Week 12 – March 17-23, 2019: Sub-Topic 12: Building a Church that is truly a faith-community immersed in the lives of her people
During the celebration of the “Year of the Parish as a Communion of Communities,” the Philippines Bishops note that “we are challenged to more deeply discern not only the structures of governance of our dioceses and parishes but also of the quality of faith life in the parish, the fellowship, belongingness, and participation experienced by its members.” We must constantly focus on “the building of a parish that is truly a faith community immersed in the lives of its people.”
In the Philippines, the vision of the Church as communion is today “finding expression in one ecclesial movement that is the movement to foster Basic Ecclesial Communities” (PCP-II 137). “Usually emerging at the grassroots, Basic Ecclesial Communities consciously strive to integrate their faith and their daily life. They are guided and encouraged by regular catechesis. Poverty and their faith urge their members towards solidarity with one another, action for justice, and towards a vibrant celebration of life in the liturgy” (PCP-II 139). We ask: “How can we all work at renewing our parish communities to better manifest Christ”?
One concrete way of fostering community in our parishes is to turn to our Mother, the Blessed Virgin. Year 2017 was the centennial year of the apparition of Our Lady to three children in Fatima. Our Bishops asserted that “the message of Fatima still rings clearly and strongly for us. If we dream of Church renewal, let us return to prayer, let us receive her Son in Holy Communion and let us offer reparation for our sin.” By these means, we can “pursue the dream to make every parish community a family of families and a communion of communities.”
Word of God
First Reading: GN 15:5-12, 17-18
The Lord God took Abram outside and said, “Look up at the sky and count the stars, if you can. Just so,” he added, “shall your descendants be.” Abram put his faith in the LORD, who credited it to him as an act of righteousness (V 5-6).
Res. Ps.: PS 27:1, 7-8, 8-9, 13-14.
Your presence, O LORD, I seek. Hide not your face from me; do not in anger repel your servant. You are my helper: cast me not off (V 8-9).
Second Reading: PHIL 3:17—4:1
Join with others in being imitators of me, brothers and sisters, and observe those who thus conduct themselves according to the model you have in us. For many, as I have often told you and now tell you even in tears, conduct themselves as enemies of the cross of Christ (V 17-18).
Gospel: LK 9:28B-36
As they were about to part from him, Peter said to Jesus, “Master, it is good that we are here; let us make three tents, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” But he did not know what he was saying (V 33).
Values/Attitude
Mission Solidarity Communion
Other-centered Steward United
Doctrine
God created the world for the sake of communion with his divine life, a communion brought about by the “convocation” of men in Christ, and this “convocation” is the Church (CCC 760).
Moral
PCP II calls for renewal as a “Church of the Poor” (cf. PCP II 125-36), courageously addressing the causes and conditions of poverty and social injustice (cf. PCP II 165, 247-49, 256-61, 290-329).
Worship
The Church is the People that God gathers in the whole world. She exists in local communities and is made real as a liturgical, above all a Eucharistic, assembly. She draws her life from the word and the Body of Christ and so herself becomes Christ’s Body (CCC 752). Prayer and an active sacramental life are the necessary means not only for clarifying the Christian vision, but especially for motivating responsible moral decisions and acts. (CFC 844).
Faith Realities in Local Context
Share about how the Church performs works of evangelization in concrete ways not only to form people after that of the heart of Christ but also to uplift them in their physical and material conditions.
Faith Response
Affirmation/Conviction
The Church as communion of saints (Apostle’s Creed).
To fulfill the Father’s will, Christ ushered in the Kingdom of heaven on earth. The Church “is the Reign of Christ already present in mystery (Lumen Gentium 3).
Action/Commitment
* Do you have the habit of doing personal prayer, receiving Jesus Holy Communion and offering reparation for sins?
* Do you participate in parish activities to promote participation and experience fellowship and belongingness?
* Do you show solidarity to other members of the Church especially by helping those in need?
Celebration/Prayer
Find time to do your personal prayer, have time to confess sins, and to receive Jesus in the Holy Communion.
Week 15: April 7-13, 2019: Mary and the Eucharist in the Church’s Mission (please refer to previous materials sent earlier)
Week 16: Holy Week April 14-20, 2019 (an option)
Context/Introduction
Within the observance of the Holy Week, during Holy Thursday up until Holy Saturday, the Paschal Triduum, the three day celebration of the Paschal Mystery of our Lord Jesus Christ takes place. On Holy Thursday, it is when Jesus instituted the Sacraments of the Holy Eucharist and Holy Orders, on Good Friday, it is when Jesus was crucified, died and was buried. On Holy Saturday evening, the Church celebrates the mother of all vigils, the Easter Vigil where we once more look back at God’s plan of salvation for all of us and made its completion in the triumphant victory of Jesus over sin and death. The Holy Week ends on the Saturday evening and joyfully ushers the Easter Sunday or the Sunday of the Lord’s Resurrection. This celebration of the Holy Week is a re-living of the Paschal Mystery of Jesus Christ, who willfully embraced, died and accepted the Will of God to save us and redeem us from sin and death.
