"The Bible is God's
Chart for you..."

As some of you may know, I have been diagnosed as diabetic about two years ago today. Since then, life has not been easy. Well, the truth is, in the beginning, I was so worried and upset of my condition. When I was just diagnosed with this disease, I took all the precautions that were necessary to take care of myself. I was religiously following a diet; I was constantly in communication with my primary doctor and diabetes specialist; I was exercising regularly; I was taking my medications religiously. The bottom line is, I was taking care of myself, and doing the things that were necessary to take care of this disease. Believe it or not, by taking care of myself, I was able to regulate my blood sugar. My A1C has gone down dramatically to normal level. I was very happy with myself.

But, for whatever reason, things suddenly changed. For about two years, I became complacent in everything. I was not taking care of myself properly. I was eating all kinds of food that I was not supposed to eat. I was not taking my medications regularly. I didn't do any regular physical exercise, only on occasion. I stropped literally going to my doctors. I didn't go for any blood works for a long time. I simply stopped checking my blood sugar. I was simply living a lifestyle as if I was never been  sick.

About two weeks ago today, I started feeling some tinge of discomfort and pain in my lower abdomen. This went on for some days. I felt a little weak and dizzy at times too. I also felt some burning sensations on my feet. At times, I would occasionally have some cramps on my leg. These were exactly the symptoms I had before I was diagnosed with this dreaded disease two years ago. So I knew exactly that this has something to do with my diabetes. I suspected immediately that my sugar level must be very high. My suspicion was confirmed when I checked my blood sugar. It was 580 on reading. This was too high from the normal range of 100-160. That day, I immediately made an appointment with my primary doctor for consultation. When I saw him, I told him that I have not been very conscientious in taking care of myself and my sickness. So he prescribed me some medications that I needed to take immediately. He asked me as well to go for blood test as soon as possible. After two days I went for my blood works. The next day, my doctor got the result and called me to his clinic. My A1C was very high. I think it was 11.4. The normal A1C average is 6.5 and below. My cholesterol was very high too. With these results, I know I can have complications in my kidney, heart, eyes, nerves, etc. So this started me to reflect and think of what I have to do and need to do from here on. If I want to live longer, I need to change my lifestyle now. I need to follow some strict regimen: take my medications regularly, consult my doctor as often as possible, have a regular check-up, exercise, diet, and do the things necessary to take care of myself. For a week now, I have been taking my oral medications regularly. I also started dieting again. This afternoon, I started doing some physical exercise. I am determined to work out at least 3 times a week (take a walk for at least 30 minutes). The most difficult part is dieting. I know it would not be easy, but I have to do it. I need to cut down on carbohydrates like rice and pasta. I need to eat more vegetables. I will try to avoid eating any fatty foods.

Yes, it's like I am beginning anew in my journey. I feel some kind of uncertainty, and sometimes sadness, knowing that I have to do these necessary changes for life. But, with God's help and with the support of friends, I am determined to do it. Well, life is after all making choices. This time I am determined to make the necessary and right choice. 

Another year is almost over, and we are anticipating for the arrival of another year. Time just flew by so suddenly. We hardly had time to sit and relax, enjoy the events and memories of the past. Now a new dawn is here, before we even realized it. Yes, whether we like it or not, Christmas is here. Its joyful spirit is felt everywhere; from the songs being played in the air waves, to the grandiose Christmas decors that are visibly displayed in the malls and stores. At almost every house yard in the neighborhood you will find the display of Sta. Claus riding on his sleigh, or the child’s wonder, Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer, or else, you will see the glittering multicolored lights that are sneakily interwoven on top of the garden plants and/or among the trees’ branches, which keep on radiating light almost forever. Such an elaborate display of Christmas ornamentation speaks of our inner sense and great emotions as we await the arrival of our Messiah, Jesus – the Savior of mankind.

For all the Filipinos worldwide, we started celebrating the so called “Simbang Gabi” mass in our parish churches. The “Simbang Gabi” is a unique tradition that Filipinos have that has been preserved and remains an essential part of the Filipino Christmas celebration. It is popularly called “Misa de Gallo.” The “Simbang Gabi” is observed by the Filipinos to spiritually prepare for Christmas. It is a novena of advent masses for nine days starting December 16th and ends on December 24th. It dates back to the 1700s when the Spanish missionaries brought the custom from Mexico to the Philippines.

In the Philippines, these masses start at 4:00 a.m. In some towns and in the cities, they usually start at 5:00 a,m. Churches are always full to capacity. In some areas, an hour or so before the mass, a band plays traditional Christmas carols all over town and the whole village remains vigilant for the observance of “Simbang Gabi.”

These novena masses are culminated by the midnight mass on Christmas eve. After the mass, everyone goes home to spend “Noche Buena,” or Christmas dinner with their families and loved ones. This is a time of family reunion as well. Members of the family who have left “the nest” come home once again to enjoy and share the spirit of Christmas with one another.

Last night I also celebrated the “Simbang Gabi” mass in my parish church where there were about five hundred or more people in attendance. There were six priests who concelebrated with me at the mass. Our Filipino Apostolate choir sung beautifully. We sang Christmas carols to relive our most tender memories of the joyful Christmas celebration. After the mass, we had dinner and “salo-salo”, and non-stop dancing afterwards. This was our way to celebrate Christmas together as a parish family.

In a few more days we will celebrate Christmas, the birth of our Lord. Because of this, it forced me to reflect of what Christmas really is. One thing that is associated with Christmas everywhere is giving. Christmas is the feast of giving. Christmas is the one time in the year when everyone is sure to give and receive a present, even if only a Christmas card. People spent a lot of time and money shopping for the perfect Christmas gift. We put up Christmas trees to surprise family members with our gifts and to be surprised with theirs. Santa Claus is the perfect symbol of Christmas because Santa is the one who gives and gives and never gets tired of giving. Christmas is a feast of giving even from God’s point of view. At Christmas we celebrate the king of kings leaving his divine glory and coming to our dreary world to share with us our poverty, misery and pain. It is not a question of Jesus giving us any particular gifts or blessings, it is a question of him giving us himself. This is the big difference between Jesus and Santa Claus. Santa Claus rides in an open sleigh giving gifts to children who have been good. But Santa leaves the gifts on the Christmas tree and disappears. Christ, on the other hand, does not leave a gift and disappear. He comes to live with us. He comes to share our human condition. His very presence is the gift. At Christmas we celebrate the mystery that “God so loved the world that He gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him may not perish but may have eternal life” (John 3:16). God gives, and the people of God give, and that is Christmas.

If Christmas is the feast of giving, then the question of what to give and how to give becomes very important. After all what is worth doing is worth doing well. So the question is, how can we improve on the quality of our giving? How can we improve on the quality of our Christmas celebration?

The gospel last Sunday helps us to answer some of these questions. In the gospel we read the story of Mary Visiting Elizabeth. We are not told that Mary brought foodstuff, or anything. We are told she brought just one thing: herself. She gave Elizabeth the gift of her very presence. And, dear friends, this is the best and the hardest gift of all. It is easy to send flowers, it is easy to send a parcel, but to give the gift of ourselves, to make out the time to be with somebody, that is the gift that many people long for but do not receive at Christmas.

