UP Student Catholic Action

𝟐𝟑𝐫𝐝 𝐒𝐔𝐍𝐃𝐀𝐘 𝐓𝐇𝐑𝐎𝐔𝐆𝐇𝐎𝐔𝐓 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐘𝐄𝐀𝐑
16th Sunday after Pentecost
Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Brothers and sisters, children of Mary, there is great rejoicing in Heaven and Earth for the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary!

Holy Mother Church in her liturgy today sings: Thy Birth, O Virgin Mother of God, was a message of joy to the whole world; For out of thee rose the Sun of righteousness, even Christ our God, Who hath taken away the curse and brought a blessing, confounded death, and given unto us everlasting life. (Responsory at Matins)

In order to better understand this joy that the people of God for centuries, seemed unable to contain, it is worth considering the state of the human race before God commenced the work of Redemption.

The sin of Adam severed Man's access to God so that while in the beginning he walked with God in Paradise, now he is weighed down by the yoke of sin, unable to raise his gaze to Heaven in order to contemplate higher things. Even the most righteous of Israel could not restore Man's relationship with God. Oh how terrible was our state before God came to our rescue!

And yet, the singular hope of mankind, promised from the beginning was the birth of the Savior, the Messias born of The Woman who would crush the head of that ancient serpent, the singular enemy of Man. This was the hope of the Patriarchs and the Prophets, that one day, the strife would end and the House of the Father would once again be opened unto us.

It was therefore unsurprising that the birth of the Blessed Virgin Mary would be the cause of our joy and For with the birth of the Virgin begins our salvation. How palpable now is the promise made to our first parents! Now we see a child whose vocation it is to be the Mother of God, to contain in her womb Him whom the Heavens cannot contain!

And not only that, but with the birth of Our Lady, and to be more precise, with her Immaculate Conception, Heaven and Earth began to witness the first fruits of Christ's work of Redemption. Just as Mary opened the womb of her who was called barren, so does she mark the birth of new life on this barren earth. In her we see how God, through the death of Christ on the cross, frees man from the yoke of sin in order to clothe him with the garment of grace. Mary, we can say, is the prototype of the Christian.

And so we see how profitable it is to draw near to Our Lady, who was given to us as Our Mother. In admiring and praising her holiness, her beauty, we praise her Creator who has done great things in her. In loving her as Our Mother, we participate in the love Christ had for her. Christ become our brother! And in invoking her help in our every need, in our spiritual life, we gain access to the Holy Spirit, her spouse.

Mary is the perfect Christian, whose will was ever united to the will of God; whose every act pointed towards her Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ. How happy we would be if we could imitate even ever so slightly her virtues.

Friends, no matter how many reflections we write about Our Lady, it is not enough to capture the great work that God has done in her. Indeed, St Bernard of Clairvaux speaks with wisdom when he says: de Maria nunquam satis. Of Mary there can never be enough.

Reflection by Christian Ang
Image: Francesco Solimena. The Birth of the Virgin. 1690

CELEBRATING THE LITURGICAL YEAR

There's always something to celebrate in UPSCA. The Church gives us a rich calendar of feasts—a treasure waiting to be unearthed.

Gusto mo rin bang maging isa sa ✨maraming kaibigan✨ at sundalo ni Kristong Hari? Dumalo sa 𝐀𝐩𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐬' 𝐎𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 ngayong 𝐢𝐤𝐚-𝟓 𝐧𝐠 𝐒𝐞𝐭𝐲𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐫𝐞 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟒, 𝐬𝐚 𝐠𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐩 𝐧𝐚 𝐚𝐥𝐚𝐬-𝟔 𝐧𝐠 𝐠𝐚𝐛𝐢. Magparehistro lamang sa:

https://tinyurl.com/upsca24a
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Everyone is invited!

Searching for Truth?

Let's journey together!!

We invite all youth and young adults to participate in our dialogue sessions and share your thoughts.

SEPT 10, 2024 (Tuesday), 6PM
Hall, Parish of the Holy Sacrifice

See you there!

SATURDAYS IN UPSCA

Every Saturday, UPSCAns do their apostolate in different areas and provide learning assistance and catechesis.

