THE OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER OF THE FILIPINO CATHOLIC CHAPLAINCY V IENNA, AUSTRIA (African, Asian and Latin American Catholic Communities, Archdiocese of Vienna)

PASTULAN Retracing the

footsteps of the Lord ...

Volume IV, Issue 1 March 2008

he one-week pilgrimage to the Holy Land in Israel from 9-17 February which was participated in by 45 lay and 3 priests, Frs. Joey, Jojo and Francis, an Indian Carmelite priest, truly evoked different emotions and experiences. What does it really feel to be visiting the Holy Land and to tread Jesus’ way two thousand years ago?

I joined the pilgrimage to the Holy Land to strengthen my faith; it is not for curiosity’s sake but to test myself

whether indeed the belief I hold is real or I simply conform to the tradition I grew up with. Perhaps like some of the

pilgrims I was exposed to various ideologies, because of the multi-racial, multi-cultural environment in which I

moved about; I had read materials contrary to my belief, e.g. the big bang theory, the evolution of man, etc. so

that there were times in the past when I wavered but deep down me there was something that always pulled me

back to my faith. The trip to the Holy Land reaffirmed that feeling and belief. I need not explain what went through

my mind or felt as we walked around the sacred places, because they are personal to me. The explanations of

Charles, our guide, were most helpful in my quest for understanding what happened two thousand years

ago. Given that Charles is a Jew, I could only admire him for the clarity, at least to me, of his narratives.

Considering the Media’s negative publicity of the place as a whole, it was beyond my expectation to witness the

harmonious co-existence of the ordinary folks - - - Christians, Jews and Moslems living in the Holy Land - - - -

which make up the majority of the population. We had a Moslem driver and a Jewish guide working side by side,

hand in hand. What proof could be more convincing than this: that permanent peace is possible in the land holy to

all the three religions. (Marieta Ramos)

Inside this issue:Inside this issue:Inside this issue:Inside this issue:

Message from the Chaplaincy

2

Financial Page 2

Mommy’s Thoughts 3

Maka-Pinoy 4

On Life 5

Schedule of Services, etc. 6

“Gabay sa Paglalakbay” 7

Firmung & First Communion

9

Newsroom 11

Leap of Faith 12

Late afternoon boat ride on the Sea of GalileeLate afternoon boat ride on the Sea of Galilee

(Continued on page 10)

P A G E 2 P A S T U L A N

Message from the Chaplaincy

. . . so the common line goes. I guess, this should also be our shout this year as we celebrate in September the 25th Year Foundation Anniversary of the Chaplaincy. Anniversaries are always a time to look back and think of all the people, priests and lay, who worked hard when the Chaplaincy started. It was not easy to start with something… it takes a lot of dedication, hard work and sacrifices. And behind all these, is God who never leaves the scene; He is always there guiding and strengthening all the workers in His vineyard. Anniversaries are indeed a time to say thank you to them… Anniversaries are also time to start moving forward and to face the future with its new set of challenges. Walking towards the future means walking though the dark and the unknown. Thus, most often it brings fear and discouragement. But still the Lord continues to be there, guiding and protecting, encouraging and empowering his workers. This thought amidst the uncertainty of the future should lead us to go on and to continue to trust Him. May the coming celebration of the Silver Foundation Anniversary this September become not only a time to rejoice but also a time for spiritual fruitfulness in our life.

To all that have been, Thanks . . .

To all that will be, Yes ...

FINANCIAL PAGE

Pastulan

October 2006 Donations: €300.98 & US$ 20.00 December 2006 Expenses: €211.62 Donations: €298.48 Net Income: € 86.86 €300.98 & US$ 20.00 €387.84 & US$ 20.00 March 2007 Expenses: €212.72 Donations: €329.67 Net Income: €116.95 €387.84 & US$ 20.00 €504.79 & US$ 20.00 June 2007 Expenses: € 222.30 Donations: €353.47 Net Income €131.17 €504.79 & US$ 20.00 €635.96 & US$ 20.00 September 2007 Expenses: €291.31 Donations: €246.78 Deficit: € 44.53 €635.96 & US$ 20.00 €591.53 & US$ 20.00 December 2007 Expenses: €294.74 Donations: €509.75 Net: €215.01 €591.53 & US$ 20.00 €734.44 & US$ 20.00 (as of January 2008)

