Diocesan Shrine and Parish of Our Lady of Lourdes

15/02/2026

DIOCESAN SHRINE AND PARISH OF OUR LADY OF LOURDES

February 15, 2026 SUNDAY NEWSLETTER

"ANG TUBURAN"

Kindly visit the website page of DSPOLL for more details. (www.lourdesparishshrine.com)

07/02/2026

Homily for the 5th Sunday in Ordinary Time – Year A
Gospel: Matthew 5:13–16

My dear brothers and sisters,

In today’s Gospel, Jesus tells His disciples: “You are the salt of the earth… You are the light of the world.”
These words are not only a compliment; they are a mission. Jesus reminds us that our faith is never meant to be hidden or kept only for ourselves. It must be seen, felt, and experienced by others through the way we live.

First, salt gives flavor and preserves what is good.
In the same way, a true Christian brings goodness into the world—through honesty, kindness, patience, and compassion. In a society where corruption, anger, and indifference can spread easily, we are called to preserve what is right and to make life better for others.

Second, light removes darkness and shows the way.
Many people today live in darkness—confusion, fear, loneliness, and suffering. Jesus calls us to be light not by great achievements, but by simple acts of love: helping someone in need, forgiving an enemy, comforting the sorrowful, and standing for truth. Small lights can shine very brightly in dark places.

But notice something important:
The light we share is not our own. It is the light of Christ within us.
When we stay close to Him in prayer, the sacraments, and the Eucharist, His light naturally shines through our words and actions. Without Him, our light fades. With Him, even ordinary lives become radiant.

Jesus ends with a beautiful purpose:
“That they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.”
The goal is not to draw attention to ourselves, but to lead others to God.

As we continue this Eucharist, let us ask the Lord for the grace:
• to be salt that brings goodness to the world,
• to be light that gives hope to those in darkness,
• and to live in such a way that others may see Christ in us.

May our simple daily acts of love become a bright light that leads many hearts back to God.

Amen.

02/02/2026

Please be guided.

𝟑𝟏𝐬𝐭 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐡 𝐀𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐅𝐢𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐚 𝐂𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧🩵
Tema: “Birhen sa Lourdes: Kahayag sa Paglaum sa Nasud nga Nasamdan sa Kalisod ug Korapsyon."

Join us in celebrating the 31st Parish Anniversary and Fiesta Celebration of the Diocesan Shrine and Parish of Our Lady of Lourdes! This special occasion is a time for us to reflect on the blessings we've received, to strengthen our bonds of community, and to renew our commitment to faith, service, and love.✨

𝗦𝗖𝗛𝗘𝗗𝗨𝗟𝗘 𝗢𝗙 𝗔𝗖𝗧𝗜𝗩𝗜𝗧𝗜𝗘𝗦 𝗙𝗲𝗯𝗿𝘂𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝟮-𝟭𝟭, 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲

𝗗𝗮𝘆 𝟭 (𝗙𝗲𝗯𝗿𝘂𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝟮, 𝗠𝗼𝗻𝗱𝗮𝘆)
5:15 PM Rosary and Novena
6:00 PM Holy Mass
7:30 PM Parish Night

𝗗𝗮𝘆 𝟮 (𝗙𝗲𝗯𝗿𝘂𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝟯, 𝗧𝘂𝗲𝘀𝗱𝗮𝘆)
5:15 PM Rosary and Novena
6:00 PM Holy Mass

𝗗𝗮𝘆 𝟯 (𝗙𝗲𝗯𝗿𝘂𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝟰, 𝗪𝗲𝗱𝗻𝗲𝘀𝗱𝗮𝘆)
5:15 PM Rosary and Novena
6:00 PM Holy Mass

𝗗𝗮𝘆 𝟰 (𝗙𝗲𝗯𝗿𝘂𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝟱, 𝗧𝗵𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗱𝗮𝘆)
5:15 PM Rosary and Novena
6:00 PM Holy Mass

𝗗𝗮𝘆 𝟱 (𝗙𝗲𝗯𝗿𝘂𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝟲, 𝗙𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗮𝘆)
5:15 PM Rosary and Novena
6:00 PM Holy Mass

𝗗𝗮𝘆 𝟲 (𝗙𝗲𝗯𝗿𝘂𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝟳, 𝗦𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗱𝗮𝘆)
4:30 AM Aurora
4:15 PM Rosary and Novena
5:00 PM Holy Mass

𝗗𝗮𝘆 𝟳 (𝗙𝗲𝗯𝗿𝘂𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝟴, 𝗦𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗮𝘆)
5:30 PM Rosary and Novena
6:00 PM Holy Mass

