parishworks! 1Vol. 10 No. 25 October 25, 2014

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Sunday GospelOctober 26, 2014

30th Sunday in Ordinary TimeMatthew 22:34-40

When the Pharisees heard that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together, and one of them, a scholar of the law tested him by asking, “Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?”

He said to him, “You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and the first commandment.

The second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. The whole law and the prophets depend on these two commandments.”

Reflection:

Questions are meant to clarify and enhance one’s understanding of the truth. But in the hands of enemies, it becomes a deadly weapon that can unmake the target of such malicious question. The religious authorities took turns in trapping Jesus with questions that may appear innocent but are deadly traps. It is a difficult time

Is the Filipino a Juan Tamad?By Susan Amoroso

Jose Rizal, our national hero wrote of the indolence (katamaran) of the Filipinos. Manuel Conde, a forerunner of Philippine film satire wrote and essayed the character of Juan Tamad ( Lazy Juan) Juan Tamad is a popular comic character caricatured in Philippine literature, films, plays, and comic books as a lazy, but gentle person who sits and waits for the guava to fall from the tree rather than for him to get up, climb the guava tree and get the fruit himself. Ironically, Juan Tamad as a descriptive caricauture of the common Filipino is becoming truer in life today than the comic book character. Idling or doing nothing, in street lingo the term is ``nganga’’ or ``nakatunganga’’, seem to be an accepted way of life in our present day culture. We see our young wasting precious time , talents and energy doing nothing, just making ``tambay’’ with their peers.

Mendicancy or “hingi” or “pamamalimos,” is also another negative trait gaining ground in our society. Mendicancy or begging is not only present among street children. Whole families , the mother and father with their kids in tow, and even lolas beg on the streets. Sad

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Who, Me a Servant ... from page 1

to say, begging is not a monopoly of the street families . The habit of laging nakaasa sa bigay ‘’ has also become an accepted norm or `kalakaran’ in some of us. Some of us would rather wait for the `manna’ from heaven’ to drop on our laps than work for an honest Some of us who are still able to work would not work because it has become easier to wait for the freebies. No sweat, just ask, the freebies will come.

Industry, hard work, honest living, dignity of labor seem to losing ground in the Filipino psyche.

The Church leaders have seen this problem and the Catholic Church in the Philippines would like to address this growing concern. Monsignor Dennis Odiver , parish priest of St. Andrew the Apostle Parish (SAAP) spoke on this issue before members of the social service ministry of Shepherding. ``Nasaan doon ang dangal kung laging nakaasa sa kagandahang loob ng kapwa,’’ Monsignor said.

A film clip of Bishop Broderick Pabillo explaining how the Church feels about the importance of labor, the dignity of labor, how labor and capital must be used to uplift the people. The Bishop spoke about the dignity and value of labor, just wages, the rights of the workers and that `` dahil sa kahirapan pumapayag magpaalipin. Tayo ay dapat matuwid, makatarungan. Tayo ay may dangal bilang tao at anak ng Diyos. Ang tao ay mas matimbang.’’ Bishop Pabillo said, ``the workers are more important and more valuable than capital.’’ The capitalists or the financiers are definitely not above the workers. There is dignity in honest work no matter how lowly. Productive human resource has a higher value in the eyes of the Church than capital.

The Monsignor expounded on how we should emulate the early Christians. The early Christians valued the dignity of labor and the importance of cooperation and sharing. Monsignor Dennis said that the principle of sharing must be practice in the Church. He cited the experience in Shepherding where cooperation, perseverance, and transparency must be present for capital and labor to word harmoniously. Greed has no place in an ideal labor and capital relationship.

He cited for instance the entrepreneurship program of Shepherding. The flock was taught four modules

to engage in. These were: candle making; siomai making, detergent making and and meat processing. The participants were given the training and financial support in terms of soft loans for the program to be viable and self liquidating. The soft loans have to be paid by the groups. Of the four,only one group succeeded, paid their loans and still in the program. Squabbling, kanya-kanya,and greed were the reasons why the three others failed.

``The Church wants to empower us especially the poor, the underprivileged. Jesus chose fishermen (fishermen are not rich) to be His apostles. Dapat handa tayong gamitin ang ating talino, galing, panahon para maglingkod sa kapwa at sa Diyos. It is not only the rich and haves who are important. The presence and involvement of the poor is important to the Church.’’

