1CHAPLAINS CORNER

EDITORIAL2

SCHEDULE OF SERVICESEucharistic CelebrationMONDAY to FRIDAY

7:15 AM 12:15 PM 5:45 PM 7:00 PMSATURDAY

12:15 PM (Filipino Mass)4:30 PM 6:00 PM (Sunday Anticipated

Masses)SUNDAY

7:15 AM 9:00 AM 10:30 AM 12noon3:00 PM 4:30 PM 6:00 PM 7:30 PM

Sacrament of ReconciliationMONDAY to FRIDAY7:00 AM to 8:00 PM

SATURDAY SUNDAY 9:00 AM - 8:00 PM / 7:00 AM - 9:00 PM

Holy HourEvery first Friday of the month

after the 7:00PM MassHealing Session

Every first Sunday of the month after the 12:00 noon Mass

CounselingMonday to Saturday by Appointment

VISION

To be a home of spiritual communion and celebration with God, self, family and the society.

MISSION

To evangelize the people of Makati

and other communities and their families

through meaningful and sustained

celebration of the Sacraments, preaching and proclamation of the Word, committed and

creative ministries, solid formation of the Catholic

faith, prayer and healing experiences,

and the pursuit of social justice and

outreach services.

Sto. Nio de Paz Greenbelt ChapelRoman Catholic Archdiocese of Manila

Greenbelt Park, Ayala Center, 1228 Makati City, Philippines(632) 729-8173 | (632) 729-8174

www.greenbeltchapel.org | administration@greenbeltchapel.org

FOR THEBUSYSOUL

Send your comments, suggestions and feedback to greenleaf@greenbeltchapel.org or story, photograph and artwork contributions

to greenbeltchapel.greenleaf@gmail.com. Unsolicited materials will not be returned unless a sufficiently stamped self-addressed

envelope is provided.

Sto. Nio de Paz Greenbelt ChapelRoman Catholic Archdiocese of Manila

Moderator Rev. Fr. Jun C. Sescon

Editor in Chief Dennis Mark R. dela Cruz

Associate Editors Heddie MicorNet OriondoLorie Sambile

Writers Mario Ampil

Weng Beramende Jorge San Juan

Marjory Sy

Creatives

Richard C. Eusebio

Greenbelt Chapel is a spiritual home where charity abounds and generosity extends beyond its confines. Through its Love-A-Parish Program (LAPP), the Chapel provides financial support to

436 poor parishes all over the country and other charitable institutions serving the poor like the Missionaries of Charity of Mother Teresa, the Poor Clares and Caritas Manila.You may make an offering through our LAPP drop boxes located at the Chapels entrances or bring your donations at the Chapel office. Likewise, your LAPP offering may be deposited at the Love-A-Parish Programs bank account with the Bank of Philippine Islands, account number 0385-318383. We wish to express our heartfelt gratitude for your continued support. May our Good Lord bless your generous hearts.

Love-A-Parish Program

Inside this Issue

4 The Cardinals Message

5 Our Chaplains Corner

7 Editorial

8 Re-Aligned and Doubly Grateful

9 Transformation and Thanksgiving

12 A Transformation?

13 Out of the Box

14 Listening to God

16 Work in Progress

17 Transformed and Forever GratefulOur Cover

The cover of the Souvenir Issue of the Green Leaf dedicated to the Sto.Nio puts together the various physical changes that the Greenbelt Chapel had undergone during the past couple of years. These improvements had in mind the safety and convenience of the ever growing number of mass goers who had made the Chapel their venue of spiritual transformation. Greenbelt Chapel continues to be a beacon of light to those who seek a welcoming respite and refuge in a busy world. With grateful hearts, we thank the Lord for this grace (Cover designed by Richard C. Eusebio)

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MESSAGE

Greetings in the Lord to the Sto.Nino de Paz-Greenbelt Chapel Community! I congratulate you on your fiesta and expansion/improvement of the chapel premises. Truly, the love of God is at work in you.

God never leaves His people alone. There is the spirit of communion among all of us that ties Christians. We share in the same baptism, we profess the same faith, and we share in different capacities, in different states of life, in the common calling to follow Jesus and to be missionaries in our time, in our world. We are expected to embrace a life of service to God and the Christian community. All of us must work together. And this life of service is directed to those whom God loves: the lowly, the broken- hearted, the captives, the prisoners, those who mourn. These are the people who need God, who cry out to God. These are the people who are in the heart of God in a special way. You and I are sent by God to them. With the spirit of the Lord in us let us bring this comforting and consoling love. Let every faithful who comes to Greenbelt Chapel experience this divine comfort and consolation.

