Josefino named new Cardinal of the Church

Pope Benedict XVI has named Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Tagle and five other prelates from Lebanon, Nigeria, Colombia, India and the United States as new cardinals.

The Pope made the surprise announcement during his weekly general audience Wednesday and said they would be elevated at a consistory November 24. At 55, Tagle is currently the world’s youngest cardinal.

I am very proud to be Cardinal Tagle's student in Holy Orders last semester in the Loyola School of Theology as well as his fellow Josefino, a son of San Jose Seminary. Truly, the Philippine Church rejoices in this announcement, following the canonization of Saint Pedro Calungsod last Sunday.

In this year of faith, we strive to truly witness to the faith entrusted to us by Christ in our words and deeds. May it enflame our hearts to be instruments of love and service to God and His people.

HAIL SAN JOSE!

San Pedro Calungsod, Ikalawang Pilipinong Santo

Nakatingin lamang sa Diyos...
Tangan ang palmera na sumisimbolo ng tagumpay, hindi niya kundi ni Kristo...
Hawak ang Doctrina Christiana na siyang isinabuhay niya bilang saksi sa Katoliko Kristiyanong pananampalataya...
at handang humakbang kung saan man ipadala...

Ngayong taon ng pananampalataya at pandaigdigang linggo ng misyon, nagagalak tayong mga Pilipino sa pagsasabilang kay Pedro Calungsod sa mga hanay ng mga santo.

Nawa ay magsilbi siyang halimbawa ng kabanalan, pagsasakripisyo, paghihirap para sa pananampalataya, at pagtataya ng buong sarili para sa Diyos.
San Pedro Calungsod, ipanalangin mo kami!



SAN PEDRO CALUNGSOD, HUWARAN NG MGA KABATAAN
Titik ni Timoteo M. Ofrasio, SJ -- Musika ni Arnel Aquino, SJ

Inawit ng Tinig San Jose at Himig Heswita

1. Sa 'yo'y pagpupúgay handóg nami't álay
Sántong kaláhì at aming kabánay ,
Huwárang tángì ng mga kabatáan,
Magíting na anák ng kabísayáan.

2. Pagsisilbíng ganáp ang tánging hangád,
Átas ni Cristo'y tapát na tinupád,
Maáyong Balitâ ay ipínamanság,
Kaháyag ni Cristo ay iyong pinasínag.

KORO:
San Pedro Calúngsod, túnay na huwáran
San Pedro Calúngsod, angay pagasúndon
sa mga kabatáan.

3. Nahímong katábang ng páring butíhin
Na si Diego Luís, sa kanyang gawáin
Sa maláyong dapít piníli n'yang itanghál
Kaligtásan ng táong sa Diyos ay mahál.

4. Hindi ka nasindák sa lupít at dahás
Na dúlot ng bangís ng imbíng kaáway
Sa baybáyin ng Tumhón sa pulóng Mariánas
Gawásnon n'yang gihálad ang sarili n'yang búhay. (Koro)

CODA:
Pedro Calúngsod, isa kang huwáran
Ng mga kabatáan sa panínindígan
Panig-íngnan ikaw sa 'yong katátagán
Sa 'yo nawa'y matúlad ang aming kabatáan! (Koro)

TIMEOUT: The week that was

the heavy downpour of rains battered parts of luzon this week. with rains of catastrophic proportions hitting metro manila, marikina river's water level rose significantly, stirring fears of what happened three years ago during the typhoon ondoy. back then, i was reviewing for my licensure exam for teachers, so i never really had a first hand experience of how marikina river got swollen and spilled over the city's streets. but people in metro manila, particularly in marikina which is just outside our seminary, were surely traumatized with how water, which was generally perceived as a source of life, has become an instrument of destruction.

as another calamity loomed, the san jose seminary community answered the call of service to those who were in great need. we opened our doors to evacuees from nearby barangays in marikina, assisted the evacuees of barangka elementary school, and conducted relief operations at industrial valley complex and the towns of masantol and minalin in the province of pampanga.

