MERRY CHRISTMAS!

MyHotComments

Repose of Fr. Norberto Contreras

Let us pray for the repose of Fr. Norberto Contreras. He was declared DOA at Bago City District Hospital last December 15, 2008. May he rest in peace.

A young and successful executive was traveling down a neighborhood street, going a bit too fast in his new Jaguar. He was watching for kids darting out from between parked cars and slowed down when he thought he saw something. As his car passed, no children appeared. Instead, a brick smashed into the Jag's side door! He slammed on the brakes and drove the Jag back to the spot where the brick had been thrown. The angry driver then jumped out of the car, grabbed the nearest kid and pushed him up against a parked car, shouting, "What was that all about and who are you?Just what the heck are you doing?That's a new car and that brick you threw is going to cost a lot of money.Why did you do it?"

The young boy was apologetic. "Please mister ... please, I'm sorry... I didn't know what else to do," he pleaded."I threw the brick because no one else would stop..."With tears dripping down his face and off his chin, the youth pointed to a spot just around a parked car."It's my brother," he said."He rolled off the curb and fell out of his wheelchair and I can't lift him up." Now sobbing, the boy asked the stunned executive, "Would you please help me get him back into his wheelchair? He's hurt and he's too heavy for me."Moved beyond words, the driver tried to swallow the rapidly swelling lump in his throat. He hurriedly lifted the handicapped boy back into the wheelchair, then took out his fancy handkerchief and dabbed at the fresh scrapes and cuts. A quick look told him everything was going to be okay.

"Thank you and may God bless you," the grateful child told the stranger.Too shook up for words, the man simply watched the little boy push his wheelchair-bound brother down the sidewalk toward their home. It was a long, slow walk back to the Jaguar. The damage was very noticeable, but the driver never bothered to repair the dented side door. He kept the dent there to remind him of this message: Don't go through life so fast that someone has to throw a brick at you to get your attention!

God whispers in our souls and speaks to our hearts. Sometimes when we don't have time to listen, He has to throw a brick at us. http://misyononline.com/misyonforum/

Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, 8 December 2008

Today is a holyday of obligation in the Philippines

Under her title of the Immaculate Conception the Blessed VirginMary is principal patroness of the Philippines

Please visit the following link to read articles about the Immaculate Conception the Blessed VirginMary: http://misyononline.com/misyonforum/index.php?q=node/665

Happy Feast Day Saint FRANCIS XAVIER Parish!

Saint FRANCIS XAVIER (1506-1552). Born in the family castle of Xavier, near Pamplona in the Basque area of Spanish Navarre on Apr. 7, he was sent to the University of Paris 1525, secured his licentiate in 1528, met Ignatius Loyola and became one of the seven who in 1534, at Montmartre founded the Society of Jesus.

In 1536 he left Paris to join Ignatius in Venice, from whence they all in tended to go as missionaries to Palestine (a trip which never materialized), was ordained there in 1537, went to Rome in 1538, and in 1540, when the pope formally recognized the Society, was ordered, with Fr. Simon Rodriguez, to the Far East as the first Jesuit missionaries. King John III kept Fr. Simon in Lisbon, but Francis, after a year's voyage, six months of which were spent at Mozambique where he preached and gave aid to the sick eventually arrived in Goa, India in 1542 with Fr. Paul of Camerino an Italian, and Francis Mansihas, a Portuguese. There he began preaching to the natives and attempted to reform his fellow Europeans, living among the natives and adopting their customs on his travels. During the next decade he converted tens of thousands to Christianity.

He visited the Paravas at the tip of India. near Cape Comorin, Tuticorin (1542), Malacca (1545), the Moluccas near New Guinea and Morotai near the Philippines (1546-47), and Japan (1549- 51). In 1551, India and the East were set up as a separate province and Ignatius made Francis its first provincial.

In 1552 he set out for China, landed on the island of Sancian within sight of his goal, but died before he reached the mainland. Working against great difficulties, language problems ( contrary to legend, he had no proficiency in foreign tongues ), inadequate funds, and lack of cooperation, often actual resistance, from European officials, he left the mark of his missionary zeal and energy on areas which clung to Christianity for centuries. He was canonized in 1622 and proclaimed patron of all foreign missions by Pope Pius X. F. D. Dec. 3.

http://www.catholic.org/saints/

Prayer Needed!

Dear friends,

Let us pray for our fellow Augustinians who will be taking the Nursing Board Examination this coming November 29, 2008.

Let us include them in our prayers.

The Commission on Mission of the Diocese of Kabankalan supports the Visayas Regional Mission Assembly which will start tomorrow, November 24, 2008 in the province of Iloilo.

Representatives from different dioceses will gather and share on how to strenghthen and continue the mission of the Church.

Let us pray for their safety and for the success of their assembly.

Mabuhay po Kayo!

Happy Feast Day Columban Fathers!

A good commentary on the feast (Christ the King) from Australia.

Feast of Jesus Christ, Universal King

Fr John Flader: King doesn't lord it over His subjects

A friend of mine cannot understand why we have a feast day honouring Christ as King. She prefers to think of Jesus as Saviour or Redeemer or friend, but not king. Can you please explain the reasoning behind this feast?

Over the years, a good number of people have asked me this question.The feast of “Jesus Christ, Universal King”, which is its proper name, is of relatively recent origin. It was instituted at the end of the Holy Year 1925 by Pope Pius XI in the encyclical Quas primas, dated December 11 of that year. The feast is celebrated on the last Sunday of Ordinary Time, the 34th Sunday of the year, as a Solemnity, the highest rank among feast days.

Pope Pius XI instituted the feast in answer to numerous requests from Cardinals, bishops and lay faithful at a time when Christ was being pushed more and more out of the lives of nations, families and individuals.The Pope commented that just as the feast of Corpus Christi had been instituted at a time when Eucharistic piety had diminished, and the feast of the Sacred Heart when the severity of Jansenism had made hearts grow cold, so now when the reign of Christ was challenged by anti-clericalism, or secularism, it was opportune to institute a feast of the kingship of Christ.

An example of the anti-clericalism at the time was the regime in Mexico, where numerous Catholics went to their deaths for the faith, crying out “Long live Christ the King!”

