A New Year’s Message

Jan - Feb 2009 Volume 3 Number 1 N e w s l e t t e r f o r F i l i p i n o C a t h o l i c s i n N a g a o k a D i s t r i c t , N i i g a t a D i o c e s e

B O N D I N G 絆

To my dear Filipino Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

WISHING YOU A JOYFUL AND PEACEFUL NEW YEAR 2009! MANIGONG AT MAPAYAPANG BAGONG TAON 2009!

I am so pleased to address you this New Year 2009 with the greetings of Je-sus’ peace, love and joy. Many times I have received copies of your monthly Ugnayan Newsletters and there I came to know of the different church’s activities you had in Na-

gaoka District. Like for example in May 2008, you had the Flores de Mayo in honor of our Blessed Mother Mary. Also in July and August of last year, you had your Filipino Family Day gatherings. Indeed, these are good occasions to come together as a Christian Community. I thank God, and also appreciate your efforts to bring your children to the Church especially on Sunday Masses, while at the same time preparing them for Baptism, First Communion, and Confirmation. Through these, I believe, your children can gradually grow in their Christian faith and can be ac-tive leaders in the Church in the future. I know that life in Japan is not easy for most if not all of you. You have taken a lot of adjust-ments in the Japanese culture, language, customs and traditions. Having said this, I admire your patience and perseverance, especially your unconditional loving service to your Japanese hus-bands, and at times to your father/mother-in–laws. I know that you have much to contribute in our Japanese Church and society. Topping these are your Christian faith and happy disposition. You are a joyful people! You bring your lively Christian faith wherever you are and many times this Christian faith is the one that keeps you going. They say the year 2009 is going to be a tough year because of the global economic crisis. People all over the world will find life extremely difficult. But at the same time, 2009 can be a Year of Hope for the opportunity to reach out to people in need and share our blessings to them. Also, 2009 can be a Year of Grace because we are always grateful for every blessing that comes from God. May the Lord continue to bless you in all that you do. And now I bless you, your family and your loved ones with St. Francis of Assisi’s Blessing of Peace :

MAY THE LORD BLESS YOU AND KEEP YOU. MAY HE SHOW HIS FACE TO YOU AND BE MERCIFUL TO YOU.

MAY HE TURN HIS COUNTENANCE TO YOU AND GIVE YOU PEACE. (Num.6:24-25)

Fr. Paul Jun Hasegawa, OFM Provincial Minister of Japanese Province

Ang Mabuting Balita ay... Page 2 Ugnayan

Noong panahong iyon: Sinasabi ni Juan Bautista sa kanyang pangangaral: “Darating na kasunod ko ang isang makapan-gyarihan kaysa akin: ni hindi ako karapat-dapat magkalag ng tali ng kanyang mga panyapak. Binibinyagan ko kayo sa tubig ngunit bibinyagan niya kayo sa Espiritu Santo.” Hindi nagluwat, dumating si Jesus mula sa Nasaret, Galilea, at siya’y bininyagan ni Juan sa Ilog-Jordan. Pagkaahung-pagkaahon ni Jesus sa tubig ay nakita niyang nabuksan ang kalangitan at bumababa sa kanya ang Espiritu na gaya ng isang kalapati. At isang tinig ang nagmula sa langit: “Ikaw ang minamahal kong Anak, lubos kitang kinalulug-dan.” (Marcos 1:7-11) PAGNILAY-NILAY: Tanda mo pa ba noong bininyagan ka? Marahil wala kang anumang natatandaan sa araw ng iyong binyag. Kung mayroon man, isa ka sa iilang may ganitong karanasan dahil hindi karaniwan sa mga Ka-toliko ang binibinyagan nang may isip na. Karaniwang binyag sa Katoliko ay kapag mga bata pa at walang muwang sa mga nan-gyayari. Sa araw na ito, masasaksihan natin sa Ebanghelyo ang pagbibinyag sa Panginoon. Hindi tulad sa marami sa atin may muwang na si Jesus nang siya’y binyagan ni Juan Bautista. Ano ba ang nais ipakita ng pagbibinyag kay Jesus? At ano naman ang ipinahihiwatig ng pagbib-inyag sa atin? May pagtatalaban ang pagbibinyag kay Jesus at ang pagbibinyag sa atin. Una, ang pagbibinyag kay Jesus ay malinaw na pagtanggap niya sa kalooban ng Ama. Nais ng Ama na ilig-tas ang tao at magaganap ito sa pamamagitan ng pag-ako ng Diyos sa kalagayan ng tao, sa pag-angkin sa kalagayan ng tao, napapabanal ang makasalanan nitong kalagayan upang maging karapat-dapat ito sa pag-tangkilik ng Ama. Subalit hindi kaya ng tao na gawing karapat-dapat ang kanyang sarili, kailangan niya ang tulong ng Diyos at ito nga ay naganap sa malayang pagtanggap at pag-angkin ni Jesus sa kalooban ng Ama. At ang binyag ang siyang tanda ng buong pusong pagtanggap at pag-ako ni Jesus sa nais ng Ama at sa kalagayan ng tao, at kasabay nito ang pagpapabanal sa tao upang maging karapat dapat sa langit. Ikalawa, samantalang ang pagbibinyag kay Kristo’y pagkukusang-loob ng Diyos upang makapasok ang tao sa Mag-anak ng Banal na Isang-tatlo, nananatiling malaya pa rin ang tao na tanggapin ang pagkukusa ng Diyos,. Kaya naman masasabing ang pagbibinyag sa tao ang tanda ng pagkukusang-loob ng tao na tang-gapin at angkinin ang kalooban ng Diyos. Ipinakikita ng binyag ang pagtugon ng tao sa pagkukusang-loob ng Diyos. Ipinakikita nito na tulad ng paglalaan ng Diyos sa kanyang sarili para sa tao, buong pusong inila-laan din ng tao ang kanyang sarili sa Panginoon. Masasabing ang pagbibinyag ang pintuan dapat buksan upang maganap ang pagliligtas ng Diyos sa tao., Kailangan buksan ito ng Diyos upang makapasok ang tao at kailangan namang pumasok ng tao upang lubusan siyang mayakap at maangkin ng Diyos. Maaaring hindi na nga natin tanda ang araw na tayo’y pumasok sa isang kasunduan sa Diyos sa pamamagi-tan ng Sakramento ng Binyag, subalit tulad ni Jesus, sana’y dala-dala natin ang diwa ng ating pagka-“binyagan” sa lahat ng pagkakataon hanggang sa libingan at muling pagkabuhay. Maaaring hindi mo na natatandaan ang iyong binyag subalit tandaan mong bilang bininyagan dala mo ang pangalan ni Kristo – isa kang KRISTIYANO. Ito ay mahalaga. Pangatawanan natin ito.

