Thanksgiving Party!
January 30, 2008
Hey Kaamulan kids and parents! Please check your calendars and see if you and your families are free on March 1st, Saturday, at 7:00 PM onwards. We plan to have a Thanksgiving Party for ALL who made Kaamulan possible and real. This is a FOSNI and Fr. Sockol/Emmanuel Staff collaboration.
This means we need to have a consensus. Whether you and yours are free that day, or not, we are asking everyone to leave a note here. We would prefer to have everybody with us. Use the comment section on this post to say “Yes” or “No”, and leave a name we can identify as you, yourself, and yours. You have three days to respond, so we can definitely make arrangements for particulars. We will announce the final details of the event once we get all your feedback.
So, hurry and “register“! 
Oisst! Pass the word to everyone.
Fathers and Sons
January 30, 2008
What might it be like if we can see, really see, into each other’s hearts? What might be learned? What might be taught? What might be lived better?
Birdcage
January 28, 2008
There once was a man named George Thomas, pastor in a small New England town. One Easter Sunday morning he came to the Church carrying a rusty, bent, old bird cage, and set it by the pulpit. Eyebrows were raised and, as if in response, Pastor Thomas began to speak…
“I was walking through town yesterday when I saw a young boy coming toward me swinging this bird cage. On the bottom of the cage were three little wild birds, shivering with cold and fright.”
I stopped the lad and asked, “What you got there, son?”
“Just some old birds,” came the reply.
“What are you gonna do with them?” I asked.
“Take ‘em home and have fun with ‘em,” he answered. “I’m gonna tease ‘em and pull out their feathers to make ‘em fight. I’m gonna have a real good time.”
“But you’ll get tired of those birds sooner or later. What will you do?”
“Oh, I got some cats,” said the little boy. “They like birds. I’ll take ‘em to them.”
I went silent for a long moment. “How much do you want for those birds, son?”
“Huh?? !!! Why, you don’t want them birds, mister. They’re just plain old field birds. They don’t sing. They ain’t even pretty!”
“How much?” I asked again.
The boy sized me up as if I was crazy and said, “$10?”
I reached into my pocket and took out my last ten dollar bill. I placed it in the boy’s hand. In a flash, the boy was gone. I then picked up the cage and gently carried it to the end of the alley where there was a tree and a grassy spot. Setting the cage down, I opened the door, and by softly tapping the bars persuaded the birds out, setting them free.’
Well, that explained the empty bird cage on the pulpit.
Then the pastor began to tell this story:
One day Satan and Jesus were having a conversation. Satan had just come from the Garden of Eden, and he was gloating and boasting. “Yes, sir, I just caught the world full of people down there. Set me a trap, used bait I knew they couldn’t resist. Got ‘em all!”
“What are you going to do with them?” Jesus asked.
Satan replied, “Oh, I’m gonna have fun! I’m gonna teach them how to marry and divorce each other, how to hate and abuse each other, how to drink and smoke and curse. I’m gonna teach them how to invent guns and bombs and kill each other. I’m really gonna have fun!”
“And what will you do when you get done with them?” Jesus asked.
“Oh, I’ll kill ‘em,” Satan glared proudly.
“How much do you want for them?” Jesus asked.
“Oh, you don’t want those people. They ain’t no good. Why, you’ll take them and they’ll just hate you. They’ll spit on you, curse you and kill you. You don’t want those people!!”
“How much?” He asked again.
Satan looked at Jesus and sneered, “All your blood, tears and your life.”
Jesus said, “DONE!”
Then He paid the price.
The pastor then picked up the cage, made sure its door was open all the way, and walked from the pulpit.
PhotoArt: Jayesh Bhagat
Winter Trials
January 27, 2008
The day was as clearly remembered as yesterday to me. Jan. 22, 2007, almost a year ago today - my hair, my precious, long hair, started to fall off. In strands, and over the following days, in clumps. I felt so awful inside. But I was sure that God, in His Sovereignty, understood what I was going through. He led me to these verses:
Matthew 10:30 says, “But even the hairs of your head are all numbered.”
Psalm 34:8-10, 19-20 - “Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him! Oh, fear the Lord, you his saints, for those who fear Him have no lack! The young lions suffer want and hunger; but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing. Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all. He keeps all his bones; not one of them is broken.”
