Archdiocese of Lingayen-Dagupan

12 June 2009 - Dagupan City. The celebration of the 111th anniversary of the independence of the Philippines was celebrated in the city of Dagupan with a Prayer Rally against Con-Ass.

Msgr. Ocar V. Cruz, DD said, “House Resolution 1109 stands not only as its big and clear formal ignominy but shall also remain as its gross official disrepute in the annals of its history. Its much calculated yet obviously devious move in favor of Charter Change via its solitary call as a Constituent Assembly, only demonstrates its utter subservience to the Executive Department – apparently for the right price. With such a distinctly base and infamous resolve, the Upper House of Congress en contra thereto now appears standing way up there as it possibly can.”

In his letter announcing the holding of the Prayer Rally, Archbishop Cruz stated the reason for the Prayer Rally. “When expressedly called for by no less than CBCP itself, to register our expressed yet peaceful and prayerfully group dissent towards the morally objectionable and ethically offensive House Resolution 1109 about the anti-Constitutional holding of a CON-ASS eventually leading to the likewise anti-Constitutional term extension of the presumed President of the land – long since well known for serious graft and corrupt practices – we cannot but respond accordingly.”

The massive Prayer Rally was held at the Dagupan City Astrodome, and attended by more than5,000 people from various groups of the Archdiocese. A prayer by Rev. Fr. Julius Cuison, the Spiritual Director of the Mary Help of Christians College Seminary. The students of the Malasiqui Catholic School presented a haunting presentation depicting the various social ills and governmental corruption.

The resource speaker was Atty. Feliciano Bautista, the National President of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines. Atty. Feliciano Bautista is from the province of Pangasinan. He explained the implications and the unconstitutionality of the House of Representatives convening iteself into a Constitutional Assembly without the participation of the Senate in changing the Constitution. He answered several questions from the audience during the open forum.

Former Speaker Jose de Venecia spoke after the forum. De Venecia, once a staunch advocate of Charter change said he has turned against it because present efforts were meant to “perpetuate President Arroyo in power.” He urged the Pangasinenses to fight Con-Ass and said that Pangasinan shall take this lead in the North.

A Holy Mass with Archbishop Oscar V. Cruz, DD as the main celebrant together Msgr. Renato P. Mayugba, DD, the Auxiliary Bishop, and the clergy of the Archdiocese of Lingayen-Dagupan was celebrated. A singing of the “Bayan Ko” was led by the clergy after the mass. The whole assembly sang the “Bayan Ko” with raised hands and clenched fist. “Bayan Ko” was the song of protest during the Martial Law years. The rally was interrupted many times by shouts of “Con Ass, AGCO!” and “Con Ass ni Gloria, AGCO!”

Mr. Tony Liwag and Mr. Dong Jajardo hosted the program. The Archdiocesan Social Action Apostolate coordinated the whole affair.  The Prayer Rally was dubbed as “Bayan Ko, Mahal Ko. Con-Ass, AGCO!” AGCO has been used as a by-word in the advocacies of the Archdiocese. It means “I do not like” “I am against”. AGCO is also a broad coalition of various sectors of the society which is led by the Archdiocese.

As provided by the Archdiocesan Pastoral Assembly  of 1997 (APA), the Commission on Community Apostolate is specifically designed and intended for the formation and promotion of Basic Ecclesial Communities. As a pastoral priority, the Archdiocese of Lingayen-Dagupan puts the formation of BECs at the forefront. In collaboration with the Pope John Paul II Archdiocesan Biblical Center (PJPIIBC), the “Bisita nen San Pablo” will be launched in the continuing celebration of the Year of St. Paul. “Bisita nen San Pablo” is a study and reflection on the life and ministry of St. Paul as a vehicle in the formation and promotion of Basic Ecclesial Communities.

Two main talks will be given to highlight this objective. The first talk will be on “Pauline Missionary Strategies”. The second talk will be on “Building BECs in the Archdiocese”. A bible enthronement will open the celebration.

Msgr. Renato P. Mayugba, DD, the Auxiliary Bishop, has envisioned “Bisita nen San Pablo” as a congress with the theme “St. Paul on Building  Christian Communities” as enunciated in his circular letter addressed to all the Parish Priests of the Archdiocese. “Bisita nen San Pablo” will be held in the four vicariates on four different dates.

