Nope! I’m not talking about the infamous group of Brad Pitt, George Clooney, Matt Damon, and Andy Garcia who stars in a series of Ocean’s hit movies. I am actually talking about a much nicer group. The group of 11 spirit-filled couples from MEW Class 241. (1)

May 26-27, 2007 was a significant weekend for our group. It was the weekend where we had our 10th deepening. It was the culmination of our 10 months of rediscovery and relearning. There were mixed feelings. We were excited to spend a weekend with our kids in tow. But it can’t be denied that we were anxious too for we don’t know what’s going to happen next after the 10th. Suffice it to say, that we felt sad for we thought this will be the last time that all 11 of us couples will be together.

Our deepenings have always been full and exciting. We have increased our self understanding and rediscovered the true essence of our married life. Strained relationships have been restored (or better yet, are continually being restored) and we re-learned the techniques in building healthy and harmonious relationships, first with ourselves, then with others especially with our spouses, finally with God and our community. Kudos to our dear Shep Chock Lulu and speakers who have been patient and loving to all 11 of us. They have greatly helped us realize all these things and chisel the character of Jesus and Mary into our being and spirit (though I have to admit that it must have been such a challenge for them, as our class is mixture of the good and the bad, mostly the bad or shall I say spiritually-challenged individuals). The journey we had all throughout our 10 deepenings has led us closer to our Home…this home we call GOD.

And so what comes after the 10th? Well, now God wants us to move and stretch our boundaries for Him. Since all throughout the deepenings, we have also rediscovered our core gifts, it’s high time now that we use them for the glory of God. It’s time to serve! As Bo Sanchez puts it “ We can so value orthodoxy, we forget that it means nothing without osthopraxy – the practice of love.. Both are essential.”

Yes, we are the 11 couples of Class 241. And the ocean is the Mater Dei community we belong to. The question we are all eager to face now is “How will we be of service?” Frankly, we feel we are not worthy. We feel so unimportant to do His work. But the deepenings have also instilled in us that God sees all of us no matter how small we are! Indeed, no one is insignificant in the eyes of God (well, didn’t He choose the most unimportant people to do His work? Like the 14-year old Mary, a stuttering Moses, the shepherd boy named David, and the humble fishermen as Apostles?). Yes, we are important! We can do the job! All 11 of us believe that being BIG enough, we can now face the challenge! And so, we are up to it!