MANILA, Philippines - Pope Benedict XVI has declared June 28, 2008 to June 29, 2009 the Year of St. Paul in celebration of the saint?s 2000th birth anniversary. The Pauline Year will take place in Rome where the saint?s remains lie in the tomb under the altar of the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls.

Various cultural and ecumenical events inspired by Pauline spirituality will be held. Special attention will be given to pilgrims who will go to the tomb via a special way to find spiritual benefits.

Pope Benedict XVI explained that this year must have an important ?Ecumenical Dimension? as St. Paul, Apostle of the Gentiles, dedicated himself to the spreading of Christianity to all people. He traveled more than 5,000 kilometers to evangelize Asia Minor, which is now known as Turkey.

On April 8, a group of Filipinos will go on a ?Cradles of Civilization? trip to Turkey, Greece and Egypt, not only retracing the footsteps of St. Paul, but also enriching their knowledge and enjoying the sites of these three countries. They will see several ?Wonders of the World? in Istanbul, Athens, Cairo, Meteora, Troy, Ephesus and go on a cruise to Dubai and Greek island.

For details, call Adams Express Travel at 5211651 or 5211638.

Hymn to St. Paul

Benedictine Father Johannes Paul Abrahamowicz, prior of the Abbey of the St. Paul Outside the Walls, composed both a hymn (?You Have Been Raised With Christ?) and a litany (?The Oil Flows Over?) for the year of St. Paul.

Regarding the hymn and litany, Father Abrahamowicz said both are available on the web site for the Pauline Year. ?This music does not have a commercial purpose. What?s more, all the songs are free; they can be downloaded for free.?

?In that work I conclude what has struck me the most is the fact that Saul fell to the ground, and is practically holding in his hands the authorization to kill Christians; the Risen Christ appears to him and he realizes that the people around him don?t understand what is happening.?

Father Abrahamowicz adds, ?Paul realizes that this authorization to kill Christians has become his own death sentence; so he has a momentary crisis as he wavers between escaping or staying there by himself. But he decides: ?I believe in Jesus, who I have seen; I will proclaim Jesus; now others will try to kill me, precisely because I have this authorization that says whoever believes in Jesus will be led to their death.??

Seeking God

At least 100 Filipino youths (18-39 years old) attended the Lenten recollection last March 15 at the Chapel of San Lorenzo Ruiz in New York. They are members of the organization ?Catholic Filipino Young Adults? who listened to Fr. Richard Neuhaus speak on ?Seeking God in Today?s New York.? Fr. Erno Diaz, rector of the chapel, told me that more and more young people are getting together to attend church services. The chapel choir meet on weekends to practice and to bond.

Kundirana

The Kundirana, the singing group from La Salle Greenhills, will perform on April 11, 7 p.m. at the St. Malachy Roman Catholic Church in New York to raise funds for Bahay Pag-asa, a halfway home for children in conflict with the law in Bacolod. Funds will also be used for the building of classrooms in many parts of the Philippines.

Formed in 1971 by Bro. Roly Dizon FSC, Bro. Mike Rapatan, FSC and LSGC music teacher Rose Balana, Kundirana?s music ministry is dedicated to spreading joy and hope. The term ?Kundirana? was coined from two popular Tagalog musical forms: the kundiman (love song) and harana (serenade). Popular singers like Gary Valenciano, Randy Santiago, Ogie Alcasid, Mel Villena, Dingdong Avanzado and Rannie Raymundo used to be members of Kundirana.

St. Joseph in Tolosa

Just how the images of St. Joseph and the little boy Jesus reached Tolosa, Leyte is truly a miracle. St. Michael Parish needed a life-size image of St. Joseph, so the Cofradia de San Jose would have an image to pray to. Trusting in God?s divine providence, Fr. Manuel Ocaña asked me to help him find a donor. The images were ordered from Francisco Vecin.

We were still looking for a donor two weeks before I had to leave for New York when I thought of calling Allan Tengco, a faithful devotee of St. Joseph. Allan answered his cell phone on the second ring (which he doesn?t normally do) and he immediately said that he would donate the images. I flew to Tacloban March 14 for the healing of the family tree Mass. I saw St. Joseph and the boy Jesus enthroned on the right side of the altar. The saint truly wanted to come to Tolosa, I told the people when I was asked to speak after the Mass.

Sharing in this miracle was Remy Salazar, who kindly fetched me at the airport and brought me to her house where I stayed the night. On the feast day of St. Joseph, March 15, Fr. Ocaña concelebrated the Mass with Fr. Dennis Inocando, parish priest and Fr. Dennis Malabola, parish priest of the St. Peter Mission Station in Telegrafo, Tolosa.

The St. Michael Choristers sang gloriously during the Mass and ended with the Song to St. Joseph composed by the late Pol Capistrano to the tune of ?O Sacred Heart, O Love Divine?. Although hermanos Nathaniel and Irene Asis were not physically present since they were in Canada, their families made up for their absence. Thanks to Allan Tengco for making it possible for the people to have their St. Joseph.

Oratory of St. Joseph

There is a story that goes this way. St. Joseph provides the exact amount you need. This was the experience of Fr. Alvin Nicolasora when he had the small oratory of St. Joseph built in the St. John the Evangelist School of Theology in Palo, Leyte. Fr. Alvin told Remy Salazar and myself that the seminary needed P50,000 to complete the construction and refurbishing of the oratory. He was too shy to ask for it, so he told the benefactor that he needed P35,000. When he opened the check on his way home, he found the amount P50,000.

The beautiful image of St. Joseph with the Child Jesus is enthroned in the altar. The oratory is the perfect place to pray, to meditate. Many seminarians come here. The seminary, by the way, recently held the graduation of 18 theology students.
In the Sacred Heart Seminary, also in Palo, is a third year student, Enrick Parone de la Paz who is anxious to continue his studies, so he can become a priest. But his parents cannot afford it. His grandmother approached me and asked for help. Can we make Enrick?s dream come true. Please text Fr. Gil Manaog at 0920-9251856.

Prayer

A friend of mine who lives in Canada found the following prayer inside a children?s prayer book that she bought in a flea market. ?O Lord, give bread to the hungry and for those who have bread hunger for justice.?

Happy Easter!