NEW NOTES June 2011 by Mel Libre

NEW NOTES TawagAwit Newsletter

June 2011

MIRACLE IN FEAST Ann de Guzman led in the grand singing of “The Power of Your Love”, as she completed her Voice Technique Workshop during the Food & Music FEAST on May 15, 2011. Not only did she share the ways to further improve group singing, she sang beautifully while accompanying participants on the piano. It was a miracle happening right before the eyes of everyone in attendance. Two days earlier an email message was sent by Ann to TawagAwit that read: “I’m all set to do the Workshop on Sunday but the problem is my voice is really bad, mainly due to a cough that I’ve been battling with for the last 2 months. I don’t know why it has gone to worse…If my voice doesn’t recover by Saturday, may I reschedule another time with your musicians? So sorry about this. I still want to push through with the workshop but it’s gonna be weird talking about vocal technique with my voice croaking. Please pray for my healing.”

We Need You TawagAwit invites you to help in spreading God’s Word through music and other acts of love. You can be a: (1) member; (2) supporter or (3) organizer A member is one who can attend to the regular activities of the Ministry. The minimum participation are: attendance during practice sessions of songs, usually once a week or once every two weeks AND singing with the group during the assigned mass usually once a month or once every two months. A supporter is one who can donate services or resources to the Ministry. There are special events that TawagAwit organizes and the events need finances or helping hands. An organizer is one who initiates the formation of a chapter in a parish. The Ministry will provide all the assistance within its means to help in the vital task.

Bro Mel B Libre, Lead Servant, urged all members of the ministry to include in their prayers that night the healing of Ann. The succeeding day, Ann said that she was almost well and would be present during the FEAST. That Sunday, Ann had been totally healed, sharing her gifts of knowledge and music in a wellattended celebration of prayers, songs and food. With the theme, “Counting the Blessings”, the FEAST held at St Mary’s Northcote had messages from Fr Craig Dunford, Fr Larry Rustia, Bro Cyril Bas and Bro Mel, performances from all the chapters and the workshop from professional musician/voice coach Ann de Guzman. And the food, delicious! Thank you to all who contributed to the success of the FEAST. As Bro Mel shared, “You are the blessings of TawagAwit; you are the blessings of the Lord.”

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Our Vision: Harmony in the World

Our Mission: To spread God’s Word through music and other acts of love.

Our Values: Godliness We believe in God and live His Word. Offering We share our talents, time and resources for God’s greater glory. Devotion We commit ourselves to the mission of the Ministry. Love We love God with all of our heart will all our soul, with all our minds and with all our strength. Originality We promote artistry and creativity to express our faith. Victory over Sin We fight Satan in each and every moment of our lives. Evangelization We bring the Light of God to those who are in the dark. Sustainability We contribute and manage our resources effectively. Unity We are one with the Lord, one with the Church, one with the community, and one with the Ministry.

For more information about TawagAwit, please contact Bro Mel Libre sl at tawagawit@gmail.com

T TawagAwit St Patrick’s pose for a photo after the mass offerings.

Quick Notes: TawagAwit-St Patrick’s Taupo sang its

first missal offering on May 1 with members numbering more than 30. The well-attended mass was sponsored by the Filipino community in Taupo. Kaylene Carson accompanied the group as Fr Fr Leonard Danvers presided the mass…TawagAwitBlessed Pope John Paul II Mass Centre in Massey University, Albany had its first music offering on May 22 had 12 brethren from the area, while 10 members from TawagAwit-Our Lady of Lourdes came to support. This new chapter sings every fourth Sunday of the month, 10:30am. Our servant leaders in the chapter include Sis Nida Gray, Sis Rexy T Jose and Bro Paul-Sis Jane Angeles (the latter couple are one of the pioneering members of TawagAwit in 2007). The group has the blessing of Fr Sam Pulanco…Petrysse Jhasleen Gayaman, first child of Bro Peter and Sis Jamelle Gayaman, was baptized by Fr Benedict Francis on May 28 at St Thomas More Glenfield. TawagAwit members, as well as, close friends of the couple joined in the christening. Welcome to the Christian community, PJ…TaYo: TawagAwit Youth will perform during the Philippine Independence Day celebration in Auckland on June 11, 2011 at the Westlake Boys Gymnasium in the North Shore.

