BRO. MARS PREACHES ON APOLOGETICS AT STA. TERESITA PARISH CHARISMATIC COMMUNITY

Our Lady of Lourdes in Sta. Teresita Parish Church

BRO. MARS PREACHES ON APOLOGETICS AT STA. TERESITA PARISH

CHARISMATIC COMMUNITY

Contemplating the Word of God: Marwil N. Llasos, O.P. reads the Bible before his talk 

Bro. Marwil Llasos joins the Charismatic Community in prayer

            Last Tuesday evening, January 31, 2012, I was privileged to preach to the Charismatic Community of Sta. Teresita Parish at Mayon Avenue, Quezon City. Brother Nestor G. Limqueco, the Supreme Moderator of the Company of St. Dominic relayed to me the invitation from our beloved sister Sally Zapalo, O.P. of the Dominican Laity,  who happens to be an elder of the community.

Bro. Mars Llasos sings and praises with Sta. Teresita Parish Catholic Charismatic Community

Bro. Marwil N. Llasos raises the Holy Bible in praise and worship of the Lord

            I am no stranger to Sta. Teresita Parish. As former Spiritual Director of the Refugium Peccatorum and Consolatrix Afflictorum praesidia of the Legion of Mary. These praesidia are under the Regina Sacratissimi Rosarii Curia whose Spiritual Director is a Franciscan Capuchin (OFM Capuchin) from the National Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes in Retiro, Quezon City. As a parish under the OFM Capuchin, we have had occasions in the past to hold Legionary functions there. Some of the members of the parish Charismatic Community who attended my talk recognized me as a Legionary.

Members of the Sta. Teresita Catholic Charismatic Community praise the Lord

A Spirit-filled community in prayer

            I arrived at the parish church at 8:00 in the evening. The praise and worship started at 7:30 in the evening. I first stayed at the back pew because the praise and worship was going on when I arrived. I joined the community in praying and singing. I am very much at home with Charismatic praise and worship because I have been a member of the Charismatic Community in San Jose Tagapagtanggol Parish in Commonwealth, Quezon City. In fact, I was a Commissioned Lay Preacher in the Diocese of Novaliches. I was commissioned on November 26, 2006 by Bishop Antonio Tobias, D.D.

Satcheil M. Amamangpang of the Rosarian Youth Movement joins in the community prayer

Bro. Romy Salazar of the Company of St. Dominic united in prayer with the rest of the community

            After the songs and prayers, the Gospel was proclaimed. Thereafter, I was introduced by Sis. Sally as the guest preacher that evening. I started by thanking the Sta. Teresita Charismatic Community for the invitation to preach to the community. I stated how happy I was to be with the community. I mentioned that I share the same charismatic spirituality with them.

Sis. Sally of the Dominican Laity introduce the guest preacher

Members of the Charismatic Community listen to the introduction to the speaker

            I introduced my topic for that night – apologetics.  I said that apologetics does not mean saying sorry for our faith. It means to defend the faith. I underscored the need for Catholics to stand up for their faith especially in these times when our faith is challenged from all sides. I narrated my own personal experience on how I got into defending the faith. I equipped the members of the community with practical tips on how to best defend the faith from the assault of its enemies. It was gratifying to hear loud shouts of Amen! Amen!

Preacher Marwil N. Llasos, O.P. greets the community

Bro. Marwil Llasos thanks the Charismatic Community for the invitation to preach

            I discussed evangelization as proclaiming the faith. I read and expounded the Great Commission (Mt. 28:18-20) as imperative for every Christian. I explained catechesis as echoing the faith from generation to generation so it will not be forgotten by the faithful. I cited Paul’s instruction to his disciple Timothy to “give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine” (1 Tim. 5:13). Finally, I stressed apologetics as defending the faith when it is attacked. I quoted 1 Peter 3:15 “to be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear.” With that I said what is important is not how we want to defend the Church; rather, it is how Christ wants his Church defended.

Defender of the Faith: Bro. Marwil N. Llasos of Defensores Fidei Foundation introduces the topic on apologetics 

Bro. Mars Llasos asks if the assembly knows apologetics

            I concluded my talk with a spontaneous prayer. I implored the Lord to bless the community and grant the desires of the heart of its members according to His divine will. After my prayer, the praise and worship proceeded to its concluding phase with songs and concluding prayers.

