wondering

'musta na kaya siya? It's her birthday today...

Wedding no. 4

HOMILY

Resurrection Parish, St. Albans

May 21, 2006

Mayap agatpanapun pu keko ngan.
Masaya ku ngening aldong ayni at parte ku king selebrasyon ning sakramentu ning kasal ng Mark at Rachel.

****

Well, Mark and Rachel, this is it, wala ng atrasan to the day of your marriage has now finally arrived.

Looking at you now, I can see in your eyes joy and excitement; I can see how grateful both of you are today with all the support you’ve been receiving from your families, friends and loved ones. Looking at you now, Rachel and Mark, I can see two brave young adults who have come before us today in this church.

My dear friends, I said Mark and Rachel are brave simply because they want to get married. Marriage is not that simple. Those of you, who are married can tell us why married life not simple. You know better than us the different challenges of marriage, of building a family, of raising kids, and so forth.

Mark and Rachel, I say you are brave most especially because Christian marriage takes a lot of courage to undertake. Today, you are committing your whole life to each other as long as you both live. I think, I said to you a hundred times already that marriage is a lifetime commitment. I am not trying to scare you, but this is what God wants your marriage (all marriage) to be. Marriage is valid not only for a week or two; neither a year nor ten years; but marriage is permanent, it lasts forever! I’m saying this because Jesus himself tells us in the Gospel today the sacredness of marriage -- “what God has united, man must not divide.”

We heard from the first reading from the book of Genesis, Allen read for us the beautiful story of the creation of our first parents: God took a bone from man’s side, close to his heart to show the tender love man and woman can share. So in marriage… a man leaves his father and mother and joins himself to his wife, and they become one body. Later on as we continue on this wedding service God will bless Mark and Rachel no longer as two “one body.”

In Tagalog, “Hindi na kayo dalawa kundi magiging-iisa na.” Sometimes we call “spouse” kabiyak in Tagalog or “my other half” in English. So, you are now going to face the world and raise a family as one in love, hope and dream. Inasmuch as you both will share the joy of this wonderful vocation of marriage, you will also equally share the burdens and trials of married life.

Your friend, Leonor read some elements of Christian marriage from the letter of St. Peter. Leonor read for us some advices which would help in building up a happy marriage. I will pick only one of those advices: “Never pay back one wrong with another one; instead pay back with a blessing.” In Tagalog huwag mong gantihan ng masama ang pagkakamali sa halip ay gantihan ninyo ito ng kabutihan. You have to master the art of patience with one another. You return only what will be good for the other. When you make a mistake, talk it out and ask for forgiveness.

Mark, Rachel is a beautiful young woman but she is not perfect as no one is perfect. She may not be the best navigator in the world but she will do her best for you. Rachel, your groom may give you the most beautiful smile in the world, but like you, he is also not perfect. Mark may not be the best driver in the world but he will do his best to drive you safe back home.

You may be wondering why I said Rachel and Mark are not the best navigator and driver in the world? Let me tell you…

Last year, when Mark and Rachel told me that they wanted me to officiate their wedding, I asked them to come and see me at the parish for an interview. I was then staying at the parish in Meadows Heights; it’s around ten-minute drive from the airport. So we arranged the date November 25, 4 pm (I was actually excited to see them). So the said date came, which was Friday, I waited and waited, and they finally arrived around 6:30pm! They came late not because they Filipinos but they drove all their way Geelong!

The moral lesson is: they didn’t give up until they reached their destination.

So this is my personal advice to you, Mark and Rachel, please do not give up when the difficulties of marriage begin to test you. Remember that you are not alone, regardless of whatever challenges arise Jesus will be there with you. In fact, Jesus is here with you today blessing your marriage. Pray a lot and pray together. Ask him now to seal and strengthen your love and to make it grow, now and for all eternity. I invite everyone here to pray for Mark and Rachel. And let us always be reminded of the words of Jesus, What God joins together let none of us put asunder -- ever. Amen!

****

Salamat pu keko ngan.

