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Communion of Communities: Ecclesiological Perspective Fr. Amado L. Picardal, CSsR, STD “2017- Parish as Communion of Communities: In this year we will discern the quality of faith life in the parish, the fellowship, belongingness, and participation experienced by its members. Efforts will be focused on making the parish a communion of communities, a communion of Basic Ecclesial Communities and of covenanted faith-communities and ecclesial movements. All these various communities should be thus integrated into the life and mission of the parish so that the parish will be truly be a faith community immersed in the lives of its people.” Etymology of Communion – Koinonia Communion is a translation of the original Greek koinonia which has several connotations: Union, unity Fellowship Community Friendship Sharing Participation Partnership Koinonia in Sacred Scripture In the New Testament, there are several texts that refe...

Explanation of the logo The circles of people whose hands are intertwined symbolize the communion within the BECs. These communities are linked together by the outline of the cross which signifies the parish as communion of communities. It also includes other faith communities and organizations that are in the parish that – although trans-parochial in nature- are called to actively take part in the life of the parish and BECs. The outline of the cross also symbolizes the vertical and horizontal dimension of communion – communion with the Triune God and with each other. The bread and chalice at the center symbolize the Eucharist which is the sacrament and celebration of this communion. The bible which is also at the center symbolizes the Word of God that is shared and proclaimed which is the source of faith and basis of communion and which nourishes and build up communion. The sun rays symbolize the light of Christ that shines in the life of the members of parish and these com...

Pastoral Exhortation of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines to open the Year 2017 as the Year of Parishes, Communion of Communities BELOVED people of God: We welcome the year 2017 in our “novena-years” of preparation for the grateful celebration in 2021 of the five hundredth anniversary of the first coming and first receiving among our people of the Gospel of Christ Jesus and of His holy Church. That forthcoming 2021 celebration, recalling the first Mass and first baptisms in our shores, should be a new and joyous explosion in our lives of faith, hope and love throughout our country. Surely such will be our response to the free and gracious gift from the heavenly Father which made the year 1521, for us Christians first of all, a memorable and incredibly significant “new beginning” in our history. As we began this “novena” we raised a banner of hope and renewal for the Church in our land with the motto, “Live Christ, Share Christ!” That is the firm res...

First Holy Communion is one of the yearly activities of the parish life. here in saint Martin de Porres, we do it every December and January. it is not much of a large group because this parish is a small one, and I may say a smallest in the Diocese of San Pablo in terms of land area and population. However, we decided to make use of the time we spent with the children during the Marian May flower devotion to gather those who have not been able to participate in the last First Communion celebration. We gather a ample number of first communicants, 14 to be exact. Sometimes, we see it as a waste of time of training 14 individual for this summer, why not wait for this coming December instead? I asked myself. Reflecting deeper, I realized that it is not the number that count but more on the seriousness of the Church to offer her services to a maximum capacity that it can offer so that the faithful may have a wide opportunity to received the sacraments in. Is 14 a defeating number in t...

May flower Marian devotion is fast approaching. We will be giving catechesis for children as they congregate to honor Mary as the disciple of our Lord Jesus Christ. An example of humility and simplicity. Before we could teach the children, we have to prepare the facilitators so that they can effectively impart the teaching of our faith. . This year they will also prepare the children who were not been able to participate on the First Communion scheduled last December and January. They will also help our Catechist for those who will undergo the seminar for Kumpilang Bayan.

