Meet The Thordies

After the rain, what? Yes, after the rain and the storm we are given a very clear sky, gentle breeze and a good sunny day.

Our village is readying its fiesta celebration for its patron saint, San Andres Apostol. It will be on the 30th of November but in our meeting this morning, the body decided to move the celebration on the 29th because it was a Sunday. However, the feast day will not be changed but the fiesta mass will be a day in advance to make sure that many people will hear mass.

The parishioners of Greenwoods Executive Village are working to finish the parish rectory after the bishop has assured us that once it is finished, a parish priest will be assigned to serve the needs of the people. Despite a number of fund raising activities, it seems that money is still the problem. The village has well off residents - politicians, actors and actresses, government officials and international servants. I wish these people would recognize the needs of the church and one day drop by with an envelope.

I don't mind the rain if it means the outpouring of blessings from our talented actors and actresses or our high calibre politicians. The sun always shines from behind!

Been so busy the past couple of weeks. I don't know if I forgot my time management skills or there were really activities that could not be left undone.

We had a fund raising in the church in order to build a rectory for the parish. Our chapel will soon become a parish and everybody was excited to sell the raffle tickets, the final draw of which was June 28 where one lucky winner brought home the brand new Avanza. It was a handsome car fitted for a lady driver and I also prayed to be the winner. But when it was drawn and somebody else name was taken, it made me sigh a relief because at least our job was done.

Before the raffle draw I accompanied by sweetheart to his hometown in Kalibo. His purpose was to be fully recuperated from his stroke. We visited Boracay, (the Pearl of the Pacific) where I have a long-term membership up to 2032. Then back to his town in Kalibo where he is staying until now. He decided to stay for his mission while I returned to Manila for my personal activities.

Prior to this Boracay visit, the Flores de Mayo was successfully accomplished. Fifty five sagalas honored the Blessed Virgin with roses and prayers. Thanks to the municipal band of Mayor Ilagan and the drum and lyre from Pasig.

Several other activities piled up together that made myself so tired and suffered a flu. Mind you it was not the A(H1N1) virus because after two days I am again up alive and kicking.

As part of the Lenten season's activities of the CWL unit in our village, we participated in a vista iglesia last April 4, 2009. We assembled at our meeting place as early as 5:00 a.m. and by 6 o'clock we were on our first scheduled church. We visited 7 churches where five belongs to the Vicariate of Our Lady of Light, and two belongs to the Vicariate of St. John the Baptist, our former vicariate. Last of the seven was the Christ the King Parish located on top of a mountain in Muzon (Taytay, Rizal - Philippines). It was known in the vicinity as the "Church in the Sky".

The church was not so big but it was really built as a tourist attraction. Inside and out you can see the work of art. In front of the church was a huge man-made mountain. It was not finished yet so we did not scrutinize it. On the right side area was a structure which will house the priest and the other part maybe a formation center. It was a breathtaking sight that when you look around while there you can only say, thank you Lord for making me a part of your creation.

Neighbor is every person apart of oneself: parents, relatives, friends, acquaintances, classmates, officemates, employers, superiors, and servants. Two prominent virtues regulate our relationship with our neighbors - virtue of charity and virtue of justice.

Justice requires that we render to our neighbor what is due to him. We render to him that which belongs to him by right. And yet, we may render also to our neighbor something which does not belong to him by right. We render it to him on the basis of charity and concern for him.

Unlike justice, charity is not a legal obligation. But it is no less binding upon us because we are morally bound to be united to others on the basis of mutual love and respect.

Cheers!

Fr. Suarez, the healing priest is coming to Adamson University on Saturday for a healing mass. Netnet booked her uncle for healing. My problems were solved - the car's brake was fixed this morning. We can transport Raffy to the university quadrangle. A wheelchair was borrowed from the university clinic. We will not drag him from the car to the quadrangle and back.

God really provides! Gene is more than willing to drive for us. I heard him talking to his boss at the pharmacy.

God is good! He will give a beautiful day on Saturday, with the sun moderately shining in the middle of the day during the healing mass.

Holy Week will be in April. Before this date, we should take one step back, in order to take five steps forward. It is a good idea for families to have a retreat so as to withdraw briefly from similar surroundings and distractions in order to gain ground in our relationship with God.

A retreat is: a break from routine; fun; relational; active; affirming; surprising; and a step in a spiritual journey. Spiritual maturity requires one to stand back, evaluate and then move forward into new depths of faith. This is a step in the conversion.

A retreat is not: an escape from reality; meaningless fun; isolating; passive; manipulative; boring; and vacation. Frequent retreat goers return feeling good and spiritually revitalized.