Volume No. IV
Issue No. 4
Oct-Dec 2011
LENT: Be Holy, Be Happy, Be Christ to others!
Contents: LENT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Sa Piling ng Panginoon . . . . . . . . . . . 2
The CROSS . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Christmas . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Pagsaluhan ang Kapaskuhan . . . . . . . . . 5 The Holy Rosary . . . . . 6
Isang Pinggan . . . . . . . . 6 It is the Lord . . . . . . . . . 6 Health Care Ministry . 7
OLLP @ 30 . . . . . . . . . . .8 Balik-Handog . . . . . . . . 8
Everybody wanted to make this forty days journey Holy. The Church offered us three interconnected ways to make our journey meaningful: Almsgiving, Prayer, and Fasting. These might set us to a sad mode of being Holy or it might be a way for us to give-in to the temptation of being self-righteous while we faithfully observe these three important ways but the real meaning of observance is to be Happy and Be Christ. Through almsgiving, we are reminded that sharing should be mark of our daily life as Christians. And when we share, we should be happy because a cheerful giver is always blessed by God. Through Prayer we strengthen our relationship to God who speaks to us and desires to draw us to Himself. Our oneness with God should be expressed in joy and enthusiasm and not to be gloomy. Through fasting we help rid ourselves of selfishness and selfcenteredness by relying solely on God and by being dependent to Him. Therefore, lent teaches us how to live the life of Christ with Joy and Love. Our Beloved Pope Benedict XVI talked about Lenten observance as an opportunity to have a right relationship. Fasting is correcting our relationship with ourselves; our body and soul. Almsgiving is righting our relationship with our neighbor especially the poor. Prayer is aligning our relationship with God. Our forty days journey my dear parishioners is a joyful journey as one community expressing our belongingness to our Parish. Continue to page 2‌
Bili Ko Tulong Ko . . . . .8 ********
Newsletter Team:
Fr. Gabriel V. Garcia, MI Fr. Renato P. Sales, MI Veronica Villegas Liza Clarin-Lontoc Vince Salles Dale Bascon Ricky Comaling Laurence Lontoc
VISION A people called by the Father in Jesus Christ to become a
community of persons with fullness of life witnessing to the Kingdom of God by living the Paschal Mystery in the power of the Holy Spirit with Mary as companion.
PANANAW
Bayang tinawag ng Ama kay
Hesukristo upang maging Sambayanan ng mga taong may kaganapan sa buhay sumasaksi sa paghahari ng Diyos
nagsasabuhay ng Misteryong Paskal sa Kapangyarihan ng Espiritu Santo kasama ng Mahal na Ina ang Birheng Maria.
Continuation… LENT: Be Holy, Be Happy, Be Christ to others! It is a moment to correct our relationship as one community and a moment of praying together entrusting our pilgrimage to Our Lady of La Paz. Payer, Almsgiving, and Fasting are important ways for us not only on the Lenten season but to become a Healing Community inspired by St. Camillus. Be healed in order to be happy. May this solemn journey for forty days will bring us into a joyful celebration of Easter. Easter means Christ has won. We are an Easter people! We know that in Christ we shall overcome. In Christ, we are victorious! In Christ, no power in this world can prevail over us. Through the power of the Risen Lord, truth and justice will always prevail! Let us therefore remain faithful to the end, so that just as we share in Christ’s passion, we too may share in his glorious resurrection! I would like to share this article on Fasting and Feasting by William Arthur Ward for further reflection. Lent should be more than a time of fasting. It should be a joyous season of feasting. Lent is a time to fast from certain things and to feast on others. It is a season in which we should: ☼ Fast from judging others; feast on the Christ dwelling in them. ☼ Fast from emphasis on differences; feast on the unity of all life. ☼ Fast from thought of illness; feast on the healing power of God. ☼ Fast from words that pollute; feast on the phrases that purify. ☼ Fast from discontent; feast on gratitude. ☼ Fast from anger; feast on patience. ☼ Fast from pessimism; feast on optimism. ☼ Fast from worry; feast on hope. ☼ Fast from complaining; feast on appreciation. ☼ Fast from negatives; feast on affirmatives. ☼ Fast from bitterness; feast on forgiveness. ☼ Fast from self-concern; feast on compassion for others. ☼ Fast from discouragement; feast on hope. ☼ Fast from suspicion; feast on truth. ☼ Fast from thoughts that weaken; feast on promises that inspire
Be Happy, Be Christ to others...
