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The official newsletter ofESM -Manila Benoit, Fr. Christophe, Elizabeth, Aldwin, Side trips to... France France Indonesia Calauan, Laguna. One in Christ Summer Camp with SPAP youth & young relocatees of typhoons, being ONE in joy, hope and thanksgiving: Cubao Cathedral. (top-bottom) mural painting & Students during a pilgrimage & ESM SPAP Panguito, of Jeffey courtesy by Photos Surprise encounter with “boodle fight” lunch in the beginning of the year pope francis

Silang, Cavite. Easter Triduum Retreat with former students, Emmanuel community members & friends: (top-bottom) Stations of the Cross & group sharing “A llow yourself . to be surprised by God...” Those words from Pope Francis were children of Tulay ng DIRECTOR’S Dear friends and family of ESM, during his Encounter with the Youth last January 18th Kabataan Foundation (TnK), an NGO that rescues Before coming to the Philippines, I had been able to exactly described our experience this year. At the begin- neglected and abused youth. We were very touched since CORNER discover what ESM is about. Every year, I used to host foreign students on their way to ESM Paray-le-Monial ning of ESM, we learned that the Pope would visit the we serve at this foundation once a month. (France). I was invited to spend a weekend there. I kept Philippines. We wondered if we would be able to meet Pope’s speech was a beautiful surprise. At the sight of telling myself: ”I wish I had been able to do ESM”. Maybe the him. Still, we hoped! Two weeks before the event, we suffering, young people should be able “to feel, to think and Lord heard this, for one day I was asked to join ESM Manila... discovered that we would be among the 24,000 youth to do.” We should not be indifferent to misery. We need to as a director. Now, I have been “doing” ESM for 2 years. And I delegates invited to meet him at the Pontifical Univer- learn how to cry: to suffer with those who suffer, to think of like it! The shepherd, the one with the service of authority, I also share the community life of the school. Believe me, the sity of Santo Tomas. ways on how we can help, and to put it into action. We are Without your director receives a lot, and he grows too! donations, ESM As early as 5 a.m., we went to the venue and found called to be young missionaries who know how to love, not Now I invite you to follow Tin, Cshe, Emmanuel, Sara, ourselves caught in the huge crowd waiting for the “young museums who have everything without knowing Hung, Louis, Isaline, Deni, Paul, Honorine, Liu Long, and Manila cannot Pope. Before his arrival, we were interviewed several what to do with it” as Pope Francis said. Quyen in their 9-month journey to “give all and get more”. fulfill its mission: times by local and international news agencies such as Meet Pope Francis, join them in their encounter with Jesus, forming young missionaries for go on mission with them, sit in their class for some great Reuters. During the program, two among the four young the in Asia. Csheri & Louis teachings, and share the fraternal life. Maybe you would like people who gave their testimonies before the Pope EDITORIAL By giving for ESM, you support Hi! We are the 6th batch of Emmanuel School of to join next year, or the year after? Do not hesitate! the mission in a concrete and COMMUNITY LIFE SPIRITUAL LIFE Mission (ESM). We are 12 students from 7 different beautiful way. countries who came to Manila to be missionaries. - Benoit Fouques Duparc Through this Newsletter, we hope to share with you the HOW TO DONATE? taste of this life-changing experience. EMMANUEL SCHOOL OF Just to let you know, ESM Manila is based on 4 pillars Donations in PhP, from Filipino benefactors Donations in USD, International account MISSION - MANILA in the Philippines Bank: Societe Generale which are: Community Life–living many activities By transfer/deposit to our local account Beneficiary name: Emmanuel Community NO.7, 13TH STREET, NEW MANILA, together in a multicultural environment; Spiritual Bank: Bank Of The Philippine Islands Charity Trust , 1112 PHILIPPINES Branch: St. Luke’s Branch Bank address: 45 AV KLEBER, 75116 PARIS Telefax: (632) 952 2230 Life–attending daily prayers and mass; Mission–doing Bank address: St. Luke’s Medical Center FRANCE MISSION INTELLECTUAL volunteer works in different NGOs and accompanying E. Rodriguez Sr, Blvd Quezon City IBAN: FR76 30003 03383 00050032087 19 Email: [email protected] : SOGEFRPP in their evangelization activities and Account name: Emma Philippines Associa- SWIFT code [email protected] FORMATION Intellec- tion For Solidarity & Culture Please specify “ESM Manila” in the transfer tual Formation – learning the essentials of the Catholic Account No: 003895-8128-53 description Website: www.esm-manila.com faith and Anthropology in order to understand better Facebook: ESM Manila Donations in EURO, international account what it means to be true Christians. Joining the school, Bank: Societe Generale IMPORTANT: For donations by French we answered God’s call and we soon discovered that it Beneficiary name: Emmanuel Community tax-payers, for donations originating led us far beyond our expectations. Charity Trust from countries where special tax-break Bank address: 45 AV KLEBER, 75116 PARIS may exist, or if you want to do a particu- I am mission: sounds strange, right? It reflects our FRANCE lar donation, please contact us at: understanding that as Christians, we are not DOING IBAN: FR76 30003 03898000 37286537 80 [email protected] SWIFT code: SOGEFRPP mission but we ARE mission… 100% of our time. Come, Please specify “ESM Manila” in the transfer WE THANK YOU HEARTFULLY! Jeepney is a popular mode of transport in Manila ride in our jeepney and see our 9-month journey! description page 1 page 2 CSHERINA, 25, SARA, 23, PHILIPPINES EAST TIMOR di tter e HUNG, 25, sc be HUNG, 25, ov tch VIETNAM er a LOUIS, 24, our b FRANCE

