parishworks! 1Vol. 08 No. 08 May 26, 2012

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Mama’s boyBy: Susan Amoroso

Everywhere mama goes , Buboy wants to go. What mama says, Buboy believes. For him, everything Mama does is the best. She cooks the best kare-kare, and would eat only mama’s cooking. He could not even sleep without mama beside him. Growing up, Buboy eventually weaned away from Mama’s apron strings. Yet in his heart, even after he graduated from college, got employed , found a special girl he married, begot sons of his own, he will always be his Mama’s boy.

You could say Jesus is a mama’s boy. Mary’s life and reason for being were all for her beloved son Jesus and Jesus knew it. From the moment Jesus was incarnated in the womb of Mary, the bond between the mother and son was complete and eternal. We could say Mary is not only Jesus’ most loving mother but His first and most loyal of followers. On Jesus part, He is the loving and obedient son. At the wedding in Cana,where Mary, Jesus and the disciples were invited, wine had ran out in the middle of the party. Mary was concerned and told Jesus about the situation. Jesus answered it was not yet time for him to work miracles publicly. Mary said to the servants, “Do as he tells you.” Jesus ordered the servants to fill six huge stone jars with water. When the water was tasted it had turned into very fine wine. That scenario tells us Jesus would not let his mother’s wish left unheeded.

Jesus’ concern for His mother was evident even in his last breadth. Dying on the cross, Jesus’ last instruction was to entrust His widowed Mother to John. The apostle John is considered by biblical scholars as Jesus’ favorite among the 12 apostles. From that time on, John took care of Mary . When Jesus rose from the dead on the third day, and stayed on earth for another 40 days, Mary was with the apostles as they all received what we might call Jesus’ last minute teachings, admonitions and blessings. During all that time, Mary

Springtime of our Churchby: Gene Alberto

Every year the church celebrates the memory of Pentecost event as the beginning of the new age of the church.

On the day of Pentecost when the seven weeks of Easter had come to an end, the Holy Spirit was manifested, given, and communicated as a divine Person to the Church fulfilling the pascal mystery of Christ according to his promise.

On that day the Spirit of Promise was poured out on the apostles gathered in one place in prayer. A strong wind appeared to them a fiery tongues from the sky which rested in each one of them. They began to speak in different languages as the Spirit enabled them to proclaim. They were astonished and could not believe what was happening.

It was a visible sign of what they were receiving - the light to accept the teaching of Jesus, and the courage and

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Mama’s boy.. from page 1

Springtime of our Church... from page 1

was also in the company pondering on the words of her son . When the Holy Spirit descended on the apostles, Mary was also present.

How could we then discount the importance of Mary and her loving power over her son and vice versa? Mary is known as man’s beloved mediatrix(or go-between) towards God. The Church teaches that Mary ‘s intercession will always lead man towards salvation through Jesus her beloved son. When Jesus instituted the sacrament of the Holy Eucharist turning bread and wine into His body and blood he meant all believers to be united with him through the Eucharist. When we receive Him in the Holy Eucharist, Jesus our Saviour and Lord lives in us and we are united with Him. As Mary and Jesus will always be united as mother and son, it follows that Mary’s role in the Holy Eucharist is one of a unifying factor, a catalyst that propels man to God. Mary’s role in the Church is to call men to her son.

Pope John Paul II in his encyclical Eclesia de Eucharistia and Pope Benedict XVI’s Sacramentum Caritatis both speak of Mary and her special role in the Eucharist.