The work of reconciliation is Gods work accomplished in Jesus Christ. We are not the reconcilers. We are servants of reconciliation. God is the one calling people to be reconciled. He uses our voice, our hands, our feet, our celebrations, our activities and even our tears for people not to be afraid to come to God. How many people are afraid to return to God? How many are ashamed to return to God? How many have been discouraged to return to God? There are many. Let us not add to them. Jesus did not die on the cross to alienate people, to drive them away from the reconciling love of God. No! Jesus invites everyone.

Let this spirit of service and reconciliation animate your community at Greenbelt Chapel. At the heart of the business district, bring the people closer to the mercy and peace of God. Let the welcoming spirit of the chapel be your inspiration. And let the poor also experience the goodness of God through you.

God bless you always!

+ LUIS ANTONIO CARDINAL G. TAGLE, D.DArchbishop of Manila

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Thankful and Transformed! Sto. Nino de Paz-Greenbelt Chapel Community has grown for the past 31 years. It has become a spiritual oasis for so many-- the working people of Makati during weekdays and families from all over the metropolis during weekends. And as the children of the family increase, the house must also expand. Given the limitations we have, we have to think of creative ways to expand and accommodate more people. Pope Francis wants everyone to feel welcome at church. Everyone must belong and be part of the celebration and encounter with the Lord. This is a tall order for us. Sometimes on Sundays, there are more people outside than inside the chapel! We thank Ayala Land, Inc. for covering the pathway around the chapel. Now the chapel is more accessible even during the rainy season. We have also expanded the bridges. This means more people can be accommodated inside the chapel. Getting in and out of the chapel also becomes safer and easier. Without compromising the iconic dome of the chapel, we have adjusted the structure to prevent the entry of rains and wind gusts. Before, even if you are inside the chapel, you can get wet when the winds are strong. The floor also becomes wet, slippery and dangerous. Hopefully, these issues will become things of the past. The sanctuary was also modified to accommodate more. The lectern was remodeled and a new and bigger tabernacle was placed out of the altar in conformity with liturgical norms. The majestic crucifix was set higher for everyone to behold. We will also have new chairs for the presider and concelebrants soon. In the next months, the sacristy will be refurbished and we will construct a storeroom and chaplains office. You have seen how some chapel fixtures and items were just placed at the bridges or under the pews because we have no more space for storage. From the sacristy, there is now an access outside towards the gardens in case of emergency. A belfry will also be constructed to really symbolize Gods presence in this busy complex. A new and modern bell (computer-operated) will be installed by Royal Bells Philippines, the local partner of Royal Eijsbouts of The Netherlands. We were thinking of a carillon or chimes but this might be an issue for the surrounding residents who might complain of hourly ringing of the bells. To encourage and enhance the active participation of the liturgical assembly, we will replace the LCD projectors with LED screens so that even during daytime, the prayers and songs may be read with ease. Hopefully, we can set up something similar outside so that more people can follow the celebration inside the chapel. I would like to thank the many people who helped us (and will continue to help us) realize this dream. Most of them are anonymous friends. They do not want their names brandished here on earth. It is enough that the Lord knows their overflowing kindness. May your tribe increase! Greenbelt chapel is growing! But more importantly, our faith community is growing! Thanks be to God... Everything is grace! With the transformation of Greenbelt Chapel, we pray for a further of transformation of the community. There are better terms for that - CONVERSION, RENEWAL. And that is my prayer: As we see the changes taking place in the house of God, in our place of worship, may we also be inspired and challenged to change as well:

- like the expansion, may we also become more welcoming and merciful so that those who come to the chapel may truly say they belong;- like the bridges, through our prayers and witnessing, people may have better access to the Lord;- like the sanctuary, our celebrations, service and lives may truly focus on Jesus Christ;- like the bell, our presence and charity may sound far and wide the immense love of God;- like the LED screens, our lives may show forth more clearly the presence of the Lord...

All the renovations and improvements in the chapel will make more sense if there is also a renovation and improvement of hearts.

