parishworks! 1Vol. 7 No. 51 March 24, 2012

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Three Nights w/ the Lord(1st day) by: Gene Alberto

A Lenten Recollection with the theme “Renewing One’s Faith, Rekinlding One’ Missionary Spirit” was held in our parish church on March 19 until March 21.

The first of the three series of talks was conducted by Rev. Fr. Francis Gustilo, SDB. It was meant to prepare ourselves for a deeper participation of our Lord’s suffering, death and resurrection.

The Gospel narratives were taken from St. John’s Gospel which contain a series of “signs” and wondrous deeds of Jesus during His public mission.

The first sign is water which symbolizes the transforming work at Cana; the cure of the paralytic at the pool; and the Samaritan woman at the well which continue the theme of water offering newness of life. Another sign is simply by word of Jesus signifying the power of Jesus’ life-giving work when He cured the royal officer’s son. The Bread of life used for the revelation of God in Jesus in the Eucharist. Jesus is presented as the light of the world and proclaimed the triumph of the light over darkness as John presented the man born blind in his Gospel. It also proclaimed the spiritual blindness of the Pharisees.

The Three Pillars of Lentby: Russel Matthew Patolot

In literature, there are many ways on how authors and writers begin their works. The corpus which makes up for what we now know and term as “classical” in literature commonly unravels their plot in medias res – in the middle of things. We are now in the middle, more appropriately said, halfway in our pilgrimage toward Easter and perhaps, we are now getting weary and somehow slacking in our Lenten discipline. Maybe those things that we promised to sacrifice have made their way back into our daily routine.

As a season, Lent bears characteristics and an attitude which makes it fully distinct from the other seasons of the liturgical year. The liturgical color as well as the celebration of the Holy Mass attests to a penitential nature since the Lenten liturgy forgoes the singing of our Glorias and Alleluias which are joyful in character. Thus, there are certain practices and traditions observed which are proper during this season. These become pillars in the long run of practice.

The first pillar is PRAYER. The Church calls us once again to prayer – to a one-on-one conversation with God. In the daily hustle and bustle of everyday living, with all the ruckus of noise and haste, we no longer make time for God. We have time to talk with family, friends, co-workers, colleagues and other acquaintances, yet we seem to have no time to spend with God, the very reason why we got out of bed in the morning and the creator of those mentioned earlier. It is a sad fact that

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Three Pillars of Lent..from page 1

prayer is a decreasingly common sight even in the family, being normally left for Sunday Mass in church.

Western monasticism talks of the centuries-old adage Ora et Labora – Pray and Work. From those who lived in the cloistered silence of monasteries and hermitages, we can come to learn that prayer is work and work is prayer. Work is an extension of prayer and prayer is an extension of work. We can sanctify our jobs and our daily duties by offering these up to God, even just mentally, so that our work can become a prayer. This way, wherever we are and whatever we do, we are following our Lenten discipline of prayer as well as following the admonishment of Saint Paul: “Pray without ceasing.” (1 Thessalonians 5:17)

The second pillar is FASTING. We are reminded to fast so as to subdue our love of self.

We have lavished many luxuries on ourselves that we tend to become ever more wanting for the pleasures of the world instead of seeking the pleasure of Jesus whom we offend and continue to offend by indulging our sensual appetites. The point of fasting is to discipline our bodies to hunger less for what the world’s trappings and to desire heavenly things. Sadly, we do not take fasting into heart but rather lust gluttonously on instant gratification.

Fasting traditionally takes the form of restraining our appetites by eating one full meal a day and two lesser ones. But there are other forms – fasting from the internet when unnecessary, from watching too much television, from all those distractions which divert our attention from hearing the voice of God. We ought to fast because we are prone to sin and the observance of this Lenten practice is an exercise to stand up strong to the wiles of the temptation of easy satisfaction.

Jesus was tempted in the very same seduction when Satan asked Him to “turn these stones into bread.” (Saint Matthew 4:3) but Jesus came out victorious. He leaves us an example that fortitude is strengthened by fasting and prayer.

The third pillar is ALMSGIVING. Simply said, it is the practice of charity towards our neighbor. Our love for Christ ought to be concretized in our actions so that we may become witnesses to Christ’s love for all of humanity, especially to the least, the last

and the lost – those ostracized in the society. Saint James reminds us: “Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself.” (St. James 2:17)

Also, in the Parable of the Last Judgment, Jesus himself admonishes us, like the Good Samaritan, to practice works of mercy and to make no excuse for it, since our inheriting the Kingdom of heaven depends on how much we have loved Him in our neighbor. “As long as you did it to one of these my least brethren, you did it for me.” (Saint Matthew 25: 40) In the end, we are going to be judged by the standard of love.

These three make up the Lenten disciplines which would prepare us not only for our earthly annual celebration of Easter, but ultimately for the eternal Easter in heaven, where those who followed Christ in carrying the cross of suffering and self-denial will gain the glory of the resurrection and everlasting life. Let us then renew our efforts in these Lenten practices that we may be able to bask and share wholeheartedly in the splendor, light and joy that the Christ’s Resurrection brings.

