Ms. Feliza Dela Cruz or Ate Pita, for short, joins the Parish of the Holy Sacrifice as its new pastoral worker. She is a member of the Philippine Catholic Lay Mission and underwent a seven and a half-month training in Davao before being assigned to various parishes. She previously worked with the Our Lady of Remedies Parish in Placer, Masbate and in the Centerhouse in Banaue, Quezon City. Ate Pita will be with the Parish for two years and will primarily focus on community organization of Basic Ecclesial Communities (BECs) and formation of leaders. Her message to all the parishioners is “Sama-sama tayong maglakbay bilang isang sambayanang Kristiyano na kumikilos at tumutugon sa hamon ng bagong panahon. Warmest welcome, Ate Pita!

* * *

July 31, 2009 is a red letter day. Our Parish priest Fr. Raymond Arre will be celebrating his birthday and will be installed as the school director of the Immaculate Conception Cathedral School (ICCS). The installation will be held at the new gymnasium of ICCS at 3:30pm. It will be conducted by Bishop Honesto Ongtioco and will be witnessed by the school community, invited priests, lay leaders and guests.

As school director, Fr. Arre is primarily tasked to ensure that the vision and mission of the Diocese of Cubao and of the school will be implemented. He also aims to inspire the school community towards excellence in the field of education by updating the operations of the school and making sure that it not only compliant with the standards of the Department of Education but that it is likewise striving for innovative approaches to teaching and learning. He believes in putting a premium on a good Catholic education in order to make the students good citizens of this country but more importantly, ready witnesses of faith in Jesus to others.

Happy birthday, Fr.! Congratulations and God bless in this new endeavour!

***

This school year, fifteen elementary students became recipients of the Kaloob Karunungan (KaKa) Scholarship Program of the parish.  The families of these children reside in the areas covered by the Parish of the Holy Sacrifice or have been residents in these areas for at least three years.  The scholars are entitled to free uniforms and school supplies, and will receive an allowance every month.  Furthermore, the Family and Life Ministry, the ministry tasked to spearhead this project, wishes to focus on the holistic formation of the children.  Therefore, the children are also required to attend catechism classes during Sundays.  Their parents also receive seminars that improve and strengthen their relationship with each other and with God.

In addition to the 30 recipients of the scholarship program last year, the new scholars bring the total number of KaKa scholars to 45.

***

The Sunday school commenced with the parents’ orientation last July 5.  The formal classes started the Sunday after (July 12).  The children participants ranging from Prep to high school are divided into groups depending on their grade or year level.  Their classes are held in the different areas of the parish such as the school classrooms, Gomburza Hall, Delaney Hall, the former Pastoral Center (now the Bigasang Parokya) and in the open spaces around the parish.  Twenty-four active volunteer catechists, as well as seven new aspirants, take charge of the catechism classes.

The classes are held from 10 am-12 noon.  Every second and fourth Sunday, the children spend the first hour (10 am-11 am) actively participating in the Children’s Mass where they serve as readers, lector-commentators, servers, offerers and choir.

Ms. Feliza Dela Cruz or Ate Pita, for short, joins the Parish of the Holy Sacrifice as its new pastoral worker. She is a member of the Philippine Catholic Lay Mission and underwent a seven and a half-month training in Davao before being assigned to various parishes. She previously worked with the Our Lady of Remedies Parish in Placer, Masbate and in the Centerhouse in Banaue, Quezon City. Ate Pita will be with the Parish for two years and will primarily focus on community organization of Basic Ecclesial Communities (BECs) and formation of leaders. Her message to all the parishioners is “Sama-sama tayong maglakbay bilang isang sambayanang Kristiyano na kumikilos at tumutugon sa hamon ng bagong panahon. Warmest welcome, Ate Pita!

* * *

July 31, 2009 is a red letter day. Our Parish priest Fr. Raymond Arre will be celebrating his birthday and will be installed as the school director of the Immaculate Conception Cathedral School (ICCS). The installation will be held at the new gymnasium of ICCS at 3:30pm. It will be conducted by Bishop Honesto Ongtioco and will be witnessed by the school community, invited priests, lay leaders and guests.

