Visita Iglesia 2008

The St. Joseph the Worker Community had a Visita Iglesia last March 15, 2008. We visited the old churches built by the Franciscans in the province of Rizal and Laguna. We were lucky to have with us Fr. Dom Resurreccion OFM who explained to us the historical background of churches we visited. We even had a chance to visit Juan De Plasencia Novitiate House of the Franciscan in Liliw, Laguna and the underground cemetery of Nagcarlan. Truly, it was a very meaningful Visita Iglesia for the St. Joseph the Worker Community. Our gratitude to Fr. Dom , who accompanied us despite his hectic schedule.

Audience with Bishop Gabriel V. Reyes D.D.



Last March 1, 2008, we had an audience with His Excellency Bishop Gabriel V. Reyes, D.D. at his residence. We presented the development of St. Joseph the Worker Church as well as our financials for 2006 and 2007. We were able to convey to him the concerns of St. Joseph the Worker Community. Bishop Gaby is very supportive of our effort in building the St. Joseph the Worker Church and is ready to support our intention of having a fund-raising this coming month of June 2008 for the roof of St. Joseph the Worker Church.

Bishop Gabriel V. Reyes also accepted our invitation and is scheduled to visit our christian community on the Feast of St. Joseph the Worker on May 1. Maraming Salamat Po, Mahal Namin Obispo!.

Cost of the Roof

After almost three (3) weeks of data gathering and evaluating, we finally were able to determined the actual cost of the roof for St. Joseph the Worker Church. Again, I would like to thank the effort of individuals who gave much needed data as a basis for the estimates. The installation of roof frames and roof sheets will cost P 3.4 Million. We decided to defer for the meantime the construction of the balcony and staircase and concentrate on the roof. The budget for the balcony is now re-allocated for the roof and that is about P800,000 and if we deduct this from 3.4M . We only have to put up 2.6M for the roof.

We need to double our effort and intensify of campaign for pledges which has been diminishing through the years. We need also to find new benefactors for this stage of the construction. We ask each member of St. Joseph the Worker Community to include in their prayers our effort to find benefactors to finance our roof. The faithful in our community are encouraged to participate in the Brown Envelope Project. This means every liturgical service in our community, they are encouraged to pick a brown mail envelope and help financially for our roof.

We are activating again our partner-builders. To be one of our partner-builders, you are willing to donate at least P 5,000 for the construction. We are preparing a letter for our partner-builders to report on the progress of the construction and the same time to once again ask of their generosity to help.

If you are reading this article right now and is willing to help, you can contact us at e-mail address joseph_the_worker@yahoo.com. Also, if you want to help in our effort and join St. Joseph the Worker Community you can visit us every Sunday after our 7:30am Holy Mass.

SJWC Concrete Beam – Just Completed

We have completed the concrete beam of St. Joseph the Worker Church. This was made possible, once again, through the generosity of the Christian community of Robinsons Homes East. Likewise, our gratitude to all the members of St. Joseph the Worker Community, who volunteered and continuously offering their services especially during our liturgical services and other activities in building the St. Joseph the Worker Church.

Presently, we are determining the actual cost of putting up the roof of the church and planning the funding. While we rely mostly on the donations from the churchgoers in our community, we want to look for other sources for funding to expedite the roofing. This is a tall order for us but through the intercession of St. Joseph, the Worker, the patron saint of our community, we believe that God will guide us in providing the roof in our place of worship we call - St. Joseph the Worker Church.

Gift-Giving

During the 9-day Simbang Gabi in St. Joseph the Worker Community, we encouraged the faithful to offer gifts for the indigent members our parish. On the 29^th of December 2007, we went to a community known as Galilee (previously part of Sitio Pantay). Around 130 families received gift containing rice, canned goods, milk, coffee and instant noodles. We also distributed around 200 bags containing cookies and candies for the kids. There were singing, dancing and parlor games for both the kids and the grown-ups. We would like to thank Bro. Sergio of Sitio Pantay, Chairwoman Lala and the Christian Community of Galilee for the warm welcome given to us.

