Rev. Fr. Paul Reagan Talavera, our parish priest, my dear brother priests and deacons; lay leaders of the parish; dear parishioners; dearly beloved in Christ:

We praise and thank the Lord for gathering us together to celebrate the 81st anniversary of Santisimo Rosario as a parish.  An occasion like this is an invitation to gratitude.   The apostles never forgot the moment when they first met Jesus, when Jesus touched their hearts: ‘It was about four o’clock in the afternoon’ (Jn 1:39).  Today, we remember with gratitude that day when this community became a parish.  From then on, God’s people will be reborn in the waters of baptism, nourished with the living bread and the word of life, and renewed through the sacraments.

We celebrate the Eucharist as we remember with gratitude.  We thank the Lord for his providence and mercy that sustained Santisimo Rosario Parish through the years.  We thank all the priests, lay leaders, and all other collaborators of the parish.  We give thanks to the Lord for he is good, for his love endures forever.

My dear candidates for Confirmation, I know you have been praying for this important day.  You have studied your faith and have gone through the necessary preparation for the worthy reception of this most important Sacrament in the life of every Christian.

I wish to share with you three things about the Sacrament which you are about to receive and how it will transform you into a faithful disciple of Our Lord Jesus Christ.

The first thing you must remember about the Sacrament of Confirmation is that, like all the sacraments, it is a gift given by God; and like all of God’s gift, it is designed to help us grow in holiness.   This sacrament brings us into closer relation with him through the imparting of grace.  Confirmation seals us with the Holy Spirit, who gives us his seven gifts: wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety, and fear of the Lord.   You all know how it feels when we receive gifts.  We feel overjoyed, especially when we know that the gift, we are receiving, is priceless.  My dear young friends, this gift you are about to receive is indeed more precious than an expensive sneaker, beautiful clothes, or the latest gadget.  What you are receiving now is way more valuable because it is a gift that equips you to go out into the world as faithful witnesses and disciples of Christ. So be grateful. Thank the Lord for his priceless gift to you.

The second thing you must know is that the Sacrament of Confirmation will help you become a faithful friend of the Lord.  What does it mean to be a friend of the Lord?  To be a friend of God means to be a saint.  I hope that among those of you who will receive the Sacrament of Confirmation today there are some of the future saints. What God wants most of all for each one of you is that you should become holy. He loves you much more than you could ever begin to imagine, and he wants the very best for you. And by far the best thing for you is to grow in holiness. Perhaps some of you have never thought about this before. Perhaps some of you think being a saint is not for you.  But I tell you, if you make good use of the gifts the Holy Spirit has given you, holiness is not impossible.  With the help of the Holy Spirit, you will be more loving toward your parents, more caring towards your peers, more diligent in your duties as students and more helpful to those who are in need. Do not be afraid to be holy.  You can become saints!

This leads me to the third point about the Sacrament of Confirmation.  As you grow in friendship with God, everything in your life begins to change.  You all know what it is like when you meet someone interesting and attractive, and you want to be that person’s friend.  As you come to know God better, you find you want to reflect something of his infinite goodness in your life.   You want to imitate him.  My dear young friends, as you receive the Sacrament of Confirmation, I pray that you will begin to think about how to best imitate God.  I am inviting to seriously think about to what vocation God is calling you.  Many of you may choose the life of marriagein the future.  That is beautiful!  Be holy husbands and wives, fathers and mothers. I hope that all of you will begin considering joining the ministries and organizations in the parish.  You received the Sacrament of Confirmation in order to continue the mission of Jesus.  Some of you, and this I really pray, may choose to become priests or consecrated persons in the future. That is even more beautiful! Please do not ignore the voice of the Lord that calls you: “Follow me”!

Dear friends, remember these three things about the Sacrament of Confirmation which you are about to receive.  It is a gift from God.  It will lead you to holiness.  It will help you discover your vocation. It will transform you into faithful disciples of Our Lord Jesus Christ.

Finally, I entrust you to the maternal embrace of the Blessed Virgin Mary.  I promise to pray for you, and I ask you to pray for me. May God bless you all! (Photo by Maricar Santos | Photogallery)

Rev. Fr. Paul Reagan Talavera, our parish priest, my dear brother priests and deacons; lay leaders of the parish; dear parishioners; dearly beloved in Christ:

We praise and thank the Lord for gathering us together to celebrate the 81st anniversary of Santisimo Rosario as a parish.  An occasion like this is an invitation to gratitude.   The apostles never forgot the moment when they first met Jesus, when Jesus touched their hearts: ‘It was about four o’clock in the afternoon’ (Jn 1:39).  Today, we remember with gratitude that day when this community became a parish.  From then on, God’s people will be reborn in the waters of baptism, nourished with the living bread and the word of life, and renewed through the sacraments.

