Friday, December 4, 2009

"Do not TELL anybody..."

I wrote the following reflection for my My 3rd Ordination Anniversary Mass last December 5, 2008. The Gospel was from Mt 9: 27-31.


It is rather surprising to note that Jesus did not want the healed men to talk about the healing that they received. First of all, Jesus would need all the mileage that he could gain. His was a herculean mission of establishing the Kingdom of God, and he had only three years to do it. So, he is supposed to need all the exposure he could get. If those healed would speak about their healing, then his popularity would grow and as more people will be interested with him, more people would flock to him, and he would have opportunity to preach to them. Second, it was almost impossible for the two healed men to keep the healing to themselves – after all, they used to be blind but now can see. So how could they hide the fact that they had been healed miraculously? Likewise, how could they keep to themselves the joy of being healed?

I would like to believe though, that Jesus had reasons to do so. First, if we look closely at Jesus, we find that he did not want the men to talk about him healing them because he did not want to promote himself. He wanted to promote the work of the Father. He wanted to fulfill and promote the will of the Father, not himself as a wonder worker. For me as a priest, as I celebrate my anniversary, I am reminded that I am a priest not for myself but for him who called me to share in his mission. I have to be cautious that in my ministry, I do not point to myself, rather, that I should point to Christ. I am reminded not to seek praises for myself, to work and minister not for recognition or acceptance. I have to bear in mind, and always be conscious that all that I do should never be for me, but for the greater glory of God.

The same challenge is also for us. Let us do good things, not to seek our own glory. We do good because somebody has been so good to us, and we do good in response to this goodness. This leads us to our second reason as to why it was surprising for Jesus to have forbidden the men to spread the news about their healing.

Second, Jesus did not want the men to speak about their healing, I believe, is because he knew that there is something more that they should do, more than just spreading the word of their healing, and this is that they be grateful to him who healed them, by a life worthy of the gift that they have received. There was a young man who was drowning at the river. An elderly man jumped into the water and saved him. The young man was so thankful to the elderly man. He asked him how he could thank him. He could give him some cash, since his parents were rich. The elderly man refused. He told the young man, “Live your life well, and that would be enough to thank me. In that way, you prove that your life is worth saving.” Jesus wanted the men not only to talk about their gratitude, he wanted them to live their gratitude.

For me, this is a reminder that I have to live my priesthood right and fully, if I were to be truly grateful to God for this gift. It is not enough for me to mouth gratitude if I do not take care of my priesthood, and do my best to be faithful, to struggle to be faithful.

For us all, this is a reminder to live grateful lives – we have received so much, and the best thanksgiving we could give to our donor is a life that is well lived.

Wholeheartedly Thankful for Four Years

Today, I am four years old as a priest (December 5, 2005-2009). I was ordained priest by Archbishop Salgado four years ago at the San Juan de Sahagun Parish Church in Candon City, Ilocos Sur, Philippines for the Archdiocese of Nueva Segovia.

Four years of grace.
Four years of blessing.
Four years of providence.

Four years of seeking.
Four years of hoping.
Four years of trusting.

Four years of striving.
Four years of giving.
Four years of growing.

Four years of service.
Four years of prayer.
Four years of witness.

Four years of joy.
Four years of inner peace.
Four years of fulfillment.

Four years of discipleship.
Four years of surrender.
Four years of priesthood.

For all that has been Lord, thank you.
For all that will be, your will be done.
I have not been worthy, never will be.
But I trust in your grace and mercy.
Please make me more and more, a shepherd after your own heart.


(I am celebrating a thanksgiving mass. All of my life and priesthood had been grace and blessing. I have nothing I can claim as my own, except for my shortcomings, which God has even made into avenues for grace through repentace and reform. I have everything else to thank God for. I will remember all who have been part of my life and priesthood with gratitude to God who has so richly blessed me with their persons. Foremost, I thank God for my Parents, Brothers and Sisters and the rest of the Family, Relatives and Friends through whom I encounter God, the Loving and Faithful most concretely. I thank God for Archbishop Ernesto Salgado, who ordained me a priest, and also for his fatherly concern for and confidence in his most unworthy priest. I thank God for the Presbyterium of Nueva Segovia with whom I share not only the priesthood of Christ for the Archdiocese, but with whom I share communion of life and mission. I pray for the faithful of the Archdiocese that we may continue on our journey towards the fullness of life. I especially pray for my ordination class whose friendship and ministry are an inspiration. I pray for the ICST community that we may be living traditions of integral priestly formation. I pray for all whom God has graciously deigned their lives to intersect and enrich my own. I pray for all of God’s people, for whom through God’s grace and mercy, I am a priest, servant, shepherd.)

Thursday, December 3, 2009

Chancery Reminders: December

REMINDERS FROM THE CHANCERY
MONTH OF DECEMBER 2009

1, Tuesday: Advent Weekday (1), VIOLET

LET US PRAY FOR:
REV. DAVID WILLIAM ANTONIO (ORDINATION, 1988)
REV. MARLON BELMONTE (ORDINATION, 2003)

2, Wednesday: Advent Weekday (1), VIOLET

ARCHBISHOP’S SCHEDULE:
Ilocano Bible Centennial Celebration
Baguio City

3, Thursday: St. Francis Xavier, priest. WHITE.

