Spirit in the Wind - Jan - Feb 2013 - Our Lady of Pentecost Parish Official NewsletterParish Priest: Fr. Dennis SorianoAdviser: Fr. Jojo MonisCoordinator, Public Affairs Ministry: Tessa MangahasStaff / Contributors: Jonathan Co, Fr. Joel Jason, Tessa Mangahas, Fr. Ricky Montanez, Mariel Tan, Josiebel Tatel, Archbp. Socrates Villegas D.D.Layout: Ella Mara PerezPrinted pro bono by: Rapids Lithograhic Press
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pirit in the Wind S The Official Newsletter of January - February 2013 T he Public Affairs Ministry kicked off 2013 with the first of series of seminars on the environment and the community’s role in keeping it healthy and sustainable for generations to come. In his welcome statement, Public Affairs Ministry adviser, Fr. Jojo Monis said that part of being a good Christian is caring for his environment. He also pointed out the urgency for people to change their outlook and lifestyles to a more earth-friendly mode since erstwhile flood-safe areas such as Loyola Heights and Mindanao (from where he originates), have experienced disasters wrought by Ondoy and other natural calamities. Apart from the effects of climate change, Fr. Jojo pointed out that the negative effects of solid waste mismanagement aggravated these disasters. Parishioners and other guests from the Diocese, the Barangay and other interested groups listened intently to the insights shared by Ms. Annie Guerrero, president of the Cravings Group and Dr. Met Palaypay, Chair of the National Commission on Solid Waste Management. Esther Pacheco of the Public Affairs Ministry (PAM) said that the seminar aims to “share information and knowledge on the interconnectedness of food, health and environment. Through these seminars, we envision a green parish and a barangay conscious of the importance of a nurturing Mother Earth, of which everyone is a steward.” Ms. Guerrero, an awardee for Zero Waste Management shared her personal learnings on green organic farming, and her crusade on reducing, reusing and recycling, both in the home front and in the work place. A certified champion of the earth, Ms. Guerrero also interacted with the participants on how to make the vision to be a green parish, practical and achievable. She gave inputs on how to become environmentalists in the course of everyday living. She also recounted how she has also helped in the livelihood of the marginalized simply by engaging them into earth- friendly activities. Ms. Guerrero likewise introduced two books that she authored, “Green Pinoy” and “The Green Chef”. In the second half of the talk, Dr. Met Palaypay encouraged the parish and barangay to be a national model of Zero Waste Management. He also noted that there should be a continuous and meaningful coordination between the efforts of parish communities, private village associations and the local government like the barangay to achieve Zero Waste in their environs. Susan Guanio of the PAM assured participants that the ministry would have more of these seminars during the year. The seminar was made enjoyable with some fun games and prizes. The National Nutrition Council likewise donated several recipe books on “Gulay Cooking” to the attendees. K.K.K. Kicks Off (Kalikasan, Kainan, Kalusugan) Revolutionizing lifestyles to be healthy, happy, & earth-friendly http://www.ourladyofpentecostparish.org | twitter.com/#!/ladyofpentecost | www.facebook.com/ourladyofpentecostparish
Transcript
pirit in the WindSThe Official Newsletter of
January - February 2013
The Public Affairs Ministry kicked off 2013 with the first of series of seminars on the environment and
the community’s role in keeping it healthy and sustainable for generations to come.
In his welcome statement, Public Affairs Ministry adviser, Fr. Jojo Monis said that part of being a good Christian is caring for his environment. He also pointed out the urgency for people to change their outlook and lifestyles to a more earth-friendly mode since erstwhile flood-safe areas such as Loyola Heights and Mindanao (from where he originates), have experienced disasters wrought by Ondoy and other natural calamities. Apart from the effects of climate change, Fr. Jojo pointed out that the negative effects of solid waste mismanagement aggravated these disasters.
Parishioners and other guests from the Diocese, the Barangay and other interested groups listened
intently to the insights shared by Ms. Annie G u e r r e r o , president of the Cravings Group and Dr. Met Palaypay, Chair of the National C o m m i s s i o n on Solid Waste Management.
