During Advent, we take part in recollection talks to prepare for the coming of Christ. This year the Filipino chaplaincy, as well as CHARIS (Catholic Charismatic Renewal International Service) Hong Kong, organised their Advent Recollections.
The Advent Recollection of CHARIS was held on November 27 at the Caritas Hall on Caine Road. About 400 members from different charismatic groups attended the event. The Bukas Loob sa Diyos Covenant Community HK (BLDHK) was invited to assist in the music, with Judi Puentespina leading the praise and worship session and Ed Ubamos as the guest speaker.
The theme of the event’s deliberations was “The Holy Spirit, the Sanctifier.” Ubamos started his talk by explaining the meaning of the four Advent candles and their symbols. As an introduction to the topic, he defined the terms “sanctify, sanctification, and sanctifier”. He encouraged people to first set themselves apart for God, walk through the process of sanctification, and be a vessel for our sanctifier, the Holy Spirit.
The speaker also spoke on the topic of “Journey to Holiness” and our roles and the importance of being obedient and submissive to the will of God and cooperating in his plan like the Blessed Virgin Mary in her Fiat. A Mass was celebrated by Father Jay Francis Flandez, svd, the spiritual adviser of the committee and concelebrated by Father Lawrence Lee Len, the diocesan chancellor.
On the other hand, the Filipino Chaplaincy organised an online talk on November 29 by Father Glen Paul Gomez svd. Father Gomez introduced a “www.com” approach for Advent preparation, which meant to watch, wait and work. While “.com” stands for “Christ on the move”. In order to celebrate the Advent season beautifully, he says we must first reflect on the Advent wreath, an icon that represents the Eternal God and Christ’s promise of everlasting life to mankind. He said it is important to reflect as we light the candles of hope, peace, joy and, finally, the candle of love.
“The most profound mystery of Incarnation is that the Holy One became man so that man can be holy,” he added. SE
