St. Perpetua and St. Felicity (+202-203)

St. Perpetua and St. Felicity (+202-203)
by Fe Marina S. Siacon

These two saints faced martyrdom hand in hand at Carthage in North Africa during the Persecution of Septimus Severus. The account of their deaths was probably written by Tertullian. The account was so highly esteemed that in the fourth century it was read publicly in the Churches of Northern Africa.

Perpetua, 22 years of age, was the daughter of a pagan nobleman and she was the mother of an infant still in swaddling clothes. Felicity, a slave, gave birth to a child prematurely while in prison. Three other catechumens were imprisoned with Perpetua and Felicity and they were soon joined by their teacher, Saturus. They were baptized while in prison, prior to their death in the amphitheater. The detailed account of their martyrdom is one of the greatest literary treasures that have come down to us from the early Church.



Reflection Their martyrdom highlights the intensity of their love for God. Felicity was asked by a prison guard to avoid martyrdom for the sake of her unborn child, but she refused, standing firmly for her faith. She said that even if she was going through the pains of labor she will never give up. Her love for God transcends one of the most powerful of human love. Her response to the prison guard can serve as a protest today against the widespread slaughter of the unborn through abortion. Today even the government officials are trying to propose a health bill leading to abortion in the guise of family planning. Let us pray for their enlightenment. Perpetua although from a pagan upbringing, grew in faith after her baptism. The account of her imprisonment would still be relevant today, for she said, “The Spirit inspired me to ask from the water of baptism nothing more than constancy of the flesh.” Both of them were given by the Holy Spirit the courage to endure the torments of martyrdom. Prayer: Father, Your love gave saints Perpetua and Felicity courage to suffer a cruel martyrdom. We too, are suffering from martyrdom; martyrdom in poverty, injustice, and inequality; degradation of values, and high level of political maneuvering. Help us grow in love for You despite our sufferings. Let Sts. Perpetua and Felicity intercede for us before You. Amen.

WHO AM I?

WHO AM I?
by Khristyne Joy S. Paniza

Who would ever think that a sinner like me would be loved by someone so omnipotent? Why would He offer himself to save me from my sins? Am I worth the sacrifice He did 2000 years ago? As the songs goes, “Who am I that the Lord of all the earth, would care to know my name, would care to know myhurt?”

These are the questions that I often ask myself of how I came into being despite my unworthiness of His great sacrifice. I sometimes find myself rejecting His love and I tend to dwell on earthly things, thinking that this could heal the brokenness in me. Human as I am, I struggle to understand life’s uncertainties and I admit it is hard to find meaning in every endeavor I have. I would sometimes feel empty, scared and not even knowing why these things are happening in my life. The innate vulnerability in me caused me hurts and rejections that left my young and fragile heart wounded. I admit that I was scared of letting go things; things that are within my comfort zone because I was scared of the responsibility that lies ahead when I’ll grow maturely as a Christian. But then I realized that I have God who unconditionally loves me and accepts me for who I am; our Savior who never fails to understand and forgives our sins. There is nothing I should be scared of because He will be there to catch me in every downfall. He would be there to make me understand things and make me appreciate the sacrifice He did. I have God who would always be there for me even if others would depart and I know that I am nothing without God.

As we celebrate the Lenten season, may it remind us of God’s unending love for us, make us value why He offered Himself to save us from our sins 2000 years ago. We may be sinners but we have God who sacrificed for us and who is always willing to forgive us of our sins. We have a God who will make us strong and steadfast when we are tormented by life’s cruelties. We should be thankful that God gave up Himself to redeem us of our sins . May we never fail to submit to His will and in turn, let us unselfishly offer ourselves to Him also.

The next time you’ll ask yourself “Who am I?” never hesitate to answer:

“Lord, I am yours”.

Stop and Read!

Stop and Read!
by Jesa Christine T. Capagal

If you really want something in life, you will work really hard for it – even if it takes few hours of overtime. There are even times at night when you pray so hard so that these wishes will be given to you. However, if you are like this, then it is time to stop and breathe for awhile.

These hectic hours of your life are sometimes referred to as your “moments overlooked”. We become self-centered and hoped for things only to the advantage of ourselves. We forget to stop and just thank God that something good is happening in our lives. Could you just consider giving a hand to someone in need, to give a warm smile to those who are aching, and to give a comforting shoulder to someone in pain? These are just a few things the world really needs.