Esther Pacheco of the Public Affairs Ministry (PAM) said that the seminar aims to “share i n f o r m a t i o n
and knowledge on the interconnectedness of food, health and environment. Through these seminars, we envision a green parish and a barangay conscious of the importance of a nurturing Mother Earth, of which everyone is a steward.”
Ms. Guerrero, an awardee for Zero Waste Management shared her personal learnings on green organic farming, and her crusade on reducing, reusing and recycling, both in the home front and in the work place. A certified champion of the earth, Ms. Guerrero also
interacted with the participants on how to make the vision to be a green parish, practical and achievable. She gave inputs on how to become environmentalists in the course of everyday living. She also recounted how she has also helped in the livelihood of the marginalized simply by engaging them into earth-friendly activities. Ms. Guerrero likewise introduced two books that she authored, “Green Pinoy” and “The Green Chef”.
In the second half of the talk, Dr. Met Palaypay encouraged the parish and barangay to be a national model of Zero Waste Management. He also noted that there should be a continuous and meaningful coordination between the efforts of parish communities, private village associations and the local government like the barangay to achieve Zero Waste in their environs.
Susan Guanio of the PAM assured participants that the ministry would have more of these seminars during the year.
The seminar was made enjoyable with some fun games and prizes. The National Nutrition Council likewise donated several recipe books on “Gulay Cooking” to the attendees.
K.K.K. Kicks Off (Kalikasan, Kainan, Kalusugan)Revolutionizing lifestyles to be healthy, happy, & earth-friendly
Mar 20 - Talk on SEVEN CAPITAL SINS By Fr. James McTavishMar 21 - Kumpisalang Bayan, 7:30 pmMar 24 - Palm Sunday Blessing of Palms & Solemn Entry to the Church - 6 am, Melchor Park Regular Sunday Mass ScheduleMar 25 - Lenten Recollection, Holy Monday By Bishop Pablo “Ambo” David Topic; Opening the Door of Faith to the Faithless
PUBLIC AFFAIRS
Feb 16 - Voters Education Seminar By Simbahang Lingkod ng Bayan 1:00 to 4:00 pm, OLPP Hall
Our Lady of Pentecost Parish • Jan - Feb 2013 • Page 3 •
Fr. Arnel Aquino, SJ started on a high note the FIRE (Faith Intensified through Renewed Evangelization) Formation Program of OLPP with a jampacked talk
at the OLLP Chruch in Loyola Heights, Quezon City last night, January 15, 2013. The talk was entitled: Hesus, Ang Pinto ng Pananampataya. The next session was held with Fr. James Mctavish on Pope John Paul II’s Theology of the Body on January 24, 2013 at 730PM at the OLPP Church. – Fr. Jojo Monis
All Fired Up
Msgr. Vengco once again elaborates on the objective and
purpose of conducting this series of sessions in line with the declaration of our Pope as the Year of Faith. Our Pope already saw the deterioration of the Christian – Catholic Faith long time ago and is now really worried of the continued diminishing number of Catholics in the world.
The secularism that is now very strong among the young generation is the root cause of pushing the Catholics away from the Church. The passing of the RH Bill into a law is an example of the effect of the secularism in the world. Our legislators are pushing for the passing of this bill to benefit the people but according to human principle and not according to God’s principle.
He said that what the Anti-RH Catholics should do is start owning our Faith and always stand by it. We have to Fight for our Faith and help Propagate it to among our people especially the young ones.
Session 1 talks about the first article of the CREED. There are 12 articles in the CREED. First Article: Sumasampalataya ako sa Diyos Amang Makapangyarihan.
He started to help us visualize our Diyos Ama. He said that when we were still a child, we heard our parents told us that our God is a punishing God. We frequently hear them say stop doing things because God will get angry. We must not do anything bad because God will punish us. When something bad happened to us, we hear people saying that God is punishing us for things that we did wrong. When our country is hit by a super typhoon, we hear people saying that it is an act of God.
