few very exciting elimination rounds, Myra Zymelka-Colis, who with quick thinking, and very good timing, managed to sit on the last chair, and won the prize.
Gifts of appreciation to the (male) volunteers were handed out by Maryjane Streefland: to Teun Blanken, for being our koster and our staunch defender on those occasions when the Dutch church group meets; to Piet Hoogendoorn, who is always behind the counter, ready with cutlery and plates to use at each of our after-Mass eating occasions; Martin Streefland, always ready to provide us with liquid refreshments, and who was also rewarded with a kiss from his loving wife, Maryjane; and to Arjan Camfferman, who has supported us by allowing us to use his audio equipment at every occasion we needed it. And last, but not the least, to Father Marcel, for his hard work and dedication to our spiritual needs as a group. Tony Farma, and Noriel Santiago, respectively, our guitarist and pianist, already received their gifts of appreciation during the Mass.
Pascal Kroeze was our disc-jockey for the evening, and when he played music from Saturday Night Fever, he got (almost) everyone to go to the dance floor and groove. Eve Donaire took photographs and filmed some of the dancing which was pretty good.
The highlight of the evening was the Manita-Manito, the Filipino version of Secret Santa. All those who had picked out names gathered in a circle, sang and swayed to the “I love my Manita, yes, I do” song with the gift giver presenting his/her gift to his/her Manita/Manito at the end of the song.
This was followed by another dance by the FCC Gouda dance group in their green elves’ outfits. And more dancing by the rest of the group followed, to some Latin music.
Everyone could say that it was a wonderful evening, and that everyone is looking forward to a similar event in 2020.
Merry Christmas to all and wishing and hoping that 2020 will be a great year for the FCC Gouda and for each of us.
FCC-Gouda dance group in action
Dirk van Rijn posing with friends as he shows off his prize
On featured photo above: Most of the FCC Gouda members singing Christmas songs with the beautiful Christmas wall decorations created by Marivic Adema and Luz van Starre.
The Filipino Catholic Community of Gouda organized a social gathering event. Members of other Filipino communities, like the FCC Dordrecht, as well all interested guests were welcome to participate. The purpose of the event was to create more social and spiritual conviviality among members and to offer opportunity to people who like to connect with the community, especially those who share similar ideals and needs. It was also meant to offer opportunity for growth and transformation in various areas of the human person. Thus, the activities were planned to touch on the spiritual, emotional, social and relational dimensions such that participants would be enriched in one way or the other.
It was a well
attended event and participants were blissfully engaged and fully enjoyed
themselves. The hall was packed with over 60 people. It was vividly an evening
to remember; an event like no other because aside from the bible reflections
and dances presented, there were
testimonies given by those who wanted to share their spiritual journey as well
as experiences with the FCC community.
The evening started with Father Marcel leading a bible reflection session with the Theme: Encounter with Jesus. The encounter of two biblical figures with Jesus formed the basis of the reflection. The first reading was taken from John chapter 4 verses 1 to 10 . It deals with the meeting of Jesus with the Samaritan woman at Jacob’s well. Jesus, passing through the town of Samaria , was tired and sat down by the well. Then came a woman of Samaria to draw water from the well, and Jesus asked if she could give him some water to drink. The woman, hesitant, told Jesus, “You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?” ( Bear in mind that during that time, Jews do not associate with Samaritans.) Jesus replied, “ If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked Him and He would have given you the living water. With that request for water, Jesus opened a conversation with this stranger, who in turn got so engaged in conversation that she began to ask deeper questions regarding true worship as she noticed that Jesus could be a prophet or someone special. “ The conversation between Jesus and the Samaritan woman so touched the latter that she went to invite members of her village to come and experience the good news regarding this man called Jesus.
Fr Marcel leads bible reading
Socio-gathering participants
The second
reading was taken from Luke chapter 19 verses 1 to 10. This is the story of
Zaccheaus, the tax collector, wealthy and despised by his fellow Jews. Tax
collectors worked for occupied Roman forces. They collected taxes for the
imperial rulers and enriched themselves through smart but corrupt practices. When Zaccheaus heard that Jesus was passing
through Jericho, he wanted to see Him. But due to the crowd surrounding Jesus,
he could not gain access to Jesus. He ran ahead and climbed a tree. Jesus saw
him, asked him to come down and told him that he must stay at his house.
Zaccheaus came down and welcomed Him gladly, showed repentance by offering to
give half his wealth to the poor as well as pay back fourfold to anyone he
defrauded.
These two bible passages
were the focal point of the bible reading, though other passages like the call
of Matthew (Matthew 9:9-13) and the encounter with Mary Magdalene in the house
of Simon (Luke 7:36-39) were brought in to highlight certain points, including
the following:
Jesus did not meet any of
these people in the church or where people refer to as holy places.
Jesus neither looked down on any of them nor condemned them. When you
condemn someone, you don’t have time to love him or her. Only
love changes people, not force or condemnation.
