Sinag ala VOICE OF HOPE
DIOCESE OF CUBAO
KARITON NI KIKO, UPM
FASTING, ABSTINENCE:
suspends public masses
visit OLHP
explained
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The Official Newsletter of Our Lady of Hope Parish | Vol. 2 Issue No. 1 | January - March 2020 OLHP FRONTLINERS Volunteers of Oplan Damayan Project practice social distancing after distributing monetary aid to members of the Bagong Pag-asa community Photos from Cecille Perias
Oplan Damayan Project initiated by MARY JEANNETH E. TENA
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he parish launched the "Oplan Damayan Project", through the leadership of our parish administrator, Rev. Fr. Raymond Joseph L. Arre and our resident guest priest, Fr. Dick Rocha, last March 25 to 26. The project was organized in partnership with Caritas Manila and was supported by the parish's ministries and organizations. Due to the enhanced community quarantine amid the COVID-19
pandemic, livelihoods of the community members are limited. With this, the parish came up with the Oplan Damayan Project, which aims to help those who are in need of support and additional aid. Gift certificates were distributed by the volunteers around Barangay Bagong Pag-asa including families who live along Mindanao Avenue. A total of 571 gift certificates were
distributed where the families received either P1,000 or P500. The gift certificates were opted to be given instead of grocery items because of the urgent need of the community. "Maraming indigent families ang barangay natin at hindi lahat nararating ng tulong," Cecille Perias, the point person for distribution, reported. She also said the team allotted 1-2 hours per day for the house-to-house aid delivery.
NEWS
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FROM DUST TO DUST Fray Owen marks a parishioner's forehead with ash Photos by: Arah Jodelle Jamandra
OLHP observes Cubao Ash Wednesday protocol by ARAH JODELLE JAMANDRA
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he parish complied with the instructions released by the Office of the Bishop of Diocese of Cubao wherein the parish priests and administrators are left with the discretion to have the ashes either imposed on the forehead or sprinkled on the crown of the head on Ash Wednesday, as a precaution to reduce the risk of transmission of the COVID-19 virus. According to the circular letter released by the Bishop, the choice of ash imposition should be done “with the knowledge of the situations in their respective parishes and communities”. With this, several lay ministers were designated to sprinkle ashes on the crown of the head should parish-
ioners opt not to have their foreheads marked. Bishop Ongtioco encouraged the idea of ash sprinkling to avoid contact. "This practice is done in the Old Testament as well as in Italy, and in some countries in Latin America," he added. From an earlier letter released by the Bishop, the faithful are encouraged to have little-to-no contact during Church activities -- proper communion by hands, usage of protective cloth during confessionals, and for Ash Wednesday, the option of sprinkling of ashes on the bumbunan -- to prevent the spread of the infectious virus which entered the country last January.
Sto. Niño images and children, blessed by ANNE RAEVER BENAVIDEZ
L NIÑO JESUS Sto Nino images blessed before the start of the mass Photo from OLHP Page
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ast January 19, the Feast of the Sto. Niño was celebrated in OLHP by blessing images of the baby Jesus and children. The feast, widely famous in the country especially in Cebu (known as Sinulog), is celebrated every third Sun-
Ash being sprinkled on the crown of the head
day of January and even though it is not the patron saint of the parish, activities were prepared to celebrate it. Before the start of each mass, people who brought images of the Sto. Niño were asked to come forward. The presiding priest went down from the altar to bless the images with holy water and a prayer to the child Jesus. At the end of the mass, succeeding the prayer after communion, children were called for another blessing with holy water and prayers. OLHP NEWSLETTER
NEWS
SINAGTALA VOL 2 ISSUE 1 CUBAO CATHEDRAL Clergy and consecrated persons attending mass at the Immaculate Conception Cathedral of Cubao Photo by: Arah Jodelle Jamandra
Sinag ala VO L II | ISS UE NO. 1 JANUARY - MARCH 2 02 0
Newsletter Staff and Contributors
Diocese of Cubao suspends public masses
Arah Jodelle T. Jamandra EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Marie Faye B. Fontano ASSOCIATE EDITOR
by AGUIDENE RAMOS
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ollowing the statement issued by the government on the country’s CoVid-19 situation and measures to halt the transmission of the disease, the Diocese of Cubao and its parishes have suspended the public celebration of masses effective March 14. This is in accordance with the government’s imposition of community quarantine in Metro Manila and recommendation to suspend all mass gatherings and observe social distancing. In our parish, various activities have also been cancelled such as the Lenten Recollections and other important activities of the Parish lined up for Holy Week. While the Church is faced with this unexpected situation, the ordained
Quote of the
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ministers will continue to say mass privately and pray for the intentions of the community. Live streaming of masses at different parishes are also made available for the faithful to participate in. In the Pastoral Letter of Cubao Bishop Honesto F. Ongtioco, he urged the faithful to cooperate and continue to pray especially in this time of difficulty. He also requested to join them in praying of the Oratio Imperata against the COVID-19. COVID-19 is an infectious disease that can affect the respiratory function of humans. As of 31 March 2020, the total number of confirmed COVID-19 positive cases in the country is 2,084 (DOH, 2020).
