OUR PARISH PRIEST

CELEBRATE OCTOBER AS THE MONTH OF THE HOLY ROSARY. BELIEVE IN MARY'S POWERFUL INTERCESSION AND HER MATERNAL SOLICITUDE FOR ALL GOD'S CHILDREN. HOLY MARY, MOTHER OF GOD, PRAY FOR US SINNERS...

The recent devastation in the Philippines, the worst typhoon to hit the country, is still wreaking havoc and destruction to lives, property and futures of many people. Visiting Manila on Sunday for Mass, I encountered people with various stories of hardships due to Saturday's terribly copious rainfall and relentless floods. People were stranded in traffic for an entire day, an entire night, in both north and south Luzon expressways. Entire communities turned into instant pools, and later, sea of raging, murky floodwaters. Houses were engulfed in the flood and young and old people survived by climbing on the roofs of their houses for safety. Property, cash, important papers, photos and other personal effects were destroyed in an instant. Many people fled to schools, chapels, barangay halls or friends’ houses for temporary shelter. So many people were in need of clean water, food, clothes and money to rebuild their lives. Mourning soon followed at the discovery of the dead...

LET US PRAY FOR ALL THE VICTIMS OF THE TYPHOON ONDOY: THE STRANDED, THE DEAD, THE HOMELESS AND DISPLACED, THE ONES WHOSE BUSINESS AND LIVELIHOOD ARE RUINED. WITH GOD'S HELP AND IN THE SPIRIT OF COMPASSION, MAY THE COUNTRY MOVE FORWARD IN HOPE AND STRENGTH THAT COME FROM THE SPIRIT OF THE LIVING GOD. MARY, PATRONESS AND MOTHER OF ALL FILIPINOS, PRAY FOR US.

SURVIVORS – THE JESUS WAY 26th Sunday Participants in the reality television show “Survivor Philippines (Palau)” are divided into two competing groups. Members of each group form bonds with each other through difficult challenges they undergo and through the daily routine of living together. They have only one goal each week - to beat the other group in a challenge that will give them immunity. When the host announced one day that some members would be exchanged with the rival group, there was dread on the faces of the contestants. The participants simply did not want to join the other group. The gospel today shows how this same cohesion and attachment are alive among the band of the apostles. We see how successful the disciples of Jesus were in forming unity among themselves. They lived together under the leadership of the Master. They became friends with each other, familiar and comfortable in each other’s presence. But there was a problem that this kind of unity ...

Do You Appreciate Your Priest? Spanish Bishop Composes Test PALENCIA, Spain, SEPT. 18, 2009 (Zenit.org).- The Year for Priests isn't just an internal celebration among the clergy, but rather an opportunity for all the faithful to assess their appreciation for the priesthood, says Bishop José Ignacio Munilla of Palencia. "Do we appreciate the priesthood and love our priests?" the bishop asked in a posting on the Web site of his dioceses. To answer this question, the bishop composed -- "with a bit of humor" -- the following test titled "Priestly Appreciation." The test is complete with instructions to evaluate your answers and your level of appreciation for the priesthood. * * * 1. Have you prayed recently for your parish priest, your bishop or the Pope? a. I don't even know their names. b. At Mass there is usually prayer for them, and I add myself in that petition. c. I do so every day in my personal praye...

JUST A SHORT SPEECH AT THE BOOK LAUNCHING Magandang hapon po sa inyong lahat! I am very grateful to StPauls for publishing my third book of gospel reflections and for including it in today’s launching. Everybody thought that I rented this entire convention center for my book launching. Little do they know that I am just a minuscule part of this event. Nevertheless, in my heart and in the collective spirit of my family, parishioners and friends, this event is one of the greatest in 2009. You all know that I started writing for purely pastoral reasons. It was the desire to give my parishioners some formation in their Catholic faith and some literature to accompany their search for God, that prompted me to publish, with much trembling, my first book. And now, I’m on my third one: Praise to the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit! Some people say they are helped by what they read from my works. In that case, that’s where the Holy Spirit takes over from an imperfect ...

