SMCTI Christian Formation Center

𝐌𝐀𝐑𝐊𝐄𝐃 𝐁𝐘 𝐀𝐒𝐇𝐄𝐒, 𝐂𝐀𝐋𝐋𝐄𝐃 𝐓𝐎 𝐆𝐑𝐀𝐂𝐄

Ash Wednesday invites us into a sacred moment of remembrance and renewal. As ashes are placed upon our foreheads, we are reminded of our human frailty and our need for repentance, while also being called to embrace God’s boundless grace. This solemn beginning of Lent encourages us to turn our hearts back to God through prayer, sacrifice, and acts of love, trusting that even from ashes, new life and deeper faith can grow.

Via | Jerich Campaner
Pubmat | Kate Veronica Pamongcales

𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐬 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐲, 𝐒𝐩𝐢𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐬 𝐡𝐢𝐠𝐡! 𝐒𝐞𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐧 𝐌𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐨 𝐈𝐠𝐧𝐚c𝐢𝐚𝐧 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐧 𝐁𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐘𝐞𝐚𝐫 4

5 𝓭𝓪𝔂𝓼 𝓽𝓸 𝓖𝓸!

𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐬 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐲, 𝐒𝐩𝐢𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐬 𝐡𝐢𝐠𝐡! 𝐒𝐞𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐧 𝐌𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐨 𝐈𝐠𝐧𝐚𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐧 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐧 𝐁𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐘𝐞𝐚𝐫 4

5 𝓭𝓪𝔂𝓼 𝓽𝓸 𝓖𝓸!

𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐝𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬: 1 𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐤 𝐭𝐨 𝐆𝐨 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐒𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐧 𝐌𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐨 𝐈𝐠𝐧𝐚𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐧 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐧 𝐁𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐘𝐞𝐚𝐫 4!

The countdown is on for the most awaited Southern Mindanao Ignacian Marian Bonding Year 4
Get your hearts ready as we come together in faith, friendship, and fellowship.

See you soon, Ignacian Marians!

𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐝𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬: 1 𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐤 𝐭𝐨 𝐆𝐨 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐒𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐧 𝐌𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐨 𝐈𝐠𝐧𝐚𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐧 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐧 𝐁𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐘𝐞𝐚𝐫 4! The countdown is on for the most awaited Southern Mindanao Ignacian Marian Bonding Year 4 this February 13-15,2026 at St. Mary's College of Tagum Inc. Get your hearts ready as we come together in faith, friendship, and fellowship! See you soon, Ignacian Marians😇 #IgnacianMarianBondingYear4

𝐉𝐔𝐒𝐓 𝐍𝐎𝐖 || 𝑰𝑮𝑵𝑨𝑪𝑰𝑨𝑵 𝐌𝐀𝐑𝐈𝐀𝐍 𝐒𝐓𝐔𝐃𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐒 𝐔𝐍𝐈𝐓𝐄 𝐓𝐎𝐆𝐄𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐑 𝐈𝐍 𝐁𝐄𝐂 𝐅𝐀𝐈𝐓𝐇-𝐒𝐇𝐀𝐑𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐒𝐄𝐒𝐒𝐈𝐎𝐍 𝐀𝐓 𝐒𝐌𝐂𝐓𝐈
Deepening the commitment to serve and strengthen the relationship with God, the Christian Formation Office is organizing its Basic Ecclesial Community (BEC) Faith Sharing session, themed: “Ignacian-Marian: Walking Together in Love”. This sacred gathering is attended by the Tertiary Education Program students in their respective classrooms today, February 6.
This Faith Sharing activity helps the Ignacian-Marian students to continue living a life centered on God and encourages them to follow His guidance in every action, leading to a purposeful and meaningful life
Via | 𝙼𝚊𝚎 𝙰𝚗𝚗 𝙹𝚘𝚛𝚐𝚎
Photo | 𝙹𝚘𝚜𝚎𝚙𝚑 𝙹𝚊𝚢 𝙽𝚒𝚖𝚒𝚜 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝙻𝙶 𝙶𝚛𝚊𝚌𝚎 𝙳𝚎𝚘𝚍𝚞𝚌𝚘
Layout | 𝚉𝚎𝚔𝚒 𝙳𝚎𝚐𝚞𝚒𝚝𝚘
𝙍𝘦𝘭𝘦𝘷𝘢𝘯𝘵. 𝙍𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦. 𝙍𝘦𝘴𝘱𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘷𝘦.