I wonder how many families out there who are so busy with the everyday affairs of life (work, school, social activities, etc.), that they don’t have time to be with their families or be with their children anymore. For many people, work and material things have replaced human longing and need. In fact, for some people, they have become the most important venture. And what are the common results? We hear of families being fractured and couples separated because they didn’t have time for themselves anymore. We hear horror stories of young people who ran away from home, and who are engaged into drugs and all kinds of immoral activities, because no one loves or cares for them. Machine or toys cannot replace human love and care. Te gift of ourselves are more important than material gifts.

Following Mary’s example, we must, in addition to flowers and parcels, give of ourselves, our presence, our time. We must find the time to visit and be with people. This is the greatest gift because its value cannot be calculated in terms of money.

Do you know one thing everybody needs today? Everybody needs love and encouragement. Everybody needs the interior peace and joy that come from the Holy Spirit. This is what Mary’s visit did to Elizabeth. Mary’s visit was an inspiration to Elizabeth. When we visit people this Christmas, let us try to bring some inspiration into their lives, let us seek to bring them closer to God, and let us try to share with them the Spirit of God in us, the Spirit of consolation, of courage, of peace and joy.

Before I forget, may I ask you to include in your intentions this Christmas- to pray for peace in our native land. In a special way, we remember all the victims of the gruesome massacre in Maguindanao. We pray that justice be served upon them. We also pray for all the victims of the recent floods in the Philippines which affected so many people. We pray that in this Christmas season they may find some comfort and joy in this difficult time.

To one and all, I wish you and your families a wonderful Christmas and a Blessed New Year.

God bless you all.

People all over the world remember a historic event that happened in the Philippines in 1986, the well-known ‘Edsa Revolution,’ a non-violent mass action by the Filipinos to end the dictatorship of the then President Ferdinand Marcos. It was historic because it was the first time ever that a sitting President was deposed, not by impeachment, but through a continuous pressure of mass rallies and protests without resorting to arms or bloody revolution.

The cry for change was the epitome of the Edsa Revolution. People then were fed up with corruption in government and they wanted to be free from the grips of martial law which was imposed as a ploy so that President Marcos could have complete control of the government, the military, and the citizenry. This was not to say the obvious: that he wanted to perpetuate his stay in power. But as we all know now, that move was a tactical mistake. When the rights and freedoms of our people were violated, they rose above themselves in concerted efforts to fight a common enemy.

The ongoing crises in the Philippines are not just vestiges of the past, but the past resurrecting itself with new face, but of the same reality. The cycle of corruption that has gripped the Philippine government in the past is still very much prominent in the current system, although some say otherwise. The Philippines is still  poor as ever. Some years ago, Time magazine called the Philippines ‘the sick man of Asia,’ considering that among the association of South East Asian Countries (ASEAN), the Philippines was singled out among the poorest. Today there is still widespread poverty and unemployment in the country. As in the past, the gap between the rich and the poor is unconscionable. The problem of insurgency is still prevalent. The situation in Mindanao is getting worse. Not to mention that on November 23, 2009, just this past week, a Datu and an elected mayor  in Maguindanao named Andal Ampatuan, Jr. has been implicated for the gruesome mass murder and killings of 46 unarmed people including mass media people. This for me  is not just deplorable and unconscionable, but it is symptomatic of a deeper problem, a cancer that had been metastasizing in the fabric and fiber of  our society for so  long a time. Now in the face of this gruesome murder, and the current and ongoing other problems facing our country, what should be our common stand? Is there any viable solution that we can endorse to end these problems?

I think it is important that we as a nation should make an honest and radical  assessment of why we have these recurrent problems. The reality is, the past and present governments have not really done anything to improve our situation. If the leaders did anything good for their merit, it was only for the good of a few. Since Mr. Estrada assumed office some years ago, until today,the situation in the Philippines had remained stagnant, if not gotten worse.Under the reign of President Arroyo, the economy had improved a bit, as some observers have declared. Whether this is true or not, but the problems of poverty and unemployment are still widespread. Corruption and cronyism in government are still prevalent. In my view, there is a need for a swift,resolute and radical move to put our country in its rightful place, a place among the world of nations where we can salute with honor and dignity. We cannot just sit on the sideline and pretend that everything is going well. All of us need to know that there is an ongoing crisis in the country, a crisis that all of us need to address. Therefore, we need to make a common stand and a firm resolution to address this problem.

Besides the socio-economic problems that beset our country, we need also to address the political crisis in government. In my view, the gruesome killings in Maguindanao allegedly perpetrated by Mr.Ampatuan, Jr. was just a tip of the iceberg. How many Ampatuan’s are there in government right now  that we know of? Why they continue to remain in power is mind boggling. Why can’t we do anything to depose these‘undesirables’ from their offices? Are we simply afraid of them, or are we just contented to accept our fate in misery and fear? The cry of one of our Catholic bishops yesterday is for me in order: In the coming national election in May 2010, the people should not vote for those political leaders and their accomplices who were allegedly involved in the gruesome murder. What happened in Maguindanao should be a wake-up call for all the Filipinos. The Filipino people should also make a stand as far as cleaning up the other ‘political undesirables,’ who may still be sitting so comfortably in their offices. The coming national election in May 2010 should be a good venue to start  this process of change.

The Filipino people have suffered long enough. We therefore need to address these current problems swiftly and resolutely. As far as the gruesome murder in Maguindanao is concerned, first we demand that  the sitting President, Ms. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo should follow up and make sure that the perpetrators of the dastardly acts in Maguindanao are apprehended and brought to justice. The question is,can we expect a free and judicious trial in the case of Mr. Ampatuan, Jr., the alleged mastermind and perpetrator,  considering that he was a close ally of Ms.Arroyo? What guarantee can they give us that the process of judicious trial not be derailed by the big supporters and allies of the  Ampatuan clan? In my opinion,if in case the trial of Mr. Ampatuan, Jr. is derailed, the Filipino people will know what to do. I believe strongly that if the trial of Mr. Ampatuan is derailed, the people of the land will rise up and stage another revolution, one that maybe even more daring than the two Edsa revolutions combined together.The people cannot be fooled anymore. They have had enough.

Our government should implement radical and substantive changes in our country’s political and economic systems. One time,before the second Edsa Revolution, the former National Security Adviser Jose Almonte outlined some urgent tasks that our government should do. First of all,Almonte was pushing for an institutional method of ‘correcting political mistakes’ where mechanisms of the people’s initiative, recall and referendum are to be invoked. Secondly, in promoting a ‘direct democracy,’ Almonte proposed that the electorate should be empowered to ‘intervene expeditiously and peacefully in political crisis. This would also increase the political accountability of all officials, whether elected or appointed. Thirdly, Almonte said that the new government must ensure transparency of all elected officials by protecting constitutional guarantees, including the “full public disclosure to all transactions involving public interest.” And fourthly, the administrative bureaucracy should be professionalized, ‘to make it strong enough to resist the ‘importunings’ of special interest groups.

What is needed today and the future is an overhaul of the whole system of government. I support some of Almonte’s suggestions as to how we can immediately address some of the current problems besetting our country. I endorse the idea that more people’s participation in government be made. There should be less control by the government and more control by the  people. And a ‘constitutional mechanism’of ‘direct democracy’ must be in place.

There is no doubt that all these suggestions are positive and should be considered. I hope and pray that the next government leaders will consider these suggestions. But the problem is, who can effectively implement them. Words and ideas are good. But if they are not implemented the way they should be, what good is that? We therefore need a leader who has the right vision and resoluteness to restructure the government as we have envisioned.

