Feast of the Conversion of Saint Paul

The Apostle Paul started out as Saul, Pharisee and persecutor of the Christian Church. What happened to transform his life?

The Apostle Paul, author of much of the New Testament, started out as Saul, tentmaker, Pharisee and persecutor of the Christian Church. What happened to transform this man's life and what does it mean to me 2000 years later?

The story of Saul's conversion begins with the stoning of Stephen. Stephen preached Christ boldly and was drug out of town and stoned to death. Acts records that Saul was there and in full support of the stoning. (Acts 8:1) Saul was an enemy of the Church and a persecutor of its believers. "As for Saul, he made havoc of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison." (Acts 8:3)

Saul went to the chief priests and got permission to go to Damascus to hunt for Christians. His intention was to find them and haul them back to Jerusalem to prison. He set off and when he got close to the city, a bright light surrounded him. "And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?" (Acts 9:4)

Saul was terrified "And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest." (Acts 9:5) Paul asked the Lord what he should do and was told to continue on into the city; he would be told there what to do. Those traveling with him had seen the light and heard the voice, but didn't see who spoke. Saul arose from the ground and discovered that he was blind. His companions led him the rest of the way into Damascus.

Saul remained blind and didn't eat or drink for three days. A believer named Ananias lived in Damascus and the Lord spoke to him in a vision telling him to go to Straight Street to the home of Judas where he would find Saul of Tarsus. This frightened Ananias for Saul's persecution of believers was well known. "But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel:" (Acts 9:15)

Saul had also had a vision from the Lord; his vision was of a man named Ananias laying hands on him and his sight being restored. When Ananias arrived and laid hands on Saul, scales fell from his eyes and his sight was restored. Saul was filled with the Holy Spirit and was baptized. He stayed on in Damascus for several days and preached Christ in the synagogues. (Acts 9:18-22)

http://www.essortment.com/conversion-paul-36099.html

Columban Partners in Mission General Assembly

Pax Christi Pilipinas National Assembly

Pax Christi Pilipinas National Assembly

Balay Kalinungan, University of Saint La Salle - Bacolod

February 5 - 6, 2011

Pax Christi Meeting at Niall O'Brien Center for Peace

Birthday Gathering

Christian Brothers, members of the Negros Nine Foundation, Columban Partners in Mission, and Columban Affiliates celebrate the birthday of Fr. Brian Gore

Conflict Management and Peace-building Workshop

Conflict Management and Peace-building Workshop

San Lorenzo Ruiz Retreat House

City of Kabankalan

Colegio San Agustin – Bacolod Guidance Services Center in collaboration with Niall O’Brien Center for Peace, Pax Christi International and Columban Partners in Mission organized and conducted Conflict Management and Peace-building Workshop at the San Lorenzo Ruiz Retreat House in Kabankalan City last December 4, 2010.

Seventeen Church ushers and usherettes, who are also students from Binicuil National High School  - Poblacion Extension, participated in the said workshop. After the opening prayer and the national anthem, Fr. Brian Gore, the director of the Niall O’Brien Center for Peace, gave his inspirational message and the overview of the programs of the Center. Jack Pamine, the administrative officer of the Center, gave the background of the workshop.

The participants together with the facilitators engaged in a lively introduction through a game called, “Tell Me!” where they shared their names and their favorites with one another. This was followed by a self-awareness activity. Participants identified their strengths, weaknesses, interests and sources of support through a paper mosaic they made.

The afternoon session resumed after a lavish meal from San Columbano. The session culminated in the activity called “Bilog ang Itlog”. The participants were divided into four groups and each group was given an egg, adhesives, bond papers, art papers, magazines and scissors.

The groups had to make an attractive and durable package for the egg to stand an 8-foot fall. They were also tasked to compose a short jingle to advertise their package. The members of the groups eagerly did their share in the preparation of the egg package. After the allotted time, their packages were ready. The participants passionately advertised their package and let their priceless package fell.

After the lively activity, a lecture on Conflict Management followed. Sources, types and effects of conflict were discussed as well as the ways to handle and manage conflict.

The workshop concluded with a group processing, evaluation and prayer for personal reconciliation as the beginning of peace-building in the community.

The workshop was co-facilitated by four senior psychology students. Also present were Fr. Ricon Dagunan, the rector of Saint Francis Xavier Parish, the coordinators of the parish youth organizations, and the Sisters of the Rural Missions , who heartily accommodated the team.

Feast of Saint Columban

November 23, 2010 – Columban missionaries, friends and partners in mission gathered at San Columbano Retreat House in Himamaylan City and celebrated the feast of Saint Columban, the patron saint of the Missionary Society of Saint Columban.

