Flores de Mayo saSitio BanabaIsinulat ni Rosemarie Cabrigas

Bilang bahagi ng ating parokya San

Benito, kami ay nagpapasalamat sa

ating kura paroko, Padre Conrad

Amon at pangalawang kura paroko,

Padre Herald Arenal sa lahat  ng

suporta, sa lahat ng mga aktibidades

na patuloy na ginagawa ng aming

barangay.

Ngayong darating na Mayo ay

magkakaroon muli kami ng Flores

de Mayo. Ito ay pinagkakaisahang

pagtulungan ng mga kabataan sa

aming barangay.

Simula ito Mayo 1 hanggang

katapusan ng buwan nag aalay ang

mga bata ng bulaklak sa ating

Birheng Maria kasunod ang

pagdarasal ng Santo Rosaryo.

Ito ay iniaalay namin, una, para sa

kapayapaan ng komunidad; ikalawa,

upang magkaroon ng

masaganang ulan para sa mga

magsasaka; ikatlo, upang mailayo

tayo sa lahat ng kalamidad; at

ikaapat, na sa darating na halalan

ay maluklok ang tunay at

karapatdapat na mamuno sa ating

bansa. 

Ang pagdiriwang na ito ng Flores

de Mayo ay pinagtutulung-

tulungan namin kasama ng

pakikipagkaisa ng aming

Pamahalaang Barangay.

"Whatever good work you beginto do, beg of God with mostearnest prayer to perfect it." - St. Benedict

ST. BENEDICT PARISHO F F I C I A L N E W S L E T T E R

MAY 2019 ISSUE NO. 1 VOL. 2

In this issue:Flores de Mayo sa Sitio BanabaMary, and the Flowers of May Mary, Our Mother The Importance of MaryOperation Tuli Holy Week Celebrations

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2

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3

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4

Getting to know

St. Benedict

St. Benedict and St.Scholastica wereborn to Euprobo and ClaudiaAbundantia, a Christian noble family. Benedict studied in Rome but aftersome time was disillusioned from theimmorality, corruption and worldlinessof the people at the time. All these ledhim to abandon his studies and leaveRome to pursue a spiritual life. He lefthome with Cirilla, his faithful familynurse between 500-510 AD. After leaving Rome and Enfide, hespent time living as a hermit in spiritualisolation in a cave in Subiaco.

MARY, and the Flowers of MayA letter to the community by Rev. Fr. Conrad Amon

The tradition of flower offering to the Blessed Virgin Mary on the month ofMay can be best understood on the background of the seasons of the year inEurope, from where Christianity was brought to our land. During winter, it iscold and snow covers the land. The trees seem to be dead, just the branchesremain, no leaves, no flowers and no fruits. But in spring, new, fresh, greenleaves are soothing to the eyes and flowers are in full bloom--a picture ofbeauty and life. In the Philippines, many colorful and more beautiful flowers are also inbloom in May. The month wherein, as our tradition, many Catholics collectand offer flowers to Mother Mary. It is at this time that new life and the beautiful flowers become a picture ofhope. By reflection, it was likened to the Virgin Mary, the most beautiful“flower” of God, who is “full of grace.” She also becomes our hope forsalvation. The Church further reflects on the Virgin Mary in relation to ourLord Jesus Christ. As the flower is a stage before the coming of the fruit, in thesame manner, from the “flower” Virgin Mary would come the “fruit of herwomb,” Jesus. To honor the Blessed Virgin, the Catholic Church, on the month of May, hasmaintained the tradition of offering flowers to the most beautiful flower ofthem all, MARY.

MARY, OurMotherby Gerg Santos

She is my refuge, mystrength and protection.I rely on her motherlyembrace to shield meand those I care for fromharm and heartache.

MOTHER. Whose heart does not stir at the mention of this six-letter word? Alot of images come to mind but none as vivid as that of Mary, our Mother.  She is my hope--for things I do not even have the courage to ask for and yet,I turn to her knowing, in my heart, that she will intercede and have mercy onme. And so I pray: Remember O most gracious Virgin Mary that never was it known, that anyone whofled to thy protection, implored thy help or sought thy intercession, was left unaided.Inspired by this confidence, I fly unto thee, O Virgin of Virgins, my Mother. To thee Icome, before thee I stand, sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word Incarnate,despise not my petition, but in thy mercy, hear and answer me. Amen.

ST . BENEDICT PARISH

Publisher

KATE EVANGEL ISTA

Editor in Chief

ANA DY CAST ILLO

Content Manager

DID IT S . DIAZ

Contributor Liason

GERALDINE SANTOS

Assistant Editor

HERBERT ARANO

Photography

THERESE MARIE SANTOS

DR . AINA SALES DIAZ

Contributors

FOR COMMENTS AND SUGGESTIONS, WRITE US:

Ayala Westgrove Heights, South Blvd.,

Brgy. Inchican, Silang, Cavite 4118

sbpofficialnewsletter@gmail.com

Operation Tuli

by Ellen Cabello

Last year, some Social Services members of one barangay commented that young

boys in their area, who could not afford to go to a hospital, still undergo

circumcision the traditional way: de-pukpok. This is done by a local circumciser who

uses chewed guava leaves as sanitizer.  The fee is fifty pesos (P 50.00) or a few

pieces of cigarettes. This gave the then Social Services President, Edna Tuazon, the

idea of introducing free circumcisions so that boys will have access to a safer

procedure done by medical practitioners where anesthesia, medicines for pain, and

antibiotics to reduce the risk of infection are given.