Gusto mo rin bang maging isa sa ✨maraming kaibigan✨ at sundalo ni Kristong Hari? Dumalo sa 𝐀𝐩𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐬' 𝐎𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 ngayong 𝐢𝐤𝐚-𝟓 𝐧𝐠 𝐒𝐞𝐭𝐲𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐫𝐞 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟒, 𝐬𝐚 𝐠𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐩 𝐧𝐚 𝐚𝐥𝐚𝐬-𝟔 𝐧𝐠 𝐠𝐚𝐛𝐢. Magparehistro lamang sa:

https://tinyurl.com/upsca24a
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https://tinyurl.com/upsca24a

"...during her time in UP Student Catholic Action, which was founded by Fr John P Delaney SJ. She recounts, “Part of the formation was living your life for others and our mantra was, ‘Do good, live simply, pray.’ "

Dr. Ma Regina Hechanova-Alampay, UPSCA '84

Dr Gina Hechanova-Alampay on doing good, doing it for others, and what it means to be successful | Features | Ateneo de Manila University Dr Hechanova, or Doc Gina to students, colleagues, and the communities she’s worked with, is a trailblazer in the field of psychology in the Philippines

“Pagka’t ang Diyos natin Diyos ng pag-ibig”

Taon-taon, ipinagdiriwang ng UPSCA ang araw ng pag-ibig sa pamamagitan ng Night of Poetry of Love Songs, kung saan tampok ang mga talento at kwento ng mga UPSCAns.

Gusto mo rin bang maging isa sa ✨maraming kaibigan✨ at sundalo ni Kristong Hari? Dumalo sa 𝐀𝐩𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐬' 𝐎𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 ngayong 𝐢𝐤𝐚-𝟓 𝐧𝐠 𝐒𝐞𝐭𝐲𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐫𝐞 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟒, 𝐬𝐚 𝐠𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐩 𝐧𝐚 𝐚𝐥𝐚𝐬-𝟔 𝐧𝐠 𝐠𝐚𝐛𝐢.

Magparehistro lamang sa:

https://tinyurl.com/upsca24a
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Father Delaney only celebrated the Feast of St. Pius X once; on this day 69 years ago. But he and his UPSCAns did not lack enthusiasm for the new pope-saint, the first in modern times!

In 1954, the UP Catholic Community closely followed the canonization of the new saint and asked from him a special "canonization present"—the building of their dream chapel. Being only a newly glorified saint, St. Pius X did not have a feast day that year but that did not stop Fr. Delaney. In September of the same year, the community offered a special novena to the saint and on top of that, every succeeding Tuesday Mass was offered in his honor—all for the new Chapel.

It was in September of 1955 that Fr. Delaney finally celebrated the Feast of St. Pius X. It would be his last. But reading, the Chapel Chismis from that week, we can see how much of the sighs of the Diliman community and of UPSCA in particular, were thrown to the saint whom Fr. Delaney called "The Saint of Catholic Action."

Truly, the beloved Chapel of the Holy Sacrifice standing today and Fr. Delaney's feisty band of UPSCAns owe much to the great St. Pius X.

--

We share below Fr. Delaney's Chapel Chismis for 4 September 1955:

"We celebrated his feast yesterday, but I don't think one day is enough. We owe him too much; and we have too much to learn from him.

The early Communion of our little children, our own realization that Communion is a part of the Mass, our Missa Recitata, our community singing at Mass-they all stem from him.

Our realization that Communion is not a luxury, but a daily necessity for growth, for strength, for purity, for ordinary goodness-that, too, we owe to him.

The ideal of active participation in the Mass, in the offering of the Mass, in the Communion of the Mass-that's from him, too.

Our Catholic Action-the ever greater understanding of the apostolic nature of our Catholicity, of the need of Christianizing our environment, of bringing our Catholic principles to bear on the totality of our living-that's his, too.

Last year our September novena was in his honor. This year his feast came in too early in the month for a special novena; but I think we need that novena even more this year than last. Our own Catholic Action is now very much under attack. Any day now we may expect the enemy to be successful in their efforts to have our U.P. Students' Catholic Action declared an illegal organization on the campus. How about calling the Saint of Catholic Action to our aid?

