Happy New Year!

People making lists,
buying special gifts,
it's the time to be kind to one and all.
It's the time of year when good friends are dear.
And you wish you could give more,
than the presents from the store.
Why don't you give love on new year's day..
Happy new year to all!

Advent is taken from the latin word Adventus, which means coming. Today, the first Sunday of advent ushers to a new church calendar. The old calendar of the Church ended last Sunday with the celebration of the Solemnity of Christ the King. And advent is reminding is to prepare to two important occasions in our Christian life: the celebration of the incarnation of God and the second coming of Jesus as judge in his glory.

How then are we goin to prepare for these two events? We Filipinos have a peculiar way of welcoming a guest. I remember when I was young, when we were expecting a guests we make special preparations. We lived in a barrio (village). most of the houses during that time were built on stilts, the lower part of the house is where our animals lived and the upper part of the house with one room for the living room, the dining room and for sleeping area for the whole family members. If guests are expected, we make a general cleaning from scrubbing the floors made of bamboo slits by using banana leaves because we do not have commercial floor wax then. My mother would bring blankets washed them and put starch on it to make sure that it is crispy. She would then bring the best plates and glasses and cups. My father on the other would prepare something to be butchered, pigs, goats or even our dogs. And we make sure taht the guest would feel at home and especially treated. That is how we welcome guests.

When expectings guests we make sure that we give the best comforts as possible. If we do these things to our human guests, how much more if the expected guest is Jesus himself? Are we not going to make the best preparations to make sure that Jesus would not only come and visit us but to remain with us? Are we not suppose to make that in our hearts there is a dwelling place for him?

St. Paul in his first letter to the Thessalonians reminded his community to be blameless and pure in the sight of God that when the Lord comes they would stand erect before him. And in the gospel reading, St. Luke is reminding us to beware for our hearts not to be drowsy of carousing and drunkenness and preoccuppied with the anxieties of this life. We need to be vigilant and keep praying that we may have the strenght to face the tribulations and tragedies of life. That when the Lord comes we may be ready to welcome hime with head held up high, because we have been faithful to him and his word.

The celebration of Christmas is sure to come on the 25th of December. We might have sent away all of our Christmas cards, or had wrapped all our gifts, and our house beautifully adorned with Christmas Trees, lights and other ornamentts, these things are important reminders that Jesus came to us as man, but the most important thing is to be spiritually ready to welcome him when he comes again. Then, with all honesty we can say, Come Lord Jesus, my heart is ready for you to dwell. Amen

It's Too Good to be TWO!

Yesterday November 22, 2009, the Filipino Catholic Community of Sts. Peter and Paul celebrated second yeard of it's existence with a Thanksgiving Mass and a Dinner at Sts. Peter and Paul Church in West Valley City, Utah. More than a hundred members of the community attended the said event. Most of those who were there when the community was just starting were present, a number of them were not around for reasons we don't know of. But I believe that they are also happy that the small group of Filipino Catholics around Salt Lake City and the Valley area had grown to it's present number.

There was festive mood among the members present. Kids did some parlor games prepared by Carmela and company. Different naative Filipino foods were served, and the celebration would not have been complete sans LECHON courtesy of Leo.

Kuya Rudy Padua, after all the visitors and guests left suggested that for the next anniversary we need to invite the Bishop to come and celebrate the Mass with us. I told them that before that invitation, they have to formally organize themselves and chose the leaders of the community. Things went smoothly even without leaders but it would have been better if there's a core pastoral group to lead the community. Before the party is over came the snow fall. But all of the members went home happy.

My sincerest thanks and appreciation to those who in one way or the other contributed to the success of this years celebration. To those who put their time, talent and treasures, the organizing committee , the choir, the faithful members and guests and to everyone who took part in the celebration. May the good Lord reward you for your generosity. Mabuhay ang Sambayanan ng Filipinong Katoliko ng Sts. Peter and Paul Parish.

See you next year folks!

