Santuario wished to thank the following people who have supported and who are still continuing to support Project 350. We have raised a little over 1.6 million pesos and counting! This would not be possible without our supporters, partners and sponsors.
Please continue to support Project 350. Spread the word and help build our shrine!
ORGANIZATION SPONSORS:
1. YIGGM Corporation
2. Ideal Marketing Corporation
3. NZV Enterprises, Inc.
4. Missionary Couples of Mary for Christ (MCMC)
FAMILY SPONSORS:
5. Fr. Rolly Santos, CM
6. Bro. Jonathan & Sis. Nette Casiño
7. Aileen Aguiree
8. Dr. Frederick Hipol
9. Mrs. Chit Santos
10. Jan Vincent Benavides
11. Mel Bueno
12. Mrs. Josie Baluyot
13. Ranny Lim
14. Mikaela Mae Dasigao
15. Benilda Albao
16. Emmanuel Albao
17. Stephanie Albao
18. Sylvia Villas
19. Dr. Teresita Agda
20. Tina Ong
21. Noel & Tess Flojo
22. Dr. Mercy Agustin & Family
23. Bro. Elmer & Sis. Chat Galang
24. Mr. & Mrs. Jo Bautista
25. Rowena Santiago
26. Jun & Connie Saturay
27. Nellie Mendiola
28. Oliver Christian & KC Caravana
29. John Louise & Sienna Caravana
30. Jay & Cristy Faylon
31. Aileen Aguiree
32. Emerenciana Ochona
33. Cezar Tan & Family
34. Helen Esparcia
35. Mr. & Mrs. Ching Chee Kee & Family
36. Ms. Ellen Roque
37. Bolaños Family
38. Gel Maulawen
39. Ira Manarang
40. Sarmiento Family
41. Edna, Erika & Sheree Bacalla
42. Alice Tan
43. Nancy Kaw
44. Anadelia Bayoneta
45. Dr. & Mrs. Emmanuel Buhat & Family
46. Mary Dale Mejes
47. Baby Enrile
48. Lydia Mendoza
49. Liberty Mercado
50. Charito Simon Fortunato
51. Mr. & Mrs. Nolimar Custodio & Family
52. Myra Solis Francisco & Family
53. Cara Peralta
54. Renato & Carmelita Valencia Family
55. Ninang’s Staff
56. Sonia Guevarra
57. Cristina Tan
58. Mercy Tagle
59. Anicete Family
60. Nancy Garcia
61. Little Missionaries of Divine Will
62. Aileen Sayman & Family
63. Emma Vingua
64. Flor de Lara
65. Jane Balce
66. Carol Amoroso
67. Anita Garcia & Family
Roland R. Esguerra
Click… browser… chat… internet… Microsoft Office… Windows 7… YouTube… Facebook… are some common terminologies for the youth and even for the oldies these days.
Many of our young people today are very much aware of the technological advancement and even own some gizmos that to some, are an indication somewhat of social status. What about the others, the children who have not even used a computer ever?
The Santuario initiated a computer literacy program that aims to teach the less fortunate youngsters. They started with the youth from the communities nearby and others who simply wanted to learn, refresh and “be aware”.
It is developed to equip those interested among our youth with enough knowledge to keep them updated on the technology. The program started last October 9 and will run through the second week of December.
The program was divided into three classes. On Saturdays, the high school level has the 1 pm to 3 pm time slot followed by the elementary level with the 3:30 pm to 5:30 pm time slot. On Sundays, at 10:30 am to 12:30 pm the college level and others interested will have their turn at learning basic and advanced Microsoft Office applications and from 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm basic computer knowledge and troubleshooting will be tackled.
The program also incorporates communications training and practiced during the course of the classes. Competent trainers facilitate the program and are well oriented to help the participants.
(The contributor is the one charge of the program and continues to render his services by teaching the program he designed – Editor)
By Sem. Eugenio Navida Jr., CM
Looking back at the humble beginnings of the Santuario de San Vicente de Paul as an aspiration and a dream to be a shrine for the poor and the underprivileged would serve as a yardstick to measure as to where it is now today. First, it was a dream of the Vincentian Fathers and Brothers to erect a shrine in honor of their founder, St. Vincent de Paul, who loved and served the poor and who transformed and revolutionized charity-mission. It was a dream to give these beloved poor of St. Vincent a shrine that will address both their spiritual needs and material concerns.
