FilCom Advent Schedule and more ....

Dear Friends and Kababayans,

Hope you are keeping yourselves warm and healthy!

A week from Thursday, most of the people in our nation will celebrate the Thanksgiving Holiday with families and friends. This is the proper occasion for everyone to give thanks for all the good things that God has showered in our lives. To show our gratitude, make sure to take time and whisper in the silence of our hearts how much we are grateful and love God. It usually brings contentment, peace and joy in our souls. At Holy Trinity, we usually celebrate mass at 9:00 am on Thanksgiving Day. For directions, click http://www.h-t.org.

You may think it is not yet time for Christmas carols, but two weeks ago, we watched an exceptional “Winter Magic Concert” of Janet Chvatal and Marc Gremm at Holy Trinity. The full house event was inspiring and amazing. Speaking of concert, the Portland Singing Christmas Tree will start their performances the day after Thanksgiving. Heard there are 9 Filipinos who are part of the Singing Christmas Tree and 8 of them, we see in our community events: Raquel Naval, Cecile Agamata, & Jo Cooley from Holy Trinity, Derick & Annie Maglalang from St. Francis, Dolly & Jae Specht from St. Clare, and Louisa Stevenson from Christ the King. About 5 years ago, my oldest son joined the group and since then, we always make a plan to watch it because we enjoy it so much. For more information, kindly click this link http://www.singingchristmastree.org/dates_and_times.html. It is a worthwhile event to watch and you’ll experience Christmas in a more meaningful way. And have you heard of the Mt Angel Seminarians Christmas Concert? It will be held on Saturday, December 12th, at 7:30 PM at St. Clare Parish, 8535 SW 19th Avenue, Portland, 97219. It will be an evening of celebrating the joy of Christmas with songs, stories and prayers. Please click this link for more info http://filcomevents.blogspot.com/2009/11/seminarians-christmas-concert.html.

Advent is my favorite time of the year. Preparations are on the way for our Advent celebrations. You are cordially invited to celebrate the Simbang Gabi – Christmas Novena Masses starting on Tuesday, December 15th, at 7:00 PM, at Holy Trinity Parish in Beaverton. The culmination of the Christmas Novena masses will be celebrated by Bishop Kenneth Steiner on December 23rd and will have a short Christmas program. Several priests from the Archdiocese of Portland have generously given their time to preside during the liturgies. In the Eastside of the metro area, the Simbang Gabi will be held at St. Therese Church in Portland. Like last year, the Filipino Servite Priest at The Grotto, Fr. Denish Ilogon will be the main celebrant for all the masses. Please click this link http://filcomevents.blogspot.com/2009/11/simbang-gabi-christmas-novena-2009.html for detailed information.

The Filipino Community in Salem holds monthly Filipino Masses at St. Vincent Catholic Church every last Sunday of the month at 5:00 PM. On November 29th, the First Sunday of Advent mass will be celebrated by Rev. Henry Rufo and on December 27th, the Feast of the Holy Family will be held. For more info, click this link http://filcomevents.blogspot.com/2009/11/pilipino-mass-first-sunday-of-advent.html

Looking ahead below is a list of other events going on in our community and you’ll find more information on our website http://filcomevents.blogspot.com

Sunday, Dec. 6, 2009 - 5:00 PM - Pasko Na Naman / Fil - Am Clark County

Saturday, December 12, 2009 – 4:30 PM - FilAm Friendship Club Christmas Party

Saturday, January 16, 2009 -11:00 Am – Feast of Santo Nino de Cebu @ Mt. Angel Seminary. We practice for the Sinulog Dance on Sundays, November 8th, 15th, 22th, 29th and January 10th, from 4:15 PM to 6:00PM, at Holy Trinity Catholic Church. All are welcome. Come and join us. For directions, click http://www.h-t.org.

Thank you for your continued support to our community events.

Wishing you a beautiful day! Maraming Salamat Po!

God Bless, Monette