Multicutural Event

On a bright, sunny morning on Saturday, 16 September, hundreds of people made a pilgrimage to St Patrick’s Cathedral to celebrate the ordination to the priesthood of four men: Eugene Ashkar, John Joel Vergara, Thinh Xuan Nguyen and Justin Ford for the Melbourne Archdiocese. In a sight rarely seen, St Patrick’s was filled to its capacity. The throng of people who gathered in the Cathedral mirrored the diverse composition of our Melbourne Church, with people of all backgrounds coming together to celebrate the occasion.


Aside from the very different cultural backgrounds of the four men, perhaps part of the reason for the cosmopolitan audience present at their ordination can be traced to the positive impact these men have already made on our community: all have previously served in Melbourne parishes as deacons, and all have had pastoral years here. It is fortuitous that their multifaceted ministry continues in our great city.

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the last and the least

Mass of Thanksgiving and First Holy Communion
Holy Child Parish

Dallas

September 23, 2006

‘Anyone who welcomes one of these little children in my name, welcomes me; and anyone who welcomes me welcomes not me but the one who sent me.’ Mk 9:37

Once there was a small village that was stricken by a terrible drought. People were panicking and were all worried about their crops and animals. Living in this desperate situation, people thought of going to their old parish priest to ask for help. The parish priest suggested that everyone should be united in prayer, asking God for the rain. He instructed the people to gather in front of the Church the next Sunday morning and asked the people bring with them anything that symbolizes their faith.

When the day came, as instructed, the people gathered outside the Church to pray for the rain and with them a symbol of their faith in God. The priest was delighted to see his parishioners holding rosary beads, some brought their bible and holy images, and others came with crucifix of different sizes.

But everyone was all surprised when they saw a little boy wearing a raincoat and holding big umbrella.

Today, we heard from the Gospel Jesus asking his disciple to welcome the little children if they want to receive God in their lives. Jesus fondly used the characteristics and qualities of the children to describe what it is like to be his true follower.

The child is the symbol of someone who is small, powerless, and innocent. Children have a strong faith; they acquire the quality of total dependence from their mum and dad. Children are not afraid to be who they are. They cry one moment and laugh the next moment. Children are not image-conscious. Children are not afraid to get hurt for being known for who they are. Children are free to be who they are, they seem playful and joyful at all times and very pleased at whatever they are doing.

Unlike Jesus’ disciples, who are arguing who is the best, the greatest, or the coolest among all, children don’t desire to be great or popular. As the apostles’ attention was focused on honor and glory and on who was the most important one, children on another hand are pretty much content with what they have. Children are contented even when lack material goods, they stand in need of spiritual blessing promised by God. That is why children are so loving and lovable.

So when Jesus heard that his apostles were discussing about their personal dreams and ambition to be great, Jesus immediately stopped their conversation and pointed out to them that if they wanted to be popular they must serve others in love. If they wanted to be the first, they need to get rid of their pride and ambition; they have to seek the last place because greatness asks that one be the servant of all.

We will never find in the Gospel Jesus teaching his apostles to boast for their works or to seek their own glory. Rather, Jesus’ teachings are all about self-sacrifice, humility, love, tenderness, compassion and forgiveness. As Jesus said: “If anyone wants to be first, he must make himself last of all and servant of all.”

Personally, this particular passage is a challenge for me as a newly ordained priest – I am a one-week- old priest to be exact. I was ordained together with my three fellow “baby priests” in St. Patrick Cathedral. There were so many people I really I felt like a celebrity. People wanted to take photos with me; some people were asking me to sign the Mass booklet; others were even asking my phone number; and I’ve got lipsticks all over my face.

For awhile I felt like a celebrity, or an Australian idol, but I always reminded myself that people admired me not really because of me but because of Christ who rests in me, and in my priesthood. Jesus Christ came in this world to serve the poor and little ones, and so like Christ, I am also called not to be served but to serve. It is my prayer as I begin my priestly journey that my faith and love of God will be like of a little child who trusts lovingly and rests contently with his or her parents.

Also, it is very fitting that this evening six children from our parish will advance their Christian journey as they receive Christ for the first time in Holy Communion. It is also very fitting that the Gospel today tells us an occasion when Jesus welcomes the children and lovingly puts his arms round them. In the Holy Communion Jesus will not only put his arms round these children but indeed Jesus will nourish their spiritual needs and keep them under his love and care. In Holy Communion, they will receive Jesus Christ, who offered for us the most perfect act of love - the total sacrifice of self – by his death on the cross and glorious resurrection.

