parishworks! 1Vol. 6 No. 8 May 22, 2010

Pastor’s MessagePentecost -Incarnation of God in the whole churchby: Rev. Msgr. Emmanuel Suñga

Sunday GoSPel

Jn 20:19-23

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Street Mass at Bel-air II Bel-Air II Street Mass culminated at Atty. Bay

Loste’s house. The mass was well attended by the young generation. An agape followed, sponsored by several families of the village.

PPCRV-SaaP holds a Thanksgiving Mass

Msgr. Emmanuel Sunga presided over the mass last May 15. Atty. Bay Loste, the Head of Political Affairs and Doc. Arwin Serrano took this opportunity to gather everyone who have toiled very hard during the last May National Elections.

Dear Parishioners:

The man who presides over our House of Representatives in BATASAN is called the Speaker. Sitting next to him is an expert in parliamentary procedure, who knows how to conduct a meeting, how to make motions and vote on them, how to keep order in discussion and debate. This expert advice when the speaker or any member of the House of Representatives is in doubt as to how to proceed. ....last page

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from page 1... PPCRV-SAAP

(Upper-left Photo) The Youth ministry, young and miniscule as they are, participated well in watching over as the community cast their votes for our nation’s next leaders. (Photo above) Kuya Cris serves as an inspiration to us all, that disabilities won’t hinder us in doing good works for our church as well as our country. (Photo on the left) Standing from left to right are the coordinators of each villages under PPCRV-SAAP Unit: Josie Flores for San Miguel Village, Ellaine Medina for Brgy. Olympia, Dr. Belle Oposa for Bel-Air Village, Ellie Medina for Brgy. Valenzuela beside Doc Arwin Serrano, PPCRV-Makati and Atty. Bay Loste, head of Political Affairs.

Snapshots: MoaS Summer outing Ministry of Altar Servers together with their Spiritual Director, Rev. Fr. Allan Dichoso, and some of their parents

and guardians had a 2-day summer swimming in Calatagan Batangas. Thanks to Dr. Belle Oposa and to many others who supported this fun-filled activity for these children.,

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Pastor’s Message from page 1...

The work of the Holy Spirit is a lot like that. You and I often run into tangled and difficult situations. What shall I do? How shall I do it? Right beside us, as Jesus promised, is the Holy Spirit, to guide us, advise and encourage us. Jesus promised to send us the PARACLETE, which means “the one called to stand by.” The Holy Spirit “stands by” you and me as caregiver.

Today, we celebrate the birthday of our Mother, the Church. Shall we not have a big celebration? Just as Christmas is the celebration of the Incarnation of Jesus in each of us, the coming of the Holy Spirit is the incarnation of God forming us as one whole community which we call the church.

Beautifully, St. John in his gospel used the metaphor of breathing. “And when He had said this, HE BREATHED on them and said to them, “RECEIVE THE HOLY SPIRIT” (John 20:22). Breath, wind and spirit in Hebrew have only one word namely, RUAH. St. John used the book of Genesis as the main background of his gospel. Here we find that at the beginning, God breathed over the waters and His breath (Spirit = Ruah) brought forth life and light and put order in the universe where there was chaos before. Also God breathed love and peace plus His own likeness into the dust of the earth and man and woman were created.

Now in the gospel of John, the exalted Christ breathed (the Holy Spirit) upon His disciples and they received life, peace and a bond of union with Him that would sustain them until His second coming. And this brings about the birth now of our Church. Even during the time of Jesus’ public ministry He already promised the Holy Spirit, the Paraclete to us, His followers.

“And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Advocate to be with you always, the Spirit of Truth, which the world cannot accept, because it neither sees nor knows it. But you know it, because it remains with you, and will be in you. The Advocate, the Holy Spirit that the Father will send in my name, he will teach you everything and remind you of all that I told you.” (John 14:16-17, 26)

But let us not forget in reality that Jesus’ Passion, Death, Resurrection, Ascension, Sitting at the Right Hand of

the Father and the Sending of the Holy Spirit are called by St. John’s gospel HIS HOUR. Probably, John is more theologically accurate in doing so. Nevertheless, the church has for teaching purposes (pedagogy) and liturgical reasons separated them one from the other. Now Easter and Pentecost are presented as separated by 50 days, the way St. Luke did it in his Acts of the Apostles. Intent upon showing the continuity between the historical Christ and the Christ of faith, John’s gospel has stressed that the Risen Christ appeared with His Five wounds, the evidence of His passion. This is against Gnosticism, quite prevalent then, and makes it clear for us that the cross is the road to glory and this has not to be overlooked. He sends the Holy Spirit precisely to strengthen us in our struggle and to sanctify us even when we fall. Thereby here Christ gave us the forgiveness of our sins, “whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained.” (St. John 20:23)

The disciples are being sent for a mission of forgiveness and mercy. The sending forth of the disciples in the Spirit to forgive sins has been seen as the basis for the institution of the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

- Though some have understood this i.e. the forgiving (loosing) or withholding of forgiveness (binding) of sin as a reference to the power of the community to withhold baptism depending upon the candidate’s acceptance or rejection of the kerygmatic message.

- Others interpret this passage to mean the authority to grant or to refuse membership in the community for reasons of sinfulness.

But what it really means is that by breathing forth the Spirit to his disciples, the Lord Jesus is sending them for a mission of forgiveness and peace. By the gift of the Spirit, the disciples of Jesus will be able to continue the work He has begun. Thereby His Hour (His Passion, Death, Resurrection, Ascension, Sitting at the Right Hand of the Father and finally His Sending of the Holy Spirit) has finally proven that His cross is not a sign of failure but of forgiveness.

Our mission, now sent by the Spirit, is to continue preaching and being witnesses of these never ending Forgiveness and Gift of Peace of our Savior. Are we really doing this in our community?

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Ria Salvaña Matthew LizaresBulletin Board EditorEJ CarlosParish Works Managing EditorsEllie Medina, Angelina Poe, Rochelle PinedaPowerpoint CoordinatorGing SantosContributorsEvelyn De Vela, Christy Vasquez, Bing Misa, Anne Lopez

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.

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For comments and contributions please e-mail to: media@saaparish.com . We are also in need of volunteer writers, photographers & layout artists. You may e-mail to media@saaparish.com

Healthcare Ministry to conduct Pro-Health Program

On June 6, Sunday from 6:30 to 10:00 a.m., the Healthcare Ministry will hold its Semi-annual Pro-Health Program at the Parish Jubilee Hall. A package of Php250.00 includes fasting blood sugar, ECG, and total cholesterol. Please be reminded to fast starting 12 midnight and to bring your urine sample. Also, there will be free eye refraction and eyeglasses may be availed at affordable prices.

Kabalikat sa Tahanan jumpstartsIn coordination with St. Andrew the Apostle Parish, Brgy.

Bel-Air has opened it Kabalikat sa Tahanan (KST) program for househelps of our parish community - a free 20-week course from 2PM to 5PM every Wednesday, starting on June 9 at the Covered Court, Solar St. Bel-Air Park III. It aims to improve the skills of our helpers, while instilling proper values and attitudes. Send your Kasambahays on Sunday, June 6 for the launching at 2PM. Pick-up service from and to the parish will be provided weekly. To register, call Neri at Tel. 895-4011 or leave your name and contact number at the parish for Corie Gomez.

Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of JesusOn June 11, we shall have Novena Masses to be presided

by guest priests from June 2, Wednesday to June 10, Thursday at 6;30PM on weekdays and at 6PM on Sunday.