ECHOES OF GOD S LOVE A Book Launching

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1 December 14, 2014 Forbes Park, Makati 3rd Sunday of Advent ECHOES OF GOD S LOVE A Book Launching ovember 30, 2014, Saturday, marked a milestone in the life of SSAP guest friarpriest, Fr. Robert Manansala, OFM. He launched his first book, Echoes of God s Love N (Homilies for Liturgical Cycle B) at the packed St. Bonaventure Room. The room was filled with parishioners, Franciscans, seminarians, family and friends, who came to show their love and support for Fr. Robert. Echoes of God s Love is a compilation of homilies for the Sundays and major Solemnities and Feastdays for the Liturgical Year Cycle B, which started with the first Sunday of Advent. Echoes of God s Love is meant for spiritual reading to accompany us in our spiritual journey towards God. It speaks to the heart about the amazing love of God. Further, it challenges us to respond to His love by the way we live and love. Despite Fr. Robert s hectic schedule, he was able to complete the book and launch it in time for Advent. Fr. Robert heart-warmingly thanked the people who have supported him to see this dream of his turn into reality. Fr. Robert happily signing purchased copies of his book. The official launch of the book were led by parishioners Mrs. Petrona Lim and Nanette Jalandoni. Assisting them were Ambassadors Howard Dee and Francisco del Rosario. All proceeds of the book sale and donations have been pledged for the Library Upgrade and Renovation project of the Our Lady of Angels Seminary-College. Interested parties may contact Bernadette Andulte at the parish office or visit the parish bookstore. This article was written with contributions from Jaja Ledesma and Fr. Robert Manansala, OFM. SUNDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2014 at 10:30 AM Parishioners Petrona Lim and Nanette Jalandoni led the cutting of ribbon of the first copy of Echoes of God s Love. Assisting them were Ambassadors Howard Dee and Francisco del Rosario. Fr. Robert giving a few words during the book launching. Petrona Lim proudly unveils the book as Nanette Jalandoni looks on.

2 Parish Bulletin SUNDAY GOSPEL REFLECTION By Fr. Jesús Galindo, OFM Third Sunday of Advent B Rejoice in the Lord Always A visiting tourist left his hotel room on a Sunday morning, looking for a church. He approached a policeman and asked him for directions to the nearest church. He thanked the policeman for the information and was about to walk off when he turned and asked, Chief, why have you recommended that particular church? It looks like a Catholic church. There must be other churches nearby that you could have recommended. The policeman smiled and replied, I m not a churchgoer myself, but I have noticed that the people who come out of that church are the happiestlooking people in town. I thought that would be the kind of church you would like to attend. [Could it be Santuario de San Antonio? Sana.] Today is Gaudete Sunday or Rejoice Sunday. Joy is all over the texts of today s Mass: Rejoice in the Lord always (entrance antiphon); enable us to attain the joys of so great a salvation (opening prayer); I rejoice heartily in the Lord (first reading); my soul rejoices in my God (responsorial psalm); rejoice always (second reading). It looks as if the Church wants us to take a break from our Advent penance although you wonder if any Advent penance is really going on, with all the Christmas shopping and Christmas parties going on! The first question that comes to mind is: Rejoice, why? What about? Do we have any good reasons to rejoice? What is it that makes us happy these 2 days? Hopefully not just the material frills and perks of the season, such as the Christmas bonus, the 13th month payment, gifts, vacation, extra food, etc. There must be better and deeper reasons for joy. (One