parishworks! 1Vol. 6 No. 38 December 18, 2010

Pastor’s MessageAll are Immanuelsby: Rev. Msgr. Emmanuel Suñga

SundAy GoSpel

Mt 1:18-24

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Dear Parishioners:

Christmas is near. It is a period for so many Christ to come out (not Santa Claus) to manifest concretely God’s love for many needy persons. The world needs so many Immanuels today

When Helen Keller was two years old a serious illness destroyed both her sight and her hearing. Imagine not being able to see or hear. When she was seven, a teacher named Anne Sullivan tackled

website: http://www.saaparish.com and http://www.facebook.com/saaparish

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Msgr. Sunga Celebrates 67th Bday

Our beloved Pastor Msgr. Emmanuel V. Sunga celebrated his 67th birthday at Hagonoy, Bulacan with his family, friends and parishioners from different parishes.

This year, members of the youth ministry and altar servers of St. Andrew with the participation of Fr. Jeffrey

The Logo of the Double Celebration

The Cross stands for Jesus Christ our Lord, Brother of the young, the center of youth ministry. Its central position signifies the fundamental role of Jesus in the Double Celebration. Its standing firm resonates with the Scripture theme of the Double Celebration: “Stand firm in the faith… Do all your work in love.” The yellow color depicts that Jesus is the light of the world, especially of the youth, and that he is the model for youth ministry. Its inclined stance towards the three human figures gives emphasis to the Incarnation, the prime basis and motive for youth ministry.

The three (3) human figures reaching out to and holding the Cross symbolize the youth who yearn for meaning and fullness in the Lord. They also represent the Catholic youth ministry in the Philippines with its three goals of establishing and strengthening the youths’ relationship with Christ, providing opportunities for personal growth, and encouraging community involvement.

Their colors yellow, orange and red signify the following about the Filipino youth: their energy and passion, their diversity, as well as their vital importance in the life of the Church and society. Their one direction represents the journey of youth ministry towards one vision, despite its various forms and settings.

The number twenty-five (25) depicts the number of years since the CBCP-Episcopal Commission on Youth was created. The creation of the commission and of other youth ministries in the dioceses and in other levels is a grace from God and a gift of the Catholic Church in the Philippines to the young. The inclination of the number to the Cross show that these years were lived in constant striving to be faithful to the Lord and His preferential love for the youth.

The blue circle at the background symbolizes the fullness of life which the Church, through her youth ministry, would like to offer to the youth. The color blue also stands for Mary, our mother and model for young people on loving surrender to God’ s will, she who is present in every young person’s journey with Christ. It also represents the spirit of ecclesial communion, with everyone in the Church taking part, in which the Double Celebration and youth ministry are undertaken.

First Simbang Gabi opens the year of the youth

meaning of the logo explained @ page 4

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Blessed Francis Mary SchervierFeast day: 15 december

This woman who once wanted to become a Trappistine nun was instead led by God to establish a community of sisters who care for the sick and aged in the United States and throughout the world

Mary Frances Schervier was born 1819, into a wealthy family in Aachen, Germany. Her father, Johann Heinrich Schervier was a wealthy needle factory owner and the vice-mayor of Aachen. Her mother, Maria Louise Migeon, was the god-daughter of Emperor Francis I of Austria. After her mother’s and two sisters death from tuberculosis, Mary Frances established a reputation for generosity to the poor. In 1844 she became a Secular Franciscan.

The next year she and four companions established a religious community devoted to caring for the poor. In 1851 the Sisters of the Poor of St. Francis (a variant of the original name) were approved by the local bishop; the community soon spread. The irst U.S. foundation was made in 1858.

Mother Frances visited the United States in 1863 and helped her sisters nurse soldiers wounded in the Civil War. She visited the United States again in 1868. When Philip Hoever was establishing the Brothers of the Poor of St. Francis, she encouraged him.

In 1868, Mother Frances wrote to all her sisters, reminding them of Jesus’ words: “You are my friends if you do what I command you.... I am giving you these commands so that you may love one another” (John 15:14,17)

She continued: “If we do this faithfully and zealously, we will experience the truth of the words of our father St. Francis who says that love lightens all difficulties and sweetens all bitterness. We will likewise partake of the blessing which St. Francis promised to all his children, both present and future, after having admonished them to love one another even as he had loved them and continues to love them.”

When Mother Frances died in1876, there were 2,500 members of her community worldwide. The number has kept growing. They are still engaged in operating hospitals and homes for the aged. Mother Mary Frances was beatified in 1974.

Monsi’s Bday... from page 1

Jamias (a.k.a. Bossing) did an Eat Bulaga game show “ Monsi’s so-called favorite noon time show” wherein they impersonated famous local and foreign artists as special guests and Va Va Voom girls of the game show.

It was truly a day filled with love and laughter!

prex Christmas party 2010

One exciting evening with all the past PREX graduates of SAAP. Fun, Fun Fun.

