St. Joseph Parish Donsol at the Launching of DEEP V

St. Joseph Parish in Donsol joined the other parishes of the Diocese of Sorsogon in the Launching of the Diocesan Ecclesial and Evangelization Program (DEEP) phase V held at Sts. Peter and Paul Cathedral, Sorsogon City last February 6, 2o10. The DEEP is the diocesan pastoral program of the Diocese of Sorsogon, which gives the direction of the diocese for the next five years. This new phase of DEEP, which was the result of the Diocesan Pastoral Assembly attended by the different delegations from all the parishes and other religious congregations and institutions affiliated in the diocese, held last November 3-4, 2009 at the Our Lady of Penafrancia Seminary Minor Department. The phase V of the pastoral program of the diocese centers on the formation of Basic Ecclesial Communties in all the parishes of the diocese, a goal which is in line of the diocesan vision:

"a community of faith, living in love according to Gospel message, responding in service through the signs of the time striving in hope for the coming of the Kingdom of God."

The Launching was highligthed with the celebration of the Holy Eucharist presided over by no less Most Rev. Arturo M. Bastes, SVD, DD, concelebrated by almost all the priests in the diocese and attended by the different delegates from all the parishes, religious organizations, pilot BECs and catholic institutions under the diocese. Activities also include converging parade by vicariate, press conference, exhibit of the BECs' products and a simple program.

In his homily, Msgr. Reynaldo Mabute, the Vicar General of the Diocese of Sorsogon reminded everyone with our common vocation to continue the mission of Christ which is nothing but the mission to LOVE. An embodied Love should define the communty of faith and of hope that the diocese envisions to be; a Love that is sensible, something that is seen and felt. by the beloved. This , Msgr. Mabute added, is realized in the Basic Ecclesial Communities.

St. Joseph Parish currently has two established BECs -- Bantay Pamilya and Kapitbahayan from brgy. PWWD and Tupaz respectively -- and three new ones from brgy. Ogod, Sitio Pinarik and Sitio Halabang Tulay. Three of the five BECs from the parish attended the launching. Also part of the parish's delegation were the Lay Ministers, Catechists and the Parish Pastoral Council officers together with their family.

ppc met at masanque residence

Here some scenes of the parish pastoral council meeting held last January 31, 2010 at Bro. Roy Masanque residence. the main agenda were the preparation of the recently held Launching of the Diocesan Ecclesial and Evangelization Program (DEEP) Phase 5 last February 6, 2010 and the PPC family outing at the Paguriran Beach Resort, Sawanga Bacon Sorsogon.

PPC turnover which happened a day before this meeting was also evaluated and reassessed.

Some issues were also clarified regarding the role of the body in the Church.

PPC meeting ended with a simple sharing of food courtesy of the family of Bro. Roy Masanque.

National Congress of Clergy

faithful of Christ, faithfulness of Priests

Saying that ordained life entails living a life in imitation of Jesus Crucified, Cebu Archbishop Ricardo Cardinal Vidal said priests, as disciples of Jesus, must learn from his examples.

In his homily last Jan 28, the cardinal explained that what priests learn from theology does not come close to the knowledge they gain from Jesus’ teaching from the cross.

He stressed that there is no other way for priests to learn from the cross except by carrying it themselves.

The cardinal said newly ordained priests normally have very little cross to bear because their initial experience of priestly life is usually characterized with wild adulation, abundant gifts and unmitigated affirmation from the faithful.

“But the cross that we have to bear is not the opposite of these, but the exercise of restraint in the face of adulation, gifts and affirmation. The first lesson of Jesus crucified is thus to ‘deny yourself, take up your cross and follow me,’ ” Vidal said.

Learning from Jesus, the cardinal said, is knowing how to seek him with single-minded devotion, and making Him his only choice.

The cardinal also said that learning from brother priests is another way of learning from Jesus.

He, however, noted that the prevailing priestly culture does not usually encourage learning from fellow priests.

“Yet, there is so much to learn from each other’s experiences, struggles, pains and joys,” he said.

“Among priests, there can be so much heated and excited discussions about politics, sports, and business, but when the matter turns to personal and spiritual life, everybody becomes deaf and dumb,” the cardinal observed.

He said the young clergy can learn a lot from the experience of elderly priests.

“It is not so much the stories that matter when it comes to elderly priests, but their testimony of life lived in fidelity and constancy,” said the cardinal.

‘Learn also from lay people’

Vidal said priests can also learn from the lay faithful, since they too, have something to share even in spiritual and moral matters.

“The best way a priest can know the condition of God’s people is through the confessional. Like St. John Mary Vianney, a priest should spend much time in the confessional to know the real needs of the people he serves. We do not know the needs of people by virtues they exercise; we know their problems by the sins they commit,” the cardinal said.

Vidal stressed the clergy must put ahead the needs of the poor before his own, because when a priest opts for himself, the poor always takes the last place.

“The quality of our service is determined by the direction of our desires. If our hearts are directed towards the self, we become masters to be served. When our hearts are directed to God and his people, we become the servants of all,” he said. (CBCPNews)

5,542 priests and bishops attend clergy congress

Barrio Visits for the month of January

January 5, 2010 Brgy. De Vera Fiesta

the way: with some PPC Members

January 11, 2010 Brgy. Tuba:

On The Way

Visit

Installation of the new Kapilaya Pastoral Council

Installation of the new Hermano and Hermana

KPC OFFICERS: Nuestra Senora del Rosario Chapel, Tuba, Donsol Sorsogon

Chairperson: Versatile Alcantara
Vice Chair: Estrilla Llanera
Secretary: Floserpida Reyes
Treasurer: Marilou Asilum
Auditor: Antonio Macina

Family & Life: Hilda Abardo
Laity: Elsa Madridano
Youth: Manilyn Abardao
Media 4 Evan: Gloria Moratello
Worship: Rosita Samson
Education: Mercy Martinez
Service: Santos Llanera
Temporalities: Edna Marjaleno

Hermano and Hermana: Mr. & Mrs. Rosita Samson

January 11, 2010 Brgy. Malapoc

the way

Visit

Installation of the new Kapilaya Pastoral Council

Installation of the new Hermanas

KPC OFFICERS: San Miguel de Arcanghel Chapel, Malapoc, Donsol Sorsogon

Chairperson: Adelia Novela
Vice Chair: Marevie Melitante
Secretary: Gemma Enrico
Treasurer: Morena Neo
Auditor: Susana Aviso
Family & Life:Lourdes Perina
Laity: Yolanda Perina
Youth: Judy Ann Obreviada
Media 4 Evan: Jenelita Alcantara
Worship: Josephine Obreviada
Education: Susan Singson
Service: Nelda Moratalla
Temporalities: Helen Enrico

Hermano and Hermana: Arceli Ombao and Salvacion Garcia

January 14, 2010
Sitio Magaragad, Sibago, Donsol: Sitio Fiesta

The Visit

The Chapel and The People

January 15, 2010
Visit and Wedding at Brgy. San Rafael

the way

the place

the chapel

the wedding