Meet Richie: The First One to The Rescue

Richie Carlo Co Serrano, my emotional rescuer

"Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work:  If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up!" -Ecclesiastes 4:9-10

I have met him for quite a long time already. He is the son of Ate Minda, the Parish Secretary of Our Lady of Good Counsel Parish in Marcelo Green, Paranaque City.

I first met him during the first Sunday I celebrated Holy Mass in UPS IV also in the same City. After the Holy Mass he approached me and thank me for my homily. That was it!

Despite his being so appreciative of my homilies, I thought he was "suplado" and that's it again!

But just recently, when I was having some emotional burdens, upon him seeing my status post on facebook, he immediately sent me a private message asking me if I am alright. That was the start of a good conversation with him. I could say that during that time he was the first person who rescued me from the emotional crisis I was in. Those exchanges of messages through facebook and text messages helped me a lot in reflecting on things that were happening then. His words were so awakening. His questions made me realized things.

Friendship was opened. He became my support as I was seeking answers to some of the questions in my mind. He became my confidant and I was able to trust him with many things in my life, the burdens I was experiencing. Through him and his advices I was able to regain myself. Thank you Richie Carlo Co Serrano for being such a nice and understanding person, who came first during that moment. God bless you and your family!


Prayer:
Lord, thank you for the gift of friends. Bless him and the works of his hands. Amen.

Santa Maria Josefa de Corazon de Jesus

A reproduction of the Saint's original photo.

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.” – Hebrews 12:1

We Catholics ask Saints for special prayers. Yes, they are our friends in heaven. But life in human friendly relationship, we have the best among those friends whom we introduce as our best friend.

I want you to know who among from the Saints is my "Best friend". I was introduced to her in 2000 by Sor Ana Maria Arteche, od the Servants of Jesus of Charity who later became my Spiritual Mother. She was then Blessed and now a Saint. Her name is Santa Maria Josefa del Corazon de Jesus.

This is her short biography:

She was born in Vitoria, Spain on September 7th, 1842. From her earliest years she received a good Christian education, which became the solid foundation of the spiritual edifice she was to build later.

 She founded the Institute of the Servants of Jesus of Charity (Siervas de Jesus dela Caridad) which she began to work on July 25th, 1871.

 From the Heart of Jesus, her main devotion, she received the kindness and love to care for the sick in their homes, hospitals, clinics and sanitariums: to care for the old in residences, the children in nurseries and the needy at dispensaries. This specific ends were broadened to include all charitable works.

 By her death on March 20th, 1912 she had founded 42 houses.

 She was declared Venerable on September 7, 1989, Beatified on September 27, 1992 and Canonized on October 1, 2000 by the late Pope John Paul II.

Let us pray the Prayer to Obtain Special Favors through her intercession:

We bless You, O Lord, because You have chosen Saint Maria Josefa del Corazon de Jesus to make known Your Merciful Love in the world of pain.

Grant us the grace which through her intercession we ask of You (mention your petitions) and may her example help us to feel the kindness and love of Your Divine Heart, towards the sick, the old and the young. Amen.

Heart of Jesus, health of the sick, have mercy on us. (Three times)

(With Ecclesiastical Approval)

Prayer: 

Lord, thank you for giving us Saints to be our friends and to be our model of living the Gospel virtues. Amen.

Fr. Nilo Lardizabal, OP: Preacher and Missionary

Fr. Nilo Lardizabal, OP

"For when I preach the gospel, I cannot boast, since I am compelled to preach. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel!" -1 Corinthians 9:16

A brother, a friend, a companion to my journey especially when I experienced one of the darkest moments in my life as a young priest. He was there as I remembered his words, "My heart goes out to you. Do not be afraid."

Here, i would like you to meet, one of the greatest preacher I have ever met. He preaches from the heart. He preaches with passion. His preachings were rooted in his experiences of the love of God.

People flock to him not just because of his good looks, his looks is like that of Matteo Guidicelli (hehe, Padre, my apology, but people told me this!) but because of his nice homilies and inspiring talks. 

I am prod because I have met a priest like him in my lifetime. He is an inspiration to me to preach not just by words but through my actions. Padre Nilo, kaibigan, kapatid...thank you very much. God bless you and your works for HIM, our Divine Master!

Prayer:

Lord, thank you for the gift of the priesthood of Fr. Nilo not just to the Dominican Order but to the Church in general. Guide him, strengthen him and give him the needed graces as he preach the Gospel to all nations. Amen.

Pater Ivo: Priest in the Web World

Fr. Ivo Acebedo Velasquez

"Go therefore and make disciples of all nations…” –Matthew 28:19

I am dedicating this page for a friend and a priest whom I look up to. He is Fr. Ivo Acebedo Velasquez of the Archdiocese of Palo in Leyte. We called each other "Pater", Latin for Father.

You will never believe me, we have never meet yet in person. There were sometimes that we tried but unfortunately time does not permit it to happen.

Anyway, we just knew each other through facebook and by following his posts and becoming inspired by his thoughts being shared in the web world.

He is a priest seen not just in the Church pulpit but he used the internet preaching the Gospel of Jesus and teaching the doctrines of the Church.

