By Mary Lynn van Dijk
Thank you so much for the support. I hope everyone has learned something on renewing our home/community. Long live FCCG. (Fr. Ken Ombrog)
To Fr. Ernest, who brought Fr. Sheldon, our recollection facilitator yesterday, on behalf of FCCG, thank you very much.
The lecture reminded us about renewing our shared home with Christ: “Return and Home”. These two movements are the foundation of our theme. A renewed person helps renew the community, and a renewed community helps wounded persons find life again. This is a beautiful message. Gouda, as our shared home, becomes a place of family, prayer, friendship, worship, and mission. A house becomes a home not because it is perfect, but because there is a loving presence. (Maryjane)
What I have learned is being a peacemaker and not a contributor to make the situation worse. If you want to give advice, do it at the right moment, and give advice one at a time. We need a community we can trust, feel safe which does not make us feel isolated, and a place where everyone is welcome. Also, visit and connect with those who feel lost or in doubt. (Amor)
It was truly a very inspiring day, where everyone present had the opportunity to strengthen their faith in God and share thoughts with Father Sheldon, who gave a very motivating and inspiring presentation. During the break, we also enjoyed the food kindly brought by some participants. At the end of the day, we attended the Holy Mass celebrated by the two priests. We would like to sincerely thank Father Sheldon and Father Ken for their wonderful contributions and for making this day so meaningful for all of us. (Hans)
The Recollection last Saturday renewed me in some part of myself. I know that the foundation of renewal is recollection because we remember the past experiences and memories that are beneficial to reshape our future by clearing and learning from them to become a new and better version of ourselves. I realize that my painful memories become WISDOM instead of WOUNDS. FAILURE becomes MOTIVATION. Loss becomes Empathy. Reflection creates SELF- AWARENESS that allows us to be full of hope and to grow. God loves us and we should hold on to that and stay faithful because our reward is enormous. (Analyn Corpuz)
It was educational and it is always good to be among friends. I really appreciate the wonderful message of Fr. Sheldon and Fr. Ken, which was so inspiring and mesmerizing. (Tess)
Een bijzonder leuke samenkomst, in een relaxte omgeving ons geloof en saamhorigheid versterkt! Wat fijn dat de Goudse RK gemeenschap zo’n accommodatie heeft voor de gelovigen. Dank aan allen voor hun bijdrage. (Teun)
In 2026, the annual FCC Gouda Recollection was held in the Antoniuszaal in Gouda on 16 May, two days after Hemelvartsdag (Ascension Day). To the FCC Gouda Board members, the number of people who signed up was disappointing. Just twelve. This number, however, proved to be a blessing in disguise. The smaller number of participants enabled a deeper exchange of ideas and reflections and resulted in a much more gezellig atmosphere.
We were lucky that Fr. Sheldon Tabile, O. Carm, was in the Netherlands, and, on Fr. Ken’s invitation, could facilitate the Recollection. Fr. Sheldon is no stranger to the Netherlands as he has been coming to the country since 2017 for his PhD at the Radboud University in Nijmegen. He has an M.Phil and an M.A. in Theology and was recently elected as the Third Councilor for the Philippine Province of the Carmelite Order. Fr Sheldon not only teaches seminarians but also counsels parishioners. Fr. Ken added that they had been in the same batch of 30 seminarians, but they were the only two who went on to become priests.
The train service from Nijmegen was problematic that Saturday morning, and there were delays. Elpi had been assigned to be the welcoming committee. When she learned of the delay, she went off to do her grocery shopping where she met Luz who bought a couple of cake rolls and asked Elpi to bring them to the recollection, even though Luz could not join it as she had to work.
While those already present waited for Fr. Ken and Fr. Sheldon to arrive, they got to know each other better and exchanged ideas. Analyn, who usually attends the FCC Drechtsteden mass in Dordrecht suggested that to grow the community, the leaders will have to do house visits. For reasons of privacy, and because most people work, and have their own family lives to be busy about, this was noted, and filed for future reference.
Mary Lynn said that the FCC Rotterdam was a much bigger group, and should hold masses every Sunday. Maryjane, who sometimes attends the mass in Rotterdam, said that the Rotterdam community was looking for a church to be able to do that precisely. Amor mentioned that her brother in Spain told her that the Filipinos in Spain were able to buy a church (something we in the Netherlands can only dream of). Because there are many more Filipinos in Spain (there are 200,000) it seems they are able to hold three masses on Sundays with each mass being attended by 250 people at a time.
