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Vol. 7 No. 10 June 11, 2011

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www.saaparish.com and www.facebook.com/saaparish

Sunday GoSpel

Jn 20:19-23

Pastor’s MessageThe Churchby: Rev. Msgr. Dennis Odiver

Pentecost Sunday is considered the birthday of the Church. Through the outpouring of the Spirit, the apostles received the gift of peace and the mission of reconciliation. From being a band of fearful disciples, they became courageous witnesses of the Gospel.

This Church established by the Lord subsists until today. WE ARE THIS CHURCH. The Church the spirit renews and recreates.

In these days and times however, our understanding and appreciation of this Church has been constricted by ideas and perceptions marked by extreme prejudice. The Church is heralded as an obstacle for growth and development. It is regarded

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Girlie Felizardo is SaRC’s new presiding elder By Pinky Uy

The St. Andrew Renewal Community (SARC) bids farewell and Godspeed to their much loved servant leader, Roy Pasimio, as he turns over the leadership to the new presiding elder, Girlie Felizardo. The turnover rites were held last May 28 during the Community Retreat at St. Scholastica’s Center of Spirituality Retreat House in Tagaytay City.

SARC’s Spirit-inspired election held last April 29 ensured that the new presiding elder will be selected not through the usual and traditional popularity voting but by

The Health Care Ministry organized a “Bantay Kalusugan” program last sunday June 5, 2011 at the parish center. A total of 301 patients, of which 60% were seniors, from the different villages availed the prorgam. They came in as early as 5 a.m. There were ten (10) healthcare volunteers including med-techs and optometrists.

Bantay Kalusugan serves 301 patients

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Bantay Kalusugan ... from page 1

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We would like to request our fellow parishioners and friends to pray for JOE

JALANDOON, an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion, who passed last

June 7. May God take him in His loving arms and grant him eternal rest and

peace. We also extend our heartfelt condolences to the family and loved ones

he left behind.

St. ephrem Feast day: June 9

Ephrem born on about 373 (or Eprhaim) the Syrian left us hundreds of hymns and poems on the faith that inflamed and inspired the whole Church, but few facts about his own inspiring life.

Most historians infer from the lines quoted above that Ephrem was born into a Christian family -- although not baptized until an adult (the trial or furnace), which was common at the time. Other than that little is known about his birth and youth although many guess he was born in the early fourth century in Mesopotamia, possibly in Nisibis where he spent most of his adult life.

“He Who created two great lights, chose for Himself these three Lights, and set them in the three dark seasons of siege that have been.”

Ephrem served as teacher, and possibly deacon, under four bishops of Nisibis, Jacob, Babu, Vologeses, and Abraham. Ephrem did not live in easy times in Nisibis.

He developed the power of music to get their points across. Tradition tells us that Ephrem heard the heretical ideas put into song first and in order to counteract them made up his own hymns.

The originality, imagery, and skill of his hymns captured the hearts of the Christians so well, that Ephrem is given credit for awakening the Church to the important of music and poetry in spreading and fortifying the faith.

Sometime in 364 he settled as a solitary ascetic on Mount Edessa, at Edessa (what is now Urfa) 100 miles east of his home.

Heresy and danger followed him to Edessa. The Arian Emperor Valens camped outside of Edessa threatening to kill all the Christian inhabitants if they did not submit. But Valens was the one forced to give up in the face of the courage and steadfastness of the Edessans (fortified by Ephrem’s hymns):

Patient 251 having his ECG, one of the test offered at a very affordable rate.

Health Care Ministry volunteers at work at the registration area.

The package worth 250.00 included ECG, blood test and urinalysis. Other test for Triglycerides, Creatinine, SGOT, Hepatitis and X-Ray were also available for a minimal cost.

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pastor’s Message ... from page 1

Girlie Felizardo ... from page 1

as an institution intoxicated with power and wealth that tolerates even perpetrates injustice, exploitation and abuse. It guises herself as a moral guardian but is actually filled with hypocrisy and depravity.

As we read about and hear of these views and opinions, we paint a grim picture of ourselves. For the Church is not just the hierarchy, the bishops whom we accuse of cover up and the clergy involved in scandals. It is not just the bishops who allegedly threaten public officials of excommunication or clergy purportedly denying parishioners the sacraments when they go against their position on critical moral issues. It is not just the bishops who teach dogmas people label as outmoded and irrelevant or the clergy who are blind to real life situations and ignorant of modern trends in science, medicine and technology. It also includes

corrupt politicians who steal from the coffers of the state; businesses and industries driven by greed for profit and gain; groups and associations whose passions are based on advocacies, ideologies or principles that may be simplistic and obtuse; and individuals motivated by selfishness and pride.

WE ARE THE CHURCH. All the faithful, saints and sinners, rich and poor, young and old alike: we who in faith struggle through life’s daily trials; we who hold on to hope to overcome sin and evil; and we who strive to exercise charity to dispel hatred and violence in our midst.