An important cultural light is our being kundiman-oriented. We heavily appeal to wounded love or heroes that sacrifice themselves all because of their love for a person or a principle. (cf. CFC 39) This appeal towards suffering or as we colloquially call it: pagpapaka-martyr, manifests a deep spiritual value in us Filipinos. One concrete manifestation of this is our devotion to the Padre Hesus Nazareno Entierro or the Sacred Heart. As CFC would elaborate further: “Jesus, the Suffering Servant, can thus reach out to us Filipinos as a healing and forgiving Savior who understands our weaknesses, our failures, our feelings of depression, fear and loneliness.” This idea is not to be misinterpreted as glorification of poverty or celebrating suffering for its sake, but rather, being amidst suffering and trials of life, we constantly try to see through the lens of our Savior who conquered the greatest of all challenges; death.
However, let us not forget the element of reflection and going back to one’s motivation on why we do lenten religious practices. Rev. Fr. Roy Cimagala of the CBCP News clearly explains: “We should then realize that all those fasting and abstinence, those acts of self-denial and works of mercy, should leave us with a growing sensation that we are becoming more and more like Christ, thinking, choosing, doing things like him and with him. Otherwise, all these acts would lose their purpose. They would just become mechanical, soulless acts, a routine just to pass the time. We have to make sure that with God’s grace that would always require of us humility and simplicity and all the virtues, we get the sensation that we are another Christ.”
We must therefore, understand our journey, as a nation and as individuals, as the same journey that Jesus walked onto when He assumed humanity. Life must be perceived as not merely temporal, and that we should falter in the slightest temporal inconvenience. We must remind ourselves of the sufferings of Christ, especially this holy week, through repentance, fasting, abstinence, alms giving and prayer. We must struggle with the hope and optimism that one day, we will rise and resurrect like Christ and be free from evil and death.
Word of God
First Reading Ex. 6: 2-9 The deliverance of Israel from slavery is ensured by God
Resp. Psalm 90:15 Be with me O Lord in my distress
Second Reading Galatians 5:22-26 The works of the flesh must not overshadow the works of the spirit
Values/ Attitude:
Humility Repentance Piety
Forgiveness Compassion Justice
Doctrine
As “Christ’s death is both the Paschal sacrifice that accomplishes the definitive redemption of men, through “the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world”, and the sacrifice of the New Covenant, which restores man to communion with God by reconciling him to God through the “blood of the covenant, which was poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins”. (CCC 613)
Moral
The cross is the unique sacrifice of Christ, the “one mediator between God and men”. But because in his incarnate divine person he has in some way united himself to every man, “the possibility of being made partners, in a way known to God, in the paschal mystery” is offered to all men. He calls his disciples to “take up their cross and follow him”, for “Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example so that we should follow in his steps. (CCC 618)
Worship
At the Last Supper, on the night when He was betrayed, our Saviour instituted the eucharistic sacrifice of His Body and Blood. He did this in order to perpetuate the sacrifice of the Cross throughout the centuries until He should come again, and so to entrust to His beloved spouse, the Church, a memorial of His death and resurrection: a sacrament of love, a sign of unity, a bond of charity, a paschal banquet in which Christ is eaten, the mind is filled with grace, and a pledge of future glory is given to us. (Pope Paul VI, Sacrosanctum Concilium, 47)
Faith Realities in Local Context
Observe the parish’s liturgical and devotional vigor in the Church during the time of lent. Evaluate how the people perceive the times of Lent and how they appropriate their holy disposition as opposed to vacation disposition.
Faith Response
Read the Homily of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, January 1, 2007, Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God. “As Mother of Christ, Mary is also Mother of the Church, which my venerable Predecessor, the Servant of God Paul VI chose to proclaim on 21 November 1964 at the Second Vatican Council. Lastly, Mary is the Spiritual Mother of all humanity, because Jesus on the Cross shed his blood for all of us and from the Cross he entrusted us all to her maternal care.
Let us begin this new year, therefore, by looking at Mary whom we received from God’s hands as a precious “talent” to be made fruitful, a providential opportunity to contribute to bringing about the Kingdom of God. “ Celebrate with the community through an informative dialogue with the youth in the community as guided by the Parish. This aims to address the current prevailing situation of the questions of the youth and the trends that are evident during Lenten Season.
