OUR LENTEN RECOLLECTION A FRUITFUL DAY TO REMEMBER
By: Sis Lily Ong
The events that unfolded during the first Holy
Week are now parts of our common story as
members of the church. The real meaning and
fruitfulness of the Holy Week celebration basically
focus on the paschal mystery. The solemn account
of Christs betrayal, crucifixion, death and
resurrection is part of the fabric of our lives.
This years Holy Week recollection of the
Prayer Society of our Lady of Bethesda was held last
March 31, 2007 at the residence of Dra. Concordia
Pascual, whom we lovingly call Tita Cording, in
Baesa, Novaliches.
Fr. Teo Rustia delved on the subject Covenant
Community. This Covenant started when GOD
called Abraham and instructed him to bring his
people to Palestine.
Celebrating this profound connection between
Christ and you and me is precisely what life is all
about. We are Gods chosen people by His grace we
have been saved by faith. Through Gods
graciousness, we are inspired by the Holy Spirit as
our guiding light. This day was truly all about
remembering, recollecting lifting up and celebrating
shared moments of salvation.
Another highlight of the day was the blessing
of the new image of our Lady of Bethesda, the
Patroness of our Prayer Community, donated by our
very generous Tita Cording.
After the Mass, we were served a delicious
buffet lunch and merienda also compliments of our
host, Tita Cording.
By: Sis Linda M. Carlos
Saturday, June 23, 2007 was an important day to remember for
the Prayer Society of our Lady of Bethesda, considering that it was
another outreach project we encountered. Bringing to the Senior
Citizens of Baesa, Novaliches held at the Lucas Pascual Elementeary
School of the same area, a Healing Mass by Fr. Teo Rustia, a first-time
experience for the old times and young as well. This event was
especially sponsored by one of our elders and beloved Dr. Concordia
Pascual, whom we lovingly call Tita Cording together with her
family, her three daughters and their spouses, a group of medical
husband and wife team, who owned the Pascual General Hospital
nearby.
After the Mass, we got some feedbacks out of the anointing
services of Fr. Teo, some manifestations from the Holy Spirit, which
were quite overwhelming. An elder, Estefania Magpayo from NPC
Ambuklao Road, Baesa, excitedly declared to us a miraculous incident
she experienced. According to her, she suffered some pain in her legs
caused by a needle accidentally pricked into it and also some pain in her
arms, which she could hardly raise up toward the middle of the Mass,
however, the pain in her legs was gone and she could now raise up her
arms. Praise GOD!
Likewise, as related by one of our co-members, Sis Maricion
Borja, she had been suffering some pains in her knees for the past three
days. However, an hour later, after her anointing, surprisingly the pain
was gone and she felt much better. As Fr. Teo Rustia says GOD works
in Mysterious ways . . . and he is just an instrument.
After the Mass, a simple snack of ensemadas and tetra packed
juices were served to the crowd present. Then the members of PSOLB
proceeded to the Pascual General Hospital for the initial blessing of Fr.
Teos office which is now the official office of Prayer Society of our
Lady of Bethesda. A surprise, delicious lunch was prepared by the
hospitable hosts, composed of amiable and generous medical husband
and wife team and beloved children of Tita Cording.
Truly, we went home fully satisfied.