Sa Piling ng Panginoon ni Dale Bascon
"Huwag kang lumapit. Hubarin mo ang iyong sandalyas sapagkat banal na lugar ang kinatatayuan mo.” (Exodo 3:5) Ang Diyos ay makapangyarihan sa lahat at Siya ang lumikha ng lahat ng bagay na umiiral. Siya ay lubos na banal at dapat pag-ukulan ng paggalang. Maging ang mga tao at bagay na nauukol sa Kanya ay dapat ring igalang. Sa Biblia, inutusan ng Diyos si Moises na tanggalin niya ang kanyang mga panyapak dahil banal raw ang lupang kinatatayuan niya. Sa Tabernakulo, namatay sa apoy ang mga paring lumapastangan sa banal na ritwal na iniutos ng Diyos. Sa Bagong Tipan naman ay tinaboy ni Jesus ang mga magulong mangangalakal sa harap ng banal na templo. Malinaw na nahihiwalay ang mga bagay na banal, ang mga bagay na nauukol sa Diyos, sa mga bagay na karaniwan. Ang Diyos at ang mga bagay na nauukol sa Kanya ay tunay ngang dapat bigyan ng paggalang. Siya ang Kataas-taasan, iginagalang, nakaluklok sa Kanyang trono at dapat sambahin ng sangnilikha. Ngunit sa pagbukas natin ng mga unang pahina ng Bagong Tipan, isang nakagugulat na pangyayari ang ating matutunghayan. Ang Kataastaasang Diyos, ang iniisip nating nasa langit ay nagpakababa. Pinakita Niyang hindi lamang Siya ang Diyos na “naroon sa kaitaasang langit”; Siya ay Diyos na malapit sa atin at sumasaatin. Naging tao ang Diyos at isinilang Siya ng isang babaeng nagngangalang Maria sa isang sabsaban. Anupa’t nakipamuhay nga ang Diyos kasama ng taong Kanyang nilikha. Sa pagkakatawang-tao ng Diyos na si Jesus ay inilagay Niya ang Kanyang sarili sa posibilidad na mabastos dito sa mundo. Gayunpaman ay naparito pa rin Siya dahil sa labis Niyang pagmamahal sa atin. Ngunit iyon na nga ang nangyari. Naparito Siya ngunit hindi Siya iginalang ng mundo. Bagkus ay kinamuhian Siya nito at sa kahuli-huliha’y pinatay. Ito ang isinukli ng mundo sa Diyos na sa labis na pagmamahal sa atin ay nagpakababa at naparito sa ating piling. Gayunpaman, nananatili ang espesyal na presensya ni Jesus sa mga kaibigan Niyang nanalig at nanatiling matapat sa Kanya. Bago Siya lumisan ay iniwan Niya sa kanila at sa atin ang isang katangitanging paraan upang mapasaatin Siya. Ito ay ang Eukarstiya o ang Banal na Misa. Sa bawat Misang pinagdiriwang natin, si Jesus ay sumasaatin sa isang espesyal na paraan. Oo, alam nating ang Diyos ay nasa lahat ng dako. Ngunit ang Misa ay katangi-tangi sapagkat dito ay nakikita ng ating sariling mga mata,
sa tulong ng pananampalataya, ang Panginoong Jesus sa anyo ng tinapay. Ang tinapay at alak ay hindi lamang mga simbolo. Ang mga ito’y tunay na nagiging Katawan at Dugo ni Kristo sa Misa. Sa pagtaas ng pari sa tinapay at alak, nababago ito at nagiging si Kristo, bagamat tinapay at alak pa rin ang nakikita natin. Sa bawat Misa ay naisasa-ngayon ang nakapagliligtas na kamatayan ni Jesus. Hindi nauulit ang kamatayan ni Jesus, ngunit tunay na nadadala ito sa kasalukuyang panahon. Nagaganap sa ating harapan, at hindi lamang basta inaalala, ang kamatayan at ang buong Misteryo Paskal ang kamatayan ni Jesus na isang beses lamang nangyari at tinatamasa natin ang kaligtasang dulot nito sa pagtanggap sa Kanya sa Banal na Komunyon. Ang lahat ng ito ay dahil lubos tayong