Musical Sharing of Shalom

The Shalom International Catholic Charismatic Foundation e.V. celebrated their 14th anniversary with a gathering of different communities in songs and dances.

The Tropa was of course invited and were the first to perform. The first was a dance number “Shout for Joy” of Gary Valenciano and the song number “I Could Sing of Your Love Forever” from the Children’s Gospel collection.

About 20 groups performed complemented by PowerPoint presentations so that the people can join in the singing and dancing. Food was provided by Shalom for the participants and guests.

Congratulations to Shalom for your 14th anniversary and may your community continue to grow in the wisdom and love of God.

Tropa at Thomas More Community

On 4 May 2008, the Tropa sang at the mass of the Thomas More Community in the Heilig Kreuz Church in Plittersdorf. It is for the benefit of Tuloy Foundation Inc., a street children project of the Don Bosco Society in Manila. We would like to thank the generosity of the people in the community.

The Thomas More Community is an english-speaking group that serviced American Embassy and the diplomatic community for almost half a decade. Following the move of the Embassy in Berlin however, the United Nations staff is now active including the members of multinational corporations, students from Bonn University and many local German people within the vicinity of the Church. For more info, you can visit their web-site: www.stmbonn.de

Healing miracle in Sankt Augustin

Fr. Fernando Suarez CC, was born in Batangas in 1967. Early in his life, around the age of 16, God had begun using him in a powerful way as he reached out to people who were in need. To date, Fr. Fernando has prayed with literally thousands of people in need of healing, with much success for those with faith.

Following the successful Healing Miracle in Berlin last year, Fr. Fernando Suarez came back in Germany, this time in Sankt Augustin last 13 to 14 May to reach out to Filipinos in the area.

The Healing Miracle took place in the Oberkirche of the Steyler Missionare and over 2,000 people came to witness and be healed. Right before the eyes of everyone, people consigned to wheelchairs could walk, the deaf could hear, eyesights were restored and peace was found in minds and hearts full of turmoil.

His miracle also manifested itself in the camaraderie of the volunteers that helped enormously in organising the event. The different groups literally melted into one to serve the Lord and with hearts full of joy, became foremost witnesses of the healing power of God through Fr. Fernando. It was the vision of Fr. Jun came into being, bridges everywhere and walls were non-existent.

Fr. Fernando and Fr. Jeffrey will come back to Europe next year, sometime July, this time in Belgium. Check out bahaykubostrasse.com from time to time for more information.

(The organisers with Fr. Fernando Suarez in the Steyler Missionare)

When you're sixty Jun!

On Saturday, 31 May 2008, Fr. Tranquilino "Jun" de Ocampo celebrated his 60th Birthday at the St. Winfried Church in Bonn. Attended by the different communities in the Archdiocese of Cologne where Fr. Jun services regularly, it was an event to remember.

The celebration started with a Thanksgiving Mass concelebrated with Fr. Bobby Ebisa, General Manager for Asia of Radio Veritas, who also gave the sermon and who came just for the birthday of Fr. Jun as well as Fr. Innocence from Tanzania who is doing his doctorate and is Acting Chaplain at the Sankt Johann Krankenhaus in Sieglar. The community was led into singing by the “impromptu” community choir led by Sis. Vita Auxilian with Bro. Manny Alejado at the guitar.

Afterwards, the guests were welcomed for a late lunch-early dinner at the church hall. For the programme moderated by Sis. Mina Kraemer and Sis. Linda Stein, the different groups prepared various performances from dances to songs, from declamations to playacting to Fr. Jun's delight. Below are the enthusiastic participants of the event:

Bergheim:
Presentation of gift and declamation by Bro. Romy Idago

Cologne:
Banduria Filipina
Two song numbers from Sis. Cecille
Pandanggo sa Ilaw with Sis. Collin and co.

