January 11, 2009

Buddy Tinglers funeral was standing room only. Friends and family of the DDay veteran who died at 90 were packed in the small St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church in his hometown of New Castle in Craig County. He was something of a local hero in this sparsely populated, provincial region on the edge of Appalachia, and when his friends came to bid their final farewell, their affection for Tingler opened wider the door to understanding.

ers feared their small church was in danger of being suppressed, in the language of canon law, as the local planning area searched for ways to accommodate the impending priest shortage.

But in early October, Father Arlon and the parish pastoral council sent a letter to the diocesan Pastoral Planning Commission requesting that St. Johns continue as a mission parish in the area. Emphasizing the need for an evangelizing Catholic presence in Craig As a Catholic, Buddy was as much an evangelist County, the council noted that St. Johns provides the as anybody, said Faye Conn, a charter member of St. only Catholic liturgical celebration and also shares the gospel through works of charity in a poor region. Johns. The parish community had worked hard to prove its You need to understand, Craig County is a place where it has taken people six years since this commitment. Besides the membership campaign, St. church was built to get over their superstitions Johns also doubled the size of its pastoral and finance councils, which began meeting monthly, and estababout Catholicism, she explained. lished a social service ministry. The diocese agreed to Some of those people had never been inside a keep the Craig County church in its plan. Catholic church before, so for them to come for a litWe are so thankful to the Planning Commission for urgy was a big deal. listening to us and allowing us to continue our minisA conscientious greeter, Mr. Tingler had welcomed try of being a witness to the gospel in the community the Catholic faithful to Sunday Mass every week. He here, Father Arlon said. Until 1996, Buddy Tingler also helped connect the parish to the wider community, and a few other Catholics in Craig County simply Ms. Conn noted. Actually, Buddy Tingler was part of didnt go to Mass the drive was too far. a decade-long effort by Catholics in Craig County to But through the high energy of Suzanne Gallagher, gently but firmly plant their presence in the commuthen a professional Catholic lay minister recently arnity. rived in Roanoke, an effort was put in motion to proHis funeral two months ago where Ms. Conn vide a Catholic presence in the region. estimated only two percent present were Catholic was just the latest indication that theyve arrived. Ms. Gallagher, now campus minister at Roanoke Dedicated in 2002, St. Johns sits on seven acres in Catholic School, is considered the founder of St. New Castle, located about 35 miles west of Roanoke. Johns. She became interested in the needs of Craig In a place where it still isnt always invited to the an- County Catholics through her cousin, Monsignor John nual countywide interfaith songfest, the church serves Williams of the Diocese of Raleigh, N.C. a committed community of Catholics, with about 35 Msgr. Williams, who grew up in Richmond where people attending Sunday Mass. Five catechists lead a he attended St. Pauls School and Benedictine High Christian Formation program for 12 children that last year had an unusually large Confirmation class of School, had been bringing his parishioners to the rethree. The parish recently initiated an increased mem- gion for an annual retreat and realized the need to offer bership campaign that brought back some Catholics Mass there for local Catholics. who had stayed home or joined other denominations Through the New Castle newspaper, Ms. Gallagher years ago when there was no Catholic church nearby. invited interested Catholics to an organizational meetThe campaign also includes an ongoing effort to invite ing in 1996, and the Catholic Community of Craig friends and other local residents to the church. County was born. Gathering at the local Methodist Since July, Father Arlon Vergara, an Augustinian priest from the Philippines, has served as parish administrator of St. Johns along with Transfiguration parish of Fincastle - carrying out all the duties of a pastor.

A PUBLICATION OF AND FOR THE FILIPINO CATHOLIC MIGRANTS IN SEOUL

Vol. 14 Issue 02

church and later in individual homes, the group grew from 7 to 25 people and Msgr. Joseph Lehman, pastor of Our Lady of Nazareth Church in Roanoke, came to celebrate Mass with them once a month. Msgr. Williams, who has a get-away He has encouraged the membership campaign, but for home in the Craig County village of Paint Bank, the most part the parish doesnt expect to grow a lot presided when he visited and while on a nine more because the county isnt growing (the Craig month sabbatical.
County population is 5,300 and half of its land is national forest property). On the other hand, St. Johns In the meantime, Ms. Gallagher began organizisnt going away, either. Earlier this year, as the dio- ing the community. cese developed its five-year strategic plan, parish lead- (turn to next page)

