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by Margaux Salcedo Hello from the Holy Land! I am currently in Jerusalem, my first time to visit this city of incomparable history. Writing my first column from the very town where Christ was crucified, I initially felt compelled to write something profound - a reflection on the passion of Christ, a comparison of Jewish and Christian traditions, an essay on the role of Mary or any other related thesis. But I just had an experience that made me realize that amidst all the complex if not complicated rituals that religions employ, the message of Christ that has resonated from the time that He preached around Galilee is not highfalutin at all. Holy Sepulchre ​I had the rare opportunity to hear mass inside Jesus' empty tomb at the 6 am mass on this day, the first day of our pilgrimage to Jerusalem, at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. The tomb can fit but five people. Our generous guide, Sister Rebecca of the Missionary Sisters of the Catechism arranged for us to assist in the mass. Inside the tomb with my mother and sister, I read the First Reading and Responsorial Psalm, as the mass was in English. The rest of the tourists hear mass facing but outside the tomb. As I kissed the bed of stone where Jesus was laid to rest, I said a little prayer: "Jesus, I want to see you." (I know, I'm a little cuckoo.) Rip Off That evening, after making the obligatory visit to the Western Wall, putting on my food writer's hat, I had dinner at the Jewish Quarter to have a taste of authentic Israeli cuisine. Instead, I had a taste of an authentic rip off. The waiter of the Friends restaurant welcomed my group with a charming smile, suggested to us what we should eat and took our orders but when I asked for the prices, he said he would give us a menu but that never came. When the bill arrived, we were shocked by an overcharge of over 100 Shekel (around P1500), as the waiter charged us for items that he placed on our table that we did not order but he insisted we pay for. Worse, we were not even that hungry so we had so much food left over. We wrapped the food for takeaway just so that it would not go to waste but had no idea what to do with it. Ruth As we walked back to our guest house, we came across a petite old lady with a shawl wrapped around her head. I first noticed her as we made our way to the Jaffa gate; she looked at me and smiled but she did not say anything and walked past us. Then as we made our way to another street, we saw her again, her back to us this time, as she looked at the window of a restaurant. I went up to her to offer our food. I was hesitant because I was uncertain how she would take it; I was afraid of offending her with my gesture as some take offense even when your intentions are sincere. But I gathered my courage and said, "Hi, would you like some food? We have so much." She smiled at me with so much joy in her eyes. Hungry The words that flowed from her mouth as she received the food were so beautiful.I realize now these were meant not to thank me but to thank the Lord. "Thank you so much. ... I am Christian. Are you Christian?" she asked after receiving the bag of food. "You know, I did not know how I was going to eat today. I was getting hungry and I said, Lord, how am I going to eat? I have no money. And He told me, someone is going to give you food. That is what He told me. He did! And now here it is. I'm not kidding, He said that -- 'someone is going to give you food'," she shared. Me! I'm the Someone! I replied in my characteristically chirpy way. "I am Ruth," she kindly introduced herself. Like in the Bible! I replied. "Yes. Have you read the Bible? I have read it 26 times, including Revelation. ... What is your name?" Margaux. "​Margaux, pray for me." And before I knew it, I hugged her, with a promise that I would pray for her. "God bless you!" she said. Then we parted ways. Walking away, I was so overwhelmed, I couldn't contain my tears. In the midst of all the Biblical and historical sites of this town - the Holy Sepulchre, the Mount of Olives, Gethsemane, and the million other churches and chapels that we visited - it was at this encounter, just on the street, where I truly felt Christ. Dominus Est! Like the Beloved Disciple, I started my day looking for Christ at his tomb. At the end of the day, I was reminded of the simple truth of the Resurrection: That He is Risen but He is now in each of us. That it is in the Least that you find the Lord. That, as the lyric goes, it is when you love another person that you see the face of God. ​On this day, I got what I asked for at the Holy Sepulchre: I saw Christ. In Ruth, I saw Christ. ​​I went home truly blessed. She wasn't just a hungry old lady. Dominus Est!

