Volume 6 Issue 1 | 1st Quarter 2016
Volume 6 Issue 1 | 1st Quarter 2016
Christ is the Only Answer, Always and Forever.
A NEW YEAR FOR THE FILIPINO FAMILY
On 2021, we will celebrate
the 500th anniversary of the
first Eucharist and first
Baptism in the Philippines.
To prepare for this
milestone and beyond, we
started an “Era of New
Evangelization” in 2012.
After years devoted to
integral faith formation, the
laity and the poor, 2016 will
be the Year of the 51st
International Eucharist
Congress and Year of the
Family. It will also be the
Extraordinary Jubilee of
Mercy and the year when we
start to implement Pope
Francis’ Encyclical Laudato si’ on Care for Our Common
Home. Since “the future of humanity passes by way of the
family” (St. John Paul II, Familiaris Consortio, n. 86), the
theme chosen for 2016 is “The Filipino Family: Missionary
Disciples of the Eucharist”.
The green frame symbolizes the world in which we live.
The waves in the background recall the countless
generations and diverse cultures of the human family, all of
whom are called to “an integral ecology lived out joyfully
and authentically” (Laudato si’, n. 1). Green is the color of
life. In and from the family we nurture and promote life and
love. With every new life, the springtime of hope emerges.
The people symbolize the family as designed by God to
reflect his own creative love: a man and a woman united by
love, open to becoming father and mother to the children
that God would grant them. This is the foundation of
human society and civilization: the natural experience of
belonging to a loving family in which we learn faithfulness in
the midst of betrayal, forgiveness in response to conversion,
courage born out of hope.
That the members of the family are five also represents
the Filipino way of responding to being Catholic: family-
oriented, meal-oriented, kundiman-oriented, bayani-oriented,
spirit-oriented (Catechism for Filipino Catholics, nn. 34-44).
Specifically, “The anak-magulang relationship is of primary
importance to us Filipinos. Ama, ina, and anak are culturally
and emotionally significant to us Filipinos who cherish our
filial attachment not only to our immediate family, but also
to our extended family (ninongs, ninangs, etc.). This family-
centeredness supplies a basic sense of belonging, stability
and security. It is from our families that we Filipinos
naturally draw our sense of self-identity. Jesus as both the
Son of God (Anak ng Amang Diyos) and the Son of Man
(Anak ng Tao) endears himself naturally to us family-
oriented Filipinos. As Son of Man, Jesus leads us to his
Mother Mary (Ina ng Diyos) whom he shares with us (cf.
Jn19:26-27). He thus welcomes us into his own household,
offers himself as our brother (kapatid), and draws us through
the Sacrament of Baptism to a new identity and into the
family life of his heavenly Father (cf. Jn 3:5-7).What can
better remind us Filipinos of our early childhood, or respond
more directly to our traditional love for children, than Jesus,
the Sto. Niño? At twelve, Jesus was a discerning and daring
child, who nonetheless remained obedient to his parents (cf.
Lk 2:41-51). In his public life, Jesus embraced little children
and admonished his disciples to become child-like in
openness and simplicity (cf. Mt 18:2-4). In our family-
orientedness, then, we Filipinos are naturally attracted to
Jesus of Nazareth, Son of God and Son of Man. Thus, PCP
(CONTINUED TO PAGE 2)
2 Young Ambassadors of Christ Newsletter
(CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1)
II 46-48 stress the exceptional importance of our Filipino
family as both subject and object of evangelization” (CFC
nn. 34-36).
The cross represents Jesus who grants us salvation
through his redemptive suffering, death and resurrection.
Jesus incorporates us into his Body through baptism by
water and the Spirit. Blue is the color of the innermost and
hottest part of the flame. This is Jesus, who is at the center,
and inner-most core of the human family from whom life
and all virtues come, the Spirit from which the family
becomes the missionary disciples of the Eucharist. The
radiant host and golden chalice with IHS symbolizes the
Eucharist as the sacrament in which “Christ is received, the
memory of his Passion is renewed, the mind is filled with
grace, and a pledge of future glory to us is given” (O Sacrum
Convivium).
Jesus’ Paschal Mystery is especially mirrored by family
virtues and values:
 red father: sacrifice, dedication, willingness to die for
the family (Priest, provider and protector)
A MESSAGE FROM OUR DIRECTORS
From YAC-PnT
Change is the only constant thing in our lives. Everything
changes, and I really believe that everything happens for a reason.
You just can’t put everything in your hand and push to whatever
you want. The YAC 4th LEADERSHIP SUMMIT made me
realize those things, and they really fit with my favorite quote,
“Things change, and friends leave. Life doesn’t stop for anybody.”
We can't oblige everyone around us to stick until the end, we have
different priorities in life and we must consider some personal
reason because that's life, everything must go on, and you must go
on too, because if you stop, Change that means you fail, you fail to
obey the only rule about Change, which is to move on.
The YAC-P&T made some major changes or maybe we can say
added some major priorities as we welcomed some new faces in
our group. New officers were elected and we are expecting more
"neophytes" as we face the next six months. I believe that with our
new people, we will pursue everything written in the bylaws, or as
much as possible, most of them. As the Director of the said group,
I’m very happy about the fact that we are growing in terms of the