PATRONAL FEAST:
St. Francis Xavier Parish, Lungog, I. Sur
9 AM - Concelebrated Mass

LET US PRAY FOR:
REV. REYNALDO REBEBES (BIRTHDAY, 1972)

4, Friday: Advent Weekday (1), VIOLET or m of St. John Damascene, priest, religious and doctor, WHITE.

LET US PRAY FOR:
REV. CARLITO FERIA (ORDINATION, 2001)
REV. RUFO V. ABAYA (ORDINATION, 2006)
REV. CRISTETO A. CORTEZ (ORDINATION, 2006)

5, Saturday: Advent Weekday (1) VIOLET.

Archbishop’s Schedule:
St. Paul Metropolitan Cathedral, Vigan City
9 AM – Confirmation

NECROLOGY:
1781 Fr. Fernando Balensuela
1857 Fr. Damaso Lazo

LET US PRAY FOR:
REV. DANILO MARTINEZ (ORDINATION, 2003)
REV. WILLIE JONES DUCUSIN (ORDINATION, 2005)

6, Sunday : + SECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT. VIOLET

SPECIAL COLLECTION: to be made in all masses for ICST

Archbishop’s Schedule:
AWRIS Christmas Gathering, Abbey Chapel, Fatima, Vigan City
11AM - Holy Mass

LET US PRAY FOR:
REV. REX RILVERIA (ORDINATION, 2001)
REV. MICHAEL C. TANACIO (ORDINATION, 2006)

7, Monday: St. Ambrose, bishop and doctor. WHITE

LET US PRAY FOR:
REV. ERWIN E. ECHALAS (BIRTHDAY, 1981)
REV. ERNESTO JUAREZ, JR. (ORDINATION, 2005)

8, Tuesday: SOLEMNITY OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY. PRINCIPAL PATRONESS OF THE PHILIPPINES. WHITE.

PATRONAL FEAST:
Immaculate Conception Parish, Sta. Cruz, I. Sur
8:30 AM - Concelebrated Mass

Immaculate Conception Parish, Quirino, I. Sur
4 PM - Concelebrated Mass

NECROLOGY:
1837 Bishop Francisco Alban, OP

9, Wednesday: Advent Weekday (2), VIOLET or St. Juan Diego, WHITE.

Clergy Advent Recollection - Aula de Nuestra Señora de Caridad
Archbishop’s Residence Compound, Vigan City

LET US PRAY FOR:
REV. GLENDINO RAGSAG (ORDINATION, 1997)

NECROLOGY:
1856, Fr. Saturnino Mateo
1950, Fr. Andres Alcayaga
1983, Msgr. Osmundo Calip

10, Thursday: Advent Weekday (2), VIOLET.

LET US PRAY FOR:
REV. MELCHOR REONAL (ORDINATION, 2003)
REV. RAMELLE J. RIGUNAY (ORDINATION, 2007)

11, Friday: Advent Weekday (2), VIOLET or m of St. Damasus I, pope, WHITE.
LET US PRAY FOR:
REV. ARNEL NOEL RAMOS (BIRTHDAY, 1970)
REV. RAYMUND ANCHETA (ORDINATION, 2001)

12, Saturday: Our Lady of Guadalupe, Patroness of the Philippines. WHITE.

PATRONAL FEAST:
Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish, Sevilla, Sta. Cruz, I. Sur
9 AM - Concelebrated Mass

13, Sunday: + THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT. VIOLET OR ROSE.

SPECIAL COLLECTION: to be made in all masses for St. Peter’s Pence

PATRONAL FEAST:
St. Lucy Parish, Sta. Lucia, I. Sur
8:30 AM - Concelebrated Mass

St. Lucy Parish, Narvacan, I. Sur
4 PM - Concelebrated Mass

14, Monday: St. John of the Cross, priest and doctor. WHITE.

LET US PRAY FOR:
REV. SHERWIN AQUINO (ORDINATION, 2005)
REV. BERNARDO GONZALES (ORDINATION, 2005)
REV. LESTER JOSEPH PLANA (ORDINATION, 2005)

15, Tuesday: Advent Weekday (3). VIOLET.

LET US PRAY FOR:
REV. MARIO RAQUEPO (ORDINATION, 1979)
REV. ANTONIO RECLUSADO (BIRTHDAY, 1961; ORDINATION, 1987)

NECROLOGY:
1846 Fr. Egidio Abaya

AGUINALDO MASSES

16, Wednesday: Advent Weekday (3). VIOLET.
National Youth Day.

SPECIAL COLLECTION:
1st Misa de Gallo collection for IYM

NECROLOGY:
1807 Fr. Bernardo Montenegro
1814 Bishop Cayetano Pallas, OP

17, Thursday: Advent Weekday (3). VIOLET.