(Mula sa SAMBUHAY – Atty. Arnold Martinez)

ANG Pagbibinyag Kay Hesus

Page 3 Ugnayan

A Foretaste of Mission

Dear Brothers and Sisters:

Peace to all of you! I am very pleased to visit the Nagaoka District for five days (December 13-18, 2008) during this year’s advent season. I would like to share with you some of my ex-periences, impressions and observations in the five or six churches that I visited. THE TAKADA CHURCH - Friars Mario and Atarashi I am amazed by the dynamism of the Christian commu-nity of Takada. The Church and the community meeting

halls are always occupied by different peoples day and late at night doing their classes whether in languages, music and arts and international concerns. The whole compound composed of the houses for women, school for children and a home for the elderly. There is a lively life around the area everyday. The YASUZUKA EXPERIENCE I was able to give a short talk, confession and celebrate mass with around twenty families in Yasu-zuka. Almost all of the Filipinas are married to the Japanese farmers. I am amazed by their pa-tience and hard work they experienced through the years. THE NAOETSU CHURCH - Friar Hubert I am touched by Fr. Hubert’s hospitality and readiness to bring me around the Nagaoka District. I experienced accompanying him in visiting seafarers. I commend this kind of missionary work. I am impressed by his gesture to the Filipino kids when he was able to gather them and teach them while I am giving the recollection to the Filipina mothers. THE NAGAOKA AND TOKAMACHI CHURCHES - Friar Bruno Fr. Bruno is still recuperating from his bypass heart operation. But, I can feel the big heart of this Italian friar in his own way of welcoming visitors. He was able to show to us his expertise in mak-ing the “special crib” that attracted all sorts of people before entering the Church. THE ITOIGAWA CHURCH - Friar Dominico Fr. Dominico is an eighty year old friar who is concern for the welfare of the Filipinas. He runs the Itoigawa church and a kindergarten. I appreciate very much in sharing his missionary experiences in Hong Kong and Singapore before he settled here in Japan. THE KASHIWAZAKI CHURCH - Friar Leo Bassi This is the last Church that I visited. I am overwhelmed by the never ending story of Fr. Leo Bassi, OFM This architect-builder friar is very enthusiastic in sharing how he rebuild the ‘earthquake proof’ Church. He was able to administer the kindergarten and proud of when he accepted sixteen Filipino children. I was able to give a recollection, confession and celebrate mass with the Filipi-nas. SOME MISSION CHALLENGES: I found many challenges to all missionaries in the area. Let us face the fact that the Churches are old foundations and almost all the priests are old too. There is an urgent need of new missionaries (lay, nuns and friars) who are committed to the various works in Nagaoka district. A. Commitment to the Youth Ministry There are lots of potentials in the youth ministry. All of the churches have its kindergarten. The education of the youth is very important from the very beginning of the life of a child. The church has a great role in giving good catechism for children. We have to prepare them for the sacra-ments and keeping our faith alive with them. There is a need to commit ourselves in educating the