My heart and soul went into it, she recalled. It came to be through the gifts of the people, she explained. They were industrious, hard-working and faith filled and they wanted a house of worship of their own. They made it happen. With the help of Bishop Walter F. Sullivan, property was purchased and the church completed in 2001. A year earlier Ms. Gallagher was assigned by Bishop Sullivan to be pastoral coordinator. She served in that position for four years until a priest was permanently assigned to Transfiguration and St. Johns. St. Johns is indeed a mission parish in every sense. Built with the help of grants and donations from other churches, it continues to rely heavily on the diocese for financial assistance, particularly through the missionary cooperative plan. But parishioners, too, have made financial sacrifices. Originally a half-million dollar project (including land acquisition), St. Johns has paid off nearly three quarters of its debt in eight years, Fr. Arlon estimated. The commitment of the people here is amazing, he said. The parish communitys sense of connection and gratitude to the diocese is clear. In fact, the assembly recites a prayer for our diocese at the end of every Mass. Finance council chair Kevin Conn noted that St. Johns is supported by a considerable monthly contribution from Immaculate Conception Parish in Hampton and makes full use of the diocesan coop plan by visiting other parishes twice a year to make formal requests for financial assistance. Sometimes Fr. Arlon makes the plea, sometimes parishioners. Conn and his wife have made the treks on occasion. Its a very humbling experience, he explained and added, but it makes you really appreciate the universal church, that were all in this together. Still, St. Johns sees itself not only as a mission of the diocese but as a mission to the people of its rural, economically struggling county. We are named St. John the Evangelist for a reason, Faye Conn noted. Father Ken Shuping (the first priest permanently assigned to St. Johns) did a lot to stabilize the community, Ms. Conn said, but Fr. Arlon is a missionary at heart and he has inspired a return to that attitude in living out our Catholic faith. Ordained in the Philippines in 1990, Fr. Arlon served as a missionary priest in South Korea for 11 years. After returning to his own country and teaching in seminary and establishing an Augustinian parish there, he said he felt the desire to return to mission work.

His provincial approved his request and assigned him to be a missionary to the Richmond Diocese. Although it is much different from the Augustinian parish in the Philippines he served 9,000 parishioners including nine outstations Fr. Arlon is enlivened by the challenges of growing the Catholic faith in a small, struggling non-Catholic community. We have a family atmosphere where we trust each other and help each other, he said. Then we concretize our faith by being in community with each other and with God in the Eucharist to be a people that is always welcoming the visitor, and to be a witness to others in the community. Tom Tainer, parish pastoral council chair, added, I think the possibility of closing really helped us look at who we are. It gave us the impetus to re-focus on our mission and whats important to us as a community. Tainers wife Meg has helped spark St. Johns outreach mission through a new social ministry that not only provides assistance to Craig County families but also brings non-Catholic neighbors to the church. Social ministry reaffirms our purpose to actually live the call of God, she said. (continuation on page 09) (continuation from Catholic Faith, Feast of the Baptism of the Lord, page 04) Those who follow the example of Jesus, Mary, Joseph and John the Baptist, will be open to joyous testimony of God's gifts and remove from their soul all trace of jealously and rivalry, envy and ambition, because they will understand that the only true greatness lies in allowing to grow in their soul not self, but the only True Great One. God! And of this, Mary is the greatest example. Mgr. Luciano Alimandi, Ave Maria, Agenzia Fides http://www.catholicculture.org/culture//liturgicalyear/calendar/ day.cfm?date=2008-01-13

Birthday Greetings
Galo Manrique Svere Arelas Felipe Lagunda 01/01 01/05 01/15

SAMBAYANAN is prepared and published weekly by the Archdiocesan Pastoral Center for Filipino Migrants which is being administered by the Mission Society of the Philippines under the auspices of Seoul Archdiocese.
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EDITORIAL STAFF
Editor-in-Chief: Emely Dicolen-Abagat, Ph. D. Assistant Editor: Jojo Geronimo Encoder/Lay-out Artist: :Frt. Fredy C. Permentilla, MSP Webmaster: Engr. Rogelio Domingo Contributors: Allan Rodriguez, Edgar Balista, Amie Sison, Bevi Tamargo, Joel Tavarro, Michael Balba Circulation Manager: Frt. Moises Robert T. Olavides, MSP Fr. Alvin B. Parantar, MSP
VOLUME 14 ISSUE 02

Tel No. (02) 765-0870; Fax No. (02) 765-0871 e-mail: alvin_parantar@yahoo.com e-mail: jjgeronimo14@yahoo.com e-mail: emelyabagat@yahoo.com
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One community living up the Gospel through the service of the Lord and our fellow men.

PAGNINILAY:
Lagi ka na lamang nagsisimba wala namang nangyayari sayo sabi ng isang kong kaibigan. Sa kanyang pananalitang ito ay naisulat ko pagninilay na ito. Natural sa akin ang tumango na lang at iwasan ang pakikipagtalo. Pero sa aking kalooban ay naglalaro ang sama ng loob. Sapagkat kung sasabihan ako ng ganun nararamdaman ko na naapakan ang buhay pananampalataya ko. Kaya naman natanong ko ang aking sarili. Ikaw wala bang nangyaring maganda sa panalangin mo o kahit minsan ba ay hindi ka nanalangin? Minsan bay nasabi mo sa iyong sarili na hindi mo kailangan manalangin? Siguro ay nabigla lamang siya noong nasabi niya iyon. Dahil baka gusto niya pa ako makasama para makipagkwentuhan sa kanya. Mahirap umiwas sa kanyang pagimbita na mag-usap muna kami kaso mas gusto ko ibigay ang oras ko kay Lord. Pwede naman kami mag-usap uli pagkatapos ng misa. Napakaraming naitutulong ang panalangin. Minsan kahit ang mga taong hindi naman madalas na nagsisimba o kahit manalangin ay nagkakaroon ng pagsubok at wala na silang ibang makakapitan kung hindi ang Diyos. Hindi na sila nahihiya kung dumarating man ang mga sitwasyon na siya lamang ang tamang sagot.

