Our vocation is communion.

On the day of Pentecost the Church received the gift of language – a language that communicated beyond diversity, a language that broke down barriers, a language that united minds and hearts in the Lord.

As a parish that professes intimacy with Mary, the spouse of the Spirit and a witness of Pentecost, our vocation is communion. From Xavierville to Daang Tubo, from Varsity Hills to Park 7, we are called to be of one heart, beating in service for everyone towards peace and justice.

From the high rise condominiums to Rona’s Garden, from Meralco-Jocson to Marytown and Escaler, we are called to be of one spirit, walking together, proclaiming with joy the gospel of Jesus Christ.

From the busy streets of Katipunan to the solitude of religious convents, from the educational institutions to the formation houses, we are called to be of one mind, attuned to the mind of Christ, whose food is to do the will of the Father.

Different we may be, our vocation is one. Our vocation is communion.

Clarifications on Some Adjustments on the Celebration of the Mass in OLPP

If you go to mass at Pentecost you might have observed that the parish has introduced some adjustments in the way we celebrate the mass, particularly the following:

1.     the beginning of the mass (from the sign of the cross up to the opening prayer) is done at the presider’s chair (not at the altar table as was previously done);

2.     the priest may opt to spend some time of silence immediately after the homily before the prayers of the faithful (on weekdays) or before the profession of faith (on Sundays);

3.     the Prayers of the Faithful (also known as General Intercessions) is introduced and concluded by the priest from the presider’s chair;

4.     the rites after communion (which consists of Post-Communion Prayer and Concluding Rite) are done at the presider’s chair (and not at the altar table as was previously done).

Although these adjustments concern mainly the mass presiders, a brief explanation about them would help for better appreciation.

The document that guides us in every aspect of our celebration of the mass (similar to a manual if we can call it that) is the “General Instruction on the Roman Missal,” simply referred to as GIRM (used here is the 2002 edition).

In paragraph 50, referring to the beginning of the mass, GIRM states that “when the entrance chant is concluded, the priests stands at the chair and, together with the whole assembly, makes the sign of the cross.” Thus, the proper place to begin the mass is at the presider’s chair. But leeway is generally given to masses celebrated outside the parish church (e.g. in offices, in schools, in funeral parlors, in small chapels, etc.). The same can be said regarding the conclusion of the mass.

By reserving the use of the altar exclusively for the Liturgy of the Eucharist (and not for the Introductory and Concluding rites), we proclaim the centrality of the table of the Lord “on which the Sacrifice of the Cross is made present” (GIRM 296). By tradition, the altar should be made of stone (GIRM 301), which clearly signifies Jesus Christ, the living stone (Eph 2:20).

Talking about the General Intercessions (or the Prayers of the Faithful) GIRM 71 states, “It is for the priest celebrant to direct this prayer from the chair. He himself begins it with a brief introduction, by which he invites the faithful to pray. He also concludes it with a prayer.”

What does the chair signify? GIRM 310 explains that “the chair of the priest celebrant must signify his office of presiding over the gathering and of directing the prayer.”  Thus, what can be a more eloquent manifestation of this fact than by beginning and concluding the mass, where all the faithful is gathered in prayer, at the chair.

In paragraph 56, GIRM asserts that during the liturgy of the word, “it is also appropriate to include brief periods of silence, accommodated to the assembly gathered together, in which, by the encouragement of the Holy Spirit, the word of God may be grasped by the heart and a response may be prepared through prayer.” Thus, by spending some time for silence immediately after the homily we allow the Holy Spirit to inspire in us prayer, deeper understanding of the Word, and appropriate Christian action.

I pray that these adjustments, however little they may be, may contribute greatly to the solemnity and meaningfulness of the Eucharistic celebrations in our parish.

Fr. Dennis S. Soriano

Bundok ng Pakikipagtagpo

Umakyat si Jesus sa bundok. Ilang ulit nating mababasa ito sa ebanghelyo. Umakyat siya para magdasal. Umakyat siya para harapin ang tukso, para mangaral, para ihanda ang sarili sa pagdurusa, para ipako sa krus, para mabuhay na muli. At espesyal para sa ating parokya: si Jesus umakyat sa bundok para magbagong anyo.

Ano ba ang meron sa bundok? Ano ang hiwagang dala ng bundok? Sa banal na kasulatan ang bundok ay lugar ng presensya ng Diyos. Ang sampung utos ng Diyos ay ibinigay kay Moises sa bundok. Si Elias ay iniakyat sa alapaap habang nasa bundok. Si Jesus umakyat sa langit habang nasa bundok.

Ang bundok ay espesyal na lugar ng pakikipagtagpo ng tao sa Diyos. Kaya pala maraming retreat house sa Baguio. Kaya pala masarap manalangin sa Tagaytay. Bukod sa maganda ang klima, hanggang ngayon, tagpuan pa rin ng Diyos at tao ang bundok.

Pero puede namang hindi pisikal ang tagpuang ito. Puede namang hindi pisikal ang bundok. Hindi naman kailangang mag-Baguio o mag-Tagaytay para lamang makipag-usap sa Diyos. Itong simbahang ito puede maging bundok, kung saan puede nating makatagpo ang Diyos. Itong parokyang ito puede maging bundok kung saan puede tayong magbagong anyo at marinig ang tinig ng Ama.

Kapag bago pumasok sa opisina, o sa eskuwela, o magpunta sa palengke ay naglalaan tayo ng panahon para magsimba o dumaan dito sa simbahan, bilang paghahanda sa maghapon, ang simbahang ito ang ating bundok. Kapag lumuluhod tayo dito sa harap ng tabernakulo at humihingi ng lakas para mapaglabanan ang tukso, para huwag maligaw ng landas, ang simbahang ito ang ating bundok. Kapag nagbubukas tayo ng puso at kalooban sa bawat pagdiriwang ng misa upang maitanim ang punla ng pagbabago at katapatan, ang simbahang ito ang ating bundok.

Hindi na kailangang lumayo. Kailangan lang pumasok… sa simbahang ito. Kung si Jesus ay umakyat ng bundok upang manalangin, mangaral, magbagong anyo, harapin ang krus, at muling mabuhay, tayo ay may simbahan para maging bundok ng pakikipagtagpo kay Jesus. Para sa ating mga taga-Barangay San Roque ang simbahang ito ang ating bundok. Sa simbahang ito naghihintay ang Diyos para tayo'y pumasok at makipagtagpo sa Kanya.

Isang Taon

‘sang taon na
ng magpaalam sa haring kristo
at tumawid ng boni serrano

‘sang taon na
ng lumusong sa kalye labing walo
at si san roque’y makatagpo

‘sang taon na
ng makasama si Santiago, Juan at Pedro
at lumangoy sa agos ng pagbabagong anyo

‘sang taon na
ng pumikit sa tuktok ng mundo
at dumilat sa haplos ng simoy na totoo

‘sang taon na
ilang taon pa
Panginoon, bahala ka na

[I was installed as the new parish priest of Transfiguration in the month of June, but I spent my first night there on April 26, 2006.]