i was deeply moved by the generosity of donors who similarly responded to this call to serve those who were severely affected by the floods. the parishioners of the national shrine of our lady of guadalupe (my weekend apostolate area) came in several batches in a span of three days to bring food, clothes, drinking water, and medicines that they have gathered from their parish. friends of seminarians, priests, benefactors, and even fellow josefinos pitched in to help. as the goods came to the seminary, members of the community also gave themselves in repacking, transporting, and distributing what we have gathered to those who suffered much from this calamity.

every member of the community had roles to fulfill, but what i found edifying was the example of the seminarians and even priests who went out of their comfort zones and stretched themselves, literally and figuratively, to be of service to our brothers and sisters in need. times like these, thinking about self-preservation had to stay in the sidelines in order to work for the safety and preservation of others. to go beyond one's role might mean braving the flood waters, going distances whether that is a few steps from the seminary or all the way to the province of pampanga, and getting soaked in mud and wet with rainwater for the service of the other. to do these, i think, is an act of heroism.

indeed, the words of saint ignatius of loyola remind us of the service and love that we render in these trying times:
"to give and not to count the cost, 
to fight and not to heed the wounds, 
to toil and not to seek for rest, 
to labor and ask not for reward, 
save that of knowing that we do your most holy will."

Magbigay ng hindi namimili, kumalinga ng walang kapalit, tumulong ng buong puso! 
Amare et servire in opus ministerii!
Hail San Jose!

Sangkay Kanunay 2012

Sangkay Kanunay 2012 
San Jose Seminary-UST Central Seminary Dual Encounter 
5 August 2012 

video shown during the dinner program of the said event
AM+DG

Pamana ni San Ignacio

isang pasasalamat sa aming mga tagapaghubog sa san jose seminary
ipinalabas bilang panimulang bahagi ng isang AVP
pagdiriwang ng kapistahan ni san ignacio de loyola noong 31 july 2012
sa san jose seminary, ateneo de manila university

Tugon (Isang pagninilay sa ika-labinlimang linggo sa Karaniwang Panahon)

photo by kevin fonacier

Bahagi ng homiliya na ibinigay noong ika-labinlimang linggo sa Karaniwang Panahon sa sa kapilya ng Barangay South Cembo, Makati City

sa ating ebanghelyo ngayon, tila may iisang tema na naguugnay sa ating mga pagbasa, at ito ang tema ng pagpapadala sa isang misyon.

nakita natin sa paghaharap ni propeta amos at amaziah sa unang pagbasa na si amos, bagamat siya ay isang pastol at tagapangalaga ng mga puno, ay tinawag ng diyos upang ipahayag ang kanyang salita bilang isang propeta. sa ikalawang pagbasa, binabanggit ni san pablo ang pakikibahagi ng mga pinapadala sa misyon ni kristo at ang bunga nito na isakatuparan ang kalooban ng diyos. at sa ating ebanghelyo, nagbibigay ng habilin si hesus sa kanyang mga alagad bago sila ipadala ng dala-dalawa sa isang misyon: na walang dadalhing iba kundi ang tungkod, magsuot ng sandalyas, at ipahayag ang pagbabagong-buhay sa mga taong makakasalamuha nila.

makikita natin sa kuwento ni amos at kahit sa mga alagad ni hesus kung paano pinapadala ang mga ordinaryo at simpleng tao upang gawin at tuparin ang isang malaking misyon. sa kabila ng kanilang tila kakulangan at kahinaan, sa kabila ng kanilang mga pagkakaiba ng kaugalian at pananaw sa buhay, tinatawag sila at pinapadala sa isang misyon na hindi lamang para sa kanila upang tuparin, kundi bilang mga instrumento na makikibahagi sa misyon na ang diyos mismo ang tutupad sa pamamagitan nila.

batid ba natin ang ating misyon sa buhay? sa kabila ng ating mga pagkukulang, tinatawag tayo upang tumugon sa kanyang kalooban sa iba't-ibang pamamaraan. paano nga ba natin ginagampanan ang misyon na ibinibigay sa atin ng diyos sa ating buhay?

makikita rin natin ang kahalagahan ng mga habilin ni kristo: sila ay pinadala ng dala-dalawa upang magtulungan, magdamayan, at maglakbay bilang mga saksi sa pagmamahal ng diyos. mas madali gampanan ang tungkulin nang may kasama. mas magaan ang paglalakbay kung may karamay sa daan. at mas epektibo na maipahahayag ang salita ng diyos kung dalawa ang sumasaksi at nagpapatotoo rito.

