NEW NOTES November 2012 by Mel Libre

NEW NOTES TawagAwit Newsletter

November 2012

REMEMBERING JOHN PAUL II Brave brethren carried on with the celebration of the feast day of Blessed John Paul II (the patron of TawagAwit) on October 20, 2012 in the BJPII Mass Centre, Albany, New Zealand. For the days leading toward the feast, volunteers including members of TawagAwit participated in the novena masses and in making buntings and other decorations. When the day came, the clouds were dark and the rain nearly washed away all of the decorations, but Fr Sam Pulanco and the members of the mass centre were not deterred as they observed a short, yet meaningful procession.

We Need You TawagAwit invites you to help in spreading God’s Word through music and otherPLACE acts of love. PHOTO HERE, OTHERWISE DELETE BOX 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.

The congregation filled to capacity the worship place when Fr David Tonks of the Diocese of Auckland celebrated the mass assisted by Fr Sam. He told of some highlights of John Paul II’s life, mentioning the biggest gathering of people during the World Youth Day in the Philippines. The joint choir consisting of members from three ministries, namely Light of Jesus, Couples for Christ, and TawagAwit led in the offering of the missal songs. Prior to the final blessing, Fr Tonks announced that Fr Sam will reassigned in Kerikeri in the beginning of 2013 with an assurance that the mass centre will not be orphaned. Following the mass was lunch with more than enough food shared, and the fun part when children, youths and matured members of the parish presented numbers and joined in the games. Fr Sam confided to Bro Mel B Libre, Lead Servant, in a philosophical manner: “The rain was rather strong, but this did not discourage us from celebrating. I may not be here, but the Holy Spirit will strengthen the faithful in their support to BJPII Mass Centre.

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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

ST PEDRO CALUNGSOD by Bro Mel B Libre OTOFilipinos HERE, in New Zealand on the While there was not muchPLACE fanfare PH among sainthood of Pedro Calungsod, in the Philippines especially in Cebu (where Calungsod is claimed to have been born) and in Vatican, the celebration reached its summit on October 21, 2012. On the occasion of his canonization I wrote this piece: Prior to Vatican II, the priest said the mass in Latin with the sacristan responding at designated parts. It was therefore important that a catechist accompanied the priest in his tasks, including missions. One of those catechists was Pedro Calungsod who served the Jesuit Mission in Guam with Spanish priest Fr. Diego Luis de San Vitores in the 1600s. He and the priest died on April 2, 1672 when two natives of Tumhon village attacked them with spears and a cutlass because of baptizing a baby girl. The bodies of the two were never found, as these were thrown into the sea. On October 21, 2012, Pope Benedict XVI canonized the Philippines' second saint Pedro Calungsod together with 6 others, before 80,000 people in St. Peter's Square in Vatican City. In the Philippines, millions of Filipinos celebrated Calungsod's sainthood in churches, public places and homes. Among Filipinos of old, having a sacristan or a priest in a family gave a sense of pride and a place of honor in the community. Which reminds us of a Gospel reading: “James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to Jesus and said to him, "Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you." He replied, "What do you wish me to do for you?" They answered him, "Grant that in your glory we may sit one at your right and the other at your left." Jesus said to them, "You do not know what you are asking. Can you drink the cup that I drink or be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?" They said to him, "We can." Jesus said to them, "The cup that I drink, you will drink, and with the baptism with which I am baptized, you will be baptized; but to sit at my right or at my left is not mine to give but is for those for whom it has been prepared." (Mark 10:35-40) To be of service to God is to follow the path of service, sacrifice and suffering. “But it shall not be so among you. Rather, whoever wishes to be great among you will be your servant; whoever wishes to be first among you will be the slave of all.” (Mark 10:4344) One should never aim to be at the pedestal among men, rather to fulfill the mission that each one of us is called: to serve our fellowmen. Pedro Calungsod followed the path of service, sacrifice and suffering. He died a martyr. Now he stands tall among men, as a saint. His life serves as an example of what God expects of us as His disciples

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PLACE PHOTO HERE, OTHERWISE DELETE BOX

