parishworks! 1Vol. 6 No. 42 January 22, 2011

Pastor’s MessageThe New Fishers of Menby: Rev. Msgr. Emmanuel Suñga

SuNday GoSpel

MT 4:12-23

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Dear Parishioners,

Let us remember that Christmas was the season we celebrated the incarnation (becoming flesh) of the Son of God in each of us.

Let us remember that New Year was that feast when Mary was honored as the Mother of God by us who were made Children of God by our baptism.

Let us remember that the feast of the Holy Family was that celebration wherein our families like, like that of the Holy Family of Nazareth were

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St andrew Celebrates Feast of the Sto Nino

a Small GiftBy Doi Nuñeza Flordeliz

Children painted with smiles after receiving a small gift from the child Jesus. Last Sunday, January 16, the Catholics celebrated the feast of Sto. Niño the child Jesus. After every mass at Saint Andrew the Apostle Parish, all

The Parish Youth Ministry rendered a mini Ati-Atihan dance, (without the

costume) in honor of the Sto. Nino. Energy was up and everyone alive to the

beat of the drums. They were suppose to go around the church grounds, but

because of heavy rainfall, they all gathered infront of the parish office. Viva el

Sto. Nino! Taken last Saturday, Jan 15, 2011.

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a Small Gift from page 1... San SebastianFeast day: 20 January

Nothing is historically certain(born 257) about St. Sebastian except that he was a Roman martyr, was venerated in Milan even in the time of St. Ambrose and was buried on the Appian Way, probably near the present Basilica of St. Sebastian. Devotion to him spread rapidly, and he is mentioned in several martyrologies as early as a.d. 350.

Every January 20 and again on March 20, the Feast Day of Saint Sebastian brings thousands of pilgrims to the community of Yumbel, in Chile’s Bío-Bío region (VIII), to celebrate at the Parroquia Santuario San Sebastián de Yumbel.

Many come from miles away, some on their knees, to pray before the altar and the image of the saint in an impressive, and crowded, display of religious fervor. There are so many pilgrims that additional trains from other localities pour into the local station

During the Middle Ages and the Renaisssance, Saint Sebastian was depicted in numerous paintings and illuminated manuscripts such as this depiction of San Sebastian , in a medieval Book of the Hours. With plagues decimating the population of Europe, he was a popular saint for his reputation of protection against the dreaded disease.

During the year, the statue of San Sebastián rests inside the church above an altar constructed of local cedar, but for the Feast Day celebrations, it is moved outside to the Campo de Oración, a 43 hectare area set aside for religious devotions. These include a procession through the town with the saint, and the faithful dressed in the saint’s colors of red and yellow. Thousands of candles are lit in his honor.

children received a small gift from the child Jesus, they were all given goodie bags which they enjoyed so much.

Before the said event, the children received first a special blessing at the concluding rites of each mass. Then they were ushered to the parish center lobby where the event took place. The smiles and thank you’s of the children echoed at the lobby of the parish center, they were eager to open their own goodie bags. Seeing them with excitement and joy as they show to their parents what they have received. In a simple and a child like way celebrating the feast of the child Jesus, gives us the real meaning that Jesus was once a little child just like everyone of us.

As what Rev. Msgr. Emmanuel Suñga said in the pastor’s message last week, “By this feast of Sto. Niño, we are called to a spiritual childhood, the way of trust and absolute self surrender.”

The event was a work of love, a collaboration of the parishioners and volunteers of Saint Andrew the Apostle Parish. The success of the event was made possible with the unending support and generosity of the parishioners and volunteers. May we always remember that all great and big things come from a small and generous heart.

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pastor’s Messasge from page 1...

patterned after the Holy Family of God, the Holy Trinity.And now let us remember that after all of those

celebrations of God’s gifts to us through these divine mysteries (God’s loving activities) and after all the graces accruing from them the Lord is sending us to our own Zabuluns and Napthalis. God being one with us and fortified by His graces WE ARE SENT AS LIGHT IN THE MIDST OF DARKNESS.

A story may help us.