Turn to page 6

Page 4 Ugnayan

Page 5 Ugnayan

Page 6 Ugnayan

children. I see and feel the need especially to the Filipino children. It seems that they are left out. There is a need of a special care for them. I seldom see youngsters in the church during my stay. Maybe they are busy in their studies at school. But still we have the responsibility to continue in-spiring them to involve themselves in the Church activities. We need teachers; catechists to jour-ney with them, to teach them understand their two very rich cultures (Japanese and Filipino com-binations). I propose that in the near future we can have an exchange program of exposure to both cultures. B. On Guidance and Counseling (Legal and Spiritual Aspects) As I administer the Sacrament of confession, I encountered problems with some Filipinas who came not for confession but for counseling. I really wanted to extend my time being with the per-son but it’s hard to budget time for them. It is better if we can have a “mobile team” as counselors composed of lay, nuns and friars to coordinate with the legal and spiritual assistance to the Filipi-nas who are in crisis. An “Open House” like in the Saitama prefecture must be established. C. On the Ministry to Filipino Mothers I think most of the Filipinas who came to this district are married to Japanese. There is a need to organized mothers to continue living their catholic faith. I heard success stories about them like their husbands and children are baptized as Catholics. These mothers were able to penetrate in the culture of the Japanese especially in taking care of their in-laws. They became real workers in the families. They are the real missionaries of the domestic Church in a family setting. D. On Lay Missionaries I think there is a big role of lay missionaries in this area. If it’s possible train Filipino lay missionar-ies who are staying in Japan or in the Philippines to share their missionary work in this area. I think the district is very rich in the work of lay missionaries in terms of community building, cate-chism, liturgy, guidance and counseling. E. The Nuns/Sisters

I am grateful to the nuns/sisters with their untiring help. I experience going to the Poor Clare Nuns in celebrating mass with them. I believe the power of prayer is the best weapon in mission. On the other hand, the two SFIC sisters are very active in doing their work as missionaries. Their untiring love of different peoples especially the Filipino families are very commendable. I salute you sis-ters. F. On Fraternity in Mission I heard that the background of these mission areas started from different provinces. Missionaries are being trained and lived alone for a long time like managers of the compound as their own little kingdom. I think there is a need for us to regroup, rethink of possibilities and to keep in mind in responding to mission as a fraternity. There are good avenues for us in keeping our mission more meaningful and effective. In the context of economic recession throughout the world, we continue to be in solidarity to our brothers and sisters. I would like to express my deep gratitude to all the friars (Hubert, Mario, Atarashi, Bruno, Dominico and Leo) for their warm welcome and sharing of their missionary experiences here in Japan (Nagaoka District). Each of them has their own expertise or rather gifts “charisma” that they re-ceived from the Lord. Franciscan Mission is alive through the years with these strong men who continued to spread the Good news of the Kingdom of God. Let us then continue and do our part!

Yours truly in the Service of God’s Kingdom,

Fr. Angelito A. Salazar, OFM Moderator for Missions Philippine Province of San Pedro Bautista Manila, Philippines

Page 7 Volume 3 Number 1

ANG SIMBAHAN AT ANG BANAL NA KASULATAN Sa mula’t mula pa, tinanggap na ng mga alagad ni He-sus na ang banal na kasulatan ng mga Judio ay bunga ng banal na inspirasyon at isa itong paghahanda para sa ganap na pagpapahayag at pagliligtas sa katauhan ni Kristo. Palibhasa noon, ang wikang gamit sa buong Imperyong Romano ay ang wikang Griego, ang salin sa wikang Griego ng Matandang Tipan (kilala sa tawag na

