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CATHOLICThe Filipino

VOL. 13, NO. 6 Spreading the Good News January 14 - February 11, 2009

CELEBRATIONS OF OUR FAITH

Santo Niño

Poon Hesus Nazareno

Sinulog

The procession of Marian images through the streets of Manhattan and finally at St. Patrick’s Cathedral at the start of the Second Simbang Gabi sa Katedral.

• January 14 - February 11, 2009 • The Filipino Catholic

Simbang Gabi sa Katedralby Ner Martinez

The second Simbang Gabi Sa Katedral kicked off with a street candlelight procession originating from the Cathedral High School. The statue of the “Our Lady of Manhattan” owned by Aida Gamolo and other Marian images were processed through the streets of Manhattan to the Cathedral of St. Patrick’s – where they were joined inside a fully packed Cathedral by a parade of colorful and vibrant parols, and over 40 concelebrants led by Msgr. Robert T. Ritchie. Also participated were the Knights of Columbus, Knights of Rizal and the Knights of San Lorenzo Ruiz as Honor Guards.

The Mass was presided by the Most Reverend Antonieto Cabajog, Bishop of Surigao. The lectors were Deputy Consul General Melita S. Thomezcek for the First Reading and Ms. Cora Reyes of the Second Reading. Rev Jaime Noel Deslate, Psy.D. was the homilist.

The Prayers of the Faithful were read in different dialects by Philippine-American Community Leaders: Dr. Baby Bleza, Ms. Celeste Ampeloquio, Archt. Aida Gamolo, Ms. Mila Mendez, Engr. Roger Alama, Mr. Romulo Luz, Dr. Raul Calicdan, Mr. Jose Ramos, Ms. Jocelyn Bernal

The all parish liturgical choir was conducted by Professor Rey Lauron, and was accompanied by resident organist and musical director of St. Patrick’s Cathedral – Jennifer Pascual.

Among the special guests were Consul General Cecile B. Rebong, Permanent Representative of the Philippines to the United Nations Ambassador Hilario Davide, PIDCI President 2009 Gerry Austria and wife Imelda.

The winners of the Family Bible Quiz were presented after the mass. First Place went to the Celebrados family (Ramon, Emelinda, Jesus and Jennifer) of St. Eugene Parish in Yonkers, Second Place went to the Bevo family (Wilfredo, Erma, Dana and Paolo) of Our Lady of Mercy Parish in Jersey City, Third Place was the Taco family (Zacarias, Betty and Kyle) of Our Lady of Angels Parish in the Bronx. The preliminary Quiz winner was the Villanueva family (Bobby, Nelia, Justine and Kevin) from Our Lady of Pompei Church in Manhattan and the runner-up was the Lindo family (Marcelino, Sofia, Patrick and Phoebe) from St. Anthony Parish in Yonkers. The Manila Team was headed by Ms. Elvira Yap Go; Msgr. Gary Noel Formoso, Fr. Miguel Garcia, SSS, and Ms. Malou representing

Channel 4.

The evening was capped by a special cultural presentation “Pasko, Noon at Ngayon”. Written by Fr. Joseph Marabe, it depicted through narration and songs how the Simbang Gabi was introduced from the Spanish era in the Philippines and how it evolved as a dis-tinguishing and traditional feature of Christmas celebration in the Philippines. Comple-menting the presentation is the celebration of Christmas in New York.

Ronald Seludo, tenor and Bambam Masaoy, soprano opened the presentation with a sentimental rendition of a special arrangement of Memories . . . Maalaala Mo Kaya... To provide a glimpse of the Mexican influence on the Simbang Gabi, the Guadalupano Mariachi Band regaled the audience with authentic Villancicos. Alyssa Balderama, a young girl with a lyrical voice touched the hearts with her haunting rendition of Ang Maging Ulila and Kung Puwede Lang. Although special guest Fatima Soriano was not permitted to travel by her doctor – she performed via a special video.

The Bayanihan Club of Union Singers led by their musical director Erwin Argonza performed Christmas Carols in English and Tagalog and led the audience with a stirring finale of “If We Hold On Together” and by a special vocal arrangement of Kumukutikutitap, Pasko ay Sumapit and Halina, Halina.

Simbang Gabi Sa Katedral is a kick-off to the various Simbang Gabi Novena Masses that are held in the tri-state Area. This event is sponsored and organized by the Simbang Gabi Sa Katedral, Inc Steering Committee. Major Sponsor was Western Union, Other Sponsors were Forex, XOOM.com, and PNB.

We are grateful to all the SGSK members, volunteers, ushers, marshals and the staff of the Cathedral of St. Patrick’s who worked hard behind the scenes to make the celebration on December 6, 2008 very successful. Marami Pong Salamat!

For more information Rev. Joseph G. Marabe (Overall Chairman), 212.753 2261 x 251 [email protected]; Cely Medrano (Secretary) 917.502.5907 [email protected]; For candlelight procession details: Aida L. Gamolo 917.816.0530 [email protected]. – For further details on SGsK please visit: www.simbanggabinyc.com

The Filipino Catholic • January 14 - February 11, 2009 •

The Filipino Catholic (BN96001443), an independent

newsmagazine with editorial offices at

453 Hawthorne Ave., Uniondale, NY 11553, is published monthly and

distributed freein New York.

The Filipino Catholic is staffed by volunteers. Views expressed

by the contributing writers do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher or the Catholic

Church.

LETTERS AND CONTRIBUTIONS

Contributions from our readers are welcome but subject to approval, editing and

condensation. Please include names, addresses and phone

numbers on all correspondence. However, unpublished materials cannot all be

acknowledged or returned.

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funded by the support of advertisers and subscribers. Advertisements do not infer implicit endorsement by the

Filipino Catholic. Advertising rates are available upon

request. One year subscription is available for a donation of

$25 or more.

Contributing Writers& Columnists:

Rev. Peter James R. AlindoganRev. Euly B. Belizar, Jr.

Rev. Joe CadusaleRev. Basilio Colasito

Msgr. R. DimaculanganArt Esguerra

Robert FernandezAndrea Florendo

Fr. Alfred GuthrieAA Medrano

Norma PascualJohn Primi

Fr. James ReuterSonia S. SalerniRene TubillejaMaria Pascual

Felix Vinluan, Esq.Jeanne Young

PhotographyHenry Medrano

Albert Betito

Circulation & DistributionJun MakinanoWendel Javier

Editor & PublisherManny Pascual

Write us at:The Filipino Catholic

P.O. Box 3067Garden City, NY 11531

(516) 292-1445 phone/faxEmail: [email protected]

TheFilipino

Catholic

OF FAITH ANd PRACTICALITy

FROM THE EdITOR

by Rene Tubilleja

Make It a True Happy New Year’s Greeting

“With God nothing shall be impossible.“- Luke 1:37

Manny Pascual

Ordinarily, we would welcome New Year with a big cheery bang. But this year it came with some nasty bangs of its own. The bang of a war in Palestine, the suicide bangs in Iraq, the con-tinuing bangs in Afghanistan, even some bangs in erstwhile peaceable Athens and Bang-kok. Then there was the economic crash whose bang was heard the loudest throughout the world and right into our living rooms. It is easy to understand why so many people seem to hold back on their usual upbeat New Year’s greetings these days. If at all, they are given with little or no enthusiasm.

Whatever happened to the message of the just concluded Christmas season? Was there a meaningful message there at all? That is what happens when people “celebrate” Christmas without Christ in it. If we had just bought and exchanged gifts, sang carols, and greeted everybody around simply because it was the catchy seasonal thing to do, then we had left Christ out of Christmas. That would leave us with a feeling of emptiness in our soul and oftentimes in our pockets, too. We would see all the ills in the world and would not see the light at the end of a long dark tunnel of a new year.

On the other hand, if we as true Christians had prepared our souls well and celebrated Christmas as a proper birthday party for our beloved Jesus, we would still be positive and calm today in spite of the unhealthy economy and all the unfortunate goings-on around us. The reason is we believe in the Christmas message that God will take care of us, hear our prayers, and fix all our ills. Remember what He said: “Believe and it shall be granted.” He didn’t say, do good first or repent of your sins first, and then it shall be granted. No, He simply said “believe.” He did miracles just by virtue of people’s faith in Him, even by pagans like the Roman Centurion in the Gospel. His praise of him was of the highest degree in saying: “In all of Judea, I have never seen a faith as great as this man’s. Go therefore; your servant has been healed.”

Faith cannot happen without Love; having great Faith means having great Love. With Love, repentance, doing penance, doing Charity, and all other virtuous acts are a given. We must believe that God loves us so much that He wants to give us everything. Didn’t He give us His only Son so we could be washed of our sins and be able to go into Heaven? God would give us peace, prosperity, and good health in abundant measure if we would only ask for them, and sincerely believe that we would receive them. Absolute Faith is a must. It is what makes for a miracle.

It is not too late to catch up to the birthday party of Jesus. He’s still there waiting in the Eucharist. We can still wrap belated gifts of good works and prayerfulness for the Baby Jesus. After all, the Three Wise Men themselves were some three years late. New Year’s Day is our celebration of the Feast of Mary as the Mother of God. Let’s pray for her intercession in asking God her Son to grant us our wishes for the New Year. Then we could go out cheerily and sincerely wish all our friends and family a New Year full of happiness, peace, prosperity and good health.

In our place in Santa Cruz lived two men both named Pablo. To distinguish one from the other, the neighbors nicknamed one, Pabling and other, Pablito. But still, people would occasionally get mixed up on who was who and which name belonged to whom. Both men lived ordinary lives until one day in 1941, the Japanese came and bombed the City of Manila. It was the start of World War II.

The extraordinary and horrific circumstances brought about by the terrible inhumanities of war aroused certain heroic traits in these two men. Pabling devoted much of his time helping and aiding the victims of war. Pablito, because of his knowledge of electronics, communicated with and relayed vital messages to the American forces.

One day someone from a neighboring town came looking for Pabling. A neighbor pointed to where he lived. Soon afterwards Japanese soldiers came and took him away. He never came back. He was accused of guerilla activities.

When Pablito heard about it, he was certain that Pabling was mistaken for him. My father told me that story several times and referred sadly to Pabling as “the man who died for me.”

Memories of war. Memories of friends and families losing their lives.

In life we experience death and dying almost everyday. In the tough decisions we carry out, in the difficult sacrifices we make, we go through “death” of some kind. Sometimes we allow something in us to perish in order to give life to something else. Some of life’s shattering events often leave us no choice but to give up our dreams so that someone else’s could go on.

Life throws unexpected crosses on our lives. Crosses that make us cry a little . . . die a little. During those times when our crosses are too heavy and just impossile to bear, it’s best to offer them to the One who is the Greatest Cross Bearer of all.

“For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.”

--- John 3:16

by Rev. Alfred R. Guthrie

VIEWPOINT


(turn to page 22)

The workers of the World Apostolate of Our Lady of Our Lady of Fatima

We Wish you

Wonderful Growth in theJoy and Love of the Lord

in spite of, or rather, by means of whatever pleasant surprises He Brings

ordifficult Trials He allows

throughout this New Year,2009

Fidelity to prayer, especially the daily recitation of the Rosary as urgently requested by our Blessed Mother at Fatima will result in a growth in holy wisdom:

This wisdom helps us recognize and follow God’s holy Will in our daily lives. In this Newsletter we will discuss applications of wisdom regarding

Family size – how large?1) The Marriage Feast at Cana2) Christian discipleship and the “gay” life-3)

style.

FAMILY SIZE: 1.) HOW LARGE? During this past year Cardinal Archbishop

Christoph Schoenborn, who is very close to Pope Benedict, spoke with unusual directness against Cardinals and Bishops who publicly disagreed with the Encylical Humanae Vitae when it was

promulgated by Pope Paul VI in 1968. Cardianl Schoenborn accused specifically the late archbishop of Vienna, Franz Koenig, and Cardinal Julius Doepfner, the late archbishop of Munich of “weakening the People of God’s sense for life” so that when “the wave of abortions” and increasing acceptance of homosexuality followed, the Church lacked the courage to oppose them. Cardinal Schoenborn made these remarks while addressing Neocatechumenate families in Jerusalem early this year. He thanked them for having large families which produce many voca-tions. Cardinal Schoenborn “asked God to forgive all bishops [for their rejection of the Holy Father and their cowardice] and give them courage to say “yes” to life”. (Quotes and material from “Inside the Vatican” magazine, Dec. ’08, pg. 17)

But to round out this topic lest the Church’s posi-tion is misunderstood, not all couples are gifted with large families. As described in previous Newsletters, simply obeying the Voice of Jesus in the Church, us-ing prayer and the sacraments and remaining attentive to the guidance of the Holy Spirit will allow a couple to accept God’s plan for them and will give them the courage to obey.