Just like Jesus, he never thought of Himself but US. These lives that we hold in hand are only lent to us by God. We are here to fulfill His miracles for humankind. Miracles that only we, ourselves could do: a smile, a hug and a concern for those in need. We are not only here to strive for our betterment but to help each other to survive.

Lent, A Call for Change

Lent, A Call for Change
by Francine Caram

For many Christians the Lenten season can be a mystery. For some, lent is a period of going on a diet, for others lent is a time when their Catholic friends wear ashes on their foreheads and eat fish on Fridays, but in a larger sense, lent is the period of fasting leading up the feast of Easter, recalling Jesus’ 40-day fast in the wilderness.

The forty days represent the time Jesus spent in the desert, where according to th Bible he endured temptation by Satan.

The purpose of Lent is the preparation of the believer, through prayer, penitence, almsgiving and self-denial for the annual commemoration during Holy Week of the Death and Resurrection of Jesus, which recalls the events linked to the Passion of Christ and culminates in Easter, the celebration of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ.

We usually spend the Lenten season with our families. Some of our parents see this as a time for the members of the family to be one in prayer.

If we look at it clearly, Lent also serves as the time for change. As the time for us to realize how much we owe God for making all things possible, for keeping us in tract when the rode leads nowhere. It’s such ashame to see that after the forty days of bringing yourself closer to God, you’re still the same person you were the very first time you walked down the aisle and the priest put that ash cross on your forehead till the time Easter comes to an end.

Perhaps this is our wake up call, our chance to be better children of God. For once the priest puts that ash cross on your forehead and says, “Of dust you are made and of dust you shall return.” It is only rightful that we reminisce all He has dedicated to us. My dear brothers and sisters, let us seek for guidance in darkness, for we are His children, and together we believe in Him even if He does not speak.

Three Seasons in Our Hearts

Three Seasons in Our Hearts
by Pureza D. Lacuesta

Christianity is not confined to celebrating the three seasons of the year in the months precisely prescribed for them. Christianity is for all time.

Every Christian has to enshrine in his heart the image and virtues of Jesus, and make I his daily practice to implement the cycle of joy (Christmas time), love (Valentine’s Day) and repentance (Lenten season), as long as he lives.

It is not easy to celebrate these three feelings if we only think about them – philosophies and arguments may rise within us, time element and job responsibilities may pause as obstacles, but if we are determined to do it, we really can. “It is will power and determination, firm decision and instant implementation that can move us to be truly Christian.” I enclose this line with quotation marks because this is a borrowed line from the homily of Fr. Andy Esperancilla, two Sundays back.

Look! Isn’t sharing your food with a hungry child, a season of joy? Aren’t you happy if that hungry child smiles at you with gratitude in his eyes? Isn’t that December for you? Or, don’t you feel the joy of December if you cover the bare shoulders of an old, shivering woman and she presses your hand with gratitude? Tell me if that isn’t Christmas.

Then, when you hurry home and your mother is relieved of her kitchen work;
Like washing the clothes, or cleaning of the house, and she smiles at you gratefully, isn’t that love? If you lead an old woman across the street, visit a friend in the hospital, give hope to a desperate person or pray for people who have no time for prayer, isn’t that love, greater than the love shown on Valentine’s Day? Love can be given in many ways. The avenue is open every moment of the day.

It is night time, time to rest. The sky is dark. It marks the end of another day. Wouldn’t it be prudent to evaluate our day, and recall if we have hurt somebody through unkind words or actions or even in our thoughts? Couldn’t we ask forgiveness from the Lord, as we accept our failings? Make it your lent.

We are never sure when our final moment would come. We can never tell when our last footstep would stop. We can never tell when we will face the judgment seat. It is therefore an insurance of salvation if we live the three seasons everyday. It is not difficult if we are determined. It is not difficult if we aredecided.

Try to adjust your timetable to a Christian’s “Three-Season-Day” and you will feel more patient, helpful, sincere and friendly to God and our fellowmen. Make the three seasons your permanent vineyard, your voluntary assignment in the field of Christianity.

