Evolution of Spirit of Peace and Unity Catholic Community

IN THE BEGINNING...

It was in May 1998 when a group of encountered couples from the Servants of the Holy Spirit Catholic Community based in Quezon City conducted household meetings in Parañaque

After two months of household meetings and soul searching, the group's first prayer meetingfirst Thanksgiving mass. Thereafter, the group started meeting regularly for praise, worship and fellowship activities. And so, the Spirit of Peace and Unity Catholic Community was born. and conceptualized the idea of forming a chapter for members coming from South of Metro Manila, in their desire to pursue their spiritual journey. was held at the chapel of the Our Lady of Peace Parish in Sucat, Parañaque followed by the celebration of the

THE START OF MANY FIRSTS...

1999 was a banner year for the community. In February, the first issue of the newsletter, Voice of Peace, was released. The first retreat was held in March at the St. Scholastica Retreat House in Tagaytay City. The first Family Day was celebrated in April and in the following month of May; the first outreach was done in Tahanan Ni Maria, a home for the aged in Carmona, Cavite. In the same month, the first SPU Marriage Encounter Weekend Seminar (MEWS) was held at the St. Scholastica Retreat House in Tagaytay City. In July, the first Mass Wedding was sponsored by the community at the Our Lady of Peace Parish and the first Founding Anniversary was celebrated at the BNS Officers Club in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City.

A STAR IS BORN

In the succeeding years, the many firsts continued. The first Family Encounter Weekend Seminar (FEWS) was held in May 2000 at the La Salette Retreat House in Silang, Cavite. The MEWS and the FEWS became a regular activity of the community. In January 2001, the SPU Youth Ministry was formed. The first Catholic Life in the Spirit Seminar (CLSS) outreach was held at the Sacred Heart of Jesus School in Tunasan, Muntinlupa followed by another CLSS outreach at the Colegio de San Agustin in Carmona, Cavite.

In August 2001, SPU's vehicle for outreach ministry was registered at the Securities and Exchange Commission under the name Spirit of Peace and Unity Foundation, Inc.

GO, GROW AND GLOW

It was in 2001 when SPU initiated a move to unify through networking all the different communities which emanated from the Servants of the Holy Spirit Catholic Community.

It was also in 2001 when six Bibliarasal groups were formed so that members of the community living in adjacent localities can come together and hold household meetings once a week to study the Word of God and share the Good News as they experience it in their own lives. One of the very first to be formed was the River of Life Bibliarasal Group from Sucat, Parañaque.

SPU REACHING OUT...

After the SPU Foundation, Inc. was officially recognized, the community attended the Life in the Eucharist Seminar (LITES) in August 2001 in Quezon City to further strengthen its Catholic theological foundation. The first Basic Christian Maturity (BCM) Seminar was conducted in April 2002 at the Mary, Mother of Good Counsel, Parish in Marcelo Green Village, Parañaque.

The following month, a Youth Ministry outreach was initiated at the Habitat for Humanity housing project in Muntinlupa in coordination with the Petron Foundation and as a follow-up formation for the encountered couples, a ME Deepening Seminar was given in January 2003 at the Mary, Mother of Good Counsel Parish. In May 2003, SPU responded to another mission by conducting a MEWS outreach in San Marcelino, Zambales and another one in November 2003 for the La Anunciata Parish in Tunasan, Muntinlupa City. In April 2004, the community in coordination with the Sto. Niño Parish in Parañaque City conducted "Operation Tule" for the free circumcision of the barangay youth.

As the community continued to reach out to others, SPU also continued to grow. And in September 2004, another Bibliarasal group was formed by members working in the vicinity of Escolta, Manila. They met once a week after office and were named Yahweh's Servants Bibliarasal Group.

MOVING FORWARD, AIMING HIGH...

The years that followed were spent in strengthening the community through team building workshops, spiritual deepening through retreats and recollections as well as enrichment sessions and equipping the leaders through public speaking workshops. SPU remained connected with the Catholic Church through the Marriage Encounter Foundation of the Philippines. Members extended their services to their own parishes in various ministries.

While focusing on the needs of the members of the community, SPU never reneged on its outreach mission. The community reached out to street children at the Pangarap Foundation in Pasay City in May 2005. MEWS outreach was given in May and November 2006 for the Holy Family Parish in Olongapo City. Another CLSS was conducted in October at the La Anunciata Parish in Muntinlupa.

In March 2006, members of the community coming from Muntinlupa which belonged to a Bibliarasal group organized in 2001 officially became a chapter of the SPU Catholic Community. This group now belongs to the Disciples of our Lord, SPU Muntinlupa Chapter.

SPU, MAKING A DIFFERENCE...

As the community moves on in its spiritual journey, it also continuously aims to make a difference in society, specially to the less privileged and marginalized families. SPUCC is committed to pursue its God-given charisms by empowering families and helping build strong communities.