ELECTRICITY BILL

It is good to inform our parishioners that our electric bill, which is a big concern due to the air-conditioning of our church, has gone down in these past months. We have organized a system to help cut the cost and we hope we could still bring down the cost in the coming months. From P130,000.00, it went down to P93,000.00 and the last bill we paid is P83,000.00. We would like to thank all the parishioners who have supported this project through personal donations and the second collection.

We still would like to appeal if there are people who could donate or help us find a 120 KVA silent-type generator (genset), a second–hand unit will do. Our technical people believe that we could still cut the cost of electricity by using a generator.

ART WORKSHOP

The workshop for arts, drawing and painting has started last April 1^st. It started with sessions for the children followed by the youth and adult sessions the following day. Our master painter from Angono, Mr. Ehric Egualada will guide the participants on how to draw. The people who have participated in the workshop were satisfied at the first result of their work. Not only were they able to use their skills but they also were able to express themselves through their drawing.

The workshop is still open to all who wish to develop their drawing and painting skills. Just contact the parish office and register your name.

VISITA IGLESIA PILGRIMAGE

We have organized the Visita Iglesia in the Tagaytay area on Holy Monday, April 18. The churches and shrines that will be visited are: the Immaculate Heart of Mary Chapel; Our Lady of Lourdes Parish Church; Angel Hills Retreat Center; Don Bosco Batulao Chapel on the Hill; the Dominicans Calaruega Retreat House; Monte Maria of Fr. Suarez; and Tierra de Maria.

We would like to encourage the parishioners to join in this parish pilgrimage. We will pray the Way of the Cross in the different churches and participate in the journey of Christ to Calvary. Parishioners who would like to bring their vehicles may do so provided they register at the parish office.

SANTO ENTIERRO PROCESSION

For the first time, our parish will organize a procession in the evening of Good Friday after the youth’s Lenten play. The Santo Entierro (dead Christ) will be brought in procession around Santa Rosa Villages I and II. The faithful is invited to bring candles and join the procession and experience how it is to grieve for our sins that brought about the death of Jesus. For parishioners who have statues that they wish to be included in the procession, they may contact the parish office.

A group went to Paete, Laguna last March 21, to look for the statue of Santo Entierro. They were happy to find a beautiful statue of Jesus with a serene face, dead but seemingly sleeping. A carosa will also be built by the Paete sculptors and it will be included in the purchase. Since this has cost the parish quite a big amount, we welcome people who would like to contribute in covering the expenses. They will be part of this new but meaningful and revered Lenten event that we wish to introduce in our parish.

LENTEN PLAY PRESENTATION / WAY OF THE CROSS DRAMATIZATION

Our young people are preparing a Lenten play entitled “Paraisong Parisukat” to be presented on Good Friday after the Veneration of the Cross. The play is about the challenges in the life of an ordinary girl in charge of the inventory of a shoe store. She will encounter people in her life who have difficulties in relationship but at the end she would rise above her trials and emerge successful in her achievements. We are invited to watch the play, identify ourselves with the characters of the story and discover what we need to do to change our ways.

The youth will also dramatize the different Stations of the Cross that will be held on Good Friday at 7:00 o’clock in the morning in Santa Rosa Estate I. Again, the youth will portray contemporary events related to the passion of Jesus and invite us to look into our lives, repent of our sins and return to the Lord.

CENTERING PRAYER WORKSHOP

The Contemplative Outreach Philippines is most blessed to have the opportunity to conduct a two-day Introductory Workshop on Centering Prayer and Lectio Divina as part of our Lenten preparation in the parish. The workshop is scheduled on April 9 and 16, 2011, Saturdays, from

9:00 am to 5:00 pm (whole day) in St John Bosco Parish Hall.

     Centering Prayer is a method of prayer designed to prepare sincere         followers of Christ for contemplative prayer in the traditional sense.  It is     rooted in the word of God, both in the person of Jesus Christ and in       scripture. The two-day workshop aims to help participants understand     and appreciate their spiritual journeys and how to deepen their      relationship with God.  It will cover:

(a)  the conceptual background of Centering Prayer

(b)  the method, practice and fruits of Centering Prayer

(c)  Lectio Divina and prayer as relationship with God

Parishioners who are interested to grow in their spiritual and prayer life are invited to join these workshops. Kindly register at the parish office.

TALK ON THE LANGUAGE OF LOVE

Last March 19, Feast of St. Joseph, Fr. Dennis Paez gave a wonderful talk on couple/children relationship. He spoke about the importance of discovering the “languages of love’ of our family members (ano ang “kiliti” ng mga mahal mo sa buhay?) Once we discover their language of love, we will not only foster better relationship but we will also improve the life of our loved ones.

In summary, the languages of love are expressed through (a) presence, (b) words, (c) touch, (d) gifts and (e) service. It is also important to discover what is the language by which our spouse or children feel that they are loved because these same elements are the same reasons that hurt them once we deprive them of these “languages”.

The next talk of Fr. Dennis will still be scheduled and this time he will deal with the topic that we have missed during his absence: “The anatomy of misbehavior of children”.  We are hoping that our parishioners will take these opportunities for growth in relationship by attending these seminars.