Holy Saturday - Easter Vigil Mass

Parish of the Last Supper of Our Lord's "Easter Vigil Mass" was celebrated by our parish priest Rev. Fr. Angel Sanchez.

Easter Vigil

Easter Vigil, dating back to at least the Roman times, takes place on Holy Saturday. The Easter Vigil is a service held in many Christian churches as the official celebration of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. The service includes the first use of the word alleluia since the beginning of Lent as well as the first Eucharist of Easter. 

Service of Light 

The atmosphere in the church is different: the holy water fonts are drained, all the lights are out, the tabernacle is empty. The service begins outside the church. A new fire is lit and blessed.

A Paschal Candle was prepared with these words while Rev. Fr. Angel Sanchez marks the candle:

Christ yesterday and today (vertical arm of the cross) the Beginning and the end (horizontal arm of the cross) Alpha (alpha above the cross) and Omega (omega below the cross) all time belongs to him (numeral 2 in upper left corner of cross) and all the ages (numeral 0 in upper right corner of cross) to him be glory and power (numeral 0 in lower left corner) through every age for ever. Amen (numeral 0 in lower right corner).

Rev. Fr. Angel Sanchez (left) were assisted here by Rogationist
Bro. Jorem Bellen (middle) and Bro. RG Cagbabanua (right).

Our parish priest lights the candle from the new fire, saying... "May the light of Christ, rising in glory, dispel the darkness of our hearts and minds....."

Please watch video here.

Liturgy of Baptism

Easter water is blessed, new members are brought into the Church through baptism, Six (6) adults were baptized last night.

In the name of the Father , and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit...

Receiving the oil of catechumens.

...and later, all the faithful are blessed with water and renew their baptismal promises.

PLSOL Lenten Pilgrimage 2013

Parish of the Last Supper of Our Lord (PLSOL), Diocese of Paranaque, had a successful Lenten Pilgrimage last Saturday, March 16, 2013. Led by Rev. Fr. Angel Sanchez, our parish priest, 215 parishioners  participated in this year's Visita Iglesia in 7 churches of Rizal.  

1. Regina Rica, Sampaloc, Tanay, Rizal (Holy Mass, 1st and 2nd Station)

Founded by The Dominican Sisters of the Regina Rosarii, a community of consecrated women called to be Salt of the Earth. 13.5 hectare land in Tanay Rizal is A Prayer place, Ecological Sanctuary and a Wellness environment. The construction of the Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary statue began in October 7, 2009 and the blessing of the statue took place in March 19, 2010 in commemoration of the special year for the priests. Regina Rica is a Spanish term meaning “Our Lady is Rich”. 

Our Lady over the hill.

A closer look of  mother and Son.

Newly built Regina Rica Chapel.

Rev. Fr. Angel Sanchez, our parish priest during the Holy Mass.

Panoramic view inside the chapel during the Holy Mass.

2. St. Mary Magdalene Parish Church, Pililla, Rizal. (3rd and 4th Station)

Franciscan Missionaries reached Pillila Rizal in 1572 they started to build a church made of bamboo and cogon. In 1583 the church was named in honor of St. Mary Magdalene. In 1599 the church was renovated using wood and stones but it was burned down in 1632. The church was reconstructed and finished between 1670-1673. The church altar and convent was blessed in 1848 and was renovated by the parish priest between 1962-1978.

3. San Ildefonso Parish Church, Tanay, Rizal. (5th and 6th Station)

The Ecclesiastical administration of Tanay belonged to Pililla up to 1606 when the first church was built. The town moved to San Antonio in 1620 but was transferred to its present location in 1640. The present church was completed in 1783 and was named in honor of St. Ildephonsus of Toledo. The feast of San Ildefonso de Toledo in Tanay Rizal is held every January 23^rd of the year.

4. St. Joseph Parish Church, Baras, Rizal. (7th and 8th Station)

The church was built by the Franciscan Missionaries in 1595 and was transferred to Ibayo in 1636 but returned to the present location in 1682 and was formerly under the Parish of Nuestra Senora de la Annuciata in Boso-boso, Antipolo Rizal. The Jesuits administered the parish from 1616 to 1679. The stone church was completed in 1686.

We took our lunch here inside the parish compound.

5. St. Jerome Parish Church, Morong, Rizal. (9th and 10th station)

The town dates from 1578 and the first church was constructed. In 1586 the first resident parish priest was assigned here. A fire destroyed the town including the first church in 1612 and shortly afterwards was reconstructed. The present church façade, frontispiece and belfry was built by Bartolome Palatino from Paete Laguna between 1850 and 1853.

6. Our Lady of Light Parish Church, Cainta, Rizal. (11th and 12th Station)

The stone church was built between 1707 to 1716 by the Jesuit Priests. The church was named in honor of the Nuestra Senora de la Luz in 1727 and was established as a parish in 1760. The Our Lady of Light painting was destroyed during the Filipino American War of 1899 and a replica was repainted by National Artist, Fernando Amorsolo in 1950. The church was reconstructed back to its original facade in 1966 and was finished and blessed in 1968.

