olv, bibicahan east and diversion road recollections

(in progress)

advent recollections

The advent recollections began today for the first group of barangay chapels - Buhatan, OLV, Diversion Road and Bibincahan East. In Buhatan, Bro Senen Malaya nd Bro Noel talked on the season of Advent, Msgr Gerry heard confessions, Lucy Vitug took pictures and everyone partook of spaghetti, broiled fish, menudo and palus-ag
Fr Jess, who celebrates his birthday today and had some of the priests of the vicariate at Fatima for lunch earlier today, was excused from recollection duty.

reflections, first sunday of advent

We begin a new Church calendar with the First Sunday of Advent. As one looks into the readings today, he/she can easily make a very valid observation. This Sunday's readings do not seem to differ from those of the last days of the ecclesiastical year - all about the things going to happen an the end of time. It is easy to understand why when we look into the nature and purpose of the Advent Season.

Advent is a time of preparation for the celebration of the birth of the Messiah. He is the fulfillment of the promises God made in the Old Testament. As we wait for His birth, we anticipate joy but at the same time we can be filled with impatience. We want things to happen now. Children cannot seem to wait for the gifts they wish to receive. And the adults seem to be caught, not in the spiritual preparation for His coming birthday and whatever is involved in it, but in the frenzy of Christmas glitter - Christmas trees, lights, decorations, and all.

What we must understand of Advent is the fact that we do not only prepare for the Savior's coming birth but what His birth means to us, a people who otherwise could have been "walking in darkness". the reason of His birth is man's redemption. His work of redemption entails the great Mystery of Faith which we profess every time we come together to celebrate the Word and the Eucharist: Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again!

As we prepare to celebrate His birth, we must, by all means, prepare for His Second Coming.Thus, the readings this Sunday center on the coming of Jesus Christ at the end of time, and the urgency for us to be constantly watchful and vigilant. We do not know when that Second Coming is going to take place. Definitely none of us wants to be caught in a trap.

Preparedness for His Second Coming is the other face of Advent. That Coming at the end of time is what the Messiah's birth is pointing to, inevitably.


Fr Jess A. Enciso

vocation camp: youth in love!

the youth vigil/vocation camp in pictures

our lady of the miraculous medal procession

bible lecture series begins

Msgr Noe de los Santos, Bikolano Bible scholar, began his series of lectures on Sacred Scriptures on Thursday, Nov 26. St Matthew's Hall overflowed with attendees - the regulars at our 4th Friday parish lecture series, the whole college department of the Our Lady of Penafrancia Seminary (ALL 34 of them, plus Fr Jun Elegado, rector), a sprinkling of parishioners from the Cathedral, Bacon and San Roque. Msgr Nong focused on the Infancy Narratives, in anticipation of the liturgical readings for the Advent Season. The open forum that followed proved quite interesting and very informative. OLFP looks forward to the next.

3rd vigil,jmv week at fatima, bro. noel leads reflections

bro jupe garalde from donsol leads the reflection at the second vigil on the visit the JMV image

jmv week at fatima, first vigil

The first vigil on the occasion of the visit of the image of St John Mary Baptist Vianney was held on Monday, November 23. The reflection was given by Bro Philippe Andrew Gallanosa.

first communion

First Communion Mass of 106 boys and girls from the Balogo Elementary School, at the Our Lady of Fatima Church, 2 PM,November 23, 2009.

christ, the king procession

The heavy rain that has poured the whole morning stopped at 3:30 in the afternoon to allow the procession in honor of Christ the King to proceed. The procession stopped at five altars where prayers were led - for Christian formation, by Gov Sally Lee, for religious instruction by Sr Demi,mcst, for good governance by Judge Boy Fajardo, for the family by Mr and Mrs Nono and Ofie Velasco and children, for the environment by Mrs Lucy Vitug. Before the Mass, the Act of Consecration was led by Hon mayor Leovic Dioneda.