Xavier University – Ateneo de Cagayan First Alpha Course

Bear Grylls,” Man vs Wild”, Discovery Channel,  banner hangs in front of the chapel that attracts students.
     
        After the orientation of the 300 XU scholars last July 11, 2012 at the old canteen (between Agriculture building and XU Gym), about 70 scholars signed up for  the 10 weekly sessions Alpha Course. This is planned to be given as formation to 2nd & 3rd year scholars every Saturday from  2:00 to 4:00 pm at XU Chapel that will start on July 21, 2012.

        While the other scholars who can’t arrange their schedule on a Saturday will take the second batch Alpha Course next semester, SY 2012-13.

        This course is finally sponsored by the XU Chaplaincy, headed by its director, Rev. Fr. Charlie G. Cenzon, SJ with the assistance of Sr. Elnora Perez, RA of the Campus Ministry and the office of the Scholraship and Financial Aid (OSFA).

       Our prayers for a good response from the scholars so we can train them later to increase our volunteers to run the courses to the other xu students as well.  And later also, involve them in our MOGCHS formation program and mission

Sister Elnora Perez, RA endorses Alpha Course to the scholars during the Alpha 

orientation and signing up.

What is Tukod Net? (Tukod Kristohanong Katilingban Volunteers Network)

 MISSION
         To Renew the Person, Sustain Through Parish Community, and Transform the Church and Society.

DESCRIPTION
         In answer to the New Evangelization of the Catholic Church, Tukod, a network of volunteers from parishes, parish groups and organizations decided to pool their resources and experiences in evangelization and community building to help the church renewal and social transformation of the country.
   
           Tukod will maintain its role to help and work at the parish only upon invitation by the parish priest.

           Tukod strategy is to use a basic and simple tool,  the Alpha Courses to evangelize and re-evangelize nominal Catholics or Christians; help implement church or parish communities to sustain parishioners or members to experience a working support and  pastoral care; help equip the parish or church to become a resource for evangelization and community building that will help other parishes or churches as well; and encourage networking among individuals, groups and parishes or churches to share their experiences, resources and good practices.

            Tukod means brace (n.) and pillar (n) as a support to the existing parish or church renewal and help construct (v.); establish (v.); and build (v.) communities for parishes or church which has not yet started. This is articulated thus:

            Renewing the Person on the meaning of his/her baptism by going back to the ”kerygma” of his/her faith. Unless a person is conscious to this, he/she will never appreciate and feel the necessity to live and involve in the parish or church community.

          Parish or church communities needs to be cared, sustained and nurtured on the simple and effective formation. The test of which is when evangelized or renewed parishioners living in a parish or church community start evangelizing or sharing their community experiences with others.
   
          We are only part of the whole mission of the Church. The idea we are promoting is not new. We collectively do this from the volunteers coming from the different parishes or churches and organizations inspired by the Holy Spirit to initiate, help and contribute to the parish or church renewal.
   
            We are inviting volunteers, donors, sponsors, speakers, facilitators and prayer warriors.

              To make this possible, please visit us at the Alpha office at 77 J. Pacana St., Licoan, Cagayan de Oro City 9000 Philippines with  Tel.No. 63+9209548582. For your further inquiry, send email to tukod.ta@gmail.com.

Youth Alpha Course conducted at some schools in Cagayan de Oro City

Current Tukod Members:
Alpha Course Philippine Foundation Inc.
Alpha in a Catholic Context
Barangay 23, Licoan, Cagayan de Oro City
BCBP-East, Women for Christ
Households of Christ Community, Kauswagan, Cdo
Kahayag sa Diyos Community
S&L Training Resource Ongoing
Alpha Marriage Course

Ongoing Alpha Marriage Course

         Last May 23, 2012 the Alpha Marriage Course was started. This will run for 8 weekly sessions from 6:00 to 9:00 pm every Wednesday.

         Each week, in a candlelight atmosphere,   a dinner is served and  followed by a video talk by Nicky and Sila and a couple workshop.

        A marriage time assignment is given after every session for every couple. This is a  homework activity   to further develop the couple’s skills in communication.          

          Like the other batches,  the course gradually improves the  couple’s  intimacy  because of the appropriate approach to talk and close issues and differences. This rekindles the couple’s relationship.

        Invited guests are coming from all walks of life, any religious group, any parishes, and other sectors, etc.  With this strengthened relationship, Alpha – Tukod believes the couple can be an effective team to build strong families, church and communities.

Just the first few sessions, the guests had already a wonderful fun discussing and re-discovering more each other.

 Munding and Anne, previous graduates shared how Alpha Marriage Course transform their married life.

MOGCHS: Center for Spiritual Development

         Last June 9, 2012, the MOGCHS Spiritual Formation Team & partners conducted an evaluation for the SY 2011-2012  activities of the  MOGCHS Formation  Program.

         From the results of the pilot program, each partner presented to Abp. A. Ledesma, SJ DD their assessment and recommendation to improve the following year’s program activities: the first year and second year recollections, 3rd year Alpha courses, fourth year vocation retreats, and finally the teacher’s recollection.

       The budget requirement of this year’s program  is  to be consolidated to the Archdiocese budget and furthermore it was decided to raise funds from the MOGCHS alumni and the current PTA to assist the program.  

