Filipino Ministry of Northern Virginia at 26037 Rachel Hill Drive, South Riding, VA 20152 US - Yesterday's News
Yesterday's NewsFILIPINO-AMERICAN CATHOLICS: Challenge to Live the Gospel A Retreat for Leadership Development amd Planning October 14-15, 2000 Maritime Institute of Technology: Training and Conference Center 5700 Hammond Ferry Road Linthicum Heights, MD The National Directory of the Philippines by the Episcopal Commission on Education and Religious Formation, Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines, offers this profile of Filipino Catholics: “The majority of Filipinos are not adequately catechized. Broad segments of our population - children, youth, farmers, fishermen, laborers, professionals, the old and the sick and disabled - lack adequate systematic instruction in the faith...The majority has been initiated into Christian life by the reception of the sacraments of baptism and confirmation. Most still desire to have their marriages blessed in the sacrament of matrimony, and to receive the last anointing of the sick - althoug culturally this is held off until the last moment. Hence, the average Filipino Catholic can be said to be sacramentalized - baptized, confirmed and married in the church. But preparation for these sacraments and for Christian life in general, still leaves much to be desired” “...Lack of sufficient priests, religious and catechists especially in the rural areas, constitutes the major obstacle, supporting the common charge that Filipino Catholics are sacramentalized but not evangelized.” These observations present several opportunities for ministry to Filipino-Americans (Filams) in the local churches in this country. First, continued evangelization of the Filam Catholics so they will mature in their faith life. Second, developing Filam leadership in parishes in service to local churches. Third, building of a support network of pastoral agents who are willing to minister to Filams in various parishes in Arlington Diocese. Filipino-American Catholics come to the USA bearing many gifts including their gift of piety and faith. As a people coming from the only Christian nation in Asia, many Filams are aware of their rich Christian heritage. Many have shared these gifts generously with their local churches. And many more are wanting to do so. This weekend retreat is the beginning of a possible response to the needs of Filams in the Diocese of Arlington. It is designed to provide an introduction to lay leadership formation; and to begin a process of discerning a Filipino Ministry in some parishes in the diocese. Objectives of the Weekend Retreat: 1. To offer a prayerful learning opportunity for Filam lay leaders from parish communities. 2. To develop an initial plan for Filipino ministry in the Arlington diocese. 3. To finalize an inculturated context for Simbang Gabi 2000. Schedule of Activities: Saturday, October 14 8:30 AM - Check-in at the Maritime Institute of Technology 9:00 AM - Opening prayer ceremony - Welcome and introductions 9:30 AM - “Who Is the Filipino Catholic?” Fr. Ted Gonzales 11:00 AM - Break 11:15 AM - “ A Community that Celebrates with Fr. Ted Gonzales Christ in the Eucharist” 12:30 PM - Lunch 2:00 PM - “ Koinonia and Ministry of the Laity” 3:30 PM - Break 3:45 PM - Workshop: “ Filipino-Americans in the Arlington Diocese: Gifts and Challenges” Cecile Motus 5:30 PM - Break 6:30 PM - Dinner 7:30 PM - “ Need for a Filipino Apostolate?” Ed Tiong 9:00 PM - Evening prayer Sunday, October 15 7:30 AM - Breakfast 8:30 AM - “Catholic Social Teaching: Our Best Kept Secret” 10:00 AM - Break 10:15 AM - “Revisiting Simbang Gabi and Filipino Ministry” 11:30 AM - Closing prayer 12:00 Noon - Lunch - Departure =============================== 11/11/2002Finally, the Filipino Community in the U.S. Catholic Church has a voice and representation in the USCCB (United States Conference of Catholic Bishops). Though, Filipinos throughout the great divide ranks as the highest Catholic population among Asian and Pacific Islander with 1,536,590 peoples, we have no national unity. Unlike the Asian Indian, Cambodian, Vietnamese, Chinese, Indonesian, Japanese, Tongan, Samoan, Laotian, and Hmong, they have national consultants who collaborate with the USCCB. But, in a National Council Meeting for the Filipino Catholic Ministries held last October 27-29, 2002 at the Maritime Institute of Technology located in Linthicum Heights, MD History was made for all the Filipinos across the United States. This event was sponsored by the PCMR (Pastoral Care of Migrants and