HONORINE,FRANCEFRANCE 22, PAUL, 24, As a University of the INDIAINDIA I am a fresh Petroleum Philippines graduate, I Engineering graduate. I always have the desire for wanted to know more about I just graduated service; and as an aspiring Values I studied in Graphic God and spend one year just to Education teacher, I want to give consulting in a Design. I wanted to focus on Him. I wanted to o er Honorine, 22, France. I am a the best for my students. So, I Business School in discover more about the and abandon myself to Him. I registered nurse. I said to the came to ESM to learn the essen- Lyon. The teachings were inter- Catholic Church, my faith, and wanted to deepen my faith as a Lord “I am available” and He tials of my faith and see what the esting but I was looking for more my spiritual life. I wanted to learn Christian and I believe that God called me clearly to detach Church has to o er in terms of Before coming here, I meaning before starting a career. how to live with other youth will transform my attitude – myself from my daily life – to values. I hope to share my learn- was working in a news- I decided to come to ESM Manila from di erent countries, di er- making me more patient, con- leave my comfort zone and to ings not only to my students but paper in Chennai. I love because I felt a strong desire to ent cultures, di erent personali- dent, and loving. I believe that serve the poor. My great desire is also to all the persons I’ll mission and spiritual know more about my Catholic ties, and how to accept each of God will help me to grow in the to follow Christ and put Him at encounter. life; and I love my Father, God. I religion and to live it more them as they are. I wanted to right way and He has a good the center of my life. It’s not easy also wanted to grow in holiness intensively. Especially, for several share God’s love with others plan for my future life. everyday but I remember His call and be a better person so I can years I have wanted to take care through my mission and also in my prayers and I am sure that be able to share my love with of poor people in one way or bring the presence of God to ESM Manila is my place, the others. Lastly, I wanted to know another. The school proposed to them. I also wanted to discover place He wants me to be in. more about who I am and learn fulll both aspirations. It was my vocation, and what He plans many good things for my life. enough for me to send an appli- for my life is. cation! ISALINE,ISALINE, 21,21, LONG, 26, FRANCE CHINA EMMANUEL, 30, FRANCE

QUYEN, 24, VIETNAM TIN, 23, I’m a marketing VIETNAM I studied I’ve been working for six years as ocer in As an Psychology. I felt a trainee surgeon in Beijing. education publishing. I decided engineer, I’ve been the need to unify Because of my work environ- to come here because I wanted DENI, 25, working for several INDONESIAINDONESIA and balance my life in ment, I totally lost my faith. I to rediscover the love of God. I years as a consultant in an IT the light of Christ. I realized the moved to another city and met a also wanted to thank Him for company. I decided to come I worked in Jakarta, as a dizziness in my life, with the Before coming to girl who is a catholic and a everything that He has done for here to ESM Manila because marketing associate in an tendency to give an excessive ESM, I was a free- member of Emmanuel Commu- me. Moreover, I would like to Christ called me to have a IT company. The reasons why I importance to my academic lance artist. I chose to nity. To discover why I should learn how to become closer to simpler life with Him. I have this came to ESM? To go deeper and success at the expense of my come here because I become a catholic, with the Him through ESM’s spiritual life, tremendous desire to grow and further in my Catholic faith, to spiritual and fraternal life. So I was attracted by the encouragement of my father, I community life, mission and to get closer to my roots, my know more about who Jesus is, thought it was time to learn to program of the school, decided to come to ESM and to academic formation. I am ready origin, my faith and the source of and to build a strong foundation live according to my faith, to especially the “mission.” I want to build a personal relationship to receive the gifts that God will my life – God, with His mercy with God in my heart to face the share and give my time espe- do something meaningful in with God. give me this year. and love. world. cially and most of all to Christ! my life. page 3 page 4 page 6 -DENI- ESM students during: students ESM evening, country Timor East Zambales in holiday 1st about Personal & a class Development - HONORINE-

