parishworks! 1Vol. 10 No. 08 June 28, 2014

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Sunday GospelJune 29, 2014

Solemnity of Sts. Peter and Paul, ApostlesMatthew 16:13-19

When Jesus went into the region of Caesarea Philippi

he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?”

They replied, “Some say John the Baptist, others Elijah, still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”

He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”Simon Peter said in reply, “You are the Christ, the

Son of the living God.”Jesus said to him in reply, “Blessed are you, Simon

son of Jonah.For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but

my heavenly Father.And so I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this

rock I will build my Church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it.

I will give you the keys to the Kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in

heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”

PONDO NG PINOY CELEBRATES 10 FRUITFUL YEARSby Gene C. Alberto

With a great desire to promote and sustain the spirit of Pondo ng Pinoy, the Pondo ng Pinoy Community Foundation organized programs and activities to celebrate the 10th Year Anniversary of Pondo ng Pinoy with the theme: “ISANG BAGONG EBANGHELISASYON UMAABOT AT PARA SA LAHAT!” This milestone celebration was held at Eco-Uling site in Taguig City last June 21, 2014.

Parish Priests, Representatives from Parish Pastoral Councils, Youth Sector, Mandated Organizations, Lay Organizations, were present. It was highlighted by Eucharistic Celebration concelebrated by His Eminence, Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle, Bishop Bernardino Cortez and Bishop Broderick Pabillo.

The beautiful vision of Pondo ng Pinoy which claims the fullness of life for human kind has moved towards the full development of people especially the poor who make up the majority of persons in our society. During the anniversary celebration, PWD beneficiaries shared their success stories on how despite their physical disabilities, they were able to live a life with dignity, earn a living and be mindful of taking care of the environment. It was indeed remarkable to see what they have accomplished through the years. The eco-water lily charcoal technology they have learned presents an alternative to producing charcoal out of trees, and can also be a protection of the waterways from the over-

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Burning with loveBy Susan Amoroso

Have you ever been in-love? Almost all of us have fallen in love. We feel giddy, excited, happy, filled with joy and merriment , emotionally satisfied and even ecstatic when the object of our affection is present. In his or her absence we feel sadness and despair, we are emotionally empty. That is romantic love. There are other kinds of love, platonic love which we feel for our friends and there is filial love,

the love for our family.But there is a love much more sublime than anything

in the world and in heaven. It is the love of Jesus for us. His love for us is eternal. It goes beyond his death and resurrection. His love is forgiving, sacrificing, and divine. His love for us goes beyond even when he rose up to heaven. He gave us the Holy Spirit . What more, he gave us his body to eat and his blood to drink in the Holy Eucharist. Most of all he gave us his most sacred heart burning with love for us. There is no greater love than what Jesus has for us. He only wants the best for us. He came down from heaven to be with us here on earth so that he could show us the way to eternal life. He loves us so much that he is sharing his inheritance in heaven with us.

Last Friday the Catholic Church celebrated the solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus.

Consider the loving and reassuring words of Jesus to us:

``I am the way, the truth, and the life.’’``I am telling you the truth. What Moses gave you

was not the bread from heaven. It is my Father who gives you the real bread from heaven. For the bread that God gives is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.’’ (Jn. 6: 32-33)

``Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened and I will give you rest.’’

There is no greater love than for a man to lay down his life for his friend.

``Peace be with you.’’

I am the good shepherd who lays down his life for his lamb.

``I am meek and humble of heart.’’Jesus so loves us that he promises us heaven and

assures us of that. Jesus is willing and able to share his inheritance with us in heaven. He prays to the Father for us to be his co-heirs.. Consider his words:

``I will prepare for you a place in my Father’s kingdom.’’

``I am telling you the truth, the Father will give you whatever you ask of him in my name.’’ (Jn 16:23)

``All I have is yours and all you have is mine.’’`I pray that they may all be one. Father! May they be

in us. Just as you are in me and I am in you…. Father , You have given them to me and I want them to be with me where I am.’’ (Jn 17:21-24)

``Father, forgive them for they know not what they do,’’ Jesus calls to the Father to forgive us even as he hangs on the cross dying a most horrible and painful death on Mount Calvary.

We can not fathom the greatness and the depths and the heights of Jesus’ love for us. Let us believe and trust in our Lord who loves us with a burning love.

Let us pray: ``O sacred heart O love divine, do keep us near to thee and make our love so like to thine that we may holy be.’’ ``Jesus , king of mercy, we trust in you.’’

Let us read the new testament of the Bible and ponder on the words of love of Jesus for us.

Sunday Gospel.. from page 1

REFLECTION:

Friendship matters a lot in knowing a person better. Friends have special access to secrets usually not known by the public. This is the advantage of the disciples. Their intimacy with Jesus led them to understand the mystery of His being more than if they were mere acquaintances only. That is why Peter, on behalf of his group, could confidently proclaim the faith we now have in Jesus. This does not come from mere reception of claimed assertions or by rote memory. This is a product of a relationship that provides venues to get to know each other better.

parishworks! 3

Pondo ng Pinoy... from page 1Faith MattersBy: Gene C.Alberto

Why is contraception wrong?To contracept is to willfully exclude the possibility

of conception that could result from a sexual act. The widespread practice of contraception in our day reflects the common attitude that children are more burden than a blessing.