None of these people expected
that Jesus would meet them and that there would be a great change in their
lives.
People murmured against Jesus
meeting with these people due to their reputation in the society.
The disciples were surprised to
see Jesus talking with a Samaritan woman alone in such an open place.
The ‘holy’ people complained
about Jesus eating with Matthew and Zacchaeus.
Also against the sinful woman (Mary Magdalene) that anointed Jesus in
Luke 7:36-39
Jesus’ encounter with these
people brought so much changes in their lives that made them became productive
and examples of Christian living. Besides, they ended up being great men and
women of God. This is a great encouragement on what we can become with the
grace of God.
The woman at the well became the first evangelist, even before the disciples (He spoke about Jesus to the people even before Jesus could send out his disciple for the first time).
Zacchaeus became a philanthropist and an example of restitution as a sign of repentance.
Matthew became the writer of the Gospel according to Matthew which is the first book in the New Testament Bible.
Mary Magdalene became the first to see Jesus after the resurrection (Mark 16:9).
Sharing reflections
Sharing ideas
Sharing smiles
Sharing thoughts
Sharing experiences
Participants were divided into groups to discuss on any of the two passages. Guiding questions given to facilitate discussion on the topics were as follows: 1. What encounters have brought something new to your life? 2. What is your personal encounter with Jesus? 3. What are the obstacles to building a strong relationship with God? 4. How has/can the FCC family improve(d) my relationship with God. Members who wanted to share their testimonies about life experiences , spiritual journey , and whatever they want to share with the group could do so.
FCC Dordrecht testimony
Pascal Kroeze testimony
Tess Arcilla testimony
Those who gave their testimonies are from FCC Doordrecht and from FCC Gouda , Pascal Kroeze , Kathy Grimme , Tess Arcilla van As and Lita Henke
Jesus was neither allowed by tradition to have a conversation with a Samaritan woman because he is a Jew nor was he permitted by social convention of his society, as a Godly figure, to be friendly with a tax collector because of the latter’s unpleasant reputation. These, however, did not hinder him from reaching out to these people condemned by society because he is there for everyone, without discrimination. Relating to the two biblical stories, which were interesting and practical, the participants had engaging and fruitful discussions. The testimonies that followed were all uplifting and inspirational.
Participants took time to
share how contact with FCC has brought them closer to God, strengthened their faith,
gave them new friends and a community that is there for them during their
darkest moments. FCC in like manner,
extends it’s helping hands to everyone in the community, undertakes visits
to prisoners, organizes novena for the departed loved ones or for the sick,
helping with some documents, sharing or giving a ride and sending uplifting
words or messages. But among the testimonies , two people gave an extraordinary
story of strength and faith.
Kathy Grimme shared her personal battle with cancer. She
bravely shared that inspite of the hardships she went through during doctor’s
appointments and chemotherapy, she saw silver lining on the cloud as she
remained positive and trusting in God in the midst of the overwhelming darkness.
More important is the fact that she was given time to prepare her loved ones
emotionally, especially her two little girls. She gave all her burden to the
Lord and that made it easier for her to face the challenges ahead. As she
successfully won one battle, another was readily at hand. Eventually her left
foot was amputated. But that was a victory considering the fact that most of
those who suffered the type of cancer she had never lived to tell their
stories. Despite all these trials, Cathy remains unfazed , her strength comes
from her family and friends’ support and above all, from her firm believe in
Jesus Christ.
Pascal Kroeze’s testimony is also one of triumph. He recalled the difficulties
of growing up and being negatively influenced by peers. He lost knowledge of
God like most of his peers and took a path of spiritual decline thereby
experiencing negative spiritual, emotional and physical consequences. . His
life changing moment came when he was diagnosed with a tumor on his right
kidney and that gave rise to a chain of bad news: his health deteriorated, he
lost his job and lost his car. During those times, he recalled his past
mistakes and realized he needed to have a change in the direction his life was
going. During this dark period, he needed God to convince him of his loving
presence, which he received in an extraordinary manner. With the help of few
believers around him, especially his wife who prayed earnestly with him, he made a decision to give his life to
Jesus and strengthen his faith in Him. This
led to his baptism and active participation in the life of the Christian
community. By the grace of God, the operation to remove the tumor was
successful and he is now building a stronger relationship with Jesus Christ.
The fun continued after the testimonies. Both the FCC Gouda and FCC Dordrecht members showcased their dancing talents with some Filipino cultural dances as well as other heart-warming dancing steps. The event also provided sumptuous dinner including some Filipino delicacies. The night ended with everyone being happy, inspired and rejuvenated.
