“Maria, Patnubay ng mga Misyonero
Sa Pagpapalaganap ng Mabuting Balita
nang buong Kagalakan”

Happy fiesta to the Parish of Our Lady of Remedies in Malate. The yearly fiesta is a high point in the life of a parish. And rightly so. It unites the parish community to each other through the many activities that are done together. More deeply, however, it enhances the devotion of the people to their patron. The people of Malate Church already have a marked devotion to our Blessed Virgin Mary in her title as Our Lady of Remedies. Mary, as a good mother, is ever ready to help us in our problems and needs. It is for this that she is invoked as Our Lady of Remedies. May this year’s celebration make this devotion ever more vibrant among the people.

We are drawing near to the 500th anniversary of the coming of the faith. Let us invoke Mary to help us deepen our faith as we near the centenary. The Malate church is served by the Columban priests, a missionary congregation. Part of the centenary celebration is to make us Catholics in the Philippines become more of a sending church in the work of the mission. May the example of the Columban pastors and the prayers of the Blessed Virgin make the whole parish more engaged in the missionary work of the Church.

God bless you all and happy fiesta!

Warm greetings to all on this joyful occasion of our parish fiesta celebration of Nuestra Señora de los Remedios! 2018 has been designated by the CBCP as The Year of the Priests and Consecrated Persons. Also this year, the Columban Missionary Society, which has been on Mission in this parish since 1929, is celebrating its centenary after it was established in Ireland on June 29, 1918. The Columban missionaries who are priests, sisters, lay missionaries give thanks to God, to all those who have supported God’s mission through the Columbans, and to everyone who has been partners in this mission. The Columban missionaries, since the beginning, have been sharing life and Gospel joy among whom we live and serve.

This year’s parish fiesta celebration highlights and celebrates Mary as God’s gift to the church and a perfect example of missionary discipleship, with a theme: “Maria, patnubay ng mga misyonero sa pagpalaganap ng Mabuting Balita nang buong kagalakan.” Mary is given to us as the model of what it means to be a Christian, a disciple – receiving a message from God and responding to it generously. Jesus talks of his mother and praises her for being one of those “who hear the word of God and put it into practice” (Lk 8:21).

With the inspiration of Mary, Our Lady of Remedies, it is our parish commitment and mission to dedicate ourselves to listen to God’s Word and to allow God’s spirit, working within us, to respond to the call for Renewed Integral Evangelization. Amidst the changing circumstances of our world and of our country today, in the words of Pope Francis in his encyclical ‘Laudato Si’, “we strive to listen and to heed the cry of the earth and the cry of the poor”.

The world that we live in today is very much characterized by drastic change and transformation. The 5th Philippine Conference on New Evangelization (PCNE) last July 2018 pointed out that also, our Church today is in ‘critical situation’ and the challenge is for all to bring about transformation in our society. In our claim to be a Catholic - Christian country, human life and dignity are trampled upon, prevalent unjust structures and practices keep people poor and on the margins of society, and people’s destruction of the planet brought about climate change that is causing an ever increasing number and strength of killer typhoons, floods and droughts – how do we Christians respond?

There is a greater challenge for us now that we live out our holiness by mirroring in our own lives the pattern of Jesus’ life and that we truly participate in the mission of the church. Also in the light of the recent PCNE, Msgr. Manuel Gabriel said, "The Church must be in a “missionary mode” rather than stuck in a 'maintenance mode'. If we are in a maintenance mode, nothing happens as it was, in the beginning, is now forever will be. A missionary mode breaks barriers, breaks new grounds, has new thinking, changes everything".

The ever enthusiastic, competent and truly missionary volunteers of our parish in collaboration with the team of priests and with generous supporters and benefactors have enriched our varied ministries with a depth of commitment, faith and creativity, which bless the parish community with the opportunity to reach out within and beyond the parish. Some of our parish ministries and volunteers were acknowledged and given citations in the vicariate and archdiocesan levels for works well done. In the 5th PCNE, the parish of Our Lady of Remedies was invited to conduct one concurrent session on: Parish: Ecology Ministry Kulturang ‘Laudato Si’ entitled “MALATE CHURCH AND ITS ECOLOGICAL COMMITMENT” with Atty Marge Condes, Parish Pastoral Council Coordinator as resource person. This parish community is truly grateful for such blessings.

