31 May 2010

Mayflower and Santacruzan Festival celebrated in the Parish

31 May 2010 – San Fabian. The Parish of St. Fabian, Pope and Martyr, celebrated the annual Mayflower and Santacruzan Festival last 30 May 2010. The Santacruzan depicts the finding 053020102464of the Holy Cross by Queen Helena, mother of Constantine the Great. The Catholic Women’s League sponsored the two parish celebrations.

A procession was held at 6:00 AM in which the different Reynas and Sagalas with their consorts participated. Reyna Elena and Emperador Constantino led the procession. The coronation ceremonies followed.
Mrs. Salome B. Sision, the emcee for the celebration gave a brief account of the Finding of the Holy Cross and the meaning and significance of the Mayflower Festival.

Ericka Shanaine N. Tersol is the Reyna Elena for th053020102470is year 2010. Her brother,Clark Stevenn N. Tersol is the 2010 Emperador Constantino. They are the children of Mr. and Mrs. Rolly Tersol.

A Holy Mass followed at 7:30 AM which was presided by Rev. Fr. Oliver E. Mendoza, the Parish Priest. Sis. Alicia Z. Gubatan is the President of the CWL, San Fabian Chapter.

The other participants of the celebration were: Fevi Grace V. Mapanao (Reyna Ester) and Ferdinand V. Mapanao, Jr. (Prince Faith), children of Engr. and Mrs. Ferdinand Mapanao, Sr.; Ara Benedice M. Abrio (Reyna Flora) and Mario M. Abrio III (Prince of Hope), children of of Mr. and Mrs.Mario S. Abrio, Jr.; Irene F. Romero (Reyna Estrella), Vincent A. Ilas (Prince of Charity); Eulanadine Sofia P. de Vera (Rosa Mystica), daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Melchor de Vera; Josh Vastin P. Canieso (Prince of Work); Lilian Alizia S. Gubatan (Queen of Virgins), daughter of Atty. and Mrs. Gerald Z. Gubatan.

053020102466 053020102468053020102469 053020102467

30 May 2010

Parish hosts Adoracion Nocturna Filipina General Vigil

29 May 2010 – San Fabian. The General Vigil of the Adoaracion Nocturna Filipina was held at the Parish of St. Fabian, Pope and Martyr, last 29 May 2010, Saturday. The annual vigil is part of the program of the Archdiocesan Adoracion Nocturna Sections 17, 82 and 115. . The theme of the vigil was: ‘Faithfulness of the Church with Mary, Mother of the Clergy.” The year 2009-2010 was declared by Pope Benedict XVI as the “Year for Priests”.

Procession of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary

A procession in honor of the Most Holy Rosary was held at 2:30 in the afternoon. Marian songs and the praying of the rosary accompanied the procession along the main streets of the parish.

The General Vigil was held at the parish church. At 3:00 PM, the General Vigil began with the entrance of the flag of the
052920102460Adoracion Nocturna Filipina followed by the different Section and Archdiocesan officers.

The Blessed Sacrament was exposed for adoration by Rev. Fr. Oliver E. Mendoza, parish priest of the Parish of St. Fabian, Pope and Martyr. Part of the vigil was the praying by the whole assembly of the twenty mysteries of the Holy Rosary.

Night Adorers


The Adoracion Nocturna Filipina is a religious association of men and women dedicated to continuously observe night adoration of Christ in the Eucharist; follow faithfully, living and proclaiming the Word of God, serving the Catholic Church, as well as the the marginalized and oppressed of the society.

The association hopes to organize communities of Night Adoration of Christ in the Eucharist, and to live spiritually in the virtues of Piety, Charity and Unity.

052920102461Fr. Victor Embuido, the Archdiocesan Spiritual Director of the Adoracion Nocturna Filipina, celebrated the Holy Mass after the vigil.

The president of Section 115 is Bro. Gregorio T. de Guzman, Jr. The Jefe de Turno of the parish of St. Fabian is Bro. Jessie Romero.

18 Turnos


There are 18 turnos in the Archdiocesan of Lingayen-Dagupan. Section 115 is composed of Mangaldan Turno 217, San Fabian Turno 163, Manaoag Turno 1148, San Jacnto Turno 836, Mapandan Turno 312 and Laoac Turno 1410.

Section 17 is composed of Binmaley Turno 210, Calmay Turno 248, Lingayen Turno 1524, Libsong Turno 1061 and Baay Turno 1593.

Urbiztondo Turno 786, Pasibi East Turno 1593, Bautista Turno 548, Malasiqui Turno 110, Bayambang Turno 770 and San Carlos City Turno 435 belong to Section 82 of the Archdiocesan Adoracion Nocturna Filipina.

Eleven Turnos were able to attend the General Vigil.

