FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT

The Official Publication of Santuario de San Antonio ParishWe Care Because We Pray

20 December 2020(Violet)

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Santuario de San Antonio Parish Forbes Park, Makati City

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Parish Bulletin

IN THIS ISSUE:

Christmas Message from our Parish Priest Fr. Reu Galoy

Christmas Message from PPC President Rose Galvez

Christmas, Redefined

The Nativity - Life As We Know It

The Nativity of the Lord

With a Father’s HeartThe Year of St. Joseph

Christmas for All

Children’s CornerStory on page 6 Illustration by Hannah Fernandez

Happy birthday, Jesus!B L E S S E D C H R I S T M A S T O A L L !

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Santuario de San Antonio Pastoral Team Fr. Baltazar A. Obico, OFM - Guardian Fr. Reu Jose C. Galoy, OFM - Vicar Provincial, Parish Priest, Friary ProcuratorFr. Percival P. Tayem, OFM - Provincial Procurator, Director of Franciscan Development OfficeFr. Jesus E. Galindo, OFM - Member Fr. Robert B. Manansala, OFM - Member and Provincial Delegate to the Poor Clares - LuzonFr. Jamil Albert, OFM - Member Parish Bulletin Editorial Team Rachelle C. Wenger – Editor-in-ChiefRamon M. Ong – Asst. EditorClarisse Gomez – Asst. EditorMonica Madrigal – Asst. EditorNinee Pascual-Lopez - Asst. EditorCesar Inducil - Asst. EditorMara Eala - Asst. EditorCaren Tordesillas – Art & DesignJojo Guingona – Photo EditorPeachy Maramba – Contributing WriterLianne Tiu – Contributing WriterFr. Robert B. Manansala, OFM – Contributing WriterAlex Arcenas – Contributing IllustratorHannah Fernandez – Contributing Illustrator

RDIPTeng Jorolan – RDIP HeadJeannie Bitanga – Website Administrator

Santuario de San Antonio Parish Tel. nos. 8843-8830 / 31 Email: ssap_info@yahoo.com Website: www.ssaparish.com Website email: webi@ssaparish.com Instagram: @ssapnewstoday

Parish Pastoral Council Rose Galvez – PresidentMarie Tycangco – Vice PresidentTeng Jorolan - Secretary

Christmas Message from our Parish PriestDear fellow co-journeyers:

A Blessed Christmas to all!

As we remember the day of the birth of Jesus, the Son of Mary and Joseph -- the

Incarnate Word -- the Embodiment of Love

and Wisdom of God, we are invited especially

in this time of the COVID-19 pandemic to

become Lights of Hope in the midst of Darkness and Death, an

expression of solidarity in the midst of indifference and epitomes of

humility in the midst of self-righteousness.

The meaning of the Christmas celebration lies in God’s unconditional

self-giving, our communion with Jesus and commitment to bring the

message of the Gospel alive. The sacredness of our humanity is indeed

not only a manifestation of the beauty of life. It is also a blessing to be

celebrated within our families and communities. The Year of Missio Ad

Gentes invites us to become joyful and generous givers of Time, Talent

and Treasure as we share our gift of Faith. Let us transform our Parish

community into a home where talent is nurtured and celebrated, time

is valued and honored, and treasure is managed and shared.

We are God’s “mangers” in the ongoing birthing forth of Emmanuel

-- God-with-us -- that transforms each of us into the likeness of our

Savior and Redeemer to live and love life to the fullest.

May the true spirit and meaning of Christmas be upon you and your

family!!!

Your Co-journeyer,

FR. REU JOSE C. GALOY, OFM

Parish Priest

Christmas Message from PPC President Rose Galvez

Traditionally, Christmas is a time to celebrate and have meaningful get-togethers

with family, friends, and colleagues. However, these happy gatherings may not be

possible for most of us this year. Aside from the health protocols for quarantining

and social distancing, some of us may also be going through some hardships and

challenges that make it difficult for us to celebrate.