Rena had not planned to attend. Her husband was in the Groene Hart Ziekenhuis for treatment, and because he did not want her to be wasting her time waiting for his treatment to finish, he urged her to join the Recollection. Tessa said that Fr. Ken’s stay in her home had been good as her boyfriend no longer gets angry.
In preparation for the Recollection proper, a laptop was connected to the beamer, but due to incompatible software, Fr. Sheldon’s PowerPoint presentation would not load. Luckily he had printed out the text. As there was a photocopier in the church’s secretariat, Amor asked Mary Lynn to make copies, knowing that she had worked for Elsevier before and knew how a professional photocopier/printer worked. When the copies were ready, Maryjane distributed them. The rectangular tables were rearranged to form a square, with Fr. Sheldon occupying one side to face the Recollection participants.
Fr. Sheldon began by telling us that we who were present were chosen to be there. He explained the theme “Renewing our Shared Home with Christ.”
Before anything else, renewal comes from God. Jesus died on Good Friday, and was raised up on Easter Sunday, thus, Jesus Himself was renewed. We are, too. Even though God has already done things for us, we could still ask Him. He reveals to us what He wants us to do, and gives us a new sense of purpose. He renews us in the areas of our lives that are dying or needs renewing.
Fr. Sheldon used the word “wounds” to refer to our pains, our disappointments, our problems. Everybody has wounds, and Jesus came to heal these wounds. When He was risen, we, too, were transformed. When Jesus ascended to heaven, He returned to the Father. His Ascension gives all of us Christians the hope that someday, we may return to our forever home, in heaven.
What did renewal in the theme mean? FCC Gouda celebrates its 30th anniversary in December 2027. All these years, our community has had something planted by God, but we need now to be refreshed, purified, strengthened, and brought back to our deepest purpose. Also, even though a large number of the community lives outside Gouda, we need to see Gouda as home, the place where God chose to gather us, and where God continues to build our shared home.
Therefore two words are important: RETURN and HOME.
The first talk focused on personal renewal because each community renewal begins in the hearts of the members. To help us remember, we are to use the word RETURN as the memory tool. When we RETURN, we will be transformed. To be at HOME is to be in the presence of God. RETURN and HOME belong together. Renewed persons help renew the community, and a renewed community helps wounded persons become renewed, renewing the shared HOME as well.
RETURN
We return to the Risen Lord, who meets us with our wounds, fears, disappointments, and leads us towards peace and belonging. Fr. Sheldon explained that as human beings, we have our wounds, our fears and disappointments.
But Jesus is risen. When Mary Magdalene encountered the empty tomb, she was afraid, and she cried. The risen Jesus asked her why she was crying, and she, not recognizing Him, asked where Jesus was, and to let her know where she could find him. Jesus could have scolded Mary but because He is full of love, He didn’t. He called her name, “Mary”, and with that, her eyes were opened, and she recognized Him. And then Jesus disappeared. Fr. Sheldon emphasized that our names, hearing it said, is very important to each and everyone of us. In fact, exorcism only works when the name of the demon is known, as it must be called by its name for it to leave the possessed person.
Does anyone not remember the two disciples who were on their way to Emmaus? They were discouraged and afraid for the future because Jesus on whom they had put their trust had been crucified and died. They left Jerusalem, and on the road to Emmaus, they encountered someone who did not seem to know about what had happened during the past few days (the Crucifixion). They walked and talked with the stranger who asked them questions, but who also slowly explained to them why the events had to happen the way they did. When reaching where they needed to rest, they invited Him to stay and dine with them as it was getting late. The stranger hesitated, but went along. When Jesus took the bread and broke it, their eyes were opened. They recognized Jesus but at that moment, Jesus disappeared. Even though they were weary, the two disciples walked back to Jerusalem because they had to tell the other disciples that they had encountered the risen Christ. When they recognized Jesus in their midst, they were rejuvenated, or renewed.
Don’t we all know the story of doubting Thomas, who was elsewhere when Jesus first appeared to the apostles in a locked room. When Thomas was present at another gathering of the apostles, Jesus appeared and invited him to put his fingers in the wounds of Jesus’s hands, and on His side. Thomas professed, “My Lord and my God.” Then Jesus again disappeared.
There is something wonderful that Fr. Sheldon said. Why is it that after the person recognizes Jesus, Jesus disappears? Fr. Sheldon said that it was because Jesus jumped into that person’s heart.