A good number of them have been beatified and canonised, including Blessed Miguel Pro. Significantly, the consequences of the rejection of Christ’s kingdom mentioned by Pope Pius XI are as relevant today as they were in 1925: “the seeds of discord sown far and wide; those bitter enmities and rivalries between nations, which still hinder so much the cause of peace; that insatiable greed which is so often hidden under a pretence of public spirit and patriotism, and gives rise to so many private quarrels; a blind and immoderate selfishness, making men seek nothing but their own comfort and advantage, and measure everything by these; no peace in the home, because men have forgotten or neglect their duty; the unity and stability of the family undermined; society in a word, shaken to its foundations and on the way to ruin.” (Quas primas, n. 24) The kingship of Christ is solidly grounded in Scripture, in both the Old and New Testaments. For example, Isaiah offers the Messianic prophecy of the child to be born, who would be “Prince of Peace” and who would sit “upon the throne of David, and over his kingdom, to establish it, and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and for evermore.” (Is 9:6-7)

In the Annunciation, the angel Gabriel tells Mary that her Son will receive “the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there will be no end.” (Lk 1:32-33)Nathanael, when he first meets Jesus, says, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!” Jesus does not reject the title, but rather goes on to say: “You shall see greater things than these.” (Jn 1:49-50)And when speaking of the Last Judgment, Jesus refers to himself as King: “When the Son of man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne… Then the King will say to those at his right hand…” (Mt 25:31, 34)

So it is clear that Christ is indeed king – but not a king in the human, political sense. He has no palace, no material throne, no army. Christ is king in the spiritual sense. His kingdom is “not of this world”. (Jn 18:36) He reigns in the minds, the wills and the hearts of men.

Perhaps the reason why some people object to calling Christ King is that they think of kings as lording it over their subjects. But this is not Christ’s way: “You know that those who are supposed to rule over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great men exercise authority over them. But it shall not be so among you; but whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. For the Son of man also came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Mk 10:42-45) Christ redefined the whole notion of kingship. He does not oppress his subjects. Rather he serves them, he lifts them up and frees them from their sins.

His kingdom is “a kingdom of truth and life, a kingdom of holiness and grace, a kingdom of justice, love, and peace.” (Preface of Christ the King)

http://misyononline.com/misyonforum/index.php?q=node/616

Saint Columban

St. Columban

November 23 (543?-615)

Columban was the greatest of the Irish missionaries who worked on the European continent. As a young man he was greatly tormented by temptations of the flesh, and sought the advice of a religious woman who had lived a hermit’s life for years. He saw in her answer a call to leave the world. He went first to a monk on an island in Lough Erne, then to the great monastic seat of learning at Bangor.

After many years of seclusion and prayer, he traveled to Gaul with 12 companion missionaries. They won wide respect for the rigor of their discipline, their preaching, and their commitment to charity and religious life in a time characterized by clerical slackness and civil strife. Columban established several monasteries in Europe which became centers of religion and culture.

Like all saints, he met opposition. Ultimately he had to appeal to the pope against complaints of Frankish bishops, for vindication of his orthodoxy and approval of Irish customs. He reproved the king for his licentious life, insisting that he marry. Since this threatened the power of the queen mother, Columban was ordered deported back to Ireland. His ship ran aground in a storm, and he continued his work in Europe, ultimately arriving in Italy, where he found favor with the king of the Lombards. In his last years he established the famous monastery of Bobbio, where he died. His writings include a treatise on penance and against Arianism, sermons, poetry and his monastic rule.

Quote:

Writing to the pope about a doctrinal controversy in Lombardy, Columban said: “We Irish, living in the farthest parts of the earth, are followers of St. Peter and St. Paul and of the disciples who wrote down the sacred canon under the Holy Spirit. We accept nothing outside this evangelical and apostolic teaching.... I confess I am grieved by the bad repute of the chair of St. Peter in this country.... Though Rome is great and known afar, she is great and honored with us only because of this chair.... Look after the peace of the Church, stand between your sheep and the wolves.”

http://www.americancatholic.org/Features/SaintOfDay/default.asp?id=1210

Dedication of St. Peter and Paul

November 18

Dedication of St. Peter and Paul

St. Peter’s is probably the most famous church in Christendom. Massive in scale and a veritable museum of art and architecture, it began on a much humbler scale. Vatican Hill was a simple cemetery where believers gathered at St. Peter’s tomb to pray. In 319 Constantine built on the site a basilica that stood for more than a thousand years until, despite numerous restorations, it threatened to collapse. In 1506 Pope Julius II ordered it razed and reconstructed, but the new basilica was not completed and dedicated for more than two centuries.

St. Paul’s Outside the Walls stands near the Abaazia delle Tre Fontane, where St. Paul is believed to have been beheaded. The largest church in Rome until St. Peter’s was rebuilt, the basilica also rises over the traditional site of its namesake’s grave. The most recent edifice was constructed after a fire in 1823. The first basilica was also Constantine’s doing.

Constantine’s building projects enticed the first of a centuries-long parade of pilgrims to Rome. From the time the basilicas were first built until the empire crumbled under “barbarian” invasions, the two churches, although miles apart, were linked by a roofed colonnade of marble columns.

Comment:

Peter, the rough fisherman whom Jesus named the rock on which the Church is built, and the educated Paul, reformed persecutor of Christians, Roman citizen and missionary to the Gentiles, are the original odd couple. The major similarity in their faith-journeys is the journey’s end: Both, according to tradition, died a martyr’s death in Rome—Peter on a cross and Paul beneath the sword. Their combined gifts shaped the early Church and believers have prayed at their tombs from the earliest days.

http://www.americancatholic.org/Features/SaintofDay/default.asp

Regional Youth Assembly in Kabankalan

The Commission on Mission of the Diocese of Kabankalan supports the launching of the Regional Youth Assembly on November 15, 2008 at the Saint Columban Arts Center (KCC Gymnasium), City of Kabankalan.

Let us support our youth in their noble endeavor of promoting the mission of the Church.