members (actively attending), and in the relationship between
them. I hope that all these things and changes will provide a better
result for the group, for Y.A.C., for the other subgroups and of
course to the Shrine of Jesus the Divine Word. May God always
bless our groups so we may continue serving Him and sharing to
people our own ways on magnifying God’s glory. GOD BLESS!!
 orange mother: endurance and strength, passion
tempered by wisdom: the feminine genius (St. John
Paul II, Mulieris Dignitatem, n. 30.)
 brown child: humility, docility, industriousness,
perseverance, patience
 blue child: Marian (CFC 45-47), prayer, piety and
service to God's people
 white baby: purity, innocence, baptismal grace,
springtime of hope
The three rays that emanate from the Cross and
Eucharist refer to the three-fold kneeling required by
renewal: repentance and mercy, adoration and prayer, love
and service. We also recall the three words that Pope Francis
wants every family member, especially spouses, to say
everyday to each other: “please”, “thanks”, “sorry” (Address
to participants in the pilgrimage of families in the Year of
Faith, 26 October 2013).
To live the Gospel of mercy, to proclaim and become
witnesses of God's love, the great gift of family and life, and
to care for our common home, is every family's call to be
missionary disciples of the Eucharist. (Source: CBCP Episcopal
Commission on Family and Life)
From CYBS
CYBS Group (Contemplative Youth of the Blessed Sacrament)
planned different activities in order to bring back the non-active
members of the group and to have more fruitful servants of God.
One of the primary concerns we planned and discussed was to
learn how to have a transparent communication with non-active
members. We came up with 5 I’s to develop communication. First,
we have to Inform them, it is really important to know what our
purpose and goals in the group. Second, we have to Instruct them,
they have to know how it works. Third, they have to be Inspired,
through sharing their reflections based on bible verses or passage
and sharing different stories with the help of social media and
other means of communication. Fourth, we have to Insist, through
repetitive process and constant communication with them is the
key to get the fifth I. We have to Involve them and bring back to
CYBS Group and most of all to be an active member of YAC.
Communication is the key to success and Commitment is like a
seed in your heart which you have to how to find a way for it to
grow productively.
From CAMM
Sana magtulungan tayong lahat para marami pang kabataan ang
mahikayat natin. Dahil ang center naman talaga natin dito ay si
God. Nagseservice tayo para kay God, hindi sa tao. God Bless
everyone! GOODLUCK YAC!!
Volume 6 Issue 1 | 1st Quarter 2016
The Extraordinary
Jubilee Year of Mercy
and the Youth
Last December 8, 2015, Most Reverend Honesto F.
Ongtioco, Bishop of the Diocese of Cubao, had opened the
First Jubilee Door of Mercy in the Immaculate Conception
Cathedral of Cubao, thus officially opening the
Extraordinary Jubilee Year of Mercy in our diocese. It was
celebrated with a Stational Mass that started at the Religious
of the Virgin Mary (RVM) Compound in N. Domingo Street
and concluded at the cathedral.
Aside from the Cathedral, the diocese also declared and
opened 3 other Jubilee Doors of Mercy in the Holy Family
Parish in Roxas District, as it is also the Year of the Family,
Sanctuario de San Pedro Bautista Parish in San Francisco
Del Monte as the oldest parish in the diocese, and in Parish
of the Lord of Divine Mercy in Sikatuna, the only parish in
the diocese named after the Lord of Mercy.
Launched as well is the official logo for the Year of
Mercy. Here’s the explanation from the official Jubilee Year
of Mercy website of the Vatican.
The logo and the motto together provide a fitting
summary of what the Jubilee Year is all about. The
motto Merciful Like the Father (taken from the Gospel of
Luke, 6:36) serves as an invitation to follow the merciful
3
example of the Father who asks us not to judge or condemn
but to forgive and to give love and forgiveness without
measure (cfr. Lk 6:37-38). The logo – the work of Jesuit
Father Marko I. Rupnik – presents a small summa
theologiae of the theme of mercy. In fact, it represents an
image quite important to the early Church: that of the Son
having taken upon his shoulders the lost soul demonstrating
that it is the love of Christ that brings to completion the
mystery of his incarnation culminating in redemption. The
logo has been designed in such a way so as to express the
profound way in which the Good Shepherd touches the
flesh of humanity and does so with a love with the power to
change one’s life. One particular feature worthy of note is
that while the Good Shepherd, in his great mercy, takes
humanity upon himself, his eyes are merged with those of
man. Christ sees with the eyes of Adam, and Adam with the
eyes of Christ. Every person discovers in Christ, the new
Adam, one’s own humanity and the future that lies ahead,
contemplating, in his gaze, the love of the Father.
The scene is captured within the so called mandorla (the
shape of an almond), a figure quite important in early and
medieval iconography, for it calls to mind the two natures of
Christ, divine and human. The three concentric ovals, with
colors progressively lighter as we move outward, suggest the
movement of Christ who carries humanity out of the night
of sin and death. Conversely, the depth of the darker color
suggests the impenetrability of the love of the Father who
forgives all.
For more information, log on to http://www.im.va/.
4 Young Ambassadors of Christ Newsletter

