San Lorenzo Ruiz Parish

28/04/2026

Sa panahon ngayon na halos lahat ay gustong makita, ma-appreciate, at mapansin, isang paalala ang mensaheng ito na hindi lahat ng ginagawa natin ay para ipakita sa iba. May mga paglilingkod na mas nagiging totoo kapag tahimik—kapag walang kamera, walang papuri, at walang inaasahang kapalit. Dahil sa dulo ng lahat, hindi naman ang opinyon ng tao ang sukatan ng halaga ng ating ginagawa, kundi ang puso kung paano natin ito iniaalay sa Diyos.

Minsan, madaling madala sa kagustuhang mapansin—yung marinig ang “ang galing mo,” “ang bait mo,” o “buti ka pa.” Pero ang tunay na diwa ng paglilingkod ay hindi tungkol sa pagkilala, kundi sa pag-ibig. Yung pag-ibig na handang magbigay kahit walang nakakakita, yung pusong tapat kahit walang pumapalakpak.

Ang bawat simpleng gawa—pag-awit sa simbahan, pagtulong sa kapwa, pagdarasal para sa iba, o kahit ang tahimik na sakripisyo—kapag inialay mo sa Diyos, nagiging makabuluhan ito. Hindi man ito mapansin ng mundo, sigurado namang hindi ito nakakalimutan ng Diyos.
Kaya sa bawat ginagawa mo, tanungin mo ang sarili mo: “Para kanino ba ito?” Kung ang sagot mo ay para sa Diyos, sapat na iyon. Dahil ang paglilingkod na galing sa puso at para sa Kanya ay hindi kailanman masasayang.

“Ang Diyos ay hindi tumitingin sa panlabas na anyo, kundi sa puso.” (cf. 1 Samuel 16:7) 🙏✨

11/04/2026

Let us be one in prayer for Peace in the world. 😇

26/03/2026

SLRP Holy Week Schedule of Activities 🙏

San Lorenzo Ruiz Parish family, you are warmly invited to journey with us this Holy Week—a sacred time to remember the passion, death, and resurrection of Christ. Let us gather in prayer, reflection, and thanksgiving as one community ✝️

“Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us.” — Ephesians 5:2

26/03/2026

✝️ SLRP Holy Week Schedule of Activities ✝️

As parishioners of San Lorenzo Ruiz Parish, let us journey with Jesus Christ this Holy Week. Let us come together in prayer, reflection, and love as one community

“Then He said to all, ‘Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow Me.’” — Luke 9:23

10/03/2026

"Ite, Missa Est."

✝️ THE MOST NEGLECTED MOMENT OF MASS 😳

It happens at every Mass.

But almost no one notices it.

Some people are already reaching for their bags.
Some are checking their phones.
Some are thinking about the next appointment, the next meal, the next place to go.

The priest says the final words.
The hymn begins.
And the church slowly empties.

Yet hidden in those final moments of the Mass…
something profoundly important is happening.

✝️ THE DISMISSAL IS NOT AN END

When the priest says:

“Go forth, the Mass is ended.”

Many people hear it as permission to leave.

But the Church never intended it that way.

The word Mass itself comes from the Latin “Ite, missa est.”

Which means:

“You are sent.”

The Mass does not simply conclude.

It commissions.

What you have received at the altar must now be carried into the world.

✝️ THIS IS THE MOMENT OF MISSION

Think about what has just happened before this moment.

You have heard the Word of God.
You have witnessed the sacrifice of Christ made present.
You have received the Body and Blood of the Lord.

Heaven has touched your life.

And now the Church does something astonishing.

She sends you out.

Not as spectators.

But as witnesses.

The dismissal is the Church saying:

“Take what you have received here… and carry it into the world.”

✝️ THE FIRST CHRISTIANS UNDERSTOOD THIS

For the early Christians, leaving Mass was not the end of worship.

It was the beginning of their mission.

They left the Eucharist strengthened to forgive enemies,
to care for the poor,
to endure persecution,
and to live differently from the world around them.

The altar was where they received Christ.

The world was where they lived Him.

✝️ WHY IT IS SO OFTEN MISSED

Today this moment is often rushed.

People treat it like the credits at the end of a film.

But the Church treats it like a sending forth of apostles.

You came to Mass carrying the burdens of life.

Now you leave carrying Christ Himself.

That is not a small thing.

That is a mission.

✝️ THE FINAL BLESSING IS A SHIELD

Before you leave, the priest raises his hand and blesses you.

That blessing is not decorative.