𝐉𝐔𝐒𝐓 𝐍𝐎𝐖 || 𝐌𝐀𝐑𝐈𝐀𝐍 𝐒𝐓𝐔𝐃𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐒 𝐔𝐍𝐈𝐓𝐄 𝐓𝐎𝐆𝐄𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐑 𝐈𝐍 𝐁𝐄𝐂 𝐅𝐀𝐈𝐓𝐇-𝐒𝐇𝐀𝐑𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐒𝐄𝐒𝐒𝐈𝐎𝐍 𝐀𝐓 𝐒𝐌𝐂𝐓𝐈

Deepening the commitment to serve and strengthen the relationship with God, the Christian Formation Office is organizing its Basic Ecclesial Community (BEC) Faith Sharing session, themed: “Ignacian-Marian: Walking Together in Love”. This sacred gathering is attended by the Tertiary Education Program students in their respective classrooms today, February 6.

This Faith Sharing activity helps the Ignacian-Marian students to continue living a life centered on God and encourages them to follow His guidance in every action, leading to a purposeful and meaningful life

Via | 𝙼𝚊𝚎 𝙰𝚗𝚗 𝙹𝚘𝚛𝚐𝚎
Photo | 𝙹𝚘𝚜𝚎𝚙𝚑 𝙹𝚊𝚢 𝙽𝚒𝚖𝚒𝚜 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝙻𝙶 𝙶𝚛𝚊𝚌𝚎 𝙳𝚎𝚘𝚍𝚞𝚌𝚘
Layout | 𝚉𝚎𝚔𝚒 𝙳𝚎𝚐𝚞𝚒𝚝𝚘

𝙍𝘦𝘭𝘦𝘷𝘢𝘯𝘵. 𝙍𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦. 𝙍𝘦𝘴𝘱𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘷𝘦.

𝘽𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙙 𝙗𝙮 𝙇𝙤𝙫𝙚, 𝙂𝙪𝙞𝙙𝙚𝙙 𝙗𝙮 𝙁𝙖𝙞𝙩𝙝!

Our BEC-IFP Faith Sharing is a sacred time for us Ignacian Marian students to connect, reflect, and grow. Through every story shared and prayer offered, we continue our journey of walking side-by-side in the Christ's love.

How was your experience today? Share your thoughts and reflections with us in the comments below! 👇

Happy National Bible Sunday Ignacian Marians!

May we remember to read the BIBLE and listen to God's message for all of us each day...

Prayer in Reading the Bible Alone:
Father, you reated me and put me on earth for a purpose. Jesus, you died for me and called me to complete your work. Holy Spirit, you help me carry out the work for which I was created and called. In your presence and name I now humbly ask you, speak to me Lord for your servant is listening. AMEN

ANG BIBLIYA AY HINDI LAMANG PARA BASAHIN, BAGKUS ITO’Y DAPAT ISINASABUHAY SA ARAW-ARAW NA PAMUMUHAY

Hindi ka ba nagtataka na sa dami ng iba't ibang sektang sumulpot, bawat isa ay may kanya-kanyang interpretasyon ng Salita ng Diyos? Ito ang nagiging sanhi ng kalituhan at maling pagkaunawa. Kaya napakahalaga na ang ating pagbasa ay nakatuon sa tunay na konteksto ng Bibliya. Sa pamamagitan ng Simba­han, nagkakaroon tayo ng gabay at awtoridad sa wastong pagpapaliwanag ng nilalaman nito, sapagkat sila rin ang nagdesisyon kung aling mga aklat ang kabilang sa Banal na Kasulatan at naglalaman ng totoong mensahe ng Diyos.

Kaya basahin mo ang Bibliya nang may matalinong pang-unawa, na nakasalig sa tunay na awtoridad ng Simbahan. Sa ganitong paraan, ang ating panalangin, pagninilay, at pagsasabuhay ng Salita ay magiging tapat, makabuluhan, at maghuhubog sa atin upang mamuhay ayon sa tunay na kalooban ng Diyos.

𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐝 𝐨𝐟 𝐋𝐈𝐅𝐄 (𝐋𝐨𝐯𝐞. 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐠𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐲. 𝐅𝐚𝐢𝐭𝐡. 𝐄𝐧𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭)

Mark 3:14

“He appointed twelve, whom he also named apostles, that they might be with him and that he might send them out to preach.”

Praise be Jesus and Mary! Now and Forever.

In this Gospel passage, Jesus does something deeply personal before it becomes profoundly missionary. He first calls the Twelve to be with Him, and only then sends them out. Discipleship begins not with tasks, titles, or talents, but with relationship. To be with Jesus is to allow His love to shape our hearts before His mission shapes our actions.