mahal ng Diyos. Nakalulungkot nga lamang isipin na, tulad sa Kanyang pagkakatawang-tao, sa pagsaatin ni Jesus sa anyo ng tinapay ay muling nagkakaroon ng posibilidad na hindi Siya mabigyan ng karampatang paggalang. At nangyayari nga ito, lalo na sa panahon natin ngayon. Lalo pang nakalulungkot malaman na hindi lamang mga taga-ibang relihiyon ang lumalapastangan kay Jesus sa Eukaristiya. Maging ang ilan sa ating mga Katoliko ay hindi rin nakapagbibigay-galang kay Jesus, sinasadya man natin o hindi. Kung ating papansinin, marami sa mga gamit at ritwal sa ating Misa at sa mga liturhikal na gawaing kaugnay nito ay naglalayong mabigyang paggalang si Jesus na totoong sumasaatin sa anyo ng tinapay. Lumuluhod tayo kapag tinataas ng pari ang tinapay at alak dahil sa sandaling iyon nababago ang tinapay at alak at nagiging si Jesus. Ipinapatong ang kalis at lahat ng sisidlang naglalaman ng hostia sa isang espesyal na telang tinatawag na corporal upang dito mahulog ang mga maliliit na piraso ng hostia dahil ang mga ito’y nananatiling Katawan ni Kristo. Itinatago natin ang mga konsagradong hostia sa maringal na sisidlang tinatawag na tabernacle at pinananatili nating may sindi ang isang vigil lamp sa tabi nito bilang pagkilala sa presensya ni Jesus. Inilalagak din ang isang konsagradong hostia sa loob ng Adoration Chapel upang mabigyan tayo ng pagkakataong makapiling, igalang at sambahin si Jesus at idulog sa Kanya ang ating mga panalangin. Ngunit hindi lamang ang mga pari at ministro ang may tungkuling tiyakin na nabibigyan ng karampatang paggalang si Jesus sa anyo ng tinapay. Bilang mga mananampalataya ay mayroon din tayong mga dapat tandaan at gawin bilang paggalang sa Kabanal-banalang presensya ni Jesus sa Eukaristiya. Una, dapat nating ugaliing magsimba tuwing Linggo at pistang pangilin. Sa tuwing hindi tayo nagsisimba kapag Linggo ay hindi natin pinapansin ang paanyaya ni Jesus na makapiling Siya sa
Eukaristiya. Pag-ibig ang dahilan kung bakit itinatag ni Jesus ang Sakramento ng Eukaristiya; nais Niya tayong makaisa. Ang pagdalo natin sa Misa nang may pag-ibig ang hinihintay na tugon ni Jesus mula sa atin. Ikalawa, hindi tayo dapat tumanggap ng Komunyon kung tayo ay nakagawa ng kasalanang mortal. Dapat ay tanggapin muna natin ang pagpapatawad ng Diyos sa Sakramento ng Kumpisal bago tayo tumanggap ng Komunyon. Simple lamang ang dahilan nito. Hindi tayo karapat-dapat na tanggapin si Jesus kung mayroon tayong kasalanang mortal. Ang mga maliliit na kasalanan natin ay maaaring mapawi sa Misa. Ngunit ang mga kasalanang mortal ay dapat ikumpisal bago tanggapin si Jesus sa Komunyon. Dapat ay malinis ang ating mga puso bago natin patuluyin si Jesus dito. Ikatlo, hindi tayo dapat kumain o uminom, liban ng tubig o ng mga gamot, isang oras bago tumanggap ng Komunyon. Ito’y isa ring paraan ng paghahanda ng sarili sa pagtanggap kay Jesus. Sa pag-aayuno bago ang Misa ay naipapahayag natin ang pakikiisa sa paghihirap ni Jesus na siyang inaalala natin at sumasaatin sa Misa. Bukod dito, sa pag-aayuno ay nabibigyang halaga natin si Jesus bilang Tinapay ng Buhay na kaiba sa karaniwang pagkain. Ikaapat, dapat tayong magsuot ng disente at tamang kasuotan sa