Take Me

Take, O take me as I am
Summon out what I shall be
Set Your seal upon my heart
And live in me.

I watched and listened intently as my daughter and her fellow first Holy Communicants sang this song to the delight of everyone in church.  I was one proud dad - my daughter has received the Body of Christ for the first time on that sunny 14th day of May!

My mind brought me back to early December last year, when we parents met in school with Fr Gerry Murphy (our parish priest at that time), Ms Reilly (head teacher), and teachers to prepare for our children's first Holy Communion. An Enrolment Mass was held at the Infant of Prague Church (where the first Holy Communion Mass will be held) on 21 January 2017 to formally present the children to the parish. This was followed by a series of meetings once a month from February to May.

Children were also provided with two books: "Love and Forgiven" which focused on the celebration of their first Sacrament of Reconciliation and "Meet Christ with Joy" which focused on the celebration of their first Holy Communion. We were encouraged to guide our children in completing these books.  For Nidz and I, it felt like going back 30 odd years ago when we made our first Holy Communion.  While I helped Chiara with the text that needs to go into these books, Nidz assisted with the pictures and drawings. Teachers regularly monitor children's progress.

Apart from these, we were also invited to become involved in the Vigil Masses in church from January to May.  Parents took turns in facilitating a "Children's Liturgy" wherein the candidates for first Holy Communion have their own celebration in the sacristy. Part of this celebration is to read the Gospel, make a brief reflection on what was read, and do an activity related to the reflection. (The "Children's Liturgy" runs parallel to the Liturgy of the Word.) After the "Children's Liturgy", the children go back to the sanctuary to present their work. Nidz and I facilitated two liturgies. In one of those, we taught the children to sing "Let it shine" which was met with a round of applause from the congregation.

Fast forward now. Nidz and I sat next to each other, happy to see our daughter reaching another milestone in her journey of faith. We were blessed to have my father Mario and youngest sister Kristina coming from New York to also witness Chiara's special day. 

After the Mass, lots of clicking sounds could be heard from cameras and mobile phones as first Holy Communicants and their families posed for photo opportunities in or near the sanctuary. Later on, we made our way to the Our Lady of Perpetual Succour Community Centre for a sumptuous meal of Filipino dishes, a joint effort we shared with three other Filipino families. But before that, we were asked to see the Poor Clare sisters. In the monastery, Chiara, Mia, Reyna, and Megan made a repeat performance of their song. The sisters were elated!

During the reception, guests gave short messages to the first Holy Communicants. Papa gave an impromptu speech. Chiara later thanked everyone in behalf of her friends.

If there is one word that sums up this first Holy Communion celebration, it is take. Our children take the Lord's Body and eat it. We parents, as well as other members of the family, the parish, the school, etc. take once again that calling to nurture our children's faith.  Above all, the Lord Himself takes these children - takes us all actually - in spite of our imperfections so that we may have life to the full (John 10:10).

To Chiara and her fellow first Holy Communicants, congratulations. Jesus takes your hearts and has found a new home in them. Make Him feel welcome so that He would live there at all times.

Pia

It was an exhausting Maundy Thursday at the office, especially as the University will be closed on Good Friday till Easter Tuesday.  When I went home, my wife was telling me some news from Manila - Pia Girlie Guevarra, a former classmate and best friend of my youngest sister Kristina, was killed.  At first I couldn't put a face on the name as all my 3 sisters had several classmates who used to go to our house in Gagalangin.  (Years ago, in UST, when a student greets me with the familiar "Manong Piet" I am often dumbfounded as who this person is - until they would introduce themselves as So-and-so, the classmate of one of my sisters.)

While at a loss as who Pia was, I prayed for her and her loved ones during the Mass of the Lord's Supper.  The following day, Kristina showed me Pia's photo. Suddenly I began to recognize her! She was linked to me not only through my sister, but also through her Dad, Angel, a member of the Knights of Columbus in Gagalangin!

