Tigtigan Terakan king Dalan, Sto. Niño: Kekatayang Parangalan

     Drawn together as one family of the Lord, the Christ, Peace of Peace Parish celebrated its first ever Sto. Niño Festival – patterned on the famous festival of Cebu, the Sinulog Festival – dubbed as “Tigtigan Terakan king Dalan, Sto. Niño: Kekatayang Parangalan” dated January 15 in the year of our Lord Twenty Twelve organized by the Parish Youth Ministry in cooperation with the Parish Pastoral and Council.

     The celebration started with a mass followed by the colorful, earsplitting and enjoyable Street Dancing reaching every edge of the Resettlement. Ornate part takers from Mauaque Resettlement High School, Divine Grace Academy, and the Pacificus Youth Ministry showcased their dancing prowess in executing the different tribal dance steps in and after the Street dance.

     With the generous heart of the Parish Pastoral Council and Rev. Fr. Angel Amir Gamboa, Parish Priest, performing groups were ranked. Mauaque Resettlement High School, received P3, 000.00, bagged the 1st prize; received the second prize of P2, 000.00 were the Pacificus Youth Ministry; and the Divine Grace Academy in receipt of the third prize of P1, 000.00.

     Participants were judged based on their Synchronization, Props and Costumes, and on the Variation and difficulty of their steps. The celebration ended with a huge smile from everybody who graced the event and shouting “Viva Sto. Niño! ”

     True indeed, this remarkable event will be the opening activity of the parish yearly. VIVA SEÑOR STO. NIÑO!

by: Mark Sunday Pineda

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Lent: A Season to prepare ourselves for the triumph of Christ in Cross

     The Holy Church had recently entered into another season in the Church’s liturgical calendar, the Lenten season. We officially started this season when we celebrated the Ash Wednesday in which we were reminded by the Church that we came from dust, and to dust we shall return. It also reminded us to repent and to believe in the Gospel. Lenten Season is not the highlight of the church’s liturgical calendar rather it is just a preparation for an event which is the most important, the Easter Triduum.

     As the Early Christians celebrated the Easter annually, time passed by and they came with another season, Lent. Lent is a season a period of forty days in preparation for the Celebration of Paschal Triduum. It begins with Ash Wednesday and lasts up to the Mass of the Lord’s Supper.

     In addition, towards the end of 3rd century there was a trend to extend this fasting period, and the fourth century we have so many testimonies about fasting for 40 days. Number 40 is associated with the scriptures connected with an event of the history of salvation. The Gentile Christian Communities referred in a special way to the example of Christ who fasted in the desert for forty-days and forty nights. While the Judeo-Christians communities liked to look back also to the Old Testament.

a. Gen. 7,12, 17 : Noah and the Flood

b. Exodus 16, 35: The Journey to Promise Land

c. Exodus 24, 18: Moses on Mount Sinai.