OG NEWS

OG NEWS Official Publication of Open Gathering 2010

Issue 1

FILIPINO CHAPLAINCY BACKS OPEN GATHERING Open Gathering (OG), the annual Christmas event organized by TawagAwit, obtained a boost when Fr Ruben Elago and Dicdic del Castillo, leaders of the Auckland Catholic Filipino Chaplaincy (ACFC), gave their full support to this year’s celebration.

ACFC will provide the venue, Good Shepherd Parish, Balmoral, and coordinate the participation of lay organizations and its members in the annual event that is now on its fourth outing.

This year’s program is divided into four parts: Eucharistic celebration (11am); Food sharing (12:30pm) Choir/Group singing (1:30pm); and Entertainment/Gift-giving (3pm).

As in past celebrations, OG invites new migrants who will be treated to prayers, music, food, games and gifts. Long-time Filipino residents and those who have gained New Zealand citizenry cook their best dishes and donate gifts, while singing groups, music artists and dancers perform to entertain attendees.

“What is most miraculous each time we hold OG,” says Bro Mel B Libre, TawagAwit Lead Servant, “is the abundance of food and gifts brought by kind-hearted individuals. It is like we have more than three kings bringing gifts to the baby Jesus, who was like a migrant, a stranger in Bethlehem.”

OG will be held on Sunday, December 19, 2010.

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What is OG? OG: Open Gathering was conceived in 2007 during the formative year of TawagAwit, a Catholic Ministry spreading God’s Word through music and other acts of love.

Inspired by Luke 14:13, “Rather when you hold a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind,” TawagAwit held the first OG on December 23, 2007 at St Mary’s Parish Social Hall in Northcote, Auckland. Ninety people turned out to the activity with TawagAwit and guest artists singing Christmas carols, with Fr Craig Dunford sharing his thoughts about Christmas, with food and gifts shared to those invited, mostly new migrants.

The second OG was again held in St Mary’s, while in 2009, with the increasing number of invitees, the birthday celebration for Jesus Christ was in the Fr David Nolan Auditorium, St Joseph’s Parish, Takapuna.

In the initial outings, members of TawagAwit contributed their time, efforts and resources, with the kind assistance from friends who donated money during the group carolling. Last year, the North Shore Liturgical Group under the Auckland Catholic Filipino Chaplaincy (ACFC) gave its support. In 2010, Fr Ruben Elago and Dicdic del Castillo, leaders of ACFC, agreed to fully support the event at the Good Shepherd Parish, Balmoral.

Bro Mel B Libre, Lead Servant of TawagAwit, said, “What is most miraculous each time we hold OG is the abundance of food and gifts brought by kind hearted individuals. It is like we have more than three kings bringing gifts to the baby Jesus, who was like a migrant, a stranger in Bethlehem.”

The highlight of OG is the presentation of a specially baked cake by the children and offered to the baby Jesus as everyone sings, “Happy Birthday Jesus.” One new migrant who attended the activity in 2008 wrote: "We attended the Open Gathering today and I would just like to commend everyone from TawagAwit for the wonderful welcome. We enjoyed the songs that hit home and it was a fitting birthday celebration for the King of Kings…You have touched and lifted spirits today. We hope to pass the goodwill forward."

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Ten Ways to Make Christmas Meaningful

Many people look forward to Christmas for different reasons. For some, it is a break from work, while others find extra work with the increased business activities. For some, it is a time to play Santa Claus, while others expect gifts to come their way. For some, it is having fun, while others spend time to pray.

Whatever way we spend Christmas, it is important that we put the first six letters of the word Christmas on top of everything we do. All the rejoicing, gift giving and partying will be meaningless if we forget about the birth of Christ who brought hope and salvation to us, God’s children.

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To make Christmas meaningful, here are ten things to do: 1. Wish everyone a “Merry Christmas”. There is magical warmth to a Christmas greeting. It brings about a smile, a hug or even a kiss. Though you may not know it, you are actually evangelising – sharing the wonderful story of the King of Kings who was born in a manger.

2. Attend Christmas church services. To honour Jesus, we must attend masses where His presence is in the bread and the wine, His Body and His Blood. The mass is the highest form of celebration for faith believers.

