Talk On Rosary

Forty-nine priests: 44 diocesan and 5 Dominicans met at the Dominican Youth Center, General Santos City on 11 October 2011 to grow a little bit in Marian spirituality.

Fr. Rolando M. Castro, OP, professor, Ecclesiastical Faculties, University of Sto. Thomas, Manila was the sharer/spiriter.

October is the month of the rosary.

 Mary is a Model of the Rosary because she is the most faithful disciple of the Lord.  Like Jesus, Mary was always obedient to God’s will.  “Fiat”, let it be done to me according to your word. (cf. Lk. 1:38).

The Rosary is a simple prayer.  Christo-centric.  A compendium of the Gospel.  Meditation/contemplation is essential to the recitation of the rosary. (cf. Apostolic Letter “Rosarium Virginis Mariae”, John Paul II, 2002).

There were instances  when the recitation of the rosary helped defeat the enemies of the Catholic Church: La Naval against the Dutch and Lepanto against the Turks.

 Thank you, Fr. Roland.  Thank you, Fr. Bien, “recruiter” of resource persons.  Thank you Dominican Fathers for hosting the recollection.

Annual Retreat, Diocesan Clergy

Thirty-nine (39) priests from Marbel Diocese made their annual retreat on 2-4 August 2011 at St. Ezekiel Moreno Spirituality and Development Center, Brgy.San Jose, Puerto Princesa City, Palawan.

Theme: “The Clergy Amidst Today’s Burning Issues”.

Bishop Pedro Arigo of Puerto Princesa Vicariate was the main facilitator.  He was assisted by Fr. Joseph Philip Trayvilla, OAR and Fr. Anthony Irineo, OAR.

Fr. Trayvilla gace the introduction.  Three points: (1) Priests must be receptive to God’s message of renewal; (2) The need for priests to be formed into Christ’s image – union  with Jesus, the High Priest; (3) priests must be men of action and contemplation.  Receptive    formed   .   acts of love.

Questions for reflection: (1) Am I growing in holiness? (2) fraternal love?; and (3) apostolic zeal?

Fr. Anthony Irineo, OAR shared his reflections on the song “You are Mine”

1. “I will come to you in the silence”.  Elijah encountered God in a gentle breeze ( 1 Kg 19: 9-18).  Silent moment with God.  Prayer before Blessed Sacrament.

2. “I will lift you from all your fears” Jesus said: “courage.  Do not be afraid (Mt. 14:28).

3. “You will hear my voice.  I claim you as my choice”.  The sheep follow their shepherd because they recognize his voice. (cf. Jh. 10: 1-4).

4. “Be still and know I am here”.  “Be quiet before Yahweh and wait patiently for him” (Ps. 37:7).  “Pause a while and know that I am God” (Ps. 46: 10).  In silence and quiet one feels God’s presence.

5. “I am hope for all who are hopeless”.  For you alone are my hope, Lord, Yahweh I have trusted you since my youth” (Ps. 71:5).  Trust in God when everything seems hopeless.

6. “I am eyes for all who long to see”.  Jesus asked the blind Bartimaeus: “what do you want me to do for you?  The blind man answered: “Master, let me see again” (cf. Mt. 10: 51-52).  To see again, we need God’s “eyes”.  See the world again through God’s eyes.

7. “In the shadows of the night, I will be your light”.  Yahweh went before them…by night in the form of a pillar of fire to give them light; thus they could continue their march by day and by night” (Ex. 13:21).  To show them their way so they would not lose their way.

8. “Come and rest in me”.  Jesus said: “Come to me,  al you who labour and are overburdened and I will give you rest” (Mt. 11: 28).  The retreat is one way of resting in the Lord.

9. “Do not be afraid, I am with you”.  God told Moses: “I shall be with you”  (Ex. 3: 12).  And to Jeremiah Yahweh said: “Do not be afraid of them for I am with you to protect you” (Jer. 1:8).  In the midst of today’s burning issues of corruption, RH Bill, open pit mining, etc. prophets should not be afraid to tell the people, especially those in power, what God wants.

10. “I have called you each by name”.  Yahweh says: “I have called you by your name, you are mine” (Is. 43:1).  Our personal, intimate relationship with God.

11. “Come and follow me, I will bring you home” .  The parable of the lost sheep (cf. Lk. 15: 1-7).

12. “I love you and you are mine”.  See Isaiah 43:1.  We belong to God.  What honor!

Bishop Arigo’s talks.  Powerpoint.  IDENTITY.

I.       What is our identity as priests?

Knowing oneself is important, to know our priestly identity

Contents of personality: (1) values; (2) attitudes; and (3) needs.

Structure of personality: (1) ideal self; and (2) actual self.  Inconsistencies: between ideal self and actual self; between needs and values and attitudes.

Values.  3 kinds: (1) ideal; (2) actual; and (3) cultural.

II.    Priests are acting “in persona Christi”.

He shares in Christ’s salvific mission.  Priesthood is a call (vocation) not a career (profession).  Not a job; but a way of life, not a mere role; but an identity-configured to Christ, the Priest.  So priests must be holy because Christ is holy.

Holiness is being in love with God who loves us first.  Love is an act of self-donation expressed in loving acts.  God is the greatest value.

Doing follows being.  A holy priest does holy things.

Five Considerations

1)      A priest is a man of God – He is the sign of God’s loving presence in the world.

2)      A priest acts “in persona Christi”.  His action should be Christ’s.  He is configured to Christ.

3)      A priest owes to the people a holy life.  Scandals are termites that threaten the unity of the Church.

4)      A priest must be in constant union with Christ.  Apart from Christ a priest bears no good fruit.  Without Christ a priest can’t do anything good.  To be fruitful is to be united with Christ.

5)      A priest must be the first one to benefit from the saving mysteries he celebrates.

(With reports from Fr. Joseph Morallon)

Conclusion

It was a very beneficial retreat.  Growth in holiness.  Good food and accommodation, courtesy of the 4 Augustinian Recollect Sisters.  Cultural enhancement: trip to Iwahig Penal Colony, with dancing inmates; studying the crocodiles’ habits; seeing a scenic view from Mitras’ Place and to some; fireflies by night and underground river banca ride.

Thank you everyone for your prayers.

Risks Of Tampakan Mine Project

Mr. Clive Montgomery Wicks presented to Bishop Dinualdo Gutierrez, Gov. Arthur “Dodo” Pingoy of South Cotabato and other priests, religious sisters and lay leaders the “Risks of Tampakan Mine Project” made by him and Dr. Robert Goodland, both experts on environmental sciences, on 25 July 2011 at the Bishop’s Residence.  Fr. Frank Nally, Columban priest based in Londonwas with Mr. Wicks.

1. The storage of 2.7 billion tons of toxic mine rock waste and tailings and a mine void 800 meters deep with thousands of gallons of toxic water in the water catchments of 6 rivers and the source of most of them is a risk too far.
2. High risk of acid drainage also containing high levels of arsenic.
3. Toxic copper mine waste is associated with high levels of cancer in communities near to it.
4. Unstable area with high Seismic activity with many faults.  High risk of induced seismic activity.
5. Mining will damage water catchments, water supplies including aquifers, agricultural lands, fish ponds,LakeBuluan, marine resources and increase risk of flooding.
6. TheMalRiverwill be the most affected river.  Source of its water will be very badly damaged.
7. Mining will damage the human rights particularly those of its indigenous people.
8. Mining will undermine current sustainable development plans and ecotourism.
9. Risks to food security and biodiversity.
10. High risk to climate change due to deforestation.

Mary: Model of Discipleship of the Laity

Sixty-five (65) clerics, diocesan and religious, attended the monthly recollection, 12 July 2011, Our Lady of Lourdes Parish, Polomolok,South Cotabato.

Theme: “Mary: Model of Discipleship of the Laity”.

 Facilitator: Fr. Ivan Paul N. Obando, OP.

A. Mary’s spirituality (lived faith) is manifested in 3 words: (1) “FIAT”; (2) “MAGNIFICAT”; and (3) “FACITE” (Let it be done, magnifies, do).

1. FIAT. “I am the handmaid of the Lord, said Mary, let what you have said be done to me” (Lk. 1:38).  This was Mary’s response to the angel Gabriel’s message that she was chosen to be the Mother of the Son of God through the power of the Holy Spirit.
2. MAGNIFICAT. “Mary said: My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord and my spirit exalts in God my savior; because he has looked upon his lowly handmaid” (Lk. 1: 46-48).  Mary’s magnificat is a proclamation of her faith and hope in God’s faithful love for her and for Israel.
3. FACITE. “Mary said to the servants do whatever he tells you” (Jh. 2:5).  Mary’s intercessory role was seen in the wedding at Cana.  Obedience to God’s will is the mark of Christ’s disciples.

B. LAY SPIRITUALITY.

Lay disciples live their faith in whatever situation in life they find themselves.

PCP II states: “The lay faithful seek the Kingdomof Godby engaging in temporal affairs and ordering them according to the plan of God” (n. 406; cf. Vat. II, Lumen Gentium, 31).

“It is in the world that they are called by God and hence ‘the world becomes the place and the means for the lay faithful to fulfill their Christian vocation’” (PCP II 406, Christifideles Laici, 15).  It is in the world that they are to grow in holiness – family, work and recreation, economics, politics, culture, etc.

Elements of lay spirituality:

a)      Genuine love for and personal commitment to Jesus.

b)      Love for the Church.

c)      Fidelity to the Church’s teachings and respect for the pastors.

d)     Dedication to their families and to the apostolate of the family.

e)      Love for neighbor especially the poor and needy.

f)       Promotion of justice in the society where they live.

g)      Regular reception of the sacraments and certain practices of devotion especially to the Blessed Virgin Mary.

 C. MISSION OF LAITY.  Sent to:

a)      Be a community of families – the family is the Church in the home.  The family is the primary community of Christ’s disciples wherein faith is initiated, nurtured and guided towards maturity.  It is a foundation for Basic Ecclesial Communities.

b)      Christian presence in society.

c)      Service and evangelization.

d)     Social transformation – this is the liberational and redemptive thrust of the mission of the laity – guided by the light of the Gospel in reading the signs of the times and by the Magisterium of the Church, they are called to reconcile and heal, and to promote integral liberation.