Anne Raever D. Benavidez Jolina F. Fajardo Jomarife E. Gokong Ella Laine D. Morales Mary Aguidene F. Ramos Mary Jeanneth E. Tena WRITERS
Clarisse Jel U. Ablaza LAYOUT ARTIST
Mara Izabella P. Alipio SPONSORSHIP COORDINATOR
Rev. Fr. Raymond Arre PARISH ADMINISTRATOR
"Sa ating paglalakbay, kahit na mahirap, ang kailangan lamang tayo po ay attached, laging nakahawak, kaisa kay Kristo at tiyak kung kasama s’ya, magtatagumpay tayo araw-araw." - Bishop Honesto F. Ongtioco, from "Honest Words" for the 2nd week of Lent
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NEWS
VALENTINE'S WINNER Cenacle Prayer Group with their winning candidate Sis. Cristina Panganiban and Fr. Raymond Photo from: OLHP Page
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he Amazing Lolo or Lola 2020, OLHP’s annual fund-raising activity, had its first and second canvassing last February 15 and March 14 respectively. For the first canvassing, the Amazing Lola Valentine is Sis. Cristina Panganiban of the Cenacle Prayer Group. They were able to sell tickets amounting to P100,016 and the total collection of all the ministries and organizations was P291,601. The Amazing Lolo Summer is Bro. Eric Lampas of the Extraordinary
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Amazing Lolo or Lola canvassing, launched by MARIE FAYE FONTANO
Ministers of the Holy Communion. The organization’s sold tickets amounted to P109,106 and the total amount collected was P266,566. This year’s fundraising is similar to the past year’s event Mr. or Ms. Our Lady of Hope, and also has four canvassings. But for this year, the candidates are our beloved grandfathers and grandmothers. The winner for each canvassing is determined by the number of tickets sold by the ministry or organization. The proceeds from this activity will be
used for the renovation of the parish’s facilities. PPC Chaircouple Bro. Jonathan and Sis. Cristy Limpiada expressed their gratitude to everyone who participated in the canvassings. "Lubos po kaming nag papasalamat sa patuloy na pag suporta ng mga PPC Organization Heads, at kanilang mga candidates," they added. The Amazing Lolo or Lola Easter Canvassing will be held on April 18, and the final canvassing will be on May 16.* *to be rescheduled
Sinagtala scribes train under TMG
by ELLA MORALES
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SINAGTALA MEETS TMG Group photo of Sinagtala and TMG with Fr. Raymond; writers doing a news lead exercise Photos by: Arah Jodelle Jamandra and Marie Fontano
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he staff of the OLHP newsletter, Sinagtala, underwent a journalism workshop from the editorial staff of The Marian Gazette (TMG), March 1. The training was conducted by Ms. Joana Marie Olivare, adviser of the Immaculate Conception Cathedral School’s publication, TMG, together with her editors and head layout artist. Before the workshop began, Fr. Raymond Arre, the OLHP administrator gave his opening remarks and discussed the training’s objectives. He organized the said activity in hopes of further enhancing the skills of the rela-
tively new staff. "I've always wanted the parish to have its own newsletter, and with this training, I hope the staff gains more insight on writing and layouting the news," he added. As a starting activity, Ms. Olivare let the Sinagtala staff be familiarized with the parts of the newsletter. Afterwards, she lectured about news writing and feature writing while the layout artists conducted a separate training in another room. Every after discussion, the staff were given writing exercises to apply their learnings. OLHP NEWSLETTER
NEWS
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Tala Making Contest Winners 1st Place Pamayanan 2 (Tiyaga at Sipag)
2nd Place Pamayanan 7 (Magkaisa)
4th Place Pamayanan 9 (Luwalhati)
5th Place Pamayanan 6 (Maralita ng P6)
3rd Place Pamayanan 3 (Families) 6th Place Pamayanan 5 (Lindo & John 2)
Kariton ni Kiko, UPM visit OLHP by EVANGELINE ROSIMO
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A WEEK OF UPM Kariton ni Kiko parked inside the parish; UPM Vicariate holds meeting to discuss COVID-19 Photos by: Arah Jodelle Jamandra and Sis. Eva Rosimo
he Kariton ni Kiko arrived with Fr. Robert Reyes, Urban Poor Ministry head, leading a group of parishioners in a procession from the Sto. Nino Parish Shrine in Bago Bantay to Our Lady of Hope Parish, morning of March 6. The group was welcomed by PPC officers led by Bro. Jonathan and Sis. Cristy Limpiada and Bro. Leo Gonzales, the new UPM OLHP Coordinator. Fr. Robert presided over the 6:30am mass after which a simple breakfast was prepared. It was followed by a brief orientation, where it was mentioned that this year is the second year of the UPM's establishment and
that the ministry needs more initiative and concerted effort. Upon request of Fr. Robert, a Vicariate UPM meeting was held on March 10, where it was discussed how the ministry could help the poor communities with regards to preventing the spread of COVID-19 and how they will coordinate with DOH and LGUs. Fr. Robert also mentioned that he has plans of installing Kariton ni Kiko in every Vicariate because at present, only one Kariton is going around the 48 parishes of the Diocese of Cubao. Should this materialize it would be easier to monitor the situation in the Vicariates.