The work of International Eucharistic Congresses began in France in 1881 as a fruit of the Eucharistic apostolate of Saint Peter-Julian Eymard, “the apostle of the Eucharist” (1811-1868), and of other outstanding figures such as Blessed Antoine Chevrier (1826-1879), Léon Dupont (1797-1876) and Bishop Gaston Adrian de Ségur (1820-1880). Thanks to the insight and commitment of Miss Émilie-Marie Tamisier (1834-1910), her idea of “Eucharistic pilgrimages” gradually changed into Congresses of Eucharistic Works, which later came to be known as “Eucharistic Congresses”. Immediately submitted to the Holy See, International Eucharistic Congresses appeared as public events focused on stimulating the faith of Catholics in the “Real Presence”, on promoting increased zeal for devotion to the Eucharist outside of Mass, and on proclaiming the social Kingship of Christ against the laicism then regnant. Devotion to the Eucharist outside of Mass almost exclusively characterized the Euch...

The president of the Philippines have moved the holiday of June 12 as the Independence Day celebration to June 9 for a long holiday. It is also an occasion from which the Lay Ministers of the Holy Communion can start the construction of the St. Augustine Chapel. Actually it is the renovation of the Old Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration Chapel building. Eucharistic Adoration was stopped even before I assume office as the Parish Priest. I have contemplated the continuation of the said devotion but as I observe the present situation of the Parish it is not possible as of the moment. From the very start there are few who would like to continue the devotion but I challenge them to give me people who can devote their time to fill the slot to stay in the chapel one hour each week. For some time, I have waited for response and I have received none. Yes, nada. The said edifice was been used for meetings of small groups for some time. But since the parish need to boost the devotion to the Patr...

Lay ministers of the Holy Communion of the diocese have an annual Lenten recollection in San Pablo today. Lay Ministers of my former parish, Nuestra Senora delos Angeles, Sta. Maria, Laguna drop by after the affair. Although there is a regular monthly Parish Pastoral Council Meeting, I accomodated them. Blogs commenting Fr. Jessie's post

Bishop ………………………………… 1 Priests: Diocesan ………………………… 117 Religious: Filipino …………………………… 70 Foreign …………………………… 10 Total ……………………………… 80 Brother Filipino …………………………… 14 Foreign…………………………… 5 Total ……………………………... 19 Nuns: Filipino …………………………... 212 Foreign ……………………………… 25 Total ……………………………… 237 Seminaries: Theology …………………………… 1 College ……………………………… 1 Seminarians: Major: in Theology ………………… 20 In Philosophy ……………… 46 Total ……………………………… 66 Catechist …………………………… 1,787 Full-time …………………………… 691 Part-time …………………………… 1,096 Diocesan Divisions: Episcopal Districts……………………... 4 Vicariates ………………………… 12 Parishes ……………………………… 80 Shrine………………………………. … 03 Entrusted to Diocesan clergy……… 70 Entrusted to ...

Blogs commenting Fr. Jessie's post

The priests of the vicariate have decided to trained new lay ministers of the holy communion for the period of five weeks to enable them to grasp the work intended for them and be able to help the community they will serve. There are 21 number of participants who started and with the help of grace finished today through the commissioning of which i presided during the Mass as the Vicar Forane. Fr. Joe Segudo of the immaculate parish gave the homily for the said event. After the mass, a simple meal followed. Five of the said new lay ministers of Holy Communion are from my parish Blogs commenting Fr. Jessie's post

Rev. Fr. Thor Villacarlos giving on-going seminar to the vicariate lay ministers of the Holy Communion. He consilidated the three previous talk on the subject of the Apostolic exhortation of the Pope Benedict XVI's Sacramentum caritatis. The first three talks were given by: Rev. Fr. Gomer Torres - The Eucharist as the Sacrament to believe Rev. Fr. Jessie Somosierra, Jr. - The Eucharist as the sacrament to be celebrated Rev. Fr. Marvi Villamir - The Eucharist as the sacrament to be lived. During the said celebration, that there must be something to be done concerning the number of lay ministers participating in the said seminar. Though the number is considerable large but it is only less than half of the total number of all lay ministers of the Eucharist in the vicariate of Immaculate Conception. Since, it is the fourth time that the said gathering is being held. It is clear from the log book and of my observation that there is a need to focus on the attendants. Speakers prepare ...