Of Angels and Saints...

Name: Santo Nino (Holy Infant)
Feast Day: Whole Month of January

The oldest religious image in the Philippines. The wooden image, was found
unscathed after the Spaniards lit the beaches of Cebu in 1565. No one knows who
provoked the fire, but much of the town was destroyed. The usual search of the
remaining houses ensued, but nothing of value was to be found, except for a chest
bound with a cord which clearly was of Spanish make. Inside the chest, a second box
was found and in it a statuette clad in velvet and with a red cap on its head. Two
fingers of the right had of the statue were raised and extended as in blessing, and the
left hand held a gilded globe. The image was well preserved, for whatever reasons,
the image had been kept with the care afforded to an object considered sacred.

Veterans of European campaigns identified the statue as an effigy of the Holy child
Jesus, most likely of the Flemish variety. It was brought to the island by the Magellan Expedition in 1521. Tradition has it
that an image of the Virgin with the Child in her arms was presented to Queen Juana as a gift.

When it was brought to Legazpi he knelt before it, took it in his hands, kissed it, announcing further that the grounds
where it had been found and the surrounding area would be reserved for a church and monastery in which the Holy Child
would thenceforth be enshrined for the veneration of all the future generations. The Santo Niño was there to preside over
the beginnings of the Christianization of the country, and since, the image and the people’s devotion to it have been
characteristic of spirituality, even as they have consistently complemented the sacramental and liturgical ecclesial life which
are the essential elements of Christianity.

Name: Our Lady of Lourdes

Feast Day: February 11

Our Lady of Lourdes is a title of the Blessed Virgin Mary venerated in honor of
the Marian apparitions that reportedly occurred in 1858 in the vicinity
of Lourdes, France. The first of these is the apparition of 11 February 1858,
when Bernadette Soubirous, a 14-year-old peasant girl, admitted to her mother that a
"lady" spoke to her in the cave of Massabielle (a mile from the town) while she was
gathering firewood with her sister and a friend.[1] Similar apparitions of the alleged
"Lady" were reported on seventeen occasions that year, until the climax revelation
of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception took place.

