OUR PARISH PRIEST

LIVING THE VIRTUES Valuable individual acts that conform with natural law are VALUES. Done repeatedly by an individual, they are transformed into good habits. We call them VIRTUES. Virtues are not taught but caught. We don’t teach values or virtues; they are adopted by the children by way of example displayed by parents. What they see is what they will become. THANKS TO: ROADMAP TO A FULFILLING LIFE  by the man of God, FERDI FUENTES published by Minda M. Fuentes, 2013 -->

TANGGAPIN ANG PAG-ASA, IBAHAGI ANG PAG-ASA Paano kaya natin masayang isasabuhay ang taong ito upang laging manatili ang pag-asa at upang patuloy na makapaglingkod sa Panginoon? Narito ang ilang mungkahi. Una, magdala ng positibong diwa sa iyong kapaligiran. Sa unang pagbasa, (Bilang 6) si Moises at Aaron ay tumanggap ng katiyakan ng mga pagpapala ng Diyos. Mula sa kamay ng Diyos ang mga mabubuting bagay. Mula sa kanyang mga labi, ay bendisyon. At mula sa kanyang puso, dumadaloy ang pag-ibig at awa. Ang mundo ngayon ay babad sa mga salita ng galit at pagkamuhi, sa mga pagpapahatid ng pagkakahati-hati at pag-aakusa, at sa mga katuwirang balikuko at sapilitan. Bilang Kristiyano, ibahagi natin ang ating damdamin at isip sa paraang nakapagpapahilom at nakapagbubuklod. Ayon sa panalangin ni San Francisco de Asis: kung saan may poot, maghasik ng pag-ibig; kung saan may nasaktan, kapatawaran; kung saan may siphayo, pananampalataya. Paano tayo magiging po

RECEIVE HOPE, SHARE HOPE How do we enjoy this year in such a way that our hope will remain and that we can serve the Lord worthily? Here are some suggestions. First, be a positive force in your environment. Look at how the first reading (Num 6) recalls Moses and Aaron receiving the assurance of God’s blessings. From the hand of God come only good things. From the lips of the Lord issue forth only blessings. From his heart, flows only divine love and mercy. We live in a world saturated with angry and hateful speech, suspicious and divisive insinuations, crooked and forced reasoning. As Christians let us share our thoughts and ideas, sentiments and feelings, with constructive and healing words. As the prayer of St Francis says: where there is hatred, love; where there is injury, pardon; where there’s despair, true faith. How can we learn to think and speak positively? Read the Word of God this year, spend time in silent prayer, practice gentleness

PAUWI SA TAHANAN Matapos ang matagal na hindi pagkikita, nagtagpo din kami ng isang kaibigan. Mahirap pala ang kanyang pinagdaanan. Pinagtaksilan ng mga kaibigan, pinahirapan ng mga kaaway, at itinatwa ng kanyang amo. Matapos ang pagtatalaga ng buhay sa trabaho, dama niya ang pagiging talo at walang pag-asa. Nagulantang siyang ang mga pinagtiwalaan pala ang sisira sa kanyang buhay. Subalit sa gitna ng pag-uusap, isang mahalagang aral ang natanim sa kanyang isip. Naalala niyang tanging ang pamilya niya ang maaasahan sa mga panahon ng kapaitan at dusa. Dumating sila upang suportahan siya, makiisa sa kanya at punuin siya ng lugod at pagmamahal. Habang nagdiriwang tayo ng Kapistahan ng Banal na Mag-anak, saksi tayo sa tatag ng pamilya nina Hesus, Maria at Jose. Narito at buo sa harap ng Diyos, at dahil doon, matatag sila sa katapatan sa Diyos at sa isa’t-isa. Ang pagdadala ni Jose at Maria kay Hesus sa templo ay pagbibigay halimbawa sa bata ng kani

RUNNING BACK HOME After a long time of not seeing a friend, we finally met one day. I learned how my friend went through a lot of difficulties this year. He experienced the betrayal of his friends, the wrath of enemies, and the loss of confidence in his superiors. After a life of total dedication to his work, he felt beaten and hopeless. He was shocked that the people he trusted could render him helpless and useless. However, in the middle of our conversation, a precious thought, came to his mind. He remembered that the only people he could rely on during those painful episodes of his life were the members of his own family. They rallied to his side, expressed their solidarity and lavished him with love and support. As we celebrate today the Feast of the Holy Family, we are witnesses to the strength of the family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph. Here we have a family united before God and therefore strengthened in their fidelity both to the Lord and to

