Daughters of Mary Immaculate International

24/02/2025

Counterflow
Resilience
Overflow
Sacrifice
Smile

Taken from the Homily of Fr Jerry during Sunday Mass on 23 Feb 2025

Today, the Lord calls us to take the path of humility and sacrifice - the road less traveled that brings true joy and peace. While the world may tempt us with success and quick pleasures, let’s choose the way of the C-R-O-S-S, leading us to a brighter, more meaningful and lasting life. Amen.

22/09/2024

🙏❤️

𝗪𝗛𝗔𝗧 𝗕𝗢𝗧𝗛𝗘𝗥𝗦 𝗬𝗢𝗨?HOMILY | 25th Sunday in Ordinary TimeSeptember 22, 2024Do you have enemies? 𝘈𝘴𝘬 𝘎𝘰𝘥 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘩𝘶𝘮𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘵𝘰 ...

15/09/2024

🙏❤️

Live Now | Online Holy Mass – for the 24th Sunday in Ordinary Time. Sunday, September 15, 2024 – 11:00am.This Holy Mass is celebrated via online and preside...

08/09/2024

OPEN OUR HEARTS, LORD
By Fr. Jerry Orbos, SVD

Someone said that we, senior citizens, belong to the “Ha?!” generation. Why? Because whenever somebody says something to us, most likely, our immediate response is “Ha?!” And that’s because we are hard of hearing.
—————–
In today’s Gospel (Mark 7:31-37), Jesus healed a deaf man with a speech impediment. His healing was immediate and total. “And immediately the man’s ears were opened, his speech impediment was removed, and he spoke plainly.” The crowd was astonished by the miracle. Let us ask the Lord today to heal us in our hearing and speaking, for we hear but not listen, we speak but our words are empty and have no meaning.
—————–
The beneficiary of the healing was a foreigner, a Gentile, whose kind was looked down upon by the Jews who thought that salvation was exclusive to them. Jesus’ healing was unconditional. What a consolation to know that our God is the God of all and that God’s love is not limited by anything or anyone. We should not, we cannot control God. God is in control of everything and of everyone.
—————–
“Ephphatha! (Be opened!)” There is nothing that God cannot open. There is no knot that God cannot untie. There is no traffic that God cannot unsnarl! Is there anything that has imprisoned you or has locked you in any way? Open your heart and pray. Nothing is impossible with God. He will find a way. He will make a way!
—————–
I have a friend who is a locksmith. He can open any lock, any vault. He even fixed our tabernacle when the key got stuck. I was struck by what he said: “The hardest to open is the heart.” Indeed, for the heart must be opened from within. It involves readiness and willingness. We pray today to the Lord to remove the hardness of our hearts.
—————–
If only we really listen to God! The problem with many of us is that we do not really listen hard enough, or we do not listen to God at all. We listen to ourselves, we listen to what others are saying, but leave no room for God’s say—in our thoughts, words, and deeds. Many of us need to be “hit” before we truly listen to God. This doesn’t have to be so. May we be open to God, speaking to us, in prayer, and in the most ordinary moments of our lives. God is constantly speaking. Are we listening?
—————–
Take note that healing leads to mission. Those who have been healed or blessed must in turn go and proclaim the good news of the Lord and share His blessings. In other words, healing and blessings are not for keeps. They must not stay in our “inbox” or our “archives,” but must be sent. Payback time! What are you going to do for the rest of your life?
—————–
Happy birthday, Mama Mary! Mama Mary was someone who really listened to God, and obeyed His will. She teaches all of us that to be a disciple, we must learn to listen to God, obey His will, and carry out His mission for us. Remember the story about a room in heaven that is full of ears and tongues? When asked why, St. Peter was supposed to have said: “Those ears belonged to people who just heard the word of God, and those tongues belonged to those who spoke the word of God, but did not live it!”
—————–
Sharing with you this beautiful prayer for Our Lady, Untier of Knots: “Holy Mary, Mother of God, and our Most Blessed Mother, you know my problems, both small and large, that like knots are tight and hard to undo. I feel restricted by them, and do not know how to overcome them. I come to you, and offer myself, oh Mary, Mother of Mercy. Untie the knots that I am burdened with. Deliver me from the darkness of sin and guide me on the path of light. Protect me from confusion and doubt, and open my heart to the truth of the Gospel. Free me from the prisons that I have created, that afflict me in my life, and send me the Holy Spirit. Assist me from life’s illnesses of body and soul; deliver me from the anxieties and fears that bind me. Protect my family and loved ones and relieve me from selfishness and pride. Help me to love generously and to have a forgiving heart. Blessed Mary, I ask for your help to unbind these knots (state the problems) so I can live my life serving Christ with serenity and hope. I ask this through Jesus Christ, your Son and our Lord, who lives and reigns forever and ever. Amen.”
—————–
A moment with the Lord: Lord, help us to truly listen to You, and obey You. Amen.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer

22/08/2024

Shout out to our newest followers! Excited to have you onboard! Welcome to the Daughters of Mary Immaculate International family!🙏

Elena Albania, Oreoco Tanders, Cora Salalila Aniceto, Marilou Pitoy, Emmy Tual Ponce, Alice Valenciano Mendez, Muriel Funa Barairo, Lnora Agripa, Erlinda Sipalay, Rolly Gayawet, Minviluz Redoblado, Laura V. Cespon

11/08/2024

🙏🏻

ARE YOU A MURMURER?
By Fr. Jerry Orbos, SVD

What is a murmurer? A man saw the sign “city proper,” and he murmured: “So, is there a city improper?” He saw the sign “normal school” and he murmured: “So, is there an abnormal school?” A murmurer is someone who has a built-in negative comment about everything and everyone. Are you a murmurer?
—————–
In today’s Gospel (John 6:41-51), the Jews murmured about Jesus because He said: “I am the bread of life that came down from heaven.” As soon as He said that, there was quite a disapproval among His listeners, questioning His person: “Is this not Jesus, the son of Joseph?” As it were, Jesus was telling about the “big picture,” and they missed it because they did not listen and open their minds and hearts.
—————–
Murmurers, while they are not murderers in the strict sense of the word, “kill” the character, the thoughts, and the words of other people. Many of us may not be murderers but, we who play the game of murmuring, back-biting, and judging, often end up shooting down the vision, hopes, and dreams of other people.
—————–
“Stop murmuring among yourselves!” Murmuring by oneself is bad enough, but imagine a group that murmurs together! So, are you a part of a murmuring group that constantly criticizes everyone and everything under the sun? Let us get rid of unproductive, useless ranting, complaining, and murmuring. Stay away, stay free, leave any group that indulges and thrives on negativities.
—————–
The ”Bread of Life” message of the Lord is deep and precious, but it was not heard by the people because of their negative mindset. Why do we judge, criticize, complain, or think ill and talk ill of other people and their ideas? Maybe, it is simply because we do not like them, we doubt them, they disturb our comfort zones, or they threaten and bring out our insecurities.
—————–
Let us learn to listen, really listen to God and each other. How do we do that? Let’s “T.O.R.C.H.” it!
—————–
TAKE TIME TO LISTEN. Listening requires time. Let us make time to listen to God speaking to us. “Be still and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10). Let us also take time to listen to people, for every person is worth stopping for.
—————–
OPENNESS. Let us make the effort to really hear out and understand what God wants to tell us, and what others are trying to communicate to us. Openness means to be open-minded and to be open-hearted. Openness means we accept that we need to reach out to and be in touch with God, and with others because they complete us.
—————–
RESPECT. To listen with respect means we listen truly, not listen roughly or rudely, nor make our rebuttals, judgments, and rationalizations right away. Respect means that even if we do not agree, we can still respectfully agree to disagree.
—————–
CARE. We listen carefully, not hurriedly, not superficially! And, we listen with care, concern, understanding, and compassion. Yes, true listening is saying to the other person: “I am all ears, I am all mind, and I am all heart to you and for you.”
—————–
HUMILITY. True listening happens when we have humility toward the other. It is humility that helps us to take time to listen; to be given; to be respectful; and to listen carefully and with care. Humility makes us open to the possibility that the other person could be right, too, because none of us has a monopoly on truth and righteousness.
—————–
Aug. 15 is the Feast of the Assumption of Mother Mary to Heaven. May we follow her who said “Yes” to the Lord without complaining, without questioning, and without murmuring.
—————–
Think about this:
Life is more peaceful if we focus on God’s will, God’s way, and God’s time and not on our will, our way, and our time.
—————–
A moment with the Lord.Lord, help us to truly listen to You and to one another. Amen.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer