Spirit in the Wind – April 2014 Final
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Spirit in the Wind The Official Newsletter of March - April 2014 Self-denial in Lent By Fr. Dennis Soriano, Parish Priest ent is a thinks, what he wants,what brings joy to as Pope Francis puts it. (I distrust a charity Lfitting his heart. Prayer becomes complete only that costs nothing and does not hurt.) time for with self-denial. self-denial; we Almsgiving is an invitation to open would do well to Fasting and Abstinence ourselves to the opportunities to serve and ask ourselves what we can give up in Fasting and abstinence require us to to share. This is to make sure that our prayer order to help and enrich others by our discipline what we eat as a way to manage and fasting does not remain closed in into own poverty. Let us not forget that real even our basic needs in order that they the self. This is to make sure that the self poverty hurts: no self-denial is real may not be in the way of genuine faith, is denied of the usual attention, priority without this dimension of penance. I charity and service. Fasting helps us in a and time so that a genuine love of God and distrust a charity that costs nothing very physical way to turn away from self. neighbor may grow and bear fruit in the true and does not hurt. (from Pope Francis, And this we do with a compassionate spirit of Lent. Message for Lent 2014) regard for others. Whatever we deny ourselves in fasting and abstinence must Lent does not cost nothing. The true spirit Lent is the time for self-denial. This is the benefit the needy around us.Fasting from of Lent hurts for it demands self-denial that time to be selfless, to transcend the self and food comes with fasting from selfishness. leads to a focusing on the Lord in prayer, reach out to others. This is the time to take Abstaining from meat must translate to a preference towards others in fasting away the focus on “I”, “me” and “myself” abstaining from sin. and abstinence, and taking on service in and spend more time for “they”and “them”. almsgiving. Fasting or abstaining for reasons of This is what the “tripod” of Lent helps health, diet and beauty is not enough to As Pope Francis reminds us that no self- us to do. This is what prayer, fasting and appropriate the demand of penitence, for denial is real without this dimension of almsgiving do for Lent. These are aids for they still focus on the self. A fasting that penance, that a charity that costs nothing self-denial. They help us go beyond the self. makes us more sensitive to the needs and does not hurt is distrustful, may we make of others, an abstinence that grows into this season of Lent a season of selflessness. Prayer humility and charity, only these A common definition of prayer is that it is lead us to the true spirit of Lent. communication with God. In prayer we tell God what we want, what we need, what we Almsgiving like our life to be. In prayer we tell God what Turning away from the self we think, what we feel, what is happening to and turning toward God and us. But this is only half of the fact because neighbors bear fruit in wanting prayer is also about listening to God, about to help, to give and be generous. union with him and abiding in the Lord. Almsgiving refer not only to And this entails a denial of the self. a few pesos or some other surplus that one gives away. Beyond what-we-want and what-we-need, No. Almsgiving is about giving what-we-think and what-we-feel, prayer oneself – a giving of time, talent demands a focusing on God – what he and treasure, ina way that hurts, http://www.ourladyofpentecostparish.org | twitter.com/#!/ladyofpentecost | www.facebook.com/ourladyofpentecostparish Evangelii Gaudium Fr. Dennis Santos Soriano talks about the Apostolic Exhortation of Pope Francis, the Evangelii Gaudium • Page 2 • March - April 2014 Spirit in the Wind Taize n the evening of January 3, O2014, a program organized by the Youth Ministry of the Our Lady of Pentecost Parish was held right after the 6:30 pm First Friday Mass. This event, known as the Taize Prayer Session, featured the reading of the Gospel, a short reflection from the Assistant Parish Priest, Fr. Jojo Monis, and the singing of religious songs led by the Sisters from the Handmaids from the Sacred Heart of Jesus among others. This program also involved a short activity wherein the attendees were encouraged to write their offerings to the Lord on a paper and were made to drop them in front of the altar after kneeling in prayer. Simple yet meaningful and enlightening, the 1.5-hour happening was a great opportunity to reconnect with the Lord in a solemn and peaceful environment. It served as a quick and personal retreat geared towards prayer and self-reflection. seminary