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22 May 2010

Bro. Dexter Z. Carino assigned in the Parish of St. Fabian, Pope and Martyr

22 May 2010 – San Fabian. Archbishop Socrates B. Villegas, DD, the Archbishop of Lingayen-Dagupan, has assigned Bro. Dexter Z. Carino to the Parish of St. Fabian, Pope and Martyr, for his pDexter C1astoral exposure. Bro. Dexter is from Dagupan City. He arrived in the parish last 15 May 2010.

Bro. Dexter entered the seminary as a High School freshman at the Mary Help of Christians High School Seminary, Binmaley,  Pangasinan. He took his AB Philosophy degree from the Mary Help of Christians College Seminary in Bonuan Guest, Dagupan City. He finished his theological studies at the Immaculate Conception School of Theology, Vigan City.

He is the son of Jesus and Dolores Carino. He was born on 23 September 1981. His father already passed away.

Bro. Dexter will become the Parish Youth Director and in-charge of the Altar Servers. He will also be working in the formation of the Basic Ecclesial Communities (BECs) in the parish.

06 May 2010

THE NEOCATECHUMENAL WAY IN THE ARCHDIOCESE OF LINGAYEN-DAGUPAN

Lights and Shadows

The seeds of the NEOCATECHUMENAL WAY were first sown in the Archdiocese of Lingayen-Dagupan in 1981 in the Parish of Saint Gabriel the Archangel in Bonuan Boquig.  Since then, it has been born in other Catholic communities in the archdiocese – Bonuan Gueset, Calasiao, Calmay, Dagupan, Laoac, Lingayen, Mapandan, Santa Barbara and San Jacinto.  The Neocatechumenal Way has brought innumerable blessings to the Christian faithful in our archdiocese.  It has profoundly changed many lukewarm lives.  It has rebuilt many wounded families and has yielded many religious and priestly vocations for the vineyard of the Lord.

Yet, despite its positive effects such as those mentioned above, there are certain concerns about the direction the Neocatechumenate is leading to.  Already during the time of my esteemed predecessor Archbishop Oscar Cruz, and in recent months, some questions have been raised by some respected members of the Catholic laity and a good number of our parish priests about the integration of the members of the Neocatechumenal communities in the mainstream of our Church life, their cooperation with the parish priests and their relationship with the Bishop.

Communio

The Statutes of the Neocatechumenal Way state these words: “The Neocatechumenal Way will seek to foster in its recipients a mature sense of belonging to the parish and to promote relations of profound communion and collaboration with the faithful and with other elements of the parish community.” (Art. 6, n. 3)

Further, the Statutes enjoin that “the implementation of the Neocatechumenal Way must be coordinated with the proper function that the parish priest has in each parish community (cf. c. 519 of the Code of Canon Law), providing also with the collaboration of other presbyters, the pastoral care of those who are going through the Neocatechumenal Way.” (Art. 6, n.2)  Similarly, the Statutes acknowledge that “the Neocatechumenate is realized, in communion with the parish priest and under his responsibility, by a team of catechists.” (Art. 8, n. 4) 

Furthermore, the Statutes declare that: “The Neo Catechumenal Way is at the service of the bishop as one of the forms of diocesan implementation of the Christian initiation and of ongoing formation in the faith.” (Art. 1, n. 2)

Catechesis

In the weekly celebration of the Word prescribed by Article 11 of the Statutes, my attention was called to the lack of formation and preparation on the part of those entrusted to teach regarding the tenets of the Catholic Church as laid down in its Catechism as well as the meaning of the biblical readings proclaimed within the celebration.  There seems to be a tendency towards fundamentalist interpretation of the Sacred Scriptures detached and, sometimes, even contrary to the documents of the Magisterium and the Catechism of the Church.

With respect to the preceding observation, the Statutes provide that “it pertains to the diocesan Bishop, as responsible for initiation, formation and Christian life in the local Church to watch over the implementation of the Neocatechumenal Way so that it may take place in conformity with what is established in Articles 1 and 2, respecting the doctrine and discipline of the Church.” (Art. 26)

Respect for the Ordained

There is a prevailing sentiment of superiority among the community members on account of sheer membership in a Neocatechumenal community resulting in a disdainful attitude towards those who are not walking the Way or have stopped joining the meetings.  Besides, disdainful and disrespectful remarks about my predecessor, about some priests and even about my own person, have been repeatedly heard from the catechists of the communities contrary to good manners, upright conduct, filial respect and Christian charity.

The President of the Pontifical Council for the Laity offered three guidelines for the Neocatechumenal communities when he presented the Holy See’s approval of the movement: obedience to bishops, acknowledgement of the role of priests and fidelity to the liturgical texts of the Church. On the same occasion, Carmen Hernandez, co-founder of the movement, said: “What is important is NOT the Neocatechumenal Way, but the CHURCH.” She continued by inviting the members of the movement to practice humility.