Perhaps the true Christmas message for us this year is to focus on the beauty of

the first Christmas in the little town of Bethlehem. Christ was born under very difficult

and challenging circumstances but -- the glorious birth of Jesus in the manger -- filled

Mary and Joseph, the Magi, the shepherds, and the angels with an overwhelming sense of Hope, Peace, and Joy.

Advent is indeed the Season of Hope. Let us allow Jesus to fill our hearts with His peace and love. Let us ask

Him to transform us into bearers of His warmth and joy in a world that, for so many, is challenging and full of

gloom right now. Let us look beyond the worldly celebration of Christmas and focus, instead, on the Hope that

only Jesus brings us. Let us pray that He grants us many opportunities to grow and make the world around us a

better place.

This year, we have witnessed how so many of you were touched and inspired to share generously your

unique gifts and treasures. On behalf of the Pastoral Team and the Parish Pastoral Council, we thank each and

everyone of you, most especially the dedicated ones who serve during Masses, who give Communion to the

sick and elderly, and lovingly reach out to all those in need. We are so grateful to the Parish staff and guards

who conquer their fears each time they go to work in the service of our beloved Parish and community. This is

the true spirit of ‘Christ in us’.

During this time of Advent, let us prepare to celebrate the most beautiful Christmas that will come not from

lavishly wrapped expensive presents, but from the presence of the Baby Jesus wrapped in swaddling clothes,

lying in a simple manger, in a warm barn in the little town of Bethlehem.

Have a Blessed Christmas and a Joyous New Year filled with the loving presence of Jesus!

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Christmas, RedefinedWe normally celebrate Christmas with feasting, gathering with our families, and giving/receiving presents. But this year is so unlike any year in the past, and this Christmas will be very different indeed! As so many people are suffering around us, Christmas takes on a deeper meaning. Here SSAP parishioners share their Christmas plans and wishes:

MARY ANN LU

By taking a moment to list down in my journal the many blessings received -- amidst this challenging year -- I thank God for each of those. Then together with my family, we pray for those who

are suffering -- that they may be comforted and be reminded of God’s love especially this Christmas season.

VON PAYUMO

I plan to make Christmas meaningful this year by spending the month continuing to help my community in the tech and startup field. And also by doing my best to help anyone out, through Chat or Voice whenever I detect that they may be going through something. Finally, I would also limit my working hours and really focus on my family and God as the center of this upcoming Season.

ARGEL TIBURCIO

Christmas this year is already more meaningful as we celebrate the gift of life and good health in the family. Even after the Christmas season, being able to give more, do more, and love more

will only be possible if I take care of my overall health first.

EARL SEBASTIAN

Given the circumstances and limitations, I will make this Christmas meaningful by cherishing my time with my family and spending time with friends, mostly through just

virtual setting. The money I usually spend on buying new clothes or gifts for others, I have donated through charity or non-government organizations. And most of all, I shall spend the time this Christmas Season to visit the Church and thank God that my family survived this year especially with everything the world has been through.

YANNA GEMORA

By eating good food and being present in the moment with my family. Also, by adding Christmas decors and playing Christmas music for that extra holiday flare.

ERVIN CO

This year has been tough on everyone, from the eruption of Taal Volcano and now, COVID-19. The best way to have a meaningful Christmas is to keep on doing what we’ve been doing for the past 9 months, STAY AT HOME.

Let’s stay at home with our loved ones to prevent the spread of the virus so that others can be with their loved ones as well.

JEANNIE BITANGA

When my kids were little, Christmas meant traveling to be with the rest of the family. Once they got married and had their own kids, they did the same thing. With this pandemic, we are all

confined to our own parts of the world and celebrate with gladness that we are all safe and well and looking forward to a brighter future.

DANDY NG

This year I would like to spend time with my friends .. stay connected with my family during Christmas and try to help others in need by donating food, clothes etc.

TENG JOROLAN

Christmas for me this year is about “back-to-basics” by focusing only on what’s essential. It is meaningful enough and correcting in a way, that we are forced to focus on what and who truly

matters: family and love. Challenges give more meaning to victories and

joys. The typhoons and pandemic paved the way for a more meaningful celebration of Christmas. They gave me opportunities to go beyond my comfort zone, be extra considerate and kind.

