Feast of Sts. Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael, Archangels

The Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches us that, "[T]he existence of the spiritual, non-corporeal beings that Sacred Scripture usually calls "angels" is a truth of faith. The witness of Scripture is as clear as the unanimity of Tradition."

Angels are pure, created spirits. The name angel means servant or messenger of God. Angels are celestial or heavenly beings, on a higher order than human beings. Angels have no bodies and do not depend on matter for their existence or activity. They are distinct from saints, which men can become. Angels have intellect and will, and are immortal. They are a vast multitude, but each is an individual person. Archangels are one of the nine choirs of angels listed in the Bible. In ascending order, the choirs or classes are 1) Angels, 2) Archangels, 3) Principalities, 4) Powers, 5) Virtues, 6) Dominations, 7) Thrones, 8) Cherubim, and 9) Seraphim. (Catholic Culture)

"Ang larawan ng Pitong Arkanghel na mahigit nang tatlong daang taon ay nakadambana sa kanang altar ng simbahan ng Indang, Cavite. Ang Pitong Arkanghel ay kinikilalang Pangalawang Patron ng mga bayan ng Indang (Parokya ng San Gregorio Magno), Mendez (Parokya ng San Agustin) at Alfonso (Parokya ng San Juan Nepomuceno), Cavite."

Ang mga Arkanghel
(Kaliwa Pakanan)

1. San Baraquiel
2. San Gabriel
3. San Rafael
4. San Miguel
5. San Selatiel
6. San Uriel
7. San Judiel

(mula sa Palagiang Nobena sa Pitong Arkanghel ni Msgr. Antero A. Sarmiento)


See All About Angels.

Harana kay Maria

In celebration of the Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Kapisanan ng Flores de Mayo 2008-2009 Officers organized the "Harana kay Maria" last October 6, 2008 at Saint Mary Magdalene Parish Church. The event, well participated by various religious organizations and barangay groups and graced by a magnificent built-up shrine to Our Lady, is a night of songs from the traditional Filipino harana (singing in front of the house of a beloved to express one's affection).

Note: Here are some of the pictures. I'm still fixing this post.


































More to follow. Again, please send pictures of the said event, if you have any, to .

The Parish Church from the Outside

The Parish Church Interior

Note: I'm still fixing this up. If you have some or better photos of our parish church, please send it to . The text here is from the General Instruction of the Roman Missal from the Vatican website.



[288] For the celebration of the Eucharist, the people of God normally are gathered together in a church or, if there is no church or if it is too small, then in another respectable place that is nonetheless worthy of so great a mystery. Churches, therefore, and other places should be suitable for carrying out the sacred action and for ensuring the active participation of the faithful. Sacred buildings and requisites for divine worship should, moreover, be truly worthy and beautiful and be signs and symbols of heavenly realities.

The Sanctuary

[295] The sanctuary is the place where the altar stands, where the word of God is proclaimed, and where the priest, the deacon, and the other ministers exercise their offices. It should suitably be marked off from the body of the church either by its being somewhat elevated or by a particular structure and ornamentation. It should, however, be large enough to allow the Eucharist to be celebrated properly and easily seen



The Altar

[296] The altar on which the Sacrifice of the Cross is made present under sacramental signs is also the table of the Lord to which the People of God is called together to participate in the Mass, as well as the center of the thanksgiving that is accomplished through the Eucharist.



The Ambo

[309] The dignity of the word of God requires that the church have a place that is suitable for the proclamation of the word and toward which the attention of the whole congregation of the faithful naturally turns during the Liturgy of the Word.



The Chair of the Priest Celebrant

[310] The chair of the priest celebrant must signify his office of presiding over the gathering and of directing the prayer.


The Place of the Reservation of the Most Holy Eucharist

[314] In accordance with the structure of each church and legitimate local customs, the Most Blessed Sacrament should be reserved in a tabernacle in a part of the church that is truly noble, prominent, readily visible, beautifully decorated, and suitable for prayer.



The Places for the Faithful

[311] Places should be arranged with appropriate care for the faithful so that they are able to participate in the sacred celebrations visually and spiritually, in the proper manner. It is expedient for benches or seats usually to be provided for their use. The custom of reserving seats for private persons, however, is reprehensible. Moreover, benches or chairs should be arranged, especially in newly built churches, in such a way that the people can easily take up the postures required for the different parts of the celebration and can easily come forward to receive Holy Communion.




