Feast Day of the Archangels

Michael, Gabriel and Raphael
September 29

Angels—messengers from God—appear frequently in Scripture, but only Michael, Gabriel and Raphael are named.
Michael appears in Daniel's vision as "the great prince" who defends Israel against its enemies; in the Book of Revelation, he leads God's armies to final victory over the forces of evil. Devotion to Michael is the oldest angelic devotion, rising in the East in the fourth century. The Church in the West began to observe a feast honoring Michael and the angels in the fifth century.

Gabriel also makes an appearance in Daniel's visions, announcing Michael's role in God's plan. His best-known appearance is an encounter with a young Jewish girl named Mary, who consents to bear the Messiah.

Raphael's activity is confined to the Old Testament story of Tobit. There he appears to guide Tobit's son Tobiah through a series of fantastic adventures which lead to a threefold happy ending: Tobiah's marriage to Sarah, the healing of Tobit's blindness and the restoration of the family fortune.

The memorials of Gabriel (March 24) and Raphael (October 24) were added to the Roman calendar in 1921. The 1970 revision of the calendar joined their feasts to Michael's.

Each of these archangels performs a different mission in Scripture: Michael protects; Gabriel announces; Raphael guides. Earlier belief that inexplicable events were due to the actions of spiritual beings has given way to a scientific world-view and a different sense of cause and effect. Yet believers still experience God's protection, communication and guidance in ways which defy description. We cannot dismiss angels too lightly.

http://www.americancatholic.org/features/saints/saint.aspx?id=1153

Child Labor Provokes Boycott of Philippine Exports

The United States has called for a boycott of a dozen Philippine exports because of the widespread use of child labor in agriculture, tobacco, pig raising, fireworks and the making of child pornography. The United States Department of Labor, Bureau of International Labor Affairs (ILAB), acting under the US Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2005 and 2008, says some Philippines exports should be boycotted by US customers.

This is a devastating blow to the Philippine economy and should never have happened but it is a powerful argument for the promotion and adoption of Fair Trade criteria. The US Department of Labor report covers 58 countries worldwide and the Philippines is among the offenders. The report is an indication of the international outrage at and concern for the plight of hundreds of thousands of exploited Filipino children. The Philippine Department of Labor (DOLE) says it is doing all it can to stop the abuse. Many of the Filipino ruling elite living in obscene luxury apparently have no knowledge of or interest in the plight of the children.

Children work as long as 12 hours a day on banana plantations that are sprayed with deadly pesticides and efforts by church and NGO groups to have them banned have largely been ignored by the powerful politically well-connected tycoons who own most of the export plantations.

While there is much that needs to change, Fair Trade and ethical trading is growing in the country and boosting exports. Philippine Brand and Preda Fair Trade dried mango is what the government should be promoting and customers are buying. They are free of child labor, chemicals and additives and bring great benefits to children and their families. The proceeds help the children of farmers and the victims of abuse.

Fifteen-year-old Amabelle was telling her story and being supported and comforted by Maria, the social worker. This safe haven is PREDA Children’s Home, partially supported by the sale of Preda Fair Trade Dried mangos. Here, she found a safe haven and protection from her sexual abusers and exploiters. She told how she was brought from her rural village, lured with the promise of a job in a posh hotel but instead sold to a sex club. She owed money for transport, food, board and lodging and would be jailed if she refused to pay. She was forced to dance nude while being videotaped. Later she was taken to a cubical at the back of the sex club and raped.
The horrific abuse was videotaped to be sold and spread over the internet as child pornography. This is nothing unusual, such child sexual abuse being commonplace here with the complicity of corrupt officials who give operating permits to the sex clubs. The uncontrolled flood of foreign and local sex tourists hungry for sex with minors are the big spenders. They enjoy impunity from investigation, arrest, and prosecution. Between January and August this year almost four million tourists entered the Philippines. How many of them were single males? This is an increase of 4 % over this time last year according to Tourism Secretary Ace Durano.
According to some critics, the root of the problem is the non-prosecution of the suspects due to corruption, bribery and political influence. However there are too few prosecutors due to low pay, huge case work and the failure of police to investigate, gather and present credible evidence against abusers and traffickers. Meanwhile, the children suffer unbelievable abuse in this modern sex slavery.
Foreign governments, the World Bank and Asian Development Bank give millions of taxpayers' money to the Philippine government for so called 'development projects'. Much of it is siphoned off by corrupt officials for lavish living.
But little is given to NGO’s providing safe havens and legal assistance to the countless victims of child sexual exploitation especially done by local and foreign nationals. And at what stage is the prosecution of that suspected pedophile, an official of the World Health Organization caught in the act with small boys in his car in Metro Manila? Unless there is an awakening among Filipinos to defend the rights of exploited children, hundreds of pedophiles and sex tourists will continue to abuse minors with impunity. END

