Santuario de San Antonio Parish Office • Tel. nos. 8438830-31

Forbes Park, MakatiDecemer 18, 2016 www.ssaparish.com4th Sunday of Advent

We Care Because We Pray

Advent: A Season of Reconciliation, Renewal and Conversion by Marie Tycangco

As a child, the anticipation of Christmas gave me a tingling feeling and a ‘high’ brought about by sparkling Christmas lights, joyful Christmas tunes, and beautifully wrapped gifts under the Christmas tree. It was a season of pure joy, when everything seemed perfect. I would brave the crowds to shop for gifts, excitedly wrap them up and hand them to my family and friends with a loud ‘Merry Christmas’, a sincere big hug and a kiss.

As we grow older, things get more complicated. Some

relationships are strained; Bad habits are developed; God’s message is forgotten. Of course, these won’t stop us from celebrating Christmas, but to some extent, it lessens the Christmas joy.

It is, however, because of these complexities that Christmas becomes more meaningful. As we mature, the Christmas Season is no longer centered on gift giving or the frills of Christmas decorating and playing Christmas music to bring about the Christmas spirit, but rather it is in giving our self and preparing our hearts that will ultimately bring love, joy and peace this Christmas. It is a season of “Sorry”, “Thank You” and “I Love You” It is as we utter these words from our hearts to the people that we love, but we have hurt, when can truly say “Merry Christmas!”

Let us then prepare our hearts this season of Advent by making it a time for reconciliation, renewal and conversion. Let us make Christmas 2016 a truly meaningful and memorable one. Let us make it a time to shed happy tears, a time to squeeze our loved ones with a genuine hug, and offer a kiss that will make a mark forever.

Merry Christmas!

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Parish Bulletin

The ABC’s oF CATholiC DoCTrine by Lianne Tiu

Have a Merry Christmas!

Have you been away from Confession for some time? This Christmas is a good time to start experiencing God’s mercy through the Sacrament of Penance. Let us be honest, we all commit sin, and we are guilty of it. We want to be better persons but something prevents us. We may not be aware but each one of us is infinitely valuable in the eyes of God. He is always waiting for us with love. He can turn the greatest sinner into the greatest saint if we simply trust in His mercy. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be white as snow,” Isaiah reminds us. (Is. 1:18) And all that our Lord asks of us is to make a sincere examination of our conscience, have true sorrow for our sins, and make a good confession.

What is beautiful about confession and what psychiatrists cannot promise, is that our guilt disappears. This is because our sins are completely wiped out as God forgives. Hearing the words of absolution from the priest produces inexplicable feelings of love, joy, and peace. We experience the embrace of our Father, who comes to meet us and gives us sanctifying grace to be His children once more.

Let us go to confession and open our hearts to the confidence of being loved by God. We will be merry, not only this Christmas, but throughout the year.

(Reference: “Misericordia et misera” Apostolic letter of Pope Francis; “Confession: A Pain that Ends in Joy” by Karl Keating; “Ten Short Meditations for Making a Good Confession” by Fr. Ed Broom; “The Sacrament of Confession” Catholics come home.org)

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santuario de san Antonio Pastoral TeamFr. Baltazar A. Obico, OFM - GuardianFr. Reu Jose C. Galoy, OFM - Vicar Provincial, Parish PriestFr. Mark Adame G. Bakari, OFM - BusarFr. Jesus E. Galindo, OFM - MemberFr. Efren C. Jimenez, OFM - Member

rDiP - PB editorial Team & General informationSuzette H. Gatmaitan – Head, RDIP-PBMarilou Consing – Editor in ChiefJavier Luis Gomez - Assistant EditorEarl Leonard Sebastian - Assistant EditorHannah Roa - Assistant EditorMarie Tycangco - Assistant EditorClarisse G. Gomez - Assistant EditorDennis Montecillo - Assistant EditorAissa Montecillo - Assistant EditorJeannie Bitanga – Website AdministratorAlexa Montinola - Assistant Website AdministratorEdward Lu – Art & DesignColorplus Production Group Corp. – Production

Santuario de San Antonio Parish Center Office Tel. nos. 8438830-31Email: ssap_info@yahoo.comWebsite: www.ssaparish.comWebsite email: webi@ssaparish.comFoundation website: www.santuariodesanantonio.org

Parish Pastoral Council Edmund Lim, KHS – PresidentCristina Teehankee – Vice PresidentSuzette H. Gatmaitan – Secretary

December 18, 2016

TAsTe oF silenCe by Conchitina S. Bernardo

Within this Christmas issue of the Parish Bulletin, the Contemplative Outreach Philippines offers you a holiday present. A gift. To us at COP this is our “pearl of great value.” We share it with you .

A MeDiTATion on CenTerinG PrAyer

The root of prayer is interior silence. Deep prayer is the laying aside of thoughts. It is the opening of mind and heart, body and feelings – our whole being – to God, the Ultimate Mystery, beyond words, thoughts and emotions.

We are totally present now, with the whole of our being, in complete openness, in deep prayer. The past and future – time itself – are forgotten.

We surrender to the attraction of interior silence, tranquillity, and peace. We do not try to feel anything, reflect about anything. Without effort, without trying, we sink into this Presence, letting everything else go by. Letting love alone speak the simple desire to be one with the Presence.

This Presence is immense, yet so humble; awe-inspiring, yet so gentle; limitless, yet so intimate, tender and

personal. I know that I am known. Everything in my life is transparent in this Presence. It knows everything about me – all my weakness, brokenness, sinfulness – and still loves me infinitely.

