On Humility...
(By: Rev. Peter Fernandes, sfx)

Today, the virtue of humility is seen as weakness and failure, especially in our affluent society. A person is humble not because he is truly humble, but because he is unable to compete with the rest of humanity. This is how the modern society looks upon humility.We stand on the opposite side of God, with pride and arrogance.

The race to reach the top is so fierce, that it drains every ounce of our energy, and there is no peace and tranquility. Suicide is a growing phenomenon, especially among the younger generation.We can be on top, and yet, be humble, knowing that everything comes from God. The moment we focus on ourselves rather than God, we loss grip, and the downfall is inevitable.

The author of the book of Ecclessiasties tries to impart wisdom to his people. Do not follow the wind of vanity of vanities. Be gentle in carrying out your business and you will be better loved than a lavish giver. The greater you are, the more you should behave humbly, and then you will find favor with the Lord. For, great though the power of the Lord is, He accepts the homage of the humble.

Jesus is surrounded by prideful people; they love places of honor. There is no cure for the proud man's malady, since an evil growth has taken root in him. Jesus, through the parable brings home a powerful message to those who were filled with pride and self-importance. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and the man who humbles himself will be exalted.

Fr. Peter Fernandes, sfx ( From the Pastor's Desk, St. Timothy Church's Sunday Bulletin)

Miracle Prayer

Lord Jesus, I come before you just as I am. I am sorry for my sins. I repent of my sins, please forgive me. In your Name, I forgive all others for what they have done against me. I renounce satan, the evil spirits and all their works. I give you my entire self, Lord Jesus, now and forever. I invite you into my life, Jesus. I accept you as my Lord, God and Savior. Heal me, change me, strengthen me in body, soul and spirit.

Come Lord Jesus, cover me with your precious blood, and fill me with your Holy spirit. I love You Lord Jesus. I praise Jesus, I thank you Jesus, I shall follow you all the days of my life. Amen Mary my Mother ,Queen of Peace, all Angels and Saints, please help me. Amen

On Reading, Cracking the Millionaire Code by Mark Victor Hansen & Robert G. Allen

A beggar had been sitting by the side of the road for over 30 years. One day a stranger walked by, "Spare some change?" mumbled the beggar, mechanically holding out his old baseball cap. "I have nothing to give you," said the stranger. Then he asked:"What's that you are sitting on?" "Nothing," replied the beggar. "Just an old box. I have been sitting on it for as long as I can remember." "Ever looked inside?" asked the stranger."No," said the beggar. "What's the point? There's nothing in there." "Have a look inside," insisted the stranger. The beggar managed to pry open the lid. With astonishment, disbelief, and elation, he saw that the box was filled with gold. - Eckhart Tolle, The Power of Now.

There is that " box of gold" in all of us. We are "sitting on" it. But we have to stand up, use our hands to "pry open the lid." Is it not that faith without work is dead. We have to look for that gold of opportunity unceasingly even if it takes a lifetime.

How? By applying Life Management. According to Nido Qubein (visionay leader & great philanthropist, benefactor and humanitarian) Life management focuses on the activities that you are passionate about. We have time for whatever we are passionate about. I have a 'to-do'
list, but more importantly, I have a 'to-stop'list. I don't read newspaper in the morning; I read self-help, inspirational, and spiritual literature that uplifts me. I take vacations as an investment in memories with my children."

what it takes...

"it takes a minute to find special persons, an hour to appreciate special persons, a day to love them, an entire life to forget them."

"... life is too short my friend; look for that special someone and you'll find that person."