Bus no. 1

Bus no. 2

Bus no. 3

Bus no. 4

Van nos. 1 and 2

Parish of the Last Supper of Our Lord (PLSOL) participants of  the Lenten Pilgrimage 2013 - Churches of Rizal

7. Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage Shrine, Antipolo City. (13th and 14th Station)

Also known as Immaculate Conception Parish, it houses the miraculous image of The Nuestra Señora de la Paz y Buen Viaje of famously known as Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage, the title given to the Blessed Virgin Mary on the basis of the Spanish galleon’s successful eight ocean corssings. On several occasions, it was believed that she saved the galleon b warning the people about an imminent catastrophe. The image of Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage was sculptured by Mexican craftsmen. It was carved from dark hard wood similar to the Black Nazarene in Quiapo. One would note the presence of her famous  “plancha de oro”. It was an exquisite, 18^th century rococo-style frontal dress of solid 18 karat gold with a design of various flowers and birds. Her crown which was made of solid 18 karat gold is completely studded with rose-cut diamonds, large natural Sulu pearls, Burmese rubies, Colombian emeralds, and Indian blue sapphires. Her “aureola halo”, also made of solid 18 karat gold is studded with precious gems like diamonds, pearls, rubies, emeralds, and sapphires. Her 18 karat gold hair pins or “atochas” and rings are all studded with rose-cut diamonds and Sulu pearls. Her cape has a magnificent and heavy silver-gilt thread embroidery. She also seems to be wearing a wig made of human hair. Unfortunately, all of the magnificent jewels of the “Nuestra Senora de la Paz y Buen Viaje” disappeared at the turn of the 20^th century.

The 14th Station.

Before going back home, we made sure, we have our "kasoy" and "suman sa ibos" pasalubong for our loved ones.

Glory to God!

Lenten Recollection with the Most Reverend Bishop Teodoro Bacani, Jr. D.D.

Parish of the Last Supper of Our Lord 

Manila Times Village, Las Pinas City

Diocese of Paranaque

March 09, 2013 

A LIFE OF FAITH 

Pope Benedict XVI has decreed, that the Catholic Church will observe the Year of Faith, from October 11, 2012 until November 24, 2013. The Year of Faith is an opportunity for Catholics to experience a conversion – to turn back to Jesus and enter into a deeper relationship with him. The “door of faith” is opened at one’s baptism, but during this year Catholics are called to open it again, walk through it and rediscover and renew their relationship with Christ and his Church and sustain it until the very end of our life. 

But for most Catholics, FAITH is seasonal. We focus on our faith through the occasions we celebrate. During Lent, we go through penance, reflection and fasting which prepare us for Christ’s suffering, death and on Easter, His resurrection. In the season of Advent, we prepare Christ coming through the Simbang Gabi and His birth on Christmas day. We pray the novena to lift up our petitions, like passing the board exams, healing the sick, promotion at work, trip abroad and many others. 

But what happens after Christmas, after Easter Sunday, or after our prayers and petitions are answered? Sad to say, this is how we practice our Catholic faith. We have learned a lot from the numerous Catholic teachings we heard and read, but we do not consistently act them in our lives.

As Bishop Bacani said, our life should be a life of faith. It is not seasonal or occasional. Rather, every breath that we take should be a life of faith.

Most Reverend Bishop Teodoro Bacani, Jr. D.D. during his talk.

What is a Life of Faith? 

1. FAITH IN OUR BELIEFS (“paniniwala”) – our Catholic beliefs are professed in the Apostles Creed 

Normally, a person believes in something if there is evidence manifested through the five senses. If one sees, hears, tastes, smells or feels something, then he believes. The most common saying we have is “to see is to believe”. 

Another way by which we believe is through logical reasoning: major premise, minor premise and then we arrive at a conclusion. 

And lastly, belief is established because we were told about it. 

With FAITH, we believe that God’s words are true. It is a belief that is not based on proof. We don’t use our senses or logical reasoning. 

2. FAITH IS TRUST (“pagtitiwala”) – this is faith through the heart. When we believe in our heart that God will take care of all our needs, because He is not only the most powerful, but He loves us so much and will never forsake us, that is trusting the Lord with all our heart. God makes all things work together for those who love Him. With His Divine Mercy, we say, “Jesus I trust in you”. 

3. FAITH IS OBEDIENCE (“pagsunod”) – The prayer of faith consists not only in saying “Lord, Lord”, but in disposing the heart. In Matthew 7:21 it says, “Not everyone who says to me ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of Heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in Heaven will enter.” Indeed, faith without action is dead. 

4. FAITH IS LOVE (“pagmamahal”) – God’s first and greatest commandment is “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.” (Matthew 22:37) and the second is “Love your neighbour as yourself” (Matthew 22:39). 

In closing, Bishop Bacani’s advice is to: 

1. Read the Holy Bible daily – God speaks to us through the bible. 

2. Hear Mass – God speaks to us through the readings and the Gospel. 

3. Attend prayer meetings – God says in Matthew 18:20, “For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them” 

The recollection was capped with a final blessing from the bishop. 

(Write-up by Deity Lim, parishioner/CFC-FFL)

Closing prayer.

Rev. Fr. Angel Sanchez, parish priest, thanking Bishop Bacani.

World Day of the Sick

To celebrate World Day of the Sick, Healing Mass has been offered in the Parish of the Last Supper of Our Lord (PLSOL), Manila Times Village, Las Pinas City. Officiated by Rev. Fr. Angel Sanchez, parish priest. Individual pray over of the sick followed after the Mass. February 11, 2013.

Rev. Fr. Angel Sanchez, parish priest, during the homily.

Rev. Fr. Angel Sanchez during the pray over of the sick after the Mass.

Rev. Fr. Vincent  Rozario, assisting Fr. Angel on the pray over session.

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God is good!