Look at Jesus on the cross

Today, we are in the season of Lent and in preparation for the coming significant event in our country, the May 2007 Elections.

In his recent first of the series of Pastoral Reflections on Elections, the Most Rev. Leonardo Z. Legaspi, O.P. says, “Both Lent and the Elections bid us to engage into an act of examination.” After giving the Christian guide for examining one’s self in the sphere of relationships, the Archbishop invites the faithful for an examination in the level of society, particularly in the conduct of elections. He then gave specific qualifications of a good public official namely: Competence, Personal Integrity and Commitment to the Common Good. This serves as a clear consideration for the people in effecting good change for the country – examination of self and society.
But how do we start examining and renewing ourselves? How do we change our society? To whom shall we look up to as our model?

“Let us look at Christ pierced on the Cross!” the Holy Father, Benedict XVI strongly calls us in his message for Lent 2007. His Holiness dwelt on the theme of love fully expressed in his crucifixion and death. He says, “Let us direct our gaze in this time of penance and prayer at Christ Crucified who, dying on the cross, revealed fully for us the love of God… The response the Lord ardently desires of us is above all that we welcome his love and allow ourselves to be drawn to him… We need to respond to such love and devote ourselves to communicating it to others.”

Looking at “Christ pierced on the cross” (Jn. 19: 37) then is our source and model in examining and renewing ourselves and our society.

We live it by responding to the call of our dear Archbishop, “Let us examine the quality of our love… Let us repent; do penance, fast and give alms; let us offer sacrifices, for ourselves and for our country.
We live it by receiving the blessing of the Holy Father, “May Mary, Mother of Beautiful Love, guide us in this Lenten journey, a journey of authentic conversion to the love of Christ.”

Aki asin Gurang: Ladawan nin Pagkamoot

Kan Enero, maogma nyatong sinelebrar an kapistahan ni Sto. Niño, okasyon para sa mga kaakian. Ngonyan na Pebrero, sato man na sineselebrar an World Day of the Sick (Feb. 11), okasyon para sa mga gurang asin naghehelang. Asin an bulan na ini bulan nin pagkamoot huli kan Valentine’s day. Kun kaya, satong minawot na an tema nyato sa isyung ngonyan iyo, “An Pagkamoot kan mga Aki asin mga Magurang sa Buhay nin Simbahan.”

An mga kaakian asin mga gurang mahalagang kaayon kan Simbahan. An mga aki, sa saindang pagigin inosente asin bilog na pagsarig sa magurang nagigin pangarogan kan gabos na magpakumbaba asin bilog na magsarig sa Dios. Kun kaya, tinugon mismo ni Jesus, “Kun dai kamo magbakle asin magin siring sa mga aking sadit, dai nanggad kamo makakalaog sa Kahadean nin langit” (Mt. 18:3). Siringman, binoot Niya, “Pabayae nindong magdolok sako an mga aki” (Mt. 19:14).

An mga gurang, huli kan saindang mahiwas na experyensya sa buhay, orog na igwa nin mahalagang dolot sa komunidad kan Simbahan. Sinda “danay na mabunga, maski gurang na” (Ps. 92:14). Yaon sainda an pagigin matinao na dai naghahalat na balsan; an mas kumpletong paghiling sa buhay; an pagtao nin halaga sa simpleng pagbuhay; asin an mas relihiyosong pagsamba sa Kagurangnan. Ini asin an dakul pang mga karisma kan gurang na edad iyo an kaipuhan man na pangarogan.

Sa mga karahayan na ini minasupay an pagkamoot na ipinapahiling kan mga kaakian asin kamagurangnan. An pagsabuhay kaini iyo an magiya sa gabos sa dalan nin mas hararom na pagkamidbid asin pagkamoot sa Dios.
Sa tabang ni Santa Ana, ni Santa Maria saiyang aki, asin ni Jesus na saiyang maku-apo, maipahiling man nyato an pagkamoot sa satong mga gurang asin kaaikan.