 D. CONCLUSION.  Mary’s words reveal to us her faith, her spirituality and her life, wherein she fully and responsibly accepted the will of God.  She heard the Word of God and acted on it (CFC 1440).

Mary’s life and her words of faith, words of praise and gratitude and her word of obedience, inspire the lay faithful in their Christian journey.  In the midst of many challenges today, they are filled with courage and hope by Mary’s example.

As their pastors, we can assist them in their growth in Christian faith, hope and love.

Priestly Formation

Forty-nine priests – 37 Diocesan, 11 Passionist and 1 Marist – attended the March 8, 2011 recollection in Sto. Niño Parish, Bula, General Santos City.

Fr. George Carin facilitated said recollection.  Topic was “Priestly Formation”.

He said, quoting John Paul II’s “Pastores Dabo Vobis”: “The formation of future priests, both diocesan and religious, is considered by the Church as one of the most demanding and important tasks for the future of the evangelization of humanity” (n. 1).

He stressed that the vision of the Church shapes priestly formation.  In the Philippines the visions of the Church are: a) Church of the Poor; b) Community of disciples.  While the mission of the Church is renewed integral evangelization.

Foundations of ministerial priesthood are: 1) Trinitarian; 2) Christological; and 3) Ecclesiological.

The mystery of Trinitarian communion in missionary tension gives the priest his specific identity.

Priests are configured to Christ and are called to prolong Christ’s presence in the world as prophet, priest and king.

Priests minister on behalf of the Church.

 Seminary formation today.  The seminary fosters faith development.  Seminarians should be taught to seek Christ in faithful meditation on the Word of God and in active participation in the sacred mysteries of the Church.

Characteristics of seminary formation (1930s – 1950s):

1. Like an institutionalized military training designed to produce priest apart from society.
2. “Cultic ministry”.
3. Trained like Soldiers for God.
4. Lived a regimented life.
5. Restriction on reading materials.

Seminary formation (1960s – 1970s).  Characteristics:

1. Face of seminary started to change.
2. Emergence of servant leader.
3. Priest is now part of the community.
4. No longer on the pedestal.
5. Ministry is not purely cultic.

Pillars of seminary formation: 1) human; 2) spiritual; 3) intellectual; 4) pastoral

Summing up:

Formation enables a seminarian to grow in his personal identification with the person of Jesus Christ.  It allows seminarian to build up commitment to prayer, to discern his vocation, to be diligent in his studies and zealous in his pastoral engagement.

What shall we do? 1) Pray. 2) Promote vocation to the priesthood. 3) Give witness to this vocation in our life as priests.

Source: Notes of Fr. Joseph Morallon

Talk On Lent And Holy Week

The Boards of Parish Representatives (BPR), Lay Liturgical Leaders Ministry (LLLM) and Lay Liturgists Ministry (LLM) met on 05 February 2011 at the Bishop’s Residence.

Agenda: (1) Presentation, discussion and approval of the 2011 action plans; (2) Director’s report; (3) Lent and Holy Week lecture; (4) others.

 General assemblies.  Association of Lay Liturgists (ALL), 18^th Diocesan General Assembly, 19 November 2011, South Cotabato Gym (SCG), Koronadal City (KC).  Association of Lay Liturgical Leaders (ALLL) 19^th Diocesan General Assembly, 10 December 2011, SCG, KC.

 Formation seminars on Liturgy 2011.  (1) LLM/LLLM updating seminar on “Veneration of the Saints”, 19 – 20 August, Samaria House,GeneralSantosCity(Batch 1).  (2) LLM/LLLM updating seminar on “The Veneration of Saints”, 26-27 August, Marbel,KoronadalCity, (Batch 2).

Director’s report. (a) materials available at the Diocesan Liturgical Center; (b) 4 Projects for 2011; (c) formation seminars; (d) liturgical notes; (e) comments and observations on the results of parish LLM and LLLM evaluations.

Lecture by Fr. Romeo Buenaobra, DLC Director, on “Lent and Holy Week”.

Bible Service for Holy Thursday,  Good Friday, and Holy Saturday evening is now allowed.  This decision was made by the Bishop on 14 December 2010 at the recommendation of priests during the Annual Meeting of Priests, 8-12 November 2010.

Good preparations are needed to celebrate fruitfully the Easter Triduum; Holy Thursday, Good Friday, Holy Saturday.

 (1) Plan together the celebrations. (2) Provide materials needed for the celebrations (See Guide for Holy Week Rites and Music published by the DLC). (3) Make sure that persons assigned to do specific tasks perform their duties well (monitoring).

Activities for Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Holy Saturday were explained in details.

Other matter.  Lay cooperator’s role as presider during Easter Triduum was clarified.

Attendance.

a)     Lay cooperators – 24 representatives from 25 parishes and Lake Sebu.  Absent: Surallah and T’boli

b)      Lay Liturgists 30 from 23 of 25 parishes plus Lake Sebu.  Absent: Maasim and T’boli.