Refugees) office of the USCCB (United States Conference of Catholic Bishops) and represented by Ms. Cecile Motus, Asian Pacific coordinator. In a unanimous vote, Filipino Pastors, religious, and lay leaders from California, Illinois, Texas, Minnesota, Philadelphia, Maryland, New Jersey, and Washington, D.C. ratified the Constitution and By-Laws of the newly formed U.S. Filipino Catholic Ministries Council (USFCMC). These delegates represent as official appointees by their respective dioceses. Ed Tiong, Coordinator for the Filipino Ministry of Northern Virginia and a parishioner from the Diocese of Arlington from Virginia, was invited as an observer and also selected as volunteer serving the Committee on Ministry for Filipino Youth and Young Adults, Male, and Elderly. Meanwhile, the Filipino Community of Northern Virginia awaits their pending official recognition from His Excellency Bishop P. Loverde. For the past few years, an Ad Hoc Council of Filipino Catholic Ministries have met in consultation from all across the U.S. in order to foster representation of the Filipino Community in the U.S. Catholic Church. This vision came to fruition with an election of officers- Chairperson, Co-Chairperson, Secretary, and Treasurer. With a quorum, the council set goals and objectives for the next three years. In essence, USFCMC exist as an entity to organize, direct, and/ or coordinate the pastoral care of Filipinos and address effectively their diverse needs. In addition, USFCMC exist as a resource body for collaborative ministry, in response to the call of the USCCB. Please keep USFCMC in your prayers that they maybe successful in their national endeavor. =============================== 12/11/2003 Louisiana Pastor Named Auxiliary Bishop Of Los Angeles WASHINGTON (December 11, 2003) -- Pope John Paul II has appointed Father Oscar Azarcon Solis, pastor of St. Joseph Co-Cathedral, Thibodaux, Louisiana, as Titular Bishop of Urci and Auxiliary Bishop of Los Angeles. Archbishop Gabriel Montalvo, Apostolic Nuncio to the United States, announced the appointment. Oscar Azarcon Solis was born in San Jose City, Philippines, October 13, 1953. He studied at Christ the King Seminary of the Society of the Divine Word in Quezon City, Philippines, and at the Pontifical Royal Seminary, University of Santo Tomas, in Manila. Ordained a priest of the Diocese of Cabanatuan, Philippines, April 28, 1979, Father Solis was Chaplain, Christian Family Movement, 1979-1980, Campus Minister, Araullo University, 1980-1984, and Chaplain, Knights of Columbus, 1982-1984. He was also diocesan vocations director and secretary of the Senate of Priests. After migrating to the United States in 1984, Father Solis served as associate pastor of St. Rocco's parish, New Jersey, 1984-1988. With permission from his Ordinary in the Philippines, he went to the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux in 1988 where he was appointed associate pastor of St. Joseph Co-Cathedral. He was incardinated into the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux in 1992, and was named pastor of St. Joseph Co-Cathedral in 1999. He has been a member of the Diocesan Priests' Council, the Personnel Committee and the College of Consultors. In addition to Tagalog and English, Bishop-designate Solis speaks fluent Spanish and Creole French. =============================== Bishop Oscar Solis will be attending the United States Bishop Conference held in Washington, D.C. Bishop Solis will be attending and will join the Filipino American community at November 16, 2004 @ 7pm Mass, Tuesday St.Anthony of Padua St. Anthony de Padua Catholic Church 3301 Glen Carlyn Road Falls Church, Virginia 22041 On November 17,2004 @7pm Mass Wed St.Columba Oxon Hill, Md For more details, please call Ed Tiong 703-403-5624 or Marissa Ayento 571-276-7300 or Sr. Edith 301-839-7751. Please refer to our website at www.filipinoministry.catholicweb.com for further information. Please help us spread the word to your friends, family, and co- workers. Let us show our support by attending either Mass in Virginia or Maryland. This is a great occasion to celebrate and let Bishop Solis know how proud and fortunate we are. He is the very first Filipino American Bishop chosen by Pope John Paul II. Here is some background: Louisiana Pastor Named Auxiliary Bishop Of Los Angeles WASHINGTON (December 11, 2003) -- Pope John Paul II has appointed Father Oscar Azarcon Solis, pastor of St. Joseph Co-Cathedral, Thibodaux, Louisiana, as Titular Bishop of Urci and Auxiliary Bishop of Los Angeles. Archbishop