As school director, Fr. Arre is primarily tasked to ensure that the vision and mission of the Diocese of Cubao and of the school will be implemented. He also aims to inspire the school community towards excellence in the field of education by updating the operations of the school and making sure that it not only compliant with the standards of the Department of Education but that it is likewise striving for innovative approaches to teaching and learning. He believes in putting a premium on a good Catholic education in order to make the students good citizens of this country but more importantly, ready witnesses of faith in Jesus to others.

Happy birthday, Fr.! Congratulations and God bless in this new endeavour!

***

This school year, fifteen elementary students became recipients of the Kaloob Karunungan (KaKa) Scholarship Program of the parish.  The families of these children reside in the areas covered by the Parish of the Holy Sacrifice or have been residents in these areas for at least three years.  The scholars are entitled to free uniforms and school supplies, and will receive an allowance every month.  Furthermore, the Family and Life Ministry, the ministry tasked to spearhead this project, wishes to focus on the holistic formation of the children.  Therefore, the children are also required to attend catechism classes during Sundays.  Their parents also receive seminars that improve and strengthen their relationship with each other and with God.

In addition to the 30 recipients of the scholarship program last year, the new scholars bring the total number of KaKa scholars to 45.

***

The Sunday school commenced with the parents’ orientation last July 5.  The formal classes started the Sunday after (July 12).  The children participants ranging from Prep to high school are divided into groups depending on their grade or year level.  Their classes are held in the different areas of the parish such as the school classrooms, Gomburza Hall, Delaney Hall, the former Pastoral Center (now the Bigasang Parokya) and in the open spaces around the parish.  Twenty-four active volunteer catechists, as well as seven new aspirants, take charge of the catechism classes.

The classes are held from 10 am-12 noon.  Every second and fourth Sunday, the children spend the first hour (10 am-11 am) actively participating in the Children’s Mass where they serve as readers, lector-commentators, servers, offerers and choir.

By Ily Grace Yumul

The Parish of the Holy Sacrifice is launching its scholarship program entitled the 30 / 300 Ka-Ka`Scholarship Fund, which will provide assistance to students in the form of uniforms, school supplies, and monthly allowances.

Why Kaloob Karunungan?

Each word in the name of the scholarship program has its significance. In one sense, kaloob means an offering, as the program will be sustained with the help of generous parishioners. It emphasizes that any contribution reflects the sacrificial offering that Christ did on the cross.

Karunungan is not merely intelligence, but wisdom. The Parish hopes that what the scholarship program will impart to the students and their respective families will go beyond knowledge, but discernment to know what is true, right and lasting. To this end, the Parish will also organize formation programs for the beneficiaries in order that the scholarship is directed toward the total development of the children.

In another sense, kaloob also means a gift. Taken together, the phrase Kaloob Karunungan thus signifies that all skills and talents are gifts from God, to be nurtured and used for something bigger than oneself. The Parish envisions that while the initial beneficiaries are few, through recognition that God is the source of all good things, the impact will be magnified.

Why 30/300 KaKa’?

33/300 KaKa’ is the fund raising drive of the Kaloob Karungan Scholarship Program of the Parish of the Holy Sacrifice.

The numbers 30/300 stand for several things. 30 is the number of scholars the parish will initially help. But 30 was chosen because the Parish of the Holy Sacrifice has reached its 30 years of foundation as a parish.

The number 300 stand for Php300,000.00 the amount needed every year to sustain this scholarship program. In reality, more than Php300,000.00 is needed to fund the scholars for an entire school year.

KaKa’ is a contraction of the first two letters of the parish scholarship program, Kaloob Karunungan. Kaka’ in Filipino also means a brother or a sister.

Donations

You may send donations in cash or in kind. Please get in touch with the Parish Office if you wish to donate school supplies or cash. For cash donations, we prescribe amounts of PhP 100, PhP 200, PhP 500 or PhP 1,000.

An update on the repairs of the dome of the Parish Church of the Holy Sacrifice

After many years, the elements have finally caught up with the Church of the Holy Sacrifice. In the last fifteen years, the cracks, leaks, peeling of the paint and pulp adhered to the dome, water marks on the dome, not to mention the bad acoustics, and many other problems have surfaced. As the newly appointed pastor in January of 2006, I immediately set into motion a campaign to arrest the dilapidation of the church dome and other facilities of the parish. I got in touch with those originally involved with the building of the church like Engr. David Consunji and Engr. De Los Reyes as well as with Leandro V. Locsin and Partners. The latter serves as consultants on the repairs of the church. The needed repairs were studied, discussed and decided on. Of course, the funding for such repairs is of main importance. Thus, we launched the fundraiser, The Shell-ter Project. Thanks to many anonymous and generous donors, we were able to reach our target.

