Mission 143+44: The On-Going Project for the Reconstruction of the Retablo

Mission 143 44 Wall of Dots. Monitoring the donations. One dot is Php1,000.00. (Taken 13 July 2011)

Mission 143 44 Wall of Dots. (Taken 29 October 2011)

The old Retablo of the Parish of St. Fabian, Pope and Martyr, San Fabian, Pangasinan.

Start of the reconstruction of the retablo: 10 October 2011.

The replastering of the entire surface of the concrete structure (of the reablo).

Taken on 10 November 2011, a month after the project was started.

23 November 2011. The priming of the concrete surface of the retablo.

22 December 2011. Refining of the whole retablo to complement the existing color of the altar and ambo. This refining of the whole retablo includes the neutralizing, priming, surface preparation and paint application, and the application of gold-leaf enhancements on carvings and moldings.

25 December 20122, taken after the Christmas Mass in the morning.

The renovation of the concrete main retablo continues...

Parish Nativity Scene and Parol

28 December 2011-San Fabian, Pangasinan. The paper mache Nativity Scene and Christmas parol were designed and made by Ms. Josie Garcia.

“And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.  But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.” (Luke 1, 8-10)

“When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, ‘Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.’
So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger”. (Luke 1, 15-16)

While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born,
and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. (Luke 1, 6-7)

“They went on their way, and the star they had seen in the east went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh. (Matthew 1, 9-11)

Parish holds BEC Day

26 December 2011- San Fabian, Pangasinan. Various Basic Ecclesial Communities (BECs) of the Parish of St. Fabian, Pope and Martyr, gathered together for a one-day celebration of prayer, unity and fun at the Parish Center, a day after Christmas.

Msgr. Renato P. Mayugba, DD, Auxiliary Bishop of Lingayen-Dagupan and the Archdiocesan BEC Coordinator, celebrated the Mass. In his homily, Msgr. Renato P. Mayugba said that it was very appropriate that the parish is celebrating the BEC Day on the Feast of St. Stephen, the first Christian Martyr for the faith. He further said that the Basic Ecclesial Communities should emulate the first Christian Communities in their prayer life, and  care and concern for one another.

The parish calls the Basic Ecclesial Communities as Cenacles. The communities have hinged their devotion to the Divine Mercy. They hold bible sharing and pray the chaplet of the Divine Mercy regularly. Some communities have initiated their own livelihood programs.

Bro. Antonio Supremido is the Parish BEC Coordinator.

Msgr. Renato P. Mayugba, DD, Auxiliary Bishop and Archdiocesan  BEC Coordinator, exhorts the communities to emulate St. Stephen, the first Christian Martyr.

The Cenacles of the Divine Mercy and BEC members having fun!

Youth Members from Brgy Lipit-Tomeeng performing a dance number.

Unique Nativity-Christmas Parol

27 December 2011 – San Fabian, Pangasinan. The nativity scene and the christmas parol of the Parish of St. Fabian, Pope and Martyr, has been featured in the Sunday Punch, a weekly Provincial Newspaper in Pangasinan. The following is its featured article:

UNIQUE NATIVITY-CHRISTMAS PAROL–Visitors and devotees are trooping to the San Fabian Parish Church for a glimpse of the Nativity scene re-created in the middle of a giant Christmas parol. The artistic modern creation by Josie Garcia, with the help of the parishioners, is now on display inside the church. The Blessed Virgin Mary is seen hoisting the newborn Jesus in adoration while St. Joseph reaches out to them.

(For the original article, kindly visit: http://sundaypunch.prepys.com/archives/2011/12/25/unique-nativity-christmas-parol/

Misa de Gallo 2011

 

PRAYER FOR THE THEOLOGY SEMINARY

Construction Project

Generous and loving God

Your blessings are beyond measure

And your love is constant and pure.

Bless our vision of a theology seminary

For the Church in Lingayen Dagupan,

Bless the work we have begun

Bless every priest and seminarian.

I promise to set aside everyday

An amount for the seminary

I will not get tired of giving

Until this vision is fulfilled

I will encourage others to give

I will beg others to pray.

I will not stop dreaming and hoping

That you loving God will make it happen.

Use me to make it happen.

May we have the new seminary,

When we celebrate our golden!

Amen!

---------------------------------

Pikakasi para Theology Seminary

(Construction Project)

O Dios a mabonlok tan maaro

ag-nasukat iray bendision Yo

mansiansia tan masuri so panangaro Yo.