So-novena in honor of Saint Pius the Tenth, beginning tomorrow, closing with a special Mass on Tuesday, September 13. Two big intentions: the first, the preservation and strengthening of UPSCA under all attacks; and second, that we grasp the big lesson of all his teaching, that in our day we need frequent, even daily Mass and Communion for ordinary goodness. Novena begins tomorrow."

SA LABAS NG DH

Hanggang sa labas ng tambayan ng UPSCA, na mas kilala bilang DH,ay magkakasama pa rin ang maraming magkakaibigan na nabuo sa loob.

Gusto mo rin bang maging isa sa ✨maraming kaibigan✨ at sundalo ni Kristong Hari? Dumalo sa 𝐀𝐩𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐬' 𝐎𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 ngayong 𝐢𝐤𝐚-𝟓 𝐧𝐠 𝐒𝐞𝐭𝐲𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐫𝐞 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟒, 𝐬𝐚 𝐠𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐩 𝐧𝐚 𝐚𝐥𝐚𝐬-𝟔 𝐧𝐠 𝐠𝐚𝐛𝐢.

Magparehistro lamang sa:
https://tinyurl.com/upsca24a
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“Ang kaibiga'y mag-aalay ng sarili n'yang buhay”

Sa Banal na Sakripisyo ng Misa iniaalay ng ating Panginoon at Kaibigan ang sarili Niyang buhay para sa ating kaligtasan. Bilang isang organisasyon nagtitipon-tipon tayo sa Misa upang makiisa sa pag-aalay na ito.

Gusto mo rin bang maging isa sa ✨maraming kaibigan✨ at sundalo ni Kristong Hari? Dumalo sa 𝐀𝐩𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐬' 𝐎𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 ngayong 𝐢𝐤𝐚-𝟓 𝐧𝐠 𝐒𝐞𝐭𝐲𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐫𝐞 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟒, 𝐬𝐚 𝐠𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐩 𝐧𝐚 𝐚𝐥𝐚𝐬-𝟔 𝐧𝐠 𝐠𝐚𝐛𝐢.

Magparehistro lamang sa:

https://tinyurl.com/upsca24a
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“The Cell is the basic unit of life”

Sa Cell una nating natagpuan ang mga kaibigan natin sa UPSCA habang pinapalago natin ang ating pananampalataya. Mga UPSCAn, ibahagi ang inyong mga larawan sa Cell at i-tag ang inyong mga kapatid at nanay/tatay!

Gusto mo rin bang maging isa sa ✨maraming kaibigan✨ at sundalo ni Kristong Hari? Dumalo sa 𝐀𝐩𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐬' 𝐎𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 ngayong 𝐢𝐤𝐚-𝟓 𝐧𝐠 𝐒𝐞𝐭𝐲𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐫𝐞 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟒, 𝐬𝐚 𝐠𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐩 𝐧𝐚 𝐚𝐥𝐚𝐬-𝟔 𝐧𝐠 𝐠𝐚𝐛𝐢.

Magparehistro lamang sa:

https://tinyurl.com/upsca24a
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𝟐𝟐𝐧𝐝 𝐒𝐔𝐍𝐃𝐀𝐘 𝐓𝐇𝐑𝐎𝐔𝐆𝐇𝐎𝐔𝐓 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐘𝐄𝐀𝐑
15th Sunday after Pentecost

Today, in the ancient Roman Rite, we hear the words of Our Lord in the Gospel: “I say to you, arise.” He said this to a young man who has died and is being mourned by his mother. This episode has been seen by the Church as an image of Our Lord Himself who will soon die and be mourned by His Blessed Mother.

However, just as the death of Our Lord and His resurrection is symbolized by our Baptism, we might as well see ourselves in the dead young man who was raised by the word of the Savior.

In the Epistle of the 22nd Sunday throughout the year, we hear St James proclaim that God willed to “give us birth by the word of truth that we may be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.” The new life which we now enjoy in Baptism is Our Lord saying to our dead selves, “Arise.” And with this new life, we are called to live an intimate relationship with God—a life of religion (from the latin religare→ to be bound).

