Many Thanks and Future Ordinations

Dear Friends and kababayans,

What a glorious festivities last Saturday at Mount Angel in honor of our Santo Nino! It was truly a great honor in our community to have Archbishop John G. Vlasny who celebrated the mass and the President-Rector of the Mount Angel Seminary, The Very Reverend Richard Paperini who concelebrated along with several priests. It was a joyful and memorable event because your presence and the invited religious congregation filled up the Damain Center. They kept putting more chairs to accommodate everyone and yet, we had a standing room. The angelic voices of the Filipino Seminarians in the choir and some guests from San Francisco sang the liturgical songs so beautifully. The decoration was so festive, especially the bahay-kubo which brought some fond memories of our homeland. And yes, the feast of Santo Nino wasn’t complete without the Sinulog Procession (a dance offerings and prayers), the dancers were followed outdoor by the enthusiastic crowd. God is so good to us, even the weather cooperated! Of course the delightful food (rice, chicken adobo, pancit, lechon, lumpia and many more were served for everyone to enjoy! While eating, our international acclaimed artists, Joey Albert rendered a few songs, the famous TINIKLING dance was performed by the Sinulog of Portland, and a video that the seminarians put together was presented. Wow, the fine leadership of Manolito Jaldon and the rest of the Filipino Seminarians united many of us and did a wonderful job in organizing this amazing event, kindly see their email below. We are truly grateful for the outpouring support you have given to them.

This year there will be more blessings coming to our community. Mark your calendars, on Saturday, May 23rd, Rally Bien will be ordained as a deacon and on Saturday, June 13th, Deacon Cary Reniva and Deacon Maro Escano will be ordained in the priesthood at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in downtown Portland. All of them will serve in the Portland Archdiocese. Here is the web link http://www.usccb.org/nab/ of the scripture readings for today which talks about the priesthood of Christ. You might want to listen also to the daily reflection. Please continue to pray for them that they will meet all the requirements for their graduations and ordinations. We are grateful Lord in grooming these fine young men into priesthood to serve YOU and your people.

The Lord takes delight on His people (you and me). Let us love one another as Christ loves the church and continue to pray for each other. Pray especially for our New-Elect President Barack Obama as he will begin his office starting tomorrow that our loving God will continue to guide his decisions and give him double dose of wisdom to serve the country and its people. For your leisure, check out the attached email about a Filipina chef in the White House.

Wishing you a peaceful day and enjoy the sun!

Maraming Salamat Po and God bless us!