2.)THEEPIPHANY - MANIFESTATION of JESUS AT THE CANA MARRIAGE FEASTThe Feast of the Epiphany, that is the Manifestation

of the Lord to the Gentiles of the world, represented by the Magi, falls on January 4th of this new year. In the history of this feast, the different ways by which Jesus was revealed as Lord and Messiah are celebrated:

The visit of the Magi, The Baptism of Jesus, andThe marriage feast at Cana. As promised in last month’s Newsletter, we will reflect on some of the lessons found

in the marriage feast at Cana.Although it comes from another of the four gospels a better understanding of what

happened at the marriage feast at Cana in John’s gospel begins with an event in Luke’s gospel.

We are all well acquainted with the gospel events but they are reviewed here for the sake of the sequence of events.

“The boy Jesus remained behind in Jerusalem, but his parents did not know it.” (Luke 2:43). Jesus was, in his youthful enthusiasm, filled with the love of his Father’s house, and apparently not thinking of his parents’ reaction, but, rather, still thinking as a child, bypassed their authority, and stayed behind in Jerusalem. When Joseph and Mary finally discovered him in the temple, he realized that he should not have acted without their permission, and so “…he went down with them…and was obedient to them”.

Many years later, Jesus, now an adult, was still waiting for the call from his Father, a call that would mean that his “hour” had come. But up to this point, his “hour” had not yet come, and so, the Will of his Father was still to be found in the authority of his mother.

In the meantime, Jesus, as urgently as he wanted to begin his public life, was not going to disobey his Father in the slightest by expressing his love or his glory until he was called to begin his public life, that is, until his “hour” had come.

Having met his cousin, John where John was baptizing at the Jordan, Jesus was bap-tized by him and was identified (manifested) as the Son by the Father and the Holy Spirit. Jesus then (after, it seems, having fasted and been tempted in the desert) returned to his family home in Nazareth to his former way of life – but now followed by some disciples to whom he had been pointed out by John the Baptist. (John 1:35 ff).

Over the years, Jesus, while living with his mother after the death of Joseph, had been supporting her by continuing the work of the carpenter shop. But he still remained subject

to her. But she no longer exercised her authority since she was treating him as he was, a mature man. And, so, Jesus, when he was not working in the family carpenter shop, was with his friends and with those who accompanied him as disciples.

Mary, Jesus’ mother, was invited to a marriage feast by friends who also invited Jesus and his disciples. The wording indicates that the young couple had already accepted that Jesus’ companions were a little more than just his friends.

And they might have been more numerous than expected. If this were the case, it would be an added motive that Jesus would be expected, out of his love for the bride and groom, to do something about this embarrassing situation. In any case, the wine ran out.

Mary, who, as a mother, had long since known that Jesus was waiting for his “hour” to come, became aware during the wedding feast that her divine Spouse, the Holy Spirit, was calling her to initiate the long-expected “hour”. In obedience to the gentle but clear prompting of the Holy Spirit, she approached Jesus to do something about the wine. This situation, from a human point of view, was extraordinary. It seems that she was not ac-customed to use her authority with Jesus from the time that he had reached manhood.

Furthermore, she had never asked Jesus to show his glory as God by performing a miracle. And so it appears that she was reluctant to use her authority given that Jesus was no longer a child, much less to ask for a supernatural sign. But the call of the Voice of her Spouse was insistent. And so, she obeyed.

Apparently not wishing to give her call in the form of an order, Mary offered the in-formation to Jesus in the form of a suggestion. “They have no wine.”

Jesus’ answer, though, as usual filled with reverence and love, must have stunned Our Blessed Mother. Woman??? He had never used that word with her before! But we can

safely guess that she, knowing the scripture as she did, quickly realized what Jesus was really saying: that she was inviting him to disobey the Father, just as Eve did to Adam. And he would have no part of it.

It seems then, that (to Jesus who did not yet know that Mary’s request was coming from the Father) her request was an invitation to disobey the Father by performing a miracle before his “hour” had come. That’s why this scenario brought them right back to the tragedy of Adam’s following the suggestion of Eve to disobey God’s command. And so Jesus rejected the suggestion, calling his mother “woman” as a symbol of the woman who invited Adam to disobey God: “Woman, how does your concern affect me? My hour has not yet come.”

But Mary knew that Jesus’ “hour” had indeed come. And now she also realized that a suggestion was a mistake. The mistake was that she didn’t use her authority which still represented the authority of the Father. And so Jesus, not knowing that Mary was already acting with the authority of his heavenly Father, rejected her suggestion.

Therefore, Mary had to use her authority. Her words to the waiters had about them the gentle tone of quiet authority. “Do whatever he tells you” - an order discreetly given to Jesus through the waiters.

The waiters probably said something like this: “Mister, that lady over there told us to do whatever

you tell us to do.” Jesus recognized the words of the waiters as a very clear, while indirect and gentle order

from his mother. At that moment he realized that her order not only represented the Will of his Father, but also meant that his “hour” had, indeed, now come. And so, he obeyed.

The occasion of a marriage feast was highly symbolic. The prophets had foretold, in the human terms of rich wine, the spiritual riches of the coming Kingdom of God. (Is-25:6) And Jesus, the bridegroom had come to give his life for his Bride, the Church, the New Jerusalem (Apoc-21:2).

And from that moment on, Jesus’ public life began. He was no longer subject to the authority of his mother, but now directly subject to the authority and direction of his heavenly Father.

“Jesus did this as the beginning of his signs in Cana in Galilee and so revealed his glory, and his disciples began to believe in him.” (John 2:11)

There are many lessons here:First: always obey the will of the Father, no matter who, whether one’s parents, or best

friend, tries to suggest or even, as some will do, to push us to do something against what we know the Father wants.

Second: always be attentive to and obey, after careful discernment, the voice of the Holy Spirit, speaking in our hearts.

Third: never give up waiting patiently for God’s Will to be made known.Fourth: be ready and happy to accept invitations to celebrate important human mile-

stones, such as birthday’s, weddings, and other such days that are important to the one inviting, as long as they are events that are not against the law of God.

Fifth: except for reasonable or necessary health exceptions, enjoy a drink of whatever alcohol is served at celebrations or meals.

Sixth: as long as God’s will allows, be solicitous about helping bring about the success


JUST SHARING

by Rev. Eutiquio ‘Euly’ B. Belizar, Jr., SThD

Fr. Euly writes from the Cathedral Parish of the Nativity of Our Lady in Borongon, Samar, Philippines where he is assigned as pastor and rector. He is the Founding Director of the Diocesan Lay Formation Institute there.

Housing OurHomeless God by Fr. James Reuter, S.J.

Fr. James B. Reuter, S.J. writes from the Philippines. The article above which appeared in the Philippine Star on January 3, 2009 is reprinted with permission.

The prayer power circle

It was uncanny (to say the least). I was with a group of parishioners, members of the Parish Pas-toral Council and a few high school teenagers from one of our parish youth choirs. We were caroling for a church project that had run out of funds. My presence was calculated to ‘encourage’ generosity. I even decided to wear my clerical. And it proved to be a smart move. In more than one instance a homeowner or a member of a family would, upon hearing our voices, decide we were worth only twenty pesos (thank God that was the minimum) but, on seeing me, would apologize profusely for what apparently in their mind was almost an un-

pardonable sacrilege (the twenty-peso evaluation of our singing, I mean). Then the twenty peso bill would promptly be taken out of our sight and in its place would appear a five hundred or one thousand peso bill. That together with big smiles and offers of a beverage or snack. Naturally I’m not saying we were given the same reception or treatment in all the homes we went to. But it soon became clear to me why our group was ecstatic when I decided to come along. A priest’s presence may not necessarily work miracles but something close to one is often enough. For instance, a remark from a member of our group almost bowled me over. “Receiv-ing a response from this family is like squeezing juice out of stone,” she mused. “Now that they see a priest with us, they seem so hospitable and giving.”

In all this I would never forget coming to a rest house on a street corner. The manager seemed to me to be just patiently tolerating our presence and singing with a smirk. Apparently my presence even absolved our singing deficiencies. I don’t even recall how much she adjudged our singing to be worth. But, as we were leaving, I saw a sign hanging by the main door. “SORRY. NO MORE ROOM INSIDE”. “What a strange coincidence,” I said within her hearing. “Did a man named Jose and a pregnant woman named Maria come before us?”

I don’t remember any more what the manager’s answer was.To be honest, it mattered little to me, as we both knew I asked the question

in jest. Something else arrested my mind in its tracks. I found myself marveling at the thought of how God’s Son came into the world homeless, like the thought came to me for the first time. Maybe, I thought, if Jesus came as a Roman Catholic priest with a Roman collar, I strongly suspect (I could be wrong, of course, given today’s views on priests) he would not be met with “SORRY, NO MORE ROOM AT THE INN”.

But God’s homelessness wasn’t a phenomenon that happened on Christmas Day for the first time. I couldn’t help remembering the words of David in the second book of Samuel read on the Fourth Sunday of Advent of Year B: “Here I am living in a house of cedar, while the ark of God dwells in a tent!” (2 Sam 7:2). David was feeling downright ashamed at the utterly incalculable injustice of the situation: he, a human king, living in a splendid palace of cedar while the God of hosts, Creator of the universe, was dwelling in a tent. Even then God was homeless. And he didn’t seem to mind. He was more into making David’s house impregnable. David’s generous thought was answered by a generosity whose immensity could only be measured by eternity. The homeless God who owns all homes made David a promise that has impacted you and me. “Your house and your kingdom shall endure forever before me; your throne shall stand firm forever” (2 Sam 7:16).

To say that God cannot be outdone in generosity is an understatement.That David’s offer was met by God’s “No, thank you” and “I’ll give you a bet-

ter offer” response staggers the imagination. Even when Solomon finally finished the temple of Jerusalem God’s homelessness was scarcely resolved. In truth, God continued to look for a home.

Then came the Annunciation. As the archangel Gabriel slowly made clear to a simple barrio lass named Mary the outlines of God’s request that she become the mother of his Son, after her famous hesitation (“But how can this be since I do not know man?” (Lk 1:34), she let go of her other famous declaration: “I am the handmaid of the Lord. Let it be done to me according to your word” (Lk 1:38).

At last God found a home. His real home: His own people best represented by the best of the human race, “our tainted nature’s solitary boast” (Wordsworth), a woman named Mary. And her generosity was met with a return that cannot be paralleled. She not only shared her Son’s Resurrection by her own Assumption into heaven (Fourth Glorious Mystery). She was also crowned Queen of Heaven and Earth (Fifth Glorious Mystery). Even Mary’s supreme generosity couldn’t equal God’s.

And so, why do we hesitate till now to house our homeless God?

Lord, look down upon us — Your Filipino children.You have blessed our land with incredible beauty and wealth . . .our magnificent trees. . .our majestic mountains. . .our fertile soil, nourishing us with food. . .our mines, filled with gold and silver. . .our seas, rich with fish. . .our beautiful, sandy shores. . .our mild climate, blessing us with sun

and rain. . .Above all, You have filled the Filipino heart with generosity and joy. . .with a willingness to share. . .with a desire to reach out and help others. . .with a hunger to love. . .You have blessed us with the power to smile. . .even when everything is wrong. . .You have given us the strength and courageto carry on cheerfully. . .even in the depths of poverty and hardship.For all this, we thank You, with all our hearts!And we ask you. . . please. . . to heal the evilsthat have fallen on our nation. . .the graft and corruptionthat has had such terrible effectson the poorest of our poor. . .the selfishness and greedamong our leaders. . .which has made so many good Filipinosfeel hopeless and helpless.Lord, you know that 70% of our peopleare living below the poverty line. . .that three out of tenare hungry, every day.So we beg of You. . .touch the hearts of our leaders. . .touch their minds. . .their eyes and ears. . .give them the wisdom to seethe agony they are causing. . .give them the grace to change!You have said to us, loud and clear. . .“Ask, and you will receive. . .Seek, and you will find. . .Knock, and it will be opened to you.”We ask you to transform the hearts of those in power. . . Remove their selfishness and greed. . .and fill them with lovefor their brothers and sisters. . . .the hungry, and the poor. . .Lift this nation out of darkness, into the light. . .Out of poverty into the fullness of lifewhich they deserve. . .We ask you this through your mother. . .whom You love. . .who is also our mother . . . whome we love. . .Our “Mama Mary”. Amen.


