YOUNGEST CANTOR,

TEEN PIANIST IN MASS

As part of the 2011 program of TawagAwit to get the children and youth involved in its activities, the Our Lady of Lourdes Parish chapter had as its cantor during the 10:30am Mass on March 20, 2011, Mia Go, daughter of Bro Arne and Sis Carmen. The seven-year old delivered her lines with confidence and ease, smiling throughout her assignment. Ina Esclamado, the 15-year old daughter of Bro Ferdie and Sis Jenny, for her part, accompanied the group in all of the songs of Mews’ New Mass. Ina was complimented for flawless piano accompaniment. If only to highlight the active participation of the children and youth members, the gathering song, “Amazing Grace” featured their voices in its first verse. The Good Shepherd Parish, Balmoral (East Auckland) chapter for its part is currently practicing for April 10, when the children and youth members will sing some of the songs for the 11:15am Filipino Mass. The youth members of the St Thomas More, Glenfield chapter is the backbone of the musical accompaniment of the group, while in certain times, some of the youth members of St Mary’s, Northcote chapter feature their music talents.

Bro Mel B Libre, Lead Servant of TawagAwit, has encouraged more active involvement of the children and youth, towards making the Ministry a springboard of families singing together. During the Food & Music FEAST on May 15, one of the highlights is the “Mash O’ Rhythm” where the youth members are expected to showcase their dancing ability.

We Need You TawagAwit invites you to help in

spreading God’s Word through music

and other acts of love.

You can be a: (1) member; (2) supporter

or (3) organizer A member is one who can attend to the

regular activities of the Ministry. The

minimum participation are: attendance during

practice sessions of songs, usually once a week or once every two weeks AND singing

with the group during the assigned mass

usually once a month or once every two months.

A supporter is one who can donate services or

resources to the Ministry. There are special events that TawagAwit organizes and the

events need finances or helping hands.

An organizer is one who initiates the formation of a chapter in a parish. The

Ministry will provide all the assistance within

its means to help in the vital task.

NEW NOTES TawagAwit Newsletter

April 2011

Quick Notes: Led by the Borgueta family, some members of

TawagAwit St Thomas More chapter joined the Samar Leyte

Waraynon New Zealand in the presentation entitled „In Your

Glory‟ (Kulturang Pananampalataya ng Pilipinas) on March 18

and 19, 2011 in Tauakau and Waiku where Fr Ralph Barcelo

serves as parish priest. The group entertained both Filipinos and

Kiwis with dances and songs that depicted the strong faith of Filipinos …TawagAwit-St Mary‟s chapter conducted its fellowship in

the parish social hall on March 27. The group honored the

birthday celebrants namely Sis Jo Matiga, Bro Bob Nacario and

Bro Ogie Bonilla...TawagAwit- St Patrick‟s Parish, Taupo

conducted its first gathering on March 13. The group is slated

to sing during the mass in May…TawagAwit-Good Shepherd

Parish, Balmoral (East Auckland) chapter welcomed back

from the Philippines, Bro Estoy and Sis Elvie Duhig in its

first gathering for the 2011 on March 12. The gathering also

served as birthday celebration of Sis Elvie. The group is

preparing for its mass on April 10…As part of the Sow &

Harvest program, Bro Mel B Libre on March 19 shared with

members of the TawagAwit-Our Lady of Lourdes Parish

tomatoes harvested from his backyard garden. The ministry

encourages its members to plant vegetables in their backyards

and share these with members…Members of TawagAwit

joined the Katilingbang Bisaya sa New Zealand in Zumba

Jam for Christchurch, a fundraising event to raise money to

assist victims in the recent earthquake. The event attended by

30 supporters was held in the Henderson Intermediate School.

Jam Parado said the proceeds were donated to the Red

Cross…The best recipes from the members of TawagAwit

will be served on May 15, 2011 during the Food & Music

FEAST. The event will mark the fourth anniversary of the

founding of the ministry.

Our Vision:

Harmony in the World

Our Mission:

To spread God’s Word through

music and other acts of love.

Our Values:

Godliness

We believe in God and live His

Word.

Offering

We share our talents, time and

resources for God’s greater glory.

Devotion

We commit ourselves to the

mission of the Ministry.

Love

We love God with all of our heart

will all our soul, with all our

minds and with all our strength.

Originality

We promote artistry and creativity

to express our faith.

Victory over Sin

We fight Satan in each and every

moment of our lives.