P A G E 3 P A S T U L A N

MOMMY’S THOUGHTS . . . . . . . . . o n LOVE. o n LOVE. o n LOVE. o n LOVE

P.S. Did I turn you off with all these talks about my love for you? Well, lest I start to sound corny, let me count the ways why I do. You are the icing to our cake, the schlagobers to our mélange, the coke to our big mac, the puto to our dinuguan, the sauce to our siopao, the bagoong to our kare-kare. Do you want more?

Dear Anna, How much do I love you? Seated on a train on this clear cold morning in the southernmost part of England, I cannot help but thank God for the beauty of His creation. Hill after hill of verdant green, cows silently munching their breakfast grass, sheep huddled together for more warmth than their flurry wool could offer, early birds catching the early worms while the sun slowly makes its glowing entrance. Faced with nature’s overwhelming beauty, who will not turn poetic? However, the reason why I am on the train is less than poetic. I have to travel for more than two hours just to go to work in a hospital where nursing is so much more complicated than I was used to doing in Vienna, where colleagues do not seem to go on breaks, where people talk in English I cannot understand, and where my English with German accent is usually met with blank questioning faces. Many times I longed for SMZO, that dear place I used to hate but now sorely miss. But I have to persevere. I am confident that with time everything will be better, easier. The people may not speak ‘proper’ English but they sure are nice and warm and supportive of fifty-year olds who still have enough adventure in their bones to try something completely new. Besides who needs those breaks? I should be thankful for every calorie that could be removed from my diet. And every extra minute of walking would mean one more step to reducing my Viennese weight. I’m doing all of these because I love you, dear child. Your Daddy and I want to give you the best love we could offer, surely not materially but that love which our time, our effort and our talents could provide. Yesterday, there were very disturbing pieces on the evening news. The image of a young woman crouched on the floor with a syringe in her hand, dead. It was so shocking, it was shown to all high school students in Britain to warn them of the evil effects of drugs. The heartbroken parents recalled how their pretty, mild-mannered, straight-A child fell in love with a drug addict who turned their world upside down. And then there was Kate Mc Cann, her face gaunt, full of pain, sorrow, guilt, fear not knowing where her daughter is. Madeleine went missing last May. As a parent, I felt their pain, I cried their tears. And suddenly, I was afraid. What if you find friends who will bring you harm rather than blessings, who will try to introduce you to the beauty of synthetic drug-induced modern highs? What if you meet the proverbial sweet talking, handsome, good-for-nothing boy who will make you forget all the virtues you learned at home, who will make you shed heartbroken tears? I almost did not sleep last night, talking silently to God, asking Him for more strength that we might shield you from harm. I pleaded with Him to guide us in loving you, that we might give you the love that will strengthen you in times of doubts and temptations, that you will choose to follow our advice not because you are convinced they are right but because you love us, too. Take care, dear child, Mommy

