Fr. Arnel is formally installed as OLMCP’s 10th Parish Priest

From a FriendBy Fr. Arnel F. Recinto

1

In this issue

Welcome, Fr. George ................ 3 Heaven gained .......................... 6 Year of the Youth ...................... 12 Bible Quiz .................................. 12 PREX Corner ............................ 13 Noche Buena, Sagot ko na ...... 16

How the Bible tells us when Jesus was born

By: Rev. Fr. Gerardo R. Tapiador

How we know Our Birthdays

When we were born, none of us would have been aware of what exact time was in accordance to our present calendar. We were still newborn babies! So, how did we ye to know the exact date of our births? Naturally, our parents told us and among the parentes our mothers would have been the more reliable sources because they were the very ones) responsible for the birthing process. Then, with faith in our mothers, we have accepoca dates which they told us, to be what we celebrate as our birthdays.

The same is true with Jesus and the family that continues to celebrate his Church. Jesus would not have been aware by himself as a baby but would have le birthday most accurately from his mother, Mary, who later on also recounted his apostles and the other followers of her Son. With faith in her story, they accepted wha told them and one of the later disciples wrote her story.

Luke the Historian and His Sources

Among all the four Gospel writers the two evangelists who wrote the story of Jesus birth are St. Matthew and St. Luke. Between the two of them, St. Luke in his preface isch specifying that he is writing the sequence of events, a history of what happened.

Luke 1:1

Since many have undertaken to compile a narrative of the events that have been fulfilled among us, just as those who were eyewitness from the beginning and

Issue No. 19 Official Quarterly Newsletter of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish Diocese of Cubao DECEMBER 2018

CARMEL light @olmcp * www.ourladyofmountcarmelparish.com * olmcp6@yahoo.com

On December 4, 2018, Fr. Arnel was officially installed by Most Rev. Honesto F. Ongtioco, D.D., as our 10th parish priest. Concelebrated by a number of priests,

Bishop Ongtioco presided the 6pm Mass which included the rites of installation.

Fr. Arnel was born to Claro Recinto from Mataas na Kahoy, Lipa City, Batangas and Nora Fuentes from Taal, Batangas on February 8, 1967 in Zamboanga City. He is the 7th of 9 children. He attended the UST Central Seminary and was ordained on March 14, 1992. As a priest for 26 years, he was assigned to different parishes in Manila and Quezon City.

Before God led his path to our parish, Fr. Arnel became the pioneer parish priest of St. John Paul II Parish in Eastwood in Quezon City. OLMCP is his 8th assignment.

We pray that God may continue to

guide Fr. Arnel in his priestly vocation as he formally begins his mission of shepherding us to become a community of God’s people where love, kindness and forgiveness truly abound.

(Continued on page 4)

2

NEWSBITS

The Living Rosary

A Living Rosary Rally was held last October 17, which was joined by members from different ministries and mandated organizations. The Living Rosary is a reminder that no one is alone in prayers, and that a small offering can become something much bigger when when it is joined with the offerings of others. As St. John Paul II said, “The Rosary is a contemplative prayer, and it has a great intercessory power: whoever recites it is united to Mary in meditating the mysteries of Christ, and is led to invoke the proper graces to these mysteries in the multiple situations of life and history.”

Ang lahat ay inaanyayahan na dumalo sa BUHAY AT BIBLIYA BIBLE STUDY SERIES, na pinamumunuan ni Rev. Fr. Ren Ligeralde, CJM, tuwing Miyerkules sa ika-7 ng gabi.

Sa panayam na ito, bibigyan ng atensyon ang mga pagbasa sa Banal na Bibliya upang mas mapalalim pa natin ang ating kaalaman ukol sa Salita ng Diyos at mas mabigyan pa ng kabuluhan ang mga Salitang ipinararating Niya sa atin. Sapagkat “hindi lamang nabubuhay ang tao sa tinapay, kundi sa bawat salitang nagmumula sa salita ng Diyos.”

The Formation Ministry organized the Tune Up: A Basic Christian Maturity Seminar for Parish Pastoral Council members and active servants last November 10-11 at the Gintong Bulwagan

The 2-day seminar featured renowned national speakers like Fr. Virgilio Ogoy, professor of theology in UST who turned out to be Fr. Arnel´s professor, lay evangelist Bro. Chito Jongco, and Catholic apologetic Bro. Noe Dora. It was attended by 71 servants, mostly from the Pamayanans, whose spirits were rekindled and hearts filled with Joy after the Tune Up.

Buhay at Bibliya -Bible study series

Basic Christian Maturity Seminar

The 15 organized pamayanans of OLMCP are busily conducting various activities

that help promote the Catholic faith and deepen prayer life in their communities, to bring their families closer to God and be integrated into the parish programs.

And this wouldn’t be possible without the BEC Pastoral Team, headed by Ate Toyang Alay, that represents all the pamayanans collectively in the parish. It organizes and coordinates the activities of the pamayanans, with the help of Pamayanan and Kawan Leaders. It also collaborates with parish ministries in activities where the pamayanans are the principal recipients of pastoral programs.

In October, the parish celebrated the month of the Holy Rosary. The pamayanans led the daily recitation of the Rosary in the main church, together with members of ministries and mandated organizations. They also participated in the Living Rosary that culminated the month-long celebration. Pamayanan 5 (Pael, Vasra) organized its own daily Block Rosary with the image of

Our Lady of Fatima. They also conducted a Living Rosary at the Sto. Niño Chapel, and a Parade of Saints in collaboration with the CWL. A Kawan Mass and Talakayan was also successfully held there.Residents from Kawan 31 in Pamayanan 6 (Forestry, Culiat) are consistently conducting a weekly Block Rosary with the image of Our Lady of Hope. Pamayanan 6 assists in the Catechism classes conducted by Franciscan Sisters every Saturday from 9-10 am at the St. Matthias Chapel, and also joins the Holy Hour activity organized by the Sisters of Providence at 3pm every last Sunday of the month. The newly-established Pamayanan 15, headed by Ate Liza Dominguez, covers the area near the UP Arboretum in Barangay UP that was once under the Parish of the Holy Sacrifice (UP). It was recently discovered that this area is within the geographical boundaries of the Diocese of Cubao. Hence, it is now under the pastoral jurisdiction of the OLMCP.

