ANNOUN C EM E N T・ANNOUN C EM E N T・ANNOUN C EM E N T

June 2007 Volume 1 Number 3 Newsletter for Filipino Catholics in Nagaoka District, Niigata Diocese

The second Sunday of June (June 10), the Liturgy leads us to the celebration of “Corpus Christi” – the feast of the Eucharist. This day will also be the date of the General As-sembly of the Faithful of Nagaoka District. I think the natural theme of this celebration could be to look at the Eucharist as the bond of unity of our Christian Community. It is through the Eucharist indeed that the Church is strengthened and developed, that really becomes one body in Christ. It is by receiving the same Christ that we are all united and led to work with one mind and spirit, and so we become One through the Spirit of Jesus. Again, it is through the Eucharist that we meet each other as brothers and sisters. It is through the Eucharist, deeply felt, that we overcome the differences among us, due to the various background and cultures, through which we were brought up. It is through the Eucha-rist that we are led to live and to work together by “sharing” the gifts that the Good Lord has poured on all of us. “Sharing” is the magic word that is often repeated in the English-speaking communities and it is echoed in the Japanese word “wakachi-au”. Now, thinking of the great work has been done in the last few years in Nagaoka chiku, to lead the Filipino community to join and to assimilate with the local people, we have to thank the Good Lord and recognize that it is the Divine Grace that has been smoothly and perseveringly working among us so that we may become one mold of different cultures. Quite of course, it will take some time more to reach a higher level of understanding and mutual ac-ceptance, but the path we tread now is through the Spirit of Jesus, the ideal Gospel way to love one another. It comes to mind what St. Paul is telling us in his letter to the Ephesians: The Spirit of Jesus prepared those who belong to Him for the ministry, in order to build up the Body of Christ, until we are all united in the same faith and knowledge of the Son of God. (Eph. 4:12-13) Fr. Dominic Gandolfi, OFM Parish Priest of Itoigawa Catholic Church

Eucharist: The Bond of Unity

B O N D I N G 絆

NAGAOKA-CHIKU SHINTO TAIKAI

You are all cordially invited to attend the GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF ALL CHRISTIANS IN NAGAOKA-CHIKU (SHINTO TAI KAI) which will be held on June 10 (Sunday) at Kashi-wazaki Church from 9:30 in the morning until 3 O’clock in the afternoon. There will be no Sunday masses in the different churches except in Kashiwazaki church. Please contact your respective parish priest and the sister in charge in your church for communication and coor-dination. Likewise, please bring your obento.

Ang Mabuting Balita ay... Page 2 Ugnayan

ANG KATAWAN AT DUGO NI KRISTO (Luka 9:11b-17)

“Noong panahon iyon, nagsalita si Hesus sa mga tao tungkol sa paghahari ng Diyos; pinagaling niya ang mga may karamdaman. Nang dumidilim na’y nilapitan siya ng Labindalawa at sinabi sa kanya, “Paalisin napo ninyo ang mga tao nang makaparoon sila sa mga nayon sa kabukiran sa paligid upang humanap ng makakain at matutuluyan. Nasa ilang na lugar po tayo.” Ngunit sinabi niya, “Kayo ang magbibigay sa kanila ng makakain.” Sumagot sila, “Wala po tayo kundi limang tinapay at dalawang isda, kaya kailangang bumili kami ng pagkain para sa mga taong ito.” May limanlibong lalaki ang naroon. Ngunit sinabi niya sa kanyang mga alagad, Paupuin ninyo sila nang pulu-pulutong na tiglilimampu.” Gayon nga ang ginawa nila-pinaupo ang lahat. Kinuha ni Hesus ang limang tinapay at dalawang isda, tumingala sa langit, at nagpasalamat sa Diyos. Pinaghati-hati niya ang mga ito, at ibinigay sa kanyang mga alagad upang ipamahagi sa mga tao. Nakakain ang lahat at nabusog. Tinipon ng mga alagad ang lumabis; at nakapuno sila ng labindalawang bakol. ” PAGNINILAY-NILAY: Marami sa ating mga Pilipino ang naniniwala sa himala. Sa ebanghelyo sa araw na ito mababasa natin ang dala-wang pangyayari na maaaring ituring na isang himala. Una ay ang pangangaral ni Hesus sa paghahari ng Diyos at pagpagaling ng may mga karamdaman. Pangalawa ay ang pagpapakain sa limanlibong katao sa lilimang tina-pay at dalawang isda. Maaari nating pagnilayan kung bakit marami ang sumunod kay Hesus sa ilang na lugar hanggang sumapit ang takipsilim ng gabi? Ang pagsunod ba ng mga tao kay Hesus ay udyok ng pagnanais na makinig sa magandang balita o ito ay dahil sa ginawang pagpapagaling ni Hesus sa may mga karamdaman? Sa ating buhay pananampalataya, hindi kaila na tanggapin ang katotohanan na tayo ay malimit na lumalapit sa Di-yos at sumunod sa kanyang mga utos kapag tayo ay may kailangan sa Kanya o tayo ay nagkakaroon ng mabigat na pasanin sa buhay o problema. Tayo ay mataimtim na nagdarasal at nagsisimba kapag tayo ay may kahilingan na nais nating makamtan. Isang hamon sa atin ang pag-sunod kay Hesus hindi lamang sa panahon ng kaginhawa-han at katiwasayan kundi maging sa oras ng kahirapan at pagsubok sa buhay, naroroon tayo upang isiwalat ang magandang balita ng kahariaan ng Diyos. Sa linggong ito ipinagdiriwang natin ang Dakilang Kapistahan ng “Corpus Christi”- ang Kabanal-banalang Katawan at Dugo ni Kristo. Matatanggap natin si Hesus sa Banal na Eukaristiya sa tu-wing tayo ay nagsisimba. Kung gaano kahalaga ang pagkain ng katawan ay lalo’t higit na maha-laga ang pagkaing espirituwal. May kasabihan na, “What you eat is what you are”. Kung ang at-ing katawang pisikal ay ating inaalagaan, gayon din naman ang ating espirituwal na buhay. Sa tuwina tinatanggap natin si Hesus sa Banal na Komunyon sa Banal na Misa. Tayo ay nagiging ka-wangis niya at tayo’y nananatili sa kanya. Ang bunga ng Eukaristiya ay kapatawaran sa ating mga kasalanan at pakikiisa sa Simbahan. Tayo ay nagkakaroon ng pagpapanibagong buhay o “conversion” sa ating pakikipag-kapwa, paggawa ng kabutihan at paglilingkod sa Diyos. Ang sino mang tumatanggap sa Kanya ay may buhay na walang hanggan. Isang hamon sa atin ang maging kawangis (kamukha) ni Hesus. Tayo na’t magsimba at tanggapin natin si Hesus sa Banal na Eukaristiya. (Sr. Cherry Delgado, SFIC)