P A G E 4 P A S T U L A N

Lahing PinoyLahing PinoyLahing PinoyLahing Pinoy ni Bro. Jun Rico

Dugong bughaw kung turingan itong ating inang lahi Ang lahi ng matatapang, magigiting na bayani Buong tatag na lumaban, kahit buhay itong sukli Makamtan lang nitong bayan, kalayaang minimithi Tutuo ngang dugo’t buhay ang puhunan sa’ting bayan Dugo rin ang naging tatak ng nag-alsang katipunan Katipunan na nagturong magkaisa at lumaban At bigkasin sa pag-asa, magtulunga’t magmahalan Ano nga bang naging bunga ng naunang sinimulan Ano nga ba ang balitang nagaganap sa’ting bayan Tutuo bang ito na nga ang tagumpay na inasam Baka naman walang saysay ang dugo na pinuhunan Sa tuwinang naririnig ang balita araw-araw Iba-ibang kuro-kuro, iba-iba ang pananaw Meron pa ngang nagsasabi na parusa ang ipataw Dahil kaban nitong bayan ay kanilang ninanakaw Meron namang nagsasabing sama-sama at lumaban Palitan na ang gobyerno, isulong ang kaunlaran At meron ding nagsasabing ito’y ating karapatan Malaya mong ipahayag kung ano ang kalooban Tunay na nga na malaya itong ating inang bayan Sa balita’y maririnig at sa rally ay sigawan Kahit pa nga ang balita at sigaw ay personalan Basta gusto ay isusulat, wala silang pakialam Kalayaang magpahayag sa’tiy walang itutumbas Kahit walang katibayan, sa dyaryo ay mamamalas Ito kaya’y maging daan upang problema’y malutas O di kaya’y magsimula, ang liwanag ay magwakas Meron akong kasabihan, pag mahal mo itong bayan Ni hindi mo iniisip na ikaw ay laging bigyan Ang lagi mong iniisip, ang siya ay paglingkuran At hindi ka tumutulad kay “Juan” sa katamaran Ang tutuong nagmamahal sa kahit sinong nilalang May mali man na nagawa, binibigyang katuwiran Subalit kung ikaw nama’y may galit at pagdaramdam Kahit tama ang ginawa, sayo’y wala pa ring puwang Ngayo’y ating pagnilayan, mga mahal na kapatid Baka naman meron tayo na hindi pa nababatid Tunay kayang ang dahilan at nagtulak ay pag-ibig Wala kayang pulitika, pampersonal na umakit Hindi ko po sinasabi kung sino ang makatwiran Sinasabi ko lamang po, sana nama’y huwag hatulan Ginagamit nating pisi, sana ay malimutan Ito rin ang gagamitin pag dumating ang sukdulan.

MAKA-PINOY

Different LoveDifferent LoveDifferent LoveDifferent Love By Christian Abila

I told you to leave me, if I do not give you what you want.

I told you to leave me, if I don't make you happy anymore.

I told you to leave me, if you don't love me anymore.

I told you not to fall in love with me,

for you might feel pain.

I told you not to fall in love with me,

because I don't want to hold you up.

I told you not to fall in love with me,

because I might only break your heart.

I told you that I don't love you, because I don't want you

to be thinking of me all the time.

I told you that I don't love you, because I don't want you

to neglect anything you're doing.

I told you that I don't love you, because I love you so

much.

I am not here to call you all mine,

because I cannot own you.

You are free and have chosen to land on my shoulder

singbird.

I enjoy every minute with you.

I love you, but you can always leave,

even if it would break my heart.

I allow you to leave, although I don't like the thought.

What is good for you is good for me.

I want you to be happy.

This is how different my love is for you. I'm different.

