Vigilia de Espigas 2008

humanae vitae at 40

Last July 25, 2008, the catholic church celebrated the 40th anniversary of the encyclical letter of Pope Paul, the 'humanae vitae".

Many family organizations, catholic schools and universities, congregations, orders and even some congressmen and Manny Pacquiao grace the event at the University of Santo Tomas, Manila.

Testimonies were addressed by different couples regarding their experiences in using contraceptives and natural family planning.

Speeches from the Papal Nuncio, Archbishop of Manila and Pampanga were also delivered.

People celebrated the sacredness and sanctity of life with songs, dances and a mass.

Mapaling Panaun, Mapaling Pamananggap

Napun, a-20 ning Hulyu, etad de ring tau-Bulaon, Parokia ning Mayap a Pastul, a panimunan nang Among Mar, karelang kura, ding larawan na ning Virgen de los Remedios at sto. Cristo del Perdon king parokia ning San Vicente Ferrer, Calulut.

Agiang minuran at kaibat siningo ing pali at lisangan ela mesira lub ding dakal a tau Calulut ban salubungan ding adwang larawan.


Nung piyabe tala ding taung menibatan karing adwang parokia a tinagun, atin lang 3,000. Inya pin agiang atin yang karagulan ing pisamban ning Calulut, ela mikasya ding tau.

Mapali ing panaun, tutung malisangan, pero ini eda pinansin ding debotu. Ing tune mapali apin ing pamananggap ding tau Calulut a penimunan nang Among Ding, kura.

Dakal a tau, lalaki na memusan karing imahen, babai na mengadi kabang prusisyun at anak na migkanta at tinerak.

Ana pin Among Ding, " aliwa mu ing mall o sabung ing makapagpatipun karing tau, nune pati ing kasalpantayanan."

Tune pin ing sinabi na uling bilang aktibung miyembru ning kekaming parokia ngeni miya pa ikit ing kekaming pisamban na sinapak angga na king patio at dalan. Matua, lalaki, babai, kayanakan at anak, ila ngan minta, migsakripisyu.

Tune aliwa ya igut ing birhen at ing keyang anak.

Ding Damas

"AQUI EN LA PAMPANGA HAY MUCHO PIEDAD PERO POCA CARIDAD" (Here in
Pampanga, there is much piety but less charity.), amanung menibatan
kang Cesar Ma. D. Guerrero, mumunang Obispo ning Diosesis ning San
Fernando.

Inya pin i Bishop Guerrero tetag ne ing Crusade of Charity and
Goodwill. King pangatatag na ning cruzada, tetag dala naman ding
inaus dang "Damas de Caridad" uli na ning karelang lugud. Mepili la
reni karing mabanding balen Capampangan. Ding mumunang damas apin
ila di; Doña Rosario Gonzales, Doña Rosa Cacnio , Doña Rosario
Ocampo, Doña Consolacion Panlilio, Doña Jacinta Lopez, Doña Isabel
Pecson at , Doña Rosario Mesina. Pitu lang babai ding mepili, pitu
simbulu ning pitung lungkut (sorrow) ning Birhen. Ing mumunang
pormal a pulung daring damas metala inyang Marso 1952 king bale nang
Doña Rosario Ocampo ning San Fernando. Ding Damas ila ring menibala

king "lamac". Ing lamac ing mengising king lugud Capampangan.

Ing Pamana

"The parishioners are not just the church goers but all the people under the cape of San Vicente Ferrer."

That is the reason why our parish priest, Rev. Fr. Conrado David, founded the "Ing Pamana", the official newsletter of San Vicente Ferrer Parish. It is composed of five active youngsters of the parish; Aaron "Ron" Sarmiento as the Editor-in Chief, Harold "roldy" Gomez as the Associate Editor, Reggie "Regz" Pascual as the Managing Editor and Aleli "leleng" Vergara and Angela "gela" Gonzales as staff writers.

The newsletter of our parish faced many obstacles on the road, our first issue is being turned into trash, because the group then is not still in existence, so that is the reason why we established our group, to improve the newsletter. Fortunately, as the group is founded, Ing Pamana improved and we promised that we will continue to nurture the newsletter.

"The parishioners are not just the church goers but all the people under the cape of San Vicente Ferrer."

Tagimpan at Misyun ning kekaming Parokia

King pamakiyagum king dalise nang lugud ning Dios a Ibpa
king matibe kasalpantayanan kang Jesukristong Ginu
king mabie kapanaligan king Banal a Espiritu
king panalangin ning Birhen Maria at king pamanantabe nang San Vicente Ferrer;

Kaibat ning masusing pamigunam king kabilyan ning bie kasalpantayanan, papasiag ta ya iting makatuki, anting kekatamung tagimpan at misyun laluna kaniting apulung banuang pamagsadya king ika dinalan nang anibersaryu ning pangatatag ning parokya:


Tagimpan

Tagimpan taya ing metung a mibabayung balayan a ing sentro ning bie yapin I Kristo.

