News—AJCMFI-ALS honors its teachers during Holy Mass at SVD Farm’s Chapel of the Virgin of the Poor, celebration at the St. Peter Fishpond and Gazebo
Tagaytay City—The Arnold Janssen Catholic Mission Foundation, Inc. (AJCMFI) and the AJCMFI-ALS (Alternative Learning System) community, conducted a celebration last September 14, 2023 at the SVD Laudato Si’ Farm in order to honor the foundation’s dedicated learning facilitators.
The event brought together educators from the ALS-Cavite and ALS-NCR Clusters, as well as other educators from various ALS Centers supported by AJCMFI across the Philippines who joined the festivities via Zoom.
AJCMFI, a stalwart supporter of the Department of Education’s (DepEd) ALS initiatives, has played a pivotal role in enabling an estimated 1,000 ALS learners to graduate from programs in the National Capital Region (NCR), Cavite, Palawan, Marawi, and other locations. Over the past two decades, AJCMFI-ALS has extended its helping hand to 45,000 school dropouts and non-literate adults in 120 community learning centers across the Philippines.
The learning facilitators of AJCMFI-ALS “remain dedicated frontliners in delivering and assisting learners on their modular exercises and portfolio assessment, providing skills training, and conveying hope in a time of anxiety, depression, and losses,” according to the foundation.
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The program of AJCMFI-ALS at the SVD Farm commenced with a Holy Mass at 4:00 PM at the Chapel of the Virgin of the Poor, presided over by Rev. Fr. Jerome Marquez, SVD, Executive Director of AJCMFI.
Fr. Jerome, who also serves as the President of the SVD Board of Trustees and Provincial Superior of the SVD Philippine Central Province, conveyed blessings and inspiration to all in attendance.
In his homily, Fr. Jerome delivered a poignant message centered on the theme of forgiveness. He began by recounting a real-life story from the tragic mass shootings in the United States, where a grieving mother had lost her young child in a senseless act of violence.
Fr. Jerome highlighted the mother's unimaginable grief and the profound forgiveness she displayed. After burying her innocent child, she discovered a piece of paper tucked away in the child's belongings. Written in the child's first-grade handwriting were three powerful words: "nurturing, healing, love." These words, Fr. Jerome explained, challenged the mother to embark on a journey of forgiveness. They served as a reminder that forgiveness is a process of nurturing, healing, and ultimately, love.
The concept of forgiveness, Fr. Jerome noted, was also deeply rooted in Christian teachings. He cited a passage from the day's Gospel reading, where Peter asked Jesus how many times he should forgive someone who repeatedly wronged him. Jesus responded not with a specific number but with the idea of forgiveness extending beyond mere counting, emphasizing the boundless nature of forgiveness.
Fr. Jerome emphasized that forgiveness originates from God's boundless love and mercy. It is a gift that God offers to humanity. When individuals receive this gift of forgiveness, it calls them not only to accept it but also to extend it to others. In this way, Fr. Jerome explained, forgiveness becomes a reciprocal act of love, healing, and reconciliation.
Holding onto anger and resentment, according to Fr. Jerome, is difficult and complicated. He emphasized that forgiving someone, especially someone close to us, can be one of the most challenging tasks. However, forgiveness is not only about releasing others from the consequences of their actions; it is also about freeing ourselves from the burden of carrying anger and hatred.
Fr. Jerome encouraged attendees to embrace forgiveness as a decision of the heart. He clarified that forgiveness does not absolve wrongdoers of accountability; rather, it liberates individuals from the prison of their own anger, allowing them to mend broken relationships and restore their connection with God.
In closing, Fr. Jerome led the congregation in a prayer, urging everyone to reflect on those they have not forgiven and asking for God's guidance in extending forgiveness to others. His homily left a profound impact on all in attendance, emphasizing the transformative power of forgiveness and the healing it can bring to both individuals and communities.
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The festivities of AJCMFI-ALS at the SVD Farm continued at 5:30 PM at the St. Peter Fishpond and Gazebo, where laughter and camaraderie filled the air as educators and guests came together to celebrate the noble mission of AJCMFI and the achievements of ALS learners. During interviews with AJCMFI-ALS teachers, their gratitude and appreciation shone through.
Mrs. Isabel A. Caragay, a teacher from the ALS Center in Dasmariñas, spoke fondly of the SVD Farm's serene environment, describing it as a place of peace and tranquility, a sanctuary for the soul. She extended her heartfelt thanks to AJCMFI for their unwavering support in guiding ALS educators and learners, emphasizing the profound impact their assistance has on Out-of-School Youth (OOSY) across the country.
Ms. Lara Jean Aguilar, a teacher from the ALS Center at St. Jude College Manila, shared her unique perspective as a former ALS student and a member of the first batch of passers from the SVD ALS Center. She expressed her gratitude to AJCMFI for 22 years of dedicated service and wished for continued blessings and support for their mission. Aguilar also extended her thanks to the SVD Tagaytay Community and the SVD Farm for their enduring support of the ALS program.
As AJCMFI and ALS continue their invaluable work, this gathering at the SVD Farm stands as a testament to the enduring power of education and community support in transforming lives and fulfilling dreams.
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Watch the AJCMFI-ALS Holy Mass, recorded from the SVD Farm’s Chapel of the Virgin of the Poor, through the link below:
Mission Mass—Conversations with Fr Jerome, SVD
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For reservations and other information, including ways to support and connect with the SVD Farm, contact us through:
📞 0905-106-5499
📧 contact@svdlaudatosifarmfoundation.org.