P A G E 5 P A S T U L A N

It's been a year since a friend of mine passed away. I remember the day we got the ‘phone call with the bad news. A group of friends was carrying cake and drinks to celebrate another friend's birthday when suddenly the ‘phone rang and we were told that AP* had been involved in a fatal accident in Kenya. All of us were paralyzed with shock. The birthday party ended right there and then. When we had recovered from the shock, we all got together again to reflect on what had happened. Back in school, AP had everything. As the son of the owner of one of Vienna's most famous coffee chains, he could afford everything and anything. He was one of the first ones to drive to school in his own car, he played golf, went on expensive cruises ... you name it - AP had it. People who didn't know him well thought he was arrogant and snobbish. But in reality, he was a very nice guy who was just lucky to have all those things. The two of us had a special deal - I'd let him sit next to me in Math and copy my homework and in return he corrected all my French essays. The deal was perfect - we both got the grades we wanted in those subjects. Another thing which I won't forget was when our class went to see the concert of a new band. With my height I couldn't really see much and so for half the time, I watched the concert sitting on his shoulders. There are people who are judged to be someone they aren't - AP was one of those. After his death we talked a lot about his life. AP moved from one hobby to another in a very short space of time. In the last year of high school he was on the golf course everyday, sometimes even missing classes. He earned himself the title of being one of Austria's top junior golfers. The first year after we graduated, he developed a passion for racing cars. He literally lived life in the fast lane. On the business side, he took his mother’s company international within a short time. He became the father of a beautiful boy who has the same curly hair as he had. His son is now 3 years old and has his whole life ahead of him, but unfortunately, he will never get to know how great his father was. With the way AP was living his life, it was as if he knew it was going to come to an end earlier than he thought. He worked hard to get to the top and achieve great things in a very short time. He passed away piloting a small aircraft in Kenya soon after earning his pilot's license. None of us ever got the chance to say goodbye. We realized that AP had probably achieved and experienced more than most of us would in our lifetime. It's different when someone older passes away. Yes, it's hard to accept someone's death especially if that person means something to you. But I've learned that sometimes it's better for someone to pass away than see that person suffer in illness. This is especially the case when it's someone much older. Both my grandmothers passed away due to grave illnesses. After the initial sorrow you accept that they have now found their peace and are no longer suffering. But what about when someone your age passes away who is not suffering from an illness? How can that happen? Even after a year, it's still hard to understand and accept that AP is no longer among us. But I guess that when your time comes, there's nothing you can do. I'm proud he got so much done in his 26 years and I'm happy to have known him. He showed all of us how to live our lives to the fullest: leave your mark and be remembered for the great things you have done. His passing away taught us all an important lesson and touched each of us in a special way. AP you will be greatly missed but remembered forever. (Marizel Aguirre) * name disguised

On life — when it stops before you know it

REGULAR SERVICES

P A G E 6 P A S T U L A N

SPECIAL SERVICES

Day and Time Venue Service

Sun. 10:30h-11:15h MBK Confession

Sun. 11:00h MBK Community Mass

Sun. 17:00h CHdW Holy Mass

Wed. 12:30h CHdW Novena to Our Lady of Perpetual Help

Wed. 18:30h MH Novena to Our Lady of Perpetual Help

Sat. 19:00h StD Anticipated Mass (English)

First Friday 18:30h MBK Mass and Novena to the Divine Mercy

Last Friday 18:30h MBK Mass and Novena to Our Lady of Peñafrancia

♦ Fridays at 19:30h—Bible Study, Gruppenraum, Maria vom Berge Karmel Church, given by Fr . Ely

Date Time Venue Service

20 Mar. 2008 08:00h Way of the Cross, Gutenstein, NÖ

19:00h MBK Last Supper and Vigil

21 Mar. 2008 07:00h Way of the Cross, Pöstlingberg, NÖ

19:00h MBK Good Friday Liturgy

22 Mar. 2008 20:00h MBK Easter Vigil

23 March 2008 11:00h

MBK Easter Sunday Mass and Community Day

First Communion

11 May 2008 Confirmation

22 May 2008 09:30h MBK Fronleichnamfest, Joint Celebration with the Austrian Parishioners

MBK: Pfarre Maria vom Berge Karmel, 1100 Vienna, Stefan Fadinger Platz 1 StD: Stephansdom, 1010 Vienna, Stephansplatz CHdW: Christus Hoffnung der Welt, 1220 Vienna, Donaucitystraße 2 MH: Mariahilf, 1060 Wien, Barnabitengasse 14

ACTIVITIES

Date and Time Details

15 March 2008 8:00h - 17:00h

Lenten recollection to be facilitated by Fr. John A. Gadon, Parish Hall Please bring something for the POT LUCK lunch.

30 Apr - 3 May 2008 Pilgrimage to Lourdes on the occasion of the 150th Anniversary of the Apparitions

7-12 July 2008 Summer Youth Camp at Scout Center, Klosterneuburg-Kierling

24 May 2008 17:00h - 21:00h

ARGE Kulturfest at Längenfeld

4 October 2008 Pilgrimage to Prague

23 - 29 October 2008 Pilgrimage to Turkey

P A S T U L A N P A G E 7

The life of each Christian is a pilgrimage: a journey through life’s hardships and trials to the light and love of the Lord, a journey undertaken under His guidance. The path of our parish members has taken us from the homeland to the life we now live in Vienna, where we have grown as a small community since the 1980’s to what we are today. This year, we will mark the 25th anniversary of our birth as a community through a series of events being planned mainly for 21-28 September.