As we continue in this Eucharist, could I ask you to please pray for these children that they may grow in their faith and love in Christ. Please pray for Fr. Justin, Fr. Thinh, and Fr. Eugene who were ordained with me last Saturday that we may always be faithful to our vocation. And let us pray for one another that we may imitate the little children, so that we can share the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

Lorenzo & Matthew

Novena Mass for San Lorenzo Ruiz
St. Brigid’s Church, North Fitzroy
September 21, 2006
Feast of St. Matthew, Apostle and Evangelist
Eph 4:1-7, 11-13; Mt 9:9-13

“Name”
It was said that yesterday there were around 300 million people around the world who watched the memorial service of Steve Irwin. Although I was not able to watch this event on tv I saw in the internet when Steve’s daughter, Bindi Sue, confidently delivered her touching speech about her dad. Do you know that Bindi Sue is named after Steve’s favourite pet snake “Bindi” and pet dog “Sue.” Galing!

Pero di pa rin papahuli ang Pinoy pag dating sa pangalan. Filipinos are also creative in naming their children.

Actually today is the birthday of my sister Marsha. My sister is born in 1975 on the 3rd anniversary of the declaration of Marshal Law by the late President Marcos. And I was named after “John Puruntong” from the comedy sitcom “John n Marsha.” Funny enough I watched last night its updated version “John n Shirley” on TFC.

The calling of Matthew
I’m sure there are many interesting stories behind the names of people we know. In the Gospel reading today we heard a story of a certain man named Matthew. I didn’t have time to look up today what Matthew’s name stands for however the scripture and tradition tell us some background about this man.

Matthew was a sinful man. Isa po siyang tax-collector. People at the time of Jesus regarded tax collectors as notorious corrupt individuals. The Pharisees branded them as the worst of sinners along with thieves and prostitutes. In fact even the beggars refused to receive alms from tax collectors.

Matthew was regarded as a public sinner. He had no friends. He was isolated from the society at his time. When Jesus saw him sitting at his office doing his taxation work we can easily imagine that Jesus must looked at him with him interior pity. Jesus undoubtedly saw in Matthew his deep thirst for compassion, for friendship, and most of all his for God.

When he heard the simple command of Jesus “follow me,” Matthew made no delay, but “got up and followed him.” Hindi na siya nagpatumpik-tumpik. Wala siyang ‘mamaya-na’ habit. At this point in his life Matthew would never be the same person again.
Matthew through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit allowed Jesus to heal, restore and transform his new life. Jesus' command, “follow me” turned Matthew's life upside down.

Matthew who once owned considerable wealth, stood up, and followed Jesus immediately. He would be aware that Jesus had no earthly wealth, but realised that Jesus is the only One who can give him everlasting treasures in heaven.

Discipleship
In fact the meaning of discipleship is to turn one’s life upside down for Jesus. The words of Jesus “Follow me” is a gentle command to imitate Jesus not only in words but more importantly in actions. To imitate Jesus is to radically change our lives – since discipleship as I mentioned is “to turn one’s life upside down for Jesus.”

Our very own Saint San Lorenzo Ruiz, literally “turned his life upside down” for Jesus. Binitin po siyang patiwarik. He was hung from the gallows by his feet, his body falling into a pit. Refusing to denounce his Christian faith, he told his executioner that he was ready to die for God and give himself for many thousands of lives if he had them.

Application
I think the challenge for us all here this evening to have a sense of urgency and readiness to “turn our lives upside down” in following the call of Jesus. Like Matthew we are called to “get up immediately” to do what God wants to do.

Jesus wants us to be like him for one another, in our society, in our workplace and in our own family not tomorrow, but now. The first reading directs us how can we do this, it says “Bare with one another charitably, in complete selflessness, gentleness and patience.”


In this Novena Mass, let us remember that God is calling us by our own name to follow him. Let us pray that the Lord may help us to put the teachings of the Gospel into practice and courageously give testimony of our faith in the midst of the contemporary society to which we belong, through the intercession of St. Mathew, and of San Lorenzo Ruiz, who consecrated the whole of their lives to the cause of Christian faith. Amen.