Mary Magdalene, Thomas and the two disciples all were renewed when they encountered the risen Christ.
What do these examples tell us? The disciples, like us, were wounded, afraid and disappointed. Jesus could have scolded them, but He did not. He was kind, gentle, and patient. He was full of love. We should know that Jesus does not wait for us to be whole before He visits us. He comes into real situations, real wounds and real fears. In our case, this would be the enduring of trials as migrants to a new country, of missing our parents and siblings, of experiencing culture shock, and of needing to adjust to a new culture (and a partner) in order to deal with pressures at work (or home).
Personal renewal begins when we allow Christ to enter our wounded hearts, for Him to take away our fears and doubts. The opposite of fear is assured love. Jesus takes away our fears with His love for each of us. We are assured of His love for us. His Wounds were wounds of love, His sacrifice was his suffering with Love.
Fr. Sheldon spoke of the experience of a family in the Philippines. Their daughter fell into a depression, and started wearing all black. Her family recognized this, and supported her and her choices, and continued to show their love for her. Instead of scolding her, they let her be, but prayed for her. After a while, Fr. Sheldon met this daughter again, but he was surprised. She was now wearing all white. Through her family’s prayer, her depression lifted, and she looked forward to the future, and this was reflected by her not wearing all black anymore.
Love sometimes requires sacrifice. Fr. Sheldon recounted that in the seminary, the seminarians have a schedule they follow, like Mass first thing in the morning. He sometimes saw some seminarians falling asleep during the Mass. He was not very happy with this. They knew that the Mass was the first thing they had to do, and so, they needed to make sure that they were rested enough not to fall asleep during the Mass.
Blessing commented that for some people sleeping during the Mass shows that the church is such a comforting place and probably the only place some people feel so secure that they fall asleep in the church. Fr Sheldon commented that that is a good thing, but in the context of seminarians, sleeping during the Mass which they will be officiating some day is different.
When we do something for others, that is love. We must let people know we are praying for them. Among the Born Again Christians, when they go for the service, they first go to someone and talk to them, who will counsel them, and pray with them. Among the Charismatic community, they give testimony, they proclaim what God has done for them.
Who does not know the story of the paralyzed man whose friends wanted to take him to Jesus to be healed? Where Jesus was, there were so many people. They could not carry him inside. What his friends did was to make a hole in the roof, and to lower their friend so Jesus could heal him. Jesus himself marvelled at the man’s friends’ faith. The paralyzed man was healed because of his friends’ love, and their faith in Jesus to make their friend better.
For the RETURN framework, we need to Recognize and name our wounds; we Encounter the Risen Lord in scripture, the Eucharist, prayer, and community; we Turn Back, we return with burning hearts after our encounter with Christ; we Unlock our hearts, and allow Christ to enter our hearts where shame, fear, anxiety, and disappointment reside; we Receive and accept the gift of peace, and the breath of the Holy Spirit; and finally, we Nurture, because we have been renewed, we have become a loving presence for each other, and help the Gouda community become a home in Christ.
RETURN is a practical examination of our own spiritual life.
Easter renewal happens through personal encounters. Mary Magdalene is renewed when Jesus calls her by name. The disciples on the road to Emmaus are renewed because Jesus had walked with them, talked with them, listened to them, explained Scriptures to them, and broken bread with them. Thomas was renewed when Jesus allowed him to touch His wounds and side, removing Thomas’s doubts. The story of doubting Thomas is an assurance for us who may harbor doubts and not quite believe. Someone doubted, but Jesus took away that doubt. Therefore, we should not doubt but believe.
Our community is renewed when we make room for those doubting ones. Let us be welcoming to new members, and help them grow in faith and belief in the Risen Lord. And yet, we should also continue to care for our current members, and help them to grow in faith.
HOME
Home to many of us, Gouda is also a place of work, school, and family. We come together on the fourth Sunday of the month to pray, to worship together as a community. We should remember that we have a mission to offer friendship and spiritual support to members of the Filipino community in the Netherlands.
Also, we need to keep in mind that a house becomes a home, not because it is perfect, but because there is a loving presence. As we are renewed, we not only remember the homeland (the Philippines), but also recognize Christ walking with each of us here (the Netherlands).
