MALATE PARISH LEGAL AID CENTER ORGANIZED
The Parish has recently organized the Malate Catholic Church Legal Aid Center (MCCLAC). The center was created to render free legal service to it parishioners, especially the indigents. It shall also address the legal needs of the Prison Ministry of the parish. Lawyers, law graduates andl persons interested to be trained for para-legal work are invited to join the MMCLAC. For more information, please contact the parish office.
Our Lady of Remedies Parish Celebrates Closing of Year For Priests
By Harriet Joan C. Ducepec
The celebration of the Year for Priests opened on June 19, 2009 on the feast of the Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus. On June 12, 2010 Our Lady of Remedies Parish (Malate Church) celebrated the closing of the Year for Priests with a Holy Mass that included a prayer of the laity for the priests, and a prayer of priests for the laity.
The event was attended by the resident Columban priests of Malate Church, as well as visiting/guest Columban priests who say mass in Malate Church from time to time, Columban students, RVM sisters of Malate Catholic School, volunteers from the Ministries, Areas and Organizations, and special guests.
With a most-appropriate theme, “Our Priests – God’s Gift to the Community,” a simple but heartfelt program included a video tribute to the Columban Priests in Malate, as well as messages of gratitude to our priests from select Church volunteers, song numbers from the Malate Church choir, and an interpretative dance number from the Parish Youth Council.
Apart from celebrating the great gift of priesthood, the event also meant to inspire, encourage and support vocations. Jason Antiquerra, a Columban student on his 4th year of Theology, gave his vocation story. Martina Festin, a long-time parishioner, shared her inspiring story on being a mother of two priests. (Grateful Forever ).
After dinner, a special tribute was given to Father John Leydon, OLRP parish priest, who was celebrating his birthday that day. The tribute was highlighted by a collage of pictures showing Father JL “in action” and testimonials from parish volunteers who have worked closely with Father JL that included former Worship Ministry Head Cita Aure, former Area Council coordinator Gloria Ojo, former PPC coordinator Jude Alcantara, and parish staff Tet Sambale.
In response to the tribute to priests, Fr. Pat O’ Donoghue (Regional Director of the Missionary Society of St.Columban), said that he is proud to be a Columban and be part of the 81-year history of the Columbans in Malate. He added that while the tribute’s theme was “Our Priests – God’s Gift to the Community,” it can as well be said that Malate has been God’s gift to the Columbans.
Father John Leydon, for his part, first thanked God for the gift of life. He then talked about the importance of having “good communio” and of what church is all about: that people come together, share with one another their lives, talents, vision and faith; and awaken in one another the beauty that is within us all. (Life is a Grace) (Note: please hyperlink to the full article in the Food for the Soul Page under Reflections & Inspirations).
It was a lovely and memorable evening that witnessed the immense love, respect and support the Columban priests and the Malate community have for each other through all these years. To our dearest priests -- Thank you for sharing your lives with us; but we thank you even more for letting us share our lives with you. Though our celebration of the Year for Priests has ended, let us continue to pray for them - that they may always be faithful to their sacred calling. It’s the best way we could thank our priests.
COMMON CALL FOR CLIMATE ACTION
Malate Church joins other environmental groups in the campaign
against climate change. Through flyers and signature campaign, the
Parish hopes to make parishioners and church goers aware of the current
issues confronting the global community over the threat to our
environment and our very own existence.
The following article is a material prepared by the Care for the Earth
Ministry on the 350 Campaign – Common call for Climate Action
spearheaded by the 350.org.:
PEOPLE AROUND THE GLOBE FIGHTING TO STOP CLIMATE CHANGE AND TO REMAKE OUR WORLD
The most recent science tells us that unless we can reduce the amount
of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere to 350 parts per million, we will
cause huge and irreversible damage to the earth.
350 is the number that leading scientists say is the safe upper limit
of carbon dioxide—measured in “parts per million” in our atmosphere.
350 parts per million is the number humanity needs to get back to as
soon as possible to avoid runaway climate change. We need an
international agreement to reduce carbon emissions fast.
The United Nations is working today on a treaty, which is supposed to
be completed in December of 2009 in Copenhagen, Denmark. But the
current plans for the treaty are much weak to get us back to safety.
This treaty needs to put a high enough prize on carbon that we stop
using so much. It also needs to make sure that poor countries are
ensured a chance to develop.
THE BAD NEWS
The science is clear: global warming is happening faster than ever and
humans are responsible. Global Warming is caused by releasing what are
called greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. The most common greenhouse
gas is carbon dioxide. The planet is in its danger zone because we have
poured too much carbon into the atmosphere, and we are starting to see
signs of real trouble: melting ice caps, rapidly spreading drought.
