All are Immanuels Msgr. Sunga Celebrates 67th Bday First Simbang

parishworks! 1
Vol. 6 No. 38 December 18, 2010
website: http://www.saaparish.com and http://www.facebook.com/saaparish
Msgr. Sunga Celebrates
67th Bday
Pastor’s Message
All are Immanuels
by: Rev. Msgr. Emmanuel Suñga
Dear Parishioners:
Christmas is near. It is a period for so many
Christ to come out (not Santa Claus) to manifest
concretely God’s love for many needy persons. The
world needs so many Immanuels today
When Helen Keller was two years old a serious
illness destroyed both her sight and her hearing.
Imagine not being able to see or hear. When she
was seven, a teacher named Anne Sullivan tackled
turn to page 3
Sunday Gospel
Mt 1:18-24
Our beloved Pastor Msgr. Emmanuel V. Sunga
celebrated his 67th birthday at Hagonoy, Bulacan with his
family, friends and parishioners from different parishes.
This year, members of the youth ministry and altar
servers of St. Andrew with the participation of Fr. Jeffrey
turn to page 2
First Simbang Gabi opens
the Year of the Youth
meaning of the logo explained @ page 4
The Logo of the Double Celebration
2
Monsi’s Bday... from page 1
Jamias (a.k.a. Bossing) did an Eat Bulaga game show “
Monsi’s so-called favorite noon time show” wherein they
impersonated famous local and foreign artists as special
guests and Va Va Voom girls of the game show.
It was truly a day filled with love and laughter!
Blessed Francis Mary
Schervier
Feast day: 15 December
This woman who once wanted to become a
Trappistine nun was instead led by God to establish a
community of sisters who care for the sick and aged in
the United States and throughout the world
Mary Frances Schervier was born 1819, into a
wealthy family in Aachen, Germany. Her father, Johann
Heinrich Schervier was a wealthy needle factory owner
and the vice-mayor of Aachen. Her mother, Maria Louise
Migeon, was the god-daughter of Emperor Francis I of
Austria. After her mother’s and two sisters death from
tuberculosis, Mary Frances established a reputation for
generosity to the poor. In 1844 she became a Secular
Franciscan.
turn to page 3
Prex Christmas Party
2010
The next year she and four companions established
a religious community devoted to caring for the poor. In
1851 the Sisters of the Poor of St. Francis (a variant of
the original name) were approved by the local bishop;
the community soon spread. The irst U.S. foundation was
made in 1858.
Mother Frances visited the United States in 1863 and
helped her sisters nurse soldiers wounded in the Civil
War. She visited the United States again in 1868. When
Philip Hoever was establishing the Brothers of the Poor
of St. Francis, she encouraged him.
In 1868, Mother Frances wrote to all her sisters,
reminding them of Jesus’ words: “You are my friends if
you do what I command you.... I am giving you these
commands so that you may love one another” (John
15:14,17)
She continued: “If we do this faithfully and zealously,
we will experience the truth of the words of our father
St. Francis who says that love lightens all difficulties and
sweetens all bitterness. We will likewise partake of the
blessing which St. Francis promised to all his children,
both present and future, after having admonished them to
love one another even as he had loved them and continues
to love them.”
One exciting evening with all the past PREX
graduates of SAAP. Fun, Fun Fun.
When Mother Frances died in1876, there were 2,500
members of her community worldwide. The number
has kept growing. They are still engaged in operating
hospitals and homes for the aged. Mother Mary Frances
was beatified in 1974.
parishworks! 3
Pastor’s Messasge
from page 1...
the apparently impossible job of making contact with
Helen’s mind through the sense of touch. Anne Sullivan
worked out a sort of alphabet by which she spelled words
on Helen’s hand. Gradually the child was able to connect
words with objects. Once started Helen, made rapid
progress. Within three years she could read and write
in Braille. At the age of ten she determined to perfect
her speech. At sixteen she entered Radcliffe College
from which she graduated with honors in 1904. she
became one of the most highly educated women of her
time. Anne Sullivan was constantly at her side until the
dedicated teacher passed away in 1936.
Today’s Good News tells us that Jesus cured a man
of his blindness. Jesus did everything he could for that
blind man. Since He was God, Christ gave him his sight.
Anne Sullivan did everything she could for Helen Keller.
She was sent by God precisely for this mission. She made
God’s presence so vivid in Helen’s life. She was indeed
an Immanuel for her.
Like Anne Sullivan we are all sent to this world to be
another Christ i.e. another Messiah in fulfilling our task
and mission in bringing the Father’s kingdom here on
earth to so many Helen Kellers.