Misyononline Promoted in World Mission Magazine

In the September 2008 issue of World Misyon Magazine, page 4, misyononline and the webpage of the Commission on Mission of the Diocese of Kabankalan were promoted!

Way to go!

---

-COLUMBAN PARTNERS IN MISSION

Join us! Participate in our monthly meeting every 3rd Saturday of the month! See you! Mission Programs on Air with Jack Pamine, every Wednesday and Thursday at 4:00 - 5:00 in the afternoon!

Please visit http://www.misyononline.com/

The Most Beautiful Flower

The park bench was deserted as I sat down to read Beneath the long, straggly branches of an old willow tree. Disillusioned by life with good reason to frown, For the world was intent on dragging me down.

And if that weren't enough to ruin my day, A young boy out of breath approached me, all tired from play. He stood right before me with his head tilted down And said with great excitement, "Look what I found!"

In his hand was a flower, and what a pitiful sight, With its petals all worn - not enough rain, or too little light. Wanting him to take his dead flower and go off to play, I faked a small smile and then shifted away.

But instead of retreating he sat next to my side And placed the flower to his nose and declared with surprise, "It sure smells pretty and it's beautiful, too. That's why I picked it; here, it's for you."

The weed before me was dying or dead. Not vibrant of colors, orange, yellow or red. But I knew I must take it, or he might never leave. So I reached for the flower, and replied, "Just what I need."

But instead of him placing the flower in my hand, He held it mid-air without reason or plan. It was then that I noticed for the very first time That weed-toting boy could not see: he was blind.

I heard my voice quiver, tears shone like the sun As I thanked him for picking the very best one. "You're welcome," he smiled, and then ran off to play, Unaware of the impact he'd had on my day.

I sat there and wondered how he managed to see A self-pitying woman beneath an old willow tree. How did he know of my self-indulged plight? Perhaps from his heart, he'd been blessed with true sight.

Through the eyes of a blind child, at last I could see The problem was not with the world; the problem was me. And for all of those times I myself had been blind, I vowed to see beauty, and appreciate every second that's mine.

And then I held that wilted flower up to my nose And breathed in the fragrance of a beautiful rose And smiled as that young boy, another weed in his hand About to change the life of an unsuspecting old man.

(http://www.inspirationalarchive.com/)

Be Inspired!

24 Things to Always Remember. . .and One Thing to Never Forget

Your presence is a present to the world.You're unique and one of a kind.Your life can be what you want it to be.Take the days just one at a time.

Count your blessings, not your troubles.You'll make it through whatever comes along.Within you are so many answers.Understand, have courage, be strong.

Don't put limits on yourself.So many dreams are waiting to be realized.Decisions are too important to leave to chance.Reach for your peak, your goal, and your prize.

Nothing wastes more energy than worrying.The longer one carries a problem, the heavier it gets.Don't take things too seriously.Live a life of serenity, not a life of regrets.

Remember that a little love goes a long way.Remember that a lot . . . goes forever.Remember that friendship is a wise investment.Life's treasures are people . . . together.

Realize that it's never too late.Do ordinary things in an extraordinary way.Have heath and hope and happiness.Take the time to wish upon a star.

And don't ever forget . . .For even a day . . .How very special you are.

(http://www.inspirationalarchive.com)

All Saints Day and All Souls Day

All Saints Day

The Feast of All Saints is a holy day of the Church honoring all saints, known and unknown. This is much like the American holidays Veterans Day and Presidents Day, where many people are honored on one day. While we have knowledge of many saints, and we honor them on specific days, there are many unknown or unsung saints, who may have been forgotten, or never been specifically honored. On All Saints Day, we celebrate these saints of the Lord, and ask for their prayers and intercessions. The whole concept of All Saints Day is tied in with the concept of the Communion of Saints. This is the belief that all of God's people, on heaven, earth, and in the state of purification (called Purgatory in the West), are connected in a communion. In other words, Catholic and Orthodox Christians believe that the saints of God are just as alive as you and I, and are constantly interceding on our behalf. Remember, our connection with the saints in heaven is one grounded in a tight-knit communion. The saints are not divine, nor omnipresent or omniscient. However, because of our common communion with and through Jesus Christ, our prayers are joined with the heavenly community of Christians.

There are thousands of canonized saints, that is those individuals officially recognized by the Church as holy men and women worthy of imitation. Because miracles have been associated with these people, and their lives have been fully examined and found holy by the Church, we can be assured they are prime examples of holiness, and powerful intercessors before God on our behalf. There are also many patron saints, guardians or protectors of different areas and states of life.

Christians have been honoring their saints and martyrs since at least the second century AD. The Martyrdom of Polycarp, probably written near the middle of the second century, attests to this reality:

Accordingly, we afterwards took up his bones, more precious than the most exquisite jewels, and more pure than gold, and deposited them in a fitting place, so that when being gathered together, as opportunity is allowed us, with joy and rejoicing, the Lord shall grant us to celebrate the anniversary of his martyrdom, both in memory of those who have already finished their course, and for the exercising and preparation of those yet to walk in their steps (18).

Initially the calendars of saints and martyrs varied from location to location, and many times local churches honored local saints. However, gradually feast days became more universal. The first reference to a general feast celebrating all saints occurs in St Ephrem the Syrian (d. AD 373). St. John Chrysostom (d. AD 407) assigned a day to the feast, the first Sunday after Pentecost, where in the Eastern Churches the feast is celebrated to this day. In the West, this date was probably originally used, and then the feast was moved to May 13th. The current observance (November 1) probably originates from the time of Pope Gregory III (d. AD 741), and was likely first observed on November 1st in Germany. This fact makes the connection of the All Saints Feast with the pagan festival Samhain less likely, since Samhain was an Irish pagan feast, rather than German.