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FEATURE
SINAGTALA VOL 2 ISSUE 1
SAVING SACRIFICE
Parishioners line up to offer their Saving Sacrifice pouches Photos by: Arah Jodelle Jamandra
Fasting, Abstinence: explained by ELLA MORALES
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ut when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to others that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. (Matthew 6:17-18) During Lenten Season, the Catholics are challenged to do the practices of praying, fasting, abstinence, and the other acts of penance. Oftentimes, Catholics still get confused with the definition of fasting and abstinence. Fasting refers to reducing your meal every Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. People who are 18 – 59 years old are required to fast and only sick people are excused. On the other hand, abstinence is completely refraining from eating meat every Ash Wednesday, all
Fridays of Lent, and Good Friday. It could also mean curbing oneself from doing vices. In OLHP, there is a project called Saving Sacrifice pouch, where one can
This Lenten Season is also a good time to ponder about life. put their savings collected by abstaining from spending, and these savings will be given to a chosen charity by the parish. This Lenten Season is also a good
time to ponder about life. In this era where anyone can be easily distracted by technology, one may choose to abstain from using social media, and focus more on things that matter. We can also abstain from "every form of evil" (1 Thessalonians 5:22) -from being impatient to being calm and careful, from being ungrateful to being appreciative, from being hateful to being loving. Regardless of how we celebrate Lenten season, what matters the most is how we value this time to reinvigorate our spirituality and to be more connected with Jesus who sacrificed His life for us. Have you decided on what you are willing to penance on? Can you continue the changes you made for yourself even when it’s not Lent anymore?
THY WILL BE DONE
Churchgoers pray the Lord's Prayer during the Mass of the Lord's Supper.
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OLHP NEWSLETTER
FEATURE
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Senakulo: Christ’s Life on the Streets by JOLINA FAJARDO
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ifferent individuals perform various rituals and other forms of sacrifices to show repentance for their sins. One of those forms of sacrifices is senakulo, which originated from the Spanish word cenákulo meaning “cenacle,” or the place where Jesus celebrated the Last Supper with his disciples. It is a play that depicts the life, suffering, and death of Jesus Christ based on the events from the Old and New testament. There are developed versions of the senakulo that run for only one or two hours. They may be presented in different types of locale: on the traditional stage, on the streets, in a chapel, or out in the open. Outdoor senakulo or street-play parades a figure of Jesus carrying the
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KRUS NG PAG-ASA
For the first time, OLHPYM performed Senakulo along the streets of Brgy. Bagong Pag-asa. Photos by: Arah Jodelle Jamandra
cross through the street. This certain type of senakulo has become one of the highlights during Lenten season which is participated in by many devotees. Last year, the OLH Parish Youth Ministry, then led by coordinator Cecille Perias, performed their very first street-play, titled "Krus ng Pag-asa", that took place along the roads of the barangay. Senakulo is not just a play depicting the life, suffering, and death of Christ but it also shows the significance and essence of Christianity. It serves as a gentle reminder for us of how God loved us and protected us in any way possible -- even sacrificing His life to save us from our sins. Note: This year's Senakulo was scheduled to be performed on Holy Monday, but due to the enhanced community quarantine, the activity is cancelled, along with other Holy Week activities, to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
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FEATURE
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Nazareno and the promise of redemption by JOLINA FAJARDO
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aith. Hope. Devotion. These are the words that best describe the Filipino Catholics' passion for their adoration of the Black Nazarene. This life-size statue of Jesus is carved from mesquite wood by an anonymous Mexican sculptor and arrived in Manila in the mid 1600s, and is currently enshrined in a minor basilica named after it. The said statue has survived the blazing fires that destroyed the church twice, two earthquakes, the floods of numerous typhoons and bombings during World War II. Pope Innocent X specially recognized the Philippines’ strong devotion to the Black Nazarene of Manila in 1650. Its feast is celebrated every 9th of January commemorating the anni-
versary of the statue’s solemn transfer and enshrinement from San Nicolás de Tolentino Church in Intramuros to its current location. This feast is called Traslacion, (Spanish for “transfer”) where thousands of devotees gather together to celebrate. The devotees view this procession as a way to participate in the suffering of our Lord and to repent for their committed sins. Filipino clergy variously describe the devotion to the Nazareno as admirable and pious reflections of faith. Monsignor Ding Coronel, the rector at Quiapo’s Basilica Minor, has been a witness to numerous Traslacions and acknowledges the devotees’ resilience each time they join the grueling procession. “The Nazareno eases the pain of the Filipinos: the aches, the hurt,” he affirmed.