Affirmation/ Conviction
# Alaga ng Mahal na Ina, Alaga para sa Lahat
# Maria, Ina ng Kabataan at Simbahan
# Pusong Ina sa Puso ni Maria
Action / Commitment
Allow the Parish Youth Ministry to spearhead a Formation to be conducted to the youth in the community. The Formation must be guided by the Parish and the Diocese and should aim in molding, strengthening the faith of the Filipino youth especially in times of trial.
Celebration / Prayer
Let us remember that “the whole of Christ’s life was a continual teaching: His silences, His miracles, His gestures, His prayer, His love for people, His special affection for the little and the poor, His acceptance of the total sacrifice on the cross for the redemption of the world, and His resurrection are the actualization of His word and the fulfillment of revelation.” (Pope Saint John Paul II, Carechesi Trandendae)
Topic 9: Week 17: The Sacrament of Matrimony April 21-27, 2019 (please refer the Outline of this Main topic with the catechetical materials sent earlier.
Subtopic Wk 18: April 28-May 4, 2019: A Call to Integral Renewal of Persons Towards a more dedicated Servant-Leadership
In our participation in the threefold mission of Christ, we are to involve ourselves in the priestly, prophetic, and kingly ministry which God calls us to partake. We respond to this by becoming one, as the leaders envisions that every member of the Church become “renewed” servant-leaders “who care most especially for the least, the lost and the last”.
According to Archbishop Romulo Valles of Davao, the head of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines, every member of the clergy and consecrated persons of the Church must aim towards the integral renewal of the values, mind-sets, behavior and life-styles. Like the previous pastoral priority, we are to revisit the ways of seminary and religious formation and the collaboration with the laity in the work of mission and ministry.
The CBCP noted the challenge of “new evangelization” and stressed that the clergy, the religious and members of the secular institutes are the “key” to it. Moreover, as the Church embarks towards a new evangelization, the bishops also stressed the “dismal shadows” brought about by some clergy and consecrated persons themselves.
He also mentioned that there were occasions of frailty and scandals that sadden us. Such misconducts call for sincere reflection and humble repentance and reparation. May these faults point us to new and vast possibilities of renewal and communion with those who are weak and broken.
Word of God
Mt 19:6 For the love of the spouses requires… community of persons, which embraces their entire life: so they are no longer two but one flesh
John 12:26 If anyone serves Me, he must follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also; if anyone serves Me, the Father will honor him.
Ezekiel 16:8-14 You must not break faith with the wife of your youth. For I hate divorce, says the Lord, the God of Israel.
Values/ Attitude
Service Dedication Compassion
Solidarity Love
Doctrine
Human beings are profoundly Social Creatures. Both in heaven and on earth man is dependent on community. (DOCAT 22)
Moral
All are invited by Jesus to enter the Kingdom of God. Even the worst of sinners are called to be converted and to accept the boundless mercy of the Father. (Compendium of the CCC 107)
Worship
The laity can also feel called, or be in fact called, to cooperate with their pastors in the service of the ecclesial community, for the sake of its growth and life. This can be done through the exercise of different kinds of ministries according to the grace and charisms which the Lord has been pleased to bestow on them. (CCC 910)
Faith Realities in Local Context
Immerse with the youth by knowing their experiences of being a servant-leader through interviews in order to come up with making an advocacy to be posted in social media about new ways of evangelizing to them in a catechetical way.
Faith Response
Affirmation/ Conviction
#SerbisyoKagayaNgKayKristo
#SerbisyongKristiyanoParaKayKristoAtSaTao
#IsangKomyunidadIsangSimbahan
Action / Commitment
Organize active-service for the youth to participate in the community for the community, that aims to empower the youth to a life of service to God despite the challenges in their family.
It is good and it can help. But there is a real danger of living in a way of accumulating information. We have so much information. But maybe we don’t know what to do with that information. We run the risk of becoming museums of young people that have everything but without knowing what to do with them. We don’t need youth museums but we do need holy young people.
You might ask me, Father, how do we become saints? This is another challenge, it is a challenge of love., which is the most important subject you have to learn in university. What is the most important subject you have to learn in life? To learn how to love. And this is the great challenge life offers you, to learn how to love. And not just acquiring information without knowing what to do with it, but through that love, that that information bear fruit. (Papal Visit at UST, Pope Francis 2015)
Celebration / Prayer
Let us all remember and reflect on the love of our family to
us:
O God of goodness and mercy, to Thy fatherly guidance we commend our family, our
household and all our belongings. We commit all to Thy love and keeping; do
Thou fill this house with Thy blessings even as Thou didst fill the holy House
of Nazareth with Thy presence.