But even for the baptized, there is still the danger of death—spiritual death that is more wicked than the dying of the body; and therefore, a death from which we must strive to be spared. One symptom of this death is ‘dead religion.’ Dead religion is the religion of the Pharisees who clung only to the externals of their human conventions, letting it overshadow the commandments of God. They saw to the observance of every single ceremonial ritual but forgot the commandment to love one’s neighbor. They were defiled by worldliness at materialism, thinking that God can be fooled by appearances.

Today, we might see this as fads, ideologies, and theories. Much attention is paid to the observance of these ‘human traditions’ so as to fit in with society. But Our Lord’s way is not a way of conformity to ‘the world’ but of a radical struggle against it and its allurements of riches, power, and popularity. For us who are steeped in this world, Christ says: “Arise and leave the death from which I have liberated you.”

Friends, the Christian is ever called to keep his religion pure and undefiled as St James says: “to care for orphans and widows in their affliction and to keep oneself unstained by the world.” And most importantly, to wage war against the human heart that is so weak and attached to its own ways. The Christian is daily called to conversion of heart and to be sure that from this flows all that is good.

Converte nos, Deus salutaris noster

Reflection by Christian Ang
Image: David Teniers after Veronese. Raising of the Young Man of Nain. 1651/1656

"Comrades true, dare and do, 'neath the Queen's white and blue..."

Nagtipon ang ✨maraming kaibigan✨ ng UP Student Catholic Action para sa unang General Assembly ng taon kahapon, 27 Agosto 2024.

Gusto mo rin bang maging isa sa ✨maraming kaibigan✨ at sundalo ni Kristong Hari?

Abangan kami sa org fair na gaganapin ngayong 3-4 Setyembre 2024 at dumalo sa aming Applicants' Orientation ngayong 5 Setyembre 2024, 6 n.g. sa Delaney Hall, Parish of the Holy Sacrifice.

Magparehistro dito: tinyurl.com/upsca24a

𝐊𝐈𝐋𝐀𝐋𝐀𝐍𝐈𝐍 𝐀𝐍𝐆 𝐔𝐏𝐒𝐂𝐀

Ang UPSCA, mula sa pagkatatag nito noong 1936, ay nagpapatuloy sa paghubog ng intelektwal, espiritwal, at sosyo-kultural na mga aspeto ng mga mag-aaral ng UP. Sa prosesong ito, maraming mga pagkakaibigan ang nabuo.

Kilalanin pa ang UPSCA sa 𝐀𝐩𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐬' 𝐎𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 ngayong darating na 𝐢𝐤𝐚-𝟓 𝐧𝐠 𝐒𝐞𝐭𝐲𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐫𝐞 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟒, 𝐬𝐚 𝐠𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐩 𝐧𝐚 𝐚𝐥𝐚𝐬-𝟔 𝐧𝐠 𝐠𝐚𝐛𝐢. Isasagawa ito sa Delaney Hall, UP Parish of the Holy Sacrifice. Libre ang hapunan.

Magparehistro lamang sa:
https://tinyurl.com/upsca24a
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Pubmat by Lourdes Balane

UPSCA Applicants' Orientation 2024A 𝐊𝐈𝐋𝐀𝐋𝐀𝐍𝐈𝐍 𝐀𝐍𝐆 𝐔𝐏𝐒𝐂𝐀 Ang UPSCA, mula sa pagkatatag nito noong 1936, ay nagpapatuloy sa pagbubuo ng intelektwal, espiritwal, at sosyo-kultural na mga aspekto ng mga mag-aaral ng UP. Sa prosesong ito, maraming mga pagkakaibigan ang nabuo. Kilalanin pa ...

The UP Student Catholic Action presents you with its various activities that aim to develop the spiritual, intellectual and socio-cultural aspects of its members while building meaningful friendships.