Gabriel Montalvo, Apostolic Nuncio to the United States, announced the appointment. Oscar Azarcon Solis was born in San Jose City, Philippines, October 13, 1953. He studied at Christ the King Seminary of the Society of the Divine Word in Quezon City, Philippines, and at the Pontifical Royal Seminary, University of Santo Tomas, in Manila. Ordained a priest of the Diocese of Cabanatuan, Philippines, April 28, 1979, Father Solis was Chaplain, Christian Family Movement, 1979- 1980, Campus Minister, Araullo University, 1980-1984, and Chaplain, Knights of Columbus, 1982-1984. He was also diocesan vocations director and secretary of the Senate of Priests. After migrating to the United States in 1984, Father Solis served as associate pastor of St. Rocco's parish, New Jersey, 1984-1988. With permission from his Ordinary in the Philippines, he went to the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux in 1988 where he was appointed associate pastor of St. Joseph Co-Cathedral. He was incardinated into the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux in 1992, and was named pastor of St. Joseph Co-Cathedral in 1999. He has been a member of the Diocesan Priests' Council, the Personnel Committee and the College of Consultors. In addition to Tagalog and English, Bishop-designate Solis speaks fluent Spanish and Creole French. Thank you for your support, Ed Tiong 703-403-5624 =============================== Kudos to the organizers and supporters of the Philippine Festival 2003 for another successful year! Every year it seems that the celebration of our Philippine Festival on Pennsylvania Avenue gets larger and larger with more vendors and organization involvement. It's a great exposure to bring awareness of our culture and share our diversity with the rest of the community in the metro Washington area. This is quite a contrast when I remember those times we celebrated the festival in a small area on Massachusetts Ave, where the Philippine embassy now sits. The Filipino American community has gone a long way! And certainly we have a longer way ahead, in comparison to the Hispanic community’s progress in the scope of the political and social arena. I hope that in my lifetime the next generation will pave the way for the community. The time is now for more involvement among the youth and young adults. We need to help them weave through the course and support them in their endeavor to seek their heritage. We need to encourage our children to be proud of being a Filipino American. Our culture is a God-Given Gift and we should never neglect this fact. Each time we see ourselves in the mirror, You are God's Gift-from our history, customs, traditions, and faith life. It is our responsibility as parents to take up this task and uphold our sacred Family values and traditions. The Filipino Ministry of Northern Virginia will do their part in offering programs to bring awareness of our unique Filipino religiosity and spirituality, as well as our language, history, customs and traditions. But, we need committed and dedicated people to offer their time and services for the community and the future generation. We truly need to be a Filipino American Community, "UNITED IN DIVERSITY" and this starts with you, your family, and then community. We need only look at the Chinese, Koreans, and Vietnamese community as examples of unity and pride. We need to look at our being Ilocano, Cebuano, Ilongo, and other ethnicities as our uniqueness and not as a source of indifferences and bickering. "Embracing Our Diversity", the theme for this year's celebration is appropriate for the moment but let us put this into our daily practice. How about attending a monthly Filipino Community Sunday Mass at St. Philip's Church to hear a Filipino Priest,and listen to a Filipino Choir. Incidentally, the next mass on July 6th gives special tribute to the YOUTH. Maybe someday, we will have a Filipino U.S. Bishop or maybe a Senator or how about a Filipino U.S. President- Your son or Your daughter might be one someday? Let our dreams turn into reality. Mabuhay ang Filipino!
Bishop Paul S. Loverde celebrates Simbang Gabi 2003
Bishop Paul S. Loverde accepts the invitation to celebrate Simbang Gabi in the Northern Virginia area. The organizers and supporters of the Filipino Ministry of Northern Virginia welcomes his acceptance with great joy and affirmation of his support for the Filipino American Community. This is a ...
Nov 4, Sat 11:30am Parol Workshop
Parol Workshop
Parol "Christmas Star Lantern"
Theme: Prepare to Celebrate the Birth of Christ
