Is it a concert?

I remember a friend in high school telling me that he was a junior cursillista. My father, a sister and auncle were also cursillistas.

What is a cursillista? A cursillista is a member of the Cursillo Movement, or Cursillos in Christianity (in Spanish: Cursillos de Cristiandad, short course of Christianity), an apostolic movement of the Roman Catholic Church. 

" It was founded in Majorca, Spain by a group of laymen in 1944, while they were refining a technique to train pilgrimage Christian leaders.

Cursillo is the original three day movement, and has since been licensed for use by several mainline Christian denominations, some of which have retained the trademarked "Cursillo" name while others have modified its talks/methods and given it a different name.

The cursillo focuses on showing Christian lay people how to become effective Christian leaders over the course of a three-day weekend. The weekend includes fifteen talks, some given by priests and some by lay people, those talks are called "rollos". The major emphasis of the weekend is to ask participants to take what they have learned back into the world, on what they call the "fourth day". The method stresses personal spiritual development, as accelerated by weekly group reunion (after the weekend)."

It was in the mananita or dawn serenade that I first heard of the cursillo songs -  sweet and touching songs of praise to God. And then these spread like wild fire, and were incorporated in mass songs during the late 60's. In the early 80's, the Charistmatic movement whose prayer meetings were punctuated by the Holy Spirit slayings started to flourish in the Philippines and their stirring song-invocations drew more and more people into their groups and events.

Yesterday, we were at the Eucharistic Chapel of the Lord for the nine a.m. Healing mass and before the final blessing, Fr. Mario Sobrejuanite called on the sax player of the choir, Joshua Espinosa, to play a jazz number, while a second collection for the formation of young priests was being done.

I thought for a second that I was in a concert of Josh Groban until I heard the final blessing. 

Click here to view the complete mass.

Loving Latin.

When I was new in Canada I got to hear mass one Sunday in an old Catholic Church in the west side of Toronto, where the priest celebrated mass facing the altar, not the congregation. And then during communion the parishioners knelt in front of the altar to receive the Eucharist.

This also happened at a special mass which was celebrated for our group of pilgrims in the chapel underneath the Basilica of the Poor Clares of  Perpetual Adoration- the Our Lady of the Angels Monastery, a mass in pre- Vatican II style.

Latin Mass

As kids, we used to attend Catholic mass at the Sta. Ana Church near Panaderos. The mass was still in Latin and women wore veils and had missalettes. From time to time, the parish priest scaled the steps leading to the pulpit from where he gave his Sunday homily.

Sta. Ana Church is an old church having been established in 1578 and its architecture and history added magnificence to the masses celebrated there. But today, all masses are celebrated facing the parishioners.

As a converted Catholic, I thought that the mass orientation of today has something to do with Vatican II and that all masses should be celebrated facing the congregation. But further research told otherwise.

Priest celebrates mass "ad orientem," facing the altar

A mass celebrated facing the altar is called "ad orientem," or facing east, and a mass celebrated facing the congregation is called "versus populum" orientation.

The present-day Roman Missal does not forbid the ad orientem position for the priest when saying Mass and only requires that in new or renovated churches the facing-the-people orientation be made possible: "The altar should be built apart from the wall, in such a way that it is possible to walk around it easily and that Mass can be celebrated at it facing the people, which is desirable wherever possible."

I find the "versus populum" orientation very welcoming and inclusive but I also remember the Latin masses of my childhood very appealing and holier.

Pope Benedict XVI celebrated mass "ad orientem" at the Sistine Chapel

At the Cathedral in Seattle, Washington, the priest celebrates mass at the centre of the church, so he faces basically everyone in the church, in a circular way.

St. James Cathedral in Seattle, Washington.

 At the end of the day, whether "ad orientem or versus populum" orientation, the appeal of going to mass rests heavily on the priest celebrating it and the one giving the homily.

While Jesus Christ is the Host of the Mass, the priest is the celebrant whose great task is to make the people feel the love of Christ through him.

A Gem in an Island.

Chants of "Viva La Virgen de la Penafrancia" rang within the confines of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 as the Image of the Our Lady of Penafrancia emerged within sight of hundreds of faithful lined up outside the glassed gate.