of the first gifts I got this Christmas is a book entitled, 14,000 Things to Be Happy about. ) Today s Mass readings help us discover the true joy of the season. In the gospel we meet John the Baptist, a powerful voice and a powerful witness to Christ. People were drawn to him because of his austere lifestyle. He made a difference. As somebody once said, Do not give an explanation of your faith unless they ask you; but live in such a way that they will ask you. Hopefully we will arouse interest for being forgiving, generous, and honest in business and in politics. John the Baptist was thought to be the Christ, or perhaps Elijah, or the Prophet. However, he did not take advantage of the people s mistaken opinion about him. He knew his role and stuck to it. He was not the light, but only a witness to the light. He gave Christ the place of honor. That s it: Christ, at the very center of our life, at the center of our Christmas celebration; not overshadowed by Santa Claus, not drowned by the glitter of lights and décor, but outstanding and out-shining them all. He is the true source of our joy! In his first letter to the Thessalonians, St. Paul tells us to pray without ceasing. Amid the noises of the Christmas caroling and Christmas parties, we must strive to find some time and place for silence and prayer in order to keep in touch with the mystery. It will surely enhance the joy of our Christmas celebration. Finally, prophet Isaiah reminds us that we must provide reasons for joy to others. We must be messengers of joy: [The Lord] has sent me to bring glad tidings to the poor! Definitely, this reading puts our Christmas celebration in focus. Our Christmas will be truly happy and meaningful only to the extent that we bring happiness to others, and share with others God s blessings, just as God the Father has shared with us the most precious gift his only Son. Sharing is another name for Christmas. RANDOM THOUGHTS Voices from yesterday and today By: Peachy Maramba ST. MARY DI ROSA: Founder of Handmaids of Charity December 15 Mary di Rosa may not be well known among the congregation of religious women but she is better known as the founder of the Handmaids of Charity. Born on November 6, 1813 into a wealthy family at Brescia, Italy Mary even at an early age lived a prayerfilled and service-oriented life. Having lost her countess-mother when she was only eleven she decided to leave school when she reached 17 years to take over the running of her father s household. turn to page 3 Editorial Team & General Information Marilou Consing Editor in Chief Jeannie Bitanga Assistant Editor/Website Administrator Jojo Avila Montenegro Art & Design Colorplus Production Group Corp. Production Submit articles, pictures, announcements, notices to: ssappb@yahoo.com Deadline for submission is every Tuesday of the week. The Parish Bulletin reserves the right to edit articles for clarity and space. Santuario de San Antonio Pastoral Team Fr. Reu Jose C. Galoy, OFM Parish Priest Fr. Baltazar Obico, OFM Guardian Fr. Efren Jimenez, OFM Fr. Jesus Galindo, OFM Makati Medical Center Chaplain Fr. Serge Santos, OFM. Santuario de San Antonio Parish Center Office Tel. nos ssap_info@yahoo.com Website: Website webi@ssaparish.com Foundation website: Parish Pastoral Council Jayme Blanco President Edmund Lim Vice President Cristina Teehankee Secretary To submit articles/pictures to the Parish Bulletin/Website Please submit photos with your articles, if at all possible. Submit them by (not in paper form) with photos in.jpg format and a minimum photo file size of at least 80 KB (800 x 530 pixels). Articles submitted should be a minimum of 150 words and not more than 300 words. to: ssappb@yahoo.com