VATICAN NOTES: Pope’s Intentions: November 2012 General Intention: That believers may recognize in the Eucharist the living presence of the Risen One who accompanies them in daily life. Missionary Intention: That Christians in Europe may rediscover their true identity and participate with greater enthusiasm in the proclamation of the Gospel. ….The feast of All Saints should prompt Catholics to believe more deeply in eternal life, Pope Benedict XVI said. The day "reminds us of our eternal destiny, where we will dwell, as St. Thomas Aquinas says, in true and perfect light, total fulfillment, everlasting joy and gladness without end," he said Nov. 1, reciting the Angelus on the feast of All Saints. He urged people to "believe more strongly in eternal life and feel in true communion with our departed loved ones," who will be commemorated on the feast of All Souls, Nov. 2. "…Pope Benedict XVI expressed his concern for everyone affected by Hurricane Sandy and encouraged all those working to rebuild from the disaster. "Conscious of the devastation caused by the hurricane which recently struck the East Coast of the United States of America, I offer my prayers for the victims and express my solidarity with all those engaged in the work of rebuilding," he said Oct. 31 at the end of his weekly general audience. Nearly 1,000 miles wide, Sandy's strong gales reached to the Great Lakes. As of Oct. 31, it caused at least 55 deaths in seven states and left more than 8.5 million homes and businesses without power from the Carolinas to Ohio”… Migrants usually are forced to leave their countries because of poverty, hunger or violence, but faith and hope help them face their hardships and seek a better life elsewhere, Pope Benedict XVI said. The pope chose "Migrations: pilgrimage of faith and hope" as the theme for the 2013 celebration of the World Day of Migrants and Refugees, and issued a message that touched on many facets of what he called a "striking phenomenon" that raises "dramatic challenges"…Pope Benedict XVI surprised pilgrims in St. Peter's Square Oct. 24 by announcing he would create six new cardinals. The pope said the consistory to create the new cardinals would take place Nov. 24, the eve of the feast of Christ the King. The new cardinals include: US Archbishop James M Harvey, 63; Lebanon's Maronite Patriarch Bechara Rai, 72; Archbishop Baselios Cleemis Thottunkal, 53, head of the SyroMalankara Catholic Church; Nigerian Archbishop John Olorunfemi Onaiyekan of Abuja, 68; Colombian Archbishop Ruben Salazar Gomez of Bogota, 70; and Philippine Archbishop Luis Tagle of Manila, 55 (photo at left)... Proclaiming seven new saints, Pope Benedict XVI said they are examples to the world of total dedication to Christ and tireless service to others. An estimated 80,000 pilgrims from the United States, Canada, the Philippines, Italy, Spain, Germany and Madagascar filled St. Peter's Square for the canonization of the holy women and men who ministered among their people. The pilgrims applauded the proclamation of the new saints, namely: St Kateri Tekakwitha, an American Indian who was born in the United States and died in Canada in 1680; Mother Marianne Cope, a Sister of St. Francis who traveled from Syracuse, N.Y., to Hawaii to care for people with Hansen's disease and died in Molokai in 1918; and Pedro Calungsod, a teenaged Philippine catechist who was martyred in Guam in 1672; French Jesuit Father Jacques Berthieu, martyred in Madagascar in 1896; Italian Father Giovanni Battista Piamarta, founder of religious orders, who died in 1913; Sister Carmen Salles Barangueras, founder of a Spanish religious order, who died in 1911; and Anna Schaffer, a lay German woman, who died in 1925. (Catholic News Service)

NEW NOTES Page 4 So Laff :-) Sainthood is a fringe benefit, but more important for our souls is the eternal company of God. Invitation: +TawagAwit invites everyone to join the ministry: (1) St Mary’s Church, Northcote (2) St Thomas More Church, Glenfield (3) Our Lady of Lourdes Church, Glen Eden (4) St Mark’s Church, Pakuranga (5) St Patrick’s Church, Taupo (6) Blessed John Paul II Mass Centre, Albany (7) Mount Mary’s Church Titirangi

+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: The Philippine National Red Cross sent a letter acknowledging receipt of P100,232.00 that helped victims of the flooding in Manila. TawagAwit supported the GigAlive concert that raised part of the amount.

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PLACE LOGO OR http://www.tawagawit.host56.com PHOT O HERE email: tawagawit@gmail.com