The rhythmic chant continued as INA (Mother) was carried through the crowd into the parking lot where a specially-prepared SUV decorated with a wooden mount and floral bouquet waited for Her arrival.

Crowd at NAIA Terminal 3 greets INA.
ABOVE -Fr. Vic Flores, parish priest of San Andres Apostol shown carrying INA

The priest clutching INA and his entourage waved through the early afternoon crowd and didn't mind the various stops as people went near and touched the statue of the Our Lady of Penafrancia.

INA, as the Virgin of Penafrancia is lovingly called visited the San Andres Apostol Parish in Cainta last May 25, and was returned to her Basilica on Monday, May 27.

"Our Lady of Penafrancia (Spanish: Nuestra Señora de Peñafrancia, and in Spain as Nuestra Señora de la Peña de Francia or Virgen de la Peña de Francia) is a wooden statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary copied from the one in Peña de Francia (Salamanca, Spain).

Tens of thousands of pilgrims, devotees and tourists come to Naga City, also known as the Pilgrim City and the Queen City of the Bicol region in the Philippines, every September for a nine day novena and festivities in honor of Our Lady of Peñafrancia, the Principal Patroness and Queen of Bicol, endearingly addressed by Bicolanos as Ina (mother). The shrines in Naga, gathering more than two million devotees every year, is also one of the biggest Marian Pilgrimage Sites in Asia."

INA is the gem of Catholic Bicolandia. Revered as miraculous and a healer.

The Basilica of Our Lady of Penafrancia in Naga City, Bicol
Photo by Gener.

An astonishing island in the Caramoan Peninsula in the Bicol Province, home of Our Lady of  Penafrancia
Photo by Gener.

* Certain photos taken from the San Andres Apostol Parish facebook account.

Spiritually Fit?

The biggest money drawers nowadays have something to do with health and beauty.  How to stay young, how to get a fabulous body, how to be mentally alert, how to have good sex all the time, etc.

So businesses like spa, beauty treatment clinics, body contouring, plastic and all types of non-invasive surgeries make big bucks and service providers go laughing all the way to the banks.

While at christian churches, attendance continues to dwindle?

I was having a drink with friends a couple of weeks ago and one colleague mentioned about the sorry state of Philippine churches, which according to one survey, has plummeted to about 36% from a high of 74,  attendance on Sunday masses.

I raised my doubt about this particular survey and opined that "look, even in our own parish, all the four Sunday masses are almost always full," and voiced out the same theme that other Catholics were saying: that the SWS survey seems to be skewed, done during the time of Philippine local elections.

But because it was a birthday party of another friend, I chose not to pursue the topic, and joined the others in a more merry conversation.

But I heard and seen it all around; Catholic churches are experiencing a renaissance, a surge in attendance.

At the Feast, held at the PICC, there are four masses and talks every Sunday, and each one has always been full to the brim.

At the Megamall's Chapel of the Eucharistic Lord, there are two weekday masses and about six Sunday masses, and in each Sunday mass, if you're about two minutes late into the rite you can't find an empty seat.

Go to the Quiapo church on Fridays and Sundays, you cannot drop a pin amidst the church goers.

Here's Fr. Bel R. San Luis' piece on the matter and SWS survey.

