SLRP Joins Rally Against the RH Bill

Following the call of the Catholic Church to show solidarity amongst the faithful in sending a strong message opposing the proposed RH Bill, a 50-man delegation from SLRP joined thousands of other Catholics in a rally held last March 25 at the Luneta.

Led by Father Luke and the SSDM, the parish was well represented, with both the young and old, the lay and the religious, officers and workers joining the rally. The delegation left the parish in the early afternoon of March 25 and arrived at the Luneta well ahead of the start of the official activities at 4PM. The group found their place among the many delegations that went to the rally. They settled themselves amongst crowd, rested, took some photos and mingled with the other participants but most importantly, they added their voices to the growing clamor to repudiate the RH Bill. It was a day of unity as the people expressed their voices in upholding life and saying no to the RH Bill. The rally ended with the Holy Mass officiated by the good cardinal of Manila, Gaudencio Rosales.

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Tribute To Life

By: Ate Kate Geronimo, LECOM

Amidst the noise of the world, one small voice yearns to be heard. It is a choice many easily shut out and very often taken for granted. It is the voice of life, the voice that some do not wish to hear.

Last March 12, a special mass was celebrated in honor of babies less than a year old, expectant mothers and childless couples who want to have children of their own. This was organized by the members of the Lectors and Commentators (LECOM) Ministry.

Prior to the mass, a video clip was shown on the importance of life and how babies are cruelly aborted. One could also see how many teen pregnancies occur, how many babies were aborted, and how the RH bill, if approved, may affect the country.

The special “guests” for this occasion( which included babies less than a year old, expectant mothers, and couples hoping to have babies) had their pictures taken in front of the church under a make-shift photo booth. A video presentation giving tribute to life was also played thanking parents who made the right choice and had that tiny voice of life be heard. Afterwards, Father Luke blessed the “special guests” and each was given a token of appreciation.

It was a wonderful sight to behold these people, proudly standing in front of the congregation as living testimonies to life – the babies with their mothers, the expectant women, and the couples eagerly awaiting one to call their own. They have made their choice and allowed that little voice to be heard.

As Father Luke had mentioned during the mass: “Aren’t we glad that our mothers gave birth to us?”

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2000 Hail Marys - A Monthly Devotion of the Legion of Mary

Every second Saturday of the month, the church becomes busy with the prayerful devotion of the parish's Legion of Mary organization. The members of the LOM gather in church after the 6:00AM Mass to pray 2000 Hail Marys as their pledge and devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary. Old and young members alike take turns reciting the Rosary. This practice started late last year and continues to this day.

For those who are not initiated, it is a daunting experience to spend practically the whole day praying the Rosary 40 times. But for the devotees, this is their labor of love, a sacrifice and an offering that comes from the heart.

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Divine Mercy Shrine - A Pilgrimage

By Ate Ruby Almazan, Evangelization Ministry

The members of the Apostleship of Prayer, headed by Dra. Lou Sarmiento, together with some members of the Block Rosary Crusade, Legion of Mary, Daughters of Mary Sisters and other SLRP parishioners, went to the National Shrine of the DIVINE MERCY at Sta. Rosa 1, Marilao, Bulacan last March 22, 2011.

This is a yearly activity of the AP - to visit holy churches especially during the Lenten season. This year, it was to the DIVINE MERCY Shrine. Led by Ate Linda Duritan, the group meditated and prayed on the fourteen stations of the Way of the Cross. It was followed by deep reflective prayers in front of the Tabernacle at the Main Altar inside the Church.

After completing the spiritual exercise, the group decided to have a hearty breakfast, merienda and lunch, rolled into one,'Brunch'. Picture-taking, souvenir-buying, completed the visit to the shrine. Although it was only a half-day "mini-pilgrimage”, there was 'complete indulgence' for it made the group closer to one another and above all CLOSER TO GOD!

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SLRP Visits the Correctional Institute For Women

By Ate Heidi Temporal, SSDM

Last March 19, the SLRP parishioners visited with the inmates of the Correctional Institute for Women (CIW) in Mandaluyong City as part of the prison apostolate of the parish. This second visit, again spearheaded by the Social Services and Development Ministry, was fully supported by Fr Luke, the PPC and the Restorative Justice Ministry of the diocese.

This time, 43 joined the apostolate together with Sister Charisse who helped organize the trip. Everyone had to attend the orientation given three days prior to the event. For some, it was their second visit and therefore their second orientation.

Donations from generous donors totalled P21,000, which covered a major portion of the cost of the food and gifts for 100 inmates. They were grateful for the hour given to them to interact with us visitors, sharing with us their blessings as they related the conditions they faced in the CIW.

For our part, seeing the grateful aura of the inmates gave us a feeling of deep fulfillment, that somehow we were able to bring Christ to them in our own small way, that by empathizing with them we shared in Christ’s own offering of Himself.

The celebration of the Holy Eucharist presided by Father Luke capped the visit and everyone was heartened by the message of hope in his homily.

On arrival in the parish, a meeting was held to allow for feedback and evaluation of the visit before partaking of a hearty lunch. Once again the SSDM and the organizers thank all who had given their support not only during the visit itself but even during the preparation and the culminating activities of the mission.

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SLRP Holds Youth Forum

Last March 11, barely a few days into the Lenten Season, the Parish Pastoral Council and the Parish Youth Ministry, together with about 40 members of the youth and some parish elders, gathered around a bonfire for an evening of open discussion revolving mainly on the aspirations of the young people of the parish.

The Youth Forum, as it was called, was an offshoot of post-mortem evaluation of the participation of the youth in parish activities and projects. As an important and growing segment of the parish, the youth in the recent past had been involved in a number of activities and projects where their participation is needed. This has given rise to conflicting commitments and priorities among the different youth groups.

With this year as the Year of the Youth, this forum is a timely response to the Youth's clamor to give focus to their needs as a group and as a vital arm of the parish. With the joint efforts of the PPC, our parish priest and the youth leaders, this youth forum became a reality. The youth were given their day to be heard. They eagerly and candidly expressed their concerns, needs and aspirations which the parish elders appreciatively listened to.

After a long evening of open discussions, the gathering ended at close to midnight with a prayer of hope for the youth and their future in the parish continue to prosper.

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Lenten Area Way of the Cross

In SLRP, the celebration of Lent began with the yearly Area Way of the Cross on March 12, the first Saturday immediately following Ash Wednesday. It is the parish's way of inviting all parishioners to participate in this season of sacrifice and prayer. Fourteen homes in Cruz Compound and Dona Faustina Village 1 were chosen to host each of the 14 stations in a symbolic re-enactment of Jesus passion, death and resurrection. In each station, there are prayers recited and a short narrative of the particular station is read to the congregation and after which Fr. Luke blesses the people. The parishioners journeyed on to the next station until all fourteen stations were visited. The Area Way of the Cross ends with the celebration of the Holy Mass followed by simple fellowship.

This continues on every Saturday of Lent as it is repeated in the other areas of the parish. The following areas followed after: St Dominic 4 last March 19 and UP Professors Subd last March 26. On April 2, it will be Tierra Verde 1 & 2 and finally, it will be the Friends of Sanlo's turn on April 16.

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