Know more about UPSCA by registering for our orientation this 𝐓𝐡𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐝𝐚𝐲, 𝟎𝟓 𝐒𝐞𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫, 𝟔𝐏𝐌, 𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐃𝐞𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐞𝐲 𝐇𝐚𝐥𝐥, 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐡 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐇𝐨𝐥𝐲 𝐒𝐚𝐜𝐫𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐞. Dinner will be served. Register here:

tinyurl.com/upsca24a
tinyurl.com/upsca24a
tinyurl.com/upsca24a

𝟐𝟏𝐬𝐭 𝐒𝐔𝐍𝐃𝐀𝐘 𝐓𝐇𝐑𝐎𝐔𝐆𝐇𝐎𝐔𝐓 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐘𝐄𝐀𝐑
14th Sunday after Pentecost

Friends, in John 6:60-69, we encounter a pivotal moment in Jesus' ministry. After His profound teaching on the Eucharist, many of His followers struggled with the idea of consuming His flesh and blood. Their reaction reveals a deep-seated struggle with understanding and accepting the mystery of the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist.

Jesus’ discourse on being the Bread of Life was not merely a metaphorical teaching but a revelation of His true presence in the sacrament. When many disciples found this teaching difficult, Jesus did not soften His message. Instead, He emphasized the necessity of this belief for eternal life. This insistence points to the essential nature of the Eucharist in Christian faith and life.

Peter’s response, however, stands as a testament to the faith required to embrace this mystery. Despite the difficulty in comprehending such a profound truth, Peter declares, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.” His response signifies a profound trust in Jesus, acknowledging that even when understanding falters, faith in Christ’s promise remains paramount:

John 6:54-58 NABRE
⁵⁴ Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him on the last day. ⁵⁵ For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. ⁵⁶ Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him. ⁵⁷ Just as the living Father sent me and I have life because of the Father, so also the one who feeds on me will have life because of me. ⁵⁸ This is the bread that came down from heaven. Unlike your ancestors who ate and still died, whoever eats this bread will live forever.”

The Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist is a cornerstone of Catholic faith. It is not merely a symbolic gesture but a tangible encounter with Jesus Himself. In the Eucharist, Christ offers Himself fully, allowing believers to experience His sacrificial love and grace in a real and substantial way.

This passage challenges us to reflect on our own faith and openness to the mystery of the Eucharist. It calls us to approach the sacrament with reverence and gratitude, recognizing it as the source and summit of our Christian life. Just as Peter’s faith was affirmed in the face of mystery, so too are we invited to deepen our trust in the transformative power of Christ present in the Eucharist.

Reflection by Jesse Biliran

"Yes, go ahead. You do the pouring. I will do the praying."

On this day in August 25, 1955, Engr. David M. Consunji started the construction of the iconic dome of the Church of the Holy Sacrifice or the UP Chapel despite stormy skies and the looming threat of rain.

The chapel features the Philippines' first thin-shell concrete dome, designed by structural engineer Alfredo L. Juinio. Engr. Consunji, founder of the DMCI Group of Companies, pioneered the techniques required to mix and deliver the 3,000 psi concrete needed to build the structure.

In his memoir “A Passion to Build,” Engr. Consunji shares the memorable moments leading up to the dome’s construction and his important conversation with Fr. John P. Delaney, S.J., the first chaplain of the UP Diliman Catholic community and the guiding hand behind the chapel's creation:

"Work on the chapel began in May 1955. By July, we had begun work on the dome. We made the form, laid the steel bars, and built the scaffolding and the runway. Then we had a dry run of the pouring system until we were confident we could do it perfectly.

The crucial part about this was that the concrete on the dome had to be poured continuously: that was non-negotiable. I estimated the job would take not less than 18 hours. So the weather had better cooperate with us. By then it was August 1955, already well into the rainy season and always a stormy month.

The day before the scheduled concrete pouring, I told Fr. Delaney we were ready to pour except that it looked like it was going to be stormy. We could not risk being rained on because too much water would ruin the concrete. He said: “Just come here early in the morning and we'll see what the weather will be like.”

I clearly remember that day, the 25th of August, 1955. I woke up at 4 o’clock in the morning. It had started to rain and I could see the beginning of a storm. When I arrived in UP, the rain and the wind had started to come in as well.

I went straight to the chapel. Fr. Delaney was preparing for the 5 a.m. Mass. I asked him if we should proceed in spite of the weather. He said, “Yes, go ahead. You do the pouring. I will do the praying.”

I could do nothing but obey. With a heavy heart. I went to see my workers, who were all ready to go home. To their surprise, I said: 'We will do the pouring today, so let's start."

