The Servants of Jesus Community and the Servants of Jesus Community Foundation, Inc. celebrated its 34th and 19th anniversary, respectively, with the theme Love Heals taken from Jeremiah 31:3, “I have always love you, so I continue to show you my constant love. Once again I will rebuild you.” This year is a celebration of God’s healing love as we battle through an unprecedented time of physical and mental health crises amid a global pandemic.
In case you missed it, here are the highlights of the Love Heals anniversary special; starting with a video showing Sis. Gerlie Aman, current SOJC Head Servant, and other former SOJC Head Servants describe what SOJ means.
Sis. Yarei Lauro, SOJC Kids Ministry Head and SOJCFI Board Secretary, led the congregation to a very powerful worship. Everyone basked in God’s presence as the Music Ministry led in the singing of Can’t Stop Singing by Covenant Worship, Waymaker by Leeland, You are God by Feast Worship, and Healer by Kari Jobe. Lifting up the spirits to God’s glory were the praises and prayers of each and everyone whose hearts were parched with longing for live community worship.
The Opening Message was given by Rev. Fr. Jonathan Cadiz, the parish priest of the Diocesan Shrine of the Our Lady of the Abandoned, where SOJ is based. He highlighted the 3 qualities required of a servant of Jesus: (1) spending quality time with Jesus; (2) finding nourishment in the Holy Eucharist; and (3) having a sense of mission to serve and share his/her talents with the Church.
This was followed by Healing Journey, a video montage featuring the narratives of the servants’ different experiences of God’s healing in their lives. This was accompanied by a duet performance of Healing by Denise Williams by Sis. Myra Bolo, Formation Ministry Head, and Sis. Erika Carpon, a scholar and music minister.
The essence of this year’s anniversary theme, Love Heals, was given by Fr. Mario Sobrejuanite direct from Rome, Italy. His message centered on the theme’s Bible verse from Jeremiah 31:34, “I have always loved you, so I continue to show you my constant love. Once again I will rebuild you.” Here are excerpts from Fr. Mario’s message of God’s healing love:
”God has always been man’s greatest lover and giver” and Fr. Mario reminded us that “we can be a giver without being a lover but we cannot be a lover without being a giver.” The more intense the love is, the more intense the giving is. God loved us so much that we were “made in His image and likeness.” Even if we have sinned and turned against Him, He still forgives and never gives up on us.
His love was so deep that “He gave us his only begotten son” Jesus, whose very name translates to the “God who saves.” God could have stopped Jesus’ suffering for us “but then men will not know love” for “by His stripes, we are healed.”
God’s love is constant. “Even if [our] sins be as many as the sands of the whole world, [He] will drown them all in the ocean of [His] goodness and mercy.” Anyone who approaches Him for mercy will not be disappointed or put to shame. He calls us to come even if we feel like great sinners, for we have a “greater right and greater claim to [His] mercy.”
Sis. Cindy Fernandez, SOJCFI President, closed the program with a healing prayer and ministry time. A special intention for the everyone’s protection from COVID-19 was also invoked.
The evening was capped with a special video presentation of the SOJ Song. The SOJs from Muntinlupa City, Singapore, Dubai, and Los Angeles sang the song, as photos of Head Servants past and present, and the different activities of SOJ for the past 34 years were shown. Indeed, we are the Servants of Jesus wherever we may be!
sojcfoundationph.com 
One thought on “Love Heals: Anniversary Special”