Doubts on mass attendance survey

By Fr. Bel R. San Luis, SVD

Published: April 21, 2013 at Manila Bulletin

"RECENTLY the Social Weather Stations (SWS) revealed its survey result that the Filipino Catholics going to church every Sunday had gone down from 64 percent to 37 percent.
* * *
The Catholic bishops quickly reacted, saying that the survey was not true. Some bishops even opined that the result might have been manipulated in order to silence the church leaders for being vocal against certain policies of the administration, like the RH bill.
* * *
On the contrary, Catholic prelates said, the number of churchgoers is even increasing. Jaro Archbishop Angel Lagdameo said: “The nine masses in Jaro Cathedral are still filled to capacity. Priests maintain their masses in center and barrios.”
* * *
The same is true in the Diocese of Marbel in South Cotabato and the Diocese of Cubao. “In the 26 parishes in Marbel, attendance is up. I have visited 17 parishes and the findings also show vibrancy,” said Marbel Bishop Dinualdo Gutierrez.
* * *
“In the diocese I do not see this observation. In fact, the number of churchgoers has increased because we have mall masses,” Cubao Bishop Honesto Ongtioco said.
Bishop Arturo Bastes of Sorsogon and Msgr. Clemente Ignacio, Quiapo Church rector, also noted that Mass attendance has increased.
* * *
I am involved in the Marriage Encounter apostolate and for me, Mass attendance has increased considerably because of the numerous Catholic charismatic and renewal communities. Indifferent and lukewarm Catholics have returned to the church and their faiths are much stronger now.
* * *
In the forefront of these renewal movements are the El Shaddai, Couples for Christ, Marriage Encounter, Loved Flock, all of which have numerous communities and chapters locally and internationally.
It’s surprising, therefore, that the SWS comes out with a negative result of the church’s Mass attendance in the Philippines."
* * *

Going to mass on weekdays and Sundays is one way to keep our spiritual being in full alert, and optimum level. Praying at different times of the day, in adoration, thanksgiving and repentance, just like repetitive exercise, will make our experience and relationship with God firmer and healthy.

These days our youth are getting portly and unhealthy due to choice of food, and concerned parents  are starting to worry and are encouraging them to diet and exercise.

The same guidance should be directed to the youth who are getting lukewarm about their Catholic faith; parents must be vigilant and include them always in the family worship.

Till we meet, again. The Salubong.

Lovers do not mind at all sleeping late at night, then waking up early the following morning, to meet with the one s/he adores.

The headache and pang for sleep disappears once the lover is face to face with the beloved.

That is exactly how a faithful feels during the hours between an Easter Vigil and the "Salubong," a Philippine Catholic tradition.

So last Holy Saturday, from 9 p.m. , we attended the Easter Vigil celebration at our parish in San Andres Apostol which lasted almost three hours, close to midnight.  Then we went home and barely two hours after, woke up to attend the 3 a.m. "Salubong"procession.

Others in the parish church didn't have a wink or two.  Members of the Knights of Columbus Council 15419, for instance, acting as marshalls for the entire Holy Week celebrations, kept watch over the statues and icons which were to be used for the "Salubong."

The "Salubong," is a re-enactment of a scene in which the Blessed Virgin Mary, mourning for the death of her son, met up with the Risen Lord.

It is a joyous occasion, a VICTORY!

The Blessed Mother about to meet her Beloved Son

The Risen Lord anticipates the appearance of the Virgin Mother

The glorious event, the "Salubong," or meeting up

The Mother is reunited with the Risen Christ

Unique to the Philippines and countries colonized by Spain during the colonization years, the "Salubong," is re-enacted in churches throughout the Philippines.

 








In a "Salubong," there are two starting points.  One, wherein the Blessed Mother, accompanied by women faithfuls leaves a church courtyard or another place within the parish, and a second spot, wherein the Risen Lord, accompanied by the male faithfuls originates.

At a given point, the two central characters would meet up, a "Salubong," literally a converging point.

According to the Jesuit Gourmet, Fr. Joel Liwanag, " this is not written in the Bible, but the Filipinos' natural affinity to their mothers tell them that if there is someone to whom Christ will show himself first after his resurrection, it must be to his mother who loved him so much. This explanation is quite reasonable. St. Ignatius himself seems to have the same logic in his Spiritual Exercises (SpEx) when he highlighted this event by making it first among the contemplations of the Fourth week of the Exercises. He writes, "rising again, he appeared in body and soul to his Blessed Mother" (SpEx [219]). He explained that, "Although this is not stated in Scripture, still it is considered as understood by the statement that he appeared to many others." (SpEx [299])."

A full moon guides the "Salubong"

Fr. Vic of San Andres Apostol Parish, celebrates Easter mass, March 31, 2013 in an open field

A mass has been celebrated at the meet up point at about 4:30 in the morning, and before 6 a.m., the congregants headed back to Church in a procession.