Although it was still in the initial phase of the construction, the effort started to pay off, when in 2004, St. Vincent de Paul was recognized and proclaimed as the Patron of the Urban Poor. It was a significant event signaling that indeed the Santuario was getting the attention it intended to get. By September 18, 2005, the first ever Mass in Santuario was celebrated. With this development, Santuario also started to build its ministries to cater to the spiritual needs of the poor. For some years, the focus of the pastoral care of the people was on the celebration of creative liturgy and worship. More recently the need to address the other concerns in the development of the community has lead to the creation of other ministries which include the following: Youth, Formation and Propagation.
By Perla Aragon-Choudhury
Fiesta 2010 celebrations saw the inauguration of an interior altar design for the Santuario de San Vicente de Paul portraying the charism of its patron, the great apostle of charity, on a giant ceiling-to-floor tarpaulin illustrations hanging on the wall of the altar.
The stained glass-like design serves as the center piece of the interior of the Church that has been temporary adorned by similar smaller designs on the walls and pillars of the Church.
This powerful liturgical art design at the altar was conceived by Fr. Rolando Tuazon, CM, Santuario Administrator and Project Director. He thought of this after hanging the tarpaulin images of St. Vincent on the different parts of the church. He told the seminarians that it would be good to have a big similar design at the altar. That same day a woman, named Tetet Rendor, involved in the tarpaulin business asked him in what ways she could be of help to the Church. This opportune time made Fr. Roland request her to sponsor the main design he wanted to adorn the sanctuary. Ms. Rendor readily agreed and Michael ‘Auch’ Autencio, the Santuario graphic artist was immediately commissioned to execute it. The latter used the photographs of Fr. Greg Banaga, CM, who had the stained glass windows of the Shrine of St. Vincent de Paul in France as his subjects.
Autencio recalls downloading the large file on his computer: “I got technical tips from the person who would be donating the huge tarpaulin pieces for this collage. The donor also offered a much better and more expensive alternative to `tarps’ and these are the giant stickers used in ads for buses and billboards. This job was rushed but I felt light as I helped mount it at the main altar,” said he.
The new marvel captivated the church-goers when they walked in to the church to attend the contextualized and inculturated novena mass, ‘Misa ng Bayang Pilipino’, prepared by students of St. Vincent School of Theology. The colorful and festive celebration that was marked by Filipino singing, dancing, prayers, expressions, customs and costumes provided a contrast to the new physical set up in the Church’s interior. Nevertheless, one can appreciate that the Western design can also beautifully blend with the Filipiniana motif.
First ever General Assembly
The Santuario community held its very first General Assembly at Santuario last November 20, 2010. The assembly started at 1 pm with Fr. Roland addressing representatives from various ministries and organizations to focus on the awareness of the Santuario community’s “lights and shadows” with the hope that every member be guided and takes into heart Santuario’s vision and mission. Fr. Roland hoped that the assembly will become a venue for all ministries, organizations and churchgoers to communicate and establish ties with each other and also foster and encourage commitment, participation and interaction to help fully realize Santuario’s plans, projects and goals as a community. He believes that the first ever General Assembly shall set the foundations that will help fully realize God’s plan for Santuario.
Bro. Noel Flojo from CFC led the opening prayer. This was followed by Sis. Mymy Patio, the emcee for the even, doing a roll call of all the ministries, committees and departments present. Sis. Estella Angeles gave a quick orientation of the general assembly.
Fr. Tuazon presented a general report on Santuario’s situation, vision mission, organization, priorities and strategies.
A quick break ensued after Fr. Roland’s report which was then followed by reports from various ministries, committees and departments. The reports focused mainly on each group’s vision, mission, goals and projects for the past year and the next; with each also sharing their struggles and challenges as a group in the overall Santuario community.
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By Perla Aragon-Choudhury
The Sanctuario de San Vicente de Paul marked Fiesta 2010 on Sunday, Sept. 26, replete with solidarity activities with the urban poor of Quezon City, a procession of the statues of Vincentian saints and five masses throughout the day, culminating in a high mass officiated by Bishop Antonio R. Tobias of the Diocese of Novaliches.
Held at 6 pm, this last novena mass carried the ninth day’s theme of San Vicente: Hamon sa Makabagong Panahon (The Challenge of the Contemporary Times) within the over-all theme of the masses to honor Saint Vincent, Pagmamahal: Ang Pinakapuso ng Misyon (Charity- Mission).
