Community Foundation Practitioners Visit Lipa

(September 19) – “Peer Learning Visit” to the Archdiocese of Lipa to observe and to have a first hand experience of how Pondong Batangan Community Foundation, Inc. works was what some members of the Association of Foundations did in their three-day visit, hosted by PBCF, Inc., under the leadership of Fr. Manny Guazon, executive director of PBCF, Inc..  He is also currently the AF chairman.

It’s Now 5-2 for Paring Batangas

(September 17,2009) – Paring Batangas, playing one of its most brilliant games, is now tied with Manila priests-cagers to whom they bowed in a heart-breaking two point loss when they beat Paranaque, 74-72.  Although the score was close,  this time around,  the Batanguenos were more relaxed and played smart especially during the end-game.  Fr. Bobot Hernandez had his break-out game, consistently puncturing the hoop with his side jumpers, highlighted by his brilliant pass to Fr. Irwin Mendoza, OSJ,  who suddenly got loose from his guard to score an unmolested lay-up,  which was wildly cheered by the loud Lipa bench.  Ironically, Fr. Irwin was absent in their Monday’s loss to Manila.

Paring Batangas now tots a 5 win-2 loss card, the same with Manila.  The wins came courtesy of Paranaque (two times), Novaliches (2 times) and Cubao (once).  Their other loss is from the Antipolo quintet.

6th National Pilgrimage to Lipa, a Resounding Success

(Sept. 13,2009) – Despite the unpredictable weather, thousands of pilgrims from all over the country, including members of the First Asia Oceania Mariological Conference, trooped to Lipa City to celebrate this Marian festivity,  the sixth in honor of Mary Mediatrix of All Grace.  Archbishop Ramon C. Arguelles got out of the hospital to lead the dawn procession of the Blessed Sacrament from the San Sebastian Cathedral to the site of the proposed parish to be dedicated to Mary Mediatrix of All Grace, some three kilometers away from the Cathedral.  upon arrival, after the benediction,  a thanksgiving mass, presided over  by the Archbishop accompanied by several priests was held at the multi-purpose hall located near the proposed church, presently under construction.  the place was made available by art-patron and prinicpal benefactor of the proposed parish, Mr. Danilo Dolor.

Dr. Mark Miravalle and Msgr. Arthur Calkins, eminent Mariologists and invited personally by Archbishop Arguelles, expounded on the proposed 5th Marian dogma.  Both speakers extolled the deep Marian devotion of Filipinos, saying that the nation really deserves to be tagged “pueblo amante de Maria”.

“You really are a special chosen people,” declared Dr. Miravalle.  ”You have chosen the perfect symbols of our faith — the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary”.  He also said that Mary is the heaven’s remedy to today’s tragedies.  ”The solemn proclamation of the fifth dogma will bring peace to the world, as promised by Our Lady. The era of peace will be ushered by the solemn approval of the apparition of our Lady at Carmel Lipa,” he boldly announced to his audience of students, pilgrims and fellow Mariologists gathered to listen to his lecture.

Msgr. Arthur Calkins, on the other hand, centered on the Marian pronouncements of the late John Paul II regarding his teachings on Mary as Co-Redemptrix, Mediator and Advocate. He said that it is not really difficult to understand these Marian titles, even among non-Catholics.  He emphasized the subordination of Mary’s redemptive role to the One and Only Mediator, her Son Jesus.  He also said that Mary’s mediation does not destroy the Mediator-ship of Jesus but rather facilitates it.  He also called on priests that in this year for priests,  they are to be more conscious of their role as mediator of God’s grace to the faithful.  The Filipinos, he said,  are doing this through their devotion to the Twin Hearts. he also echoed Dr. Miravalle’s call for the solemn proclamation of the proposed Marian dogma to avert further crises in priestly and religious vocations in the world.

