COSME HIT US!

During the Singles for Christ Weekend Encounter on May 17-18, supertyphoon Cosme hit the coastal towns of Zambales and Pangasinan. It was disastrous! The roof of the northern section (back side) of the LFC main building was partially damaged. The Pavillion roof and the entire ceiling were also wrecked. The destruction outside LFC is too much! We cannot describe it here.

We are still suffering the effects of Cosme. We don't have electricity at LFC and in our area yet. Our digitel phoneline was just restored (after calling them daily on 1130 for more than a week - begging them to do the repair), our internet is not working yet. We hope that something good happens in a few days.

Fr. Mario's 11th Sacerdotal Anniversary

Fr. Mario with Msgr. Morales, Rector of the College Seminary and Fr. Jun Mejia, a classmate.


Fr. Mario with his mother and family.


With Ms. En Paras, Tita Esing, Ate Susan and Ate Perla - collaborators of Fr. Mario in serving LFC.


With some priests and friends.

Father Mario's HOMILY:

May 5, 2008

11^th Ordination Anniversary

LFC Chapel

Dear brothers and sisters in the Lord,

GRATITUDE. Thank you very much for your coming today. I am very grateful that you have joined me in offering our thanksgiving to the Lord for the gift of priesthood.

Eleven years is not a short time. I entered the minor seminary when I was eleven years old. I know that all these years have been God’s way of showing me how much he loves me despite my weaknesses and sins.

I wanted this occasion to be small celebration with only family and friends. My other classmates, Fr. Allen and Fr. Alvin, and also another one Fr. Nick are also celebrating in their own assignments.

MINISTRY. Five years ago, in our Collegio Retreat in Rome, Bishop Chito Tagle spoke to us about the meaning of ordination from the perspective of service. Priesthood is not a position of power, honor or prestige. Priesthood is not about royalty, reputation or respect. Priesthood is about service and work.

That conference never left my heart. When I came back to the Archdiocese I embarked on a long journey to serve. I began to teach in the seminary. I managed the printing press a while. I was given the responsibility of LFC. All of these demanded work.

But it is not all about work and service. There are a lot of people involved. The seminarians, the employees, the superiors, the authority. It is not easier to reconsider work and look blindly on the people around. It is not wiser to look at people and reconsider work as of little value. It is difficult to find the balance. Sometimes, people get hurt. Sometimes standards are compromised. Sometimes we incur losses.

I have made a lot of mistakes as a priest. I prayed for this humility to accept it, and the courage to make this public. I will not excuse my mistakes by calling them God’s way of making me an instrument of his will. I know that I am responsible for my lack of judgment.

But we have also succeeded. Our success at LFC is not my own alone. We are now financially stable. We just sent today our financial report to the Archbishop and we have reached our goal. Our trees are growing. Our institution is now well maintained and furnished. Thanks to all the support we have received.

PRAYERS. A few days ago, some people came to my office to speak about their problem about their parish priest. It was a terrible experience to hear people speak ill of their pastor. I placed myself in the shoes of the pastor and I wanted to weep in pain. It was like the scourging of Jesus. Priests carry crosses. I asked them to forgive their pastor.

Please pray for me. I am a priest of 11 years, and I do not know how many more years the Lord will give me. Please pray that I may get stronger in the ministry, physically, emotionally, spiritually. Please pray that I can continue to live the priesthood in joy and gratitude. Amen.

CBCP Staff Easter Recollection

Archbishop Cruz hosted the Recollection of the CBCP Staff (Executive Secretaries of Episcopal Commissions/Committees/Offices on May 2, 2008.

The Recollection was guided by ALD Auxiliary Bishop Rene Mayugba. Msgr. Juanito S. Figura, Msgr. Joselito de Asis and Fr. Oscar Alunday led the group of sisters and lay workers of CBCP.

MCST FAMILY DAY

The Missionary Catechists of St. Therese (MCST) which was founded by Bishop Alfred Ma. Obviar are celebrating their Golden Jubilee this year. The good and saintly bishop founded this congregation in 1958.

The TAP (Tarlac, Abra and Pangasinan) Sisters celebrated their family at the Lay Formation Center on April 26, 2008. The Rev. Mother General was here!