simbahan. Marami nang nakapaskil na paalala sa paligid ng simbahan ukol sa tamang pananamit kapag nagsisimba, ngunit marami pa rin ang sumusuway dito. Ang simbahan ay lugar kung saan sumasaatin ang presensya ng Diyos sa Banal na Eukaristiya. Kaya’t sana ay manamit tayo ng naaayon sa karangalan ng Banal na Misang pinagdiriwang natin. Kung sa mga pormal na okasyon ay inaayos natin ang ating mga sarili upang maging kaaya-aya sa mga taong kakaharapin natin, higit tayong dapat manamit nang maayos sa pagpunta sa simbahan dahil Diyos ang kakaharapin natin dito. Iwasan sana natin ang pagsusuot ng shorts, mini skirts, sando, sleeveless, backless, plunging necklines, sombrero, sinelas at iba pang hindi nararapat sa loob ng simbahan. Sabihin man nating panlabas na bagay lang ang pananamit, sinasalamin pa rin nito ang malalim na paggalang at pagmamahal natin kay Jesus. Ikalima, higit na mainam kung sa Komunyon ay tatanggapin natin si Jesus sa bibig at hindi sa kamay. Mas maipapakita natin ang paggalang kay Jesus kung ito ang gagawin natin. Sa pamamagitan ng Komunyon sa bibig ay mas maiiwasan natin ang mga paglapastangan sa Banal na Eukaristiya. Sa Tradisyon ng Simbahan, ang pari lamang at ang mga ministro ang maaaring humawak sa mga konsagradong hostia. Bukod pa rito, itinuturo ng Simbahan na ang bawat bahagi ng konsagradong hostia, kahit ang mga maliliit na mumong nahuhulog
mula rito, ay buong Katawan ni Kristo pa rin. Ito ang dahilan kung bakit humahawak ng Communion plate ang mga altar servers sa Komunyon – upang saluhin ang mga maliliit na bahagi ng konsagradong hostia na Katawan pa rin ni Kristo. Sa pagtanggap natin ng Komunyon sa pamamagitan ng kamay, may posibilidad na mahulog na lamang natin ang mga maliliit na bahaging ito; sa gayon ay nalalapastangan natin si Kristo, hindi man natin sinasadya. Kaya’t mas mabuti kung tatanggap tayo ng Komunyon sa bibig at hindi sa kamay. Ikaanim, magandang ugaliin natin ang magdasal kay Jesus sa Adoration Chapel. Doon ay makakapiling natin si Jesus nang harapan at maiaalay natin sa Kanya ang lahat ng ating pasasalamat at mga panalangin. Pagkakataon din natin iyon na humingi ng kapatawaran kay Jesus para sa mga pagkakataong hindi natin pinapansin ang Kanyang presensya sa Banal na Eukaristiya at para sa mga paglapastangan sa Kanya sa sakramentong ito, tayo man ang gumawa o ibang tao. Ilan lamang ang mga ito sa mga paraan ng pagmamahal at paggalang kay Jesus na sumasaatin sa Eukaristiya. Nawa ay isapuso at isagawa natin ang mga ito. Labis ang pagmamahal sa atin ng Diyos kaya’t pinagkaloob Niya sa atin ang Eukaristiya upang makapiling natin Siya at matamasa natin ang kaligtasang dulot Niya. Nawa ay ibigay natin sa Kanya ang nararapat na paggalang. Huwag nating suklian ng kawalang paggalang ang ginagawang pagpapakababa ni Jesus upang mapasaatin lamang Siya sa Misa. Ang mga munting hakbang na nagpapakita ng paggalang kay Jesus ay hindi lamang dapat gawin dahil natatakot tayo sa Diyos o dahil iniuutos sa atin ito. Ang mga ito ay dapat ginagawa nang may pagmamahal, dahil ang Diyos ang naunang nagmahal sa atin. Pag-ibig at paggalang lamang ang tamang tugon sa pag-ibig at kaligtasang dala ni Jesus sa Eukaristiya.