FAITH IN GOD   Believe that He is one in three divine Persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Believe that the Son became man and died for our sins. Acknowledge that we are totally dependent on Him, subject to Him, and therefore must obey His will totally. Believe that all creatures of God have been made with a purpose. We are now pilgrims on earth; one day we will enjoy eternal life in heaven. A strong faith makes us formidable and unshakeable in spirit, brings peace of mind, fills our heart with joyful hope and, most importantly, makes us closer to God. THANKS TO: ROADMAP TO A FULFILLING LIFE   by the man of God, FERDI FUENTES published by Minda M. Fuentes, 2013

SANGGOL SA SABSABAN Maraming tila natural na nagaganap kapag Pasko. Madaling ngumiti at humalakhak pag Pasko. Nagsisikap tayong magregalo at masaya din naman kung may matatanggap. Naaalala nating magbahagi sa mga dukha at nangangailangan sa panahong ito ng pagbibigayan. Maraming panalangin at pasasalamat ang alay sa Diyos sa bawat simbang gabi, sa Midnight Mass at maging sa simpleng pagdalaw sa adoration chapel o tahimik na simbahan. At sino ba sa atin ang hindi napapakanta o nakikinig man lang ng isa sa mga paborito ng lahat: “Silent Night”? Sa taong ito, sa ating pagdiriwang ng pagsilang ng ating Panginoong Hesukristo, inaalala din natin ang awit na isinulat para sa kanya at unang itinanghal, ng isang pari at ng katambal niyang guro 200 taon na ang nagdaan sa isang nayon malapit sa Salzburg sa bansang Austria. Ang awit na alay kay Hesus at sa kapayapaan ay naririnig sa lahat ng dako kung saan nakararating ang diwa ng Pasko. Pagnilayan natin bahagya ang ka

HOLY INFANT SO TENDER AND MILD Some things seem to happen automatically each Christmas. Smiles and laughter are easy to come by. We do our best to give gifts to loved ones, while being open and grateful when receiving one ourselves. Sharing with the poor and remembering the needy make the spirit of the season alive.  Prayers of thanksgiving and adoration are offered to God as we go to our dawn Masses, our Midnight Mass, or even just a quiet visit to the adoration chapel or an empty church. And who does not sing, or at least listen to, one of the favorite carols of the season, “Silent Night?” This year, as we celebrate the birth of the Lord Jesus Christ, we also celebrate the song that was composed for him, and performed for the first time, by a priest and a school teacher 200 years ago in a simple village near Salzburg in Austria. The song dedicated to Jesus and to the spirit of peace is sung today in almost every place where Christmas is celebrated. Let

IKAW NA NANIWALA Halos nasa pintuan na tayo ng Pasko, ang mga pagbas natin ay nagdadala ng pansin kay Maria, ang birheng malapit nang maging Ina ng Tagapagligtas. Matapos tanggapin ang mensahe ng anghel, hindi niya sinayang ang pagkakataong tumungo kina Elisabet na kanyang pinsan upang doon ay maglingkod sa matandang babaeng ito na malapit nang magsilang ng sanggol. Sa pagitan ng ng batang lingkod na si Maria at ng kagalang-galang na ginang na si Elisabet, si Maria ang siyang mas tunay na mataas ang kalagayan. Hindi inilarawan sa Kasulatan si Elisabet subalit si Elisabet ay hindi naman nagkulang na ilarawan nang mainam ang kanyang batang pinsan na nagdadalang-tao na rin. “Pinagpala ka sa lahat ng babae…” “… ina ng aking Panginoon…”   “mapalad kang naniwala…” – si Maria ang pinagpala at pinili ng Diyos. Si Maria ang ina ng Mananakop ng daigdig. Si Maria ang huwaran ng pananampalataya sa mga pangako ng Diyos. Batid kong maraming