Days sans Jesus are:
Mourndays
Tearsdays
Wastedays
Thirstdays
Fightdays
Shatterdays
Sindays

• It pays to go out to breathe some fresh air. Last Saturday we attended the Santo Nino de Agosto Fiesta. Twenty- one (21) Santo Nino Groups from all over Illinois including one from Wisconsin attended. The celebration with the procession around the block from St. Genevieve Church proved that there is that elusive beauty of unity in a world of diversity. It also showcased the vestige of Spanish religious influence in the Philippines. This is now manifested in the Santo Nino image found in almost every Filipino domiciles all over the world. And even on their vehicles.
• Sunday at Lone Tree Banquet Hall, we found ourselves submerged in the fun and frolics of the young, the music in the christening celebration. I met somebody that brought back wonderful memories of my schooldays.
• It really is healthy to be out of your shell regularly. It is a good living.

Country Life

I love the country with its charm
The varied green vegetables
Cattle grazing away from harm
And food always at your tables.

You can walk and you can smile
Or even cry and loudly shout

The echo could be heard a mile;

A Bamboo with a lovely sprout.

The breath of  tropical dawn;
Admire the happy giggling trees
Slumber in the nature's lawn
And dream of the birds and the bees.

and dream of birds and bees.

Life is what you picture it to be. It all starts in your intention, in your perception, in your mind. Look at this picture Viewers have different creative ideas on this. Now change your concept of this particular picture; the picture stays the same but you created something that may become a poem, an essay or a story.
If this is the real thing, of course, the landscape and seascape change. "When you change the way you look at things; things change.
Looking at this picture for a second, you'll see that there is a great Unseen Painter which we call the Source of Abundance, of Beauty, of Love, of Truth.

Ray's the man...

There's a ray of intention in our life. A ray of hope. Of comfort.

He has the audacity to greet a newcomer. This person called Ray. It was at the Butera Store on Division that we exchanged infos on our who,why, what, when and where. That he was connected with Chase and Manhattan Bank. Then we crossed paths on some occasions.
On "The Pathway to Rome", we met, we talked and we dined.

Lately, we met at Rago's on Western Avenue. In a nutshell, we have things in common - frequenting and surfing the internet.

On Retirement...

A priest's homily on the
sojourn from material to
the spiritual was extra-ordinarily unique in the sense that it was the first time I heard it but it was something to deal with. It is retirement at its best 'cuz worry is out of the question. No bills, no more planning of the next day, nada, zip...." as in my Father's place there are many mansions that are prepared for everyone and you have all that you need...

Your Mind and what you think of the world.... (Upon reading The Power of Intention by Dr. Wayne W. Dyer )

Your attitude then is paramount. 2 conditions of viewing the world - the positive and the negative. It's + or -. What is inside of you, your thinking will be manifested by the outside. If you want to be connected to the Origin, you have to purify your thinking by taking out the carbon dioxide of hatred and letting in the oxygen of love, kindness and beauty. With these you are in harmony with the Origin/the Creator which is the perfectness of you- the reason why you are on this earth at this point in time. The Creator of the Origin has the intention of your purpose....

7 Faces of Intention: 1) Creativity 2) Kindness 3) Love 4)Beauty 5)Expansion 6)Unlimited Abundance 7)Receptivity.

Love life. Love the beauty of the world with its ugliness. Be grateful that you are reading this; that you have a place in this earth; that you are with a purpose. Ergo, keep in tune to the music that this world gives. Listen to it with sincerity, with passion, with life.

St Timothy Summer Dinner Dance (July 29, 2007)

Was a success. Lots of donated foods, drinks, dancing feet and wonderful music. And the music reverberated thru the church's basement. There were 3 live singers - 2 ladies and a gentleman plus another 2 on the background with their guitars. It was a motley crowd.

St. Timothy was alive with its new pastor, Fr. Peter Fernandes. Of course, there was tanduri chicken , kabobs, pita bread, pancit, chicken tenders, egg rolls, cakes, muffins, salad and fruits.

Visitors loved the live band. A couple almost stayed to the end just to listen to the sparkling voice of Ellen Balmadrid . 'Twas a night well spent.