PAULINA MIRANDA

To make Christmas meaningful this year -- I’d like to offer my little heart -- as a manger for His birth. This will mean clearing my heart of my own desires to make space for His, taking everything I have, and

leaving it in His hands.

TED PADILLA

The Christmas holiday isn’t always represented by a gathering of friends and relatives, but rather; by the spirit of giving, which needs no physical contact. We will greet our loved ones and wish them well in these uncertain times, as even the most modest of greetings can lift one’s spirits significantly. We resolve to carry on the spirit of the celebration by being as generous as possible with our time and energy to ensure that this leaves a lasting glow for all.

MARIE TYCANGCO

Christmas this year will be special as we go back to basics -- having a simple, intimate bonding with the family -- in joyful anticipation of the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ -- much like the

Nativity scene. Instead of spending on gifts for family and friends, gift giving will be focused more on those who are most in need. It is my Christmas wish to touch the hearts and put smiles on the faces of others.

KAREN LIMPE

A very extraordinary Christmas 2020 -- brought about by the challenges and uncertainties of this pandemic -- has given me the opportunity to slow down and reflect upon the Real Meaning of

this Season. Changes involve simpler decor, a shorter gift list, and no in-person holiday gatherings planned. I am very grateful my time will be spent more intimately with family -- to celebrate the Love and Hope -- heralded by the birth of our Savior. There is also an unspoken agreement that we will spend less on ourselves and share more of our blessings with others because these acts of love and service are what really demonstrate the Joy and true Spirit of Christmas.

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The Nativity – Life as We Know ItBy Rachelle C. Wenger

One of the most overused statements I have encountered while editing articles this past year -- is how the pandemic has caught the world -- by surprise. Ironically, if there’s one thing expected in this world, it is change and the very nature of change is unpredictability.

When we were planning on this issue -- it being The Christmas Issue -- we wanted to make it extra-special, as a gift for both our Birthday Celebrant and for our parishioners. And that is how we came up with the idea to have on the front page -- an original illustration of the Nativity -- the Real Reason and Meaning of Christmas.

Lo and behold! Just 2 days after our PB Christmas Zoom Party, the youngest member of our team -- the “baby” who is our illustrator -- this poor girl was indisposed. And she left us her unfinished work -- a half-done Nativity illustration. But instead of totally doing away with the front page idea, we decided to present her work as is. It is still beautiful, in its incompleteness and purity. Just like humanity.

While I was discussing with Caren, our Artist, we both agreed Hannah’s half-finished work is uniquely beautiful, even in its unfinished state. Then it dawned on me that, this is what the Nativity is about.

We are all but works in progress, we are all connected in this spiritual journey, our inadequacy and vulnerability magnified during this year of uncertainty and pandemic. But so are our strength and faith; the acceptance of our vulnerability made us lean stronger upon Jesus, and our insignificance in this world made us do significant things for others. We helped people, we prayed, we united to make this challenging time a bit bearable and the load lighter to carry.

This is what our Savior was saving us from -- a world where we became dependent on material things; a

world where we gain material assets but lose time with those we should love and value most. The Light that shone in Bethlehem that night is still shining brightly this year, if we only take a moment and realize what a Gift this year has become to us. We have spent time in our homes, getting to know our family again, sharing meals together and for once not in a hurry to go somewhere.

The best of humanity was seen -- frontliners who sacrificed their own lives to “save” others -- isn’t that what our Savior has done for us? The simplicity of the Holy Family’s faith in God was shown in the search for a place where the King of Kings would be born. Did we not have that and even more in the comfort of our homes? With this year’s trials -- just like when St. Joseph and Mama Mary were traveling in their frail human physical conditions --probably tired and exhausted –- it is but where they found a simple place where they experienced the greatest Joy.