Johnie was in the third grade, Jimmy was in the second. Their families lived about half a mile apart out in the country. Often they played together after school. One afternoon they played later than usual. It was already getting dark and a storm was blowing up. Suddenly it began to rain, to thunder and lightning. There was no one to take Johnie home. He stood shivering on the porch, afraid to start out alone. Then a light appeared down the road. It turned into a farm where Johnie was. His big brother Bill with a flashlight and their dog Rex had come to light Johnie home.

Christ is our big brother who came to show us the way home to heaven. We just read in today’s Good News: “The people who sat in darkness have seen a great light, and for those who sat in the region and shadow of death light has dawned.”

Who are these people sitting in darkness and the shadow of death? They are those who lived before the coming of Christ. The world was dark. Men did not know how to get home or even where home was.

But even today, the world can even be darker. We are in need of so many big brothers. We have to have so many Christ to show us the way. For this, the Lord is calling you and me. When he does, do not shy away saying that you do not have the capacity, nor the time nor the courage. It always seems that when God calls somebody it looks like a mere chance.

Yes sometimes it even looks like a poor choice. Take the case of the apostles mentioned in today’s gospel. But then, as times goes on, this poor choice turns out to be providential, one which hardly could have been better.

When Christ called his first apostles Peter and Andrew while casting their net into the sea, and then James and John while mending their nets, most would have been very critical with His choice i.e. it was a wrong decision. Many would have said; these apostles would never have passed the qualifying exam of any modern vocational director. And yet, the Lord called them, not because He had no choice, but because He wanted to call them. And God can never be wrong.

Let us always remember this us we go our separate ways heeding and obeying His Divine call. And never forget to pray for each other. OREMUS PRO INVICEM.

Dear Parishioner of St. Andrew

Even if you don’t hear form me often, know that you are always in my heart and mind especially in this Holy Season of Christmas.

I wish you all well in coming year. Let’s continue to pray for one another.

Shalom, Maligayang Pasko.

Fr. Stephen Jantuah

May the celebration of the birth of Christ awaken your heart’s joy

And may your future days be blessed with His daily presence.

The Lord will Bless you this Christmas and the New Year.

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Ria Salvaña Matthew LizaresParish Works StaffEllie Medina, Angelina Poe,Emilio Medina, John David OngAnnouncements CoordinatorsPia Sanedrin, Rochelle Pineda Bulletin Board EditorEJ CarlosPowerpoint CoordinatorGing Santos, JayR PaduaContributor: Doi Nuñeza Flordeliz

Spiritual AdvisorRev. Msgr. Emmanuel Suñga

PublisherSt. Andrew the Apostle ParishN. Garcia St. cor. Kalayaan Ave.Bel-Air II, Makati CityPhones: (632) 890-1796 / 890-1743 media@saaparish.com

Parish Works is the official weekly newsletter of Saint Andrew the Apostle Parish. Media and Communications Ministry Co-coordinators

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San Sebastian from page 2...

February 2, Wednesday, is the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord. At each mass, there will be a Blessing and Procession of Candles. Please bring your own candles.

In memory of St. Blase on Thursday February 3, there will be a Blessing of Throats during each mass.

San Sebastián is the patron saint of archers, soldiers, athletes, the dying, enemies of religion, the plague and others. Although the Catholic church does not authenticate his history, legend, from a story that began two centuries after his death, has it that Sebastian was a noble Roman in the Imperial Guard under Emperor Diocletian. Converted to Christianity, Sebastian was in a difficult position. He was reputed to heal by making the sign of the cross over the ill and dying, and did what he could to alleviate the suffering of Christians whom Diocletian intended to exterminate.

When he was found out, Sebastian was arrested and sentenced to death. Pierced by multiple arrows, he was left to die, still tied to a tree. Irene, a fellow Christian and the widow of St. Castulus, found Sebastian still alive and nursed him back to health.

He recovered, but refused to flee. One day he took up a position near where the emperor was to pass. He accosted the emperor, denouncing him for his cruelty to Christians. This time the sentence of death was carried out. Sebastian was beaten to death with clubs. He died in 288 A.D.

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