The Monsignor talked about wrong priorities. Nowadays it is the wife who works and the husband just stays idle doing nothing, drinking and eating but not contributing to the uplift of his own family. Sometimes the parents of the husband condones (kinukunsinti) this wrong practice.

He pointed out the value of honesty. He decried one member who found a cell phone and wanted to sell to

him the cell phone instead of returning it to the owner. In contrast, he cited one taxi driver who found a large amount of dollars in his taxi, returned them to the owner and refused the reward, saying ``it was just his duty.’’

The Monsignor laments that people sometimes have wrong perceptions about himself which are negative and lead him or her to self-deprecation (maliiit ang tingin sa sarili) .

``Wala tayong confidence. Bawa’t isa sa atin may kakayahan. Kahit di tayo valedictorian or summa cum laude or college graduate, or pango tayo, maitim , pandak. Lahat tayo may kakayahan lumago, umunlad.’’

Towards the end of his talk he cited a lowly couple who by ``sariling sikap at sipag, napagtapos niya ang 8 anak sa college dahil lang sa pagtitinda sa palengke.’’ Simulan natin dito sa Shepherding sa St. Andrew. Sa early Christians, wala sa kanila ang mahirap. Mag-ambag tayo sa pagiging mabunga.’’

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Faith MattersBy: Gene C.Alberto

Who are punished in purgatory?

Those are punished for a time in purgatory who die in the state of grace but are guilty of venial sin.

Purgatory is God’s hospital for souls, where those who do not love God enough to enter heaven are purified.

Only those who love God perfectly can enter heaven. But even many good people die with only a weak love of God. They had more interest in the people and in the things of this earth than they did for God.

Then they must go to purgatory where they will have to suffer more intensely than they would have on earth. Their love is purified in purgatory.

Who are punished in hell?Those who are punished in hell who die in mortal

sin; they are deprived of the vision of God and suffer dreadful torments, especially that of fire, for all eternity.

Hell is the loss of God. In committing mortal sin, sinners turn away from God to love themselves more than Him. In hell they see their hatred of God that sin had put into their souls.

There is no love in hell and those there hate and torment one another. The fire imprisons them and prevents them from ever satisfying any of their torturing desire. After the final resurrection, their bodies will also be tormented.

Who are rewarded in heaven?Those are rewarded in heaven who have died in the

state of grace and have been purified in purgatory, if necessary, from all venial sin and all debt of temporal punishment; they see God face to face and share forever in His glory and happiness.

Heaven is God’s home. It is a place or state of perfect happiness. Happiness comes from complete union with the one we love. In heaven the saints share fully God’s life and love.

They are in companionship with Christ as man, with our Blessed Mother and all the angels and saints.References: Mt 22:23-33, Lk 12:16-2, Jn 4:17-21, 1 Cor 3:10-15, Lk 16; Rv

21, 22, 2 Pt 3:1-13

Paeskwela Corner

Remembering the TitansBy Denise Racho, Lyceum of the Philippines

Last Saturday, October 18, the students of Paeskwela ni San Andres watched a movie entitled “Remember the Titans”. The movie is about a true story of a newly

appointed African-American coach and his high school team on their first season as a racially integrated unit. After which, we were asked to answer guide questions that will serve as our reflection paper.

Overcoming racism, overcoming adversity and camaraderie are some of the lessons we learned from the movie. This movie teaches

us to set aside our differences and build a successful community. These communities can be within our school, in the neighborhood and even in the Church. It also teaches us not to react negatively to someone just because we like or dislike different things, we belong to a different religion, color or culture. It opens our minds to unity in diversity - which everyone could exist harmoniously through acceptance and open-mindedness.

As students of the Paeskwela ni San Andres, we should develop a keen sense of respect for difference. As we set aside our indifferences, we are slowly building a foundation that would further develop our camaraderie towards our co-paeskwela students. As a result, we could create a more peaceful society, rather than dwelling negatively to the racial, religious and cultural differences we have amongst us in our community.

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Coordinator Matthew Lizares Parish Works Staff Managing Editor: Susan Amoroso Web Editor: Emilio Medina Photographers: Ann Lopez, Noemi Sta AnnaBulletin Board Editor Harley Dave Punzalan Powerpoint Coordinators Ging Santos, Ellie Medina, Vince Eduard Reyes, SAAP Facebook Admin Karen Ann Phoa

Contributors:Gene Alberto, Denise Racho

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.

