Evangelii Gaudium

Dear parishioners and friends on behalf the Fathers I wish you all:

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

Maligayang Pasko at Manigong Bagong Taon!

Buon Natale e Felice Anno Nuovo

Christmas for us assumes as specific color this year particularly after the catastrophic effects brought by super-typhoon Haiyan-Yolanda. However Christmas brings always a message of Hope and Love for all of us. ”God makes all things new” someone repeated during the Mass celebrated at the end of November by Cardinal Tagle in the Cathedral of Palo destroyed by the typhoon and without roof.   This is our faith. 

Christmas celebration reminds us of the greatest gift of the Father for us: Jesus and the Son of God brings true and lasting joy to us. Pope Francis in his latest document ‘Evangelii Gaudium’ says: “the joy of the Gospel fills the heart and lives of all who encounter Jesus. With Christ joy is constantly born anew…. Whenever our interior life becomes caught up in its own interests and concerns, there is no longer room for others, no place for the poor… on the other hand being a Christian is the encounter with an event, a person, which gives life a new horizon and a decisive direction… For if we have received the love which restores meaning to our lives, how can we fail to share that love with others?”.   

 

We are called to live and share this love and hope brought by the Jesus here in the reality of Tondo even though at times we might be tempted to give up because we feel overwhelmed by the many problems, frustrated by our failures or lukewarm response.

Honestly I have already seen the love and joy of Jesus present among us in the good will and commitment of a lot of leaders - lay people working generously in the different ministries of the parish and I am grateful for this. On the other hand we are challenged by our Pope to go out, to be “evangelizers” among those who are far from the church, and here in Tondo we have a lot of people who are oftentimes not just materially poor but also spiritually hungry and the ‘food’ they find around is neither healthy nor giver of real joy.

We have started the ambitious project of the new church and, thanks to the Divine Providence and the endeavor of a lot of people we are making progress but we are still far from seeing our dream come true! So we ought to continue with our effort.  As we approach the New Year let’s renew our faith in Jesus and our commitment and surely we will progress together.

Thanks for your support and generous help; be sure of my prayer that the Lord might grant you good health, prosperity and serenity in the New Year. 

- Fr. Carlo

Launching of Phase 2

Launching of  Phase II (flooring, walls and roofing) of the New Church of San Pablo Apostol Parish in Tondo Manila was held last April 28, 2013 at the site of the New Church. 

The presence  of his Eminence, Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle, who officiated the Thanksgiving Mass, inspired and energized the sponsors and benefactors including the parishioners to work for the completion of the new church.

The first phase was completed with the construction of the strong foundation and columns of the church and convent.

To complete Phase II of the new church will cost more or less Ph30,000,000.00.  Contributors and benefactors are earnestly welcome to make our dream of a new church a reality.

For donations, please visit us at http://ushare.unionbankph.com/sanpablo/ and know more about us.

Thank you. 

Bistia Iglesia 2013

Message from the Parish Priest

Bisita Iglesia 2013 of San Pablo Apostol Parish 

to the Churches in the Diocese of Lucena, Quezon Province

Our ‘BisitaIglesia’ last Saturday, March 23,  was not a tour done during vacation time. It was a pilgrimage, a spiritual journey, an experience of prayer and spiritual growth. Though we used tourist  buses, we were not tourists but pilgrims. We surely enjoyed the trip, the company of our friends, the nice food and the time spent together even though we felt tired at the end of the day. In coming back late in the evening we might have felt a bit cold inside the buses because of the strong aircon but surely we kept and brought home the warmth of the encounter with the Lord that we had as we entered different churches and spent time in prayer.

The visit to old churches in the Diocese of Lucena built several years or even centuries ago became an opportunity not only to understand more the history of Christianity here in the Philippines but to look back with gratitude at the roots of our faith. This pilgrimage was done during the year of Faith and therefore it surely has helped us grow in our Catholic faith.

Our ‘BisitaIglesia’ was also a fund-raising project for the construction of the ‘New Church of San Pablo Apostol’ and we know that we still have a long way to go before we can fulfill our dream. The old churches we visited in the Diocese of Lucena were built mainly by Franciscan missionaries with the help of the local poor people who contributed with what they had. We have learnt from them that the contribution and involvement of everybody is what really matters.

  

Thanks again to everybody: the finance committee that organized the activities, the coordinators, the volunteers and all the participants from our parish and from nearby parishes for being part of this beautiful experience of faith. May the Lord bless you and your family in this Holy Week. 

Yours in Christ, 

Fr. Carlo

2^nd Grand Marian Exhibit: The visitation of Our Lady of Most Holy Rosary of Manaoag at San Pablo Apostol Parish in Tondo

The official replica of our Lady of Manaoag stayed in SPA Complex, Newland from September 30 until October 8, 2012. During her (Our Lady of Manaoag) stay in Tondo, there were masses, vigils, Harana kay Maria, exhibit of different faces of Mary and other activities which help the parishioners to nourish their faith. Because of this, the Canossian Priests and Sisters together with the Parish Council, especially Temporalities Ministry and Worship Ministry,  the community would like to thank Mark Dave Saan, June Diaz and their colleagues including: Alexander Israel, Alfie Arce, Aurea Navoa, Aurea Pahati, Bon Joey Trinidad, Daniel Tan, Edward Namit, Elenito Pedreño, Eugene Joseph Ramirez, Fernando Gonzales, Fortunato Bondoc, Jeffrey Sales, Jijie Fernando, John Rey Figueroa, Lydia Francisco, Napoleon Sibu, Norman Lungsod, Paulo de Jesus, Romeo Dulce and Warren Encarnacion for making this event successful.   