At ESM, a large part of our program consists in studying our Catholic our Catholic in studying consists part of our program large a ESM, At the lives of the Church, deal with subjects such as the teachings We faith. the and also Testaments and insights of major saints, the Old and New Our etc. and relationships, of human personality understanding Catholic the Philippines from coming professors, or university priests are teachers and abroad. people includ- that questions the different address us, the idea is to For brings. We the faith answers see what and to in life encounter ing us!, may respecting us while around this knowledge share may we also learn how of the witnesses become to ourselves form We freedom. people’s - in com live we What are. we that all through of Christ, News Good helps our hearts services and compassion life spiritual life, munity our minds understand. what to according and behave assimilate to more but even questions, many to get answers we It is true that is of our studies main topic goes on. The others pop up as the year when mission already are us. We of God for of the love the mystery of our faith. in the understanding grow to decide we Community life at ESM is really unique and mean- unique is really ESM at life Community all nationalities, of different students 12 are We ingful. objective common with the under the same roof gathered living in are of us. We each God loves how of experiencing beside the is just Manila and the classroom a big house in meals, our prayer our rooms, our share we Together, main building. also go on holidays activities. We and volunteering times, our teachings chal- It is a very week. sports every and have in the year- –twice together but students”, all the time with “foreign together live to lenging process each other deeply, know get to we year, the Throughout rewarding. very difficulties. as in our in our joys support one another to learn how and we dimensions. in many and also grow better ourselves discover We of situations an amazing diversity live really have we year, This can We skills. many able develop and were etc.) feasts, holidays, (missions, of the importance and appreciate on the help of our fellows rely always - experi enables us to and they happen struggles relational Of course, unity. we another is how giving oneself to Ultimately, of forgiveness. the joy ence grace! need God’s this, we And for life. in community can be mission

FORMATION

COMMUNITY LIFE COMMUNITY INTELLECTUAL The Eucharist is the center of our daily life in ESM. It is like a sun that nourishes It is like our growth -Tin. in all the pillars. The Eucharist is the center of our daily life in ESM. through… through… of our formation of our formation in each dimension in each in each dimension in each

MISSION SPIRITUAL LIFE Eucharistic celebration during celebration Eucharistic season Christmas - SARA- -EMMANUEL- . It is the summit of the Catholic faith. Through the Gospel Through faith. . It is the summit of the Catholic