For Vicariate IV, St, Ildephonse Parish, May 16

For Vicariate III, Parish of St. Fabian, Pope and Martyr, May 23

For Vicariate II, Epiphany of the Lord Parish, June 6

For Vicariate I, Sts. Peter and Paul Parish, June 13

It will be a half-day celebration. Registration will begin at 12:00 Noon. Participants will include BEC coordinators/leaders, officers of Barangay Pastoral Councils, members of PPC, catechists, leaders/officers of various covenant communities and all interested lay leaders. A Eucharistic celebration and a procession will end the celebration at 4:30 PM.

TO: THE CLERGY, THE RELIGIOUS and the LAITY. Archdiocese of Lingayen-Dagupan

RE: NEW PASTORAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE ASSIGNMENTS, MEMBERS OF THE DIOCESAN CLERGY

The blessings of CHRIST — MINISTER, TEACHER, SERVANT

By way of a renewal of both our Priests and the Lay Faithful concerned, I am much pleased to accept and execute the much deliberated recommendations of the Episcopal Council in compliance with the text and spirit of the ALD ASSIGNMENT POLICIES, c. PARTICULAR NORMS.

Thus, it is that for effective transfers and/or actual assumpations of assignments or or before 31 MAY 2009, the following are hereby officially informed of their new respective assignments:

A. PAROCHIAL VICARS

Rev. Fr. Manuel de los Santos, Sts. Peter and Paul Parish, Calasiao

Rev. Fr. Edilberto Calderon, St. John Cathedral, Dagupan City

Rev. Fr. Antonio Quintans, St. John Cathedral, Dagupan City

B. ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICES:

Rev. Fr. Fernan Estrada, Prefect of Discipline, MHCH Seminary, Binmaley

Rev. Fr. Juan Joel Ynzon, Director: St. John Cathedral School, Dagupan City

Rev. Fr. Leo Macaraeg, Director: Binmaley Catholic School, Binmaley

Rev. Fr. Genaro Herramia, Director: Sto. Tomas Catholic School, Mangaldan

Rev. Fr. Jimmy Quinto, Administrator: Mary Help of Christians Catholic School, Basista

Rev. Fr. Manuel Bravo, Administrator: St. Vincent Catholic School, Bayambang

Urbiztondo Catholic School

C. PARISH PRIESTS/SCHOOL DIRECTORS:

Rev. Fr. Jose Laforteza, Parish Priest: St. Hyacinth Parish, San Jacinto

Director: San Jacinto Catholic School

 

Rev. Fr. Manuel Sayson, Parish Priest: St. Joseph, the Patriach Parish, Mapandan

Director: Mapandan Catholic School

 

Rev. Fr. Genaro Herramia, Administrator: Cristo Divino Tesoro Parish, Buenlag, Calasiao

 

Rev. Fr. Allen Romero, Parish Priest: Annunciation of the Lord Parish, Bonuan Gueset, Dagupan City

 

Rev. Fr. Rodolfo Somintac, Parish Priest: Mary Help of Christians Parish, Basista

The members of the Diocesan Clergy whose tenures of Office should end but who are not herein mentioned are meant to have extensions of their respective pastoral and/or administrative assignments.

Thank you for the kind attention.

Very sincerely in the RISEN CHRIST.

(SGD)+ OSCAR V. CRUZ, DD, Archbishop

7 May 2009

TO: THE CLERGY AND RELIGIOU MEN AND WOMEN,CHARISMATIC COMMUNITIES

RE: PENTECOST CELEBRATION

Alleluia!

We call on all charismatic communities in the Archdiocese to join the annual Pentecost Vigil in the Archdiocese. The following are the details of the Event:

DATE: 30 May 2009, Saturday

TIMEl 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM

VENUE: Holy Family Parish, Sta. Barbara, Pangasinan

FELLOWSHIP FEE: Ph Pesos One Thousand (P1,000.00) per community

Do inform your charismatic communities and other interested parishioners to join this annual celebration.

(SGD) +RENATO P. MAYUGBA, DD, Auxiliary Bishop

7 May 2009