Tuesday, August 18, 2009

Monday, August 17, 2009

St. Mary's Academy (Agoo) - First Year (1st Group)

Dear Fr. Mario and Company,

Thank you very much for sharing with us your time and for inspiring us to continue our journey in life... May you continue to be blessed and be blessing to others because "the world needs more people like you." God bless you and the rest of the LFC Family...

With prayers,
I - St. Teresa of Avila Family


I - St. Therese

Friday, August 14, 2009

EDNAS SAN CARLOS - Third Year HS

A recollection with a happy ending... The Junior Class of Ednas School of San Carlos had their full day of encounter with the Lord at LFC with Fr. Mario and Sis. Susan. August 14 will be forever remembered by the students who were laughing and "crying" the whole day. God bless their beautiful souls!



Thursday, August 13, 2009

CARE FOR ALTAR LINENS (www.adoremus.org)

LFC will sell PURIFICATORS, LAVABO TOWELS, CORPORALS and PALLS this updating season (for Lay Ministers). Here are some information about the care of these linens from the www.adoremus.org website. Bold-yellow letters were highlighted by this blogger.

Altar Cloths

Just as the altar is a sign for us of Christ the living stone, altar cloths are used "out of reverence for the celebration of the memorial of the Lord and the banquet that gives us his body and" By their beauty and form they add to the dignity of the altar in much the same way that vestments solemnly ornament the priests and sacred ministers. Such cloths also serve a practical purpose, however, in absorbing whatever may be spilled of the Precious Blood or other sacramental elements. Thus the material of altar cloths should be absorbent and easily laundered.

While there may be several altar cloths in the form of drapings or even frontals, their shape, size, and decoration should be in keeping with the design of the altar. Unless the altar cloths have been stained with the Precious Blood, it is not necessary that they be cleaned in the sacrarium. Care should be taken, however, that proper cleaning methods are used to preserve the beauty and life of the altar cloth. It is appropriate for those who care for sacred vessels, cloths and other instrumenta of the liturgy to accompany their work with prayer.

Corporals

Sacred vessels containing the Body and Blood of the Lord are always placed on top of a corporal.

A corporal is spread by the deacon or another minister in the course of the preparation of the gifts and the altar. When concelebrants receive the Eucharist from the altar, a corporal is placed beneath all chalices or patens. Finally, it is appropriate that a corporal be used on a side table, and placed beneath the sacred vessels which have been left to be purified after Mass.

Because one of the purposes of the corporal is to contain whatever small particles of the consecrated host may be left at the conclusion of Mass, care should be taken that the transferral of consecrated hosts between sacred vessels should always be done over a corporal. The corporal should be white in color and of sufficient dimensions so that at least the main chalice and paten may be placed upon it completely. When necessary, more than one corporal may be used. The material of corporals should be absorbent and easily laundered.

Any apparent particles of the consecrated bread which remain on the corporal after the distribution of Holy Communion should be consumed in the course of the purification of the sacred vessels.

When corporals are cleansed they should first be rinsed in a sacrarium and only afterwards washed with laundry soaps in the customary manner. Corporals should be ironed in such a way that their distinctive manner of folding helps to contain whatever small particles of the consecrated host may remain at the conclusion of the Eucharistic celebration.

Purificators

Purificators are customarily brought to the altar with chalices and are used to wipe the Precious Blood from the lip of the chalice and to purify sacred vessels. They should be white in color. Whenever the Precious Blood is distributed from the chalice, poured into ancillary vessels or even accidentally spilled, purificators should be used to absorb the spill. The material of purificators should be absorbent and easily laundered. The purificator should never be made of paper or any other disposable material.

Because of their function, purificators regularly become stained with the Precious Blood. It is, therefore, essential that they should first be cleansed in a sacrarium and only afterwards washed with laundry soaps in the customary manner. Purificators should be ironed in such a way that they may be easily used for the wiping of the lip of the chalice.

Lavabo Towels

The Order of Mass calls for the washing of the hands (lavabo) of the priest celebrant in the course of the preparation of the gifts and the altar. Since it is his hands and not only his fingers (as in the former Order of Mass) which are washed at the lavabo, the lavabo towel should be of adequate size and sufficiently absorbent for drying his hands. Neither the color nor the material of the lavabo towel is prescribed, though efforts should be made to avoid the appearance of a "dish towel," "bath towel" or other cloth with a purely secular use.

Other Cloths

Other cloths may also be used at Mass. A pall may be used to cover the chalice at Mass in order to protect the Precious Blood from insects or other foreign objects. In order that palls may be kept immaculately clean they should be made with removable covers of a worthy material which may be easily washed in the sacrarium and then laundered. Chalice veils either of the color of the day, or white may be fittingly used to cover the chalice before it is prepared and after it has been purified.

Disposal of Worn Altar Linens

Consistent with the disposal of all things blessed for use in the liturgy, it is appropriate that altar linens, which show signs of wear and can no longer be used, should normally be disposed of either by burial or burning.

Conclusion

The manner in which we treat sacred things (even those of lesser significance than the chalice, paten, liturgical furnishings, etc.) fosters and expresses our openness to the graces God gives to his Church in every celebration of the Eucharist. Thus, by the diligent care of altar linens, the Church expresses her joy at the inestimable gifts she receives from Christ's altar.

Wednesday, August 12, 2009

Rainy Season

It was humid the whole day. After Kiko left Philippines' area of responsibility, we were not expecting any rain yet. But after three days of sun, rain came back with a vengeance today - yes, even accompanied by lighting and thunder! Nowhere in the world have we experienced this, save here! Here is a brief video of how it was for almost an hour this afternoon of August 12.

Friday, August 07, 2009

EDNAS DAGUPAN - Grade VI

Grade VI Ivory of Ednas Dagupan


Grade 6 Diamond

Monday, August 03, 2009

FATHER DIRECTOR'S 38TH Birthday

In this "Year for Priests," Fr. Mario decided to celebrate his birthday thanking all those who have been his companions in the 12 years of his priestly ministry. Family and friends, along with some c0-workers at LFC and the seminary community were present at the celebration. August 3 is before St. Jean-Baptiste Marie Vianney's feastday. Here are some pictures.

The cake from the 9 employees of LFC.


Some of the priests from the college and minor seminaries and from the surrounding parishes.


With Msgr. Sabangan and some Lay Ministers


The 43 seminarians of Bonuan were the last to leave the party (before 9pm).


The youngest visitor, "Santino" - Fr. Mario's nephew.


Fr. Mario's two brothers, Ray and Steve with their children.


The most important at the party - the men and women who served!