The missionary vocation of Mary is the gift of sharing in the life and mission of Jesus. She treasures the entire life of Jesus in her heart and in her life. May the intercession of Mary, Our Lady of Remedies, enable us to look at our lives and this world with eyes of wisdom, faith and hope to look forward to our unfolding participation in God’s mission

A warm fiesta greeting to all!

The feast of Our Lady of Remedies is always a time for expressing deep gratitude for the many blessings we have received through her powerful intercession. This year, our joy is increased twofold as the Missionary Society of St. Columban (MSSC) celebrates its 100th foundation. As it is also the Year of the Clergy and Consecrated Persons, our fiesta theme aptly highlights Mary as the mother of missionaries in sharing the joy of the Gospel.

Like the Blessed Mother who was sent to a daunting mission of being mother and disciple of her Son, the Columban missionaries, priests and lay, have left the comfort of their homes to go to strange lands where they live, learn, embrace foreign cultures, and spread the Good News.

Thus, on this occasion, it is fitting that we express our gratitude to our dear Columban missionaries. Since 1929, the MSSC has served the Malate community and other parts of the country, even to the extent of giving their life for their flock. They have journeyed with us – showing us the depth of our own Filipino heritage, empowering our community, teaching us by their example to live simply, to be compassionate, to rejoice in a mature faith, – and just by living amidst us, they inspire us to appreciate the value of all life in God’s creation.

We thank God thru our Lady of Remedies for this gift of the Columbans in our Malate Community! Under her tender motherly love, may the bonds between and among our dear Columban Missionaries, parishioners, and volunteers grow ever stronger in time, cultivated by shared aspirations and active faith in the loving Creator. May she continue to inspire us to respond to our common calling as missionaries in our own little ways however diverse the paths.

In fine, we also thank our Lady for the coordinators and members of the Parish Ministries, Areas, and Organizations (MAO), Finance Council, Staff, parishioners, and all the people who have made 2018 another great year for our parish. We look forward to an awe-inspiring Year of the Youth in 2019. May God bless all our work!

Before I became a Columban, I was with the T’boli tribal people in Lake Sebu, South Cotabato for six years, teaching elementary grade school students and working as a kind of liaison to the different communities in the area. That's where I was coming from. I discovered that I have the inclination to this kind of work and I found joy in it. When I learned about the Columbans’ understanding of mission which is very different from those I knew, I told myself that this is where my experience and learnings will have a place, where I can grow as a missionary.

I joined the Columban Society and was ordained on December 27, 1996. Right after my ordination, I was assigned for two months in Malabang Parish, Prelature of Marawi. It is a parish with a school, belonging to a Maranao community. Together with Columban Fathers Rufus Halley and Paul Cooney, I helped out in the celebration of the Mass and got involved with the youth. We had limited Mass celebrations then as everything was confined within the church backyard. The parish was fenced and whatever we did had to be done within the confines of the walls, so as not to offend the Muslims or the non-Christians, in particular. The Malabang Parish was first administered by the Columbans and it became a venue for a Columban missionary work on the dialogue of faith between Muslims and Christians.

After my assignment in Malabang, I was appointed to go on mission to South Korea. In South Korea, I was assigned to a small parish run by the Columbans. I did my first pastoral work there for about eight months where I also learned and conversed more in Korean language. I first learned the Korean language in 1993 when I was appointed to do the two-year First Mission Assignment (FMA) program. After completing the language refresher course, I committed to work in a Korean parish for two years where I became more immersed in the culture and language and was orientated to the dynamics of the Korean Catholic Church. While being assigned to a Korean parish, I spent part of my weekends helping in the ministry for Filipino migrant workers in South Korea. I celebrated the Holy Mass for them, heard confessions and accompanied them in their journey, spending time talking with them and listening to their joys and pains. During this time, I was also a member of an association of Filipino Catholic missionaries in South Korea – priests, nuns and lay missionaries. Most of us were involved in the ministry for migrant workers. These went on for five years, from 1997 until 2002.

The years that followed put me in the formation work where I did this ministry for almost ten years with a multi-cultural group. After the seminary work, I returned to the Philippines for my sabbatical program and eventually landed in a Columban parish in Malate, Manila.

