parishworks! 1 Vol. 09 No. 39 February 15, 2014 www.saaparish.com and www.facebook.com/saaparish turn to page 3 turn to page 2 Our Cry: Heal Our Land, Lord By Glo V. Pineda, Education Ministry Chair, 2005-2011 On January 20 of the present year, we had the gathering dubbed “One Nation in Prayer” participated in by the different religious affiliations for the victims of the three disasters that beset our country in 2013: the 7.2 magnitude earthquake in Bohol, the siege in Zamboanga, and supertyphoon Yolanda in the Visayas. It was also “a thanksgiving prayer to the Almighty for the nation’s strength and resilience, and to seek divine guidance as the country moves forward to rebuild the affected communities,” quoting Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. of the Presidential Communications Operations office. It dawned on me that our prayers need not just center on the disasters brought about by our changing climate, but also by disasters brought about by our changing moral values: corruptions, violence, kidnappings, hold-ups, rapes, and other acts not according to God’s will and not pleasing in His sight. Our country needs the healing touch of our Lord in the light of all the heart-breaking, heart-rending and frustrating events we encountered in 2013. In our need for healing, an excerpt from the song, “Heal Our Land” touches the core of my being as I feel it is like our own cry to our God. It is lifted from 2 Chronicles 7:14, inspired by Biblical Solomon’s Prayer of Supplication to God as he stood in Our True Love Rhoni Christel R. Trillana Valentine’s Day is a day we picture as one filled with flowers, chocolates, teddy bears and couples being all cheesy and sweet everywhere they go. But I bet most people do not have an idea on what that feast is really about- St. Valentine. St. Valentine was a priest during the time when marriage was forbidden in his country. The government in the 1st century A.D., believed that soldiers are less motivated to win a battle when they have a wife or a family to think or worry about, hence, causing them to fear risking their lives. But despite this selfish and unfair law, St. Valentine believed firmly on the sanctity and significance of marriage, so he conducted several marriage ceremonies, helping couples Simply Love Msgr. Dennis S. Odiver Simply Love Love is no mystery. Love is real. Love matures and bears fruit. Love transforms and improves life. Love never expires. Love lived encompasses everything. For many, these may be mere thoughts, mere words. But for those who explore love, these are truths you discover and rediscover each passing day. Love has made people wise, strong, bold, happy and holy. Never let go of love! Love offers you more than what you expect. Doubt not. Fear not. Simply Love...
On January 20 of the present year, we had the gathering dubbed “One Nation in Prayer” participated in by the different religious affiliations for the victims of the three disasters that beset our country in 2013: the 7.2 magnitude earthquake in Bohol, the siege in Zamboanga, and supertyphoon Yolanda in the Visayas. It was also “a thanksgiving prayer to the Almighty for the nation’s strength and resilience, and to seek divine guidance as the country moves forward to rebuild the affected communities,” quoting Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. of the Presidential Communications Operations office.
It dawned on me that our prayers need not just center on the disasters brought about by our changing climate, but also by disasters brought about by our changing moral values: corruptions, violence, kidnappings, hold-ups, rapes, and other acts not according to God’s will and not pleasing in His sight.
Our country needs the healing touch of our Lord in the light of all the heart-breaking, heart-rending and frustrating events we encountered in 2013. In our need for healing, an excerpt from the song, “Heal Our Land” touches the core of my being as I feel it is like our own cry to our God. It is lifted from 2 Chronicles 7:14, inspired by Biblical Solomon’s Prayer of Supplication to God as he stood in
Our True LoveRhoni Christel R. Trillana
Valentine’s Day is a day we picture as one filled with flowers, chocolates, teddy bears and couples being all cheesy and sweet everywhere they go. But I bet most people do not have an idea on what that feast is really about- St. Valentine. St. Valentine was a priest during the time when marriage was forbidden in his country. The government in the 1st century A.D., believed that soldiers are less motivated to win a battle when they have a wife or a family to think or worry about, hence, causing them to fear risking their lives. But despite this selfish and unfair law, St. Valentine believed firmly on the sanctity and significance of marriage, so he conducted several marriage ceremonies, helping couples
Simply Love Msgr. Dennis S. Odiver
Simply LoveLove is no mystery. Love is real. Love matures and bears fruit. Love transforms and improves life. Love never expires. Love lived encompasses everything.For many, these may be mere thoughts, mere words. But for those who explore love, these are truths you discover and rediscover each passing day. Love has made people wise, strong, bold, happy and holy.Never let go of love! Love offers you more than what you expect.Doubt not. Fear not. Simply Love...
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Our True Love ... from page 1
tie the knot, but furtively and without the knowledge of the government. St. Valentine was persecuted and beheaded after the government discovered his rebellious act. But because of his firm belief on the splendour and inviolability of not only true love, but true love under God’s blessing and enlightenment, we annually celebrate a feast that puts the greatness and importance of true love in a pedestal on our hearts.