3 Random Thoughts...from page 2 As if that was not enough to keep her busy Mary, early inclined to a religious life, involved herself in caring for the spiritual needs of the female employees of her father s textile mill at Acquafredda and his estate at Capriano. Thus she organized retreats and spiritual missions for them. When a cholera epidemic broke out in 1836 Mary immediately offered her services ministering to the victims in the hospital at Brescia. Though not a trained nurse she nevertheless focused on the spiritual welfare of her patients. Seeing the plight of indigent and abandoned girls she at first supervised a workhouse for them. When she saw that they had no place to stay she even set up her own boarding house for them. Her next project was to start a school for deaf and mute girls which she eventually turned over to an order of nuns. During Mary s ten years of social and spiritual work she constantly read theology and studied sacred literature. By 1840 she finally decided to found a congregation of religious women to carry on the work she had found so fulfilling and rewarding. Aptly called the Handmaids of Charity the order was officially approved ten years later. Two years after Mary and 25 of her sisters took their vows. In the revolutionary and political wars that shook Europe in 1948 Mary and her companions worked in a military hospital even going to the extent of moving out into the battlefields to immediately care for the wounded where they had fallen. It is no wonder that Mary di Rosa is known as a forerunner to Florence Nightingale. It is a pity that only 3 years after her profession Mary, exhausted from her tireless labor, died peacefully. It is amazing that though Mary was never in robust health she managed to energetically do all the things she accomplished. It is said that she had a special devotion to the Crucified Christ who most likely gave her the fuel to keep her engine of charity going. The ABC s of Catholic Doctrine by Lianne Tiu Long line for Communion versus short line for confession: Have you ever observed that almost everyone at Sunday Mass goes to Holy Communion despite the small number of Confessions? A priest commented that either many people are ready for canonization or we have many sacrilegious Communions. Some people claim that they try to live a good and clean life; and they have nothing to confess. This is hard to believe because we are all sinnersthe only exceptions are Jesus and his Immaculate Mother. In this Advent season let the story of this saint inspire us to be involved in the needs of those around us especially those who are less fortunate than we are. Let the Crucified Christ give us the will to serve like Mary. She was canonized in SOURCES of REFERENCE: Butler s Lives of the Saints Vol. IV pp ; The Book of Saints p. 311; Pocket Dictionary of Saints p. 146; A Calendar of Saints p. 240; Illustrated Lives of the Saints Vol. II pp ; Saint Companions pp ; The Way of the Saints pp December 14, 2014 Some people believe that they can simply say sorry for their sins in the secrecy of their hearts; and God forgives. True, such is the case for venial sins. In fact there are many other ways for them to be forgiven without recourse to Confession, such as by prayer, good works, use of holy water, etc. However, as regards to mortal sins, it is the teaching of the Church that we must confess all our mortal sins before we can receive Communion. It is not enough to simply tell God that we are sorry; we have to confess them to a priest. This is how God wants it to be done. On Easter Sunday night, Jesus told his apostles: Whose sins you shall forgive, they are forgiven them; and whose sins you shall retain, they are retained. (John 20:23) The apostles (and the priests who would succeed them) would only know what sins to forgive or not when the sinner himself would tell them. We should not be afraid to go to Confession. It is not a horrible experience. A priest once said that if we want to see the power