Fr A's message vs the Patriarch's?

Three days before Christmas I gave Fr. A a printed copy of the Patriarch's Christmas message to the CEC worldwide hoping that he will read it to the church on Christmas day. The Patriarch is the recognized head of the CEC as such his message would be of foremost importance to every member of the growing community of believers in the CEC.

However, it saddened me to realize that Fr. A considered it not relevant or important to inform our small church of our leaders's message. He never mentioned it. Whatever his reasons might be, its not my intention to question his reasons or motives. But since we've been listening to him every Sunday through out the year, I hope that he will allow the Patriarch to speak to his people here in Sorsogon, even only during Christmas and Easter. That would be a good way to show to us that we are not alone in our endeavor here in this remote place of ours.

with power comes...

something odd happened last Sunday.

When my family arrived at the church for the liturgy, the parishioners are waiting outside the church premises. When Fr. A arrived I inquired about the keys and he replied that the one holding the keys might be held up by the heavy downpour. It was really raining heavily.(about a thousand people perished in the flashfloods brought the same weather disturbance in CDO and Iligan City.

I asked him why he does not hold the keys being the parish priest and the one in charge of the church. His reply caught me off-guard and thinking-"I don't want to hold the keys because I might be late. "

I started to think of my own attitudes and reflect whether I also exhibit the same character. May the Lord have mercy upon me and keep my heart focused on Him.

Bishop Paul Visits Sorsogon

On Sunday Bp Paul Villavicencio of the Diocese of Southern Luzon will celebrate the Mass here in Parish Church of the Holy Trinity. It will be our church anniversary and the confirmation of three of our youth members. For a change Fr. Angelo decided to have it outside the church premises. The celebration will be held at Fritz resort, Pangpang and the people will enjoy the whole afternoon by the pool. MAy the LOrd bless us with HIs presence and shower us with His grace during that occasion.

Fr. Audio texted me today asking me to send him a printable file of the resurrection mass/ mass for the burial of the dead. Bro Andoy, one of his most trusted parishioners in Masbate mission passed away. May his soul rest perfectly in God's presence. Lord have mercy...

I replied that I have no file of any mass for my computer was reformatted last May. The diocese only sends us the sunday propers and the seasonal readings, but not the mass. I told him I'll try to derive one from the sacramentary of the north america archdiocese under Patriarch Craig Bates. I downloaded one and copied the part for the burial of the dead and edited it to be printer-ready. The format from CEC-North America seemed identical with the one used in the diocese although the Nicene Creed has a little difference than the one we recite every Sunday...about the Holy Spirit proceeding from the Father (and the Son).Although its not Filioque, in a sense it still leaves question on some of the basic essential doctrines of the CEC as a whole. In our territory-South East Asia and the International Missions (AIM) of the Cathedral of the King, the Nicene Creed is without the somewhat ambiguous meaning phrase. Of course the sacramentary is used only by the CECNA. I am still waiting and hoping for the day when our church leaders will finally lay down the basic doctrines of the whole communion.

Until now, the question of my friend and orthodox friend Fr. Chrysostom (Ruben Sarmiento) of the St. Eleftherios Church under the Ecumenical Patriarchate remains a reverberating soft voice-Are you not tired of experimenting? The call toward orthodoxy remains in my heart and God in His mercy will perfect it in His time.

Lord have mercy.

I attended today's vigil for the seventh sunday in Epiphany. About 8 attended and joined voices to ask God to bless tomorrow's celebration of the Holy Eucharist. Indeed its really an experience to commune with God and plead for His mercy to make His people worthy to unite with Him in the Blessed Sacrament of His Body and Blood.

After the vigil, I waited for the streetkids from an adjacent community who avail of our feeding program every Saturday afternoon. But they did not come. I learned from one of the deacons that the DSWD are prohibiting them from loitering in the streets.

The Church has to find a way to look for them and continue its mission for the poor.

lord have mercy..

We all seemed so strong when we are passive spectators of an ongoing conflict. But in the midst of battle, sometimes our strength fails us or our spirit falters and surrenders to fatigue.

This seemed to be the case of a kin of my co-teacher who learned of his infidelity through his distraught wife. I knew the man personally and I cant believe that he will succumb to th temptation of the flesh. He's a genius, though eccentric in my viewpoint. He even manage to form his own religion and convince others to believe his dogmas. Although in the Christian context we can consider them a cult but he's sincere to a fault. To know that he committed adultery with one of his followers is not a new thing under the sun. But to realize that it happened to him makes me look deep within me and reflect on my own weakness and humanity. No one is immune to sin. But God has sent His Holy Spirit to quicken us. May my heart be always sensitive to the voice of the Spirit that I might not fall into the same. Lord have mercy...

Today is Christmas day. We celebrate the birth of the Messiah the Savior of the world. It is through His incarnation that the human race has seen the ray of hope of redemption.The promised son of man that will destroy the curse of Adam's sin and dispel the evil that plague humanity. We are saved by this great and boundless grace from the Father's goodness.

May the Light of Christ guide us always to the presence of the Father who loved us and gave His only son that we might be adopted to His family. Praise be to God, both now and forever to the ages of ages. Amen.