Saint Joseph the Worker Parish - Jaro

Saint Joseph the Worker Parish - Jaro St. Joseph the Worker is a parish run by the Discalced Carmelite Friars (OCD) in Jaro, Iloilo City

Managed by: Parish Media Ministry

AUGUST 11 | 𝐌𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐨𝐟 𝐒𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐭 𝐂𝐥𝐚𝐢𝐫𝐞, 𝐕𝐢𝐫𝐠𝐢𝐧Clare Offreduccio, born to a high-ranking noble family in the quaint Italian...
11/08/2026

AUGUST 11 | 𝐌𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐨𝐟 𝐒𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐭 𝐂𝐥𝐚𝐢𝐫𝐞, 𝐕𝐢𝐫𝐠𝐢𝐧

Clare Offreduccio, born to a high-ranking noble family in the quaint Italian town of Assisi, was the eldest of three daughters. Raised in a grand palace in Assisi and a castle on the nearby slope of Mount Subasio, the girls were nurtured in their faith by their devout Catholic parents, especially their mother. From an early age, they led a life of prayer.

When Clare was twelve, her parents, adhering to the customs of the time, intended to arrange a marriage for her with a wealthy nobleman. However, Clare expressed her desire to wait until she turned eighteen, to which her parents agreed.

As a teenager, Clare grew to admire a twenty-four-year-old man named Francis, who had recently undergone an intense conversion. In his youth, Francis had been the life of the party in Assisi, aspiring to become a great knight—a dream he chased twice. His life took a turn when he was captured in war and subsequently imprisoned for a year. Upon being ransomed by his father, Francis returned to Assisi as a changed man. His ordeal ignited a spiritual transformation that would eventually influence not only his life but also that of Clare, the town of Assisi, and the entire Church for centuries to come. After renouncing his family inheritance and receiving papal approval, Francis and a small group of followers adopted a radical lifestyle, marked by poverty, prayer, penance, and itinerant preaching.

Around 1211 or 1212, when Clare was nearing her eighteenth birthday, she attended a Lenten mission at the church of San Giorgio in Assisi, preached by Brother Francis. The mission resonated deeply with Clare, and she felt God calling her to join Francis and his brothers by forming a women’s branch of their new order. Aware that her family would not approve of her decision, Clare spoke to Brother Francis in secret. With the local bishop’s approval, Francis agreed to welcome her on Palm Sunday evening at the small chapel of the Portiuncula where his order was staying.

That night, Clare arrived at the chapel, dressed as a bride ready to wed her spouse. She was accompanied by her aunt and a friend. Clare surrendered her noble attire for a coarse habit, allowed Brother Francis to cut her long hair, and covered her head with a veil. Francis then arranged for her to stay at a nearby Benedictine convent.

Upon discovering Clare’s decision, her family tried to convince her to return home, making promises of wealth and all the privileges of nobility. Clare refused. When they attempted to force her to return, she resisted, clung to the altar, and showed them her cut hair, a symbol of her dedication to God. Realizing they no longer held authority over her, her family reluctantly backed down. This marked not only a pivotal moment in Clare’s life but also the birth of the religious order of the Poor Clares.

For her safety and peace of mind, Clare was moved to another monastery a few days later, and then to another. To her surprise, her sister Caterina joined her a few weeks later. Their family attempted to intervene again, trying to force Caterina to leave, but Clare’s prayers triumphed. As one story goes, due to Clare’s prayers, Caterina’s body became so heavy that the men could not lift her. Eventually, her family gave up. Caterina was accepted into the newly formed order and was given the religious name Agnes.

In time, even their other sister and mother joined Clare and Agnes at the small house that Brother Francis had built for them next to the church of San Damiano. Under the rule for their new life given by Brother Francis, they became known as the Poor Ladies of San Damiano. Only after Clare’s death did they become known as the Poor Clares.