of this Sacrament, we should try sitting at the back of any church during confession. We will see sad people going in with their eyes downward, and cheerful people walking out with their heads held high. Miracles happen in this Sacrament. Another priest said that when a person goes to Confession, he sees a saint in the making. Even if the penitent keeps going back for Confession, it means he is trying to be a better person. Holy Eucharist and Confession are two great gifts from God. The Communion line may not equal the Confession line; as we do not have to precede every Communion with Confession. What is essential is that if we know we have committed a mortal sin, we must go to Confession before receiving Holy Communion. (Reference: Frequent Confession by Benedict Baur; My Side of the Confessional: What it is like for a Priest by Fr. Mike Schmitz; Gloria.tv The link between the Penitential Rite & the Gloria by Fr. Bill Casey) 3

4 Parish Bulletin 17-Dec-14 Leo A. Braganza & J. Erlinmay Roxas Talag 19-Dec-14 Miguel Luis M. Ferrer & Chiara Jaimee C. Fojas 23-Dec-14 Armando Casibang & Ma. Barbara Tarrosa 27-Dec-14 Francesco C. Britanico & Joanne Marie C. Gotianun, St. Jerome Emiliani St. Susana Parish, Ayala Alabang Muntinlupa 28-Dec-14 Jordan Nerizon Diola & Katherine Ignacio Buhain 28-Dec-14 Arturo L. Lazaro Jr & Maria Carla V. Datu 29-Dec-14 Syfeuang Maokhamphiou & Melissa Patricia Bautista Ong 03-Jan-15 Deogracias M. Natividad & Diana Grace V. Lopez 03-Jan-15 Barry Stewart Tay Hui & Noelle Jugo Nañagas 03-Jan-15 Nicholas Ryan Hansen & Geraldine Moscoso Del Rosario 05-Jan-15 Adelio A. Amar & Marietta M. Garay 06-Jan-15 Carlo William Evangelista Lim & Patricia Kalaw Feria 09-Jan-15 Dennis Cristoffer Babista Tagaza & Marion Angelle Ordas Rivera 10-Jan-15 Ian David De Dios Villacrusis & Cherlene Sario Libunao 11-JanV Jaime Joseph Trinidad & Stephanie Shaw 12-Jan-15 Eric Ngo Gipit & Anina Theresa G. Domalanta 15-Jan-15 Joseph J. Yu & Regina Marie L. Alcasid, Our Lady of All Nations Parish, Brgy Payapa Ilaya, Lemery, Batangas 17-Jan-15 Ryan March B. Mateo & Mary Grace Cindy B. Garces 15-Dec-14 Margarita Magsajo Donna Fernandez Joel Lugay Charmaine Ching Minnie Soriano Christina Paradies 16-Dec-14 Ana Katamrajie Gabriel de Lange Jose Montelibano Mon Pantangco Lefty Longa 17-Dec-14 Mike Muñoz 18-Dec-14 Jeanne Bautista Melissa Abaya Abaya Patty Santiago Ma. Regina Lagdameo Tonica Manahan 17-Dec-14 Pete & Rose Sare 4 WEDDING BANNS 17-Jan-15 Bon Kimber Tee Syiaco & Kimberly Ann Lao Chupeco 18-Jan-15 Jan Erwin Manalo Veloso & Ma. Christina Gay Macasieb Dantes 23-Jan-15 Rio Mark L. Furog & Maria Victoria S. Arevalo 23-Jan-15 Michael Martin Nomorosa Merchan & Terecy Joyce Pasion Chia 24-Jan-15 Clarence Paul Aguilar Canlas & April Joy Rogacion Ocampo 24-Jan-15 Jose Emmanuel Ernesto B. Sibal & Ma. Cristina Louise C. Cuerva, Prelature Shrine of Saint Joseph, Brgy. Poblacion Polillo, Quezon 25-Jan-15 Daniel Mora Viernes & Sharmaine Chesna Wu Tan 26-Jan-15 Jose Carlo Guzman Enriquez & Shein Pailan 30-Jan-15 Paolo Aguila Bautista & Pier Christine Bernabe Castor 30-Jan-15 Peter Michael G. Dizon & Joanna P. Orbe 07-Feb-15 Jose Francis Raymund V. Pantangco & Cheryl Anne Tan Que 14-Feb-15 Anthony Bejado & Margaret Perez 21-Feb-15 Mikael Sy Coyiuto & Jennica Grace Santiago Tañeca 01-Mar-15 Eduardo Martin Legasi Chua & Vanessa Joan Chua Chan, St. Bede Catholic Church, Pyrmont NSW Australia 14-Mar-15 Bradlee Zigfrid Cagampan Dungo & Elizabeth Dy Castañeda 19-Apr-15 Bon Kimber Tee Syiaco & Kimberly Ann Lao Chupeco BIRTHDAYS 19-Dec-14 Carlos Primo Velayo Josette Elicano Timmy Samson Jessica Nicole Cuevas Lorraine de Santos Finky 20-Dec-14 Vincent Villaflor Gene Afable Julia Garcia Lino Brier 21-Dec-14 Jesus Tambunting Tammy Barrera Jay Gonzales Rica Afable Simon Villalon For corrections and additions to this list, contact Susan