The parish will soon launch the implementation of Project WW or Walang-Wala in Pilot Area, Pamayanan 11.

Pamayanan 5 (Pael, Vasra) organized its own daily Block Rosary with the image of Our Lady of Fatima. They also conducted a Living Rosary at the Sto. Niño Chapel

THE PAMAYANANS: Prayerful Communities

3

Hindi nakakatakot kundi naging refreshing at enlightening pa ang Undas recollection ni Fr. Jojo Zerrudo, sikat na exorcist ng Diocese ng Cubao, noong Oct. 24 sa ating parokya.

Sinabi ni Fr. Jojo na ang kamatayan ay hindi kasama sa orihinal na plano ng Diyos. Kung hindi lang nagkasala sina Adan at Eba, wala sanang kamatayan ang tao, pati mga halaman at hayop.

Langit, Lupa, Impiyerno

Fr. Jojo Zerrudo, exorcist priest from theDiocese of Cubao and the parishioners from Our Lady of Mt. Carmel during the Undas recollection held last Oct. 24, 2018

OLMCP welcomes Fr. George JosephThe Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish

(OLMCP) welcomes Fr. George Joseph as part of the team of Fr. Arnel Recinto to help in the pastoral work of the parish.

Ordained on December 27, 2001, from Kerala, India, Fr. George Joseph chose our humble country to pursue his doctoral studies in Psychology at the University of Santo Tomas. Beyond studies, he wants to experience how faith is being lived in Asia’s biggest Catholic country.

Asked on the differences in the

Catholic practices between India and the Philippines, Fr. George shared that while OLMCP has 10 Masses on Sunday, they only have three Masses in Kerala.

Also, the parish office in Kerala is a

one-man office - the priest himself. After the morning Mass, Fr. George spends the day performing office work. Fr. George is amazed that the various ministries of OLMCP are more active, with members coming in ahead of the Mass schedule, with different set of volunteers for each

Mass to boot! Additionally, their ministry members have no uniform, except for the altar servers.

He is deeply involved with the spiritual formation of young people. It is the center of his vocation. It is his great joy that several of his protégés are now studying in the seminary, hopefully on the path to the priesthood.

Fr. George wants to attract young

people to the vocation by forging good relationship with the people and setting a good example to them by being a good priest.

On October 20, Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish had the chance to host another relic of St. John Paul II – his hair strands contained in a reliquary which was fetched from St. Augustine Chapel, was brought to our parish in time for the 6:00 pm Saturday Mass.

The presider, Fr. Toto Jaranilla, O.Carm., carefully set the relic upon a pedestal and enclosed it in a glass casing; beside it was a small bronze statue of St. John Paul II. After the Mass, it was taken out for veneration. The parishioners stood in line to kiss and venerate the relic, brought their religious articles and pressed them to the relic.

The next day, Oct. 21, was “World Mission Sunday.” The relic was again exposed for veneration by Sunday mass-goers, but this time, it remained inside the glass casing together with the saint’s statue. On October 22, the Solemn Feast of St. John Paul II, a High Mass was celebrated at 6:00 pm as it was the relic’s last day.

Relic of St. John Paul II visits OLMCP

Gayunpaman, ang kamatayan, aniya, “ay hindi kawalan o loss, kundi isang gain o pakinabang. Ito ang nag-iisang paraan kung paano muli nating makakapiling ang Panginoon”.

Kaya huwag tayong matakot sa kamatayan. Maging handa na i-welcome tayo ni Hesus, sa pamamagitan ng pagsisisi at pagbabagong buhay.

From a Friend... (from page 1)

ministers of the word have handed them down to us, I too have decided, after investigating everything accurately anew, to write it down in an orderly sequence for you, most excellent Theophilus, so that you may realize the certainty of the teachings you have received.

In this historical preface, Luke indicated his sources as eyewitness from the beginning and ministers of the word. Towards the end of his stories of Jesus’ infancy, Luke describes Mary’s remembrance of these events, “And Mary kept all these things, reflecting on them in her heart (Lk. 2:19).” From this indication, Luke thereby revealed Mary as his first eyewitness from the beginning. From her story to Luke therefore we can derive when Jesus was born.

First Story: Zechariah’s Vision and the Conception of John the Baptist Luke 1:5-9)

In the days of Herod, King of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah of the priestly division of Abijah; his wife from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. Both were righteous in the eyes of God, observing all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blamelessly. But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren and both were advanced in years. Once when he was serving as priest in his division’s turn before God, according to the practice of the priestly service, he was chosen by lot to enter the sanctuary of the Lord to burn incense.

Luke 1:10-25

Then, when the whole assembly of the people was praying at the hour of the incense offering, the angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the altar incense. Zechariah was troubled by what he saw, and fear came upon him. But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, because your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall name him John. And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He will drink neither wine nor strong drink. He will be filled with the Holy Spirit even from his mother’s womb, and he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God. He will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah to turn the hearts of fathers toward children and the disobedient to the

understanding of the righteous, to prepare a people fit for the Lord.” Then Zechariah said to the angel, “How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years. And the angel said to him in reply, “I am Gabriel, who stand before God. I was sent to speak to you and to announce to you this good news. But now you will be speechless and unable to talk until the day these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled at their proper time.” Meanwhile, the people were waiting for Zechariah and

were amazed that he stayed so long in the sanctuary. But when he came out, he was unable to speak to them, and they realized that he had seen a vision in the sanctuary. He was gesturing to them but remained mute. Then, when his days of ministry were completed, he went home. At this time his wife Elizabeth conceived, and she went into seclusion for five months, saying, “So has the Lord done for me at a time when he was seen fit to take away my disgrace before others.”