Ms. June Kiethley, a prominent Marian advocate and producer of many documentaries about Lipa apparition,  emceed the morning conference.  She also read the message of Bishop Pund of Haarlem, Amsterdam,  who was supposed to come.

“Right from the start, at the Incarnation,  it is already Mary’s vocation to participate in the redemptive mission of Christ.  This is very evident in her presence during his passion, death and resurrection, and even in the early life of the apostolic community,” he stated.    ”That is why she said to Teresing (the visionary), ‘when His heart bleeds, mine bleeds also’.”

During the conference,  pilgrims availed of the Sacrament of Reconciliation.  Earlier,  a triduum preparing for this event was held every afternoon at the cathedral.  This featured talks on Mary, confessions and Eucahrist, participated in by the faithful of the Archdiocese of Lipa, taking turns by vicariates.  Prior to the event was a night-long vigil held at the Cathedral, capped by a Mass by renowned healer, Fr. Diwane Cacao of the Dicoese of San Pablo.

Another procession took place at 1:30 pm, this time from the site of the proposed new parish going back to Carmel Church, some two kilometers distance, where more than two thousand pilgrims had been waiting.  Archbishop-elect Socrates Villegas, convenor of the Conference, formally introduced the present delegates to the Mariological Conference, most of whom experienced this awesome display of Marian devotion of the Filipinos for the first time.  Earlier,  the delegates met with the Bishops present and the cloistered Carmelite nuns in an exclusive lunch-reception held in their honor.

His Eminence, Ricardo J. Cardinal Vidal, once Archbishop of Lipa and now Archbishop of Cebu, presided over the closing Mass, aired live by the government television network and broadcast over the Archdiocesan radio stations and Radio Maria of the Diocese of Tarlac.  Present among the faithful were the President of the Philippines, Gloria Macapagal Arroyo,  who led the prayer of consecration of the nation to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Popular movie personality-turned-governor, Vilma Santos Recto led the Consecration of Batangas Province to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.  Lipa City Mayor, Atty. Oscar Gozos and his wife offered flowers to the crowned image of Mary Mediatrix of All Grace.

Ih his homily, Bishop Guillermo Afable of Digos Diocese in Mindanao recounted how two Bishops from what are now dioceses of Digos (Davao) and Kidapawan(Cotabato), despite the negative verdict on Lipa apparition, still consecrated their then-parish churches to Mary Mediatrix of all Grace in the early 50s.  His own Cathedral in Digos is dedicated to the Blessed Virgin under this title.  He also learnt that in Lipa,  the title of Mary Mediatrix is still to be affixed to the proposed parish in the Archdiocese. He publicly expressed his support for the move to revive the Carmel case and also to have the proposed 5th Marian dogma solemnly proclaimed.  This was wildly cheered by the devotees!

Proposed 5th Marian Dogma to be Presented during National Pilgrimage

(September 5, 2009) –  The 6th National Marian Pilgrimage for world Peace and Prayer for the Sanctification of the Clergy, slated for September 12, the feast of the Holy Name of Mary,  will feature not only Marian devotions  like praying the Rosary,  the celebration of the Eucharist, consecration of the country to the twin Hearts of Jesus and Mary.  This year’s pilgrimage will also mark the opening day of the First Asia-Oceania Mariological Conference,  to completed at its venue in Alfonso, Cavite.

“Paring Batangas” posts 3rd win

(September 3,2009) –  Paring Batangas, the basketball team composed of priests from the Archdiocese of Lipa,  notched its third win at the expense of the priest-basketeers of the Diocese of Paranaque at the resumption of the on-going Pari-lympics at the Holy Apostles Senior Seminary gym at San Carlos Seminary Compound in Makati City. Also known as the Cardinal Sin Cup,  the tournament features nine teams coming from the Archdioceses of Manila (hosts) and Lipa, Dioceses of Malolos, Cubao, Antipolo, Paranaque, Novaliches, Lucena, and guest team Legaspi.