Viajera

Dalawang libro ang kasalukuyan kong binabasa sa ngayon. Una ay Viajero na isinulat ni F.Sionil Jose. Talagang saludo ako sa kalidad, talas at liksi (kung tamang salita ito ) ng pagsulat ni F.Sionil Jose--parang nasaloob ako mismo ng kanyang nobela. Sa pinagsama-samang titik, salita at pangungusap ay kaya niyang dalhin hindi lang ang imahinasyon kundi pati ang damdamin at pagkatao ng mambabasa.

Kahit na sinisimulan ko palang basahin ang Viajero ay inirerekomenda ko na ito sa bawat Pilipino o sa may nais makilala kung ano at paano maging Pilipino.

****

Kasabay ng Viajero ay binasa ko din ang librong kapapublish lamang ngayon buwan na ito. Ang pamagat nito ay "For a House Made of Stone" na isinulat ni Gina French. Hindi batikang manunulat si Gina kumpara kay dakilang F.Sionil Jose. Bagamat isinasalamin ni Gina ang milyon-milyong Filipino na nagtataya at nagbabiyahe -- sa Pinas o sa buong panig ng daigdig -- araw-araw upang makamit ang maginhawang pamumuhay.

Tubong Sorsogon si Gina at dahil sa kahirapan ay nagtrabaho sa Maynila bilang bar dancer at prostitute. Nakakabagabag ang bawat pahina ng istorya ni Gina -- kwento ng pagpupunyagi, kahirapan, pagmamahal ng isang ina sa anak, pag-asa at paghahanap ng kaligayahan. Tahasan niyang isinulat ang kanyang buhay na naglalarawan o kung hindi man ay nagpapahiwatig sa milyon-milyong "Viajerong" Filipino.

***

Discription na nakasaad sa likod ng librong "For a House Made of Stone"

"....Gina's dream takes her from her birthplace in the Philippine mountains, via the bars and dance halls of Manila, to the jetset worlds of New York and Brunei. Gina's life changes dramatically and forever when she falls in love with a wealthy Englishman who persuades her to marry him and bear his son. All at once she finds herself stranded in the cold and hostile world of the north of England, trapped with a man who seems more and more determined to hurt her and her child. Driven close to madness by her husband's violent attacks, Gina stabs him. Suddenly she finds herself facing a murder charge in a foreign land . . ."

The Da Vinci Code

Have you seen the movie?

If well guided this controversial movie can be an opportunity for us to show the true face of the Church. And we can effectively come out into the open proclamation of salvation in Jesus Christ, who is true God and true man.


HANDLING QUESTIONS PEOPLE MAY ASK ABOUT THE DA VINCI CODE

A PASTORAL STATEMENT OF THE CBCP ON THE DA VINCI CODE

Or you may also read this informative article.

:)

Gratitude

Thank you O Lord for making me an intrument to spread your blessing...

Vocation Crisis 101

"Vocation crisis is like a "desert place" where we solely depend upon the divine providence of God as He alone knows the oasis of life hidden at the next bend of the road."

-- quoting myself

"Vocation crisis can either break you or make you a fuller being."

-- quoting myself

"Vocation crisis is a blessing...especially when it teaches you how to love eternally without requiring anything in return..."

-- again quoting myself

Ang sumusunod ay "excerpt" mula sa aking email sa aking mabait, maganda at kahanga-hangang kaibigan na si Pinky Marie nuong Jan 23, 2000 1:40 pm

******

Nasa gitna ako ng ikinakasal at ng tatlong pari na nagkakasal, nagdarasal ako na parang ganito ang sinasabi sa ko sa Kanya, “Lord saan mo ba ako gustong ilagay, dito ba sa isa o sa isa.” Napakaganda pa ng background music, naiiyak pati kaluluwa ko. Gusto kong lumagay sa parehong bokasyon pero in that instance nasabi ko na mas lumamang pa rin ang bokasyon ng pagpapari kahit kaunti.Subalit patuloy pa rin ang pagmamanman sa nagaganap sa aking kalooban.

*******

........“Father I am in love.” “Kanino?”, sabi niya. Tinanong ko kung natatandaan niya ng prayer na iniwan ko sa kwarto niya at kinuwento ko kung paano tayo nagkakilala, nung hinanap ko ang bahay ninyo at una tayong nagkita, yung pangalawa sa Bethany, sa Exhibit ni Badong, sa “Jollibee take-out”, sa bahay ninyo, sa Sta. Isabel at sa phone. I told him that we have a very prayerful friendship and that you are one my answered prayers.