The incensing in the Temple indicated a specific feast was being celebrated, the Feast of Tabernacles or the Dedication of the Temple. This feast originated from the first dedication of the Temple by King Solomon who timed the dedication with the feast of Booths (in Hebrew, Succoth).

1 Kings 8:1-2

At the order of Solomon, the elders of Israel and all the leaders of the tribes, the princes in the ancestral houses of the Israelites, came to King Solomon in Jerusalem, to bring up the ark of the LORD’S covenant from the city of David (which is Zion). All the men of Israel before King Solomon during the festival in the month of Ethanim (the seventh month).

In the original Roman Calendar this would correspond to the month of September that if we calculate the time of the feast, it would

have been around September 18-24 when Zechariah returned home and Elizabeth conceived, it would have been around September 25.

Second Story: Annunciation to Mary and Her Conception of Jesus

Luke 1:26-38 (The Jerusalem Bible) “In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the House of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary. He went in and said to her, ‘Rejoice so highly favored! The Lord is with you.’ She was deeply disturbed by these words and asked herself what this greeting could mean, but the angel said to her, ‘Mary, do not be afraid; you have won God’s favour. Listen! You are to conceive and bear a son, and you must name him Jesus. He will be great and will be called son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David; he will rule over the House of Jacob forever and his reign will have no end.’ Mary said to the angel, ‘But how can this come about, since I am a virgin? “The Holy Spirit will come upon you’

the angel answered ‘and the power of the Most High will cover you with its shadow, And so the child will be holy and will be called the Son of God. Know this too: your kinswoman Elizabeth has, in her old age, herself conceived a son, and she whom people called barren is now in her sixth month, for nothing is impossible to God! ‘I am the handmaid of the Lord,’ said Mary ‘let what you have said be done to me. And the angel left her.”

The time frame in the story of the Annunciation to Mary and her subsequent conception of Jesus is mentioned twice: in v 26, “In the sixth month,” and in v 36, “she whom people called barren is now in her sixth month.”

To determine this date of Mary’s conception of the Lord, we simply have to add 6 months to September 25, effectively

4

dating this celebration of the Annunciation to Mary to March 25, exactly the date celebrated by the church.

Story of the Birth of Jesus

Luke 2:1-7 (The Jerusalem Bible) “Now at this time Caesar Augustus issued a decree for a census of the whole world to be taken. This census-the first-took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria, and everyone went to his own town to be registered. So Joseph set out from the town of Nazareth in Galilee and travelled up to Judea, to the town of David called Bethlehem, since he was of David’s House and line, in order to be registered together with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. While they were there the time came for her to have child, and she gave birth to a son, her first-born. She wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger because there was no room for them at the inn.”

Since Mary conceived Jesus on March 25, the time for her to have her child is naturally nine months after. All we have to do is simply add these nine months to March 25 so that we can truly say that the day Jesus was born was December 25.

Mary, however, had to give birth to him in an isolated place not necessarily because the inn or the place for public accommodations was full. As a mother about to give birth, she had to obey the law in Leviticus 12:2 (The Jerusalem Bible) “Speak to the sons of Israel and say: If a woman conceives and gives birth to a boy, she is to be unclean for seven days, just as she is unclean during her monthly periods.”

For this reason, Mary is celebrated as Mother of God not on the day of Jesus birth but only seven days later-January 1.

The year of Jesus’ birth or the beginning of the Anno Domini can be ascertained to be during the time of Augustus Caesar in Luke 2:1,”In those days a decree went out from Ceasar Augustus that the whole world should be enrolled.” Unfortunately, in this passage alone, there is no specific year mentioned. In the next chapter, Luke 3, however, the description of time i more precise.

Luke 3:1-2 (The Jerusalem Bible) “In the fifteenth year of Tiberius Caesar’s reign, when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, Herod tetrarch of Galilee, his brother Philip tetrarch of the lands of Ituraea and Trachonitis, Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene, during the pontificate of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John-son of Zechariah, in the wilderness.”

Later, in this same chapter, 3 v 23, the age

of Jesus is given. When Jesus began his ministry he was about thirty years of age. Hence, if Jesus was 30 years old, in the 15th year of Tiberius Caesar, then he was born 15 years before Tiberius began his reign. In as much as Tiberius succeeded Augustus who reigned for 42 years, then Jesus was born in the 27th year of Augustus Caesar. This 27th year of the reign of Augustus Caesar, therefore, is the beginning of Anno Domini (A. D.) the year of the Lord, of our Christian years today.

NOTE: (By Fr. Arnel F. Recinto)

1 Kings 8:2 “All the men of Israel assembled round King Solomon in the month of Ethanim, at the time of the feast (that is, the seventh month).”

“Ethanim is a month of the Canaanite calendar which corresponds with the 7th month of the later Israelite one, as the gloss explains. The most important feast is that of Tabernacles, cf. Ex. 23:147.

“Ethanim-the name of the seventh month of the Canaanite calendar corresponding the later Hebrew Tishri and to our September October (1 Kgs. 8:2).

The Israelites, like the orientals in general, followed the lunar month, beginning with the new moon. In Hebrew month is yerah, which means moon, and hodes, which means new moon. The months had alternatively 29 or 30 days. To distinguish the different months the Canaaneans names, which are related to the seasons of the year, were tased.

In the Bible occur the months Abib, which means green ears of corn , and stood for

March-April (Ex. 13:14; Deut. 21:1); Ziv, meaning flower, equivalent of April-May (1 Kgs. 6.1, 37): Ethanim, meaning constant waters, for September-October (1 Kgs, 82) and Bul, which means rain, for October-November (1 Kgs. 6:38).

“Feast of Tabernacles. Tabernacles is the conventional translation of the Latin tabernacula, the Hebrew sukkot, the name by which is designated the feast in the religious calendars of Deuteronomy 16:13-15 and Leviticus 23:34. (see Ezra 3:4; Zech 14:16, 18). The word sukkot means huts or booths, and it refers to the huts built with branches in which the people lived during the feast. Exodus 23:16 and 34:22 has the most ancient mention of the feast. There it is called the harvest festival, and it was to be celebrated at the year’s end when from the field were gathered the fruits of one’s labors (Ex. 23:16).