Special Feature: Flores de Mayo in Nagaoka-chiku

Page 3 Volume 1 Number 3

Flores de Mayo is a Catholic festival introduced by the Spaniards and it is held in the Philippines in the month of May. This festival is celebrated for a whole month, and it is in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Every afternoon during May, young people go to Church to pray the rosary and offer flowers and songs to the Blessed Mother. Though separate in meaning and focus, to culminate Flores de Mayo, a Santacruzan (a procession in honor of the finding of the Holy Cross in the year 326 AD by Queen Helena) is held. This year, Nagaoka-chiku celebrated Flores de Mayo in Takada Church (May 13) and Kashiwazaki Church (May 20). Both churches began the Sunday Mass with the procession of young girls dressed in white and crowned with flowers, followed by the whole congregation. The song “Immaculate Mother” was sang in English, Tagalog and Japanese while the big statue of our Lady of Fatima was being carried to the church. During the Mass, the Readings, Songs and Prayers were said in both Japanese and Tagalog. In Takada Church, a Barrio Fiesta was held where Filipino delicacies were served. The children enjoyed the parlor games prepared by groups of mothers. Tinikling (Bamboo Dance) was presented by selected mothers, and some parishioners were able to experience dancing it too. At the same time, the Filipinos in Takada took this chance to greet Fr. Mario Canducci, OFM and Kondo-san a “Happy Birthday.” In Kashiwazaki, after the Holy Mass, the Filipinos shared with everybody including the Japanese parish-ioners, the Filipino food they brought. The children really enjoyed the “Pabitin” as they jumped as high as they can to pick the goodies as the trellis was lowered to them while someone pulled it up and down re-peatedly until the goodies were gone.

MAY PROBLEMA KA BA? ・RELASYON SA PAMILYA ・RELASYON SA KAIBIGAN ・PAMUMUHAY SA JAPAN

KAILANGAN MO BA NG KAUSAP AT PAGHINGAHAN

NG PROBLEMA O AGAM-AGAM SA BUHAY?

TUMAWAG LANG SA MGA PILIPINANG MADRE

NA HANDANG MAKINIG AT TUMULONG SA IYO.

Sr. Malou Razon, SFIC

090-2990-4328 Sr. Lina Rivera, SFIC

090-1376-9271 Sr. Cherry Delgado, SFIC

025-526-2026

English Para-Liturgical Services

Kakizaki Every Third Sunday of the Month

c/o Josephine Takeuchi

Yasuzuka Every Third Sunday of the Month

Editor-in-Chief: Fr. Hubert Nelskamp, OFM

Associate Editor: Sr. Malou Razon, SFIC Circulation Managers: Sr. Lina Rivera, SFIC

Sr. Cherry Delgado, SFIC Layout Artist:

Fr. Ferdy Faminialagao, SVD Advisers:

Franciscan Missionaries in Nagaoka District

Address: 〒943 ‐0834   Ni igata ‐ken   Joetsu ‐sh i   Nish ish i ro ‐cho   2 ‐3 ‐20 Telephone Number: 025 ‐526 ‐2026     Fax Number: 025 ‐526 ‐7336

Ugnayan is a monthly publication for  Filipino  Catholics  in  Nagaoka District,   as   a   way   of   enriching their  relationship  with  God  and Others,  through  reflections,  shar‐ing, and news  in and around Na‐gaoka district. Ugnayan  is a Taga‐log word meaning Bonding in Eng‐lish and Kizuna in Japanese