Love is revealed in Jesus’ choice to draw His disciples close. He does not simply assign them work; He invites them into companionship. This reminds us that love in Christian life is not distant or conditional—it is personal, nurturing, and transformative. As Ignacian Marians, we are reminded that authentic love flows from being rooted in Christ, allowing our service to be an extension of our relationship with Him.

Integrity is seen in the balance Jesus establishes between presence and mission. To follow Him requires coherence between who we are and what we do. Integrity calls us to live our faith honestly—where prayer informs action, and action reflects prayer. Like the apostles, we are challenged to remain grounded in Christ even as we engage fully in the world.

At the heart of this calling is Faith—the trust to stay with Jesus and the courage to be sent. The apostles did not have all the answers when they were chosen, but they trusted the One who called them. Faith, then, is not certainty but surrender: believing that God equips those He sends.

This verse is also a source of deep Encouragement. Jesus does not call the perfect; He forms those He calls. Knowing that we are first invited to “be with Him” assures us that we are never sent alone. God’s grace goes before us, walks with us, and continues to work through us.

Inspired by Venerable Ignacia del Espíritu Santo, this passage speaks powerfully to the Ignacian Marian core value of Mission. Venerable Ignacia lived a quiet yet courageous faith—rooted in prayer, marked by humility, and expressed through service. She reminds us that mission does not always begin in public spaces but often grows from a faithful heart willing to be formed by God. Like her, we are called to serve not for recognition, but out of deep communion with the Lord.

As Ignacian Marians today, we are invited to ask ourselves:
Am I willing to stay with Jesus—and am I ready to be sent by Him?
May this Word of LIFE move us to love more deeply, live with integrity, trust with faith, and encourage others through lives that reflect Christ’s presence in the world.

BE HOLY EVEN IN ORDINARY TIME

Ordinary Time calls us to quiet holiness. It is not measured by feasts or solemnities, but by living Christ in our daily life—through prayer, the sacraments, acts of love, and obedience to God’s will. In the ordinary, we grow in virtue and unite our hearts to Jesus, making every moment an offering to God.

𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐝 𝐨𝐟 𝐋𝐈𝐅𝐄 (𝐋𝐨𝐯𝐞. 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐠𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐲. 𝐅𝐚𝐢𝐭𝐡. 𝐄𝐧𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭)

“𝑭𝒐𝒍𝒍𝒐𝒘 𝒎𝒆, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑰 𝒘𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝒎𝒂𝒌𝒆 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒇𝒊𝒔𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒔 𝒐𝒇 𝒑𝒆𝒐𝒑𝒍𝒆.”
-𝙈𝙖𝙧𝙠 1:17

In Mark 1:17, Jesus calls Simon Peter and Andrew with a simple yet life-changing invitation: “Follow me.” He meets them in the midst of their daily work, casting their nets by the sea, and invites them into a deeper purpose. This moment reminds us that God’s call often comes not in extraordinary signs, but in the ordinary rhythms of our lives.

This passage reveals a Love that draws near. Jesus does not wait for the perfect moment or for the fishermen to be fully prepared. He enters their everyday reality and calls them as they are. His love sees potential beyond routine and invites them and us into a relationship rooted in purpose and mission.

Integrity is reflected in the disciples’ response. To follow Jesus means aligning our daily actions with His call. Leaving their nets behind symbolizes a willingness to let go of attachments and live authentically according to God’s will. It challenges us to choose faithfulness even when following Christ requires sacrifice and trust.

At the heart of this call is Faith the courage to trust God without having all the answers. Notice how Jesus calls His disciples while they are engaged in their daily chores. This is often how we encounter God not in grand gestures, but through a gentle invitation to come and follow. Like these fishermen, we are invited to recognize God’s voice in the ordinary moments of our lives and to respond with openness and trust.

Finally, this Gospel is a source of deep Encouragement. Jesus does not merely call; He promises transformation: “I will make you fishers of people.” He assures us that God patiently forms us for mission, shaping our hearts through daily faithfulness.

As Ignacian Marians, we are invited to live with availability to mission, a core value deeply embodied by Venerable Ignacia del Espíritu Santo. She responded to God’s call not through dramatic moments, but through faithful commitment in ordinary life serving quietly, persevering through uncertainty, and trusting that God was leading her. In the same way, the fishermen’s response to Jesus challenges us to remain open to God’s invitations in our daily responsibilities. Following Christ means being ready to move when He calls, allowing our lives simple and ordinary to become instruments of His saving work.

As we reflect on this Word of LIFE, may we live with love that reaches out, integrity that stands firm, faith that trusts deeply, and encouragement that draws others closer to Christ.