Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ
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On 25 May 1845, Eymard had a profound experience of Jesus Christ while carrying the Blessed Sacrament at Saint-Paul in Lyon. He became aware of an intense attraction to Christ and to the sacrament of the eucharist. |
“This feast day of God, which the Church calls Festum Sacratissimi Corporis Christi, “Feast of the Most Sacred Body of Christ,” is the only day dedicated exclusively to the honor of His adorable Person, of His living presence in our midst. The other feasts commemorate some mystery of His past life; they are beautiful; they glorify God; and they are a rich source of graces for us. But after all they are only reminders, anniversaries of an already distant past, which relives only in our piety and devotion. Our Savior is no longer personally present in those mysteries; He accomplished them once for all and left only His grace in them. But Corpus Christi is an actual mystery; the object of this feast is our Lord’s Person, living and present in our midst. That is why the celebration of it has a character all its own. No relics or symbols of the past are exposed but the very object of the feast, which is living.” — Fr. Eymard
“Corpus Christi is also the most lovable of feast days. 
We were not present at all the mysteries of our Savior’s life and death which we celebrate in the course of the year. We find joy in them because they are sources of grace. But on the feast of Corpus Christi we participate in the mystery itself, which takes place under our eyes. This mystery is for us. . . . Our Lord asked for this feast so as to draw still closer to us, just as a father is desirous of being wished a happy birthday by his child in order to have a reason for giving him a more ardent proof of his paternal affection, and for granting him some special favor.” — Fr. Eymard
“Corpus Christi is our feast, we who are adorers of the Blessed Sacrament. The Congregation of the Blessed Sacrament together with its affiliated societies exists for the sole purpose of honoring Jesus Christ with a continual feast of Corpus Christi. To prolong this feast throughout the entire year is the object of our life and happiness. We leave to other children of the Church the care of the poor, the healing of the physical and moral ills of afflicted humanity, and the administration of the Sacraments. We are called only to perpetuate the feast of Corpus Christi. It is therefore the special feast of us religious.” — Fr. Eymard
SSS Parochial ‘Corpus Christi’ Celebration – May 29
STA. CRUZ
Archdiocesan Celebration
Talk: Bro. Jun Banaag, OP
Mass: Most Rev. Broderick Pabillo, DD
Procession: Sta. Cruz to Manila Cathedral
ASSUMPTION
Parochial Celebration
Talk: Sr. Gina Bernadas, SSS
Procession: Assumption to St Jude Church
Mass: Fr. Hermie Garcia, SSS
N.S. VIRGEN DEL ROSARIO
Parochial Celebration
Adoration/Holy Hour:
Procession: Within the parish boundaries
Mass: Fr. Kenny-jo Parlingayan, SSS
SACRED HEART
Archdiocesan Celebration
Mass: Most Rev. Antonio Ledesma, SJ, DD
Talk: Msgr. Boy Salvador, SSJV, SLD
Procession: Santuario Eucaristico to St. Augustine Cathedral
HOLY FAMILY
Parochial Celebration
Adoration:
Mass: Fr. Jun-vic Diolata, SSS
Procession: Within the parish boundaries
OL. BLESSED SACRAMENT
Parochial Celebration
Mass: Fr. Adrian Ladines, SSS
Procession: Within the parish boundaries
Adoration:
SAN JOHN MARIE VIANNEY 
Parochial Celebration
Talk: Fr. Victor Buyser, SSS
Procession: St. Jude Chapel to St. John Marie Vianney Church
Mass: Fr. Grogee de Guzman, SSS
OL. BLESSED SACRAMENT
Parochial Celebration
Adoration:
Morning Prayer/Solemn Benediction:
Mass: Fr. Mike Garcia, SSS
SAN VICENTE FERRER 
Parochial Celebration
Adoration/Holy Hour:
Procession: Within the parish boundaries
Mass: Fr. Arnel Martinez, SSS
SAN PEDRO CALUNGSOD
Parochial Celebration
Mass: Fr. Lennen Deciar, SSS
Procession: Within the parish boundaries
Solemn Benediction:
MARY, STAR OF THE SEA – Hawaii
Parochial Celebration
Mass: Fr. Wilbert Laroga, SSS
Holy Hour:
Solemn Benediction:
ST JOSEPH – Hawaii
Parochial Celebration
Mass: Fr. Poli Ty, SSS
Adoration:
Solemn Benediction:
KIMAANYA – Uganda
Diocesan Celebration
We invited the entire diocese to be with us, and at the parish, we only have one Mass for the day. It will begin at 9 a.m. and will be presided by the ordinary of Masaka diocese, Rt. Rev. John Baptist Kaggwa. After Mass, we will begin the procession with the Blessed Sacrament.
