Catholic On Yap

  Mt 22:1-14; Isaiah 25:6-10; Ps 34:1-14 REFLECTION : Today we hear that "the good and the bad" were invited to the wedding feast, and that they were enjoying themselves there. The "feast" is something God wants us all to experience; it represents God's felt presence in our lives. Yes, we are sinful ("the bad"), but God still helps us to recognize and even "taste" his presence (Ps 34). We do need a "wedding garment," though. That would be our faith that Jesus’ Death and Resurrection has made us right with God. St. Bernard, Commentary on the Song of Songs :   Taste the superabundant and indescribable sweetness of Jesus, who came down to you in your prison to liberate you from darkness. Out of his supreme love for you, he surrendered himself for your salvation. “Jesus, the knowledge of your love for us is a fragrant perfume. Your life too is a perfume whose fragrance has gone out into every land. The scent of your fragrance, Lord,...

Let us pray for the YCHS seniors who will be graduating tomorrow. They have work hard for the past four years in order to reach this milestone. The ceremony is being held at YCHS at 10 a.m. Please keep our graduates in mind this evening also as we celebrate our baccalaureate mass. The masses being held at 6 p.m. this evening in the school chapel.

As Jesus ascended into heaven, he instructed his disciples to wait for the Holy Spirit to come upon them. They went into the Upper Room and prayed for nine days, after which the Holy Spirit came down on them as tongues of fire. That nine days of prayer was the original novena. It has been the tradition of the Church ever since to pray each year over the nine days before Pentecost asking God for a new outpouring on us of the Holy Spirit.  Let us join the Church in praying a novena from this Friday, the 22nd, to the following Saturday, the 30th. Simple prayers to the Holy Spirit that can be prayed each day: Meibil Ku Kan Ni Zozup Come Holy Spirit Novenas with a new prayer each day: NOVENA KU KAN NTHOTHUP Novena to the Holy Spirit--The Sevenfold Gifts--Nine Days Novena to the Holy Spirit--Fruit of the Spirit--Nine Days

Please join us this Friday evening for the Vicariate memorial mass for Fr. John H., to be held at St. Mary Church starting at 5:00 PM. We hope that many people from across the island can join us in prayer for Fr. John, as he returns to the God whom he served with such love and devotion.

Click to see Fr. John H. Obituary

Please pray for the soul of Fr. John Hagileiram, SJ, who died last evening in Quezon City, P.I. Fr. John requested to be buried there in the Philippines, but the Vicariate of Yap will have memorial Mass for him some time after Easter.

Bishop Julio has issued new guidelines for the celebration of our liturgies from Palm Sunday to Easter. These changes will be announced at the Sunday masses, and the priest-celebrants for mass well be available to answer any further questions you may have. Liturgical Directives for Holy Week 2020.pdf Note: The Palm Sunday procession normally starts outside and moves into the church. When the Bishop says that the Palm Sunday procession this year will be "form 3", he means that nothing will take place outside. 

Below are links to recent letters from Bishop Julio and Fr. Rich keeping us informed of proper church protocols for keeping church members healthy in body and soul as we stroke to keep the coronavirus from our island. Bishop Julio's Later to the Diocese Fr. Rich's Letter to the Vicariate (read at the March 22nd masses)