This Presence is healing, strengthening, refreshing – just by its Presence. It is nonjudgmental, self-giving, seeking no reward, boundless in compassion. It is like coming home to a place I should never have left, to an awareness that was somehow always there, but which I did not recognize.

I cannot force this awareness, or bring it about. A door opens within me, but from the other side. I seem to have tasted before the mysterious sweetness of this enveloping, permeating Presence. It is both emptiness and fullness at once.

We wait patiently; in silence, openness, and quiet attentiveness; motionless, within and without. We surrender to the attraction to be still, to be loved, just to be.

Excerpts from from our web site www.cophil.org.ph

Join the San Antonio Support group every Mondays, 10am to 12 pm

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Parish Bulletin

PArish PATronFrank Lao & FamilyFrank, Janice, Janica, Jacob, Jared Lao

PArish BeneFACTorAnonymousJimmy & Benita Tang & FamilyJasmine Claire Yu-Baños & Jacqueline Claire Yu-BañosKarl Stanley & Jennifer GobingFanny Martirez & FamilyAnonymousRobert Yu & Roy RegalaLeon, Pipo & Daniela ReynoRamon & Marie Quisumbng

FAMily DonorLana & Bjorn BernardezJohn Concepcion & FamilyTotoy, Deisa, Amara & Zara Abiog

Felix, Diana, Michael, Stephanie, Giann, Derrick & Andrea ChungMa. Teresa R. TantocoAlimurung FamilyHelen LisuySteve & Loli Sy & FamilyRomualdez FamilyRaul & Menchu Concepcion

inDiViDUAl DonorAtty. & Mrs. Avelino V. CruzNena AgcaoliLita RevillaIno & LiaNicholas & DominicMacky & AntonYsabel AgustinesSandy AgustinesJessica AgustinesPaul AgustinesHannah LittonViola FamilySiopangco Family

Natalia, Nika & LeilaOggel FamilyLee FamilyCareer FamilyRita L. ZamoraMiletteL. ZamoraPatrice YamSolenne, Ryder & GarrettDonna ReyesBertha HaydenBob LowVic & Nenette PuyatShain PoonPerita Santiago & FamilyJennifer M. RiveraKaishin RiveraArniel, Nikki & Lucas OngMadeleine LimNarcing & Maridol MabantaDr. Roberto MacasaetDennis & Lynda NormandyDr. Rodolfo & Dra. Puring Soto

lAP Donors from December 6 to December 11

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December 18, 2016

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Parish Bulletin

ssAP ChirsTMAs CAlenDAr oF ACTiViTies

Dec. 16-24, 2016Friday-saturday: Misa de Gallo

Main Church - 4:30 am: Stations of the Crib 5:00 am: Mass Dasmarinas Village Pavillion - 5:00 am North Forbes Pavillion - 5:00 am Urdaneta Village Hall - 5:00 am NOTE: For duration of Misa de Gallo:

1. No 6:15 am mass in the Main Church.2. No Anticipated Masses in Dasmarinas Village.3. No Regular Sunday Masses in North Forbes.4. Urdaneta Village will retain their Regular Sunday

Mass at 7:00 pm.

Dec. 24, 2016saturday: Christmas eve

Schedule of Masses: Main Church - 8:00 pm and 10:00 pm

Dasmarinas Village/North Forbes/Urdaneta Village: 10:00 pm

NOTE:

1. No 4:30 pm & 6:00 pm masses at the Main Church.

2. No 6:00 pm mass in Dasmarinas Village.

Dec 25, 2016sunday: Christmas Day (holy Day of obligation)

Schedule of Masses: Regular Sunday Schedule at the Main Church and

Urdaneta Village.

Main Church: 7:45 am, 9:00 am, 10:30 am, 2:00 nn, 4:30 pm, 6:00 pm

Urdaneta Village Hall - 7:00 pm NOTE: 1. No 6:30 am mass at the Main Church. 2. North Forbes Park Pavillon - No 11:00 am mass

Dec. 31, 2016saturday: new year’s eve

Schedule of Masses: Main Church - 8:00 pm and 10:00 pm Urdaneta Village: 9:00 pm NOTE:

1. No 4:30 pm & 6:00 pm masses at the Main Church.

2. No 6:00 pm mass in Dasmarinas Village.

Jan. 1, 2017sunday: solemnity of Mary, Mother of God

(holy Day of obligation)

Schedule of Masses: Regular Sunday Schedule at the Main Church and

all Villages.

Main Church: 7:45 am, 9:00 am, 10:30 am, 2:00 nn, 4:30 pm, 6:00 pm

North Forbes Pavillion - 11:00 am Urdaneta Village Hall - 7:00 pm NOTE: 1. No 6:30 am mass at the Main Church.

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December 11, 2016

“oUTsiDe VieWinG PACKAGes AVAilABle”Globe 0915-5283835 • Smart 0918-9901800

leAse / sAleFORBES • DASMA • URDA • SAN LO • BEL AIR • MAGA

Connie PeriQUeT GATMAiTAnCynThiA GATMAiTAn MenChACA

Tels.: 8130875 – 8672227 Cell (0917)81093793/F seDCCo BlDG., rADA sT., leGAsPi Vill.,

MAKATi CiTy

Behold, the virgin shall be with

child and bear a son, and they shall name him

Emmanuel, which means “God is

with us.”

Matthew 1:18-24