The
October 2013
PARACLETE The little paper that feeds on prayer
Parish of the Holy Spirit, BF Homes, Quezon City Vol. 6, No. 5 Issue
Three Little Words
By Maria Khristina Gonzales
I HAVE BEEN hearing about a seminar called PREX, specifically when I hear Mass. I never bothered to ask what it is or what it is about even if my parents participated in one such. Until a very close friend of mine asked me – nay, insisted – to join since her parents will be the lead couple of an upcoming one. I went. But did not finish it. I felt it wasn’t really the right time for me since I believe everything has its own timing. Until something happened to me that made me realize that if I waited for the right time, I would never be able to find that something that was missing in me. So I attended the next seminar, Class 28, March 23 and 24, 2013 to be exact. By then I already knew that the acronym stood for Parish Renewal Experience. I thought it was the usual retreat that we all go through at least once in our lives. I was wrong. It was different. I saw people whom I already know – up close – including those whom I run into once or twice in the subdivision. They were not shy sharing their experience. What they have gone through and how they did it. If there is one thing common in all the talks I’ve heard, it is about forgiveness. Accepting what had happened and hurt, and forgiving those who were responsible for the pain. We all get hurt once in our lives but it doesn’t mean that the pain was purposely done. Rather, it is probably life teaching us that no matter how deep the hurt and how down we become, we get up, dust off, walk on and be a better person for it.
Like we have hurt God once, twice, multiple times, He never gave up on us. Faithful as ever. His loving hands always ready to accept our repentance and welcome us back. Like nothing happened. Like His is the master stroke of dusting off. Everything. Sin, most of all. With humility, we should not fail to accept that there are no ifs or buts when it comes to reconciling with God. While His unending love for His children will always reign, our task is to be worthy thereof. After I graduated from PREX, I made it a point to attend the next class with the sole purpose of giving back the service my classmates and I received. While there was only one session I have served at after ours (our time to leave the country inevitably arrived), I am happy to say that were it not for the people who convinced me to attend, I would never have discovered how sweet it is to be loved by the Lord. Especially, I never knew peace could be such bliss. In the knowledge that, whatever is in store for me, whenever, wherever, He sustains me – BEST FRIEND FOREVER. TP
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October 2013
Editorial
Stewardship and the Last Judgment A STEWARD MANAGES the property of another. At some future time, the steward also renders an accounting to the owner. Stewardship was the point of The Parable of the Talents (Mt 25:14-30). Jesus relates that before the owner’s journey, he entrusted to his servants his property, making the servants their master’s stewards. When the master returned, he was elated by those whose stewardship bore fruit, called them “faithful” servants and rewarded them with much more than what was originally entrusted. “Enter into the joy of your master,” he said. But one steward hid what was entrusted to him, afraid that he might lose it and be punished. This steward was called worthless and was cast out into the outer darkness “where men will weep and gnash their teeth.” The premise of stewardship is our faith that everything we have are gifts from God. Our time, talent and treasure we are but stewards of. Come the last judgment – and we should note that this is still in the same chapter of Matthew (25:31-46), right after the Parable of the Talents – “the Son of man… will then sit on His glorious throne. Before Him will be gathered all the nations…” He will welcome the righteous proclaiming “Come, O blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from
