First Confession of a Young YouTuber

During the Holy Week, I was browsing some YouTube videos and one video led to another until it led me to a young dynamic woman who was becoming Catholic.  She responded to that yearning we all have deep within for the Unconditional Love of God.

2017 Simbang Gabi Summary of Some Churches and Masses

Filipino Parol - Own Photo

Have a blessed Christmas! Here is the 2017 version of some of the Simbang Gabi.

For the 2025 Simbang Gabi Schedule, click here.

Novaliches Diocese Priest Cautions Public About Satanic Rosaries

Apparently there are satanic rosaries and other religious items being given to people.

St. Valentine's Day and a Run-around on Catholic Relationships Resources on the Net

Painting by Jacopo Bassano (Jacopo da Ponte) [Public domain] 1500s

Some Simbang Gabi Schedules for 2016

Have a blessed Christmas! Here are some Simbang Gabi Schedules that you need to know.

How Halloween, All Saints' Day and All Souls' Day are Connected

Halloween Pumpkins, photo by Accuruss

In Columbia, a Two Day Confess-a-thon Helped Shoppers at a Mall

Catholic News Agency reported that last October 18 to 19 in the Gran Estacion Mall in Bogota, Columbia, at least "120 priests administered the Sacrament of Reconciliation to shoppers and those passing by."

WYD 2016 Krakow Update: WYD will go to Panama on 2019

By Silar (Own work) CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia

As is with World Youth Days (WYD) of past, the end of the final eucharistic celebration is the time to announce who will next host the WYD.  It will be Panama's turn.

WYD 2016 Krakow Update: Stranded, Fallen and Silent But Still Joyful

Photo by Silar (Own work) CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia

World Youth Day (WYD) 2016 in Krakow, Poland started a few day ago. This would be a special event since the WYD was started by Poland's own native son St. John Paul II and the attendees looked elated to be there.

The 85 strong contingent from the Archdiocese of Manila got stranded at the NAIA last week en route to Krakow.  Fortunately, they were able to arrive safely during the next 24 hours.

Guidelines on When to Genuflect, Kneel, or Bow

John William Waterhouse [Public domain], via Wikimedia

Well, our parish last weekend was and probably is now doing it, I mean kneeling from the Consecration prayer until the Great Amen.  I wasn't really surprised because I read recently the proposal from Bishop Socrates Villegas, the CBCP President, having mass-attendees to follow the longer gesture of adoration harkening the same act that was done before the Second Vatican Council.

Ignacio de Loyola movie to premiere on July 23

[Public Domain]

I've watched the making of this movie and it looks like a really good thrill ride coupled with a story of faith.  Shot in Spain, the cast was mostly Spanish but the production crew were Filipino.  I did grow up reading stories of saints and one of them is St. Ignatius, or in the spanish San Ignacio de Loyola.  When I read that his leg got shot by a cannon, imagine the damage.  Imagine that, a cannonball.

Corpus Christi Special: Possible 2013 Eucharistic Miracle in Poland?

Raphael [Public domain]

Pope Francis Hears Confessions at Vatican Jubilee for Teens

Student Surprised to Have Pope Francis as Confessor

Waiting in Line at the Kumpisalang Bayan: 3 Things to Do

By Velopilger (Own work) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

Nearing the end of Lent and reaching Holy Thursday, there's a very good chance that there is a Kumpisalang Bayan or Community-wide Confession event in your parish.  In a nutshell, it's usually an evening set aside by the parish to give confessions to the people who attend with priests from the other parishes in the diocese invited to help out.

In fact, some of these reach until 11PM available especially for those who may have been caught in our famous Filipino version of the traffic jam.  In case you end up lining on a long queue, here's some tips to bide the time.

List of Pilgrim Churches in the Philippines with the Holy Door

The list of Holy Door Pilgrim Churches in the Philippines (and an extra for those in the region) for the Extraordinary Jubilee Year of Mercy:

What to do when going on a Holy Door Pilgrimage?

The Extraordinary Jubilee Year of Mercy started last December 8, 2015 when Pope Francis opened the Holy Door of St. Peter's Basilica.  What does this mean to you in your life in Christ or the spiritual life?

IEC Update: Bishop Barron and Cardinal Tagle Delight IEC Attendees

From the IEC 2016 website

Bishop Barron was able to offer a wonderful meditation on the Eucharist as a Paschal Mystery to the attendees of the International Eucharistic Congress in Cebu, Philippines.  On the next day, Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle gave his catechesis on the Eucharist and the Dialogue among Cultures.  Cardinal Tagle reflected on the throw-away culture and the culture of the Eucharist as a convocation, or a people called together as a gift.  Every four years, the Catholic Church gathers priests, religious and lay people to study, reflect and promote the centrality of the Eucharist in the life of the Church.

Mercy Without Your Mercy?

Embed from Getty Images

Popes in recent history have taken the opportunity to deepen the faith during the Wednesday General audiences in the Vatican.  One striking example had been St. Pope John Paul the Great and the Theology of the Body.  It further delved into the body-spirit dynamic which we all humans share and how God meant all our activities including the things in the bed chamber are divinized under God's unconditional love and our acting out God's full and faithful love.  That phrase, Sa Tamang Panahon, kinda fits in with the TOB.

Advent Preparedness: 5 Things You Can Do

There are a few things that are sure to happen in December other than Christmas parties: shopping; gifts; trash and traffic jams.  However, you can be prepared for Advent this year by doing some of these suggestions.