PIT SEÑOR SANTO NIÑO!The Queens Village Santo Niño Prayer Group celebrated its 22nd Fiesta honoring the Holy Infant Jesus last January 11 at Our Lady of Lourdes Church. Main celebrant was Fr. Alex Ramos. Concelebrant was Fr. Laquindanum.

The affair started with the recitation of the rosary. After the rosary, mass started with the traditional dancing of the Sinulog honoring the Santo Niño.

In his homily, Fr. Alex Ramos traced the historical and cul-tural significance of the Sinulog dance and the origin of the chant “Pit Señor Santo Niño.”

There was also the blessing and incensation of the Santo Niño images placed before the altar by devotees. Liturgical music was provided by the FDA Music Ministry.

After the mass, a typical Filipino salu-salo was held at the church’s hall where various native dishes were served to the guests. There were also some cultural dances per-formed by members of the community. The 14th Genera-tion Band of Queens Village provided the party music at the hall gathering.

The whole affair was hosted by the Queens Village Santo Niño Prayer Group led by Lita Panganiban in coordination with Our Lady of Lourdes Filipino Community and the Pagasa Filipino community – Incarnation Parish.

Fr. Alex Ramos


REFLECTIONS

Claimed for Christ

in Baptism

FROM THE PULPIT

by Fr. Peter James R. Alindogan

Homily delivered by Rev. PJ Alindogan on December 28, 2008 at St. Charles Borromeo Church in Cinnaminson, NJ.

by Fr. Basil C. Colasito

To raise a family these days is a difficult thing to do. That is why the Church is reminding us to keep Christ in the midst of our lives. After the wonderful celebration of Christmas, we have this feast dedicating our families to God as we honor Jesus, Mary and Joseph.

We could learn from kids when they were asked the following questions. What is marriage? Marriage is when you get to keep your girl and don’t have to give her back to her parents. ~ Eric, age 6. How can a stranger tell if two people are married? You might have to guess, based on whether they seem

to be yelling at the same kids. ~ Derrick, age 8. Why do lovers often hold hands? They want to make sure their rings don’t fall off because they paid good money for them.~ Dave, age 8. When is it okay to kiss someone? You should never kiss a girl unless you have enough bucks to buy her a ring and her own VCR, ’cause she’ll want to have videos of the wedding. ~ Allan, age 10.

Holiness begins with the notion that we need help. It is with humble submission to God and acknowledgment of His grace that we can attain holiness. If we think we can escape from God, if we think we’d be able to hide from Him, if we think we are independent of His providence, then we are grossly mistaken. Humility is necessary for holiness.

Which means that we have to start from the realities of life. There are no perfect families, just as there are no perfect marriages. We are all human beings and we are all imperfect. When relationships get tested, we may be hurt and offended. When expectations fail, we may be disappointed and frustrated. When promises get broken, we may end up crushed and wounded.

Loss and and defeat, failures and falling outs, brokenness and breakdowns are the spices of life.

We all have our own problems, especially problems with our loved ones, our own families. But, thank God! He will never allow us to get into anything that He cannot take us out of. We do not have big problems. We have a big God.

The Holy Family exemplifies the reality of Christ present in our midst and in our lives. Being another Jesus to them is our call to holiness. When they do things we do not expect and like or when they do not do or say anything at all, being another Christ to them is probably what they need.

There was one scene in the old TV Show “All in the Family” where Edith was talking to her friend Amelia. Amelia says, “Of all the people I know, you’re practically the only one who has a happy marriage.” Edith says, “Really? Me and Archie? Oh, thank you!”

Then Amelia asks, “What is your secret, Edith?” Edith replies, “Oh, I ain’t got no secret. Archie and me still have our fights. Of course we don’t let them go on too long. Somebody always says, “I’m sorry.” And Archie always says, “It’s okay, Edith.”

Essential to family life is forgiveness. The family is the place where we are meant to give and receive life, but many times our sharp deeds and cutting tongues remove the very life of the people we are under obligation to protect, guide, love and make holy.

Every family should have occasions for reconciliation and forgiveness. Every family member should bear the burden of each other’s faults and understand each other’s failures. If we can be forgiving to our friends who are not related to us by blood, why can’t we be forgiving to our own families whose blood we share in common?

God did not give us perfect parents, because He knew we were not perfect children. God did not give us perfect children, because He knew we were not perfect parents.

What should lovers do to stay married? Don’t forget your wife’s name. That will mess up the love. ~ Roger, age 8. Be a good kisser. It might make your wife forget that you never take out the trash.

~Randy, age 8. Is it better to be single or married? You should ask the people who read Cosmopolitan. ~ Kirsten, age 10. It’s better for girls to be single but not for boys. Boys need somebody to clean up after them. ~ Anita, age 9

On this Feast of the Holy Family, we hope and pray for our own families. They may not be perfect. They may not be holy. But God gave them to us. They are our family.

Holy Family

Noticing how ner-vous I was during the celebration of my First Mass (50 years ago March 19, 1959, on the feast of St. Joseph) my mentor who was also Master of Ceremonies, whispered in my ears,

“Just pay attention to the words.”

Looking back over the years, I realize how often and how easily I had lapsed into the routine of celebrating Mass and the Sacraments, often oblivious of what I was doing. Most actions become habitual with repetition.

Last week, however, at a baptism ceremony, as I paid “attention to the words”. I was deeply touched by the awe-some meaning of the Sacrament.

I began with the sign of the cross, “in the name of the Father, of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” It felt like being at a “flag ceremony” with which civic ceremonies usually begin. As “citizens of heaven,” we begin liturgies with the invocation of the Holy Trinity. I then ask the parents and godparents: “What name do you give your child?” A name describes the hopes and dreams of the parents for their child. It likewise depicts for the child a specific lifestyle. Emmanuel “God with us.” most appropriately describes Jesus, Who continues to be with us, through His Spirit in our heart, and through His Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity.

in the Most Holy Eucharist..What moved me even more deeply were the words welcoming the child into

the family of the Church, the Body of Christ: “The Christian Community welcomes you with great joy. In its name I claim

you for Christ with the sign of the cross, and I ask your parents and godparents to do the same.”

The baby now belongs to Christ. the King, who has sealed her/him with the Royal Dignity of the “Signet Cross”, the Sign of Re-demption. Just as cattle (pardon the comparison) are branded with the indelible initials of their owner, so the child is “claimed for Christ,” with a permanent seal of Christ which can neither be erased nor repeated.

Whether we are aware of it or not, we belong to Christ.

A story is told that in the times of the Roman emper-ors, there was a popular dog that used to roam around the imperial palace and around the streets of Rome. No one dared harm it. In fact everybody respected the dog. The people would bow in reverence every time the dog walked by.

Around its neck, the dog carried a big medallion, clearly inscribed with the words, Caesaris Sum, which is Latin for “I belong to Caesar.” or I belong to the Emperor.

We do not really know who we are until we know whose we are. Jesus knows Who He is and Whose He is. At His Baptism, Jesus heard His Identity proclaimed loud and clear by the Father, “You are My Beloved Son. With You I am well pleased.”

As I pay attention to those words, I feel so blessed, so awed, so overwhelmed, because they proclaim loud and clear my and your dignity as a child of God, a temple of the Holy Spirit, and an heir to the Kingdom. In Baptism, we were claimed for Christ; we belong to the King of Kings!


Happeningsby AA Medrano

Happy New Year to All! I hope you had a wonderful Christmas. As we welcome the year 2009, we thank the Lord for the year that has gone by despite the unstable economy. On a personal note, we must all be grateful for what we have - family, friends, good health, good job. Above all, we thank the Lord for what we are today and we rely on HIM for what tomorrow will bring - new year, new beginning, and new hope. Let us be optimistic that the New Year will bring more exciting possibilities and new opportunities for all of us in 2009.

2008 was a successful year filled with memorable events for the Filipino Pastoral Ministry of Our Lady of Pompei church. Last October, the Filipino

Pastoral Ministry celebrated a milestone – for 20 years as the welcoming church for Filipino migrants under the auspices of the Scalabrinian Fathers. We also celebrated the 20th anniversary of the start of the devotion to Our Mother of Perpetual Help at Our Lady of Pompei on June 26. The Santo Niño Prayer Groups of New York based at Pompei also celebrated its 25th anniversary of propagating the devotion to Santo Niño in New York. Overall the Filipino Pastoral Ministry had a fruitful year fulfilling the vision and mission of the ministry.

The Filipino Pastoral Ministry started the New Year with the successful celebration of the Fiesta of Poon Hesus Nazareno on January 4, 2009. It was the 10th annual celebration held at Our Lady of Pompei in New York. The FPM will continue the same program and will have more exciting activities in 2009 (Please see schedule of activities)

POONG HESUS NAZARENO IN NEW YORKOn Sunday, January 4, 2009, the Filipino Pastoral Ministry of Our Lady of Pompei

church celebrated the 10th annual Fiesta celebration in honor of the Poon Hesus Nazareno sa Village. The feast day celebra-tion was the culmination of the Novena Masses held for nine consecutive Fridays in honor of the Poon Hesus Nazareno.

The Makinano Family led by Jun and Amelia spearheaded the successful celebration. We are grateful to them for continuing the Poon Hesus Nazareno tradi-tion in New York.

To continue the tradition, the Sunday’s celebration started with the transfer ceremony of the Hermanidad from the 2008 Hermano and Hermana Mayor Bobby and Nelia Villanueva to the 2009 Hermano and Her-mana Mayor Jun and Amelia Makinano. With the transfer of the image of the Poon Hesus Nazareno, came the turn over of the responsibility to keep and care for the image during their term as the new Hermano and Hermana mayor.

After the transfer ceremony, the devotees carried the big image of Poon Hesus Naza-reno in the carosa decked with flowers during the procession. The hermanos and hermanas mayores of the Poon Hesus Nazareno led the congregation with the concelebrating priests in the procession.

Msgr. Romulo Montero presided the concelebrated Mass. The concelebrants were Msgr. Oscar Aquino, JCD, Msgr. Bayani Valenzuela, Fr. Romy Hontiveros, Fr. Francis Ong, Fr. Joy Tentativa, Fr. Joselito Cabatuan, Fr. Anthony Legaspi, Fr. Mike Lagrimas was the homilist. Bro. Michael LaMantia was the master of ceremonies of the celebration.

The lectors were: El-Al Makinano-First Reading, Xana Makinano - Responsorial Psalm, Amelia Makinano for the Second Reading. Tess Vasquez led the prayers of the faithful in Tagalog.

The Mass was enhanced by the music provided by Bobby Villanueva and the engag-

ing voices of the newly formed Our Lady of Pompei Filipino Choir with Sally Alonso, conducting the choir.

After the Mass, all the guests were treated to sumptuous Filipino food and special delicacies and also some ballroom and line dancing at the Pompei Fr. Demo Hall.

Thank you for all your support through the years for a successful celebration.

How the Poon Hesus Nazareno Devotion started in New York:The Filipino Pastoral Ministry of Our Lady of Pompei Church launched the Poon He-

sus Nazareno sa Village the popular devotion for all transplanted devotees of the Hesus Nazareno in Quiapo to usher in the new millennium. The late Fr. Bernabe B. Sison, the founding director of the Filipino Pastoral Ministry was optimistic then that the new devo-tion will fill the void of our longing to pay homage to the Black Nazarene. On January 9, 2000, the feast day of Poon Hesus Nazareno was celebrated for the first time in New York. The image of the Poon Hesus Nazareno was blessed and enshrined at Our Lady of Pompei Church, New York where the Filipino Pastoral Ministry is based.

The devotion to the Poon Hesus Nazareno gained support and dedication among the Filipinos that it became a permanent fixture in the village. What started as a vision like the many devotions and programs started by the Filipino Pastoral Ministry indeed become a reality. The task was enormous in the beginning and was met with a lot of challenges. It came a long way since then as we celebrated the 10th annual feast day to Poon Hesus Nazareno last Sunday. The annual feast day celebration at Pompei is celebrated every first Sunday of January.

On December 8, 2006 the San Lorenzo Ruiz Association of America, Inc. (SLRAA) launched the devotion of the Poon Hesus Nazareno sa Jamaica. The life size image of the Black Nazarene was blessed and enshrined at the new chapel of the San Lorenzo Ruiz Scalabrini Center at 168-41 84th Ave. in Jamaica Hills NY 11432, the home of the SLRAA. A Friday prayer service is held regularly at the Center. They hold a separate feast day celebration in honor of the Poon on January 9, the same day celebrated in the Philippines. The first feast day in Jamaica was held at the San Lorenzo Ruiz Scalabrini Center on Janu-ary 9, 2007. To accommodate more devotees, the 2008 feast day celebration was moved to a bigger venue. The San Lorenzo Ruiz Scalabrini Center still holds the Novena Mass for nine days prior to the feast day that starts on December 31 to January 8.