At its beginning the feast certainly had an agrarian character: it celebrated the end of the year and the harvest. Deuteronomy 16:13-15 repeats the prescriptions of Exodus 23:16 and insists on the joy of the feast which was to be marked with merrymaking and thanksgiving. The feast was to be celebrated at Jerusalem and to last seven days. Leviticus 23:33-43 specifies with precision the date: the fifteenth day of the seventh month (September-October), to last seven days, with yet another added. Numbers 29:12-38 specifies the sacrifices that should be offered on the different days of the feast. Leviticus 23:40-41 adds what was a characteristic of the Feast of Tabernacles, namely the procession with palms and fruits (see Mac. 10:6-8).

5

Happy to

A te Angie practiced the devotion of going to Mass on Saturdays, especially First Saturdays, after

learning that this day is consecrated to the Virgin Mary. She was also much inspired by two articles she read. One describes the death of St. John Paul II on the First Saturday of April 2, 2005, which happened to be the eve of Divine Mercy Sunday that year. The other explains the promise of the Lady of Fatima to assist in the salvation of all who, for five consecutive Saturdays, would confess their sins, receive communion and pray and meditate on the mysteries of the Rosary. Ate Angie committed herself to hear or serve at Mass every Saturday. She declared several times to Kuya Dik, her husband, that, if she was to die, she would want it on the First Saturday of the month.

Ate Angie belonged to a beautiful family. She was a loving and devoted wife to Kuya Dik and a doting mother to a daughter, Karla, and two sons, Sebastian and Miguel. Both she and her husband were geologists by profession. They once both worked with the government until their retirement – Kuya Dik in 2007 and Ate Angie in 2011. Kuya Dik continued working as a consultant and teacher while Ate Angie decided to become a full-time housewife. Still several years from retirement age,

Heaven gained an ANGELica

many were surprised and asked her why, but she stayed pat on her decision. Little did she know that God had a plan.

Even before her retirement, a result of her medical check-up showed unconfirmed irregularities in her ECG test. Further tests, however, were normal. Several months after her retirement, she started having erratic moments when she felt as if there was a lump in her throat or chest. She also experienced back pain. Hyperacidity was a suspect, but Kuya Dik advised her to see her doctor. Ate Angie did but, two days later, on November 16, 2011, while waiting for the results of her tests, the unexpected

happened. She was cleaning the house when she felt a sudden pain in her chest, and had extreme difficulty breathing. Her palms turned violet from lack of air and she almost passed out. She desperately cried and prayed the Hail Mary repeatedly. She regained composure and immediately called Kuya Dik who rushed home and brought her to the hospital. After some tests, the cardiologist said that she had a heart attack! “Ano? Heart attack? Wala naman sa lahi namin ang sakit sa puso?”

Ate Angie immediately underwent a battery of laboratory tests, which confirmed that she was suffering from

aortic dissection, a rare heart condition causing aneurysm and rupturing of the arteries, with no apparent clear cause. The cardiologist explained that she must immediately undergo surgery to replace the damaged portion of her aorta with a synthetic one and provisionally see if the aortic valve needed replacement as well. After a full night’s preparation, and barely 24 hours after being admitted in the hospital, she was set to undergo a life-threatening procedure. On the way to the operating room, she tried to recall when her last confession was. Dying was a scary proposition, but dying with unrepented and unforgiven sins was, for her, the scariest. “Lord, I am not ready,” she uttered frightenedly. Thereupon, she was administered general anesthesia and fell into a deep sleep.

The supposedly 5-hour operation to replace her damaged aorta became a 10-hour ordeal, because the aortic valve was also severely injured and had to be replaced. Thus, there Ate Angie laid at the operating table, her chest sawed and pried open, her heart taken out of her body for repairs, and her blood circulated only through a machine – practically lifeless, depending only on modern science.

She survived and was alive! But she felt an excruciating pain and discomfort like she had never known before that she wished she just died. Then she remembered her husband, her children, her family, how she loves them and how they still needed her. Calmed down by pain

Have you ever imagined serving the Lord until your last breath? That would be the biggest dream that an active parish servant

could ever wish for! Well, one of them achieved just that! And that active servant of our Lord is the late Ate Angelica B. Sajona,

also known as ‘Ate Angie.’ Every time she served in the parish, her character reflected her sincere commitment and passion for our Lord.

She loved the tagline “HAPPY TO SERVE,” which she started using and sharing since the commissioning of the Lectors and Commentators Ministry (LCM) in 2017.

“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race,

I have kept the faith” 2 Timothy 4:7

6

relievers, she thanked the Lord for bringing her back, granting her a second life, which she considers considered a personal resurrection – she was virtually dead but now, alive!

Ate Angie was already a member of the Lectors and Commentators Ministry (LCM) before the operation. Proclaiming God’s Word in the Holy Mass became a newfound passion after retirement. The Word has come alive in her with meaning and purpose! Her passion to serve as a lector led her to be one of the ministry’s trainers. As a trainer, she became known for her meticulous and strict way of mentoring, but this was because Ate Angie had such a high regard for the Holy Eucharist. She wanted to ensure that new members learned how to give their best every time they go up to the lectern and proclaim the Word of God.

