OUR PARISH PRIEST

PRAYER BEFORE USING THE INTERNET/ PANALANGIN BAGO MAG-INTERNET     Dear God , my Heavenly Father , my Shield , my Protector , my Fortress . I ask You to fortify me with the grace of Your Holy Spirit while I dwell in the web of wires and connections, that is the internet. Direct my hands and eyes only to that which is pleasing to You . Help me to treat with love, charity and patience all those whom I encounter. Make my computer more than a machine, render it: •                A tool of growth, learning and spiritual development, •                An altar for thanksgiving and blessing, •                A conduit for faith and fellowship. In the name of Jesus , I pray, Amen. (From the blog of Fr. Z) Isang panalangin bago p...

At EDSA love of God and love of country came together’ (Homily delivered by Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Socrates B. Villegas, president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines during the Mass for the 28 th anniversary of EDSA People Power Revolution on February 25, 2014 at the Mary Queen of Peace, Our Lady of EDSA Shrine.) Father Nilo (Mangussad, rector of EDSA Shrine) did not invite me tonight. I volunteered. I sent him a text message and I asked him for the schedule of 5:30 (pm) on February 25 and he said it would be Father Benjo. So I texted Father Benjo and I said, “May I say mass on February 25 at 5:30?” And both of them said “Yes” and gave me permission. EDSA People Power is 28 years old and so is my priesthood. I am 28 years a priest. I’m as old as EDSA People Power. When the Church sent me to Bataan each time I looked back at EDSA, I looked back at EDSA with gratitude, with happiness, with joy, and with pride. And now in Dagupan ...

IWANAN ANG ALALAHANIN SA BUHAY “Tingnan ninyo ang mga ibon… pinapakain sila ng Diyos… at ang mga bulaklak… dinadamitan sila ng maganda…” (cf Mt. 6: 26, 28). Ibon ba ako? O bulaklak kaya? “Huwag kang mag-alala kung ano ang iyong kakainin, iinumin, isusuot…” (cf. v.31). Bakit kaya sinasabi ng Panginoon na huwag mag-alala? Paano ako mabubuhay? Sino ang mag-aasikaso sa aking pamilya? Naglalaro sa isip ko ang mga tanong na ito matapos kong mabasa ang Mabuting Balita ngayon. Tila bawal mag-alala at tila gusto ng Diyos na ituring ko ang sarili kong tulad ng mga bagay sa kalikasan. Magandang pakinggan subalit hindi yata praktikal. Pero habang nagninilay muli, naunawaan kong hindi naman tayo pinagbabawalan na mag-ala sa buhay. Sa halip inaanyayahan tayo ng Panginoon sa isang mas positibo at mas mainam na pananaw sa buhay. Ayon sa Panginoon, anuman ang ating pangangailangan, at maging ang ating buong buhay, ay naka-ugnay sa Kaharian ng Ama. Ang Kahariang ito,...

WORRY-FREE! “Look the at the birds of the sky… God feeds them.   Look at the flowers of the fields… God clothes them” (Mt. 6:26, 28).   But Lord, I am not a bird, and surely not a flower either. “Do not worry about what you are to eat… to drink… to wear” (v. 31). Why are you telling me not to worry, Lord? In this world, I cannot survive without worrying. If I don’t do that, who will keep me and my loved ones afloat in these trying times? These thoughts raced through my head as I read today’s gospel. Here Jesus seems to be prohibiting us to worry and to start acting like objects in nature. This may sound very pious but it is not practical and workable. Reflecting more, I realized that the Lord is not telling me, and all of us, not to worry at all. The Lord is inviting us to something even more positive and great. He is telling us that all our needs, in fact, the whole of our lives, are connected to the Kingdom of the Father. This kingdom, ...

THE PRIDE OF THE FILIPINO CATHOLIC CHURCH HIS EMINENCE ORLANDO CARDINAL QUEVEDO ARCHBISHOP OF COTABATO MABUHAY ANG PARING PILIPINO! Cardinal Orlando B. Quevedo, O.M.I, metropolitan archbishop of Cotabato (Philippines), was born in Laoag on 11 March 1939. He carried out his classical studies at the "Notre Dame High School" in Marbel and studied philosophy in the minor seminary of San Jose, Quezon City. He then entered the novitiate of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate in Washington (U.S.A.), where he completed his studies, and subsequently obtained his degree in Pedagogy from the University of St. Tomas in Manila. After his priestly ordination on 5 June 1964, he served as co-operator vicar in the parish of the Cathedral of Cotabato for a year, meanwhile holding the role of assistant at the University of "Notre Dame" in the same city. He was appointed as a lecturer at the same institute in 1966, where he became rector in 1970. ...

TEACHINGS OF THE IGLESIA NI CRISTO (A QUASI-CHRISTIAN SECT IN THE PHILIPPINES, NOW CELEBRATING 100 YEARS OF FOUNDATION) AND COMMENTARY (MATERIAL THANKS TO THE CBCP). (FOR THE GUIDANCE OF THE CATHOLIC FAITHFUL WHO ARE ALWAYS TARGETED   BY THE GROUP FOR CONVERSION TO THEIR RELIGIOUS BODY) PART I: Basic Teachings of the Iglesia ni Cristo [1] I.                The Bible (p.13) The Iglesia ni Cristo (Church of Christ) believes that the words of God are written in the Bible; that when the Bible speaks, God Himself speaks. So, when the Bible is silent, the Iglesia ni Cristo is silent, too , for it recognizes no other basis and authority in serving God except the Bible. II.              God (p.15) There is only one God. He is unchangeable: “For I the Lord do not change” (Mal. 3:6, RSV). He did not and will not, become man or anything...