In the gospel narrative the birth announcement of
Jesus follows the pattern of those cases of some Old
Testament personalities like Isaac, Samuel, Samson, John
the Baptizer. Their birth announcements
a. are made by an angel (or other messenger of God)
b. give the name the persons will have
c. give the special role the person will play in the
economy of salvation.
Monsi’s Bday... from page 2
Fr. Jeffrey Jamias together with the MOAS, prepared a special number
In the case of the birth announcement of Jesus in
Matthew’s gospel, it gives also the significance of His
birth by
a. applying to him a series of titles like Immanuel,
Son of David, Son of God, Christ, Nazarene.
b. defining his origin and goal
c. noting the presence and guidance of the Holy
spirit
d. connecting with the prophetic anticipation of the
Old Testament
But Jesus mentioned something that also makes our
own birth and coming to this world so providential and
special i.e. planned by God in spite of our sinfulness
and frailties. “Amen, I say to you, among those born of
woman there has been none greater than John the Baptist,
“YET THE LEAST IN THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN
IS GREATER THAN HE” (Matthew 11:11)
The word LEAST in biblical language can mean,
the poor, the sinners and the children. Why are they or
we greater than John? It is because of our inabilities due
to our sinfulness to cope of what is required from us so
much so that we depend totally
and completely to
God. This will be true if we will only open ourselves
and completely accept God in ourselves, thereby making
us all an Immanuel. This loving and gracious GOD IS
WITH US.
Can we truly say now that this true to each one of us
specially this Christmas?
4
Year of the Youth
from page 1...
The Logo of the Double
Celebration
The Cross stands for Jesus Christ our Lord, Brother
of the young, the center of youth ministry. Its central
position signifies the fundamental role of Jesus in the
Double Celebration. Its standing firm resonates with
the Scripture theme of the Double Celebration: “Stand
firm in the faith… Do all your work in love.” The
yellow color depicts that Jesus is the light of the world,
especially of the youth, and that he is the model for
youth ministry. Its inclined stance towards the three
human figures gives emphasis to the Incarnation, the
prime basis and motive for youth ministry.
The three (3) human figures reaching out to and
holding the Cross symbolize the youth who yearn for
meaning and fullness in the Lord. They also represent
the Catholic youth ministry in the Philippines with
its three goals of establishing and strengthening the
youths’ relationship with Christ, providing opportunities
for personal growth, and encouraging community
involvement.
Their colors yellow, orange and red signify the
following about the Filipino youth: their energy and
passion, their diversity, as well as their vital importance
in the life of the Church and society. Their one direction
represents the journey of youth ministry
towards one vision, despite its various forms and
settings.
The number twenty-five (25) depicts the number of
years since the CBCP-Episcopal Commission on Youth
was created. The creation of the commission and of
other youth ministries in the dioceses and in other levels
is a grace from God and a gift of the Catholic Church
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in the Philippines to the young. The inclination of the
number to the Cross show that these years were lived
in constant striving to be faithful to the Lord and His
preferential love for the youth.
The blue circle at the background symbolizes the
fullness of life which the Church,through her youth
ministry, would like to offer to the youth. The color blue
also stands for Mary, our mother and model for young
people on loving surrender to God’ s will, she who is
present in every young person’s journey with Christ. It
also represents the spirit of ecclesial communion, with
everyone in the Church taking part, in which the Double
Celebration and youth ministry are undertaken.
Catholic Dictionary
1. Amen: the only part of a prayer dat everyone
knows
2. Hymn: a song of praise usually sung in a key 3
octaves higher than dat of the congregation
3. Incense: Holy Smoke!
4. Jonah: The Original Jaws Story
5. Justice: When kids have their own
6. Magi: D most famous trio to attend a baby
shower
7. Manager: When Mary gave birth to Jesus
because an HMO did not cover Joseph
8. Pew: Medieval torture device still found in
Catholic churches
Parish Works is the official weekly newsletter of Saint
Andrew the Apostle Parish.
Media and Communications Ministry
Co-coordinators
Ria Salvaña
Matthew Lizares
Parish Works Staff
Ellie Medina, Angelina Poe,
Emilio Medina, John David Ong
Announcements Coordinators
Pia Sanedrin, Rochelle Pineda
Bulletin Board Editor
EJ Carlos
Powerpoint Coordinator
Ging Santos, JayR Padua
Contributor:
Angelina Poe
Spiritual Advisor
Rev. Msgr. Emmanuel Suñga
Publisher
St. Andrew the Apostle Parish
N. Garcia St. cor. Kalayaan Ave.
Bel-Air II, Makati City
Phones: (632) 890-1796 / 890-1743
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