I was invited by the Head of the Commission on the Family of our parish to join the Pre-Cana Core Group of our diocese probably early last year. I was hesitant at first because my schedule and plate were already full. I asked her what was expected of me if I join. She shared briefly and asked me to observe first if I can accommodate the new service or responsibility.

I’m glad that I chose to be open to the call to serve in this new group. The desire to serve in this ministry has always been there. In truth, I had been wanting to serve in this ministry even before I got married.

I have written a book on marriage preparation for single ladies titled When My Bridegroom Comes. I also wrote another book titled How to Have the Wedding of Your Dreams after I got married. Aside from these two books, I’m also coming out with another book titled How to Be a Hands-On Parent while Earning. I had been working on this mission and advocacy for a decade and I believe that it is possible to be involved in our children’s lives even while working. Actually, I not only believe it but I live it.

I was just being realistic and acknowledged how busy I was already.

Still, God’s grace enabled me to say yes even with some hesitation.

This proved to me that God paves the way for our desires to be fulfilled in His own good time. I believe that it was God also who planted that desire in my heart to serve in this ministry. Now, He also made it possible for me to have that desire satisfied. This now fills my heart with joy knowing that I am where God wants me to be.

Since then, we’ve had several activities. Our most recent activity was a recollection with the other couples who were part of the Pre-Cana Core Group. This time, my husband joined me. All of us who attended were couples from the different parishes of the Diocese of Paranaque.

I’m grateful that we had this time to pause and have an encounter with God at the start of the year before we become too busy with our lives, work, and ministries. Like what we often hear, “We cannot give what we do not have.” We cannot bring people to an encounter with God if we have not encountered Him first. We cannot give inspiration to others if we have not been inspired by God first. We cannot empower other couples who are preparing for marriage if we have not received empowerment from God first.

The recollection was facilitated by Sr. Cristina. We were asked to ponder and converse with God heart-to-heart.

At one point, I felt and told God that I don’t feel worthy to be part of this group because of my weaknesses and shortcomings. But God was quick to answer me and reminded me that everyone is a work in progress. That no one is really worthy and able to live out their lives perfectly according to the ways of God. But what God looks for is the willingness to be formed by Him and to follow His lead. Even our struggle as we strive to follow His commands is pleasing to Him. Faithfulness is more important to Him than success. As we struggle to do better, let us offer our struggles to Him and then ask for His grace to cooperate more with Him.

God also told me that even when we feel ill-equipped for the task, it’s alright because He will supply for all our needs. He will supply us with inspiration, direction, resources, etc. The God who called us will Himself provide for all our needs in our ministry.

That reminder from God was aligned with one of the readings prior to the recollection. I remember this vividly because I discussed the Gospel reading with my kids while homeschooling them. Our eldest child even wrote that in his journal after our discussion. It was the Gospel reading wherein Jesus explained the meaning of the parables to His disciples.

My son, Yanthy, wrote, “We should strive to be close to Jesus because He reveals many things to those closest to Him.”

That is so true! I have learned a lot through my relationship with the Lord through the years. I would not be able to write many books if not for the wisdom that God has revealed to me through the years.

Through the recollection, God reminded me to consistently prioritize my prayer life or my relationship with God. I was also reminded of 2 great Saints namely, Saint Hildegard and Saint Therese of the Child Jesus. Both of them were not schooled extensively compared to many great and influential people. In fact, Saint Hildegard was already in the monastery since her childhood. Yet, despite her “lack of formal education,” she wrote books and became very influential during her time because God chose to reveal Himself to her and use her mightily to advance His purpose here on earth. I wrote a blog post about her and a children’s book I bought about her here. Saint Therese of the Child Jesus also was young when she entered the Carmelite convent and she died young as well. But in her short life and stay in the convent, God taught her many things. She even taught us through her writings or diary about The Little Way.

Through these great Saints and Doctors of the Church, God reminded me that if we choose to be humble and to be God’s instruments, He can use us powerfully to help and bless others and lead them to Him. We simply need to cooperate with God and stay close to Him. Thus, we need to prioritize taking care of our prayer life or interior life.

Everything comes from God and our lives and ministries or the fruits of our lives all stem out of our relationship with God or our interior life. I had been telling my kids about this, especially when we celebrate my victories as a writer or my other milestones and successes in life. I tell them that I would not be successful if I did not make God my first priority and if I had not been faithful to God. Everything is grace from Him . . . even the discipline, desire and the will to do good things.

We were reminded of this by Sr. Cristina during the recollection. Our ministries should be the overflow of our prayer life.

There were many other things that Sr. Cristina mentioned during the recollection that affirmed me because those were things that I had been advocating for in the past years and what I had been doing as a parent/mom. Some of these included the use of phones and gadgets, screen time, Bible reading, and study, etc.

I was delighted when Sr. Cristina said that our family or domestic church should be a house of prayer and a school of faith.

Those were part of the reasons why my husband and I decided to homeschool our kids!

That is what we strive to do consistently at home. Academics and other lessons are only secondary. Our most important lessons are on faith and life.

Even though at one point I felt I should not be part of the group, God in His mercy and grace, assured me loud and clear towards the end of the recollection that He placed me in this group to widen my territory. I only realized this as one of His answers to my constant utterance of the Prayer of Jabez.

I had been serving in our parish for years. But last year, God moved me to also serve in our diocese through this group. After the recollection, I was also amazed to discover that our Bishop (Bishop Jesse Mercado) is the current Head of the Episcopal Commission on the Family.

I realized that God wanted me to really help more families, not just through my blog, or my parish, but through our diocese and the bigger Church.

What a privilege and honor this is! I am humbled to be given this opportunity. I know that this is a big responsibility and this would take a lot of my time and energy. But, this is something that I am happy to take on for the love of God and of His Church.

The family has been attacked on many sides in the past decades. This is the least that I can do aside from being a good, Christian parent. May God bless the work of our hands as we work on the Pre-Cana modules of the Diocese of Paranaque. May His holy Name be praised!