At 5 o’clock, everything was set. The concrete mixers were humming and the workers were ready to pour concrete around the base of the roof. I looked up once more and saw the dark skies. There were rain showers all around the UP campus-but not on the site itself. It didn't look good to me, but I gave the go-ahead just the same.

We started pouring. After an hour, the weather turned for the worse. The entire morning, we saw UP students running from building to building drenched, their umbrellas blown all over by the strong wind. It seemed to us that the entire campus was experiencing a storm. But, miracle of miracles, not a single drop of rain fell on the spot where we were working! The entire jobsite was dry.

I went to the old chapel to see Fr. Delaney and have breakfast. There I saw many students, all members of the UPSCA (UP Student Catholic Action), praying in relays. They were storming the heavens with prayers! No wonder the storm never hit the jobsite.

Three hours into the work, the entire periphery of the dome, about a meter high, was concreted. It was going to be a lot easier from then on. My workers stopped worrying about the rain and just kept working on and on, moving the buggies around on the runway, loading, pouring until at last, the entire dome was covered.

It was already 11 o’clock in the evening when the last buggy of concrete was emptied, 18 hours since we started. In the next hour, we did the finishing touches — smoothening out the rough edges, making sure the contour of the dome was perfect. At 12 midnight, a rain shower began to fall on the dome, as if on cue, curing the concrete in the process. By then, all our anxieties had vanished. The dome had been built.”



Source: A Passion to Build: A Memoir of David M. Consunji

𝐔𝐏𝐒𝐂𝐀𝐧𝐬 𝐀𝐓 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐃𝐘!

UPSCA units in Diliman and Los Baños are now ready to welcome applicants of Batch 2024 after the one-day Formators' Workshop held in the Delaney Hall, UP Parish of the Holy Sacrifice on 23 August 2024.

The Formators' Workshop is the regular training of Cell Supervisors who will journey with applicants as they enter UPSCA and learn its principles, history, and culture.

Interested to join UPSCA? The Diliman Unit will have an Applicants' Orientation on 05 September, 6PM at the Delaney Hall, Parish of the Holy Sacrifice, UP Diliman

Register here: tinyurl.com/upsca24a

𝐅𝐄𝐀𝐒𝐓 𝐎𝐅 𝐒𝐓. 𝐑𝐎𝐒𝐄 𝐎𝐅 𝐋𝐈𝐌𝐀
Secondary Patroness of the Philippines

"St. Rose of Lima, first Saint of South America. She wanted to vow her virginity to God, but her parents had different ideas. They were all for selecting a husband for her. They were having no trouble at all in finding one, for Rose was a very pretty girl; but then the girl went and shaved her head, and all the devoted husbands-to-be fled in horror."

—Fr. John P. Delaney, SJ. Chapel Chismis.

Check out the page of our sister unit in UPLB! Follow for updates and all things for our flag, for our Faith, for Christ the King!

Sa pagbubukas ng bagong akademikong taon, buong galak naming binabati ang mga bagong iskolar ng bayan! Sa pagharap ninyo sa bagong yugto ng inyong buhay, nawa’y matagpuan ninyo ang pagmamahal sa pag-aaral, lakas ng loob upang harapin ang mga hamon, at pagtitiyaga at pag-asa para makamit ang tagumpay.

Nawa’y maging pangalawang tahanan ninyo ang UPLB, kung saan kayo’y lalago, hindi lamang sa kaalaman, kundi pati na rin sa moralidad at espiritwalidad.

Para sa ating watawat, sa ating pananampalataya, at para kay Kristong Hari!

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Para sa mga skedyul ng Misa sa ating simbahan, maaari pong bisitahin ang page ng Diocesan Shrine of St. Therese of the Child Jesus UPLB

𝐅𝐄𝐀𝐒𝐓 𝐎𝐅 𝐒𝐓. 𝐏𝐈𝐔𝐒 𝐗

"To [St. Pius X] we owe so much of our present revived interest in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. To him we owe the renewal of the realization that Communion should be part of every Mass. He insisted on early Communion and frequent Communion. He insisted on the Active Participation of the people in the Mass. This year we'll make him, with permission of course of Saint Paul, a very special patron."

