In few days we will be celebrating the feast of St. Joseph,  the Husband of Mary.   As we all know,  it is a great opportunity for us Filipinos in the Diocese of Parramatta to come together to celebrate our faith and oneness.   As St. Paul says, “As a body is one though it has many parts,  and all the parts of the body,  though many, are one body…. ”. (1 Cor. 12:13).

The theme of this year’s feast is “St. Joseph, Servant of God.”

This year’s feast will be celebrated on 18 March 2012 (Sunday),  at the Nagle College Hall, 58 Orwell St., Blacktown.

The day’s activities are as follows:

            10:45 am   :     Holy Eucharist

            12:00 noon:     Lunch

                                    Entertainment/ Singing Contest

In the name of the Filipino Chaplaincy of the Diocese of Parramatta,  I would like to invite you and your FAMILY and your friends to the celebration of the feast of St. Joseph, the Husband of Mary.

Parking is available at the St. Michael Parish and Nagle College parking lots.   Please be advised to avoid parking on prohibited areas.

Thank you very much!

Sincerely yours,

Fr. Raning Creta

Filipino Chaplain

Jonah 3: 1-5, 10; Psalm 25; I Cor 7: 29-31; Mark 1: 14-20

Time is running out (1 Corinthians 7: 29)

The word “time” is nuanced in Greek. In today’s Gospel, when Jesus says “This is the time of fulfillment,” he uses the Greek term kairos for “time.” Kairos is “sacred time.” The “time” used in the Corinthians passage is different and means “has been drawn together, compacted, made short.” The same word was used in classical Greek for stowing sails, packing luggage, and reducing expenses. Our modern term would be “downsizing.”

Paul addresses five situations of Christians living under distress (those married, those in sorrow, those in joy, business people, those overusing the world) which should not distract us from our devotion to God. We need a radical perspective about proper priorities in life. We need to trim our life sails, get rid of excess, and simplify our lives in order to clearly establish our life and relationship with our Creator.

Imagine making a resolution that would seek to practice the presence of God in your life every day. What would the ramifications of such an attitude produce?

Married people in distress would be more gentle with each other as God is gentle with them.

Those in sorrow would trust that God is also sorrowing with them.

Those in joy would realize that joy is meant to be shared with those less fortunate children of God.

Business people with God on their shoulder would act with integrity in all their transactions.

Those who are using the world’s resources in excess would remember that God appointed each of us to be good stewards of creation. (J. Siciliano)

So we ask ourselves:

Is there an emptiness in our lives we know we can’t fulfill on our own?

What are we doing about addressing it?

Fr. Raning
Chaplain

1.  2nd SUNDAY (2SM) MASS

When : 12  February  2012 @ 12:30 PM
Where :  St. Patrick’s  Cathedral, Parramatta

2.  3rd  SUNDAY (3SM) MASS

When  :  19  February  2012 @ 10:45 AM
Where :  Our Lady of the Way Church,  15 Troy St.,  Emu Plains

3.  4th SUNDAY (4SM)  MASS

When  :   26  February 2012 @ 10:45 AM
Where :  St. Michael’s Catholic Church, 58 Orwell St., Blacktown

4.  Valentines Party &  Show Us Your Talents Competition

When :  10th February 2012 @ 7:00 PM
Where: Bowman Hall, Campbell St.,  Blacktowm

5.  St.  Joseph  Fiesta – Patron of the Filipino Chaplaincy

When :       18th  March  2012
Where:       St. Michael’s  School Ground
Activities:  9 Day Novena  starting  9th March 2012
Raffle  Tickets @ $2.00  are now  available
Bingo  Jazz – date to be announced
Souvenir advertisements -  $ 100 full page for Business

6.   Holy  Week  Celebrations
Pabasa -  5th April 2012 @ 8:00 PM in  FilChap House
Way of the Cross – 6th April @ 11:00 AM
Easter Salubong -  8th April @ 4:30 AM

Valentines Paryty & Show Us Your Talents Competition

On Sunday is “Gaudete Sunday” because today’s Mass began with the opening antiphon: “Gaudete in domino semper” –“Rejoice in the Lord always.” Today we light the rose candle and the priest wears rose vestments to express our joy in the coming of Jesus, our savior.  The common theme running through today’s readings is one of joy, encouragement and the need of preparation required from those of us who are awaiting the rebirth of Jesus in our hearts and lives.