Misyun

Ulina niti tatalaga tamu ing kekatamung sarili karing makatuking misyun:

• ubugan at iyanad ding anak
• pasiknangan at akayantabe ding kayanakan
• patatagan at bukluran ding pamilya
• gawang mabie at makabaldugan ing miyayaliwang kapagmasusyan karing sakramento at bie pamanalangin at kapanyamban
• palaganapan ing pamagaral at pamipatutu king amanu ning Dios
• sumuyu at magmalasakit karing kalulu at mangailangan lingap
• Misanmetung tamu king pamanalangin at pamagobra para king pangatupad da reting tagimpan at misyun ban sumulung ing bie kasalpantayanan. Maging mayap a tau at kristiyano. Abe-abe maging balayan a talatuki at balayan a mituburan.

History of our Parish

The Parish of San Vicente Ferrer

with its center in Brgy. Calulut was established in 1914. Originally,
it encompassed 28 barangays from as far as Anao in Mexico to the east,
Dolores to the south, Telabastagan to the north and a number of
villages of San Fernando on the west side along what is now known as
McArthur Highway.

At the time of its canonical erection in 1914, the parish was under the jurisdiction of the Archdiocese of Manila. However, the growing number of the faithful led to the establishment of more parishes that were established by Archbishop Miguel O’Doherty. These were St. Joseph Parish in Brgy. Malino, Mexico in 1941 and Our Lady of Remedies Parish in Brgy. Baliti in 1943, leaving eight barangays under the parish. This was further whittled down to six barangays with the erection of St. Augustine Parish in 1965. The remaining barangays were Calulut (parish center), Sindalan, Dela Paz, Bulaon, San Rafael and Malpitic.

The eruption of Mt. Pinatubo in 1991 and its aftermath affected the boundaries of the parish. A size able resettlement community was established in Brgy. Bulaon, prompting the creation of the Personal Parish of the Good Shepherd in 1995. In 1996, the Lord’s Ascension Parish was established in Dela Paz Sur, which included the western part of Sindalan. At present, there is a move by the residents of Brgys. San Rafael, Malpitic and Bulaon to join the Parish of the Good Shepherd. If this move is realized, the present parish boundaries will further shrink to include only the whole of Brgy. Calulut and the eastern portion of Brgy. Sindalan.

Most of the parishioners then were tenants and farmworkers who toiled in the sugarcane fields. Others relied on small farming lots for their income. With the land reform program of the government in the 1970s, many tenants became small landowners. The construction of farm-to-market roads in the same period also facilitated the marketing of their products. However, during the economic crunch of the 1980s, the lots were eventually sold and transformed into fishponds (cultured fishfarms) and poultry farms, with financing from big food processing companies. Other areas were converted into residential and industrial areas as well as memorial parks.
The shift in land use resulted in a significant change in the residents’ means of livelihood. A huge number are now employed in manufacturing firms and commercial establishments. There are professionals working in hospitals, schools and government offices. Some have become small-scale entrepreneurs with businesses ranging from hardware to sari-sari stores.

San Vicente Ferrer’s feastday falls on the 5th of April. In the past, it was customary to bring the images of all village patron saints to the parish church during the patronal fiesta and the Christmas nine-day Misa de Gallo. Most parishioners hiked from their village of origin; those who could afford took the gareta and calesa. These events were well-attended social and ecclesiastical affairs.
Aside from the patronal fiesta, another major parish feast is the “Fiestang Corazon” (Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus) on the 3rd Saturday of October. According to tradition, the harvest season was the reason why the feast is celebrated in thanksgiving on October instead of June, which is the feast’s liturgical month. Unknown to many, the parishioners were on the right liturgical track. Research shows that, in pre-Vatican II times, the original feast of the Sacred Heart fell on the Sunday before the feast of Christ the King, which is celebrated at the end of October.

The first parish priest was Fr. Pedro Paulo S. Santos (1914-1917). He was later to become the Archbishop of Nueva Caceres in Bicol. The first church edifice was constructed through his efforts, with the facade personally designed by him.
Fr. Casto Ocampo (1917-1919) was from the town of Sta. Rita in Pampanga. He promoted the devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus through the Cofradia del Sagrado Corazon de Jesus, and to him is attributed the annual celebration of Fiestang Corazon. He was followed by Rev. Fr. Felipe Romero (1919-1924) and Fr. Jacinto Vergara (1924-1930). The latter is still remembered for the ritual of “Tenieblas”* during the evening of Holy Wednesday before the Holy Mass.