.....Ipinakita ko ang pictures mo at sabi, “eh kilala ko ito!” sabay sampal sa akin.

........ “Ano ngayon ang gusto mong gawin?” tanong niya. Sabi ko gusto ko po na mai-express sa kanya/sa iyo ang love na ito na naaayon sa Kanyang kalooban. “Ano pong gagawin ko?”, tanong ko.

........“Ligawan mo” tugon ni Father (kung will talaga ni God Pinks, friends pa rin tayo kahit hindi mo ako sagutin ha! Sige na…). “Paano po di bibigyan ko ng bulaklak?” “Father marami na po’ng nanliligaw sa kanya makikigulo pa ba ako saka nagdidiscern din siya?”

.........“Paano po nag-promise ako na I will love her unconditionally magkakaroon ng contradiction?”

........Basta sabi niya na malaya ako ngayon dahil nasa labas ako ng seminaryo na walang mga pari na laging nakabantay sa amin, ito yung pagkakataon na mag-explore upang mas makita ko ang aking sarili.

......“Hindi kaya unfair naman on her part dahil diko pa talaga sure kung sa priesthood ako at kung mag-ggf man ako gusto ko sana siya na ang magiging partner ko for life e hindi ko pa naman sure kung married life ang vocation ko?”

.......... Sabi niya dapat sabihin ko sa iyo, “Eto ako mahal kita, pero hindi ko alam kung saan ang bokasyon ko, at para sa iyo ako ay nagtataya at sana ikaw din ay magtaya para sa akin.”

..........Sabi din niya, “malay mo kayong dalawa pala…kung hindi naman ay marami ka pang mamemeet” “Siguro, Father takot lang po akong mag-taya” tapos ko.

..........Around 3:30pm dumating si Odra at Dennis at inubos namin ang pagkain ni Fr. Egai sa fridge niya. Pagkabusog ay nagpaalam na kami kay Fr. Egai at kumain uli kami sa Minor Seminary....

******

PRAYER OF THOMAS MERTON

My Lord God,I have no idea where I am going. I do not see the road ahead of me nor do I really know myself. And the fact that I think I am following your will does not mean that I am actually doing so. But I believe that the desire to please you does in fact please you. And I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire. And I know that if I do this, You will lead me by the right road though I may know nothing about it. Therefore will I trust you always though, I may seem to be lost and in the shadow of death. I will not fear, for you are ever with me, and you will never leave me to face my struggles alone. Amen.

On Vocations

Here is Pope Benedict XVI's address on Vocation Sunday-

Dear Brothers and Sisters:

On this Fourth Sunday of Easter, Good Shepherd Sunday, in which the World Day of Prayer for Vocations is observed, I have had the joy of ordaining in St. Peter's Basilica 15 new priests of the Diocese of Rome. Together with them, I think of all those that, in all parts of the world receive priestly ordination at the same time. In thanking the Lord for the gift of these new priests at the service of the Church, we put them in Mary's hands, while invoking her intercession so that the number will grow of those who accept Christ's invitation to follow him on the path of the priesthood and consecrated life.

This year, the theme of the World Day of Prayer for Vocations is "Vocation in the Mystery of the Church." In the message I have addressed to the entire ecclesial community for this occasion, I recalled the experience of Jesus' first disciples that, after meeting him on the lake and in the villages of Galilee, were captivated by his attractiveness and love. The Christian vocation always implies renewing this personal friendship with Jesus Christ, which gives meaning to one's life and makes it available for the Kingdom of God.

The Church lives from this friendship, nourished by the word and the sacraments, holy realities entrusted in a particular way to the ministry of bishops, priests and deacons, consecrated by the sacrament of holy orders. For this reason, as I underlined in the same message, the mission of the priest is irreplaceable and, although in some regions there is a lack of clergy, there is no doubt that God continues to call adolescents, youths and adults to leave all to dedicate themselves to the preaching of the Gospel and the pastoral ministry.