At this time we need to stand together. We need to face the crisis and continue seeking the right solutions. We need to continue fighting for the good of the country. We should not lose hope. We believe that someday our country will become free and prosperous again. I therefore urge everyone to be wise and vigilant come election time. This time, let us really try to elect leaders   who are qualified and ready to serve our country with selfless dedication and commitment, leaders who have  the  vision and the ability to implement the needed socio-political and economic programs for the betterment of our citizenry, and leaders whom we can be proud to emulate and follow. Let us make this our solemn pledge and  contract with one together. Be a part of this process of change. To be silent or passive is not anymore an option. We should all wake up before another set of leaders will rob us again of our dignity. 

By Jennifer Hartline

There are days when I do battle with a deadly spiritual malady, a form of spiritual heart disease. It comes in two forms, both rather sneaky in how they creep up on me and worm their way into my heart. They are cynicism and indifference. It’s not so much that I choose them; it’s that I make no effort to refuse them.

Clearly, many of us are suffering this malady. This is the disease that zaps our energy and steals our excitement. It leaves us weary and lazy and full of handy excuses. It eats away at devotion and leaves our souls empty. Christendom in America is deeply infected with this life-sapping sickness. It is why so many Christians have been enticed and beguiled by power and popularity and persuaded to compromise. Without passion, without zeal, without fervor, we are lifeless and faith is so easily cast aside.

St. Augustine prescribes the cure: We need a new romance. "To fall in love with God is the greatest of romances, to seek Him the greatest adventure, to find Him the greatest human achievement." What the cynical and indifferent heart needs is a healthy dose of romance.

We have every reason to be enthralled in romance! The greatest gesture of love known to the universe was made toward each of us by the Author of True Love. We are not simply liked and enjoyed; we are passionately, deeply, obsessively loved!

How does it go again? “God so understood the world…”

“God so cared for the world…”

“God so respected the world…”

“God so accepted the world…”

“God so disdained the world…”

“God so rejected the world…”

No…God so LOVED the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him will not perish but have everlasting life. God made a bold and unflinching proclamation of abiding, endless love to all mankind, and Jesus came to be made a fool of, all in the hope that He would win the hearts of His beloved ones. Only a passionate lover is willing to look foolish for his beloved.

People, we desperately need a new romance. We need to take a good, long look with fresh eyes at the Lover of our souls and internalize the high price He paid for the chance to be reunited with us. I hope we have not stared at our painted images of God for so long that we are no longer impressed by what we see, for it’s not the typical picture of enchantment. Unadulterated passion and pure, ambitious love are not presented to us in flowers and sunsets, but in straw, wood, nails and blood.

I wonder in our day if we can even comprehend the nature of real love. Do we spend much time anymore contemplating a love that isn’t sexual or pleasure-oriented? Are we even inclined to pursue an endeavor that demands self-sacrifice?

“There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God – having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them.” 2 Tim 3:1-5

We have lost the fervor of our affection for God because we have become deadened to the meaning of real love. Love gives. Love is not self-seeking. Love cannot keep anything for itself. This kind of love is increasingly foreign to us. Like some kind of Dead Sea that only receives and never gives of itself to anyone else, we die inside because we don’t love. We must make a concerted effort to dwell on this crazy, extravagant love of God until it captures us again in the flush of romance. We need to fall in love with Jesus. It is the only cure for the cynical and indifferent heart.

We need that love to make us fearless in our devotion. We need the kind of passion that turns us into willing fools, people who couldn’t care less what the world thinks of us. I want the kind of passion and love for Christ that is oblivious to everything but Him. If He holds my heart, I need nothing else. The sound of His voice makes my heart pound, and there’s no room in my ears for any scorn or insult. I say I want this kind of passion and love because I’m not quite there yet. But I’m being wooed, and the more I attend to His affection, the more this romance grows, and the more my heart longs only for Jesus. I want the love described in the Song of Solomon: “Place me like a seal over your heart, like a seal on your arm; for love is as strong as death, its jealousy unyielding as the grave. It burns like blazing fire, like a mighty flame. Many waters cannot quench love; rivers cannot wash it away.”

This is the love that turns ordinary people into saints! This is the love that turns you and me into the hands and feet of Jesus in the world. This is the love that softens the most hardened of hearts, the love the world simply cannot ignore. It is this love that gives us courage and compels us to be faithful no matter the cost.

The heart in love with Jesus has no room for compromise or deception, since it only desires more of Jesus. The moral courage and conviction we lack, the absence of zeal and fervor in our faith is easily cured, if we will purposely incline ourselves toward Him. It is a sweet romance that beckons to us…let us fall in love again!

Source: http://www.4marks.com/articles/details.html?article_id=3689

Rosa was one of our members and a subscriber to Daily Gospel Reflection Website. Yesterday morning, October 14th,she passed away at Clara Maas Hospital, Belleville, New Jersey, of kidney and heart failure. Rosa was just 50 years old.

I have met Rosa a few months back. She was a member of our Church and quite active in the "Why Catholic" program of the parish. She was a single mom of an 18 year old daughter named Sarah. Sarah is a freshman in college. Before the opening of the school year, Rosa was so nervous about her daughter's going to college. At the same time,she was very excited knowing that her daughter is enrolled in a good and esteemed  school.

I don't  know much about the personal life of Rosa except that she was a very religious woman. I saw her come to Church almost every Sunday. She was a member of a "Why Catholic" group in our parish, where they meet regularly with the group to pray, reflect and study our Catholic faith. She was a native of Peru but has been living here in the United States for some years now. Rosa is an expert on web design and computer graphics. Actually, according to her, she studied computer graphics in school but never web designing. She learned by her own effort to design and build websites after she got laid off from work. In fact, she let me borrow her book about SqL and PhP programming, so I could learn it myself. She told me that she learned everything about web designing, servers, web hosting, etc. just by reading the book, and so I could learn it too, she said. When I tried to read the book myself, I could hardly understand anything. I told Rosa that she was very smart to learn from the book so easily. When I told her that, she just looked at me with a smile on her face.   

Two weeks before the end of August, I wrote a little Ad in our Sunday Bulletin asking for volunteers  to help me build a parish website. The next day, Rosa emailed me immediately and was volunteering her services. Two days later I called her and told Rosa that I wanted to meet her. We met a few days later and we started planning about building our parish website. She showed me some of her current work and designs and I was elated. Her designs were very elegant and professional, and I wanted her to build something similar.  So, after our initial planning, Rosa began  to work immediately on our parish website. After a few days, we met again because Rosa wanted to show me the progress of her work. At this second meeting, she was very happy  to show me  the progress of her work. To my surprise, she really did a good job building our website,although it was still at its initial stage. The structure was quite intricate.The design was simple but elegant. I was very happy myself about the result of her work. In that meeting she told me that in a few more weeks the website will be done and running.  She promised to update me every now and then about the progress of her work. After this time I went out of the country on a pilgrimage to Europe. When I came back from the pilgrimage, I learned that Rosa was in the hospital. I immediately went to see her. When I saw her in the hospital, she told me that she was so sorry that she was not able to finish yet the parish website because she got sick. I told her not to worry about it. I told her as well that her health was more important than anything else at this time. She was already two weeks in the hospital when I went to see her. According to Rosa, the doctors were not yet able to diagnose what her sickness was in spite of  the series of tests that they did to her already. She was feeling sick and dizzy. There appeared some rushes on herskin.  After two weeks, Rosa went home from the hospital. At home, she was not getting better. So she got back to the hospital in a few days. I went to see her again in the hospital later in the week. This was just last Saturday. Even at that time, the doctors were not yet able to determine what was really wrong with her. At first they were telling her that she had low potassium, and then, they said that there was something wrong in her gall bladder.And, according to Rosa, they would be doing more series of tests in the coming week. During the past week, I never heard anything from Rosa since I saw her last.  I just assumed that she was already well. Yesterday morning, three of Rosa's friends came to the rectory looking for me to inform me of the sad news. Rosa  passed away yesterday  morning. The doctors were finally able to determine her illness  - the big C.