Evangelization

We bring the Light of God to

those who are in the dark.

Sustainability

We contribute and manage our

resources effectively.

Unity

We are one with the Lord, one

with the Church, one with the

community, and one with the

Ministry.

For more information about

TawagAwit, please contact Bro Mel

Libre sl at tawagawit@gmail.com

NEW NOTES

Page 2

Bro Noel and Sis Gladys Borgueta take the lead in one of the dances.

NEW NOTES Page 3

Vatican Notes: April 2011 General Intention: That through its

compelling preaching of the Gospel, the Church may give young people

new reasons for life and hope. Missionary Intention: That by

proclamation of the Gospel and the witness of their lives, missionaries

may bring Christ to those who do not yet know him … Pope Benedict

XVI made a heartfelt appeal for peace at an emotional memorial

ceremony in Rome on March 27. The Pope visited the site where 335

people, mostly Romans, were executed during World War II by the Nazi

occupation forces. In a brief discourse that followed, Pope Benedict

called the event of March 24, 1944 “a grave offense to God, because it

was deliberate violence of man against man…It was the most deplorable

effect of war, of any war; while God is life, peace and communion.”

Only the mercy of God can “fill the void, the abysses opened by men

when, impelled by blind violence, they renounce their dignity as

children of God and as brothers of one another,” he said. Whoever and

wherever he may be, man is the child of God and brother to rest of

humanity, he added. Being “sons” and “brothers” is a status that must

not be taken for granted but be sought, he said. “We must say yes to

good and no to evil”… Before the thousands of faithful gathered in

St. Peter‟s Square on March 27 for the Sunday Angelus, Pope

Benedict XVI said that God‟s all-powerful love respects the freedom

of every person and therefore touches man‟s heart and “waits

patiently for his answer.” “God the Father sent Christ to satisfy our

thirst for eternal life by giving us his love, but Jesus asks of us the gift of

our faith,” the Pope stated before the Angelus. He discussed the gospel

reading about Jesus’ encounter with the Samaritan woman at the well,

explaining that his fatigue is “a sign of his true humanity” which can be

seen as a prelude of his Passion. “Each one of us can take the place of

the Samaritan woman,” the Pope continued. “Jesus waits for us,

especially in this time of Lent, to speak with us. Let us pause for a

moment in silence in our room, or in a church or in a secluded place”…

Pope Benedict XVI appealed for a suspension of fighting in Libya

and the immediate start of a serious dialogue aimed at restoring

peace to the North African country. Speaking at his weekly blessing

March 27, the pope said he was increasingly concerned at the news from

Libya, where rebels supported by U.S. and European airstrikes have

battled the forces of Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi. "My fear for the

safety and well-being of the civilian population is growing, as is my

apprehension over how the situation is developing with the use of arms,"

the pope said. "To international agencies and to those with political and

military responsibility, I make a heartfelt appeal for the immediate start

of a dialogue that will suspend the use of arms," he said. The pope said

that in moments of great international tension, there was more urgency

for diplomatic efforts that take advantage of "even the weakest sign of

openness to reconciliation" among the parties in conflict. Solutions

should be "peaceful and lasting," he said. The pope offered a prayer for

"the return of harmony in Libya" and throughout North Africa.

Counting the Blessings

So Laff :-) The beating of the heart is the unbeatable rhythm of

life.

Mass Offerings in New Zealand

April 10 10:30am St Mary’s Parish, Northcote

April 10 11:15am Good Shepherd Parish, Balmoral

Invitation:

+TawagAwit invites everyone to join the ministry:

(1) The St Mary’s Church, Northcote

(2) St Thomas More Church, Glenfield

(3) Our Lady of Lourdes Church, Glen Eden

(4) Good Shepherd Church Balmoral (East Auckland)

(5) St Patrick’s Church, Taupo

+Should you be in another area in New Zealand or

other parts of the world, TawagAwit will help organize

a chapter. Existing music groups or choirs can also

affiliate as a chapter. Email: librelaw@yahoo.com

Photo at right: Members of TawagAwit join other participants of

Zumba Jam for Christchurch.

NEW NOTES Page 4

TAWAGAWIT http://www.tawagawit.host56.com

email: tawagawit@gmail.com

Also read: CORD

http://issuu.com/meel/docs/cord_july_2010

http://issuu.com/meel/docs/cord_oct2010

http://issuu.com/meel/docs/cord_jan_2011