On its second year now, the Social Services’ Operation Tuli will be held on May 15,

2019 at the Parish Hall, from 8AM to 12NN. This will benefit around two hundred

(200) boys from Sitio Banaba and Barangays Inchican, Tibig, and Carmen. Free

services of doctors from around the Parish and health workers from the Inchican

Health Center will be tapped for this program. The budget will come from St.

Benedict Parish.

 

We hope that with Operation Tuli, we can help young boys go through this

obligatory right of passage in a safe manner.

MASS SCHEDULESF e a s t D a y - J u l y 1 1

Monday

7:00 AM - English

Tuesday5:30 PM - Novena to St. Benedict

6:00 PM - English

Wednesday5:30 PM - Novena to Our Mother of

Perpetual Help6:00 PM - Tagalog

Thursday

6:00 PM - English

Friday5:00 PM - Exposition of the Blessed

Sacrament (1st Friday)6:00 PM - English

Saturday

7:00 AM - Tagalog6:00 PM - English (Anticipated)

Sunday

7:00 AM - English9:00 AM - Tagalog11:00 AM - English4:30 PM - Tagalog6:30 PM - English

ANNOUNCEMENTSF o r t h e m o n t h o f J U N E

1. ConfirmationConfirmation will be held on June 1,2019, Saturday, at 9AM to be presidedby the Most Rev. Pedro Arigo, D.D. 2. Sunday SchoolChildren who have not received FirstHoly Communion are invited to joinduring the 11:00 AM or 4:30 PMMasses. 3. Call for SubmissionWhen was the first time youencountered God in your life? Sendthe St. Benedict Parish Newsletteryour story of inspiration. 1-2paragraphs long would do, along witha high resolution picture. 4. Post An AdThe St. Benedict Parish Newsletterwelcomes ads. For inquiries, please email us atsbpofficialnewsletter@gmail.com

Mary, our Blessed Mother, was chosen by God to be the mother of our Lord. She is the

central female character in the life of Jesus. As the mother of Jesus, she plays an important

role in the salvation of all peoples. When Christ suffered and died on the cross, she also

suffered along with her Son. Despite knowing the consequences of being the mother of

God, she still obeyed God and gave birth to our Lord and raised Him to fulfill His prophesy.

I have been serving in a community called the Feast as part of the music ministry for almost

a year now. At first, I felt hesitant to serve because I had fears and insecurities within myself.

But I then remembered Mary when she was first told by the angel that she will become the

mother of our Lord. She as well was hesitant because she was then betrothed to Joseph and

being pregnant before marriage would bring shame not only to her but also to Joseph.

Though, despite her fears, she still obeyed the will of God to be the mother of our Lord. I

am now serving in the Feast by singing to Him and blessing other people with our music. I

am no longer afraid to hold a mic and sing because I am His servant and His will for me

shall be done.

There will always be times in our lives when we feel hesitant even if we know that it is

according to God’s plan for us. But we must never forget Mary’s response to the angel. She

said yes even though she knew she would get hurt. She said yes even though she knew that

one day that child she bore in her womb will suffer and die for the sake of the sins of all.

With Mary as our guide, we should always say yes, no matter what because as long as it is in

accordance with God’s will we should no longer be afraid.

Luke 1:38 “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.”

MARY Answers

the Cal lby Marya Christeen Josephine D. Recio

H o l y W e e k

C e l e b r a t i o n s

by Elsa Braceros Pleta

Palm Sunday marks the start of the Holy Week, the

finale of Lent. It is a commemoration of the

triumphant entry of JESUS into Jerusalem with palm

branches waived along his path.

 

At St. Benedict Parish, a simple but elegant platform

was prepared in front of the bronze Statue of St.

Benedict where the celebration started and the

blessing of the palms by our Parish Priest, Fr. Conrad

Amon. This is then followed by a procession of

parishioners waving palms leading to the church for

the continuation of the celebration commemorating

events in the last days of Jesus Christ’s life.

 

Maundy Thursday is the day of the Last Supper when

JESUS washed the feet of the 12 Apostles and

established the ceremony known as the EUCHARIST.

 

Christ’s mandate is commemorated on Maundy

Thursday. Maundy was derived from the Latin word

mandatum which means commandment. “A new

commandment I give to you, that you love one

another just as I have loved you, you also are to love

one another” (John 13:34).

On Good Friday, we remember the day JESUS willingly

suffered and died by crucifixion as the ultimate sacrifice for

our sins. It is the culmination of God’s plan to save us from

our sins and for us to receive the joy of Easter.

 

The main event at St. Benedict Parish on Good Friday is the

Veneration of the Cross. The clergy and the congregation

approaches a crucifix one by one and offers a gesture of

respect like kneeling or bowing before the cross and then

kissing it.

 

Easter Vigil is the longest but the most beautiful liturgy of

the year since it is a celebration of the Resurrection of Jesus

Christ. There are 4 parts of the celebration:

 

In the Blessing of the Fire and Proclamation of Easter, the

church is in total darkness. A fire is lighted outside the

church and the Easter or Paschal candle is lit from it. The

Paschal candle represents Jesus Christ, the light of the world.

  

The Liturgy of the Word is still in the darkness, numerous

readings and psalms are read, expressing gratitude to God

for an extraordinary story of fidelity and love for us.

 

The blessing of the water is for baptism and the Renewal of

Baptismal vows

 

Liturgy of the Eucharist is the culmination and conclusion of

the celebration.