From August until September 2008, we will hold Mass every Friday at the churches where we formerly worshipped. The list includes:

Maria Geburt, 1030, Rennweg 91 Maria, Hilfe der Christen, 1220, Erzherzog Karlstrasse

Universitätskirche, 1010, Dr. Ignaz Seipel Platz. 1 Auferstehung Christi, 1020, Hochstettergasse 1 (Am Tabor) St. Johann Nepomuk, 1020, Nepomukgasse Emmaus am Wienerberg, 1100, Tesarekplatz 2.

The main celebrations will open on 21 September 2008 at the 11 a.m. community Mass which will be con celebrated by visiting Filipino bishops and former Chaplains. We are hoping that Christoph Cardinal Schönborn will grace us with his presence. This Mass will be opened by a procession of parishioners who are celebrating the 25th anniversary of their wedding or their 25th birthday in 2008. There will be an Agape in the parish hall (or in the garden, weather permitting) afterwards, and a photo exhibit of our church’ history will be opened. The afternoon will be highlighted by a raffle draw with cash prizes at stake.

(Continued on page 8)

“Gabay sa Paglalakbay” – Celebrating FCC’s 25th anniversary

as a community in Vienna

P A G E 8 P A S T U L A N

(Continued from page 7) During the following week, these activities are being planned:

The Chaplaincy cordially invites the participation and contribution of willing parishioners to carry out the extensive celebrations. There are many ways in which one can help:

♦ By contributing photos and/or souvenir items for the exhibit about the history of the chaplaincy

♦ By contributing to the travel expenses of visiting Filipino bishops and former chaplains

♦ By participating in the Mass Wedding or Mass Baptism

♦ By co-sponsoring the Agapes in connection with various events

♦ By participating in the Talent Show

♦ By donating funds for the special edition of PASTULAN that will focus on the 25th anniversary

♦ By donating funds for general use in connection with the celebrations.

Interested parishioners are encouraged to complete the Pledge of Support form (available at the church after 11 a.m. community Mass on Sundays, and for downloading from the FCC Website at http://www.fcc-vienna.org/14.html) and submitting it to Fr. Joey, Fr. Ely or Fr. Jojo. A member of the organizing team will then get in touch with all volunteers to coordinate their contributions. Please feel free to invite members of other communities to join our celebrations. Aware of our history, let us look forward to and focus on the future (our “Paglalakbay”). Let us work consciously towards achieving our goal of being a strong community living the teachings of our Lord (our “Gabay”) and thereby setting a good example for other similar communities in our new home-setting. Please visit the FCC Website www.fcc-vienna.org for regular updates on the preparations.

“Gabay sa Paglalakbay”

Day, Date What Remarks

Mon., 22 Sept. “Exodus” Talk by Bishop Tagle

Tue., 23 Sept. Soup Kitchen For the needy in the parish

Wed., 24 Sept. Mass Wedding Couples who are planning to be married in 2008 are heartily encouraged to avail of this opportunity

Thu., 25 Sept. Former Chaplains’ Night Informal panel discussion with former chaplains

Fri., 26 Sept. Talent Show Featuring entertainment talents from our community

Sat., 27 Sept. Mass Baptism Parents planning the baptism of their child in 2008 are heartily encouraged to avail of this opportunity

Sat., 27 Sept. Games and

Sports Festival Separate programs for children and youths

Sun., 28 Sept. Procession and Closing Mass

To be concelebrated with visiting Filipino bishops and former chaplains

Time

18:30h

16:00h

16:00h

18:30h

18:30h

11:00h

13:00h

10:00h

Sat., 4 Oct. Pilgrimage to Sto. Niño

in Prague

P A G E 9 P A S T U L A N

Erntedankfest und Adventrekollektion

46 youths are set to

receive the Sacrament of

Confirmation on 11 May

2008 on the Feast of the

Pentecost. They will be

joined by other candidates

from other Asian, African

and Latin American

Communities (ARGE-AAG).