That’s what this year is trying to teach us -- the essentials in life -- how we have more than enough, including time to focus on Giving. Time to focus back on family. Time to focus not on Fear but on Faith that contentment does not come from being perfect -- just like Hannah’s Nativity illustration -- peace and contentment come from knowing God will always see us through, no matter what. Just like He has shown in history, He was always in control, just like the faith of Mary and Joseph that unpredictable night, we will find the greatest Love amidst all difficulties because our God is faithful and His love for us is beyond our deepest understanding. Yet we remain with piety and fortitude -- just like Mama Mary and St. Joseph -- because we know that once we surpass all these, the Gift we will be given is beyond what we can imagine.

Here’s to the brightest Christmas and a peaceful New Year!

EDITOR’S LETTER

The unfinished sketch of Hannah that inspired the article Nativity -- Life as We Know it.Thankfully, it was completed before we closed the issue.

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With A Father’s HeartThe Year of St. Joseph

Christian tradition honors the earthly father of Jesus and husband of Mary. Though a silent and hidden figure in the Gospels, St. Joseph plays an essential role in the story of our faith. Devotion to St. Joseph is a popular Catholic devotion -- such that 150 years ago -- he was declared a Patron of the Universal Church.

In his recent Apostolic Letter, “Patris corde,” Pope Francis proclaimed a “Year of St. Joseph” from December 8, 2020 to December 8, 2021. This proclamation is set against the backdrop of the worldwide COVID 19 pandemic -- where we have come to appreciate more deeply the importance of ordinary people -- who like St. Joseph “exercise patience and offer hope every day.”

A Beloved and Tender Father

Pope Francis writes about how St. Joseph concretely expressed his fatherhood, raising Jesus and sheltering Him in a loving home. Through St. Joseph -- the Messiah experienced -- the tender love of God. It is this Love that allows us to accept our weakness, because in our fear and weakness, the “most divine designs are realized.”

An Obedient and Accepting Father

St. Joseph too had a “fiat” where he obeyed and honored God’s mission to care for Mary and Jesus, teaching his Son to do the will of the Heavenly Father. He was an accepting spouse and father who “accepted Mary unconditionally.” According to Pope Francis, this is especially relevant today in a world where there is still much violence towards women. As the spouse of Mary, he accepted the events he did not understand and set aside his own ideas, trusting in the mysterious plan of God. His spiritual life “is not one that explains, but accepts,” and in his fiat, he was not resigned to events, but was a proactive and courageous actor in them, carrying in him the spirit of fortitude.

A Working Father

As a carpenter, St. Joseph earned an honest living to provide for the family of the Messiah. His example teaches us the value and dignity of labor, and through this, Pope Francis appeals to all peoples to appreciate the importance of dignified work, which

is a means for participating in the work of salvation and the building of His Kingdom. In the crisis the world is facing, Pope Francis asks us to review our priorities and to bring about a “’new ‘normal’ from which no one is excluded.”

A Model for True Fatherhood

“Fathers are not born, but made.” Pope Francis points out that one does not become a father by bringing a child into the world -- but by taking up the responsibility -- of caring for the child. St. Joseph as a father, “knew how to love with extraordinary freedom,” never making himself the center of things or asserting dominance and power. Our world today needs more true fathers, not tyrants, who respect the freedom of children and of all people. Such is the selfless love of a father that points to our Father in Heaven.

The Nativity of the LordBy Hart Ang

One of the most important events in all of Christianity -- the Nativity of our Lord -- serves as both an Origin story and a source of Hope. This tale is nearly as old as time and has been retold multiple times, but digging a bit deeper into its background can help us appreciate what it means not only for Christians but also for the whole of humanity as well.

What is the Nativity?