At the altar there were 16 concelebrants with Bishop Tobias.
The main celebrant linked the life and times of Saint Vincent to the Gospel of the day on the poor man Lazarus and to the country today.
“We do live together but we sometimes ignore each other,” said Bishop Tobias in his homily. “Children may have problems but this is not known to their parents and the same may be true about parents. And the poor may have no voice even if we have the means – the latest in media technology. It was the same in France in the time of Saint Vincent as he implored the nobility to work for the poor.”
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by Nelson Boren
The St. Vincent Medical and Dental Clinic (SVMDC) will inaugurate its 1st year anniversary on September 26, 2010. Volunteer doctors headed by Dra. Teresita Agda, MD and other members of the management team including Dra. Mercy Agustin, MD and Ms. Norma Manalili as coordinator, among others. Activities planned for September 26, 2010 (Sunday) is a Thanksgiving Mass at 7:30 am where all volunteer dentists, paramedics, as well as the patients who have benefited from this program will be invited. During the mass, all will be acknowledged for their generosity and participation in sharing their time and resources and for the services they rendered in helping alleviate the physical condition of the poor among us.
Then the blessing of a better appointed clinic will be done after the mass to be followed by a medical mission without any fanfare. Various health awareness workshops on diabetes, dengue, and infectious diseases by our volunteer specialists from 1:00pm-3:00pm will follow.
The medical team considers this occasion a thanksgiving to God for the many blessings received through the prayers and intercession of St. Vincent de Paul through people’s generosity. Through this effort, it is fervently hoped that the clinic will grow and expand to continue serving more indigent patients in the community.
The Santuario de San Vicente de Paul accepted the offer of Agri-Aqua Network International, Inc. (AANI) to organize and manage the BAZAAR, aimed primarily to support the St. Vincent Medical and Dental Clinic for indigent members living within the vicinity of St. Vincent Seminary. The bazaar will be operational every Saturday and Sunday from 6:00am-8:00pm starting next month.
Products that will be sold in the bazaar are mostly organic including food, snack items, beverages, meat, fish, vegetables, fruits, beauty and wellness products, toys, dry goods, native products, and many more.
The bazaar is also meant to provide opportunities to members of our community especially those with products to sell, to build a community where families will be given a venue to develop camaraderie and bring the family together, and to make goods available for the people at a cheaper price.
We welcome more concessionaires to join the bazaar and we invite all churchgoers to patronize the products that are being sold in the bazaar so that we could continue to support our free medical and dental clinic for the indigents. For more details, you may contact AANI Main Office at 824-1843 or 824-1848 or you may log on at www.aaniphil.net.
by Sem. Eugenio Navida, Jr., CM and Perla Aragon-Choudhury
The Santuario de San Vicente de Paul celebrated the birthday of the Blessed Virgin Mary, last September 8, 2010, with a “Night of Classics” which was held at the covered courts of the St. Vincent Seminary Complex.
The program was one of the many events of the Santuario in line with the celebration of the 350th death anniversary of St. Vincent de Paul and St. Louise de Marillac this year.
The main event was the launching of the Project 350, a fundraising campaign appealing to 350 patrons and promoters to help build up the funds for the finishing of the interior of the Santuario. The patrons are expected to donate or to pledge for the project while the promoters are asked to look for possible donors.
Guest artists rendered classical and Filipino pieces which captivated the undivided attention of the musically inclined audience of about 300. Printed on parchment paper, the program notes highlighted the musicality of the Vincentian Family and friends.
The evening started with the Adamson Music Quartet, who marked sunset cocktails with Sinatra, Beatles, Filipino pop – and “Babycake” in danceable Japanese.
The Adamson Chorale opened the program proper with their singing of the National Anthem and the invocation prayer which was interpreted by the Gigi Felix Velarde Dance Group and which contained lyrics -“Lead us … to a place where we’ll be safe” – appropriate to the overarching purpose of the Santuario.
Later in the program, “The Prayer” was also sung by Ma. Eisaa Bedural and Francisco Ondras, Jr. and the Gigi Felix Velarde Dance Group gave another number – interpreting “Sa Uggoy ng Duyan” as sung by Bell Mangali, who was accompanied by Menandro Manuel on the piano.
