HFP meets the Habagat

For three days, our parish church served as an evacuation center for some 1,300 people who had to leave their submerged homes due to the flood brought about by the non-stop Southwest monsoon rains ("habagat"). The parish volunteers provided a dry place and meals for them through generous donations from both the public and private sectors.They're back in their homes now, trying to get back to to their lives.

HFP Evaluation & Planning Workshop 2012

Members of the Parish Pastoral Council came together in the SVD Retreat House in Tagaytay City to evaluate the parish activities of 2011 and then come up with a 3-yr. action plan for 2012-2014.

January 14-15, 2012

"Signs of the Times" explained: A message for the laity

Link

Text of Fr. Tony Pernia's homily at the XVD gathering. This is a real eye--opener for me!

Noel Cabangon, Cookie Chua, Bukas Palad - Paghahandog

This song is one of my favorite mass songs. This version is utterly soul-stirring!

Paris 3: Montmartre and the Sacre Coeur Basilica

The Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Paris, commonly known as Sacré-Cœur Basilica (French: Basilique du Sacré-Cœur, pronounced [sakʁe kœʁ]), is a Roman Catholic church and minor basilica, dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, in Paris, France. A popular landmark, the basilica is located at the summit of the butte Montmartre, the highest point in the city. Sacré-Cœur is a double monument, political and cultural, both a national penance for the supposed excesses of the Second Empire and socialist Paris Commune of 1871 crowning its most rebellious neighborhood, and an embodiment of conservative moral order, publicly dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, which was an increasingly popular vision of a loving and sympathetic Christ.

The Sacré-Cœur Basilica was designed by Paul Abadie. Construction began in 1875 and was finished in 1914. It was consecrated after the end of World War I in 1919.

Paris 2: The Louvre

The Louvre

Paris 1

Lucerne, Switzerland

Firenze!

Florence, Italy

Tower Power

Postcard Rome

Roma, on our own

August 24-28, 2011

kurokuroatbp

http://kurokuroatbp.com/
Written by "TOE," someone I used to know at SHP as a teen-ager. Now, a diplomat posted abroad.

The Rest of New Year's Day

"Be Proud of Being Catholic"

    (Excerpts of an article written by Sam Miller, prominent Cleveland Jewish businessman - NOT Catholic)

     Why would newspapers carry on a vendetta on one of the most important institutions that we have today in the United States , namely the Catholic Church?  Do you know - the Catholic Church educates 2.6 million students everyday at the cost to your Church of 10 billion dollars, and a savings on the other hand to the American taxpayer of 18 billion dollars. Your graduates go on to graduate studies at the rate of 92%, all at a cost to you. To the rest of the Americans it's free.  The Church has 230 colleges and universities in the U.S. with an enrollment of 700,000 students. The Catholic Church has a non-profit hospital system of 637 hospitals, which account for hospital treatment of 1 out of every 5 people - not just Catholics - in the United States today. 

     But the press is vindictive and trying to totally denigrate in every way the Catholic Church in this country. They have blamed the disease of pedophilia on the Catholic Church, which is as irresponsible as blaming adultery on the institution of marriage. 

     Let me give you some figures that you as Catholics should know and remember. For example, 12% of the 300 Protestant clergy surveyed admitted to sexual intercourse with a parishioner; 38% acknowledged other inappropriate sexual contact in a study by the United Methodist Church , 41.8 % of clergywomen reported unwanted sexual behavior; 17% of laywomen have been sexually harassed. Meanwhile, 1.7% of the Catholic clergy has been found guilty of pedophilia.  10% of the Protestant ministers have been found guilty of pedophilia. This is not a Catholic Problem. 

     A study of American priests showed that most are happy in the priesthood and find it even better than they had expected, and that most, if given the choice, would choose to be priests again in face of all this obnoxious PR the church has been receiving. 

     The Catholic Church is bleeding from self-inflicted wounds. The agony that Catholics have felt and suffered is not necessarily the fault of the Church. You have been hurt by a small number of wayward priests that have probably been totally weeded out by now.  Walk with your shoulders high and you head higher. Be a proud member of the most important non-governmental agency in the United States.

     Then remember what Jeremiah said: 'Stand by the roads, and look and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is and walk in it, and find rest for your souls'. Be proud to speak up for your faith with pride and reverence and learn what your Church does for all other religions. Be proud that you're a Catholic.  

Sambang Umaga at CRL

Tito was coordinator for Dec. 22's Sambang Umaga at the UP Church of the Risen Lord. It was a family affair with him as liturgist, Miriam as pianist, and Powie as flutist for the 5:30 AM service.

Portraits of Servant Leaders

Members of the HFP Parish Pastoral Council and Parish Staff
PPC Christmas Party
Dec. 6, 2009

Steve from Melbourne

Powie's foster father during the "Days in the Diocese" part of World Youth Day 2008 was in town for a few days. Broke bread with him a couple of times. He was also able to hear mass at HFP and meet our parish priest (who was also with Powie during WYD).

Our Lady of Lourdes Parish

Tagaytay City

SJC Chapel Reveries

This is where, as a child, I discovered how it was to be in communion with the Spirit. Entering this place opened a way for me to be close to a Supreme being. I was in awe of Someone so much bigger than me yet the intimacy of the small place seemed to be an embrace from Him who loved me.

Even then, I guess, solitude was something I sought. I found solace in the soft light and the simple beauty of the chapel. I remember now that I would take a few minutes each day to pray like a young girl would. I was so sure that He was always there to listen to me.

The chapel is also where I heard the beautiful singing of the sisters in the late afternoons (Vespers, I think). I would be entranced by the angelic voices wafting from the windows. Those moments would transport me into a state that had me imagining I could be like them. 

And then I grew up!  And would ultimately decide that the sisters' world wasn't for me.

But seeing the chapel again after more than 30 years, it still held me spellbound. Sitting quietly there brought me back to the days when life was pure and simple. Reminding me how good it was when loving God and pleasing him without question was all that mattered.