In 1862, Pope Pius IX authorized Bishop Bertrand-Sévère Laurence to permit the

veneration of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Lourdes. On 3 July 1876, the
samePontiff officially granted a Canonical Coronation to the image that used to be in
the courtyard of what is now part of the Rosary Basilica. The image of Our Lady of Lourdes has been widely copied and
reproduced, often displayed in shrines and homes, often in garden landscapes. Bernadette Soubirous was later canonized as a
saint (source: wikipedia)

The national shrine in the Philippines dedicated to Our Lady of Lourdes is located in Retiro in Quezon City. It is
administered by the priests and brothers of the Order of the Friars Minor Capuchin (OFM Cap.). Twelve missionaries left
Spain but only eleven arrived here in Manila on May 13, 1886. One died in the journey.

They stayed with the Franciscans for quite sometime in Intramuros. The six (6) missionaries continued their journey to
the Caroline and Palaos Islands. The remaining 5 friars stayed with the Franciscans until they took charge of the spiritual
needs of the residents of Gagalangin, Tondo. After sometime, the 5 missionaries started to move out from Tondo to San
Marcelino Street where they rented a small house, then moved to San Rafael Street, then to Solana Street and finally to Gen.
Luna Street. This was where they were definitely and canonically built the first Capuchin house and the church was
dedicated to Our Lady of Lourdes. Unfortunately, their first church was destroyed by the bombing of Manila during the
Battle of Liberation in 1945.
Volume 6 Issue 1 | 1st Quarter 2016 5

Name: Saint Joseph

Feast Day: March 19

Joseph is a figure in the Gospels, the husband of the Blessed Virgin Mary,
the mother of Jesus, and is venerated as Saint Joseph in the Catholic
Church, Eastern Orthodox Church, Oriental Orthodox Church, Anglican
Communion, Lutheranism and Methodism. Christian tradition places Joseph
as Jesus' foster father. Some historians state that Joseph was Jesus's father. Some
differing views are due to theological interpretations versus historical views.

The Pauline epistles make no reference to Jesus's father; nor does the Gospel of
Mark. The first appearance of Joseph is in the gospels of Matthew and Luke. Each
contains a genealogy of Jesus showing ancestry from king David, but through
different sons; Matthew follows the major royal line from Solomon, while Luke
traces another line back to Nathan, another son of David and Bathsheba. Consequently, all the names between David and
Joseph are different. According to Matthew 1:16 "Jacob begat Joseph the husband of Mary", while according to Luke 3:23,
Joseph is said to be "[the son] of Heli". Some scholars reconcile the genealogies by viewing the Solomonic lineage in
Matthew as Joseph's major royal line, and the Nathanic lineage in Luke to be Mary's minor line.

Joseph is the patron saint of workers and has several feast days. He was also declared to be the patron saint and protector
of the Catholic Church by Pope Pius IX in 1870, and is the patron of several countries and regions. With the growth
of Mariology, the theological field of Josephology has also grown and since the 1950s centers for studying it have been
formed. (source: Wikipedia)
Dates to Remember:

Palm Sunday (Sunday, March 20, 2016)

Holy Thursday (Thursday, March 24, 2016)
Good Friday (Friday, March 25, 2016)
Holy Saturday (Saturday, March 26, 2016)
Easter Sunday (Sunday, March 27, 2016)

Divine Mercy Sunday (Sunday, April 3, 2016)

Ascension (Thursday, May 5, 2016)