at the parish office. Wedding Anniversaries 20-Dec-14 Jolly & Pechay Gomez PREPARATIONS FOR ADVENT WITH FR. MAXELL ARANILLA Last Saturday, December 16, Fr. Maxell Aranilla spoke at the parish center for a short Advent talk on Mercy and Compassion. He reminded us all that the season of Advent is a season for preparation. As many of us get caught up in the business of the season, we forget that it is also a time to prepare our hearts for the coming of Jesus Christ. In order to do this, he gave us four points to remember, as they correspond to the four weeks of Advent. They are the themes of coming, waiting, beginning and indwelling. First is the coming: Advent represents the time that Jesus is coming. In our faith, we live in a state of both memory and anticipation. We are always looking forward to the coming of Christ, to the time he will visit us again. This is something we can hope for because of the memory of his first coming. The remembrance of the fulfillment of his promise two thousand years ago. Second is the waiting: If someone is going to come, there must be someone who is waiting. As Christians, we are a people in waiting. Fr. Max suggested to all of us that the quality or the excitement of the waiting will increase only in so much as we love the person who is coming. Think of your own anticipation when a husband or a lover is coming home from a long trip. Or when a son or a daughter is coming home from studying away. We await them eagerly because we love them dearly. So it is with the coming of Jesus. The third is beginning: For some of us, we have been through many Advents in our lives. Years have past; we ve seen some things - sometimes just the same thing over and over again. Often it can make us tired and weary - too repetitive and commonplace. But Advent marks the start of a liturgical year, and as with many beginnings, it is a chance to go back to the foundation, that moment where the story started. Just as a married couple remembers their anniversary - to recall why they chose to love each other, so Advent reminds us of the beginnings of God s love for us, and our response to that love. Finally, Advent is about indwelling. As we remember the first time that Jesus came to live among us, Advent is a time for us to make the preparations so that when Jesus comes again, our hearts will be ready to receive him. Through our preparations, Jesus can become incarnated in our hearts, and truly dwell in and among us. By Javier Luis Gomez SUNDAY-DECEMBER 14 * 9:15AM - CCD Sunday Religion Class * 4:00PM - CORO Practice MONDAY - DECEMBER 15 * 1:30PM - OFS Formation TUESDAY - DECEMBER 16 * 9:00AM - JPIC Hospital Ministry PGH Visitation * 2:00PM - Health Care Ministry Dancersize Open to All Parishioners CALENDAR OF MINISTRIES FOR THE WEEK * 4:00PM - Marian Cenacle Group Prayer meeting WEDNESDAY - DECEMBER 17 * 4:00PM - CCD Religion Class THURSDAY - DECEMBER 18 * 9:00AM - Health Care Ministry Visitation at Rizal Medical Center, Pasig, City FRIDAY - DECEMBER 19 * 2:00PM - Health Care Ministry Dancersize Open to all Parishioners * 7:30PM - Household Help Charismatic Prayer Meeting * 9:00AM - TigAwit Choir Practice SATURDAY - DECEMBER 20 *10:00AM - Advent Recollection * 1:00PM - SSAP Employees Christmas Party * 4:00PM - VOSA Choir Practice

