HomeArticles*ExperiencesThe Eucharist and the adventure of unity

The Eucharist and the adventure of unity

To celebrate the local Church’s Year of the Eucharist, and in tune with the recently held International Eucharistic Congress in Cebu, let’s hear from Grace Ceniza of Cebu, who shares her experience of how the Eucharist and the Ideal of Unity had helped her overcome life’s difficulties and live out the love of God and her neighbor. Grace had the privilege of getting to know the Focolare when it was just starting in the Philippines in 1966.

Grace had the privilege to attend her first Mariapolis in Cebu in 1966. She still remembers the numerous group sent from their parish with many young people. She narrates, “I felt enveloped by Mary’s love in her city, the Mariapolis!

Flashback to 1962 
Back in my hometown, everybody knew us, for we were among the prominent families there. My father was quite a generous businessman, and he would help everyone asking his assistance.

On his deathbed, he gathered all of us together and called his best friend too, the town judge at that time. He entrusted all of us to him, naming each one: my mother and the three of us children. When he came to me, he really made a special appeal saying: ‘Please take care of this daughter of mine’. He made particular mention of me, for I was quite spoiled as the only daughter. After he died, a long procession of people accompanied him to the cemetery.

My mother whispered: “Look how many people came for the funeral procession of your Papa, but if you remain the way you are, very naughty and spoiled, at your funeral nobody will come.” Her words really entered my heart.” When her father died, everything seemed to crumble. Their business went bankrupt, and her mother had to sell their properties one after the other. Then to top it all one day, from their neighbors came the news: “Your mother just got remarried in church this morning.”

She recalled: “We had the shock of our lives, as we were strongly opposed to her getting married a second time.” In that moment, Grace ran to a nearby church where she poured out all her anxiety. She felt that the whole town was talking about them. She recalls: “We were all filled with shame. We had lost face and we placed the blame on our mom and her new husband whom we looked down.

1966 – First Cebu Mariapolis and its effects 
After four years, she met the Focolare in Cebu. She recounts, “I met the Focolare members, who really loved Jesus by putting the Gospel into practice at that gathering: when lining up for the meals, in cleaning the toilets, or while washing dishes, etc.

They really tried to live Jesus’ words, “whatever you do to the least of my brothers, you do it unto me.” She told herself” “I am a member of the church choir yet I never thought of translating my worship into life. In the Mariapolis, I saw then how it was possible.” The gospel verse that struck her very much was: “If you are offering your gift at the altar and remember that your neighbor has something against you, leave your gift and reconcile with your brother first; and then come back and offer your gift”.

She thought that she had already been attending Mass and receiving Jesus daily, but she was actually presenting to Jesus an unworthy offering. Now she resolved that as her gift to Him, she would live out His Words.”

Returning home after that first Mariapolis, she felt a new adventure ahead of her, renewed in heart and soul. She wanted to change the world around her! However, she realized that it would not be that easy. Yet the assurance of the unity built up with other friends during the Mariapolis was a very powerful experience.

She was convinced that they had to rebuild the City of Mary wherever they could. Thus, she resolved to go and reconcile with her stepfather first of all. What a difficult task! Every time she went to Mass, she would ask Jesus for the strength to reconcile and make peace with her stepfather. But she couldn’t manage it.

One day, she pleaded with Jesus whom she had just received, telling him, “Yes I have made peace with You in my stepfather, but only in my heart. Now I must show it to him. Please be the one to do it for me, because I’m so weak.” Now with great determination and faith, she went home, ready and eager to reconcile with her stepfather!

As usual, she saw him seated outside the kitchen after dinner, while her mom prepared the table for the others who were still arriving. Her first instinct was to avoid him so as not to greet him. However, this time, she realized that Jesus died for him as He died for her. They were both equal in the eyes of God -equally loved by Him!

So she went straight up to him, smiling at him for the first time, and taking his hand, and placed it on her forehead (as was the local custom of greeting called mano). She confirmed that this was the first and one of the greatest miracles in her life. Her mom saw her and was overjoyed.

Grace herself couldn’t believe what she had just done. She ran to her room and jumped for joy before her little altar, exclaiming: “Now I can really say that I love you, Jesus, – not only in words or in prayers but concretely…!” She realized then that “where there is Love there is God and even in the poorest home, we can be enriched by His presence.” She knew that it was Jesus, in the Eucharist, who was teaching her little by little about his revolution of love.

Fast forward to the present: campus minister 
Grace is now a Focolarina who works today as a guidance counselor and campus minister in a state university. Together with her Campus Director, they had requested a Sunday Mass on campus for the more than 2,000 students who were coming for the National Service Training Program (NSTP) activities every Sunday.

After about 5 years of requests and appeals, their request was finally granted. Now, however, she realized that she has to be concerned about both non-Catholics and non–Christians too. So she requested a separate prayer service for members of other Christian churches and other religions too.

Indeed, it is Jesus in the Eucharist himself, who has been journeying with Grace and the entire family of the Focolare, to grant her strength and help her continue with this adventure of building unity with everyone: “I can never thank God enough for Chiara’s charism of unity which has taught me the deeper value of the Eucharist, the sacrament of Unity!…

I wouldn’t exchange Him for all the happiness that the world can offer! I’ll strive to keep the presence of Jesus among us, and to bring His love to all who are thirsting and searching for Him, so as to help contribute to the fulfillment of Christ’s prayer: ‘Father, may they all be One, as You and I are One’ (Jn.17:21).”

Jose Aranas

DONATE TO NEW CITY PRESS PH

New City Press Philippines offers all its articles for free; we would appreciate a small donation to help us continue serving you with relevant content.

For donations please click the donate button. 

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here


Must Read