Being a parish priest in the Malate Parish since May 2014 is a ministry that has become closer to my heart. Looking back at my past experiences in pastoral work, I can now say that I know where my heart is. And I affirm myself on this. I have always wanted to do pastoral work, to be with people. It has become a source of joy and it gave me more confidence and fulfilment in mission. I get energy from my experiences with people.

Parish work has put me in a place where I can engage people in all walks of life and journey with them. Especially here in the Malate Parish where a lot of people come from different parts of the country. We have an urban community here. I find that I belong to the community and I feel the drive to be with the community. I feel comfortable with people, coming from different cultures and sub-cultures in our country. These experiences of people taking me in, allowing me to be part of their lives have helped me grow in the ministry. There is nothing simple in a parish ministry but to encounter and work with parish lay volunteers and staff with much passion, commitment and skills, much can really be done well.

I recalled about my initial reluctance when I was asked to be assigned in the Malate Parish. In saying “yes” to the invitation, I thought that like my previous assignments I was simply answering to the needs of the Society, that somebody has to do it or I was being sent to it. Eventually, I realized that I was planted on a fertile ground that could nurture much growth to my missionary life.

Before I became the Parish Priest, I requested if I can be allowed to work with the Parish team for a year before asssuming the role. I made an appeal to, "Allow me one year to immerse, then I would be ready for anything." And that was the way it happened. That helped me a lot. I had the freedom to explore, with no administrative functions that would tie me down to meetings and in the office. I was just happy with that arangement. There I discovered my inclination, my interest - accompanying and probably living with the people, being present with them and to them. I saw that it was good. It was good for me to go through this experience because this is going to be where I would be going to come from when I do other ministries and responsibilities. If I would be asked what ministry I would like to be involved in, most probably I would answer, ‘pastoral ministry.’ I think this is the joy and fulfillment of my priesthood. It is the drive of my missionary journey.

I was asked, “How is it like to be the first Filipino parish priest of Malate?” It doesn't really make much difference for me. But probably it needs to be said that now there is the first Filipino parish priest, to be noted in the history of the Columbans in the Philippines. It is a mark recognizing that that the time has come for Filipinos or local people to take responsibilities such as this.

I am happy because people are happy to have me here in the parish. Since I am a Filipino, they can easily share and talk, confident that I would understand them as we speak the same language. Sometimes it creates a certain kind of demand on me. But I look at it in a positive way – a venue for building a stronger community and for engaging mission.

I sense that the churchgoers here in Malate have already imbibed the wisdom of the Columbans who had worked here before. There are always areas we continue to work on. We work as a team and we meet every week. We talk things out, the issues and concerns in the parish. And that helps me a lot in understanding the dynamics of people working and living in the parish and how things operate. I have been away for sixteen years and this is my first permanent assignment in the country. I’m on my fifth year now and I would like to be realistic in the way I approach things because even as a Filipino, I need to know more about the way to be missionary here in my own ‘homeground’ since I have been away for a long time. It calls for an attitude of openness to the leadings of the spirit. Sometimes the difficult part is to know what it is. But life continues.

I am quite happy in the parish and it is important for me to relish this. I want to savor it fully, as it is a big help for me, in my Columban missionary life. I want to hold on to this for a little while longer, probably for more experience.

I carry with me that sense of gratitude. I am happy to be with the Columbans. I am blessed to be a Columban and I can be a blessing as a Columban too. Blessings abound. In the parish, I’ve learnt to be attentive to God’s blessings that can come through people. I always say that the parish is indeed a holy ground even before I came. There are just so many good things happening in here. I am happy that I have become part of it and have also contributed something to it.

As our annual celebration of the fiesta of Our Lady of Remedies approaches, I find myself asking the question: How many more fiestas will we celebrate here in Malate? You may ask, ‘what kind of a question is that?’ Malate fiesta has been celebrated for a few hundred years now.

It might sound like a weird question but it popped up in my mind a few weeks ago when I read the latest report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). The IPCC is the scientific body which the United Nations look to for scientific data on climate change. It issues regular reports to guide governments in decision making.

In 2015 in Paris, the governments of the world finally put an agreement together that involved all the nations on the planet to try and limit global warming to “well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels and pursuing efforts to limit the temperature increase to 1.5°C”. The scientists who make up IPCC were asked to come up with a study on the difference between a 1°C and 1.5°C rise.