“Septuagint”) ang karaniwang gamit ng matandang Simbahan. Taglay ng gayong salin di lamang ang 39 na libro ng opisyal na Bibliyang Hebreo, kundi pati ang mga libro ni Tobit, Judith, Karunungan ni Solomon, Sirac, Baruc, at Una at Ikalawang Macabeo. Ang pitong librong ito ay nakilala sa tawag na “Deuterocanonical.” Mapitagan at buong pananalig na tinatanggap ng Simbahang Katolika ang mga Deu-terocanonical nang gaya ng pagtanggap nito sa lahat ng iba pang libro ng Matandang Tipan. Para sa Simbahan, ang Banal na Kasulatan ay siyang pinakamahalagang bahagi ng kanyang buhay na tradisyong mula pa sa mga apostol na kilala bilang “Tradisyong Apostoliko.” Gamit ng Simbahan sa bawat panahon ang Matandang Tipan at ang Bagong Tipan bilang bukal ng kan-yang mga pangaral tungkol sa mga dapat paniwalaang katotohanan at mga pamantayang moral sa buhay ng mga sumasampalataya. ANG BANAL NA KASULATAN SA LITURHIYA Malaki ang gamit ng Simbahan sa Banal na Kasulatan sa kanyang mga liturhikong pagdiriwang. Dito naka-sandig ang “Liturhiya ng Salita” sa pagdiriwang ng bawat sakramento, lalo na ng Eukaristiya. Ang gani-tong mga pagbasa ay ipinaliliwanag din ng pari sa kanilang sermon sa mga tao. Sa mga karaniwang araw, dalawang sipi buhat sa Banal na Kasulatan ang binabasa at tinatalakay sa unang bahagi ng bawat Misa. Araw-araw, ang mga ordinadong ministro ng Simbahan ay may tungkuling magpuri sa Panginoon nang limang ulit sa maghapon sa pagdarasal ng mga Awit at iba pang piling sipi ng Bibliya sa tinatawag na “Liturgy of the Hours.” Ang ganitong regular na pagdarasal ng Bibliya ay ginagawa “sa ngalan ng buong Simbahan, sa kabutihan ng Simbahan at ng sangkatauhan.” Maging mga taong laiko ay ginaganyak na lumahok sa tuwinang pag-awit ng papuri sa Ba-nal na Santatlo sa pamamagitan ng “Liturgy of the Hours.” Sa loob ng mahabang panahon, maraming sipi sa Bibliya ang nakapagdulot na ng inspirasyon sa mga pin-tor at iba pang alagad ng sining na nakalikha ng mga obra maestra para sa ating mga simbahan at siyang naging “Bibliya ng mga dukha” nang marami sa mga tao noo’y di marunong bumasa. Gayundin, ang mga salita sa Banal na Kasulatan ay siya ring naging inspirasyon ng mga makata at musiko para makakatha sila ng mga walang kamatayang tula at obra maestrang musika na gamit sa mga pagtitipong liturhiko at relihiyoso. ANG BANAL NA KASULATAN SA BUHAY NG LAHAT NG SUMASAMPALATAYA Ang Banal na Kasulatan ay gamit hindi lamang sa liturhiya. Ang Bibliya ay siyang “Pinakadakilang Libro” sa mga tanging okasyong gaya ng panunumpa ng mga pinunong Kristiyano. Mga pulong ng mga sumasam-palataya ay karaniwan ding nagsisimula sa pagbasa ng isang sipi buhat sa Banal na Kasulatan. Mga “Bible study groups” ay ginaganyak sa halos lahat ng parokya, “Basic Ecclesial Communities” (BEC), “charismatic communities,” mga paaralang Katoliko, at iba pang samahan at institusyon. Sa gayon, ang Salita ng Diyos ay nagiging bukal ng inspirasyon, pampasigla, at pagpapasiya ng pamayanan at ng mga indibiduwal. Sa kasaysayan ng Simbahan, ang pagsisimula at pagtatatag ng mga relihiyosong konggregasyon ay hu-mahango sa mga sipi ng Banal na Kasulatan. Di iilang tagapagtatag ng mga gayong institusyon ang hu-mango sa Banal na Kasulatan ng kanilang ginawang patakaran at bukal ng inspirasyon. Halimbawa, si San Ignacio ng Loyola, na nagtatag ng mga Hesuwita, ay humango ng kanyang motto “Omnia ad Majorem Dei Gloriam” (Ang lahat ay para sa kaluwalhatian ng Diyos) kay San Pablo. Gayon din si San Vicente de Paulo, sa kanya namang “Caritas Christi urget nos” (Ang pag-ibig kay Kristo ang nag-uudyok sa amin. 2 Cor 5:14.). Di lamang kasaysayan ang magandang tradisyong ito. Patuloy pa rin ito hanggang ngayon sa ating pana-hon. Tunay ngang ang Salita ng Diyos ay ilaw sa ating landas at ating buhay.

(Mula sa Word & Life Publications’ Patnubay sa Misa - Ika-7 Linggo sa Karaniwang Panahon)

ANG PINAKADAKILANG KUWENTO

You can now download UGNAYAN from http://www.faminialagao.com/ugnayan.html  or read it online.

Address: 〒943 ‐0834   Ni igata ‐ken   Joetsu ‐sh i   Nish ish i ro ‐cho   2 ‐3 ‐20 Telephone Number: 025 ‐526 ‐2026     Fax Number: 025 ‐526 ‐7336