The Poor Ladies of San Damiano led a life of extreme poverty, manual labor, and almost complete silence under the rule of Brother Francis, which they strictly followed for the first few years. Unlike the friars, the Poor Ladies remained cloistered, instead of traveling and preaching. At that time, their severe austerity was new to religious women, as most convents were wealthy and owned large amounts of land tended by others for their needs. This newly formed order, like the Franciscan friars, was groundbreaking in its vocation, particularly its strict rule of poverty.

Despite her reluctance to assume any form of authority or title, Clare was made the abbess of the community in the following years. She was humble and shy, and found giving orders challenging. She often took up the most menial and unwanted chores.

God’s protection shielded the new order. When Muslim invaders surrounded the convent, preparing to attack Assisi, Clare, upon hearing of their presence, went to the chapel and took the monstrance with the Blessed Sacrament to confront them. Overwhelmed, the invaders retreated and never returned.

Mother Clare spent most of her life battling bishops, cardinals, and even popes who wished her order to align more with mainstream Benedictine nuns. Unyielding, she chose to depend on divine providence, trusting completely in her divine Spouse. These struggles intensified after the death of her spiritual father and brother, Saint Francis, in 1226. After many years of battling, Mother Clare wrote a rule for her sisters and received approval of that rule from Pope Innocent IV, mere days before her death in 1256 at the age of fifty-nine. This marked the first time in history that a woman wrote a rule for religious life that was formally approved. Despite her hidden life, Saint Clare’s holiness was widely known, so much so that the pope came to Assisi to celebrate her funeral. She was canonized just two years later.

As we honor Saint Clare and her sisters, we are especially invited to ponder their complete trust in God. It took great faith to abandon her noble life to embrace radical poverty, but she did so, remaining faithful to her calling. Through her, God has brought forth an abundance of good fruit that will only be fully understood in Heaven. Ponder Clare’s poverty, her hidden life of silence and continuous prayer, and her fidelity to God’s call. As you do, let her radicalness inspire you to step out of your own comfort zone and embrace a more trusting life of selfless service to God’s will.

Prayer: Saint Clare, though you came from a wealthy and noble family, God called you into poverty where your true nobility was found. You heard a call to live radically for God, responded, and never turned back. Please pray for me, that I will also respond to God’s calling in my life with radical fidelity. May nothing stand in the way of my willing adherence to the will of God. Saint Clare of Assisi, pray for me. Jesus, I trust in You.

Caption Source: https://mycatholic.life/saints/saints-of-the-liturgical-year/august-11---saint-clare-virgin/

AUGUST 10 | 𝐅𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐒𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐭 𝐋𝐚𝐰𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞, 𝐃𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐲𝐫Though not much is known for certain about Saint Lawrence, he has ...
10/08/2026

AUGUST 10 | 𝐅𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐒𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐭 𝐋𝐚𝐰𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞, 𝐃𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐲𝐫

Though not much is known for certain about Saint Lawrence, he has been highly revered as a martyr and deacon from at least the fourth century. Most of the legends come from the detailed writings of Saint Ambrose, who served as Bishop of Milan from 374 to 397, more than a century after Saint Lawrence’s death. His writings are likely more of an imagined telling of the story than a literal account. Another early source of Saint Lawrence’s life and martyrdom comes in the form of a Latin poem written by the Christian poet Prudentius, who lived c. 348–c. 405. Finally, the later Passio Sancti Laurentii gives other details about Saint Lawrence, which comes from an anonymous Spanish author who most likely did not write until the fifth or sixth century. From these three sources, as well as from the writings of others, such as Saint Augustine of Hippo and Pope Saint Gregory the Great, great reverence and devotion to Saint Lawrence have flourished throughout the centuries. He is even one of the few early martyrs named in Eucharistic Prayer I (the Roman Canon). It is for these reasons that today’s celebration holds the rank of Feast within our Church.

According to these legends, Lawrence was born in Spain, perhaps at Osca in Aragon, near the foot of the Pyrenees mountains. Both of his parents are believed to have been martyrs. As a youth, he is said to have been brilliant, studying humanities and theology in Zaragoza where he met the future Pope Saint Sixtus II. After Lawrence completed his studies, he and the future pope traveled to Rome. In Rome, Lawrence was ordained one of the city’s seven deacons—most likely as the head of the seven deacons, the Archdeacon of Rome. As archdeacon, Lawrence was put in charge of the Church’s material possessions and was responsible for distributing alms to the poor. By the time Pope Sixtus II was elected pope in 257, he and Deacon Lawrence are believed to have had a strong friendship.