This year is the third annual feast day celebration of the Poon Hesus Nazareno at Jamaica hosted by the SLRAA and the San Lorenzo Ruiz Devotional Chapter. It will be held at the Holy Family Church in Queens. Drs. Jorge and Helen Aguila-Amador are the continuing Hermano and Hermana Mayor for 2008 and 2009.

The devotion to Poon Hesus Nazareno in Jamaica is the exten-sion of the Poon Hesus Nazareno sa Village at Pompei where the devotees could pay homage to the Black Nazarene.

Filipino Clergy of New York Meeting

On Sunday January 4, the Filipino priests from the different parishes in New York attended the post-Christmas party/meeting at Our Lady of Pompei church hosted by Msgr. Romy Montero. Some of the attendees concelebrated in the Mass for Poon Hesus Nazareno feast day. The concelebrants were Msgr. Oscar Aquino, JCD, Msgr. Bayani Valenzuela, Fr. Romy Hontiveros, Fr. Francis Ong, Fr. Joy Tentativa, Fr. Anthony Legaspi, Fr. Joselito Cabatuan, Fr. Mike Lagrimas. Fr. Joseph Marabe, JCD also attended.

Eucharistic Seminar Part 2Fr. Mike Lagrimas will conduct Part 2 of the Eucharistic Seminar on January

17, 2009 at 7:00 P.M. to be held at the Our Lady of Pompei church. It will be the continuation of the Eucharist seminar held last November. The seminar is open to all interested to be lectors, servers and lay ministers. Please let us know in advance if you will attend especially to those who attended the Part 1 seminar last November. For those who are interested but did not attend the Part I Seminar, please let us know also so that we could schedule it on a different date. Please e-mail to [email protected].

SAN LORENZO RUIZ SCALABRINI CENTER San Lorenzo Ruiz Scalabrini Center celebrated its 5th anniversary with a Mass of

Thanksgiving on December 8, 2008. Msgr. Oscar Aquino presided the Mass. Msgr. Romy Montero, Fr. Tony Mahinay and Fr. Mike Lagrimas were the concelebrants. A reception

Procession of the Black Nazarene at Our Lady of Pompei Church


ON SCHEdULEMasses, novenas, fiestas and other important religious celebrations.

“This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.”

-- Ps 118:24

by Gene Salle

JANUARY 2009 EVENTSJanuary 18, 20091:30 PM - Filipino Mass St. Joan of Arc Church 82-00 35th Ave. Jackson Heights, NY 11372 (Every 2nd Sunday of the Month)2:00 PM - Filipino Mass Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church, 101-41 91st Street, Ozone Park, NY 11416 (Every 3rd Sunday of the Month)2:30 PM - Filipino Mass Guardian Angel Church 2978 Ocean Parkway, Brooklyn, NY, 11235 (Every 3rd Sunday of the Month)5:00 PM – Filipino Mass St. Bartolomew Church 43-22 Ithaca Street, Elmshurst NY 11373 (Every 3rd Sunday of the Month)January 25, 20092:00 PM – Filipino Mass Corpus Christi Church 31-30 61st Street, Woodside, NY (Every 4th Sunday of the Month)5:00 PM – Filipino Mass Most PreciousBlood Church (Basement) 32-23 36st Street, Long Island City, NY 11006

FEBRUARY 2009 EVENTSFebruary 1, 200912:15 PM - Filipino Mass Feast of Sto. Nino St. Patrick Church, 39-38 29th Street, LIC, NY 11101 (Every 1st Sunday of the Month) 2:00 PM - Filipino Mass Our Lady Help of Christians Church, 1315 E. 28th Street, Brooklyn, NY 11210 (Every 1st Sunday of the Month)1:30 PM - Filipino Mass Our Lady of the Island Eastport, Long Island Long Island Expressway, Exit 70 (Every 1st Sunday of the month)February 6, 20097:30 PM - Filipino Mass – First Friday Sponsored by FDA and Apostleship of

Prayer St. Jude Church 1677 Canarsie Road, Brooklyn, NY 11236 (Every 1st Friday of the Month)February 7, 200912:00 Fiesta of Our Lady of Candelaria St. Gerard of Majella 188-16 91ST Avenue Hollis, NY 114236:15 PM - Filipino Mass St. Brigid Church, 409 Linden Street, Brooklyn, NY 11227 (Every 1st Saturday of the Month)7:00 PM - Filipino Mass Presentation Church, 88-19 Parsons Blvd., Jamaica, NY 11432 (Every 1st Saturday of the Month)February 8, 20092:00 PM - Filipino Mass

Incarnation Church, 89-43 Francis Lewis Blvd. Queens Village, NY 11427. (Every 2nd Sunday of the Month)2:00 PM - Filipino Mass St. Rose of Lima Church 269 Parkville Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11230. (Every 2nd Sunday of the Month)2:00 PM - Filipino Mass Church of Holy Child Jesus 111-11 86th Avenue Richmond Hill, NY 11418 (Every 2nd Sunday of the Month)5:00 PM - Filipino Mass Mary’s Nativity Church 4602 Parsons Blvd., Flushing, NY 11355. (Every 2nd Sunday of the Month)February 15, 20091:30 PM - Filipino Mass St. Joan of Arc Church 82-00 35th Ave. Jackson Heights, NY 11372 (Every 3rd Sunday of the Month)1:30 PM - Filipino Mass Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church 101-41 91st Street, Ozone Park, NY 11416 (Every 3rd Sunday of the Month)2:30 PM - Filipino Mass Guardian Angel Church 2978 Ocean Parkway, Brooklyn, NY, 11235 (Every 3rd Sunday of the Month)5:00 PM – Filipino Mass St. Bartolomew Chapel 43-22 Ithaca Street, Elmshurst NY 11373 (Every 3rd Sunday of the Month)February 22, 20092:00 PM – Filipino Mass Corpus Christi Church 31-30 61st Street, Woodside, NY 11377 (Every 4th Sunday of the Month)5:00 PM – Filipino Mass Most PreciousBlood Church (Basement) 32-23 36st Street, Long Island City, NY 11006

Filipino Mass every Sunday - 5:00 PM at theMost Precious Blood Church (Basement), 32-23 36th Street, Long Island City, NY 11006.

Novena to Mother Perpetual Helpat 7:00 PM every Wednesday at St. Patrick Church,39-38 29th Street, LIC, NY 11101.

Please show your support to our FilipinoApostolate by participating and joining with usin any of these events. The readings,prayers, homily and songs are said in Tagalog.Please consult Mapquest.com or Yahoo.com or Google for directions to these events.

FILIPINO PASTORAL MINISTRY OF POMPEISCHEDULE OF ACTIVITIES Wednesday 6:30 P.M. Mother of Perpetual Help

Sunday 3:00 P.M. Misang Pilipino

First Friday 6:30 P.M. Mass and Holy Hour

Last Sunday Monthly Birthday Celebration Sunday after the Mass Free Line Dancing & Fellowship

January2 Fri 6:30 PM 1st Friday Mass & Holy Hour 4 Sun 3:00 PM Feast of Poon Hesus Nazareno17 Sat 7:00 PM Part 2 Eucharistic Seminar – Lectors/Servers25 Sun 6:00 PM Laksambayan Meeting

Sun 3:00 PM January Birthday celebration Dates to be announced Bible Study

February 15 Sun 3:00 PM Valentines Day 22 Sun SGSK Thanksgiving Party 25 Wed 6:30 PM. Ash Wednesday

March 25 Wed 6:00 PM Novena Mass- Mother of Perpetual .Help Choir from OHIO to sing in the Mass 29 Sun 3:00 PM March Birthday celebrationApril 3 & 4 Fri 8:00 PM PABASA NG PASYON – SLRAA Center, Jamaica 5 Sun 3:00 PM Palm Sunday 9 Thu 7:00 PM Holy Thursday - Washing of the Feet 10 Fri 9:00 AM Brooklyn Bridge Way of the Cross 7:00 PM Good Friday - Veneration of the Cross – Pompei Church 12 Sun 3:00 PM Easter Sunday

Children’s Easter Egg Hunting 18 Sat 6:30 PM–MN 19th SAYAWAN SA VILLAGE 19 Sun 3:00PM 1st Day Novena Mass SANTO NIÑO Divine Mercy Novena Mass 22 Wed 6:30 PM Perpetual Novena to Mother of P. Help 1st Day in preparation for Feast day - June 24

followed at the Fr. Bobby Sison Hall after the Mass.On December 16, the board of directors of the SLRAA met with Fr. Matthew Didone,

the new Provincial Superior of the Scalabrinian Fathers for the renewal of the lease agree-ment. It has been five years since the Scalabrinian Fathers allowed the SLRAA through the agreement with the late Fr. Bobby Sison to use the St. Charles House of Studies now transformed into the San Lorenzo Ruiz Scalabrini Center. Fr. Didone approved the renewal of the lease for another five years. He was satisfied with the improvements done to the building and was impressed with the programs and activities that invigorated the community.

“Operation Bigay Bigas” fund raising was re-launched on December 23 during the Christmas party at the San Lorenzo Ruiz Scalabrini Center. The “Rice for the Poor” is part of the humanitarian project of SLRAA under the Scalabrinian Lay Movement pro-gram to help our poor kababayans in the Philippines. The project was started by Nick Libramonte as a personal mission in 2006. SLRAA adopted the program in 2007 with the first mission in Catbalogan, Samar.

San Lorenzo Ruiz in Thailand:San Lorenzo Ruiz Association of America, (SLRAA) received the good news from

Thailand that the construction of the church to be named San Lorenzo Ruiz Church in Muhahki under the Chiang Mai Diocese has started. With the building of the San Lorenzo Ruiz Church, the SLRAA is going to help in bringing the Good News in Chiang Mai Diocese. It is also a great opportunity to honor Saint Lorenzo Ruiz and also to be known among Thai people. The church construction is estimated to be completed by the end of March 2009. Bishop Joseph Sangval scheduled the blessing of the church on April 19, 2009. The Bishop will officiate the first Mass.

The building of the church is one of the projects of the SLRAA- Foreign Mission initiated by Casto Changho, Director, SLRAA-Foreign Mission. The church will be used for:

A place of worship with space to hold more than 50 people. Currently, 1. they pack the village leader’s house for services.

Center for community gatherings and other community function.2. Village Shelter during typhoons since the village houses are mostly 3.

made of bamboo and leavesWelcoming center for visiting village leaders from other tribes.4. As showcase for the Catholic church to the mountain hill tribes and also 5.

to propagate the devotion to San Lorenzo Ruiz.Learning center for educating the village people about Christianity.6.

1. Hello and Goodbye! Habang ang mga bakasyon-ista ay namamaalam sa Belen, Christmas tree at Santa Claus, naka-telecast naman sa ilang morning TV pro-grams ang storing tips o kung papaano igagarahe ang Christmas lights at décor sa kani-kanilang taguan. Opppps, huwag na huwag ninyong isasama sa taguan ang pagpapatawaran at pagbibigayan! Hwag kal-imutan na ilang beses din kayong naki-awit na… “At magbuhat ngayon, kahit hindi Pasko ay magbigayan”. Take note, kasama sa pagbibigayan ang pagbibigay ng “the best” natin anuman ang ating ginagawa. Dahil dito, lakas-loob nating isigaw:“Goodbye Christmas

vacation; Hello, school, books and notebooks!” Huwag matakot sa mathematics! Goodbye sa pagbangon nang tanghali na. Ang mga sakripisyo tuwing schooldays ay pampalasa ng buhay. Ang mga ito ang nagpapasaya ng bakasyon. Syanga naman.

2. “Pastoral” music para sa Misa. Ako po ay di magaling kumanta. Ang katuwaan ko po naman ay ang makinig ng musika. Sa akin pong pakikinig narito ang aking mga napupuna: May mga awitin sa radyo at sa simbahan na maganda ang lyrics pero pangit naman ang melody. Re-

sulta? Main-gay sa ulo ang effect ng mga ito. Meron na-mang pieces na maganda ang melody pero mababaw n a m a n a n g lyrics. Siguro m a g a n d a n g malaman ng choir direc-tors na mer-ong awitin na m a s b a g a y sa konsyerto kaysa Misa.

