Mag balik IHMP na!

Our community is now invited to come together again as we now ease restrictions in the pandemic.

However, we cannot turn a blind eye that we are still in the claw of the pandemic that grips us with fear and anxiety. The pandemic has also created a new normal that we have grown accustomed to and even comfortable with. We have enjoyed the convenience of the online mass, online meeting, online class and even online groceries. This has placed us square in our homes and rooms.

But Pope Francis has called us to journey together in fellowship, participation and mission. It is a call to return to our community – the experience of an encounter with our co-journeyers in life and faith. For God reveals Himself, too, in the stories and lives of our brothers and sisters. Specially in our stories fear, anxiety, joy and newfound love (special mention: love for plants) during the pandemic. For when we come together to tell our stories and listen to each other, we will be healed, strengthened and inspired.

But best of all, we come together to listen to the story of Jesus. Jesus’ words that continue to bless us and guide us in the sacraments and our liturgies. We are invited to be like Mary, our patron and model in the faith, in listening to her Son and in coming together around her Son. We are now called to come together. “Let us then consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another…” (Heb. 10:24-25).

May this new year dawn in the light of Jesus who assures us in the last verse of the gospel of Matthew, “I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Let us come together in this blessed new year!

Ikaw na lang ang kulang!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rev. Fr. Jay Coching, CMF
Parish Priest

 

 

 

Message from the PPC Coordinator

Good evening brothers and sisters!

Before anything else, I would like to greet you and your family a Merry Christmas! It is great to see our church so full tonight – something that we have missed for the past two years at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. And although we are still in the period of the pandemic, we are slowly transitioning, moving forward with hope and adjusting to the new normal. As we celebrate this season of Hope, Peace, Love and Joy, allow me to thank you for your continuous support for the different programs of the IHMP. You have made our celebration truly on that is filled with love – and we truly feel that we celebrate Emmanuel – God with us. I would also like to thank all those who made our various programs and liturgical celebrations meaningful by offering their time, talent, and treasure. We are in the period where we are being asked by the Holy Father to reflect on how we are journeying in synodality as a Church, and I can proudly say that IHMP is indeed a synodal church. So, our thanks go out to all the various ministries and volunteers: · The Worship Ministry – led by Sis. Agie Inocencio for all the liturgical preparations · The Music Ministry – led by Sis. Mari Lorenzo for coordinating all the choirs for the many masses including our grand choir for tonight · The Ministry of Lectors and Commentators led by Sis. Luz Evangelista · The Eucharistic Ministers of the Holy Eucharist, the Altar Servers, and the Ministry of Greeters and Collectors, a big thanks! · The Altar Ladies Society for always making sure that our altar is ready for each Eucharistic Celebration · The Social Communications Ministry for always being present to livestream our masses in order to reach all those who could not physically join us here in the church · Shoutout to the Sponsors of the Simbang Gabi and the Misa de Gallo masses and the families that lit the Advent candles. Special thanks to the Family and Life Ministry who took charge of finding the sponsors. ·The Kabataang Claret for always keeping the parish alive. Thank you so much! ·My fellow PPC Officers, our Ministry Coordinators, Organization Heads and members, BEC Coordinator and Area Coordinators, thank you! Special thanks to the Parish Admin, employees, sacristans and volunteers for all the hard work, perseverance and patience in decorating the church. We also thank all the Claretian priests who presided over the masses for Simbang gabi and misa de gallo. Thank you for your enlightening reflections during these novena masses that prepared us for Christmas. Finally, we thank our dear pastors, Fr. Jay Coching (our Parish Priest) and Fr. Ronnie Banaria (our Assistant Parish priest) for their leadership and guidance. Like the bright star that led the wise men to Jesus, they have ensured that in all that we do for the parish, we keep our gaze on Christ. Hence, all the different ministries and volunteers worked together with great synergy so that every activity and every liturgical celebration were well-executed. To close, I know you have been to a lot of Christmas parties the last few days and have exchanged quite a number of gifts, but let us always remember that the best gift we ever received is the one lying in the manger – God’s gift of love and light. Let us mirror that gift to each other, and let us all be a reminder that God is with us – Emmanuel. Magandang gabi at muli, maligayang pasko sa ating lahat!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Connie Florentin
PPC Coordinator

 

 

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