parishworks! 1Vol. 6 No. 48 March 5, 2011

Pastor’s MessageWordsby: Rev. Msgr. Dennis Odiver

Sunday GoSpel

Mt 7:21-27

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“By the authority of our Lord Jesus Christ I appeal to all of you, my friends, to agree in what you say, so that there will be no divisions among you. Be completely united, with only one thought and one purpose.” - 1 Cor. 1:10

Words are truly powerful. It can unite. It can divide. Words inform and inspire. Words instruct and influence. But more than stimulating minds or arousing emotions, words change a person. For this reason, St. Paul exhorts us to focus and listen on the word of God rather than the words of men. For the wisdom of God unites and binds us in His love. Human wisdom sows pride and division among us.

The word of God is therefore not mere utterances heard by ones ears. The word of God is discernible through the heart.

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The 25th PREX seminar held last Feb 25-27, 2011 was attended by twelve participants from the different sub-parishes of St. Andrew the Apostle Parish. It is the first

Holy Hour with the pastor – an experience of Inner Joy and peaceBy Glo V. Pineda, Education Ministry Chair

On the third night of March at 7:15, the Parish Community gathered for a Holy Hour with our Parish Priest, Monsignor Dennis Odiver.

A film showing entitled “The Broken Cross” commenced the holy exercise. The animation stressed on the following points:

12 makes pReX class 25By Jane Misa

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pastor’s Messasge from page 1...

Holy Hour with the pastor from page 1...

I remember a comment from a former parishioner: “I never attend mass in our church. It has never improved. Until now, mass and homily is in filipino.” Conversely, others may argue that the use of english is beyond the comprehension of the common mass attendee. No one cares to listen. No one understands.

It is unfortunate how trivial and petty our concerns are. We differ in language, social status, educational background - a few of the many categories that breed mistrust, misunderstanding and misgivings against one another. Through words, we insist on our own convictions, principles and preferences. Ultimately, we suffer its consequences. We fail to grow. We fail to bear fruit. We fail to be one.

This absurdity renders us to be in conflict with one another. It causes us hurts. It pains us. Yet we refuse to be healed and to be reconciled.

Now then, is the time to truly listen to Him and to allow His word to transform us.

St. Katharine drexelFeast day: March 3

Katharine was born 1858 in Philadelphia to an international banker, who would spend 30 minutes a day in prayer. Her mother would open her home to the poor, three times a week.

She had an excellent education and traveled widely. As a rich girl, she had a grand debut into society. But when she nursed her stepmother through a three-year terminal illness, she saw that all the Drexel money could not buy safety from pain or death, and her life took a profound turn.

She had always been interested in the plight of the Indians, having been appalled by reading Helen Hunt Jackson’s A Century of Dishonor. While on a European tour, she met Pope Leo XIII and asked him to send more

• Virtues that all should possess as the children of God” communing with him upon waking up and as often as one could during the day – thanking Him for all His goodness; sharing God’s blessings to others

• The wooden cross symbolizes God’s love for us

• To celebrate the gift of faith and the gift of love

• To restore the relationship with one another and be reconciled with God

Reverend Father Allan Dichoso read and reflected on the First Reading (1 Corinthians 1: 10-17). He pointed out that when we are divided, we become powerless. We should be one. Love is the only one that can unite us. The message of the cross he said is that Jesus died for all of us because of love.

Reverend Father Jeffrey Jamias read and reflected on the Second Reading (Acts 1:43-47). He stressed on unity, too, and further pointed out that the Holy Spirit is the Holy One that keeps us going.

Reverend Monsignor Dennis Odiver proclaimed the Holy Gospel (John 15: 7-17) and gave his reflections. He connected the First and Second Reading to the Holy Gospel. He pointed out that the First Reading is on the power of words; that the words of men can cause

division. The Second Reading pointed on the power of the Eucharist; that it is through the Eucharist that people can reach out to one another. The Eucharist heals, transforms, and directs us. It is through the power of the Eucharist – the power of love that can transform us and allow us to go beyond our wishes. The Gospel, he said, is on our call to love one another just as the First and Second Readings; that we are a people called by the Father… to healing and reconciliation which is the parish theme for this Lenten Season.

Spiritual Songs were sung by the community during the Holy Hour that touch hearts like “Heal Our Land”, “ Pagkakaibigan”, etc.

After the spiritual exercise, an agape meal of lugaw ensued.

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PREX group under Msgr Dennis Odiver, the new Parish Priest.

The seminar was significantly supported by Fr. Allan, Dichosoe who officiated the first mass. Fr Jeffrey Jamias, who inspired the participants with his two talks and Msgr Dennis, who shared his wisdom on the remaining nine talks.

Equally inspiring were the sharings given by Armand Favis, Christy Vasquez, Corie Gomez, Wina de Vera,

Garet Camacho, Matt Lizares, Angeli Ong, Helen Martinez, Aldrin Nepomoceno and Mary Brucal.

Assisting the participants in their journey towards self-transformation were the facilitators and the prayer warriors representing each of the 23 PREX groups. Congratulations to the sponsoring class, PREX 24, headed by Jaime Raneses.