LIVE THE JOY OF THE MISSION AND SUPPORT OUR MISSIONARIES - Pope Francis Pope Francis proclaimed October 2019 an ‘Extraordinary Missionary Month’ to be marked and celebrated throughout the world. Pope Francis has entrusted with the mission of the Church in the world to our Dominus Est patron, Pope St John Paul II. Remember that October 22 is World Mission Sunday, So Pope Francis intends to celebrate the Extraordinary Missionary Month on this day, and will be praying the Angelus with pilgrims and tourists gathered in St Peter’s Square beneath the window of the Papal apartments in the Apostolic Palace at noon on this day. "I urge everyone to live the joy of mission by witnessing the Gospel in the environs where each one lives and works," Pope Francis said. "We are called upon to support with affection, concrete help, and prayer, the missionaries who have gone out to proclaim Christ to those who still do not know Him.’ On October 22, Pope Francis added, "in liturgical memory of Pope St. John Paul II (on his feast day), we entrust to his intercession the mission of the Church in the world." Source: Vatican News

A Disciple in Love with Christ and the Church by Margaux Salcedo “For me it was very clear. My childhood dream was to become a priest,” he says. Father Jason Laguerta is a relatively young (under 50), dynamic priest who heads the Office for the Promotion of New Evangelization (OPNE) of the Archdiocese of Manila. He is simultaneously the head of the Archdiocesan Institute for Research and Development (AIRD) of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Manila (RCAM). He is also the parish priest of the Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish in Sta. Mesa, Manila. 3 HATS “I wear three hats: evangelization, research, and parish priest,” Fr. Jason shares. Yet he is able to excel in each field. He attributes his ability to balance all three roles to his love for the Lord. “I confess I am not a devoted person but I am what is called an affective (with an a) disciple of Jesus. I have simply fallen in love with the person of Christ and that love never wanes,” he shares. BLESSED CHILD His love for Christ started at the tender age of 7. His parents, Pascual and Adelfa, were very active in church. Fr. Jason recalls that his mother was even the caretaker of their church, San Vicente Ferrer chapel in Brgy. Abuyog, Sorsogon, Sorsogon. “The church was practically my playground,” Fr. Jason recalls. That is why as young as 7 years old, he already knew he wanted to become a priest. “For me it was very clear. My childhood dream was to become a priest,” he says. So as early as high school, his parents, with the guidance of a priest, sent him to the seminary. At 12 years of age, he enrolled at the Our Lady of Guadalupe Minor Seminary in Makati. Then for college, at the San Carlos Seminary, also in Makati. FORMATOR He became a priest on September 8, 1999. After becoming a priest, Fr. Jason continued to call San Carlos Seminary his home. Instead of becoming a parish priest, he stayed on at San Carlos as professor and formator for 10 years. He taught Latin, homiletics, and Philippine church history. Later, he was urged to get a doctorate degree, and he enrolled at the University of the Philippines to study social psychology. He would later teach this subject as well at the San Carlos Seminary. On Cardinal Tagle: For me, he is a good example and model of a disciple of Jesus in our context today,” Fr. Jason shares. GOOD EXAMPLE With his doctorate degree, Cardinal Tagle appointed him as head of the Archdiocesan Institute for Research and Development (AIRD) of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Manila (RCAM). “Cardinal Tagle is very much interested in research,” he explained. “He wants all programs of the RCAM evidence-based. So the AIRD gathers data to make us more effective in our responses to the needs of the people today.” In 2013, Cardinal Tagle also invited Fr. Jason to be part of the Philippine Conference on New Evangelization (PCNE) that the Archdiocese had just organized and made him in charge of the exhibit portion of the event. Fr. Jason must have done an amazing job as the following year, His Eminence tapped him to head the newly-formed Office for the Proclamation of New Evangelization, which organized PCNE the following years. For his part, Fr. Jason considers the appointment an honor as he looks up to Cardinal Tagle. “I see in him a person who really loves Jesus and a person who wants to share the love of God to all. He always tries to find something good in every person and seeks the good news in every situation, trying to bridge the gaps between and among people and parties. For me, he is a good example and model of a disciple of Jesus in our context today,” Fr. Jason shares. NEW EVANGELIZATION Fr. Jason has taken his mission in New Evangelization seriously. “New Evangelization, in a nutshell, is the church proclaiming the Good News of Jesus today. It is the church wanting to be part of the lives of the people today; the church trying to make the memory of Jesus alive in today’s world by making the Gospel fresh and available for everyone to partake in,” he explains. “Jesus,” he emphasizes, “is still very much relevant. He is the way, the truth, the life; the past, present, and future; the alpha and the omega. But we, His disciples, have to find a way to become his mouth, his eyes, his hands, his feet today.” Through OPNE, Father Jason seeks to erase the disconnect between the church and the people, especially the youth. “There is no disconnect in the message,” he argues. “Because the message is the same: the love of God and the presence of Jesus. The disconnect is only in the way the Gospel is communicated; the language, the methods, even the images. Jesus used images that were familiar to the people of his time, like the mustard seed, the shepherd and the sheep. So we need to use images that are relevant today.” He expounds that this is because the Kingdom of God cannot be defined although it can be described. “The parables were stories that Jesus used to describe the Kingdom of God. So we have to find stories today about how the love of God operates in our time; stories and images that describe what the Kingdom is about.” ETERNAL FLAME It is clear that the spark of interest that Fr. Jason had as a 7-year old for the church has blossomed into an eternal flame of love for Christ and the Church. “That interest became love eventually,” he admits. “I learned to love the Church, even if there are things you don’t like, but you continue to love.” His personal patron saint, San Vicente Ferrer, the patron saint of his hometown parish in Sorsogon, whom he would ask to intercede for him, even as a child, would certainly be proud. “I learned to love the Church, even if there are things you don’t like, but you continue to love.”