You O Lord, are so amazing. You bring comfort. You bring joy.
In the midst of difficulties, thank You Lord because Your Word brings encouragement and nourishment to my soul. Thank You for Your promises and thank You because You are never slow in fulfilling them.
O Lord my God, I praise You. You are all that I need because You are all that I have. Amen.
Announcement - All Kaamulan Dancers
January 27, 2008
Please pass this on to all concerned:
There will be a post-show evaluation on February 9, 2008, Saturday, 5:00 - 8:00 p.m. with your Tita Batzie, venue to be announced later. The ultimate purpose of this evaluation is to improve the efficiency of our performance. This does not mean that you were bad — you were magnificent. It simply means we can be better, that we must always strive to be better, and a continuing growth is always to be sought after. Know too, that this growing goes both ways; dancer and choreographer, student and teacher. That while your Tita Batzie, your Tita Rose, and your parents can teach, they can also learn from you. We will announce the venue when we can, so please continue to check here every now and then.
On the same note, if you happen to have other commitments on the same date, please make sure to let us know well beforehand. Please bear in mind that this evaluation is mainly for the dancers, although parents who wish to listen in, or participate, are always welcome.
Thank you and God bless..!
First Finale
January 26, 2008
A triumphant finale for the January 19, 2008 show. We do not know how the kids really appreciate what they had accomplished this night. FOSNI intends to endorse the full amount of ticket sales to the Emmanuel Building Fund, to complete the contribution that these kids have done to Emmanuel Parish. We will let you know the exact amount of your contribution to the building effort, magnificent youth, so that you will know what you have given, other than your time.
A delighted and delightful pose after the show.
The FOSNI staff salute you!
The Contribution of Filipino Catholics
January 25, 2008
Here’s something very positive written by a foreigner named Steve Ray,about Filipinos. Steve Ray authored many best-selling books, among which are, Crossing The Tiber (his conversion story), Upon This Rock (on the papacy), and just recently John’s Gospel (a comprehensive bible study guide and commentary). Steve is also currently filming a 10-video series entitled, Footprints of God. The first two videos are out: Peter, Keeper of the Keys, and Mary, Mother of God (now available in the Philippines).
STEVE RAY’S OPEN LETTER TO THE FILIPINO CATHOLICS:
We stepped into the church and it was old and a bit dark. Mass had just begun and we sat toward the front. We didn’t know what to expect here in Istanbul, Turkey. I guess we expected it to be a somber Mass but quiet and somber it was not-I thought I heard angels joyously singing behind me.
The voices were rich, melodic and beautiful. What I discovered as I spun around to look did not surprise me because I had seen and heard the same thing in other churches around the world. It was not a choir of angels with feathered wings and halos but a group of delightful Filipino Catholics with smiles of delight and joy on their faces as they worshiped God and sang His praises. I had seen this many times before in Rome, in Israel, in the United States and other countries.
Filipinos have special traits and they are beautifully expressed as I gazed at the happy throng giving thanks to God. What are the special traits which characterize these happy people? I will share a few that I have noticed-personal observations-as I have traveled around the world, including visits to the Philippines .
FIRST, there is a sense of community, of family. These Filipino Christians did not sit apart from each other in different isles. They sat together, closely. They didn’t just sing quietly, mumbling, or simply mouthing the words. No, they raised their voices in harmony together as though they enjoyed the sense of unity and communion among them. They are family even if they are not related.
SECOND, they have an inner peace and joy which is rare in the world today. When most of the world’s citizens are worried and fretful, I have found Filipinos to have joy and peace-a deep sense of God’s love that overshadows them. They have problems too, and many in the Philippines have less material goods than others in the world, yet there is still a sense of happy trust in God and love of neighbor.
THIRD, there is a love for God and for his Son Jesus that is almost synonymous with the word Filipino. There is also something that Filipinos are famous for around the world - their love for the Blessed Mother. Among the many Filipinos I have met, the affectionate title for Mary I always hear from their lips is “Mama Mary.” For these gentle folks Mary is not just a theological idea, a historical person, or a statue in a church - Mary is the mother of their Lord and their mother as well, their “mama.”