Wedding party

salamat sa sponsor

hating kapatid tayo

kasama ang ama't ina sa stage



saya parang fiesta

First Mass Homily

St. Peter Chanel Parish, Deer Park September 17, 2006
‘If anyone wants to be a follower of mine, let him renounce himself and take up his cross and follow me. Mark 8: 35

Uncertainty, anxiety and fear of what the future holds – these were the feelings I had in my prayers twelve years ago every time I would visit the church after sending my sister Maricon off to her school every morning. It was the moment in my life when I think I prayed really hard for the first time as I was waiting for the result of my entrance exam for the seminary in the Philippines.

My prayers were filled with uncertainty, doubt and fear -- I wasn’t sure whether I would pass the examination or not; and if I passed it I wasn’t sure then if I really wanted to become a priest. It was also unclear to me at the time that God wanted me to become a priest.

At the age of sixteen I started my seminary training, and during my early years of formation I still carried with me fear, uncertainty and doubt. Although I have always wanted to follow Christ and do his will, I was afraid and uncertain about my vocation -- I was afraid to become a priest. I feared of surrendering my personal dreams and happiness.

Then after years of discernment, through the grace of God, and with the help of other people’s prayers, somehow my faith has grown in maturity. Gradually I saw more clearly the vocation God intended for me. And finally, yesterday I was ordained priest!

I had the privilege to be ordained to the priesthood at St. Patrick’s Cathedral together with my fellow “baby” priests, Fathers Thinh, Justin and Eugene. At the ordination Mass four of us formally said our “yes” and expressed “our willingness to follow Christ’s call” no matter what. By the virtue of the Sacrament of Holy Orders all four of us became Christ’s representatives. By the power of the Holy Spirit, we were configured to Christ to dedicate our lives completely to his Church, and for the sake of the Gospel.

It is very appropriate that the Gospel reading today speaks clearly about discipleship in its deepest meaning: ‘If anyone wants to be a follower of mine, let him renounce himself and take up his cross and follow me.

However, the message of the Gospel today doesn’t apply only to me as a newly ordained priest or to my brother priests, but the word of Jesus applies to everyone here in this Church.

Regardless of what state we find ourselves in, as Christians, we are all called to follow Christ.

The first condition in following Christ is to know him in a personal and intimate manner. Jesus asked Peter “Who do you say I am?” because Jesus wanted to hear from Peter’s own lips his personal understanding about him. Peter answered on behalf of the disciples, confessing, “You are the Messiah.”

Peter’s answer was right but he couldn’t accept the fact that suffering was to be part of Christ’s mission of salvation. Peter could not make sense at all of why Jesus, the Messiah, the Son of Man, would suffer and die just like any human being. Peter and the disciples had seen Jesus performing miracles, healing the people and even raising the dead. So it was just too much for them to understand how Jesus, their Lord and Master, in the end would suffer helplessly and would be put to death.

Sometimes when we’re confronted with the necessity of suffering, we react exactly like Peter. The suffering we face could be a financial or health problem or the death of a loved one; we react like Peter who doesn’t clearly understand the important role of suffering in our lives. Sometimes we fail to answer correctly the personal question of Jesus “Who do you say I am?”, most especially in our present society, where interpretations of suffering and failure are dominated by a “culture of success” and the image a “trouble-free society.”

In the light of today's Gospel, we must insist that Jesus Christ, our Lord, is not a triumphant Messiah, but a suffering one who saved us and the world by humiliation, defeat and surrender.
The messianic expectation of God’s people was contradicted by the actual messianic role of Jesus because he didn’t preach armed revolt and a war of political liberation. On the contrary, his appallingly painful and utterly disgraceful death not only manifested his true identity as Son of God the one who brings about salvation for others but also fulfilled his prediction of himself as the “suffering messiah.” We heard this image of the Suffering Messiah in the First Reading: “I gave my back to those who struck me, my cheeks to those who tore at my beard…”

Jesus’ own suffering and death, and his glorious resurrection reveal to us that the mystery of human suffering can have a redemptive role in our lives and the lives of others. But of course God doesn’t want us to suffer; he doesn’t delight in human suffering. God is the source of all goodness. He knows and understands our sufferings and sacrifices; he knows our individual struggles, our loneliness, bitterness and fear.

Suffering for parents could be the challenge of raising their children. Suffering for young people could be the feeling of meaninglessness or losing the sense of purpose in life. Suffering of elderly people could be the feeling of rejection and being abandoned. Suffering for others could be separation from family and loved ones. Our suffering could be our own struggle against our addiction to sin and our own weaknesses.

