Student Catholic Action of the Philippines Celebrates its 75 Years with the 10th National Leadership Conference

Cheers to one of the pioneer student organization in the Philippines that formed so many great leaders and also molded student from all over the country. This year,  we are now celebrating the 75th year since 1936, which endured wars, martial law and revolutions that shaped the country. If you are an SCAn from your school days, we invite you to join us in the 10th National Conference that is happening at St. Paul University Manila.

here are the schedules for the 5 day conference.

 

 

And also get more details and news from the SCA facebook page and website.

YouthPinoy at UST!

Recently Youthpinoy.com was officially launched at UST in coordination with the Episcopal Comission on Youth of the CBCP and the Federation of National Youth Organizations. The website that is in beta can be now accessed to be a social network for Catholic youth of the Philippines. The event was also significant due to the fact that 15 years ago this was also the place where the World Youth Day 1995 was launched and made the historical record. With youths from different dioceses and organizations, parishioners and other civic groups, the event started with some games then a high mass led by the papal nuncio to the Philippines.

There were performances led by the different youth organizations and movements from different dioceses. Some famous acts like RJ Jimenez (Pinoy Dream Academy) and Mayumi and Makising Morales, which were also affiliated with Youth for Christ. The National Secretariat for Youth Apostolate hopes that with this Pinoy Catholics may grow in faith as they stay connected and also share experiences that will lead them in living better and faithful lives.

you can visit their website, www.youthpinoy.com, register and get connected!

Catholic Youth rejoice with the YOUTHPINOY.COM!

Catholic Pinoy Youth will have a space in the web where they gather, share and exchange ideas and experiences with Youthpinoy.com. YouthPinoy is a joint project of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), Episcopal Commission on Youth and Office on Mass Media.

They will be having the site launch at University of Santo Thomas on January 16, 2010 at 12 noon. One may register for the also the event at the  youth pinoy website. There is a registration fee of P50 and payment can either be at the event proper or through Bank of Commerce
ACCOUNT NAME: CBCP Communications Development Foundation, Inc.
ACCOUNT NO.: 015-20-004926-5
In confirming your payment, kindly fax  to (02) 404-1612 or email (scanned form) to Mr. Richard Zabala richardzabala@gmail.com This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
For Fax, Address the Information Sheet to Mr. Richard Zabala (for parishes, schools, and diocesan delegations in Metro Manila); Ms. Bernadette Felix (for parishes, schools, and diocesan delegations in the regions); Ms. Milarie Babia (for FNYO member organizations)
Official receipts can be requested only by those who faxed in their information sheets on or before January 12. Receipts for walk-in payments can only be mailed a week after the launch date.
Delegates are advised to wear your parish/organization T-shirts and or bring a banner for easy identification at the launch venue.

Misa de Gallo Diaries: Day five

For this day, I went to a dawn mass again. And for this trip, I chose to go to Quiapo Chruch. And if you may not know, I do have a devotion for the Black Nazarene. That is why since high school I would always attend the Feast of the Black Nazarene every January. Like me, there would be millions of devotees that would testify the miracles that happened in their lives with having a strong spiritual connection with Jesus. Being the central figure of faith, his birth would show his great mission which eventually showed his love for mankind by being crucified on the cross.

The church is coincidently the parish of St. John the Baptist. Whch is also what the gopel is all about. Even within the womb. John showed his excitement as Mary visited her cousin Elizabeth. At this sight, Elizabeth felt very blessed and spoke of praise to Mary and the one in he womb. And we knw that John the Baptist lived the life similar to the prophet Elijah. He is also the "voice that cries out in the desert saying prepare the way of the Lord". With this the arrival of Jesus has proven his Kingship and thet title of Messiah.

This journey to Quiapo was very exciting because even if the number of devotee are overflowing from inside, I was able to get inside and also got sprinkled with a lot of holy water. I often wondered if it is possible that holy water would be vented out in sprinklers so everyone would be showered (and get wet) with it. But it made me realized that even some may not be sprinkled with blessings, one may need to be patient with waiting for the right time. One may pray for years for healing for a certain disease, but would not loose hope. And with this hope, it makes us alive. It makes us strive to be better. It makes us rise from our grieving and sorrows. And hope is also the message of Christmas.