the foundation of the world.” He then rejects those on the left, calling them “cursed” and directs them “into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.” The distinction between the righteous stewards and the cursed will simply be based on how we have performed as stewards. Those eternally cursed were told – “for I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me… as you did it NOT to one of the least of these (my brethren), you did it NOT to me.” The righteous were found deserving heirs of God’s kingdom because they did exactly the reverse “…as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me.” They fed the hungry, clothed the naked, visited the sick and those in prison, gave drink to the thirsty and welcomed the stranger. Alas, we will be measured according to how faithful we were as stewards of time, talent and treasure. Our management of God’s gifts ultimately defines our entitlement to inherit God’s kingdom. When we render our account at the last judgment, we will surely be asked – have you shared my gifts to you with the least of my brethren? And imagine failing the test and being told to depart – from Him – into hell.TP
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Of Saints and Saintliness Lilia F. Antonio
San Juan de la Cruz: Makatang Santo at Mistiko
KUNG ANG ABS-CBN ay may Juan de la Cruz na magkasanib na tanod at anak ng haring aswang na gabi-gabi’y nagbibigay-aliw sa mga manonood ng teleserye, ang Simbahang Katoliko naman ay may natatanging santo na nagtataglay ng napakaraming biyaya mula sa Diyos – si San Juan de la Cruz (o Juan de Yepes y Alvarez). Lubos niyang natupad ang pahayag ni Kristo na “Kung ibig ninumang sumunod sa akin, limutin niya ang ukol sa kanyang sarili, pasanin ang kanyang krus at sumunod sa Akin.” (Mateo 8:34). Si San Juan de la Cruz ay isinilang sa Espanya noong 1542. Sapul sa pagkabata’y naunawaan niya ang kahulugan ng pagpapakasakit para sa pag-ibig. Tinalikdan ng kanyang ama ang kayamanan, katanyagan at kaginhawahan sa buhay at pinakasalan ang mahirap na inang tagahabi lang ng tela. Sa maagang pagyao ng asawa, nilibot ng biyuda at dalawang kapatid ni Juan ang iba’t-ibang bayan sa Espanya sa paghahanap ng ikabubuhay sa araw-araw. Sa edad na katorse, nagtrabaho siya sa isang ospital at nag-alaga ng mga pasyenteng baliw at wala nang lunas ang sakit. Dahil sa kahirapan at pagdurusa, natutuhan niyang hanapin ang kagandahan at kaligayahan hindi sa kinalalagyang daigdig kundi sa piling ng Diyos. Mula 1559 hanggang 1563, nag-aral siya sa paaralan ng mga Heswita. Noong Pebrero 24, 1563, pumasok siya sa Carmelite Order at nag-aral ng teolohiya at pilosopiya sa Colegio de San Andres sa Salamanca. Na-ordinahan
siyang pari noong 1567 sa edad na 25. Nang naglakbay siya sa Medina del Campo, nakatagpo niya si Santa Teresa de Jesus, na humikayat sa kanyang ipagpaliban ang pag-anib sa mga paring Cartuso at sa halip ay tulungan ang huli sa mga pagbabagong isasagawa sa orden ng mga Carmelite. Kaya, noong Nobyembre 28, 1568, sinimulan niya ang mga reporma at pagtatatag ng monasteryong panlalaki sa maliit at mahirap na bayan ng Duruelo, kasama si Padre Antonio de Jesus de Heredia. Sa araw ding ito ginamit niya ang bagong pangalang Juan de la Cruz. Hinangad nina Santa Teresa at San Juan de la Cruz na maibalik ang kabanalan at kadalisayan ng orden ng Carmelite sa pamamagitan ng pagpapatupad ng mga Batas ng 1209 na pinawalang-bisa ni Papa Eugene IV noong 1432. Ang mga kahingian nito ay mas mahabang oras ng pagdarasal araw at gabi, pag-aaral at pagbabasa ng mga relihiyosong libro, pagdaraos ng Banal na Misa at maraming oras ng katahimikan. Para sa mga prayle, ang kahulugan nito ay pagpapalaganap ng mga aral ng Simbahan sa mga taong malapit ang tirahan sa monasteryo. Ini-uutos din ang hindi pagkain ng karne at mahabang oras ng pag-aayuno mula sa Kapistahan ng Pagdakila sa Krus (Setyembre 14) hanggang sa Linggo ng Pagkabuhay. Hinihiling din ang mas magaspang, mas maikli at mas simpleng abito kaysa sa ipina-iral noong 1432. Ipinagbabawal din ang pagsusuot ng anumang sapin sa paa.