In January 2009, when the Neocatechumenal Way celebrated its fortieth year as a Catholic lay association, the Holy Father gave thanks to God for the fruits of the evangelical efforts of the Way.  However, the Pope reminded them that the full realization of the work comes with docile adherence to the directives of the bishops and with communion with all the other components of the People of God.  He encouraged them to work for unity --- which makes of each community a living and well integrated joint in the mystical body of Christ.

We can veritably adopt as our own the observation of Augusto Faustini, writing to the Pope complaining about how the movement’s founder, Kiko Arguello, “has established how you are, how you sit, how you pray, how you sing, how and what you play, how you confess, how you take Communion, how you read the Sacred Scriptures, making clear that anyone who does not do all that is lost in error.” (Urquhart, The Pope’s Armada, p. 250)

Directives

THEREFORE, considering the foregoing facts and statutory principles, by virtue of my authority as Archbishop of Lingayen-Dagupan, in order to guide and reorient the Neocatechumenal Way in this archdiocese, I hereby impose a moratorium on all initial catecheses in the Neocatechumenal Way within the archdiocese until the Episcopal Delegate, named below, recommends the lifting of this moratorium. 

No new communities shall be opened and no new members may be initiated into the Neocatechumenal Way within the moratorium period starting on the Solemnity of Pentecost this year until the Solemnity of Pentecost in 2011.

Likewise, I order the reading, within the whole year, starting from the Solemnity of Pentecost this year until the Solemnity of Pentecost in 2011, of paragraphs 748 to 945 of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, pertaining to ecclesiology, the readings being spread out during the weekly celebrations of the Word of each Neocatechumenal community.

Moreover, I enjoin the recitation of the five mysteries of the Holy Rosary before the weekly celebration of the Word, starting on Pentecost Sunday, in adherence to the mandate of Article 14, number 4 of the Statutes;

In addition, effective today, I revoke the canonical mandate previously granted by the Archbishop of Lingayen-Dagupan to the incumbent itinerant catechist to teach the Catholic faith within this ecclesiastical jurisdiction.

Episcopal delegate

To put into effect the abovementioned directives, I hereby appoint FATHER MARIO DOMINIC SANCHEZ as my Episcopal delegate for the Neocatechumenal communities in the Archdiocese of Lingayen-Dagupan.

The Episcopal delegate is tasked with the following specific functions, namely: 1) to implement the strict observance of the directives contained in this communication with the faculty to impose canonical discipline in the name of the Archbishop when pastorally necessary; 2) to supervise all the convivences of the Neocatechumenal Way held in this ecclesiastical jurisdiction and to insure the regularity of confessions among its members in conformity with Article 14, n.1 of the Statutes; 3) to extend pastoral care and charity to the hurting members of the community who have stopped attending the meetings due to the scandalous conduct of the local leaders in the past and to render pastoral attention to the sick and elderly members who have been deemed unworthy to “walk the Way.”

The Episcopal Delegate is also hereby directed to see to it that the manner of questioning that takes place during the scrutiny of members is done in accordance with the approved discipline of the Church, respecting the right to privacy and that it is carried out within the bounds of Christian charity. Finally, I instruct him to look into the accounting and administration of the financial donations made by the members of the Catholic faithful to the community and make a report thereof to me every three months.

Final admonition and appeal

I take this occasion to reaffirm my conviction that the Neocatechumenal Way, with its goal to bring people to fraternal communion and maturity of faith through the tripod of “Word of God-Liturgy-Community,” is a gift of the Holy Spirit to the Church and society of our times. 

Like all gifts, the Neocatechumenal Way must be cared for and protected from the effects of original sin in us.  It must be shielded against the pride and arrogance of its leaders.  Those who walk the Way must never be found lacking in charity and deviating from the path of truth.

Pastoral charity for the Catholic faithful who are members of this community moves me to take these steps to insure the stability of our faith and the purity of the teaching that the faithful are entitled to receive.

Let me conclude with these words of the Sacred Scriptures: “To the elders among you, I a fellow elder, a witness of Christ’s sufferings and sharer in the glory that is to be revealed, make this appeal.  God’s flock is in your midst; give it a shepherd’s care. Watch over it willingly as God would have you do, not lording over those assigned to you, so that when the chief shepherd appears, you will win for yourselves the unfading crown of glory.” (1 Peter 5:1-4)

Peace be with you all! Amen!

From the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist, Dagupan City, this 3rd day of May 2010.

+ SOCRATES B. VILLEGAS, DD
Archbishop of Lingayen-Dagupan

02 May 2010

PPCRV-LD inspects PCOS machines

Franklin Q. De Guzman
Archdiocesan Social Action Apostolate Lingayen-Dagupan

2 May 2010 -DAGUPAN CITY. Contingent from the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV) of the Archdiocese of Lingayen-Dagupan (A LD) inspected the Precinct Count Optical Scan (PCOS) machines to be used in some parts of Pangasinan on Sunday.