The Easter procession passes through the streets of the village

It's Glorious Easter, a festive occasion,  called Pasko ng Pagkabuhay in the Philippines, so a marching band joins the faithful in the celebration

The Risen Lord heads back to Church after the "Salubong"

HAPPY EASTER 2013 TO EVERYONE.

Senor Nazareno.

The Black Nazarene at the Minor Basilica in Quiapo.

The famed Basilica of the Black Nazarene in Quiapo, Manila is close to my heart. At age 7 years or maybe even younger, I had been brought there by an aunt.

It was a regular devotion. I was a child suffering from asthma so my Aunt took me with her on her Friday novenas to pray for good health. She would walk on her knees down the aisle towards the altar and I would walk with my feet with her.

After the mass, we'd fall in line to kiss the Black Nazarene.

Wikipedia says that "The Black Nazarene, known to devotees in Spanish as Nuestro Padre Jesús Nazareno (Tagalog: Poong Itim na Nazareno; Spanish: El Cristo Nazareno Negro) is a life-sized, dark wooden sculpture of Jesus Christ carrying the cross while representing his passion and agony and is believed to be miraculous by many Filipino Catholics.

A Replica of the Black Nazarene, displayed outside the Basilica.

Originally with fair complexion, it turned dark after it survived a burning galleon ship on its arrival from Mexico. The image is currently in the Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene in Quiapo district, Manila, Philippines where it is venerated weekly with Friday Novena Masses.

The statue is celebrated on three annual occasions, and comes out of its own basilica each New Year's Day, Good Friday and on January 9, celebrating its novena feast, transfer (Spanish: Traslación) and enshrinement in the present Basilica, and is attended by several million devotees."

An older sister was also taken to the novenas and even wore the Black Nazarene's red robe.

On the feast days of the Black Nazarene on January 9th, we would be spectators for years of the most spectacular procession held in the Philippines. Those years, the processions were not as crowded as today; kids were still able to participate.

My Aunt became a devout Black Nazarene devotee because she told us that it was in one of her novenas that she had the vision of the man she would finally marry; my Uncle.

The Friday devotion to Senor Nazareno was special to me as a child; it also meant seeing Hollywood movies along the cinemas in Avenida Rizal and feasting at Wa Nam, a Chinese restaurant.

In the years ahead and into adulthood, my Friday novena to the Black Nazarene didn't take place anymore. It became sporadic. It became a 10-minute prayer as I passed the Church on my way to shopping for shoes in Carriedo, or going to the movies in Sta. Cruz, or on my way to U.P. Diliman and home.

Procession on the Feast Day of Senor Nazareno, January 9.

In my recent over stay in Manila, I re-discovered the Black Nazarene of Quiapo again. As I was not a regular member of any church, I worshipped in a number of churches: at the Chapel of the Eucharistic Lord in Megamall, at the San Andres Apostol in Cainta, St. Francis in Mandaluyong, Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Baclaran, and the Basilica in Quiapo.

Thousands of devotess reach out to the Black Nazarene.

These days if I attend the  Friday novena to Senor Nazareno, it is no longer the Hollywood movies that I look forward to after the mass, but shopping for fresh vegetables and fruits along Villalobos and reminishing the Quiapo days of my childhood.

Senor Nazareno maybe a spectacle to foreign tourists, an event to capture on cameras, but to its millions of devotees, He remains a source of healing and miracles.

Talk about one's faith.

I had been taught that you don't discuss politics and religion over dinner at friends or at social gatherings.

Even in family gatherings, these two subject matters could sometimes lead to explosive debates and arguments, especially if there's alcohol ingestion.

Today's churches and theologians lament about the disappearing faithfuls.  As Fr. Catalino Arevalo, SJ, mentioned at the San Andres Apostol Parish Advent Recollection last Dec. 5, 2012, only about 6 percent of Filipino Catholics go the mass on Sundays these days.

Then where do the 94 percent of the Catholics go or do?

Pope Benedict proclaimed Oct. 11, 2012 to Nov. 24, 2013 as Year of the Faith and The Year of Faith is connected to Synod by subject matter which is, of course, faith. The official title of the Synod is: "the New Evangelization for the Transmission of the Christian Faith".