Father James Thayil CMI, speaking before lay leaders of the St. Andrew the Apostle Parish emphasized that the Catholic faith is rooted in our Eucharistic faith and our Marian faith. The spiritual enemies of the Church are attacking to create rifts, divisions, splits, and dissensions within the Church. Primarily, the spiritual attacks are geared to shake our faith and love for the Eucharist. The

spiritual enemies know that if the believers stop believing and loving Christ and start refusing to receive the grace of Holy Communion, then the Church is in great spiritual crisis. Father Thayil says in all true apparitions of Mary, her message is always to pray, repent and come to her son through the Holy Eucharist in holy mass. Father Thayil said the salvation of believers is in the Eucharist and Mary is the help of Christians . Mary leads us to true Eucharistic faith. The Holy Fathers of the Church throughout history have embraced the certainty and truth that our faith is anchored on the Eucharist . According to Father Thayril there was a story about St. John Bosco who once dreamed that the Church is like a ship weathering a storm. In order to weather the storm it must be anchored on two pillars, the Eucharist on the right and Mary on the left.

To approach Jesus in the Eucharist, we experience the mysterium fidei, which is contemplating the mystery of faith through Mary. Even before Christ instituted the Eucharist Mary already lived the Eucharistic faith. The moment she said yes to Angel Gabriel announcing that she will conceive and give birth to the Son of God who will save the world, God’s promise of salvation was fulfilled in the Annunciation.

Father Thayil explained that it is only through Mary that we could learn the right Eucharistic dispositions namely: purity of heart, silence in reflection and meditation, humility, charity, gratitude and praise to God.

strength to witness to Him even at the price of their own blood.

On that day, the Holy Trinity is fully revealed. The Holy Spirit is the most difficult of the Holy Trinity to comprehend. He is the first to come to us in order for grace; and at the same time, the Holy Spirit is the last to come in revelation of the persons of the Holy Trinity.

From the beginning of creation in the story of Genesis, the Holy Spirit has been active. He is present and active in creation and in the promise of redemption. He is active in the preparation of the public life of Christ in His life, death, resurrection and in the establishment of His Church at Pentecost.

The Holy Spirit is the life giving breath of God. He is called the “Parachlete” because he is our advocate with the Father. He is called the “Spirit of Truth” as he is the source of all truth and reveals all truth through the

disciples of Jesus.

Even Today, the Holy Spirit continues His life giving role. He continues to build, anoint and sanctify the church. He bestows gifts to all: the gift of wisdom and of understanding, the gift of counsel and fortitude, the gift of knowledge and godliness and the gift of piety and fear of the Lord.

As God’s children we can bear much fruit. Our dear Lord who has grafted us onto the vine will make us bear fruit of the Spirit: the fruits of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self control.

Ever since Pentecost, we live in the age of the outpouring of the Spirit. The more we renounce ourselves, the more we walk by the Spirit which connects us to the love of the Father and the Son poured into our hearts.

parishworks! 3

Our Environment, Our Responsibility .. continuation from last week’s article

By Glo V. Pineda,

The following are some doable measures we can do at home and in our community as suggested by authors Arsenio and Aresenio, Yarrow, and my personal contributions that would help us save our dear Planet Earth from further destruction:

1. Work on the Reduce, Repair, Reuse, Recycle program for waste reduction

2. Identify and avoid the use of non-environment friendly materials and packaging, like styrofoam and plastics – which take most space in landfills.

3. Segregate biodegradables from non-biodegradables in waste disposal. Non-biodegradable materials take years to decompose.

4. Identify toxic from non-toxic products when purchasing supplies. Use glass bottles in place of unbreakable plastics. Such move was caused by reports that the most common type of plastic in baby bottles and in several toys leech a toxic chemical.

5. Avoid using household cleaners and pesticides that are harmful to many organisms including humans. Stay away from carcinogens (cause cancer), teratogens (cause birth defects), and mutagens (cause immediate genetic defects).

6. Encourage organic vegetable gardening.

7. Planting trees to absorb the carbon dioxide that vehicles and factories emit

8. Use eco-friendly bags instead of plastics when going to the markets, groceries, supermarkets, retail stores.

9. Avoid waste discard practices that cause air pollution like burning.

10. Avoid disposables which invariably have a high carbon impact. For example, cover your food with a dish, plate, or lid instead of foil or cling film.