Bro. Mars Llasos explains the meaning of apologetics

Preacher in black and white: Marwil N. Llasos, O.P. shares his faith experience to the community

            I was deeply humbled by the reception accorded me by the Charismatic Community of Sta. Teresita Parish. The elders and members thanked me profusely for my time and my preaching.  I ascribe back to God all the glory and honor. I am but his miserable servant and useless instrument.

Amen? Amen!: Bro. Mars asks if the community says Amen!

Fiery preacher: "The Catholic Church is under attack on all fronts" - Bro. Marwil Llasos

            As Formator of the Company of St. Dominic, I was joined by our Supreme Moderator Nestor G. Limqueco, O.P. and our new member Romy Salazar, O.P. as well as Satcheil M. Amamangpang of our Rosarian Youth Movement. As is our wont in the CSD, we celebrated after our apostolate of holy preaching by having dinner together. I look forward to preach again in Sta. Teresita Parish Charismatic Community.

Commissioned Lay Preacher: Bro. Mars Llasos bases his preaching on God's Holy Word

A parishioner jots down notes while the others listen to the preaching of Bro. Mars Llasos

Preacher Power: Bro. Mars Llasos challenges the community to remain steadfast in the faith

"Yes, the Lord is our divine physician! But the Church is the hospital on which he performs His healing! We are all sinners in need of the Lord's mercy, forgiveness and healing love!"

"The Lord Jesus is the doctor and healer of our souls. The Church is His hospital where He heals. And Mama Mary is our nurse! And the seven sacraments are the medicines of God..."

"As long as this Charismatic Community lasts, the Lord will find faith in this parish when He returns. Amen!"

"Evangelization is the proclamation of the Gospel - by preaching God's Word and most especially by the witness of our lives" 

"Once the Gospel is proclaimed, there is a need to echo and re-echo it through catechesis so that we can be assured that our faith remains from generation to generation"

"I challenged myself that by I will use the Bible to prove Catholicism wrong. I was proven wrong"

"I find everything I was looking for in the Bible."

The preacher of God's Word anchors his preaching on the Bible

Preacher Marwil N. Llasos, O.P. concludes his talk and invites his hearers to pray with him

"Let us put ourselves in the loving presence of Our Lord God"

Bro. Mars Llasos leads the prayer

Prayer Warrior: Bro. Mars Llasos prays for the intentions of the members of the Charismatic Community

The community joins Bro. Mars Llasos in prayer

Sis. Sally Zapalo, O.P. and the community prays with Bro. Mars

"We pray in the mighty name of your Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ"

"Amen! And Amen!"

Bro. Marwil N. Llasos extends his hands over the love offerings of the members

Bro. Mars Llasos prays over the love offerings and commends the offerors to God who cannot be outdone in generosity

Brothers Romy Salazar, O.P., Nestor Limqueco, O.P. and Marwil Llasos, O.P.

The closing prayer of the Charismatic Community 

A member praises God in thanksgiving

Brothers Nestor G. Limqueco, O.P. and Marwil N. Llasos, O.P.

Bro. Mars raises his hand in praise and worship

Brothers Nestro Limqueco, O.P. and Marwil Llasos, O.P. joins in the closing prayer

The Church's future: A child in prayer

The Sta. Teresita Parish Charismatic Community with guest preacher Marwil N. Llasos, O.P.

Lay Dominicans all: Sis. Sally Zapalo, O.P. of the Dominican Laity flanked by brothers Nestor G. Limqueco, O.P. and Marwil N. Llasos, O.P. of the Company of St. Dominic

Members of the charismatic community ask Bro. Mars Llasos for a photograph with them

Bro. Mars Llasos gestures "Ite ad Joseph"

Members of the charismatic community pose under the statue of St. Joseph

Viva Nuestro Jesus Padre Nazareno!

Bro. Mars Llasos as one of the angels of the Mediatrix of All Grace

Team of preachers from the Company of St. Dominic

Brothers Nestor G. Limqueco, O.P., Romy Salazar, O.P., Satcheil M. Amamangpang of RYM and Marwil N. Llasos, O.P.

A community that eats together, stays together: Providencia at KFC Welcome Rotonda

To the Lord Jesus Christ the Pantocrator be the glory now and forever. Amen.