The readings for the third Sunday of Advent remind us that the past, present and the future coming of Jesus is the reason for our rejoicing.  The first reading tells us that we should rejoice because the promised messiah is coming as our savior and liberator, saving us by liberating us from our bondages.  St. Paul in the second reading advises us to “rejoice always” by leading a blameless, holy and thankful life guided by the Holy Spirit because Christ is faithful in his promise that he will come again to reward us.  Today’s gospel tells us that John the Baptist came as a witness to testify to the light, i.e., Jesus, and the coming of Jesus the light into the world is cause for rejoicing as he removes darkness from the world.

What should we do in preparation for Christmas?  The Jews asked the same question to John.  His answer was:

1. share with people in need of clothing and food and shelter;
2. care about the people we serve, those we live with, work with, pray and play with
3.  dare to do what is right and just.
So we ask ourselves:
What “glad tidings” do I hear for myself this Advent?
How can I share that good news with others.

Fr. Raning Creta

Chaplain

One Friday night after we had our dinner, I went to the dark BPC Hall of ACC and found out that the altar where there is the enthroned framed Beato , don’t have flowers. I was so disappointed why the flower arrangers of the weekend failed to include its altar when in fact, I always bring flowers every weekend during the formation. So out of my concern, I went outside and pick bougainvilleas and arranged it in a flower vase and placed it on the altar.
I am a volunteer catechist of the Archdiocesan Shrine of St. Anthony of Padua, Tuburan, Cebu. Our parish sent us to this Basic Catechist Formation Program of the Archdiocesan Catechetical Ministry. This is a 17 weekend catechist training program of the Archdiocese of Cebu. The venue of this catechist training program is at the Archdiocesan Catechetical Center, along C. Mina Steet, Mabolo, Cebu City. This is just at the back of the Mabolo Parish Church..
Just call me Meo, 53 years of age, a father of three (3) grown-ups and a grandfather of a five (5) year old boy, by my eldest daughter. My wishes for them, is to have them finish their respective college education and for me to be able to fulfill this, I worked hard for my children. I sent them to a good school, a member of Catholic Educational Association of the Philippines (CEAP) because I wanted them to have a good foundation in Catholic learning, because I came from a Catholic family, a branch of a devout Catholic family members whose other branches went already astray. It’s only us in my father’s, because my other uncles and aunts had shifted to different religions or to other Christian faith. My family was a happy one, until a problem came-up that started when I lost my job that made me to distance myself from them. Disintegrated myself from my family, and ended-up in my church volunteer works, and opted to live separately in my hometown. This story of mine is about how; my prayer was answered with his intercession, the Blessed Pedro Calungsod.
When our formation class resumed that night, Sister Maricor informed us that the scheduled viewing of Cardinal Rosales video can’t be shown because, she cannot locate it. Instead, she showed us a documentary made by a priest about the beatification rite of Pedro Calungsod Sometime in March, 2000. While the viewing is going on, a memory on that event came-up to my mind, when I saw those carozzas from different parishes and the procession of the Beato. I remembered that on that particular event, I was there! And it’s not just that I witnessed that occasion but I remembered about my little and short prayer to him when he passed-by me on that procession. I said to him: Now, you are already a Beato, and I was told by the priests on that event that you can intercede for us.Please help me in my problem. I am now an unemployed when our company was closed last month. My daughter Ivy, cannot proceed to her 2nd year proper in Business Administration. My son cannot proceed to college after graduating at the Holy Rosary School of Pardo. He told me that if he cannot go to college, he will just go to Manila and join her aunt working in Divisoria. My youngest daughter will have to enroll as first year high school also at the Holy Rosary. Our finances were in turmoil. A collected payment in form of a check from an exporting company whom I supplied with handicrafts, bounced. Don’t have money since my wife is jobless since my kids were still young. Our apartment rental has long been overdue and we will be ejected (we really were ejected, eventually). Our light and water is in danger of cutting-off. That was my prayer that he will just help my children.
My tears run-down to my cheeks because I just remembered that, that prayer of mine has long been answered because, God helped me for my children. When enrollment time came in May, a miracle happened. Ivy, the eldest passed a scholarship from the College of Commerce in University of San Jose Recoletos. My only son passed also a Norwegian shipping company sponsored scholarship at the University of Cebu. My youngest child who is about to go to high school after graduating from that same school, just opted to transfer at the nearby public high school for no choice.
I only realized this after eleven years and eight months that that was an answered prayer. My children today have lives of their own after finishing their respective courses. The eldest Ivy, after years working in a stable hardware store opted to shift career in a well-paid call center industry got married to an engineer. My son even though he didn’t finished his apprenticeship in a Norwegian shipping company because of an accident that cost his lower left leg, now enjoying his damage-claim that gave him his 2 houses and lot, bank deposit and monthly pension and now working also in a BPO industry. The youngest after her time in the College of Mass Communications, USJR, now works in a BPO industry. These are my graces from God and I am counting on these.
I collected all my thoughts during that night. Those events in my life that lead me to become a church volunteer and a catechist are all God’s plan for me. It was just a sort of a calling. And I realized that it was him who made that call, for me to continue his unfinished mission, not in Guam, but to the much needy children in our town. I can endure all the hardships , far from my family, my loneliness , and I know I can fight these through his continuing intercession and the continuing intercession also of the Blessed Mother, the ever Virgin Mary, the co-Redemptor and Mediatrix of all Graces.
And for those who may read this, please pray for me also.

