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EMPOWERED BY THE SPIRIT, LIVING OUT OUR CALLING: FEAST OF THE BAPTISM OF THE LORD

by Communications Asian Presence | January 12, 2025 | Sunday Reflections | 0 Comments

As pilgrims of hope, the Gospel reading reminds us of our journey towards God’s love and affirmation. Just as the people anticipated the Messiah, we await spiritual renewal and transformation. John the Baptist pointed to Jesus, who baptizes us with the Holy Spirit,...

SEEKING THE KNOWN-UNKNOWN: SOLEMNITY OF THE EPIPHANY

by Communications Asian Presence | January 5, 2025 | Sunday Reflections | 0 Comments

We celebrate the Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord, an important liturgical event which signals that the Christmas season is about to come to an end. According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, the Epiphany is the manifestation of Jesus as Messiah of...

“SON, WHY HAVE YOU DONE THIS TO US?”: HOLY FAMILY SUNDAY

by Communications Asian Presence | December 29, 2024 | Sunday Reflections | 0 Comments

So many scenarios today when parents ask questions to their children like Mary asked Jesus: “Son, why have you done this to us?”, out of concern for them. But children and youth of today seem too much irritated about questions from their parents or other adults, that...

WONDER AND AWE IN GOD’S PRESENCE: 4th SUNDAY OF ADVENT

by Communications Asian Presence | December 22, 2024 | Sunday Reflections | 0 Comments

The fourth Sunday of Advent encourages us to seek signs of God's presence in our lives. In today’s Gospel, we read about the Visitation, the event when Mary visited her cousin Elizabeth. This event is filled with joy as Elizabeth recognized Jesus when her baby, John,...

HAPPINESS OF DOING WHAT IS RIGHT: 3rd SUNDAY OF ADVENT

by Communications Asian Presence | December 15, 2024 | Sunday Reflections | 0 Comments

Rejoice in the Lord always, Rejoice! So near, so close that the coming of Jesus is at hand! The Third Sunday of Advent is called Gaudete or the Sunday of Joy. The rose-colored candle in the Advent wreath is lit and the priest is wearing rose-colored vestments in...

SOUL UNDER CONSTRUCTION, SORRY FOR THE INCONVENIENCE: 2nd SUNDAY OF ADVENT

by Communications Asian Presence | December 8, 2024 | Sunday Reflections | 0 Comments

To see a road under construction is our an ordinary view in our modern times. It couses some inconvenience for all the drivers, a lot of pollution for those living near, disturbance because of the noise and dust. But the maintenance of the roads and construction of...

CALLED TO NEWNESS

by Communications Asian Presence | December 1, 2024 | General Chapter XVI, Institution | 0 Comments

A PATH OF DISCERNMENT AND MISSION Contemplating the call of Saint Andrew and his brother Simon, the preacher reminds us of the distinction between profession and vocation. According to Gregorio Marañón, a well-known Spanish doctor, we can either do things from within...

PEACE AND JUSTICE: 1st SUNDAY OF ADCENT

by Communications Asian Presence | December 1, 2024 | Sunday Reflections | 0 Comments

Advent is not yet Christmas! Advent means coming. It is a period of preparation for the coming of Jesus. We are called upon by the Church to do two things: 1) to look back at the first coming of our Lord Jesus when he was born in Bethlehem, and 2) to look forward at...

BETWEEN WORDS AND SIGNS OF HOPE

by Communications Asian Presence | November 30, 2024 | General Chapter XVI, Institution | 0 Comments

The Chapter Assembly continued its work on elaboration of common agreements, and today was our last day—of this Chapter—with the laity. We began the morning by offering the Eucharist for them, reflecting on the importance of paying attention to reality in order to...

LOOKING INTO THE FUTURE WITHOUT FEAR

by Communications Asian Presence | November 29, 2024 | General Chapter XVI, Institution | 0 Comments

CHAPTER DOCUMENT We consecrated today with the Eucharist, allowing the Word to bring light and hope into our lives. Today's Gospel reminds us that we must take our proper place in the construction of God's kingdom. He wants us to be able to lift our heads because...

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TAKING CARE OF ONE ANOTHER: PALAU’S SCHOOL OF LIFE (LETTER 41)

by Communications Asian Presence | Sep 20, 2024 | Palautian Reflections

“Begin each day a thousand times and do not wait for tomorrow”. How to do it when all around you crumples down and falls?

YEAR OF VOCATION: A CALL TO HOLINESS

by Communications Asian Presence | Sep 17, 2024 | Asian Delegation

Carmelitas Misioneras Teresianas sisters and volunteers joined the Diocese of Lucena as it launched the 74th Year of Foundation as preparation for its Jubilee Year with the theme "A Synodal Church Embracing a Culture of Vocation.” The theme tackles celebrating and...

GO DEEPER IN RELATIONSHIPS: 24th SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

by Communications Asian Presence | Sep 15, 2024 | Sunday Reflections

During my undergraduate years, I recall that our group was ecstatic each time we got together. Usually, we would remain at our friend's place to talk, eat, or even take a trip out of town. One time, surprisingly, something went wrong with one of our companions. She...

HEARING GOD’S WORD: 23rd SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

by Communications Asian Presence | Sep 8, 2024 | Sunday Reflections

In today's story from the Gospel of Mark, we see Jesus performing a miraculous healing. With the touch of his hand, Jesus cures a man's deafness and speech impediment, giving him new life. The narrative serves as a reminder of the profound impact Christ can have on...

LISTENING TO GOD’S WORD AND LIVING IT OUT: 22nd SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

by Communications Asian Presence | Sep 1, 2024 | Sunday Reflections

Reflecting on the readings for this Sunday, I can see as the central theme: Listening to God’s Word and Living it or putting in into practice. In the first reading, Moses encourages the Israelites to listen to the commandments of Yahweh and to practice them. The psalm...

“HOPE AND ACT WITH CREATION”: SEASON OF CREATION 2024

by Communications Asian Presence | Sep 1, 2024 | World and Church

To hope and to act are two essential attitudes of every Christian. In the words of Pope Francis (Message of His Holiness Pope Francis for the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation), it means "to live an incarnational faith, one that can enter into the suffering...

MAKING WORLD A BETTER PLACE: VOLUNTEERING EXPERIENCE

by Communications Asian Presence | Aug 30, 2024 | Asian Delegation

Summertime in Europe is getting closer to an end, but some brave people, instead of preparing for new school year, decided to prepare their luggage and backpack and come to the Philippines. They are not tourists eager to explore the wild beauty of the country, but a...

RENEWALS OF RELIGIOUS VOWS IN VIETNAM

by Communications Asian Presence | Aug 29, 2024 | VIETNAM

"I am no longer mine. From now on, I belong to you, oh Holy Church". With these words, based on spiritual experience of our Founder, Bl. Francisco Palau y Quer OCD, two of our vietnamese sisters renewed their vows of chastity, poverty and obedience, and committed for...

LIFE’S LESSONS FROM DRIVING A MOTORBIKE IN VIETNAM

by Communications Asian Presence | Aug 27, 2024 | Testimonies, VIETNAM

Riding a motorbike in Saigon can be tiring and stressful. But one can learn a lot about oneself and life in general while struggling with traffic in this largest city of Vietnam.

ALWAYS A CHOICE: 21st SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

by Communications Asian Presence | Aug 25, 2024 | Sunday Reflections

"Whom will you serve?" "Do you want to leave?" Today's reading put us face to face with basic questions of our faith. And demand our answer leaving an open door for us to turn away. Because faith is a free choice. God's questions and demands of answer don't come from...