NUESTRO PADRE The Black Nazarene at the Quirino Grandstand before the Traslacion Photo by: Arah Jodelle Jamandra
DEFENDING THE FAITH
Kwarenta sa Kwaresma Written by JOMARIFE GOKONG
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ng Kuwaresma ay inaalala ng mga Katoliko taun-taon sa loob ng 40 araw: ito ay nagsisimula sa "Ash Wednesday" o sa pagpapahid ng abo, hanggang sa unang araw ng Semana Santa at nagtatapos naman sa "Black Saturday" kung saan pinaghahandaan ang "Easter Sunday" o Linggo ng Pagka buhay ng ating Panginoong Hesukristo. Madaming ibinabato ang ating mga kapatid sa ibang pananampalataya tungkol sa pagdiriwang natin nito, atin itong sasagutin gamit ang bibliya at iba pang reperensya. Ang 40 days na pag-aayuno at pangingilin ay may basehan sa Bibliya; noong si Hesus ay nag-ayuno sa loob ng 40 araw at 40 gabi sa Mateo 4:2 ("At
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nang siya'y makapagayunong apat na pung araw at apat na pung gabi, sa wakas ay nagutom siya."). Ang pag-aayuno ng ating Panginoong Hesukristo sa loob ng 40 araw at 40 gabi ay may mas malalim pang kahulugan. Ito’y isang katuparan sa mga kaganapan sa bibliya kung saan ilang beses ginamit ng Panginoong Dyos ang mga numero na ito -- ang numero 40 ay sumisimbolo ng sinaunang paniniwala ng paghuhukom, espiritwal na pagsubok at paglalakbay. Pagpapatunay rito ay ang paggamit ni Apostol San Lucas sa sulat nya sa libro ng Mga Gawa 1:3. Nang nagpakita ang Panginoong Hesus sa mga apostol, isinulat din ni San Lucas sa Lucas 24:50-53 na 40 araw ang lumipas mula nang siya namatay hanggang sa Kanyang pag-akyat sa langit o "ascension". Ang bilang na 40 ay nagpapakita ng katuparan sa mga nauna ng kwento
sa lumang tipan dahil una na itong ginamit ng Diyos sa mga tao bilang katibayan niya sa atin, tulad ng Genesis 7:4, Exodo 24:18, Mga Bilang 13:25, Deuteronomio 8:2, 1 Hari 19:8, at Jonas 3:4. Ang pag-aayuno sa loob ng 40 araw ay isang lumang tradisyon na ginagawa na ng mga sinaunang Kristiyano at ipinagpapatuloy natin hanggang sa kasalukuyan, na sana ay hindi mawala hanggang sa susunod sa henerasyon. Palaging nagpapaalala ang Simbahan tuwing Kuwaresma na talikuran ang mga kasalanan at pagsisihan natin ito. Ito ay panahon din ng pagpapatawad at paghingi ng kapatawaran. Ito ay paalala sa ating mga Kristiyano na ang ating Panginoong Hesukristo ay nagpakasakit sa krus at namatay dahil sa ating mga kasalanan.