sino ba ang mga kasama natin sa buhay na tumutupad ng misyong ito? paano natin napapalakas ang bawat isa bilang mga saksi na magkasamang nagpapatotoo sa salita ng diyos?

makikita rin natin ang kahalagahan ng pagiging payak o simple sa pagsisimula ng misyon. ang pagiging payak ay niyayakap natin upang makilatis at mapili ang mas mahalaga sa buhay, upang tayo ay makapaglakbay ng mas magaan upang maibigay nang buo ang sarili sa paglilingkod, at upang tayo ay umasa lamang sa Diyos na siyang nagpapadala sa atin.

ano ba ang kailangan nating bitiwan upang mas malaya tayong makatugon sa kanyang tawag? ano ang mga aspeto ng ating sarili o di naman kaya ay mga magay na humahadlang sa atin upang makapagbigay ng buo sa ating misyon sa buhay? ano ang mga biyayang nais nating hilingin sa diyos sa pagtahak ng landas ng pagtugon sa kanyang kalooban sa ating buhay?

deo gratias.

Bumaling. Makinig. Maniwala at manampalataya. (Isang pagninilay sa ika-labintatlong linggo sa Karaniwang Panahon)

(photo source)

Bahagi ng homiliya na ibinigay noong ika-labintatlong linggo sa Karaniwang Panahon sa National Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe at sa kapilya ng Barrio Visaya, Guadalupe Nuevo, Makati City

Narinig natin sa ating ebanghelyo ngayong linggo ang dalawang kuwento ng paghilom: una, sa babaeng anak ni Jairo, isa sa mga tagapangalaga ng sinagoga, na sinasabing nasa bingit na ng kamatayan noong panahong iyon; at ikalawa, sa babaeng nagdurugo ng labindalawang taon na pumilit na makalapit kay Kristo noong nalamang siya ay naroon sa kanilang pook.

Mapapansin natin na tila naka-"sandwich" o nakalagay sa gitna ang ikalawang kuwento ng paghihilom sa kuwento ng pagpapagaling ng anak ni Jairo. Ngunit iisa lang ang patutunguhan ng parehong kuwento: ang babaeng anak ni Jairo ay napagaling at nabigyan ng bagong buhay bagamat inakala ng iba na siya ay namatay na, at ang babaeng nagdurugo ng labindalawang taon ay gumaling din sa pamamagitan ng kanyang pananalig kay Kristo, na kahit mahawakan man lang niya ang laylayan ng damit ni Kristo ay siya'y magagawaran ng kagalingan at paghilom.

Mapapansin din natin sa kuwento na may dalawang kapangyarihang umiiral: una, ang kapangyarihan ni Kristo na humilom at magpagaling ng maysakit at kahit pa magbigay-buhay sa tila nasa bingit na ng kamatayan; at ikalawa ay ang kapangyarihan ng paniniwala at pananampalataya ng mga taong humihingi ng tulong at paghilom kay Kristo.

Sa umagang ito, nais kong pagnilayan ang tema ng pagtitiwala at pananampalataya na siyang nakita natin sa halimbawa ni Jairo at ng babaeng nagdurugo ng labindalawang taon.

Alam natin na ang buhay natin ay umiikot at naka-ankla sa pagtitiwala. Sa bawat sandali ng ating buhay, tayo ay nagtitiwala sa mga tao at bagay sa paligid natin, na hindi tayo madadala sa kapahamakan, disgrasya, o panganib. Higit sa lahat, tayo ay nagtitiwala sa Diyos na siyang pinagmumulan ng ating buhay at mga biyaya.

Ngunit ang tiwala ay isang pangunahing hakbang patungo sa isang mas malalim na magtitiwala: pagtitiwala sa Diyos bilang sentro ay ugat ng ating buhay. Ito ang pananampalataya: isang tugon ng pagtitiwala at pagmamahal sa kabutihan ng Diyos. Ito ang nakita natin kay Jairo at sa babaeng nagdurugo ng labindalawang taon - lumapit sila kay Hesus, nanalig sila sa kanyang kapangyarihan, at lumalim ang kanilang pananampalataya sa kanya.