Rosa's friends were so worried because Rosa has no family here to take care of the funerals services and other incidentals. Rosa just  had a daughter, a cousin and a few friends, who are all trying to help in some way. Sarah, Rosa's daughter, just started college and is not  working. Rosa's mom, by the way, arrived from Peru last Thursday, just in time to see Rosa for the last time before her demise. Her mom is about 80 years old, who could not speak English.  Now  we are trying every way possible to help out the family, especially for the funeral rites. The family is in dire need of help. Her body still lies at the morgue in the hospital. At this time we  are trying to make arrangement with the funeral home and the cemetery, if they could possibly extend free services and help for Rosa's funeral and internment.  It's a very sad story with a very sad ending. But I hope and pray that Rosa will now find her peace.

Please join me as we pray for the repose of  the soul of Rosa, and for her daughter Sarah whom she left behind. May God reward her for the good things she has done, and may she now rest in peace in the bosom of God.

I am posting here a document sent by one of our subscribers, sanjeeva. This is an article written by a certain Dr. Bob Morehead. Thank you for sharing this thought provoking article, sanjeeva!

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The paradox of our time in history is that we have taller buildings but shorter tempers, wider Freeways, but narrower viewpoints.

We spend more, but have less, we buy more, but enjoy less. We have bigger houses and smaller families, more conveniences, but less time. We have more degrees but less sense, more knowledge, but less judgment, more experts, yet more problems, more medicine, but less wellness.

We drink too much, smoke too much, spend too recklessly, laugh too little, drive too fast, get too angry, stay up too late, get up too tired, read too little, watch TV too much, and pray too seldom. We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values. We talk too much, love too seldom, and hate too often.

We've learned how to make a living, but not a life. We've added years to life not life to years. We've been all the way to the moon and back, but have trouble crossing the street to meet a new neighbor.. We conquered outer space but not inner space. We've done larger things, but not better things.

We've cleaned up the air, but polluted the soul. We've conquered the atom, but not our prejudice. We write more, but learn less... We plan more, but accomplish less. We've learned to rush, but not to wait.. We build more computers to hold more information, to produce more copies than ever, but we communicate less and less.

These are the times of fast foods and slow digestion, big men and small character, steep profits and shallow relationships. These are the days of two incomes but more divorce, fancier houses, but broken homes. These are days of quick trips, disposable diapers, throwaway morality, one night stands, overweight bodies, and pills that do everything from cheer, to quiet, to kill. It is a time when there is much in the showroom window and nothing in the stockroom. A time when technology can bring this letter to you, and a time when you can choose either to share this insight, or to just hit delete....

Remember to spend some time with your loved ones, because they are not going to be around forever. Remember to say a kind word to someone who looks up to you in awe, because that little person soon will grow up and leave your side. Remember to give a warm hug to the one next to you, because that is the only treasure you can give with your heart and it doesn't cost a cent. Remember to say, ' I love you ' to your partner and your loved ones, but most of all mean it. A kiss and an embrace will mend hurt when it comes from deep inside of you.

Remember to hold hands and cherish the moment for someday that person will not be there again. Give time to love, give time to speak! And give time to share the precious thoughts in your mind.

AND ALWAYS REMEMBER:

Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.

As some of you may know, I just came back a week ago from a pilgrimage to Portugal, Spain and France. Our European tour and pilgrimage was so great & fascinating. It was not just a sightseeing of many wonderful and exquisite places, but a faith-filled journey. We visited many shrines and holy places, including Fatima in Portugal and Lourdes in France. These were the highlights of our pilgrimage.

On this pilgrimage, there was something that happened that I could not forget- and which I call a miracle. We were traveling from Burgos,Spain going to Loyola, Spain. This was a four hour journey. Along the way, we stopped by a restaurant to take lunch. Now I was carrying a small bag which contained all my documents like passport, Socialsecurity, xerox copy of my passport, our travel itinerary, camera,camcorder, and all my cash money. When we took lunch at this restaurant, I put my bag at the back of my chair. After lunch, when we got up to leave, I simply forgot my bag on the chair. I only realized that I left my bag in the restaurant when we were already in Loyola,Spain. That was four hours drive away. Now just imagine the feeling that I had when I realized that all my documents, and money were gone? We could not go back because we were catching up with our schedule. In fact, we were a little behind in our schedule already. In that evening, were were heading to Fatima, Portugal. But when we were in Loyola,Spain, during the mass that we had at the house of St. Ignatius of Loyola, we prayed during the mass that somebody will find my bag and return it to me. Believe it or not, after the mass- our tour guide and manager, Ari, was able to call back the restaurant to inquire. And lo and behold, someone found my bag. And this person who found my bag sent it by mail to our hotel in Caen, France. I received my bag in France after five days with everything in it. Nothing inside the bag was lost or taken. I  had everything intact. Now, would you call this a coincidence? or a chance, maybe, or just mere luck? NO. I call this a miracle. I believe  in the power of prayer and the goodness of people. We prayed earnestly for it, and God readily answered. For this experience I thank God that there are still some  people in this world who are honest and good. And of course, if you pray earnestly, God will answer your prayers. Maybe not always according to your time and way. But He will answer you. No doubt about it.

You may have seen the video "Ondoy's Trail of Fury" which I just posted in our site. As you may know, On Sept.26, 2009, Manila had been flooded, and the neighboring provinces suffered greatly caused by one of nature's worst typhoon, ONDOY, with international name "KELSANA." According to the news reports, ONDOY poured more than a month worth of rain in six hours, submerging most parts of the bustling metropolis, especially Marikina, Cainta, Pasig, San Mateo Rizal, and neighboring areas, drowning at least two hundred people and more. Just watch the video from Youtube which I just posted here. I could never describe the scene on the video  in words. The video speaks for itself.

I don't know what comes to your mind as you are watching this video now? For me, I could hardly watch it without my heart writhing in pain. My heart goes out for  those people who lost loved ones, those who lost homes and properties and who have no where to go from here. I feel sorry for those children who lost their parents, who may have been buried in the mud or swept away by the raging waters. Now they are left alone to live and mend their own pains. I feel sorry for those parents who lost their children. Now they will forever grieve for their lost. I feel sorry for those people who have no food to eat tonight, no warm clothes to wear, and no shelter to lay their heads. Could somebody extend them some help?