At the opening of the recently concluded Synod held last Oct. 2012


The Year of Faith, in the mind of the Holy Father, is an occasion for a renewal of the Church through the deepening of the faith of her members.  The Pope says in 'Porta Fidei', the document which establishes the Year of Faith, that this year is: "a summons to an authentic and renewed conversion to the Lord, the one Saviour of the world."

Fr. Arevalo continued to say in his talk that that it is the duty of Catholics to talk about one's faith in order to bring new faithfuls to the Church, to help the poor, to bring back those who left the Church, and to bring the young into the Church.

We must talk about our Catholic faith. We must live our Catholic faith in order to be shining examples to others and become shepherds too, like Christ,  in seeking those who got lost and in finding new flocks.

We were at a Christmas party of a family and marriage- oriented community last Sunday and in the dance presentations, the youth was well represented.  But we were a bit disheartened to see the kids brought out dances like 'gangnam' and other street dances such as hip hop and break dance without any reference to Christmas.

The mis-step is likened to the growing secularization in churches today.

To talk about one's Christian faith is a crime in some countries.  For us who live in free nations, it is doubly expected that we talk about our faith.

Pope Benedict, in his homily at the Synod said,  "Our role in the new evangelization is to cooperate with God."  "We can only let people know what God has done."

To sing like an angel.

They sing like angels.

Sometimes when we hear exceptional choirs, we utter these words, referring perhaps to the lilting effect of a song in one's heart that only a holy creature can do.  Angels, after all, are supposed to be the guardians leading us to happiness.

The Westminster Cathedral Choir

Church choirs have a very important function in church services and ceremonies. They inspire the congregation into singing and make the communion with God more intimate and holier.

In a visit to the Our Lady of the Angels Monastery in Hanceville, Alabama a few years ago, we had the privilege of hearing the cloistered nuns, the Poor Clares of Perpetual Adoration, sing. And what beautiful voices they had! You don't see them but only hear them.

In our city of Toronto,  the St. Michael's Cathedral runs the St. Michael's Choir School, a school with over 75 years' history. The choir sings regularly on Saturday and Sunday masses, and on weekday masses, it is common to see a choir member leading the church singing. Tourists to the City make it a point to attend mass to hear the boys sing.

At the Blessed John XXIII church I regularly attend in Don Mills, there are at least two Filipino choirs. One sings regularly at the 9 am Sunday masses.

When the Filipino Chaplaincy was still at the John XXIII, the 5 pm Tagalog mass had the San Lorenzo Ruiz choir singing. And on Christmas Eve when the weather was at a minus degree, it was heart warming to hear Tagalog songs being sung at the midnight Filipino mass. I remember the former parish priest of John XXIII Fr. Rudy Imperial saying "Pascua," and it was like being transported back to Manila. It was not unusual to see Pinoys crying during these masses as they reminisce, perhaps, on Christmases at their native provinces with their loved ones.

In the Philippines where the karaoke was invented by a Filipino and where there are more than 600,000 Catholic churches and some 20 million chapels, you'd definitely expect to have an astounding number of church choirs. And it does.

At the Megamall chapel for instance, there's the regular Chapel of the Eucharistic Lord choir, the ADB choir performing at the 12:15 Wednesday masses and the Assumptionist Choir which sings regularly at the 6 pm Wednesday masses. among other choirs. 

At San Andres Apostol Parish in Cainta where we worship, there are a number of choirs which lately have been banded together into a Grand Choir in preparations heading towards the church's dedication. Individually, there's the IHMMEC choir, the Kids' Choir, an all-male choir, the El Shaddai, Dictum Veritas, and the San Andres Apostol choir.

Westminster Cathedral Choir is acclaimed as one of the world’s great choirs. Since its foundation in 1903 it has occupied a unique and enviable position at the forefront of English church music, and is featured frequently on radio and television.  When its busy liturgical schedule permits it, it takes its music further afield.  In addition to regular concerts around the UK, recent tours have included Hungary, Norway, Germany, Belgium, Italy and the USA.