Renewal begins when the blessed community becomes a sent community. The Ascension is not Jesus abandoning the disciples but opening a new chapter of mission. We honor the past, but having received the Spirit (on Pentecost) we continue the mission.
H is for HONOR, we give thanks for the 28 years of co-founders, families, leaders, priests, volunteers, and their hidden sacrifices. O is for OPEN, for opening doors so that the wounded, the new arrivals, the young, those who struggle to believe, and those who stayed away, can come (back) and get closer to Jesus through us. M is for MAKING ROOM for whoever is interested in becoming part of the community and making them feel at home. E is for EXTEND, for extending Easter witness in Gouda through showing hospitality, giving service, sharing of joy, and collaborating with the wider church, not only of the Filipino communities in the Netherlands, but also the Dutch Catholic Church. HOME is not a closed circle; with Christ, it becomes a welcoming and a missionary table.
Finally, Fr. Sheldon said we must consider the Church as a field hospital, as Pope Francis taught, which does not first ask whether the wounded person deserves help, but responds with care. For the community, people should know that they can come not only when they are strong, but also when they are weak, grieving, anxious, struggling in their marriages, or relationships, lonely, spiritually dry, or uncertain.
How do we do this?
First, we keep Christ the Chief Physician, through prayer, the Eucharist, Scripture and humility as the root of service in grace.
Second, we need to recognize our own wounds, and by knowing that wounded people are healed by mercy and can become compassionate companions.
Third, we offer loving presence; not every wound needs immediate advice, sometimes, a companionable silence, a listening ear, and just being close by is enough.
Fourth, we infuse hope. As a renewed community, we can carry the Easter hope to take away grief, fatigue, and uncertainty.
Finally, five commitments:
First, CENTER. We make room for Christ at the center of the community, not only during events, but in decisions, relationships, leadership, and service.
Second, NAMES. We learn to know people beyond their roles and functions. Each person has a story, and behind an absence, there may be pain, behind each disagreement may be a wound.
Third, WOUNDED. We must walk with those who struggle, avoid gossip, and quick judgement.
Fourth, ROOFS (not just DOORS). We create new paths of welcome, especially for the youth, newcomers, elders, mixed families, and those at the margins.
Fifth, WITNESS. We bless the community with Easter joy through Filipino warmth, Catholic faith, service, collaboration, and hospitality.
These five commitments can be used as discussion prompts or as a simple action plan for the community.
And lastly, these are Personal Reflection Questions to ask ourselves:
What am I personally grateful for in the 28-year story of FCC Gouda?
How is Christ asking me to witness Easter hope in Gouda, in my family, neighborhood, workplace, school, parish, or community?
And these are Communal Sharing Questions:
Where do we need to open doors, even roofs, so that the wounded, new, young, doubting, or absent members can come to Jesus?
What is one concrete communal commitment we can make after this anniversary so that our shared home is renewed in Christ?
Reflection Sharing:
To answer the personal reflection question:
Jenny shared that she was grateful for the help that Amor and Jaap gave her during the period when she was depressed;
Amor said that she was grateful for the support from the Board and members during the time she was having difficulties;
Rena, who had no plan to attend the Recollection, shared that her husband who is suffering from Stage 4 colorectal cancer, was confined in the Groene Hart Ziekenhuis. He persuaded her to attend the Recollection instead of waiting with him as he underwent treatment. Rena was advised that she needed to prepare for the time when he passed away. She shared further, with tears in her eyes, that she had talked with her husband that after his death, as she had no Filipino family here in the Netherlands, she was planning to go home to the Philippines. As Rena lives in Schoonhoven, she finds it hard to meet with the community in Gouda. We told her she could call instead.
Elpi, who is active as an acolyte, and as a volunteer in the Dutch church, shared that her husband saw her pray her morning prayers and novena, and how involved she was in volunteering in the church. Her example touched him so that he took Catechism classes since last year, and a month or so ago, was baptized in the Catholic church, during a Dutch mass.
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As the time allotted was almost up, Fr. Ken called on Maryjane to deliver the Closing Remarks. She thanked both priests, and those who were present, and those who brought food to share.
The final event that afternoon was the Eucharistic celebration.
Note: Many thanks to Fr. Ken and Fr. Sheldon. Thanks also to the FCC Gouda Board members for organizing this event, and to the attendees for helping make this Recollection meaningful and gezellig. Thank you to those who shared their blessings in the form of food and drinks, and this includes Luz. And special thanks to Amor for collecting the comments that open this piece.