The vigil of the Feast (the eve) has grown up in the English speaking countries as a festival in itself,All Hallows Eve, or Halloween. While many consider Halloween pagan (and in many instances the celebrations are for many), as far as the Church is concerned the date is simply the eve of the feast of All Saints. Many customs of Halloween reflect the Christian belief that on the feast's vigils we mock evil, because as Christians, it has no real power over us. However, for some Halloween is used for evil purposes, in which many Christians dabble unknowingly. David Morrison explains the proper relationship between Christians and Halloween. Various customs have developed related to Halloween. In the Middle Ages, poor people in the community begged for "soul cakes," and upon receiving these doughnuts, they would agree to pray for departed souls. This is the root of our modern day "trick-or-treat." The custom of masks and costumes developed to mock evil and perhaps confuse the evil spirits by dressing as one of their own. Some Christians visit cemeteries on Halloween, not to practice evil, but to commemorate departed relatives and friends, with picnics and the last flowers of the year.

All Souls Day follows All Saints Day, and commemorates the faithful departed, those who die in God's faith and friendship. However, Catholics believe that not all those who die in God's grace are immediately ready for the Beatific vision, i.e. the reality and goodness of God and heaven, so they must be purified of "lesser faults," and the temporal effects of sin. The Catholic Church calls this purification of the elect, "purgatory." The Catholic teaching on Purgatory essentially requires belief in two realities: 1. that there will be a purification of believers prior to entering heaven and 2. that the prayers and masses of the faithful in some way benefit those in the state of purification. As to the duration, place, and exact nature of this purification, the Church has no official dogma, although Saint Augustine and others used fire as a way to explain the nature of the purification. Many faithful Catholics, including Pope Benedict XVI, grant that Purgatory may be an existential state as opposed to a temporal place. In other words, Purgatory may be something we experience instantaneously, because it is outside of the confines of created time and space. Many non-Catholics, including C.S. Lewis, have believed in Purgatory, and the official dogma of Purgatory is hardly offensive, even if the popular understanding of it has led to confusion. As a more everyday explanation, many liken Purgatory to a place to "clean up" oneself before going into the presence of Almighty God.

---

All Souls Day

All Souls is the day to remember, pray for, and offer requiem masses up for these faithful departed in the state of purification. Typically Christians will take this day to offer prayers up on behalf of their departed relatives and friends. Others may remember influential individuals that they never knew personally, such as presidents, musicians, etc. This may be done in the form of the Office of the Dead (Defunctorum officium), i.e. a prayer service offered in memory of departed loved ones. Often this office is prayed on the anniversary (or eve) of the death of a loved one, or on All Souls' Day.

Christians have been praying for their departed brothers and sisters since the earliest days of Christianity. Early liturgies and inscriptions on catacomb walls attest to the ancientness of prayers for the dead, even if the Church needed more time to develop a substantial theology behind the practice. Praying for the dead is actually borrowed from Judaism, as indicated in 2 Maccabees 12:41-42. In the New Testament, St Paul prays for his departed friend Onesiphorus in 2 Timothy 1:16-18. Early Christian writers Tertullian and St. Cyprian testify to the regular practice of praying for the souls of the departed. Tertullian justified the practice based on custom and Tradition, and not on explicit scriptural teaching. This demonstrates that Christians believed that their prayers could somehow have a positive effect on the souls of departed believers. Closely connected to the ancient practice of praying for the dead is the belief in an explicit state called purgatory. The New Testament hints at a purification of believers after death. For example, Saint Paul speaks of being saved, "but only as through fire" (1 Corinthians 3:15). Over time, many Church Fathers, including St. Augustine, e.g. in Enchiridion of Faith, Hope, and Love and City of God, further developed the concept of a purgation of sins through fire after death.

In the early days, departed Christians' names were placed on diptychs. In the sixth century, Benedictine communities held commemorations for the departed on the feast of Pentecost. All Souls' Day became a universal festival largely on account of the influence of Odilo of Cluny in AD 998, when he commanded its annual celebration in the Benedictine houses of his congregation. This soon spread to the Carthusian congregations as well. The day was celebrated on various days, including October 15th in 12th century Milan. Today all Western Catholics celebrate All Souls' Day on November 2, as do many Anglicans and Lutherans. Initially many Protestant reformers rejected All Souls' Day because of the theology behind the feast (Purgatory and prayers/masses for the dead), but the feast is now being celebrated in many Protestant communities, in many cases with a sub-Catholic theology of Purgatory. Some Protestants even pray for the dead; many Anglican liturgies include such prayers. While the Eastern Churches lack a clearly defined doctrine of Purgatory, they still regularly pray for the departed.

http://www.churchyear.net/

More info on Melamine

China milk poisoning incidents makeeveryone afraid to look at the daily news report. Everyday, the reports are changing. No one can clearly tell us what to eat and not to eat.

1.What really is poisoned milk?

It is the milk powder mixed with "MELAMINE"What is Melamine use for. It is an industrial chemical use in the production of melawares.

It is also used in home decoration." US resistant board"Do you understand? Melamine is used in industrial production, it cannot be eaten

2.Why is Melamine added in milk powder?

The most important nutrient in milk is protein. And Melamine has the same protein that contains "NITROGEN"Adding Melamine in milk reduces milk content and it is cheaper then milk so it lowers capitalization. It can give the business man more profit! Below is Melamine, doesn't it look like milk? It doesn't have any smell, so cannot be detected.

3.When was it discovered Year 2007　US cats and dogs died suddenly, they found that pet food from China contains Melamine.

Starting 2008, In China , an abnormal increase in infant cases of kidney stones.August 2008 China Sanlu Milk Powder testedwith Melamine Sept. 2008　New Zealand gov't ask China to check this problemSept. 21, 2008　Lots of food products in Taiwan tested with Melamine.

4.What happens when Melamine is digested. Melamine remains inside the kidney. It forms into stonesblocking the tubes. Pain will be eminent and person cannot urinate. Kidney will then swell. Although surgery can remove the stones, but it will cause irreversible kidney damage. It can lead to loss of kidney function and will requirekidney dialysis or lead to death because of uremia.

What is dialysis? In fact, it should be called "blood washing"it is filtering all of the body's blood into the machine and then go back to the body.The whole process takes 4 hours and it is necessary to dialysis once for every 3 days for the rest of your life.Here is a dialysis centerLarge dialysis centerA small hole is required in the arm to insert thesub-dialysis catheter.Why is it more serious in babies? Because the kidney is very small and they drink a lot of milk powder. Here is a baby undergoing dialysis.China currenty has 13,000 infants hospitalizedIt does not matter how much a human being tookMelamine. The important point is "It cannot be EATEN!"