Yes, I could watch the video over and over again, feel sorry about it, and then go on with my life. But is that who I am? Does the video affect me or you in any way? Are you affected by the suffering of your fellow human beings? Yes, we are. We are part of humanity. We are part of Christ's body. If one of the members suffers, the whole body suffers. As Christ's disciples, we need to pray for all the victims of the tragedy and for everyone who were affected by the typhoon. On the other hand, while prayer and good faith are good, they are not enough. Our faith and prayers should flow into action. "Faith without good works is dead," says St. James (James 2:14).

It is in such moments like these that we are asked and challenged to manifest our faith through our good works and actions. One concrete way to show your love and compassion for those affected by the typhoon is to extend financial help, as you are able to. There are many civic or church's organizations which you can direct your donation or "love offering" for this sole purpose. But it is time to act now and show compassion to our fellow human beings. We cannot just sit on the sidelines, be content with our personal prayer and meditation, and we consider ourselves Christians. What we need to do is to meditate on the Word of God daily, and live it through our actions and good deeds. This is what I call Gospel in action.

God calls each one of us to be people of faith and action. Let us all join hands together to help our brothers and sisters who are suffering and in dire need, especially at this most difficult time.

May we count on your help and generosity?

SEPTEMBER 3, 2009, THURSDAY

I traveled today with a group of twenty five people for pilgrimage to Portugal, Spain and France. Last night, at 8:30 PM, we flew from Newark, New Jersey going to Portugal via Continental Airlines. We arrived here in Portugal  this morning at about 8:30 A.M. It was a 6-hour and 16 minute flight from the US.

When we arrived at the airport, we were met by our travel agent and manager, Ari. Ari is a Swiss national, with a pleasing and interesting personality. Ari is our tour guide during the course of the pilgrimage. From the airport, we started the day by touring the city of Lisbon, the capital city of Portugal. Lisbon is a very impressive and interesting city. It is rich in tradition, architecture and art. We were given a bus tour of Lisbon, where we were introduced to sights of one of the most beautiful capitals in Europe. We passed by big avenues, the Saint George Castle on the hill and the old town below. We visited some interesting places and sites like the Cathedral of Lisbon, a magnificent piece of art ; a combination of Renaissance art, baroque and gothic arts, with massive walls and high ceilings nicely decorated.  We also visited the birth place of St. Anthony of Padua, where a Church is now built. It is a church situated near the Cathedral of Lisbon.  The town of Belem and the Monastery of the Geronimos were very impressive. You can find here a number of great museums, the tower of Belem along the city of "porto," magnificent edifices, the residence of kings and others. Their  sea port, along the city of "porto"  was just magnificent. Along the sea port, you can find a massive monument of art  where the kings of  Portugal, poets and adventurers have been immortalized in massive monuments and structures. Henry the Adventurer is one of the most  famous Portuguese adventurer. From the city of porto, you can have a nice eye view of a look-a-like copy  of the  "golden gate" bridge of San Francisco and the towering  statue of Christ the King in Rio de Janeiro in Brazil.  Lisbon has many beautiful parks and gardens;there are lot of "piazzas" at almost every corner. On top of the hill, you can find mostly the residences of the upper class people in Portugal. Then we drove through the grounds of the Expo 98 and saw impressive contemporary architecture. Now I understand why in the Middle Ages Portugal was one of the most powerful countries in the world.

In the afternoon, we traveled to Fatima, the site of the apparition of the Blessed Virgin Mary in 1917. Fatima is a city at the outskirts of Portugal. It took us about almost two hour ride from Lisbon to Fatima. When we arrived here in Fatima, we did not do anything in particular except to check in our baggages at a hotel, had a short tour of the apparition site, had dinner, and then retired for the night. Tomorrow at 7:00 AM, I will be saying mass near the site of the apparition. 

SEPTEMBER 4, 2009, FRIDAY

At 7:00 AM, we started our day with an early morning mass at the chapel of the apparition. At this mass I have prayed and remembered all the people who gave or sent  me their intentions to be prayed for. It was such an overwhelming experience for me to be saying mass at the site of the apparition of our Lady.  There were a number of other people who attended our mass  aside from our group. After the mass, we went back to our hotel and had breakfast. At the breakfast table our tour manager informed us that we will be visiting two famous places in the morning, a Cistercian cloister monastery in Alcobaca, and the monastery in Batalha. At 8:30 AM, we travelled to these holy sites. From Fatima to Alcobaca, it took us about an hour ride. It is in Alcobaca where the biggest church in Portugal was built,the Real Abbey de Santa Maria de Alcobaca, one of the best example  of a medieval Cistercian Abbey and which Unesco has granted recognition as the Heritage of Humanity. Alfonso Henriques,the first King of Portugal, had made a promise to build a big temple for the Order of Cister if he managed to beat the Arians. And so it happened: in 1147 the king conquered the moslem fortress of this town, and in 1153 founded  the Abbey of Alcobaca. I have never seen anything like this structure in my life. Both the monastery and the Church were constructed with a gothic architectural design. It has a very high pillars reinforced with columns. The side naves areas are as high as the central nave. The transept of the temple houses the sepulchres of King Pedro I and Dona Ines de Castro, situated one opposite the other.

In the rooms of the monastery, the 'cloister of silencio' can be seen, the main Gothic cloister in all the country. Going around the cloister on the upper level there are two interesting rooms; the chapter room, which was were the monks met in order to choose the abbot and discuss matters in regard to the monastery, and going up the steps, the bedroom of the monks, an immense gothic rooms.

From Alcobaca we drove to Batalha, to visit another very interesting monastery called 'Mosteiro de Santa Maria da Victoria.' Again,in this piece of structure, you will find the masterpiece of gothic and manueline architecture. This monastery was built to commemorate the victory over Spaniards at the battle of Aljubarrota in 1385. King Joao I promised to dedicate a grandiose church to  the Virgin if he won on the battlefield.  And he did won the battle.The remains of the king is entombed in a chapel at the front corner of theAbbey.

After visiting these two famous sites, we returned back to Fatima. We made a side trip to one of the shopping centers in Fatima, where we bought some gift items and religious memorabilia. We had lunch there as well. After lunch, we went to see the village where the three seers were born. Their village was not far from the apparition site. Francesco and Jacinta, as you know, were brother and sister. They died very young; and Lucia was a cousin, who lived not very far from where Francesco and Jacinta lived. We visited first the house of Lucia. It was a very humble residence,with three small rooms. So with the house of Francesco and Jacinta. By the way,at the house of Franceso and Jacinta I got the chance to have a picture taken  with a nephew of Francesco, who is  still alive. He showed me the room where Francesco died. Near the house of Lucia, we also went to see an apparition site, where an angel appeared to the three seers, prior to the apparition of the blessed Virgin in May 1917. At the apparition site, I saw an old woman sitting by herself praying the rosary, which caught my attention and really impressed me. After visiting the houses of the three seers, we went back to our hotel. After dinner in the evening, at 9:30 PM, we joined a candle light  procession at the site of the apparition. First we had a rosary, and then a candle light procession. There maybe about 2 to 3 thousand people who joined in the candle light procession for this night. The candle light procession was very touching really. The whole celebration took about an hour or so. It was already past 10 PM when we went back to our hotel.This is the third day of our pilgrimage.