In 253, Valerian became the Roman Emperor. At first, he tolerated Christians. However, in 257 he issued an edict that began a fierce persecution of the Church. Saint Cyril, then the bishop of Carthage, North Africa, who also died a martyr under Valerian, described the persecution this way: “The Emperor Valerian has consigned to the Senate a decree by which he has determined that all Bishops, Priests and Deacons will be immediately put to death. I communicate to you that Sixtus suffered martyrdom on 6 August together with four Deacons while they were in a cemetery. The Roman authorities have established a norm according to which all Christians who have been denounced must be executed and their goods confiscated by the Imperial treasury.” The Liber Pontificalis identifies two other deacons who were martyred with Pope Sixtus, for a total of six deacons on August 6, 258: Januarius, Vincentius, Magnus, Stephanus, Felicissimus, and Agapitus.

According to Saint Ambrose’s account, Deacon Lawrence was martyred four days after his close friend and spiritual father, Pope Sixtus II, and the other deacons who were put to death. Ambrose records this exchange between the two prior to the pope’s ex*****on, “Saint Lawrence wept when he saw his Bishop, Sixtus, led out to his martyrdom. He wept not because he was being led out to die but because he would survive Sixtus. He cried out to him in a loud voice: ‘Where are you going Father, without your son? Where do you hasten to, holy Bishop, without your Deacon? You cannot offer sacrifice without a minister…’” Ambrose records Pope Sixtus as responding, “I will not leave you, I will not abandon you my son. More difficult trials are kept for you. A shorter race is set for us who are older. For you who are young a more glorious triumph over tyranny is reserved. Soon, you will see, cry no more, after three days you will follow me…”

After Pope Sixtus and the other deacons were martyred, Deacon Lawrence was arrested. Because he was in charge of the riches of the Church, the prefect of Rome demanded that Deacon Lawrence hand over to him all the treasures of the Church. Lawrence requested three days to gather them, during which time he distributed all he could to the poor. After three days, Deacon Lawrence appeared again before the prefect and pointed to the poor, the crippled, the blind, and the suffering of Rome, saying, “These are the treasures of the Church.” This infuriated the prefect who had anticipated receiving gold and silver. He ordered that Deacon Lawrence be burned on a gridiron. Saint Ambrose records Deacon Lawrence’s last act of heroic virtue and defiance of diabolical oppression this way: “However, after three days he was placed upon the gridiron by the tyrant whom he mocked, and was burnt. He said: ‘The flesh is roasted, turn it and eat.’ So by the courage of his mind he overcame the power of fire.”

What is known for certain is that Saint Lawrence of Rome gave his life for Christ. After that heroic act of selflessness, God raised Saint Lawrence back to life—not physically, but spiritually, making him an icon of Christ to inspire others. Because Saint Lawrence is believed to have been burned on a gridiron, he has become known as the patron saint of cooks and tanners. Because he cared for and hid important documents of the Church before dying, he is the patron saint of archivists and librarians. And because of the humor Lawrence displayed while dying, as recorded by Saint Ambrose, he is the patron saint of comedians. From the third century onward, Saint Lawrence has been highly venerated in Rome and is considered a patron of Rome, after Saints Peter and Paul. After Constantine the Great legalized Christianity in the fourth century, tradition holds that he built a basilica over the tomb of Saint Lawrence that became one of the seven main churches in Rome, the Basilica di San Lorenzo fuori le Mura.

As we honor this legend of heroic virtue within the Roman Church, ponder not only his courage but also the way that God has used him to inspire many throughout the centuries. Though acts of courage may be difficult at the time they are performed, the good fruit of such heroism lives on. Seek the intercession of Saint Lawrence today, asking him to pray for you so that you will have the courage to do all that God asks of you, even using humor when helpful, so that you will find joy in everything, even persecution and suffering.

