The Search is ON

An email from our apostolate...

*****

HELLO Singles!

It's THAT time again!

SE14 would like to announce that the application for the upcoming SINGLES ENCOUNTER # 15 has OFFICIALLY started.

Woohoo!!! :-)

Calling ALL single, baptized Catholics, at least 22 years old to join the SE WEEKEND # 15 on December 5-7, 2008 at the Angel's Hills Retreat House. Please help us find 65 men and women to take part in this Weekend and experience God's Love.

So what are YOU waiting for?

Invite your friends, family, officemates and classmates to take part in the next SE Weekend.

Thank you and God bless!

Yours in Christ,
SE 14

*****

FAQ's I get when I invite people to join:

* So what does this SE basically means?

I'll start with an introduction of the group involved behind this "encounter", the Singles Apostolate.


The Singles Apostolate is a church community of single Catholics gathered together to promote spiritual growth and living the word of God. Our parish is located on St. James the Great in Ayala Alabang Village and the apostolate itself operates under a bigger community which is the St. James the Great Renewal Movement (SJRM).

The Singles Encounter (SE) Weekend is a more or less biannual retreat (happens every 6 months to be exact). Here, we usher in new members of the apostolate by guiding them to their own journey towards God and sharing them the unique experience of having a deeper relationship with Him... an experience we, the members of the apostolate, had brought in our lives since attending our own Singles Encounter Weekends.

I and the rest of the class of SE14 (that's batch 14 of the Singles Encounter) were the new additions to the SA family and the latest to participate on an SE Weekend which was just last May this year. To pay it forward, we in turn will be the intercessory class for the incoming singles of the SE15. It basically means we'll be spearheading the organization (physical and spiritual) of the entire upcoming Weekend retreat with the help of our brothers and sisters from the higher classes (from SE1 to our KUYAs and ATEs in SE13). Walang papalag sa KUYA at ATE. Haha!

SE14 with our KOYA and ATI from SE13. Thanksgiving Party.
More info on www.singlesapostolate.com/

*****

* So what did you get joining the apostolate?

A LOT that I don't know where to start! Thing is, it's not a question of what did I GET but more of what did I have to GIVE to receive such things. Medyo nakakalito but hope this explains it...

Like most of my batchmates prior to the SE Weekend, I don't really have a clear purpose of joining the retreat. For sure, most of us would know what to expect and take it lightly as just-another-retreat like what we had in highschool or college. Some might just need some peace-time or reflect on stuffs. Me, being me, just want to have an extra activity to add to my lakwatsa events back then and just "TRY" it.

Before SE, I was not a regular church-goer and my relationship with God is mediocre... a very typical Catholic thing if you think about it. I pray at night. I believe in the bible and the sacraments and the Saints and their deeds at the most basic level. I may knew that there's more to it than doing the sign of the cross or just attending the mass but it's either I don't want to explore more or I don't have the time to.

SE14 on our own Weekend last May in Tagaytay
After the Weekend and after all the activities we did in the community, the apostolate showed me the significance of what I fondly call an "spiritual investment". It's a spiritual growth that you just don't harvest on a single worship or reap fully out of doing nothing but the most menial of Catholic duties. It's something of giving to Christ what is due to Him from your attention and then receiving His graces as a more worthy YOU in return. Yung hindi panay kabig lang.

It's striving to be worthy to receive Him in your life. It's never an easy process especially us being sinners. We don't have to be hypocrites. Let's accept it... we're all not worthy. BUT it doesn't mean that we have no choice and just leave it at that. We just have to seek HIM. And that's what the apostolate has been helping me to do.

*****

* Is it all THAT boring?

Far from it. Faaar from it.

I, alone, has easily doubled my activity schedules ever since joining the apostolate. Yes, we do a lot of prayer meetings and other spiritual activities that you might as easily swear as "boring" (I myself find it as such before, but what's interesting is that it "got" into me just as quickly when I opened myself to the Lord. Nasasakyan ko na ngayon how others would talk about God with utmost enthusiasm and don't feel uneasy with it. But of course I don't want to spoonfeed describing how it feels. I want YOU to experience it yourselves!).

Our first Night Out as a class (Starbucks - Madrigal)
However, these are not all that we do. The SA fellowship team has a LOT of cool activities in store for the members of the community. For the last six months alone, we did an "Amazing Race"-style team building activity on Enchanted Kingdom and shot our own short indie movie films for the halloween celebration. This is not to include our numerous class excursions and services like holding the latest Thanksgiving Party for the community and sponsoring the recent premier showing of the Spielberg movie "Eagle Eye".

Team Red with kids from Gawad Kalinga (SA Amazing Race 2008)
The apostolate is pretty much dynamic on balancing between spiritual and R&R activities which is ALL fun!

*****

* How it goes again?

Singles of at least 22 years old and are Catholics are invited to join a retreat at Angels' Hills, Tagaytay on December 5-7, 2008.

We're looking at filling up 65 available slots which are broken down into 30+ candidates who are residents of Ayala Alabang, 20+ candidates coming from the Muntinlupa-Parañaque-Las Piñas area, and 10+ candidates living anywhere else in the metro.

Application forms are now available from me or I will have to direct you to our Secretariat Team. The retreat fee, which is inclusive of food, lodging, and miscellaneous stuffs you'll need on the event, is PHP2,200.

We'll see you there!
For other inquiries, just drop me a message here or email me at squighopper@gmail.com!