Kay Sin-o kag Diin Ako Masugod? SA PAGHILIUSA ARA ANG KABASKOG…

Kay Sin-o kag Diin Ako Masugod?
SA PAGHILIUSA ARA ANG KABASKOG…

“Kari kamo ang tanan nahanda na
Sa punsyon sang paghigugma
Maghi-ugyon nga may kasadya
Sa pagkabuhi sang bug-os nga paghiliusa”

Ini una nga mga dinalan sang amba sang ikatlo nga Sinodo Diosesano sang Jaro. Sa ambahanon, mabasa naton nga “ang tanan nahanda na sa punsyon sang paghigugma…” apang pamangkuton naton ang aton kaugalingon: Ako bala bahin sinang punsyon sang paghigugma? Ako bala handa sa pagbugras sang akon makinaiya-iyahon nga pamatasan kag makig-ugyon sa mga katapo sang akon panimalay, sa akon mga kasilingan tungod kay sila, pareho ko, nahamtang o nagapuyo sa isa lamang ka komunidad? Ako bala handa sa pagtan-ay sang akon mga kamot sa akon mga kaupod sa akon ginaobrahan? Ako bala handa makig-uli o makipag-abyan sa akon mga kaaway?
Ang paghiusa nagasugod sa aton mismo kaugalingon. Ang matuod nga pagpakig-angot mahimo lamang kon kita wala sing pagpakuno-kuno… kon ano ang aton ginapanumdom amo ang aton ginahambal; kon ano ang aton ginapabutyag amo ang aton ginabuhat; kon ano ang aton ginapanumdom kag ginapabutyag aton ginakabuhi… bangod kay katapo kita sang isa ka Kristohanon nga panimalay nga katapo man sang isa ka katilingban nga may isa ka direksyon, may isa ka misyon, may isa ka panan-awan padulong sa bug-os nga paghiliusa.
Sa paghiliusa ara ang kabaskog. Madamo ang mahimo/mabuhat kon may paghiliusa. Kami makapanaksi sini sa amon mga gin-agihan sang ginpatigayon ang pagpangkadto namon sa mga barangay nga ginhugpong sa siyam ka mga zona nga nasakupan sang mga masunod nga mga barangay:
Zona I San Vicente, Lourdes Jalandoni, Lourdes DB
Zona II Benedicto, Luna
Zona III Democracia, Simon Ledesma
Zona IV Tabuc Suba Proper, Tabuc Suba Ilaya
Zona V Ma. Cristina, San Roque
Zona VI Libertad, Fajardo, Arguelles
Zona VII Taytay Zone II, Cuartero, Calubihan
Zona VIII Taft North, Bakhaw
Zona IX Desamparados, CC El 98, Seminario

Sa wala pa matalana ang adlaw sang pagsugod sang pagpanglakaton sa mga zona upod sang imahen sang Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria, may mga pagsinapol nga ginhiwat sa diin ginplanohan sang Committee on Worship upod kay Fr. Andy kag Fr. Philip ang mga buluhaton kag mga tawo nga magapatigayon sini.
Duna sa pamatasan sang mga tawo ang pagtililipon bangod kay ang tawo “social being”; apang ang paghugpong sang mga ini sa isa ka balaan nga tinutuyo isa ka mabudlay nga hilikuton. Ang madamo nga mga tawo sa zona nga nag-abi-abi sang pag-abot sang imahen sang aton Mahal nga Patrona amat-amat nga nagkaladula o nangindulaan sang ang tagpatigayon sa pagpaambit nahanungod sang mga hilikuton sang isa ka gamay nga katilingban nagsugod sa paghambal. Kami nga grupo halin sa katedral nakapamangkot: Diin ang ila “commitment”? Tubtob diin lang kag ano lang ang ila masarangan nga ihatag sa katilingban para mabalay ang isa ka paghiliusa?
Natigayon ang siyam ka adlaw nga pagsugat-pagdul-ong sang imahen sang Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria, pagpakig-ambit bahin sa urna kag “Ang Gamay nga Kristianong Katilingban: Alagyan Padulong sa Bug-os nga Paghiliusa,” pagpartisipar sa Santos nga Misa, salamat sa paghugpong sang mga masunod, may ulan man ukon wala:
Fr. Andy Esperancilla Fr. Philip Sinco
Fr. Macky Sortido Bp. Gerry Alminaza,D.D.
Fr. Caloy Noquez Fr. Richard Daulo
Lourdes Prudente Remy Mationg
Evelyn Jimena Monico Alitao
Princess Descalsota Louie Vi Vergara
Ludy Alconga Virginita Vergara
Annabelle Guevara Jervin Vinzon
Jerly Docdocil Richard Camilotes
Neneng Siscar Darlee Estribo
Evelyn Nervato Vicente Gonzales
John Cloyd Pahila Kirby Guevara
Harvey Guevara Kate Sevilla
Dolores Pahila Felma Bering
Jennifer Addun Ione Espartero
Christopher Villa Paulo Pasquin
Lourdes Villa Roseller Villa