Prayer: Saint Lawrence, you gave your life to Christ at a young age and followed Him to your death with courage. You executed your duties to the poor with fidelity and saw them as the true treasures of the Church. Please pray for me, that I will have the courage that you had to say “Yes” to Christ, no matter what He asks of me. Saint Lawrence of Rome, pray for me. Jesus, I trust in You.

Caption Source: https://mycatholic.life/saints/saints-of-the-liturgical-year/august-10---saint-lawrence-deacon-and-martyr/

AUGUST 8 | 𝐒𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐭 𝐃𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐜 - 𝐌𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐥Dominic was born in Caleruega, in the Kingdom of Castile, present-day Spain, to noble...
08/08/2026

AUGUST 8 | 𝐒𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐭 𝐃𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐜 - 𝐌𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐥

Dominic was born in Caleruega, in the Kingdom of Castile, present-day Spain, to noble parents. He was likely named after Saint Dominic of Silos, a local saint from the previous century. An early biographer relates that his mother, struggling to conceive a child, made a pilgrimage to the monastery where Saint Dominic of Silos had been abbot. Around that time, she dreamt of a dog emerging from her womb that ran around carrying a torch, setting the world on fire. The name “Dominic” can be translated as “The Lord’s Dog.”

Today’s saint came from a holy family. Dominic’s mother was later beatified, as was one brother who followed Dominic into the Order of Preachers. His other brother was a diocesan priest who lived in poverty and was devoted to the care of the poor and suffering. From the age of seven to fourteen, Dominic was educated under the guidance of his mother’s uncle, a priest. From fourteen to twenty-four, he attended the University of Palencia, where he excelled in his studies. During his ten years at Palencia, Dominic was also deeply devoted to the poor. On one occasion, he sold all he had, including books he had copied by hand, to alleviate the suffering of those affected by a plague. Twice, he attempted to sell himself into slavery to assist those held captive by their Muslim captors.

When Dominic was twenty-four years old, the Bishop Diego de Acebo of Osma ordained him as an Augustinian canon of the cathedral, hoping that Father Dominic would help reform the other canons. For the next nine years, Father Dominic lived a life of deep prayer, was named sub-prior and then prior, and gave great witness to others through his holy life.

In 1203, the King of Castile sent Bishop Diego on a diplomatic mission. The bishop asked Father Dominic to accompany him on the journey. During their travels, they became aware of two grave needs within the Church. First, they discovered many people in northern Europe who had yet to hear the Gospel’s saving message. Second, they encountered a heretical group in southern France called the Cathars, who were leading many astray. After completing their diplomatic mission, Bishop Diego and Father Dominic detoured to Rome to consult with the pope. After their consultation, the pope sent them back to southern France to assist with the conversion of the Cathars. The Cathars followed a form of the Albigensian Heresy, which taught that there were two gods: one good, associated with the New Testament and the spiritual world, and one evil, associated with the Old Testament and the material world. They believed that the goal of life was to escape the evil of the material world and live a purely spiritual life, achieved by a rigorously ascetic lifestyle.

Previously, the pope had sent Cistercian monks to convert the Cathars. However, the Cathars lived an extremely ascetic life while the Cistercians did not, leading the Cathars to reject the Cistercian intervention. Encountering this firsthand, Father Dominic understood that the best way to combat the heresy was to form an order that lived in extreme asceticism yet remained true to the faith of the Church.

Back in southern France, Father Dominic and Bishop Diego worked tirelessly to rescue souls from the Albigensian heresy. They did so by engaging in public debates and private dialogues with the Cathars, hoping to convince them of their errors through reason and persuasion. Father Dominic and Bishop Diego lived in poverty as itinerant preachers, possessing only the Gospel. After Bishop Diego died, Father Dominic founded a convent in Prouille in 1206 dedicated to Saint Mary Magdalene. The purpose of the order was twofold. First, Father Dominic believed that it was through prayer, above all else, that souls would be saved. Second, the convent provided a safe haven for women and nuns who were converted away from the Albigensian heresy. The convent also provided for the education of girls, giving parents an alternative to the heretical convents for their daughters’ education.