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The Cross: The Center of Attention Compiled by Vince Henry M. Salles
Did you ever wonder why we have another crucifix standing on the altar, just in front of the priestcelebrant?
Recently, In the Vatican, and in the pontifical basilicas of Rome, a ruling has been made that a standing cross should be placed at the center of altars. No specification is given as to the kind and size of the cross. As a rule, the implementation of this request has been appropriate: a highstanding cross with corpus (“body”) has been set in place facing the priest celebrant, such that he is able to look upon the crucified Jesus. The cross is the focal point of every liturgical action. Therefore, our attention should be focused on the cross. The cross is a reminder of the sacrifice of the Lord Jesus. The cross is a living image, a living reminder of what we have on the Altar – that is the Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is placed on the altar to recall to the mind of th celebrant, and the people, that the Victim offered on the altar is the same as was offered on the Cross. Protestant denominations find it hard to understand why Catholics place crucifixes in churches. They believe that what we need to focus on is the Resurrection of Jesus, and not his Passion and Death. Fr. Vincent Serpa, a Catholic apologist says that: “Jesus did not redeem us on Easter Sunday. He redeemed us on the cross on Good Friday. Jesus also said that to be His disciple, we must deny ourselves, take up our cross, and follow Him (Mt. 16:24). Nowhere in the Sacred Scriptures do we find Him replacing such attention with Easter Sunday! To behold the image of Jesus hanging on the cross is to recognize the greatest event in man’s history. It is to remember how incapable we are of fully appreciating what His infinite love is--and how infinitely fortunate we are to know such love (even though imperfectly) through the gift of faith.”
It is objected that an altar cross creates a doubling of crucifixes, in the case that a cross already hangs behind the altar. However, the cross on the altar is for the priest, facing him with its corpus, while the faithful look at their cross behind the altar. Monsignor Guido Marini, Pope Benedict XVI's master of ceremonies, strongly stressed the Pope's recommendation that when Mass is celebrated facing westwards, the priest should place a crucifix at the center of the altar. This was to make clear that the celebrant was not "facing the people", but facing Christ. He said that:
“Let it not be said, moreover, that the image of our Lord crucified obstructs the sight of the faithful from that of the priest, for they are not to look to the celebrant at that point in the liturgy! They are to turn their gaze towards the Lord! In like manner, the presider of the celebration should also be able to turn towards the Lord. The crucifix does not obstruct our view; rather it expands our horizon to see the world of God; the crucifix brings us to meditate on the mystery; it introduces us to the heavens from where the only light capable of making sense of life on this earth comes.”
Finally, let us hear from the Holy Father himself wanting to have crucifixes at the center of all altars during the celebration of Masses. He says: “The idea that the priest and people should stare at one another during prayer was born only in modern Christianity, and is completely alien to the ancient Church. The priest and people most certainly do not pray one to the other, but to the one Lord. Rather than proceeding with further transformations, simply to place the crucifix at the center of the altar, which both priest and the faithful can face and be lead in this way towards the Lord, whom everyone addresses in prayer together.”