Like the 12 disciples, we have 12 different groups which prepared 12 different resting places (tents) of the Blessed Sacrament. These include sub-parishes, schools, adorers and traders. Little children are prepared who will be throwing flowers as we march with drums honoring the Blessed Sacrament. We will move around the parish until we finish with all the 12 different tents.
After the procession, we will come back to the parish compound where the rest of the program will continue. Entertainment, lunch, entertainment again (from different sub-parishes, youth groups and children). We will have different games, which will end with the big game of the day, a FOOTBALL MATCH between the PRIESTS+RELIGIOUS vs. THE PARISH EXECUTIVE+THE MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT representing our district. – Fr. Joseph Matovu, sss
Adorers in Spirit and Truth
“In this Way we become, by our Whole Life, the Adorers in Spirit and Truth.” Fr. Thonn, Novice Master, centered his homily around this theme chosen by Brs. Jon and Jay for their 1st Profession of Religious Vows on May 1, 2016.
Fr. Thonn emphasized that the Lord’s Supper must be celebrated in truth and enfleshed through a life of love and service for others.
He urged Brs. Jon and Jay to continue growing spiritually, nourished by the good memories of the two years of their Novitiate formation and the prayers and support of people around them. He encouraged them to view their experiences as occasions to recall and retell their stories of how God has been so loving and generous to them and to look at their moments of struggles, confusions or frustrations with the eyes of faith to help widen their understanding and restore hope.
On the aspect of how they can remain true to the Evangelical Vows of Chastity, Poverty and Obedience, Fr. Thonn offered this advice: to be constantly aware of God and establish an intimate relationship with Him.
In conclusion, Fr. Thonn underlined these words of our Founder to reflect upon: “Strength springs from love; so love well. Love is the child of prayer, be a prayerful person. Your prayer, however, must be your own, loving and attentive, tasting God and being fed by Him.”
Entry to the Novitiate
On May 13, Feast of Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament, four new novices reported to the Blessed Sacrament Novitiate in San Jose del Monte, Bulacan, to begin their two years of Novitiate. They are Brs. Walker Daniel (Diocese of Karachi, Pakistan), Carlos Danao Castro, Jr. (Diocese of Malolos), June Herras Vasquez (Archdiocese of Caceres) and Amirtharaj Govindarajah (SSS Province of Saints Peter and Paul). They will have their investiture on May 29, the celebration of the Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ. This means they will be wearing for the first time the habit proper to the novices of the Congregation of the Blessed Sacrament.
Fr. Roel at the SSS 2nd International Finance Commission Meeting in Rome, Italy
Fr. Roel dela Cruz, the Provincial Treasurer of POLA, attended the 2nd International Finance Commission Meeting which was held from May 2-6, 2016, at the Generalate House in Rome. One of the important items in the agenda was the formulation of some proposals to be presented in the next General Chapter in June 2017. A sub-committee was created in order to come up with a detailed and clearer formulation of the various proposals.