He was featured as one of the 101 Catholic Priests you should follow on Google not just because of his good looks but because of his inspiring blogs.

Pater Ivo really responded to the call of Jesus to preach the Gospel. Congratulations Pater, my friend, my idol, my brother. Pray for us! Pray for me your unworthy brother.

Prayer:

Lord, you have given your Church a priest in the person of Fr. Ivo, I pray that you continue to keep him in Your Most Sacred Eucharistic Heart. Give him the grace as he continue proclaiming you love and goodness to all. Amen.

When the Wind Blows

The wind blowing in the farm.

"You of little faith, why are you so afraid?" Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm. –Matthew 8:26

I once read from a Christian publication which I forgot the title and the author the following story. I want to share this with you:

Years ago, a farmer owned land along the Atlantic seacoast. He constantly advertised for hired hands. Most people were reluctant to work on farms along the Atlantic. They dreaded the awful storms that raged across the Atlantic, wreaking havoc on the buildings and crops.

As the farmer interviewed applicants for the job, he received a steady stream of refusals.

Finally, a short, thin man, well past middle age, approached the farmer. "Are you a good farm hand?" the farmer asked him. "Well, I can sleep when the wind blows," answered the little man.

Although puzzled by this answer, the farmer, desperate for help, hired him. The little man worked well around the farm, busy from dawn to dusk, and the farmer felt satisfied with the man's work.

Then one night the wind howled loudly in from offshore. Jumping out of bed, the farmer grabbed a lantern and rushed next door to the hired hand's sleeping quarters. He shook the little man and yelled, "Get up!  A storm is coming! Tie things down before they blow away!"

The little man rolled over in bed and said firmly, "No sir. I told you, I can sleep when the wind blows."

Enraged by the response, the farmer was tempted to fire him on the spot. Instead, he hurried outside to prepare for the storm. To his amazement, he discovered that all of the haystacks had been covered with tarpaulins.

The cows were in the barn, the chickens were in the coops, and the doors were barred. The shutters were tightly secured.  Everything was tied down. Nothing could blow away.

The farmer then understood what his hired hand meant, so he returned to his bed to also sleep while the wind blew.

Dear friends, When we are prepared, spiritually, mentally, and physically, you have nothing to fear. We ask ourselves, Can we really sleep when the wind blows through our life?

The hired hand in the story was able to sleep because he had secured the farm against the storm. We secure ourselves against the storms of life by grounding ourselves in the Word of God.

We don't need to understand, we just need to hold His hand to have peace in the middle of the storms.

Prayer:

Lord, help us to always feel secure by trusting you words. Amen.

Which Wolf Do You Feed?

The Cherokee are a Native American people historically settled in the
Southeastern United States (principally Georgia, the Carolinas and Eastern Tennessee).

"Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good." -Romans 12:21

One evening an old Cherokee told his grandson about a debate that goes on inside people. He said,"My son, the battle between two wolves is inside us all. One is Evil. It is anger, envy, jealousy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and ego.

The other is good. It is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion, and faith.

The grandson thought about this for a minute and then asked his grandfather: "Which wolf wins?"

The old Cherokee simply replied, "The one you feed."

So, which wolf did you feed?

Prayer:

Lord, teach us and lead us to what is good May we overcome evil by good. Amen.

Note: The Cherokee are a Native American people historically settled in the Southeastern United States (principally Georgia, the Carolinas and Eastern Tennessee).

Sr. Leoncia Mateo, OP: Mother to the Special Children

After more than seven years of not seeing each other.
Photo taken on February 25, 2014 at Tarlac City's
St. Joseph Home for Special Children.

"Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these." -Matthew 19:14

I have met Sr. Leoncia Mateo of the Dominican Sisters of St. Joseph when I was still a high school student volunteering our services every weekends in her orphanage in Nueva Ecija. I have lost contact with her when I transferred from Maria Assumpta Seminary in Cabanatuan City to Christ the King Mission SEminary in Quezon City to continue my seminary formation. It was just through a common friend, Tita Rose Balza that I was able to reconnect to this angelic nun.

On February 25, 2014 I took the opportunity of visiting her to the site of St. Joseph Home for Special Children. Her third orpahange. The first was the Bethany Home in Bulacan, the second is the Bahay ni San Jose in Nueva Ecija.

Sr. Leoncia get aged already but is never tired of building Homes for special children especially those with disabilities. I asked her, why she never gets tired. Just by looking for funds to build homes is not that easy. He simply smiled t me and said,

"Father, Jesus loves these children and he will for sure wants us to take of them. If we are building homes for them to be safe and to experience having a loving and accepting environment, Jesus will surely provide."

Oh, what an inspiration. Thank you very much Sor Leoncia for your dedication. You are a true-blooded missionary to the young and special children.

Prayer:
Lord, Thank you for Sor Leoncia. She is really a gift to the Church. Continue to bless her and strengthen her in doing your Mission. Amen.

Note: Those who are interested in helping Sor Leoncia Mateo's works for the special children, especially for construction needs. You may contact her at +639175121349 or may visit the site at St. Joseph Home for Special Children, Brgy. San Jose, Block 3, Tralac City, Philippines.