Thanks again for the generosity of the Christian Community of Robinsons Homes East who are always responding to our call to be generous every Season of Christmas, the members of SJWC who volunteered for the re-packing and actual gift-giving, and Picker Constructions who provided the vehicle during the event.

Every year, we adopt a community (Sitio) in our parish for the gift-giving. For the past years, we were able to visit Aduas, Pinugay, Sumilang, Pantay, Masikap, Guipit and Maligaya.

“…What will matter is not what you bought,
but what you built;
not what you got,
but what you gave.
What will matter is not your success,
but your significance.
What will matter is not what you learned,
but what you taught…”

WHAT WILL MATTER by: Michael Josephson

Simbang Gabi with MJ

The traditional simbang gabi in St. Joseph the Worker Church (SJWC) began last December 15, 2007 at 8:30 in the evening. Around 2000 faithful gather in the site where we are building the church. Fr. Nolly, our parish priest, asked the help of the Missionaries of Jesus (MJ) to assist in the simbang gabi in the different chapels of our parish. We are very thankful that the MJ was assigned in our community.

MJ is a group of priest-missionaries, an international and multicultural religious missionary community founded in the Philippines on 2002. Fr. Joel, Fr. Freddie, Fr. Eugene and Fr. Luke have been assisting our parish since the turn over to the Diocesean Priests (we were formerly under the SVD). MJ believe that the inculturation of the Gospel is a mutual enrichment and critical interaction between faith and culture. Maraming Salamat sa MJ!

You can contact the Missionaries of Jesus at :

MJ Bahay-Misyon, Villa Ligaya Subd., Antipolo City, Philippines
Tel: 696-51-52
e-mail : missionaries_of_jesus@yahoo.com

"We too are called to work in the Vineyard of the Lord…."

After two years of patiently waiting, we are able to continue the construction of St. Joseph the Worker Church. We are completing the concrete beam. We hope to finish the work this month of December. The delay is of course due to the insufficiency of funds. We depend solely on the generosity of homeowners in our place and some fund-raising like our traditional Christmas Tree Decoration. The unselfish attitude of our benefactors inspired us to strive more for this endeavor. Some pledged to give P50, P100 and P500 monthly. Others volunteered to work manually in the construction site during Saturdays (see picture above).

For us, it is a privilege to be given a chance to help build a Church in our community.

I know, we still have a long way to go but through the intercession of St. Joseph the Worker, our patron saint, this dwelling place of God in our community will one day be completed. St. Joseph is a good provider and a carpenter by profession will help us.

It’s been a while since we are celebrating the Holy Eucharist in the St. Joseph the Worker Church with temporary roofing. We used to celebrate it in our clubhouse but we decided that it was best to celebrate the Mass in the site where we are putting up the Church itself. Lately, we were offered by our parish priest, Rev. Fr. Nolly Buco, to have additional mass every Wednesdays and Fridays at 7:00 p.m. Again, we welcome these as a blessing for our community. The devotees of our Lady of Perpetual Help and of the Sacred Heart of Jesus now have a chance to attend the Holy Eucharist after the novenas.

Again, we would like to reiterate our gratitude to the male volunteers every Saturday. They are really a big help in our construction effort especially with our limited budget for the construction.

Peace and Mutual Goodwill !!!

In this Advent and Christmas Season, St. Joseph the Worker Church will be putting up our Traditional Christmas Tree inside the Church to remind us of this Joyous Season.

Once again, help us put up this Christmas Tree by buying Christmas Balls. The proceeds will go directly to the funds of St. Joseph the Worker to continue our effort in building our Church. By buying a Christmas Ball worth P100.00, you will be a part in decorating our Traditional Christmas Tree and share in building the beautiful house of God we call St. Joseph the Worker Church which is undergoing right now to complete the concrete beam.

