Solemnity of the Divine Mercy By: Pisha Banaag

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1 We Care Because We Pray Sunday of Divine Mercy April 8, 2018 Solemnity of the Divine Mercy By: Pisha Banaag Divine Mercy Sunday is celebrated on the 2nd Sunday of Easter. Based on a devotion to the Divine Mercy coming from documented revelations of Jesus to St. Faustina Kowlaska, it was declared a part of the official Church Calendar by Pope John Paul II when he canonized St. Faustina in He emphasized its importance in the context of resurrection during Easter naming Divine Mercy as the Easter gift that the Church receives from the risen Christ and offers to humanity. As recorded by St. Faustina in her diary, Jesus makes several promises of Grace and Mercy in relation to the Feast of Divine Mercy. One in particular is where Jesus offers us the total forgiveness of all sins and punishment to any soul who goes to Confession and receives Him in Holy Communion on that day. This means that these souls will immediately after death go to Heaven without suffering in Purgatory or without going to Hell. Likewise, plenary indulgences are also granted to Catholics who recite specifi c prayers on that day. Perhaps the most recognized image of the Divine Mercy is a depiction of Jesus based on a vision that St. Faustina had in He is shown as raising His right hand in blessing and pointing His left hand on His chest. From His left hand are two rays one red, which represents the blood of Jesus (the Life of Souls) and one pale blue, which represents water (with justify souls) -- often with the words Jesus, I trust in You at the bottom of the image. Beyond the Feast, devotees of the Divine Mercy can celebrate their devotion in other ways. These practices include the Divine Mercy Novena, the Chaplet of Divine Mercy (a series of prayers similar to the Rosary) and the Hour of Great Mercy (a time of prayer celebrated at 3 PM). Author s own picture when she visited the Divine Mercy Shrine in CDO in 2014 Santuario de San Antonio Parish Forbes Park, Makati City Tel. nos.: / 31

2 PARISH BULLETIN SUNBURN, SWEAT, AND SORENESS AT THE SHRINE OF THE DIVINE MERCY By: Elise P. Yabut Paint an image according to the pattern you see, with the inscription Jesus, I trust in You. He then went on to say that He wanted this image venerated in the chapel at the convent and then throughout the world. My face was sunburnt because of the scorching sun. My legs were sore because of all the walking in my journey. My clothes were all sweaty and wrinkled because of the crowds -- of different colors and shapes of people -- from all over the world. Yet these were not the focus of my journey this day. The Shrine of Divine Mercy in Kraków, Poland is the center of the message of God s Mercy. In its heart stands the chapel where the miraculous image of Merciful Jesus and the tomb of St. Faustina are to be found. The miraculous image of Merciful Jesus -- which was blessed by Sister Faustina s spiritual director on the fi rst Sunday after Easter is based on the Christological apparitions of Jesus reported by Saint Faustina Kowalska, known as the Apostle of Mercy. In my journey to the Shrine of the Divine Mercy last July 2016 for World Youth Day in Poland, I remember the beautiful, pure architecture of the Shrine made just for the Divine Mercy. The serene faces and stories on the different patron saints on poster; the faces of the pilgrims showcasing their great Faith -- the sight of them kneeling down on the fl oor and praying with tears in their eyes amidst hundreds of other Catholics; the gathering of different Catholics all over the world -- just to receive the graces of seeing the image of the Divine Mercy, inspired my own Faith. All this, for a marvelous painting of Jesus, with the inscription, Jesus, I trust in You -- the Divine Mercy. This sight made all the sunburn, the sweat, and the soreness of my body worth it. 2 Zoe Gonzales (left) and Elise Yabut (right) with a cardboard cut-out of Sr. Faustina Elise Yabut (left) and Zoe Gonzales (right) with the Shrine of Divine Mercy in the background