The Philippines is a Catholic nation-the only such nation in Asia -and this wonderful country exports missionaries around the world. They are not hired to be missionaries, not official workers of the church. No, they are workers and educators, doctors, nurses and housekeepers that go to other lands and travel to the far reaches of the earth, and everywhere they go they take the joyous gospel of Jesus with them. They make a somber Mass joyful when they burst into song. They convict the pagan of sin as they always keep the love of Jesus and the Eucharist central in their lives.
My hope and prayer, while I am here in the Philippines sharing my conversion story from Baptist Protestant to Roman Catholic, is that the Filipino people will continue to keep these precious qualities. I pray that they will continue loving their families, loving the Catholic Church, reading the Bible, loving Jesus, His Mother and the Eucharist.
As many other religions and sects try to persuade them to leave the Church, may God give the wisdom to defend the Catholic faith. As the world tempt s them to sin and seek only money and fame and power, may God grant them the serenity to always remember that obedience to Christ and love for God is far more important than all the riches the world can offer.
May the wonderful Filipino people continue to be a light of the Gospel to the whole world!
(Forwarded by Amia Zaide)
Kaleidoscope Representatives
January 24, 2008
Our Kaamulan Youth dancers, primarily composed of Couples for Christ - Youth, have been chosen to represent the Philippines in Palm Beach County’s premier educational event, Kaleidoscope 2008 on January 27, 2008, Sunday.
You guys are scheduled to dance at the World Beat Stage at Centennial Square (the other stage is on Flagler Drive) at exactly 11:45-12:00. You will be dancing The Singkilan.
Instructions for the Boys:
* You will need to be wearing black longsleeves and black scrubs already.
* Bring your hankies; one for head, and another that you hold while dancing.
Instructions for the Girls:
* You will need to be wearing long-sleeved leotards and tights.
* Bring your “kumbong” (for your head)
* You will need to be wearing your make-up already.
Instructions for all:
* We will meet, or assemble, behind the Philippine Booth display at 10:00 A.M. on Sunday.
* For those who will need a ride, you will have to let us know (use the comment section below to write your need, or if you will need directions going there).
* Bring your own safety pins.
From there, you will get further instructions.
We need to be all on one page with this, so stay tuned to this thread for updates.
A note about parking on Sunday. As you know, you can park anywhere, for free, in downtown Clematis on Sundays. If you end up parking by a meter, drop your quarters in, anyway. All money collected at the parking meters this Sunday will go to a worthy cause - the upliftment of our youth.
Below are downloadable pdfs containing the Entertainment Schedule for Sunday and the Parking Meter rationale.
Kaleidoscope Entertainment Sked
Use the comment section below to air your feedbacks or questions.
Kaamulan
January 23, 2008
This is a test event. This is where you write the schedule and other information. Scroll down the Write Post and you will see the Events Editor. Click the plus (+) sign and set the time span/length of the event and then it’s done.
More here:
An event post is a normal blog post, with one or more attached events. On the Write Post page, scroll down and you will see the Event Editor. You might need to click the little ‘+‘ in its blue bar, to see the controls.
To start with, you will only see the column headings (Start, End and All Day) and the ‘+’ - add event button. Click ‘+’ to add a new event.
The event will start and end on the next full hour. To set the start date, click on the ‘…’ button, next to the start time. A popup calendar will appear.
Select the new start date by clicking on the calendar. Optionally you can change the time by clicking on the popup’s time and dragging. Click on the ‘X’ to dismiss the popup.
You can also edit the date and time in the normal way, by clicking on the numbers and changing them with the keyboard. If you edit the date manually like this, make sure that you keep to the correct format: YEAR-MONTH-DATE 24-HOURS:MINUTES
When you change the Start field, the End field updates automatically, so that the event’s duration remains the same. If you want to change the duration, then edit the End field, just as you did for the Start.
If you tick the All Day checkbox, then the times are ignored - the event goes on through the whole day. You can make the event span over more than one day if you wish. You can also add more scheduled times for the same post. Just click the ‘+’ button to add more lines.
To remove an event, click on the ‘—’ button.
When you’ve finished editing your events, just Save the post in the normal way.
YouthWalk: FOSNI’s youth section
January 23, 2008
We welcome YouthWalk, FOSNI’s youth forum section. This is the place where our youth will post their event and practice schedules, reminders and concerns.
We’d like to have your stories, articles and what-have-you that enriches our faith. Send your stories to faithwalk [at] fosni [dot] org.