Good, better, best. Never let it rest – until your good becomes better and your better becomes best.

The Pastoral Council of the Parish of the Holy Sacrifice (PPC) carries on its second year of implementing the Three-Year Master Plan formulated in 2006 with the vision that being a parish is not merely a one-time moment but a process.

The PPC started the second year with an evaluation of the year 2006-2007 activities, followed by the drafting of the year 2007-2008 Action Plan. This was held last 20-21 July 2007 at the Carmelite Missionaries Center of Spirituality in Tagaytay City and facilitated by Ms. Bing Manlapaz. Plans were formulated in both bottom-to-top and top-to-bottom approaches. This should ensure that the plans of the various organizations and areas dovetail with the goals of their respective ministries and the Parish’s Action Plan as a whole. Meanwhile, the PPC Executive Committee (PPC ExeCom) fine-tuned the plans in marathon meetings for three months.

The next step was to equip the Parish servant leaders with skills and attitudes necessary to execute the plans. Thus, the PPC undertook a teambuilding seminar three months after the evaluation and planning activity. The seminar was guided by Ms. Chona Santos of OCCI Fullness of Life Foundation, Inc. on 20-21 October 2007 at the Carmelite Missionaries Center of Spirituality in Tagaytay City. Though the seminar tackled mostly self-awareness and personality development, it was observed that such topics were also relevant to team building since knowing oneself well, enables one is to give of himself wholeheartedly.

Completing the progression of activities designed to build capacities and strengthen the spirit of cooperation was the Spiritual Retreat held last 30 November-1 December 2007 at the Caleruega Retreat House in Nasugbu, Batangas. The retreat focused on (1) lay ministry as the capability to listen and to heed God’s call, (2) servant leadership as shepherding, stewardship and membership, and (3) the spirituality of leadership as one which welcomes working with others and co-laboring to get the job done. It was an experience made memorable both by the retreat master, Fr. Jose S. Topino III, and by the blessing-in-disguise when the shuttle bus broke down, which allowed the participants more time to bond with each other.

The fruits of the three successive activities are evident even just on the surface: increased attendance in PPC meetings, stronger relationships among members, and a deeper awareness of the spiritual aspect of leadership and responsibility. More significantly, the true impact of the three-part endeavor can be gleaned from the accomplishments of the different parochial ministries.

Worship Ministry

Aside from the daily tasks of the Worship Ministry in the celebration of the Eucharist, the members of the Worship Ministry attended the renewal formations required by the Diocesan Ministry for Liturgical Affairs (DMLA). The 90% attendance is a testament to the members’ desire to deepen their understanding of their unique role in liturgical rites. Having recruited and trained new members in time for the basic formation seminars conducted by the DMLA in August 2007, the various organizations of the Ministry demonstrated effectively that servant leadership also means giving others the opportunity to serve.

Last 24 November 2007, the various choirs of the Parish underwent the Ministry-initiated seminar-workshop in chorale singing with Fr. Manoling Francisco, SJ. Choir members had an inspiring encounter with the prolific musician-priest who shared his insights on how church hymns are born. By knowing this, the choir members accordingly contextualized their attitude about their function in the Eucharistic celebration not only in terms of technique, but also in the spirituality of chorale singing. At the end of the seminar-workshop, the participants were even able to compose a simple song with Fr. Manoling by putting together musical lines and lyrics contributed by the participants.

The success of one of the Parish’s resident choirs, the Coro de Santa Cecilia, in an international chorale competition held last November, illustrates clearly the result of PPC support in developing the talents of its parishioners. In the coming months, the other organizations will also have their respective skills enhancement seminars, such as speech training for the lectors and commentators, and floral arrangement workshop for the Marian groups, and Mother Butlers’ Guild, and other special interest talks for greeters and collectors.

In a collaborative effort with the Worship Ministries of the other parishes within the Saint Joseph Vicariate, the Ministry assisted in organizing the Grand Christ the King Procession, which started from the Parish of the Lord of Divine Mercy and ended at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish. The Parish also provided 15 lectors-commentators to proclaim the readings in each station of the procession and during the Mass. Most importantly, the Ministry was able to encourage more than 100 parishioners to participate, thus surpassing the quota of 100 parishioners per parish. The Ministry is very grateful to the parishioners for their active participation.

On top of all these, the Ministry also carried out various activities such as the Aba Ginoong Maria Concert (6 October 2007) and the Living Rosary (24 October 2007). The Confraternity of Our Lady of Lourdes, an organization under the Ministry, initiated a Healing Mass in celebration of the World Day of the Sick last 11 February 2008.