The Number You Have Dialed Can not be Reach

One of the most important technological innovations in the 21st century is the cell phone and internet. I still remember when I was young in 70's that to call Manila from our province you need to pay a fortune and letters received in months especially those coming from abroad. But this innovations communications is easier and a lot faster. Cell phones like cars are no longer a luxury but it is a necessity. As a priest, it is very helpful because you can be reach anytime of the day or the night through the cell phone. Even if you can not take the call immediately you can return missed calls if the calling party makes his number available to you. The only reason when a person cannot receive calls is when his cell phone is turned off or he does not want to receive calls at all.

Since my duty and responsiblities as a priest is not only from 9 o'clock in the morning 'til 5 o'clock in the afternoon, I need to be ready and make myself available to all people that I serve all day and all night. Because this is my life as a servant. It is not my time, but the time of those in need of my service that is to be taken into consideration.

I am always ready to take your call at 435 862 68 67. Call Now!

My House Shall be a House of Prayer

Every time we enter the Church we need to deep our fingers in the Holy Water font normally and accessibly located in every Church doors. This is to remind us that we are entering a sacred place of worship. And also the holy water reminds us of our baptism into the body of Christ which is the Church. As a place of worship we need to exercise utmost reverence and respect because Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament is Really Present in the Church.

The light that is burning perpetually on the side of the Tabernacle represents the light of Christ present in the Blessed Eucharist. The Church with Christ present in the Blessed Sacrament makes the building our place of worship Sacred. We need to maintain not only Silence and Prayeful atmosphere but maintain the holiness of the place.

Come Down Quickly, I Must Stay at your House Today

Today's gospel story is about Zacchaeus a rich tax collector who went down to his self-made throne to see what Jesus' was like. There are three stages in his life story.

First is that, Zacchaeus was a wealthy man but he is unhappy. He was lonely because he had chosen a way that made him an outcast. Despised and hated by his fellowmen, Zacchaeus was reaching after the love of God.

Secondly, despite of this he was determined to see Jesus and would not let anything to stop him. For Zacchaeus, mingling with the crown alone is a courageous thing to do, even with his stature he climbed a sycamore tree.

Thirdly, Zacchaeus took steps to show to the community that he was a changed man. When Jesus announced that he would stay in his house that day, and when he discovered that he had found a new and wonderful friend in Jesus, He made a decision. Upon encountering Jesus, he decided half of his wealth to the poor, and half of it to be used to make restitution to his misdeeds especially defrauding his neighbors of which he confessed that he is guilty. And he was ready to pay neyond what is legally acceptable.

God in his goodness and mercy is also asking us to go down to the pedestal we buit for ourselves. Like Zacchaeus we need to give up our ego and pride so that Jesus could come and dwell in us. He have to forego those that hinders us of our intimate relationship with God. God is waiting for us to come down and walk with him in newness of life.

Steps for Life

Last Saturday November 14 at 30 past 8 in the morning some members of St. George Catholic Church joined the different denominations around town in the Walk for Life actitivities organized by the Hope Pregnancy Center. It was fun walking for a cause. The siblings Austin, Anthony, and Ashley Gregorio, Michael Bondad, the sister of Charisma Pinna who came all the way from Chicago, and our Father Vidal won some consolation prizes.

It's a cause that reminds everyone the sacredness of human life that needed to be respected and protected at all cost.

Your Faith has Saved YOU

"Have sight, your faith has saved you"

After Mass yesterday at 11 o'clock in the morning in Hurricane, a lady came to me and embraced saying, "Father, thank you so much for the miracle you have done to me!" I asked her, "what miracle?" She said, "you remember the last time you were here? I came to asked for your blessing just before you started the Mass." " Two weeks ago I went to see my doctor and he said that cancer cells in my body are gone." she continued. I told her it's not me who did the miracle it is her faith and the work of God. "But you are the instrument." she insisted.

As a priest it's a humbling experience for me. Inspite of my own sinfulness and wickedness, God continue using me in allowing people to experience his love and his grace.

