The Lord’s Flock Catholic Charismatic Community held the first day of the three-day Lenten Recollection at the Heritage Building, West Avenue, Quezon City, on April 1, 2026. The three-day event is an opportune time for reflection on the profound love of Christ that renews, restores, and transforms. The theme, “At the Cross, I am Found,” serves as a reminder that at the foot of the Cross, we truly encounter Christ’s love, find healing, and discover our purpose and identity in Him.
The moderator, Bro. Dinky Florentino (Council of Advisers), enthusiastically and warmly welcomed the three hundred (300) members and guests at the Sanctuary, and the TLF global community participating virtually through Facebook and YouTube. He encouraged everyone to be attentive to the teachings to discover or rediscover their identity in Christ.
The Recollection started with a solemn Bible Enthronement led by Bro. Jesus Advincula (Steward, Meeting Tents), together with Sis. Nida Cruz and Sis. Joy Valde, who carried the candles.
Thereafter, Sis. Judith Almendrala (Consultant-Koros) led the community in joyful praise and worship, inviting the presence of the Lord and opening every heart and mind to receive the Word of God.
An Audio-Visual Presentation (AVP) was then shown, featuring the community’s various activities and groups and highlighting its annual Lenten traditions.
At the Cross I am Found
Subsequently, TLF Elder-Founder and Vision Holder, Sis. Techie Rodriguez, welcomed all the participants. She affirmed that their presence was not an accident, but a response to a gentle invitation from the Lord to draw closer to Him this sacred Lenten season – a time for reflection, renewal, and discovery. At the cross, they will find mercy, healing, and their identity in Christ. She expressed her desire for the recollection to be a sacred encounter for everyone where burdens are lifted, faith is strengthened, and lives are renewed.
Three (3) WAYS TO SPIRITUAL MATURITY TOWARD HOLINESS
The community was blessed to have Fr. Anton Pascual (Executive Director of Caritas Manila and President and CEO of Radio Veritas) speak on the topic, “3 Ways to Spiritual Maturity Toward Holiness.” He reminded everyone that the Scripture requires learning (discovering new insights), unlearning (letting go of wrong beliefs, fake news, half-truths), and relearning (studying again, remembering what may have been forgotten).
Christians are called to holiness, the perfection of charity (Matthew 5:48). He quoted Pope Francis: “Holiness is about letting God love and transform us.” He expounded on the three ways to grow in spiritual maturity toward holiness.
- Find Your Center. This is an invitation to self-reflection in order to define what one worships and values most in life. This determines one’s direction, quality, and priorities, shaping decisions and actions. He urged everyone to put God in the center of their life, and to be wary of the four substitutes to God: wealth, power, honor, and pleasure.
- Know You Are a Sinner. This emphasizes the importance of recognizing one’s own sinfulness as a sign of humility to open the way for God’s grace. Maturity is evidenced by an increasing awareness of one’s conscience, accepting failure, and not making excuses.
- Realize That Your Life Is Not About You. One does not own his life, but is created for God’s purpose (Jerermiah 1:5) and sustained by Him (Acts 17:28). The choice is whether to be a “pusila” – a small soul versus a “magna” – magnanimous or a great soul, “to get out of yourself.”
Growing in spiritual maturity begs the question – “what or who do you worship?”
Sharing: Transformed Through the Cross
Bro. John and Sis. Jennifer Bayani courageously and emotionally shared their struggles in their nineteen years of married life. They had met in the Lord’s Flock but the marriage was full of thorns. They struggled when by Bro. John succumbed to gambling and drug addiction. Sis. Jennifer persevered through seemingly unanswered prayers, cried to the Lord for so many years, but continued to serve the Lord through the community. The situation seemed hopeless until a life-threatening illness confronted Bro. John. He suddenly realized that he had brought the cross to their family through his vices. His sickness became a turning point that awakened him to surrender fully to God. He was blessed and truly grateful to have survived! The cross that they bore together brought them to Jesus.
In that powerful moment, they found new life and proclaimed, “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord” (Joshua 24:15).
Truly, the first day of the Lenten Recollection inspired the participants to reflect deeply on their priorities and relationships with Christ, whose profound love can be found at the foot of the Cross.
To God be the Glory!
SCRIBES MINISTRY
Written by: Sis. Chay Arevalo
Edited by: Sis. Jane Lico
