PPC meets, discusses programs and plans for 2009

San Fabian. The Parish Pastoral Council of the Parish of St. Fabian, Pope and Martyr met yesterday, 29 April 2009, Wednesday to discuss parish programs and plans for the coming months. The meeting was called by Rev. Fr. Oliver E. Mendoza, the parish priest.

The Parish Pastoral Council is a representative group of Christian faithful who by their counsel assists the parish priest in the sound administration and effective pastoral governance of the parish. The PPC is composed of the presidents and coordinators of the different parish religious organizations and movements, as well as parishioners appointed by the parish priest for their field of expertise. By its very nature, the PPC is an advisory or consultative body to the parish priest who has the final and accountable decision in the parochial agenda in accord with the provisions of Church Law and in line with Archdiocesan policies and norms.

The main agenda of the meeting was the organization of the working committees that will prepare, coordinate and effectively put into action the different activities and programs in line with the celebration of the Vicariate III celebration of the Christ the King which the Parish of St. Fabian will host this coming November 2009. Different committees with their respective chairpersons and coordinators were formed.

The following are the chairpersons and members of the working committees: Committee on Worship (Chairperson: Sis. Lilia Santos with the presidents of the Lectors and Commentators, Lay Eucharistic Ministers (EEM), Adoration Nocturna, Mother Butler Guild, Usherettes, Choir Directors, Ministry of Altar Servers as members.

Committee on Christian Education (Chairperson: Bro. Tony Supremido with the Coordinators of the Basic Ecclesial Communities, Catechetical and Family and Life Apostolate, Parish Youth Apostolate Committee, Parish Renewal Experience, Couples for Christ, Charismatic Movement.

Committee on Finance (Bro. Gregorio de Guzman, Chairperson with Sis. Alicia Gubatan and Sis. Filomena Sagun, as Coordinators of the Sub-Committee on Solicitation. Other members are: The Parochial Board on Church Temporalities, and all the presidents of the different Religious Organizations.

Committee on Church Construction and Improvements (Bro. Santiago Alhambra, Chairperson). Committee on Lights and Sound System (Bro. Jessie Romero). Committee on Procession and Route Decoration (Bro. Diosdado Vallejos, with the members of the Knights of Columbus, and Bros. Joey Estandarte and Leo Carrera).

Committee on Souvenir Program (Bro. Josefino Abrigo, Chairperson). Committee on Peace and Order (Bro. Martin Estayo and the members of the Holy Name Society). Committee on First Aid and Health (Dr. Leopoldo Manalo, Chairperson). Committee on Accommodations (Sis. Rowena A. Nicer, Chairperson with Sis. Remy Zarate).

Fr. Oliver E. Mendoza also gave an orientation to the body regarding the on-going pastoral program of the parish involving the visitation of the image of the Blessed Virgin Mary to all the barangays. The visitation which will last for a week in all the barangays is an opportunity for evangelization. Two levels of formation will be given to the barangays: the youth and the adult formation. The youth will undergo a three day Youth Encounter seminar; the adult will undergo an adult formation program which will mainly consist of the adult catechetical weekend seminar on Family and Life, Basic Doctrines and the Bible.

Foremost in the list of projects of the PPC is the construction of the covered pathways linking the church, the parish center and the Mt. Carmel Chapel. Also considered are the improvement of the church patio, and given the resources, the construction of the Parish Pastoral Center which will house the different offices of the parish apostolates, including the Parish Credit Cooperative.

PREX Class 36 held in the parish

San Fabian. Another Parish Renewal Experience (PREX)weekend seminar was held in the parish as part of the continued formation of the parish adult formation program. The weekend seminar started at 6:00 PM of 24 April 2009, Friday. It ended in the afternoon of 26 April 2009, Sunday.

PREX Class 35 led by Sis. Fina Ibasan sponsored this weekend seminar. The sponsoring classes invite participants, prepare and coordinate the weekend. They cook, serve and act as facilitators for the different activities and ceremonies of the renewal.

Fr. Oliver E. Mendoza gave the eleven talks of the weekend seminar. Sis. Weng Tercero was chosen as PREX Class 36 Coordinator.

PREX CLass 36

Faith Families

 

Parish Youth joins AYD 2009

29 April 2009 – San Fabian. More than 50 youth of the Parish Youth Apostolate Committee of the Parish of St. Fabian, Pope and Martyr, joined the Archdiocesan Youth Day held in the Parish of the Holy Cross, Laoac, Pangasinan. The Archdiocesan Youth Day (AYD) is the annual gathering of the youth of the Archdiocese. The Holy Cross Parish hosted this year’s AYD celebration from 21-24 April 2009.

The Archdiocesan Youth Day (AYD) is the coming together of young people from the 24 parishes and 4 chaplaincies of the Archdiocese of Lingayen-Dagupan for reception, recollection and renewal, recreation and re-commissioning this encounter. This encounter enables the young people to gather information, programs, and plan their future spiritual lives. It also provides them the opportunity to interact, create friendship, share their own culture and heritage, discuss issues that concern them and the rest of the society. The AYD is a four day experience of being Church-praying, celebrating, caring, serving and witnessing.