Amie Sison
bawat bata ang pananalangin. Kaya hanggang sa paglaki nito ang panalangin ay isa sa mga kakulangan sa kanyang paglaki. Nakakatuwa man aminin ngunit nakakapagdasal ang isang tao sa isang pangyayari na nakakatuwa ngunit nandoon pa rin ang hiling na siya ay tulungan ng ating Panginoon. Ilan na rito ay sana masagot na siya ng babaeng nililigawan niya, sana umalis na si boss para makaalis na siya sa trabaho at sana dumating na yung jeep para makauwi na ako. Ganito minsan manalangin ang isang tao. Tinatawag niya ang Diyos sa gitna ng kanyang paghihirap at alinlangan. At kung pag-iisipan hindi naman ito talagang mahirap. Sa mababaw na sitwasyon na iyon, ito ay matatawag na panalangin. Mababaw na sitwasyon ngunit minsan ay binibigyan niya pa rin katuparan ang mga simpleng panalangin. Dito sa Hyehwa, naranasan ko mamigay ng flyers sa labas ng simbahan. ngunit noong panahon na iyon ay nakapagsimba na ako sa Myeongdong. Marami pa rin Pilipino ang nasa labas ng simbahan. Napagnilayan ko na may ilan pa kayang mga katoliko ang hindi naiintindihan ang panalangin? Kung paano niya pasasalamatan ang Diyos sa pagbibigay ng katuparan kahit sa simpleng panalangin.

Ang simpleng panalangin ay malaking tulong para sa Noong tayo ay bininyagan, napabilang tayo sa pamilya ng Diyos. Tayo ay naging ganap na Katoliko. Ngunit min- ating mananampalataya. Ito an gating magiging sandigan san natatapos na lamang ang binyag sa kainan at sobreng sa lahat ng mga pagsubok at hilahil sa buhay. Itoy ating naglalaman ng pakimkim. Madalas hindi na namumulat sa ugaliin, lalo na ang pagdalo sa kanyang banal na piging.

FREQUENTLY CALLED NOS.

Phil.Embassy (Labor Office) (Consular Office) (Hotline) Taerim (Dan Panti) 3785-3634/35 Worship 011-273-3657 Education 774-35-81 Fr. Alvin Parantar, MSP 010-4922-0870 Sr. Miguela Santiago Allan Rodriquez (Secretary) 010-3144-3756 Edgar Balista Edison Pinlac (JPC) El Shaddai (Sis.Irene) 011-9683-7430 016-706-0870 (Ely) (Emely) 796-73-87-89 Recreation (Mike) Youth Ministry (Rowena) 010-5821-7799 010-8684-7897 010-8061-9143 010-8685-4161 010-5160-2928

+SCRIPTURE GUIDE+
Sunday January 11, 2009 The Baptism of the Lord (Feast) Tuesday January 13, 2009 Friday January 16, 2009 St. Berard, OFM, Priest and Companions, Protomartyrs

Hebrews 2:5-12 Psalm 8:2, 5-9 Mark 1:21-28

Wednesday January 14, 2009

Philippine Airlines ( Reservation)

Isaiah 42:1-4, 6-7

1 Corinthians 4:9-13 Psalm 126:1-6 Matthew 10:16-22

Saturday January 17, 2009 St. Anthony, Abbot (Memorial)

Rebeck Beltran (Eucharistic) Psalm 29:1-4, 3, 9-10 010-8671-2761 Neneth Mari (FMAA) Mhar Gonzales (Detention) Center 010-7753-5087 010-8683-3826 02-2650-6247

Acts 10: 34-38 Mark 1:7-11

Monday January 12, 2009 St. Bernard of Corleone, Religious

Hebrews 2:14-18 Psalm 105:1-4, 6-9 Mark 1:29-39

Thursday January 15, 2009

Mokdong Immigration Processing

010-2906-3109 Hwaseong, Suwon Immigration Processing (Detention) Center 031-355-2011/2 794-23-38 Chungju Immigration Processing 010-2273-1215 (Detention) Center Yang Seung Geol Han Suk Gyu 043-290-7512/3 011-226-9237 010-5348-9515 010-5822-9194 (031) 593-6542

Hebrews 4:12-16 Psalm 19:8-10, 15 Mark 2:13-17

http://www.ewtn.com/Dev otionals/inspiration
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Masok Com. (Gil Maranan)

Hebrews 1:1-6 Psalm 97:1-2, 6-7, 9 Mark 1:14-20

Hebrews 3:7-14 Psalm 95:6-11 Mark 1:40-45

VOLUME 14 ISSUE 02

One community living up the Gospel through the service of the Lord and our fellow men.