I once asked a little girl on what she thinks when she hears the words “True Love”. For an eight-year old girl, I, of course, consider her too young to experience or to merely have a glimpse on her own definition of true love. But to my surprise, even at a young age, she had an idea on what it is through her parents. After years of marriage, she has seen them at their best, and at their worst. But because of God’s blessing, He was able to keep the love between her parents strong and watered with many reasons to be together. It’s not a smooth road. They continuously bind themselves to journey on, but after so many humps and swerves, they always choose to stay for each other. Because of them and all the things they’ve taught the child, I have come to learn that since they put God in the centre of their lives, indeed, problems are nothing but small hurdles that are bound to make them stronger under God’s guidance and will. I am certain that God wonderfully created a beautiful meaning on true love- it is something felt and realized not in the good
times but in the bad times of the relationship. True love is when you’ve seen the worst side of that person, yet you still decide to stay beside him/her simply because despite how stormy it has been in your relationship, you still can’t imagine nor feel right without him/her by your side; true love is choosing to stay no matter what.
Many people who seem to wait for a person to love them forever and unconditionally sometimes accept the fact that their “true love” might not come. But the truth of the matter is, true love isn’t just about having it with your boyfriend/girlfriend or spouse. True love is seen and felt with the people who choose to stay with you in spite of all the weakness and imperfections you have. When you feel lonely and tired of waiting for your “true love”, just stop and look around, your family and friends are just there by your side. Not to mention of course, our saviour, Jesus, who has been and will forever be with us, no matter how reckless, irresponsible and sinful we have become. He will always choose to be our comforter and ally when everything around us seems to be against our odds. His utmost love and mercy for us should be more than enough to know how we can never be lonely in this world.
Didn’t have a date last February 14? That’s okay; Jesus was there with you all along! Even before you were born, He is and will always be our One True Love.
SAAP Honors Our Lady of LourdesThe parishioners of St. Andrew the Apostle Parish with the Family Rosary Crusade, the Legion of Mary together
with Rev. Msgr. Dennis held a dawn procession in honor Our Lady of Lourdes in celebration of her feast day. A Eucharistic celebration followed after with the the special prayer intentions for the sick. Where parishioners posted their prayers for healing for their relatives and friends on the prayer wall. Sick parishioners present were annointed with the Holy oil as the church also celebrated the World Day of the Sick.
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Our cry ,heal our land Lord ... from page 1
the gap between the people of Israel and God for their supposed transgressions. The chorus runs thus:
Lord, heal our land Father, heal our land Hear our cry and turn our nation back to You Lord, heal our land Hear us oh, Lord, and heal our land Forgive our sin and heal our broken landGod, upon hearing Solomon’s heartfelt prayer made a
promise to him. He said,
If my people who bear my name Humble themselves and pray And seek my presence and turn from their wicked ways, Then I will listen from heaven And forgive their sins and restore their country.2 Chronicles 7:14
The promise says that God wants His people to come to Him in humility, seek forgiveness for their sins, and abandon their evil ways. With these conditions, He will hear the people’s cries, forgive their sins, and heal their broken land.
If we want God to restore our country, we may as well do what He wants us to do. “It is our Almighty God who will rebuild our country,” as His Eminence Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle once said and affirmed by Scripture, Psalm 127, which says, “Unless the Lord build the house, they labor in vain who build it.”
We need God to heal our broken land, our broken spirits, our ailing bodies, our deteriorating moral values. Scripture, Exodus 15:26 assures us, “I am Yahweh your Healer.”
God wants us whole. He wants us to be happy. The Lord’s invitation is clear. “Come to me, all you who labor and are overburdened and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28)
Faith can sustain us when all else fails. It is written in the Book of Psalms (Psalm 121:4) that God never sleeps nor slumbers. He is there in all the circumstances of our lives. He is in control of everything. He loves us. “I have loved you with an everlasting love,” says Yahweh. (Jeremiah 31:3)
When Jesus walked the earth more than 2000 years ago, He healed all people who came to Him to show
God’s love. As He has said in John 10:10, “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” Scripture relates that Jesus healed all those who came to Him. So we need to come to Him if we want to be healed. He does not force Himself on those who do not wish to be healed.
To find healing the Lord commanded us to pray for one another. “So confess your sins to one another and pray for one another to be cured; the heartfelt prayer of someone upright works very powerfully.” (James 5:16) Healing could be in body (physical), in spirit (spiritual), or in mind (psychological).
As a witness to the healing power of prayer, allow me to narrate to you some of my experiences.