Her passion to her vocation intensified exponentially after her near-death debacle. She shared to everyone her realization that life is indeed temporary, short and fragile, and that it can be extinguished in an instant. From then on, she lived life and worked as if a dreadful “deadline” was near. It seemed that she wanted to accomplish something and bequeath a legacy both to her family and her ministry. She confessed regularly and went to Mass to receive the Eucharist daily, feeling sorry when she missed one. She worked with ardor and fervor, both in her domestic ministry as mother and her spiritual ministry as God’s servant, as if

literally heeding St. Paul’s admonition to the Philippians – “Work out your salvation with fear and trembling.” (Phil 2:12)

Five years after joining the LCM, Ate Angie was elected as the ministry’s lead servant. She served and led with such intensity, sometimes almost to a fault, but always with the best intentions and with the noblest purpose. She believed that it is not enough for lectors to simply be present at Mass duties to perform their tasks, but they also need to educate themselves about the Catholic Faith and be reminded always of their solemn virtues as church servants. She initiated a ministry recollection and encouraged LCM members to attend formation seminars in the parish. She also regularized the CIAL (Continuing Information and Learning) in the monthly meetings of the LCM as a series of catechesis, with topics assigned to, and delivered by, ministry members, aimed at enriching the LCM’s ministerial life. She also pioneered the revision of the ministry’s Constitution and By-laws to bring it up-to-date. Her aim of introducing provisions was essentially to inculcate deeper commitment to LCM members as servants of the Church. Indeed, she strived to fulfill a mission which she never planned, a mission that slowly dawned upon her and which evolved from her simple desire to bring God’s Word closer to His people. She performed this with humility and openness, ready to receive criticism, comments, suggestions and instructions. She never quarreled with

anyone and said sorry even for faults which she honestly believed was not of her doing. She was regarded not as an authoritative figure but, rather, a loving friend to all.

Ate Angie’s work was not limited to being lead servant of the LCM. In 2012, she also became part of the Social Communications Ministry (SocCom) which initiated the revival and regular publication of the Carmel light Newsletter. Then in 2015, she was appointed by Fr. Larry Garces, then OLMC Parish Priest, to head the Promotions Ministry. In mid-2016, the SocCom and Promotions Ministry were merged, with Ate Angie and Ate Bebet Talusan heading it. They also handled the newsletter and took charge as editors for the quarterly publications.

With the diocesan directive on the revamp of the Media ministries of parishes in late 2017, Ate Angie was appointed as the Editor-in-Chief of the Carmel light Newsletter as part of what is now the OLMCP Media and Communications Ministry. She also worked with Fr. Larry in editing, proofreading and doing the layout design of his books. She compiled a set of liturgical and devotional prayers and songs for the parish and printed it as a collection entitled “Dasal at Awit.” Her last work as Carmel Light’s Editor-in-Chief was for the third quarter issue of 2018, which featured Fr. Arnel Recinto as OLMCP’s new parish priest.

What she can be best remembered for, however, was her being a loving, caring

(Continued on page 15)

7

People, places & events

Ministries and pamayanans participate in the Living Rosary Rally Children in costume for the All Saints Festival

All smiles as they enjoy the parish treat Fr. Arnel with the 20 parish scholars

8

Representatives from Sole Academy (a premiere lifestyle boutique), through the initiative ofFr. Arnel, treated 200 children from poor families of our parish to an early Christmas celebration

full of fun and gifts last December 8.

Tune Up: A Basic Christian Maturity Seminar for Parish Pastoral Council members and active servants conducted on November 10-11

Altar servers pose with Bishop Ongtioco in Fr. Arnel’s installation

Fr. Ren conducts the weekly Bible study

OLMC at the Grand Marian Procession

Christ the King celebration

Fr. Arnel conducts the Advent Recollection

9

Youth Corner

PYM celebrates 12th anniversary The Parish Youth Ministry celebrated its 12th ministerial anniversary last November 3, 2018 at the Gintong Bulwagan with a masquerade theme. The event was also graced by our parish priest, Fr. Arnel Recinto, and the Project 6 Sangguniang Kabataan Chairman, Mr. Jacob Gates.

All Saints Festival 2018, idinaos Isang matagumpay na All Saints Festival ang idinaos noong ika-3 ng Nobyembre, 2018 sa pangunguna ng Parish Children at Youth Ministries, kaagapay ang Ministry of Altar Servers, Public Affairs Ministry at Parish Pastoral Council.

Inanyayahan ang mga bata na magsuot ng santong ibig nila. Sa pambungad na pananalita ni Fr. Arnel Recinto, kura paroko, ang pagdiriwang ng Halloween ay isang banal na araw at ito ay hindi para sa mga maligno, bampira, at iba pang nakakatakot na halimaw. Ito ay para kilalanin ang mga banal sa kanilang mga nagawa sa pagpapalaganap ng pagmamahal at salita ng Panginoon at magsilbing halimbawa sa kanilang naging pamumuhay.

Kasama sa mga activities ay ang March of Saints kung saan pumarada ang mga bata sa paligid ng parokya. Pagbalik sa simbahan ay nagdasal sila ng Santo Rosaryo at ipinagdasal ang mga mahal nila sa buhay na yumao na at ang mga may karamdaman. Sa labas ng patio ay masayang nag-trick or treat ang mga bata sa 24 na house partners at sponsors ng mga candies at goodies. Kinilala rin ang mga batang may pinakamagagandang kasuotan. Mahigit sa 126 na mga bata na lumahok na umuwing puno ang mga basket at may masasayang alaala.

Each participant enjoyed the fun-filled night with lots of games and activities. The event’s highlight is the awarding of 2018 Most Outstanding Parish Youth Member to the current lead servant, Bro. Caesar Ian Pangan, as an appreciation for his passion and relentless service to the Ministry and to the Church.

10

Vocation Corner

Missionary Society of St. Paul

Franciscan Sisters of the Heart of Jesus

Hi, sister in Christ! We are a religious congregation formed in Malta for more than 100 years. Like St. Paul we serve in mission by spreading the Word of God, building faith communities, and by reaching out to the poor and needy.

Oh hello there, brother priest! We are a Religious Institute of Apostolic Life and Pontificial Right, aggregated to the Order of the Friars Minor. We commit ourselves to follow Christ more closely by the profession of the evangelical counsels of chastity, poverty and obedience, living in fraternity the Rule and Life of the Brothers and Sisters of the Third Order Regular of St Francis.

We were founded by Msgr. Joseph De Piro. How about you?

We were founded through the joint efforts of Father Joseph Diacono, who was the initiator, and of Mother Margherita who promoted, developed and brought it to maturity. What are your charisms then?