The Bible says that a band of mighty angels announced to the lowly shepherds that the Messiah was born in a cave in Betlehem. The shepherds could have been roused from their sleep by the angelic voices whispering in their ears amidst the cold winter in the wilderness. 

Come. My Friend

By Gener


Where have you been my friend
I'd been waiting for you many moons ago
And you never came 
And you never dared to call,
In my angst I let you know I missed you
Gave you a clap in the ear
A splash in the face
A painting to trigger your vision.

But you went away
Never bid me goodbye
Shut down the memories of our friendship
No letters, no thank you, no hellos,
I became sad for I longed for your presence
In those nights we used to talk endlessly
In those mornings when you me woke up with a sigh
In those mid-day concerns you posed to me.

And then I heard the bad news about you
How you got sick and how you lost a child
How you were kicked out of a precious job
How you missed on payments on the house,
How friends abandoned you and then
Your spouse left you for another
Your parents gave up on your insolence
Your relatives disinherited you of their love.

My friend why wait for these gloom before knocking on my door
Why settle for the bad 
Why heap countless woes on people who cared for you
Why throw the years we'd known each other
And take the side of my foe,
My friend and beloved you are also my child
I never stopped thinking about you for a second
I was just waiting for you to call on me again.

Lest you've forgotten my name
I am Jesus

I am your best friend forever. 

What's in a Dress?

Our Lady of Angels Monastery and Shrine in Hanceville, Alabama

When we went on a pilgrimage to Hanceville, Alabama at the Our Lady of Angels Monastery years ago,  I remember that the Church provided jackets and even pants for those visitors not properly attired for church or mass.

Mass at EWTN (Eternal World Television Network) in Alabama, founded by Mother Angelica

You see, a lot of the pilgrims to the Monastery and the Shrine of the Most Blessed Sacrament come from far away states and countries and a lot, during the summer months. So they're clad in shorts and tees; that's why the jacket and pants at the entrance to the Basilica.

I also remember an incident which took place a long time ago in a church in Sta. Ana when a priest refused to give communion to a friend who was wearing a "tube blouse."

What really is the proper way to dress for church?

Common church scene, circa 1950's, somewhere in Canada

At the Chapel of the Holy Eucharist at the Megamall in Mandaluyong, there is a poster at the door prominently showing parishioners the proper attire to wear in church.

Sunday mass - From an unknown source.

Quiapo Church in the Philippines,  circa 1890's. Photo shows how Filipinos dressed for church.

 Quiapo Church and church goers, circa 2012

In Manila, numerous complaints about skimpy attire in church have prompted the Archdiocese of Manila to issue guidelines for proper dress when attending Mass or other church services.

In 2007, the archdiocese began distributing posters on proper church attire in its parishes and shrines. These  posters were to be placed in areas where they are clearly visible.

“The posters clearly show how one can be properly dressed for church,” said Fr. Godwin Tatlonghari of the archdiocese's Ministry of Liturgical Affairs.

The guidelines indicate that women should not wear short skirts, skimpy shorts, sleeveless blouses, tank tops or spaghetti-strap tops and plunging necklines in church. Men should not wear caps, shorts and basketball jerseys. Instead, the archdiocese recommends women wear blouses, corporate or office attire, school uniforms or long dresses, while men should wear shirts, jeans or slacks.

Western Easter Sunday - from the past

One church goer said of the late Fr. John Robbins of the parish of St. Anne's in Houston, Texas. "Fr. John Robbins preached about dressing in church one Sunday, but his take on it was a little bit different.  He suggested that parishioners who worried about the way others were dressed were the ones who needed to adjust their attitudes. He said they should focus on the liturgy, not on the other congregants.

After he finished his homily, and was returning to his seat, someone started clapping; most of the congregation joined in. He looked over his shoulder at us and said, “I bet it was someone wearing shorts."

At the Holy Rosary Parish in Ohio which I used to go to, most of the men and women dressed conservatively for Sunday mass. During Easter, women even wore hats.  Men often wore suits. The youth usually came in sneakers and T-shirts of their favorite sports team but wore jeans and jackets.  A lot had dress shirts and dress pants. Of course there were exceptions.