by Bro. Jesus Madrid “The night, the light, and the flight” a reflection from the 21st chapter of the Gospel of John. “That night they caught nothing.” We all have experiences of darkness and emptiness. One night that is really dark and truly emptying was the night when my parents decided to separate. It was the summer of 2010, I will not forget that summer because it was the same summer before I entered the seminary. I was asking God then, “Why are you letting this happen? Where are you? Lord! Here I am. I would like to offer myself to you but why let this happen?” It was dark and painful. I had my doubts. I don’t know where to go and I don’t know what to do. I cannot see God in that moment. “Cast the net over the right side of the boat and you will find something.” From the vast water of darkness, of not knowing where to go and not knowing what to do there is an invitation to cast your net on the right side. What can I find on that side? A great catch. From the side of darkness towards the side of love where hope and new beginnings can be found. I believe during that summer God spoke through many people and the loudest I believe is through my uncle. He told me, “I know that you have doubts. I know that you are down. However, I know that you still believe in Him. I know that in your heart He whispers. Listen to His words. And if in your heart you still believe in His call and you want to pursue, we will support you in every way.” Had I not listen to His voice, I would not be here happy and filled and continuously being filled with that great catch of love. My eyes were opened, I know that it was the Lord. He has always been there guiding and directing my life. He gave me hope and I decided to begin anew. Eventually I realized that following the Lord does not mean a life free of difficulties. I tell you, this life is full of difficulties but with Him I have found peace in the midst of great difficulties. “Come, have breakfast.” God was there in my brokenness. He found me, fixed me, and lifted me up. He invited me to come and eat with Him. This invitation I believe is an invitation to continuously savor the love that has been found and experienced. This is an invitation to grow deeper into this life of love. This moment is a moment of preparation for a greater invitation, a greater call, a higher flight. “Do you love me?” God has filled me with much love. Now he is asking me, “Do you love me?” How can I not love this God who has given me everything. How can I not love Him who has helped me see the light in my darkest moment? How can I not love Him who has fixed the broken parts of me? Who made me who I am and continuously helping me become the best version of me? Lord, you know everything, you know that I love you. He then says, “Feed my lamb. Tend my sheep. Feed my sheep.” I believe this is now the mission, to feed His people with the same love that I have received, to be an instrument so that people may be directed towards the light and the source of all Love, Jesus. ​

by Clyde Ericson Nolasco If I have to tally and rank the words I use in a day, amen would have its place at the top along with "quiet" and "listen". As a Catholic and a teacher at a Benedictine institution, as soon as I rise from my bed, I would say a prayer. I leave our house whispering to God to keep me and my family safe. In our school, we would have daily morning offerings. In each of my class, we would say our opening and closing prayers (not to mention the grace before and after meals). Moreso, I would have my personal prayers in between my own time, especially when stress is taking its toll on me; and end a long day with pleads and thanksgivings. Like other major religions, denominations and groups, mentioning the word amen signals the end of our prayer. It's the most basic word a faithful would hear and learn. But we do not just hear this during prayers. Sometimes it would be automatic that we would unconsciously blurt it out in agreement on something that was just said, especially on religious situations and matters. According to Collins and Farrugia, amen is a Hebrew/Aramaic word that is used to call a peg dug in the ground to keep a tent erect, or religiously mean “so it is” or “so be it”. Old Testament stories like from Deuteronomy, Psalms and 1 Chronicles are but amens of praises while in the New Testament, Jesus stresses the other use of the word which is to express our trust in God. He himself closed the prayer he taught us, the The Lord’s Prayer, with amen. More than ending our prayers and agreeing to one’s statement, amen captures the depths of our person. Amen is a sign of life. Whenever we say it for whatever purpose is a proof of our beating heart, a heart that loves and a heart that longs. It is our hopes wrapped in prayers. It is like waiting for Jesus to make miracles. It is like being the blind man Bartimeus waiting to see; like Jairus waiting for his daughter to be brought to life; or like Paul to regain his eyesight. Waiting may not be easy but it is our amen that signifies our hope in God. Amen is our battle cry. Our life is a constant struggle, a battle we are in. Saying amen is believing Jesus will be with us, that God will be our constant ally. We will be like Joshua blowing the trumpet or David armed with only a slingshot. In every problem that we would encounter, we don’t easily surrender instead the harder life becomes, the louder our amens would be. Each amen is an affirmation of our hope, an expression of our trust, and the measure of our faith. After all, it’s not a matter of how many times I would say amen in a day, instead it’s a matter of how much I am convinced that God is with me always. As we journey together, we say amen. As we continue to proclaim the love of God online and offline, we say amen. Amen. Amen. Amen.