—Fr. John P. Delaney, SJ. Chapel Chismis. 4 July 1954

ako na yan 😌

Simulan ang A.Y. 2024-2025 kasama ang Komunidad ng mga Katolikong Estudyante ng UP ngayong 19 Agosto 2024, ika-12 nang tanghali sa UP Parish of the Holy Sacrifice para sa Misa ng Espiritu Santo.

Sama-sama nating ipanalangin ang taong panuruang magbubukas at hingin mula sa Espiritu Santo ang kanyang mga kaloob para sa ating mga kapwa mag-aaral, g**o, at sa buong unibersidad.

Veni Sancte Spiritus!

Pagkatapos ng Santa Misa, magkakaroon ng munting salu-salo kasama ang UP Catholic Students' Community

UPD CSC: Fresh Forward 2024 Registration Hey, UPD Freshies! 🌻 Secure your 𝙁𝙍𝙀𝙎𝙃 𝙁𝙊𝙍𝙒𝘼𝙍𝘿 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟒 attendance here! 𝗖𝗮𝗺𝗽𝘂𝘀 𝗯𝘂𝘀 𝘁𝗼𝘂𝗿, 𝗳𝗿𝗲𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗼𝗱, 𝗴𝗮𝗺𝗲𝘀, 𝗯𝗼𝗼𝘁𝗵𝘀, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗮 𝗺𝗮𝘀𝘀 𝗰.....

Resident members of the UP Student Catholic Action—Diliman participated in the org fair organized by the Catholic Students' Community during Day 1 of Fresh Forward 2024, the annual freshie welcoming program of the CSC.

Join us on Monday, 19 August 2024, 12 noon for the Mass of the Holy Spirit, welcoming program, and grand pakain.

𝐅𝐄𝐀𝐒𝐓 𝐎𝐅 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐀𝐒𝐒𝐔𝐌𝐏𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍 𝐎𝐅 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐁𝐋𝐄𝐒𝐒𝐄𝐃 𝐕𝐈𝐑𝐆𝐈𝐍 𝐌𝐀𝐑𝐘

“And a great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and her head a crown of twelve stars.”

Friends, today we celebrate the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. It depicts the fulfillment of God’s promise to those who remain faithful to Him just as Mary, who lived her entire life for God, was taken up body and soul into heaven.

It is too easy to be absorbed in the world's norms and fall into the trap of temptations. It is too easy to put our focus on earthly standards and longings and forget about God. After all, it is on earth that we are placed, so it is almost a habit to respond to what it requires of us. But the assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary reminds us that while we find ourselves currently living in this world, we are not meant to stay here forever. We are called to be in heaven where Mary and God are⁠— a perfect state which can only be achieved through holy detachment from the earth. This detachment does not mean indifference toward worldly affairs and happenings, but rather a conscious effort to go to the path of salvation instead of sticking to the ways of the world.

When Mary was assumed into heaven, her efforts and suffering to live a holy life while on earth were not put to waste; her purity and obedience to God became consequential in her enjoyment of heavenly glory. The fulfillment of God’s salvific promise through Mary gives us hope as Christians as the assumption is “a singular participation in her Son’s Resurrection and an anticipation of the resurrection of other Christians…” (CCC 966). Therefore, if we strive to live the kind of life that Mary lived, one that is detached from earthly habits and desires, ours is also a fulfilled promise of resurrection.

It is important to reiterate that this task remains a huge challenge for us as human beings tainted by original sin, that is why we must humbly ask for the intercession of Mary. The effort to imitate her should involve a continuous request from her to pray for us as we strive to be in heaven.

Reflection by Dinah Faye Balleco
Image: Église abbatiale Saint-Maurice d'Ebersmunster Peinture monumentale de la nef . Assomption de Marie. 1759

Mga isko at iska sa UP Cebu, join UP FIAT!

