Our physical health suffers from touch deprivation, whether this includes the simple expressions of daily affection, the comfort and reassurance of a hug, or the tender caress of a loved one’s hand. Our lack of intimacy is also crippling our emotional and spiritual lives. When there isn’t time for quiet conversations and shared stories, we miss the language of the heart. Without the background music of mutuality and tenderness, it can easily become one more task to perform, one more test to pass, a masquerade for authentic intimacy. - Fran Ferder and John Heagle, “Tender Fires”

Our physical health suffers from touch deprivation, whether this includes the simple expressions of daily affection, the comfort and reassurance of a hug, or the tender caress of a loved one’s hand.

Our lack of intimacy is also crippling our emotional and spiritual lives. When there isn’t time for quiet conversations and shared stories, we miss the language of the heart. Without the background music of mutuality and tenderness, it can easily become one more task to perform, one more test to pass, a masquerade for authentic intimacy.

- Fran Ferder and John Heagle, “Tender Fires”

Dreams are illustrations from the book your soul is writing about you.
Marsha Norman
In his letter to the Collosians, Paul employs a striking metaphor that illumines the question: Is there love left that could hold us together? St. Paul tells us that the risen Christ exists before all things, “and in him all things HOLD together” (Col 1:17). In the end, the attitudes and behaviors that wound us and break our hearts are not as strong as the love that can hold us together. The forces that fragment our relationships are not as powerful as the healing presence that can make us whole. -Fran Ferder and John Heagle, “Tender Fires” (Photo: Christ the King Chapel, Montalban, Rizal. I was touched by the depth of affection this dad has for his only daughter; and how close his daughter is to him.)

In his letter to the Collosians, Paul employs a striking metaphor that illumines the question: Is there love left that could hold us together?

St. Paul tells us that the risen Christ exists before all things, “and in him all things HOLD together” (Col 1:17). In the end, the attitudes and behaviors that wound us and break our hearts are not as strong as the love that can hold us together.

The forces that fragment our relationships are not as powerful as the healing presence that can make us whole.

-Fran Ferder and John Heagle, “Tender Fires”

(Photo: Christ the King Chapel, Montalban, Rizal. I was touched by the depth of affection this dad has for his only daughter; and how close his daughter is to him.)

The secret of each of our hearts is that we need God. We need the gift of grace to integrate our energy and to learn to love respectfully and well. The secret of our lives is that we also need one another; that through our relationships we encounter the face of God. The secret of hope is that love and graciousness are available to us personally and communally through our willingness to walk in trust. -Fran Ferder and John Heagle, “Tender Fires”

The secret of each of our hearts is that we need God. We need the gift of grace to integrate our energy and to learn to love respectfully and well.

The secret of our lives is that we also need one another; that through our relationships we encounter the face of God.

The secret of hope is that love and graciousness are available to us personally and communally through our willingness to walk in trust.

-Fran Ferder and John Heagle, “Tender Fires”

Our heavenly Father, As we begin this meeting, we bring Your presence with us. We speak Your peace, Your grace, Your mercy and Your perfect order into our work. We acknowledge Your power over all that will be done, spoken, thought and decided within these walls. We commit to use them responsibly in Your honor. Give us a fresh supply of strength to do our tasks. Anoint our plans, ideas and energy, so that even our smallest accomplishment may bring You glory. Lord, when we are confused, guide us. When we are are weary, energize us. When we are burned out, infuse us with the light of the Holy Spirit. May the work that we do and the way we do it bring faith, joy and smile to all that we come in contact with today. Lord, we thank you for everything You’ve done, everything You are doing, and everything You are going to do. We thank you for the gifts You have blessed us with. In the name of Jesus we pray, with much love and gratitude. Amen. (From Ms. Meng de Guia’s prayer before the ApFor Council meeting. 18 January 2012. Photo from the Montalban Outreach - Ateneo HS students interact with the lectors and commentators of Christ the King Chapel, the mission area of the Jesuit scholastics.)

Our heavenly Father,

As we begin this meeting, we bring Your presence with us. We speak Your peace, Your grace, Your mercy and Your perfect order into our work. We acknowledge Your power over all that will be done, spoken, thought and decided within these walls. We commit to use them responsibly in Your honor.

Give us a fresh supply of strength to do our tasks. Anoint our plans, ideas and energy, so that even our smallest accomplishment may bring You glory.

Lord, when we are confused, guide us.

When we are are weary, energize us.

When we are burned out, infuse us with the light of the Holy Spirit. May the work that we do and the way we do it bring faith, joy and smile to all that we come in contact with today.

Lord, we thank you for everything You’ve done, everything You are doing, and everything You are going to do. We thank you for the gifts You have blessed us with.

In the name of Jesus we pray, with much love and gratitude. Amen.

(From Ms. Meng de Guia’s prayer before the ApFor Council meeting. 18 January 2012. Photo from the Montalban Outreach - Ateneo HS students interact with the lectors and commentators of Christ the King Chapel, the mission area of the Jesuit scholastics.)