This year is the 14th year of the AYD. Its theme was “ You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you and you will be my witnesses." (Acts 1,8). Msgr. Renato P. Mayugba, DD, the Auxiliary Bishop of Lingayen-Dagupan presided over the opening mass. Msgr. Oscar V. Cruz, DD, the Archbishop of Lingayen-Dagupan, celebrated the culminating mass on the last day of the four day youth celebration.

It was announced to the whole assembly during the mass that the 15th AYD will be held in the Parish of the Annunciation of the Lord, Bonuan Gueset, Dagupan City. The AYD was coordinated by the Archdiocesan Youth Apostolate. Fr. Manuel S. Bravo, Jr is the Archdiocesan Youth Director with Fr. Erci Galivo, the Youth Coordinator. Fr. Alvin Platon hosted this year's AYD. He is the parish priest of the Holy Cross Parish, Laoac, Pangasinan.

Logo of the Archdiocesan Youth Day 2009

Parish of St. Fabian, Pope and Martyr Camp

Parish celebrates MERCY Sunday

19 April 2009 – San Fabian. The Feast of the Divine Mercy was celebrated in the Parish of St. Fabian, Pope and Martyr this Sunday, joining the whole Church in celebrating this great feast.

This Feast was granted to the Universal Church by Pope John Paul II on the occasion of the canonization of Sr. Faustina on 30 April 2000. In a decree dated 23 May 2000, the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments stated that "throughout the world the Second Sunday of Easter will receive the name Divine Mercy Sunday, a perennial invitation to the Christian world to face, with confidence in divine benevolence, the difficulties and trials that mankind will experience in the years to come."

Concerning the Feast of Mercy Jesus said: Whoever approaches the Fountain of Life on this day will be granted complete forgiveness of sins and punishment. (Diary300)

The whole of Sunday afternoon was devoted by the Parish for the observance of this great Feast. A Holy Hour in adoration of the Blessed Sacrament with Benediction was celebrated. While this was being celebrated, the Sacrament of Reconciliation was made available for the hundreds of parishioners and devotees of Divine Mercy. A Holy Mass was celebrated at 4,30 PM.

These were done in accordance to wishes of Jesus when He spoke to St. Faustina: the soul that will go to Confession and receive Holy Communion shall obtain complete forgiveness of sins and punishment. On that day all the divine floodgates through which grace flow are opened. Let no soul fear to draw near to Me, even though its sins be as scarlet. My mercy is so great that no mind, be it of man or of angel, will be able to fathom it throughout all eternity. Everything that exists has come forth from the very depths of My most tender mercy. Every soul in its relation to Me will I contemplate My love and mercy throughout eternity. The Feast of Mercy emerged from My very depths of tenderness. It is My desire that it be solemnly celebrated on the first Sunday after Easter. Mankind will not have peace until it turns to the Fount of My Mercy. (Diary 699).

The images of the Divine Mercy were blessed after the Mass. This was followed by a procession in honor of The Divine Mercy.

Testimonies from the parishioners were shared regarding how their devotion to the Divine Mercy has greatly affected their lives. Some bore testimonies to the miracles they have received from the great Mercy of God.

(One was about the miracle received by Danny of Barangay Bigbiga. Although, he was not able to give his story, Fr. Oliver E. Mendoza, the Parish Priest, could attest to the wonderful grace that God has given to Danny).

  

The parishioners joining in the procession during the Feast of The Divine Mercy

Parish gives recognition to dedicated lay ministers and catechists

12 April 2009 – San Fabian. During the celebration of the Evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper on Holy Thursday, parishioners who have rendered dedicated service to the parish have been given Certificates of Recognition and Appreciation. These parishioners received the recognition for at least giving 20 years of dedicated and continued service as Lector and Commentator, Lay Eucharistic Ministers and Catechists.

The following received a Certificate of Appreciation: Bro. Epifanio Ceralde (Lay Eucharistic Minister), Sis. Filomena Sagun, Sis. Betty Ganay, Sis. Alicia Zamudio, Sis. Lourdes Patungan (Catechists).

The following received Cerificates of Recognition, and their corresponding years in the ministry: Sis. Alicia Z. Gubatan (29 years as Lector/Commentator). As Lay Eucharistic Ministers: Bro. Santiago C. Alhambra (35 years), Bro. Gregorio de Guzman, Jr (35 years), Bro. Faustino D. Ferraro (23 years), Bro. Ildefonso D. Viernes (21 years), Bro. Rufo Fabia (20 years), Bro. Ceferino M. Baltazar (20 years), Bro. Francisco M. Baltazar (20 years), Bro. Pedro C. Tamondong (20 years), Bro. Evasito Narvas (20 years), Bro. Diosdado Vallejos (21 years).