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REFLECTION
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His Word in our Hearts by Fr. Raymond Joseph L. Arre
Passion on a Palm-less Sunday
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ormally, we begin every Holy Week with palms in our hands and the priest blessing them with holy water. But we are not in normal times. We have been in Enhanced Community Quarantine for several weeks. Physical distancing has become the rule of thumb. On Palm Sunday of 2020 there will be no exuberant waving of palms, much less people inside our churches waving them. There will only be a parish church with the priest and a few ministers to begin Holy Week. When Jesus entered Jerusalem to begin his passion, suffering and death on Golgotha, they waved palm branches to welcome Jesus because of the miracles he performed. They saw Jesus as one who will free them from the Roman occupation. They were acclaiming Jesus for the wrong reasons. But they were right in acclaiming him as they waved their palm branches for Jesus would be victorious at the end of his passion. In the days that would follow, it will end not only in his death and crucifixion. But through it, will be victorious in
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his rising from the dead. The passion of Jesus, not only the palms of adulation, will usher us into the “Mahal na Araw.” The next time we shall hear the passion story of Jesus will be on Good Friday. As early as now, we are being led to enter into the saving sacrifice of Jesus on the cross. It is our hope and our salvation. As we enter Holy Week, let’s not forget that it’s not only Palm Sunday but Passion Sunday as well. Our current situation of the COVID-19 pandemic places as in a situation of seeing the suffering of so many people all over the world. People are dying alone in hospitals without any family members to be by their side. We see the sacrifices and pain of health workers not only because of lack of protection for themselves, not a few of them also dying, but even the supplies needed to help those who are COVID positive and on the brink of death. We find so many people struggling with anxiety and depression out of fear and uncertainty. In short, the passion that Jesus underwent people
of all nations and races are now going through. As we enter Holy Week, we see so much suffering around us. Pope Francis describes this as being in a storm. “Like the disciples in the Gospel we were caught off guard by an unexpected, turbulent storm. We have realized that we are on the same boat, all of us fragile and disoriented, but at the same time important and needed, all of us called to row together, each of us in need of comforting the other” (Urbi et Orbi, 2020). But in and through such suffering and storm, we also see so much passion, so much love. Just as the passion and death of Jesus on the cross tell us what happened out of love, we see love and commitment, passion and hope intertwined as our world and humanity go through our own passion and suffering. Our hands might be empty of palms but we must always have in our heart flowing through our hands the passionate love of Jesus for others. Amen.
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REFLECTION
by Fr. Raymond Joseph L. Arre
SINAGTALA VOL 2 ISSUE 1
Maalaala mo Kaya? N
aalala mo pa ba noong tayo’y.. ?” When a conversation starts with those words, you can be sure that a trip down memory lane will follow. It can be a happy or sad memory. It can be painful or a peaceful memory. A memory is a past event remembered with a personal meaning. For most ot us right now, our memories are about the times before the lockdown due to COVID-19. What about Jesus and his disciples? What was their memory? What did they remember about Jesus that first Maundy Thursday? And Jesus, what did he remember about his disciples during that evening when they had their last meal together? His disciples remembered Jesus getting up from the table, removing his outer garment, wrapping a towel around his waist and started to wash their feet one by one, drying their feet with the towel. Perhaps they vaguely remembered the words of Jesus telling them that, “You call me Master and Lord, and rightly so. If I, your Lord and master, has washed your feet, you also must wash each other’s feet. What I have done you also must do.” Jesus asked them if they understood what he has done, i.e., washed their feet? It is safe to say they did not. Peter even protested and even asked the Lord not only his feet should be washed but his hands and head as well! The meaning was totally lost to him and probably the other disciples as well. What they needed to remember was Jesus completely put himself at their service. Thus, they have to serve others with the same generosity. They have to remember that Jesus washing their feet encompasses all the many ways that love can be shown to others. Concretely, this can mean taking care of an elderly in the family or someone who is terminally or has been severely sick for a long time. It may mean stretching our patience with a teenager in our family who seem not care at all. It may mean giving more of our time to
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the work of our parish or giving more financial contribution to its needs. What about Jesus, what did he remember about his disciples at their last supper? He probably remembered their feet. Yes, that’s right, their feet! They all had different kinds of feet: Feet thick with calluses, rough, tired; feet that was unsure where it wanted to go or feet eager, ready to move and act. Feet uncertain, doubtful and pulled back. Then followed by a nice looking feet, well rested and used to sandals, probably protected from the sun and hidden under a table like that of a tax collector. The next pair of feet was different. A foot was planted firmly yet the other foot was ready to flee. Does it want to stay or go? Is it the feet of one that would betray Jesus? He washed it with extra tenderness. One thing is sure, whatever kind of feet they had, Jesus washed all of them. He loved each of their feet, both sinner and saint alike. Although they did not understood right away the meaning of what Jesus did when he washed their feet, they would get it later, for they themselves would serve just as Jesus did, even unto death. They finally understood that when Jesus washed their feet, took off his outer garment and broke the bread to be shared, they realized it was the supreme act of humility. Jesus emptied himself and was exalted. He humbled himself and became a servant. Our 2020 Holy Thursday rituals is different. There is no ritual washing of the feet because there are no ‘apostoles.’ Actually, no one is attending the Evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper in any church except the priest and a few ministers because of the virus COVID-19. But that doesn’t mean washing each other’s feet as Jesus did which is loving service for others has also been suspended until further notice. Thankfully, our parishioners who volunteered in distributing food gift certificates to those most need in our parish have not