5.What are the foods to be avoided? Foods that contain dairy products should be avoided. Remember: Foods with creamer or milk should be avoided. 6. What do we do next?

Avoid the above foods for at least six months. If you have snack bar, restaurant or coffee shops, stop selling dairy products in the meantime. If you have infants at home, change to mother's milkor find other substitutes.

Finally, share this information with friends sothey will understand the risk of milk poisoning.

Misyon needs Editorial Assistant !!!

MISYON, www.misyononline.com , is a mission awareness magazine published every two months, sponsored by the Missionary Society of St Columban, with its editorial office in Bacolod City.

We need an editorial assistant who is a college graduate, proficient in written and spoken English, computer-‘savvy’, able to creatively layout the magazine online and in CD formats. The work would also include moderating and promoting our online forum and blog.

Experience in computer-publishing and in campus or other journalism would be a distinct advantage.

Since MISYON is at the service of the mission of the Catholic Church we are looking for a committed Catholic.

Please contact our Editor, Father Seán Coyle at editor@misyononline.com

World Mission Sunday (October 19, 2008)

What Is World Mission Sunday?

World Mission Sunday, organized by the Propagation of the Faith, is a day set aside for Catholics worldwide to recommit themselves to the Church's missionary activity through prayer and sacrifice.

Annually, World Mission Sunday is celebrated on the next-to-last Sunday in October. As described by Pope John Paul II, World Mission Sunday is "an important day in the life of the Church because it teaches how to give: as an offering made to God, in the Eucharistic celebration and for all the missions of the world" (see Redemptoris Missio 81).

Pope John Paul II has also spoken of the Propagation of the Faith's General Fund of support, calling this a "central fund of solidarity." In a message delivered on a recent World Mission Sunday, the Pope said: "The offerings that will be collected [on World Mission Sunday] are destined for a common fund of solidarity distributed, in the Pope's name, by the Society for the Propagation of the Faith among the missions and missionaries of the entire world."

Every year the needs of the Catholic Church in the Missions grow - as new dioceses are formed, as new seminaries are opened because of the growing number of young men hearing Christ's call to follow Him as priests, as areas devastated by war or natural disaster are rebuilt, and as other areas, long suppressed, are opening up to hear the message of Christ and His Church. That is why the involvement and commitment of Catholics from around the world is so urgently needed. Offerings from Catholics in the United States, on World Mission Sunday and throughout the year, are combined with offerings to the Propagation of the Faith worldwide.

Mission dioceses - about 1,100 at this time - receive regular annual assistance from the funds collected. In addition, these mission dioceses submit requests to the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples for assistance, among other needs, for catechetical programs, seminaries, the work of Religious Communities, for communication and transportation needs, and for the building of chapels, churches, orphanages and schools. These needs are matched with the funds gathered in each year. The world's national directors of the Propagation of the Faith vote on these requests, matching the funds available with the greatest needs. These funds are then distributed, in their entirety, to mission dioceses throughout the world.

Source: http://www.iamamissionary.org/

Things to Remember this October

October 20 and 21 - Sacred Heart Seminary General Grand Alumni Home Coming

October 22 and 23 - Clergy Festival

October 24 - Closing Program of Diamond Jubilee Celebration of the Diocese of Bacolod

First Priest from Hinoba-an

DIOCESE OF KABANKALAN – The diocese rejoices for the ordination of another priest! On October 14, 2008, Most Rev. Patricio A. Buzon, SDB, DD ordained Rev. Fr. Richard Lazalita Lachica, a native of Hinoba-an, Negros Occidental.

Fr. Richard Lachica is the first priest from Hinoba-an. He took his Philosophy at the University of Negros Occidental-Recoletos and proceeded to University of Santo Tomas for his Theology.

During his diaconate, he served as the campus minister of Saint Michael’s Academy, Hinoba-an, where he was actively involved in the student apostolate and assisted students in their participation in the diocesan programs and activities.

Rev. Fr. Richard Lachica will say his thanksgiving mass in Hinoba-an on November 5, 2008.

Month of the Holy Rosary

The feast of the Holy Rosary was established by Saint Pius V on the anniversary of the naval victory won by the Christian fleet at Lepanto, October 7, 1571. The victory was attributed to the help of the holy Mother of God whose aid was invoked through praying the rosary. The celebration of this day invites all to mediate upon the mysteries of Christ, following the example of the Blessed Virgin Mary who was so singularly associated with the incarnation, passion and glorious resurrection of the Son of God. from the Christian Prayer(Liturgy of the Hours)

Pope John Paul II asks us to pray the Rosary!

On September 30, 2001, after the morning Mass opening the Synod of Bishops, Pope John Paul II asked people to pray the Rosary:

"October is the month in which Mary Most Holy, Queen of the Holy Rosary, is venerated. Within the current international context, I invite all -- individuals, families, communities -- to pray this Marian prayer, possibly every day, for peace, so that the world can be preserved from the wicked scourge of terrorism.

"The terrible tragedy of September 11th will be remembered as a dark day in the history of humanity. In the face of this, the Church tries to be faithful to her prophetic charism and remind all men about their duty to build a future of peace for the human family. Certainly, peace is not separated from justice, but it must be nourished by mercy and love.

"We cannot forget that Jews, Christians and Muslims adore God as the only God. The three religions, therefore, have the vocation of unity and peace. May God allow the Church's faithful to be agents of peace, in the front line of the search for justice and the prohibition of violence.

"May the Virgin Mary, Queen of Peace, intercede for all humanity, so that hate and death never have the last word!"

On September 29, 2002, Pope John Paul II asked that we pray the Rosary for Peace:

JOHN PAUL II ANGELUS Castel Gandolfo Sunday, 29 June 2002

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

1. We are already on the threshold of the month of October, which, with the liturgical memorial of Our Lady of the Rosary, inspires us to rediscover this traditional prayer, so simple yet so profound.