Again, our deepest gratitude!

2^nd Grand Marian Exhibit:Ang Pagbisita ng Ina ng Santo Rosaryo ng Manaoag sa Parokya ng San Pablo Apostol, Tundo

Ang opisyal na replika ng ng Ina ng Santo Rosaryo ng Manaoag ay nanatili sa San Pablo Apostol Complex, Bagong Lupa mula Setyembre 30 hanggang Otkubre 8, 2012. Sa kanyang pananatili sa Tundo, nagkaroon ng mga misa, pagdarasal ng Rosaryo, Harana sa Mahal na Ina, eksibit ng iba’t ibang mukha ni Maria at marami pang iba na nakatulong sa mga taong nasasakupan ng Parokya ng San Pablo upang mapagyaman at mapalalim ang kanilang pananampalataya. Dahil dito, ang mga Kanosyanong Pari at Madre kasama ang buong Konseho ng Parokya, higit lalo ang Ministri ng Temporalities at Ministri ng Worship ay buong pusong nagpapasalamat kina Mark Dave Saan, June Diaz kaisa ang kanilang mga kaibigan na sina Alexander Israel, Alfie Arce, Aurea Navoa, Aurea Pahati, Bon Joey Trinidad, Daniel Tan, Edward Namit, Elenito Pedreño, Eugene Joseph Ramirez, Fernando Gonzales, Fortunato Bondoc, Jeffrey Sales, Jijie Fernando, John Rey Figueroa, Lydia Francisco, Napoleon Sibu, Norman Lungsod, Paulo de Jesus, Romeo Dulce at Warren Encarnacion; upang maging matagumpay ang naturang Gawain.

The arrival of Our Most Holy Rosary (Our Lady of Manaoag)
Ang pagdating ng Mahal na Ina ng Santo Rosaryo - Setyembre 30, 2012

During the procession of the Most Holy Rosary in Tondo
Ang Kanyang paglibot sa ilang barangay na nasasakupan ng San Pablo Apostol Parish - Oktubre 3, 2012

The preparation for the Grand Procession.
Ang paghahanda para sa Maringal na Prusisyon - Oktubre 6, 2012

Image of San Pablo Apostol carried by Knights of San Pablo Apostol.
Ang imahe ni San Pablo Apostol habang ipinuprusisyon ng Knights of San Pablo Apostol kasama ang Mahal na Ina- Oktubre 3, 2012

The Departure of Our Lady of Manaoag.
Ang pag-alis ng Mahal na Ina - Oktubre 8, 2012

During the preparation befiore the coming of Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary.
Ang paghahanda bago ang pagdating ng Mahal na Ina ng Santo Rosaryo - Setyembre 29, 2012

Muli, ang aming marubdod na pasasalamat! 

                                   San Pablo Apostol Tondo

                    Parish Team for the Year of the Faith

Church Construction Progress - 04April2012

Progress of the project (new church construction): 

We have submitted the papers - technical designs to the engineering office of the Manila City Hall to get the building permit and we are waiting for their evaluation regarding the payment of taxes. We had an appointment with Mayor A. Lim and he assured us of a big discount when it comes to the payment of taxes. 

We have already chosen and signed the contract with the company (LC BUILDERS & DEVELOPERS, INC.) that will do the work of the piles – 210  piles, with a cost of around 10 million pesos. It is expensive but necessary for the construction work due to the type of soil that we have here in Tondo and the location which is near the sea. They have started the testing work (see photos).

At the same time we are in the process of selecting the company for the foundation (General contractor). Immediately after Easter we will make the final decision on this and start the purchase of materials for the foundations.

This is for us Phase one and this is what we can do with our limited funds. 

To donate online, click here.  Thank you!

Thank You!

Message for the Groundbreaking of the New Church of San Pablo

 

On January 22, 2012 we celebrated in our parish the feast of our Patron San Pablo Apostol.  The Theme of our feast this year was “sama-sama magpasalamat, magdiriwang at magkaisa sa pagtatag ng bagong simbahan”  or “All together we thank, celebrate and collaborate in building the new church’  because in this year we are going to start also a big project: the construction of the new Church of San Pablo in the complex where on October 3, 2010 we had the blessing of the new youth formation and social centre.

             

The theme is not only inviting us to look back with gratitude or to have a  meaningful celebration but it provokes all us to work together in the building up of our community, our new church and in bringing more Catholics back to the Lord, in becoming true missionaries in our parish like Saint Paul.  It is also what our new archbishop of Manila. Luis Antonio Tagle, DD told us during his homily at the Solemn Mass after the groundbreaking ceremony. We are proud of this beautiful design of the church of stone made by our friend and famous Italian Arch. Danilo Lisi –that might become a landmark of Tondo in the future, but this ought to be an expression of a more beautiful and alive church of people here in Tondo. The building of the church is possible through the cooperation and participation of everybody: priests and lay people, rich and poor, young and old, men and women.

           

Well! Seeing the enthusiasm shown by the fathers, Canossian sisters, PPCC leaders, Finance committee and youth both in the preparation and the participation in the day of the celebration I am sure that there is hope for success. Though we live in a poor area and have limited financial resources  we have talented and committed people ‘living stone’ that can make this dream become a reality.

            
I wish to thank not only our guests like the Italian Ambassador Luca Fornari and wife, the mayor of Manila Alfredo. Lim, Cong. Atong Asilo, the city councillors, Arch. Danilo Lisi who came from Italy, our benefactors and friends, all the people present in this memorable event but all those who worked hard to make this event a success.  May the Lord bless you all! But let’s not forget that this is just the beginning of our long journey... We still count on you! Thank you.

Fr. Carlo.