Visit http://www.preda.org/ for more related articles.

http://www.misyononline.com/misyonforum/?q=node/970

Filipino Mission Sunday (July 26)

17TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME: THE GENEROSITY OF GOD

Jn 6:1-15

THE MULTIPLICATION OF LOAVES is one of the most loved stories in the Sacred Scriptures. We have the exchange of deeds of generosity. God is there as a great provider. Jesus performed the miracle which only shows the generosity of God.

The story is said to be a reflection of an event that happened in the Old Testament. In the second book of Kings, Elisha the prophet was speaking to the people, “For thus, says the Lord, ‘They shall eat and there shall be some left over.’” God performed a miracle by providing the people with food. In both events of the Multiplication of Loaves, we see two important persons who shared. First is the man from Baal-Shalishah and second, the boy in the Gospel. Two generous persons who did not hesitate to give what they have. It is an act of being self-less. Giving the most basic of needs to others speaks of generosity at its best. We remember the widow in the Gospel who gave her all.

Generosity is a virtue that comes from God himself. God gave this to humanity in order for them to reciprocate the gift to God and others. The act of generosity must now spring from the person; it should start from within oneself. In the many instances in life, miracles happen out of generosity. God works on this generosity. Generosity also comes from being grateful and joyful of the gift received. This would be passed forward, or one famous film would say it “pay it forward.”

This Sunday is the celebration of Filipino Mission Sunday. This day we remember the Mission Society of the Philippines (MSP), a missionary society which was founded in 1965 by the Catholic Bishops’ Conference (CBCP); its foundation was rooted on the values of generosity, gratitude, and joyfulness. We are reminded that our beloved Missionary Society started from humble beginnings. The generous heart of the bishops is instrumental. Their graciousness led to the establishment of the MSP as a continuous concrete act of generosity. The sharing and offering of lives of many of our Filipino Missionaries is a genuine sign that we are indeed thankful to God to the gift of faith received. We thank the Lord by giving back to him our apostolate in the missions. The willingness of missionaries to leave the familiar and comfort confines of one’s country so people of other places can know Jesus comes from the simple act of generosity of God by making our country rich in faith.

Our Church continues to invite us to share the gift of faith to others. I had a foretaste of what it means to bring ones faith to peoples of different cultures. Witnessing to the faith was my concrete experience when I had my Overseas Training Program in the Diocese of Auckland in New Zealand. My experience as a Filipino seminarian abroad taught me that our faith is very much relevant to a world that hungers for God. It is true that many do not believe in God in that part of the world. But I am very much surprised to realize that a much bigger number of people long for God. The unique faith of a Filipino Catholic is a big gift to the Church. Our deep sense of religiosity and piety is invaluable. It has the power to enliven the faith of a dying Church. It makes the faith of others alive.

I am also amazed that together with our faith are our values of respect, patience, resilience, understanding, humility, gentleness and love. These are the same values that St. Paul has taken into consideration in his letter to the Ephesians. Allow me to share an experience. One Sunday morning, inside the church foyer, I was surprised to see a non-Filipino youth from the parish taking the hand of a Kiwi for a blessing. It was a lovely sight. It’s very unusual to see a parishioner making Mano to someone who’s not even Pinoy. It is surprising yet it is very heart warming.