We bring the Gospel to those who are not adequately evangelized and building Christian communities. And you?

Eucharist - having Jesus as the center of our lives.

Oh, that’s amazing! By the way, how do you promote your vocation?

We promote our vocation in the parish through education of the children and the youth, and engaging the communities in our activities, namely catechism and adoration together with their parents.

For us, we utilize the social media in inviting men in college to attend the activities in the seminary (Friday prayers and Sunday masses). Discernment program shall be introduced to them as they graduate. We also continuously engage our Christian communities and lay associates.

As for our dear OLMCP parishioners, we conduct search-ins wherein we accept women who would want to discern and/or experience our life as Franciscans. Everyone is welcome to visit their house. We also accept requests for group visits with prior notice.

Also, every Friday evening, we invite men (especially the discerning) for dinner and prayers.We also have the Discernment program and Living-in program which are modular. And oh, we also accept requests for group visits with prior notice.

MSSP Philippines Franciscan Sisters of the Heart of Jesus

From this quarter’s issue moving forward, we are going to get to know the different religious congregations serving within our parish!

11

MY CATHOLIC TOOLBOX

Bible Quiz Open your Bible to answer questions about the scripture passages below.

Isaiah 11:1-10 – Complete the passage: “On that day, the root of ____, set up as a signal for the nations, the Gentiles shall seek out, for his dwelling shall be glorious.”

Luke 10:21-24 – What were the words that Jesus told the disciples in private after he had rejoiced in the Holy Spirit?

Matthew 7:21, 24-27 – Complete the passage: “Everyone who listens to these words of mine and acts on them will be like a ______ who built his house on rock.”

Luke 3:1-6 – John the Baptist’s ministry of baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins is a fulfilment of Isaiah’s prophecy. What was that prophecy?

Matthew 1:1-17 – According to the genealogy of Jesus Christ, what was the total number of generations from Abraham to David?

Luke 3:10-18 – What did John tell the people when they thought that he was the Christ?

Luke 1:39-45 – What did Elizabeth cry out, filled with the Holy Spirit, as she heard Mary’s greeting and the infant leapt in her womb?

Matthew 1:18-25 – How did God change Joseph’s mind to not divorce Mary?

Luke 2:1-14 – Why did Joseph bring Mary to Bethlehem?

Luke 2:1-14 – What were the multitude of the heavenly hosts saying as they praised God, after the angel of the Lord proclaimed the good news of Jesus’ birth to the shepherds?

(Answers on page 16)

G na us this Year of the Youth

Opisyal nang nagbukas ang CBCP Year of the Youth 2019 na may temang

Filipino Youth in Mission: Beloved, Gifted, Empowered noong ika-1 ng Disyembre sa Immaculate Conception Cathedral School, Quezon City. Ito ay sa pangunguna ng Ministry for Youth Affairs ng Roman Catholic Diocese of Cubao.

Ang paglulunsad ng taong ito ay isang proof of how the Church values us, as in super valued. Goal din nito na mas umigting ang paghubog sa kabataan na maging mga misyonero sa pagpapalaganap ng salita ng Diyos as part of the NEW EVANGELIZATION, pagpapatibay ng pamilya at pag-anyaya sa aktibong pakikiisa sa mga gawain ng komunidad at simbahan.

Marahil habang binabasa mo ito napatanong ka ng “ANO NGAYON”?

Oh well, taon natin ito, “grab the opportunity” ika nga sa panahong inilaan para sa atin ng Simbahan. Noon pa man ay sure na sure na ang mainit na suporta ng parokya through the Parish Pastoral Council, higit lalo ngayon sa mga magiging gawain ng Parish Youth Ministry –kasama na riyan ang Senakulo sa Abril, Sports Fest at Santacruzan sa Mayo, Camp Carmel sa Hunyo, at iba pang mga programang para sa ating mga kabataan.

G ka na ba? Kasi kami, G na G na! Kaya inaayayahan ka namin na maging kabahagi sa misyon ng mga kabataang maging lingkod ng iba pang kabataan at ng ating kapwa. Huwag nang mag-atubili pang makiisa.

Sabi nga sa kantang JAM ni Cookie Chua at Kevin Roy, “Kilos kabataan, oras natin ‘to! Makiaalam, maki-Jam at makihalok!” Tayo ang pag-asa ng ating simbahan kaya arat na at sumama ngayong Year of the Youth!

* * * Maaari mong i-Messenger ang PYM sa @olmcpymp6 at i-like mo na rin ang OLMC Parish Youth Ministry sa Facebook para sa mga latest updates this Year of the Youth!

12

PREX Corner

God works in mysterious ways. All things come to place according

to God’s plan and in His time.

Bumilang ng taon ang paulit-ulit na paanyaya ni Kuya Nitoy Morente, dating kapitbahay ng mag-asawang Henry at Arleen Canivel, na mag-attend ng PREX Seminar. The couple would always say “the right time will come.”

Finally, in January 2000, Kuya Henry and Ate Arleen headed to the basement of Bahay Karmelo, where PREX Batch 41 Seminar is about to begin. That was the start of their spiritual journey with the parish community.

Before PREX, Kuya Henry and Ate Arleen were already involved in the Marriage Encounter Apostolate. Subali’t sa kabila nito, may kulang sa kanilang buhay, isang bagay na hindi nila matukoy. Though they were not consistent churchgoers, they raised their children to be God-loving, to be compassionate, and to always do right and good to other people.

In the PREX Seminar, Ate Arleen was blessed with the opportunity for a deep

self examination. Dito nangibabaw muli ang lahat ng hinanakit at sama ng loob na kinimkim niya na nagiging hadlang sa isang maligaya at mapayapang buhay. Natutunan niyang harapin ang lahat ng ito nang may bukas na kalooban. Nagawa niyang magpatawad ng taos puso at walang pagkukunwari. Napagtanto nya na ang kulang pala sa kanilang buhay na hindi nila matukoy ay ang personal na relasyon sa ating Panginoon. Tumimo sa kanyang kalooban ang mga mabubuting bagay na natutunan niya sa PREX.