11. Monitor water use at home to save on water supply.

12. Walk or bike going to school or to work, for energy saving and for health reasons.

13. Minimize the use of airconditioners to save energy. Leaked refrigerant gas (CFCs) may deplete the ozone layer.

14. Find a new lease of life. Try selling unwanted items online (for example, eBay) or swapping them with neighbors via a community swap shop.

15. Unplug appliances and turn off unneeded lights when not in use. It will reduce carbon emission and utility cost.

16. Hang clothes out to dry instead of using tumble dryers to save on energy. Use tumble dryers only as a last resort.

17. Use compact fluorescent lamps or CFL for energy saving. Each CFL uses only about a quarter the electricity of an incandescent bulb and they last up to ten times longer.

18. Observe the “Lights Off Campaign” by the Earth Hour.

19. Resist the lure of regular upgrades of your mobile phones. Avoid this waste of raw materials (and the energy that goes into manufacture) by choosing a robust model that will last.

It’s our moral and spiritual responsibility to protect earth, water, and air – God’s gifts to His creations – to avoid an environmental collapse. The time to act is NOW! We have very little time left: as the air we breathe is polluted; our fresh water supply is dwindling; our natural resources are unsustainable as we are already experiencing a biodiversity crisis, a condition where groups of species that are interdependent on each other are disappearing.

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Matthew LizaresParish Works StaffSusan Amoroso, Emilio Medina, Russel Matthew Patolot, Karen Ann Phoa, Irene Gonzales, Noemi Sta Anna, Angelina Poe, Magda GanaBulletin Board EditorHarley Dave PunzalanPowerpoint CoordinatorsEllie Medina, Ging Santos, Leomar Alvarez SAAP Facebook AdminRochelle Pineda

ContributorsGlo Pineda, Emma Entao

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.

Media and Communications Ministry Coordinator

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Announcements

1. The Parish Feeding Program 2012 is now on going. Donors may contact Tita Ope Lopez & Ms. Bing Campos of the Social Services and Development Ministry through the parish office.

2. A Kumpilang Bayan will be held on May 27 at 3:30 in the afternoon. Candidates aged 12 years and above may register at the parish office.

Answer key: 1) Pentecost, Tongues, 2) Baptized, 3) Breathed, 4) Receive,5) Retained

Puzzle CornerMay 27, 2012 – Pentecost Sunday

Readings: Acts 2:1-11 / Psalm 104

/ 1 Corinthian 12:3b-7, 12-13 /

John 20:19-23By: Karen Ann Phoa

1. “When the time for _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ T O E S T C P N E was fulfilled, they were all in one place together...Then there appeared to them _ _ _ _ _ _ _ S T U N G O E of fire, which parted and came to rest on each one of them.”

2. “For in one Spirit we were all _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ D I P T A B E Z into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, slaves or free persons, and we were all given to drink of one Spirit.”

3. “And when He had said this, he _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ D E A R E B H T on them...”

4. “and (He) said to them, ‘_ _ _ _ _ _ _ E E E V I C R the Holy Spirit .”

5. “Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ D E A R T I N E.

Welcome! “The Magis Choir”

The Music Ministry of St. Andrew the Apostle would like to welcome the 16th choir serving in the parish, the “Magis Choir”, comprising of male and female members who humbly presented themselves to serve and participate in the celebration of the Holy Eucharist in the church once a month or as assigned to them by the ministry, the members are also not in any way associated or a part of any existing choirs of the Music Ministry.

The operative word is MAGIS, the core meaning of which is to do more, to serve more. According to the members of the choir, there remains in each of them a strong desire to serve HIM more, and they believe that they can do that with the gift they have – by singing. With this in mind, they have bonded and banded together and formed the choir composed of the four voices: Soprano, Alto, Tenor and the Bass.

The ministry is in preparation of assigning the new choir to sing during the mass every 2nd, 3rd and 4th Thursdays and once a month on a Sunday.