Antiochian Orthodox Philippines

07/07/2016

www.antiochianarch.org.ph & www.antiochianarch.org.au Vol. 8 No. 7/July 2016

The Ancient Straight Faith

The Official Publication of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of Oceania (Australia, New Zealand, Philippines, Marianas Islands and Dependencies)

Priests Should Celebrate Mass
Ad Orientem (Facing the East
or the Altar), Says Vatican Liturgy Chief Cardinal Sarah

Lawrence OP, Flickr

Priests should celebrate Mass ad orientem, says Cardinal Robert Sarah, Prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments.

When a priest celebrates Mass ad orientem, for certain parts he faces toward “liturgical east,” which is toward the altar with his back to the congregation. This is the practice in the Extraordinary Form of the Mass. Versus populum, or toward the people, is the practical norm in the Ordinary Form.

In an interview with the French Catholic magazine Famille Chrétienne, Cardinal Sarah pointed out that Vatican II did not require the priest to face the people for the whole Mass. And while it is appropriate for readers to face the congregation, the situation is different for parts of the Mass in which the priest and congregation are directly addressing God.
“As soon as we reach the moment when one addresses God – from the Offertory onwards – it is essential that the priest and faithful look together towards the east. This corresponds exactly to what the Council Fathers wanted.”

To priests who think they are required to celebrate Mass facing the people, Cardinal Sarah says that celebrating Mass ad orientem is allowed without special permission.

“It is legitimate and complies with the letter and spirit of the Council. As prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, I wish to recall that the celebration ad orientem is authorized by the rubrics, which specify the times when the celebrant must turn to the people.

“It is therefore not necessary to have special permission to celebrate facing the Lord.”

Vatican Liturgy Chief urges priests to celebrate Mass facing east

by Staff Reporter
posted Thursday,

Cardinal Robert Sarah celebrates Mass in Haiti in 2010 (CNS)

Cardinal Robert Sarah made the comments in an exclusive interview with Famille Chrétienne
The Vatican’s liturgy chief has called on priests to celebrate Mass facing east.
In an interview with the French Catholic magazine Famille Chrétienne, Cardinal Robert Sarah said that the Second Vatican Council did not require priests to celebrate Mass facing the people.

This way of celebrating Mass, he said, was “a possibility, but not an obligation”.

Readers and listeners should face each other during the Liturgy of the Word, he said.

“But as soon as we reach the moment when one addresses God – from the Offertory onwards – it is essential that the priest and faithful look together towards the east. This corresponds exactly to what the Council Fathers wanted.”

Cardinal Sarah, prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, rejected the argument that priests celebrating Mass facing east are turning their backs on the faithful “or against them”.
Rather, he said, all are “turned in the same direction: towards the Lord who comes”.

“It is legitimate and complies with the letter and spirit of the Council,” he said. “As prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, I wish to recall that the
celebration versus orientem is authorised by the rubrics, which specify the times when the celebrant must turn to the people. It is therefore not necessary to have special permission to celebrate facing the Lord.”

Cardinal Sarah’s remarks echo an article he wrote a year ago for L’Osservatore Romano, in which he said it was “altogether appropriate, during the penitential rite, the singing of the Gloria, the orations and the Eucharistic prayer, that everyone, priest and faithful, turn together toward the East, so as to express their intention to participate in the work of worship and redemption accomplished by Christ.”
The cardinal added in the article that Mass facing east could be “implemented in cathedrals, where the liturgical life must be exemplary”.

NOTE:

In May 22, 2008 when we started our Antiochian Orthodox Mission in Antipolo City, Philippines and served the Divine Liturgy according to St. John Chrysostom with our 6,000 faithful, several comments where hurled at us discouraging our faithful from participating in the liturgy labeling us even as "kultos" because we served the Divine Liturgy (Holy Mass) facing the altar or the "liturgical east".

I found out though that even the Pope says mass facing the altar.

Funny isn’t it. There has got to be a complete reorientation of the Catholic faithful in the Philippines, especially on the Real or True Church History and the Liturgy.