Kaya sa ating pagninilay, magandang tanungin natin ang ating sarili:

Sa panahon ng hirap, sakit, kahinaan, at pagsubok, kanino ako bumabaling? Kanino ako unang lumalapit? Kanino ako dumudulog ng tulong? Napadali na ng teknolohiya at siyensiya ang ating buhay, lalo na sa larangan ng pagpapagaling. At tama lang na gamitin natin ito sa ating buhay lalo na sa mga matinding suliranin. Ngunit huwag nating kalimutan ang Diyos na siyang pinagmulan ng paggaling at paghilom, ang siyang ugat at puno ng ating buhay at kalakasan. Tulad ni Jairo at ng babaeng nagdurugo ng labindalawang taon, kay Kristo ba tayo unang tumatakbo? Sa Diyos ba tayo unang dumudulog ng tulong? Naaalala ba natin siya sa mga panahon ng hirap, pagsubok, kahinaan at sakit? Siya ba ang una nating nilalapitan? 

Sa dami ng boses sa mundo ngayon na maraming sinasabi, kanino ako nakikinig? May mga nagsabi na kay Jairo na namatay na ang kanyang anak. Ngunit sabi ni Kristo, "Huwag kang mangamba, manalig ka!" Tulad ni Jairo, marami tayong boses na naririnig sa mundo. Maraming sinasabi, maraming kuro-kuro, maraming alam kung minsan. Ngunit kaninong boses ang ating pinakikinggan? Ang boses ng nakararami na tila gumugulo sa ating isipan? O sa boses ni Kristo na nagbibigay ng paalala na huwag tayong mangamba at sa halip ay manalig sa kanya? 

Sa kabila ng kahinaan ng loob, pagdududa at kawalan ng pag-asa, kanino ako naniniwala at nananampalataya? Maraming tao ang lumapit kay Hesus, ngunit hindi ito naging hadlang sa babaeng nagdurugo ng labindalawang taon na lumapit sa kanya at manalig upang siya ay gumaling. Kahit mahawakan man lang niya ang laylayan ng kanyang damit, naniwala siyang gagaling siya, at ito nga ang nangyari. Dito natin nakikita ang lakas ng kanyang paniniwala at pananampalataya kay Hesus. Tulad niya, gaano kalakas ang ating pagtitiwala sa Diyos? Gaano katibay ang ating pananampalataya kay Kristo? Handa ba tayong suungin ang dami ng tao na tila nagpapalayo sa atin sa piling ni Hesus upang mahawakan siya at mabigyan ng paghihilom at bagong buhay?

Kay Kristo tayo bumaling. Kay Kristo tayo makinig. Kay Kristo tayo maniwala at manampalataya! 

deo gratias.

Paa

Paa. Sinasabi na ang paa ang isa sa mga pinakamaruming bahago ng katawan. Kasi naman, samu't-saring dumi and nakakasalamuha nito kapay tayo ay naglalakad o kahit pa nga kapag nakatayo. Kaya nga siguro naimbento ang tsinelas, sapatos, medyas, foot powder, pedicure, cuticle remover, nail cutter, nipper at kung anu-ano pa para mapanatiling malinis ang ating mga paa. Minsan nga sa paliligo ang paa ang madalas nakakalimutang linisin. Sa bagay, naaagusan naman siya ng sabon at tubig kapag naliligo. Pero sa paa rin nakikita ang iba't ibang uri ng mga bagay na nakakadiri: patay na kuko, kalyo, paltos, alipunga, at siyempre ang amoy ng paa. Siguro nga kaya sinasabi na kung gusto mo malaman kung paano inaalagaan ng babae ang kanyang sarili ay tignan mo ang kanyang paa dahil ito na malamang ang pinakamahirap alagaan na bahagi ng katawan ng tao. Kaya uso ang pedicure, foot spa, nail spa, at kung anu-ano pang mga lugar kung saan inaalagaan ang ating mga paa.