Kahit ano pang ganda ng polyphony, lyrics at rendition nito sa loob ng Misa, mahihirapan pa rin ang na patagusin ang mensahe nito sa puso lalo na kung ang melody nito ay walang bakas ng liturgical solemnity. Ganon din, maganda kung ang pag-awit sa Misa ay pastoral, i.e., naghahatid o nagpapastol ito ng mga sumisimbang tupa tungo sa Panginoon at hindi tungo sa paghanga sa choir o choir director. Syanga naman.

3. Mga sawimpalad sa Film Festival 2008. Napansin ko nitong festival na mas-maram-ing entries ang pampasaya at pampatawa, e.g., “Iskul Bukol”, “Desperadas” at “Tanging Ina”. Understandable lang, di po ba, na si Juan de la Cruz ay pasayahin? Ang malungkot nito, meron po akong inabangang mga winners pero hindi po nanalo. Sawimpalad! Wala ni isa sa mga opisyal mula sa Malacañang, Kongreso, Senado, Department of Justice at Supreme Court ang lumabas bilang winner. Di po ba dapat lang nating taguriang Best Actor yun pong mga senador o congressmen na umaasbok sa init kapag nakikipag-debate o nag-iimbestiga sa session hall pero table mates naman pala sila ng mga ini-interrogate o ka-debate nila over a piece of “hambordyer”. Di po ba best actor/actress yaong mga makabayan sa mga talumpati sa plaza, radyo at TV pero kabaliktaran naman ang ipinapakita


Syanga Naman!

Virgin of the BarangayIf you wish to sponsor a novena to Our Lady in your home, please call:

Bayani Villaver (201) 451-1669Aida Manlangit (973) 335-4435 Josette Camino (347) 879-3674Cora Mendoza (973) 364-5241Maria Sulat (201) 386-1132Myrna Agustin (201) 222-6365Fred Soliva (718) 365-9253Norrie Cornelio (212) 777-2662

TAGALOG

Msgr. Ruben M. Dimaculangan

sa kanilang politika at pamamalakad. Kaya, po next time ay dapat maging maingat na ang mga hurado ng film fest sa pamimili ng best actor at actresses. Syanga naman.

4. Pagtatayo ng Kapayapaan sa pamamagitan ng Pagwasak sa Karukhaan: Ito po ang pamagat ng mensahe ni Pope Benedict XVI (B16). Laan po ang mensaheng ito para sa mga presidente, prime ministers, diplomats, at mga pinuno ng iba’t-ibang relihiyon nitong World Day of Peace, ika-1 ng Enero 2009, Kapistahan ni Maria, Ina ng Diyos. Sinabi ni B16, kung tutuusin “ang karukhaan (poverty) ang ugat ng mga digmaan at civil war”.

Ang solusyon sa karukhaan ay hindi ang pagsugpo sa pagdami ng tao kundi ang pagsugpo sa maraming taong biniktima ng naghaharing-uri sa pamamagitan ng panggigipit at dahas.

Ang solusyon sa karukhaan ay hindi ang pagpapadala ng saku-sakong condom sa mga nagdarahop na bikti-ma ng AIDS kundi ang paggagamot sa moral issues na may kaugnayan sa pagkalat ng virus. Sa tuwing may mga babae na biktima sa lipunan ng mga macho, ang laging nagdurusa ng kahirapan ay ang mga bata.

Sa mga bansa na hinahagupit ng global recession, ang solusyon ay ang kooperasyon sa legal at eco-nomic level upang makapag-ugit at makapagpasunod ng mga batas na pakikinabangan hindi lang ng mga mismong umuugit ng batas. Bagay

na bagay rin ang mga payong ito ng Papa para sa bansa ni Juan de la Cruz na pinapapagdusa hindi lang ng economic crisis kundi lalo’t higit ng credibility crisis. Syanga naman.

5. Syanga Naman mosaic. Hanggang ngayon ay meron pa ring nagtataka kung bakit ang style ng column na ito ay parang pagtatagpi-tagpi ng iba’t-ibang topic. Kasi po, ang trip ko ay ang makapagbuod ng maraming topics bawat buwan kaysa makapaglathala ng isa lang article na pinahaba at pinalalim ng maraming supporting footnotes at sources. Para sa akin, mas-masaya kung maraming topic at tag-lish, di po ba? For a change, ika nga. Syanga naman.

6. Rizal Day. Naniniwala ako sa sinabi ni Conrado de Quiros mula sa isa niyang mga columns: “Ang kabayanihan ay makikita hindi lang sa kamatayan. Makikita rin ito lalo’t higit sa kung papaano tayo nabubuhay.” Totoo rin ito kung iuugnay sa buhay-kabanalan. Sa katunayan, parang mas-madali ang mamatay na martir kaysa magtiyagang magpakabanal araw-araw sa gitna ng karamdaman, pagkakautang, pag-iisa, pag-uusig, at pagkabigo. Di po ba? At “silang nag-aalay ng buhay dahil sa pag-ibig at katarungan ay di namamatay”(B16). Syanga naman.

7. New Year’s Resolutions. Hindi sapat na dahilan na porke hindi natin nagaganap lahat ang ating New Year’s resolutions ay hindi na tayo gagawa pa kailanman ng mga resolutions. Hwag naman. Hwag tayong magpatalo sa espiritu ng cynicism. Sa totoo lang, walang kasaysayan ang araw-araw nating pagdarasal kung wala tayong resolution of the day. Walang kasaysayan ang sermon kung hindi ito nag-iiwan ng hamon o resolution sa mga sumisimba sa araw na iyon. Maging masugid lang tayo sa pagsasakatuparan ng ating daily resolutions ay pagkakalooban tayo ng bonus na “fruits of the Holy Spirit”, ng charity, at joy. Sa pamamagitan ng bonus na “bunga ng ng ”, hindi magiging maganit ang pag-akyat natin sa bundok ng kabanalan. Sa halip makakagawa tayo ng mga dakilang bagay na laging may ngiti sa mga labi at kislap sa mga mata (Easter Joy). Syanga naman.

8. Flying Bread. Tanda pa nyo kung sino si Muntadhar al-Zeidi? Siya ang Iraqi na bumato ng sapatos na kasimbilis ng Scud missile kay Presidente Bush matapos makapag-update ang huli sa isang press conference tungkol sa Afghanistan at Iraq nitong nakalipas na December 2008. Biro ng iba, pwede sigurong irikemonda si Mr. al-Zeidi na maging “patron” ng goodbye kiss, baseball pitcher o kaya ng mga magsasapatos. Sa Europa, ang ibinabato nila sa mga lingkod-bayan na di maka-deliver ay itlog na hilaw. Sa bayan ni Juan, hindi dapat mangyari na ang maibato ay flying bread. Hindi dahil masasayang lang ang tinapay kundi dahil very hazardous kung nakalagay pa ang tinapay sa garapon. Kung bakit hindi ito ginawang big deal ng mga bilang diplomatic case lalo pa’t ginawa ito sa kanilang head of state, hindi na tayo dapat masyado pang mag-isip. Alam nilang maliit pa ito kaysa langgam kung ihahambing sa diplomatic mistake na ginawa ng Bush administration. Sa unang tingin, ito ay aral para kay Presidente Bush lamang. Syanga naman.


TAGALOG

Awit ni Ka NaldoRey Lauron

Sa Ginang Ng “Cuatlashupe” *Manga himig na pumukaw sa naidlip na damdaminNiyong murang kaisipan sa gitna ng panalangin;Aliw-iw ng kabundukan sa matamis na awitinTangi lamang pagmumulan tinig niyong Ginang Natin.

Una una ang dahilan ay pag-gamit niyong LatinNiyong Paring nagmimisa sa gitna ng panauhin;Manga dayong taga-bundok tila nagiging antukinSa kawalang pang-unawa sa banyagang panalangin.

Anupanga at sumunod yaong bata sa paglikhaNg himig na kung awitin ay madali ang unawa;Ang daloy ng bawat tinig naaayon sa balana;Taliwas sa iginiit niyong himig ng banyaga.

Subali at ang pinuno at may hawak ng pang-tandaSa uri ng aawitin at uri ng pagka-likha,Hindi mandin uma-ayon sa daloy ng himig-bata;Bagkus pa ay binawalan sa pag-awit yaong madla.

Agad saad ay sa Ina siya na ngang naging paksaNiyong sunod na awitin siya na ngang naging badha;Himig niyong pahimakas, dalangin na nagandukhaTanging huli nang mabatid, “Ave Maria” ang sadya.

Hindi pa rin nagka-siya sa suri ng inampalanKungdi niyong ilang taon bago pa nga nakaraan;Sa Pilipinas pa nahayag, bulwagan ng PamantasanAng dalit sa Ating Ginang inawit ng kabataan.

Lumipas ang ilang taon duon naman sa kanluranNaulit ang manga awit ng nilikha sa tugunan;Anupa at sa tuwina ay palagi yaong hadlang

Niyong manga maligalig ang hanap ay away lamang.

Dito na nga’y ilang taon ang tiniis at inabotNiyong manga madlang himig sa lumanay ng pag-agos;Tila tubig sa batisan maka-bago yaong dalos;Wari’y siyang ibinagay sa panahong nakaraos.

Kapistahan ni Lorenzo taong ika-siyamnapo;Niyong siya’y maging santo, takdang awit wala pa poKungdi yaong siya’y Martir siyang bilin at pasugoSa bayan ng Pilipinas duon ay napagkasundo.

Lalong hindi pa rin payag nagkaisa na alagadSa pagtutol at pagbawal niyong himig na nadagdag;Bagkos pa nga’y hinadlangan yaong manga paghahayagNiyong daloy, niyong kumpas, kahit tama yaong bigkas.

Tila baga nabaon na sa limot na yaong lahatHanggang nitong huling taon na siya nga mailahadNa magturo at mag-ayos at siya rin ang kukumpasNiyong tanang manga himig na nilikhang may taliwas.

Ang dasal na namutawi sa labi ng abang lingkodTila baga manga rosas na hinabi at sinuyodUpang siyang maging dalit ng Ginang na nasa bundok;“Cuatlashupe” ang bansag, “batong-ahas pinalugmok”.

Wari’y siyang pahimakas sa saliw ng manga anghelNang dalitan yaong Ina ng hiwaga ng aliw-iw;Bulwagan ng San Patricio tila mandin pina-aliwNg Gloria ng Franciscano, manga Madre, Padre Groethchel.

* “The word Guadalupe cannot be spelt or pronounced in Nahuatl, the Aztec language which Our Lady used and the only tongue known to Juan Bernardino (Juan Diego’s uncle) since the letter D and G do not exist in it. Therefore the inescapable conclusion is that she (Our Lady) identified herself with a name that was phonetically similar to Guadalupe. . . .”

“. . . in 1895, Professor D. Mariano Jacabo Roxas, head of the department of Nahuatl in the National Museum of Archaeology, History and Ethnography, undertook an intensive scientific study of the word Guadalupe. His conclusion was that the Virgin used the word Coatlazopeuh, which means “she who breaks, stamps or crushes the serpent”, and which again was the equivalent of the Immaculate Conception.” pp. 46-47, “The Wonder of Guadalupe” by Francis Johnston, Tan Books and Publishers, Inc. Rockford Illinois, 1981

“Some questions were to continue throughout history concerning this name. Some authorities suggested that (Bishop) Zumarraga and the others heard a Nahuatl word, Coatalucpia (pronounced “Cuatlashupe”) which meant, “Who crushed the Stone Serpent.” The serpent beneath the feet of the Virgin on Juan Diego’s cloak was a symbol for the Indians.” p. 54, “Those Who Saw Her, Apparitions of Mary” rev. edition, by Catherine M. Odell, Our Sunday Visitor Publishing Division, Inc. Huntington, Indiana 46750

Peter James R. Alindogan

Bagong LumaDahil dalawang taon at kalahati lamang ang ag-wat namin, si Jun ang lumabas na pinakamatalik kong kapatid noong panahong laro lamang ang pumupuno ng aming mga isipan. Sa mga hapong wala kaming magawa sa bahay, kasama ko siyang angkas sa bisekletang minana sa tatay. Pama-masyal sa tiyahing nakatira isang tulay lamang ang pagitan ang siyang hantungan.

At doon kami ni Jun buong hapon. Nagbabasa ng pagkarami-raming pahayagan at magasin. Dagliang maiidlip kapag pagod na sa kababasa at sa pagbukas ng mataʼy nakahanda na ang tinapay at lemonada.

Ito ang mga alaalang nakintal sa aking isipan sa pagusbong ng panibagong taon. Luma mang ala-hanin ay nanatiling bago pa ring isipin. Masarap at madamdaming balikan ang kahapon lalo pa ngaʼt kasiyahan at tuwa ang saloobin nito. Tulad na nga ng mga panahong kasama ko si Jun na parang kambal kong palagiang kasama.