Pentecost Sunday (Sunday, May 15, 2016)
Trinity Sunday (Sunday, May 22, 2016)
Corpus Christi (Sunday, May 29, 2016)
6 Young Ambassadors of Christ Newsletter
NATIONAL SHRINE OF OUR LADY OF LOURDES
Location:
Titular:
Feast Day:
The Lourdes Parish is administered by the priests
Dwelling Place
and brothers of the Order of the Friars Minor
Capuchin (OFM Cap.). Twelve missionaries left Spain
but only eleven arrived here in Manila on May 13,
1886. One died in the journey.
They stayed with the Franciscans for quite sometime
in Intramuros. The six (6) missionaries continued
their journey to the Caroline and Palaos Islands. The
remaining 5 friars stayed with the Franciscans until
they took charge of the spiritual needs of the residents
of Gagalangin, Tondo. After sometime, the 5
missionaries started to move out from Tondo to San
Marcelino Street where they rented a small house, then
moved to San Rafael Street, then to Solana Street and
finally to Gen. Luna Street. This was where they were
definitely and canonically built the first Capuchin
house and the church was dedicated to Our Lady of
Lourdes. Unfortunately, their first church was
destroyed by the bombing of Manila during the Battle
of Liberation in 1945.
Since its foundation in Intramuros the church of the
Capuchins was recognized as the shrine of Our Lady
of Lourdes. The Capuchins brought the devotion to
Our Lady in the Philippines. After the war the church
Retiro, Quezon City
Our Lady of Lourdes
11 February
at Retiro street continued to be Our Lady’s shrine.
In the Provincial Chapter of the Capuchins in 1985
the friars decided to revive the devotion to Our Lady
of Lourdes. And during the Centennial Celebrations
of the Capuchin Presence in the Philippines, the
Provincial Minister, Fr. Troy de los Santos, requested
Cardinal Sin to declare the Our Lady of Lourdes
Church as Archdiocesan Shrine which His Eminence
granted with a decree dating February 3, 1987.
On the occasion of the 45th foundation anniversary
of the church in 1996, the Capuchins requested the
Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines to
declare Lourdes church as a national shrine.
The CBCP granted the request the following year
at their 74th General Assembly at the Betania Retreat
House in Tagaytay City. With a letter dated January
24, 1997 the Lourdes church was declared
the National Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes.
(excerpts fron NSOLL’s Official Website)
(http://www.nsollqc.com/)
Volume 6 Issue 1 | 1st Quarter 2016 7

"For my thoughts are not your thoughts,

Wider and Wider Circles nor my ways are your ways-oracle of the Lord
For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
So are My ways higher than your ways
And My thoughts higher than your thoughts."

Isaiah 55:8-9

REFLECTION and no matter how smart we may think of

How comforting it is when God tells us
"my thoughts are not your thoughts" implying
that He has a better plan for us. In this, we came
to realize that the Lord does not think like us; he
has his own view of space, time and history that is
beyond our imagination. He tells us not to be
stressed too much with all the hullabaloo that is
occurring in our everyday lives. In our everyday
journey , there are numerous times when we
would question ourselves if the paths of what we
have chosen is right. We may overthink and doubt
our decisions based on the circumstances that
come to us and create unwanted situations. In
here we come to understand that we are humans
First reading
Fourth Sunday in Lent Joshua 5:9-12
March 6, 2016
ourselves, there will always be someone who has
an unattainable height of understanding and logic.
God has a plan for everyone, and who are we to
question him? This is a verse of assurance, a verse
of comforting those who are in doubts. What
God does and how he does it is way beyond us. In
fact, it is "as the heavens" beyond us. Not only
does God show how he will assures us, but also
how mighty and great he is. Though we have the
potential to accomplish things using our own
abilities, let us not forget to ask and pray to the
Lord and trust in His name.
Psalm Second reading Gospel
Psalm 32 2 Corinthians 5:16- Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32
21

Fifth Sunday in Lent Isaiah 43:16-21 Psalm 126 Philippians 3:4b-14 John 12:1-8
March 13, 2016

Liturgy of the Palms Psalm 118:1-2, 19-29 Luke 19:28-40

March 20, 2016
Sixth Sunday in Lent
Liturgy of the Passion Isaiah 50:4-9a Psalm 31:9-16 Philippians 2:5-11 Luke 22:14-23:56
March 20, 2016 or
Sixth Sunday in Lent Luke 23:1-49
Monday of Holy Week Isaiah 42:1-9 Psalm 36:5-11 Hebrews 9:11-15 John 12:1-11
March 21, 2016

Tuesday of Holy Week Isaiah 49:1-7 Psalm 71:1-14 1 Corinthians 1:18- John 12:20-36
March 22, 2016 31