Misa de Gallo Diaries: Day four

The fourth night of simbang gabi was very special to me since its also our Christmas Party for AYOM (Archdiocesan Youth Organizations and Movements) at the Arsobispado de Manila in Intramuros, Manila. I've been working with this group for the whole year with major activities such as retreats and team buidling. And for this night, we will have mass before the actual party. I was also excited to see the belen collection the archdiocese is displaying. They are just small figurines so they dont take a lot of space but they are well crafted.

The chapel inside arsobispado has been my favorite indoor chapels despite its seating capacity. Its ambiance is simple yet very solemn. The mass was celebrated by our minister Father Marthy Marcelo. Its his first time to spend Christmas with the AYOM group since his installation on March. We loved his sermons because even it starts with witty humor, eventually he would turn it to a serious, touching and meaningful speech. He is also very new in the priesthood as he celebrated his first year this year. And we are looking forward for more years of journeying with him.

The message in for the mass' gospel is still linked to the message of being not afraid from God's will be with him and will protect all who are faithful to him. This time we would also see Joseph as he recieve the good news although he hesitated at first. If I were in his shoes, I would also be hesistant but the good thing that he done is that he chose to follow the great plan for the arrival Jesus.
As I was saying we also had the Christmas Party also at the same venue but in the 4th floor where Pope John Paul II also dined years ago. We were about 150 people there. Of course there is food, games, dances but no booze (hey its a church movement!). But eventhough, we had a lot of fun thinking that this buiding is the office of the Archdiocese of Manila. This just proves that being pious can be fun especially when you have your friends.

Misa de Gallo Diaries: Day three

Last night, me and my mother went to Divisoria to buy something. Not really gifts but practical stuff like fabric et cetera. And since there is heavy traffic of vehicles and people, I was not able to reach the masses in the evening. However, I made a desicion to persue to early morning mass but just not sure where to go. My options were to go to PLM where I got an invite set at 4:30 am. The other option is EDSA shrine since I also wanted to attend mass there again. Being so practical (and a little bout of time for commuting) I decided to go to EDSA shrine since it takes one bus ride (or two jeepney rides) and would not take more than 15 mins at that hour. Again for my Simbang Gabi masses, I feel everyday is an adventure that I can cherish and reflect on what I have experienced in the past nights/mornings. And since it was my first mass in the morning, the feeling of excitement filled me. I did arrived probably 10 mins late since I entered the shire when the reading were started.

The message in today's gospel is DO NOT BE AFRAID. Its very timely for us that are in anxiety for the coming days or probably next year. The message was also lingering in my mind since the priest had a french accent (probably he is french). I do have fears and worries about the coming days or even hours. I beleive you have one also. It was a message of security from the Lord that as we await him, we can put our trust in him and stand brave amidst the night. There are still days before the mager will be filled, so it is good for us to light our lamp of trust and faith until he arrives.

After the mass, I was excited to taste the taho from the vendor outside. Since there were no other vendors for puto bumbong or bibingka. I also met a TENer friend kuya Lei(he gave me the time the mass will start). I missed the morning breeze and also the hot taho at ortigas. So I also realized that even things did not go according to plan, it may actually lead to a better experince.

Misa De Gallo Diaries: Day one

Its another year and Christmas is just a few days away from now and everyone is on the holiday rush nowadays. However in line with tradition, we do observe Misa de Gallo or simbang gabi. That is 9 night or mornings of masses like a novena for the day of Christmas. Actually I've been on and off this tradition however this year, I think it would be great to thank God for the graces I have recieved this year and make a complete 9 day devotion. Plus a good thing to do to totatly reflect on the days would be blogging. So it would be an adventure in each mass. I intend on going to several other parishes like a pilgrimage with a sense of anticipation of the birth of Jesus.





For day one I started it with the parish that I belong to, The Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish in Sta Mesa. This hundred year old church is actually not that I go to mass more frequently. However there would be times that I would reflect of wisdom taught by their priests. Father in his homily said it was also his tradition to facilitate the first simbang gabi. He said that its Ok to do a wish by doing the simbang gabi however we are given responsibilities that would actually help us in growing spiritually. He also said that our petitions or wishes must comply to conditions by the Lord, which they are of the right time and the will of God.
Yes many of us may now forget this tradition but I find it very refreshing even I still have a lot of problems and very tried from all the classes, meetings and all transactions that sucked out the life in me. Also I remembered something that I may need to be a blessing to others who have practically nothing . Either I could volunteer or offer some of the things that I could share. Well I maybe thinking too much but It feels good to do something not that its an obligation but the fact that it is your own personal intention and advocacy. Day two awaits, another gospel of salvation and affirms who I am today.