Another special way of following is the vocation to the consecrated life, which is expressed in a poor, chaste and obedient life, totally dedicated to God, in contemplation and prayer, placed at the service of brothers, especially the little ones and the poor.

However, let us not forget that Christian marriage is a vocation to holiness in the full sense of the word, and that the example of holy parents is the first favorable condition for the flowering of priestly and religious vocations.

Dear brothers and sisters, let us invoke the intercession of Mary, mother of the Church, for the priests, and men and women religious; let us pray, moreover, so that the seeds of the vocation that God sows in the hearts of the faithful will mature and bear fruits of holiness in the Church and the world.

source: zenit.org

Vocation Promotion

Good Shepherd Sunday (Year B)

“The World Day Prayer for Vocation”

May 6-7, 2006 Holy Child’s Parish, Meadow Heights

Today, the fourth Sunday of Easter is called Good Shepherd Sunday or also known as “The World Day Prayer for Vocation.” There are many different vocations we can follow God in holiness – marriage, religious life, priesthood, lay apostolate or single blessedness. But today the Church is urging us, together with all the faithful believers around the world, to pray particularly for the increase of vocations to the priesthood and religious life.

We need to pray for new shepherds and pastors who will preach the Word of God, who will administer the sacraments and who will lead the communities in our time.

This is why on this occasion, the bishop (as he does everyday) asks all of us in the seminary in Carlton, except the first year students, to share our vocation story in all Masses this weekend in different parishes in Melbourne and Bendigo. The bishop and priests in the seminary are hoping and praying that we will encourage young people (and also those young at hearts) to listen carefully to the voice of Jesus, the Good Shepherd, and to respond generously to his calling.

I think I’ve mentioned already in one of my homilies here how I ended up studying for the priesthood. I can’t remember any dramatic moments in my life hearing the voice of God from heaven, “John Joel come follow me, I want you to become priest.” No, God didn’t call me that way.

When I was young I always wanted to become a soldier or an architect. I never desire to become priest because I knew a priest is not allowed get married. I could not imagine myself then growing old without a wife. And I thought it was impossible for me to become priest since I got easily attracted with beautiful girls in the school!

It was my grandmother who influenced me to follow this vocation. She was very prayerful and went to Mass everyday. Today actually is her birthday. God bless her soul. Also some of my friends in highschool were the ones who encouraged me to enter the seminary.

So Jesus called me in a very special way or should I say, Jesus, the Good Shepherd, seized me by the neck with his huge staff and led me straight to the seminary –- I was only 16 years old then and I felt like a small sheep needed to be kept safe inside the sheepfold.

I spent five years of my life inside the seminary. It was not easy leaving my family and my friends but years had gone very fast. I really enjoyed living in the seminary because there we played basketball everyday! You know if AFL is a religion in Australia, for many young Filipinos basketball is a way of life! But, in a deeper sense, I developed in the seminary a closer relationship with Jesus through the Eucharist and with the help of Mary.

To cut the long story short, I left my seminary in the Philippines and I decided to continue my training here in Australia. And, I’m here speaking before you, as now, an ordained deacon. And I am looking forward for my ordination to the priesthood this year. It’s been almost ten years since I responded God’s call, although it’s not always easy but I didn’t have any regret. In fact, I’m really grateful that despite my imperfections God wants me to be instrument of spreading his love to his people.

In his very first message for “The World Day Prayer for Vocations,” Pope Benedict says, “To respond to the call of God, and to set ourselves upon the way, it is not necessary to be perfect.” We are simply needed to recognise our need for Christ. “Our fragility and human limitations are not obstacles, provided that they contribute to making us always more conscious of the fact that we need the redeeming grace of Christ.”

This year, there are 30 seminarians and 5 deacons, including myself, at Corpus Christi College Seminary in Carlton. With your support and prayer, hopefully we will continue to increase in number.

Now, if there is anyone here who is interested or curious about the priesthood or if you are contemplating religious life. I encourage you to pray and ask for God’s help and blessing to give you strength and courage to respond faithfully to his calling. As I said, you don’t have to be perfect or 100 percent sure about it. If you have any questions or doubts please feel free to approach Fr. Joe, the sisters or myself after this Mass.