The preparation program

for these candidates is

done every Saturday since

the start of the year by

Fr. Joey Demoy, with the

help of Linda Cervantes,

Alice Holitz and Flor

Oandasan.

Since February, rising

early every Sunday to

attend the First

Communion Catechism

Class, these 12

candidates will

receive their First

Communion this

Easter Sunday, 23

March 2008. Marizel

Aguirre and Lito

Ramos give the

catechism class

before the 11:00am

Mass at Stefan

Fadinger Platz.

FIRMUNG

FIRST COMMUNION

Tired yet still smiling faces!

Young “Soldiers of Christ”

(Continued form page 1)

P A G E 1 0 P A S T U L A N

Retracing the footsteps of the Lord ...

I have reached so many places in the world, but this time, my one-week stay in Israel, brought me quite different feelings.

The moment I stepped on that holy land, my heart was touched. I was quite bewildered. My eyes could not believe that

what I have heard from many different stories and what I have read from books and the Bible were just in front of me. I

could not describe what I felt. I have stepped on the places of religious, historical and important events that happened

thousand of years ago. I felt so blessed. (Diding Kailer)

My trip to Jerusalem was exhilarating, enlightening and I came back home revived and renewed. The spiritual uplift I

experienced there further reaffirmed my beliefs and complete trust to the Lord. (Luisa Mantiles) It was a very touching experience. Somehow it brought me into closer relationship with God and strengthened my faith in Him. (RD) Everytime we entered a place where Jesus walked on 2 thousand years ago, I felt blessed and at the same time lonely because there are still many people who do believe in Him as the Messiah… (F.C.A.) At the Mount of Beatitudes, as I knelt in the chapel to pray, I could visualize the scene of the Lord teaching the Beatitudes to those following Him. I couldn’t help shedding tears… they were tears of joy because I have finally realized my dream of visiting the places, our Lord walked on while He was on earth; they were also tears of gratitude to the Lord for granting me my most cherished dream…. (Josie Cano) At the Sea of Galilee, during the imaginative prayer where we were asked to close our eyes and we were led to imagine na nakasakay din si Jesus sa boat namin, tears came down from my eyes… it was so real! He was so real!... (Sis)

As I joined my co-pilgrims trail the path of the Lord, my trials in the past came into my mind again… they were trials that

made me question God in my life and whose answer for so long I have never found. However, that time the answer I was

seeking became so clear… God suddenly became so close to me and the bitterness in my heart vanished. This

pilgrimage taught me this: I have only to lift up all things to Him and to trust Him without doubt and He will do His part…

(JN Ramos)

Many were asking me, of all the places we have visited, where was the most touching? I could not offer an answer… until I arrived in Vienna. The most touching part for me was not with regard to the sacred places we’ve visited (of course, each has an impact knowing the fact that the Lord would have walked on that very same spot), but rather what was most touching for me was that part when I noticed that slowly the 48 persons, day after day, after one-week, slowly transformed themselves into one caring, supportive community despite the barriers of varied backgrounds, professions, educational attainments, orientations, age levels, among others. Truly, the Lord was with us transforming many persons to become a community of one heart… (Jolly “J”)

Jerusalem, the Holy City

P A G E 1 1 P A S T U L A N

Erntedankfest und Adventrekollektion

Legion of Mary’s Second Group starts To cater to the increase in the number of attendees, the Chaplaincy’s Legion of Mary, the Mediatrix of All Graces, opened and started a second Praesidium last 24 February. This second group meets every Sunday at 9:00 in the morning at the convent of Maria vom Karmel. The first group still continues to meet every Monday at 6:30 in the evening in the same convent. Both groups are involved in different apostolate works such as visiting the sick, home visitation, Bahnhof evangelization, assistance to the home for the Aged in Fortuna, bringing of the Blessed Virgin’s image to homes, among others. Anyone interested to join any of the two praesidia are very much welcomed.