The meaning of the word “nativity” means the birth of a person. The word comes from the Latin term nativus, which means born. It can also refer to the time, place, and situation of someone’s birth -- in this case, all the persons involved, the context, and the underlying circumstances during that time can be part of the story. There are many nativity stories in Scripture, but the term is commonly attributed to the birth of Jesus Christ in Bethlehem. Depictions of His nativity come in paintings, sculptures, and even movies, and are based on the Gospels by Matthew and Luke.

fulfilled. His birth also served as the perfect beginning to His rule as a Servant-King. The location of His birth serves as a reminder of His humble background, arriving without pomp nor circumstance. He was visited by shepherds who were nearby tending to their sheep, giving homage and recognizing His legitimacy as a leader who is with and for the poor. The visit by the three Magi-kings is not only another prophecy fulfilled. It was also what is called a state visit, a formal event wherein a head of state invites other heads of state as a sign of courtesy and as an opportunity to create amicable relationships. By accepting this invitation to come to visit Him, the Magi-kings recognize and respect His Kingship. His birth also heralds the arrival of a new kind of Leader, one Who is a Savior -- Who will save everyone --whether king or shepherd.

Our Calling and Response

In the Book of Isaiah, it is foretold that the Messiah would be called Immanuel -- God with us. Jesus’ name in Hebrew, Yeshua, means Yahweh is Salvation. With Jesus’ birth and entrance on Earth, God fulfils His promise of sending His only Son to be with and for us. There is no extravagant story nor a grand entrance befitting a royal here -- just a promise fulfilled between God and His people. We should take this all to our hearts with all the gratitude we can muster, as fulfilled promises these days are few.

This year was not just a crisis of health, but a crisis of faith as well. With so many people around the globe suffering from the consequences of the pandemic -- many have turned inward to shield themselves -- looking for ways to survive. While some have found ways to financially get by and to protect our physical and mental well-being, there are many others who are in need of assistance. Many others are also in search of meaning behind all this, whether this is all a sign of things to come or a consequence of our collective wrongdoing.

This is all grim indeed, and we must realize that 2020 is not a happy story to share with future generations. But the Nativity story is a great one and we all know it by heart -- one that we celebrate every December with a gathering better than any of our favorite tito or tita’s birthday party. If there is a takeaway from the story of the Nativity it is that we must be present with our loved ones and those most in need. We are asked to live out Christ’s arrival as messengers of His love, to serve as guiding lights in the here and now -- aware of the current situation -- and responding with kindness and compassion. While Christmas will be forever in our hearts, the Nativity scene is a reminder that in spite of what has happened, we can celebrate, be thankful, and uplift each and every one of us.

What Happened and Why it Matters

Before the events of the nativity, prophets foretold of the Messiah’s arrival. What’s interesting to note is how accurate, almost to the point of perfect circumstance, that several prophecies about this would be fulfilled in one event alone.

One of these prophecies declared that the Messiah would be born in the city of Bethlehem, a small village near Jerusalem. Bethlehem just happens to be the birthplace of King David, an ancestor of the Messiah. Combine the fact that Jesus’ father Joseph was also born in Bethlehem and that the Romans at the time ordered a census for all Jews, and you had the makings of a story that was literally written in the stars.

Jesus’ birth -- in the manger surrounded by His parents and a menagerie of farm animals -- is a litany of prophecies

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LET’S LEARN SOME GOOD MANNERS!Illustrations by Hannah Fernandez

THIS WEEK’S ECO TIP!

Illustration by Alex Arcenas

Open your windows to let the air in.

The air is cool in December. Instead of

turning the airconditioner on, you can

save a lot by opening the windows to

let the breeze in.

Use your indoor voice when you’re inside a

house, building, etc.

Bad words are taboo! Never use them.

20 December 2020

Christmas For All!By Millette T. Ocampo and Mariza V. del Rosario

Christmas is that time of the year that has a universal significance to many, whether celebrated in a luxurious home -- overflowing with sumptuous food, with numerous presents under the big tree -- or in a small dwelling, with one or two dishes; simple everyday fare. Either way, it is most treasured by all families.

Many of our scholars have sacrificed being apart from their families during the regular school year in order to study in the “big city” and avail of a scholarship. Christmastime holds the promise of being with their families again.

During this pandemic year, many were able to go home before the lockdown. Being with their families has been a very difficult time for many. They feel the strain and burden of lost jobs and minimal income. Their fathers -- farmers, fishermen or tricycle drivers -- worry about how to put the next meal on the table. Others may have gotten laid off, like overseas foreign workers losing their contracts and being sent home.