He said that Diyos Ama is a loving, caring and a protecting Father. We share the same Father as Jesus when Jesus told us to call his Father our Father. He said that in the New Testament Jesus presented to us a different image of the Father. He used the story of the Prodigal Son as his example. The Father in the story went out of his way to welcome back a son. The Father rushed
to embrace his son and did not even ask him to explain all his wrong doings. This is the kind of father our God is and we must always know that.
Diyos Amang makapangyarihan means He is a perfect God. His love for His children has no condition. He is great provider and protector of His children.
If we don’t believe in God the Father then we may start to become the father by doing things on our own. An example he gave is Adolf Hitler. Hitler wanted to have the best breed of Germans in the world so he gathered men and women who have blue eyes, blonde hair and good physique in one place for them to produce offspring among themselves. Those people who are weak, sick and useless were gathered together and were killed. Hitler started to act as if he is the creator.
During the session, I recalled the night before hearing my son, Johann, 15-year old boy studying in Xavier School
Year of Faith Seminars by Msgr. Sabino Vengco
•A report by Jonathan Co of the first session
conducted Jan. 3, 2013•
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continued on page 5
Our Lady of Pentecost Parish • Jan - Feb 2013 • Page 5 •
Our profession of faith begins with God, for God is the First and
the Last, the beginning and the end of everything. The Credo begins with God the Father, for the Father is the first divine person of the Most Holy Trinity; our Creed begins with the creation of heaven and earth, for creation is the beginning and the foundation of all God’s works. (198) This God revealed himself because he wants to communicate his own divine life to the men he freely created. By revealing himself God wishes to make them capable of responding to him, and of knowing him and of loving him far beyond their own natural capacity (52).
There is only one God, yet there are three persons namely the Father, Son and Holy Spirit: the Most Holy Trinity (233). The mystery of the Most Holy Trinity is the central mystery of Christian faith and life. It is the mystery of God in himself. It is therefore the source of all the other mysteries of faith,
the light that enlightens them (234). Jesus revealed that God is Father in an unheard-of sense: he is Father not only in being Creator; he is eternally Father in relation to his only Son, who is eternally Son only in relation to his Father (240). While, the eternal origin of the Holy Spirit is revealed in his mission in time. The Spirit is sent to the apostles and to the Church both by the Father in the name of the Son, and by the Son in person, once he had returned to the Father. The sending of the person of the Spirit after Jesus’ glorification reveals in its fullness the mystery of the Holy Trinity (244).
To profess faith in the Trinity – Father, Son and Holy Spirit – is to believe in one God
REDISCOVERING THE CREED (Part 1)Texts the Catechism of the Catholic Church; reflections from the documents on the Year of Faith and on the New Evangelization
who is love (cf 1Jn 4:8): the Father, who in the fullness of time sent his Son for our salvation; Jesus Christ, who in the mystery of his death and resurrection redeemed the world; the Holy Spirit, who leads the Church across the centuries as we await the Lord’s glorious return (Porta Fidei 1).
saying that he is for RH Bill. This really made me worried thinking that as a young boy, he is very much influenced by the secularism around him. He is being influenced that the solution to poverty and high population is really birth control. So when I got home and had dinner with my family, I shared with them this learning from the session. I am writing this summary so that I can post it in our group and share them with you all.
It is really a good opportunity for me to be able to attend this session because it will help me deepen my understanding of my Faith and truly appreciate the gift from our Lord. Our objective is not learn it for our own good but to be able to share it with others.
Year of Faith, from page 4
I believe in God the Father Almighty Creator of Heaven
and Earth
pirit in the Wind• Page 6 • October 2012 • S• Page 6 • Jan - Feb 2013 pirit in the WindS
Everybody who knew Father Anscar was shocked about the news
we heard about him in the morning of January 9. Everybody except Father Anscar! He lived believing the words of Paul to the Thessalonians “For you yourselves know full well that the day of the Lord will come just like a thief in the night.” There were no signs of struggle when Sister Death came to fetch him. Sister Death came to embrace Father Anscar and Father Anscar returned the embrace with fondness and joy and peace like best friends forever. Death was not a thief. Death was a friend for Father Anscar. Father Anscar was always ready to die. He was so used to dying all these years as a priest, as a monk, as a teacher, as a Filipino.