HELLO, FRIENDS! PLEASE PRAY FOR THE SUCCESS OF THE BOOK LAUNCHING TOMORROW, SEPT. 18, 2009, FRIDAY AT THE SMX CONVENTION CENTER, MALL OF ASIA COMPLEX FROM 4:30 TO 6PM. MY BOOK "REJOICE AND BE GLAD: REFLECTIONS ON THE SUNDAY GOSPELS, C" WILL BE LAUNCHED BY THE PUBLISHER, STPAULS (ROOMS 4 AND 5). SEE YOU THERE! ALL PRAISE TO JESUS AND MARY!!!

THE SADDEST PEOPLE ON EARTH   25th Sunday in Ordinary Time They are everywhere. In the office, there will surely be one who resents the promotion of an officemate. In school, there will surely be a student who feels cheated by the victory or excellence of another. In the factory, people will start a gossip about someone who seems to be enjoying life more than others. In the church, people will feel bad when the parish priest seems to favor a person or a group more. In the family, it happens that someone feels neglected because another member is enjoying the limelight. Who am I describing here? The very people referred to in the first two readings of this Sunday – jealous and ambitious people. Jealousy here is not the possessive sentiment of lovers for each other, but really the sin called envy. The readings warn us against envy as a destructive spirit, as a spirit that kills the joy within the human heart and impels us to kill another’s joy, too. The se...

BEAUTY THROUGH THE CROSS 24th Sunday, Ordinary Time We are addicted to beauty. People with money undergo surgery. Those with some resources buy lotions and skin treatment. Beauty clinics are sprouting everywhere. Last week as I blessed one, I found the people there were astonishing. The doctor told me that one woman’s eyelashes were artificially extended. A man’s flawless skin was due to medicines. The doctor offered to remove my wrinkles. So the next time you see me looking young… Today, the gospel inquires about a serious spiritual matter. More than physical beauty, we are really in search of spiritual radiance. More than beautiful faces, we are really in pursuit of the face of God - not just any god the world presents, but the true God who comes to us in the person of Jesus. Knowing the heart’s intimate desire, Jesus poses a challenge: Who do you say I am? Do you really know Me? Who do you take Me to be? Peter and the others have seen Jesus healing, preach...

another seminarian shares about his favorite priest... MONSI Last June 29, I paid my last respect to the remains of my beloved parish priest, Monsignor Orlando Panlican. He is truly a model of faith and I am one of those witnesses that can prove that quality. For the last two years of his earthly life since his body started to get weak because of complications due to diabetes, I observed from him the endurance to face this great challenge of sickness with positive outlook. His illness never hinders him to celebrate the Eucharist and be with his parishioners in most of their activities. As I was informed in the dawn of June 22 about his death, the only thing that I did after I prayed for his soul, was to recall those moments that inspire me to persevere with my vocation to the priesthood, which also drew courage in me to keep my Catholic faith alive. Monsi, as what I usually call him, is indeed an inspiration to me. Recently, whenever I assist him in the celebration of the Eu...

EARS OPEN TO HEAR THE LORD 23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time I was having a phone conversation with my 4 year old nephew. Initially he was so engaged in our conversation. When I asked him to sing me a new song, he said: “I can’t hear you. What are you saying, uncle? The signal is weak. Sorry, I have to put down the phone.” He becomes deaf whenever I ask him to sing or recite a poem! The gospel today offers a glimpse of the power of Jesus over sickness and infirmity. We see Jesus healing the deaf-mute. The condition of the deaf-mute is critical because it has something to do with communication and relationship. If you cannot hear, then you cannot receive any message from another. If you cannot hear, you will not learn how to speak correctly. The Jews put the emphasis on hearing when it comes to relationships, both with fellow humans and especially with God. “Hear o Israel…” was a common invitation to relationship with God. The other cultures around Israel put ...