Kristina told me the shocking news that Pia was gunned while driving her car - she actually shielded Tita Ruth, her mom from the attack. One of the gunshots hit her heart which was fatal. I learned that she and her mom came from the bank where they withdrew money to pay for the salary of their workers - as the 31st fell on a Sunday and offices are closed from Maundy Thursday, the 2nd batch salary (first batch being on the 15th) was to be given on the 27th. Apparently, the gunmen chased them.  I couldn't help, but ask: Is this how desparate some people are that they would kill in order to steal? I couldn't see the logic at all!

Kristina mentioned to me that Pia's family was attending a prayer meeting during the first few hours of the wake. A religious and simple family, the Guevarras were asking for guidance as they face this trial in their lives.

Pia is the Latin word for loving.  In her untimely and horrible death, her 2 very young kids lost a loving mother; her parents, a loving daughter; her siblings, a loving sister; her friends, a loving confidant.

In closing, I would like to share an excerpt of the "Final Prayer and Blessing" which our group said during our Way of the Cross last Good Friday.  I find this very appropriate for Pia and her bereaved family:

We pray for those...who are killed through violence...for all who die out of due season. That the Lord of all mercies will make good their loss in this life and gladden them with the glory of heaven.

We pray for those who mourn the loss of those they have loved long and well. That their sorrow might be free from hopeless grief and from the agony of bitter regrets. We pray that they might mourn in hope, knowing that the one who is Alpha and Omega embraces the living and the dead in his loving compassion and purpose.

May God bless your loving soul, Pia.

My sincerest condolences to Tito Angel, Tita Ruth, and family.

Dream Come True

I once told my wife of my dream of organizing the Rosary devotion among Filipinos in Nottingham, similar to the Block Rosary we had at home. She shared in my aspiration. That dream took two years to be realized though.

27th June 2009, feast of Our Lady of Perpetual Help, I had a chat with my friend and kumpare Ronald Abrera about my plan which he showed interest in. I began to do some brainstorming, some reflection, and some prayers.

One summer afternoon in July, as we paid Jackie Rapada a visit, I intimated my dream to Precy Lagman, an experienced organiser of our annual Christmas party and other events. Ate Precy liked the idea and assured me of her support by starting to contact other Pinoys. Originally we planned to have the Rosary across the whole of Nottingham, but felt it was too ambitious. We had another meeting with other interested kababayans and, looking at the interest we have gathered, found that we could have the devotion in the Bestwood and Daybrook Areas of the city. Participating families’ availabilities were ironed out and towards the end of the same month the timetable was finalized.

An image of the Immaculate Heart Mary that will be brought from one home to another was purchased from the Poor Clare Sisters Repository in Bulwell along with rosaries, a candle, and prayer leaflets. Luckily I (and other parishioners) managed to track down Fr Paul, who was having tea that time, and asked him to bless the religious articles bought.

1st October came and that dream started to unravel before my eyes. People gathered to pray at the Lagman and Rapada Residence. At a 3 or 4 night-intervals the image of Our Lady (along with a Crucifix from the Lagmans) was transferred to another house. As of this writing, we are already on our 7th house! As you can see, each home and the happenings thereof have been featured as news items in our web of which we are receiving a number of positive feedbacks on the group’s devotion. Our parish newsletter has also included this as part of its announcements for two weeks in a row.

October is nearly complete. We still have 2 homes left before we have our Closing Event on the 31st. Yet as early as now I am very, very grateful to the Lord for blessing this dream. Thanks too to Mama Mary whose unrelenting guidance was there from Day 1.

Credit also goes to my own family for their support and for the 9 families and other kababayans whose faith, resiliency, patience, understanding, cooperation, and zeal have contributed in more ways than one to make this devotion vibrant and successful. I look forward to next year working with these wonderful people, attracting more members, and propagating much better this devotion to Our Lady.

Kristina, my youngest sister, once commented how touched she was to see how we Pinoys have been supportive of one another. Through the Rosary devotion, we have made ourselves rooted in prayer. And having that foundation, I believe, we would be more able to reach out to others - the way the Lord would want it to be. In the process, others would truly recognize us as Mary’s sons and daughters.

Ave Maria!