forgotten what Jesus did. Naalala nila ang ginawa ni Hesus at ito’y ipinagpaparuloy natin bilang isang Parokya. Today is Maundy Thursday. It comes from the Latin “mandatum” which means commandment. His commandment to his disciples, and to us by extension, is to love one another as he has loved us. The washing of the feet is just a dramatic way of telling us to remember his “mandatum.” In our current COVID-19 crisis, Pope Francis reminds us: “How many people every day are exercising patience and offering hope, taking care to sow not panic but a shared responsibility. How many fathers, mothers, grandparents and teachers are showing our children, in small everyday gestures, how to face up to and navigate a crisis by adjusting their routines, lifting their gaze and fostering prayer. How many are praying, offering and interceding for the good of all. Prayer and quiet service: these are our victorious weapons.” Even if we did not have the ritual washing of the feet now, what matters is making real and concrete the command of love. Sana’y maalala natin lagi ang kanyang ginawa at ipagpatuloy natin. Amen. OLHP NEWSLETTER
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akit ka mukhang Biyernes Santo? This Filipino expression needs no explanation to many of us. It’s about looking sad and glum as if the world has fallen upon us. It’s rooted on that first Good Friday on Golgotha, the place of skull, were Jesus was crucified and underwent excruciating suffering and pain. All human sinfulness and weakness seem to have decided to meet on that fateful day in that same place called Mt. Calvary: selfishness, envy, hatred, betrayal, murder, and many more! But why call it a Good Friday? For the Christian world, it is the commemoration of the crucifixion and death of Jesus, the son of God. There is nothing good about the murder and killing of Jesus by itself. There is nothing good about human wickedness and immorality. There is nothing good about the suffering and death of Jesus. For Jesus, they were not good things. He even prayed that if this cup of suffering be taken away from him! Our humanity would tell us to avoid pain and suffering at all cost. Why is it a Good Friday? Because Jesus showed we can take a different direction rather than just avoiding pain, suffering even death itself. Jesus is not saying they’re good and wonderful things. But he made the choice by taking upon himself what sin has done to us. Just like a sponge, Jesus has absorbed upon himself the effects of sin. He did not run away from suffering and death but took upon himself. In doing so, he washes away the sins of sinful humanity and changes them into loving compassion. That is why it is a Good Friday. And the cross has become the instrument that made such cleansing love possible. It is the nailing and death of Jesus on the cross that has transformed sin and evil into the saving love of God. Why is Good Friday good? Because Jesus is telling us that authentic love and hope can only be through what the cross represents and it includes suffering, pain and even death. Jesus showed us that trusting
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by Fr. Raymond Joseph L. Arre
REFLECTION
A truly Good Friday
God’s love is greater than death itself. That Friday was good because Jesus died. It was not an ending but the completion and beginning of something greater and fruitful for others. The words of Pope Francis about the cross are real and true: “We have an anchor: by his cross we have been saved. We have a rudder: by his cross we have been redeemed. We have a hope: by his cross we have been healed and embraced so that nothing and no one can separate us from his redeeming love. In the midst of isolation when we are suffering from a lack of tenderness and chances to meet up, and we experience the loss of so many things, let us once again listen to the proclamation that saves us: He is risen and is living by our side. The Lord asks us from his cross to rediscover the life that awaits us, to look towards those who look to us, to strengthen, recognize and foster the grace that lives within us”(Urbi et Orbi, 2020). Ang buong mundo ay nasa Biyernes Santo ngayon. Marami ang nalulungkot at naghihinagpis. Marami ng namatay dahil sa COVID-19. Marami rin ang nag-sakripisyo ng kanilang buhay at patuloy na sinasakripisyo ito sa paglilingkod para
ang iba ay mabuhay: medical personnel, grocery staff, food deliverers, government workers, parish volunteers, all reaching out to their neighbors in need. But precisely because of their witnessing and willingness to sacrifice their own lives, we realize why it’s a Good Friday. Love has conquered sin. We are not afraid anymore of death. We give the closing reflection to Pope Francis: “Embracing his cross means finding the courage to embrace all the hardships of the present time, abandoning for a moment our eagerness for power and possessions in order to make room for the creativity that only the Spirit is capable of inspiring. It means finding the courage to create spaces where everyone can recognize that they are called, and to allow new forms of hospitality, fraternity and solidarity. By his cross we have been saved in order to embrace hope and let it strengthen and sustain all measures and all possible avenues for helping us protect ourselves and others. Embracing the Lord in order to embrace hope: that is the strength of faith, which frees us from fear and gives us hope” (Urbi et Orbi, 2020). Amen.