.. Looking beyond our horizon we recall the glimmer of the past. Once again, the past becomes a pulsating present. Fr. Danny appears in the scene. And talks become gospel truth. Meanwhile, Fr. Pecto with bated breath hurriedly explains the beauty of saying the right thing and not to falter. However, Fr. Carlos' waiting may manifest the reply of tomorrow as Fr. Joseph's patience remain unquestionable. Maybe, the pastor can shed the light. Pastor Nonoy, that is.

Friends and Memories. // Our greatest assets are our friends. True friends. Real friends. Sincere friends. And they fill the pages in the book of memories. They are diamonds. They last. They are forever... Really! Is friendship a lost cause? Surf www.roomwithapew.blogspot.com

On Father's Day

On Father's Day

A father of two (on the left)and a father of the many (on the right) holding the image of the Holy Infant Jesus (Santo Nino) made in Cebu City, Philippines. This Holy Infant Image is a gift for Father Max of Uganda as a token of friendship.

"The family stands on two pillars of which each pillar is vital and essential for the family's growth and stability These two pillars are " Father and Mother". Today - we honor the father for the role in the life of the family.

St. Joseph played a significant and exemplary role in the life of the Holy Family. In his concern to provide for the family, he undertook the trade of a carpenter. When the family was in danger, he guided them to a safe place. When the time came for his family to deliver her firstborn in a foreign land, he turned to beg, without thought or care, for shelter. And, in his personal anguish, when the child was lost in Jerusalem, he neither blamed the mother, nor anybody else, but anxiously searched to find him.

Without the father, the family becomes vulnerable and faces a formidable challenge to cope up with the world. The weak and the fatherless find the world hostile toward them, for the father is the strength to his children and motivating force to overcome difficulties in their lives. Sadly, it is all too often, that only after the father is gone, he is appreciated for the love he gave to his family. Therefore, we have more reason to celebrate Father's day with sincere gratitude to them, for the dedication and many sacrifices.

The first Father's Day was observed on June 19,1910, in Spokane, Washington. At about the same time in various towns and cities across America, other people were beginning to celebrate a "Father's Day". In 1924 President Calvin Coolidge supported the idea of a national Father's Day. Finally, in 1966, President Lyndon Johnson signed a presidential proclamation declaring the 3rd Sunday of June as Father's day.
Father's Day has become a day to not only honor the father but all men who act as a father figure. Stepfathers, uncles, grandfathers, and adult male friends are all honored on Father's day.
Today, let us pray that fathers will always execute their duties to their families with love and fidelity; that all the fathers will look at St Joseph, emulate his life and an exemplary figure to all people, especially to their own children. (Fr. Peter Fernandes,sfx)

June 17,2007 Father's Day.

On this day a reminder on the role of being a man, male figure, father,stepfather, grandfather,

uncle, or a father of the church. Historical dates:

June 19, 1910-ist Father's Day observed in Spokane, Wash. 1924, an idea of national Father's day gained support from Pres. Calvin Coolidge. 1966, Pres. Lyndon Johnson signed a presidential proclamation making 3rd sunday of June as Father's Day.

"Honor thy father..."

Filipiniana Night's smile-fraught faces garbed in barong tagalog with the captain of tour ship Carnival Liberty plying the Mediterranean ocean.

Eve Caermare Trabanca aboard the ship Carnival Liberty
as it slices the calm, bluish Mediterranean sea.

The Carnival Liberty ( Panama built) on her maiden voyage cruising the tranquil Mediterranean Sea on regal splendor that started at the port of Civitavecchia, Italy to dock at 7 ports of: (1) Naples, Italy (2)Dubrovnik, Croatia (3) Venice, Italy (4) Messina, Sicily (5) Barcelona, Spain (6) Cannes, France (7) Livorno, Italy.

The Filipiniana Night of the Mediterranean Tour.

Greg, Eve (wife), Zeny Buen (wife of Dr. Willy Buen), Babylane Rueles(cousin) and friend nurse, Fely Arceo.

The ship that maiden voyage us to a Mediterranean tour to ports of Italy, Croatia, Spain and France. Details found on Journey of a Lifetime on the preceding blog.