VERY REV. ARCHPRIEST YITZHAK
PASCUAL D. MONSANTO, JR.,
MSHF, BS PSYCH, MMPM, LLB, REG. PSYCH
Auxiliary & Vicar-General
Antiochian Orthodox Church, Philippines

PARTIAL DIRECTORY, ANTIOCHIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH, PHILIPPINES

Vicar General: Very Rev. Archpriest Yitzhak Pascual D. Monsanto, Jr.

LUZON

STS PETER AND PAUL VICARIATE
Lot 1, Block 2, Primavera Heights,
Sto. Cristo, City of San Jose Del Monte, Bulacan,
Philippines 3023.
Phone: 0442441515
Mobile: 09176310150
Very Rev. Fr Yitzhak (Pascual D. Monsanto, Jr.)
mailto:[email protected]

THE PROTECTION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY CHURCH
No. 7 Banaba St., Pangarap, Caloocan City, 1426 Philippines
Phone: 02794 8897
Mobile: 09193388786
Rev. Fr. Mikhael Yosef (Abundio J. Delim, Jr)
mailto:[email protected]

ST MICHAEL THE ARCHANGEL CHURCH
Bagong Nayon 2, Padilla, Antipolo City, Philippines
Phone: 02473 4075
Mobile:09282240681
Rev. Fr. Gabriel Louie J. Delim
mailto:[email protected]

ST. RAPHAEL THE ARCHANGEL CHURCH
Mountanside, Southville-7 Subd., Sto. Tomas, Calauan, Laguna
Phone: 0442441515
Mobile: 09335436416
Very Rev. Archpriest Yitzhak (Pascual D. Monsanto, Jr.)
mailto:[email protected]

ST. GEORGE CHURCH
RC Compound, Brgy. San Isidro, Antipolo City, Philippines
Mobile:09079116559
Rev. Fr. Zurin (Jerry Juanito A. Ellaga)

ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST CHURCH
Sunrise Village, Brgy. San Juan,Taytay, Rizal, Philippines
Mobile:09087856763
Rev. Fr. [Atty.] Paul (Reynaldo V. Ola-A)
mailto:[email protected]

MOST HOLY THEOTOKOS CHURCH
Southville Subd., B rgy. Inocencio, Trece Martires City, Cavite
Mobile: 09778027519
Rev. Fr. Melchisedek Artfi
mailto:[email protected]

MINDANAO

ST. GEORGE CHURCH
Km 7 Near Entrance Villa Park Subd., Brgy. Cabantian, Buhangin, Davao City 8000
Mobile: 09303552199
Rev. Fr. Eustaquio ( Felipe G. Lorejas)
mailto:[email protected]

27/04/2016

A CALL TO ALL WELL-MEANING FILIPINO CHRISTIANS

Like Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau we should stand firmly against the politics of division, the politics of fear, the politics of intolerance or hateful rhetoric. Like him we should also believe that if we allow politicians to succeed in Philippine election by scaring people, we don’t actually end up any safer. And we also should believe with him that fear doesn’t make us safer. It makes us weaker.

In addition, we should also stand boldly against the politics of parrying and holding, the politics of bullying and bribing, the politics of sowing fear or fervor, the politics of tyranny, hypocrisy and lying and the politics of frivolity and pretense.

Q: WHO THEN SHOULD WE ELECT TO THE PRESIDENCY AND VICE-PRESIDENCY OF OUR VERY DEAR REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES?

A: SUGGESTED ANSWER

1. The ones WHO IMPLORE THE AID OF ALMIGHTY GOD, who commits to build a just and humane Philippine Society and establish a Government that shall embody the people’s ideals and aspirations, promote the common good, conserve and develop our patrimony, and secure to ourselves and our posterity the blessings of independence and democracy under the rule of law and a regime of truth, justice, freedom, love, equality, and peace. (Preamble of the Constitution of the Republic of the Philippines, 1987).