In a safe warehouse somewhere in Dagupan City, Fr. Oliver Mendoza, the Apostolate Director of the Archdiocesan Social Action Apostolate (ASAP) of Lingayen-Dagupan, together with Fr. Allen Romero, PPCRV Lingayen-Daguapan’s (PPCRV LD) Chair and other 3 PPCRV volunteers checked the security of more than 1,000 PCOS machines to be used in the Congressional Districts 2, 3, 4 and 5 of Pangasinan province. The PPCRV group was accompanied by the SMARTMATIC Team led by Col. Magtanggol Halili, the Pangasinan Provincial Security Coordinator.

The inspection is necessary in order to make sure that “the PCOS machines are safe, secured and sealed,” Fr. Mendoza said. “It (PCOS) is the most important equipment that we will be using for this 1st Fully Automated Elections,” he added.

Upon inspection, the PCOS machines are to be found in good order and condition. They (PCOS) are safely stored in a warehouse hidden to the public and they are still unpacked in their plastics, according to the PPCRV contingents.

More than a thousand ballot boxes to be also used during elections were also properly stored in the warehouse along with 1 generator per municipality and 1 battery per PCOS in case of power interruption.

According to Pangasinan Comelec, the PCOS machines are expected to be delivered to each municipal Comelec Offices on May 6. On the following day, the PCOS machines will be delivered to the polling precincts. It (PCOS) will stay there until the end of elections.

PPCRV LD assured that they will send their volunteers to watch the security of the PCOS machines from its delivery to the Municipal Comelec Offices until the end of elections.

The PCOS machines to be used in Pangasinan were delivered on April 26, 2010 by SMARTMATIC Team in three hubs in Pangasinan. Aside from the warehouse in Dagupan which is the largest, other hubs are located somewhere in Urdaneta and Alaminos City.

(Photos from the Facebook account of PPCRV Lingayen-Dagupan)

ALD celebrates 15th Archdiocesan Youth Day

Dagupan City – More than a thousand youth from the different parishes of the Archdiocese of Lingayen-Dagupan gathered together for the 15th Archdiocesan Youth Day. The Archdiocesan Youth Day is an annual gathering of the youth of the Archdiocese. The Parish of the Annunciation of the Lord of Bonuan Gueset, Dagupan City hosted this year’s celebration and gathering. It was held from 26 –29 April 2010.

“We have set our hope on the living God”

The theme of the celebration was taken from the 1 Tim. 4,10: “We have set our hope on the living God.” This was the same theme chosen by Pope Benedict XVI for the 24th World Youth Day. The passage tells us of the great and ultimate source of all our hope: God.

“May the occasion be a reminder that our young people are not only the hope of the nation but the hope of the Church as well,” said Fr. Allen O. Romero, the parish priest and Youth Director of the Annunciation of the Lord.

This was reiterated by Fr. Manuel B. delos Santos, Youth Director of Vicariate I, the host vicariate, when he said, “I sometimes come to a conclusion that the world is moving fast towards its doom. But simply looking at the youth of today brings me much inspiration and hope that a better future of life is no a distant reality.” He added, “ The youth certainly gives us that hope.”

Program Highlights

Archbishop Socrates B. Villegas, DD, archbishop of Lingayen-Dagupan, celebrated the opened the 4-day Archdiocesan Youth Day with a Eucharistic Celebration. This was followed by “Gilon-gilon ed Dalan”, street dancing on the main streets of Bonuan Gueset accompanied by joyful chants and cheers by the youth-participants. The Annunciation of the Lord Parish youth ministry treated the participants to a free dinner a welcome show on the first night.

Catechesis-Workshops were held on the following days, focused on the WORD and YOUTH. The participants were clustered into five clusters. A Community Journey, a visitation of the youth participants to the 10 communities of Bonuan Gueset and acted out HOPE (Holiness and godliness, Outreached and generosity, Prayer and reliance, Evangelization and obedience).

The Community Service was focused on “Ako sa Halalan”, the role of the youth for a HOPEFUL elections. “Kabatanag Bayani” was another community service rendered by the participants to selected communities.

The last night of the Youth Day showcased the talents of the four vicariates as they presented their own creative ways of manifesting their Hopes.

“The Youth Ministry is a gift”

Fr. Manuel S. Bravo, Jr, the Archdiocesan Youth Director, for the past 15 years, said, “The Youth Ministry is a gift – God’s generous gift to my priesthood and person.” Fr. Bravo would be ending his tenure as Archdiocesan Youth Director with the closing of the AYD 2010. He would be replaced by Rev. Fr. Manuel B. delos Santos.

(All photos courtesy of Franklin de Guzman, from his Facebook Account)