I met a car accident in San Francisco, California in 1993. I suffered from a knee fracture and the doctor there wanted me to undergo surgery based on the test results. I prayed hard to God that I be allowed to go home to the Philippines and have the operation performed here. My wish was granted with the hospital’s condition that I could bring all the medical records but must be returned promptly, to show the extent of the injury to my Filipino doctor. When I returned to the Philippines, I was prayed over by Sister Imaculata of the Perpetual Adoration Congregation. Lo and behold, after Makati Medical’s Dr. Vince Gomez’s examination on me, like x-rays, etc. he commented, “You are already healed. What have you done?” I didn’t tell him for fear that he might not believe, but I could sense that he felt that a spiritual healing had taken place.
In 1997, I had a slip disc, I had been spending a lot with chiropractor Dr. Martin Camara. After Fr. Corsie Legaspi prayed over me, thank God, the pain had left me till now. No visit anymore to the chiropractor.
Faith is the ingredient in healing. The Lord expects faith in those who seek His power as He said in Mark 9:23, “Everything is possible for one who has faith.”
Our frustrating encounters in the year that was, 2013, might be a wake-up call.
So as a nation, let’s all have faith that God will heal our land, our people, if we seek Him in prayers, ask for the forgiveness of our transgressions and turn away from our evil ways.
Let’s storm heaven with our cry, “God heal our land.”Reference:
The New Jerusalem Bible: The Complete Text of the Ancient Canon of the
Scriptures with up-to-date Introductions and Notes
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Coordinator Matthew Lizares Parish Works Staff Managing Editor: Susan Amoroso Web Editor: Emilio Medina Photographers: Ann Lopez, Irene Gonzales, Noemi Sta Anna, Rio Angeles Graphic Artist: Jessica Samantha Lim Bulletin Board Editor Harley Dave Punzalan Powerpoint Coordinators Mria Rhea Pia Libao, Ging Santos, Ellie Medina, Vince Eduard Reyes, SAAP Facebook Admin Karen Ann Phoa
ContributorRhoni Christel Trillana, Glo Pineda
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 [email protected]
Parish Works is the official weekly newsletter of Saint Andrew the Apostle Parish.
1. “Birds of every kind shall dwell beneath it, every _ _ _ _ _ _ D E W G I N thing in the shade of its boughs.”
2. “We are always _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ S A G E C O U O U R, although we know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, for we walk by faith, not by sight.”
3. “Of its own accord the land _ _ _ _ _ _ S L I D E Y fruit, first the blade, then the ear, then the full _ _ _ _ _ N A G R I in the ear.”
4. “It is like a _ _ _ _ _ _ _ D R U M A S T seed that, when it is sown in the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on the earth.”
5. “Without _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ B A R A P L E S he did not speak to them, but to his own disciples he explained everything in private.”
• June 22-24 PARISH RENEWAL EXPERIENCE (PREX)
• June 29 (Fri) KUMPISALANG BAYAN
many others back to religious observances.
Though Father Regis longed to work as a missionary among the North American Indians in Canada, he was to live out his days working for the Lord in the wildest and most desolate part of his native France. There he encountered rigorous winters, snowdrifts and other deprivations. Meanwhile, he continued preaching missions and earned a reputation as a saint. One man, entering the town of Saint-Andé, came upon a large crowd in front of a church and was told that people were waiting for “the saint” who was coming to preach a mission.
The last four years of his life were spent preaching and in organizing social services, especially for prisoners, the sick and the poor. In the autumn of 1640, Father Regis sensed that his days were coming to a conclusion. He settled some of his affairs and prepared for the end by continuing to do what he did so well: speaking to the people about the God who loved them. On December 31, he spent most of the day with his eyes on the crucifix. That evening, he died. His final words were: “Into thy hands I commend my spirit.”
He was canonized in 1737.
St. John Francis Regis ... from page 3
1. “Immense is the wisdom of the Lord; he is _ _ _ _ _ _ T I M H Y G in power, and all-seeing. The eyes of God are on those who fear him; he understands man’s every deed.”
2. “Rather, we speak God’s wisdom, mysterious, hidden, which God predetermined before the ages for our _ _ _ _ _ O R L G Y, and which none of the rulers of this age knew; for, if they had known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.”
3. “But whoever _ _ _ _ _ S O Y B E and teaches these commandments will be called greatest in the kingdom of heaven. I tell you, unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.”
4. “Therefore, if you _ _ _ _ _ G N R I B your gift to the altar, and there recall that your brother has anything _ _ _ _ _ _ _ S T A I N G A you, leave your gift there at the altar, go first and be reconciled with your brother, and then come and offer your gift.”
5. But I say to you, do not _ _ _ _ _ W A R S E at all; not by heaven, for it is God’s _ _ _ _ _ _ E O N H R T; nor by the earth, for it is his footstool; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King.”
