Author: msdyogi

Heart of Life Conference: Introduction to Theology of the Body

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Heart of Life Conference: Introduction to Theology of the Body
Date(s): February 6th
Location: Carson Civic Center
701 E Carson Street
Carson CA, 90754
View on Map
Presented By: Christopher West
Contact: Michelle Reyes
Phone: 951-797-9797
Email: cfcheartoflife2010@gmail.com
Web Site: Click Here
Download: Download File
Cost: $35
Description: This conference is sponsored by Couples for Christ and is open to all. The conference aims to inform and inspire Christians about the beauty and richness of the Catholic faith. Christopher will be presenting an introduction to theology of the body designed to give a thorough understanding of God’s plan for humanity – a plan stamped right in our bodies. This seminar cracks open the theology of the body, guided by Christopher West’s wit, wisdom and insight. Through the lens of John Paul II’s teachings, attendees will come to see the truth which enables them to overcome the lies of lust and see the redemption of their sexuality as the key to happiness.

Let true Freedom ring!

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Because I love the African-American communities I serve…

We need to speak up for the rights of all people in America. No matter what their size, their age, or their color.

I recently went on a field trip with our junior high students to the California Science Center specifically to see the RACE exhibit. It opened my eyes up the the fact that inequality and discrimination still in fact do exist very prevalently in our society.  It brought up thoughts and questions to which there were no easy answers.  But there was something more to this…a meaning that I would draw from it beyond the displays, videos, and knowledgeable facts.

It wasn’t until we were allowed into the “America I Am” exhibit that I began to understand.

They had an original copy of the Declaration of Independence. I looked for the words that gave hope to so many people over the last two centuries:

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.”

There it was.  Every one of us has the right to life.

Then I turned and read behind me:

“The Great Compromise of 1787 counted slaves as 3/5 of a person for representation to the House of Representatives.”

Today, we have reduced ourselves to a nation that does not recognize the personhood of the unborn child.

While we have made progress through the Civil Rights Movement in the 1960s, few people are aware that abortion clinics were strategically and predominantly placed in minority communities to essentially reduce the population of African-Americans, Latinos, and others that inhabit lower-middle class neighborhoods.  These clinics are all over the country.

This is a problem.  A very big problem.  Please see why…

It’s worth looking into.  Plenty of information and resources are available on the Priests for Life African-American Outreach.  Please…for the sake of God’s children…

Maafa21

I Speak Life VIDEO

Priests for Life  African-American Outreach

Another shooting star on the pro-life scene

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Watch Eduardo Verastegui’s short film “The Butterfly Circus” (2009 Winner of the Doorpost Film Project):
http://www.thedoorpost.com/hope/The%20Butterfly%20Circus/

Visit Manto de Guadalupe for information on a pro-life clinic in Los Angeles to open on March 25, 2010!  (Spanish site)
http://www.mantodeguadalupe.org/site/index2.html

A Witness to Life

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Life Chain

Meleana and Gary at the Long Beach Life Chain

This was our first time attending any kind of active pro-life demonstration.  Amidst a number of other things we had to do today, it was a hectic Sunday, but we were really glad we went.  Lots of feelings come with being part of an event like this…especially if you’ve never done it before.  It was awesome hearing the supporting cheers and honks from the people driving by.  Then there were those who silently made their way through the intersection and chose not to respond to the signs.  And the one man who made sure we knew how much he absolutely hated the pro-life movement…Gary just looked at me and smiled…I said a prayer for him…because that’s all we could really do.

The most amazing thing about the whole experience was just being there with the kids and seeing my husband so unafraid to be a witness.  He’s always been open to new things, so as soon as we got there, he picked up a sign and picked a spot among the crowd where it could be seen.

Gary

What a blessed Sunday it was…

“A child should never be seen as a consequence.” – Gary Dyogi

+AMDG+

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

Worth the Wait

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Rule #1:  “You can’t kiss me until we’re standing together at the altar.”

Result:  I think this song says it all…

“A Moment Like This” (Kelly Clarkson)

What if I told you it was all meant to be?
Would you believe me, would you agree?
It’s almost that feeling that we’ve met before so tell me that you don’t think I’m crazy when I tell your love is here and now.

A moment like this.
Some people wait a lifetime for a moment like this.
Some people search forever for that one special kiss.
I can’t believe it’s happening to me.
Some people wait a lifetime for a moment like this.

Everything changes, but beauty remains.
Something so tender I can’t explain.
Well I may be dreaming but til I awake..Can we make the dream last forever?
And I’ll cherish all the love we share for a moment like this.

Some people wait a lifetime for a moment like this.
Some people search forever for that one special kiss.
I can’t believe it’s happening to me.
Some people wait a lifetime for a moment like this.

The speed of waiting love of all.
I wanna know that you will catch me when I fall.
So let me tell you this.
Some people wait a lifetime for a moment like this…

Some people search a lifetime for a moment like this.
Some people search forever for that one special kiss.
I can’t believe it’s happening to me.
Some people wait a lifetime for a moment like this.

“Stoning of Soraya M” Star Jim Caviezel: Pro-Life More Important Than My Career

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by Steven Ertelt
LifeNews.com Editor
August 21, 2009

Hollywood, CA (LifeNews.com) — Jim Caviezel, the star of the highly-anticipated new movie “The Stoning of Soraya M,” says being pro-life is more important to him than this acting career. In a new interview, Caviezel talks about his reason for opposing abortion and the adoption that changed his life and family.

Caviezel and his wife Kari recently became adoptive parents to an orphaned boy, Bo, and girl, LeLe, from China.

He told the Catholic Digest that the adoptions changed his life in ways he never imagined.

“Dennis Quaid told me a long time ago when he had his son Jack, ‘You’ll have emotions in you that you didn’t even know existed before you had a child.’ I now know what that feels like,” he said.

“Even though they’re adopted, it’s as strong as any instinct. That’s what blew me away,” Caviezel added. “I always thought if I adopted that I wouldn’t have the same feeling [as I would] if they were genetically my own children. Nothing could be further from the truth.”

The actor said a challenge from a colleague sparked his interest in pursuing an adoption.

“This guy I know said, ‘You’re pro-life. Tell you what, if you really believe in what you speak, adopt a child — not any child, he’s got to have a serious deficiency,’ (and I will become pro-life),” the Passion of the Christ star explained.

“He never changed his (position), but it convicted me. I don’t think he thought I would step up to the plate,” he said.

The adoptions also challenged him to speak out more on pro-life issues and he told the Catholic Digest it is “arrogant” to not think about the “51.5 million babies who have died in this country.”

Caviezel took on the pro-woman mantra that normally hypocritically comes from abortion advocates.

“Look, I am for helping women. I just don’t see abortion as helping women,” he said. “How do we know that we didn’t kill the very child who could have created a particular type of medicine that saves other lives?”

He added: “And I don’t love my career that much to say, ‘I’m going to remain silent on this.’ I’m defending every single baby who has never been born.”