In Psalms and Proverbs, for example, we hear a constant refrain about the great joy of being parents and grandparents, even many times over. “Certainly sons and daughters are a gift from the Lord; the fruit of the womb, a reward.” Children’s children are the crown of the elderly (Prv 1716).

What does the Catholic Church teach about contraception?

The constant teaching of the Catholic Church has been to prohibit contraception. Spacing of children or limiting of children for serious reasons are permitted, according to Pope Paul’s encyclical Humanae Vitae and Catholic moral teaching. But this limitation must come about through natural rather than artificial means so that the integrity of the material sexual act is preserved – that is, so that the act remains open to the possibility of transmitting new life, which is part of its natural purpose.

Is there any biblical text to support this truth?

One biblical text cited to support this truth concerns the grave sin of Onan, who sought the physical pleasures of sexual acts while preventing the possibility that they might produce children. “Whenever he had relations with his brother’s widow, he wasted his seed on the ground, to avoid contributing offspring for his brother. What he did greatly offended the Lord, and the Lord took his life too” (Gn 38:9-10)

Contraception is contrary to our sexual nature and the innate purposes for which God created it. Every marital sexual act, then, must be open to the possibility of conception.References: Gn 38: 9-10, Dt 28:18, Prv 30:16, 1 Cor 7:5; Ccc 1652-

1654,2249, 2398, 2399

abundance of water lilies in the lake.It all started with easy, little steps they did together

in a society that is strongly attracted by the micro in the weird world of individual and global interest. In a world where only the great and the powerful make an impressive decision, the small are generally left out.

Pondo ng Pinoy not only builds houses for the poor, but also daily feeds thousands of malnourished children all over the country through Hapag-asa.

It also put up funds for little entrepreneurs, farmers and fisher folks. It provided funds for artisian and drinking water wells in barrios where no potable water was available. Pondo ng Pinoy pick up well among the youth and give them scholarships and other benefits. All these have been accomplished over the years quietly without publicity.

The Cardinal in his homily said that the Pondo ng Pinoy movement was motivated by the Gospel according to Luke that we read on Chapter 16 verses 19-31. This Chapter deals about the rich man daily feasting abundantly, while the beggar, uncared for, waiting only for the scraps and crumbs that fell from the rich man’s door.

In the closeness of the dinner table to the door where the beggar lay, there was great uncovered distance between the rich and the poor.

No wonder, our dear Lord insisted in teaching that parable. There are many reasons why that “remaining distance” still exists today. The cultural and social distance has already been crafted and defended by culture in this life and the selfish economics that exists here.

Jesus taught us how important were the crumbs and the scraps were in real life. However, insolence, conceit or plain greed can further wider the distance between the rich and the poor.

Inspired by the words of Jesus Christ, who was sent by the Father to make the Kingdom available to all of us, let us practice to live with simplicity and reserve a little share for the poor.

“Anumang magaling, kahit maliit, basta’t malimit ay patungong langit.” H.E. Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales, D.D.

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Coordinator Matthew Lizares Parish Works Staff Managing Editor: Susan Amoroso Web Editor: Emilio Medina Photographers: Ann Lopez, Irene Gonzales, Noemi Sta Anna, Rio Angeles Graphic Artist: Jessica Samantha Lim Bulletin Board Editor Harley Dave Punzalan Powerpoint Coordinators Mria Rhea Pia Libao, Ging Santos, Ellie Medina, Vince Eduard Reyes, SAAP Facebook Admin Karen Ann Phoa

Contributors:Gene Alberto, Rhoni Christel Trillana

Spiritual AdvisorRev. Msgr. Dennis Odiver

PublisherSt. Andrew the Apostle ParishN. Garcia St. cor. Kalayaan Ave.Bel-Air II, Makati CityPhones: (632) 890-1796 / 890-1743 media@saaparish.com

Parish Works is the official weekly newsletter of Saint Andrew the Apostle Parish.

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Matthew LizaresParish Works StaffSusan Amoroso, Emilio Medina, Russel Matthew Patolot, Karen Ann Phoa, Irene Gonzales, Noemi Sta Anna, Angelina Poe, Magda GanaBulletin Board EditorHarley Dave PunzalanPowerpoint CoordinatorsEllie Medina, Ging Santos, Leomar Alvarez SAAP Facebook AdminRochelle Pineda

ContributorsWina de Vera

Spiritual AdvisorRev. Msgr. Dennis Odiver

PublisherSt. Andrew the Apostle ParishN. Garcia St. cor. Kalayaan Ave.Bel-Air II, Makati CityPhones: (632) 890-1796 / 890-1743 media@saaparish.com

Parish Works is the official weekly newsletter of Saint Andrew the Apostle Parish.