Bendisionan Yo iyan pilalek mi ya sakey a seminario na theology

para say Simbaan na Lingayen-Dagupan.

Bendisionan Yo so kimey ya ingapo mi.

Bendisionan Yo so balang sakey a pari tan seminarista.

Isipan ko ya mangipireg ak ed inagew-agew

a kantidad para say seminario.

Ag ak nakesawan ya mangiter

anggad sayan pilalek mi so nagamuran.

Tanguyoren ko ray arum ya mangiter.

Mikasi ak ed arum ya mandasal ira.

Ag ak ontonda ya man-pilalek tan man-ilalo

ya Sikayo O Dios ko so manumpal ed saya.

Usar Yo ak pian nasumpal iya.

Oy la komon ta sayan seminario so nasumpal la

no sikami so masilibra na kuma-limamplon taon na arkidiosis mi.

Amen.

ALD launches Fund Drive for the Theology Seminary

9 December 2011 – Dagupan City. “We need priests because we need Christ.” Hundreds of parishioners from the different parishes of the Archdiocese of Lingayen-Dagupan listened to the homily of Archbishop Socrates B. Villegas in a holy mass to launch the fund raising project for the construction of the theology seminary of the Archdiocese. The launching of the fund raising project was one of the three events celebrated by the whole archdiocese.

Libro na Panangaro para Seminario

The  Fund Raising drive will provide for the initial fund for the construction of the Theology seminary.  It will focus on the “Libro na Panangaro para Seminario”. The initial drive is also an awareness drive regarding the construction of the new Theologate. It will tap the majority of the faithful of ALL the parishes, chaplaincies, pastoral stations and schools of the Archdiocese.


Each parish/chaplaincy/pastoral station/school shall be given a common “book”, “Libro na Panangaro para Seminario”. The book will contain the names, address, amount given and signature of the donor. The book after the campaign will be placed in the cornerstone of the new building. There is no fixed amount to be donated. The book will be offered during the 16 February 2012 Eucharistic Celebration opening the Golden Jubilee celebration of ALD. The archdiocese will celebrate its golden jubilee on 16 February 2013.

It is an appeal to history and posterity: that each one with their donation shall become part of the history of the seminary. The donors will be enshrined in the cornerstone.
“It is not the amount that matters. It is the love we have for God, for the church that matters the most”, Archbishop Soc further said in his homily.
A further more widespread fund drive will follow after the initial drive, “Libro na Panangaro para Seminario”.

Why Theology Seminary?

Archbishop Soc said we need priests because we need Christ. We need the seminary to form priests who will give us Christ!

The Archbishop mentioned that 400 hundreds after the first Augustinian friars came to Pangasinan, the Archdiocese of Lingayen-Dagupan will build the first theology seminary in Pangasinan. “We need to form priests from Pangasinan, for Pangasinan, in the culture of Pangasinan. We need to form priest with the clergy of Pangasinan, among the people of Pangasinan”.

A Legacy that will transcend our lifetime.

The Archbishop encouraged the people to share and to help build the theology seminary. “It is an opportunity given to you today to become part of the construction of the seminary. It is not always that we are given this opportunity. It is  a legacy that will transcend our lifetime. We will all pass away, but the seminary will remain beyond our lifetime, forming priests of Pangasinan  who will be  ever ready to give Christ to you!”

Palapad, San Fabian, Pangasinan

The Archdiocese of Lingayen Dagupan has assigned a lot in Barangay Palapad, San Fabian, Pangasinan measuring twenty seven thousand square meters as the future site of the theology seminary.
A pious lady architect who has been a recipient of the papal award Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice, Architect Susana Castillo, has made the design for the future seminary. Once completed, it will be able to accommodate eighty seminarians who can also take their classes in theology within the same compound.
The Archdiocese of Lingayen-Dagupan has already two formation houses for future priests: the Mary Help of Christians High School Seminary in Binmaley, Pangasinan and the Mary Help of Christians College Seminary in Bonuan Gueset, Dagupan City.

The Archdiocese of Lingayen-Dagupan comprises sixteen municipalities and two cities including the capital town of the Province of Pangasinan. It has a Catholic population of one million two hundred thousand composed of thirty three parishes. There are only fifty nine diocesan priests and twelve religious priests ministering to the huge Catholic population.

As of the year 2011, there are one hundred three high school seminarians, thirty-two seminarians in philosophy and eighteen seminarians in theology. The nearest theology seminary is three hundred kilometers away from the archdiocese in Vigan City, the Immaculate Conception School of Theology.

