Catechesis on Holy Week part I by: Most Rev. Socrates B. Villegas, DD

Catechesis on Holy Week part II (Holy Thursday) by: Most Rev. Socrates B. Villegas, DD

Catechesis on Holy Week part III (Good Friday) by: Most Rev. Socrates B. Villegas, DD

Catechesis on Holy Week part IV (Easter Vigil) by: Most Rev. Socrates B. Villegas, DD

Follow Christ! Pope John Paul II in Boston, 1979

A new responsibility for us: Purifying the Altar Vessels after Communion and serving as Sacristan during daily Mass.

During our regular meeting with Rev. Fr. Leonardo R. Bagos (Our Parish Priest) he told us that in the weekend Masses we already are in charge of purifying the vessels after Communion, we will do it in the credence table. He further told us that we must be careful in doing it so as to ensure that all of the small particles of Jesus’ Body will be put into the Chalice.

After we have purified the vessels using the purificator, one of us will have to drink the precious blood of Jesus with the small particles of His body in it. Then we now have to carefully arrange and prepare the Chalice, Purificator, Paten, Pall and the Corporal for the next Mass.

Fr. Bagos has also asked those who are available to serve as Sacristan during daily Mass.

We did not object because we knew that this is another opportunity for us to grow in faith and knowledge in the church.

Prayer for Peace in Georgia

As I am writing this there’s a war going on between Russia and Georgia wherein hundreds have died already both civilians and military troops. We must all pray for peace and the immediate end of this conflict.

There are no winners in war, all are losers.

The Garbage Truck: Author Unknown

One day I hopped in a taxi and we took off for the airport.  We were driving in the right lane when suddenly a black car jumped out of a parking space right in front of us.  My taxi driver slammed on his brakes, skidded, and missed the other car by just inches! The driver of the other car whipped his head around and started yelling at us.  My taxi driver just smiled and waved at the guy. And I mean, he was really friendly.  So I asked, 'Why did you just do that? This guy almost ruined your car and sent us to the hospital!'

This is when my taxi driver taught me what I now call, 'The Law of the Garbage Truck.'  He explained that many people are like garbage trucks. They run around full of garbage, full of frustration, full of anger, and full of disappointment.  As their garbage piles up, they need a place to dump it and sometimes they'll dump it on you. Don't take it personally.  Just smile, wave, wish them well, and move on. Don't take their garbage and spread it to other people at work, at home, or on the streets.

The bottom line is that successful people do not let garbage trucks take over their day.  Life's too short to wake up in the morning with regrets,

so ... Love the people who treat you right.  Pray for the ones who don't.

Life is ten percent what you make it and ninety percent how you take it!

"Faith is not believing God can, it is knowing that God will."

Have a  garbage-free day!

Like in the movie "The Sixth Sense," the little boy said, "I see Dead People." Well, now "I see Garbage Trucks." I see the load they're carrying. I see them coming to drop it off. And like the Taxi Driver, I don't make it a personal thing; I just smile, wave, wish them well, and move on.

One of my favorite football players of all time, Walter Payton, did this every day on the football field. He would jump up as quickly as he hit the ground after being tackled. He never dwelled on a hit. Payton was ready to make the next play his best.

Good leaders know they have to be ready for their next meeting. Good parents know that they have to welcome their children home from school with hugs and kisses. Leaders and parents know that they have to be fully present, and at their best for the people they care about. The bottom line is that successful people do not let Garbage Trucks take over their day. What about you? What would happen in your life, starting today, if you let more garbage trucks pass you by? Here's my bet. You'll be happier. Life's too short to wake up in the morning with regrets, so.. Love the people who treat you right. Forget about the ones who don't.

The Philippines was viciously hit by typhoon Frank/Fengshen, please offer your Prayers for the casualties, survivors and their relatives.

A few hours ago the Philippines was hit by a very vicious typhoon named Frank/Fengshen it left two hundred twenty nine (229) deaths, it submerge entire communities and caused landslides. But the casualty count may dramatically increase because a passenger ship (MV Princess of the Stars by Sulpicio Lines) with almost eight hundred (800) passengers had capsized.

Please say your Prayers for the casualties, survivors and their relatives.

The talk of Cardinal Francis Xavier Nguyen Van Thuân's sister at 49th Eucharistic Congress Quebec Canada, 2008

QUEBEC CITY, JUNE 19, 2008 - Here is the address Elizabeth Nguyen Thi Thu Hong, the youngest sister of the late Cardinal Francis Xavier Nguyen Van Thuân, gave today at the 49th International Eucharistic Congress, which is being held through Sunday in Quebec.

Please click on the link:

http://www.zenit.org/article-22959?l=english

Corporal and Spiritual Works of Mercy

Please click on the link:

http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/10198d.htm

Norm in bringing the Holy Eucharist to the sick.

Instruction: Redemptionis Sacramentum

On certain matters to be observed or to be avoided

regarding the Most Holy Eucharist

Chapter VI

The Reservation of the Most Holy Eucharist and Eucharistic Worship Outside Mass 

132. No one may carry the Most Holy Eucharist to his or her home, or to any other place contrary to the norm of law. It should also be borne in mind that removing or retaining the consecrated species for a sacrilegious purpose or casting them away are graviora delicta, the absolution of which is reserved to the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.225

133. A Priest or Deacon, or an extraordinary minister who takes the Most Holy Eucharist when an ordained minister is absent or impeded in order to administer it as Communion for a sick person, should go insofar as possible directly from the place where the Sacrament is reserved to the sick person’s home, leaving aside any profane business so that any danger of profanation may be avoided and the greatest reverence for the Body of Christ may be ensured. Furthermore the Rite for the administration of Communion to the sick, as prescribed in the Roman Ritual, is always to be used. 226

http://old.usccb.org/liturgy/documents/instructioneng.shtml

Location of the Tabernacle.

“According to the structure of each church building, the Holy Sacrament is to be kept in a tabernacle in a part of the church that is dignified, prominent, readily noticeable, and adorned in a noble manner” and also “appropriate for prayer” by reason of the quietness of the location, the space available in front of the tabernacle, and also the supply of benches or seats and kneelers. In addition, diligent attention should be paid to all the prescriptions of the liturgical books and to the norm of law, especially as regards the avoidance of the danger of profanation (130; cf. GIRM 314).

Norm in giving Holy Communion.

In giving Holy Communion Sacred Ministers may not deny the sacraments to those who want to receive it in a tranquil manner, are appropriately ready, and are not forbidden by law from receiving them.” therefore any baptized Catholic who is not prevented by law must be admitted to Holy Communion. Thus, it is not allowed to deny Holy Communion to any of Christ’s faithful as long as he/she is ready and not prohibited by church law. (91; cf. CIC 843 §1).