Naiiba marahil ang aking alaala kung ako la-mang ang namimisekleta, kung ako lamang ang nagbabasa at kung ako lamang ang umiinom ng lemonada. Walang tuwa at walang sigla kung walang kasama.

May alam din akong kambal sa buhay ng san-libutan at sa pananampalataya ng sangkatauhan. Ang magkapatid na luma at bago. Ano nga ba ang bago? At ano naman nga ba ang luma? Sariwa lang ba at bango ang mga katangian ng bago na di kayang tapatan ng luma? Kahinaan ba at kaku-langan ang karamay ng kalumaan? Bago ma’y luluma rin. Luma ma’y mababago pa rin.

Ito ang turo ni Hesus. Walang bago sa luma. Walang luma sa bago. Masasayang lang ang anumang bago kung piliting paghaluin sa lumang lalagyan. At sayang din ng yamang luma kung piliting siksikan ng bagong anuman.

Hitik sa ating pananaw at unawa ang mga bago at luma. May lumang Tipan na nangakong maghandog ng Mesiyas at mayroon namang Bagong Tipan na nagbigay katuparan sa pangako. Dalawang Eba ang alam natin. May lumang Eba sa paraiso na nagkamaliʼt nagkasira sira at may-roon namang makabagong Eba na ang pangalaʼy Maria na walang bahid ng pagkakasala. At Da-lawang Adan rin ang kilala natin. May lumang Adan na pasimula ng kasalanan at isang maka-bagong Adan sa pangalan ni Hesus na kumitil ng kasalanan.

At tulad ng halimbawa ni Jun sa aking paglalak-bay sa buhay, turo ni Heus na bakasin natin ang bagong bango ng bukas at kalimutan ang lumang kamalian ng kahapon. Ito ang isang simulain na nararapat makamit at makamtan di lamang ng mga makata at manlilikha. Ito ay isang tawag, tanawin at tanda ng Dakilang Lumikha.


by Ate Norma

FACESPLACES

&Shown with Fr. Joe Cadusale are the offerers during the First Sunday mass last December 7 at the Our Lady of the Island Shrine in Eastport: Alexis, Alvin and Alexa Cresencia.

SURPRISE BIRTHdAy PARTyMembers of the God Almighty Prayer Community and other religious groups attended the surprise birthday party for Jho Swezey. Photo shows Jho with friends Jesusa Alico and Emily Reiley. Happy 50th Jho!

Yellow Belters Allie and Ethan take their Tae Kwon Do lessons seriously.

Caleb, Scarlett and Quinn are enjoying a ride around Colorado Springs.

Jojo Carolipio, Captain Rey and Fr. Gilbert Centina display the Image of the Infant Jesus and the Candelabras donated by the Filipino Catholic to the Church of the Holy Rosary in the Bronx.

From FilCatholic with love.


FACES & PLACES

A Word of ThanksThe Makinano family extends its heartfelt

thanks all those who participated in the 10th

annual celebration of the Feast Day of the

Poon Hesus Nazareno sa Village in New York

City at Our Lady of Pompeii Church. Photo

shows from left, front row: Tess Makinano

Vazquez, Xana Makinano, Marie El-Al

Makinano. Back row: Leo Makinano, Juan

Makinano Durado, Jun Makinano (this year’s

Hermano Mayor) and Amelia Makinano.

Spirit of Christmas pastMemorable images of Filipino Catholic’s Christmas 2008

Photos by Albert Betito

Fr. Patrick Longalong andMsgr. Feliciano Palma withLily Ulep and Shirley Troupe.

Santo Niño Caroling

Happy time at Our Lady of the Snows

Certificate of Appreciation

Christmas party at the Stadmeyer’s

Gift for the Filipino Catholicfrom Our Lady of the Snows

New Year gathering atJunnie & Annabelle Vallega’s


CATECHISMLet’s study the

Come Holy Spirit, Come.

(Continued from last month)

by Sonia S. Salerni

Jesus’ ascent to Jerusalem

557 “When the days drew near for Him to be taken up [Jesus] set His face to go to Jerusalem.” By this decision He indicated that He was going up to Jerusalem prepared to die there. Three times He had announced His Passion and Resurrection; now, heading toward Jerusalem, Jesus says: “It cannot be that a prophet should perish away from Jerusalem.”

558 Jesus recalls the martyrdom of the prophets who had been put to death in Jerusalem. Nevertheless He persists in calling Jerusalem to gather around Him: “How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you would not!” When Jerusalem comes into view He weeps over her and expresses once again His heart’s desire: “Would that even today you knew the things that make for peace! But now they are hid from your eyes.”

Jesus’ messianic entrance into Jerusalem

559 How will Jerusalem welcome her Messiah? Although Jesus had always refused popular attempts to make Him king, He chooses the time and prepares the details for His messianic entry into the city of “His father David”. Acclaimed as son of David, as the one who brings salvation (Hosanna means “Save!” or “Give salvation!”), the “King of glory” enters His City “riding on an ass”. Jesus conquers the Daughter of Zion, a figure of His Church, neither by ruse nor by violence, but by the humility that bears witness to the truth. And so the subjects of His kingdom on that day are children and God’s poor, who acclaim Him as had the angels when they announced Him to the shepherds. Their acclamation, “Blessed be He who comes in the name of the Lord”, is taken up by the Church in the Sanctus of the Eucharistic liturgy that introduces the memorial of the Lord’s Passover.

560 Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem manifested the coming of the kingdom that the King-Messiah was going to accomplish by the Passover of His Death and Resurrection. It is with the celebration of that entry on Palm Sunday that the Church’s liturgy solemnly opens Holy Week.

IN BRIEF

561 “The whole of Christ’s life was a continual teaching: His silences, His miracles, His gestures, His prayer, His love for people, His special affection for the little and the poor, His acceptance of the total sacrifice on the Cross for the redemption of the world, and His Resurrection are the actualization of His word and the fulfillment of Revelation” John Paul II, CT 9).

562 Christ’s disciples are to conform themselves to Him until He is formed in them (cf. Gal 4:19). “For this reason we, who have been made like to Him, who have died with Him and risen with Him, are taken up into the mysteries of His life, until we reign together with Him” (LG 7 # 4).

563 No one, whether shepherd or wise man, can approach God here below except by kneeling before the manger at Bethlehem and adoring Him hidden in the weakness of a new-born child.

564 By His obedience to Mary and Joseph, as well as by His humble work during the long years in Nazareth, Jesus gives us the example of holiness in the daily life of family and work.

565 From the beginning of His public life, at His baptism, Jesus is the “Servant”, wholly consecrated to the redemptive work that He will accomplish by the “baptism” of His Passion.

566 The temptation in the desert shows Jesus, the humble Messiah, who triumphs over Satan by His total adherence to the plan of salvation willed by the Father.

567 The kingdom of heaven was inaugurated on earth by Christ. “This kingdom shone out before men in the word, in the works and in the presence of

Christ” (LG 5). The Church is the seed and beginning of this kingdom. Its keys are entrusted to Peter.

568 Christ’s Transfiguration aims at strengthening the apostles’ faith in anticipation of His Passion: the ascent on to the “high mountain” prepares for the ascent to Calvary. Christ, Head of the Church, manifests what His Body contains and radiates in the sacraments: “the hope of glory” (Col 1:27; cf.: St. Leo the Great, Sermon 51, 3: PL 54, 310C).

569 Jesus went up to Jerusalem voluntarily, knowing well that there He would die a violent death because of the opposition of sinners (cf. Heb 12:3).

570 Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem manifests the coming of the kingdom that the Messiah-King, welcomed into His city by children and the humble of heart, is going to accomplish by the Passover of His Death and Resurrection.

Source: The Catechism of the Catholic Church Book

to be continued …

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Join Fr. Joe’s BiBle study ClassFor more information, please call: (718) 275-3936

Most Precious Blood CharismaticPrayer CommunityMost Precious Blood Church32-23 36th StreetLong Island City, NY 11106Head Servant: Nenett Barbilla718 937 52422nd Tuesday 7:30 PM

El Shaddai Prayer CommunityMost Precious Blood Church32-23 36th StreetLong Island Ciyt, NY 11106Head Servant: Amerito Gerodias718 458 82144th Sunday 3:00 PM

Light Of Christ Prayer GroupSt. Nicholas of Tolentine150-75 Goethals AvenueJamaica, NY 11432Head Servant: Cookie Fernandez718 380 1712Last Thursday 7:30 PM

Family of Christ Prayer CommunityPresentation Church8819 Parsons Blvd., Jamaica, NY 11432Head Servant: Patrick de la Paz718 658 20781st Tuesday 7:30 PM

Mary Mother of Divine HealerSt. Gerard Majella Church188-16 91st Ave., Hollis, NY 11423Head Servant: Raymonde Cesaire718 445 44231st Friday 7:30 PM

Haitian Community90-33 184th PlaceHollis, NY 11423Head Servant: Alberte Madame Delatur718 454 85723rd Tuesday 7:30 PM

Filipino Community Our Lady of Angels2860 Webb Ave., Bronx, NY 10468Head Servant: Josette Camino718 543 08842nd Saturday 7:30 PM

Divine Mercy Devotion Our Lady of Victories2217 Kennedy Blvd., Jersey City, NJ 07304Head Servant: Tess Alvarez4th Friday 7:00 PM

St. John Prayer Community272 Boyd AveJersey City, NJ 07304Head Servant: Purita Vasquez201 333 31363rd Monday 7:00 PM

St. Nicholas Prayer Group122 Ferry St.Jersey City, NJ 07307Head Servant: Elsa Leonida210 656 20101st Sunday 6:30 PM

Puissance Divine D’Amore820 Wallace AveBaldwin, NY 11510Head Servant: Yvrose Saint-Urban516 378 81732nd Thursday 7:30 PM

Home Bound Bible StudySt. Rose of Lima269 Parkville AveCoordinator: Violeta Robbins718 677 81311st Saturday 2:00 PM

The Vine & the Branches IncarnationPrayer Group92-19 212th St., Queens Village, NY 11428Head Servant: Ofelia Villar718 465 00873rd Friday 7:00 PMFamily of God160-31 78th Rd

Sacred Heart Family Apostolate37-74 6th St.Woodside, NY 11377Head Servant: Remy Consoli718 424 79842nd Sunday 6:30 PM

English Community161 Le Grand St.Brentwood, NY 11717Coordinator: Rose Nallie Germain631 231 87581st Thursday 7:30 PM

Filipino Catholic453 Hawthorne AvenueUniondale, NY 11553Coordinator: Dr. Norma Pascual516 2921445Last Monday 8:00 PM

Handmaid of the Lord/Couples for Christ202-35 Foothill Ave., A-38Hollis, NY 11423Head Servant: Dolly Pawal718 468-8463Last Sunday 6:30 PM

Militia Immaculatae Marian Kolbe MovementSt. Stanislaus B&M101 East 7th StreetNew York, NY 10009(917) 753-72331st Saturday 5:00 P.M.

Our Lady Queen of Martyrs110-06 Queens Blvd.Forest Hills, NY 11375Head Servant: Nellie Milite718 544 51412nd Friday 7:30 PM

Haitian Community16339 130th Ave., Apt 5CJamaica, NY 11434-3014Head Servant: Raymonde Cesaire718 481 96834th Saturday 7:00 PM

Flushing, NY 11366Coordinator: Perla Leonardo(718) 591-45792nd Friday, 9:00 PM

The Lord’s Flock Prayer GroupSta. Rita281 Bradley AveStaten Island, NY 10314Coordinator: Myrna Leyson718 983 14103rd Saturday 8:00 PM

Divine Mercy Prayer GroupOur Lady of Mercy70-01 Kessel St.Forest Hills, NY 11375Coordinator: Victoria Angeles718 268 65162nd Wednesday 6:30 PM

Filipino CommunityOur Lady of the Angelus63-63 98th St., Rego Park, NY 11374Coordinator: Ofelia Concepcion(718) 897-44442nd Monday 7:30 PM

Saint Martin de Porres Healing MinistryFlushing Chapter86-60 Range St., Bellrose, NY 11427Coordinator: Sylvia David(718) 913-69223rd Thursday 8:00 PM

Friday Night Devotion40-14 62nd St., Apt. 4FWoodside, NY 11377Coordinator: Rosemary Khan718 457 58775th Friday 8:30 PM

by Rev. Joe Cadusale

The Gospel Truth

Last Christmas 2008, there was a personal message which is frequently missed by many. The birth of Jesus was not simply an interesting fact of history wholly unrelated to your present life but rather it has a direct bearing upon it. When the angels announced the birth of Jesus to the shepherds, the personal importance of His coming was emphasized. They said “Fear not: for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord” (Lk 2:10, 11).

