10 January 2010-The Baptism of the Lord
Gospel : Luke 3 : 15 – 22 Year C All the people were baptised …. Was there really such a rush to come to John the Baptist? What matters! Through whatever really happened long ago, St. Luke puts before us a vast crowd of people, all those who, down through the centuries, will come to receive Baptism, the crowds of sinners of all times who will aspire to a better life. You come to mix with them; You show solidarity with this sinful people. You join with them on the road to conversion in having Yourself Baptised like them. Thus You can better draw them with You, and make them into the people of the children of God. Jesus was praying …. You pray at the moment of Your Baptism, You show us the way to conversion and...
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Culion Mission expresses its gratitude to Filipinos in Dublin
(Note: Below is an email from Fr. Xavier “Javy” Alpasa, SJ who is based in Culion, Palawan, Philippines. He extends his gratitude to all the Filipinos in Dublin especially those who participated in the Simbang Gabi Masses where all mass offerings were sent to Fr. Javy’s mission in Culion. The total amount sent to him was 2,310 Euros or 153,638.10 Philippine pesos.) MARAMING SALAMAT SA MGA NAGMAMAHAL NA KABABAYAN Isang maluwalhating pagbati ng pasko sa inyong lahat na mga kababayang Pilipino diyan sa Dublin. Sumasabog ang aming puso sa pasasalamat sa napakalaking biyaya na inyong ipinadala para sa mga maralitang kapatid natin dito sa Culion, Palawan. Napakasayang sorpresa ang tawag ni Fr. Rene at isang kamangha-manghang pagtulong ang ginagawa niyo. Hindi niyo naman kami kilala ngunit salamat sa langit at pinagtagpo ang ating landas. Dumating ang inyong tulong sa...
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4th Sunday of Advent-20 December 2009
Luke 1 : 39 – 45 Year C Mary set out quickly ….. Why is Mary in such a hurry? She reminds us of the haste of God, the divine Spouse of the Song of Songs: Leaping over the mountains, bounding over the hills (Song. 2:8) to go to free His exiled people. It is the same desire that presses You, Lord, to come and free us from our sins. And it is You Who inspires Mary, Your Mother to hasten to the mountains of Judea, to carry to John the joyful news of Your coming on earth. And me, what about me? What is my enthusiasm to follow You? and firstly to hear Your voice? Be quick to listen! recommends St. James (Jas.1:19) …. quick to listen through the words of Scripture … And through the calls which...
read more3rd Sunday of Advent-13 December 2009
Gospel : Luke 3 : 10 – 18 Year C Crowds came to be baptised …. “Crowds”: The word could seem like an exaggeration. Without doubt crowds are seen heading to where something extraordinary is happening … However when it’s about a call to conversion, to penitence …. it’s another story! There is not such enthusiasm! But the word draws us forward from the time of John the Baptist. It is to the crowds of the whole world and of all eras, it is to us, to-day, that this call is addressed. We are all called to come and “be baptised”, to come and “immerse” ourselves in the divine water which You bring us, Lord. What must we do? That’s the important question! What do You expect of me, Lord? What do You want me to do? And it’s...
read more2nd Sunday of Advent – 6 December 2009
Gospel : Luke 3 : 1 – 6 Year C In the fifteenth year of the reign of the Emperor Tiberius … Your coming among us, Lord Jesus, is important to all people. St. Luke makes this understood by naming all the celebrities of the world at that time, civil and religious, Jews and Pagans. He calls them all together to come and listen to the message transmitted through John the Baptist, a call to welcome Him Who comes to save them. This message is addressed also to us to-day, to all people …. I must hear it, and re-hear it to let it enlighten my life, and also to make it known to others. John went through the whole Jordan district …. John was “the voice” which proclaimed the Word of God. It is the mission of Christians...
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Five New SSS Professed Religious
It was on October 31, 2009 that five SSS scholastics who joined the International Preparation for Perpetual Profession Program (IP4) made their Perpetual Vows which was presided by the Very Reverend Father Fiorenzo Salvi, SSS, Superior General of the Congregation of the Blessed Sacrament at Sta. Cruz Parish, Sta. Cruz, Manila, Philippines. They were Br. Mario Jose Parlingayan, SSS from the Philippines, Br. Emil Indika Rodrigo, SSS from Sri Lanka, and Brs. John Baptist Tran Dihn Thang, SSS, Dominic Mai Xuan Thoung, SSS and Joseph Nguyen Minh Toan, SSS from Vietnam. It was a great joy for the Congregation to celebrate this event in the occasion of the Year for Priests. Let us pray for them that they will be faithful followers and servants of the Church and that they may persevere in their chosen vocation. To view some...
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SSS General’s visit to the Philipines
The Blessed Sacrament community in Davao City, Philippines was blessed to be visited by the superiors of the Congregation of the Blessed Sacrament fathers and brothers. Last November 2-5, 2009, Fr. Fiorenzo Salvi, SSS (Superior General), Fr. Bong Luistro, SSS (Vicar General), and Fr. Jhess Malit, SSS (Provincial Superior-Philippines) visited the community. The visit was an opportunity for them to see the condition of the community and the parish it administers. They encouraged the religious and the people associated with the mission of the congregation to become effective Eucharistic evangelizers. In the Mass presided by Fr. Fiorenzo, he expressed his appreciation of the people’s participation in the mission and life of the Sacramentinos. During their stay in Davao, Fathers Fiorenzo, Bong and Jhess have a hectic schedule. Aside from meeting the various groups of the parish, they visited some...
read more1st Sunday of Advent – 29 November 2009
Gospel : Luke 21 : 25 – 36 Year C The end of a liturgical year directs our attention to Your “coming”, Lord, to Your return at the end of the world. The same message is proposed to us in preparation for the feast of Christmas. Your birth among us, at Bethlehem, is not a simple recollection. Like all the celebrations of the Liturgical year, it is a “memorial”, in the biblical sense of the word : it is an event which started long ago, 2000 years ago, and which continues to-day, and which will continue until Your final coming, at the end of time. Unceasingly You come into our lives: I stand at the door and knock. If someone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come to live with him (Apoc.3:20). Do we know how...
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Anniversary of the Dedication of The Shrine
Today the S.S.S. Community at Liverpool celebrates the Solemnity of the Anniversary of the Dedication of The Shrine. (In some modern liturgical commentaries this celebration is often referred to as the “Forgotten Solemnity”; overtones, perhaps, of when the Holy Spirit used to be referred to [in pre- Conciliar days!!] as the “Forgotten Paraclete!!” The Rite of Dedication of a Church and an Altar (Ordo dedicationis ecclesiae et altaris) was celebrated at The Shrine [canonically “oratory”] of the Blessed Sacrament, Dawson Street, Liverpool, by the Most Reverend Derek Worlock, C.H., Archbishop and Metropolitan of Liverpool, on Wednesday, 27th November, 1985. “The rite for the dedication of a church and an altar is rightly considered to be among the most solemn of all liturgical services. A church is the place where the Christian community is gathered to hear the Word...
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