The Rosary is a way of contemplating the face of Christ seeing him - we may say - with the eyes of Mary. For this reason, it is a prayer that drawing upon the core of the Gospel is in full accord with the inspiration of the Second Vatican Council and very much in keeping with the direction I gave in the Apostolic Letter Novo Millennio ineunte: the Church has to launch out "into the deep" in the new millennium beginning with the contemplation of the face of Christ.

Therefore, I wish to suggest the recitation of the Rosary to individuals, families and Christian communities. To give force to this invitation, I am preparing a document which will help to rediscover the beauty and depth of this prayer.

2. I wish once again to entrust the great cause of peace to the praying of the Rosary. We are facing an international situation that is full of tensions, at times threatening to explode. In some parts of the world, where the confrontation is harsher - I think particularly of the suffering land of Christ - we can realize that, even though they are necessary, political efforts are worth little if one remains exacerbated in his mind and no one cares to demonstrate a new disposition of heart in the hope of reviving the struggle and effort of dialogue.

Who but God alone can infuse such sentiments? It is more necessary than ever that from every part of the earth prayer for peace be made to Him. In this perspective, the Rosary turns out to be the form of prayer most needed. It builds peace because, while it appeals to the grace of God, it sows in the one praying it the seed of good from which we can expect the fruit of justice and solidarity for personal and community life.

I am thinking of nations and also of families. How much peace would flow into family relationships if the family would begin again to pray the Rosary.

John Paul II greeted the pilgrims in French, English, German, Spanish, Portuguese, Polish and Italian. To the English-speaking

3. I extend a warm greeting to the English-speaking pilgrims and visitors, and invite you to make the month of October a time of special attention to the recitation of the Rosary, the great prayer of intercession to Mary. Upon you and your families I invoke the joy and peace of the Lord.

4. The prayer we are about to pray begins by recalling the annunciation of the Archangel Gabriel to the Virgin Mary. In fact, today is the feast of the holy Archangels Michael, Gabriel and Raphael. May these powerful ministers of God obtain for us the grace to correspond always with generous love to his will.

Dear Friends, this is the last Angelus of the vacation period. With affection, I greet once again the townsfolk of Castel Gandolfo: Goodbye until next year. Next Sunday, 6 October, God willing, we shall be in St Peter's Square.

Read Misyon Magazine On-line and Feel the Joy!

I have enjoyed reading Misyon Magazine since I was a child and I want to share my experience of joy to others too...

Misyon Magazine is one of the magazines I like and I treasure most! I still keep old copies of Misyon Magazine and read them again from time to time.

You will experience rapid changes of emotions as you read the magazine from cover to cover. You can laugh at the stories of Fr. Joeker and cry at the stories of the oppressed people around the world. Once you’ve read the entire magazine, there are these feelings of satisfaction and inspiration. A new vigor that makes everyone sees the world in another perspective, the missionary perspective…

Each of us Catholics is a missionary in our own simple ways. We touch the lives of others as we live life shoulder to shoulder.

So, join me in reading the Misyon Magazine and let’s face the world with a missionary spirit.

Please click the following link to read Misyon Magazine: http://www.misyononline.com/misyon/

Happy Birthday Fr.Rembert Rivera!

May God continue to bless your life and give you the desires of your heart. May God bless you and keep you always in His tender, loving care. I hope that your day is blessed with happiness and joy. You're the kind of person that only heaven could have sent. Praying that your day is as special as you are. May you enjoy the Lord's presence today.

To our ever-supportive director in the Commission on Mission,

Happy Birthday!!!

St. Therese, "the little flower"

St. Therese, "the little flower"

(Feast day:October 1)

Therese Martin was the last of nine children born to Louis and Zelie Martin on January 2, 1873, in Alencon France. However, only five of these children lived to reach adulthood. Precocious and sensitive, Therese needed much attention. Her mother died when she was 4 years old. As a result, her father and sisters babied young Therese. She had a spirit that wanted everything.

At the age of 14, on Christmas Eve in 1886, Therese had a conversion that transformed her life. From then on, her powerful energy and sensitive spirit were turned toward love, instead of keeping herself happy. At 15, she entered the Carmelite convent in Lisieux to give her whole life to God. She took the religious name Sister Therese of the Child Jesus and the Holy Face. Living a hidden, simple life of prayer, she was gifted with great intimacy with God. Through sickness and dark nights of doubt and fear, she remained faithful to God, rooted in his merciful love. After a long struggle with tuberculosis, she died on September 30, 1897, at the age of 24. Her last words were the story of her life: "My God, I love You!"

The world came to know Therese through her autobiography, Story of a Soul. She described her life as a "little way of spiritual childhood." She lived each day with an unshakeable confidence in God's love. "What matters in life," she wrote, "is not great deeds, but great love." She lived and taught a spirituality of attending to everyone and everything well and with love. She believed that just as a child becomes enamored with what is before her, we should also have a childlike focus and totally attentive love. Therese's spirituality is of doing the ordinary, with extraordinary love.

Therese saw the seasons as reflecting the seasons of God's love affair with us. She loved flowers and saw herself as the "little flower of Jesus," who gave glory to God by just being her beautiful little self among all the other flowers in God's garden. Because of this beautiful analogy, the title "little flower" remained with St. Therese.

Her inspiration and powerful presence from heaven touched many people very quickly. She was canonized by Pope Pius XI on May 17, 1925. Had she lived, she would have been only 52 years old when she was declared a Saint.

"My mission - to make God loved - will begin after my death," she said. "I will spend my heaven doing good on earth. I will let fall a shower of roses." Roses have been described and experienced as Saint Therese's signature. Countless millions have been touched by her intercession and imitate her "little way." She has been acclaimed "the greatest saint of modern times." In 1997, Pope John Paul II declared St. Therese a Doctor of the Church - the only Doctor of his pontificate - in tribute to the powerful way her spirituality has influenced people all over the world.

---

St. Therese hears our requests and intercedes with God on our behalf. She showers us with roses every day, and we continue to be blessed and have prayers answered because of the intercession of our "little flower". St. Therese's own desire was to "make God known and Loved until the consummation of the ages". By sharing your words of thanks, you too, are fulfilling St. Therese's own mission. What a wonderful way to spread the word of God and St. Therese to the world!

(http://www.littleflower.org/)

You shall not mock God...

