FE MANALO FROM PARIS:

Dear Friends,

Thank you for your concern. The sisters and I are safe.

We had our first day of our annual ‘Journées d’Amitié ‘ which is an annual fundraising bazaar for the mission. The first day went very well. But late at night, the terrorist attacks in 6 different places happened in Paris mostly in the 11 Arrondissement.  The people were all in shock of the events. Before noon time today, we received notice from the Archbishop of Paris to stop our ongoing activities iluding a concert in the chapel scheduled tonight, at 8:30 (Saturday); Instead we scheduled a prayer vigil tomorrow sunday at 8:30 p.m. 

Today especially, the police advised Parisians to stay in their homes. Are we safe? Who knows? No one can really feel safe now any where, anytime. But the people here in our area find solace and comfort before the Blessed Sacrament. 

Let us continue to pray together.

 

TYPHOON LANDO VICTIMS – MARAMING SALAMAT PO!:

    Supertyphoon Lando hit Nueva Ecija last November 18, 2015, Sunday, and because of strong winds and rains, the Masses in the different Barangays (Tabuating, Magpapalayoc, Adorable, Castellano, San Roque, and San Antonio and Diversion) under our Parish of St. John Marie Vianney, were readily cancelled. Then it was later in the evening, around 630 pm when the flood began to rise. It rose to waist-deep level in the parish but in other places it was worst, reaching to neck-deep and even roof level. What is so frustrating is that the flood did not subside at once but remained high for two days and when it finally subsided, it left a very thick coating of mud everywhere. It was a calamity that affected so many people. Two small houses by the river in our parish were totally washed away by the river current. But one thing that consoles us was that no human life, taking into consideration our parish, was taken, although many animals, pets, livestock died because of the flood. Its good to know that as soon as the Province of Our Lady of the Assumption, with its Pastors and Superiors gathered for the Amplified Provincial Council during that time, knew about the devastation, they readily pledged a certain amount and deposited at once to the account of the SSS local Community in San Leonardo, N.E., to jumpstart the parish-wide relief-giving. We are very grateful to all who extended help to the victims of Typhoon Lando in St John Marie Vianney Parish and in the neighboring Parish of San Antonio Abad: POLA Local Communities, Fr Aldrin Domingo in behalf of the Diocese of Cabanatuan, Fr Choy Ramos, SSS, and friends, Judge Jose and Norma Melo and Family, Mr Sy of TESDA, Prof Francisco Pelacio, Marivic Meneses, Joy Cadano, Ditas Sales and siblings, Atty Roselle Soriano, Ms Lourdes del Rosario, Ms Debbie Perez, The Lord’s Way, Ms Yolly Po, CFC San Pedro, Laguna Chapter, and Anonymous people.

 

MODULES FOR EUCHARISTIC (BIBLICAL) ANIMATION:

The Eucharist is not only to be celebrated and to be lived out but also to be taught. The same can be said of the Word of God. Thus, we became familiar with the bandwagons “Eucharistic Evangelization” and “Bible Study” during Provincial Chapters and Provincial Commission meetings.

In order to respond to such a wish for the Province to come up with a program on Eucharistic (Biblical) Formation, a meeting has been scheduled on November 25, 2015, at the Provincialate, aimed at producing, once and for all, modules that will help in the Eucharistic (Biblical) Evangelization in each community.  A number of our religious who are experts in different fields such as Canon Law, Scriptures, Liturgy and Moral Theology and two lay partners in the persons of Mr. Dante Chua (Sta. Cruz LITES) and Mr. Butch Samante (Davao LITES) will be invited to attend the meeting. They will be regarded as the committee responsible for this task.

The modules to be crafted will address these needs: (i) to help in the formation of Aggregations and other Eucharistic organizations: (ii) to propose topics for once a month Eucharistic gathering or any ongoing Eucharistic formation; and (iii) to come up with resources to be shared to different parish groups for their spiritual growth. The modules will also help our religious in their giving of Eucharistic recollections, retreats and seminars.

Please pray for the succes of this important meeting!

 

AMPLIFIED PROVINCIAL COUNCIL 2015 – THE FOLLOW UP:

• The final texts of the following approved documents:
• Revised POLA Formation Document (to be presented later to the Generalate)
• Guidelines for the Use of Modern Gadgets
• Guidelines for SSS Liturgical Celebrations
• Vade-mecum of an SSS Parish/Shrine

are being printed and later will be distributed to the different communities.

