MESSAGE OF FR. ABE ARGANIOSA TO CATHOLIC FAITH DEFENDERS - DAVAO ON ITS 34TH ANNIVERSARY

DEAR BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN CHRIST,

I WAS EARLIER INFORMED BY OUR BELOVED BRO. RYAN MEJILLANO THAT OUR CFD-DAVAO IS CELEBRATING ITS 34TH ANNIVERSARY THIS SEPT. 4, 2011. IT IS WITH GREAT JOY THAT I RECEIVED THIS NEWS AND I GIVE PRAISE TO GOD FOR THIS MAGNIFICENT GIFT WHEREIN THE HOLY SPIRIT TOUCHED AND INSPIRED NUMEROUS CATHOLICS OF DAVAO TO LEARN AND DEFEND OUR CATHOLIC FAITH WHICH HAS BEEN HANDED ON TO US BY THE APOSTLES, THE MARTYRS, THE CONFESSORS AND THE DOCTORS OF THE CHURCH FROM 33A.D.

THE CONTRIBUTION OF CFD-DAVAO IN DEFENSE OF THE FAITH IS GREAT AND IMMEASURABLE. COUNTLESS BAPTIZED MEMBERS OF THE CHURCH WERE STRENGTHENED IN FAITH BECAUSE OF YOUR VALIANT DEFENSE OF THE FAITH IN THE PLAZA AND IN THE MEDIA. BY THE SAME MEANS YOU HAVE BROUGHT BACK TO FAITH THOSE WHO HAVE ABANDONED IT AND EVEN CONVERTED MANY ENEMIES OF THE FAITH INTO ARDENT CHILDREN OF THE HOLY MOTHER CHURCH FOR MORE THAN THREE DECADES.

DESPITE THIS PASTORAL SUCCESS THE CFD-DAVAO DECIDED NOT TO REST ON ITS LAURELS INSTEAD THEY ALL THE MORE WORK HARDER TO BRING MORE SOULS TO CHRIST. IN EFFECT, THE YOUTH IN VARIOUS UNIVERSITIES AND COLLEGES OF THIS METROPOLITAN CITY WERE INFLAMED TO BE PASSIONATE FOR THE FAITH AND EAGER TO SEEK FOR THE TRUTH... TRUTH THAT IS ROOTED IN THE SACRED SCRIPTURES AND IN THE SACRED TRADITION OF THE CHURCH.

AS WE CELEBRATE THIS MILESTONE IN CFD I JOINED EACH ONE OF YOU CFD-DAVAO FROM OUR LEADERS, LED BY OUR BELOVED PRESIDENT BRO. JOHN DIONA... TO THE NEOPHYTES IN GIVING WORSHIP TO THE TRIUNE GOD WHO AS FATHER CHOSE US BEFORE THE CREATION BEGAN TO BE PART OF THIS HOLY NATION, A ROYAL PRIESTHOOD, A PEOPLE SET PART TO THE GLORY OF HIS NAME... LET US KNEEL BEFORE THIS ONE GOD WHO AS SON REDEEMED US BY HIS BLOOD AND GAVE US HIS BODY TO BE OUR BREAD OF ETERNAL LIFE AS WE CONFRONT THE CHALLENGES THAT COME OUR WAY... LET US ADORE THE ETERNAL ONE WHO AS HOLY SPIRIT SHOWERED US WITH HIS GRACES AND VIRTUES THROUGH WHICH HE SANCTIFIES US TO BE WORTHY OF THE KINGDOM.

CONGRATULATIONS TO EACH ONE OF YOU MY DEAR BROTHERS AND SISTERS OF CFD-DAVAO. OUR ETERNAL GRATITUDE TO YOUR INDEFATIGABLE SPIRIT ENRICHED BY CHARITY OF HEART FOR YOUR DEDICATED AND PASSIONATE DEFENSE OF THE FAITH WHICH ALMOST ALL THE TIME YOU PERFORM FREE OF CHARGE AND WITHOUT EXPECTING ANYTHING IN RETURN. OUR GRATITUDE TO EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU.

AS YOUR FATHER IN FAITH AND NATIONAL SPIRITUAL DIRECTOR, I IMPART MY PATERNAL BLESSING TO ALL OF YOU AS I CALL ON ST. PETER THE APOSTLE AND FIRST POPE OF THE CHURCH - OUR PATRON - TO KEEP YOU IN COMMUNION OF FAITH WITH HIS SUCCESSOR, THE POPE. MAY THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY THE QUEEN OF DAVAO AND MOTHER OF US ALL PROTECT YOU FROM THE VENOMS OF SINS, DIVISIONS AND HERESIES...

THE ANCIENT PROPHETS ONCE EXCLAIMED: "How wonderful it is to see a messenger coming across the mountains, bringing good news, the news of peace! He announces victory and says to Zion, "Your God is king!" ISAIAH 52:7 [Good News Bible] AND SO I SAY TO YOU MY FELLOW DEFENDERS OF THE FAITH: "HOW BEAUTIFUL, HOW LOVELY YOU ARE! AND MY HEART REJOICES IN THE LIVING GOD FOR THE WONDERS HE HAS DONE FOR YOU!'

In Christ Jesus the Lord,
Rev. Fr. Abraham P. Arganiosa, CRS
CFD National Spiritual Director
September 4, 2011