5 December 14, WAYS TO LOVE They say, Lord, that 8 is the perfect number. Can we TRUST our HEARTS with the 8 Ways to Love? 1. LISTEN and be SILENT. Don t interrupt. (Proverbs 18:13) 2. SPEAK KINDLY without accusing. (James 1:19) 3. Give and TAKE without sparing. (Proverbs 21:26) 4. PRAY and REFLECT without ceasing. (Colossians 1:9) 5. ANSWER POLITELY without arguing. (Proverbs17:1) 6. SHARE UNSELFISHLY without pretending. (Ephesians 4:15) 7. ENJOY and be CHEERFUL without complaint. (Philippians 2:14) 8. TRUST and HOPE without wavering. (1 Corinthians 13:7) We know, Lord, that there are more to 8 Ways to Love. Amen. Submitted by Clare Quesada Annoucement...from page 8 Atty. Anne Marie Corominas Mr. & Mrs. Philip Lim & Family Mr. & Mrs. Jovencio F. Cinco & Family Rainer, Jenny, & Ryan Tiu Joey & Marissa Concepcion Felix, Diana, Michael, Giann, Derrick & Andrea Chung Henry, Judy, Tiffany Kei and Mitzi Lauren So Samantha, Martin, & Matthew Sy Billie & Gabby Trinidad Johnny Litton & Family Vicky Chan Seve & Manolo Reyes Anonymous Individual Donor Avelino & Helen Cruz & Family Sandy & Ysabel Agustines Javier Guerrero Emma Rioja Dinah Tiplan Obi Laranas Isabelle & Emily Leber Cynthia Lopez-Fuchs Chinggay Almeda-Lopez Aida Lopez Buddy & Isa Velayo Hermes & Pedsy David & Catherine Sanchez Reena & Mike Sanchez Leslie Anne & Peter Calimag Camille & Luigi Reyes Cesar & Baby Cruz Sacha & Sabrina Reyes Ramon V. Viola Robertino Viola Manuel Chilip Louie & Venus Rodriguez Binoya Family Robert Yu Roy Regala Chloe Megan Sy Jett Atienza Wang Family Profertia Cabrera Aleksi & Baby Boy Abe N Nini Enrique & Rhodora Carlos Seth Ciudadano Adela Lim Family Gonzales Family Honorio & Conchita Ty Crae Sehwani Zari Sehwani Oggel Family Lee Family Bianca, Sandro, & Max Tamika & Nicolo Santos Renato & Maritess Enriquez Raisa, Andre, & Diego Shain Faye Poon Ignacio Kahn Julian, Jadenn & Nasyah Sivakumar Peter, Tess, & Megan Maquera Edmund Enzo Luis Ernesto Rodolfo & Letty See Family Flora F. Caviles Andre Dumlao Pio Cheng Bobby & Zeny Tanada & Family Antonia Tan & daughters Karen Tan Willy & Marie Yu Willa Yu Mon & Maricel Pantangco Franco Pantangco Che Que Martin & Samantha Pantangco 5

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7 December 14, 2014 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 7

8 ANNOUNCEMENT FOR LIGHT A PAROL (LAP) Brothers and Sisters, The Continuing Catholic Development, or CCD Ministry enrich the lives of many children and families who are has launched LIGHT-A-PAROL. This annual project in great need. Your generosity will touch the hearts of raises funds for our Franciscan Mission Parishes and for many! CCD s outreach activities. Thank you very much! Now on its 20th year, this project is the only channel of CCD to raise funds for select charitable organizations for List of donors for Light-A-Parol 2014 from December this year such as Binhi, Grace to Be Born, Dream Big 3 to 9 as follows: Filipinas, Marillac Hills, CCD Disaster Fund, other CCD Parish Patron Maia Gonzalez Special Projects, and the Franciscan Mission parishes. Mica Gonzalez Philip Cuazon Jr. Unified Realty Development We would like to request for your generous support Mr. & Mrs. Lucio Co & Family Corporation by purchasing parols which are sold outside the main Mr. & Mrs. Manuel Lazaro entrance during all our weekend masses in December. Parish Benefactor These parols range in price, and as you can see from the Family Donor various sizes hanging in different areas of the church. Manny & Baby Javelosa Jimmy & Benita Tang Jose Mari & Mary Ann Chan & You also have the option to buy a parol as a Christmas Zimma Realty Corporation Family gift, and gift cards are available. Francis Gonzalez Derek & Sofia Corominas de Wit Please visit the tables as you leave. Your support will turn to page 5 The Sanctuary of the Holy Face of Jesus of Manoppello in Asia In 1978, when Sister Blandina Schloemer, who spent 20 years of her life studying the Veil, superimposed the Countenance from the Turin Shroud with the Countenance of Manoppello, she found a PERFECT MATCH. The negative of the Dead Christ was fixed on the Turin Shroud, while the positive of the Resurrected Christ was imprinted on the Veil. (picture below) Christianity is not a form of culture, or an ideology, or a system of lofty principles or values. Christianity is a Face: Jesus Christ! Pope John Paul II, June 4, 2004 (To be continued next week.)