Over the next several years, God performed a number of miracles through Father Dominic. Some of those miracles resulted in conversion and new followers. As time went on, Father Dominic began to write a rule of life for himself and his companions. In 1215, with the permission of the Bishop of Toulouse, Father Dominic founded a new order of men, dedicated to evangelization through prayer, study, and poverty. Like the newly formed Franciscans, they sought to institute a new form of religious life. They did not live as monks, canons, or diocesan priests. Instead, they lived a combination of the three. They lived communally; prayed together; embraced poverty, obedience, and chastity; studied the faith; and then set out on missions of preaching and evangelizing, later returning to their community house where they remained grounded and were renewed in their mission. The following year, Pope Honorius III gave formal consent to the order. Thus, the Order of Preachers, also known as the Dominicans, was established.

The Order of Preachers quickly became a huge success due to the humility, patience, and dedication of Father Dominic and his friars. Miracles also made a difference. One legend states that Father Dominic was invited to a public debate with a leading Albigensian monk. After the debate, the judges could not determine who was victorious so they suggested a test. They were both to place their book of teachings in the fire. The book that did not burn would be declared the winner. The Albigensian went first, and his writings were immediately consumed. When Father Dominic threw his book in the fire, it immediately jumped back into his hand. He did it a second time and a third with the same result. News spread quickly and hearts continued to convert.

In 1217, the pope, impressed with the order’s beginnings, gave Father Dominic the Church of Santa Sabina in Rome as the order’s second home. The pope also elevated Father Dominic to the “Master of the Sacred Palace,” a position designating Father Dominic as the pope’s chief theological adviser. Despite his success, Father Dominic remained a humble and prayerful penitent throughout his life. He slept on the floor, wore a hairshirt, and often walked barefoot when he entered a new town.

In the years following until Dominic’s death in 1221, other houses were founded in Paris, Madrid, and Bologna. After his death, the order continued to expand. By the mid-1200s, hundreds of Dominican houses had sprung up across Europe and even in other parts of the world.

As we honor Saint Dominic and the Order of Preachers, ponder his patience and dedication. In working with the Albigensian heretics, he was neither condemning nor harsh. Instead, he immersed himself in prayer and study and then made himself available to each person he encountered, listening, discussing, reasoning, and helping to open the eyes of many. His prayerful and humble spirit, coupled with his wise words, saved many souls. Know that God calls you to a similar vocation. Each of us must long for the salvation of souls above everything else in life. Once we are filled with that longing, we must then dedicate all we are and all we have to that mission. Nothing else in life is more important because nothing gives God more glory than rescuing one soul from sin and hell as Saint Dominic did so well.

Prayer: Saint Dominic, your heart was moved with compassion for those who suffered. When you encountered those misled by heresy, you longed for their freedom and dedicated the rest of your life to their salvation. Please pray for me, that I will follow your example by recognizing those around me who need to be freed from error and sin, so that I can prayerfully be open for God to use me in any way He chooses. Saint Dominic, pray for me. Jesus, I trust in You.

02/08/2026

Answer the Call to Serve and Lead!

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Are you ready to share your talents, deepen your faith, and make a lasting impact in our community? 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗵 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗵 𝗠𝗶𝗻𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘆 (𝗣𝗬𝗠) 𝗶𝘀 𝗼𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝘁𝘀 𝗱𝗼𝗼𝗿𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗻𝗲𝘄 𝗺𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗮𝗻𝘁-𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀!

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This is your chance to get involved, meet amazing friends, and grow closer to God by sharing your unique gifts. Find where you belong and choose your ministry!

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𝗠𝗶𝗻𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗖𝗮𝗻 𝗝𝗼𝗶𝗻:

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𝗬𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗵 𝗖𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗰𝗵𝗶𝘀𝘁 – Share God's Word and the teachings of the Catholic faith while guiding children and fellow youth to grow in knowledge, faith, and Christian values.

