The Worship Ministry, with the leadership of Boots Concepcion, headed a pilgrimage at Kamay ni Hesus in Lucban, Quezon last February 27, 2010. Though open to all, the said activity was participated in by 45 servant leaders from the Worship Ministry and other ministries of the parish. This lenten activity calls for a time of sacrifice as the participants pray the Way of the Cross while climbing the many steps of Kamay ni Hesus. Also, this pilgrimage encourages parishioners to begin a time of healing not limited to that of physical pains and infirmities but also includes healing for spiritual and emotional needs, as one celebrates the Holy Eucharist before the healing rites commenced.
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As part of our Lenten tradition, the Way of the Cross has been observed in the 15 different areas of our Parish. Our priests led our parishioners in the different areas through the 14 Stations of the Cross which were set-up in front of 14 homes in our Parish’s localities. The Stations of the Cross, more than just an avenue for reflection and united prayer, contributed to our Parish’s vision of strengthened Basic Ecclesial Communities. The homes in front of which the Stations of the Cross were put-up were selected such that the families living there could become members of the new Ugnayans that would be started in their communities.
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March 7 was a day of fun and excitement for the Sunday School students. On that day, as they graduated, their proud parents watched as they were awarded for their hard work and dedication. There were a total of 222 graduates – 7 from Prep, 25 from Grade 1, 32 from Grade 2, 75 from Grade 3, 23 from Grade 4, 32 from Grade 5, 16 from Grade 6 and 12 from High School. Our parish priest, Fr. Raymond Arre, acted as the Guest Speaker.
One of the highlights of the program is the presentation of the Loyalty Award to Faye de Castro who was a Sunday School student from Prep to Grade 6. Ms. de Castro gave an inspirational message to her fellow students. Her mother, who also delivered a message, served as an inspiration and encouragement to the parents of the other students. Other awards – Most Outstanding Student, Most Creative, Most Respectful, Most Behaved and Best in Attendance – were also given to students per level.
The graduation was held from 10 AM – 12 NN at the Delaney Hall and was followed by a salu-salo, which was attended by the graduates, their parents and the volunteer catechists.
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Eighty-two students from the Sunday School Program received their First Communion last March 14. Majority of the first communicants were from the third grade although a handful came from Grades 4, 5 and 6, and even from the high school students. The Eucharistic celebration was presided by Fr. Mike Ty
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In thanksgiving for the successes of this year’s batch of graduates of the University of the Philippines, the UP community gathered last March 18 to celebrate the Baccalaureate Mass. It was organized by the Campus Ministry Office, in cooperation with the Catholic Students Community and its member organizations. Our Parish Priest, Fr. Raymond Arre, led the celebration, with the Campus Minister, Fr. Mike Ty, and Fr. James McTavish of the Verbum Dei Missionary Fraternity, as his concelebrants. The mass, which was especially prepared to unite our community to pray for the University’s graduates, was warmly attended by a good number of students, deans and heads of academic units, instructors and professors, administrators and staff, and the UP President, Dr. Emerlinda Roman, herself. Fr. Arre’s homily, Dr. Roman’s address, and Fr. Mike’s message made the mass even more eventful for UP’s graduating students as they spoke of our Parish and University communities’ oneness in the celebration and thanksgiving of our graduates’ successes.
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This year, the Parish organized a Visita Iglesia as one of its activities this Lenten Season geared towards deepening the parishioners’ understanding of the passion and death of Jesus Christ. The one-day pilgrimage will be held on March 27, 2010, and will cover various churches in the provinces of Rizal and Laguna. The Visita Iglesia will commence with a mass at Tanay, Rizal to be officiated by our Parish Priest Fr. Raymond L. Arre. Thereafter, the Stations of the Cross will be recited and prayed in the towns of Pakil, Paete, Magdalena, Liliw, Nagcarlan, and Pila.
By Michelle Rose Rubio, Kiboy Tabada, Kristine Turado and Ily Grace Yumul