𝗗𝗮𝘆 𝟴 (𝗙𝗲𝗯𝗿𝘂𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝟵, 𝗠𝗼𝗻𝗱𝗮𝘆)
5:15 PM Rosary and Novena
6:00 PM Holy Mass

𝗗𝗮𝘆 𝟵 (𝗙𝗲𝗯𝗿𝘂𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝟭𝟬, 𝗧𝘂𝗲𝘀𝗱𝗮𝘆)
4:15 PM Rosary and Novena
5:00 PM Holy Mass
(Procession follows after the Mass)

𝗙𝗲𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝗗𝗮𝘆 (𝗙𝗲𝗯𝗿𝘂𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝟭𝟭, 𝗪𝗲𝗱𝗻𝗲𝘀𝗱𝗮𝘆)
6:00 AM Holy Mass
8:00 AM Holy Mass
10:00 AM Concelebrated Mass
Mass Celebrant: Rev. Fr. Ruel F. Lero, SVD
3:00 PM Holy Mass
4:30 PM Holy Mass
6:00 PM Holy Mass
8:00 PM Piyesta sa Nayon

As we celebrate, let us draw closer to Our Lady of Lourdes, seeking her intercession and guidance. May her example of faith, humility, and love inspire us to live more fully as disciples of Christ. We hope to see you there!🩵

01/02/2026

Homily – 4th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year A)

Matthew 5:1–12a

Brothers and sisters,
In today’s Gospel, Jesus goes up the mountain and teaches the people the Beatitudes. He does not speak to the rich or powerful alone—He speaks to ordinary people: fishermen, mothers, the sick, the poor. People very much like us.

The world today tells us: Blessed are those who have money, influence, and a strong position in life. But Jesus turns this upside down. He says, Blessed are the poor in spirit. This means those who know they need God. Many Filipino families may not have much, but they have strong faith. They pray, they trust, and they surrender their lives to God. Jesus says, You are blessed.

Blessed are those who mourn. Many of us carry silent pain—broken families, sickness, financial struggles, unanswered prayers. Jesus assures us today: God sees your tears. You are not forgotten. In every suffering, God is close, ready to comfort and heal.

Blessed are the merciful. In our homes and communities, it is easy to get hurt and hold grudges. But mercy brings healing. When we forgive, when we choose understanding instead of anger, we allow God’s love to flow through us.

Blessed are the peacemakers. Our society is full of conflict, division, and harsh words—especially on social media. Jesus calls us to be peacemakers: to speak kindly, to respect one another, to build unity instead of division.

Brothers and sisters, the Beatitudes are not impossible teachings. They are a way of life. Jesus is showing us the path to true happiness—not in having more, but in loving more and trusting God more.

May we ask the grace to live the Beatitudes each day, so that through our lives, others may encounter the mercy, peace, and love of Christ. Amen.

28/01/2026

WEDNESDAY OF THE THIRD SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME, YEAR A

Mark 4:1-20
Homily: “Good Soil: Faith that Seeks Understanding”

In today’s Gospel, Jesus gives us the Parable of the Sower. The seed is the same the Word of God but the soil is different. Some seed falls on the path, some on rocky ground, some among thorns, and some on good soil. The difference is not the seed; the difference is the heart that receives it.

On this Feast of St. Thomas Aquinas, this Gospel takes on a deeper meaning. St. Thomas reminds us that faith is not blind acceptance, but a faith that listens, understands, and bears fruit.

Jesus explains that the seed on the path represents those who hear the Word but do not allow it to sink in. The evil one quickly takes it away. How often does this happen to us? We hear God’s Word, but distractions, busyness, or indifference prevent it from taking root.

The rocky ground represents shallow faith initial enthusiasm without depth. When difficulties come, faith quickly fades. St. Thomas Aquinas teaches us that faith needs roots, and those roots grow through prayer, study, reflection, and a sincere search for truth. That is why he famously said that faith and reason work together. To love God with our whole mind is also an act of worship.

The seed among thorns speaks of hearts divided choked by worries, riches, and worldly desires. Even good intentions can be suffocated when God is no longer first. St. Thomas lived simply, choosing truth over honors, humility over recognition, showing us that holiness requires clarity of priorities.

Finally, the good soil represents those who hear the Word, accept it, understand it, and live it. This is the heart St. Thomas Aquinas exemplified. Despite his brilliance, he knelt before the Eucharist, recognizing that true wisdom comes from God. His learning bore fruit because it was rooted in humility and prayer.

Dear brothers and sisters, today Jesus asks us: What kind of soil is your heart? And St. Thomas Aquinas challenges us further: Do you seek to understand your faith so that it may grow and bear fruit?