Keep far from us, above all else, the blemish of sin, and do Thou alone reign
in our midst by Thy law, by Thy most holy love and by the exercise of every
Christian virtue. Let each one of us obey Thee, love Thee and set himself to
follow in his own life Thine example, that of Mary, Thy Mother and our Mother
most loving, and that of Thy blameless guardian, Saint Joseph.
Protect us and our house from all evils and misfortunes, but grant that we may
be ever resigned to Thy divine will even in the sorrows which it shall please
Thee to send us. Finally give unto all of us the grace to live in perfect
harmony and in the fullness of love toward our neighbor. Grant that every one
of us may deserve by a holy life the comfort of Thy holy Sacraments at the hour
of death. O Jesus, bless us and protect us.
O Mary, Mother of grace and of mercy, defend us against the wicked spirit,
reconcile us with Thy Son, commit us to His keeping, that so we may be made
worthy of His promises.
Saint Joseph, foster-father of our Savior, guardian of His holy Mother, head of
the Holy Family, intercede for us, bless us and defend our home at all times.
Subtopic: Wk 19: May 19-25, 2019
CHURCH – Icon of Trinitarian Love and Communion “May forever sa Simbahan”
An SWS 2016 survey conducted December 2016 revealed that 73% of Filipinos believe in the concept of “forever”. Dictionaries define the word ‘communion’ as “the sharing or exchanging of intimate thoughts and feelings, especially when the exchange is on a mental or spiritual level.”
In the Christian faith, communion is the most sacred expression for any one of different forms of togetherness. This is visibly seen in the earliest days of the Church from the Pentecost (Acts 2:1–31), the fellowship of early Christians in Jerusalem (Acts 2:42-47) in prayer and in celebration of the Sacrament of the Eucharist (Matthew 18:20), and the doctrine of the Communion of Saints(Romans 8:35-39, expressed deeply by many Filipinos’ devotion,
However, people everyday, regardless of nationality, face hardships and irreversible tragedies that seem to challenge the possibility of lifelong commitments especially within the context of the family which is considered the fundamental cell of any society.
Amidst the common expression, “May forever ba?”, the Church must constantly draw upon the perfect example of love and communion from the Holy Trinity that transcends us from our boundaries.
Word of God
Acts 2:1-4
When the time for Pentecost was fulfilled, they were all in one place together. And suddenly there came from the sky a noise like a strong driving wind, and it filled the entire house in which they were. Then there appeared to them tongues as of fire, which parted and came to rest on each one of them. And they were all filled with the holy Spirit and began to speak in different tongues, as the Spirit enabled them to proclaim.
Mark 14:22-25
And as they were eating, he took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to them, and said, “Take; this is my body.” And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, and they all drank of it. And he said to them, “This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many.
Values/ Attitude
Solidarity Commitment Compassion
Unity Fidelity
Doctrine
The Holy Trinity is “inseparable in what they are; the Divine Persons are also inseparable in what they do. But within the single divine operation each shows forth what is proper to Him in the Trinity, especially in the divine missions of the Son’s Incarnation and the gift of the Holy Spirit.” (Catechism ofthe Catholic Church)
The Church, being the Body of Christ, with the presence of the Holy Spirit, is the ultimate “beneficiary” of the eternal love of the Holy Trinity. As the Holy Trinity is eternal, so is the love and communion dwelling in the Church.
Moral
Baptized Christians have to establish a community that is aware of its communion with the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. A that strives to imitate the love and communion of the Holy Trinity in whose holy name all Christians are baptized. (CCC 232)
Worship
Participate in the Trinitarian love by renewing our devotion to the Sacrament of the Eucharist and building social relationships, within family, among friends, inside classrooms, and in the workplace of the community.
Faith Realities in Local Context
Nowadays, our youth may easily find ways to commune with one another. Whether it may be through university organizations, school clubs, or Facebook groups, finding where one might belong is not out of the youth’s reach. They choose to stay in such groups for they feel a sense of belongingness and purpose. It is evident that there is the need to be feel loved and able to love among the youth.
Faith Response
Affirmation/ Conviction
#TogetherForeverFaithful
#ForGodForCommunityForever
#ParaSayoParaSaDiyos
Action / Commitment
Involve oneself in one of the ministries in the parish community in humble service and motivated from the love for God; invite and encourage others to know God more through one of the ministries in the parish.
Celebration / Prayer
Full, conscious, and active participation in the Sacrament of the Eucharist. Reflect on our personal vocation God calls us to.