DID YOU KNOW THESE FACTS?

Death is certain but the Bible speaks about untimely death! Make a personal reflection about this...Very interesting, read until the end....

It is written in the Bible (Galatians 6:7):'Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man sow, that shall he also reap.

Here are some men and women who mocked God:

John Lennon (Singer):Some years before, during his interview with an American Magazine, he said: 'Christianity will end, it will disappear. I do not have to argue about that. I am certain. Jesus was ok, but his subjects were too simple, today we are more famous than Him' (1966). Lennon, after saying th at the Beatles were more famous than Jesus Christ, was shot six times.

Tancredo Neves (President of Brazil):During the Presidential campaign, he said if he got 500,000 votes from his party, not even God would remove him from Presidency. Sure he got the votes, but he got sick a day before being made President, then he died.

Cazuza (Bi-sexual Brazilian composer, singer and poet): During A show in Canecio ( Rio de Janeiro ), while smoking his cigarette, he puffed out some smoke into the air and said:’ God, that's for you.' He died at the age of 32 of LUNG CANCER in a horrible manner.

The man who built the Titanic: After the construction of Titanic, a reporter asked him how safe the Titanic would be. With an ironic tone he said: 'Not even God can sink it' The result: I think you all know what happened to the Titanic. Marilyn Monroe (Actress): She was visited by Billy Graham during a presentation of a show. He said the Spirit of God had sent him to preach to her. After hearing what the Preacher had to say, she said: 'I don't need your Jesus'. A week later, she was found dead in her apartment.

Bon Scott (Singer): The ex-vocalist of the AC/DC. On one of his 1979 songs he sang:'Don't stop me; I'm going down all the way, down the highway to hell'.On the 19th of February 1980, Bon Scott was found dead, he had been choked by his own vomit.

Campinas (IN 2005): In Campinas , Brazil a group of friends, drunk, went to pick up a friend...The mother accompanied her to the car and was so worried about the drunkenness of her friends and she said to the daughter holding her hand, who was already seated in the car: 'My Daughter, Go With God And May He Protect You.'She responded: 'Only If He (God) Travels In The Trunk, Cause Inside Here...It's Already Full 'Hours later, news came by that they had been involved in a fatal accident, everyone had died, the car could not be recognized what type of car it had been, but surprisingly, the trunk was intact. The police said there was no way the trunk could have remained intact. To their surprise, inside the trunk was a crate of eggs, none was broken.

Christine Hewitt (Jamaican Journalist and entertainer):Said the Bible (Word of God) was the worst book ever written. In June 2006 she was found burnt beyond recognition in her motor vehicle.

---

Many more important people have forgotten that there is no other name that was given so much authority as the name of Jesus. Many have died, but only Jesus died and rose again, and He is still alive.

Diocese Launches Spirituality of Stewardship

DIOCESE OF KABANKALAN - On the feast day of the Holy Cross, Most Rev. Patricio A. Buzon, SDB,DD, launched the diocesan campaign for Spirituality of Stewardship. This campaign was conceived for almost a year. The priests deeply reflected on this spirituality through various retreats and recollections in the past year.

The Spirituality of Stewardship was also the theme of the last year's Misa de Gallo and many of the parishes adopted this theme as in the novenas of their feasts.

On the same day, the celebration of the Catechetical Month was started and will end up on the last day of October.

According to Bishop Buzon, a steward is a follower of Christ and he acknowledges that all graces are gifts given to him and use them to build the body of Christ and Christian faith is one of the priceless gifts in our life and as stewards, we are called to be grateful for this precious gift and be generous to share it with our fellowmen.

Four Wives

This was posted by -Bonbon Milos in http://www.freewebs.com/sacredheartlay/daretothink.htm and also posted in the http://www.misyononline.com/misyonforum/ watering hole section

---

Once upon a time there was a rich King who had four wives.

He loved the 4th wife the most and adorned her with rich robes and treated her to the finest delicacies. He gave her nothing but the best.

He also loved his 3rd wife very much and was always showing her off to neighboring kingdoms. However, he feared that one day she would leave him for another.

He also loved his 2nd wife. She was his confidant and was always kind, considerate and patient with him. Whenever the King faced a problem he could confide in her and she would help him get through the difficult times.

The King's 1st wife was a very loyal partner and had made great contributions in maintaining his wealth and kingdom. However, he did not love the 1st wife. Although she loved him deeply he hardly ever noticed her.

One day the King fell ill and he knew his time was short. He thought of his luxurious life and wondered, "I now have 4 wives with me, but when I die, I'll be all alone."

Thus, he asked the 4th wife, "I have loved you the most, endowed you with the finest clothing and showered great care over you. Now that I am dying, will you follow me and keep me company?"

"No way!" replied the 4th wife and she walked away without another word. Her answer cut like a sharp knife right into his heart.

The sad King then asked his 3rd wife, "I have loved you all my life now that I'm dying will you follow me and keep me company?"

"No!" she replied "Life is too good! When you die, I am going to remarry!" His heart sank and turned cold.

He then asked the 2nd wife, "I have always turned to you for help and you've always been there for me. When I die will you follow me and keep me company?" "I'm sorry, I can't help you out this time!" replied the 2nd wife. "At the very most, I can send you to your grave." Her answer came like a bolt of lightning, and the King was devastated.

Then a voice called out: "I'll leave with you and follow you no matter where you go."

The King looked up, and there was his first wife. She was so skinny as she suffered from malnutrition and neglect. Greatly grieved, the King said "I should have taken better care of you when I had the chance!"

In truth, we all have four wives in our lives:

Our 4th wife is our body. No matter how much time and effort was lavish in making it look good, it will leave us when we die.

Our 3rd wife is our possessions, status and wealth. When we die, it will all go to others.

Our 2nd wife is our family and friends. No matter how much they been there for us, the furthest they can stay by us is up to the grave.

And our 1st wife is our Soul. Often neglected in pursuit of wealth, power and pleasures of the world. However our Soul is the only thing that will follow up wherever we go. So cultivate, strengthen and cherish it now, for it is the only part of us who will follow us to the throne of God and continue with up throughout eternity.