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REFLECTION
by Fr. Raymond Joseph L. Arre
SINAGTALA VOL 2 ISSUE 1
The Darkness of Night Leads to the Light of a New Day
his night, is victory night: T Christus vincit, Christus regnat, Christus imperat! For us
Christians, this night is an amazing and exceptional night. But right now, it seems not to be the case. In my mind are the opening words of Pope Francis as he stood alone on that rainy, dark, empty vastness of St. Peter’s Square. He said: “Thick darkness has gathered over our squares, our streets and our cities; it has taken over our lives, filling everything with a deafening silence and a distressing void, that stops everything as it passes by; we feel it in the air, we notice in people’s gestures, their glances give them away. We find ourselves afraid and lost … all of us fragile and disoriented, but at the same time important and needed… each of us in need of comforting the other. On
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this boat… Just like those disci- and far as COVID-19 spreads not ples, who spoke anxiously with one only in the dark but also in the light voice, saying “We are perishing” of day? Less we forget, it was also at night that God, protecting his peoIn the Bible, night time always ple with a pillar of fire, divided the played a part that is both mysteri- sea into two and turned it into dry ous and memorable. In the very land so that the chosen people can first line of the book of Genesis, we be freed from their slavery. More are told that “darkness and chaos importantly, it was also at night, covered the face of the earth.” The between dusk and dawn, the tomb first Passover took place at night became empty and the resurrection wherein Yahweh pass through the of Jesus took place. land of Egypt that night and struck down all first born, both human This night is a special night and animals. Those with the blood but different from past Easter Vigil of the lamb on their doors were nights. We began this night withspared. In the New Testament, we out the blessing the fire from which are told that it was at night time we light the Paschal candle. Except that Judas went out to betray Je- for that little light, the priest and a sus. It was also at night that Peter few ministers, we entered a darkdenied Jesus three times. Don’t we ened, empty church still believing feel that way right now? Don’t we that Jesus is our light. Our readings see those things happening near have been shortened but they still OLHP NEWSLETTER
SINAGTALA VOL 2 ISSUE 1
reminded us how God continuously charted our salvation, beginning with creation and the fall of Adam and Eve, and with it, sin. And how he called Abraham and from him calls forth his descendants. We also heard how these descendants were enslaved and how God delivered them to freedom. Yet their hearts remained far from God. And so the prophets proclaimed God’s abiding forgiveness to his hard headed and hardhearted people.
by Fr. Raymond Joseph L. Arre
rious over death. And that is why St. Paul can say: “O death where is your power? O death where is you sting?” Thus, when the first Christians proclaimed their faith, it was all about the death and resurrection of Jesus because the resurrection is the Good News. Pope Francis tells us that “God is life and gives life, yet takes on the drama of death. Jesus…wanted to share in our pain for the death of people dear to us, and above all, He wished to demonstrate God’s dominion over This night doesn’t seem to be a death” (5th Sunday of Lent, Angegreat night. But it really still is. We lus address, Vatican City, 2020). call Easter night the holiest of all nights. This night tells us who we On this wonderful night, we really are and sums up our message keep in our hearts two powerful which says everything we want to images of that first Easter night. say about ourselves, about God and We keep in our heart the image about the kind of world we hope for of the women who first saw Jesus. and about Jesus, our Lord and Re- They were afraid no one will roll deemer. Jesus was born on a quiet the stone away for them when they Christmas night. But he came to do got to the tomb to anoint Jesus. But battle with the forces of darkness when they got there the stone was that holds us down: of sin, of hu- already rolled. God rolled it back man weakness, of selfishness, lack for them. What we cannot do, God of compassion, and even with death will do for us. itself. When he came, it seems that all the forces of evil came out to opThe victory we cannot win, pose him and do battle with him. Jesus has already won for us. The In all four Gospels, we find Jesus second image that we keep in our doing battle against the powers of heart is the image of Peter and darkness. When he encountered John running to the empty tomb. the evil of hunger, he multiplied John overtook Peter because he ran the loaves and fish. When he en- slower. Was it because of the memcountered the power of sickness, he ory of Peter’s triple denial of Jesus? offered healing. Face to face with Was the past holding him back? the evil of hatred, he gave forgive- And what made John ran faster? ness to those who were repentant. Was it because he remembered he To those possessed by evil spirits, is the disciple whom Jesus loved? Jesus offered freedom. But what is John knew well that Jesus loves that darkest power that frightens us him. In spite of not having seen the and makes us want to escape? The resurrected Jesus, without physical power of death! The same death proof, he went into the tomb that that has taken the lives of many and was empty. He saw and believed. continues to sow fear and threaten In both images, one thing becomes us during these difficult and des- clear: they chose what matters the perate times. most. They placed their faith, hope and love in the risen Christ. The final enemy that Jesus needed to fight was death itself. Amidst the fears and anxieties Jesus, by moving into death itself the world finds itself in right now, and struggled with dying, battled we are called to be like the womdeath itself. And in his resurrec- en disciples and the apostles Peter tion, proclaims that God was victo- and John: They chose the resurOLHP NEWSLETTER