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.

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Matthew LizaresParish Works StaffSusan Amoroso, Emilio Medina, Russel Matthew Patolot, Karen Ann Phoa, Irene Gonzales, Noemi Sta Anna, Angelina Poe, Magda GanaBulletin Board EditorHarley Dave PunzalanPowerpoint CoordinatorsEllie Medina, Ging Santos, Leomar Alvarez SAAP Facebook AdminRochelle Pineda

ContributorsWina de Vera

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 Coordinator

Sunday Mass Schedule 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

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Announcements

Answer key: 1) Winged; 2) Courageous; 3) Yields, Grain; 4) Mustard; 5) Parables

Puzzle CornerJune 17, 2012 - Readings: Ezekiel

17:22-24 / Psalm 92 / 2 Corinthians

5:6-10 / Mark 4:26-34By: Karen Ann Phoa

1. “Birds of every kind shall dwell beneath it, every _ _ _ _ _ _ D E W G I N thing in the shade of its boughs.”

2. “We are always _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ S A G E C O U O U R, although we know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, for we walk by faith, not by sight.”

3. “Of its own accord the land _ _ _ _ _ _ S L I D E Y fruit, first the blade, then the ear, then the full _ _ _ _ _ N A G R I in the ear.”

4. “It is like a _ _ _ _ _ _ _ D R U M A S T seed that, when it is sown in the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on the earth.”

5. “Without _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ B A R A P L E S he did not speak to them, but to his own disciples he explained everything in private.”

• June 22-24 PARISH RENEWAL EXPERIENCE (PREX)

• June 29 (Fri) KUMPISALANG BAYAN

many others back to religious observances.

Though Father Regis longed to work as a missionary among the North American Indians in Canada, he was to live out his days working for the Lord in the wildest and most desolate part of his native France. There he encountered rigorous winters, snowdrifts and other deprivations. Meanwhile, he continued preaching missions and earned a reputation as a saint. One man, entering the town of Saint-Andé, came upon a large crowd in front of a church and was told that people were waiting for “the saint” who was coming to preach a mission.

The last four years of his life were spent preaching and in organizing social services, especially for prisoners, the sick and the poor. In the autumn of 1640, Father Regis sensed that his days were coming to a conclusion. He settled some of his affairs and prepared for the end by continuing to do what he did so well: speaking to the people about the God who loved them. On December 31, he spent most of the day with his eyes on the crucifix. That evening, he died. His final words were: “Into thy hands I commend my spirit.”

He was canonized in 1737.

St. John Francis Regis ... from page 3

Puzzle Corner

1. “If you lend money to one of your poor neighbors among my people, you shall not act like an _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ R I O T T O N E X E R toward him by demanding interest from him.”

2. “And you became _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ S O R T T A I M I of us and of the Lord, receiving the word in great affliction, with joy from the Holy Spirit.”

3. “When the Pharisees heard that Jesus had _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ D I C E L E N S the Sadducees, they gathered together, and one of them, a scholar of the law tested him by asking.”

4. “He said to him, ‘You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your _ _ _ _ _ R E A T H, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’”

5. “You shall love your neighbor as yourself. The whole law and the prophets _ _ _ _ _ _ D E E P D N on these two commandments.”

October 26, 2014 - 30th Sunday in Ordinary Time; Readings: Exodus 22:20-26 / Psalm 18:2-3, 3-4, 47, 51 / 1 Thessalonians 1:5c-10 / Matthew 22:34-40

Answer key: 1) Extortioner; 2) Imitators; 3) Silenced; 4) Heart; 5) Depend

Mass Schedule Sundays 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

Weekdays 6:30am - English 12:15n.n - English

6:30pm - English

for the Lord and for His disciples. But the best defense against such line of questioning is no other than the truth itself. And Jesus sticks to the truth no matter what. It may offend the religious and civil authorities but the truth can withstand any form of scrutiny. The more the opponents of Jesus waylay Him with traps, the more He unmasks their hypocrisy by the truth that He brings. No wonder they had to kill Him. In this world, the truth will always and forever be lonely.

Sunday Gospel.. from page 1

Children ages 7 to 12 who wish to receive their First Holy Communion

on December 8, 2014 are required to attend Catechism classes starting October 18 at 3:00 pm., at the Parish Center.

Kindly bring your Birth and Baptismal Certificates.

1st Holy Communion