CATHOLIC FAITH:
Today the Church celebrates the Solemnity of the Baptism of Our Lord. This brings to an end the season of Christmas. The Church recalls Our Lord's second manifestation or epiphany which occurred on the occasion of His baptism in the Jordan. Jesus descended into the River to sanctify its waters and to give them the power to beget sons of God. The event takes on the importance of a second creation in which the entire Trinity intervenes. In the Eastern Church this feast is called Theophany because at the baptism of Christ in the River Jordan God appeared in three persons. The baptism of John was a sort of sacramental preparatory for the Baptism of Christ. It moved men to sentiments of repentance and induced them to confess their sins. Christ did not need the baptism of John. Although He appeared in the "substance of our flesh" and was recognized "outwardly like unto ourselves", He was absolutely sinless and impeccable. He conferred upon the water the power of the true Baptism which would remove all the sins of the world: "Behold the Lamb of God, behold Him Who takes away the sin of the world". Many of the incidents which accompanied Christ's baptism are symbolical of what happened at our Baptism. At Christ's baptism the Holy Spirit descended upon Him; at our Baptism the Trinity took its abode in our soul. At His baptism Christ was proclaimed the "Beloved Son" of the Father; at our Baptism we become the adopted sons of God. At Christ's baptism the heavens were opened; at our Baptism heaven was opened to us. At His baptism Jesus prayed; after our Baptism we must pray to avoid actual sin. - Right Rev. Msgr. Rudolph G. Bandas Customs on the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord In the Ukraine the faithful gather in the front of the church where a cross of ice is placed. Since there are no rivers near churches, a tub is filled with water and is placed in front of the ice cross. During special and very unique services the water is blessed and brought home. This is taken in before breakfast is eaten. The remains are kept during the year to keep the home safe from fire, lightening and sickness. The priest visits his parishioners to bless their homes with the holy water that the New Year may be one of cooperation with the gift of God; His Son and the participation in the Life He has come to lead us in toward Salvation. The evening meal is very much a repeat of the Holy Supper except that there are no restrictions on meat and dairy products. It starts with Kutia, which has been saved from Christmas Eve. The Twentieth Day of Christmas True Greatness Is to Make Oneself Small The presence of John the Baptist accompanied us through the season of Advent and we met him again on our liturgical and spiritual journey on the feast of the Baptism of Jesus. The figure of the Baptist is mysterious and captivating. He was the Precursor of Christ, not only two thousand years ago but in a sense also in our day. He is the friend of the Bridegroom. The voice, which makes us hear the Word which introduces us to the mystery of the redemption, who helps us to respond to the call to conversion, with humility and love. He helps us understand that the human person, every person in front of the Lord Jesus stands before the greatest mystery of our existence: the Mystery of the Man God! We cannot stand before Jesus as if he were not what he is: God from God, true God from true God! Only a person who has a relationship of humility with the Lord is able to receive the faith which illuminates the mind and warms the heart. Atheism is the product of human pride
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renders man unable to believe because he is closed to the truth, to humility. Truth-humility cannot be separated! John the Baptist is the herald of truth because he is the herald of humility and vice versa. His words are fire which desires to burn any remnant of pride deposited in the hearts of his disciples, who are disarmed in front of the figure of Jesus, his apostolic success, his truly surprising manner of announcing the Kingdom of God: a Messiah whom they had imagined differently. The Gospel speaks of this crisis of the disciples of the Baptist, which we might call crisis of humility , because it touches this fundamental disposition of the human soul before the mystery of God who reveals himself in Jesus. The Gospel says: so they went to John and said, 'Rabbi, the man who was with you on the far side of the Jordan, the man to whom you bore witness, is baptizing now, and everyone is going to him.' John replied: 'No one can have anything except what is given him from heaven. 'You yourselves can bear me out. I said, "I am not the Christ; I am the one who has been sent to go in front of him." 'It is the bridegroom who has the bride; and yet the bridegroom's friend, who stands there and listens to him, is filled with joy at the bridegroom's voice. This is the joy I feel, and it is complete. He must grow greater, I must grow less.(Jn 3, 26-31). These are among the strongest words and most moving testimony with regard to the identity of Christ, his priceless greatness compared with our littleness. The fact that this warning was addressed by the Baptist to his disciples who were prepared to welcome the Messiah makes us realize the insidious nature of the temptation to enter into crisis of humility: refusing to recognize that everything is grace, that God's gifts do not belong to us, that 'No one can have anything except what is given him from heaven How often the disciple thinks he is the teacher; the servant the master. John the Baptist knew well that the original sin was pride, a desire to possess the gifts of God separating them from their origin and identity as gifts, starting with freedom! How dangerous it is for the believer to forget the nothing he is and everything that God is. That original temptation is ever ready to arise in our soul. How good it is for us to say now and then, you alone Lord are everything! Right at the beginning of the spiritual journey of Catherine of Sienna, the Lord said: do you know daughter, who you are and who I am? If you know these two things, you will be happy. You are not, and I am who is. If you hold this knowledge in your soul the enemy will not be able to mislead you, you will be safe from all his threats; you will never accept to do any thing contrary to my commandments and you will have no difficulty in obtaining abundant grave, truth and light (Raimondo da Capua, La vita di S. Caterina da Siena, I, X, 92, ed. Cantagalli). Although with different words, John the Baptist offered his disciples the same teaching: He must grow greater, I must grow less; in order to make way for the Everything He is, we who are nothing must forget ourselves. This is the extraordinary dynamic of the conversion announced by the Baptist and repeated by Jesus: lose oneself in order to find God, become little in order to be great, be the least in order to become the first in the Kingdom of Heaven! The path of humility teaches us to see God's gifts in ourselves and in others, a sign of the goodness He pours into the hearts of his creatures. (Continuation on page 02)

One community living up the Gospel through the service of the Lord and our fellow men.