---

SHS General Alumni Homecoming

Alumni of the Sacred Heart Seminary in Bacolod City will hold their general alumni homecoming this coming October 20-21, 2008. Priests and lay alumni are invited!

For more info visit

http://www.freewebs.com/sacredheartlay/ thank you very much!

Happy Birthday Mama Mary!

Happy Birthday Mama Mary!

"Through Mary, the miserable obtain Mercy, the graceless find grace, and sinners receive pardon."

- Saint Augustine of Hippo. (354 - 430)

Birthday of Mary Mother of God

September 8 - Birthday of Mary Mother of God

The date, September 8, was chosen as the 8th day (an octave) after the former Byzantine New Year. Although Mary's birth was celebrated on various dates throughout the centuries, September 8 predominated. The feast celebrating Mary's Immaculate Conception, December 8, (a liturgy instituted later) was set to correspond to nine months before Mary's birth.

The Spiritual Tradition Regarding Mary's Birth

---

Sacred Scripture does not record Mary's birth. The earliest known writing regarding Mary's birth is found in the Protoevangelium of James (5:2), which is an apocryphal writing from the late 2nd century. What matters is not the historicity of the account, but the significance of Mary's and of every person's birth. In Mary's case, the early Church grew more and more interested in the circumstances surrounding the origin of Christ. Discussion about Mary throws light on the discussion about the identity of Jesus Christ.

The Church usually celebrates the passing of a person, that is, the person's entry into eternal life. Besides the birth of Christ, the Christian liturgy celebrates only two other birthdays: that of St. John the Baptizer and of Mary, the Mother of Jesus. It is not the individual greatness of these saints that the Church celebrates, but their role in salvation history, a role directly connected to the Redeemer's own coming into the world.

Mary's birth lies at the confluence of the two Testaments--bringing to an end the stage of expectation and the promises and inaugurating the new times of grace and salvation in Jesus Christ. Mary, the Daughter of Zion and ideal personification of Israel, is the last and most worthy representative of the People of the Old Covenant but at the same time she is "the hope and the dawn of the whole world." With her, the elevated Daughter of Zion, after a long expectation of the promises, the times are fulfilled and a new economy is established. (Lumen Gentium 55)

The birth of Mary is ordained in particular toward her mission as Mother of the Savior. Her existence is indissolubly connected with that of Christ: it partakes of a unique plan of predestination and grace. God's mysterious plan regarding the Incarnation of the Word embraces also the Virgin who is His Mother. In this way, the Birth of Mary is inserted at the very heart of the History of Salvation. (M. Valentini, Dictionary of Mary, pp. 36-7.)

The Prayer of the Church

---

The Church prays at midday in the Liturgy of the Hours:

Today is the birthday of the holy Virgin Mary whose life illumined all the Churches. In many cultures, the birthday of every person merits a celebration. Family and friends gather to wish the "birthday child" many happy returns. There are well-wishing, balloons, cards, cakes, candles, a favorite meal, there are gifts and jests--all the things that say, at least once a year, "You are special, there's only one of you, we are happy that you exist." So, it is for the people of God and Mary.

(http://campus.udayton.edu/mary/meditations/birthday.html)

From Australia to Kabankalan

The Commission on Mission, Diocese of Kabankalan Welcomes the teachers and students from Nudgee College, Australia.

---

Many years ago, Fr. Brian Gore, an Australian Columban priest, lived with the people of Kabankalan. This August, three teachers and 12 students from Nudgee College, Australia will have their community immersion in the selected schools in the Diocese of Kabankalan. Many things have changed but the missionary spirit remains! OUR HUMBLE DIOCESE WELCOMES YOU ALL!

Bro. Rod Ellyard of the Christian Brothers assigned in Kabankalan wrote:

PAGINUPDANAY – WITH SPIRIT

---

Using the above motto, a group of Australians from Nudgee College, Brisbane, Australia visited The Philippines recently. Led by teachers Matt Hawkins, Toni Riordan and Nichola Bone, there were twelve 15 year-old boys involved.

The aim of the visit was for the Australians, through immersion, to become aware that the social conditions within the Philippines, better represent the lived reality of the majority of the world’s population, than the privileged situation enjoyed currently in much of Australia. They wanted to sharpen their social justice awareness. At the same time, it was hoped, exposure to groups within the Philippines would help awareness here of the ordinariness of young people in another country.

There were two parts to the immersion. Some time was spent in Manila for a broader perspective, and five days in the Kabankalan Diocese. St. Columban’s Academy, Cauayan was used as the base here. Before the visitors arrived one teacher and four students came to Cauayan from each of: Ilog Catholic High School; Magballo Catholic High School; Our Lady of Lourdes High School, Candoni and St. Joseph’s High School, Inayauan. This involvement added a cross- immersion experience on the local scene.

The Australians arrived on Saturday August 16th and were warmly welcomed at St. Columban’s. Apart from much eating of food and various welcome ceremonies, they planted mangroves and tended trees planted by the group last year. Fishing was another very enjoyable experience. Fr. Rolex Nueva of the Social Action – Justice and Peace Commission, addressed the group, giving them a sense of some of the justice issues current in the diocese.

The following day three Australian boys with one of their teachers, plus one student from each of the five local schools headed off to Ilog, Magballo, Candoni and Inayauan. They spent two days in these schools. Br. John Moodie took the place of the fourth teacher needed. This was Buwan ng Wika week and schedules for these activities dominated the programs. The visiting students spent time in the classrooms sharing their stories with the students and learning in turn parts of the Pinoy story.

On Wednesday August 20 they all returned to Cauayan for the last evening together sharing stories, cementing friendships and evaluating experiences. The next morning they joined the Christian Brothers in Kabankalan for lunch and a quick tour of the city, including a look at the Brothers’ new residence which is under construction. In the afternoon they were off to Bacolod and thence to Manila.

Nudgee College have contributed significantly in fund-raising for projects supported by the Christian Brothers, including computers in the schools and the work being done for out-of-school children and youth in Kabankalan City. The awareness they take home with them kindles the flames within them to be involved in social justice at home and abroad. It is hoped these same flames will be stirred in the hearts of our Filipino students.