The feast started with the Eucharistic Celebration officiated by Fr. Brian Gore together with Fr. Sean Coyle and four diocesan priests. The assembly began with the ceremonial tolling of the bell in commemoration of the Ampatuan Massacre victims whose first death anniversary falls on the same date. The bell was tolled fifty-seven times for the fifty-seven victims who were brutally murdered last year.

In his homily, Fr. Gore shared the story of Saint Columban, his missionary zeal and his great part in unifying Europe. Fr. Gore also told the assembly about the shift in the Missionary Society of Saint Columban as the society adapts to the changes of the modern time.

More stories and experiences were shared during the fellowship lunch that followed. After the meal, the Little Way Group and the Columban Partners in Mission had a short meeting in preparation for the incoming activities and for the promotion of mission awareness.

With a refreshed missionary zeal, undying missionary spirit and the inspiration of Saint Columban, the group bade farewell and returned to their respective parishes ready to face the challenges that await them as they continue to journey with the Columbans in following the footsteps of Christ throughout this life.

Please visit San Columbano. The new looks of San Columbano makes it more comfortable and conducive for retreats, seminars, recollections and gatherings. Located near the famous beach resorts in the province, San Columbano also provides the same ambiance its neighboring resorts offer.

Pilgrimage

Members of the Little Way Group, lay leaders and Columban Partners in Mission from the Diocese of Kabankalan together with Fr. Rembert Rivera, visited the John Paul II Tower in their one-day pilgrimage to the Diocese of Bacolod.

Feast Day of the Archangels

Michael, Gabriel and Raphael

Angels—messengers from God—appear frequently in Scripture, but only Michael, Gabriel and Raphael are named.

Michael appears in Daniel's vision as "the great prince" who defends Israel against its enemies; in the Book of Revelation, he leads God's armies to final victory over the forces of evil. Devotion to Michael is the oldest angelic devotion, rising in the East in the fourth century. The Church in the West began to observe a feast honoring Michael and the angels in the fifth century.

Gabriel also makes an appearance in Daniel's visions, announcing Michael's role in God's plan. His best-known appearance is an encounter with a young Jewish girl named Mary, who consents to bear the Messiah.

Raphael's activity is confined to the Old Testament story of Tobit. There he appears to guide Tobit's son Tobiah through a series of fantastic adventures which lead to a threefold happy ending: Tobiah's marriage to Sarah, the healing of Tobit's blindness and the restoration of the family fortune.

The memorials of Gabriel (March 24) and Raphael (October 24) were added to the Roman calendar in 1921. The 1970 revision of the calendar joined their feasts to Michael's. Each of these archangels performs a different mission in Scripture: Michael protects; Gabriel announces; Raphael guides. Earlier belief that inexplicable events were due to the actions of spiritual beings has given way to a scientific world-view and a different sense of cause and effect. Yet believers still experience God's protection, communication and guidance in ways which defy description. We cannot dismiss angels too lightly.

http://www.americancatholic.org/features/saints/saint.aspx?id=1153

St. Lawrence Ruiz and Companions

St. Lawrence Ruiz and Companions

September 28

Lorenzo Ruiz is the first Filipino saint. He is also the first Filipino martyred for the Christian Faith. Lorenzo Ruiz was a layman, married, and had two sons and a daughter. 

Born in Binondo, Manila, about 1600's, he was educated in the school of the Dominicans there. He served as an altar boy and later was a helper and clerk-sacristan in the church of Binondo. He was a member of the Confraternity of the Rosary. He made his living probably as a calligrapher, one who renders documents in beautiful penmanship for private or official use. To be sure, that work denoted an accomplished and educated person, especially at a time when many an illustrious personage were far from excelling in this art. 

An adverse event made him leave the Philippines in 1636. When he was in his late twenties or early thirties, he became involved or was accused of being involved in a criminal case, the circumstances of which are far from clear. Whether he was involved or not, one thing was clear, he was afraid that, as a consequence of a trial or mistrial, he might be given a death sentence. 

Upon landing in Japan where Christians were being persecuted, he was arrested and imprisoned together with his companions. He underwent inhuman tortures and valiantly confessed his Christian Faith. Refusing to renounce his Faith, he told his executioner that he was ready to die for God and give himself for many thousands of lives if he had them. On September 27, 1637, he was hung from a gallows by his feet, his body falling into a pit. 

After two days of agony, he died of bleeding and suffocation. His body was cremated and the ashes thrown into the sea. He and fifteen companions, martyred in the same persecution, were beatified by Pope John Paul II in Manila on February 18, 1981 and elevated to full honors of the altar by canonization on October 18, 1987 in Rome. Their feast day is on September 28th.

http://www.americancatholic.org/features/saints/saint.aspx?id=1146