Pagkatapos ng PREX seminar, ninais niyang higit pang mapalalim ang kanyang pananampalataya at ibahagi ang biyaya ng PREX sa maraming tao. Naging aktibo siya kasama si Kuya Henry sa mga sumunod pang PREX seminars. Unang recruit nila ang kanilang manugang na si Kuya Derbie, at sa tulong nito ay binuo nila ang PREX Music Ministry. Silang mag-asawa ang tumatayong Shepherd Couple ng Music Ministry hanggang sa kasalukuyan.

August 2002 nang magsimula silang maging speakers sa PREX seminars kasabay ng kanilang pagiging Team Couple sa Marriage Encounter Weekend seminars.

The couple served in the PREX Secretariat in various capacities – Asst. Secretary, Adviser Couple and Deputy Chair Couple until they were appointed Chair Couple by then parish priest, Fr. Larry Garces.

When asked about the challenges encountered while serving through the PREX, Ate Arleen shared the following: (1) ang pagsasabuhay ng mga aral na natutunan sa PREX which she says is a must. Others must see the transformation brought about by PREX; (2) Recruitment. Naranasan ni Ate Arleen ang mag house-to-house sa pagiimbita sa seminar pati na rin ang umakyat sa bundok ng basura sa pamimigay ng mga flyers; (3) Intriga – bagay daw na hindi maiiwasan. To counter the effect of intrigues, Ate Arleen shared to just focus on God, and nothing and no one else.

Nagbibigay kaligayahan kay Ate Arleen na makita ang mga graduates ng PREX na aktibo sa paglilingkod sa simbahan sa iba’t ibang pamamaraan. Nakakataba din daw ng puso ang tuwing may PREX seminars, dumarating ang mga graduates, ang ating mga ate at kuya, nang may pagkukusa, upang tumulong sa anumang paraang kanilang makakayanan. Ang mga bagay na tulad nito ang nagsisilbing inspirasyon niya upang patuloy siyang maglingkod sa kabila ng mga pagsubok at balakid na sa tuwina’y dumarating.

Para kay Ate Arleen, mahalaga ang PREX sa buhay ng isang Kristiyano sapagka’t ito ang nagpapamulat ng kahalagahan ng pakikiisa sa parokya at ang kahalagahan ng pagsasabuhay ng mga katangian ng isang mabuting Kristiyano upang mabuhay nang maligaya kasama ang kapwa.

PREX gifted Ate Arleen with the burning desire to spread her wings, and serve God and His beloved people. Kaya naman, true happiness ba ang hanap mo? Makakamit mo ito kung susundin mo ang kagustuhan at ang tawag ng Panginoon. Gawin ito sa tulong ng PREX. Sumali na sa Batch 119 sa February 2019!

Ate Arleen: Finally heeding God’s call to serve

13

4

iBahagi Corner

1. Responded to emergency needs of fire victims of Sitio Palanas, Brgy. Vasra

2. Provided support to OLMC-SSDM Scholars3. Provided support to Parish Clinic for its medicines4. Partly, provided support to the conduct of PREX and other related spiritual talks and seminars5. Organized the Lingkod Simbahan Fair6. Provided support in the development of our young Catholics

1

2

3

5

6

14

back to the wall, struggling to utter, “Kuya Dik, Kuya Dik.” She was asking Ate Mel to call Kuya Dik, while blood oozed from her nose and mouth pulsatingly, as if being squeezed intermittently from inside her. It was her heart pumping blood, which gushed forth from her. Fr. Arnel, who was at his office at that time, urgently called for people to help bring Ate Angie to the nearest hospital. It was him who last saw Ate Angie conscious. Her eyes stared at him, dazed and confused, but, according to him, as if teasing him that she will see God’s face ahead of him. Then her eyes shut, never to open again.

Kuya Dik rushed from home to the hospital and arrived while the emergency personnel were working frantically to revive Ate Angie. She was already lifeless

upon reaching the hospital. It was distressingly shocking and painful for Kuya Dik even just to hear the commotion in the cubicle where Ate Angie was being revived. Then, in an instant, he understood, as if a Higher Power granted a revelation. Ate Angie’s words echoed clearly in his agitated mind: “Kung kukunin ako ni Lord, gusto ko First Saturday.” He knew Ate Angie was praying for this moment. Prayers granted! It was joltingly clear, painfully true yet consoling for Kuya Dik. Praising God’s goodness and accepting His infinite wisdom and unfathomable will, an eerie sense of calm enveloped him. Kuya Dik knew. Ate Angie is now with her Most Dearly Beloved.

After several minutes of vigorous, nearly brutal attempt by the hospital’s ER personnel, Ate Angie’s heart was cajoled to beat again. However, serum after serum was injected to her to prop the heart to function, and to stabilize her blood pressure. She was hooked to a breathing machine, and tubes and cables were either pierced into, or patched on, her still supple but unreactive body. Her lungs were instinctively trying to breathe on their own, but the machine was cold and cruel enough to submit her to its regular cadence. Her earthly body struggled. An X-ray image of Ate Angie’s body showed a massive, dark and grotesque patch in the abdominal area, apparently blood which

Heaven gained... (from page 4)

and affectionate person. Her infectious smile, flamboyant greeting, ebullient laughter and vibrance in any conversation were coupled with genuine concern, heart-felt compassion and filial care. Her heart went out to the poor and the elderly. She initiated pooling of personal contributions from her peers to buy shoes and alba for altar servers who come from needy families; she sponsored the baptism of a destitute child and her mother who were begging for alms outside the church gates; she also extended contributions to charitable and elderly institutions.

To serve, to give, to love… intensely, passionately, joyously… despite the discomfort, the pain, the anxiety.