Many of the activities we do everyday rely on energy sources like coal
and oil that emit carbon dioxide and other heat trapping gases. This is
a major problem because global warming destabilizes the delicate
balance that makes life on this planet possible.
THE GOOD NEWS
You can help stop global warming by taking action and spreading the
number 350. Getting back to 350 means transforming our world. It means
planting trees instead of clear-cutting forests, it means increasing
efficiency and decreasing our wastes. It means developing a thousand
other solutions- all of which will become mush easier if we have a
global treaty grounded on the latest science and built upon the latest
principles on equity and justice. To get this kind of treaty we need a
movement of people who care enough about our shared global future t get
involved to make their voices heard – 350.org.
October 24 is the international Day of Climate Action – this is our
best chance to influence the treaty and to make our voices heard loud
enough across the planet before UN negotiators receive final marching
orders from their national leadership. Right now, most of them know the
science of 350ppm, but they don’t think it is politically possible.
On October 24, let us show them that not only is it possible but it is what everyone all over the world is demanding they do.
PGA 2010
By Harriet Joan C. Ducepec
The Our Lady of Remedies Parish held its annual Parish General Assembly (PGA) last March 14,
2010. The theme for this year’s PGA
was “Pagpapasinop ng Ugnayan ng mga Samahan batay sa isang Pananaw.” This year’s theme stresses the value of
communication and coordination among the vast number of programs that are
being implemented in the parish.
At the beginning
of his address, parish priest Fr. John Leydon very aptly reminded the assembly
that the framework used in organizing ourselves in the Parish is the same
framework by which we understand Christ: Christ was a Priest, Prophet and King. Fr. Leydon then noted that all that we do in,
and through, the ministries, areas and organizations (MAOs) of our Parish, are
aligned to the call for us to be Christ-present in this locality at this time.
Looking back at
the year 2009, Fr. John Leydon enumerated the major accomplishments of the MAOs
as well as the regular annual activities.
Fr. Leydon then cited the many significant events in the past year which
included: the Liturgical Congress, the Congress of the Clergy, the pastoral
visit of Bishop Bernardino Cortez,
the Far East Asia Bishops Conference, the rally against the Bataan Nuclear Power
Plant at the UP sunken garden, the Earth Hour, the children’s eco-camp in
Cabiao, the Vicariate Youth Mass, the tribute to Thomas Berry, Fr. Kevin
McHugh’s golden jubilee, Fr. Andrei Paz’s ordination, the donation of medical
equipment for the vicariate clinic, and the launch of the Malate Catholic
Church website. The year 2009 also saw
the start of Church repairs, which so far included roof repair and ventilation
work, cleaning of the church façade, and restoration of the stones and
walls. Malate Church
likewise helped raise P400,000.00 in assistance for the flood victims of
typhoon Ondoy. It was a busy and
memorable year.
For the year
2010, Fr. Leydon talked about the projects that will be implemented,
particularly the maintenance of the church and other buildings. This will include the restoration work of the
Church façade, the alteration of the Church ceiling to complete the ventilation
project, and the demolition and rebuilding of the kitchen area and social
service center at the Remedios Training
Center.
In closing, Fr. Leydon thanked all the Church volunteers for their work,
and challenged everyone to
recognize each other as brothers and sisters of the one Father, and to answer
the call to be Christ-present at this time and in this place.
The parish was
also honoured by the presence of Bp. Broderick S. Pabillo, Auxiliary
Bishop of Manila. The bishop, taking from the day’s gospel on
“The Prodigal Son/ Forgiving Father,” gave an insightful and inspiring
message
especially to the volunteers of the Church who were present at the
meeting.
The PGA was a
well-attended affair that also witnessed the official turnover of the Parish
Pastoral Council (PPC) leadership to the incoming set of officers. Fr. Leydon thanked Jude Alcantara for his
invaluable contribution to the PPC as its coordinator for 6 years. Meanwhile, the Parish welcomed George Gueco
as the new PPC coordinator. George has
served the parish in various capacities such as head of Temporalities,
Eucharistic Ministers of Holy Communion, and as PPC vice coordinator, among
others. Joining him as assistant
coordinators are Siony Salgado, Elsa Sarona, Czarina Pascual and Madz
Bugayong.
MUNTING HANDOG GENERATES WIDE SUPPORT
On Easter Sunday, the Education Ministry of the parish
launched the "Munting Handog: Alay sa BEC Prep and Nursery School ng
Parokya". The project is intended to enhance and upgrade their
classrooms, facilities, and materials. Hundreds of generous
parishioners and churchgoers enthusiastically gave their support by
donating cash and various items ranging from pencils to blackboards
and gallons of paints. Donations may still be made thru the parish
office.
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