Church leaders urge the faithful to “make Christ the center of all spiritual and material preparation for the holiday season, which should be a time of quiet preparation for the celebration of our Lord’s birth. Festivities at this time of the year should focus on honoring, glorifying, and adoring Jesus in His Divine Childhood.”

The faithful are encouraged to pray the novena to the Infant Jesus, to reflect, offer sacrifices, do penance and alms-giving, and to remember the promise of the Divine Infancy: “The more you honor Me, the more I will bless you.”

The observance of Divine Infancy Month recalls the first Christmas when Jesus humbled Himself and became completely human while remaining completely Divine.  Devotion to the Infant Jesus began in the small town of Bethlehem where the shepherds and the Three Wise Men paid homage to the Holy Child lying in the manger.

The observance also highlights the significance of the Nativity Scene or “Belen,” a reminder that “Christ, our Savior and Redeemer, is the center of the whole world’s history,” the Church said. In 1223, St. Francis of Assisi set up the first known Nativity Scene in Greccio, Italy, which has become a popular Christmas fixture in homes, churches, and offices.

Manila Bulletin 30-11-2011

MANILA, Philippines — On the Second Sunday of Advent, two persons are presented to us in our liturgy on Sunday – the prophet Isaiah and John the Baptist. They are key players in preparing Israel for the coming of the Lord.
In our First Reading, Isaiah the prophet, exclaims that the Lord is concerned with His people. Because of His compassion for them, the Lord promised to send them the Messiah who would feed His flock like a shepherd and gather the lambs in His arms. He would carry them in His bosom, and gently lead those that are with young. (cf. Isaiah 40:11) The Lord would come to them in the person of the One who was to come to bring them glad tidings and comfort. The prophet also foretold that prior to the coming of the Anointed One, a voice would cry from the wilderness saying: “Prepare the way of the LORD, and make straight in the desert a highway for our God.” (Isaiah 40:3)
In our Gospel reading on Sunday, we are told of a man who in the desert preached a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. As people came to him for  baptism in the river Jordan, he told them: “After me comes He who is mightier than I, the thong of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. I have baptized you with water; but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.” (Mark 1:7-8) He was speaking of Jesus – the One who would come in the name of the Lord and will bring about the salvation promised by God. John the Baptist was the herald that Isaiah was referring to. He cried out to all: “Prepare the way of the Lord! Make straight His paths.”
The Advent season is a time for us to examine our lives and ask ourselves: Are we prepared for the coming of the Lord? If He comes to us today, shall He find us worthy of His presence? The Lord will come to us when we least expect Him to come. But we must not be afraid. All we have to do is to be ardent in carrying out our mission as followers of God.
In our Second Reading, the apostle Peter gives us this advice: “Therefore, beloved, since you wait for these, be zealous to be found by Him without spot or blemish, and at peace.” (2 Peter 3:14) If we are doing what we are supposed to do, there is nothing to be afraid of. The coming of the Lord will surely bring us peace and consolation. Indeed, as the Responsorial Psalm for on Sunday tells us: “Surely His salvation is at hand for those who fear Him that glory may dwell in our land.”