Blessing of patronal statues

The blessing of the statues of the patron saints of the different parishes of the Archdiocese of Lingayen-Dagupan took place before the eucharistic celebration. The slight drizzle could not hold back the enthusiasm of the parishioners from the different parishes to witness the blessing of the statues of their patron saints. The statues were put on the perimeter fence of the St John Cathedral. The Archdiocese of Lingayen-Dagupan has 36 parishes, chaplainces and pastoral stations.


Launching of Archbishop Soc’s Book

After the mass, the book of Archbishop Soc entitled “Stewards of Christ” was launched. The book is a collection of homilies, talks and conferences since he arrived in the Archdiocese of Lingayen-Dagupan in 2009. The Archdiocese of Lingayen-Dagupan has embarked on a Stewardship Program since then involving the different parishes, chaplainces, pastoral stations and schools of the archdiocese. Archbishop Soc has consistently been giving stewardship talks to groups of lay leaders who he calls the “School of Lay Leaders”. These lay leaders have been attending lectures and conferences given by Archbishop Soc himself since 2010.

Archbishop Soc personally signed the books bought after the mass. The sale of the books will go to the construction of the theology seminary.

Target Cost: PhP 50 Million

The Archdiocese is raising the seed funds necessary for the start of the seminary construction project from the Catholic lay faithful and clergy of the Archdiocese of Lingayen Dagupan. There is a remarkable enthusiasm among of the Catholic faithful with regard to the project. The fund drive hopes to raise five million pesos (PhP5M) from the Catholic faithful as the initial fund for the project. Obviously and understandably, this seed money will not be enough. The fund drive will need  to raise fifty million pesos (PhP50M) for the completion of the project. Archbishop Soc said, “Every donation no matter how small is a gift for the future of the Church. “
To kick off the fund drive, the clergy of the Archdiocese led by the Archbishop were the first to sign the “Libro na Panangaro para Seminario”. The Olupan na Laiko na Arkidiosis na Lingayen-Dagupan (ONLA) facilitated the initial signing and collection of donations after the mass.

The statue of St. Fabian, Pope and Martyr, before its blessing and unveiling. The statue is located at the corner of Burgos and Jovellanos Sts., Dagupan City.

(This photo courtesy of Marytizx Apilado Lacambra)

Father Soc celebrates Mass for Forgiveness of Sins in Binday

13 October 2011 – Binday, San Fabian, Pangasinan. There was a festive atmosphere filled with joyful songs the last time Archbishop Socrates B. Villegas, the Archbishop of Lingayen-Dagupan, celebrated mass with the people of Binday. During that time, Father Soc blessed the chapel rebuilt by the people after it was destroyed by a typhoon. The chapel was blessed in December 2009.

Today, the people of Binday were once again with Father Soc in a celebration of the Eucharist. But in a different situation. The mass was celebrated at the river bank where three abandoned houses were located, and  five other houses used to stand. Rampaging waters swept the houses during the height of Typhoon Minda last August.

The families who had lost their homes during the last Typhoon had been living in tents provided by the Rotary Club of San Fabian.

Mass for Forgiveness of Sins

The people celebrated today a Mass for Forgiveness of Sins. In his homily, Archbishop Soc reminded the people about their responsibility in caring for nature. He told them that the mountains, the rivers and the trees were all created by God before man was created.

“They are then our older siblings,” he said. “We should respect and care for them. They are our best friends forever. On the other hand, we should remain also their friends forever.”
He reminded the people again that instead of remaining best friend to nature, we have destroyed and raped her. The Archbishop then led the people in asking for forgiveness for the sins of destroying God’s creation, and moving them to a change of heart: to care and nourish creation.

NIA Position Against Quarry Operations

Regional Irrigation Manager John N. Celeste attended the Mass. The Region I National Irrigation Administration (NIA) was very categorical in its position that the  unregulated and unsystematic quarrying operations were a major factor in the destruction of the Bued River System. Barangay Binday which has received the brunt of nature’s destructive forces is located along the Bued River.

On 11 October 2011, the Regional Office No. 1 of the National Irrigation Administration stated their formal position on the effect of quarrying along the Bued River downstream of San Fabian Dam. The paper states that “to stop further the lowering of riverbed, no quarrying is allowed downstream of the dam. This is to allow the river to negate the effect of retrogression and extensive quarrying i.e., to replenish the extracted materials downstream of the dam p to the mouth of the river until such time that a gentler and stable slope shall have been attained.”

This position is contrary to the position of the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) In a statement made in a local TV station, MGB said that  the quarrying done in Bued River System is not a factor in its present condition and in the erosion of its river banks, including the houses that were washed away.