In the discussion of the formulation of the proposals, Fr. Roel recounted the following: “the Commission acknowledged the challenges of the issue of funds in the Congregation. But in the end, the Commission recognized how deep is our faith in addressing the crisis of trust, confidence and reliance on God. Thus, Fr. Machado, the SSS General Treasurer, was praised by the members of the Commission for having made strenuous attempts to introduce transparency and accountability into the General Curia and the convening of the Commission to assist him with their competence in reviewing the property portfolio and investments, and in underlining detailed analyses of the General Curia finances parallel to our Congregational needs and priorities as preparatory materials needed in the next General Chapter.”
Updating at the Eymard Formation Center
Our Filipino scholastics are currently attending the ongoing updating in the area of formation being given by two scholastic formators, Fr. Allen, SSS, and Fr. Rey, SSS. The updating is also an opportunity to evaluate the pastoral program of the scholasticate for the coming school year.
Fr. Allen has discussed the POLA formation program dubbed as “Follow Me:” An Itinerary of SSS Formation. He will then handle the session on Non-Violence Communication, Sexuality and Intimacy in Religious Life, and Contemporary Religious Life. Fr. Rey, on the other hand, has finished the session on Eymard.
Emphasis on the Youth in SSS Parishes
The past summer time gave the opportunity for the parishes and shrines being administered by the SSS to stage different programs of animation for the youth. This shows the commitment of the congregation in preparing the youth to take up a more active role in the future of the country and in arousing in them the interest to serve God and the Church.
On May 13, 14, and 15, 2016, the Sta. Cruz Parish Youth Ministry
(PYM) had their Youth Camp at Lia’s Beach Resort in Iba, Zambales. With the supervision of their Parish Priest and Spiritual Director, Fr. Rudsend Paragas, SSS, the Parish Youth Camp took off with the goal of manifesting the importance of a life that is led by God.
The team building activities such as Blind Faith Walk, Fill me up, Pick me up, Caterpillar Walk and Tower Building made the first youth camp experience worthwhile and at the same time, instilling some important values to the youth participants including camaraderie, cooperation and unity. The youth camp culminated in a small group sharing that was facilitated by mentors and a big group sharing by the representatives of each group. Of course, the participants together with the organizers of the event did not miss out on the swimming and boating activities.
2016 Mission Appealers
Last May 26 Fr. Francisco (Kit) Mendoza left for the United States of America to stage a Mission Appeal for the education/formation of the SSS seminarians. The Following day, May 27, Fr. Ferdinand (Ding-dong) Tomo, followed him. The two are the religious that PO LA sent for this year’s 3-month Mission Appeal program. We pray for them and the success of their mission.
Bar Passers from SSS Eucharistic Center
The list of passers in the 2015 Bar examinations was eagerly but nervously awaited by thirteen examinees from the POLA Eucharistic Center. When the list was posted, it showed that 10 of them passed: Kenjie Almeda, Reden Bides, Hendrix Bungalon, Jay-ran Bay-an, Richard Dayag, Robert Banasen, Jr., Kevin Capuyan, Mike Barsena, Ariel Gonzales and Ryan Santos.
The Province congratulates them and Fr. Choy Ramos, their spiritual director. We continue to pray for them. May they make a real difference especially as lawyers.
Contacts – Residence Address, Phone Numbers, Emails etc
MAPANDAN COMMUNITY
Postal Mailing Address:
SSS Community
OUR LADY OF THE BLESSED SACRAMENT PARISH
Salumague St., Brgy. Torres
2429 Mapandan, Pangasinan
Philippines
Area Code: +75
Contact Numbers: 09178467027 / 09178050864
E-mail address: mikemgarcia50@gmail.com
Prayer
- For our country, for healing, reconciliation
- For more vocations to the religious and priestly life
- For the speedy recovery of Fr. Randy Vergara and Fr. Arnel Martinez
- For the repose of the soul of Honorio Nicolas, Sr. (father of Sister Cristy, sss)
- For the repose of the soul of Lucena Federico (mother of Sister Beth, sss)
- For Fr. General and his Council
Fr. Joseph Matitu, SSS
[MAY 29, 2016]