     MOGCHS Formation Program Evaluation and  Planning. This was attended from left, seated, Ms. Febs Mondonedo, XU School of Education; Abp Antonio J. Ledesma, Archbishop of Cagayan de Oro; Sr. Rosa Celestial, RVM, Lourdes College Campus Ministry; and Dr. Helen Maasin, Chair of the Program and Head of the Values Formation of MOGCHS. Standing from Left, Sem. Marvin F. Nadala of St. John Vianney Theological Seminary; Elvin Oliveros of Alpha-Tukod and KSD; Dr. Benie A. Sy of Alpha and Tukod Network; Mike Acenas, Head of the Archdiocesan Campus Ministry; Gaspar Caluna, head of XU United Religious Organization; and Jong Pimentel of XU Campus Ministry.  

 
         Thus, the half day fund raising and parents recollection was conducted last  June 30, 2012 at the Patrick Cronin Formation Center, St. Augustine Cathedral.  Atty. Erlington Pimentel gave the parenting talk while Abp. A. Ledesma, SJ DD endorsed the fund raising and presided the Eucharistic celebration culminating the activity.

          The songs during the Eucharistic celebration was rendered by the Alpha youth volunteers from MOGCHS, XU and Lourdes College.

Alumni, parents and student volunteers together with Abp. Antonio J. Ledesma, SJ, DD & MOGCHS partners.

Alpha Course for “Balangaw sa Kalinaw”

       Fr. Cassey Quiacao,  current formation in charge, invited Alpha- Tukod volunteers to conduct the Alpha Course as initial formation to “Sendong”   recipients of the “Balangaw sa Kalinaw” houses at St. Francis Xavier  chaplaincy’s Taguanao relocation site.

       This 10 sessions course started last April 15 at the chaplaincy chapel at Pueblo, upper Carmen, every Sunday from  2 to 3:30 pm.

       Last June 2, 2012, some 65 families completed the course and they gave  the following testimonies during the whole day Holy Spirit retreat and culmination activity held at the “Morning Mist” Club House:

        ”Sa wala pa ako naka seminar sa Alpha lahi ang akong pagsabot sa akong pagtuo ug panglantaw sa akong pagka kristiyanos apan dako kaayo ang kabag-ohan nga karon naka-apil ako ani ilabina ang pagsimba...sa una dili ko hinimbahon karon gapanimba nami ug nabag-o pod ang akong panglantaw sa simbahan. Karon sa pray-over, kabalo ko nga ako daghan ug kasaypanan sa kinabuhi ug nangayo ko sa Ginoo sa kapasayloan ug human sa pray over nadawat ko ang kapasayloan sa akong mga sala, ug dili nako mapugngan ang akong mga luha sa pagtulo.”  - Gina Arsolon –

        ”Kalinaw ang akong gibati human ako nila gi pray- over. Ug nabati nako ang gugma ug kapasayloan sa Ginoo sa akong kinabuhi.” 

- Angeles Galdo –

        ”Gaan kaayo ang akong gibati ug ako malipayon nga nasinati nako ang Ginoo sa akong kinabuhi karon ug naangkon nako ang kapasayloan sa akong mga sala.”  – Marnie Japay –

       ”Dihang ila akong gipandungan sa pag-amp, nabati nako ang kapasayloan sa akong mga sala ug nasinati ko ang kalinaw sa akong kasingkasing. ” – Roger Gaa &  Christopher Timbal –

        ”Ang Alpha Course usa ka kasinatian nga na review balik ang among mga nakat-onan sa kristohanong kasinatian. Gaan siya dal-on nga seminar ug dili bug-at ug sayon sabton ug puede nato gamiton kang bisan kinsa nga tawo sa katilingban nga nanginahanglan sa Ginoo.”    - Rudolfo/Jonna Fugoso -

        ”Dako kaayo ang kabalhinan nga kami naka-apil sa Alpha Course. Sa una mosimba lang kong ganahan apan wala natisok sa kasingkasing. Karon aduna nay dakong bili ang pagsimba ug natino na namo karon ang among pagtoo sa Ginoo ug ang among kristihanong kasinatian. Gani dako kaayo ang kabalhinan sa pagdala ug relasyon namo sa among pamilya ug kami ga ampo na ug gamanimba.”               - Edan/Lucrecia Edrote –

 

        ”Layo ra gyud kaayo ang among nahibal-an kabahin sa kristohanong pagtoo gani mapasalamaton kami ug dako kay naila namo ang Ginoo pinaagi ani nga “formation” ug dako kaayo ang among nakat-onan sa among pagtoo gani nadugangan ang among pagsabot ug pag-ila sa simbahan ug karon manimba na kami nga adunay dakong bili ang pagsimba kay sauna dili gyud mi tig-simba ug tingale okasyon lang nga mosulod ug simbahan.”                           

                                                             -Roberto/Yolanda Dungog-

        ”Kami mapasalamaton sa Ginoo nga iyang gipadala kanato kini nga seminar tungod kay dako kaayo ang kabalhinan sa among pagtoong kristohanon ug gani nadugangan ang among nakat-onan kabahin sa among pagtoo ug pag-ila sa simbahan karon bilihon na ang pagsimba namo matag Domingo.”                        

  -Victorino/Rowena Apdian-