Formation Ministry

Having effected a Faith Formation Survey in 2006 to determine the formation topics strongly needed by the Parish servant leaders, the Formation Ministry took the lead role in the conceptualizing the three activities mentioned above. With the valuable assistance of the PPC ExeCom, the Ministry was also in charge of making arrangements for venue, transportation and the speakers. Beyond the preparations, a review of the entirety of the activities was conducted to further improve implementation in the future.

In addition to spearheading the three-part series of activities, the Ministry organized the Advent Recollection for all parishioners last 12-13 December 2007 at the Delaney Hall. Fr. Steven Zabala, parish priest of Mary the Immaculate Conception Parish, discussed the theme From the Crib to the Cross: The Spirituality of Sacrifice Rooted in the Eucharist. A good number of parishioners attended and were enriched by the Recollection.

The Children of Mary (COM), an organization under the Ministry, also held the Basic Mariology Seminar last 20 October 2007. The seminar, conducted thrice a year, is one of the organization’s formation programs which are intended to spur its participants to involvement with the Parish as servant leaders.

Catechetical Ministry

The Catechetical Ministry, a ministry in close coordination with the Formation Ministry, handles the Parish catechetical program and teaches catechesis to 150 children in the Parish every Sunday morning since July 2007. In turn, the participants of the Sunday school, mostly from the areas or students of the UP Integrated School, take care of the Children’s Mass every second and fourth Sunday of the month. Culminating activities of the program will be held on 9 March 2008, when children in the third grade level will receive their first Holy Communion, and children in the sixth grade level will also graduate from the program. The involvement of two graduates of the program as junior catechists is not only an indication of the program’s success but also a source of encouragement to the 12 volunteer catechists. The Ministry is also preparing for the Kumpilang Bayan to be held this May.

To be continued …

There are various ministries in the Parish of the Holy Sacrifice that provide individuals a fairly wide range of opportunities to serve the Church and the community. Choosing a ministry really depends on an individual’s perception of his own charism, talents, time and the depth of commitment one is able and willing to give. Of great importance, the individual must realize that joining a ministry means embracing a life of service to the Lord.

At the Parish, the Worship Ministry is deemed the most challenging and visible of all ministries, because it has the biggest number of members and organizations to coordinate and because its primary responsibility is to bring people closer to God through enlivened and inspiring Eucharistic celebrations.

The Worship Ministry is a dynamic community of Eucharist-centered servant leaders from different walks of life, demonstrating different talents and charisms, but unified by the same Spirit, and rendering different workings but serving one Lord. Comprising the Ministry are some nineteen groups, namely: Lectors and Commentators Group (LCG), Special Ministers of Holy Communion (SMHC), Greeters and Collectors, Altar Servers, Mother Butler Group, Confraternity of Our Lady of Lourdes, Legion of Mary, Apostleship of Prayer, and 11 chorale groups.

The LCG takes on the role of God’s heralds in proclaiming the Word of the Lord during Mass. To prepare each lector to assume this role, the new members undergo the required Basic Formation Seminar conducted by the Diocesan Ministry for Liturgical Affairs. Likewise, the regular members of the LCG are required to undergo the yearly renewal and formation seminar at the Chancery of the Diocese of Cubao. To further hone the skills of the members and to deepen their spirituality as proclaimers of the Word, speech enhancement workshops and in-house formation seminars are annually programmed as part of the activities under the Worship Ministry. Prospective lectors are called to be persons of prayer with good public speaking skills.

The mission of the SMHC is to assist the priest at Mass and to assume the role of Christ’s hands in the distribution of His Body and Blood to the faithful. Its members also bring Christ’s loving gift of His Body to those who are incapacitated to attend Mass because of illness or infirmity.

The altar servers assist the priest during liturgical celebrations. Their responsibilities range from carrying the Cross and candles during processions to assisting in various tasks at the altar table during the Mass.

As so-called ministers of hospitality, the task of the Greeters and Collectors Group is to encourage the Mass-goers to feel that their presence in the Eucharistic celebration is important. The Greeters and Collectors are needed to welcome the parishioners, usher the handicapped to their seats, take up collections, coordinate the congregation during Communion, and help clean up after the Mass.

The choirs are responsible for leading the sung worship at all liturgical celebrations. Through their music and hymns, they set the tone for a joyful celebration and provide the inspiration to the congregation’s expression of faith, praise and thanksgiving to the Lord.

The other groups in the Ministry have equally important roles in making each celebration a worthy offering to a loving God.

Indeed, the Worship Ministry is a happy collaboration of varied personalities who have chosen to take up the call to be servant leaders and assume various roles to serve the Church. Sometimes the tasks are daunting, but hurdling this challenge brings about a personal transformation and a sublime sense of spiritual gratification that Ministry members experience.