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𝗝𝘂𝗻𝗶𝗼𝗿 𝗨𝘀𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗖𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘀 – Welcome parishioners with warmth, assist during liturgical celebrations, and help maintain order, reverence, and hospitality inside the church.

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𝗔𝗻𝗶𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 – Create a joyful and engaging atmosphere by leading games, energizers, and activities that inspire participation and strengthen youth fellowship.

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𝗣𝗮𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗵 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗵 𝗖𝗵𝗼𝗶𝗿 – Glorify God through music by leading the congregation in prayerful singing and fostering meaningful worship during liturgical celebrations.

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How to Join:

Ready to take the next step in your faith journey? Click the link below to fill out our application form and choose your ministry:

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👉 https://forms.gle/gmi97tixCrMPUPuMA

ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ
ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ
"Let no one look down on your youthfulness, but rather set an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, and in purity." — 1 Timothy 4:12

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ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ
We can't wait to welcome you to the family! Ano tara?!

𝗣𝗮𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗵 𝗗𝗶𝗮𝗴𝗻𝗼𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗰 𝗤𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗮𝗶𝗿𝗲Help us build a more vibrant, welcoming, and mission-driven parish by answering our Paris...
02/08/2026

𝗣𝗮𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗵 𝗗𝗶𝗮𝗴𝗻𝗼𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗰 𝗤𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗮𝗶𝗿𝗲

Help us build a more vibrant, welcoming, and mission-driven parish by answering our Parish Diagnostic Questionnaire.

Simply scan the QR code and share your thoughts. It only takes a few minutes, but your input will help us better understand our parish's strengths, needs, and opportunities so we can serve you and our community more effectively.

𝙏𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙠 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙥𝙖𝙧𝙩𝙞𝙘𝙞𝙥𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣. 𝙏𝙤𝙜𝙚𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧, 𝙡𝙚𝙩'𝙨 𝙗𝙪𝙞𝙡𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙥𝙖𝙧𝙞𝙨𝙝 𝙂𝙤𝙙 𝙞𝙨 𝙘𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙪𝙨 𝙩𝙤 𝙗𝙚!

You can also click the Link: https://forms.gle/PBdLpbqxGr4GvG126

JULY 25 | 𝐅𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐒𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐭 𝐉𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐬, 𝐀𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐭𝐥𝐞Among the Twelve Apostles were two named James: James, the son of Zebedee and Jam...
25/07/2026

JULY 25 | 𝐅𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐒𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐭 𝐉𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐬, 𝐀𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐭𝐥𝐞

Among the Twelve Apostles were two named James: James, the son of Zebedee and James, the son of Alpheus. The former is traditionally called James the Greater, and the latter is traditionally called James the Lesser, perhaps because the former was taller than the latter, or more likely because of the greater importance James the Greater played in the Gospel narrative.

James the Greater, whom we honor today, was the brother of John, the Gospel writer. Their mother is traditionally believed to be Salome, who is identified as the sister to the Blessed Virgin Mary. Hence, if Salome and Mary were siblings, then James and John were Jesus’ cousins.

In John’s Gospel (John 1:35–51), two of John the Baptist’s disciples were with John when he saw Jesus walking by. The Baptist said of Jesus, “Behold, the Lamb of God.” The two disciples then left the Baptist and followed Jesus. One of the disciples was Andrew, and the other is traditionally believed to be James the Greater. The Gospels of Matthew and Mark record James’ calling a bit differently. “[Jesus] walked along a little farther and saw James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John. They too were in a boat mending their nets. Then he called them. So they left their father Zebedee in the boat along with the hired men and followed him” (Mark 1:19–20). James and John most likely came from a family of means. Their father, Zebedee, most likely employed other fishermen alongside his sons. Their mother, Salome, is said to have been one of the women who supported Jesus and the disciples out of her own means. And John was entrusted with the care of Jesus’ mother, partly implying that he had the means to do so.