Give your spouse and yourself an enchanting and divine experience.

Join the

MARRIAGE ENCOUNTERMay 26 – 27, 2012

At the Parish premises

(No fees involved)

For reservations or more info, contact

Cecille 0920 220 1685

parishworks! 3

Three Nights with the Lord..from page 1

After the accounts of the signs and wonders, the “hour” of Jesus arrived. If we noticed, it is only in John’s Gospel that there was no agony in the garden. Jesus and his disciples went to the upper room where they had their Last Supper. Jesus rose from the table and began to wash His disciples’ feet. It was a deep practice of humility showing us how to practice the works of charity.

The devil had already induced Judas to hand Jesus over. Jesus was not arrested; He surrendered. The authorities brought Him to Annas, Father-in-law of Caipas, a high priest. And Caipas handed Him back to Annas; but sent him back to Caipas. They didn’t know what they were up to. And finally, Jesus was sent to Pilate, the Roman governor. Pilate found no crime in Him and besides he was not interested in Jesus. And so he spoke openly to the crowd that he should release someone to the feast of the Passover and gave them a choice: either Barabbas, the criminal or Jesus.

Jesus was asked to come forward wearing a crown, not a crown of gold but a crown of thorns. He wore a cloak, not red but purple a color of royalty. The crowd cried out loud, “Crucify Him!”

Peter followed Him to the courtyard. Some people recognized him as one of Jesus’ disciples. He denied it three times.

Pilate handed Jesus over to the crowd to be crucified. They took Jesus and carrying the cross Himself went out to Golgola where he was crucified with two others. Pilate had an inscription written and put on the cross. It read “Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.” The chief priests protested. “What I have written, I have written.” Pilate said firmly. At last Pilate became assertive.

Standing by the cross of Jesus were His mother and His mother’s sister, and Magdalene and John, the disciple whom Jesus loved. To him our Lord entrusted the care of the Blessed Mother Mary.

After things were accomplished, Jesus shouted “It is consummated.” And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit.

On the morning of easter, Jesus’ disciples came to the tomb and found it empty. The scriptures has been fulfilled. That Christ has risen from the dead; that Christ is the Messiah, the Son of God, and through this belief we may have life in His Name.

In closing, Fr. Gustilo challenged us to continue doing the missionary work of Jesus; to teach and to observe all that He commanded us and He will be with us until the end of time.

Snapshots of the Week

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Matthew LizaresParish Works StaffMagda Gana, Emilio Medina, Russel Matthew Patolot, Karen Ann Phoa, Angelina PoeBulletin Board EditorEJ Carlos, Harley Dave PunzalanPowerpoint CoordinatorEllie Medina,Ging Santos SAAP Facebook AdminRochelle Pineda

ContributorsGene Alberto

Spiritual AdvisorRev. Msgr. Dennis Odiver

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.

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1. Some Greeks who had come up to worship at the Passover Feast came to Philip, who was from _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _A D I B A T H E S in Galilee

2. Jesus answered them, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ D I E F R I G O L.”

3. Unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains just a grain of wheat; but if it dies, it _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ S E D C U R O P much fruit.

4. Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ P E E R V S R E it for etenal life.

5. Now is the time of _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ T U G E M J D N on this world; now the ruler of this world will be driven out.

Answer key: 1) Bethsaida; 2) Glorified; 3) Produces; 4) Preserve; 5) Judgment

March 25, 2012

5th Sunday of Lent

Gospel: John 12:20-33

Announcements

1. Let us support Alay Kapwa. A second collection will be done in all Sundays of Lent to raise funds for the Philippine Church relief programs for victims of calamities and disasters, both natural and man-made.

THANK YOU for supporting ALAY KAPWA.Second Collections for: 03/04/12 P20,902.8503/11/12 P36,801.00, 03/18/12 P27,953.50

2. A “Kumpisalang Bayan” will be held in our parish church on March 29, Thursday, 5:00 pm onwards.

3. The Parish Youth Ministry invites you to the staging of “SENAKULO” on Holy Tuesday, April 3 at 7:30 in the evening here at our parish church.

4. Please come for the Seven Last Words of Jesus on Good Friday at 12:00 noon. Reflections will be done by Rev. Fr. Vicente G. Cajilig, OP.

5. Holy Week will be from April 1 to 8. Please be guided of the activities through our parish flyers, bulletin boards and tarpaulins.

6. Sponsorship forms for Paeskwela ni San Andres are now available at the Parish Office.

By: Karen Ann Phoa

St. AldemarFeastday: March 24

Abbot and miracle worker, called “the Wise.” Born in Capua, Italy, he became a monk in Monte Cassino and was called to the attention of a Princess Aloara of the region. When she built a new convent in Capua, Alder became the director of the religious in the established house. He performed many miracles in this capacity. Aldemar was reassigned by his abbot to Monte Cassino, a move that angered the princess. As a result, Aldemar went to Boiana, Italy, where a companion involved in the dispute tried to kill him. Aldemar fled into the region of Bocchignano, Abruzzi, where he founded several more religious houses.