2020 has been particularly difficult for many of our countrymen. Some of us are impatient after being kept in quarantine, within the confines of our comfortable homes. But for many more -- it has been a matter of survival -- and being cooped up in a very small place they call home.

For almost a decade and a half, our scholars have looked forward with anticipation to our SSAP Annual Christmas party, a Homecoming for past and present scholars and a celebration honoring graduates, especially those who finished with honors. Celebrated every first Saturday of December, it starts with the 4:30 pm Mass in the Main Church before the program and the party continue in the Parish Center.

Preparations included choir practice, and dance and song rehearsals for the short program. Their excitement and the spirit of Advent could hardly be contained as the scholars decorated the Parish Center bays with a Christmas tree, décor, garlands and buntings on loan from Committee members for the occasion. Truly festive ornaments were donated by past scholars who are now professionals. There was even a photo booth shared by scholars now in the photography business. It was their way of giving joy, remembering their own Christmas experiences of the previous years with fellow scholars and the Scholarship Committee.

Long tables decked with poinsettia-designed tablecloths brimmed with hundreds of prizes ready for the picking.

Small prizes such as T-shirts, mugs, backpacks, caps, and white elephant knick-knacks -- collected from our parishioners about two months before the event -- were wrapped by our household staff and temptingly laid out. These were marked F, M and U for female, male and unisex, respectively. These were given as entrance raffle prizes, group game winners, program participants and to past graduates who filled up Update Forms to help us keep track of them. There were many consolation prizes and no one went home empty-handed. Scholars told us that their parents and siblings shared in the presents they took home.

About two hundred or so past and present scholars attended annually to enjoy the many games, prizes, and the reunion. A generous buffet menu of menudo, pancit, fried chicken, vegetable lumpia, and saba with sago was enjoyed by all. Picture taking by the batch was taken for posterity together with our Parish Priest and other priests present, cluster heads, members of the Scholarship Committee, and representatives from our partner schools. Some of our donors even attended to watch the scholars in action.

Entertainment through songs and dances livened up the atmosphere as fellow scholars cheered and happily watched. A short video of photos of past events show our graduates -- now in ships and restaurants or places of work in far-away places or other parts of the Philippines to show how they have benefited as scholars -- that they are living part of their dream. Honor students are mentioned for inspiration. But it is really the games participated by all that bring in the real fun, thrill, and competitive spirit.

This year the Scholarship Committee was in a quandary -- with the circumstances and restrictions of the lockdown -- and dangers of the virus. With God’s grace, those of us who were technologically challenged learned to Zoom and manage our devices, talents were pooled together and aided by our children and siblings, we were all able to organize a creative, fun Virtual Party. Two friars concelebrated our interactive Mass with opening prayers and inspirational message. A member’s daughter made a special trip to church to lector, (continued on page 12...)

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(...continued from page 10: Christmas for All!) while another daughter put together the Readings and songs. A generous son hosted our Christmas Zoom party and regularly supports our Zoom monthly meetings as well. To everyone’s delight, two games were successfully played virtually, hosted by our new member, with cash gifts contributed by Committee members.

How heartwarming that the real spirit of Christmas is shared not only among scholars and committee members but also with their families. To cap the Virtual Party, a surprise gift of Php 500 was given to each scholar so they could add a dish to their family Noche Buena.

The real message we wanted to impart to our scholars is that -- even through this most difficult year filled with new challenges -- the SSA Parish Scholarship Program will carry

on. We believe it is important to equip our young and needy with an education especially in this time of hardship. It aspires to bring some light and joy even as circumstances are bleak, so that their dreams are not halted. Since there are no person-to-person meetings, we remain in touch with our cluster groupings through emails and online communications, assuring them that we will journey with them through this pandemic period, and will not leave them behind. We are with them as they aspire to better their lives through education and help uplift their families. We thank our Lord for His blessings and pray for continued graces on our Scholarship Program, our scholars and our generous donors

A happy, holy and blessed Christmas to all!

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