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FAMILY
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Posted on Sep 04 2011
I take this time to thank sincerely one of our longest serving priests here in the CNMI. Fr. Ike Ayuyu is human, but also a spiritual man who has 25 years under his belt of sharing with our community our pains, our faults and our fiestas. Father Ike has been a staple in my family and a good shepherd, keeping me in line and reminding me of the greatness that lies in each one of us, which God put there through His grace.
I would like to share with you one of Father Ike’s countless homilies to help commemorate this joyous occasion of his Sacerdotal Jubilee. It happened one evening while my wife and our uncle tried to catch the “Last Chance Mass” at 6pm at the Cathedral. We came and sure enough, it was Father Ike who served. He explained in no uncertain terms that family is a sacred bond. That when you call somebody family, it means you care for them regardless of shortcomings. He explained that the word FAMILY actually stands for something. Before this, I was of the opinion that family are those whom you share a bloodline with. So he began with the letter “F” and stated that it stands for “Forget.” Hmmm, where is he going with this, I thought. Then he said “About,” then “Me,” “Because”…”I LOVE YOU”… It hit me like a coconut falling off a tree. At first, I was baffled, but instantly like a light shining through my darkness, I understood! Those people whom you would die for are your family. That made me realize the full potential of the word, and I have changed for the better ever since that fateful evening. My family has enriched our lives with this understanding of “Family.”
So celebrate with vigor as at least you have one or two of your sheep who have learned a great deal from just one of your homilies. I thank you for your spiritual guidance and your continued support of the people of God here in our wonderful CNMI.
[B]Thomas M. Thornburgh[/B] [I]Gualo Rai, Saipan[/I]