VOLUME 14 ISSUE 02

Karunungan:
St. Alphonsus Maria de Ligouri called it a vision. It was a moment of clarity and decision when he knew exactly what God wanted him to do and felt willing and ready to do it. Alphonsus was a young and brilliant and successful lawyer in seventeenth Century Naples . He was handling and important and certain case for the Duke of Tuscany . But most likely because the judge was influenced, the judgment was given against him. For three days he did not leave his room. Then he began to visit the Hospital of the Incurables, the equivalent of our AIDS patients today. There he had the vision. He heard the Lord say to him, Leave the world and give yourself to me! He interpreted this as telling him to leave the social class to which he belonged and to become a pastoral priest. Other people have such moments. They call them moments of decision, or conviction or discernment. A married man realized that his relationship with one of his employees was becoming a threat to his fidelity in marriage. It then became absolutely clear to him what he should do. A young priest was pretending to be advising a young lady but the relationship had changed drastically from that of counselor/ counselee. One day it suddenly hit him that to be an authentic person he must make a radical decision either to leave her or leave the priesthood. In Jesus time, the moment of decisive action was called Baptism. In todays Gospel we meet the 30 year old Jesus emerging from his hidden struggle to be his authentic self. He had looked around for a model to follow. He came all the way from Galilee to Judea because the best example he could find was John the Baptizer. John was simple honest man who demanded a letting go of all that was false and inauthentic. Jesus came and lined up with sinners to be baptized by John. This marks a radical option and a definite decision. By this story Mark tells us that a new time begins.

Bro. Allan Rodriguez

The baptism marks a significant time for Jesus personally. As he experienced his call to mission he is grasped by the Spirit of God and is recognized as the chosen servant of God. The baptism also says that a time of waiting has been ended and a new time of salvation has begun. Jesus new beginning is Gods new beginning; through the person of Jesus, God will reach out to the people in a new way. Whatever Jesus does will be accomplished by the power of Gods Spirit in him. This is the significance of his baptism. Through Jesus was always in the Trinity, the Spirit empowered him in a special way at his baptism. This same Spirit empowered us and makes a dwelling place in us in a special way at our baptism. We spend our lives catching up with our beginning. Our baptism needs to be validated by our daily personal decisions, great and small. Many of us are afraid of the challenge of our baptism. We try to seek God in churchgoing or religious activities. We run around in circles and become like doughnuts that have no centers. Yet the Spirit is there in the stillness of the center. It is when we can be still at the center that we can hear our own inner wisdom and the wisdom of the spirit blend. It is by being still at the center, letting go of all asking or planning or directing of God, that God speaks to our hearts and tells us what He really wants us to do. For most of us, the 20 or 30 minutes of meditation each morning and evening, when we try to say the prayer word, is an experience of total frustration. The mind hops about from one thought to another. But because of the discipline of trying to say the prayer word attention is taken off oneself, and at some time maybe later in the day, truth will surface from the Spirit within, like a bubble rising to the surface revealing that there is a diver below. Our prayer disposes us to accept our baptism and its consequences, just as it disposed Alphonsus to hear the truth within, and it empowered Christ to seek and do the will of his Father no matter what the cost was for himself.

Thursdays: Praise and Worship Holy Mass............ Bokwang Dong REGULAR ACTIVITIES Mondays: Bible Sharing .............. Incheon Wednesdays: Prayer Intercession..... Itaewon Fridays: Bible Sharing........... Itaewon Sangmun Sokye Myonmok Dong Songsu Dong

Saturdays: Prayer Intercession.. Bokwang Dong Bible Sharing........... Ansan Sundays: Fellowship; Praise and Worship service......... Sungdong Social Welfare Majangdong

*Every 1st Sunday: Mass and Healing

For inquiries, Prayer and Counseling, please call: Sis. Irene T. Diones, Coordinator Office: 02-794-2338 Cellphone: 010-2273-1215

VOLUME 14 ISSUE 02

One community living up the Gospel through the service of the Lord and our fellow men.

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LIKHAAN
"Love and tragedy"
Gary W. Holmes Love is beautiful But in death there is no loss Love is bliss before the heart there is no sorrow Love is sealed with thy first kiss Only memories of a life so new Love comes quick and leaves real slow Only memories of the one I knew Love is the end of all we know So with a kiss I seal this deal to It the beginning of a new life forever then my lips will conceal Its the end of a miserable strife Even in time love will stand still I love you Amie from now till then. when the cold chill of death will slowly set in death

Bagong Taon Bagong Buhay

Johnny Maliglig

Habang ating iniiwan lumang taon na nagdaan Tayo ay magpasalamat sa maraming mga bagay Lalo sa mga biyaya na ditoy ating nakamtan Minsan pay ating lingunin bago tuluyang iwanan Lalo na ang kasayahang dinulot ng lumang taon mahirap agad iwaglit na limutin ang kahapon Syempre lalo na kung itoy nagbigay ng inspirasyon Hindi agad malilimot kahit nasa bagong taon Kaya heto tayo ngayon at atin ng sisimulan Lalakbayin ang bagong taon na kay tagal na hinihintay Bagong taoy tatahakin kong ano ang kapalaran