Bible Study resumes After the winter break, Fr. Ely announces the resumption of Bible Study on Fridays at 19:30h in the Gruppenraum of Pfarre Maria vom Berge Karmel and cordially invites all parishioners to attend.

Sinulog 2008 Parishioners and their guests filled the Upper Church last 20 January to enjoy the thrilling Sinulog programme presented according to tradition by the Kasamahan ng mga Bisaya sa Austria, after the Community Mass and lunch. To the cries of "Pit Señor" and the urgent beating of drums, groups of colourfully costumed children, teenagers, young and not-so-young adults rendered their respective versions of the traditional dance, and were enthusiastically applauded by the appreciative audience. The dancing capped the celebration of the Feast of the Sto. Niño, held every third Sunday in January by permission of the Vatican in recognition of the long history of devotions in our country.

NEWSROOM

P A G E 1 2 P A S T U L A N

Leap of Faith I caught Larry King interviewing Nancy Grace this morning on CNN. Nancy Grace (born October 23, 1959) is an American talk show host and former prosecutor. She frequently discusses issues from what she describes as victims' rights standpoint. As of 2007, she is the host of Nancy Grace, a self-titled Headline News show, and was the host of Court TV's Closing Arguments. At 47, she gave birth to twins after suffering severe complications.

Going back to Larry King, Larry asked Nancy why she waited until she reached this age before deciding to have a child (or, more correctly, children). Her reply was that when her fiancé was murdered years ago, she was traumatized and did not want to be in a relationship again. She gave not only 100 but 200 per cent of herself in that relationship that it took her years to even contemplate having children and a family. She considers her decision to have a child, despite being scared and scarred, a big leap of faith. That started me thinking: haven't we all, at some point in our lives made decisions which could only be described as a leap of faith? Go abroad, leave the present job to look for a better one, start a family. What characterizes a leap of faith is the absolute uncertainty that underlies it. As such, making a leap of faith takes absolute courage. Please take note that I did not say blind courage. A leap of faith doesn't mean that in making a decision, we forego objectivity: examine the pros and cons, seek advice of those who have had the same experience or, at the very least, googled probable suggestions. But it is also a fact that at the end of the day, it is still us who will make the final decision. It is still our call. What makes it scary is that however we choose, we make decisions that entail foraying into the unknown, or as one author said, that we undertake steps in "fear and trembling". If this is the case, then why still do it and even claim that, if asked to, will do it over again? The answer is in the phrase itself: leap of FAITH. It is to have trusting acceptance of God's will, to have faith like a little child. As children of God, we do not question what God wants us to do. We just go ahead and do it because we know that we are firmly in God’s hands and no matter what happens nothing will shake us from them. In other words, taking a leap of faith is a manifestation of our unquestioning belief in God: secure in the knowledge that wherever our decisions take us, it will be where God is and where He wants us to be. (Tita Z.)

PASTULAN

OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER OF THE

FILIPINO CATHOLIC CHAPLAINCY VIENNA, AUSTRIA

(African, Asian and Latin American Catholic Communities, Archdiocese of Vienna)

Pfarre Maria vom Berge KarmelPfarre Maria vom Berge KarmelPfarre Maria vom Berge KarmelPfarre Maria vom Berge Karmel Stefan Fadinger Platz 1

A-1100 Vienna

Tel: +43 1 6172346, Fax : +43 1 5267316 Email address: fccpastulan@yahoo.com

Fr. Jose DemoyFr. Jose DemoyFr. Jose DemoyFr. Jose Demoy

Chaplain

Fr. Ely DalanonFr. Ely DalanonFr. Ely DalanonFr. Ely Dalanon Assistant Chaplain

Fr. Cyril VillarealFr. Cyril VillarealFr. Cyril VillarealFr. Cyril Villareal

Assistant Chaplain

*******************************

PASTULAN STAFFPASTULAN STAFFPASTULAN STAFFPASTULAN STAFF

Marizel Aguirre Angie Castor Rhona Rectra

Photographers:

Lito Ramos

George Florendo