In other words we should not elect those WHO IMPLORE THE AID OF SATAN, MGA KULTO or SELF-PROCLAIMED “ELECTED OR APPOINTED CHILDREN OF GOD or PRESENT DAYS ANGELS OR PROPHETS” OR THE ANTI-CHRISTS (those who claim they are ‘Christians’, yet do not believe that JESUS CHRIST IS BOTH GOD AND MAN or in the Blessed Virgin Mary as THE MOTHER OF GOD or THE THEOTOKOS (God-Bearer).

2. The ones who imbibe the Philippine Constitution Declaration of Principles and Statement of Policies, particularly:

a. On democracy and republicanism where sovereignty resides in the people and all government authority emanates from them.

b. On the supremacy of Civilian authority over the military at all times with the Armed Forces of the Philippines as the protector of the people and the State who goal is to secure the sovereignty of the State and the integrity of the national territory.

c. On the prime duty of the Government to serve and protect the people.

d. On the maintenance of peace and order, the protection of life, liberty, and property, and promotion of the general welfare as essential for the enjoyment by all the people of the blessings of democracy.

e. On the promotion of a just and dynamic social order that will ensure the prosperity and independence of the nation and free the people from poverty through policies that provide adequate social services, promote full employment, a rising standard of living, and an improved quality of life for all.

f. On the promotion of social justice in all phases of national development.

g. On valuing the dignity of every human person and guarantying full respect for human rights.

h. On the recognition of the sanctity of family life and the protection and strengthening the family as a basic autonomous social institution where the life of the mother and the life of the unborn from conception shall be equally protected and where the natural and primary right and duty of parents in the rearing of the youth for civic efficiency and the development of moral character are supported by the Government.

i. On the recognition of the vital role of the youth in nation-building and the promotion and protection of their physical, moral, spiritual, intellectual, and social well-being where patriotism and nationalism is inculcated in the youth and their involvement in public and civic affairs is encouraged.

j. On the recognition of the role of women in nation-building where the fundamental equality before the law of women and men are ensured.

k. On the protection and promotion of the right to health of the people.

l. On the protection and advancement of the right of the people to a balanced and healthful ecology in accord with the rhythm and harmony of nature.

m. On the protection of the rights of workers and the promotion of their welfare.

n. On a self-reliant and independent national economy effectively controlled by Filipinos.

o. On guarantying equal access to opportunities for public service, and prohibit political dynasties.

p. On maintaining honesty and integrity in the public service and take positive and effective measures against graft and corruption.

3. The ones who commits to uphold the Bill of Rights in our Constitution, particularly that:
a. No person shall be deprived of life, liberty, or property without due process of law, nor shall any person be denied the equal protection of the laws.

b. The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects against unreasonable searches and seizures.

c. The right of the people to information on matters of public concern shall be recognized. Access to official records, and to documents and papers pertaining to official acts, transactions, or decisions, as well as to government research data used as basis for policy development, shall be afforded the citizen, subject to such limitations as may be provided by law.

d. Private property shall not be taken for public use without just compensation.

e. Free access to the courts and quasi-judicial bodies and adequate legal assistance shall not be denied to any person by reason of poverty.

f. Section 12. (1) Any person under investigation for the commission of an offense shall have the right to be informed of his right to remain silent and to have competent and independent counsel preferably of his own choice. If the person cannot afford the services of counsel, he must be provided with one. These rights cannot be waived except in writing and in the presence of counsel. (2) No torture, force, violence, threat, intimidation, or any other means which vitiate the free will shall be used against him. Secret detention places, solitary, incommunicado, or other similar forms of detention are prohibited.

g. All persons, except those charged with offenses punishable by reclusion perpetua when evidence of guilt is strong, shall, before conviction, be bailable by sufficient sureties, or be released on recognizance as may be provided by law. The right to bail shall not be impaired even when the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus is suspended. Excessive bail shall not be required.

h. The privilege of the writ of habeas corpus shall not be suspended except in cases of invasion or rebellion when the public safety requires it.

i. All persons shall have the right to a speedy disposition of their cases before all judicial, quasi-judicial, or administrative bodies.

j. Section 19. (1) Excessive fines shall not be imposed, nor cruel, degrading or inhuman punishment inflicted. Neither shall death penalty be imposed, unless, for compelling reasons involving heinous crimes, the Congress hereafter provides for it. Any death penalty already imposed shall be reduced to reclusion perpetua. (2) The employment of physical, psychological, or degrading punishment against any prisoner or detainee or the use of substandard or inadequate penal facilities under subhuman conditions shall be dealt with by law.

k. No person shall be imprisoned for debt or non-payment of a poll tax.