• Reproduction of Catechetical materials – The process is on-going
• New Provincialate Building – Fr. Choy Ramos, the Project in-charge, has again called for a meeting with Architect Hubilla (the architect the APC approved for the project). Fr. Choy presented to them the things that the APC aggreed upon regarding the changes in the proposed Provincial building. Last November 17 an actual surveying was done at the compound of the Provincialate. The second design will be reproduced and will be distributed to every POLA community.
• Maximizing the Novitiate Property – This week a number of hired workers are clearing the grounds at the Novitiate. Once completed, planting will commence. The variety of plants will be the ones recommended by experts who checked on the land.
• An Alternative Use of the Land originally for Sacramentino Village – The approved alternative project is the Household Management Project which is now on its Information Dessemination stage through series of Seminars. The property was secured by fencing it.

 

NOMAN’S REFLECTION DURING MAPANDAN EXPOSURE:

“Ang Paglalakbay at ang Misyon”

Ang Paglalakbay ay isa sa mga aspeto ng buhay relihiyoso sapagkat ang paglalakbay na ito ay ang patuloy na pagtugon sa Banal na Tawag ng ating Panginoon. Paglalakbay patungo sa mga lugar na kung saan nais ng Diyos na marating ng isang alagad Niya upang hindi sa anumang kadahilanan kundi upang iparating ang Kanyang Banal na Presensiya. Paglalakbay na patungo sa isang Misyon!

Maraming beses na akong nakabalik sa lugar na kung saan sinisimulan pa lamang itayo at itatag ang isang Parokya, subalit sa pabalik-balik ko sa lugar na ito unti-unti kong nakita ang mga pagbabago sa iba’t ibang aspeto. Natanung ko ang aking sarili,”anu ang gagawin ko sa lugar na ito?” Subalit sa panantili sa lugar na ito, napagtanto ko na ako’y pinadala dito dahil sa may gagawin ako kundi dahil may nais ipagawa sa aking ang Diyos. Hindi “ako” kundi “SIYA”.

TO BE SENT INTO A MISSION  IS ALWAYS THE WILL OF GOD! For about 4 months, God has been with me. Yes! Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament Parish Salumague Street, Brgy.Torres Mapandan Pangasinan, isang parokya na patuloy na binubuo at hinuhubog sa pamamagitan ng mga Relihiyoso  ng Blessed Sacrament Fathers and Brothers. Binubuo ang pisikal ng simbahan kasama ang paghubog sa mga Tao na bumubuo ng Simbahan.

Para po sa akin, ako aynapakapalad sapagkat ako’y binigyan ng Diyos ng pagkakataon na makita, maranasan, makipamuhay sa isang itinatayong Parokya. Ano ang magagawa ko? Simple lang pala, that is TO BE WITH THEM! MY PRESENCE as St. Peter Julian calls it: ” MINISTRY OF PRESENCE” TO BE WITH THEM is to really TO BE WITH THEM, the true self, the true Gift of Self, the SERVICE. I am always reminded of the words of Jesus: ” I COME NOT TO BE SERVED BUT TO SERVE!

Ang Diyos na tumawag sa aking sa buhay Sacramentino ay ipinakita sa akin ang tunay na kahulugan ng tunay at ganap na PAGLILINGKOD NG MAY PUSO PARA SAKANYA AT SA BAWAT ISA HIGIT LALO NA SA KANYANG SIMBAHAN! TUNAY NGA NAMAN, AND DIYOS SA BANAL NA SANTISIMO SAKRAMENTO AT PATULOY NA NAGPAPAALAB NG PAGMAMAHAL NIYA SA SANGKATAUHAN NA HINDI NATIN MAAROK-AROK KUNG HINDI TAYO MAGLALAAN NG ORAS PARA MAKIPAGPANAYAM AT PAKIPAGDAUPANG PALAD SA KANYA SA BANAL NA SAKRAMENTO-SA EUKARISTIYA!

 

PARTIAL LIST OF SACRAMENTINO PARTICIPANTS IN THE 51^ST INTERNATIONAL EUCHARISTIC CONGRESS IN CEBU, PHILIPPINES:

PRAYERS FOR THE SICK:            

1. Bro. John Bourque, SSS
2. Bro. Henry Java, SSS
3. Bro. Rudy Pinto, SSS
4. Fr. Conrad Goulet, SSS
5. Fr. Felix Elverio, SSS
6. Fr. Sebastiao Machado, SSS
7. Mama Inday Lasutaz

 

 PRAYERS FOR THE DEAD:

1. + Fr. Adrian Maheu
2. + Bro. Ramon Reyes
3. + Bro. Ramon Reyes
4. + Fr. Honorio Vasquez
5. + Bro. Normand Stebens
6. + Bro. Alrico Alegre
7. + Fr. Daniel Roach
8. + Fr. Norman Martin
9. + Fr. Melchiades Ssemakula
10. + Purificacion Jetajobe
11. + Victims of Terrorist Attacks in Paris,
    France

 

Fr. Joseph Matitu, SSS