The words of Jesus in today’s Gospel, ‘If anyone wants to be a follower of mine, let him renounce himself and take up his cross and follow me’ are an invitation for us all to put our suffering into the perspective of love and self-denial.

To follow Christ willingly and to trust his word, cannot avoid accepting suffering as part of it. Even Mary, Christ’s very own Mother was not spared her own cross of suffering, from the moment she conceived her Son until his death on the cross. But in the end, we learned from her, how to surrender, obey and believe even in times of pain and desperate hope.

When Jesus says, “take up your cross,” he is not just referring to major sacrifices like accepting martyrdom. He is also referring to the daily sacrifices of love that animate our lives. It is true that the concept of sacrificial love is completely opposed to the mindset of today materialistic society. Therefore in this Eucharist let us pray for one another and ask God to give us all the ability and the courage to love, to deny ourselves and endure sacrifices because of love.

Uncertainty, anxiety and fear of what the future holds – these were the feelings I had twelve years ago. I admit this is also how I feel now, but the words of Christ “take up your cross and follow me” no longer appear a threat but an assurance that grace accompanies every cross we carry, when we depend more on God than on ourselves.

Let us remember that when there is some pain in our lives, when we have to carry a cross, it is an opportunity for us to forget ourselves and put Jesus alone as the center of our life. Amen.

Proud to be Pinoy

Sa unang kita ko lang pa lang sa iyo ay nasabi ko sa sarili ko "parang kilala kita ah." Nilapitan kita at pabulong na kinausap "aba ikaw nga" (kumakabog pa ang puso). Paikot-ikot ako sa iyong harapan at palingalinga na sana ay may kapatid din na mapadaan. Pero wala.

Sabi ko sana sa susunod na tayo magkita ay kasama na kita pag-uwi ko. Excited na excited ako nun.

Ganon nga ang nangyari. Sa ikalawang pagkakataon na tayo'y nagtagpo di na kita pinakawalan. Taas noo akong naglalakad at sa lahat ng kakilala ikaw ay iwinawagayway.




"This Air Force 1 has been produced to celebrate the life and times of the Philippino (Filipino) hero, Jose Rizal. The upper features a suede and patent leather upper and has been designed in the colourway of the Philippines national flag."

Astig ang Pinoy. Proud to be Pinoy! :)

Happy Birthday Mama Mary

In every aspect of her life Mary knows that her role is to subordinate herself to Jesus. Mary, who was so close to the human Jesus as his mother, had devoted her life from the moment she conceived him and never left him, even at the cross. Mary is the first disciple of Christ and a perfect Christian because she remained in full humility under the shadow of her Son. In Luke’s Gospel the first misunderstanding Jesus has with another person is with his mother. After finding the child Jesus who went missing at the temple, she rebukes him saying, “Son why have you done this to us? Don’t you realize that your father and I have been full of sorrow while searching for you? ” Then he said to them, “Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?”[1] Mary does not understand, and so she returns to reflection, thought, and prayer, seeking to learn from the Spirit what her growing son is about: who he is and what he is becoming.[2]

Scripture presents Mary like Jesus, who grows in age and wisdom, as she accompanies the growth of her son – she keeps in her heart everything that Jesus says.[3] She treasures words, events and thoughts of her son Jesus. She knows that she is just a handmaid of the Lord who is called to obey what her Lord asks her to do. St. Augustine affirms Mary’s faithful discipleship saying that she first conceived Christ through faith before conceiving him in the flesh.[4] For this, Mary is a perfect model disciple: one who faithfully believes every word of Jesus Christ, and then goes to believe his promises more and more until his death and resurrection. Mary as a servant of the Lord, has no other model other than her son Jesus Christ himself. All of Mary’s titles and attributes point to glorify Jesus, the Servant of God, who in his faithful obedience to the Father has suffered and died on the cross. Mary is the first disciple of the New Testament, who learned from Jesus what it means how to surrender, obey and believe even in times of pain and desperate hope. So, deep in the heart of Mary lies a prayer of humility and faithfulness that we all Christians are ought to say as well in the depths of our being: “Jesus, make me a servant only like you.”




[1] Lk 2:48-52.
[2] Megan McKenna. Mary Shadow of Grace. (New York: Orbis Books, 1996) 95.
[3] “As for Mary, she treasured all these things and pondered them in her heart.” Lk 2:19.
[4] Bertrand Buby S.M., Mary the Faithful Disciple (Mahwah: Paulist Press, 1985) 13.