3. Give affordable gifts to loved ones. The essence of Christmas is that of giving, for such was the reason for His being born on earth. He was so giving that He died for you and me.

4. Display the manger scene at home. Forget about Christmas trees, lanterns and Santa Claus. If there is a perfect reminder about the birth of Christ, then it is the Nativity scene that shows us of His humility and sacrifices.

5. Read the Bible and see a Christmas movie. By reading the Holy Book, one is able to strengthen the cord that binds us to our Creator. By reflecting on God’s Word, one can gain deeper insight on the love of the Lord to His people. There are many wonderful films that carry the message of hope, peace and love; most importantly the Nativity movie. These kinds of flicks seen together with family can bring about respect, closeness and understanding.

6. Give a stranger or a new migrant a treat. It is human to give to those whom we know and care for. It is divine to share what you have to others, especially the needy and the helpless. Joseph and Mary were migrants and strangers in Bethlehem and nobody opened their doors to give them shelter. If we open our hearts to strangers and migrants, we will have given shelter to Joseph, Mary and Jesus.

7. Sing a birthday song to Jesus and Christmas carols to believers and unbelievers. When Christ was born the angels sang “Gloria in excelsis Deo” that resonated in Heaven, Earth and even in Hell. Acclaiming Jesus through songs will certainly fill the void in the world. The power of a song can penetrate hearts of stone and disarm Satan and his minions.

8. Volunteer in a Christmas event. The shepherds and the Three Wise Men visited and adored the Child Jesus. They did not demand anything in return, for they came with love and awe. There are many events organised where you can be of help. Lend a hand and you will experienc e immense joy and inner peace.

9. Cook your best dish and share it with others. If Jesus was your guest what would you cook for Him? Surely, you will cook that you know best and have been complimented many times in the past. You would want Jesus to taste and savour your dish. Wouldn’t you be delighted if He says thank you and asks you for the recipe? In the physical absence of Christ, every other person represents Him; thus feeding others is actualising your finest cooking for Christ.

10. Join Open Gathering (or similar activities). What great experience it would be, if you joined Open Gathering (OG) where people party-to give, share and care. An OG will have artists sharing their talents, those who have more giving gifts to strangers, and everyone bringing food for a feast. While OG happens in Auckland on the Sunday prior to Christmas Day, it can definitely happen anywhere so long as there are people who want to make Christmas meaningful for themselves and for others. OG can best be described in Washington Irving’s quote: “Christmas is the season for kindling the fire of hospitality in the hall, the genial flame of charity in the heart.”

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OG:

Open Gathering

AUCKLAND CATHOLIC FILIPINO CHAPLAINCY Hosted by:

The Auckland Catholic Filipino Chaplaincy is one of the few ethnic chaplaincies in the Catholic Diocese of Auckland, New Zealand. The ACFC operates as a quasi-parish community based at the Good Shepherd Parish in Balmoral, Central Auckland. As a quasi-parish, it offers religious services such as regular Sunday Masses in Pilipino, weekly Wednesday Novena to Our Lady of Perpetual Help, fortnightly Bible apostolate, monthly devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, house to house rosary and various devotional practices to the Blessed Virgin.

The management of the Chaplaincy is a collaboration between the Chaplain and the ACFC Pastoral Council. The Pastoral Council is made up of ten members who are elected from the Filipino Community every two years and of representative from each of the different Catholic groups and associations in the Filipino community who are appointed or elected by their respective groups. As strategy for integration, the Chaplaincy is represented at the Good Shepherd Parish Council and the Diocesan Pastoral Council.

MISSION STATEMENT: The mission statement is to collaborate with the Bishop of Auckland and the Chaplain in the pastoral care of the Filipinos in the Auckland Diocese and to assist them in their journey towards maturity in Faith and towards integration into the local church and New Zealand society.

ACFC CHAIRMAN: Ma. Consuelo del Castillo CHAPLAIN: Fr. Ruben Elago, MSP

Organized by:

TawagAwit, a Catholic Ministry spreading

God’s Word through music and other acts of love

Support OG: Open

Gathering

Email: tawagawit@gmail.com Page 5 of 5