May we ask the Lord for hearts that are open, deep, and fertile hearts that welcome His Word,
minds that seek truth,
and lives that bear fruit thirty, sixty, and a hundredfold.

AMEN.

21/01/2026

Homily for Wednesday of the 2nd Week in Ordinary Time (Year A)
Gospel: Mark 3:1–6
Feast of Saint Agnes, Virgin and Martyr

Dear brothers and sisters,

Today’s Gospel presents Jesus in the synagogue, facing a man with a withered hand while being closely watched by the Pharisees. Their concern is not compassion but compliance whether Jesus will break the Sabbath. Jesus responds with a question that cuts to the heart of faith: “Is it lawful to do good on the sabbath rather than to do evil, to save life rather than to destroy it?” Their silence reveals a hardness that prefers rules over mercy.

On this day, the Church also celebrates Saint Agnes, a young virgin and martyr whose life powerfully echoes the Gospel. Though only a teenager, Agnes chose fidelity to Christ over fear, purity over compromise, and truth over convenience. In a society that pressured her to conform, she courageously did what was right—even unto death. Her martyrdom proclaims that love for God is never passive; it is a brave, living witness.

Jesus heals on the Sabbath to show that God’s law is always ordered toward life and love. Saint Agnes lived this same truth. She did not merely avoid evil; she actively chose the good, even when it cost her everything. While the Pharisees remained silent before suffering, Agnes spoke with her life, declaring that nothing ,not power, not threat, not death could separate her from Christ.

This challenges us today. Are there moments when fear, convenience, or rigid thinking keep us from doing good? Do we remain silent when love demands action? The Gospel and the witness of Saint Agnes remind us that holiness is not found in rigid observance alone, but in courageous love and faithful witness.

As we honor Saint Agnes, may we ask for her intercession that like her, we may have hearts strong enough to choose Christ always, hands ready to heal and serve, and faith bold enough to do good, even when it is difficult.

Amen.

12/01/2026

MONDAY OF THE 1st WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME (YEAR A)

Homily
In the first reading from First Book of Samuel 1:1–8, we meet Hannah, a woman deeply wounded by barrenness and misunderstood even by those closest to her. Her pain is real, yet she remains faithful. Hannah teaches us that God listens not only to spoken prayers but also to silent tears. What seems like absence or failure can become the very place where God is at work.

In the Gospel, Gospel of Mark 1:14–20, Jesus proclaims: “The time is fulfilled. The kingdom of God is at hand.” He then calls ordinary fishermen, who immediately leave their nets to follow Him. Unlike Hannah, they do not yet know where this call will lead but they trust the One who calls.

Both readings speak of trust and response. Hannah trusts God in her suffering; the disciples trust Jesus in His call. God meets us where we are whether in pain or in routine and invites us to deeper faith.

Today, the Lord still says, “Come after me.” Like Hannah, bring Him your wounds. Like the disciples, have the courage to let go. In trusting Him, we discover that God’s time is always the right time, and His call always leads to life.

AMEN.

02/01/2026

Homily for Friday of the Christmas Season
(Memorial of St. Basil the Great and St. Gregory Nazianzen
Gospel: John 1:19–28)

Brothers and sisters, today the Church gives us a beautiful harmony of witnesses: John the Baptist in the Gospel, and in our memorial, St. Basil the Great and St. Gregory Nazianzen giants of faith whose lives echoed the same message: Christ alone is the center.

In the Gospel, John the Baptist is questioned: “Who are you?” His answer is clear and humble: “I am not the Christ.” John knows his place. He is a voice, not the Word. He prepares the way, not replaces the Lord. This humility is the heart of true discipleship.

The same spirit shines in Saints Basil and Gregory. Brilliant minds, eloquent teachers, and courageous defenders of the faith, they could have sought honor for themselves. Instead, like John, they used their gifts to point to Christ, especially by defending the truth that Jesus is truly God. Their theology was not for self-glory, but for the salvation of God’s people and the unity of the Church.

John tells us, “Among you stands one whom you do not know.” Basil and Gregory spent their lives helping the Church recognize who Jesus truly is not a distant figure, but the living Son of God present among His people. During the Christmas Season, this reminder is timely: Christ is not only in the crib of Bethlehem; He is among us now in the Eucharist, in the poor, in our families, and in our daily struggles.

John’s words, “I am not worthy to untie the strap of his sandal,” teach us reverence. Basil and Gregory teach us the same reverence expressed through holy living—care for the poor, faithfulness to truth, and service to the Church even at personal cost. Their lives tell us that holiness is not only about knowledge of God, but love for God and neighbor.