Father Anscar was always ready to die. He was called by God “Come follow me…come die with me!” Like John and Peter, Andrew and James, Jose Herminio Chupungco heard the call “Follow me.” He died when he left home and family and loved ones in order to enter the Abbey of Our Lady of Montserrat. He died in the novitiate many times over and over. He died in his cell in prayer and solitude and sacrifice for an infinite number of times. He died many times in the chapter room of the abbey submitting himself in blind humble obedience to the discernment of his abbot and prior.
When he wanted to study canon law but instead was told to study liturgy, he died again.
He died fighting loneliness and nostalgia in Rome as a student, as a professor and as President of the Anselmianum. When it was time to wind up his mission as university rector and president, he willingly died and laid down his prestigious title and returned to his cell as a regular monk under obedience.
He was so used to dying so that when he came home as a Filipino to his beloved native land, it became another call to die, to let go, to carry the cross and follow the Lord. Becoming President of San Beda disturbed his monastic discipline but he said Amen to the mandate. Living his life and dedicating himself to the Paul VI Institute of Liturgy, he was again asked to die to live in detachment far away from the glamour of the academe. He was a guru in prayer. He was a master of liturgical inculturation. He was Christ for everyone who came to sit by his feet to be awed by the clarity of his wisdom. He was crisp with his expressions. He was clear in his explanations. He was witty and funny but ever respectable and respectful.
He has died a thousand times. Dying was his friend. Sacrifice was his twin. He had mastered the art of happiness in darkness. He repaid with heroic charity those who ignored him and suspected him and sent him to the dustbin. He could sing his Salve Regina in the storm and shout aloud his alleluia through the dark nights of his soul.
Father Anscar was ready to die. Anytime! Anywhere! Every
READY BUT NOT READY•Archbp. Socrates Villegas’ message at Fr. Anscar Chupungco’s funeral •
chance to die he embraced with faith and smile.
But we, we were not ready to let him die. We were not ready to let him go. Our throats choke. Our chests are heavy. Our eyes are blurred by tears because we are not ready to let him go. The shock of January 9 has turned to sorrow and grief. The sorrow is turning into question “My God my God why have you forsaken us?” “And behold, there arose a great storm on the sea, so that the boat was being covered with the waves; but Jesus Himself was asleep”. Lord, are you sleeping? We see a rough sailing for the PIL in Malaybalay and for liturgical formation in the Church without our guru Father Anscar. His death makes us afraid.
The work is not done. Much more remains to be done than what we have actually succeeded in doing. The schedule is full for the various liturgical formation seminars for priests and religious and catechists. The Paul VI Institute of Liturgy is now orphaned and its founder is irreplaceable and “un-clonable”. There are still many retreats to be preached and more conferences to give and more books to write. We are not ready. Father Anscar was ready and we are not.
The final lesson of Father Anscar’s life is not liturgical after all. His final and last teaching act was paschal—to be ready to die and to die a thousand times! Liturgy is the memorial of the
continued on page 7
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Blessing of Children Sto. Nino Feast (Jan 19)
Pit Senyor!
dying and rising of Christ. It is not about rubrics and new missals. It is not about historical overviews or linguistic masteries. It is not ordinary or extraordinary forms. Liturgy is Christ and real liturgy must make all of us friends of Christ. You are my friends says the Lord.
The real liturgist must be ready to share in the dying of Christ. The liturgist is a friend of Sister Death and Brother New Life. It is when liturgy is sharing in the dying of Jesus that liturgy becomes life giving. The life of the liturgy is Jesus himself. Father Anscar lived by that lesson.