3 Forgiveness as a Grace from God By: Joyce Maglaque April 8, 2018 In 2014, sometime after my father completed chemotherapy, an alleged syndicate group, consisting of our former household help, attempted to extort money from our family, lest they would slander my father s name. Members of the law enforcement were apparently involved in the group. Processing the situation, I reeled in anger: at our community for allowing the group to reside there and our local government for the injustice. I abhorred our neighbors for gossiping about my family, especially since they also served Mass with my father. At work, my initial passion and excitement as a fi rst year Resident in Psychiatry diminished, and I did my duties begrudgingly, just meeting the bare minimums. I asked myself, What can a resident-in-training, who is on duty most of the time, earning minimum wage, do to help why am I so helpless? Soon, I also questioned God Why did You let this happen? I asked my dad why he continues serving in Mass despite what happened. He admitted that it was hard, but what else can he do than to have Faith and look at Jesus as an example: Jesus experiences were unjust, yet He still found it in His heart to pray and forgive people. I was speechless. I never realized how hatred could devour me. I kept thinking, It is easy to forgive but hard to forget. I then realized: a) Forgiveness is a purposeful act. It is not passive but rather, a process and a commitment to that process. My dad was able to move on because of his intent to eventually forgive. To forgive, I realized that I should fi rst have the grace of humility, which enabled me to believe that each of us is capable of committing wrongdoings and likewise capable of good acts and forgiving. I recognized the importance of understanding one s context and differentiating the act from the actual person (i.e. Our maid is not all bad). I also realized that we all carry our own crosses and no one is entitled to a life without challenges. b) Forgiveness is a grace from God. Who else can we hold on to in situations like these? Holding on to the anger made me at odds with myself, and the only way to attain peace was to return to God. Not wanting to forgive also isolated myself from God; Jesus life was full of tribulations and injustice from other people, yet He still forgave them. c) Forgiveness alleviates the burden in our souls. With this experience, I realized that holding on to anger made me angry with myself. I saw how anger impacted my work and also refl ected how disillusioned I became with people and life in general. I was wrong to harbor negative feelings towards God, towards my Parish and for my inauthentic patient care. When I committed to forgive and patiently allowed myself to go through the process, I became softer and more attuned with life again, allowing me to experience life in all its color. Slowly, accepting what happened and turning to the Father helped in coping with the situation. Letting go was freeing. I also learned not to judge the world as a dichotomy but also to look always at how all of us have the capacity to do good as well. Santuario de San Antonio Pastoral Team Fr. Baltazar A. Obico, OFM - Guardian Fr. Reu Jose C. Galoy, OFM - Vicar Provincial, Parish Priest Fr. Judee Mar Maquinad, OFM - Bursar Fr. Jesus E. Galindo, OFM - Member Fr. Efren C. Jimenez, OFM - Member RDIP - PB Editorial Team & General Information Marie Tycangco - Head, RDIP-PB/Editor-in-Chief Javier Luis Gomez - Asst. Editor/Writer Ramon M. Ong - Asst. Editor Dennis Montecillo - Asst. Editor/Writer Clarisse Gomez - Asst. Editor/Writer Ervin Co - Asst. Editor/Writer Pisha Banaag - Asst. Editor/Writer Peachy Maramba - Contributor Lianne Tiu - Contributor Conchitina Bernardo - Contributor Monica Madrigal - Contributor Jeannie Bitanga - Website Administrator Alexa Montinola - Asst. Website Administrator Edward Lu - Art & Design Colorplus Production Group Corp. - Production Santuario de San Antonio Parish Center Office Tel. nos / 31 ssap_info@yahoo.com Website: Website webi@ssaparish.com Parish Pastoral Council Jun Rodriguez President Girlie Sison Vice President Marie Tycangco Secretary 3

4 PARISH BULLETIN Holy Week Activities Lenten Talk: Jesus and the Jewish Roots of the Eucharist Visita Iglesia: Laguna 4

5 CWL Selling of Palms Holy Week Activities April 8, 2018 Palm Sunday Procession PALM SUNDAY Blessing of Palms HOLY WEDNESDAY Shroud of Turin 5

6 PARISH BULLETIN HOLY THURSDAY Holy Week Activities Mass of the Lord s Supper Chrism Mass at Manila Cathedral Mass Presiders: Fr. Judee Mar Maquinad and Fr. Jamil Albert Washing of the Feet: 12 Apostles (L-R) Belen Salano, Helene Uy, Caron Macasaet, Lucille Villanueva, Dora Cantada, Ato Gelano, Nelia Navarrete, Mari Lina, Inday Mallari, Totoy Abiog, Rocky Chan, Sean Canon 6 Offertory: Ricky, Girlie, Anton and Alyssa Sison Coro de San Antonio

7 Holy Week Activities April 8, 2018 Procession of the Blessed Sacrament to Altar of Repose Altar of Repose Vigil GOOD FRIDAY Stations of the Cross: Urdaneta Village 7

8 PARISH BULLETIN Holy Week Activities 7 Last Words Presider: Fr. Efren Jimenez Sharers (L-R): Jerry Tiu, Roila Borres, Chips Guevarra, Aissa Montecillo, Guila Maramba, Dedette Gamboa, Alo Gelano Celebration of the Passion of the Lord Mass Presiders: Fr. Jesus Galindo, Fr. Baltazar Obico, Fr. Judee Mar Maquinad and Fr. Efren Jimenez Veneration of the Cross Santo Entierro Procession: Dasmariñas Village 8

9 Holy Week Activities April 8, 2018 EASTER VIGIL Blessing of Fire Lighting of Paschal Candle Vigil Mass EMHC The Risen Lord 9

10 PARISH BULLETIN Holy Week Activities Blessed Mother Easter Salubong Risen Christ Encuentro Angels 10 Coro de San Antonio

11 April 8, 2018 LEASE / SALE FORBES DASMA URDA SAN LO BEL AIR MAGA CONNIE PERIQUET GATMAITAN CYNTHIA GATMAITAN MENCHACA TELS.: CELL (0917) /F SEDCCO BLDG., RADA ST., LEGASPI VILL., MAKATI CITY Jesus, I trust in You 11

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