SEPTEMBER 5, 2009, SATURDAY

We had breakfast at 7 AM in the hotel. At 7:35 AM,we drove to  Spain. It was a 6-hour drive from Fatima,Portugal to Salamanca, Spain. We made one stop in between. During the course of our journey, Ari, our tourist guide and manager, gave us a short lecture on the history of the Roman Empire, how it spread and subdivided.  In an hour or so, Ari was able to present how,from the time of the death of Mohammed in 632, Islam has spread to Saudi Arabia and the Middle East so rapidly. About 100 years later, it spread to Eastern Europe, starting at the landing in Spain in 711. Ari spoke about great emperors, starting with Charles Martell, the reign of his son Pepin the Short,and then the ascendancy to the throne by Charlemagne, the greatest emperor, who brought order, law, discipline and full political power in the empire. After him came his son, Louis the Pious. After Louis the Pious, he spoke about the division of the empire, the many scandals in the Church, and many other related topics. Ari gave us a great presentation on the history of the Church as well as Western Civilization.

Our first official stop in Spain was Salamanca,where we find the oldest University in the country, famous all over the world for its theology.  Salamanca is  considered to be one of the most exceptional cities in Spain, due to its rich historic, artistic and cultural heritage. From pre-historic times to the present, this city has been the passing of the most important civilizations established on the Liberian Peninsula, while its civil and religious buildings are among the maximum espressions of Spanish and European architecture. We toured the center of the city and I was overwhelmed really by the richness of its culture, arts, and the architectural designs  of its buildings- that dates back from the middle ages, or even earlier. Salamanca, I was told, has become a cultural center of the first order, thanks to the labour carried out by its two universities, in particular Salamanca University, which was founded in 1218,thus making it the oldest university in Spain and one of the first in Europe.

We had only an hour to tour the main center of the city. The first thing that I saw and which impressed me so much was the panorama of the so called Plaza mayor. The Plaza mayor is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful of its kind in Spain, and dates from the baroque era. From the Plaza Mayor, we walked through the portal of the University. We continued walking  around the city and visited the Romanesque Cathedral of Santa Maria which was built in the 12thcentury. It is an outstanding Spanish Romanesque monument, which is so overwhelming - just looking at its decorative arts and massive structure. We have also visited the convent of Santa Maria De Las Duenas which was founded in 1419. The University of Salamanca was an epitome of knowledge and learning,even at this time.

From Salamanca, we continued our travel going east. Along the way, we stopped by a little village called "Alba de Tormes," where we find the Convent of the Carmelites where St. Teresa of Avila was buried. I have seen the room where she died and the chapel where she is entombed. At 5 pm today, I celebrated mass in this chapel where the body of St. Teresa of Avila was entombed. After Mass, we proceeded to the city  of Avila. It took us about more than an hour ride from Alba de Tormes to Avila. This is the city  where St. Teresa was born and raised.  The city  of Avila is exquisite. It is surrounded by high thick walls with 88 towers. I have never seen one like this before. It looks like the towering  great walls of  China, or the famous Berlin Wall that surrounded the city. We walked and toured around the  city. The buildings and architectures of the city are magnificent. Again, you witness here the wealth of Spanish arts,culture and architecture par excellence. I have seen nothing like this incomparison. It is very unique, overwhelming, and just awe-inspiring  to see and look at these magnificent edifices in the city. After touring the city, we walked down to our hotel, which was situated outside the great wall. Our hotel's name is "Hotel Cuatro Postes," a 3-star star I would guess. It was nothing fancy but at least  comfortable.  We had dinner at 9 PM. Then we retired for thenight.  

SEPTEMBER 6, 2009, SUNDAY

I woke up very early at 3:45 AM for no apparent reason. We had our early morning breakfast at 7:00 AM, and off  we go. From Avila we headed  for a famed Unesco-Site,Burgos, the capital of Spain in still earlier years. It took us about three and a half hour ride from Avila. Like the other Spanish cities that we already visited, the city of Burgos is equally stunning from a distance. We visited the impressive gothic Cathedral and prayed in the chapel of the flagellated Christ. Burgos is located on the "Camino de Santiago." Ari, our tour guide and manager,explained to us how pilgrimage influenced the religious, cultural and economic life in the Middle Ages. Then from Burgos, we headed North toward Loyola, in the heart of the Pyrenee Mountains. We wanted to visit here the house of St.Ignatius of Loyola, the famed saint and founder of the Jesuits. Again, this  was a bout a 3-hour ride from Burgos to Loyola. We made one stop in between. I celebrated mass here at the shrine of St. Ignatius, the founder of the Jesuit Order. This was a grand and overwhelming experience for me indeed.

Finally, we drove to France, and made our stop in Lourdes. This was more than a four- hour drive from Loyola to Lourdes. When you are entering the town of Lourdes, it would seem like a little village until you reach the other corner where the apparition to Bernadette happened. Then you will see high rise hotels one after another, shops, etc. We arrived here in Lourdes at almost 9 PM. We had dinner immediately upon arrival. After dinner, we had a little socialization, and then retired for the night.

SEPTEMBER 7, 2009, MONDAY

We woke up at 7 AM. Our breakfast  was served at 7:30 AM. Our day began with a mass in one of the side chapels of the big cathedral above the grotto. After the mass we visited the baths with the miraculous waters. We waited in line for almost 3 hours. The bath was for me a mystical experience. Two men guided me into this very cold water without any clothes. Before they asked me to sit on the water, I had to make the sign of the cross and think of my intentions. Then they let me kiss the image of the Blessed Mother just in front of me, before going into the water. The bath was done in a minute. 

The entire afternoon was free time for our private devotions and meditations, and to do some last minute shopping. I took the opportunity to go around the old town just to see how it is. I visited the house of Bernadette, which was situated in the old town, and a walking distance from the grotto. The house of Bernadette was just a one little room kind of house. Afterwards, I did a little shopping for rosaries and some gift items. After doing some little shopping, I decided to make  the Stations of the Cross on the crest of the Espelugues, a high and steep mountain at the other side of the grotto. These monumental Stations of the Cross was really stunning. I was told that in 1885, a cross brought from  Jerusalem had been put up there. Then the fourteen stations by Raffl, consists of colossal groups, whose statues in cast-iron are 2 meters high. The first Station was consecrated on the 5th of October 1901 and were inaugurated on September 14th 1912.

After the Stations of the Cross, I went down to the grotto to meditate and pray.  Before I went back to our hotel, I went to fill up my jar from the miraculous water of Lourdes. I intended to bring some water from Lourdes when I go back home to the States.

Dinner was served at 7:30 PM at the hotel.  At 8:45 PM, the group went down to the grotto to join in the candle light procession which was scheduled at 9:00 PM. The candle light procession was really stunning and overwhelming. The candle light procession here in Lourdes was nothing compared to the candle light procession we had in Fatima. This was really big. I think I am not over guessing when I say that there must have been six to eight thousand people who participated in the procession tonight. Just think that this was only Monday. How about on weekends or some Marian feasts? I saw a lot of handicapped on wheelchairs who also joined in the procession. It was really very moving. We had first the recitation of the rosary(which was said in many languages) and then the candle light procession on the square, in front of the Rosary Basilica.

It was almost 11 PM when we went back to our hotel. We had to go to bed early because we have another long day tomorrow. Tomorrow, we are headed for Paris.    