chapel, Mary Help of Christian Theologate, San Fabian, Pangasinan Pilgrimage of Lectors to manaoag Our Lady of Pentecost Parish • March - April 2014 • Page 3 • PAGUSAPAN NATIN ni Jojo at Ditsy Sumpaico Ang Responsible Parenthood at Natural Family Planning (RP-NFP) sa Pentecost oong kalagitnaan ng taong Hindi madali maging NFP Mula naman kay Maritess N2013 ay naimungkahi ng Counselor, pero masaya. Ibang Agas, siya raw ay masaya sa ating mahal na kura paroko saya ang mararamdaman ginagawa niyang pagtulong na ilunsad na ang programang mo lalo’t may nagagawa para sa ibang pamilya at ang RP-NFP sa ating parokya. Kaya makatulong sa iba. Kaya gusto mapaunawa ang kahalagahan kami ay nakipagugnayan sa kong mas lawakan pa ang ng NFP sa kanilang buhay. John Carroll Institute of Social kaalaman ko bilang Counselor Ang pangarap naman niya ay Issues na isang organisasyon na at maituro sa iba lalo na sa “mapalawak at mabigyan ng sumusuporte sa pagpapalawig komunidad namin. Ang daming katuparan ang lahat ng aming ng Natural Family Planning kabataang maagang nasabak sa inaasam na makatulong sa Methods. Noong October 2013, pagiging ina at mga salat sa pera, ating (parokya) komunidad. naglunsad ng unang seminar na kaya kahit kami ay voluntary lang Hangad kong madami pa nagsanay ng 13 kasama nating ay masaya naman sa ginagawa. ang sumuporta sa ganitong mga taga Pentecost bilang mga adhikain at patnubayan po NFP counselors. Siguro pangarap ko sa kaming lahat ng ating Mahal komunidad naming magkaroon na Poon.” Ang mga sumusunod ay mga kami kahit isang araw na session personal na testimonya mula para sa mga nanay at mag-asawa Si Alma Garcia naman ng sa mga RP-NFP counselors ng para ituro ang kahalagahan taga Area 3 ng Daan Tubo OLPP. Ito ay aming pinagtagni- ng Natural Family Planning, ay nagsabi na masaya tagni para magkaroon kayo ng ang Responsibilidad bilang siya sa natutunan niyang ideya kung ano na ang ating magulang at bilang tao. paggamit ng NFP at hindi pinagkakaabalahan tungkol sa ang contraceptive method paksang ating tinatalakay. Ganon din sana sa ibang lugar. na may mapanirang epekto Kaya dapat kailangan mas sa katawan. Siya rin ay Mula kay Mrs. Pamela Casas na sanayin pa naming ang sarili sa nagpapasalamat sa mga isang NFP counselor at miyembro pagtuturo. Isipin na lang kami bumubuo ng gawaing ito. ng SIKAP at Family & Life ng ay isang guro.” Pentecost. Kaya nga , mga kasama Ang pinakamagandang sa Pentecost Parish tayo “Ang pinakamagandang karanasan naman ni Analyn po ay may alternatibo experience ko bilang NFP Desuyo ay ang magturo ng NFP sa isinusulong ng ilang Counselor sa Daan Tubo ay sa mga nanay na gustong matuto mambabatas tungkol sa nakakaencounter ako ng iba’t ng Natural Family Planning programang Reproductive ibang expression ng mukha kasama ang kanilang mga asawa Health Program. Tayo po habang nagtuturo ako. Nandiyan at ang kanyang pangarap para nagsusumikap sa tulong yung, namamangha sila kasi sa kanyang komunidad ay sana ng maraming kaparokya ngayon lang nila narining ang lahat ay matutong gumamit ng upang mapalaganap ang NFP. Sabi pa nila, “Sana nuon Natural Family Planning para programang ito. ko pa natutunan yan para hindi hindi na sila gumamit ng mga dumami anak ko!” Siyempre ako artipisyal na nagiging sanhi Sana, magkaisa tayo at bilang NFP Counselor dapat mas ng hindi maganda sa kanilang magtulungan. lalo kung ituro sa kanila. katawan. • Page 4 • OctoberMarch - April 2012 •2014 Spirit in the Wind “Give them food yourselves” Reflections at OLPP’s stewardship assembly ni Jojo at Ditsy Sumpaico hat better way to nourish the be expressed first and W“Five Loaves, Two Fish” stewards foremost in the sharing than to reflect on the story from of a meal. The crowd is which the parish stewardship program not unlike a parish, Fr. draws its name? This was what resource Phil said, whose members speaker Fr. Phil Estrella did at OLPP’s first do not choose each stewardship assembly held last December other, and where all the 7, 2013. Going deep into the Gospel members all start out as account of the miracle of the loaves and disconnected individuals, fish (Matthew 14:15-18), Fr. Phil led but are eventually stewards to rich insights on trusting the brought together in Lord, and on forming community. community, especially in the Eucharist. Fr. Phil began by describing how, at the start of the Gospel story, the disciples are “Give them food moved by a worldly wisdom. Seeing that yourselves” it is late and the place is deserted, they urge Jesus to “dismiss the crowds” so that What did Jesus mean is truly ‘of the people,’ and not reserved to these people could “go to the villages and when He said “Give them food yourselves?” certain situations, groups or movements; a buy food for themselves.” Fr.