The conclusions are startling. A half a degree rise will significantly worsen the risks of drought, floods, extreme heat, and poverty for hundreds of millions of people. The half-degree difference could also prevent corals from being completely eradicated and ease pressure on the Artic and Greenland ice shelves. The melting of these would mean a rise in sea-level and that would mean that Malate could be under water and the church would no longer be able to function.

So the report says the target has to be 1.5°C. It says that this is achievable but with a lot of effort and that we have until 2030 – only 12 years – to achieve it!

"The good news is that some of the kinds of actions that would be needed to limit global warming to 1.5°C are already underway around the world, but they would need to accelerate," said Valerie Masson-Delmotte, Co-Chair of Working Group I.

The report finds that limiting global warming to 1.5°C would require "rapid and far-reaching" transitions in land, energy, industry, buildings, transport, and cities. Global net human-caused emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2) would need to fall by about 45 percent from 2010 levels by 2030, reaching 'net zero' around 2050.

This is the first time that the scientists have named deadlines like 2030. But I find myself stepping back from the debate between 1.50°C and 2°C. We are already experiencing a rise of 1°C and we know what that is like in the Philippines. At 1.5°C, we are talking about only 10% of corals surviving versus almost 0% at 2°C.

Things are not looking good at the moment on the political level with leaders in the US and Australia reneging on the Paris agreement. But we hope that this will change. Here in the parish of Malate, we continue with doing what we can through our Care for the Earth Ministry. We have already installed 60 solar panels and continue to explore ways of being part of the future. In the meantime, we continue to take inspiration from Pope Francis and his letter Laudato Si:

“God who calls us to generous commitment and to give him our all, offers us the light and the strength needed to continue on our way… He does not abandon us, he does not leave us alone… his love constantly impels us to find new ways forward. Praise be to him.” #245.

To see the report go to http://www.ipcc.ch/ch/report/sr15/ or www.ipcc.ch

Young people are important to the life of the Church, as well as to the life of the world. In October 2018, Pope Francis invited Church leaders – lay, ordained, and youth representatives from around the world to meet in Rome to treat the topic: “Young People, the Faith and Vocational Discernment.”

Here in the Philippines, young people comprises a large portion of the population, yet they are often neglected and ignored. To bring the youth closer to God, the Catholic Church in the Philippines will dedicate 2019 as the Year of the Youth. It aims to focus our attention as a faith community to the plight of the young people, who holds so much promise and potential. A roadmap has been planned for the whole year, centered on the theme: “Filipino Youth in Mission: Beloved, Gifted, Empowered”.

Young people are in constant search for life’s purpose and meaning, and they are looking for role models. The Church wanted to be their companion in their search, drawing them into community and to God’s life-giving word, that they may find in Jesus a role-model for their life’s journey.

Here in Malate, our parish community have provided them a safe space to gather and to have a personal encounter with Jesus in the context of community. Each month they gather for faith-sharing. They also gather for “Taize prayer”, an adaptation from the prayers done by a community in Taize, France. Young people also undergo formation through “Youth Encounter” and “Youth Experience of Ecozoic Living and Learning” to deepen their Christian commitment in service of community and the whole of God’s creation.

Having a personal relationship with God, they become active members of the community, contributing to the life of the parish by taking active part in the different ministries, as well as in communal prayers and celebrations, as volunteers, choir, sanctuary assistant, etc. They also share their talents to the community by performing at parish events and putting up a musical play to help raise funds for the youth ministry.

As a parish community of both young and old, nourished by God’s word and inspired by His spirit, let us continue to be of support to each other as disciples. As we celebrate Mary’s feast, let us seek Mary’s intercession and protection in all our endeavors. Imitating her example, may we also generously respond to God’s invitation in building a better world for all of us and for the rest of God’s creation.

A blessed feast of Our Lady of Remedies to all!

Fr. Kwang-Kyu Ji is the latest addition to the Columban Priest Team in Our Lady of Remedies Parish. After his ordination on September 24, 2016 in Maullee Catholic Church in Seoul, South Korea, he was sent briefly to the MSSC in Ireland. He is now back and our community is getting to know him better. Here is an excerpt from an interview with him.

Where were you born and raised?

       I was born in Cheonan which is a city located in the northeast corner of South Chungcheong, a province of South Korea, and is 83.6 km south of the Capital, Seoul. Cheonan is a very peaceful place surrounded by mountains. I lived there until I was five years old with my grandparents who brought me up. My father left our family when I was six years old, so I do not have any clear memory about my father. Since then, I have lived with my mother and an old brother in Seoul until I entered the Columban seminary.

