Benefactors' Overflowing Generosity Spreads To More Families

This year's Christmas giving project was a bigger success comparing it to last year's similar endeavor. A total of 263 families benefited from the project, well over the 160 recipient families of last year. In a marked departure from previous years where parishioners picked from a Christmas tree the items they will be donating, this year the parish listed out the items that were thought to be what one would like to find in a Christmas basket. It included spaghetti, spaghetti sauce, rice, cheese, powdered milk, powdered juice, noodles, sausages, corned beef, coffee, sugar and sardines. Cash was also accepted. All these were made ready for distribution on the morning of Christmas Eve through the hardworking men and women of the Social Services and Development Ministry of the parish.

Through the generosity of the parishioners, more families were given the chance to experience Christ's kindness and warmth this Yuletide season.

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A Different Kind of Panunuluyan

After the 9-day Simbang Gabi novena masses, the faithful of San Lorenzo finally saw the completion of the traditional Panunuluyan. Taking on a different approach, the Parish Youth Ministry made this year's Panunuluyan into a 9-part telenovela which was shown in the dawn masses. Each day of the novena a short 5-minute film clip was shown depicting the challenges faced by the youth in their search for meaning and purpose in their lives paralleling Joseph and Mary's search for a "room in the inn" where the child Jesus was to be born.

The Panunuluyan culminated with a live interpretative presentation of Joseph and Mary's journey of finding the manger where the Light of the World was born.

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Libreng Gupit sa Pasko

In the spirit of giving this Yuletide season, SLRP held its first Christmas outreach by organizing a haircut day for the marginalized children of the parish. Dubbed "Libreng Gupit 2010", hair salons and barber shops in the parish came together and donated the services of some of its hairdressers and barbers for free last December 22. With its theme "Pagbubuklod para sa Kalinisan at Kabanalan ng Kabataan", this was the Alliance of Salon Owners & Staff way of thanking the parish and its parishioners for their support and patronage throughout the years.

The project was participated in by 10-14 Salon, CCN Saloon, Jocyn Hair & Beauty Expert, Roberto's Barber Shop and Jean Romanos. For the parish's end, it was spearheaded by Ate Bing Lising together with the support of the Catechetical Ministry of SLRP.

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Fr. Luke Celebrates His 53rd Birthday

Fr. Luke celebrated his 53rd birthday last December 21 with his parishioners. It was during the simbang gabi mass that the parishioners, led by Ate Lina Feliciano, offered him a prayer for his continued good health of mind, body and spirit. After the mass there was a simple almusalang bayan of pandesal, lugaw and hot coffee for everyone.

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Simbang Gabi

SIMBANG GABI is one of the longest and most popular among the Filipino traditions in the country. It is when Catholic churches across the nation start to open their doors shortly before the break of dawn to welcome the faithful to the Simbang Gabi mass. Simbang Gabi or Mass at Dawn is a nine-day novena to the Blessed Mother. The novena begins December 16 as early as 4 in the morning and culminates with the “Misa de Gallo” on Christmas Eve to welcome the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ. In some churches, the panuluyan is reenacted showing the effort of Joseph and Mary to find a suitable birthplace.

ORIGIN

Simbang Gabi traces its roots in Mexico when, in 1587, the Pope granted the petition of Fray Diego de Soria, prior of the convent of San Agustin Acolman, to hold Christmas mass outdoors because the Church could not accommodate the huge number of people attending the evening mass.

During the old times, the pre-dawn mass is announced by the ringing of the church bells. In some rural areas, an hour before the start of Simbang Gabi, a brass band plays Christmas music all over the town. It is also believed that parish priests would go far knocking on doors to wake and gather the faithful to attend the misa de gallo. Farmers as well as fishermen wake up early to hear the Gospel before going to their work and ask for the grace of good harvest.

SIMBANG GABI NOW AND THEN

The changing of times does not break the preservation of celebrating Simbang Gabi although it is celebrated in new ways. Still, the tradition of Simbang Gabi continues. Part of it are the colorful lights and lanterns that fill every streets. Beautiful parols are hung in every window. Songs of the season are played everywhere to warm the hearts. Families, friends and even individuals find its way going to the nearest church to attend the nine-day novena. Shortly after the misa de gallo, families gather in their homes to celebrate Noche Buena and feasted on various delicacies like queso de bola, bibingka, puto bungbong, or a drink of salabat or hot chocolate.

SIGNIFICANCE

Simbang Gabi has become one of the most popular traditions in the country. But it is not just a tradition that is celebrated because we need to do so. It is a significant moment not only because it strengthens relationships among family members but also because it is the time where our faith is intensified. This is the time where we mostly feel the presence of the Lord because it is the spiritual preparation for Christmas, the birth of Jesus Christ. It does not matter if one has the stamina to complete the novena or not, what really matters is what is inside the heart. The blessing does not depend on the number of mass attended, but what is important is the disposition of the person who receives the Lord’s blessing.

Source: The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Manila Website

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Fr. Luke Blesses the Youth as SLRP Launches the Year of the Youth

December 16, the start of the traditional Simbang Gabi, marked not only the annual commemoration of National Youth Day by the local church in the Philippines but this year also begins the yearlong program of awareness about the youth and and their importance to the life and activity of the Church. CBCP Episcopal Commission on the Youth Chairman and Legaspi Bishop Joel Baylon said "By our witness, let us help the young in our midst—in our homes, schools, communities, etc.—to find God in their lives and generously answer His call to service and love."

Fr. Luke called all the youth who attended the first simbang gabi masses to the altar and read a brief message from Novaliches Bishop Antonio Tobias exhorting them to walk the way of Christ and be active workers in church activities. He then asked the congregation to join him in praying for the youth and then he gave them his blessing.

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SLRP Launches the Ministry of Ushers and Greeters

On the first day of the Simbang Gabi novena masses for this year, the parish launched the Ministry of Ushers and Greeters (MUG), a new ministry that will help in welcoming and seating parishioners attending liturgical activities, especially the mass. Fr. Luke blessed the new members of the ministry during the mass.

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Vicariate Holds Christmas Party

The Vicariate of San Isidro Labrador, where SLRP belongs, held its Christmas Party this year at the parish hall of this year's host parish, Our Lady of the Anunciation Parish in Mindanao Avenue. There was sizeable representation from the different parishes which included Fr. Nonette Legaspi, the Vicar Forane and parish priest of Jesus, Lord of Divine Mercy Parish, Fr. Madz Lucero of Our Lady of Consolation Parish, Fr. Albert Delvo of San Isidro Labrador Parish and SLRP's Fr. Luke Dobles. The parish priests each gave their Christmas message.

There were group activities which included singing of Christmas songs, games and community dancing led by SLRP. As the evening ended, SLRP representatives gave Fr. Luke a Christmas gift.

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