TULOY ANG LABAN Michael B. Balba

Tatlong taon na ngayon ang nakararaan, Nang dito sa Korea nakipagsapalaran, Baon ay pag-asa bayan ay nilisan, Pagkat may pangarap na nais makamtan. Akala ko noon gano'n lang kadali, Langit ay abutin basta magpunyagi, Ngunit natuklasan ako'y nagkamali, Ngayong nalalapit ang aking pag-uwi. Sa dami ng hirap na aking pinasan, Tila napagod na puso at isipan, Ngunit kahit ako sadyang napapagal, Di ako susuko't tuluyang lalaban. Kahit na luhaan ay ipapakita, Makakamit pa rin mga ninanasa, Kahit anong hirap pilit makakaya. Sa mga pagsubok hindi patutumba. Tuloy ang laban at hindi susuko, Hindi patatalo sa mga siphayo, Di ako papayag na umuwing bigo, Pagkat pangarap ko aking matatamo. Sa tulong at awa ng Poong Maykapal, Ang mga pangarap aking makakamtan, Matapos ang dilim sisikat ang araw, Liwanag na dala ay kaligayahan.

Na biyayang makakamit ma para sa ating buhay Bagong taoy panibagong pakikipagsapalaran Panibagong pagpaplano mga pangarap sa buhay Masasama na gawain sa lumang taon nagdaan Itoy kalimutan natin bilang pagbabagong buhay Biyaya ng bagong taon ngayon ay ating hilingin Sa mahal na Panginoon na tayoy pagpalain Patnubayan sa tuwina sa bawat paggalaw natin At sya ang laging maghari sa ating pusot damdamin Lalo ang mga trahedyang naganap sa lumang taon Sanay huwag ng mangyaring ibalik sa bagong taon Katahimikay maghari idasal sa Panginoon Kaligtasan at tagumpay sa atin ay ibenindisyon Kaya bilang bagong taon patuloy na magmahalan Masasama ay iwanan magaganda ay ingatan Isuko sa Panginoon hinanakit at alitan Kalimutan ang kahapon bagong taon bagong buhay

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One community living up the Gospel through the service of the Lord and our fellow men

VOLUME 14 ISSUE 02

SANAYSAY atbp.
The YES Woman
By: Bevi Tamargo We had a new years party a while ago. It was really fun and the guys were starting to be really wild. I was having fun myself. And then it methis is itI realizedI am actually living. Something happens when you hit 30. This year, I turned 30 years old, and when you reach this ageyou have sudden realizations. Im 30, therefore Im not young anymore but neither am I too old. I mean, from 20-29, it doesnt really make much of a difference because I could always say Im in my twenties. But the moment you hit 30, you realize, that youve crossed fence somehow. Youve transcended something, and youre already on the other side. I made a New Years resolution for myself. I promised myself that the next 10 years would be the best decade of my life. Im gonna start living more. Im going to go out more just for fun. Im gonna worry less and pray more. Im going to save more. And live more. Hey, this is going to be the best decade of my life. The best time of my life. And dont want to miss a second of it. I dont want to waste another moment, another second of my life. I would not let the seconds slip away without trailing behind a series of sweet memories. Now is the time to be happy. To love myself. To love life. To love God. Im no longer going worry about pleasing other people. Ive had thirty years of it. Now, it is time to just be myself. And be happy with who I am. Now is NOT the time to worry about the past. It is the time to enjoy the present. And pray for the future. Thats funny. But it took 30 years just to find myself. It took 30 years to find out who I am and what Im capable of. About the things I could share with the world. I guess its true thenlife begins at 30. I have found myself now. God really does love me. And He wants me to be happy. Whatever I want in life, I would just pray for it. Whatever things I have to decide, I would ask for His guidance. I would live a life of prayer. Less worries. More happiness. I recently watched a film called Yes Man. The actor was Jim Carey. He was hilarious. It was a comedy film but something about it had touched my heart. I realized that I have to live my life more. I have to say yes to life. How was the year 2008? I loved it. It was the year that had taught me so many positive lessons in life. I healed myself. I encouraged myself. I became my own bestfriend. I made peace with God. I climbed Mount Chonggesan. I made a wish. I touched the magic rock at the Buddhist temple and asked for the blessings of a thousand year old tree. And I learned that there is nothing quite like the sweet kiss of the cool wind. As it dried the tears in my eyes, and swept the hair off my face. (The author is a guest speaker on the show Talk Around, 8:30pm Fridays, 9:30am Saturdays, Arirang TV).

Valuing Time Valuing Life

By: Sr. Ma. Rosa Casibang, O.P.