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Tinuligsa ng ibang prayle ang ganitong reporma. Itinuring nilang napakahigpit ng mga kautusang ipinatutupad nina Santa Teresa at San Juan dela Cruz. Bunga nito, pinaratangan nila ng pagsuway si San Juan dela Cruz, hinuli at ibinilanggo sa isang lihim na monasteryo sa Toledo noong Disyembre 2, 1577. Minsan isang linggo lang siya nakalalabas sa madilim, makitid at maliit na seldang pinagkulungan sa kanya at ito’y kapag hinahampas siya at pinarurusahan sa harap ng publiko. Madalang din siyang bigyan ng gasera kaya’t kailangan pa niyang tumuntong sa bangko para mabasa ang aklat-dasalan sa liwanag mula sa butas ng katabing silid. Hindi siya binigyan ng pamalit-damit at ang tanging ipinakakain sa kanya ay tubig, tinapay at kapirasong tuyo. Dito lubos na naranasan at naunawaan ni San Juan de la Cruz ang pagpapakasakit alang-alang sa krus ni Kristo. Tahimik niyang tinanggap ang mga maling paratang, panlilibak at walang-katwirang pagpaparusa sa kanya. Sa Diyos lamang siya umasa. Bagamat nasa piitan, nadama niya ang paglaya ng kanyang kaluluwa. Dito niya sinimulang isulat ang mahahalagang akda na naging dahilan para siya ituring na isa sa pinakamahuhusay na makata sa wikang Kastila hanggang sa kasalukuyang panahon. Pagkaraan ng siyam na buwan, noong Agosto 15, 1578, mahimala siyang nakatakas sa kulungan sa pamamagitan ng pagbaklas ng isang maliit na bintanang malapit sa kanyang selda. Sa mga sumunod na taon, ipinagpatuloy niya ang pagtatatag at pamamahala sa mga monasteryo sa Granada, Cordova, Segovia at iba pang lugar sa Espanya. Ngunit hindi tumigil ang kanyang mga kaaway sa pagtuligsa sa kanya hanggang muli siyang maitalaga – at magkasakit – sa pinakamahirap na monasteryo. Yumao siya noong Disyembre 14, 1591 sa
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edad na 49. Kinanonisa siya ni Papa Benedict XIII noong 1726 at idineklarang Doktor ng Simbahan ni Papa Pio XI noong 1926. Kabilang sa kanyang mga dakilang akda ang: Spiritual Canticle, Dark Night of the Soul, at Ascent of Mount Carmel na tumatalakay sa mga paghihirap na kailangang tiisin ng tao upang makamit ang ispiritwal na pag-unlad at pakikiisa sa Diyos. Lubos siyang naniwala na sa pamamagitan lamang ng pagkakait sa sarili, pagtalikod sa masama, pag-aayuno, pagsisisi sa kasalanan, mortipikasyon, asetismo, disiplina at, higit sa lahat, araw-araw na pagdarasal, maaaring makabahagi sa kaluwalhatian ng langit. Aniya, “Sa matinding pagsubok, agad lumapit sa Diyos nang buong pagtitiwala, at makatatanggap ka ng lakas, kaliwanagan at aral”. Kaisa ni San Juan dela Cruz, buong taimtin nating usalin sa mga sandali ng mga paghihirap at pagdurusa ang pahayag sa Salmo 57: 1-3. “Mahabag ka, O aking Diyos, Ikaw sana ay mahabag; Sa ‘Yo ako lumalapit upang ako ay maligtas, Pagkat aking nasumpungan sa lilim ng Iyong pakpak, Ligtas ako sa panganib hanggang ito ay lumipas. Yaong aking tinatawag, ang Diyos sa kalangitan, Ang Diyos na nagdudulot ng lahat kong kailangan Magmula sa kalangitan, diringgin ang aking hibik, Ang lahat ng kaaway ko’y lubos Niyang magagahis; Ang tapat N’yang pagmamahal at matatag na pag-ibig, Ihahayag ito ng Diyos, sa aki’y di ipagkakait.” Amen. TP
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A(l)-lel-(u)-i-(ah!)