Media and Communications Ministry Coordinator

Sunday Mass Schedule 6:30am - Filipino

8:00am - English 9:30am - English 11:00am - English 12:15n.n - English

3:30pm - Filipino 5:00pm - English 6:30pm - English 8:00pm - English

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Announcements

Answer key: 1) Winged; 2) Courageous; 3) Yields, Grain; 4) Mustard; 5) Parables

Puzzle CornerJune 17, 2012 - Readings: Ezekiel

17:22-24 / Psalm 92 / 2 Corinthians

5:6-10 / Mark 4:26-34By: Karen Ann Phoa

1. “Birds of every kind shall dwell beneath it, every _ _ _ _ _ _ D E W G I N thing in the shade of its boughs.”

2. “We are always _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ S A G E C O U O U R, although we know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, for we walk by faith, not by sight.”

3. “Of its own accord the land _ _ _ _ _ _ S L I D E Y fruit, first the blade, then the ear, then the full _ _ _ _ _ N A G R I in the ear.”

4. “It is like a _ _ _ _ _ _ _ D R U M A S T seed that, when it is sown in the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on the earth.”

5. “Without _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ B A R A P L E S he did not speak to them, but to his own disciples he explained everything in private.”

• June 22-24 PARISH RENEWAL EXPERIENCE (PREX)

• June 29 (Fri) KUMPISALANG BAYAN

many others back to religious observances.

Though Father Regis longed to work as a missionary among the North American Indians in Canada, he was to live out his days working for the Lord in the wildest and most desolate part of his native France. There he encountered rigorous winters, snowdrifts and other deprivations. Meanwhile, he continued preaching missions and earned a reputation as a saint. One man, entering the town of Saint-Andé, came upon a large crowd in front of a church and was told that people were waiting for “the saint” who was coming to preach a mission.

The last four years of his life were spent preaching and in organizing social services, especially for prisoners, the sick and the poor. In the autumn of 1640, Father Regis sensed that his days were coming to a conclusion. He settled some of his affairs and prepared for the end by continuing to do what he did so well: speaking to the people about the God who loved them. On December 31, he spent most of the day with his eyes on the crucifix. That evening, he died. His final words were: “Into thy hands I commend my spirit.”

He was canonized in 1737.

St. John Francis Regis ... from page 3

Puzzle Corner

1. “So he followed him out, not realizing that what was happening through the _ _ _ _ _ L A G E N was real; he thought he was seeing a _ _ _ _ _ _ N O V S I I.”

2. “I, Paul, am already being poured out like a _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ N O T I A B I L, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ D E T E P O M C well; I have finished the race; I have kept the faith.”

3. “’Who do people say that the Son of Man is?’ They replied, ‘Some say John the _ _ _ _ _ _ _ S T I B P A T, others Elijah, still others Jeremiah or one of the _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ S T E P H O R P.’ He said to them, ‘But who do you say that I am?’,

4. “For _ _ _ _ _ S H E L F and _ _ _ _ _ D O O L B has not revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father. And so I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it.”

5. “Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in _ _ _ _ _ _ N A H E V E; and whatever you _ _ _ _ _ S O E L O on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”

June 29, 2014 - Solemnity of Saints

Peter and Paul, Apostles; Readings:

Acts 12:1-11 / Psalm 34:2-3, 4-5,

6-7, 8-9 / 2 Timothy 4:6-8, 17-18 /

Matthew 16:13-19

Answer Key: 1) Angel, Vision; 2) Libation, Competed; 3) Baptist, Prophets;

4) Flesh, Blood; 5) Heaven, Loose

Sunday Mass Schedule 6:30am - Filipino

8:00am - English 9:30am - English 11:00am - English 12:15n.n - English

3:30pm - Filipino 5:00pm - English 6:30pm - English 8:00pm - English

Concur-Finance meet with Paeskwela ni San Andres

Last Friday, June 13, 2014, the Finance Group of Concur Phils., together with their bosses, visited SAAP and met with our beloved Parish Priest, Msgr. Dennis S. Odiver, Paeskwela ni San Andres Mentors Karen Phoa, Jamie Luz and Lily Aranas. They were presented with the SAAParish teaser and the Paeskwela ni San Andres videos created by the Graduates of Batch 2013-2014.

The members of Concur Phils. Finance Group agreed to pool their resources and donate it to the educational assistance program of the parish. They were greatly inspired by the Paeskwela students, especially since Ms. Morfe Vicencio, Senior Finance Manager of Concur Phils., used to be a working student. Stories of needy and deserving students are really close to her heart that’s why she initiated the move for their company to express their generosity to the Paeskwela ni San Andres.

As a symbol of their sincere intent to be a benefactor of Paeskwela ni San Andres, Concur Phils. donated school supplies for the Paeskwela students.

Thank you very much, Concur Phils. Finance Group! May the Lord bless you more through your generosity.