The power of love and care

In 1992, the Holy Father John Paul II designated February 11 as World Day of the Sick. He said that this day shall be “a special time of prayer and sharing, of offering one’s suffering for the good of the Church, and of reminding us to see in our sick brother and sister the face of Christ, who, by suffering, dying and rising, achieved the salvation of mankind.” (Letter instituting the World Day of the Sick, 13 May 1992, 3).

To realize and respond to the Holy Father’s call, in 2001, we started observing the said celebration in our parish. We looked for the sick and aged parishioners, visited them, brought the holy viaticum at their beds, heard their confessions and invited them for the celebration of the Holy Eucharist in the parish church.

Last year, February 11, we had around 150 aged persons who came to the parish church. We celebrated the Holy Mass, administer to them the sacrament of anointing of the sick, provided medical assistance, said to them a blessing, and invited them for a common meal.

Such celebration primarily aims at helping the sick and elderly face their situation in life. Pope Benedict XVI in his message for the 15th World Day of the Sick this year said, “Sickness brings with it a moment of crisis and sober confrontation with one’s own personal situation.” It may be difficult indeed for the aged and sick to endure life. But being sick is not just a burden to bear but an opportunity to offer our sufferings to Jesus. It can become a blessing. Addressing the sick, the Holy Father continues, “I encourage you to contemplate the sufferings of Christ crucified… Trust that your sufferings, united to those of Christ, will prove fruitful for the needs of the Church and the world. I ask the Lord to strengthen your faith in his love, especially in moments of suffering.”

This celebration is also a fitting opportunity in this month of love for the children and the young to express their love and service for the sick and the aged, not only to their own sick loved ones but to their neighbor in the parish as well. When this is done, a new seed of change is planted.

Finally, this makes us realize the inter-dependence of the children and the aged. While the children or the young give joy to the aged, the aged guide and inspire the young.

James Aury rightly puts it, “The power of love and caring can change the world.”

Isay si Sto.Niño para sa mga aki?

Si Sto. Niño, an aking si Jesus, iyo an patron kan mga kaakian. An kapistahan niya kaaldawan man kan mga aki.

Kan Enero 21, Domingo nin kapistahan kan Sto. Niño, nagsimba ako sa Magarao alas-4:30 nin hapon. Dai ko inaasahan, inimbitaran akong magbasa kan pamibi nin banwaan. Maogma kong inako ini. Asin mas-naogma pa ako kan sakong mabasa na an mga pamibi para sa mga aki, “Para sa mga kaakian na napipiritan na manlimos, maghanap nin kakanon, maggibo nin magagabat na trabaho, o ibenta an saindang hawak: magkaigwa man sinda nin maginhawang buhay asin makahawas sa pagtios asin kawaran nin pag-asa.” Ini nagdara sako na romdomon man an ibang mga kaakian.


Si Sto. Niño sarong ladawan na satong pangarogan na magin tunay na Kristyano. Sinasabing kita kaipuhan magin arog sa mga aki bilang mga tagasunod nin Kagurangnan. An mga aki simple, makinuyog-kuyog, honesto, asin may dakulang pagkatakot sa Diyos, saka dai sinda nagmamawot nin dakul na materyal na kayamanan asin pagsasadiri. Sinda kuntento na sa mga simpleng kaogmahan. Sa mga bagay na ini, kita man inaapudan na mabuhay siring sainda.


Sa mga kapwa ko kaakian, lugod padagos tang mabisto si Sto. Niño asin pirmi kitang magin harani saiya.


(An nagsurat Grade 5-Sapphire sa Magarao Central School.)

Nagtitios alagad bakong miserable an Pasko 2006

by Msgr. Gilbert A. Garcera, H.P.

Kan ako nag-abot digdi sa Bikol hale sa Manila, kadakul akong nadangog na inagrangay kan mga tawong nadanyaran kan bagyong Milenyo asin Reming – “An samong Pasko sa taon na ini mamundo huli ta mayo pa kaming kuryente”; “Mayong kahulugan an sakong Pasko huli ta sagkod ngonyan dai pa nakukua an bangkay kan samong tugang na natambunan kan baybay asin mga gapo na hale sa Mayon”; “Grabe talaga an pagtios ngonyan..”; “Mayo na kami nin atop...”; “Mayo daw kaming keso de bola... maluya an Pasko sa taon na ini.”