The next PREX seminar is scheduled last week of June.

Another prex batch just graduated last week (Batch 25-11), and now I’m reminiscing my own experiences with PREX.

It’s been a year since my own Prex graduation, and those 12 months, I must say, has been the most blessed months of my life.

I was invited to attend the Prex seminar 4 years ago, and only 3 years after did I heed the “call”. I must admit my reasons then for joining were bleak, agreeing to participate in this weekend seminar just because my friends were there. Little did I know that this parish renewal experience will change my life in ways I can only imagine.

The events that followed my graduation ushered me into a world of service and dreams becoming reality. My childhood dream to become a Lector came to fruition,

as well as my fantasy to become a teacher by being one of the spiritual formators of the Parish Youth Ministry (PYM). The time we sponsored the next Prex batch tested my patience and faith. I was pushed to my limits, but I understood then that God was only playing with His Potter’s wheel as He was making me become a better person. The people I’ve worked with acted as the catalyst for me to become the beautiful vase that God intended me to be.

Indeed, joining the Prex family was a decision I will never regret, for in here I’ve discovered God’s wonderful plans for me, to become an instrument of His love to others.

To my SAAP Prex family, my heartfelt thanks for welcoming me in this community, for understanding all my shortcomings, and for always being there to accompany me in my journey of faith.

Celebrating my 1st year as a prexieBy Karen Ann M. Phoa (Batch 22-10)

12 Makes prex Class 25 from page 1...

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Parish Office Hours

Tuesday-Saturday 9:00 a.m.-Noon; 2:00-7:00 p.m.Sunday 7:00 a.m.-Noon; 2:00-7:00 p.m.

announcementsSt. Katherine of drexel from page 2...

Ria Salvaña Matthew LizaresParish Works StaffEllie Medina, Angelina Poe,Emilio Medina, Rochelle Pineda Announcements CoordinatorPia SanedrinBulletin Board EditorEJ CarlosPowerpoint CoordinatorGing Santos, JayR PaduaContributor: Glo Pineda, Jane Misa, Karen Ann Phoa, Christy Vasquez

Spiritual AdvisorRev. Msgr. Dennis Odiver

PublisherSt. Andrew the Apostle ParishN. Garcia St. cor. Kalayaan Ave.Bel-Air II, Makati CityPhones: (632) 890-1796 / 890-1743 media@saaparish.com

Parish Works is the official weekly newsletter of Saint Andrew the Apostle Parish. Media and Communications Ministry Co-coordinators

Sunday Mass Schedule effective March 2011

6:30am - Filipino 8:00am - English 9:30am - English 11:00am - English 12:15n.n - English

3:30pm - Filipino 5:00pm - English 6:30pm - English 8:00pm - English

On the eve of Ash Wednesday, after the 6:30pm mass on Tuesday March 8, a “Silab Sala” (or the rite of burning of palms) will be held at the church grounds.

On Ash Wednesday, March 9, which is the start of the Lenten season, masses and imposition of ashes will be at 6:30am, 11:00am, 12:15pm, and at 5:00pm, 6:30, and 8:00pm. Fasting is required from ages 18 to 60, and abstinence for those aged 16 to 60.

At 9:15pm after the 8pm Mass on Ash Wednesday, there will be a community Stations of the Cross to be held on the church grounds. Kindly bring a flashlight or candles. The Stations of the Cross will start at the San Miguel side.

Sub-parish Stations of the Cross will be held starting Friday, March 11 at 8:00pm and every Friday thereafter during the Lenten season. Flyers will be distributed by your respective sub-parish head regarding the route of the weekly Stations of the Cross.

missionaries to Wyoming for her friend Bishop James O’Connor. The pope replied, “Why don’t you become a missionary?” His answer shocked her into considering new possibilities.

Back home, she visited the Dakotas, met the Sioux leader Red Cloud and began her systematic aid to Indian missions.

She could easily have married. But after much discussion with Bishop O’Connor, she wrote in 1889, “The feast of St. Joseph brought me the grace to give the remainder of my life to the Indians and the Colored.” Newspaper headlines screamed “Gives Up Seven Million!”

After three and a half years of training, she and her first band of nuns (Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament for Indians and Colored) opened a boarding school in Santa Fe. A string of foundations followed. By 1942 she had a system of black Catholic schools in 13 states, plus 40 mission centers and 23 rural schools. Segregationists harassed her work, even burning a school in Pennsylvania. In all, she established 50 missions for Indians in 16 states.

Two saints met when she was advised by Mother Cabrini about the “politics” of getting her Order’s Rule approved in Rome. Her crowning achievement was the founding of Xavier University in New Orleans, the first Catholic university in the United States for African Americans.

At 77, she suffered a heart attack and was forced to retire. Apparently her life was over. But now came almost 20 years of quiet, intense prayer from a small room overlooking the sanctuary. Small notebooks and slips of paper record her various prayers, ceaseless aspirations and meditation. In 1955 she died at the age of 96 and was canonized in 2000 by John Paul II.