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CHRISTMAS MESSAGE Welcome on this night of joy. It’s great to be together for this celebration of new life that we Christians have participated in for over 2000 years. We call Christmas the feast of love, the day when the greatest gift of Love was ever given to the world. The rest of the year, we try to shape our lives around that love; but we also try to learn how to pass love on to others. So, tonight marks a new year of hope, no matter what loss, or grief, or sin we find ourselves in right now. Some of us here are carrying very heavy burdens especially our brothers and sisters in Cagayan De Oro and Iligan City. But Jesus is born! Jesus is our everyday hope. Through him God’s plan of self-
giving love is leading full-circle to forgiveness and new life. The whole spirit of Christmas turns on the Christ-like giving of love -Your Love to God, to your family and to your Church. Thank you very much for your continuous support. Merry Christmas to Everyone! * * * * * * * *
PAGSALUHAN ANG KAPASKOHAN by: Gege Comaling
Sa tuwing sasapit ang buwan ng Disyembre ang lahat ng kristiano ay may pananabik, sapagkat muli na naman gugunitain ang kapanganakan ng Dakilang Manunubos. Sa panahon din na ito namamayani ang bigayan, pagpapatawaran, pagmamahalan, at pagkalinga sa mga taong napagkaitan nito. Ang mga kasayahan sa ibat' ibang dako ay sumisimbolo ng pagkakaisang layuning makapagbigay ng kagalakan sa bawat isa. Kaagapay nito ang pamunuan ng OLLPP sa pangunguna ng ating mga pari (Fr. Gabby at Fr.Rene) ay naghandog ng Christmas Party sa mga naglilingkod sa parokya. Tinampukan ito ng mga palaro na nandulot ng tuwa at galak, na naipakita ang pagkakaisa, pinagsaluhan ang mga pagkain na binahagi ng bawat isa, palitan ng kwentuhan at tawanan, ang pinakatampok ng gabing iyon ay ang palitan ng regalo na may simbolo ng pagkakakilala ng bawat isa. Na wa'y ang diwa ng pasko ay mamayani sa ating buhay araw araw, upang ang pagpapala at biyaya ay ating Pagpalain nawa tayo ng Diyos.
matamasa.
The Holy Rosary: A Heartbeat of Love for Jesus Through Mary To culminate the celebration of the month of the Most Holy Rosary, our Parish held a Living Rosary Prayer with the theme “The Holy Rosary: A Heartbeat of Love for Jesus Through Mary” last October 29, 2011. Before the actual prayer, our parishioners were shown a video clip on the history of the Rosary, followed by a witnessing of Liza Lontoc on the miracle of the Holy Rosary in her life. This year, we had a modern depiction of the mysteries of the life of the Lord and the Blessed Mother through radio dramas featuring our youth ministers, to aid them meditation and contemplation. * * * * * * * *
ISANG PINGGAN Fund Raising By: Shirley Anne Syfu
Plans for Fund Raising in our Parish were approved by the Parish Pastoral Council during a meeting held in the first quarter of 2011. Dinner-for-a-cause was conceived and eventually approved as one of the ways by which a considerable amount could be generated. This Fund Raising Project was held on November 19, 2011 at 7 PM at the P. Ocampo Basketball Court with the theme: ISANG PINGGAN, an acronym which means "ISANG Pondong Ilalaan NGAyon para sa ika-gaGANda ng ating parokya. A total of 380 people supported this fund drive. Arrangements were made to have a buffet dinner with four courses, desert, and some drinks for Php 700 per plate. We were also lucky to have invited the J-Brothers to render a few songs for us. There was also our home-grown talent, the Singkamas Youth Choir who rendered some
songs for everyone. We were all thrilled to hear Fr. Gabby Garcia and Fr. Rene Sales for the beautiful rendition of the song entitled "I Will Be Here" - a song that expresses their heartfelt thanks to everyone who supported this fund campaign. Many thanks to everyone for the success of ISANG PINGGAN! * * * * * * * *