So, I ask you all, to please pray that many young people today will consider the vocations to the priesthood and religious life. As Pope Benedict says, “when people pray—vocation flourishes.”

And, as we continue this Mass, let us also remember that whether we are called to marriage, religious life, priesthood, lay apostolate or single blessedness. We all have the same invitation to imitate according to our state of life, our Lord, who loving professed himself today as: “the Good Shepherd…who lays down his life for his sheep.”

Investiture '95

"Si bunsong Cune at si kuya Joel"

Shortly after the Mass ceremony of my investiture when I was a first year seminarian in Immaculate Conception Major Seminary in Guiguinto, Bulacan. The bishop of the diocese normally vests a seminarian with white soutane as a sign of a new life, leaving the old one, in following the call of Christ.

Drawing

Mas madami pa yatang drawing ang notebook ko kaysa lecture.

Unfinished (2003)

Ininip na inip (1996, Immaculate Conception Major Seminary)
My Crush in Highschool (at ng bayan!)

Art Exhibit

Hindi ko naman masasabi na talagang artist ako dahil may mga kaibigan, mga pinsan at kakilala ako na talaga namang professional sa larangan ng sining. Isa sa mga idolo ko ay ang dati kong kaklase na si Padre Conrado "Badong" Santos Jr. Hindi lang siya magaling sa basketball (matulis ang siko!) kundi'y kilala siyang mabuting pari at pintor sa Bulacan.

Naisipan ko lang ipost dito ang ilang ginuhit ko nuon habang naguubos ng oras at walang magawa, o kaya'y kapag may iniiwasan akong mahalagang gawain. Pero mas madalas kapag inaantok o naiinip ako sa klase lumalabas ang pagka-artistic ko.

Jesus of Nazareth (1996, 2nd year college)
My favorite saint, St. Therese of the Child Jesus (2003)


Blessed Mother Teresa (2002?)

Henyo

Kakaiba talaga ang wisdom ng kaibigan ko. Kahit na mula highschool hanggang ngayon ay magkasama pa rin kami ay marami pa rin akong natutunan sa kaniya. Itago na lang natin siya sa kanyang totoong pangalan, Odra Noel.


"It takes time to tango."

"Paano na kapag tumanda na si Bart Simpson?"

"Ang pagmamahal ba ng aso talagang hanggang puppy love lang?"

Lost and Found (update)

Minsan siyang nawala at minsang nasumpungan. Ngayon naman siya ay nabasa kaya't pagsasama nami'y nauwi sa luha.

Eto ang email ko sa amin:

Biyernes ng gabi ay naghouse blessing ako sa bahay at photography centre ng kaibigan ko sa Pascoe Vale. Naiwan ko ang takip ng holy water kaya nang ilagay ko ito sa bag kasama ang cellphone ko ay napatunayan ko na nakakabasa din pala ang holy water. At nalaman ko din na hindi water proof ang cellphone ko. Gumagana naman ang orasan nito-- pero di na pwedeng pantawag. Paki-announce sa Pulilan na sira ang phone ko na gamit sa roaming.

Kaya ko pala kinakabisado ang kanta at chords ng "Stay" ng Cueshé. Akala ko nagpoprocrastinate lang ako yun pala may pag-aalayan ako nito.

Para sa iyo ito "hello moto":

STAY

I believe
We shouldn’t let the moment pass us by
Life’s too short
We shouldn’t wait for the water to run dry
Think about it
Cause we only have one shot at destiny
All I’m asking
Could it possibly be you & me?

So if you’d still go, I’ll understand
Would you give me something just to hold on to?
And if you’ll stay, I’ll hold your hand
Cause I’m truly, madly, crazily in love with you

Time has come
For us to go, our separate ways
God forbid
But my mind is going crazy today
I feel so cold
Feel so numb
I’m having nightmares but I’m awake
Help me Lord
Fight this loneliness
Take this pain away

Now that you’re gone,
I’m all alone
I’m still hoping that you would come back home
Don’t care how long, but I’m willing to wait
Cause I’m truly, madly, crazily in love with you

--
Now I'm procrastinating!