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pastor’s Messasge from page 1...

the apparently impossible job of making contact with Helen’s mind through the sense of touch. Anne Sullivan worked out a sort of alphabet by which she spelled words on Helen’s hand. Gradually the child was able to connect words with objects. Once started Helen, made rapid progress. Within three years she could read and write in Braille. At the age of ten she determined to perfect her speech. At sixteen she entered Radcliffe College from which she graduated with honors in 1904. she became one of the most highly educated women of her time. Anne Sullivan was constantly at her side until the dedicated teacher passed away in 1936.

Today’s Good News tells us that Jesus cured a man of his blindness. Jesus did everything he could for that blind man. Since He was God, Christ gave him his sight. Anne Sullivan did everything she could for Helen Keller. She was sent by God precisely for this mission. She made God’s presence so vivid in Helen’s life. She was indeed an Immanuel for her.

Like Anne Sullivan we are all sent to this world to be another Christ i.e. another Messiah in fulfilling our task and mission in bringing the Father’s kingdom here on earth to so many Helen Kellers.

In the gospel narrative the birth announcement of Jesus follows the pattern of those cases of some Old Testament personalities like Isaac, Samuel, Samson, John the Baptizer. Their birth announcements

a. are made by an angel (or other messenger of God)

b. give the name the persons will have

c. give the special role the person will play in the economy of salvation.

In the case of the birth announcement of Jesus in Matthew’s gospel, it gives also the significance of His birth by

a. applying to him a series of titles like Immanuel, Son of David, Son of God, Christ, Nazarene.

b. defining his origin and goal

c. noting the presence and guidance of the Holy spirit

d. connecting with the prophetic anticipation of the Old Testament

But Jesus mentioned something that also makes our own birth and coming to this world so providential and special i.e. planned by God in spite of our sinfulness and frailties. “Amen, I say to you, among those born of woman there has been none greater than John the Baptist, “YET THE LEAST IN THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN IS GREATER THAN HE” (Matthew 11:11)

The word LEAST in biblical language can mean, the poor, the sinners and the children. Why are they or we greater than John? It is because of our inabilities due to our sinfulness to cope of what is required from us so much so that we depend totally and completely to God. This will be true if we will only open ourselves and completely accept God in ourselves, thereby making us all an Immanuel. This loving and gracious GOD IS WITH US.

Can we truly say now that this true to each one of us specially this Christmas?

Monsi’s Bday... from page 2

Fr. Jeffrey Jamias together with the MOAS, prepared a special number

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FAST DELIVERY

Ria Salvaña Matthew LizaresParish Works StaffEllie Medina, Angelina Poe,Emilio Medina, John David OngAnnouncements CoordinatorsPia Sanedrin, Rochelle Pineda Bulletin Board EditorEJ CarlosPowerpoint CoordinatorGing Santos, JayR PaduaContributor: Angelina Poe

Spiritual AdvisorRev. Msgr. Emmanuel Suñga

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

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the logo of the double Celebration

The Cross stands for Jesus Christ our Lord, Brother of the young, the center of youth ministry. Its central position signifies the fundamental role of Jesus in the Double Celebration. Its standing firm resonates with the Scripture theme of the Double Celebration: “Stand firm in the faith… Do all your work in love.” The yellow color depicts that Jesus is the light of the world, especially of the youth, and that he is the model for youth ministry. Its inclined stance towards the three human figures gives emphasis to the Incarnation, the prime basis and motive for youth ministry.

The three (3) human figures reaching out to and holding the Cross symbolize the youth who yearn for meaning and fullness in the Lord. They also represent the Catholic youth ministry in the Philippines with its three goals of establishing and strengthening the youths’ relationship with Christ, providing opportunities for personal growth, and encouraging community involvement.

Their colors yellow, orange and red signify the following about the Filipino youth: their energy and passion, their diversity, as well as their vital importance in the life of the Church and society. Their one direction represents the journey of youth ministry

towards one vision, despite its various forms and settings.

The number twenty-five (25) depicts the number of years since the CBCP-Episcopal Commission on Youth was created. The creation of the commission and of other youth ministries in the dioceses and in other levels is a grace from God and a gift of the Catholic Church

in the Philippines to the young. The inclination of the number to the Cross show that these years were lived in constant striving to be faithful to the Lord and His preferential love for the youth.

The blue circle at the background symbolizes the fullness of life which the Church,through her youth ministry, would like to offer to the youth. The color blue also stands for Mary, our mother and model for young people on loving surrender to God’ s will, she who is present in every young person’s journey with Christ. It also represents the spirit of ecclesial communion, with everyone in the Church taking part, in which the Double Celebration and youth ministry are undertaken.

Catholic dictionary1. Amen: the only part of a prayer dat everyone

knows

2. Hymn: a song of praise usually sung in a key 3 octaves higher than dat of the congregation

3. Incense: Holy Smoke!

4. Jonah: The Original Jaws Story

5. Justice: When kids have their own

6. Magi: D most famous trio to attend a baby shower

7. Manager: When Mary gave birth to Jesus because an HMO did not cover Joseph

8. Pew: Medieval torture device still found in Catholic churches

year of the youth from page 1...