Offering of Symbols _ March 15 Mass
Offering of Symbols
1. Internationality
(Gemma & Yolly)
Globalization
is not new to the Congregation. Mary Euphrasia thought and opened the
congregation to globalization even before 1835 so the rest of the world can and
may experience the Good Shepherd compassion and mercy. May this
internationality of the congregation bring us all to a globalized compassion
and a globalized justice where everyone enjoys the comprehensive security of
God’s care.
2. Mindanao (Diana,
Dale and Pina)
Creator
God, you have lavishly bestowed Mindanao a rich cultural heritage, magnificent
natural resources and diverse ethnic groups. But greed and discontent has led
to the destruction of Your creation and the displacement of Indigenous Peoples
communities. Abuse of power and materialism has caused your people particularly
women and children to be exploited for money and has left families to be
disintegrated as they seek greener pastures abroad for financial stability.
Renew and transform us Cosmic Shepherd God. Heal broken lives, reunite
families, restore the beauty of Your creation, that we may all enjoy fullness
of life.
3. Visayas (Edna &
Elen Jalop)
And
the child grew in wisdom, age and grace to become our Good Shepherd.
May
he gives us all the courage that we need to go the way he shepherds us.
That
when he calls, we may go unfrightened.
If
he bids us come to him across the waters, that unfrightened we may go.
And
if he bids us climb the hill, may we not notice that it is a hill, mindful only
of the happiness of his company.
He
made us for himself, that we should travel with him and see him at the last in
his unveiled beauty in the abiding city where he is light and happiness and
endless home. Amen.
4. CALABARZON (Zeny,
Carme, Flor)
Symbol:
Buko at Sumang Kakanin
Accepts
our thanksgiving, O generous and loving God, for the rich resources of
mountains, valleys and seaside, teeming with life.
Bless
our rice growers, with land and with good weather, in the miracle of producing
our staple food: rice and the delightful kakanin of suman, biko, bibingka from
this lowly grass family.
Bless
our coconut farmers with a fair share of their labor to raise and educate their
children. Extend the help during times of disaster, drought and other
calamities.
Build
the solidarity of the conscientized to protect and defend our mountain, seas
and rivers from the destructive forces of mining, quarry and greed of local and
foreign.
Help
us appreciate, nurture and care for the beautiful and resource rich world you
have given us.
Remind
us to respond to the challenges of the poor and value the innate goodness of
hospitality, welcome and gratitude that they teach us in your ministries herd
sisters.
Like
the Son of God who became human, let us become food for one another. Come people
at our table, of how families, friends and guests become one in the partaking
of the same food.
Like
the Son of God who became human, let us become food for one another.
5. Bicol (Elen Belardo
& Lea Comia)
Our
loving Shepherd, with these “pili nuts” and “abaca”, choice products of the
Bicol Regions, are our dreams and wishes during our Philippine Province’s 2nd Open Chapter.
These
“pili nuts” growing abundantly in all the provinces of Bicol, are our source of
nourishment and a means of livelihood for our people.
As
we enter into a new phase in our history, may we as Eucharistc people filled
with the Spirit of Jesus, our Good Shepherd, be food for the people we serve.
May
we be life-giving in our words and service as we accompany God’s Anawim thru peril
and pasture towards a more vibrant “sambayanan” economically self-sufficient,
justly empower, spiritually whole and rejuvenated.
This
“abaca”, top product of Albay is known for its durability. May we together as a
Province join hands and hearts and Spirit that our “lakas ng loob” our
“inherent inner strength” in venturing to the unknown (new paths) for the sake
of Mission may gather momentum as we strive for greater “unity within ourself,
unity with other, unity with nature and the cosmos” even as we maintain our
intimate union with God.
Touched
by our Shepherd God, may our unity be a manifestation of the Presence of God in
our midst, in our world.
May
Ina, Our Lady of Peñafrancia, guide us in love.
6. Northern Luzon (Ana
& Joh)
O
gracious God, we offered these grains of corn and weaved clothe a symbol that
unites us with the hopes and aspirations of the most people of Northern Luzon:
- The
farmers, who for generations, have been tilling the lands to contribute to the
food security of the country;
Who
continue to struggle to own even a small piece of land through a genuine
agrarian reform.
- The
indigenous peoples who are being driven away from their ancestral lands to give
way to large-scale mining, dams and other projects that lead to land conversion
of mostly agricultural lands.
Northern Luzon: The most vulnerable people of Northern
Luzon: the farmers and the indigenous peoples whose love for life, land and
culture has made them victims of harassments and militarization. May God listen
to their pleas, simple hopes and dreams as they draw their strengths and
courage from His ever faithful and compassionate Heart. We pray…
7. National Capital
Region (Loreen & Badette)
Symbol: “Earthen Pot and Barbecue Sticks in which
various events and issues get
interconnected.”
Prayer: The NCR – Metro Manila symbol, a
“melting pot”, symbolizes the destiny of people from different classes, groups,
places, cultures and walks of life who gathered together to form a new level of
consciousness and awareness. It is their dream to have a bright and comfortable
life.
Like the earthen
pot, the human person may break and shatter. The person’s fragility is just a
reflection of the many problems that people from various sectors in our society
are facing in their day to day living; issues like widespread violence and
stealing, abuses against children and women, corruption, exploitation,
destruction of the environment, garbage, lack of employment, low and inadequate
salary, expensive electricity, demolition, broken families, abject poverty, too
much luxury for the body, and wealth only for the few.
Amidst all of this,
the Metro Manila remains the “green pasture” for it continues to give birth to
different forms of resistance and struggle for fullness of life for all. It is
for this that we are in solidarity with one another to work for change towards
a peaceful and just society which springs from the mercy/compassion of Jesus
for people and the world.