Paa. Ito rin siguro ang isa sa mga pinakamahalagang bahagi ng katawan ng tao. Kung walang paa, hindi tayo makakalakad at makakapunta sa ibang lugar. Siguro nga kaya ganito ang hugis ng paa: pahaba, may makapal, may manipis, depende sa uri at hugis ng katawan upang makagalaw ng mabuti. Para sa akin, mahalaga ang paa lalo na para sa aking mga libangan at gawain. Sa basketball, mapilayan na ako sa kamay, huwag lang sa paa kasi apektado ang lahat ng gawain ko kapag napilayan ito: mahirap lumakad, magdrive, pumunta sa ibang lugar, magbuhat, at iba pa. At least sa kamay o braso may isa pa, ngunit mahirap maglakad ng isa lamang ang paa kahit may saklay o wheelchair ka pa.

Marami pang ibang gamit ang paa. Kailangan ng paa sa karamihan ng sports o palakasan. Pagdating sa takbuhan, kailangan mo ng paa. Sa basketball, soccer, swimming, badminton, halos lahat ng sports, kahit sa chess kasi kailangan mong tumayo matapos ang laro, mahalaga ang paa. Puwedeng gamitin ang paa upang depensahan ang sarili, kaya nga may karate, taekwondo, muay thai, mixed martial arts, at iba pa. Ngunit maaari ring gamitin ng paa sa mga bagay na hindi nararapat. Masakit matapakan o masipa. Maaaring gamitin ang paa upang pumunta sa mga lugar na hindi dapat pinupuntahan. Maaari nating tapakan ang mga karapatan, pangarap, at buhay ng ibang tao.

Paa. sa paghugas ni Kristo ng paa ng kanyang mga alagad, hindi natin maiwasang itanong: ano nga ba ang meron sa paa? Bakit sa dinami-rami ng pwedeng hugasan ni Hesus, bakit paa pa? Ano ang kahulugan ng paghugas ni Hesus ng paa ng kanyang mga alagad? Ano ang maaari nating matutunan sa ginawang ito ni Hesus?

Allowing vs. Doing

"In this vocation, it is not much of what I am 'doing' but what I am 'allowing' God to work in me."

At first, I felt uncomfortable with that notion: allowing than doing. I think "allowing" entails a certain sense of passivity on a person like an ingredient waiting to be mixed in a big pan to create a dish or a nut waiting to fit inside a bolt. As a man who "does" rather than "allows", it is but natural for me to think that something is not quite right with the quote. I don't wait for things to happen; rather, I make things happen. It is in being "passive" where my downfall lies, as experience suggests.

But eventually I found wisdom in that saying. "Allowing, not much of doing."

Everything that God has given me is grace. I could have lived without them after all, but it is grace. It could be there, it could have been not there; ultimately it is freely given. Not much of the things I have or the people behind me are my own doing. In fact, at times I feel I do not deserve these at all. They are God-sent after all. I can only do as much, but I have to let God bring it to perfection.

"Allowing" means seeing God as the ultimate source and end of such grace and not my own accord. More than that, it means understanding, embracing, and accepting that these are not mine alone. Perhaps it brings me back to my senses that I am not the star of the show, that I am not the point, but a mere pointer to something or even someone greater than I am.

I have to admit that I still feel uncomfortable saying "I will allow the Spirit to work within me this year and see what happens" than "I will do my best in seminary formation yet ultimately the decision lies in the bishop." I think that "allowing" entails a lot of "trusting" - trusting in the unknown, trusting in the intangible, trusting in those beyond my control, and trusting in God who is above all the one who gives.

This is a reminder that the vocation to the priesthood, all that I have, all that I am, are not mine, but God's. That perhaps is why I found it difficult to pray the suscipe, which emerged during the candidacy retreat and more glaringly in the Spiritual Exercises: a part of me still suggests not to give it all, not to trust completely, and not let someone else do what I should be doing.

In the end, I have to let go. I feel now that everything I have is borrowed: God gives, God can also take it away. They are not meant to last forever as my possessions. After all, they are not mine. They belong to God. I have to let go, even if it is hard for me to do so. Calm down, allow his grace to work within me, and let him finish and put to completion what I started.

Kevin Luther C. Crisostomo

4 June 2k12

Mount Peace, Baguio City

8 Day Pre-Diaconal Retreat

AM+DG

Fog

Fogs. I like watching fogs.

Fogs remind me best of San Francisco. All in all, this kind of weather and atmosphere reminds me of the city where I want to stay: cold, a bit rainy, the smell of pine, and the fog.

Whenever there's a fog, I try my best to stop what I'm doing and just watch it. If possible, even join, bask in, and feel the fog. They are water vapor after all, but it's alright. I love the cold wind and small drops of water hovering over me. I feel calm and relaxed watching fogs. It disarms me. It makes me feel assured that everything is going to be alright.

But what's with fogs after all? They make views blurry and invisible. They come with cold winds that make me shiver. They may bring confusion to people threading the road. Why then do I like fogs?

I guess that's where I am right now. Everything is foggy and blurry. Nothing is clear at present: where I am, where I will be, and how will I get there. I can only see traces of what is in front. I can expect what lies in front of me in some way. I cannot speed up if I were driving, because I don't want to go crashing and burning down a ravine, or hitting another vehicle on the road. It tells me to slow down but keep moving forward as well.

It's foggy. But I enjoy the fog. I immerse in the fog because I know deep inside me that there's something beyond the traces of the road and the trees in front of me. I keep walking even with danger in front because I will be able to see clearly if I just keep my eyes on the road and move at the right pace. And the journey, not the destination, that brings me to where I should be.

At present, everything is not as clear as I want it to be. But this thing I know, believe, and commit myself to fulfill: I will make the most of my final year in the seminary, learning as much as I can, and keeping in mind that everything is for the work of ministry. I will apply for ordination - September, March, whenever that would be - I will make myself ready, then proceed from there. Because the fog is not meant to last forever, that friendly winds will clear the path and view ahead.

Fog. The blurriness, the confusion, the invisibility of the bigger picture, were all reflections of what's within me. But friendly winds that clear the fog serves as an assurance that everything is going to be alright, that God is in control, and there's nothing to fret when love is at the driver's seat. It takes three things to brave through the fog: faith that keeps me moving to move on with my journey, hope that the fog will not last forever and friendly winds will help me see what is in front and beyond, and love that entails me to risk slowly and surely with trust in God who is my ultimate end.

Kevin Luther C. Crisostomo

3 June 2k12

Mount Peace, Baguio City

8 Day Pre-Diaconal Retreat

AM+DG

Fix You (my eight day retreat experience)

When you try your best but you don't succeed
When you get what you want but not what you need
When you feel so tired but you can't sleep
Stuck in reverse

Eight days. Eight days of silence and solitude seemed like eternity for a restless, hyperactive, and excited person like me. It seemed like forever: time was slow, days felt like months, and a week felt like a year. But these eight days after all was a sabbath: a time apart to remember because I easily forget, to disconnect in order to reconnect with what is truly essential, and to celebrate the God who calms my anxieties,  the God who brings shattered pieces together again, the God who heals the wounds of the past, the God who calls despite my iniquities, and the God who continues to love me as I am.

And the tears come streaming down your face 
When you lose something you can't replace 
When you love someone but it goes to waste 
Could it be worse?

God reveals himself through images and dreams through past experiences and future concerns, through hurts and pains, through a gentle and healing touch, through a tender and loving look, through the people he sent, and through his love made manifest in his call.

Lights will guide you home 
And ignite your bones 
And I will try to fix you

My experience of God in this retreat is truly empowering. Yet, I am reminded that it is not much of my own doing that matters. Yes, I can do much, but ultimately it is God himself, his grace, love, and providence, that prevails in the end. Like any gamer, I desire that the controller is always in my hands. Like any baller, I desire to make the game-winning shot. Like any driver, I desire to be in control of the steering wheel, the gear stick, and the pedals. But God invites me to trust and let him be himself, to let him be God. In the words of Kevin Fonacier: "Ginawa natin ang lahat sa abot ng ating makakaya, pero hayaan natin ang Diyos na maging Diyos." Be still and know that I am God.

And high up above or down below
When you're too in love to let it go
But if you never try you'll never know
Just what you're worth

Down from this mountain, down to the world go I. But I am not going down alone. In fact, I never went up the mountain by myself. God is with me, through the joys and tears, through the triumphs and defeats, through yesterday, today, and tomorrow. This perhaps is the most important fruit that I will bring with me: trust in God. There are things that I can do, there are factors beyond my control, yet I trust that God will continue to heal, call, and empower me, not for my own sake, but for the people He sends me to love and serve.