YOU WHO BELIEVED Almost at the doorsteps of the Christmas season, the readings today draw our attention to Mary, the virgin soon to be mother of the Savior. After receiving the promise of the angel, she wastes no time to hurry down to her cousin Elizabeth’s home, there to serve and wait on her who was to give birth in her old age. Between the volunteer servant and the dignified old lady of the house, it was the servant, Mary, who occupied the more exalted position. The gospel does not describe Elizabeth at all. But Elizabeth was not lacking in the finest words to describe her young pregnant cousin.  “Blessed are you among women…”  “…the mother of my Lord…”  “blessed are you who believed…” – Mary is blessed because she was chosen. Mary is the mother of the Savior. Mary is the model of faith in God’s promises. I know that non-Catholic Christians struggle with Mary and are uncomfortable when the spotlight seems to shine on her. Muslims and

WATER THERAPY, LAUGHTER, MUSIC, PETS Stay hydrated with ten glasses of water each day. Remember that seventy percent (70%) of our body is water. Everybody deserves a big laugh every day to loosen up and drive away worries. Listening to music soothes the soul. Caring for animals and pets is proven to be therapeutic and relaxing. Pets can be loyal companions and have positive effects on our well-being. THANKS TO: ROADMAP TO A FULFILLING LIFE   by the man of God, FERDI FUENTES published by Minda M. Fuentes, 2013

Pekeng Balita = Kalungkutan; Mabuting Balita = Kagalakan Likas na nagta-type ka ng smiley sa iyong text o sa reaksyon mo sa isang post sa social media. Ibig sabihin ba talaga kang masaya? Kahit hindi nag-iisip, nilalagyan mo ng “haha” ang iyong sagot sa mensahe ng kaibigan o kung nagpapadala ka ng mensahe sa kanya. Tanda ba ito na tunay kang natutuwa? Maraming paraan ngayon ng halos awtomatik na pagpapahayag ng ideya ng kasiyahan. Pero totoo ding sobrang dami ngayon ang nakikipagbuno sa depresyon, nag-iisip ng suicide, o nabubuhay na galit sa sarili o sa mundo. Ayon sa mga survey lalong nakababad ang isang tao sa social media, lalo ding hiindi siya masaya sa sarili dahil sa pagkukumpara at sa paghahanap ng atensyon at pagpapahalaga ng kapwa. Ang mundo ng mga gadget ay kayang mameke ng saya. Ang materyal na mundo ay puwedeng mag-alay ng luho pero hindi kayang magbunga ng ligaya. Ang mundong abala sa maraming bagay ay walang panahong huminto upang

Fake News = Sadness; Good News = Gladness You instinctively type a smiley when you send a text or react to a post on social media. Does that mean you are really happy? You unthinkingly add the words “haha” or "LOL" when you send a message to someone or when you reply to acknowledge another’s message. Does that mean you were truly touched by the spirit of mirth? Today there are automatic and automated ways to convey the idea of happiness. But it is also a fact that so many people are battling depression, entertaining suicide, or living in self-hate. Findings show that the more exposed to social media a person is, the more unsatisfied he/she is with the self because of the pressures of comparison with others and of the seeking for attention and approval. The technological world can fake happiness. The material world can offer comfort but cannot produce gladness. The busy world cannot afford to stop and relish the feeling of joy. Now that

DISYEMBRE 12 SANTA JUANA FRANCISCA DE CHANTAL (ST. JANE FRANCES DE CHANTAL), NAMANATA SA DIYOS (RELIGIOUS) A. KUWENTO NG BUHAY Kakaibang landas ang tinahak ng ating santa para sa araw na ito. Si Santa Juana Francisca de Chantal ay isinilang sa France noong 1572. Matapos ang kanyang ika-20 taon, ikinasal siya sa isang lalaking may mataas na antas sa lipunan, ang maginoong may katungkulan na kilala bilang Baron de Chantal .   Nagbunga ng anim na anak na lalaki ang kanilang pagmamahalan subalit apat lamang ang nabuhay.   Sa kanyang mga anak, ibinahagi ni Santa Juana Francisca ang pagmamahal sa Diyos, sa kapwa at sa simbahan.    Hindi nagtagal ang buhay ng asawa ni Santa Juana Francisca at yumao ito sa mundo matapos ma-aksidente sa pangangaso. Kapapanganak pa lamang niya sa bunsong anak noon. Bilang isang biyuda, itinuon ni Santa Juana Francisca ang kanyang pansin sa pag-aaruga sa kanyang mga anak. Naging mabuti siyang ina sa kanila. Gayundin, naging baha