Among the Twelve Apostles, Peter, James, and John are recorded in the Gospels as being present at three special events that the others were not. First, when Jesus cured Jairus’ daughter, Jesus brought these three into the house with Him (see Mark 5:37). Second, it was only these three whom Jesus took with Him when He was transfigured in glory on top of a high mountain (see Matthew 17:1–9, Mark 9:2þ8, Luke 9:28–36). Finally, these three alone accompanied Jesus after the Last Supper during Jesus’ Agony in the Garden (Matthew 26:36–46, Mark 14:32–42). Though they fell asleep three times during our Lord’s agony, they were, nonetheless, privileged to be there with Him.

James and his brother John are also known for boldly asking Jesus that they sit at His left and right when He entered His Kingdom. In Matthew’s Gospel, the request is made on behalf of the brothers by their mother, Salome (see Matthew 20:20–28), and in Mark’s Gospel it is the brothers themselves who make the request (see Mark 10:35–45).

In Luke 9:51–56, we read that Jesus “resolutely determined to journey to Jerusalem” where He knew He would suffer death. On His journey toward Jerusalem, Jesus sent disciples ahead of Him to a Samaritan town to prepare for his arrival. However, the Samaritans would not welcome Jesus and His disciples. As a result, James and John ask Jesus, “Lord, do you want us to call down fire from heaven to consume them?” Jesus rebuked them for this thought and they traveled on. It was on account of this excessive zeal and perhaps the quick tempers and boldness of James and John that they are referred to as the “Sons of Thunder” (see Mark 3:17).

One last mention of James is found in Acts 12:1–3. Herod Agrippa, who ruled Judea from 41–44, martyred James the Greater as a way of appeasing the Pharisaic Jews who were opposed to Jesus and His followers. According to an account by Eusebius, a fourth-century Bishop of Caesarea Maritima, James’ zeal for the faith led to his arrest, but the one who turned James in as his accuser ended up converting to the faith. As a result, his accuser was also martyred with James.

Though not much is known about the life of Saint James with certainty, we do know that he was privileged to witness Jesus’ Transfiguration, His Agony in the Garden, and that Jesus prophesied that James would drink the cup that He drank, and be baptized with Jesus’ baptism (see Mark 10:39). This “cup” and “baptism” are clear references to Saint James’ martyrdom by which he would imitate his Lord. There is little doubt that his witnessing of Jesus being transfigured in glory and his presence with Jesus in the garden infused his natural temperament with grace, giving him courage to be the first of the Apostles to be martyred.

As we honor this holy Apostle, ponder his willingness to stand strong in the face of persecution and death. That courage must inspire us to have hope and strength in the face of anything we endure in life. In the end, courage and fidelity to Christ will radiate from the life of Saint James in Heaven. Pray that his example will also inspire you to have the courage he had so that you can give witness to Christ any way that you are called to do so.

𝐂𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐎𝐮𝐫 𝐅𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐃𝐚𝐲Beyond the decorations and the festivities, the true heart of our Feast Day is the H...
17/07/2026

𝐂𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐎𝐮𝐫 𝐅𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐃𝐚𝐲

Beyond the decorations and the festivities, the true heart of our Feast Day is the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.

As you look through these images of the liturgy, we pray that you feel connected to the altar and wrapped in the blessings of our patron saint.

𝐎𝐮𝐫 𝐁𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐇𝐨𝐩𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐆𝐮𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐂𝐡𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐭Today we celebrate Our Lady of Mount Carmel, who stands as a beacon of hope and a ...
16/07/2026

𝐎𝐮𝐫 𝐁𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐇𝐨𝐩𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐆𝐮𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐂𝐡𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐭

Today we celebrate Our Lady of Mount Carmel, who stands as a beacon of hope and a gentle guide leading us closer to Jesus, just as the prophets did on the holy mountain. May her brown scapular be a constant reminder of our commitment to follow Christ, wrapped in her maternal love.

Holy Mary, Our Lady of Mount Carmel, pray for us!

Address

Brgy. San Isidro, Jaro
Iloilo City
5000

Opening Hours

Tuesday 8am - 5pm
Wednesday 8am - 5pm
Thursday 8am - 5pm
Friday 8am - 5pm
Saturday 8am - 5pm
Sunday 8am - 5pm

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+639999959203

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