The Vine and the Branches: The Call to Communion
Jesus in the gospel today, uses this powerful image of the vine and its branches to convey this very important message: God is the source of our very life and strength; without Him, life is barren, useless, nothing. Jesus uses this image because He knows that His disciples understand well the vital relationship between the vine and its branches and the equal significance of pruning the latter in order for them to bear much fruit. It is a common agricultural knowledge for them
Heeding and Obeying the Good Shepherd’s Voice
In the gospel Jesus gives us the Parable of the Good Shepherd. It shows the deep bond between the Shepherd and the sheep, explaining that strangers may try to persuade the sheep, perhaps by imitating the voice of their shepherd. But they will not follow them because they only obey the voice of their shepherd. “I am the good shepherd, and I know mine and mine know me…and they will hear my voice.” (John 10:14, 16). Accordingly, sheep have the ability to distinguish the distinct
Archbishop Dedicates the Church of Santa Maria Josefa in Payak, Bato, Camarines Sur
April 14, 2018. It was a humid sunny morning when the faithful of the Parish of Santa Maria Josefa warmly welcomed the Archbishop, Most Rev. Rolando Tria Tirona, OCD, in the Church in Payak, Bato, Camarines Sur as they were set ready for the Church to be consecrated to their Patron Saint, Santa Maria Josefa. In the celebration, the Archbishop emphasized that as having the Church blessed and dedicated, each one is called to participate actively, fully, and consciously in the
Archbishop Tria Tirona Visits Marawi
Archbishop Rolando Tria Tirona visited last April 11-12, 2018 the Prelature of Marawi and the Diocese of Iligan together with CBCP-NASA staff to conduct briefing with the Diocesan Social Action Centers and give assistance to the internally displaced people of Marawi. The itinerary includes visit to the evacuation in Toril in Iligan and to the Christian Tent Camp and Sarimanok Camp in Marawi. The Archbishop had the opportunity to make dialogue with Maranao volunteers. In th
In Fears and Doubts
3rd Sunday of Easter - Gospel Reflection: Luke 24:35-48 Many of us, if not all, have already experienced “dark moments” in our lives, moments when our life seemed to be abandoned by the light of hope, when we felt so lonely, left out and discouraged by life’s miseries like the inevitable death of a loved one due to an incurable disease, betrayed by a trusted friend, failed in board exams, or when we struggled from certain addictions and the like. These are just some of life’s
Peace, Bread and Mission
Sunday Reflection (Third Sunday of Easter)
The Risen Jesus appreared again to his disciples saying “Peace be with you” First, He showed his nailed hands and feet. He is not a ghost that causes fear. Like Jesus, let us not hide our woundedness. Our multiple deaths and sufferings are not cause of fear but source of strenght. Once shared to others, it can in fact inspire them.
Second, He shared the bread. Table fellowship is another source of strenght. Living in community of
Church in Payak, Bato to be Blessed and Dedication
The Parish of St. Maria Josefa in Brgy. Payak, Bato, Camarines Sur will be blessed and dedicated on April 15, 2018 Sunday, 9:00AM by the Archbishop of Caceres, Most Rev. Rolando J. Tria Tirona, OCD, D.D. Rev. Fr. Cresencio Abinal, Jr., stated, “This year is a grand preparation for the 15th Anniversary as a parish next year. Our parish community has been so blessed that after more than a decade, we will celebrate the blessing of our Church.” Fr. Abinal also expressed his gra
Mercy and Faith: Our Road to Forgiveness
Gospel Reflection God’s Divine Mercy Today, in the second Sunday of Easter, we celebrate a very special occasion. As officially announced by then Pope John Paul II, now, St. John Paul II during the canonization of St. Faustina Kowalska in the year 2000, the Second Sunday of Easter is especially devoted for the celebration of the Divine Mercy. On this special day we remember and thank God for allowing us to experience his infinite mercy through the death and resurrection of Je