The Congregation of the Mission’s very own Fr. Venerando D. Agner, CM played the piano for the violinists Marlene Aviguetero, (“Meditation”) and Alexa Marie Aviguetero (“Calesa”), and for sopranos Sr. Martha Gamolo, DC and Jane Mahipus (“Sa Kabukiran” and “Sa Libis ng Nayon”).
Highlighting their versatility and their association with the College of Music of Santa Isabel College (for centuries administered by the Daughters of Charity), the two sopranos displayed more musical skills by having a piano quartet (called “eight hands”) with Fr. Agner and with music pedagogue Cecille Roxas, who has trained in Germany. Their pieces were “Kenkoy” and “Pandangguhan.”
Sr. Ester Pena, DC (a Dean of the College of Music) played the “Andante Finale for Left Hand Alone” and the “Habanera Filipina,” where she amazed the guests with hands that dexterously crossed each other over the Lyric Grand Piano generously lent by the owners.
At 79, Sr. Pena was the most senior of the performers that evening, and eight-year-old Alexine Deanne David of the Gigi Felix Velarde Dance Group was the youngest.
As an encore number, Sr. Pena offered variations of “Happy Birthday” to the Blessed Mother, as did several other talents.
Ms. Mangali and Mr. Manuel did “Salamat, Maria,” while violinist Alfred Sanchez and pianist Marius Villaroman rendered “Ave Maria.” In addition, the Adamson Chorale with conductor Jeandro Rabang sang “Aba Ginoong Maria” a capella. For the finale, Fr. Agner led everyone in singing a Marian hymn which has become a Vincentian tradition.
Towards the end, the Adamson Chorale rendered a reverential “Sanctus” in Latin, introduced the audience to a Spanish song – “Duerme Negrito” – and danced and clapped to “Old Time Religion.”
Accompanying the performances was the spoken word in the form of audiovisual presentations on Saint Vincent de Paul, the associations he had founded, and the vision animating the Santuario. The presentations were primarily conceptualized and produced by Fr. Roland Tuazon, CM, shrine administrator and project director, with the seminarians, volunteer coordinator for events organizing Myra Solis Francisco, the staff, and an input from the Socio- Pastoral Institute for the first part.
There was also a powerpoint presentation by John Patrick Buensalido, architect, detailing the design of the interiors of the Santuario, and another on its cost by Jonathan Jandusay, engineer and construction manager of the Santuario.
An exhibit on the history of the Congregation of the Mission Philippine Province was mounted including leaders, personalities, seminaries and institutions of the Province.
The panels of textual content and rare pictures gave an extensive and comprehensive documentation of the events leading to the arrival of the Spanish priests in 1862, including royal patronage from Queen Isabella II.
The exhibit also featured otherwise-unknown vignettes such as the friendship which sprang between the Congregation and Filipino nationalist-editor-dramatist-labor leader-and Iglesia Filipino Independiente- stalwart Isabelo delos Reyes while he was in Madrid.
Emcees Francisco and Sem. Rolando Limjoco explained the pledging system for Project 350 that was ongoing throughout the program. Project 350 is a project that builds up towards the 150th year of Vincentian presence in the Philippines by 2012, it was pointed out by Provincial Visitor Rev. Fr. Rolando Serafin Jose C. Santos, CM in his welcome-remarks-cum-extemporaneous briefing.
Between performances and dinner donated by Laura’s Catering, Sem. Kit Torayno flashed donations and pledges via a color-coded scheme. At the end of the day, the concert patrons gave P 0.5 million.
Fr. Santos, the Provincial of the Congregation of the Mission, assisted by Fr. Tuazon, gave plaques of appreciation to all the performers who magnanimously shared their talents for the benefit of the shrine.
Fr. Tuazon also cited the unstinting and continuing generosity of families around and beyond the Santuario site as well as other friends of St. Vincent especially those who attended, pledged and donated during the dinner and the Couples for Christ (West C-1B) which sponsored the lights and sounds. The Vincentian priests, brothers and seminarians came in full force, and the seminarians from St. Vincent Seminary and the De Paul House served as waiters and as production assistants.
Fr. Tuazon said, “Without your support we could not have done the building of an integrated community in the service of the poor, whom the Apostle of Charity, St. Vincent de Paul, sought to help and evangelize. This is what counts even as we will again be knocking on your doors in our efforts to complete the Santuario by 2012.”
St. Vincent Daily Reflection