Kadakul na mga tawo an igwa kan siring na reklamo. Dai ta mapapasipara an pagtios kan mga Bikolano. Haros gabos na tawo digdi sa Bikol, mayaman man o pobre, namamatean an pagtios huli sa bagyong nakaagi. Alagad dawa na ngani siring an kamugtakan nin ibang tawo, an buhay bakong miserable kun an mga pangyayari sa satong buhay igwa nin kahulugan asin an naka-aging bagyo nagdadara sato nin mga pagpagamiaw.

Miserable an buhay nin sarong Bikolano kun an saiyang pagtios dai naka-ugat sa Diyos na “uya sato” – si Jesus an satong “Emmanuel” – “God who is with us.”

Si Papa Benedicto XVI nagsabi: “The deepest cause of suffering is the very absence of God (DCE,31). Nagmamawot ako na an satong Pasko sa taon na ini 2006 bakong miserable huli ta mayong kahulugan an buhay o kaya dai minimidbid an Dios sa tahaw kan siring na kamugtakan. Logod an satong Pasko dawa na ngani pano nin pagtios magdara nin kagaya-gayahan na gikan ki Jesus na namundang para sato.

(Msgr. Garcera is a native of San Miguel, Magarao, Camarines Sur. He is the National Director of the Pontifical Missionary Societies of the Philippine.)

A season of faith, service and love

by Mrs. Emma Villaraza

In this season of our Savior’s birth, we are challenged to live the Christmas spirit of faith, service and love. I pray that everything that has happened to us may strengthen our faith in God and may it pave the way for the fulfillment of the ultimate and beautiful plan God has laid down for each of us. May we selflessly continue helping and supporting those who are in need especially the victims of the recent natural calamities like the typhoon “Reming.” In service to our fellowmen, may our hearts be filled with great joy and love.

Merry Christmas and a Grace-filled New Year to all!

(Mrs. Villaraza is the Chairperson of the Parish Pastoral Council. She is also the President of the Confraternity of St. Anne of Magarao Parish.)

Balaog nin Diyos

by Msgr. Juan N. Buentiempo,P.C.

Sarong dakulang kaogmahan na ngonyan namundag an bagong ‘newsleter’ kan satong parokya!

Huli sa kaskas na pag-asenso kan teknolohiya ngonyan na panahon, pwedeng sabihon na an paggibo asin pagpaluwas kan papel na ini huri na. Alagad, huli man ta an mayor na katuyohan kan paggibo kaini iyo an pagpahayag asin an pagpabalangibog kan kahadean nin Diyos, dai ini mahuhuri huli ta an mensaheng dinadara iyo an Marahay na Bareta nin satong Kagurangnan.

Kaya, an PROBATICA: An lugar ni Santa Ana sarong dakulang balaog para sa parokya nin Magarao. Ini man an satong magayon na dolot sa Mahal na Diyos na namundag ngonyan na Pasko. Sa pag-abot kan papel na ini sa saindong mga kamot dara an mensahe na an Diyos man nanggad uya, namomoot sa sato, sa tahaw nin gabos na pangyayari sa buhay.

Uminagi pa sana an makukusog na bagyo na nagwalat nin dakul na destroso. Alagad, padagos an buhay nyato! Ini nagpapasabot na umagi man an kalamidad asin trahedya sa sato, anoman na problema an mag-abot, padagos an Pasko. Mayo man nanggad makakadaog sa espiritu kan pagkamundag kan satong Kagurangnan. Huli ta sa selebrasyon na ini, dakulang kayamanan an satong inaako – an pagkamoot nin Diyos na ihineras sato gabos.

Maogmang Pasko!!!

(Msgr. Buentiempo is the Parish Priest of St. Anne, Magarao since year 2000.)