(Christ the King: 2 Samuel 5:1–3; Colossians 1:12–20; Luke 23:35–43)
Dear friends in Christ,
Today, we celebrate Jesus Christ, King of the Universe. He is king, not just of the Jews as Pilate wrote and placed over his head on the cross, but of the universe. “For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him” (Colossians 1:16). We also proclaim it loud and clear that we belong to the kingdom of God, through Christ – “giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins” (Colossians 1:12-14 from the second reading) Jesus Christ has made us princesses and princes, according to our second reading – “We shall reign with him!”
But what kind of King is Jesus? The first reading presents David being anointed king of Israel after the death of Saul whom God rejected to choose him. He had to fight many battles to claim his kingship and to protect it. At some point he had to face the rebellion of his own son, Absalom, who wanted to overthrown his father (David) to become the king of Israel.(2 Samuel 15-18). David was a shepherd who had reverence for God right from his childhood. That made him decide to face Goliath, the Philistine who defiled the name of God of Israel and shamed his armies (1 Samuel 17:26). As a shepherd king, he fought many wars to protect the people entrusted to him. David had unwavering faith in God and the desire to do God’s will in spite of his weaknesses and sins (like the taking of the wife of Uriah the Hittite (2 Samuel 11). He was a great king in the history of Israel such that Jesus is often referred to as the son of David. Psalm 98 said of him, “I have found David my servant; with my sacred oil I have anointed him. My hand will sustain him; surely my arm will strengthen him. (Psalm 89: 20-21).
But Jesus’ kingship goes far beyond that of David. It is not concerned with a section of people and the exercise of raw power to protect his kingship. Jesus serves the people he leads rather than being served by them (Mark. 10:45). For the sake of mankind he set aside his divine nature and took flesh to teach us the way to the Father. He even gave his own life to pay the price of our sins (Phil. 2:6-11). The very people he taught, fed and healed made him undergo the painful crucifixion. While on the cross, as our today’s gospel portrays, his only interest was still on the salvation of mankind. That is love unending, love that goes beyond any human imagination.
Going by the event of today’s gospel, one notices that, sometimes, when the chips are down, one questions the meaning of life; whether it is worth living. That is also the moment to know the true nature of those who call themselves one’s friend. Look at Jesus Christ of today’s gospel, the whole society rejected him: the rulers scoffed at him, the soldiers jeered at him and the crowd watches on as all that unfolds, and even a thief mocks Jesus’ power, “save yourself and us” (Luke 23:35-39). The only consolation Jesus gets, while hanging on the cross, is the consolation of a thief, the so-called “good thief”. When earthly power confronts and surrounds Jesus flexing its muscles – the rulers, the soldiers and thieves; only a thief has the audacity to declare Jesus innocent, saying, “we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong” (Luke 23:41). He is hanging on the cross for the guilt of others instead of his own sins. Such experience of being forsaken in times of trial and hardship by those one has given everything is common in our days.
Curiously, it is in the gospel of today that we see the manifesto under which Jesus, and all who leads in God’s name, functions and lives. Leadership in the community of God is the willing martyrdom of the leader for the good of the community. It is the vulnerability of the leader while protecting the led. God’s leader on earth leads in the hope of a reward hereafter, not for an immediate gratification: it is a thankless earthly job! Indeed, Christ-the-King Sunday is a cleaning and dusting up time, an embrace of a new style of leadership because Christ is our King. By our jubilant celebration, we declare our willingness to become leaders like Christ, especially when surrounded by mockery, scoffing and insults, to bear all silently in the spirit of forgiveness, love and the kingdom of God.
The two thieves crucified on either side of Jesus provide an opportunity for Jesus to teach us the exercise of power. The first thief jeered at Jesus: “Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us?” And he never received any answer from Jesus. The second thief challenged his colleague and defends the innocence of Jesus. The “good thief” refuses to be a silent bystander, like the spectator-crowd of the gospel, when evil is being perpetrated; instead of mockery and scoffing, the “good thief” rises above his sin to challenge the status quo, seeing the complacency of the leadership of the day. He concludes, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”
Jesus’ answer, “Today, you will be with me in Paradise” shows the salvific power of God to save those willing to be saved. Do not hold back any good deed that is in your power to do. Do not wait for tomorrow or set unnecessary conditions. Otherwise the opportunity would be lost and a soul may not be saved. Consequently, the first step towards becoming princes and princesses, since Christ is our king, is to allow the message of the gospel to transform every aspect of our lives. Only then can Jesus truely be the king of our lives. The second is to participate in his saving mission such that we, in our turn, can count those we have saved from starvation, joblessness, sadness, sin, etc. The testimony of our faith and actions should speak so eloquently that friends and foes alike can say “he/she saved others”. Those touched by the example of our lives should willingly testify to the grace of God in us and acknowledge that we belong to Christ.
We celebrate today because we know that Christ is the Lord of the living and the dead. His kingdom has no end and we are children of that kingdom. The “good thief” shows us that when the world condemns us, God still stands by us, as he stood by his Son on the cross. And even if we die living for Christ, we will be with him in paradise.