It is protection.

It is strength.

It is grace for the battles waiting outside the church doors.

The Church knows the world you are returning to.

And she sends you out armed with grace.

🙏 SO NEXT TIME MASS IS “ENDING”…

Do not treat the dismissal as a signal to escape.

Receive it as a mission.

Stand still for the blessing.

Listen to the words.

And leave the church knowing this:

You did not come to Mass only to receive Christ.

You came so that Christ could go back into the world through you.

📌 This reflection is only a glimpse.
To go deeper, read my book "The Mass Unveiled: Encountering Heaven on Earth", where the entire mystery of the Mass is unfolded, moment by moment, layer by layer.

God bless you. 🙏
✝️

23/02/2026

"Disarm Your Language"
— Pope Leo XIV, Lenten Message 2026

🌿 LISTEN to the Word.
🌿 FAST from words that wound.
🌿 PRAY for a heart of peace.

23/02/2026

"Prayer is nothing else than union with God. When our heart is pure and united to God, it feels within itself a sweetness and splendor that fills it with a marvelous light." - 𝓢𝓽. 𝓙𝓮𝓪𝓷 𝓥𝓲𝓪𝓷𝓷𝓮𝔂

BEGIN THE FIRST WEEK OF LENT WITH PRAYER

The first week of Lent invites us to begin anew, turning our hearts fully toward God through sincere and humble prayer. This sacred season is a time of grace, a time when the Church calls her children to deeper conversion, repentance, and renewal of life in Christ. Through prayer, we enter into a living relationship with God, opening our souls to His mercy and allowing His word to transform our hearts.

Prayer teaches us to recognize our dependence on God and to trust in His loving providence. In silence and contemplation, we encounter the Lord who heals our wounds, forgives our sins, and strengthens us in our weakness. As we begin this first week of Lent, we are invited to follow the example of Christ who withdrew into the wilderness to pray and to prepare for His mission. By dedicating time each day to prayer, we unite ourselves more closely with His sacrifice and grow in holiness.

This season also calls us to examine our lives, to repent of our sins, and to seek reconciliation with God and with one another. Through faithful prayer, our hearts are purified, our faith is renewed, and our love for God and neighbor is deepened. Prayer becomes the foundation of our Lenten journey, guiding us toward true conversion and preparing us for the joy of the Resurrection.

May this first week of Lent draw us closer to Christ, inspire us to live more faithfully, and lead us to experience the transforming power of God’s grace.

22/02/2026

𝐒𝐔𝐍𝐃𝐀𝐘 𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐃𝐈𝐍𝐆𝐒 | February 22, 2026
First Sunday of Lent (A)

📖 FIRST READING
Genesis 2:7-9; 3:1-7
The LORD God formed man out of the clay of the ground
and blew into his nostrils the breath of life,
and so man became a living being.

Then the LORD God planted a garden in Eden, in the east,
and placed there the man whom he had formed.
Out of the ground the LORD God made various trees grow
that were delightful to look at and good for food,
with the tree of life in the middle of the garden
and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

Now the serpent was the most cunning of all the animals
that the LORD God had made.
The serpent asked the woman,
“Did God really tell you not to eat
from any of the trees in the garden?”
The woman answered the serpent:
“We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden;
it is only about the fruit of the tree
in the middle of the garden that God said,
‘You shall not eat it or even touch it, lest you die.’”
But the serpent said to the woman:
“You certainly will not die!
No, God knows well that the moment you eat of it
your eyes will be opened and you will be like gods
who know what is good and what is evil.”
The woman saw that the tree was good for food,
pleasing to the eyes, and desirable for gaining wisdom.
So she took some of its fruit and ate it;
and she also gave some to her husband, who was with her,
and he ate it.
Then the eyes of both of them were opened,
and they realized that they were naked;
so they sewed fig leaves together
and made loincloths for themselves.

📖 RESPONSORIAL PSALM
Psalm 51:3-4, 5-6, 12-13, 17

R—Be merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned.