There are countless stories that our missionaries can share about their life of generosity in the missions. Many mission experiences can make us remember that all of these wonder or even unwanted circumstances came from God’s generosity. Our obedience and willingness to share the gift of faith truly rely on the graciousness of God. It is God who continues to inspire us to give ourselves to the mission. We have relied upon God’s generosity since the very day that we were born. We continue and will be wanting of God’s boundless generosity. Who can ever know what God will do next? Our faith and trust in God makes us strong and believe that he will provide us of our need in our respective missions.

We pray for the grace that the generosity we share to others be rewarded. By God, He himself will keep on bestowing upon us His countless blessings. Graces that we do not deserve yet it is there for us to enjoy, may God make us multiply in our good works. We love you Lord, help us become faithful to the mission you have entrusted to us, may our apostolate sow the gift of faith in others and may it bear fruit with many vocations to the missionary priesthood. You are a God of infinite generosity. Amen.

[Sem. MARC LOUIE CALO, MSP MSP Seminary, Tagaytay City} http://www.msp.org.ph/homilies.do?id=4447

Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel (July 16)

Hermits lived on Mount Carmel near the Fountain of Elijah (northern Israel) in the 12th century. They had a chapel dedicated to Our Lady. By the 13th century they became known as “Brothers of Our Lady of Mount Carmel.” They soon celebrated a special Mass and Office in honor of Mary. In 1726 it became a celebration of the universal Church under the title of Our Lady of Mount Carmel. For centuries the Carmelites have seen themselves as specially related to Mary. Their great saints and theologians have promoted devotion to her and often championed the mystery of her Immaculate Conception.

St. Teresa of Avila (October 15) called Carmel “the Order of the Virgin.” St. John of the Cross (December 14) credited Mary with saving him from drowning as a child, leading him to Carmel and helping him escape from prison. St. Theresa of the Child Jesus believed that Mary cured her from illness. On her First Communion, she dedicated her life to Mary. During the last days of her life she frequently spoke of Mary.

There is a tradition (which may not be historical) that Mary appeared to St. Simon Stock, a leader of the Carmelites, and gave him a scapular, telling him to promote devotion to it. The scapular is a modified version of Mary’s own garment. It symbolizes her special protection and calls the wearers to consecrate themselves to her in a special way. The scapular reminds us of the gospel call to prayer and penance—a call that Mary models in a splendid way.

http://kabankalanmission.blogspot.com/

Negros Nine will Celebrate Silver Anniversary

On July 3, 2009 the Negros Nine will celebrate the 25th or Silver Anniversary of their release from the Negros Occ. Provincial Jail in Bacolod City.

To mark the occasion, the Kabankalan Diocesan Pastoral Office, the Negros Nine Human Development Foundation and the Columban Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creaton Ministry will sponsor a gathering/Reunion of KK members from all the parishes of the Diocese of Kabankalan on the 2nd of July.

Each parish is invited to send a delegation of up to 20 KK members, especially those who were active during the Martial Law years. The celebration will take place in Kabankalan on Thursday July 2, from 9am to 2pm.

Mass will be celebrated by Bishop Patrick Buzon DD SDB, Bishop of Kabankalan. Preacher will be Msgr. Wilfredo Dejilla of San Carlos Diocese, formerly of Kabankalan parish.

At the gathering, there will be special presentation on the “Martyrs of the Kristianong Katilingban.” It is hoped, that when we have a complete list of those members of the KKs who were tortured, murdered and/or disappeared, a book and/or video will be published to commemorate their sacrifice for the Church and for all of us.

“In the traditional spirit of the KKs, we will ask delegations to be self provisioned. The sponsors will cover all the other expenses.

“This will be a occasion for celebrating, remembering and renewing our commitment to building up the strengthening of the KKs in the diocese and so proclaim the reign of God in our world.”

The legal team of the Negros Nine lead by Atty. Frank Cruz is being invited to attend as well as members of the media and friends and supporters from Bacolod.

The Negros Nine is not about a number of people but about a vision for our church for the future.*

Contact numbers:
Fr Brian Gore 09202002729
Mr. Lydio (Boy) Mangao 09295728046
Mr. Jerome Seballos 09092293497

http://www.negrosnine.com/news-jun2709