NEW NOTES March 2011 by Mel Libre

NEW NOTES TawagAwit Newsletter

March 2011

REACH OUT IN TAUPO What a blessed day TawagAwit members experienced during the Alay Laya Parish Reach Out in Taupo on February 27, 2011: fine weather, great turnout of Filipino parishioners, beautiful singing and kind words of appreciation from churchgoers. Fr Leonard Danvers, parish priest of St Patrick‟s church, welcomed the visitors on February 26, giving an overview of the mass preparations and helping in the technical requirements. During the 9am mass on February 27, TawagAwit members, in white tops and blue jeans, led in the singing of songs suggested by Fr Danvers as well as the TawagAwit missal songs and two Filipino compositions, “Sa „yo Lamang” and “Lift Up Your Hands.”

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.

Deacon Viane Perez who delivered the homily commended the group for their songs, while Kaylene Carson, parish pianist, said that she‟d love to sing in the parish TawagAwit‟s original missal songs.

After the mass, tea was served, allowing members to mingle with parishioners. A number of people asked the 31-member delegation from West Auckland and East Auckland to return to sing in the future. A gathering with Filipino parishioners allowed Bro Mel B Libre to give a briefing on TawagAwit and initiated the formation of a TawagAwit chapter with Ms Carson as the group‟s pianist. Nearly 30 people signed up to join the group that aims to sing once every two months. TawagAwit members thank all their new friends in Taupo for the warm reception and most importantly to Bro Edwin & Sis Marie Silerio, assisted by Bro Deogen Chua, for organizing the whole event, including the delicious lunch in their home.

NEW NOT ES Page 2

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

Cover of the book Faith Bearers.

Quick Notes: Kassandra Claire, daughter of Bro Cyril and Sis Rose Bas, was christened by Fr Craig Dunford on February 5 at the St Mary’s Parish in Northcote. Friends of the couple including members of TawagAwit joined in the celebration that followed in Valentine’s Restaurant near Wairau… The Auckland Catholic Filipino Chaplaincy launched the book, The Faithbearers, that chronicles the faith journey of Filipino Catholics in New Zealand on February 6 at the War Veteran’s Museum. TawagAwit is featured in page 88. The event also served as a celebration of the retention of Fr Ruben Elago and Fr Gilbert Ramos as parish priest and assistant parish priest, respectively, of Good Shepherd Church in Balmoral…Fr Sam Pulanco, was installed as Chaplain of the Auckland Catholic Tertiary Chaplaincy on February 25 at the Maclaurin Chapel in the University of Auckland. Bishop Patrick Dunn celebrated the mass together with others priests and deacons. Fr Sam was able to obtain permission to hold mass every Friday in the Maclaurin Chapel during noon. Bro Mel B Libre is currently working with Fr Sam in the formation of Teachers in Sandals, a fellowship aimed at developing the speaking skills of Catholics…TawagAwit members joined in the Mass for Victims of the Christchurch earthquake officiated by Fr Reno Alima on February 28 at Our Lady of Lourdes Parish. After the mass, Fr Reno blest Bro Nani and Sis Ching Mandawe who marked their 25th wedding anniversary on March 1, 2011… Waray members of TawagAwit-St Thomas More will perform in the presentation entitled, “In Your Glory” (Kulturang Pananampalataya ng Pilipinas) on March 18 and 19, 2011 in Tauakau and Waiku where Fr Ralph Barcelo serves as parish priest. For those interested to witness this production, contact Bro Noel Borgueta 0212380964…Mash O’ Rhythm is one of the main features of Food & Music FEAST on May 15, 2010 at the St Mary’s Northcote Social Hall. Each of the chapters of TawagAwit has been requested to form their TaYo: TawagAwit Youth members into dance groups to perform a two minute original dance sequence with the finale featuring all dancers in a number created by Auckland International Carnival winning choreographer Jam Parado.