“Bless those who bless You; curse those who curse You”

With right hands stretched out over Bued River, Archbishop Soc led the people in prayer. “Bless those who bless the river, curse those who destroy it,” he prayed. 

Prayer of Commitment

Police Inspector Amor Somine led the people in praying the Prayer of Commitment. “Our world’s picture is reflected in our little corner in Pangasinan and particularly in our Bued River System. Today, we commit ourselves personally and as a community, to contribute our energies and resources towards its healing by preserving what is left of its beauty and goodness and restoring the beauty, freshness and goodness that have been destroyed."

St. Vincent de Paul eLearning Center launched in Lipit-Tomeeng, San Fabian

10 October 2011- San Fabian. Rev. Fr. Bienvenido “Ned” M. Disu, CM has a dream. He dreams  that no one is left out in getting a good education. He dreams that even  the marginalized and the poor especially in the barrios will have an access to education that can provide greater opportunities for them and for their families.

The dream has come true.

In a simple ceremony attended by Fr. Ned, as the Project Director, with Dr. Dylan Dizon, the Online Program Director and the first batch of students, the St. Vincent de Paul eLearning Center was formally launched on 10 October 2011 in Lipit-Tomeeng, San Fabian, Pangasinan. The officers and members of the Rotary Club of San Fabian with Mayor Irene Libunao of San Fabian were on hand to witness the ceremony. Fr. Oliver E. Mendoza, parish priest, blessed the eCenter.

Village Online College Education

The St. Vincent de Paul eLearning Center is administered and supervised by Village Online College Education (VOCE). It is especially designed to bring affordable and accessible education to indigent students in rural areas, as well as impoverished urban centers. Its aim is to provide the students with a two-year online general education and the development skills with TESDA.

The beneficiaries are High School students in the barangays who cannot proceed to higher education due to high cost of education.

Online Education

The students are enrolled at the Professional Academy of the Philippines located in the City of Naga, Cebu. However, they hold their classes and trainings in the eCenters located in their locality or barangay.

Online education eliminates the regular costs of education associated with traditional school settings, viz., board and lodging, textbooks, transportation, uniforms, miscellaneous fees and most projects. Online students tend to perform better that their counterparts in regular traditional school settings.

The course is a two year program offering General Education. They are trained at least four skills, including personality and leadership skills.

There is a mixture of online education, e.g., the academic program, face to face lecture and actual demonstration in the case of skills development and personality/leadership development.

Academics. Skills Development. Personality/Leadership.

The two year program has three components: academics, skills development and personality/leadership development. After two years, the students are prepared to have skills that can provide them with well-paying jobs. Thus they can already find jobs and if they want, pursue their academic degree in a regular college/university as third year college students.

The students can choose the skills that they want, viz., welding, carpentry, plumbing, automotive, electrical wiring, events management. All will learn however organic and natural farming.

They will learn the meaning of stewardship, social responsibilities, elements of leaders as well as issues related to personality developmemt such as self-discovery, religious and social values.

The students in two years will study 32 subjects or 96 units. They hold their classes at the eLearning Centers from Monday to Friday. Saturdays are reserved for skills and leadership development. They have only four hours a day for their classes. Thus, they have more time to help their families in the field or sea or even engage themselves in income generating projects.

Pay it Forward Program

The students and their families through a Memorandum of Agreement agree to pay forward the privilege of scholarship by sending to the same program, when they have finished a course and have good jobs, two indigent students from their barangay who are not their relatives.

The program is partnered with the Local Government Units, local parishes and private organizations such as the Rotary International, Adamson University, ACER Philippines, for the sustainability of the program.

There is plan that the online students will be affiliated with Adamson University.

Budget and Scholarships

The budget for the whole program per student is PhP 20,000.00 a year or Php40,000.00 per student for two years. The students will contribute PhP5,000.00 a year. The amount will be spent for the maintenance and acquisition of new computers and accessories and other incidental expenses.

Individuals and the Rotary Club International  have generously contributed for the scholarship of the student.

Father Soc visited the St. Vincent de Paul eLearning Center last 13 October 2011 when he met the students and talked with Fr. Ned Disu regarding the program.

PREX Class 48

9 October 2011 – San Fabian, Pangasinan. The Parish of St. Fabian, Pope and Martyr, held the 48th PREX Class weekend seminar last 7-9 October 2011 at the Parish Center.

Pictures courtesy of Sis. Ma. Rowena A. Nicer.