Have you ever thought that it was for you the Savior was born? Do you realize that when God sent His Son into the world, He sent Him to become your Savior? Yes it was for you that Jesus came. He did not come to be the inspiration of Christmas carols, nor to be the theme of Christmas cards and nativity sets. Jesus came to be the Savior, and as such He was born for you. Bound inseparably together are the Savior’s birth and His death. He came to save, and to save He must die, die in the sinner’s stead, bearing the full penalty of divine wrath for sin. This too, was personal, it was for you. Such a personal message of God’s love and grace demands a personal response. The Savior who was born was God’s gift to you. He wants you to receive that gift. “For God so loved the world, that he gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (Jn 3:16).

To receive the gift of God by faith you must believe that Christ actually was born to be your Savior. You should trust Him because He died for your sins. You should trust Him because He lives, having risen from the dead.

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SAINT MARTIN dE PORRES PRAyER ANd HEALING MINISTRy

2008 Colorado Pilgrimage“Seek the Lord and his strength; seek his presence continually! 1 Chronicles 16:11

While New York was enjoying its nice spring weather of 70F last May 2008, the St. Martin de Porres Healing Ministry NY members, Malou Cadiz, Benilda Gottfried, Marivic Santos and Virgie Socorro headed out to the cold freezing rainy weather of Denver, Colorado for their pilgrimage to Mother Cabrini Shrine in Golden Colorado. At the same time, Sister Josephine G. Dichoso together with Maria Yasay arrived from San Jose, CA, thus completing the pilgrimage entourage. The group stayed with their hosts, Leo and Susan Baleva in Colorado Springs.

May 13, 2008 – The group lead the 2000 Hail Mary Devotion, Coronation and flower offering to the Blessed Virgin Mary at the Baleva’s residence followed by prayer and healing service by Sister Josephine Dichoso. Leo’s daughters Lindsay and Melissa and in-laws Rufino and Virginia Estioco, Benita Arevalo and children Jonathan and Andrew visiting from Sacramento, California and neighbors Flor Palalay and son Charles and Gloria and Willie Seto joined the group in prayers.

May 14, 2008 – The group drove almost 2 hours north to visit Mother Cabrini Shrine located beyond the foothills of Golden Colorado. This was established by St. Frances Xavier Cabrini for the purpose of spreading the gospel and providing a peaceful summer atmosphere for orphaned children. Some members went to climb 373 steps that leads to a 22-foot high statue of the Sacred Heart of Jesus adorned by the Stations of the Cross, the mysteries of the Rosary and the Ten Commandments. At the chapel of Mother Cabrini, the group and some visitors from Denver Colorado asked to be prayed over by Sister Josephine Dichoso. Everyone had a wonderful and enriching experience from the trip.

Taken at the residence of Leo and Sue Baleva, Colorado Springs.

Taken in front of Mother Cabrini Shrine. Inside Mother Cabrini Shrine with Sister Josie and the group

Sister Josie in deep meditation. Taken at the Chapel of Mother Cabrini during prayer healing service.

The group enjoyed the cool spring of miraculous waterthat Mother Cabrini found on the barren hill top.

Our hosts Leo and Sue joined the group in climbing the 373 steps while meditating on the Stations of the Cross.



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“Keep Jesus in the center of our lives. Keep the Tabernacle in the center of the Altar.”

Santo Niño Feast dayOn January 24, 2009. Saturday,

devotional prayers to Santo Niño, Lord of Pardon and Our Lady of Fatima. will be held at 4:30 p.m. at the upper church of St. Rita’s Roman Catholic Church in Long Island City. It will be followed by the celebration of the Mass at 5 PM. Rev. Philip J. Pizzo, the Pastor of St. Rita. The event will be sponsored by the Marriage Encountered Couples Prayer Group of New York headed by Tess & Ladis Usis. Rev. Pizzo is also the Spiritual Director of this Group. The Coordinators for group are Jet & Ding Capili. This year 2009, there will be a regular monthly gathering at St. Rita’s Church, every 4th Saturday of the month at 4:30 pm. Be sure to attend our first gathering on February 28th.

Don’t forget to attend the Santo Niño affair this coming 24th of January.

Bring your friends and family members and be a part of our big Santo Niño Family.

And may the Holy Infant Jesus bring abundant blessings to you and your family.

JET AND DING CAPILICoordinators (718): 846-8369

You are invitedInstallation of the Devotions to the

Holy Infant Jesus, Our Lady of Fatima and Our Lord of Pardon

at

St. Rita’s Roman Catholic Church36-25 11th Street, Long Island City, NY 11106

Saturday, January 24, 2009 at 4:30 PMMass will follow at 5 PM

Rev. Philip Pizzo, Pastor & Spiritual Director

Sponsored by the

Marriage Encountered Couples Prayer Group of NYContact Persons:

Tess & Ladis Usis (Head Servants) 516 414 4321Jet & Ding Capili (Coordinators) 718 846 8369

Directions:From Nassau, Suffolk and Eastern Queens:From the Grand Central Parkway Westbound, take the 31st Street Exit. Continue straight to21st St. Continue straight to 36th Avenue. Make a right turn onto 36th Avenue. The Church is on the Avenue and 12th Street. The parking lot is on 11th StreetFrom Upstate NY and the Bronx:Take the Triboro Bridge. Get off the very first exit in Queens, Astoria Blvd. Go straight from the exit 1 block to Astoria Blvd. Turn right onto Astoria Blvd. Go to 21st Street, Turn left onto 21st Street Continue straight to 36th Ave. Make a right turn onto 36th Avenue. The Church is on the corner of 36th Avenue and 12th Street. The parking is on 11th Street.From Brooklyn:Take the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway to McGuinnis Blvd exit. Drive on McGuinnis Blvd to the end and over the Pulaski Bridge into Queens At the end of the Bridge, turn right onto Jackson Avenue. Drive on Jackson Street Turn left onto 21st Street. Drive on 21st Street to 37th Avenue. The Church is a right turn onto I2 St. Parking lot is a right turn onto 11 Street.

You may get public transportation directions from your address to the Church at http://www.HopStop.com; Directions and Bus Directions for New York City (NYC).


by Andrea Oliva Florendo

“It’s Not Easy Bein’ Green...”Ordinary Time From Christmas To Lent

FIESTA CELEBRATIONNUESTRA SEÑORA DE CANDELARIA

SILANG, CAVITEPlease join us in celebrating Silang’s town fiesta

Saturday, February 7, 200912:00 pm to 5:00 pm

SHRINE CHURCH OF ST. GERARD MAJELLA 188-16 91st Avenue, Hollis , NY 11423

Tel. 718-468-6565Blessing of Candles & Tagalog Mass start at 12:00 pm

Lunch and fiesta celebration after MassCollections at 2006 fiesta celebration funded the pads of ALL the kneelers at the Silang parish church. Please see sample completed kneeler.

Collections at 2007 and 2008 fiesta celebration funded the tables, chairs and cabinets of the Silang Parish Church’s Multi-Purpose Center.

DIRECTIONS TO CHURCH:From GWB: Take the Triboro Bridge. Follow the sign to Long Island leading to Grand Central Parkway East. Pass La Gurardia Airport. Bare left following the sign to Long Island. Exit to 188th Street. Proceed south (turn right) on 188th Street on to Hillside Avenue. Turn left on Hillside Avenue and make a right on 189th Street. Go down 3 blocks and turn right on 91st Avenue. Church is on the corner of 91st Avenue and 188th Street.From Brooklyn, Staten Island & NJ: Take Brooklyn Queens Expressway (I-278) East. Exit to Long Island Expressway East (LIE I-495E). Exit to Grand Central Parkway East. Exit to 188th Street. Follow the direction above.From Queens & Long Island: Grand Central Parkway (either direction) to the 188th Street exit. Proceed south on 188th Street on to Hillside Avenue. Turn left on Hillside Avenue and make a right on 189th Street. Go down 3 blocks and turn right on 91st Avenue. Church is on the corner of 91st Avenue and 188th Street.By subway: Take F train to the last stop in Queens (179th Street station). Take bus Q2 or Q3 going to JFK Airport. Get off at corner of 187th Street and 91st Avenue. Walk one block. Church is on the corner of 188th Street and 91st Avenue.

For more information on the 2009 fiesta celebration, please call:

516-775-5150or

Nene Videña-Salle 516-225-5757 cellGene Salle 516-225-1616 cell

It is not easy being green specially in winter. But it is worth the wait----- this journey into “being green” into spring, into Easter Vigil and resurrection. Following the great energy and excite-ment of Christmas, Solemnity of Mary, and Epiphany we often experience a letdown in liturgy. This short season between Christmas and Lent is called Ordinary Time. Surely such can’t be so ordinary because this Ordinary Time is a time of journey into the Paschal mystery.

If we look closer at the movement of the liturgical season, we will see a continu-ation of the whole Paschal mystery as presented by the lectionary. Consider the readings of the season. Following the Baptism of the Lord, the Lamb of God appears (the Second Sunday) and we are called to do the will of the Father who sent Him! We are called forth as

disciples the following Sunday, and then through those who are “ill and sick with various diseases,” we are reminded of Christ’s healing power on them. The Sunday before Lent reminds us that Christ calls us to a more active life of almsgiving and fasting and to “pray to the Father in secret.” So what we call “time between” or Ordinary Time is nothing short of ordinary. What a wonderful hiatus from the Holy days!

Such an interlude needs deep reflection. It is a great opportunity to rest and sa-vor the energy of winter. This season between Christmas and Lent can be a time of warm conversations with the Lord. It is certainly a time to renew one another in worship and reconnecting with our families and friends about our lives

together. No less an opportunity is given in the liturgy. The echo of Christmas extends all the way to February 2nd with the Presentation of the Lord. Joyful shouts of Mary’s Magnificat (Song of praise) can be recounted. Hymns of praise and light can be sung throughout the season.As Christians whose hope is based on faith and trust in the Babe of love which has been born to us, we can rejoice in our communal wait together for the light that is becoming more visible in our lives, awaiting the glory of the resurrec-tion, the promise of new life and the greening of our existence.


Prayer toSaint Martin De PorreS

Most glorious Martin de Porres whose burning charity embraced not only thy needy brethren, but also the very animals of the field, splendid example of charity, we hail thee and invoke thee! From that high throne which thou dost occupy, deign to listen to the supplications of thy needy brethren that, by imitating thy virtues, we may live contented in that state in which God has placed us and carrying with strength and courage our cross, we may follow in the footsteps of Our Blessed Redeemer and His most afflicted Mother, that at last we may reach the Kingdom of Heaven through the merits of Our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen. JCC

Second MonthVirgin Mary, we pray for families; first for our

own, then for those of our friends and neigh-bors.

We entrust them all to your care; those who are happy and prospering, those who are in plain and suffering and all who are having difficulties and failures. Those spouses who are living a difficult marriage need your help now.

Oh! And the children! Protect the poor little ones living in troubled families. Be a mother to the children of homes broken by divorce and separation.

From the depths of our hearts we pray for this special intention …

Remember the day you mourned your spouse, St. Joseph. Please console all those who now must live with an empty place at their side.

Support grandparents in their old age. Be close to old people who are abandoned to their loneliness.Our Lady of the Cape, bless fathers and moth-ers, that they may find happiness and fulfill-ment in their love for each other and for their children. JCC

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God Dwells In Me

by Deacon Rolando V. Nolasco

SACRAMENTALS

by Scapular John

Our Lady of Seven Dolors and Her Seven

Graces

The holiness that we work so hard to attain will certainly need our lifetime commitment to stay on course in spite of the many chal-lenges that come our way. We are constantly made aware of the need to remain faithful to the true teachings of our Lord Jesus Christ handed down to us from apostolic time up to the present through its legitimate successors as commissioned by the sole church founded by Christ - the Catholic Church. The season of Advent that we had gone through before Christmas called us to repentance to make our lives blameless as our preparation to com-

memorate the birth of our Lord and Savior. The Lenten season invites us to look deeply into ourselves to resolve tasks we failed to do to allow us to rejoice in our commemoration of His resurrection. The liturgical readings from the Scripture allow us to meditate on the life of Jesus to become the focus of our lives, our model and example. These are not just a random selection of readings but a definite path for all to grow and mature in faith so we can truly claim that God dwells in us. This cyclical arrangement of liturgical readings had started since the very early history of the Church.