SEPTEMBER 8, 2009, TUESDAY

We woke up early and had breakfast at 6:30 AM. Our bus picked us up at 7:45 AM and transferred us to the railway station. We rode on what they call "bullet train" (TGV) headed to Paris. The "bullet train" was very fast; it ran 200 miles per hour. It was like flying very low. From Lourdes to Paris, it took only about 6 hours. In an ordinary train, it would take at least 12 hours, according to our tourist manager. It was such an experience to ride on a "bullet train." It was pretty comfortable too.  In Paris we met our new driver and new motor coach. From the train station, we had an impressive "orientation drive" in Paris as a first preview to this incredibly beautiful city. The first thing that I observed and which impressed me so much was its elegance. Its beauty and architecture are equally stunning. Now I understand why many  call Paris not only the city of lovers but the city of the world. I have never seen any city as elegant as Paris before. It is simply incomparable.

While making a tour of the city, we had our first stop near the Eiffel tower- where we had some group picture taking. The Eiffel tower is simply stunning and incredible. There are no words to describe its sight. Then we drove to many different areas of the city. We passed by to see the original statue of Liberty, and many other interesting and historic places. From the city, we drove to Versailles, about an hour drive from Paris, to see this incredibly massive castle of  Louis XIV and its beautiful garden. For overnight, we drove to Chartres, the town with perhaps the most splendid cathedral in the whole of France and one of the most impressive architectural monuments of mankind, according to our guide manager.  Upon arrival in Chartres, we drove to our hotel(called 'novotel')  which was situated not very far from the town. We had dinner at 7:30, and then we retired early for the night.

SEPTEMBER 9, 2009, WEDNESDAY

After breakfast we drove to the cathedral of our Lady of Chartres, situated in an old town outside of Paris,  where I celebrated mass at the crypt of the cathedral. This cathedral of Chartres  is famous for its magnificent medieval stained glass windows. It is also here where you find the white veil which belonged to the Blessed Virgin. This piece of cloth, which Mary was supposed to have worn when she gave birth to Christ,was soon to make Chartres into one of the most popular pilgrimage shrines of medieval Europe. This cathedral is equally famous for its intriguing giant labyrinth; pilgrims used to make their way through the labyrinth praying and skidding on their knees, according to our tour manager. Truly, just looking at the Cathedral itself even from the outside is simply mesmerizing.

From Chartres we headed for Lisieux, home of St.Therese of Lisieux (the Little Flower). First, we visited Carmel, where the incorrupt body of the "little flower" lies in a crystal coffin. In front of the coffin of St. Therese, we said our prayers and intentions. Then we also visited the Basilica dedicated to St.Therese and her parents, Louis and Zelie,  who were  declared as Blessed quite recently. We made our first stop at the crypt of the Basilica, and then we went  inside the Basilica. This basilica was constructed in 1929, and was consecrated in 1954. Its walls and those of the crypt are covered with mosaics that illustrate the message of St. Therese.

After a short drive from Lisieux, we reached Caen. First, we stopped at the "Abbaye aux Hommes," one of the most impressive Romanesque building in the world, not only here in France. We visited the tomb of  Henry the Conqueror and contemplated on some European history going back nearly 1000 years.

After this long day, we went home to our hotel. Our hotel's name is Kyriad Hotel, situated in the town of Caen. We had dinner at 7:30 P.M. and then retired for the night.

SEPTEMBER 10, 2009, THURSDAY

This day is the highlight of our tour. We woke up  at 7:15 AM  and had breakfast at 7:45 AM. After breakfast we drove to the famous landing beaches of Normandy. This is where we revived "the longest day," a critical chapter of the history of the Second World War. Our first stop was at the American War Cemetery of Normandy,where we offered some prayers for all the fallen soldiers who sacrificed their lives so we may be free. The cemetery of Normandy has an impressive location. I understand that there were more than 9,000 allied soldiers who were buried in this cemetery, excluding 1000 soldiers who remained missing.

From here we continued our journey and made a stop at Omaha Beach and at the Pointe du Hoc,which was taken in a daredevil attack by the US Rangers. Military speaking,this was the most impressive stop. We saw some German bunkers, the many pot holes where bombs were dropped during the invasion, and the cliffs where the US Rangers had to climb from the beach to attack the Germans. Looking at these sites was for me a very heart-wrenching experience; not only because many allied forces died in this place, but just the thought  of their bravery and sacrifices, so the future generations may live free, was very moving.

Our next destination was the top highlight of our tour,the Mont St. Michel (Shrine of St. Michael, the Archangel). This shrine was located off the coast of Normandy and Brittany. It was originally called Mont-Tombe. Religious hermits settled here during the 6th century.According to a text written in the early 9th century, St. Aubert,Bishop of Avranches founded the cult to St. Michael. This shrine covers thirteen centuries of history. I was overwhelmed just looking at the massive structure of the abbey (on top of this high mountain). Going up to the Abbey was really an experience you would not forget(it was like climbing up the stairs to heaven). At the top of this massive structure, you find the archangel brandishing a sword 159 meters above the shore. The inside of this monastery was equally stunning. Inside you will find traceried staircases, from the crypt of large Pillars to the Abbey Church and the walled town, from the scriptorium to the refectory - it was simply mesmerizing. It  was such a great experience for me to come and  see this awe-inspiring shrine. After our tour of the shrine, we celebrated mass in honor of St. Michael at one of the side chapels. After mass, we had some time to pick up some little gift items from the many stores in the area. At 6 PM, we returned back to our hotel in Caen. It was a one- and- a-half drive  long going back. We had dinner at 8 PM, then retired for the night.  

SEPTEMBER 11, 2009, FRIDAY

We departed from Caen at 8:00 AM for Paris. It was a three-hour drive journey. When we arrived in  Paris, we continued our extensive and exciting sightseeing. As I said earlier, Paris is such a beautiful and elegant city which is hard to describe in words. Again, we made an overview tour of the city, stopping at some important and historic sites. Our tour manager showed us some very important sites like the Conciergerie building, with its twin towers flanking the entrance to Paris' oldest prison. At the western sector, we saw the Ile-de-la-Cite which is occupied by the Palais de Justice or Palace of Justice, a complex of buildings dating to various periods; From the outside, we also saw the Sainte-Chapelle, a masterpiece of Gothic architecture; we have passed through Pont des Artes, also known as the Passerelle des Arts, a bridge which unites the Louvre's Cour Carree and the left bank of the Seine, where the Institute of France building stands. The Place du Chatelet is a magnificent square which takes its name from an ancient fortress built in wood by Charlesthe Bald in 870, and a fountain is standing at the center of the square, its base decorated with sphinxes and statues; These and many others were the center of our sightseeing in the morning.

For lunch, a number of us from the group were able to find a Chinese restaurant in the area, where we had soup and rice and some veggies for the first time for a meal, after being on a pilgrimage now for a week. We were so elated to be eating rice for the first time on this pilgrimage.

At 3:30 in the afternoon, we stopped at the Rue duBac and visited the Shrine of the Miraculous Medal which contained  the incorrupt body of St. Catherine of Laboure. I celebrated mass here with a group of more than a hundred people. After the mass, I met some Filipino pilgrims from the Philippines and some Irish ladies from Ireland. They attended my mass at the chapel of St. Catherine Laboure, and they were all very delighted to hear mass in English.