At the Toronto church where I attend services, the congregants are a mixed population - Canadians, Filipino immigrants and immigrants from Eastern Europe, the Caribbean, India and the Middle East. But again, most dress on the proper side.

But come summertime, women and men tend to wear less because of the oppressive heat, and the priests tend to empathize with them.  Men usually wear casual shirts, dress shorts and women those "bermuda" shorts" which are just above the knee.

When we were kids, we always donned our "Sunday best" for Sunday masses, and on Christmas, New Year and even fiestas, I'd dare say the whole of the Philippines, wore their "pamburol," or the best in their wardrobe - new for most and if old,  always clean and well pressed. 

Davao Archbishop Fernando Capalla once said "Sunday best has become a common expression of people who know the value of the Sunday celebration and so those who pride themselves on self-respect choose the best for the Lord. I am not very sure now whether that passage in the Gospel where an invited guest was thrown out because he was not dressed properly, is applicable here. It seems it is," he added.

When in comes to jewelery, most churches, globally and locally, do not mention it in their dress codes.

Maybe that's because jewelery, especially for women, is part of fashion accessories;  even priests wear gold bracelets.

Wearing jewelery in churches is as normal as wearing wrist watches and is not obtrusive or a show off.

Present day Philippine church congregation

Personally,  I don't find it a distraction and I don't see them as an untoward act in their worship.

Showing a lot of skin for women is definitely a no no. But asking women or forbidding them not to wear an earring or a bangle or make up is also a no no.

I remember seeing a Lino Brocka film where two "manangs," or church ladies, instead of focusing on the liturgy, were whispering to each other about the high heeled shoes of the women who were kneeling at the front pew.

To continually intone on proper dressing is a distraction in itself and quite alienating. The low key approach - posting visuals at the church door showing the dress code could work better.

Knighthood.

When a person from Church approached me and asked me to join the Knights of Columbus, I didn't readily agree.  Instead I went to the Net and looked for information about the organization.

What I saw affirmed my earlier hunch that the Knights of Columbus is an honorable undertaking.

My only contact with the Knights of Columbus was seeing its members in church events in which they participated donned in knight regalia, cape and sword and hat (called chapeau) and all.  It was a beautiful sight.

Even in my parish at Blessed John XXIII, I remember debating whether to join or not.

As I turned a new leaf in my Christian life, I finally decided to be a part of this Catholic fraternal service organization whose membership includes Carl A. Anderson, former Special Assistant to President Ronald Reagan and the present Supreme Knight,  Jeb Bush, former Governor of Florida, Denis Coderre, Member of Canadian Parliament, and Hilario Davide, former Philippine Supreme Court Justice.

To read more about the Knights of Columbus, please go to www.kofc.org and for the Philippine site, at www.kofc.org.ph/

Neighbourhood Crusade.

In their effort to curb crimes, barangays and village groups in the Philippines have had watch crime groups established in their neighbourhoods.  In Toronto, Canada there are even sticker/badges you place in your main door signifying that you're an active neighbourhood crime watcher.

In another kind of neighbourhood watch, one aimed to promote peace through prayers, rosary crusades had been promoted by Catholic neighbourhoods in the Philippines and all over the world.

Yesterday morning, Oct. 6th, our Parish Church, the San Andres Apostol, held a dawn procession honouring The Our Lady of the Holy Rosary of Manaoag.  

Our Lady of the Rosary of Manaoag (Nuestra Señora del Santísimo Rosario de Manaoag)  is a 17th-century Roman Catholic ivory image of the Blessed Virgin Mary placed in the high altar of a shrine in Manaoag, Pangasinan. Under that invocation, Mary the mother of Jesus is locally venerated as the patroness of the town and is often referred to in both the Pangasinense and Ilocano dialect as Apo Baket (English: "Venerable Madam").

The 6 a.m. mass celebrated after the procession by Fr. Vic Flores was held in honour of the Blessed Mother,  St. Josemarie Escriva who founded the Opus Dei, and the BEC organization which brings the Divine Mercy and Our Lady of Fatima - into the homes  of Greenwoods residents.

Let's all together promote peace through prayers.