Leyte, the Place of Fulfilled Promise
When General Mc Arthur landed in Leyte in October 1944 he fulfilled the promise “I shall return” So tells us history. The first February weekend brought the Priestly ministers working with Bishop Puso to a one day meeting in Ormoc with the District Apostle. They encountered also the Youth who gathered here from the various sub-districts; Biliran, Ormoc, Tacloban and Bato.
Daniel 3:17-18 was the message. Young Daniel and his companions were for training at the Kings court. Circumstance were different but they remained faithful to their promise to serve only the one living God. They were willing to endure hardship, the threatening with the fiery furnace as punishment.
Let us join Daniel in remaining true to our promise of baptism, at time of Holy Sealing or our confirmation vow. We trust God who can save us from the fiery, burning conditions in life and free us, yet if we have to live through it, we still do not give up and do not worship the idols (materialism) and the gold (money) of our time. Let us seek first the kingdom of God, the glory of God our father in all decisions we make. God blesses us with His peace and we still can enjoy life but priorities have to be right.
The new apostolic missions started in Leyte in the early 1980. Though many years of endeavours the work remained relatively small, yet steady. Not too long ago the island was devastated by typhoon Yolanda but remarkably recovered well. The New Apostolic Church through NACSEARelief supported by “nak-karitativ” Germany, “humanitas” Switzerland was extensively involved in relief and reconstruction.
The thousands of dead in natural disasters, sunken ships and battlefields during the war were remembered also at this event, especially when celebrating Holy Communion for the departed.