Father Anscar, you were always ready to die. Teach us the same lesson of courage and faith and hope. We will never be ready to see you go. It is hard but we continue to live in Christ. Your dying is our dying. Pray for us to God to make us ready when death comes to embrace us for you have taught us last January 9 that death is not a thief but a friend.
Rest now good and faithful priest of God! Rest in God. Rest with God.
Ready but not Ready, from page 6
pirit in the Wind• Page 8 • October 2012 • S
The loud and carefree days of Mardi Gras, or of the carnival season, are over.
With Ash Wednesday another mood begins. With the beginning of Lent there also begins a period of public penance for those who had committed an especially serious or “mortal” sin, such as denying the faith, murder or adultery.
Now conversion is the order of the day; now it is proper to negotiate a new, different stretch of the annual path. On Ash Wednesday, the faithful are called to fasting and penance with the traditional symbols of penitence, sackcloth and ashes. The text from Joel sounds a trumpet call to change of heart and reconciliation. In ancient times this led to the public
celebration of reconciliation on the morning of the Thursday of Holy Week, the last day of Lent at which time the sackcloth and ashes were put aside.The three days following Ash Wednesday summarize the agenda to be considered and lived out in preparation for reconciliation and renewal of baptism vows at Easter.
The traditional practices of Lent – prayer, fasting and almsgiving – are best re-contextualized in this overall spirit. They express the dynamic tension in genuine baptismal faith, which is at the same time
ASH WEDNESDAY (February 13, 2013)
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both personal and communal-social, expressed in internal and external ways, and directed to a sacramental-mystical communion with the death and rising of Christ.
During Lent, prayer involves personal introspection and reordering of priorities in light of the gospel. It likewise involves coming together as a community
in celebrations of the word and sacrament, which contextualize this personal experience in the community’s life and the church’s ancient tradition. The intensity of individual journeys and the breadth of the common tradition enrich and challenge each other.
Each person experiences the imposition of ashes in a unique way, and, in this same gesture, expresses communion with the whole church over the ages. The sacrament of reconciliation climaxes this personal journey towards forgiveness and reconciliation and celebrates, at the same time, the whole people’s reconciliation with God who draws all into deeper communion in the death and rising of Christ.
- Corbin Eddy, Preparing for Liturgy
Our Lady of Pentecost Parish
I gazed hungrily at the LAPID’s chicharon in Trinoma last night,
imagining how mouth-watering and delicious it would taste. I opened my wallet, and found that I still had enough money. As I was about to hand the cash to the food server, I hesitated, remembering that it is the season of Lent and a time for fasting.
As I started walking to the taxi stand and got a ride home, I scolded myself: Why didn’t you buy the chicharon? It is only on Fridays that meat is forbidden, not Tuesdays.
I closed my eyes. The image of the chicharon which formed in my mind was so crunchy, crispy, and yummy! I could probably go back and… Buy the chicharon, satisfy myself, and forget all about
Lent and fasting. God is all-merciful, compassionate and understanding isn’t He? Surely, He wouldn’t even remember this slight indiscretion.
For all intents and purposes, I wasn’t able to go back.
And, as I sit here today, I know just how foolish I can be!
I can barely sacrifice one of my favorite foods for Lent, while God gave up His life for me. I also realize, that most of the time, my primary aim is to satisfy the physical needs, neglecting the nourishment of my soul and spirit, which can only be achieved through self-denial.
Our Lady of Pentecost Parish • Jan -
This denial and the Cross are supposed to form the center pieces of my Christian life. God taught this. More importantly He lived this.
Maybe, the forsaking of chicharon is one of the crosses which I have to endure. Instead of buying my favorite food, I can give the money to somebody who needs it more.
This will make Lent more significant and meaningful.
Chicharon•Eric De Quiros •
Whoever wishes to be my follower must deny his very self, take up his cross each day and follow in my steps.- Luke 9:23
World Youth Day 2013, isang selebrasyon
na maipagmamalaki sa mundo ang ating pananampalataya at ang pagiging Kabataang Katoliko.