As we continue the Christmas Season, today’s message is clear:
• Like John the Baptist, be humble witnesses who prepare the way for Christ.
• Like St. Basil and St. Gregory, use your gifts;education, work, influence—not for yourself, but to glorify God and serve others.
• And like all true disciples, recognize that Jesus already stands among us.

May this celebration help us decrease so that Christ may increase, and may our lives—simple or learned—become a clear voice that leads others to the Lord who has come and who remains with us.

Amen.

29/12/2025

The Jubilee of Hope culminates tomorrow!
Please be guided of the activities.

𝐂𝐔𝐋𝐌𝐈𝐍𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍 𝐀𝐂𝐓𝐈𝐕𝐈𝐓𝐈𝐄𝐒
𝐉𝐔𝐁𝐈𝐋𝐄𝐄 𝐘𝐄𝐀𝐑 𝐎𝐅 𝐇𝐎𝐏𝐄 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓

December 30, 2025 | Tuesday
Cathedral Shrine of St. Joseph the Worker
Tagbilaran City, Bohol

𝐏𝐑𝐎𝐆𝐑𝐀𝐌𝐌𝐄
2:00 PM - Arrival
3:00 PM - Guided Eucharistic Adoration
4:15 PM - Eucharistic Celebration
(Diocesan Closing of the Jubilee Year)

Each parish is requested to send 10 delegates, preferably the PPC/PFC Officers and Parish Ministry Heads. They are asked to wear something white. The clergy is highly encouraged to participate in the Eucharistic Adoration for Transparency, Good Governance, and World Peace.

𝙋𝙄𝙇𝙂𝙍𝙄𝙈𝙎 𝙊𝙁 𝙃𝙊𝙋𝙀

21/12/2025

Please be guided.

📣Important announcement!

Our Simbang Gabi schedule is slightly adjusted this day. We'll be starting at 9PM instead of 8PM to accommodate the 7:30PM Sunday Mass.✨

Thank you for your understanding and cooperation!🙌

16/12/2025

Homily for the Second Day of the Misa de Gallo
Gospel: Matthew 1:1–17

Brothers and sisters, good morning—and welcome to the second dawn of our Misa de Gallo journey.

Today’s Gospel may sound like a long list of unfamiliar names. At first glance, the genealogy of Jesus seems dry and repetitive. But if we listen with faith, it tells a powerful story: God enters human history exactly as it is—messy, broken, and yet beloved.

Matthew traces Jesus’ family line through kings and shepherds, saints and sinners, heroes and failures. We hear names like Abraham, the man of faith; David, the great king who also sinned; and even women with painful or complicated stories—Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, and Bathsheba. This is not a perfect family tree. It is a real one.

And that is the good news.

God did not wait for a flawless history to send His Son. He worked through generations of weakness, exile, mistakes, and hope. This tells us something important during Advent: God is also at work in our own imperfect stories.

As we wake up early for these nine dawn Masses, some of us carry tired bodies, family problems, financial worries, regrets, or wounds from the past. Today’s Gospel assures us: your story matters to God. Your past does not disqualify you from His plan. In fact, God can use it.

Matthew ends the genealogy with these words: “Joseph, the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus who is called the Christ.” Salvation enters the world quietly—through obedience, humility, and trust.

This Advent, let us do the same. Offer God your family story, your struggles, your unfinished chapters. Like the generations before us, let us make room for Christ to be born again—not in perfection, but in faith.

As we continue our Misa de Gallo, may we believe this truth:
God is faithful to His promises, and He is writing salvation even through our lives.

Amen.

15/12/2025

We are thrilled to announce that the Simbang Gabi will begin tonight at 08:00 PM, and the Misa De Gallo will start tomorrow at dawn, 04:30 AM.

These sacred celebrations mark the start of our spiritual preparation for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The Simbang Gabi, celebrated in the evenings, is a beautiful tradition that reminds us of the joy of waiting and the value of sacrifice. Meanwhile, the Misa de Gallo, celebrated in the early mornings, calls us to rise with faith and devotion, preparing our hearts to welcome the Savior at Christmas.

We invite all parishioners, families, and friends to join us in these holy Masses, to experience the grace and blessings of this Advent season. Let us come together in prayer, reflection, and thanksgiving, and allow the light of Christ to shine in our lives during this most joyous time of the year.

Kindly refer to our Special Christmas Edition Newsletter for the complete schedule, presiding priests, and sponsors. Let us participate wholeheartedly in these celebrations, preparing our hearts for the birth of Christ.

We look forward to seeing you tonight and tomorrow as we begin this sacred journey toward Christmas.