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Anak ni Tiago, Diocese of Dipolog, Street James the Greater Parish, Dapitan City (2026)

Q: What is the address?

Diocese Of Dipolog, Street James The Greater Parish

06/01/2026

DID YOU KNOW?

January 6 is celebrated in the Catholic Church as the Feast of the Epiphany, commemorating the moment when Jesus was made known (“epiphany” means manifestation) to the nations, represented by the Magi (Wise Men) who followed the star to Bethlehem. This feast reminds us that Christ came not only for Israel but for all people, revealing God’s saving love to the whole world (cf. Catechism of the Catholic Church, CCC 528; Matthew 2:1–12). The gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh symbolize Jesus as King, God, and Savior who would suffer, making Epiphany both a joyful and deeply meaningful celebration.

04/01/2026

DID YOU KNOW?

The Christmas Season doesn’t end on December 25. According to the Catholic Church, it continues until the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord, which celebrates the revelation of Jesus as the Son of God and the beginning of His public ministry. The Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches that at His baptism, Jesus sanctified the waters and prefigured our own baptism, through which we become children of God (CCC 535, 1216). This feast beautifully concludes the Christmas Season by reminding us that Christ was born not only to dwell among us, but to save us and call us to live out our baptismal mission.

31/10/2025

LOVE THAT REACHES BEYOND THE GRAVE:
Why Catholics Pray for the Dead

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I. INTRODUCTION:
LOVE THAT DOES NOT END AT DEATH

For Catholics, praying for the dead is not merely a sentimental act of remembrance—it is a profound expression of faith in the communion of saints and the enduring mercy of God.

It affirms that love, grounded in Christ, transcends death. While some Christians struggle with the idea—seeing it as either unnecessary or unbiblical—Catholic teaching offers a deeply coherent and Scripturally grounded rationale.

The Catholic conviction that the faithful departed benefit from our prayers is not a “second chance” after death, but a continuation of love within the mystical Body of Christ.

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II. THE THEOLOGICAL CORE: WHAT PRAYING FOR THE DEAD IS—AND IS NOT

🔵 Theological Truth:
Catholics believe that all who die in God’s friendship but are not yet perfectly purified undergo a process of final sanctification, known as Purgatory (CCC 1030–1032).

It is not a “mini-hell,” but a state of purification—a merciful encounter with God’s holiness, where every remnant of sin’s attachment is purged.

🟡 Historical Insight:
This belief was present in Jewish tradition (2 Maccabees 12:43–46) and continued among the earliest Christians who prayed for their departed brethren in the catacombs.

St. Augustine wrote, “It cannot be denied that the souls of the dead are aided by the piety of their living friends when the Sacrifice of the Mediator is offered for them” (Confessions 9:12).

🔴 Common Misunderstanding:
Prayer for the dead is not a way to “buy” salvation or change God’s judgment.

It is an appeal within the communion of love, trusting that God applies His mercy according to His divine wisdom and justice.

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III. SCRIPTURAL AND TRADITIONAL FOUNDATIONS

Old Testament Roots

In 2 Maccabees 12:43–46, Judas Maccabeus “made atonement for the dead, that they might be delivered from their sin.” This ancient Jewish practice reveals a conviction that the righ

30/10/2025

THE TRIDUUM OF DEATH: HALLOWTIDE
OCT 31 – HALLOW’S EVE
NOV 1 – ALL SAINTS’ DAY
NOV 2 – ALL SOULS’ DAY

Hallowtide or AllHallowTide is a Triduum of the dead, initiated by Pope Gregory III and consists of Halloween, All Saints’ Day, and All Souls’ Day. This is a period in the liturgical year to mock death and to both remember and celebrate the dead, including martyrs, saints, and all faithful departed Christians.

The Sacred Triduum of Death — Understanding Hallowtide

In the rhythm of the Church’s liturgical year, Hallowtide stands as a profound and holy moment — a three-day journey through remembrance, sanctity, and hope. Known as the Triduum of the Dead, it invites Christians to reflect on life’s fragility and the eternal promise of resurrection.