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Aleli Francis S. Rivera
Praying the Rosary with Christ and Mary POPE FRANCIS HAD emphasized in his message last year on September 30, 2012, before the opening of the Year of Faith, that people need to “rediscover the rosary.” The Pope, having been inspired by the Feast of Our Lady of Rosary on the 18th of October, mentioned Mary as our model and that we must put her Son, Jesus Christ, as the center point of our Christian lives. The life, death and resurrection of Christ are depicted in the rosary in the form of joyful, sorrowful, luminous and glorious mysteries and these events in the life of Jesus inspire us to be open to the Holy Trinity and Their mysteries. Without Mary, there would truly have been no Christ; without Christ, we would not have been able to live fully by the gospel. Because Mary lived her life dedicated to God, the Creator chose her among all women to carry in her womb our Savior. Mary conceived by the Holy Spirit. And when Jesus Christ was born, she was delighted beyond words. Mary devoted herself entirely to her Son, and Jesus Christ belonged to His mother. The two lead the path of what is depicted in the Rosary, Mary eventually sees the picture of the life of Jesus, His future, and the plan of salvation, and she embraced the following events with all her heart. Mary had appeared to children and the old, in apparitions emphasizing the importance of the Rosary. Because Mary believes that praying is for the repentance of souls and eventually will lead us to salvation. Blessed John Paul II, soon to be canonized on April 27, 2014, had written an Apostolic Letter to the bishops, clergy and
lay faithful on the Most Holy Rosary entitled “Rosarium Virginis Mariae”. He said that praying the rosary blends us to the Christian way of living. The rosary is an “echo prayer” of Mary, as she puts her Son at the center of her life and we, too, contemplate with her the face of Christ. The Rosary is a powerful prayer of great significance, it is “the depth of gospel in its entirety”, a “training in holiness,” a “prayer of the heart.” Blessed John Paul II clearly knew the right timing of emphasizing the power of prayer, so that younger people amidst the changing times, will continue to reflect the value of putting Christ at their center and that way will guide them deeper to their spirituality. The rosary works wonders not just personally. It is a connection between families and communities. It is like a chain that binds all people around the world with one advocacy of putting Jesus at the center of our relationship with other people. And if we love our people, we love our God. TP [Sources: 1. Vatican.edu 2. Apostolic Letter of the Supreme Pontiff John Paul II to the Bishops, Clergy, and Lay Faithful on the Most Holy Rosary Rosarium Virginis Mariae (2002)]
See photos of parish activities posted in Facebook: Holy Spirit Parish-BFQC
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Ev-Angeli-um Angeli Francis S. Rivera
John 3:8: Wow “THE WIND BLOWS where it wills, and you can hear the sound it makes, but you do not know where it comes or where it goes; so is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.” (John 3:8, New American Bible) This passage from the book of John tells the story between Jesus and a member of the Sanhedrin (a Jewish Council) called Nicodemus. Nicodemus asked Jesus, “How can a person once grown old be born again?” and Jesus responded by saying that one enters the Kingdom of God by being born of water and Spirit. Jesus discourses about matters pertaining to our faith and salvation. From the passage, it can be deduced that Jesus was talking about the third person in the Trinity, the Holy Spirit. The word wind in the passage above is from the Greek word, pneuma and the Hebrew, Ruah. In other words, the Spirit. The Church and the Holy Spirit. The relationship between the Church and the Holy Spirit can be seen from the work of the Trinity. Put simply, “The Church is willed by the Father, created by the Son and animated by the Holy Spirit.” This affirms that the Church is necessary for our salvation; she is a “sacrament” (in visible and historical forms) in the great plan of salvation. She comes from the Trinity, fashioned after the image of the Trinity and she journeys towards the second coming of Christ. The Spouse of the Church is the Spirit. Some clarifications: The Spirit is not the
Church and the Church does not/cannot own the Spirit. The Spirit creates and precedes the Church. The Spirit precedes the Church because He exists before time began. He creates the Church because He is “the life-giving” Spirit. In other words, the Church is the Temple of the Spirit. This also means that the Church’s origin, existence and continued life are from the Spirit. All parts of the Church are creations of the Spirit: a. Individual communities or local churches (cf. 1 Cor. 3:6-7) → diocese, basic communities b.The entire Church/Universal Church (cf. Eph. 2:17-22) → Roman Catholic Church c. Individuals or “us” (cf. 1 Pet. 2:4-7) Therefore, the Spirit “…bestows many and varied charismatic and hierarchical gifts.” (Vatican II Council’s Constitution of the Church, Lumen Gentium, no. 4) Explanation: The word “hierarchy” literally means “sacred order” or “principle.” This pertains to the divinely willed distribution of orders and ministries of the Church (e.g. Pope, bishops, priests). The word “charism” is from the Greek word, charisma, meaning free gift or favor. This refers to supernatural gifts bestowed by the Spirit for building up the Body of Christ. The Body of Christ connotes the Church and she is being animated (given life), guided and united in communion by the Spirit. In the Spirit: “…we were all baptized into one body… the body is not a single part,
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but many. Now you are Christ’s body and individual parts of it. Strive eagerly for the greatest spiritual gifts.” (cf. 1 Cor. 12:12-31). “For as in one body we have many parts, and all the parts do not have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ and individually one part of one another. Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us exercise them.” (cf. Rom. 12:3-8). Explanation: These Pauline passages convey again the Body of Christ imagery of the Church and the Spirit which animates the Church by giving abundant gifts or charisms. Like a human body, the Body of Christ is organic (living). It has different parts that are needed to function. The parts work together despite having different functions. Like a human body, the Body of Christ needs a head, and the head of the Body is Jesus Christ Himself. Imagine a human body without a head, it will totally not function at all! So this is the same with the Church. She can never be disassociated with Christ, the Head. On the other hand, charism is God’s call to an individual person in view of a specific service within the community, including the ability to perform the service. Charisms can be public/ private, for individual/group, temporary/ permanent and extra ordinary/ordinary. There’s a variety of charisms. But how do we discern them? We discern them by seeing their fruits: joy, peace and love – love above all, which is used to build up the Body of Christ (the Church). Charism is the gift of the Spirit and is always directed towards the common good (the sum total of living conditions that enable persons to fully and readily achieve their human potential). What are the consequences of this theology on the Church as temple of the Spirit? First, all have charisms. Second, salvation is communitarian.