After the mass at the shrine of St. Catherine Laboure, we visited the famous cathedral of Notre-Dame. The splendid,  stern cathedral of Notre-Dame dominated Lle-de-la Cite. From the outside, one can readily observe the portals of the basilica with rich sculptural decoration in the lunettes and splays. On the top center, you can find the gallery of all the emperors who ruled France. Upon entering the interior of the cathedral, one is immediately struck  above all by its dimensions: no less than 130 meters long, 50 meters wide and 35 meters high.Cylindrical piers 16 feet in diameter divide the Church into five aisles, and there is an ambulatory around the transept and choir. A gallery with double openings runs around the apse above the arcades, surmounted in turn by the ample windows. Chapels rich in artworks from the 17th and 18thcenturies line the aisles up to the transverse arm of the transept. At each end of the transept are rose windows containing splendid stained glass pieces dating from the 13th century. Finally, there is the ambulatory, with radial chapels containing numerous tombs. Then you find the entrance of the treasury , displaying relics and silverware. Among the most important relics is the Crown of thorns, which many people come and see in this Cathedral. Indeed,this cathedral is just  so marvelous to look at.

From the Cathedral of Notre-Dame, we walked to the Ile St.Louis, where we had our farewell dinner. Ari, our tour guide and manager, gave us a Parisian Treat. The dinner was simply wonderful.

After dinner, a new motor coach picked us up and dropped us near the foot of the Eiffel Tower, where we took an illumination cruise on the Seine river with the "Bateaux Mouches." It was a one hour ride on Seine river. The experience was just wonderful - cruising the river and just having a good time watching at these beautiful structures and buildings on the left and right hand corner of the river.

After our illumination cruise, we  went back  to our hotel. It was past 11 PM when we arrived at our hotel. This was the 10th day of our pilgrimage.  

SEPTEMBER 12, 2009, SATURDAY

We had breakfast at 8 AM. At 8:45 AM, we went out from our hotel and took the underground train of Paris to the foot of the Eiffel Tower. We took the elevator to the second floor of the Eiffel Tower.From this vantage point, we had  a wonderful panoramic view of the whole city of Paris. We were up there for thirty minutes enjoying these beautiful scenic view of the city and taking some memorable pictures.

From the Eiffel Tower, we took a taxi to the Musee d'Orsay. This is a famous museum here in Paris where you find the works of great artists like Cezanne, Monet, Manet, Pisarro, Renoir, Sisley, Lautrec, VanGoh, and many others. We stayed at the museum for almost four hours just admiring these great masterpieces of art works. We had our lunch here too.

From Musee d'Orsay, we walked about quarter of a mile to another great museum, the famous museum of Louvre. I was told that this is the most famous of all the museums in Paris, if not in the world.  Due to lack of time, we were not all able to explore the museum. Some of our group members just went in to see the great art work, "Monalisa." The rest of us travelled to another destination.  

This ended our stay in Paris and our european pilgrimage and tour. Tomorrow morning we will be flying back home to the US.

God intentionally allows us to go through painful experiences to equip us for ministry to others. The Bible says, "He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When others are troubled, we will be able to give them the comfort God has given us. And whatever maybe thy burden, God will give you strength to bear" (2 Cor 1:4 ff).

In July 2007, I was diagnosed with endometrial cancer. Aside from this, I have also to live with this debilitating disease called Diabetes of which I was diagnosed about 8 years ago today. In the process of cancer treatment, I have undergone a series of examinations of all sorts. I have had invasive diagnostic procedures, besides taking some oral medication to control the rise of my blood sugar. As everyone knows, you will not be scheduled for operation unless your blood sugar becomes stable at normal range. Stress and anxiety were other factors I had to reckon with. With all these considered, I underwent surgery to remove the whole uterus, including both ovaries and fallopian tubes. I went through 5 cycles of chemotherapy, 30 sessions of radiation therapy and 3 sessions of branchy therapy. Until now, Iam constantly under the careful watch of my physicians (OB-GYNE and Oncologist) for the possibility of recurrence at any time of malignant cells. Once a month I have to submit myself for a series of examinations and treatments. During this ordeal, what kept me going is my absolute faith in the will of God,coupled with my trust  for his mercy and love, and  not to mention the grace of strength and courage to fight for survival.

In July 2008, exactly a year after I was diagnosed with cancer, my husband, Ramon, was  also diagnosed of Gioblastoma ( the most malignant of all brain tumors). Prior to his diagnosis, there was  no symptom or sign of the illness whatsoever,no headache or vomiting, no pain, not even a fever. It was only through my instinct as a wife, and because of my persistence, that he was forced to submit for a routine medical check-up (Executive check-up). After this shocking revelation, my faith in the Lord was somehow shaken and a bit shattered. I could not understand why he had to suffer the same trial and fate as I did. Why do we have to experience these difficult challenges and trials in this life together? Did we have enemies who condemned us to suffer this way? Did we do something wrong in the past? I had so many questions. I could not understand why this was happening.

The confirmation of the result of the needle biopsy on Ramon's  brain tissue was Glioblastoma, stage IV. His physicians (6 specialists) discussed with us about his illness and his term of possible recovery. It was a hard pill to take but they said outright that operation (called craniotomy) was not possible anymore.  The options we had in giving medications and treatments were limited. Then we had to think of the insurmountable expenses should we go through with the surgery, considering the uncertainty of recovery and survival. So when they told me that Ramon had only 3 months to live, I was totally shocked.  I could not even talk or cry. I couldn't believe he had only 3 months to live. At that moment I felt like I was in total darkness. I was pleading and bargaining for a longer time. I prayed to God and said, "Lord, if it is your will, please make this trial a blessing. Teach me the lesson you want me to learn. Please,Lord, grant me more graces to abide in your will, that I will behave like your child whom you came to die for."

Our trial and journey continued for months. It extended to 11 months, to be exact. Ramon died on June 6, 2009 at 5:00 A.M.  My only consolation during this ordeal was - Ramon did not suffer any discomforts whatsoever. In fact, he was on a wheelchair in the afternoon before his death. His blood pressure gradually decreased and his pulse rate became slow and weak. He died without any efforts...he died in peace.

Somehow the radiation and the chemotherapy prolonged his life, longer than was originally predicted. Ramon strived so hard fighting for his survival. Along this time, we were greatly moved by the efforts of some relatives and friends who accompanied us in our journey, which made our lives a little bit easier. We are truly blessed and grateful for the help and concern of relatives and friends.  And as I always said in the past, in spite of everything, God is always wonderful. During this difficult moments and trial, He sent me a friend, a spiritual adviser, a rescuer, a comforter in my time of need. Now I consider him a family...oh yes, my family. With him I can tell all my problems, my fears, my failures and my disappointments without inhibitions. I have cried in his shoulders. He is always there willing to listen. With him I have shared my joys, my success, my achievements, my dreams and my laughter. With my friend's  support, and with the love of my family, I was able to move on stronger as ever. Yes, I still shed tears once in a while but I guess it's just normal when you are grieving for someone you love and lost. But I promise myself to face these current trials and challenges in life squarely, and to live one day at a time. Although I still have a lot of questions in my mind, I know that God works in ways we cannot often see and understand. I just have to trust in His love and mercy.

Please join me in prayers as I continue to face my life's battle with cancer, now on my third year of recovery.  Honestly, I really don't know if there will be another third year for me. The truth is, nobody knows what really lies ahead. In the meantime, I pray to God always: "Lord, when I lose hope because my plans have come to nothing, please help me to remember that your love is always greater than my disappointments and your plans for my life are always better than my dreams. Amen."

God bless us all.

Judith Banson Evangelista