1. This September 4th was a very special day for San Francisco Verbum Dei Missionary Fraternity. It was the graduation of the first generation of disciples who were part of the formation of Theology (DiplomadoTeologico). Together with the rest of the community, the students received their certificates after four years of study in moral, bible, Christology, Mariology, Philosophy, Canon Law, Eschatology, Pastoral theology, etc. Maria Elena Leopold, who received her certificate that day, said: “We are a very diverse group, different ages, cultures, countries, level of educations, but here we can see the fairness of God. She said to her classmates: “although we finished the courses, the theology continues; now is our challenge to carry what we learn to our environments, to the rest of the people we live with. This is the challenge of the “now”. We have to go with that Word of love, and our charism, and reach out to other people-“To be oak-trees of justice” (cfr.Isaiah) This call to be Word in the World was significant especially in one of the special and symbolic moments in the celebration. Each student received a sash that said “VerboInstantes”. This represented the call to be Word of God for their environments. The sashes were given by relatives or friends (representing the world where each disciple will share their knowledge and experience of God) and missionaries of the Fraternity (those who have shared and walked with the disciple in his or her path of faith). Agustin Coronado, who also received his certificate that day, said: “God talked to me through each course, step by step, He has guided me each step in my life, in each subject, inside each experience. This gives me hope; not only for me but for others”. Finally, Fr. Don Gelpi, S.J. who presided the Mass invited us all who were present to live Matthew 28:19-20 “To go out and share the Gospel with all the world” because each person who prays also does theology and has a gift to share with the world. We continue to ask for your prayers for those who received their certificates, that they may continue being Word of God where God is calling them to in a unique way. We also pray for the new group that has started classes on 11th September, 2010 and also for each member of the Verbum Dei Family, to be salt and light in our world of today.