The Search is ON

An email from our apostolate...

*****

HELLO Singles!

It's THAT time again!

SE14 would like to announce that the application for the upcoming SINGLES ENCOUNTER # 15 has OFFICIALLY started.

Woohoo!!! :-)

Calling ALL single, baptized Catholics, at least 22 years old to join the SE WEEKEND # 15 on December 5-7, 2008 at the Angel's Hills Retreat House. Please help us find 65 men and women to take part in this Weekend and experience God's Love.

So what are YOU waiting for?

Invite your friends, family, officemates and classmates to take part in the next SE Weekend.

Thank you and God bless!

Yours in Christ,
SE 14

*****

FAQ's I get when I invite people to join:

* So what does this SE basically means?

I'll start with an introduction of the group involved behind this "encounter", the Singles Apostolate.


The Singles Apostolate is a church community of single Catholics gathered together to promote spiritual growth and living the word of God. Our parish is located on St. James the Great in Ayala Alabang Village and the apostolate itself operates under a bigger community which is the St. James the Great Renewal Movement (SJRM).

The Singles Encounter (SE) Weekend is a more or less biannual retreat (happens every 6 months to be exact). Here, we usher in new members of the apostolate by guiding them to their own journey towards God and sharing them the unique experience of having a deeper relationship with Him... an experience we, the members of the apostolate, had brought in our lives since attending our own Singles Encounter Weekends.

I and the rest of the class of SE14 (that's batch 14 of the Singles Encounter) were the new additions to the SA family and the latest to participate on an SE Weekend which was just last May this year. To pay it forward, we in turn will be the intercessory class for the incoming singles of the SE15. It basically means we'll be spearheading the organization (physical and spiritual) of the entire upcoming Weekend retreat with the help of our brothers and sisters from the higher classes (from SE1 to our KUYAs and ATEs in SE13). Walang papalag sa KUYA at ATE. Haha!

SE14 with our KOYA and ATI from SE13. Thanksgiving Party.
More info on www.singlesapostolate.com/

*****

* So what did you get joining the apostolate?

A LOT that I don't know where to start! Thing is, it's not a question of what did I GET but more of what did I have to GIVE to receive such things. Medyo nakakalito but hope this explains it...

Like most of my batchmates prior to the SE Weekend, I don't really have a clear purpose of joining the retreat. For sure, most of us would know what to expect and take it lightly as just-another-retreat like what we had in highschool or college. Some might just need some peace-time or reflect on stuffs. Me, being me, just want to have an extra activity to add to my lakwatsa events back then and just "TRY" it.

Before SE, I was not a regular church-goer and my relationship with God is mediocre... a very typical Catholic thing if you think about it. I pray at night. I believe in the bible and the sacraments and the Saints and their deeds at the most basic level. I may knew that there's more to it than doing the sign of the cross or just attending the mass but it's either I don't want to explore more or I don't have the time to.

SE14 on our own Weekend last May in Tagaytay
After the Weekend and after all the activities we did in the community, the apostolate showed me the significance of what I fondly call an "spiritual investment". It's a spiritual growth that you just don't harvest on a single worship or reap fully out of doing nothing but the most menial of Catholic duties. It's something of giving to Christ what is due to Him from your attention and then receiving His graces as a more worthy YOU in return. Yung hindi panay kabig lang.

It's striving to be worthy to receive Him in your life. It's never an easy process especially us being sinners. We don't have to be hypocrites. Let's accept it... we're all not worthy. BUT it doesn't mean that we have no choice and just leave it at that. We just have to seek HIM. And that's what the apostolate has been helping me to do.

*****

* Is it all THAT boring?

Far from it. Faaar from it.

I, alone, has easily doubled my activity schedules ever since joining the apostolate. Yes, we do a lot of prayer meetings and other spiritual activities that you might as easily swear as "boring" (I myself find it as such before, but what's interesting is that it "got" into me just as quickly when I opened myself to the Lord. Nasasakyan ko na ngayon how others would talk about God with utmost enthusiasm and don't feel uneasy with it. But of course I don't want to spoonfeed describing how it feels. I want YOU to experience it yourselves!).

Our first Night Out as a class (Starbucks - Madrigal)
However, these are not all that we do. The SA fellowship team has a LOT of cool activities in store for the members of the community. For the last six months alone, we did an "Amazing Race"-style team building activity on Enchanted Kingdom and shot our own short indie movie films for the halloween celebration. This is not to include our numerous class excursions and services like holding the latest Thanksgiving Party for the community and sponsoring the recent premier showing of the Spielberg movie "Eagle Eye".

Team Red with kids from Gawad Kalinga (SA Amazing Race 2008)
The apostolate is pretty much dynamic on balancing between spiritual and R&R activities which is ALL fun!

*****

* How it goes again?

Singles of at least 22 years old and are Catholics are invited to join a retreat at Angels' Hills, Tagaytay on December 5-7, 2008.

We're looking at filling up 65 available slots which are broken down into 30+ candidates who are residents of Ayala Alabang, 20+ candidates coming from the Muntinlupa-Parañaque-Las Piñas area, and 10+ candidates living anywhere else in the metro.

Application forms are now available from me or I will have to direct you to our Secretariat Team. The retreat fee, which is inclusive of food, lodging, and miscellaneous stuffs you'll need on the event, is PHP2,200.

We'll see you there!
For other inquiries, just drop me a message here or email me at squighopper@gmail.com!