Then came that fateful First Saturday - September 1, 2018. That morning, after having already served at the 6AM mass and taken breakfast, Ate Angie complained of some discomfort that she couldn’t describe, something that made her feel nauseated or bloated in the abdomen. So Kuya Dik advised her to rest. She did, and felt okay after a nap. She had been intermittently suffering from such discomfort but medical tests gave no indication as to where such discomfort originated, nor point to possible complications arising from her earlier cardiac condition and operation.

That day, Ate Angie was also assigned to proclaim the First Reading in the Vigil Mass at 6PM. She was seen before the Mass by Ate Clare, her co-lector, gazing contently at the image of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel and the crucifix, meditating and praying. They chatted for a while as Ate Angie shared the joy of serving the Lord in the different ministries she belonged to. She even sang the Hail Mary and Salve Regina as part of the novena prayers for that Saturday.

Then the Vigil Mass started. In the middle of her proclamation of the First Reading, Ate Angie began to cough and appeared to choke so she signaled her co-lector, Ate Pia, to come and take her place. She rushed to the sacristy and dashed to the convent, where she rapped on the backdoor of the parish office, already coughing out blood in frightful profusion and falling to the floor with panic and bewilderment. Ate Mel Bolivar, then working overtime, found Ate Angie slumped on the floor with her

flooded within her. It was surmised that an artery from her heart going to the abdomen ruptured, causing the massive hemorrhage. She had lost at least 2 liters of blood by the doctor’s estimate – nearly half of the volume of blood that a regular human body carries. The doctor also made it clear to Kuya Dik that, should Ate Angie survive, she would be in a vegetative state, as the twenty- or so minutes that transpired before her vitals were revived were more than enough to cause severe damage to her brain.

On the 6th day of September 2018, a few minutes before 4AM, the nurse summoned Kuya Dik from slumber to announce calmly that, “She’s going.” Dazed and confused, it took several seconds for him to understand. “She’s going.” Ate Angie’s body could not support life anymore.

Kuya Dik spent the last 10 minutes with Ate Angie at the ICU, praying, whispering words of comfort, which comforted him more than it would Ate Angie. The interval of beeps from the heart rate monitor widened, signaling Ate Angie’s rapidly failing heart, until it beeped its last. Ate Angie’s chest was still calmly heaving but only because of the cold and cruel machine. Kuya Dik knew. He planted a kiss on her forehead, which lasted for several seconds, one last time. One by one, the tubes were removed, unpierced from her rigid body, the wires unpatched from her parched, blighted skin, and, at last, Ate Angie was finally home and free.

Ate Angie, you are a true role model in offering everything you had to Him until your last breath. You have been obedient to God… truly obedient unto death.

The members of the LCM were commissioned on November 18. The

ministry will be open for recruitment this December; commitment and dedication

are a must. On the other hand, the Media and Communications Ministry is open

for new members who have the passion for writing, graphics, photography, visual arts,

videography, social media, or anything related to the various forms of media,

and the will to serve Him. Just contact us through our Facebook, Twitter, and

Instagram page OLMCP, or simply inquire at the parish office. Like Ate Angie, let us

all happily serve the Lord!

“Kung kukunin ako ni Lord, gusto ko

First Saturday.”

15

Magkakaroon po ng Kasalang Parokya sa February 14, 2019, Thursday. Para sa mga interesado, magkipag-ugnayan lang po sa inyong mga kawan leaders o sa Parish office para sa mga requirements.

Bible Quiz Answers:

Isaiah 11:1-10 – Jesse

Luke 10:21-24 – “Blessed are the eyes that see what you see. For I say to you, many prophets and kinds desired to see what you see, but did not see it, and to hear what you hear, but did not hear it.”

Matthew 7:21, 24-27 – wise man

Luke 3:1-6 – “A voice of one crying out in the desert: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths. Every valley shall be filled and every mountain and hill shall be made low. The winding roads shall be made straight, and the rough ways made smooth, and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.’”

Matthew 1:1-17 – fourteen

Luke 3:10-18 – “’I am baptizing you with water, but one mightier than I is coming. I am not worthy to loosen the thongs of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fan is in his hand to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his barn, but the chaff he will burr n with unquenchable fire.’”

Luke 1:39-45 – “’Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. And how does this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For at the moment the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the infant in my womb leaped for joy. Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled.’”

Matthew 1:18-25 – Through the angel of the Lord that appeared to him in a dream.

Luke 2:1-14 – Due to Caesar Augustus’ decree to have the whole world enrolled, each went to his own town. Joseph, coming from the house and family of David, thus went to Bethlehem to do so, bringing along the pregnant Mary.

John 15:1-8 – “Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

Schedule of Novena Masses:

Simba sa Gabi simula December 15 hanggang 23 ay ika-8:30 ng gabiMisa de Gallo simula December 16 hanggang 24 ay ika-4 at ika-5:30 ng umaga Wala na pong misa sa ika-6 ng umaga sa mga araw na ito.

Ang mga Misa sa Christmas Eve at New Year’s Eve ay ika-8 at ika-10 ng gabi.

May mga flyers po sa parish office para sa schedule.

Roman  Catholic  Diocese  of  Cubao  Our  Lady  of  Mount  Carmel  Parish  

Project  6,  Quezon  City  

Ngayong  Pasko,  makibahagi  sa  

NOCHE BUENA SAGOT KO NA!

The CARMEL lightEditor-in-Chief - Jeng VitacionManaging Editor - Clare Ramos

Official Photographers - Elton Maceda, Jamin Maceda, Julianne Eusebio,

Paolo ResurreccionLayout Artist - Clare Ramos

Writers - Ram Amores, George Arceno, Carlo Barretto, Lani Delos Santos, Bea Flores, Pen Pamarang, Caesar Pangan

Consultants - Grace Burgos, Bebet TalusanAdviser - Fr. Arnel F. Recinto

Contributing Writers (this issue) - Tanya Namoc, Marianne Banquiao, Dik Sajona,

King Gonzalez, Louella Rosales, Kai Medalla

The Carmel light is the official quarterly newsletter of OLMC Parish, Project 6. It is

produced by the Media and Communications Ministry.

16