Month: September 2009

It’s an exciting time…

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We’ve been busy…with a lot of things.  I just finished my first month of the new school year and as happy I was to see my students again, we’ve had a lot to do!  Since it is the Year of the Priesthood, Cardinal Mahoney has asked each parish/school to have a Vocation plan for the year.  I’m the school representative on the Vocations Council, so you can imagine how the wheels have been spinning in my mind about all the things we can do to promote religious vocations!

Gary and I have been asked by the Catholic Newman Club at Cal State Long Beach to give our “Goodbye Dating…Hello Courtship” talk this coming Wednesday evening.  They have chosen to theme their meetings after the mysteries of the Holy Rosary and we fall into the night of the second Luminous Mystery, the Wedding at Cana.  We’re always happy to share our story and lessons we’ve learned, and I’m especially excited because we get to do this one together. =)

I’m also up early this morning to finish my FertilityCare Services Provider application, and I just wrote the essay to mail along with it.  The first phase of training is in November and I already have potential clients lined up!  I can’t wait because there is such a great need in the Church for more NFP (natural family planning) providers.

Here’s an excerpt of the essay:

The bottom line for me is this – I want to change the culture.  I want to be proactive in this revolution.  I would like to be part of the solution to the rising numbers of Catholics who are unknowingly participating in the culture of death through their use of artificial contraception.  I want to provide an opportunity for couples to nurture their marriages and enhance their communication about the gift of sexual intimacy that they share with one another.  I hope to connect women who are dealing with challenges with their own fertility to resources so that they can receive necessary and appropriate medical attention.  How wonderful it would be if there were FertilityCare Centers across the United States where couples can go to help and advise them along in natural family planning – as numerous, if not more than there are Planned Parenthood facilities!

Big dreams, I know…but all things are possible with God.  He wills our lives to be better than we can even plan for ourselves, and He wants us to be open to his blessings.  What greater blessing is there than the gift of LIFE?  Please pray that this movement will be covered by His providential hand.  St. Gianna, pray for us…

+AMDG+

Long Beach Life Chain

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Stand and be counted with thousands of pro-life Christians at the annual Long Beach Life Chain on Sunday, October 4, 2:30 – 4:30 pm. It will be at the corner of Lakewood and Del Amo Boulevards (across from the Lakewood Mall).

It is a visual statement of solidarity by the Christian community that abortion kills children and that the Church supports the sanctity of human life from the moment of conception.

Signs will be available at the Life Chain site. For more information please call Suzette at (562) 498-6641.

“How Do I Courtship? I Don’t Get It”

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HFYA ANNOUNCEMENT
“How Do I Courtship? I Don’t Get It”
Courtship from a Guy’s Perspective in This Day and Age

Host: Holy Family Young Adults
Date: Monday, September 7, 2009
Time: 8:00pm
Location: Holy Family Catholic Church – St. Seton Room (near the restrooms beside the church)
Address: 18708 S. Clarkdale Ave., Artesia, CA

This coming Monday, Labor day, we will have a special talk given by Gary Dyogi. This talk follows, “Goodbye Dating. Hello Courtship,” which was given by Marianne Soratorio-Dyogi at our last prayer meeting. Now, Marianne’s husband will give his view. So guys, come and learn more on this thing called courtship!

*SPECIAL NOTE: Ladies are welcome to this event, too – just to learn more about the courtship comeback! Married couples/parents would also benefit so you can pass the lessons on to your children. It’s a new revolution…

(For info on the prior talk given by Marianne, click here)

GARY DYOGI
Originally from San Francisco, Gary first arrived in Los Angeles in 1996 where he attended Loyola Marymount University. Gary graduated with a science degree in 2000, and pursued a career in sports medicine as an athletic trainer. Although Gary is a certified athletic trainer and a certified strength and conditioning specialist by trade, he happily works outside his field as a domestic engineer and daycare provider…which means he takes care of the kids and the household during the day. This is a sacrifice that is priceless and worth every milestone moment. Gary is happily married for three years, and he is a proud father of two little girls.

More Than Enough

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A couple of weeks ago, I was at the Life in the Spirit Seminar at St. Pius V…to come back home…to my family…to my community…to my God.  During praise & worship, we sang this song. I didn’t have a whole lot of energy to sing because I was so sick, but as soon as I heard the lyrics, I gave it all I had.  Every ounce of spirit within me cried out to God – to Jesus in the Eucharist right before my eyes.  I was so aware of how weak I was…how much I needed…and I opened my heart to the Truth of who He really was.

For most of my life, I had been looking for love, for approval, for acceptance.  That search led me only to darkness and emptiness and the realization that I didn’t understand what real love was.  Because I didn’t understand it, I couldn’t fully accept it when it was being given to me, nor could I give it to those who were closest to me.

That morning, I knew in my heart that I had to believe that He was more than enough.  And for those who hear me teach and speak…for those who call me for advice…for those who read this blog…it was so important for me to believe it for them, too.  Purity of body, heart, mind, and soul can only come through the Love of God…through the accepting of the Father, Son, and Spirit who fill every void and every need.

I cried.  I cried for me.  I cried for you.  I shed tears for all of us whom God desires to draw closer to Him.  My prayer was and continues to be that we will never forget the complete fullness of God’s Love.  How very good He always is…

Enough
(Chris Tomlin)
All of You is more than enough for all of me
For every thirst and every need
You satisfy me with Your love
And all I have in You is more than enough

You are my supply
My breath of life
And still more awesome than I know
You are my reward
worth living for
And still more awesome than I know

All of You is more than enough for all of me
For every thirst and every need
You satisfy me with Your love
And all I have in You is more than enough

Youre my sacrifice
Of greatest price
And still more awesome than I know
Youre the coming King
You are everything
And still more awesome than I know

More than all I want
More than all I need
You are more than enough for me
More than all I know
More than all I can say
You are more than enough for me