Weekly bible sharings?📖 Spiritual retreats?🍃 Hiking mountains with spiritual reflections?🌄 Catechism with children and young people? 👩‍🏫 Rosary and Taize Prayers? IN UP?!🤯

Well, UP Fiat got it all for you!🤩

UP FIAT is a Marian Eucharistic Ministry of UP Cebu who desires to live in the joy and truth of God's love for us. FIAT is a Latin Word for "Let it be done." This is Mary's response to Angel Gabriel's invitation of becoming the Mother of God.💐

Will you also accept God's divine will for your life and SAY YES TO FIAT?☝️

Join us now! Register here:

https://bit.ly/JoinUPFiat
https://bit.ly/JoinUPFiat
https://bit.ly/JoinUPFiat

We hope to see you in our journey to find our way to Christ and become young leaders imbued with the Christian faith.🩵

𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐔𝐏 𝐣𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐲 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐚 𝐟𝐫𝐞𝐞 𝐚𝐢𝐫𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐛𝐮𝐬 𝐭𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐚𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐮𝐬!

READY TO ROLL
August 16 | 10am and 1pm

Reserve a slot for the bus tour today! Only limited seats are available. Register through
tinyurl.com/FreshForward24
tinyurl.com/FreshForward24
tinyurl.com/FreshForward24

Join us also for the celebration of the Mass of the Holy Spirit, grand pakain, and welcoming program:

GO WITH GLORY & SET TO STUN
August 19 | 12nn

See you there!

𝐅𝐄𝐀𝐒𝐓 𝐎𝐅 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐓𝐑𝐀𝐍𝐒𝐅𝐈𝐑𝐆𝐔𝐑𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍 𝐎𝐅 𝐎𝐔𝐑 𝐋𝐎𝐑𝐃

Dear friends, on this Feast of the Transfiguration of Our Lord, let us consider the Universal Call to Holiness; the call of the Gospel from the beginning and more recently expressed in the Second Vatican Council.

To put it simply, and to borrow the words of Mother Angelica of the Annunciation: “We are all called to be great saints, don’t waste the opportunity.” Holiness is not reserved for the monks, nuns, and hermits of this world. It is not a bygone quality of the martyrs. It is not something obscure, a secret knowledge of a chosen elite in the Church. Holiness is for everyone regardless of station in life. In a way, we can say that Holiness is being Transfigured into Christ wherever we may be.

At Mount Tabor, the Apostles saw Christ’s humanity being outshined by the light of His Divinity. They no longer saw the man who walked and toiled with them; the man who, like them, had no place in which to rest, the man who probably had feet as dusty as theirs. Instead, they saw His face shining like the sun and his garments white as snow.

Of course, Christ did not cease to be human at that moment. They simply saw Him as He really is; that they may see the Divine in spite of the Man who is journeying with them. And perhaps, that is how we are called to be holy. To also shine the light of Christ to others while living our individual vocation. And how do we do that? “By this shall all men know that you are my disciples, if you have love one for another. (John 13:35)” “Our Lord does not look so much at the greatness of our actions, nor even at their difficulty, but at the love with which we do them. (St. Therese of the Child Jesus).

This has always been the message of Catholic Action; for the world to be filled with little Christs, disciples and apostles. As Pope Pius XII said to the Young Christian Workers in 1949: “What is needed is the active presence in factories and workplaces, of pioneers who are fully conscious of their double vocation—as Christians and workers— who are bent on assuming their responsibilities to the full, knowing neither peace nor rest until they have transformed the environment of their lives to the demands of the Gospel.”

In another way, the Transfiguration is for us, a guide in our apostolate. Many times, the importance of the interior life in an apostle has been stressed. In our dealings with people, with wounded and broken human persons, there is a danger of being disillusioned. Why is there so much contempt and indifference towards God? Why is there so much suffering? This is the importance of the Transfiguration. Every now and then, there is a need to climb Mount Tabor and see Christ as He really is; to acquaint ourselves once more with His promises; to charge our batteries, as it were. Only through a robust person-al relationship with Christ can we recognize Christ in our neighbor—a recognition so strong that it breaks through the patina of human suffering.

Friends, let us recognize that Mount Tabor is not in a distant past. The love and generosity of Christ induces Him to descend daily on our altars in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass and to remain with us in our tabernacles. Let us not waste this opportunity to have an intimate knowledge of Our Lord. And being filled with presence, let us be empowered to go out and be Christ to others.

Reflection by Christian Ang
Image: Peter Paul Rubens. The Transfiguration. 1605