Source: Editorial; Manila Bulletin 4th December 2011

You are all invited to the Fourth Sunday Mass (4 SM) on
Sunday, 27 November 2011, at 11:00 a.m., at St. Michael Parish, 58 Orwell St.,
Blacktown.

Please invite your family, relatives and friends.

On Sunday we begin a new year in the Liturgical Calendar
with the season of Advent.

The word “advent” has an interesting background. Both the
Latin “adventus” (Coming) and its Greek equivalent “Parousia” (Appearance) were
both originally secular, pagan, words which would refer to singular events such
as the birth of an Emperor or the proclamation of the Victor of a crucial
battle. These kinds of events meant that people’s lives were forever changed
and transformed.  Is it any wonder, then,
that both of these words found their way into the Christian expression of the
Incarnation?

Although the countries of Western and Northern Europe
already had a form of Advent for some two centuries, it wasn’t until the mid
500’s that Rome itself began to observe this season. Eventually, the latter
part of the four weeks of Advent in Rome was marked by a more intense time of
expectation, fasting, and prayer from 17-24 December. Finally, in the High
Middle Ages (13th & 14th Centuries), Advent was characterised by the strong
eschatological message of the glorious return of the Lord at the end of time.
It was this fully developed form of the season that spread rapidly throughout
Europe.

Today the four weeks of Advent develop certain dominant
themes which can be described as follows: (Bishop David Walker)

1st week   -  Watch  and Pray: Vigilant waiting for the Lord’s coming

2nd week  -  John the Baptist’s challenge: Prepare the way of the Lord!

3rd week  -   The Messianic Age is here: Therefore, Rejoice!

4th week  -   The Incarnation of the Word: God’s plan set in motion.

Fr. Raning Creta

Chaplain

Inviting you to the Fourth Sunday Mass on Sunday, 28
August 2011, at 10:45 a.m., at St.Michael’s Parish, 58 Orwell St., Blacktown.

Please invite your family, relatives, and friends.

From today’s First Reading: Jeremiah 20:7-9:

You duped me, O Lord, and I let myself be duped,

you were too strong for me and you triumphed.

Reflection:

Jeremiah was called by God to be a prophet and speak on
God’s behalf. He would have preferred a different message, a less arduous task.
He is tempted to keep silent so that he does not have to suffer the reproach
his words cause him. But he had heard a call from God and God’s words burned
within him. As much as he might like, he can’t turn away from his mission, even
though he feels duped into his situation by God.

So we ask ourselves:

What would happen if we were to spend more time listening to the  Word of God?

Suppose we hear a word that requires us to make big changes in
our lives?

Fr. Raning Creta

Chaplain Filipino Chaplaincy Diocese of Parramatta

You are all invited to the 4th Sunday Mass on Sunday, 24
July 2011, at 10:45 a.m., at St. Michael Parish, 58 Orwell St., Blacktown.

Please invite your family, relatives and friends.

17th SUNDAY (A) – July 24, 2011

1 Kings 3: 5, 7-12; Psalm 119; Romans 8: 28-30; Matthew 13: 44-52

From today’s Gospel reading:

Jesus said to his disciples:

“The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure buried in a field, which a person finds and hides again,

and out of joy goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.”

Reflection:

We are like the man in the parable. We have made personal
sacrifices for what we have found – our faith. It is truly the most valuable
possession we could ever have. As the hymn reminds us, we are “earthen
vessels.” But we hold a treasure and are willing to make sacrifices to
nourish and share that treasure. We “buy the whole field.”

So we ask ourselves:

Would we name our faith is our most valuable treasure?

What do we do to develop that treasure?

Fr. Raning Creta

Chaplain