In return for your generosity, we will include you in the Mass Intentions of our traditional Simbang-Gabi and have the privilege of hanging the Christmas Balls you bought from us with a short message of Christmas.

Thank you for decorating our beautiful Christmas Tree.

May Jesus dwell in our hearts this Christmas and bring peace and joy to your love ones…St. Joseph the Worker, pray for us.

(The photo was taken 2005 Advent Season when we first put up the SJWC Christmas Tree)

The Church Built Of Living Stones

The Church "built of living stones" (1 Pet 2:5) is God's people that came forth from the side of Christ as he slept the sleep of death upon the Cross. From the altar of the Cross, our Lord Jesus accompanied our redemption, forming a holy people, a "temple of God built of living stones, where the Father is worshipped in spirit and in truth" (cf. Rite of Dedication of a Church an an Altar, ch. 2,n.1)

The living Church, however, needs a place where the members can gather to hear the word of God, to pray together, to receive the sacraments, and to celebrate the Eucharist. That is why we are building St. Joseph the Worker Church in our community.

The St. Joseph the Worker Church is not simply a gathering place but signify and make visible the Church living in this place, the dwelling of God with men reconciled and united in Christ.

Prayer

(Cf. Preface - Dedication of the Church II)

Father, all powerful and ever-living God, we do well always and everywhere to give you thanks. Your house is a house of prayer, and your presence makes it a place of blessing, You give us grace upon to build the temple of your Spirit, creating its beauty from the holiness of our lives.

Your house of prayer is also the promise of the Church in heaven. Here your love is always at work, preparing the Church on earth for its heavenly glory as the sinless bride, the joyful mother of a great company of saints. Now, with the saints and all the angels we praise you forever. Amen.

----------------------------------------------------------------
Part of the Article was taken from the Liturgical Calendar of PDDM 2005

Contribute in any way possible for the construction of St. Joseph the Worker Church. Contribute also to the procurement and maintenance of the liturgical vessel, vestments and furnishings. Help SJWC procure what is needed for worthy and meaningful Church of worship.

True to our mission, annually we have the Healing Mass for the elderly and the sick in our community. Every time we do this, We truly feel the presence of God within us. I would like thank Fr. Bernie SVD, who administered the Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick and presided the Holy Eucharist last July 14, 2007.

“And the King will answer them,Truly, I say to you, as you
did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me.”(Matthew 25:40)

MISSION STATEMENT

OF

ST. JOSEPH THE WORKER COMMUNITY

WE COMMIT OURSELVES.

• TO BUILD A COMMUNITY WHOSE MEMBERS ARE FAITHFUL FOLLOWERS OF JESUS CHRIST.

• TO BE AWARE THAT WE ARE ALL CALLED TO WORK IN HIS VINEYARD AND GIVING SPECIAL ATTENTION TO THE WEAK AND THE NEEDY IN OUR SERVICE.

• EMULATING ST. JOSEPH THE WORKER IN HIS VIRTUES AND ASKING THE INTERCESSION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY.

• FINDING STRENGTH IN THE EUCHARIST AS WE CONTINUE TO BUILD A BEAUTIFUL PLACE OF WORSHIP WE CALL ST. JOSEPH THE WORKER CHURCH AS A SYMBOL OF OUR FAITH AND UNITY.

VISION STATEMENT
OF
ST. JOSEPH THE WORKER COMMUNITY

WE ENVISONED OURSELVES

AS A COMMUNITY WITH A FERVENT LOVE FOR JESUS CHRIST, WHERE YOU CAN FIND LOVE, UNDERSTANDING AND UNITY, HELPING THE WEAK AND THE NEEDY. GUIDED BY THE EXAMPLE OF ST. JOSEPH THE WORKER AND THE CONSTANT INTERCESSION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY, JOYFULLY WORKING IN HIS VINEYARD AND CELEBRATING TOGETHER THE HOLY EUCHARIST FOR NOURISHMENT IN A BEAUTIFUL PLACE OF WORSHIP HUMBLY BUILT BY HIS SERVANTS.