Psychiatrist M. Scott Peck said, Until you value yourself, you wont value your time. Until you value your time, you will not do anything with it. Time is like a river, you can not touch the same water twice, because the flow that has passed will never pass again. Time that has passed will never pass again. No one among us grow younger. Every minute, hour, day, month, or year that passed does not make us any younger, rather makes us grow older. Dont waste time. Make the most for every second of life. Be conscientious to manage your time, know your priorities. Spending time is how life works. Good time management will lead us to a well balanced life. And having a balanced life makes a wholesome person. Most of the time you hear people say, Im busy, I have no time.
VOLUME 14 ISSUE 02

There are also people who have the manana habit, one who keep saying, Ill do it tomorrow, or Ill do it later. These are the kind of people who do not know their priorities. These are the kind of persons who dont know how to organize and manage their time. I read from the lists of Food for Thoughts which I quote: When you keep saying you are busy, and then you are never free. When you keep saying that you have no time, then you will never have time. When you keep saying that you will do it tomorrow, then your tomorrow will never come.

month, ask a mother who gave birth to a premature baby. To realize the value of one week, ask the editor of a weekly paper. To realize the value one hour, ask the lovers who are waiting to meet. To realize the value of one minute, ask a person who just missed the plane. To realize the value one second, ask a person who just avoided an accident. To realize the value of one millisecond, ask a person who won a silver medal in the Olympics. Our life is not our own. Its a gift to us. Let us value this precious gift. Surely you value your life, so to value it more, start valuing your time. Because valuing time Theres time for everything under the means valuing life. sun, as the Book of Ecclesiastes says. Live to the best every stage of life. Do not set for tomorrow what you must and can do today. Treasure every moment you have. Just like when you do something, may it be great or small do it your best and think it might be your last to do it. To end this article, here is how to realize the value of time. To realize the value of one year, ask a student who failed a grade. To realize the value of one
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One community living up the Gospel through the service of the Lord and our fellow men.

ULAT KOMUNIDAD
MGA LIBRENG KONSULTA AT GAMOT Doty Hospital42-5 Eung-am-dong, Unpyeong-gu, Seoul 122- 906, tel. no. (02)385-1477 Joseph Clinic - 423 Yeungdongpo-dong, Yeung dongpo-gu, Seoul 150-030, Mon.-Fri. 1pm-9pm, Tel. No.(02)2634-1760 Raphael Clinic - inside Tong Song High School, every Sun. , 2-6 pm. National Medical Center Dongdaemun Tel. No. 2260-7062 to 7063 Seoul Medical Center Gangnam Tel. No. 3430-0200 MIRIAM COUNSELING CENTER For Migrant Women 50-17 Dongsoong Dong Chongrogu Seoul 110-809 near Maronnier Park. Tel #(02) 747-2086 E-mail: kcwc21@jinbo.net (KCWC) Office hours: Mon-Fri. 11 am-5 pm Sat. day off Sun. 3 pm-6 pm Activities: Emotional/spiritual counseling Womans rights and labor issues Korean language/culture study (men and women are welcome).

KAILANGAN SA PAGPAPABINYAG 1) 2) 3) Birth certificate ng batang bibinyagan 2X2 ID pictures (2 pcs) Application formipasa ito sa Catholic Center isang linggo bago dumating ang takdang araw ng binyag.

Katekismo sa binyag na ginaganap tuwing ika-10 ng umaga, araw ng linggo (mismong araw ng binyag). Tanging ang mga pangalan ng mga nakadalo ng katekismo ang mailalagay sa Baptismal Certificate. Ang bilang ng mga ninong at ninang ay hindi dapat lalabis sa dalawampu. Ang lahat ay pinakikiusapang isaisip ang angkop na pananamit para sa okasyon.

KAILANGAN SA PAGPAPAKASAL
1) 2) 3) Birth Certificate ng mga ikakasal Status of singleness from Census (notarized) Parents consent as proof of singleness (notarized)

4) Baptismal Certificate for marriage purposes 5) Confirmation Certificate for marriage purposes 6) 7) Passport (xerox copy) Pre-Cana seminar na gaganapin bago ang takdang araw ng kasal. Makipag-ugnayan po lamang sa Catholic Center para sa schedule.

MIGRANT CENTERS
Guri Pastoral Center Ansan Galilea Center Suwon Emmaus Center Friends Without Borders Counseling Office Gasan, Song-uri International Community Uijungbu, Nokyangdong Migrant Center Masok Chonmasan Migrant Center Bomun, Seoul Foreign Workers Labor Counseling Office 02-928-2049/924-2706 031-566-1141 031-494-8411 031-257-8501 032-345-6734/5 031-543-5296 031-878-6926 031-593-6542

PANAWAGAN PARA SA MGA NAGPAPABINYAG Tinatawagan ang pansin ng lahat ng mga di pa nakakakuha ng Baptismal Certificates ng kanilang mga anak. Maaari na ninyong kunin ang mga ito sa Catholic Center tuwing linggo sa ganap na alas 9:00 ng umaga hanggang ika 12:00 ng tanghali, at sa ganap na ika 4:00 hanggang ika 5:00 ng hapon. Maliban po lamang sa tuwing ikadalawang linggo. Ng bawat buwan. Makipagugnayan po kay Rebeck Beltran (010-8671-2761) o kay Edison Pinlac: (010-2906-3109) o sa kahit na sinong miyembro ng Lay Ministers.
*COMMUNITY TRIP* Community trip to Everland JAN. 26 (CHINESE NEW YEAR) INTERESTED PARTIES, PLS. CALL PRECY NIEBRES OF TEMPORALITIES Hp# 016-212-3100 PLANNING AND CALENDARING OF COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES FOR 2009, All HFCC Council Members and Sub-committee Leaders Feb. 8, 8:00 am 5:00 pm at Pomundong Center Please report your previous Activities/Accomplishments (2008) And activities for year 2009. Attendance is a must!