Have mercy on me, O God, in your goodness;
in the greatness of your compassion wipe out my offense.
Thoroughly wash me from my guilt
and of my sin cleanse me. (R)

For I acknowledge my offense,
and my sin is before me always:
“Against you only have I sinned,
and done what is evil in your sight.” (R)

A clean heart create for me, O God,
and a steadfast spirit renew within me.
Cast me not out from your presence,
and your Holy Spirit take not from me. (R)

Give me back the joy of your salvation,
and a willing spirit sustain in me.
O Lord, open my lips,
and my mouth shall proclaim your praise. (R)

📖 SECOND READING
Romans 5:12-19 or 5:12, 17-19
Brothers and sisters:
Through one man sin entered the world,
and through sin, death,
and thus death came to all men, inasmuch as all sinned—
for up to the time of the law, sin was in the world,
though sin is not accounted when there is no law.
But death reigned from Adam to Moses,
even over those who did not sin
after the pattern of the trespass of Adam,
who is the type of the one who was to come.
But the gift is not like the transgression.
For if by the transgression of the one, the many died,
how much more did the grace of God
and the gracious gift of the one man Jesus Christ
overflow for the many.
And the gift is not like the result of the one who sinned.
For after one sin there was the judgment that brought condemnation;
but the gift, after many transgressions, brought acquittal.
For if, by the transgression of the one,
death came to reign through that one,
how much more will those who receive the abundance of grace
and of the gift of justification
come to reign in life through the one Jesus Christ.
In conclusion, just as through one transgression
condemnation came upon all,
so, through one righteous act,
acquittal and life came to all.
For just as through the disobedience of the one man
the many were made sinners,
so, through the obedience of the one,
the many will be made righteous.

📖 GOSPEL READING
Matthew 4:1-11
At that time Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert
to be tempted by the devil.
He fasted for forty days and forty nights,
and afterwards he was hungry.
The tempter approached and said to him,
“If you are the Son of God,
command that these stones become loaves of bread.”
He said in reply,
“It is written:
One does not live on bread alone,
but on every word that comes forth
from the mouth of God.”

Then the devil took him to the holy city,
and made him stand on the parapet of the temple,
and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down.
For it is written:
He will command his angels concerning you
and with their hands they will support you,
lest you dash your foot against a stone.”
Jesus answered him,
“Again it is written,
You shall not put the Lord, your God, to the test.”
Then the devil took him up to a very high mountain,
and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in their magnificence,
and he said to him, ""All these I shall give to you,
if you will prostrate yourself and worship me.”
At this, Jesus said to him,
“Get away, Satan!
It is written:
The Lord, your God, shall you worship
and him alone shall you serve.”

Then the devil left him and, behold,
angels came and ministered to him.
__________________________________
Source: © https://bible.usccb.org/daily-bible-reading

🌿 1st Sunday: 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐁𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐥𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐃𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐭

Theme: 𝐕𝐢𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲 𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐓𝐞𝐦𝐩𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧.
𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐈𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭: Jesus enters the desert not to be defeated, but to show us how to win. As CCC 538 reminds us, Jesus is the "New Adam" who remains faithful where the first Adam fell.
𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐏𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐞: Use the "Word of God" as your shield. Let us make it a habit to read at least 3 chapters a day (start with the Gospel of Mark for this season) or read the daily readings which you may find in different catholic apps like Hallow or from the website https://bible.usccb.org/

20/02/2026

𝑷𝒂𝒓𝒊𝒔𝒉 𝑳𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒏 𝑹𝒆𝒄𝒐𝒍𝒍𝒆𝒄𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 🌿

In the middle of our busy lives and the noise of the world, our hearts often get weary. This Lent, we are invited to do more than just "follow a tradition"—we are invited to a true encounter.

We warmly invite you to join our Parish Lenten Recollection. This is a sacred time to step away from the hustle, breathe in God’s grace, and focus on what truly matters: returning to the Father who has been waiting for us all along.

Let’s set aside the "to-do" lists and make room for the "𝐓𝐨-𝐁𝐞"—𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐞 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐝, 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐠𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐧, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐰𝐞𝐝.

When: February 21, 2026 | Saturday

Time: 8:00AM to 12:00NN

Where: Bishop Cenzon Hall | San Lorenzo Ruiz Parish | Loakan, Baguio City

Come as you are. Whether your faith feels strong or you’ve been away for a while, there is a place reserved specifically for you at the table of the Lord.

"𝑹𝒆𝒕𝒖𝒓𝒏 𝒕𝒐 𝒎𝒆 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒉𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒕." — Joel 2:12

18/02/2026

𝐀𝐒𝐇 𝐖𝐄𝐃𝐍𝐄𝐒𝐃𝐀𝐘 | February 18, 2026
LENT (A)

📖 FIRST READING
𝐉𝐨𝐞𝐥 𝟐:𝟏𝟐-𝟏𝟖
Even now, says the LORD,
return to me with your whole heart,
with fasting, and weeping, and mourning;
Rend your hearts, not your garments,
and return to the LORD, your God.
For gracious and merciful is he,
slow to anger, rich in kindness,
and relenting in punishment.
Perhaps he will again relent
and leave behind him a blessing,
Offerings and libations
for the LORD, your God.