We celebrate the Eucharist as we remember with gratitude.  We thank the Lord for his providence and mercy that sustained Santisimo Rosario Parish through the years.  We thank all the priests, lay leaders, and all other collaborators of the parish.  We give thanks to the Lord for he is good, for his love endures forever.

My dear candidates for Confirmation, I know you have been praying for this important day.  You have studied your faith and have gone through the necessary preparation for the worthy reception of this most important Sacrament in the life of every Christian.

I wish to share with you three things about the Sacrament which you are about to receive and how it will transform you into a faithful disciple of Our Lord Jesus Christ.

The first thing you must remember about the Sacrament of Confirmation is that, like all the sacraments, it is a gift given by God; and like all of God’s gift, it is designed to help us grow in holiness.   This sacrament brings us into closer relation with him through the imparting of grace.  Confirmation seals us with the Holy Spirit, who gives us his seven gifts: wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety, and fear of the Lord.   You all know how it feels when we receive gifts.  We feel overjoyed, especially when we know that the gift, we are receiving, is priceless.  My dear young friends, this gift you are about to receive is indeed more precious than an expensive sneaker, beautiful clothes, or the latest gadget.  What you are receiving now is way more valuable because it is a gift that equips you to go out into the world as faithful witnesses and disciples of Christ. So be grateful. Thank the Lord for his priceless gift to you.

The second thing you must know is that the Sacrament of Confirmation will help you become a faithful friend of the Lord.  What does it mean to be a friend of the Lord?  To be a friend of God means to be a saint.  I hope that among those of you who will receive the Sacrament of Confirmation today there are some of the future saints. What God wants most of all for each one of you is that you should become holy. He loves you much more than you could ever begin to imagine, and he wants the very best for you. And by far the best thing for you is to grow in holiness. Perhaps some of you have never thought about this before. Perhaps some of you think being a saint is not for you.  But I tell you, if you make good use of the gifts the Holy Spirit has given you, holiness is not impossible.  With the help of the Holy Spirit, you will be more loving toward your parents, more caring towards your peers, more diligent in your duties as students and more helpful to those who are in need. Do not be afraid to be holy.  You can become saints!

This leads me to the third point about the Sacrament of Confirmation.  As you grow in friendship with God, everything in your life begins to change.  You all know what it is like when you meet someone interesting and attractive, and you want to be that person’s friend.  As you come to know God better, you find you want to reflect something of his infinite goodness in your life.   You want to imitate him.  My dear young friends, as you receive the Sacrament of Confirmation, I pray that you will begin to think about how to best imitate God.  I am inviting to seriously think about to what vocation God is calling you.  Many of you may choose the life of marriagein the future.  That is beautiful!  Be holy husbands and wives, fathers and mothers. I hope that all of you will begin considering joining the ministries and organizations in the parish.  You received the Sacrament of Confirmation in order to continue the mission of Jesus.  Some of you, and this I really pray, may choose to become priests or consecrated persons in the future. That is even more beautiful! Please do not ignore the voice of the Lord that calls you: “Follow me”!

Dear friends, remember these three things about the Sacrament of Confirmation which you are about to receive.  It is a gift from God.  It will lead you to holiness.  It will help you discover your vocation. It will transform you into faithful disciples of Our Lord Jesus Christ.

Finally, I entrust you to the maternal embrace of the Blessed Virgin Mary.  I promise to pray for you, and I ask you to pray for me. May God bless you all! (Photo by Maricar Santos | Photogallery)

Rev. Fr. Paul Reagan Talavera, our parish priest, my dear brother priests and deacons; lay leaders of the parish; dear parishioners; dearly beloved in Christ:

We praise and thank the Lord for gathering us together to celebrate the 81st anniversary of Santisimo Rosario as a parish.  An occasion like this is an invitation to gratitude.   The apostles never forgot the moment when they first met Jesus, when Jesus touched their hearts: ‘It was about four o’clock in the afternoon’ (Jn 1:39).  Today, we remember with gratitude that day when this community became a parish.  From then on, God’s people will be reborn in the waters of baptism, nourished with the living bread and the word of life, and renewed through the sacraments.

We celebrate the Eucharist as we remember with gratitude.  We thank the Lord for his providence and mercy that sustained Santisimo Rosario Parish through the years.  We thank all the priests, lay leaders, and all other collaborators of the parish.  We give thanks to the Lord for he is good, for his love endures forever.