But since the Church of the Holy Sacrifice has been declared a national historical structure by the National Historical Institute, no repairs can be done without informing and presenting to them the plans and getting their approval and to coordinate with the Office of the University Architect as well. This has added to the lengthy process of the repairs of the dome of the church. You have to add to the whole process getting a minimum of three bidders, studying the most competitive bids, the best materials, the right solution/action to be taken as response to the problems of the dome of the church and the availability of the consultants who have given much of their services gratis.

Many repairs have to be done and THEY CANNOT BE DONE OVERNIGHT, EVEN IN A YEAR. The waterproofing of the dome has already failed, thus, the leaks and watermarks on the inside part of the dome. The acoustic pulp adhered to dome also is peeling and is stained by the water leaks. It is also not as effective in minimizing the reverberations or echoes of the sound system of the church. The lighting and electrical system needs to be updated as well. The sound system itself was a constant complain of the parishioners. The pews need to be refurbished and the tabernacle has to be improved befitting the honor and importance of the Blessed Sacrament. As you can imagine, the magnitude of the tasks at hand is not as simple as some might think. What follows is the present status of this project.

1. Water-Proofing of the Dome (Outer Portion)

The waterproofing of the dome started middle of April, 2007 and finished in July of the same year. The total contract cost is stated in the financial report is also found here. We had to wait for the rain to pour to test the effectiveness of the new waterproofing before starting any other work on the inside portion of the dome. We have discovered that there are failures in the new waterproofing on some portions of the dome. The contractors are solving this problem. The work on the inside portion of the dome can only begin when this is problem is arrested.

2. Repair of the Inside Portion Dome

Several things need to be done on the inner dome of the church. First, the scraping of the pulp material adhered to the dome has to be done. We have already accomplished this task. Second, the new acoustic materials will be placed or adhered to the scraped dome. Depending on the kind of acoustic material that will be used, the amount of time and expense will also be crucial. Three bids have been submitted and each is of different kinds and cost as well. If new electrical wires are needed it will be done during this time as well. Three kinds of acoustic materials have been considered. First is an acoustic spray. The consultants have some misgivings about the sprayed acoustic material. It is the most cost-effective and less complicated though. The second material suggested by an acoustician we consulted is hanging baffles. They are the most effective in minimizing the reverberations. We informed NHI and submitted the plans. They did not approve the plan. Another material suggested is called a Megasorber, a foam-like material, but the cost is more than P5 million. The third material will require boring holes on the dome from which metal furrings will hang and acoustic boards inserted. This is more complicated, not to mention, the most expensive, amounting to more than P8 million. And we don’t have that amount. A structural engineer needs to be consulted as well to determine the integrity of the dome structure if it can carry the weight of the new acoustics to be added to the dome.

As you can imagine, this process is tedious and time consuming. Haste is not an option here. I have the responsibility to the many donors that their donations be used in the most effective manner and not waste it just because some are impatient or think nothing is going on.

3. Repairs and Improvement of the Electrical and Lighting System

We already have asked an electrical engineer to evaluate the present electrical system and submitted his evaluation. Basically, there is a need to rewire the whole system to avoid any untoward incident. A lighting design consultant will also advise us on how to get rid of the many unsightly wires and ineffective bulbs and lighting fixtures and replaced them with a more effective lighting system.
An Appeal for Patience

In 1997, the façade of St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome underwent renovations, mainly, cleaning it. Many complained because they could not get good pictures due to the scaffoldings that blocked the view. The renovation was finally finished in 2000. They worked day and night. But the preparations that went into it took longer than renovating it. For many years, our church here in UP has slowly been deteriorating. But now we are doing something about it. Can we not show the same patience and understanding as in those many years of its deterioration? We only have started the repairs in our church this year, 2007. The money raised for this project is accounted for from the last centavo to its interests in the bank as attested to by the periodic financial report posted on our bulletin board. Please be patient.

Thank you for your continued support and understanding. May God bless you and your family always.

Sincerely in the Lord,

Fr. Raymond L. Arre
Parish Priest

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 …