GOLDEN YEARS

Ministry's Mission and Objectives

GENESIS:
Inspired and guided by the Holy Spirit, the ministry was first conceived by eight elders of the Newark BLD community on February 1, 2002 at St. Leo's Church who envisioned a strong need to minister to the growing elderly population who have unique problems and special needs.

The Golden Years Ministry (GYM) was officially launched on June 14, 2002 at the community's Eucharistic celebration. This ministry is the first of its kind in the whole worldwide BLD community.

Order

"Honor your father and your mother, as the Lord, your God, has commanded you, that you may have a long life and prosperity in the land which the Lord, your God, is giving you." (Dt 5:16)

Vision

We are the elderly of the community united together with one heart and one mind, called by God to a life of encounter and renewal to a richer and deeper relationship of faith, hope and love with God and with one another.

Charism

We will be witnesses to the Word and followers of Christ so that others may have healing, wholeness, the richness of the present life and the hope for eternal salvation and life everlasting.

Mission

Our mission is to minister to the temporal, emotional and spiritual needs of the elderly: (Objectives)

*Nourish our elderly's spiritual lives through Deeper Prayer Life, Teachings, Word Sharing, Retreats, Pilgrimages, etc.;

*Improve our elderly's earthly lives and their well-being by helping them cope with old age, prepare them for the next life, and provide them with spiritual and psychological support and other helpful resources such as medical advice, Health assistance, seminars on Spirituality, Aging and Good Health, etc.;

*Help deepen our elderly's personal relationship with God and with others;

*Encourage and assist our elderly to participate more fully in the active life of the community; and,

*Promote love, respect and dignity for our elderly as God has commanded us.

Membership

Age 65 and over

Governance

The ministry is shepherded and coordinated by a covenanted couple under the direct guidance of the Pastoral Steward and the District Council of Stewards (DCS).

Coordinators' Responsibilities:

1. Exercise pastoral care to the members by:

A. Guiding and teaching them to grow spiritually in their relationship with God and with one another by following the example of Christ;

B. Help them to recognize and develop their individual Spiritual gifts that could best benefit themselves, the ministry and the community;

C. Be vigilant to the special needs of each member and the ministry, and perform the necessary tasks to answer/satisfy them.

2. Set goals for the ministry that will support its charter, mission and objectives, and develop programs to accomplish them.

3. Ensure that all members and all activities of the ministry conform to the teachings of Christ, the BLD Covenant Community, the ministry's charter, mission and objectives, and to the guidance of the Pastoral Steward and the District Council of Stewards.

4. Practice prudence in the exercise of the ministry's financial responsibility.

5. Keep orderly records that are important and pertinent to the proper functioning of the ministry.

6. Provide materials that are needed by members to help them grow spiritually and to support their ministry's activities and duties such as hardcopies of the weekly Community Intercessory Prayers, "Magnificat" and other materials.

Members' Duties:

1. Attend regularly Friday's Worship.

2. Participate fully in the ministry's Living Word Groups, Word Sharing Circles, Fellowship, Teachings, Meetings and other related activities.

3. Follow faithfully the example of Christ in their relationship with Father God and with one another.

4. Persevere in prayers and intercede for others through the weekly community Intercessory Prayers.

5. Be prepared to lead the community's Rosary.

6. Be prepared to act as Prayer Warriors for the community.

7. Be faithful to the "Word of God", the teachings of Christ, the ministry's charter, mission and objectives, the BLD Covenant Community, and the directions of the Pastoral Steward and the      District Council of Stewards.

ACTIVITIES: Members--
   *Attend Friday Worships
   *Participate in the Living Word/Word Sharing Sessions within the Ministry (In Tagalog/English)
   *Attend Fellowship, Teachings, and Ministry's Meetings
   *Participate in leading the Friday's Community Rosary
   *Covenanted members act as Prayer Warriors during Worship
   *Intercede for the community by praying the Weekly Community Intercessory Prayer

MATERIALS PROVIDED:
* Each member receives free publication of "Magnificat.
* Few first-time members received free gifts of the Tagalog Bible.
* Each member present at Friday's Worship receives a hard copy of the weekly community Intercessory Prayers.