The word of God today reminds us of God's abundant love if we only put our total confidence and complete trust in Him. The blind man when he heard that Jesus is passing by, he did not only stayed in one corner. He made it a point that Jesus would take notice of him by not keeping silent. He shouted, "Jesus, son of David have pity on me!" Even if the Lord is busy with his preaching and teaching, He stopped and give what the blind man needed, that is, that his sight may be restored. If only we have that kind of faith of the blind man, I believed that there are a lot of miracles that will happen in our lives.

The End Time a Vision of HOPE

Denis Mc Bride in his book Season's of the Word has this interesting story to tell:

The leader of a certain Indian tribe was dying. For many generations his people had been encamped at the base of a large mountain. The chieftain summoned his three sons and said' "I am dying; before I die, I must choose one of you to succeed me as the head of our tribe. I have the same task for each of you. I want you to climb our Holy Mountain and bring me back something beautiful, the one whose gift is the most outstanding will be the one who will succeed me."

The following morning the sons set out on their search, each taking different path to stop of the Holy Mountain. After several days the sons returned. The first son brought with him a rare kind of extremely beautiful flower that grow near the summit of the mountain. The second son brought his father a precious stone which was polished by sandy wind and rain. When the third son approached his father, everryone saw him came with an empty hands.

The empty handed son said to his father: "I have brought back nothing to show you, father. As I stood on the top of the Holy Mountain, I saw that on the other side was a beautiful land filled with green pastures. in the middle of these pastures there is a crystal lake. And I have a vision of where our tribe could go for a better life. I was so overwhelmed with what I saw and by what I could see that I could not bring anything back." And the fatherv replied: "you shall be our tribe's chieftain, for you have brought back the most precious thing of all - the gift of vision for a better future for our people.

This is story is very appropriate for our reflecyion on the END TIME or the PAROUSIA, namele the second coming of Jesus in power and glory at the end of the world. The Lord is reminding us to be always be ready for his return. Because no one knows the day or the hour that he is coming back.

The image that Jesus used in picturing the end of time is scary because the Sun will no longer shine, the moon will no longer give its light, the stars will be falling from the skies. The world will be in total darkness and in chaos. But for those who are ready to come face to face with the Lord will rejoice because Jesus will come to give justice to the world.

To be ready to that Parousia we need to be always faithful to the Word and Commandments of God. If we keep an eye unto the world that is to come and be loyal to Jesus to the end, then we will be happy because we will be numbered among God's elect and be with Him in his Kingdom.

Rejoice for God has Found US

There is much rejoicing in heaven for one sinner who repents than a ninety-nine righteous men who does not need the grace of God. The gospel reading today is a gospel within a gospel because it clearly illustrates the reason for God's incarnation. That He came to save the lost. That He came to allow us to exprerience God's divine unconditional love. By using the two parables of the Lost Sheep and the Lost Coin, Jesus is telling us that He loves us unconditionally no matter what. The Pharisees are questioning Him because he dined with sinners, they dont realized that Jesus' love goes beyond the faults and mistakes of people. The gospel reminds us that no matter how grave the sins that we have committed in our lives, He is always willing to embrace us back if we acknowledge that we have sinned, we repent and find our way bak to his fatherly embrace. All of us have sinned. Part of our being human is our human weaknesses and sinfulness. But there is hope because Jesus our Good Shepherd is trying to find us. If He found us Go back to Him and he will forgive us. His mercy and forgiveness is immeasurable. He does not make a record of our wrongdoing because He loves us.

A Word of Thanks

A week ago Roger and Peggy treated me to a sumptuous lunch at my favorite restaurant in town. And they handed me the proceeds of the weekend Bake Sale for the victims of the twin typhoon Ondoy international codename KETSANA that devastated the capital city Metro Manila and her neighboring cities and provinces and the typhoon Pepeng international codename PARMA that left huge damages to crops, properties and hundreds of people died in the northern part of Luzon.

I was overwhelmed and humbled by the success of the Bake Sale. I could not describe the joy I felt because of the outpouring of support and love from the parish community. The number of men, women, and young people who took part in the said event and gave their time, talent, and resources were so amazing. Words are not enough to express my gratitude to all of you who showed your love, care and concern for me and my family and villagemate back home. I am truly blest because of your generosity and kindness. My sincerest thanks to all of you.