My dear candidates for Confirmation, I know you have been praying for this important day.  You have studied your faith and have gone through the necessary preparation for the worthy reception of this most important Sacrament in the life of every Christian.

I wish to share with you three things about the Sacrament which you are about to receive and how it will transform you into a faithful disciple of Our Lord Jesus Christ.

The first thing you must remember about the Sacrament of Confirmation is that, like all the sacraments, it is a gift given by God; and like all of God’s gift, it is designed to help us grow in holiness.   This sacrament brings us into closer relation with him through the imparting of grace.  Confirmation seals us with the Holy Spirit, who gives us his seven gifts: wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety, and fear of the Lord.   You all know how it feels when we receive gifts.  We feel overjoyed, especially when we know that the gift, we are receiving, is priceless.  My dear young friends, this gift you are about to receive is indeed more precious than an expensive sneaker, beautiful clothes, or the latest gadget.  What you are receiving now is way more valuable because it is a gift that equips you to go out into the world as faithful witnesses and disciples of Christ. So be grateful. Thank the Lord for his priceless gift to you.

The second thing you must know is that the Sacrament of Confirmation will help you become a faithful friend of the Lord.  What does it mean to be a friend of the Lord?  To be a friend of God means to be a saint.  I hope that among those of you who will receive the Sacrament of Confirmation today there are some of the future saints. What God wants most of all for each one of you is that you should become holy. He loves you much more than you could ever begin to imagine, and he wants the very best for you. And by far the best thing for you is to grow in holiness. Perhaps some of you have never thought about this before. Perhaps some of you think being a saint is not for you.  But I tell you, if you make good use of the gifts the Holy Spirit has given you, holiness is not impossible.  With the help of the Holy Spirit, you will be more loving toward your parents, more caring towards your peers, more diligent in your duties as students and more helpful to those who are in need. Do not be afraid to be holy.  You can become saints!

This leads me to the third point about the Sacrament of Confirmation.  As you grow in friendship with God, everything in your life begins to change.  You all know what it is like when you meet someone interesting and attractive, and you want to be that person’s friend.  As you come to know God better, you find you want to reflect something of his infinite goodness in your life.   You want to imitate him.  My dear young friends, as you receive the Sacrament of Confirmation, I pray that you will begin to think about how to best imitate God.  I am inviting to seriously think about to what vocation God is calling you.  Many of you may choose the life of marriagein the future.  That is beautiful!  Be holy husbands and wives, fathers and mothers. I hope that all of you will begin considering joining the ministries and organizations in the parish.  You received the Sacrament of Confirmation in order to continue the mission of Jesus.  Some of you, and this I really pray, may choose to become priests or consecrated persons in the future. That is even more beautiful! Please do not ignore the voice of the Lord that calls you: “Follow me”!

Dear friends, remember these three things about the Sacrament of Confirmation which you are about to receive.  It is a gift from God.  It will lead you to holiness.  It will help you discover your vocation. It will transform you into faithful disciples of Our Lord Jesus Christ.

Finally, I entrust you to the maternal embrace of the Blessed Virgin Mary.  I promise to pray for you, and I ask you to pray for me. May God bless you all! (Photo by Maricar Santos | Photogallery)

Rev. Fr. Paul Reagan Talavera, our parish priest, my dear brother priests and deacons; lay leaders of the parish; dear parishioners; dearly beloved in Christ:

We praise and thank the Lord for gathering us together to celebrate the 81st anniversary of Santisimo Rosario as a parish.  An occasion like this is an invitation to gratitude.   The apostles never forgot the moment when they first met Jesus, when Jesus touched their hearts: ‘It was about four o’clock in the afternoon’ (Jn 1:39).  Today, we remember with gratitude that day when this community became a parish.  From then on, God’s people will be reborn in the waters of baptism, nourished with the living bread and the word of life, and renewed through the sacraments.

We celebrate the Eucharist as we remember with gratitude.  We thank the Lord for his providence and mercy that sustained Santisimo Rosario Parish through the years.  We thank all the priests, lay leaders, and all other collaborators of the parish.  We give thanks to the Lord for he is good, for his love endures forever.

My dear candidates for Confirmation, I know you have been praying for this important day.  You have studied your faith and have gone through the necessary preparation for the worthy reception of this most important Sacrament in the life of every Christian.

I wish to share with you three things about the Sacrament which you are about to receive and how it will transform you into a faithful disciple of Our Lord Jesus Christ.