Transformation in the chapel and in our community - that is our constant prayer.Transformation and Thanksgiving - that is our offering to the Lord this 2015!

CHAPLAINS CORNER

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Change and Receive Then Jesus called a little child, set the child in the midst of the disciples and said, I assure you unless you change and become like little children, you cannot enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Whoever becomes lowly like this child is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven and whoever receives such a child in my name receives me. (Matthew 18:2-5) As children of God, our ultimate goal would be to go back to Him by entering His Heavenly home. That is part of our inheritance that was promised to us in our baptism. Unlike earthly treasures bequethed to us by our forefathers, our salvation comes at a price. For one, Jesus was born in our midst not as a mighty ruler but as a lowly child to give us lessons on child like faith and humility. He lived among us to spiritually prepare us for our heavenly inheritance. He died to save us, a Lamb sacrificed for our sins. He resurrected from the dead to give us a foretaste of what would be in store for us. However, we also ought to do our part. Jesus, in the passage from the Scriptures above, provided us directions on how to enter the Kingdom prepared for us. Allow me to direct your attention to two words which forms the core of this message: Change and Receive. To enter the Kingdom, we are called to spiritually transform, mend our ways, renew our lives and change to make ourselves worthy of being called children of God. This we can do through childlike faith and humility. As a child who clings to a father with hope and faith, believing that His warm embrace protects us and provides for us, accepting that He strengthens us in our weaknesses and would never foresake us, our transformation brings us to a new level of relationship with our Heavenly Father. Change also presupposes that we have to receive, to accept the child that shows us what needs to be transformed in our lives. Receiving is a call to action, a progressive way of going back to the Father. Thus, we accept our shortcomings and receive the Lords mercy. We open ourselves and receive Gods graces. As these thngs happen in our lives, we become grateful recepients and joyfully praise and thank God by recognizing all of these wonders in our existence. It is with these graces that our responsibility to serve God with all our being and love our fellowmen with all our heart comes to fore. The past year have seen a number of physical transformations at Greenbelt Chapel. We now have wider bridges to accommodate more mass goers. Our tabernacle and the Crucified Christ is now visible even from outside. Renovations are still ongoing aimed at providing better services for our community. With this comes a renewed commitment to be a spiritual home filled with life transforming moments, a beacon of light in the dark sea of life, a haven for weary souls seeking for the Fathers Love and Mercy.

THE EDITOR IN CHIEF

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

We wish to take this opportunity to thank those who made this Souvenir Issue come into fruition: the writers who contributed articles, the layout artists who unselfishly gave their talents to complete this issue, the greeters and supporters, some of them unnamed and refused to recognized, the various ministries for their unwavering support and to the entire Greenbelt Chapel community for their prayers. We may not be able to thank you personally but God knows your beautiful intentions. May He always bless your generous hearts THE GREEN LEAF

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Love is patient; love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, does not act unbecomingly.(1 Cor. 13:4) It was September 2011, thirteen months after I first gazed upon Gods biggest surprise for me. This is the ultimate fulfillment of my existence I was a Mother!!! Not all mature women are mothers (and not all mothers are mature! now thats a different story!). Indeed I was blessed as I was in the midst of couples struggling to attain this feat that ironically was unexpected for me. It is undeniable that there is truth in the joy and fulfillment felt upon laying eyes to your new born for the first time. No other emotion is comparable. And yet, thirteen months later, I felt indifferent and cold. I did not feel that I was a mother at all. For how can one feel such gratification when you are not with your son? I was working in Makati thousands of miles from where my son was. My job required me to be a specialist of something unique and evolving. To some of my contemporaries, it was of great interest and highly sought after. Not to mention the potential financial

bliss attainable on a monthly basis. And yet one evening I found myself pondering where I was in my life, asking questions -- Am I where Im supposed to be? Am I living the life that I planned to have after I graduated, seven years ago? Am I happy? Am I content? Am I living fully or just existing? Sadly, the answers that offered hope and satisfaction eluded me. I can only muster a weak yes hardly convincing to anyone not even myself. In short, I was lost and not an inch near to what the ideal setting of this particular chapter in my existence. And in those moments, I felt my slow and short heartbeats; I could hear my raspy and uneasy breathing and my skin acquainted with the cold breeze of the night... I was standing on a balcony overseeing a vast and busy world, mindful only of its own existence. No one else could hear my heartbeat, nor hear my breath nor succumb to the chill of the night breeze. The reality of being alone emerged simultaneous to the tears I could not bear to contain. There was a void in me no human tool can measure. Several nights were wasted and mornings started with heavy