Christmas mission in the slums mission Christmas

- in free grow me to allows in ESM spiritual life my In summary, and leads me toward see the truth to eyes dom; it opens my the world. for be mission God; thus I can already - I recog God. sing for I schoolmates, 8, with my at PRAISE. Each morning I pray life. happened in my have good surprises that and the marvels all nize mind and soul. body, with all my Holy the in present is who Jesus of front in time my is This . ADORATION Him and ask: look at to starting His hands by into myself I offer Eucharist. and see understand me to want do You What will today? is Your “What today?” His loving and I can feel peace mind is at my asking these questions, By presence. MASS to me! It is an act of faith Himself to God gives and the Eucharist, healing and It enables path. my Him who enlightens receive of myself. discovery Every day I get closer to God, thanks to: God, thanks I get closer to day Every autonomous financially old) become years (17 – 24 mothers helps young - responsi different given are mothers The NGO (LP4Y). This employability. their Youth and develop for Project Life I go to Wednesday, Every their working, are they While projects. entrepreneurial within three bilities that see to lesson is a great it me, For nursery. in the NGO’s stay children up; the mothers don’t give of their situations, difficulty the extreme despite joyful. and strong remain they go to enthusiastic old. I am always years five to one month ages, from such as being numerous, challenges are The joy. their share because I can different of children 30 of care taking in participate to is mission My each of them! My for heart a patient and having being attentive creative, with their diapers and play them, change simple; I feed is very service vital I am learning how these experiences, them. Through of chil- in the harmonious growth are and education love dren. I that and true love patience strength, for and asked was service compassion This with people. share would God to Manila, I prayed ESM going to before Just to opportunity great it is a prayer; that to an answer these particularly to the needy, to presence my give children. page 5 ...PREPARATION. Council (PPC), ESM team and a few of the mission, the agenda of the week In January, right after the visit of ESM students. The role of ESM was to became more precise. Many constraints Pope Francis to Philippines, ESM Manila share its missionary experience, helping and modifications were to be handled, accompanied St. Paul the Apostle the PPC to discern how to organize the which required much flexibility. (SPAP) for a one week evangeli- mission week. For this parish mission, the main zation mission in Quezon City. The The key question driving our whole actors were the SPAP youth and ESM WHO SAYS MISSION preparation started from middle of preparation was: Where would Jesus students. Therefore, to get acquainted October 2014 through a series of go? If Jesus was coming to SPAP, who with them and discover more about the meetings. Those collaborative work would He visit first? Among others, we missionary spirit of ESM, SPAP youth times gathered the Parish identified the new residents, youth, and came to our school for an overnight Pastoral young professionals. Then, we encounter. discussed how to reach ESM students also reflected on SAYS... those people in their certain events of the week and got specific context. prepared for their implementation in the As we had a field. FEEDBACK FROM more After a long preparation and organi- Night street evangelization at Tomas Morato MISSION THE PARISH concrete zation, it was time for action! The Holy GERALD MOSCARDON, over- Spirit made all happen well. Some coodinator for St. Paul the Apostle view parish families accepted to accommo- youth ministry, shares his experience date us and some parishioners spon- WEEK of the mission sored our meal. One college even ST. PAUL THE APOSTLE PARISH opened its doors and allowed us to evangelize their students. Why is it important for a parish to be missionary? It is important for parishes to be actively involved in the mission because they are the ones closest to the people; they are the smallest unit in a . It is crucial for them Top-bottom: to reach out to their parishioners and the people around Confession (Mercy Evening), …ACTION! Carrying of Youth Day Cross, the parish. street evangelization, Upon arrival at the parish, we went directly & program at St. Mary’s College to our headquarters and got ourselves ready Why did you call ESM for this mission? for our mission. Together with the parishion- ESM students really live the spirit of mission in everything ers, we spent the morning doing house-to- they do: young people from different countries, going to house evangelization and the afternoon talk- the Philippines studying mission and actually doing mis- ing about God in the streets. It was a chal- sion, it is something noteworthy. I invited ESM because I lenging yet joyful experience. Then, Fr. Aytoy, wanted to learn from the school about how they live this the parish priest, gave us blessings in a send- spirit, how they share the joy of the Gospel through their off mass. At the end of the day, we were wel- own experiences. Our parish is not one of those parishes comed by our “foster families”, who kindly that are very active in the Church and it’s really hard to accepted to accommodate us during reach out to our parishioners. Asking the help of ESM was the week. our invitation to have their premises blessed a jump start objective. Our evangelization mission continued with by a priest. specific targets and activities each day. On Saturday came and the parish held its 1st Do you already see the fruits of this mission? Tuesday, three parishioners gathered their Youth Day with the motto “Go. Serve. Be The day you left, the parishioners and I were all excited. friends, neighbors and us at their home, for an brave.” In the morning, we presented what We are now all geared into spreading the spirit of the mis- evening of sharing about faith experiences. evangelization is about and in the afternoon, sion; the joy is palpable in our parish. The challenge for us The next day, we had a catechism for 600 we went to the street together to put our is to keep the fire burning, not to lose the motivation to High School students in St. Mary’s College learning into practice. Our 7-day evangeliza- share Jesus Christ with others. Especially, before the mis- and a night of music and praise in the street. tion (19-25 January) officially closed with the sion, our youth were really apprehensive about going out, On Thursday, we proposed to the parishion- Fiesta Mass celebrated by Ongtioco. to sing for the Lord, or even mention the name of Jesus ers a night of encounter with God’s mercy Our parish mission week ended but the mis- Christ. Now it is easier for them, they look forward to mis- through confession, adoration, and prayer. For sion of the St. Paul the Apostle Parish has just sion; especially evangelization through music in the street. They even propose activities for mission! You know, the the young professionals, we participated in begun. The whole experience was unforgetta- Top-bottom: initiatives coming from them. I think it starts little but it is meeting with PPC during preparation, the very 1st Soul Friday – a casual and open ble. We discovered that young as we are, we social interaction during dinner, discussion about faith and life in a bar. That can be followers of Christ, like St. Paul! like a seed that you planted and eventually it will grow. music during adoration same day, some shop owners also accepted Who knows where it will lead us? page 7 page 8