Ang amon mga inagihan- masadya, masubo, kaulugot/kailinit- nagpatubo pa gid sa amon bilang katapo sang isa ka daku nga katilingban, ang Parokya sang Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria; apang ang mga masunod nga mga pamalangkutanon magapadayon sa pagpangita sang mga sabat nga dapat naton tanan-tanan panumdoman:
Ano ang akon bahin sa pagtukod sang isa ka gamay nga katilingban indi lamang sa akon panimalay kundi lakip na sa akon barangay?
Paano ako makabulig sa pagpalapnag sang Kristianong pagtuluohan?
Hamtong na bala ako sa akon pagtuo kag handa na bala sa pagpaambit sang paghigugma nga wala nagapaabot sang balos?
Kon ang tagsa-tagsa sa aton may kabalaka sa isa kag isa kag maghimo sang dapat niya himuon (sugod sa kaugalingon), indi malayo nga malambot/matigayon ang bug-os nga paghiliusa.

Healing and Personal Transformation

Healing and Personal Transformation
by Rev. Fr. Philip Vincent S. Sinco

Philippine General Hospital. No other place on earth I have ever experienced such struggle of the human spirit as I brave the hallways of this apparently dismal institution where life and death, sanity and madness, courage and fear collide. At times, I find myself in an emotional whirlwind, trying to figure out my feelings as I make a choice of whether to play numb or give in to the situation. If there’s one word that best describes my sentiments everytime I enter the doorways of each service ward I am assigned to visit for patient care and counselling, it would have to be helplessness. In my encounters with sick people, I am often placed in a confusing stance as I ask myself the following questions:

Imagine that you are standing right next to a person in her deathbed as she grimaces in pain due to an illness which cannot be treated and you catch yourself dumbfounded because you don’t know how to handle the situation…what would you do?

Imagine that you are trying your best to alleviate the seemingly hopeless situation (perhaps, in your own little way) yet the chances are at odds and you’re struggling to hold back your tears because you can’t do anything about it…what would you do?

Imagine that you’re listening to a person’s woes and she’s wailing in front of you, not for the pain her sickness had caused her but for the fact that she was all alone, and her loved ones abandoned her…what would you do?

Imagine that you’re beside a person whose accident has traumatized her that much that she’s unwilling to forgive the one who made her life miserable despite the fact that you’ve been wasting your time telling all the blahs about love and forgiveness…what would you do?

These are the usual scenarios I encounter every time I visit the sick patients lying on their bedposts. I thought I’d be able to handle the various dilemmas given the fact that I’m equipped with theological and pastoral skills I’ve learned from school. I was wrong. In real life situations, when you have the chance of getting a grip out of people’s lives, you will find yourself being humbled and you will realize that indeed, there is so much to learn. And from the many faces I came across the hospital ward, they would always tell me that they are hoping for the day they will receive healing, not just for their physical ailments but for their emotional and spiritual hurts as well. They are after the possibility of a personal transformation, a metamorphosis and a change of heart that will truly make them better persons for their loved ones as they await for the actual cure. Indeed, it is a lasting proof that what should receive healing first and foremost is the inner human core in order to battle life’s endless sorrows and dissensions. Ironically, healing takes place as the person suffers from sickness because his physical state will bring him to a consciousness that he is not invincible and there is a God whom he can depend on when everything else fails.

I’d like to end this with a thought. In his poem, “Fever”, John Updike, in all jocularity tells something about inner healing that accompanies one’s sickness:

I have brought back a good
message from the land of 102 degrees:
God exists.
I had seriously doubted it before;
but the bedposts spoke of it with utmost confidence,
the threads in my p blanket took it for granted,
the tree outside the window dismissed all complaints,
and I have not slept so justly for years.
It is hard, now, to convey
how emblematically appearances sat
upon the membranes of my consciousness;
but it is truth long known,
that some secrets are hidden from health.

Oddly enough, sickness can at times bring out the best in people...if only one wishes to be healed by the loving hands of God.