MGA IMPORTANTENG PAALAALA

Mga kailangang dokumento sa paga-asikaso ng mga reklamo tungkol sa sahod: 1. Pay Slip or any other proof of payment of salary 2. Daily Time Record (DTR) if available, or self-made record of daily work attendance specifying Regular Working hours, Overtime, and Night Differential. 3. Labor Contract 4. Bank Book/ Passbook 5. Alien Card and Passport

SA LAHAT NG MAY E-9 VISA PARA PO SA LAHAT NA MAY E-9 VISA, MAY TATLO PONG TANGING DAHILAN UPANG PAYAGAN KAYONG MAKALIPAT NG KUMPANYA. ITO PO AY ; 1. KAYO AY DALAWANG BUWANG HINDI PINAPASAHOD 2. KAYO AY PISIKAL AT VERBAL NA SINASAKTAN, o di kayay 3. BANKRUPT O LUGI ANG KUMPANYA

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One community living up the Gospel through the service of the Lord and our fellow men.

VOLUME 14 ISSUE 02

KUMPILANG BAYAN
Sa mga nais tumanggap ng Sakramento ng Kumpil, makipag-ugnayan kay Rebeck Beltran (010-8671-2761) o kay Edison Pinlac (01029063109). Gaganapin ito sa January 25, 2009. Deadline of registration: January 11, 2009 Requirements: 1. Interview 2. Photocopy of Baptismal Certificate 3. Two Copies of 2 x 2 pictures 4. Attend the confirmation catechism

Philippine Overseas Labor Office

The Philippine Embassy, through POLO, would like to request all concerned to report incidents termination, lay-offs, reduced working hours, etc. being implemented by companies as a result of the current financial crisis/economic slowdown. POLO will provide assistance like counseling, referral for employment or livelihood business in the Philippines, and other alternatives for displaced workers. In this regard, kindly send the following information:

Quezon Raffle Draw Winners

Major Prizes: 1st-Kim - 002402 // 2nd Mommy Tina - 003749 // 3rd - Mario - 002477 Consolation Prizes: a. Deduyo - 001786 // b. Mariana - 004911 c. Val - 003775 // d. Lito Galarosa - 009258 // e. John - 002215 f. Ella Atienza - 001021 // g. Danny - 003862 // h. Ronald Lat.004610 i. Nanding - 003102 // j. Ana Carla Dithella .001103

Complete name of affected Filipino worker(s) and mobile no./email address Complete name of company/employer, address and telephone no.

Please call 02 3785 3634 to 35 or email to labor@philembassy-seoul.com

(continuation from St. John, New Castle

page 02)

*SINULOG*
Gaganapin ang piyesta ng Sto. Nio sa Enero 18, 2009. Inaanyayahan ang lahat na magdala ng imahen ng Sto. Nio. Hinihikayat din ang mga nanay na isali ang mga bata sa gagawing sinulog. Pagsusootin ang mga bata ng Filipiniana o kaya ay Hanbuk kasabay ang pamimigay ng regalo sa mga bata sa araw na iyon. Makipagugnayan lamang kina Ely Torres at Mike Panlilio.

Specifically, the parish recently began hosting a local SHARE program, part of a statewide self-help and resource exchange program coordinated through New River Community Action. It allows participants to give at least two hours of community service in exchange for highly discounted food packages each month. As host, St. Johns registers participants and provides the monthly food distribution. Ms. Tainer noted that the activity has allowed St. Johns a valuable social connection as people come to pick up their food. People are coming who have never been in a Catholic church, who have never met a Catholic before, she said. Although not wealthy themselves, parishioners also make regular donations to the county food pantry that, before St. Johns involvement, had gotten down to its last can, Fr. Arlon said. At Christmas parish members also provide toys and clothing to area children who are clients of the county social service agency. These also are ways to get people to see our church and how we live, Ms. Tainer explained emphasizing, not just how we praise God, but how we live our faith by helping others and each other. The Tainers joined St. Johns less than a year ago, having recently moved to the area from Roanoke where they had been active members of Our Lady of Nazareth Parish for 16 years. It was a big change going from a large to small a parish and leaving a church where Tom had served on the pastoral council and Meg was a longtime catechist. But they were immediately energized by the warmth and missionary spirit of St. Johns. I was talking to Raina Lewis (OLN minister for Christian Formation) about what we are doing here and she said, You know, when I hear you, I feel like you have a job to do, and thats what it is here we really have work to do, Ms. Tainer said.

(This article is written by Jean Denton of the Catholic Virginian, VA, USA, about one of the parishes admistered by Fr. Arlon Vergara,OSA (former missionary in Korea) in the diocese of Richmond. )
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One community living up the Gospel through the service of the Lord and our fellow men.

Page 9

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One community living up the Gospel through the service of the Lord and our fellow men

VOLUME 14 ISSUE 02