LET US PRAY FOR:
REV. ANTHONY ROSARIO (ORDINATION,1990)
REV. CONSTATINO ATINAJA, JR. (ORDINATION, 1994)

18, Friday: Advent Weekday (3). VIOLET.

LET US PRAY FOR:
REV. RENE ROSABIA(ORDINATION, 1991)
REV. PETER DUMAG (ORDINATION, 1992)
REV. REAN FREDERICK ENRIQUEZ (ORDINATION, 1993)
REV. RONILO VILLA (ORDINATION, 1995)

19, Saturday: Advent Weekday (3). VIOLET.

LET US PRAY FOR:
REV. GERARDO ISABELO ANTOLIN (ORDINATION, 1990)
REV. JACK CABATU (ORDINATION, 1992)
REV. FLORENTINO ESCALONA (ORDINATION, 1994)

20, Sunday: + FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT. VIOLET

LET US PRAY FOR:
REV. ARTHUR AMIAN (ORDINATION, 1989)
REV. RAYMUND ELLORIN (ORDINATION, 1991)

21, Monday: Advent Weekday (4). VIOLET, or m of St. Peter Canisius, priest and doctor, WHITE.

LET US PRAY FOR:
REV. VIRGILIO CABACCANG (BIRTHDAY,1955)
REV. FERDINAND RAGASA (ORDINATION, 1990)
REV. COSMENIO ROSIMO, JR. (ORDINATION, 1991)
REV. MAR G. BARROGA (ORDINATION, 2002)

NECROLOGY:
1806 Fr. Christoval de Quintos
1992 Fr. Jose Tongson

22, Tuesday: Advent Weekday (4). VIOLET.

LET US PRAY FOR:
REV. FELIX COSTALES (ORDINATION, 1989)
REV. JERRY AVISA (ORDINATION, 1992)

23, Wednesday: Advent Weekday (4). VIOLET.

LET US PRAY FOR
OUR ARCHBISHOP, THE MOST REV. ERNESTO SALGADO (PRESBYTERAL ORDINATION, 1961)
REV. ALBERT MANALO (ORDINATION, 1961)

24, Thursday: Advent Weekday (4). VIOLET.

Archbishop’s Schedule:
St. Paul Metropolitan Cathedral, Vigan City
12 MN - Midnight Mass

LET US PRAY FOR:
REV. GERMAN SOMERA (BIRTHDAY, 1969)

CHRISTMAS SEASON

25, Friday: + CHRISTMAS, SOLEMNITY OF THE LORD’S BIRTH. WHITE

Archbishop’s Schedule:
St. Paul Metropolitan Cathedral, Vigan City
9 AM – Holy Mass

26, Saturday: Stephen, First Martyr. RED.

PATRONAL FEAST:
St. Stephen Proto-Martyr Parish, San Esteban, I. Sur.
9 AM – Concelebrated Mass

LET US PRAY FOR:
REV. CONSTANTINO ATINAJA, JR. (BIRTHDAY, 1968)

27, Sunday: +FEAST OF THE HOLY FAMILY, WHITE.

Archbishop’s Schedule:
Parents of Priests’ Christmas Gathering
Aula de Nuestra Señora de Caridad
Archbishop’s Residence Compound, Vigan City
11 AM – Holy Mass

LET US PRAY FOR:
REV. ETHEL AGAMATA (ORDINATION, 1989)

28, Monday: The Holy Innocents. RED.

Archbishop’s Schedule:
9 AM – Confirmation
Brgy. Panay, Magsingal, Ilocos Sur

29, Tuesday: FIFTH DAY WITHIN THE OCTAVE OF CHRISTMAS or m of St. Thomas Becket, bishop and martyr. WHITE.

LET US PRAY FOR:
REV. DAVID WILLIAM ANTONIO (BIRTHDAY, 1963)

30, Wednesday: SIXTH DAY IN THE OCTAVE OF CHRISTMAS, WHITE.

Archbishop’s Schedule:
Santiago Town Fiesta
7:30 AM – Holy Mass

31, Thursday: SEVENTH DAY IN THE OCTAVE OF CHRISTMAS or m of St. Sylvester I, pope. WHITE.

Archbishop’s Schedule:
St. Paul Metropolitan Cathedral, Vigan City
9:30 PM – Holy Mass

LET US PRAY FOR OUR CONFRERE:
REV. GLENDINO RAGSAG (BIRTHDAY, 1969)

NECROLOGY:
1803 Bishop Agustin Pedro Blaquier, OP

Activities for JANUARY 2010:

January 4-5: Clergy New Year’s Gathering, Stella Maris, Pug-os, Cabugao, I. Sur
January 12: 54th Canonical Coronation of Apo Caridad, Bantay, I. Sur
January 15: Patronal Feast of Most Holy Name of Jesus Parish, Burgos, I. Sur
January 17: Patronal Feast of Holy Child of Prague Parish, Cervantes, I. Sur
January 23: Patronal Feast of St. Ildefonsus Parish, San Ildefonso I. Sur
January 25: Patronal Feast of Conversion of St. Paul, Vigan City
January 25-29: 2nd National Congress of the Clergy, Manila