4. The ones who will sincerely take and perform his oath:

"I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully and conscientiously fulfill my duties as President (or Vice-President or Acting President) of the Philippines, preserve and defend its Constitution, execute its laws, do justice to every man, and consecrate myself to the service of the Nation. So help me God."

5. The ones who have the qualifications outlined in Article VII, Section 2 of the 1987 Constitution:

a. A natural born Filipino;
b. A registered voter;
c. Must be able to read and write;
d. 40 years of age at the day of the election; and
e. Must have resided in the Philippines ten (10) years before the election is held.

6. The ones who can perform the powers or duties under the Constitution and those specifically outlined in Executive Order No. 292, s. 1987 (The Administrative Code of 1987), namely: a). Power of control over the executive branch, b). Power of Ordinance power, c). Power over aliens, d). Power of Eminent Domain, e). Power of Appointment, f). Power of General Supervision Over Local Governments, and g). Other powers enumerated in the constitution and powers given to him by law.

The Qualifications of the Vice-President

The qualifications for aspirants to the Office of the Vice President is outlined in Article VII, Section 3. According to the constitution, the qualifications for the President is the same for the Vice President.

Duties of the vice president

According to the constitution, the vice president may concurrently assume a cabinet position should the President of the Philippines offer the former one. The vice president will become a secretary concurrent to the position of vice president.

Aside from the cabinet post, the vice president is mandated to assume the presidency in case of the death, disability, or resignation of the incumbent President.

7. And finally, the ones who do not parry and hold, the ones who do not bully and bribe, the ones who do not sow fear or fervor and the ones who are no tyrants, hypocrites, frivolous, pretentious or liars!!!

+Very Rev. Archpriest Yitzhak
Pascualito D. Monsanto
Auxiliary & Vicar-General
Philippine Antiochian Greek Orthodox Church

05/04/2016

Please report to us the person in this announcement.
He does not belong to our Archdiocese and Church.

Thank you.

+VERY REV. ARCHPRIEST YITZHAK
PASCUALITO D. MONSANTO, BS PSYCH, LLB., REG. PSYCH.
Auxiliary & Vicar-General
Philippine Antiochian Orthodox Church
Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of Oceania
(Australia, New Zealand, Philippines, Marianas islands & Dependencies)
St. Raphael the Archangel Philippine Antiochian Orthodox Church
P1, Site 3, Blk 53 Southville-7 Subd., Sto. Tomas, Calauan, Laguna.

05/04/2016

Please help dessiminate. Thank you.

Please report to us the person in this announcement.
He does not belong to our Archdiocese and Church.

Thank you.

+VERY REV. ARCHPRIEST YITZHAK
PASCUALITO D. MONSANTO, BS PSYCH, LLB., REG. PSYCH.
Auxiliary & Vicar-General
Philippine Antiochian Orthodox Church
Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of Oceania
(Australia, New Zealand, Philippines, Marianas islands & Dependencies)
St. Raphael the Archangel Philippine Antiochian Orthodox Church
P1, Site 3, Blk 53 Southville-7 Subd., Sto. Tomas, Calauan, Laguna.

05/04/2016

Impostor do not belong to our church.

Let everyone know that this person, ELJUNE O. LUMBO of c/o Ernesto B. Tres, Near “San Isidro Labrador Chapel”, SKB Pagrai, Mayamot, Antipolo City is not anyhow a faithful or member of the Canonical Clergy (Priests or Deacons) of the Philippine Antiochian Greek Orthodox Catholic and Apostolic Church under the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of Oceania (Australia, New Zealand, Philippines, Marianas Islands and Dependencies) and the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch and of All the East under HIS BEATITUDE PATRIARCH JOHN YAZIGI X.