REFLECTION
rected Lord. The challenge given by the Lord, says Pope Francis, is clear: “You are calling on us to seize this time of trial as a time of choosing. It is not the time of your judgement, but of our judgement: a time to choose what matters and what passes away, a time to separate what is necessary from what is not. It is a time to get our lives back on track with regard to you, Lord, and to others. We can look to so many exemplary companions for the journey, who, even though fearful, have reacted by giving their lives ...: doctors, nurses, supermarket employees, cleaners, caregivers, providers of transport, law and order forces, volunteers, priests, religious men and women and so very many others who have understood that no one reaches salvation by themselves” (Urbi et Orbi, 2020). To put faith in the promise of the risen Christ is easier when the light shines and all in the world is right and good. But, when darkness lingers on and the world seems unfriendly to us: when an unseen enemy and violence intimidate and destroy; when weakness and sin cause pain and uncertainty; when status and power are abused and exploited. At such times, which we relive unfortunately in our present time, we ask where God is! But message of Easter night to us is that it was in a moment of darkest anguish, when all looked lost, that Jesus’ victory was won. Let us trust in what God has done for us in the past. It will gives us courage and strength we need today to be believe in his promise that he will be with us always. The Risen Lord Jesus proclaims to all the world that sin does not conquer, that evil is not the winner, that light and life are truly victorious in the end. The darkness of night is over. The light of day has begun. A blessed Easter to all.
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Calendar of Activities
Legends:
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- Holy Week
- Octave of Easter
OLHP NEWSLETTER
Oratio Imperata against the spread of COVID-19 God our Father, we come to You in our need to ask Your protection against the COVID 19 that has disturbed and even claimed lives. We pray that You guide the people tasked to find cures for this disease and to stem its transmission. Protect the medical experts that they may minister to the sick with competence and compassion. We pray for those afflicted. May they be restored to health soon. Protect those who care for them. Grant eternal rest to those who have died. Give us the grace in this trying time to work for the good of all and to help those in need. We implore You to stop the spread of this virus and to save us from our fears.
Oplan Damayan Project
Grant all these through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son, who lives and reigns with You, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen. (Sub Tuum Praesidium) We fly to your protection, O Holy Mother of God. Do not despise our petition in our necessities, but deliver us always from all dangers, O glorious and blessed Virgin. Amen. Our Lady, Health of the sick, pray for us. Saint Raphael, the Archangel, pray for us. Saint Rock, pray for us. Saint Lorenzo Ruiz, pray for us Saint Pedro Calungsod, pray for us.
Sinag ala VOICE OF HOPE
Holy Week Facebook Live Schedule* Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion 10AM, April 5, 2020
Evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper 5:30PM, April 9, 2020
Easter Vigil Mass 5:30PM, April 11, 2020
Good Friday of the Passion of the Lord 3PM, April 10, 2020
Easter Sunday Mass 10AM, April 12, 2020
facebook.com/ourladyofhopeparishchurch *subject to change
The Official Newsletter of Our Lady of Hope Parish | Vol. 2 Issue No. 1 | January - March 2020 MOTHER OF HOPE Fr. Vhong blessing the image of Our Lady of Hope Photo by: Sis. Libay Maningas
OLHP celebrates 149th apparition feast by ARAH JODELLE JAMANDRA
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nnually on the 17th of January, the parish celebrates the feast of the apparition of its patroness, Our Lady of Hope. This year we commemorate the 149th anniversary of Our Lady's apparition in Pontmain, France. In previous years, prior to the actual date of apparition, novena masses were offered to OLH, but for this year, triduum masses were presided by three former parish priests: Rev. Fr. Arnel Re-
cinto, Rev. Fr. Alfredo Pascual Jr., and Rev. Fr. Joselito Irlandes. In their parting words, they each expressed their gratitude to the OLHP community for their constant support and hospitality. On the actual day of the feast, Fr. Vhong Turingan presided the Eucharistic Celebration. In his homily, he emphasized that we should always emulate Mary's qualities, and to constantly run to her when feeling hopeless.
Fr. Vhong then invited all parishioners who brought Our Lady of Hope images to have them blessed in front of the altar. To conclude the mass, he led the prayer to our patroness and sang Salve Regina while blessing Hope's side altar. The feast's celebration ended with a procession of the parish's original OLH image around the community.