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This means all have to work together (a body working together) for our salvation. Third, we need spirituality and this can be exercised by having a better relationship with God through prayer, works of charity and many other endeavors. And lastly, participation is needed in the Church. That participation should be full, conscious and always active. Despite the variety of gifts or charisms, all are in unity, all are with the same goal – to build up the Church. Building up the Church is not the task of clergy alone but of everyone. TP Sources: · The Catholic Study Bible, Second Edition. New American Bible. Edited by Donald Senior and John J. Collins. New York: Oxford University Press, 2006. · Forte, Bruno. The Church: Icon of the Trinity. Makati Philippines: St. Paul Publications, 1990. · Komonchak, Joseph, Collins, Mary and Lane Dermont. The New Dictionary of Theology. Bangalore, India: Theological Publications in India, 2011. · Ecclesiology notes from Fr. James Kroeger, MM. Loyola School Theology. 2011-2012.
the Paraclete
The little paper that feeds on prayer Official Newsletter published quarterly by the Parish Pastoral Council, Parish of the Holy Spirit, Nepomuceno Street, BF Homes, Quezon City. Tel. 931-3995 Editor-in-Chief
Abraham M. de la Torre
Contributors Angeli Francis S. Rivera Aleli Francis S. Rivera Lilia F. Antonio Adviser
Rev. Fr. Bobot Clemen
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THE PHILIPPINE GUANELLIAN CHARITIES FOUNDATION, INC. THE MISSION OF this one-year old Foundation is “to provide and give assistance to the less privileged people, the elderly, special children and the disabled through appropriate medical, educational, caring and feeding programs.” Conceptualized by Sr. Arlene Riccio of the Daughters of St. Mary of Providence (the Guanellian sisters they are also called, named so after their founder, St. Luigi Guanella), the Foundation was organized mostly by residents of BF Homes, Quezon City. The Sacred Heart Center, initially located in Chioco St., BF Homes, is now located at Lilac St. in Fairview, Quezon City has, for at least 15 years, been dedicated to caring for special children and the elderly. Recently, the Guanellian sisters opened the Holy Family Center along Holy Spirit Drive, Quezon City where activities for the elderly have been transferred. The Sacred Heart Center will henceforth solely cater to special children. The Foundation seeks to collaborate with various sectors and appeals to the generosity of
the special children. Needed equipment include those for the use of children with cerebral palsy, downs syndrome, autism, and other special
Guanellian sisters postulants Mitch and Tess with volunteers and a special child under the care of The Sacred Heart Center
conditions. The Physical Therapy room also needs better equipment. This is currently stocked with a few pieces of hand-me-down equipment. Further information may be obtained from the following: Benjie Fernandez at Tel No. 551-4462; Noel Tamase at Tel. No. 819-09-61 and Ham De la Torre at Tel. No. 931-3995 or from any of the Guanellian sisters. TP
Two of the special children of The Sacred Heart Center
well-meaning individuals and corporate sponsors. Specifically with respect to the Sacred Heart Center, its present initiative is to build their capabilities in Occupational Therapy which is The Sacred Heart Center’s Physical Therapy deemed crucial to the development and growth of room