Between 1930 and 1932, Fr. Artemio Pascual took charge of the parish. His brief tenure (due to ill health) is still remembered for bringing back many Aglipayans in Brgy. San Rafael to the Catholic faith. Fr. Pascual was succeeded by Fr. Getulio Inggal (1932-1937), whose term was marked by his struggle with the Socialist Party in church affairs. Fr. Lazaro Pineda (1937-1942) renovated the parish rectory. He was followed by Fr. Melencio Garcia (1942-1949), Fr. Pedro Capati (1949-1950) and Fr. Restituto Canda (1950-1951).

The parish priest who served longest was Msgr. Odon T. Santos (1951-1967). He is best remembered for his dream of transforming Calulut into a “city.” He renovated the chalet-style rectory into a two-storey building. He also built a permanent stage on the church patio and installed the image of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in front of the church. It was during his time that many mandated organizations were organized.
Msgr. Aquilino D. Ordonez (1967-1976) made his mark on the parish fortwo things: his passion for spiritual renewal and his concern for the economic development of the parishioners. The first was done through the Cursillo which became popular as a Christian renewal movement. He allowed the use of the rectory as a Cursillo House where hundreds of parishioners went through a “reconversion.” The second was achieved through vocational classes such as dressmaking and electronics, farm demonstrations, animal husbandry, home gardening, piggery and poultry-raising. He also introduced the Samahang Nayon and the Green Revolution program to the farmers. All these were achieved with the assistance of various government agencies.
One parish priest whose memory is still very alive in the parish was Msgr. Gregorio L. Canlas (1976-1984). Fresh from travels abroad, Msgr. Canlas introduced innovations and promoted active lay participation in liturgical celebrations. His stay in the parish was marked in what is now known as “The Golden Age of Kapampangan Liturgical Music.” His musical talents produced many liturgical songs that are still very popular.
Msgr. Canlas encouraged Scripture reading and reflection by organizing bible study and bible sharing groups. With the help of the Daughters of Charity, he promoted the Visita Domicilliaria, in which neighborhood families were organized into groups of thirty. The main feature of the Visita was the one-day visit of the image of the Miraculous Medal of the Virgin Mary to each member-family. In addition, each of the four puroks of Calulut were organized into a Coro, identified by a Marian title. Thus, Patad/Mabalas was known as “Fatima”, Centro was “Lourdes”, New Barrio was “Del Carmen”, and Pau was known as “Virgen de los Remedios”. Once a month, Msgr. Canlas would go the rounds of each Coro to celebrate the Holy Eucharist. In hindsight, it can be said that the experience was the parish’s precursor to building small ecclesial communities.
Msgr. Canlas also emphasized catechetical instruction for the young. He organized volunteer catechists who were trained by professionals. He made catechetism classes a requirement in all elementary schools. High school students of Sindalan and Calulut had their catechism classes every Friday evening.
Before he ended his term, Msgr. Canlas facilitated the purchase of an additional cemetery lot.
Msgr. Abelardo S. Basilio succeeded Msgr. Canlas from 1984 to 1991. It was during his incumbency that the construction of a new rectory and the renovation of the church building were initiated. Both projects became successful because of the support and cooperation of the Coros and concerned parishioners. The construction was about to finish when he was assigned to a new parish.
With the sustained cooperation of the people, Fr. Resurreccion G. Diwa (1991-1999) finished the construction. The facade of the present church was designed and constructed during his term.

The then parish priest, Fr. Adrian P. Paule, started his term in 1999 by reorganizing the Parish Pastoral Council and renovating the rectory. But the biggest impact of Fr. Paule’s ministry so far is his pastoral vision that is open to lay participation. Since he began his term, parishioners have been experiencing creative and meaningful pastoral activities leading towards the celebration of the parish’s 90th Foundation Anniversary. Highlights of this renewed pastoral outlook is the construction of the new parish church and the drawing up of an integrated parish pastoral renewal plan, where lay participation has been truly emphasized. The presence of two religious congregations, the St. Paul’s Novitiate (priests and brothers) and the Congregation of the Dominican Sisters of Ilanz has also helped in the pastoral development of the parish. With the phaseout of the Ilanz sisters in Calulut, the local congregation of the Dominican Sisters of Our Lady of Remedies took over the apostolic endeavor started by the former.
This book, which highlights the Integrated Parish Pastoral Renewal Plan, is another step in the history of San Vicente Ferrer Parish. As its faithful journey on the road to God’s Kingdom, may this book be a testimony of the collective struggles, hopes and dreams of the people.
One thing is sure, though. The parishioners, as they journey together, want “to get there...together.”

Continuing the works of Fr. Paule, the present parish priest, Rev. Fr. Conrado M. David.