Blow the trumpet in Zion!
proclaim a fast,
call an assembly;
Gather the people,
notify the congregation;
Assemble the elders,
gather the children
and the infants at the breast;
Let the bridegroom quit his room
and the bride her chamber.
Between the porch and the altar
let the priests, the ministers of the LORD, weep,
And say, "Spare, O LORD, your people,
and make not your heritage a reproach,
with the nations ruling over them!
Why should they say among the peoples,
'Where is their God?'"

Then the LORD was stirred to concern for his land
and took pity on his people.

📖 RESPONSORIAL PSALM
𝐏𝐬𝐚𝐥𝐦 𝟓𝟏:𝟑-𝟒, 𝟓-𝟔𝐚𝐛, 𝟏𝟐-𝟏𝟑, 𝟏𝟒 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝟏𝟕
R—𝑩𝒆 𝒎𝒆𝒓𝒄𝒊𝒇𝒖𝒍, 𝑶 𝑳𝒐𝒓𝒅, 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒘𝒆 𝒉𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒔𝒊𝒏𝒏𝒆𝒅.

Have mercy on me, O God, in your goodness;
in the greatness of your compassion wipe out my offense.
Thoroughly wash me from my guilt
and of my sin cleanse me. (R)

For I acknowledge my offense,
and my sin is before me always:
"Against you only have I sinned,
and done what is evil in your sight." (R)

A clean heart create for me, O God,
and a steadfast spirit renew within me.
Cast me not out from your presence,
and your Holy Spirit take not from me. (R)

Give me back the joy of your salvation,
and a willing spirit sustain in me.
O Lord, open my lips,
and my mouth shall proclaim your praise. (R)

📖 SECOND READING
𝟐 𝐂𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐚𝐧𝐬 𝟓:𝟐𝟎—𝟔:𝟐
Brothers and sisters:
We are ambassadors for Christ,
as if God were appealing through us.
We implore you on behalf of Christ,
be reconciled to God.
For our sake he made him to be sin who did not know sin,
so that we might become the righteousness of God in him.

Working together, then,
we appeal to you not to receive the grace of God in vain.
For he says:

In an acceptable time I heard you,
and on the day of salvation I helped you.

Behold, now is a very acceptable time;
behold, now is the day of salvation.

📖 GOSPEL READING
𝐌𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐰 𝟔:𝟏-𝟔, 𝟏𝟔-𝟏𝟖
Jesus said to his disciples:
"Take care not to perform righteous deeds
in order that people may see them;
otherwise, you will have no recompense from your heavenly Father.
When you give alms,
do not blow a trumpet before you,
as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets
to win the praise of others.
Amen, I say to you,
they have received their reward.
But when you give alms,
do not let your left hand know what your right is doing,
so that your almsgiving may be secret.
And your Father who sees in secret will repay you.

"When you pray,
do not be like the hypocrites,
who love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on street corners
so that others may see them.
Amen, I say to you,
they have received their reward.
But when you pray, go to your inner room,
close the door, and pray to your Father in secret.
And your Father who sees in secret will repay you.

"When you fast,
do not look gloomy like the hypocrites.
They neglect their appearance,
so that they may appear to others to be fasting.
Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward.
But when you fast,
anoint your head and wash your face,
so that you may not appear to be fasting,
except to your Father who is hidden.
And your Father who sees what is hidden will repay you."
__________________________________
Source: © https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/021826.cfm

This 𝐀𝐬𝐡 𝐖𝐞𝐝𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐝𝐚𝐲, we aren't just receiving ashes; we are receiving an invitation to come home. Lent is our "40-day retreat" to reset our hearts through three simple, life-changing pillars:

𝐏𝐫𝐚𝐲𝐞𝐫: Talk to God more than the world.
𝐅𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠: Quiet the noise to hear His voice.
𝐀𝐥𝐦𝐬𝐠𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠: Turn your love into action for others.

The Essentials for Today:
𝐅𝐚𝐬𝐭 & 𝐀𝐛𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧: One full meal and no meat today (ages 18-59).
𝐑𝐞𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐭: Prepare your soul for a fresh start in Confession.
𝐑𝐞𝐟𝐥𝐞𝐜𝐭: Remember we are dust, held in the hands of a loving God.

Let’s make this Lent focused, personal, and truly meaningful.