“It is the Lord!” Last December 12, 2011, on the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe (the secondary patroness of the Philippines) Archbishop Luis Antonio G. Tagle, was formally installed as the new Archbishop of Manila, replacing his retired predecessor, Gaudencio Cardinal B. Rosales. Before the celebration of the Holy Mass, residents of the Diocese of Imus, accompanied their incumbent bishop to the doors of the Manila Cathedral. The five mayors of the five cities in the Archdiocese of Manila welcomed the new Archbishop as they entrusted to him their symbolic keys. Bishops, priests, and civil leaders also came to grace this once-in-a-lifetime event. During the Holy Mass, the 32nd Archbishop of Manila was overcome with emotion while delivering his homily. His episcopal motto “Dominus est!” (It is the Lord!) is drawn from the Risen Christ’s appearance to some of his disciples at the Sea Tiberias as recounted in John 21. He got this in a retreat he facilitated when he was still a priest. The Risen Lord comes to his disciples. He reveals who he truly is. Archbishop Tagle called on his new flock in the Archdiocese of Manila and all Filipino Catholics to "grow in compassion for our neighbors" and cast away disunity. "The new evangelization requires putting on the mind and eyes of the Lord—a transformation. We need to follow the Lord not individually but together.” Archbishop Tagle said he hopes for a transformation that leads Filipinos to “see differently.”
He said this would have happened when “a child, especially an unborn child, is no longer seen as a burden but as a gift… women are not objects but persons; laborers are not machines but partners; the poor, the differently abled, are not a nuisance but are our jewels; and creation is not an object of manipulation but a sign of God’s sustaining love.” Tagle takes on position as Archbishop of Manila with fear. When his immediate predecessor, Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales, led him to the archbishop's throne, he hesitated to sit on it. "I tremble before the Love that calls me to lead these great people to the Lord," he said in his homily.
Archbishop Tagle is the leader of the most influential archdiocese in the country. He recognized the many challenges that lay ahead, including poverty and corruption. "The long night of the disciples in the middle of the sea continues in us. Then we grow in compassion for our neighbors...In our weariness the Lord comes. Dumarating siya lalo na kapag tayo ay pagod na pagod at litong-lito."
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Health Care Ministry Oct. 24-27: Community Health Volunteers (CHV) Rain Salvatierra, Stephen Ilagan and Francis Teves attended a four day and three night seminar on HIV in Antipolo City. It was a stay-in activity led by Fr. Dan Cancino,MI. More than twenty participants converged here to sharpen their awareness on this precarious problem facing the society today. Nov. 27: Fr. Dan, along with Bro. John Paul and three other seminarians, conducted a seminar on HIV for La Paz CHV at the second floor of the Parish Office. They gave a talk to 21 participants.
Nov. 27: Mrs. Lorelie Malate, a balikbayan from Orange County in California, who often comes home at Kingswood, and a good friend of Lyria Reyes, threw a special party to some twenty kids from the Parish. The Feeding Party was held at Mc Donald, Kingswood. After the said party, the children received with grateful hearts stuff toys from this generous sponsor. Dec. 12, 5pm: On the occasion of the Installation of Bishop Luis Antonio Tagle as Archbishop of Manila, a Special Feeding for 30 kids was sponsored by the Parish held in front of the Church in response to the request made by the newly installed Bishop. Thanks to the Health Volunteers who were there to extend their hands! Dec. 1, 7pm: A joint effort by CHV & Temporalities made the 30th Anniversary of the Dedication of the Church under the tutelage of Our Lady of La Paz a memorable one with a modest fellowship dinner. Parishioners who attended the Eucharist that evening joined in. Dec. 13 & 14: More than three hundred elementary pupils from La Paz Elementary School, F. Benitez Elementary School, and Metropolitan Academy of Manila received the First Communion here in the Church. Volunteers from the Health Care Ministry readily extended their help to maintain order to sustain the solemnity of the Eucharist. Dec. 20: In their wish to express their solidarity, CHV, La Paz Youth Choir (LPYC) and Mass Altar Servers (MAS) joined efforts to pack 250 used clothes for the victims of typhoon Sendong in Cagayan de Oro. Dec. 27: Two generous families, Masna and Dula Families, sponsored Special Feeding to 55 children. Each received bags of groceries after the feeding program.