Wednesday of Holy Week Isaiah 50:4-9a Psalm 70 Hebrews 12:1-3 John 13:21-32
March 23, 2016

Maundy Thursday Exodus 12:1-4, (5-10), Psalm 116:1-2, 12-19 1 Corinthians 11:23- John 13:1-17, 31b-
March 24, 2016 11-14 26 35
Holy Thursday
Good Friday Isaiah 52:13-53:12 Psalm 22 Hebrews 10:16-25 John 18:1-19:42
March 25, 2016 or
Hebrews 4:14-16;
5:7-9
Holy Saturday Job 14:1-14 Psalm 31:1-4, 15-16 1 Peter 4:1-8 Matthew 27:57-66
March 26, 2016 or or
Lamentations 3:1-9, John 19:38-42
19-24
8 Young Ambassadors of Christ Newsletter
YAC Council 2016
Bro. Allan Robinson
Over-all Program Coordinator
Sis. Arthel Zabala
Bro. Angelo Franco
Bro. Sythe Uy
Bro Wilson Roque
Sis. Inna Clemente
YAC Directors
____________________________________
YAC Newsletter Editorial Staff
Bro. Sythe Uy
Editor In-Chief
Sis. Rhea Antonio
Sis. Angel Custodio
Bro. Phillipp Espino
Bro Jualie Rinon
Publication Staff
Bro. Gabb’z Gabriel
Layout Artist
____________________________________
Sis. Vicky Magsalin
M.O.M. Queen of Peace Philippines Chapter-
President
Sis. Hilda Caliwag
Finance
Rev. Fr. Matthias Mandresa, SMITH
Spiritual Director
____________________________________
New Rodeo Printing Press
Publisher
Mary Our Mother Queen of Peace Ministry
Philippine Chapter:
Tel.: 0918-400-6526/0916-604-7289
E-mail: YAC@momqpm.org
Website: www.momqpm.org
BROTHER ALLAN’S CORNER
Pax Et Bonum!
Do you have faith in Jesus Christ? Do
you want to be close to Him?
Jesus told us in John 5:39, which
testify of the Lord Jesus Christ! Jesus is
precious to every believer (1st Peter
2:7). What a privilege to have the Spirit
of God living in our body (1st
Corinthians 3:16-17).
Are you glorifying God? Have you
acknowledged God in your life? Are you
thankful to the Lord?
Drawing close to God is not difficult
or a mystery. You never have to wonder
if God wants to be close to you,
because HE DOES.
We are made close to God by the
gospel of Jesus Christ. There is no other
way to peace with God than through
Jesus Christ. Matthew 4:19, “And he
said unto them, Follow me, and I will
make you fishers of men.”
We, the Young Ambassadors for
Christ (YAC) must be that fishers of
men. To bring those young people
closer to HIM. Those that are away
from God. Those that are in darkness.
Observe the lilies, how they grow. They neither
labour nor spin. And yet I tell you that not
even Solomon in all his splendour was as
beautifully dressed as one of these.
-Luke 12: 27
We’re on the Web!
www.facebook.com/YAC2001ANDBEYOND
www.facebook.com/christsambassadorsmusicministry
Those that are hungry for the word of
GOD.
How?
1. Meet with God before anyone else.
2. Get into God's Word every day.
3. Participate in a youth ministry.
4. Record your blessings and
answered prayers.
5. Pick a 'theme verse' for the year.
Make some of these action points
priority in your life and hopefully, by
the end of the year, you'll be not only
another year older in your body, but
another year older in your faith and
walk with Christ.
Let’s do things Step by Step. We don’t
need to be perfect. It’s OK to just have
a good testimony, love our Heavenly
Father, and keep His commandments.
He can bless us and help us overcome
our weaknesses so that we can fulfill the
Word of GOD.
How will you grow in your faith and
walk with God this year?
Ad JESUM per MARIAM!
Ad Majorem DEI Gloriam!
Mary Our Mother Queen of Peace Ministry:
U.S.A. Main Office:
16259 Community St. North Hills, CA. 91343
Tel.: 818-895-8918 Fax: 818- 936-0709
E-mail: mom@gospaprayerhouse.org
Website: www.gospaprayerhouse.org