1. The Origins of Hallowtide

The tradition of Hallowtide dates back to the 8th century, when Pope Gregory III dedicated a chapel in St. Peter’s Basilica to all the saints. This devotion soon developed into a three-day observance — Hallow’s Eve, All Saints’ Day, and All Souls’ Day — forming a sacred unity between the Church Triumphant (saints in heaven), the Church Militant (the faithful on earth), and the Church Suffering (souls in purgatory).

2. Hallow’s Eve (October 31)

Often overshadowed by modern secular celebrations, Hallow’s Eve originally marked a vigil of prayer and reflection before All Saints’ Day. The name “Halloween” comes from All Hallows’ Eve. In Christian tradition, it was a night to confront darkness with the light of faith, symbolically “mocking death” because Christ has already conquered it through His resurrection.

3. All Saints’ Day (November 1)

All Saints’ Day honors the countless holy men and women — both known and unknown — who now share eternal life with God. It reminds the faithful of their own call to holiness, showing that sanctity is not reserved for a few, but a universal vocation. The saints are not distant figures; they are companions and intercessors who show that ordinary lives can be transformed by extraordinary grace.

4. All Souls’ Day (November 2)

The final day of the Triduum, All Souls’ Day, is devoted to prayer for all departed souls still being purified before entering heaven. It is a day of love and remembrance, rooted in the Christian belief in the communion of saints — the mystical bond uniting the living and the dead. Lighting candles, visiting cemeteries, and offering Mass intentions are all expressions of that communion and hope in the resurrection.

5. The Meaning of Hallowtide Today

In an age that often avoids the subject of death, Hallowtide reclaims its sacred meaning — not as a time of fear, but as a proclamation of life over death. These three days remind believers that death has been conquered by Christ, and that the faithful departed remain united with us in the Body of Christ.

As we journey through Hallow’s Eve, All Saints’ Day, and All Souls’ Day, we are invited to reflect on our mortality, celebrate the victory of the saints, and pray for those still awaiting the fullness of redemption.

In essence, Hallowtide is not a festival of fear, but a feast of faith — where death is mocked, heaven is celebrated, and love bridges the living and the dead.

The Divine Mercy

23/10/2025

As we commemorate the Holy Month of the Rosary, let us gather in prayer and reflection at Taguilon Elementary School, Taguilon, Dapitan City. May the recitation of the Rosary bring us closer to God's blessings and guidance in our lives.

As Jesus taught us, "This is how you should pray: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name..." (Matthew 6:9). And St. Paul reminds us, "Pray without ceasing." (1 Thessalonians 5:17)

Let us pray...

📷ctto: Bro.Marc Angelo Ablao (Youth Catechist)

10/10/2025

SAINT OF THE DAY

Saint John XXIII (born Angelo Giuseppe Roncalli) was a beloved and influential figure in the 20th-century Catholic Church, often referred to as "The Good Pope" (Il Papa Buono). He is best known for initiating the transformative Second Vatican Council (Vatican II).

This is considered his most important act. Elected at age 76 and expected to be a "caretaker" pope, he surprised the world by calling an ecumenical council to open the Church up to the modern world—a process he called "aggiornamento" (updating).

Though he died before the council concluded, his vision guided its work, which resulted in profound changes to the Church's liturgy, relationship with the world, and ecumenical dialogue.

Issued in 1963, shortly before his death, it was the first papal encyclical addressed to "all men of good will," not just Catholics. It advocated for human rights, world peace, and dialogue during the Cold War.

During his time as an Apostolic Delegate in Turkey and Greece (1935–1944), he worked to save thousands of Jews from N**i persecution. He issued transit papers, visas, and even false baptismal certificates to help people escape to places like Palestine.He created the Secretariat for Promoting Christian Unity and actively sought dialogue and better relations with other Christian denominations and other world religions.

He was known for his warmth, humility, and emphasis on the Church's pastoral role. He frequently left the Vatican to visit the sick in hospitals and the imprisoned in Rome's jails, establishing the image of "The Good Pope."

Oh, Saint John XXIII

PRAY FOR US🙏🏻

10/10/2025

The Gospel Reading Saturday, October 11, 2025 (The Memorial of Saint John XXIII) Luke 11:27-28

As Jesus was saying these things, a woman in the crowd called out, “Blessed is the mother who gave you birth and nursed you.” (Lk. 11:27)

He replied, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it.” (Lk. 11:28)

THE GOSPEL OF THE LORD!

