Friday, February 22nd, 2008
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Venerable Mother Ignacia, Pray for Us!
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Father in heaven, Your name is glorified over all the earth in your saints, men and women, distinguished by a whole-hearted service and love for You. Through them You have established religious congregations in Your Church. In Your goodness and mercy, You have looked with favor on your people in the Philippines and have chosen from among them your lowly handmaid IGNACIA DEL ESPIRITU SANTO to be the foundress of a religious family under the special protection of the Blessed Virgin Mary. We humbly ask You, then, to glorify your name in her by performing the miracles needed for her beatification. Through Your Son, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. (Petition). May her prayers and intercession obtain for us the favors we ask for, particularly that of remaining ever faithful to Your love and service. Amen. Venerable Mother Ignacia del Espiritu Santo, intercede for us. |
After almost 259 years, Mother Ignacia del Espiritu Santo is finally two steps away from sainthood. Pope Benedict XVI has declared her as “Venerable” — a title that recognizes a person’s heroic virtue and sanctity and is the first step to sainthood. “Blessed” is the next step that occurs after at least one miracle is attributed to her intercession.
I look forward to her sainthood because she has been such a great inspiration to me. Being a part of the Religious of the Virgin Mary once, it has been my dream to see Mother Ignacia recognized as a model and mother for women of all times. I was educated in the RVM schools from kindergarten to college, and I had been an RVM sister for seven years. I can still remember as a child praying for her beatification every single day. I had tried her novena several times and each time — my prayer was granted on the third day. I had to think of another thing to ask for and then some more because her intercession was that quick.
Nine days before my husband and I got married, we also prayed the novena together. Our wedding day was successful and even when the Saint John Vianney choir couldn’t make it to our wedding, the RVM sisters were there to sing during the mass.
I am humbled that I grew up knowing Mother Ignacia with all my heart. I tell other people about her and the RVM congregation whenever I can. To me, she is not just the foundress of the first and oldest religious women’s congregation in the Philippines. She is an exemplary and great woman - heroic, humble and holy.
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Tuesday, February 12th, 2008
Love does not consist of gazing at each other, but in looking together in the same direction. - Antoine de Saint-Exupery
I just want to let you know that I really appreciate your…
- strength of character
- integrity
- value system
- simplicity
- intelligence
- your analytical mind
- decisiveness
- organizational skills
- flexibility to accommodate new changes
- being good with people around
- being generous to those who are in need
- being fair in dealing with other people
- being honest and sincere with our business
- determination to finish what you have started
- being able to listen and understand me
- being patient and loving
- playful spirit that makes me smile and laugh
- honesty and spontaneity
I am particularly proud of your…
- expertise in electrical system, security system and fire alarm system
- willingness to do volunteer work without expecting anything in return
- skills in database, computer and networking stuff
- competence in handling all sorts of accounting paperwork, income tax documents, etc.
I am happy that you…
- like to spend some quality time with me and our little girl
- enjoy working at home and in the yard
- and I share the same interest with computers
- have this outrageous knack for arcade games
- make some delicious dip, cookies, and croissants
I especially love your…
- very infectious laughter
- broad smile that makes me grin back all the time
- strong hands that hold me safely while walking in the streets
- gentle touch that makes me feel loved
- strong arms that make me feel secure
- blue eyes that make me fall in love every time
Thank you so much…
- for choosing me to be your wife
- for being my faithful husband and loyal friend
- for being a great dad to our little girl
- for telling others good stories about me and sweetpea
- for working long hours to ensure everyone’s taken care of
- for trying to spend time with us even after a long day of stress
- for doing the groceries with or without me
- for fixing me some breakfast whenever you can
- for all other miscellaneous things you do during Saturdays and Sundays
- for taking care of paying the bills
- for being considerate of our needs
- for being kind to my family and friends
- for being honest about how you feel regarding me and others
- for your willingness to discuss issues that concern our marriage
- for discussing current news and spiritual matters with me
- for taking the challenge of going back to College
- for taking me and sweetpea with you in your travel
- for forgiving me every time I make mistakes
- for trying your best to communicate with me without hurting my feelings
And above all - thank you…
- for being always there for me and our little girl.
And I just couldn’t think of any other way of letting the whole world know how much you are appreciated and loved!
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Sunday, February 3rd, 2008
‘Tis the season for fish fry! Madonna of the Holy Rosary Church (located at 118 Theresa Street) is holding its annual Lenten fish fry from 4:30 to 7 p.m. on Fridays during Lent. This crowd-drawing event brings families and friends together for a night of fried or baked fish, macaroni and cheese. Come early and enjoy the great food. You can get baked or fried haddock and baked potato or fries for $6.50. Macaroni and cheese is $2.50. Dinners include coleslaw, rolls and butter.
It’s also going to be Fitchburg’s Chinese New Year celebration on Thursday, February 7 at 4-8 p.m. It is the Chinese New Year celebration in China and other Asian countries and Chinese communities all over the world. So if you want to ring in the Year of the Rat, come and see fresh movement in downtown Fitchburg!
Chinese food will be plentiful and several activities will be held. There will be a card-making activity at the library, a dance performance by the Hmong Foundation, Chinese games at the senior center and a wide range of hands-on arts and crafts at the Fitchburg Cultural Alliance Main Street storefront at 633 Main Street.
At Chinese New Year celebrations, people usually wear red clothes, decorate with poems on red paper, and give children “lucky money” in red envelopes. Red symbolizes fire, which according to Chinese legend, can drive away bad luck. Red happens to be one of the official colors of Fitchburg, too. So, even when you’re not from Fitchburg, you might want to wear red this Thursday so you can get yourself some good luck for this year! Gung Hay Fat Choy!
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