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IN
THIS ISSUE:
From the Head Servant
by Bro.
Pete Lapid
SPECIAL FEATURE:
Messages
By Bro. Bo Sanchez
Our Faith
By
Fr. KJ Veeger, MSC
Surabaya Corner
By Ramon Martillano
Place of Refuge
By
Philip Yuson
Sharing
By
Fred and Beth Manibog
Here's
the Latest
By
Tintin Magbitang
Sharing
By Carolle Bautista
God
Answers Prayers
By
Beth Manibog
The Children's Ministry
By Tintin Magbitang
Sharing
By Nenette Dizon
Saint for the Month
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Catholic
Links
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- PROFILE
OF THE
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GENESIS
CATHOLIC COMMUNITY
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OUR FAITH
 
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In the Creed
the words “I believe in the Holy Catholic Church” are
immediately followed by “the communion of saints”. The latter does
not refer to something else, but is explanatory: The Catholic Church
IS the communion of saints.
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On purpose the word
“communion” is used. The Church is not an association of individual
members, who only externally cooperate with each other to
 wards
a particular end and for the sake of some common interest. The Church
is much more than that. Membership involves the whole human person.
It affects a person’s whole life instead of only a particular
interest. Communion as Church unifies from within and has God
Himself, His Life and Love, as unifying force. On the eve before His
death Jesus prayed for that communion: “Father, I pray that they
may all be one. May they be one in us, just as You are in Me, and I
am in You. May they be one …” (Jo.18:21). Communion makes a
person identify himself with the other. That’s why it was said, “love
your neighbor as yourself”. The term in Holy Scripture used for
communion is BEING ONE BODY with Jesus Christ as the Head and with one
another. Could there be a more close and intimate union than that of
a body where everything is shared and communicated among its members?
Looking into details we may distinguish between various kinds of
communion.
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Communion of faith.
God’s Word as interpreted and announced by the Church, is a precious
treasure and source of unity. It makes us live in the same light! It
shows us the same direction to go in life! It makes the seemingly
meaningless meaningful. It comforts all at times of suffering! It
strengthens at times of trial! The same faith in God’s Word is the
common fund we live from. It is enriched by being shared.
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Communion of the
sacraments.
The sacraments are the visible signs, through which God’s Life and
Love is channeled, that unites people with Him and each other. They
are like the veins in the human body, through which the life-giving
blood flows purifying and renewing. Faith and Sacraments may not be
separated. If both do not interpenetrate, sacraments will lead to
association only, and faith to feeling and subjectivism only. The name
“communion” is best suited to the Holy Eucharist, because it is
primarily this sacrament that brings about communion around the table
of the Lord, and nourishes it.
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Communion of
charisms.
Within the Church as communion the Holy Spirit distributes special
gifts and graces among the faithful for the building up of the
Church. The one is given wisdom, while the other is given knowledge.
There are different ways of serving; there are different abilities to
perform service. For the one it might be music, while for the other
language, or power to heal. For one person it’s easy to get in touch
with others and talk to testify of his faith; for the other it is
integrity of life, that is of big influence. (Cf, first part of ch.12
of Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians.)
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Communion of being
a good steward.
That communion is expressed by the words in Acts of the Apostles 4:32:
“The whole community of believers was one in heart and mind. No one
claimed private ownership of any possessions, but rather they shared
all things in common.” Everything the true Christian is in
possession of is to be regarded as a good in common with everyone
else. All Christians should be ready and eager to come to the help of
the needy and of their neighbors in want … A Christian is the steward
of the Lord’s goods.
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Community of
charity.
Says Saint Paul! “none of us lives to himself, and none of us dies to
himself. “When one suffers, all of them suffer, and when one
receives honor, all rejoice together. Now, you are the body of Christ
and each of you individually is a member of it” (1 Cor.
12:26-27).
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In this solidarity
with all men, living or dead, which is founded on the communion of
saints, the least of our acts done in charity rebounds to the profit
of all. Every sin harms this communion.
For comments, suggestions or ideas,
Write us: Jl. Bacang No. 20 Kebayoran
Baru, Jakarta Selatan, Indonesia
Call us: (6221) 720-3824
Fax us: (6221) 662-7384
Genesis
Catholic Community - All Rights Reserved 2002
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