Dusseldorf:
Alpha group – Japanese dance, 3-tenors mimic and a song number
Omega group – choir singing “Oh Happy Day”
The Loved Flock – Dance number and a song number with live guitar

Gummersbach:
Specially composed Litany for Fr. Jun
Song number “When we all get together in the Lord”

Hennef:
Muslim dance & Filipino folk dance
Flamenco solo dance number by Sis. Mina Kraemer

Leverkusen:
Mayon Cultural Dance group: Filipino folk dance and mimic number
Mönchengladbach:
Jesus Christ Superstar dance number

Bonn:
Couples for Christ: “Walk with faith” number
Shalom Charismatic Community: song number
Duet of Sis. Amy Huetwohl and Sis. Vita Auxilian
Tropa: Papaya Dance and Otso-otso remix dance
Bridges Choir: Special song number with the medley of Fr. Jun’s favorite songs

The celebration was also peppered with slideshows on the life of the beloved priest, which you can see below

FPJ through the years




Priesthood

Before the programme ended, Fr. Jun thanked all the people who made the day a special one for him particularly to Sis. Mina Kraemer who organized and spearheaded the party. Prior to the event, he requested that instead of material gifts for him, a heartfelt donation should instead be given to the orphanage "Tahanan ng Pagmamahal - Children's Home Inc." in Pasig which he established together with some other friends. So he showed the photos of the children in the orphanage whom he now considers his children, his legacy.

To you Fr. Jun, we salute you for building bridges within the community to make us stronger and one in the love of Jesus Christ. May he continue to bless you with good health and good appetite! And remember, we will still need you, we will still feed you, when you’re sixty-four. We love you very much! Amen.

Here is the litany that the group from Gummersback prepared:

Sie hören die Litanei zum 60 Jahrestag der Geburt von Vater Tranquilino de Ocampo, Jr. Zu Deinem heutigen Feste wünschen wir Dir von Herzen das Beste. Es sind gekommen Freunde und liebe Gäste. Zum Feiern haben scheinbar alle Zeit, drum sei gepriesen die Gastlichkeit.

Priester: Unser liebes Geburtstagskind
Nonnen: Wir grüßen Dich.

Priester: Liebe Gäste
Nonnen: Wir grüßen Euch

Priester: Die verschiedene Phil. Gemeinde
Nonnen: Wir grüßen Euch

Priester: Unser Fr. Jun ist jetzt 60 Jahre alt
Nonnen: Das wissen wir genau

Priester: Er sieht aber viel junger aus
Nonnen: Das sehen wir auch

Priester: Vater Jun liebt das Feinste und das Beste
Nonnen: Darum sind wir seine Gäste

Priester: Er ist immer hilfsbereit, möge er noch lange so bleiben
Nonnen: Das wünschen wir

Priester: Vater Jun hat auch mehrere Hobbies
Nonnen: Das haben wir gehört

Priester: Warum fährt der Vater Jun nach Gummersbach auch wenn es kein Gottesdienst gibt?
Nonnen: Damit Er Angeln kann

Priester: Warum fährt der Vater Jun selber nicht wenn er eingeladen ist?
Nonnen: Damit Er deutsches Bier genießen kann

Priester: Was darf Vater Jun auf keinen Fall beim Fahren fehlen?
Nonnen: Das Navigationsgerät

Priester: Was ist Vater Jun´s lieblingswort
Nonnen: Kostenlos

Priester: Wer nimmt Vater Jun gerne wenn er eingeladen ist?
Nonnen: Gary und Vita

Priester: Predigen ist sein Leidenschaft
Nonnen: Wie schon

Priester: Was ist sein fester Glaube?
Nonnen: Gott ist gut

Priester: Zum Schluß bitte wir Dich unser loses Maul zu verzeihen
Nonnen: Damit wir zur nächsten Feier wieder eingeladen werden

Priester: Wir wünschen dir viele weitere schöne Jahre bei bester Gesundheit
Nonnen: Bleib wie du bist

Priester: Diese Wünsche sollen Dich begleiten bis zur nächsten Einladung
Nonnen: Ha-ha-halleluia!!!
Priester: AMEN.