Ang World Youth Day 2013 ay ipagdiriwang sa Rio de Janeiro, Brazil mula sa ika-23 hangang ika-28 ng Hulyo 2013 na may temang “Go and make disciples of all nations.” (c.f. mt. 28:19). Inaasahan na ang pagtitipong ito ay lalahokan ng maraming kabataan mula sa iba’t-ibang bansa.
Matatandaang ang ating parokya ay nagpadala ng dalawang kabataan na inerepresenta ang ating lokal na simbahan sa buong mundo. Ito ay naging posible dahil sa pagsuporta ng ating kaparokya at sa pagsisikap ng Youth Ministry na magtinda ng ilang produkto gaya ng Fruitas
Shake at Bubble Man (Dishwashng Liquid) upang makalikom ng sapat na halaga para maisakatuparan ang paglahok ng ating kabataan noong WYD 2011 sa Madrid, Spain. Ngayong taon ipapakita muli ng kabataan ng Pentecost ang pagkakaisa at pagsasakripisyo upang makapag-padala muli ng dalawang delegates mula sa ating parokya. Muli po sana nating iangat ang kabataan ng Pentecost sa pamamagitan ng pagtangkilik sa aming mga produkto. Gaya ng Fruitas Shake, Bubble Man (Dishwashing Liquid) at ang bagong produktong Carrot Soap. Ang mga ito ay binebenta sa mababang halaga sa labas ng Parih Office. Naway tangkilikin ng ating mga mahal na parishioners ang mga produktong aming ibebenta . Tara, bili na po kayo sa amin!!!
Youth Leaders from the six vicariates of the Diocese of Cubao joined the 1st Session of the Youth Study Circle on the Doctrines and Decrees of Vatican II. The session focused on Apostolicam Actousitatem (Decree on the Apostolate of the Laity). The decree was promulgated by Pope Paul VI on November 18, 1965. Fr. Jojo Monis, Ministry for Youth Affairs Minister facilitated the 1st study circle.
The 2nd session which will focus on Inter Merifica (Decree on the Media of Social Communications) will be on February 23, 2013 6PM at 3rd Flr., Obispado de Cubao, 41 Lantana St., Cubao, Quezon City.
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1st Youth Study Circle on Doctrines and Decrees
WORLD YOUTH
DAY 2013, MALAPIT NA!
ni Josiebel Tatel
We are starting a new year! With it is
the resolve to begin this year right and the desire to remain blessed throughout the year.
Yes, we are living the beginning of this New Year with so much hope. But when one talks about the New Year, one is also led to look back at the year that just ended. It was not an easy year for us for sure, especially with the deadliest natural calamities we experienced last year.
What I am trying to say here is that in talking about beginnings, the idea of endings is not at all disregarded. Isn’t it that every beginning is always a result of another’s end? Year 2012 needed closure to give way to 2013. This may sound rather simplistic but the two are undeniably interrelated.
Just the past month, many were speculating about the end of the world, which eventually did not happen as predicted. Others were quick to say that what was actually predicted was not so much the total annihilation of life
Fr. Dennis Soriano, Parish PriestOur Lady of Pentecost Parish
RANDOM THOUGHTS
Our Lady of Pentecost Parish • Jan - Feb 2013 • Page 11 •
here on earth but rather an end to former ways of seeing and doing things and the birth of a new consciousness among peoples. In whatever manner this discussion of the end of the world is perceived, I believe that this way of looking at the end times could offer for us some points for reflection.
To look at the end of the world in this manner helps us to evaluate ourselves and the way we relate with others. The new year challenges us to put an end to certain negative and perhaps inappropriate attitudes and behaviors that have proven to be detrimental in our desire to become better and life-giving individuals that God intended us to be. As they would often say, the old will have to give way to the new in order for life to flourish.
The new year brings about an opening for new ways of living and doing things, which is key to making the most of this year. Let us make the most of it by starting some changes within ourselves.
May this new year truly bring about the needed changes that we have so long desired to happen in us and around us.