The Place for the Choir
[312] The choir should be positioned with respect to the design of each church so as to make clearly evident its character as a part of the gathered community of the faithful fulfilling a specific function. The location should also assist the choir to exercise its function more easily and conveniently allow each choir member full, sacramental participation in the Mass.


Saint Mary Magdalene

[318] [I]mages of the Lord, the Blessed Virgin Mary, and the Saints, in accordance with the Church’s most ancient tradition, should be displayed for veneration by the faithful in sacred buildings.


Baptismal Font

Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross

This feast was observed in Rome before the end of the seventh century. It commemorates the recovery of the Holy Cross, which had been placed on Mt. Calvary by St. Helena and preserved in Jerusalem, but then had fallen into the hands of Chosroas, King of the Persians. The precious relic was recovered and returned to Jerusalem by Emperor Heralius in 629.

The lessons from the Breviary tell us that Emperor Heraclius carried the Cross back to Jerusalem on his shoulders. He was clothed with costly garments and with ornaments of precious stones. But at the entrance to Mt. Calvary a strange incident occurred. Try as hard as he would, he could not go forward. Zacharias, the Bishop of Jerusalem, then said to the astonished monarch: "Consider, O Emperor, that with these triumphal ornaments you are far from resembling Jesus carrying His Cross." The Emperor then put on a penitential garb and continued the journey.

Triumph of the Cross

This day is also called the Exaltation of the Cross, Elevation of the Cross, Holy Cross Day, Holy Rood Day, or Roodmas. The liturgy of the Cross is a triumphant liturgy. When Moses lifted up the bronze serpent over the people, it was a foreshadowing of the salvation through Jesus when He was lifted up on the Cross. Our Mother Church sings of the triumph of the Cross, the instrument of our redemption. To follow Christ we must take up His cross, follow Him and become obedient until death, even if it means death on the cross. We identify with Christ on the Cross and become co-redeemers, sharing in His cross.

We made the Sign of the Cross before prayer which helps to fix our minds and hearts to God. After prayer we make the Sign of the Cross to keep close to God. During trials and temptations our strength and protection is the Sign of the Cross. At Baptism we are sealed with the Sign of the Cross, signifying the fullness of redemption and that we belong to Christ. Let us look to the cross frequently, and realize that when we make the Sign of the Cross we give our entire self to God — mind, soul, heart, body, will, thoughts.

O cross, you are the glorious sign of victory.
Through your power may we share in the triumph of Christ Jesus.

Symbol: The cross of triumph is usually pictured as a globe with the cross on top, symbolic of the triumph of our Savior over the sin of the world, and world conquest of His Gospel through the means of a grace (cross and orb).

From Catholic Culture

Sunday Catechism School

Ang Antioch Community ng Parokya ng Santa Maria Magdalena

ay malugod na nag-aanyaya para sa isang

Sunday Catechism School

para sa mga batang may edad 6 hanggang 12

na gaganapin sa simbahan ng Parokya ng Santa Maria Magdalena (Poblacion, Amadeo, Cavite)

tuwing Linggo, ika-9:30 ng umaga.

Para po sa taong ito, ang aralin ng mga bata ay mga Panalangin at ang Sampung Utos ng Diyos.

Inaasahan po namin ang inyong pakikiisa.

Bukang-liwayway ng Kaligtasan

Images from various sources

Mary the dawn, Christ the Perfect Day;
Mary the gate, Christ the Heavenly Way!

Mary the root, Christ the Mystic Vine;
Mary the grape, Christ the Sacred Wine!

Mary the wheat, Christ the Living Bread;
Mary the stem, Christ the Rose blood-red!

Mary the font, Christ the Cleansing Flood;
Mary the cup, Christ the Saving Blood!

Mary the temple, Christ the temple's Lord;
Mary the shrine, Christ the God adored!

Mary the beacon, Christ the Haven's Rest;
Mary the mirror, Christ the Vision Blest!

Mary the mother, Christ the mother's Son
By all things blest while endless ages run. Amen.

(mula sa Mother of All Peoples)

Maligayang Kaarawan, Inang Maria, Bukang Liwayway ng Kaligtasan!

mula sa Parokya ng Santa Maria Magdalena