PARISH DISCIPLESHIP FORMATION
Date: 8th to 27th
January 2016
Venue: The Annex, Montfort Training
Centre Kinarut & Sacred Heart Parish Centre
When we give time to God,
He is always generous to reveal Himself. Five participants dedicated 20 days of
their time in the Parish Discipleship Formation (PDF) organised by LiFE
Community. The
objective of the PDF is to respond to the call of forming young people to be
equipped in making decisions for their future. It is our desire to see young
Catholics enter into adulthood with a comprehensive knowledge of who God is,
who they are, what the church is all about and what God is calling them towards.
The theme for the PDF is taken from the Jubilee Year of Mercy – Be Merciful
Like the Father.
The first part of the PDF took place at The
Annex, Montfort Youth Training Centre in Kinarut. The 8 day live in phase was a
safe haven for the participants to explore in knowledge and experience of who
God is and to come to a deeper understanding of their issues as they discover
their identity in God as his beloved sons and daughters.
Bonding time at Seaside Traveller's Inn, Kinarut
Times of prayer, worship and ministry
Little Bunny rabbit - led by Jessica
The end of Part 1: Honouring Night
The second part of the PDF, the outreach
preparation phase, was run at Sacred Heart Parish Centre. This had equipped the
participants in sharing their faith stories through creative ways such as a skit, dance and song in schools, parishes and youth groups as well as a migrant
learning centre. The third part of the PDF was the closure which included a
retreat and a day of planning for their future. Follow up meetings are offered
to them on a monthly basis starting 15th February 2016.
Making cardboard testimonies
The
discipleship formation has its focus on community living with a wholistic
approach as it includes not only times of prayer and teachings but also times
of meal preparation, sports and fun evenings. Most of the sessions were run in
the form of a workshop where everyone is actively involved in responding to
questions that are practical to their lives.
Creative games by Rachel
Interactive Sessions
The Work of Transformation
It was our privilege to see the participants returning to the heart of God the Father through a deep experience of His love. Their decisions were expressed day after day in times of worship and communal prayer. A place of trust and acceptance had helped them in taking the step to repentance and forgiveness.
It was our privilege to see the participants returning to the heart of God the Father through a deep experience of His love. Their decisions were expressed day after day in times of worship and communal prayer. A place of trust and acceptance had helped them in taking the step to repentance and forgiveness.
The
element of community living was essential in living out the truth of what was
shared in the teachings and prayer times. A roster for meal preparation, table
set up, wash up and preparation of the little altar as the focus of the day
helped everyone in serving one another. The expression of gratitude and
encouragement was always present among the community.
Living out their identity
Each
participant is encouraged to tell their story of transformation in their lives
through the PDF. They are being guided in their presentation so that it is
relevant to those they meet. All the participants share that they are awakened
to their true identity and are working through relationships or situations they
struggle with.
We are encouraged and are
in awe of the wonder of what God has done in the lives of the participants as
well as facilitators as we took this journey together in discovering God and
our true identity.
The participants share...
Allister at SM La Salle, leading a small group discussion
“For
with God nothing is impossible”
I
have just completed my studies in medicine. When I was in University, I
struggled a lot with my studies and failed in every exam that I sat for. I saw
myself as a failure. I resorted to playing computer games and watching TV
series. Even though I finally graduated, deep inside me, that negative
self-image had continued to affect my thoughts and beliefs. I feared that I
will fail to work effectively when I start working in the hospital.
I
experienced community living in the PDF which valued, honoured and affirmed every
person. We prayed, learned, shared, cooked, ate and played sports together. I
learned in the session of God the Father that he is a Good Father who loves me
unconditionally and nothing in the past, present and future can make Him stop
loving me.
As
I am convicted of God’s truth, I am determined to live my life for God. I had
uninstalled all games from my computer and stopped watching TV series because I
think that it is a waste of time. If I fall again to this addiction, I want to
remind myself of God’s promise that He has a plan that is greater than my
addiction.
Allister, 25 years old; Sacred Heart
Young Adults Prayer Group
Marisa at SM Konven St Francis, performing and sharingher testimony
Does the
world truly define who we are?
Before PDF, I
was feeling lost and confused about life because people filled my head with
lies by saying I'm not good enough, I'm stupid, ugly and crazy. Soon, I
believed those lies and lived by it. I was depressed with the relationships I
had with people because they had more mean things to say. That affected my
studies and health where I was diagnosed with Anxiety Disorder. I became so
afraid of the world and was paranoid to the point that I didn't even want to
come out of the house. I dwelled in the past and stayed in fear of the future.
During PDF,
God challenged me to come out of the pain when I was in the comfort zone of
being broken. I learned that I need to be true to myself and show my true emotions,
not hide from people and dare to talk to them and talk to God about it. I learned
to go through the darkness to experience the light. This community also
guided me in building my self confidence and faith in God.
The PDF had
taught me to accept myself so that I can accept others too. When I see myself
as a gift, I can be a gift to others too. Yes, I'm still on a journey with Him and
He is constantly renewing and reshaping me to be the person I'm meant to be. My
past has no power over me anymore. I trust in God to be my guide in this
journey of life.
Marissa, 19 years old;
Assumption Church, PJ
Rex leading a song at a migrant centre in Inanam Laut
The outreach
phase of the PDF had taught me that God our Father can use us as we are to
reach his people. I encountered Him more and more while I sang for his people. I
was astonished by His beauty of art, a gift in me that I can share. It makes me
desire more to serve him in my life. I learned that it is so important for me
to keep this relationship with Him – strong and solid, so that I may be able to
experience Him as a faithful, merciful and compassionate father.
Rex, 23 years old; Sacred
Heart Young Adults Prayer Group
Photos from the Outreach
First Outreach at St Simon Church, Likas
Outreach at SM Konven St Francis
Evangelistic Night at F7 SHPC
Outreach at a migrant centre in Inanam Laut