Lights will guide you home 
And ignite your bones 
And I will try to fix you

With that, I am willing to be God's instrument of love and service. I am but a mere pointer to him who is the point, the source of all life and love. As the call of service comes, I will allow God to work within me. In my final year in the seminary, I commit myself to be available to the call of service as a silent yet effective worker in the work of ministry especially in the apostolate. I commit myself to maximize opportunities of learning to equip myself to the life of love and service in my future ministry. I also commit myself to value silence and solitude where God reveals himself and reminds me of the fruits of this retreat and the Spiritual Exercises five years ago. Finally, with the approval and recommendation of my formators, I will apply for ordination to the diaconate and the priesthood in God's time.

Tears stream down on your face 
When you lose something you cannot replace 
Tears stream down on your face 
And I... 
Tears stream down on your face 
I promise you I will learn from my mistakes 
Tears stream down on your face 
And I...

Loving Father, source and giver of life and love,
here I am, your humble servant,
offering you my life.
All that I am:
my mind, my talents, my capabilities and possibilities,
my heart,  the people whom I love, my family and loved ones,
my will, my dreams, my ambitions, my goals and desires, my hopes and aspirations, my achievements, my victories, my triumphs and accolades,
my all, my strengths and abilities, my brokenness and woundedness, my entire self, my entire body, everything that you have given me;
All the opportunities you have bestowed upon me,
all the people you have sent to love me,
all the gifts, talents, and treasures you have entrusted to me,
the vocation to the priesthood, to be of service to you and your people,
my past, my present, and my future,
all these are your grace, all these came from you, and all these I offer you.
You gave and entrusted these to me,
you sustained and nourished me and these gifts,
you who are all good, all powerful, and all loving Father.
I offer my life to you, for your greater glory.
Accept my humble sacrifice and use it according to your most holy will.
Your goodness, your love, your mercy, your grace are more than enough for me.
Because seeing you more clearly, loving you more dearly, and following you more nearly are its own reward.

Lights will guide you home
And ignite your bones
And I will try to fix you

Kevin Luther C. Crisostomo 

7 June 2k12 - 11:33 PM 

Mount Peace, Baguio City 

8 Day Pre-Diaconal Retreat 

AM+DG

Sixth Sunday of Easter: Kaibigan

 photo by macoy eronico

“As the Father loves me, so I also love you. Remain in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and your joy may be complete. This is my commandment: love one another as I love you. No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. I no longer call you slaves, because a slave does not know what his master is doing. I have called you friends, because I have told you everything I have heard from my Father. It was not you who chose me, but I who chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit that will remain, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name he may give you. This I command you: love one another.”

John 15:9-17 

Friends. Ano nga ba ang isang kaibigan, ang isang friend? Sabi nga ng isang awitin, “Sino pa ang tutulong sa iyo, ulirang katulad ko… Kaibigan mo ako.” Why do we have friends? Siguro dahil kailangan natin ng karamay hindi lamang sa mga malulungkot kundi pati na rin sa mga masasayang sandal ng buhay. Marahil hindi natin kayang harapin ang buhay ng nag-iisa at walang karamay o kasama. O di naman kaya’y mas masaya lang talaga kapag may kaibigan na kapiling sa ating tabi. 

Kaibigan. Sa gitna ng salitang “kaibigan” ay ang salitang “ibig,” o sa wikang ingles ay “love.” There’s a saying, “true love is costly.” A true lover gives the best he can offer and is willing to sacrifice everything he or she has for the beloved. That's the nature of true friendship and love — the willingness to give all for the beloved. True friends will lay down their lives for each other. Ganito ang ginawa ni Hesus na tumuturing sa atin bilang kanyang mga kaibigan. Ang kaibigan, nagmamahal ng lubusan – buong puso at walang inaasahang kapalit. Handa niyang ibigay ang lahat, kahit ang pag-alay ng kanyang buhay, upang ipakita kung gaano niya tayo kamahal.