He has NO CANONICAL ORDINATION whatsoever from HIS EMINENCE MOST REV. METROPOLITAN ARCHBISHOP PAUL SALIBA, Primate of Australia, New Zealand, Philippines, Marianas Islands and Dependencies, nor is he under the OMOPHORION (jurisdiction) of His Eminence and our above mentioned Archdiocese and Patriarchate.

Due to his continued use of his FALSE CLAIMS, our Church, Patriarchate, Archdiocese and Vicariate we are constrained to file criminal and civil cases against this IMPOSTOR, ELJUNE O. LIMBO.

Sto. Tomas, Calauan, Laguna, Feast of Sts. Claudius & Diodorus, April 5, 2016.

+VERY REV. ARCHPRIEST YITZHAK
PASCUALITO D. MONSANTO, BS PSYCH, LLB., REG. PSYCH.
Auxiliary & Vicar-General
Philippine Antiochian Orthodox Church
Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of Oceania
(Australia, New Zealand, Philippines, Marianas islands & Dependencies)
St. Raphael the Archangel Philippine Antiochian Orthodox Church
P1, Site 3, Blk 53 Southville-7 Subd., Sto. Tomas, Calauan, Laguna

05/04/2016

Let everyone know that this person, ELJUNE O. LUMBO of c/o Ernesto B. Tres, Near “San Isidro Labrador Chapel”, SKB Pagrai, Mayamot, Antipolo City is not anyhow a faithful or member of the Canonical Clergy (Priests or Deacons) of the Philippine Antiochian Greek Orthodox Catholic and Apostolic Church under the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of Oceania (Australia, New Zealand, Philippines, Marianas Islands and Dependencies) and the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch and of All the East under HIS BEATITUDE PATRIARCH JOHN YAZIGI X.

He has NO CANONICAL ORDINATION whatsoever from HIS EMINENCE MOST REV. METROPOLITAN ARCHBISHOP PAUL SALIBA, Primate of Australia, New Zealand, Philippines, Marianas Islands and Dependencies, nor is he under the OMOPHORION (jurisdiction) of His Eminence and our above mentioned Archdiocese and Patriarchate.

Due to his continued use of his FALSE CLAIMS, our Church, Patriarchate, Archdiocese and Vicariate we are constrained to file criminal and civil cases against this IMPOSTOR, ELJUNE O. LIMBO.

Sto. Tomas, Calauan, Laguna, Feast of Sts. Claudius & Diodorus, April 5, 2016.

+VERY REV. ARCHPRIEST YITZHAK
PASCUALITO D. MONSANTO, BS PSYCH, LLB., REG. PSYCH.
Auxiliary & Vicar-General
Philippine Antiochian Orthodox Church
Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of Oceania
(Australia, New Zealand, Philippines, Marianas islands & Dependencies)
St. Raphael the Archangel Philippine Antiochian Orthodox Church
P1, Site 3, Blk 53 Southville-7 Subd., Sto. Tomas, Calauan, Laguna

05/04/2016

Please report to us the person in this announcement.
He does not belong to our Archdiocese and Church.

Thank you.

+VERY REV. ARCHPRIEST YITZHAK
PASCUALITO D. MONSANTO, BS PSYCH, LLB., REG. PSYCH.
Auxiliary & Vicar-General
Philippine Antiochian Orthodox Church
Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of Oceania
(Australia, New Zealand, Philippines, Marianas islands & Dependencies)
St. Raphael the Archangel Philippine Antiochian Orthodox Church
P1, Site 3, Blk 53 Southville-7 Subd., Sto. Tomas, Calauan, Laguna.

31/03/2016

31/03/2016

31/03/2016

One of the most symbolic of the Festal Icons of the Orthodox Church is that of the Holy Resurrection. In the center of this radiant event is Christ pulling Adam and Eve up from their tombs. The gates of the Realm of Death are broken and thrown down. Death, personified in human form is defeated, and bound hand and foot at the bottom of the scene. We recall the joyous words of St. Paul: "O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?" (1 Corinthians 15:55)