We are the people whom God loves, the people whom God will never give up on. Our gift and mission is to love this Church.

rating each of the candidates according to characteristics and values that are important to SARC. The criteria were as follows:

Character Traits - Caring, Forgiving, Generous, Patient, Teachable, Obedient, Humble, Dependable, Trustworthy, Loyal, Respects his/her leader

Family Life - there’s love, honor and respect among members of the family; spends quality time with family members

Relationship - builds and maintains harmonious relationship with leaders, peers and members; friendly and easy to talk to; - reaches out to other members

Commitment - gives priority to SARC activities; attends Community Assemblies, Caring Group meetings, leadership trainings, retreats and other SARC activities regularly

Skills and Competence - can head a caring group; can head a ministry; can head a service team for specific projects and events; can give talk and/or sharing; can lead worship; can preside at meetings

Prior to her selection, Girlie was the head of the SARC Singles Chapter and a member of the Council of Coordinators. She’s a past president of the Legion of Mary. She is meek and humble and truly possesses a servant leader’s heart. A successful businesswoman, Girlie is a shining example of how to live a life dedicated to God while serving her family, community and workplace.

Girlie Felizardo, prayed over by Msgr. Dennis and Bro. Roy Pasimio

SARC Seniors celebrated their 10th year anniversary last May 25, 2011.

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St. ephrem from page 2...

Ria Salvaña Matthew LizaresParish Works StaffEllie Medina, Angelina Poe,Emilio Medina, Rochelle Pineda Announcements CoordinatorPia SanedrinBulletin Board EditorEJ CarlosPowerpoint CoordinatorGing Santos, JayR PaduaContributor: Pinky Uy, Emma Entao

Spiritual AdvisorRev. Msgr. Dennis Odiver

PublisherSt. Andrew the Apostle ParishN. Garcia St. cor. Kalayaan Ave.Bel-Air II, Makati CityPhones: (632) 890-1796 / 890-1743 media@saaparish.com

Parish Works is the official weekly newsletter of Saint Andrew the Apostle Parish. Media and Communications Ministry Co-coordinators

AUTHORIZED PETRON DEALER IN MAKATI

FAST DELIVERY

843-2207•886-0931843-8440•843-8691

487 J.P. Rizal St. Makati CityFirst ChoiCe

Sunday Mass Schedule 6:30am - Filipino

8:00am - English 9:30am - English 11:00am - English 12:15n.n - English

3:30pm - Filipino 5:00pm - English 6:30pm - English 8:00pm - English

announcements

. . . serve the community’s masses by leading the assembly in singing

JOIN in any of the choirs of the parish. . .

• ApostleshipofPrayer(AP)-1stFridaysat6:30am/1stto2ndSundaysat6:30am

• TinigLingkodsaDambana(TLSD)-3rdto5thSundaysat6:30am

• Bel-Air&Friends -Sundaysat8:00am

• PsalmsAlive -1st,3rd,5thSundaysat9:30am

• Prex -2ndand4thSundaysat9:30am

• HimigniSanAndres -Sundaysat11:00am

• HymnsofYouth -Sundaysat12:15pm

• SantiagoVillage -Fridaysat6:30pm/2nd&4thSundaysat4:30pm

• DiezDominae -Mondaysat6:30pm/1st,3rd,5thSundaysat3:30pm

• Community -1stto3rdSaturdaysat6:30pm/Sundaysat5:00pm

• SpiritoftheOmnipotence(SOTO)-Sundaysat6:30pm

• HeartsofJesus&Mary-Wednesdaysat6:30pm/Sundaysat8:00pm.

• TonesofFaith -Tuesdaysat6:30pm

• Lakbay–Himig -LastSaturdaysoftheMonthat6:30pmandasaSundaysubstituteatnight.

Please contact the Music Sub-Ministry Coordinator at saapbelairchoirs@yahoo.com for current opportunities to serve the parish in any of the choirs.

Tradition tells us that during the famine that hit Edessa in 372, Ephrem was horrified to learn that some citizens were hoarding food. When he confronted them. He and his helpers worked diligently to get food to the needy in the city and the surrounding area.

The famine ended in a year of abundant harvest the following year and Ephrem died shortly thereafter, as we are told, at an advanced age. We do not know the exact date or year of his death but June 9, 373 is accepted by many. Ephrem relates in his dying testament a childhood vision of his life that he gloriously fulfilled.

1. Novena masses in honor of the Sacred Heart will be from June 22 – 30, at 6:30 in the evening. Love offerings for the Paeskwela ni San Andres Program may be offered during these masses.

2. June 24, Solemnity of the Birth of John the Baptist, a “Binyagang Bayan” will be celebrated at 3:00 in the afternoon. Please submit the requirements at the Parish Office.

A Penitential service, “Kumpisalang Bayan” will be held at 7:15 p.m.

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