What did you study in college?

       I majored in Web design. After graduation, I worked in a company for a while as a web designer. Then, I joined the Missionary Society of St. Columban and studied theology in the Catholic University of Korea in Seoul. In particular, I studied Church History in the seminary.

Who or what influenced you to become a priest?

       I did not have any Catholic or Christian background because my family was not Catholic. However, when I was 15, one of my best friends asked me, “Would you like to go to the Catholic Church with me?” Actually, I did not know what is the Church and baptism. But I just accepted it because I wanted to hang out with my friends. In 1996, my brother and I were baptized, and my mother followed the next year.

       I did not have any dreams when I was a high school student. I wasted my life and I did not have any plan at all because I was rather a pessimist. But when I met a priest who was my parish priest in Cheonan (I lived in my hometown for a year and half during high school years because my family had a financial problem.), I had completely changed my life. He was generous and a gentleman. He loved young people so much. He told me, “Young people are our future and the most valuable asset in our Church.” So then, I had decided to become a priest.

When did you first feel that you were called to the vocation?

       It is rather difficult to explain about my vocation. In fact, I did not have any special calling or experience in terms of vocation. I just wanted to live a more meaningful life with God. Perhaps I can say that one day, I looked up the sky and God was there. And merely fell in the love of God so that I could not wear other clothes.

Why did you choose the MSSC?

       After graduating from high school, I was refused in some Diocesan seminaries because of my parents’ divorce. I had almost given up on my dream of becoming a priest. I was taking my time and some years later, I served in my home parish which is located in Seoul, as a catechist. I met a priest who was my parish priest; his name is Fr. Joseph Jo. I felt he has something different. Sometimes, he gave me pieces of advice. One day, I was talking about my future with Fr. Joseph. He just gave a phone number to me. That was the MSSC number. In fact, he worked in Mindanao for 3 years as a Columban Associate priest. I think it is not coincidence, but God’s will.

Where was your First Mission Assignment?

       My first mission assignment was in the Philippines in 2013 to 2014. I studied Tagalog in a language school for 6 months in Quezon City. I have been to many places here in the Philippines. I was in Malate Catholic Church for 10 months as a seminarian.

Have you been assigned to any parish other than Malate?

       After I was ordained as a priest, I worked in the Diocese of Incheon, South Korea for 6 months as an assistant priest. I have not worked in any other parish in the Philippines except Malate Catholic Church.

What are your interests or hobbies?

       I like listening to music, and taking pictures. I used to work in a Darkroom shop as a part timer for a year. I learned how to take and develop a photo from the owner of the darkroom shop.

What do you think are the challenges for young Columbans like yourself at this time?

       We are working in many countries at this moment, but we are getting smaller. We need more young people. But I think that some young people and Columbans are afraid to take a risk for their lives. I think that instinctively, some Columbans can become complacent and lazy as priests or missionaries because they know they have security.

How long have you been in Malate? How do you find the Malate Community?

       I have been living here in Malate for 7 months since March this year. People are generous, passionate, active. I am learning from all parishioners in terms of faith. I was so impressed by one of our sanctuary assistants who prayed faithfully after communion. I’ll never forget that.

In celebration of the Feast of Our Lady of Remedies and the Columban Centenary within the Year of the Clergy and Consecrated Persons, Malate Parish proudly presents the work by one of its own, in “COLUMBAN PORTRAITS”, an Art Exhibit.

About the artist and her work:
These portraits are grayscale reproductions from photographs of the original colored works of Gigi Arevalo, the artist. Her mood to draw is fuelled by a desire when she finds an image that capture the light, candid moment of the subject. Drawing is an emotional connection that inspires her to present people in their natural environment, to let the story unfold from each composition, letting each stroke convey the feeling in a certain moment. With the use of colored pencils and paper, she preserves that moment in time.

For the artist, portraiture is also a way of expressing gratitude through art – a celebration of how the subject, in one way or another, has touched her life, and a celebration for being able to share joy through the special gift of drawing.

Credits:
Columban Priests
Parish Pastoral Council
Malate Parish Staff
Mel Bacani and Ramz Espina of the Parish Editing Group