PRAYER🙏🏻

Heavenly Father, our hearts are broken for the people of Davao who have suffered from the devastating earthquake. We see the pain, the loss, and the destruction, and we lift up our voices to you.

Lord Jesus, you taught us that true blessedness is found in those "who hear the word of God and obey it" (Luke 11:28). In this time of great trial, we pray that the survivors may discover this deeper, unchanging blessedness.

Grant the victims and the entire community of Davao a special grace to hear your Word spoken in the midst of the rubble and fear. May they hear your voice of comfort, and may your promises be a solid ground when the earth is not.

Give them the strength to obey the command to love one another, to persevere in faith, and to work together in courage and resilience. Help them to be your hands and feet to serve and rebuild.

Help them to look beyond the transient things of this earth—the homes and possessions that have been lost—and to anchor their hope in the eternal blessedness that comes from knowing and following you.

Bless those who are working tirelessly to provide aid. May their actions be an embodiment of your Word put into loving practice.

May the devastation of the earthquake not shake their faith, but instead turn their hearts to the one source of lasting hope. We ask this through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.🙏🏻

09/10/2025

SAINT OF THE DAY

Saint Francis Borgia (1510–1572) was a Spanish Jesuit priest and a significant figure in the history of the Catholic Church.

He was born into the prominent Borgia family, great-grandson of Pope Alexander VI and King Ferdinand II of Aragon, and held the title of Duke of Gandía and a

He was married to Leonor de Castro and had eight children

After the death of his wife in 1546, he renounced his noble titles and life of luxury to enter the newly formed Society of Jesus (the Jesuits).

He was ordained a priest and used his considerable administrative talents in the order.

He eventually served as the Third Superior General of the Society of Jesus from 1565 until his death. In this role, he is often regarded as the "second founder" of the Jesuits for his role in organizing and expanding the order's missions and schools throughout Europe and the world.

Oh, Saint Francis Borgia

PRAY FOR US🙏🏻

09/10/2025

The Gospel Reading Friday, October 10, 2025 (The Memorial of Saint Francis Borgia) Luke 11:15-26

But some of them said, “By Beelzebul, the prince of demons, he is driving out demons.” (Lk. 11:15)

Others tested him by asking for a sign from heaven.

(Lk. 11:16)

Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them: “Any kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and a house divided against itself will fall. (Lk. 11:17)

If Satan is divided against himself, how can his kingdom stand? I say this because you claim that I drive out demons by Beelzebul. (Lk. 11:18)

Now if I drive out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your followers drive them out? So then, they will be your judges.

(Lk. 11:19

But if I drive out demons by the finger of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. (Lk. 11:20

“When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own house, his possessions are safe. (Lk 11:21)

But when someone stronger attacks and overpowers him, he takes away the armor in which the man trusted and divides up his plunder. (Lk. 11:22)

“Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters. (Luke 11:23)

“When an impure spirit comes out of a person, it goes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it. Then it says, ‘I will return to the house I left.’ (Luke 11:24)

When it arrives, it finds the house swept clean and put in order. (Lk. 11:25)

Then it goes and takes seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there. And the final condition of that person is worse than the first. (Lk. 11:26)

THE GOSPEL OF THE LORD!

REFLECTION:

The passage challenges us to discern the true source of power behind actions we see, especially in the church or the world. Is the good we see truly of God, or is it a deceptive, superficial change? We must look for the ultimate alignment: does it build God's Kingdom or fracture it?

PRAYER🙏🏻

O Lord Jesus Christ, the Stronger Man,

We acknowledge You as the ultimate authority, the King whose Kingdom has broken into this world. You came not by the power of Beelzebul, but by the very "finger of God," and You have already bound the strong man, Satan. We stand with You today, declaring our allegiance to Your side.

We reject the temptation to stand in the middle, knowing that whoever is not with You is against You. Forgive us for the times our commitment has been lukewarm, and our efforts to "gather" for Your Kingdom have been weak, causing us to "scatter" Your work instead.

Grant us the grace to be active gatherers, committed disciples, and a people whose lives are so saturated with Your Spirit that there is no void left for the enemy to exploit.

Amen.

Anak ni Tiago

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