sighs, a long face and swollen eyes. I dragged my feet across the pavements intersecting Dela Rosa Street, continuing my aimless wandering until I found comfort and friendship among the fishes in a pond encompassed by a dome shaped structure. These aquatic creatures, varying from bright orange hues to sparkling black, were convinced they had no were else to go. The sunbathing turtles and the quacking of three feathery creatures, made a welcome familiar to home. I found a spot with in one of those white seats arranged in a shape of a coin. And across me was an image of a lady in white made of wood. It was an hour after midday and several people made queues surrounding the altar. My curiosity was ignited when a man, gentle but firm, appeared in between the queues anointing the people with oil and speaking tongues. A theory came to mind of some positive energy expelled through the man enabling him to remove the illness and the despair amongst the believers. My thoughts were, why stop and stare, when it was free to be involved? And so, it was my turn to receive the anointment. Closing my eyes, and listening to the heartened voice, my face became wet with tears and I was struggling with my breath. The instruction was surrender everything to Him. He

RE-ALIGNED and DOUBLY GRATEFUL!!!

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We Filipinos like children and we dote on them. We even like to dress them up like dolls or even like celebrities. Our fondness with children may be the reason we find the Sto. Nio so endering. The image of the Child Jesus is so cute. And yes!many images are dressed up like dolls. There is nothing wrong with dressing up the Sto. Nio and praying for almost everything we need. It may be that we are recreate God in our own image. After all, a child is someone adults can easily control. We

tell a child to do a number of things and the child will do our bidding. Thus, we are try to physically transform the Sto. Nio to our own likeness. It should instead be the other way around: Our devotion to the Sto.Nio should transform us to be the faithful and obedient disciples our Lord wants us to be. Our recent celebration of the Feast of the Sto. Nio should give us a moment for reflection. Yes, there was a time in the life of Jesus when He was a chuld. All throughout His childhood, Jesus placed His trust on His Father through constant prayer. A complete trust in the Father helped to mold Jesus to be the obedient Son. His ultimate act of obedience was His Passion and death on the cross. Jesus was always praising and thanking His Father. He brought His childlike trustfulness and thankful spirit into adulthood. He always began His day with a prayer of praise and thanksgiving. Like Jesus, we can only be transformed into the obedient disciple by a trusting and thankful attitude. Santo Nio, grant us the grace to have the same spirit of trust and thankfulness as You did with the Father. Open our hearts and let Your Spirit transform us. To God be the Glory! (Mario Ampil)

loves you and He will always love you no matter what. Let him heal you, let Him love you. I was desperate. And in desperation I begged for some miracle. A miniscule of comfort is more than enough Lord!! Please I beg of You!! Suddenly, out of nowhere, an immense energy flowed through my chest pushing me off my balance. My back touched 2 sets of hands, slowly putting me down on the floor. My tears poured out unceasingly. This time my tears were not of despair or anger. This time, my tears were rich with hope and thanksgiving. That immense force was not formed out of my imagination. Rather, I was convinced that it was the single-handed outpouring of Gods mercy and love, which He never ceases to give me daily, but which I failed to acknowledge. I remember a quote, The eyes can only see clearly when it is washed by tears filled with hungry faith and desperate hope. At that moment, I realized there was a much bigger, different and more colorful world than the world I knew. And God was at the top of the game. And that He had everything under watch. He was never asleep nor was He afraid to fulfill his plans. And He has a more detailed approach in our lives, tailoring every moment to fit and prosper the succeeding events, leading to our fulfillment of His ultimate plans.

I am now a servant of Greenbelt Chapel. I am also a working parent struggling with bills, work relationships, missed opportunities, and broken promises. My imperfections define me, but my God, my Healer and my Father has embraced me and has never left my side. He runs the course of my reasoning. When I stray, He pulls me back by reminding me of the love He embellished around me through my son, my Family, my fellow Servants and my real friends. Now I am aligned and doubly grateful for the transformed heart, that now beats for hope and deep faith in His unceasing love and mighty grace. (Weng Beramende)

Transformation and Thanksgiving

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