NEW NOT ES Page 3

Vatican Notes:

Food & Music

FEAST Counting the Blessings A TawagAwit Ministry Event 15 May 2011, 12:00pm, Auckland, New Zealand

Popeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s general intention for March 2011: "That the nations of Latin America may walk in fidelity to the Gospel and progress in justice and peace." His missionary intention is: "That the Holy Spirit may give light and strength to those in many regions of the world who are persecuted and discriminated against because of the Gospel."...Jesus proclaimed the Kingdom by referring to elements from his environment: fields, seeds, flocks and other images. Today, says Benedict XVI, we are called to discover new symbols and metaphors, in order to proclaim the Gospel to a digital culture. The Pope made this reflection on February 28 when he addressed participants in the plenary assembly of the Pontifical Council for Social Communications. The Holy Father centered his reflection on the concept of "language." He referred to his Message for World Communications Day, which speaks of the cultural transformation being brought about by new communications technology. "A new way of learning and thinking is being carried out, with unheard of opportunities to establish relationships and to build communion," he said. "If the new languages have an impact on the way of thinking and living, they also affect, in some way, the world of faith, its intelligence and its expression," he said. "[...] The digital culture poses new challenges to our capacity to speak and to listen to a symbolic language that speaks of transcendence."...Abortion is often touted as a solution, but in reality it destroys both women and men, Benedict XVI is affirming. The Pope underlined the "grave duty" of promoting the reality of abortion on February 26 in an address to participants in the 17th general assembly of the Pontifical Academy for Life. He acknowledged the tragedy of "postabortion syndrome -- the serious psychological difficulties often felt by women who have taken recourse to voluntary abortion." This syndrome, the Pontiff said, "reveals the irrepressible voice of the moral conscience," as well as "the grave wound it suffers each time that human action betrays the person's innate vocation to good."... Benedict XVI is proposing a journey with the Word of God this Lent and a deepening in the mystery of baptism. The Pope's annual Lenten message was released on February 22 with a theme from Colossians: "You were buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him." The Holy Father noted a "particular connection" between baptism and Lent, "as the favorable time to experience this saving grace." He observed how baptism's reception in infancy "highlights how it is a gift of God: no one earns eternal life through their own efforts. The mercy of God, which cancels sin and, at the same time, allows us to experience in our lives 'the mind of Christ Jesus,' is given to men and women freely." "Baptism," the Pope said, "is not a rite from the past, but the encounter with Christ, which informs the entire existence of the baptized, imparting divine life and calling for sincere conversion; initiated and supported by grace, it permits the baptized to reach the adult stature of Christ."...Our perfection is to live as children of God and to do his will, says Benedict XVI. The Pope affirmed on February 20 before he prayed the midday Angelus with crowds gathered in St. Peter's Square. Reflecting on the readings from Mass and their affirmation of "God's will to make men participants in his life," the Holy Father said that the Lord's invitation is audacious. "If we listen, then, to Jesus," he said, "in whom God took on a mortal body to become every man's neighbor and reveal his infinite love for us, we hear again that same call, that same objective audacity. The Lord, in fact, says: 'Be perfect as your Father in heaven is perfect.'"

NEW NOT ES Page 4 So Laff :-) Digital music still depends on the creativity of the human mind. Mass Offerings in New Zealand March 13 10:30am St Mary’s Parish, Northcote March 20 10:00am St Thomas More, Glenfield March 20 10:30amOur Lady of Lourdes, Glen Eden Invitation: +TawagAwit invites everyone to join the ministry: (1) The St Mary’s Church, Northcote meets every Sunday 11:30am at St Mary’s Church at Onewa Road (2) St Thomas More Church, Glenfield meets every other Friday 7:30pm at St Thomas More Church in Glenfield (3) Our Lady of Lourdes Church, Glen Eden meets every other Sunday afternoon (4) Good Shepherd Church Balmoral (East Auckland) chapter meets every other Saturday

+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: TawagAwit-St Mary’s chapter celebrate the christening of K.C. Bas

TAWAGAWIT http://www.tawagawit.host56.com email: tawagawit@gmail.com