The Year That Was-The 2007 Parish Year End Report

2007 was a milestone year at San Antonio De Padua Parish, with the appointment of Rev. Fr. Buenaventura C. Ubarco as the new Pastor and various tangible innovations—implemented both by the Parish Pastoral Council and the parochial ministries and organizations themselves—to deepen the parishioners’ spiritual life.

Revival of the Novena in honor of Our Lady of Perpetual Help every Wednesday; (February 2007)

Revival of one of the most pleasant traditions that Catholics observe during the Lenten season, The Visita Iglesia (Visit of the Churches). For 2007, the Parish visited the churches in the Province of Zambales; (March 24, 2007)

New approach on the Salubong Rite was also introduced wherein balloons were attached to the veil of the Blessed Virgin Mary which was released along with the balloons during the actual encuentro. The parish contact numbers were attached on the veil in order for the people who will be lucky enough to get it shall be able to call the Parish for such blessing. The parish prepared some grocery items and other gift packs for the lucky recipient. On its first year, the veil landed in the hand of a Farm caretaker in Antipolo City. On top of the gifts that were presented to the recipient, a Holy Mass was also held in the said area that was led by Fr. Toochy and attended by selected church workers; (March & August 2007)

The parish also adapted the 31-day Novena for the Flores De Mayo created by Msgr. Sabino Vengco, Jr.; (May 2007)

The Parish was also visited by one of the well known Healing Priest, Rev. Fr. Joey Faller. The said visit of Fr. Faller was noted as one of the most well attended gathering in the Parish as substantial number of faithful attended the activity which lasted for almost 5 hours. (July 10, 2007)

Through the efforts of the new Pastor, the Parishioners actively participated in the observance of the Prison Awareness Month as reflected in the substantial donations that were gathered for the prisoners of the Binan Municipal Jail. (September 2007)

In celebration of the National Laity Week, the Parish conducted another pioneering efforts when it held the first-ever Pista ng Layko. Various booths were set up showcasing ingenuity and creativity of the church workers. The celebration was made even memorable with the Merienda ala Barrio Fiesta set up. (September 22-23, 2007)

Through the efforts of the Family Life Ministry, the Parish organized a Kasalang Bayan wherein 10 couples who are either civilly married or living together for at least five years were finally blessed by the Holy Sacrament of Matrimony last October 27, 2007. These couples came from the Brgy. Platero and San Antonio. Fr. Toochy officiated the mass wedding while the reception followed at the Parish Multi-Purpose Hall with the HRM students of St. Michael’s College providing the reception accommodations;

In celebration of the Month of the Holy Rosary, the Parish was able to invite the Bishop Emeritus of the Diocese of Novaliches, His Excellency Teodoro C. Bacani, Jr., D.D. The good Bishop graced the Parish for a Holy Mass and talk on the topic “Maria, ang Talang Gabay sa ating Paglalakbay sa Dagat ng Buhay”;

Lastly, the parish revived the yearly tradition of distributing Christmas bags to our less fortunate parishioners dubbed as Pamaskong Handog 2007. More than 300 families were given bags of grocery items collected from the offertory in the nine day Misa De Gallo.