by Margaux Salcedo Faith is the certainty that Jesus is with us. The certainty that Jesus has risen from the dead. The certainty that God is triumphant over sin and death. It is not a belief. It is not a hypothesis. It is not a possibility. It is a fact. It is a fact proven not through scientific evidence but through an encounter with God in Jesus Christ and in the gift of the Holy Spirit. The encounter is an experience so gripping that belief transcends to certainty. But we cannot produce faith on our own. Faith is God’s gift. Faith comes when God offers us the opportunity to encounter Him in his word, His sacraments, His service; to have a relationship where we can experience His unconditional love. But the offer requires a response. We must respond by abandoning ourselves to the Lord. Then we must continually strive to hear Him. Once we abandon ourselves and accept the gift of faith, Cardinal Tagle explained in a talk in Vancouver (Queen Elizabeth Theater, March 2018), “this is nurtured and mediated to us by the Word of God. Then, hopefully, through our constancy in listening to the Word of God - celebrating his presence in the sacraments, participating in God’s love for humanity - the faith is internalized, and the relationship with God is internalized.” This is what you call being filled with the Holy Spirit. Once filled with the Holy Spirit, professing our faith will no longer just be something celebrated sporadically. Blessed with the gift of Faith, the Holy Spirit will direct our actions: our speech, the way we treat people, our appreciation of events, our relationships. Whether in church, at work, at home or in school, we will see others through the eyes of faith. Our perspective of the world will change as our horizon becomes that of Faith. We will see the presence of God not only in the sacraments but in every person, in every living being, everywhere. A youth participant at the World Youth Day 2016 in Krakow, Poland asked Cardinal Tagle after his talk, “How do I know that God loves me?” His Eminence succinctly explained that you will only know through faith: Realizing that God knows me or that God knows your struggles is a matter of faith. We cannot prove that. We can only have what St. John’s Gospel calls signs. Signs that must be interpreted with the eyes of faith. Without faith they don’t mean anything. But Jesus continues to speak to us. He is alive. When you read His words and when you read the events in His life, you will discover that those events are still happening in your life; that your life experiences are not distant from Jesus’ own experience. So rely on the Word of God. He understands. According to Hebrews, he is our compassionate brother who has been tested in every way that we are tested. He knows our sin. And he can pray for us because he knows our struggles. Even when we experience difficulties in life, our perspectives will change when we see through the eyes of faith, when we see through what Cardinal Tagle calls “faith vision”. In his talk at the Queen Elizabeth Theater in Vancouver (March 2018), His Eminence explains this by distinguishing between a problem and a dilemma: Many times we look at difficulties in life as problems. Because we see them as problems, our approach is to find a solution. But try to examine daily life, especially family life. Most of them are not problems but dilemmas. What is a dilemma? A dilemma is a problem that does not go away. ... How do you deal with dilemmas? You don't propose solutions. You tell stories. Stories of people, of families who have gone through those difficulties but have survived gracefully. Though scarred they remain strong. You wonder - why do they remain strong? Why do they continue persevere? And you discover there is a story of faith woven into the lives of those families. It is the faith that gives them a sense of meaning. It is the faith that makes them see in a difficult person, in a difficult relationship, still, the presence of God. Without faith, how do you look at sickness? Without faith, how do you look at the death of a mother a few hours before the graduation of a daughter? We need those stories as the world focuses on the problems that do not have solutions. As the world focuses on the stories of gloom, faith enables us to see another type of story: the stories of valor, the stories of perseverance and strength, which are not a product of human effort alone. These stories need to be told. Stories of faith, of meaning, of love. When your child starts appearing like a dilemma, remember stories. Stories nurtured by faith. That is why, Cardinal Tagle emphasizes, we should beg the Lord to give us the gift of Faith. On our own, we can only handle problems. With the gift of faith, we are able to get through any dilemma. When we see through the eyes of faith, we can handle even problems without solutions!!