Blessed Teresa of Calcutta once said, “If you love until it hurts, there can be no more hurt, only more love.” Panginoon, turuan mo akong tularan ang pagmamahal sa akin ni Kristong aking kaibigan, na handing magmahal at magbigay ng sarili. Panginoon, turuan mo akong maging bukas-palad sa aming pagbibigay ng sarili, nang hindi naghihintay ng kapalit kundi ang mabatid lamang ang iyong kalooban.

Paranaque Diocesan Seminarians - 2nd Semester 2k11-2k12

here's a video featuring the activities of the Parañaque Diocesan Seminarians ParDS during 2nd semester of school year 2k11-2k12!

featured activities:
- sembreak general assembly
- audience with bishop jesse e. mercado (sembreak and christmas)
- BAON 2k11 (blessing of tombs at manila memorial park)
- missioning for banat 2k12
- chrism mass
- BANAT 2k12 (annual summer apostolate)

got the photos from our facebook profiles.
featured music: "super bass" (instrumental) by nicki minaj
to be presented during the pards summer general assembly and outing on may 14-15, 2012

Fifth Sunday of Easter: Rooted, Nourished, Fruitful

photo by jay fonacier

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vine grower. Remain in me, as I remain in you. Just as a branch cannot bear fruit on its own unless it remains on the vine, so neither can you unless you remain in me. I am the vine, you are the branches. Whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit, because without me you can do nothing. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask for whatever you want and it will be done for you. By this is my Father glorified, that you bear much fruit and become my disciples.”

John 15:1, 4-5, 7-8

Jesus is the vine and we, the followers, are the branches that grow from the vine. Jesus offers true life: the abundant life which comes from God and which results in great fruitfulness.  

Bilang mga sanga sa puno, tintatawag tayo na magbunga at magbigay-bunga. Ang bunga ng ating pananampalataya at pagmamahal kay Kristo ay nakaugat mismo sa karanasan natin ng kanyang pag-ibig sa atin. That is why it is important for us to stay in God’s love. Dito, tayo ay lumalago, tumutubo, at namumunga, tulad ng mga sanga na nakaugnay sa puno na siyang pinagmumulan ng buhay at kalakasan.

As branches of God’s life, how firmly rooted and intimately united are we with Christ? How do we draw inspiration and nourishment from the Jesus, the true vine? How do our lives bear and cultivate the fruits of faith, hope, and love in our relationship with God and others?

Fourth Sunday of Easter: On the Good Shepherd

photo by jay fonacier

A homily delivered to the parishioners of Santo Cristo Parish on the Fourth Sunday of Easter

The Fourth Sunday of Easter is often known as "Good Shepherd Sunday" as our gospel reading for today suggests. Known as the "Good Shepherd discourse" from the tenth chapter of the Gospel of John, our gospel for today used variety of metaphors like “sheep”, “shepherd”, "hired man", and "good shepherd." These images bear shades of meaning that would help us grasp the message of Jesus and how they reveal the Father and His plan for humanity. These words of Jesus continue to speak to us in the here and now as we search for greater meaning and seek answers to our deepest questions in life.

For our reflection today, we ask ourselves two questions: "Who is the Good Shepherd?" And "What does the Good Shepherd do?"

Who is the Good Shepherd? We all know that "Good Shepherd" is one of the many titles of Jesus. However, we can fully understand the identity of the good shepherd as he is placed side-by-side with evil, selfish shepherds. These “bad shepherds” failed to care for and feed the sheep, but rather allowed them to be scattered and to fall prey to wild animals. This then refers to the leaders who fail to perform their God-given responsibilities and as a result render their charge vulnerable to attack. On the contrary, Jesus is the one good, true shepherd who lays down his life for the sheep and knows his own sheep in the same manner that his sheep know him. What makes the Good Shepherd "good" is his readiness to lay down his life for his sheep. This death makes him the shepherd that is good or noble: he is the admirable shepherd because there is something admirable, heroic, and attractive in his death. This role of permanent shepherding is actually patterned after God’s “good shepherd” par excellence, David. Therefore, Jesus is said to be the model or noble shepherd because he is willing to die to protect his sheep.

What then does the Good Shepherd do? The Good Shepherd fosters communion with his flock, expresses compassion to the sheep, and has commitment to the fold entrusted to him.