J & C Evert 2013

The plenary hall was full, most of whom were teenagers, who are at the point in their lives where they are looking for what matters most.  They came up and despite the quiet way the Everts' entered, they got a semi-rockstar welcome.  

You can get the books, the audio, visit their new apostolate, but their spirit, love and message comes from a source, where faith, hope and love come from.  May they be showered with graces.

Looking Forward to "Lorenzo"

I've been browsing the newspaper the other day and the article that caught my interest was about the new play "Lorenzo."  It's about San Lorenzo Ruiz, the first Filipino saint, and a martyr for the faith.  Articles about the play suggest a different way of looking at Lorenzo's predicament and mixes present day events.  

I've imagined St. Lorenzo Ruiz as an everyday man of the Philippines, struggling to make ends meet and venturing off to foreign lands.  This makes me look forward to the play even more.  For tickets, click the lorenzorocks website.  Dates for the show are on September 5, 6, 7 and then 12, 13 and 14, 2013 at the SDA Theatre of DLS-St. Benilde in Manila.

http://www.lorenzorocks.com/

http://www.ignitumtoday.com/2013/08/15/lorenzo/

http://www2.mb.com.ph/christopher-de-leon-this-time-as-producer/

http://lifestyle.inquirer.net/117793/cayabyab-dumol-padillas-new-musical-lorenzo-opens-this-september

http://lifestyle.inquirer.net/115005/san-lorenzo-ruiz-gets-the-paul-dumol-treatment

2013 WYD Rio: Last Glimpse

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The dust settled literally as pilgrims returned to their own little piece of the world and began to recollect on their experience with other pilgrims.  However, the lingering thought, which could be reflected upon til the end of their lives if they continue to seek it, was the encounter with the vertical dimension, with the Holy Trinity and its love.  I hope so indeed.

WYD Rio Update: Next is Krakow

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World Youth Day Rio ended on an inspirational note, with our Mother Mary, as we are all invited to fear not and serve, and the Pope invited all of us, including the millions (I think) in attendance for the Mass at Copacobana beach.  The aerial shots showed the beach almost 80% packed with people.  

However, the Masses and adoration were the high points of the past week, not because of the attendance, but of Christ among us in spirit and in the Blessed Host.  

Christ Promises Much More than a World Cup - Fr. Alphonso Maria Bruno, Zenit.org


Pope's Homily at Closing Mass of World Youth Day at Copacabana Beach - Pope Francis' homily, Zenit.org

On Mary: Our Model and Mother - Pope Francis' address after the Angelus, Zenit.org

“Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word” (Lk1:38). But what did she do immediately afterwards? On receiving the grace of being the Mother of the Incarnate Word, she did not keep that gift to herself; she set off, she left her home and went in haste to help her kinswoman Elizabeth, who was in need of assistance (cf. Lk1:38-39); she carried out an act of love, of charity,of practical service, bringing Jesus who was in her womb. And she did all this in haste!

Poles Thrilled to Hear Next World Youth Day in Krakow - Estefania Aquirre, Natl Catholic Register

Local WYD Day Celebration Must be Made Meaningful to Youth-Priest - Jan Dell Posion, WYD Pinoy


Baguio Diocese Hold Local WYD Celebration - Jan Dell Posion, WYD Pinoy

Resources:

Aquirre, E. Poles Thrilled to Hear Next World Youth Day in Krakow. National Catholic Register: 28 July 2013. web
Bruno, A.M. Christ Promises Much More than a World Cup. Zenit.org: 28 July 2013. web
Pope Francis. Homily on Copacobana Beach. Zenit.org: 28 July 2013. web
Pope Francis. On Mary: Our Model and Mother. Zenit.org: 28 July 2013. web
Posion, J.D. Local WYD Day Celebration Must be Made Meaningful to Youth-Priest. WYD Pinoy: 26 July 2013. web
Posion, J.D. Baguio Diocese Hold Local WYD Celebration. WYD Pinoy: 27 July 2013. web

WYD Rio Update: First Days

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We have some new updates from pilgrims of the World Youth Day activities in Brazil.

From WYD Pinoy, Filipinos who have sponsor families in the Brazilian town of Petropolis exchange laughs, joyful experiences and sorrowful goodbyes as they move on from their missionary week stop-over to Rio de Janeiro in this piece.

“But what I found unique in the pre-WYD week activities in Brazil is the emphasis on educating the pilgrims about their faith, their country, their community and their environment.”

Blessed John Paul II, Jason Evert and September 7

It seems like a strange triad of people and a date but read on for a few moments.  There is great news about the confirmation of sainthood to be given to Blessed John Paul II following news a few days ago of a woman in Costa Rica who was cured through his intercession.  It only affirms our understanding of the man; his life and works are made of good fruit, like the good book shows us.  Ultimately, that is how we will be assessed at the end of all things, not on our looks or how much we have, but by the fruits.  

Some of those good fruits were in Blessed John Paul's writings such as papal encyclicals, for example Laborem Exercens (On Human Work), Evangelium Vitae (The Gospel of Life), Fides et Ratio (Faith and Reason).   Additionally, he also had his audiences where he was able to convey his work on the Theology of the Body (TOB), a collection of 129 speeches he gave during his Wednesday audiences starting in 1979.  

These audiences delve into our relationship with God, his divine plan and how it is expressed through our bodies, weak as it may be.  Coming from the TOB Institute, it gives a hearty description of the TOB.

"John Paul’s theology of the body not only paves the way for lasting renewal of marriage and the family; it enables everyone to rediscover 'the meaning of the whole of existence, the meaning of life' (TOB 46:6)".

2013 World Youth Day Rio Updates

With the approach of World Youth Day 2013 in Rio de Janeiro, here are local and international updates /links on the WYD festivities, most of them coming from the WYD Pinoy website.   Thanks to them.  Read their entire entries on their website.  I'm just linker, spreading the word.

Pope to hear confessions of 5 young people of different nationalities

"Pope Francis will hear the confessions five youths, three men and two women during his visit to the Vocations Fair in Quinta da Boa Vista, on the 26th of July. The young people, three Brazilians, one Venezuelan and one Italian, were surprised by the news on the day of Our Lady Help of Christians, May 24th." 

Jorge Mario Cardinal Bergoglio is Pope Francis

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I woke up, got to work and then found out that we have a new pontiff.  It is quite humbling that he asks of us our prayers, like a family member asking us support for the upcoming challenge.  Let's offer him our joys and sorrows as well.  Click the Urbi et Orbi link to go to the Vatican website.

I like how he was down to earth and just like anybody else when he said his first words at the balcony.  

"And now I would like to give the blessing, but first - first I ask a favour of you: before the Bishop blesses his people, I ask you to pray to the Lord that he will bless me: the prayer of the people asking the blessing for their Bishop.  Let us make, in silence, this prayer:  your prayer over me."

Pope Francis the 1st - Urbi et Orbi - March 12, 2013

Some more news and blog articles about our new Pope.

Habemus Papam! Pope Francis by Dan Burke
Cardinal Bergoglio Is the 267th Successor of St. Peter - Zenit
Pope Francis Begins Pontificate Leading Faithful in Prayer - Zenit
Nail Biting Moments - Fr. Tim Finnigan
Vatican Hail the Election of Pope Francis - NCRegister

Event: Postscript on Real Love Revolution 2012

Leah Darrow and Chris Stephanick came to the World Trade Center in Pasay City and gave us a glimpse of love that we are created to have.  To those who attended, I hope you had a fun and fulfilling time.  Click below to read the article. 

A Real Love Revolution