New Year is always a time to have our resolutions in order to improve our lives - a time to let go of many distractions and unproductive endeavors. I just hope that we include to these resolutions our spiritual aspirations to better love and serve God thus achieve true peace within us and in the entire world. Just as many promises have remained as resolutions, we seek God’s grace and mercy to give us strength and determination to pursue what we long for. Many have trod this path to holiness but had given up since then for a much less cumbersome way the world offers them - the road that leads to perdition. It is unfortunate that this change of heart is often encouraged by self proclaimed ministers who whet the appetite of the faithful for material well-being instead of tempering them. St. Paul compares our spiritual journey to “athletes in training that submits to strict discipline in order to win the crown of victory.” The gospel according to Matthew describes the gate to life as narrow and the way that leads to it is hard, and there are few who find it.” On the other hand, ‘the gate to hell is wide and the road that leads to it is smooth hence many travel it.”

St. Paul’s second epistle to Timothy reminded him of “the time when people will not listen to sound doctrine but follow their desires and gather for themselves teachers who will tell them what they are itching to hear.” They will turn away from listening to the truth and seek instead man-made tales. This explains the success of many false teachers and their ministries flourish because they cater to demands of their clientele. It goes without saying that the more people in the congregation, the more profitable it becomes; likewise such big gathering will give a semblance of God’s blessing. St. Peter in his second epistle wrote: “In their greed these false teachers will make a profit out of telling made-up stories.” On the other hand, a dwindling number of faithful will hang on to their commitment and continue in their journey with fidelity. I once read a book about the Lord Jesus teaching his early followers on discipleship and hearing how difficult it would be, many have turned away thus the writer concluded why He did not have many friends. At our last Simbang Gabi Mass, the celebrant while exhorting the obedience of Mary to God reminded the congregation the need to submit to the will of God in spite of the seemingly many obstacles along the way. Without hesitation, a long time parishioner who is well known to be stubbornly doing things she had been told to desist retorted that it is easy to do will of God. Everyone in the congregation shrugged-off such remarks and took it as a big joke.

It is of no wonder why the gospel reminds us that we cannot have two masters at the same time - God and money. It tells us that we are prone to love one and hate the other. If our lives are ruled by our intense desire for material things, we certainly are to ignore our spiritual needs and fail greatly in our journey of faith. We may even probably excuse ourselves because it seems humanly possible to tread the path to authentic holiness. To compensate, most often time, many resort to performing vain religious practices. We find many young people now wearing three or more rosary beads at one time as a necklace but wondering if they ever know how to pray; some even may go to church to pray for long periods of time but does not manifest a real transformation. St. Paul wrote to the Ephesians urg-ing them “to get rid of their old selves” so that “their hearts and minds are made completely new.” This may seem to be a daunting task but St. Peter tells us to rely in God alone because His “divine power has given us everything we need to live a truly religious life through our knowledge of one who has called us in his own glory.” How can we ever come to a true understanding of the one who called us when we surround ourselves with false teachers? We cannot save ourselves for we are weak and prone to fall to temptation. It is only through God’s mercy and love that we can overcome our human frailty. St. John’s first epistle affirms this when he wrote that: “our love for God means that we obey His precepts which are not difficult for us because every child of God is able to defeat the world.” He assures us that we will emerge victorious over the world by means of our faith. Only then can we truly claim that God dwells in me because the world will wit-ness it as we allow Him to inwardly transform our lives.

Jesus wishes us to know seven of the many suffer-ings the Blessed Mother had for Her Son and for us as a result of her saying, “Fiat” to God’s will and to know seven Graces He has given us to those who meditate on her sufferings. This devotion was revealed to St. Bridget.

The Seven Graces are:1. I will grant peace to their families.2. They will be enlightened about the Divine mysteries.3. I will console them in their pains and I will accompany them in their work.4. I will give them as much as they ask for as long as it does not oppose the

adorable will of my Divine Son or the sanctification of their souls. 5. I will defend them in their spiritual battles with the infernal enemy and I will

protect them at every instant of their lives. 6. I will visibly help them at the moment of death, they will see the face of their

Mother.7. I have obtained (this grace) from my Divine Son, that those who propagate

this devotion to my tears and dolors, will be taken directly from this earthly life to eternal happiness since all their sins will be forgiven and my Son and will be their eternal consolation and joy.

To obtain these graces one needs to honor her daily by saying seven Hail Mary’s and medi-tating on the following Seven Sorrows.

1. The prophecy of Sim-eon. (St. Luke, Chapter 2, verse 34-35)2. The flight into Egypt. (St. Matthew, Chapter 2, verse 13-14)3. The loss of the Child Jesus in the temple. (St. Luke, Chapter 2, verse 43-45)4. The meeting of Jesus and Mary on the Way of the Cross.5. The Crucifixion.6. The taking down of the Body of Jesus from the Cross.7. The burial of Jesus.

There is no limit to the insights we can have on

these meditations. As a result there is no limit to the sufferings that we can receive and experience, which expands our hearts to have a greater capacity to love, and to appreciate the love of others when they do sacrifices for us.

If we were to measure love, how would we measure it? It could be measured by sacrifice. The greatest sacrifice of all was Jesus laying down His life for us. By meditating of the Blessed Mother’s sufferings for Jesus and on our behalf, we receive the grace to be Christ like, which is to offer more and more sacrifices to others by an ever increasing love in our hearts. There is no greater joy then expe-riencing Jesus’ love in our hearts in these gifts of sacrifice.

For more information on sacramentals you can log on to our website at, www.TheHolyFamily.com or call us at 610.253.8604 or write to us at: Dove Tales, PO Box 3623, Easton Pa, 18043.


Fr. Guthriefrom page 4

diocesan Santo Niño Fiestaby Erlinda A. Franco

The parish of Our Lady Help of Christians (OLHC) in 1315 East 28th Street was this year’s host of the joint Queens and Brooklyn Diocesan celebration of the Santo Nino on January 4, 2009. The day was celebrated with two feast days, the Santo Nino feast and the Epiphany of the Lord. The Federation of Diocesan Apostolate (FDA), the joint Diocese of Queens and Brooklyn celebrated the feast with the Most Reverend Rene A. Valero, DD, as the main celebrant. The concelebrants were: Rev. Peter J. Rayder, Pastor, Our Lady Help of Christians, Rev. Dennis J. Farrell, Pastor Resurrection Church of Brooklyn, Rev. Marc M. Caliwan, FDA coordinator, Resur-rection Parish, Rev. Alexander Ramos, Wychoff Hospital Chaplain, Rev. Anacleto Asebias Jr. Maryʼs Nativity Church, of Queens, Rev. Antonio B. Camora, Seaport Chaplain, Rev. Jovito Carongay, Jr. St. Joan of Arc Church and Rev. Godofredo Felicitas, St. Robert Bellarmine Church also of Queens.

The Mass was started with the Santo Nino Sinulog Dance offered by the Fed-eration of Diocesan Apostolate (FDA) Queens’ Youth Ministry under the direction of Miriam Empalmado. The beautiful dancers, who performed the colorful and lively sinulog dance delighted the whole congregation. It was a reminiscent of a lively Sinulog dances back in the Philippines.

After the dance offering to the Santo Nino, the Mass started. The readings were in Pilipino and the petitions were read in different Filipino dialects. The homilist was Rev. Alexander L. Ramos, Chaplain of the Wyckoff Hospital, who gave a brief history of the Sinulog. The offerings were done by the officers and members of the Filipino communities of Queens and Brooklyn, who wore their beautiful kimona and barong Tagalog. The children also participated in the floral offerings to the Santo Nino. Three men dressed as the Three Kings gave their symbolic offerings to the Infant Jesus. The choir sang selected Filipino songs with Ruth Manligoy, director of the Music Ministry, as the soloist, sang. At the end of the mass, the Bishop Valero gave his blessing to all the children.

A reception and fellowship followed in the lower church after the Mass. While the members and guests were on the line waiting to get their food, they were entertained by the lively Rondalla of the Brooklyn Youth Ministry headed by Bill Locsin. The beautiful Rondalla of the youth known as the Filipino Art and Music Ensemble (FAME) was conducted by Edwin Cardoniga. It was a reminiscent of the real Fiesta sa Barrio. Hundreds attended and enjoyed the various Philippine dishes served during the celebration.

Last year the diocesan fiesta was held in Queens. This year in Brooklyn. These two dioceses take turns in hosting the fiesta. The success of the affair was due to the cooperation of the Filipino community of Queens and Brooklyn, the host church, Fr. Marc Caliwan, the officers and Zeny de Vera, coordinator of OLHC church. Special thanks to the donors, sponsors, benefactors, guests who came from different parishes.

of parties such as wedding receptions. And, above all, do all reasonably possible to help relieve an awkward situation.

Seventh: if help is needed and we are in a position to offer it, do it as quietly and with as little fanfare as possible.

Eighth: be discrete and reverent in dealing with other people, whether in authority over us, or people who, in human terms, are somehow subject to our authority or guidance, or, even more, with people who are weak or helpless.

Ninth: and, finally but most important, we are called to drink, as deeply as God’s holy Will and guidance allows, of the spiritual riches of the wedding feast of the Kingdom of God through fidelity to the Will of God, the sacramental life, heart to heart communication with God in prayer, and the self-denial to which the Holy Spirit of God calls us.

3.) CONSIDERATIONS AND IMPORTANT DISTINCTIONS ABOUT OUR AC-TIVELY “GAY” BROTHERS AND SISTERS

For the last few years, when news stories come up about “gay” activism and other mat-ters involving homosexuals or the “gay” life-style, we often hear the words “hate speech”, “bigotry”, “injustice”, “just” rights, etc.

It is necessary that a few thoughts be made clear. In making these distinctions we need to keep in mind that there are many homosexuals, both men and women, who are faithful disciples of Jesus and who are living a chaste Christian life. (eg. Members of Courage) Also, I am using the word “gay” to designate those who are caught in the immoral life-style of living according to their unnatural and disordered homosexual inclinations.

LOVE FOR NEIGHBORThese thoughts are presented as, hopefully, properly representative of the spirit of the

Gospel and the mind of the Church. First, we must never, in any way fail to genuinely love in Christ a “gay” brother or

sister. This is the way, we must always regard a person who is known to be homosexual or who is called “gay”.

Under no circumstances are we to ever allow ourselves, or others, to the degree that we are reasonably able, in any way to reject or denigrate a homosexual person.

LOVE FOR GODSecond, we have also been called to love God above all things. This commandment

requires us to learn and obey God’s Will as applied to all circumstances of our lives. This responsibility includes God’s Will regarding the sins of the city of Sodom (Gen 19:11 ff) where the “gay” lifestyle was rampant. As is made clear by the account found in the Bible, God does not tolerate such actions or lifestyle. Why? Primarily, because sodomy is against the very nature and purpose of human sexuality. Homosexual activity is, by nature, a grave disorder. The people of Sodom are described in the bible as committing “abominable crimes” (Gen.19:1-25; Ez.16:50). As the fate of these two cities demonstrates, flaunting such lifestyles is a very dangerous way to treat the good God.

And Paul, writing to the Romans (1:24ff), described as “shameful” the sexual actions of those who were given over to idolatry and to the “gay” lifestyle:

“Therefore, God handed them over to impurity through the lusts of their hearts for the mutual degradation of their bodies. They exchanged the truth of God for a lie and revered and worshiped the creature rather than the creator, who is blessed forever. Amen. Therefore, God handed them over to degrading passions. Their females exchanged natural relations for unnatural, and the males likewise gave up natural relations with females and burned with lust for one another. Males did shameful things with males and thus received in their own persons the due penalty for their perversity. And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God handed them over to their undiscerning mind to do what is improper.”

HEALTHAnd nature will fight back against the abuse of human sexuality, especially homosexual

activity. No amount of medication will ever prevent the eventual catching and spreading of venereal disease that result from the abuse of the sacred gift and responsibility of human sexuality. Even if AIDS should be conquered, the continued abuse of human sexuality will result in the emerging of other new sexually transmitted diseases.

A perverted court system in our country is showing signs of supporting this evil life-style. But under no circumstances may we, as disciples of Jesus, our God and brother, be a part of it.

And, no matter what happens legally, however perverse, we will continue to love every one of our homosexual brothers and sisters.

Our declaring in this way the truth with love is not “hate speech”. It is not “bigotry”. It is simply fidelity to God and to his Truth.

NEXT MONTH: Programs to help our parishes and people grow in love for and fidelity to the message of Our Blessed Mother at Fatima.

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