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Vatican Notes: General Intention: That priests, united to the Heart

Thanks to all who joined and supported the event

of Christ, may always be true witnesses of the caring and merciful love of God. Missionary Intention: That the Holy Spirit may bring forth from our communities numerous missionary vocations, willing to fully consecrate themselves to spreading the Kingdom of Godâ&#x20AC;ŚIn giving priority to Gregorian chant and to classical liturgical music, the Catholic Church is not trying to limit anyone's creativity but is showcasing a tradition of beautiful prayer, Pope Benedict XVI wrote. Music at Mass should reflect the fact that the liturgy "is primarily the action of God through the church, which has its history, its rich tradition and its creativity," the pope said in a letter marking the 100th anniversary of the Pontifical Institute of Sacred Music. In the letter, released by the Vatican May 31, the pope wrote that sometimes people have presented Gregorian chant and traditional church music as expressions "to be overcome or disregarded because they limited the freedom and creativity of the individual or community." But, he said, when people recognize that the liturgy does not belong to an individual or parish as much as it belongs to the church, then they begin to understand how, while some expressions of local culture are appropriate, priority should be given to expressions of the church's universal culture. He said music used at Mass must convey a "sense of prayer, dignity and beauty," should help the faithful enter into prayer -- including through use of music that reflects their culture -- and should keep alive the tradition of Gregorian chant and polyphonyâ&#x20AC;Ś In a world marked by new forms of slavery and injustice, the church must evangelize constantly and fearlessly -- even in the face of persecution, Pope Benedict XVI said. The pope, addressing directors of the Pontifical Mission Societies May 14, said Catholic activity at every level needs to be infused with the missionary spirit. "All the sectors of pastoral life, of catechesis and of charity should be characterized by the missionary dimension: the church is mission," he said. Evangelization, he added, must begin with a firm faith and an enthusiastic desire to share it with others. The church's evangelization efforts are aimed at "transforming the world according to God's plan," leading men and women to "read freedom" and out of all forms of slavery, he saidâ&#x20AC;ŚEven though it is in the nature of every human being to seek God, creating the kind of inner state necessary for prayer is difficult, Pope Benedict XVI said. "Prayer is first and foremost a matter of the heart where we experience God's call and our dependence on his help to transcend our limitations and sinfulness," the pope said May 11 at his weekly general audience. Prayer is an inner activity, "a way of being before God," and not a series of formulas, words and gestures, he said. Because prayer is rooted so deeply in the individual's inner being, it is "not easily decipherable" and is "difficult," he said. Prayer is a privileged moment for self-giving and putting oneself before "the invisible, the unexpected, the ineffable," and for that reason "the experience of prayer is a challenge for everybody, a grace to be invoked and a gift" from God, he said. (All items taken from Catholic News Service)

NEW NOT ES Page 4 So Laff :-) The first cry of a newborn is the sweetest music of all. Mass Offerings in New Zealand June 5 11:15am Good Shepherd, Balmoral June 12 10:30am St Mary’s, Northcote June 26 10:30am Blessed John Paul II, Albany Invitation: +TawagAwit invites everyone to join the ministry: (1) The St Mary’s Church, Northcote (2) St Thomas More Church, Glenfield (3) Our Lady of Lourdes Church, Glen Eden (4) Good Shepherd Church Balmoral (East Auckland) (5) St Patrick’s Church, Taupo (6) Blessed John Paul II Mass Centre, Albany

+Should you be in another area in New Zealand or other parts of the world, TawagAwit will help organize a chapter. Existing music groups or choirs can also affiliate as a chapter. Email: librelaw@yahoo.com

Photo at right: Fr Benedict Francis baptizes Petrysse Jhasleen Gayaman as mother Jamelle caresses her on May 28 at St Thomas More Glenfield

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