Celebration of the th 30 Dedication of OLLP Last December 12, 2011, we celebrated the 30th anniversary of the dedication of our Parish. The late Jaime Cardinal Sin laid the cornerstone for the construction of this church with the consecration of the Sanctuary and the altar on December 12, 1981. Each year every parish church celebrates the anniversary of its dedication. The table of liturgical days lists the anniversary of the dedication of a parish church as a solemnity – the highest rank of the celebrations of the Church. The anniversary of the dedication of a parish church reminds Christians to always connect with God through prayer and fellowship with the community. All of these happen in the church – the house of prayer, the place where we gather to worship “in spirit and in truth.’’ This celebration makes us realize that we are all dwelling places of God. More than the church, we can consider our own selves as “sacred spaces’’ where God resides. This feast is, therefore, meant for all of us to reflect and ponder on the reality that we are dwelling places of God and we must always make room for Him in our lives. The celebration of the Holy Mass was presided over by Fr. Gabby. A simple salu-salo followed after. * * * * * * * *
BALIK-HANDOG SA PAROKYA Getting Better By: Shirley Anne Syfu
It’s really heartwarming to know that despite the hardships experienced in 2011 brought about by rising cost of prime commodities, natural disasters; political bickering and many others, still many of us have stayed committed in giving love offerings monthly. According to an article authored by Bo Sanchez, Tithing is like planting seeds. You don't wait for good times before planting seeds but sow in times of famine.
It's the only way to break the cycle of poverty. TITHING IS A DECLARATION OF ABUNDANCE BELIEVING THAT GOD'S BLESSINGS WILL FLOW BACK TO YOU A HUNDREDFOLD.
Let me repeat what the Bible says in Malachi, "Put me to the test and I will open the windows of heaven and I will pour out on you in abundance all kinds of good things." those alone will suffice to make us give, and give more knowing that it will all come back to us. Last year I am so proud to report that yours truly together with all the other tithing collectors: Lennie Lorenzo, Aida Baldos, Edelman Bolos, Minda Villegas, Celia Castro and Gege Comaling, Jes Ala, Dale Bascon, Liza Lontoc, Aileen Sacdalan, Nory Anonuevo, Edith Villanueva, Ogie Gutierrez and Edwin Cordovilla were able to collect from all the wonderful and generous parishioners a total of Php.591,274.00. Thank you so much to everyone who contributed to the success of this balk-handog. This also comes with a prayer to those who have been lukewarm (parishioners & st.coordinators) to heed the call right now for tomorrow may never come for us. Let us set aside our share monthly no matter how small it maybe for you. No amount is too small or too little for as long as the giver does it wholeheartedly. May we all experience abundance in 2012!
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Bili Ko, Tulong Ko One way of serving our Lord is by sharing our God-given talents to something helpful. This inspired some of our parishioners to share their skills, time and efforts by selling some of their hand & homemade goods like food, drinks & religious items. Some old books, toys, decorations & for personal use items were also available. The Communication Ministry led the weekend market together with some of the committed church organizations and parishioners. For 11 weeks from October to December, the group was able to raise P17,392. We are so grateful to all those who participated in the fund raising project and for all those parishioners who bought our goods. The money raised will be added to our church renovation project.