“And the
Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us…”
Jn 1: 14.
Good
Shepherd Sisters from various communities in
gathered at the Good Shepherd Chapel in
25.
from the residence of Euphrasian Community and the babies and caregivers of
Heart Mary Villa also attended the celebration of Jesus’ birth.
Eucharistic celebration was presided by Fr. Victor Sadaya CMF, rector and
president of Claret Seminary.
homily, Fr. Sadaya emphasized on being blessed. He began with the question, “Do we consider ourselves as being blessed?”
He continued, “If we do, what does it mean to be blessed? In the story of the
Annunciation, the angel called Mary
blessed. Mary believed she was blessed. To be blessed cannot be reduced to just
having. To be blessed is an awareness, a conviction, a faith that one is
unconditionally loved by God. Then, everyone is blessed, because everyone is
loved by God, no matter who we are. The blessed Virgin was convinced that she
was blessed and did not keep the blessing to herself. When she learned of her
cousin Elizabeth’s being blessed, she hastened to be with her. Two women came
together to share the blessing.
even the baby in her womb leapt for joy. Mary brought blessing to Elizabeth and
her child. To celebrate Christmas is to recognize that we are so blessed and we
are to share these with others.” (Read the full text of the homily.)
was also held at
Good Shepherd Provincialate compound with Fr. Jun Viray SJ, rector of the
Loyola House of Studies, as presider.
shared in his homily a story of a prince who traveled to a far country to find
a princess to marry but did not succeed, but who on his way home saw a
beautiful woman and fell in love with her, at first sight. The prince offered
her marriage. The woman refused to marry him as she was a poor woman unworthy
of the prince. And the distance between them was like heaven and earth. The
prince left sad and left but one day knocked again on the door of the woman’s house. He was not immediately
recognized by the woman. He was no longer wearing his princely attire but
simple clothes as ordinary people do. He was willing to abandon his kingdom so
that he could be united with his loved one.
The December 24 evening Mass
was celebrated in Filipino while the Christmas Day Mass was in English.
year’s celebration of Christmas take a special significance following the series of
calamities experienced in the country. The
intentions of the novena of Masses leading to Christmas were in solidarity with
the poor. The intentions included the youth, migrant workers, victims of violence, the farmers, labor workers, families,women, ecology and urban poor.
The
Christmas crib with the infant Jesus, his mother Mary and St. Joseph that
Filipinos usually depict as sheltered within a “Bahay Kubo”, a traditional
Filipino house made of bamboo, nipa and other native plants, was devoid of
roof. Sr. Teresa Danganan RGS and Sr. Maureen Catabian RGS said, the absence of the roof and walls was in remembrance of so many Filipinos whose homes were destroyed
during the typhoons.
Sr.
Cecilia Torres RGS, province leader of the Good Shepherd Sisters in the
relatives, benefactors and Good Shepherd communities who gave material and
financial resources to help the victims. In the Christmas message, Sr. Cecilia, on behalf of the sisters in the Philippine province, sent warm greetings to missionaries and Good Shepherd family worldwide.
Good Shepherd Sisters from Asian countries like Myanmar, Korea, Thailand and Japan are in the Philippines for theological studies and masteral courses.
Christmas Mass, those gathered proceeded to the Good Shepherd Community dining
room for meal and games.
Maligayang Pasko at Manigong Bagong Taon sa inyojng lahat.
View: Photo Gallery - Christmas 2009