The first thing you must remember about the Sacrament of Confirmation is that, like all the sacraments, it is a gift given by God; and like all of God’s gift, it is designed to help us grow in holiness.   This sacrament brings us into closer relation with him through the imparting of grace.  Confirmation seals us with the Holy Spirit, who gives us his seven gifts: wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety, and fear of the Lord.   You all know how it feels when we receive gifts.  We feel overjoyed, especially when we know that the gift, we are receiving, is priceless.  My dear young friends, this gift you are about to receive is indeed more precious than an expensive sneaker, beautiful clothes, or the latest gadget.  What you are receiving now is way more valuable because it is a gift that equips you to go out into the world as faithful witnesses and disciples of Christ. So be grateful. Thank the Lord for his priceless gift to you.

The second thing you must know is that the Sacrament of Confirmation will help you become a faithful friend of the Lord.  What does it mean to be a friend of the Lord?  To be a friend of God means to be a saint.  I hope that among those of you who will receive the Sacrament of Confirmation today there are some of the future saints. What God wants most of all for each one of you is that you should become holy. He loves you much more than you could ever begin to imagine, and he wants the very best for you. And by far the best thing for you is to grow in holiness. Perhaps some of you have never thought about this before. Perhaps some of you think being a saint is not for you.  But I tell you, if you make good use of the gifts the Holy Spirit has given you, holiness is not impossible.  With the help of the Holy Spirit, you will be more loving toward your parents, more caring towards your peers, more diligent in your duties as students and more helpful to those who are in need. Do not be afraid to be holy.  You can become saints!

This leads me to the third point about the Sacrament of Confirmation.  As you grow in friendship with God, everything in your life begins to change.  You all know what it is like when you meet someone interesting and attractive, and you want to be that person’s friend.  As you come to know God better, you find you want to reflect something of his infinite goodness in your life.   You want to imitate him.  My dear young friends, as you receive the Sacrament of Confirmation, I pray that you will begin to think about how to best imitate God.  I am inviting to seriously think about to what vocation God is calling you.  Many of you may choose the life of marriagein the future.  That is beautiful!  Be holy husbands and wives, fathers and mothers. I hope that all of you will begin considering joining the ministries and organizations in the parish.  You received the Sacrament of Confirmation in order to continue the mission of Jesus.  Some of you, and this I really pray, may choose to become priests or consecrated persons in the future. That is even more beautiful! Please do not ignore the voice of the Lord that calls you: “Follow me”!

Dear friends, remember these three things about the Sacrament of Confirmation which you are about to receive.  It is a gift from God.  It will lead you to holiness.  It will help you discover your vocation. It will transform you into faithful disciples of Our Lord Jesus Christ.

Finally, I entrust you to the maternal embrace of the Blessed Virgin Mary.  I promise to pray for you, and I ask you to pray for me. May God bless you all! (Photo by Maricar Santos | Photogallery)

Rev. Fr. Paul Reagan Talavera, our parish priest, my dear brother priests and deacons; lay leaders of the parish; dear parishioners; dearly beloved in Christ:

We praise and thank the Lord for gathering us together to celebrate the 81st anniversary of Santisimo Rosario as a parish.  An occasion like this is an invitation to gratitude.   The apostles never forgot the moment when they first met Jesus, when Jesus touched their hearts: ‘It was about four o’clock in the afternoon’ (Jn 1:39).  Today, we remember with gratitude that day when this community became a parish.  From then on, God’s people will be reborn in the waters of baptism, nourished with the living bread and the word of life, and renewed through the sacraments.

We celebrate the Eucharist as we remember with gratitude.  We thank the Lord for his providence and mercy that sustained Santisimo Rosario Parish through the years.  We thank all the priests, lay leaders, and all other collaborators of the parish.  We give thanks to the Lord for he is good, for his love endures forever.

My dear candidates for Confirmation, I know you have been praying for this important day.  You have studied your faith and have gone through the necessary preparation for the worthy reception of this most important Sacrament in the life of every Christian.

I wish to share with you three things about the Sacrament which you are about to receive and how it will transform you into a faithful disciple of Our Lord Jesus Christ.

The first thing you must remember about the Sacrament of Confirmation is that, like all the sacraments, it is a gift given by God; and like all of God’s gift, it is designed to help us grow in holiness.   This sacrament brings us into closer relation with him through the imparting of grace.  Confirmation seals us with the Holy Spirit, who gives us his seven gifts: wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety, and fear of the Lord.   You all know how it feels when we receive gifts.  We feel overjoyed, especially when we know that the gift, we are receiving, is priceless.  My dear young friends, this gift you are about to receive is indeed more precious than an expensive sneaker, beautiful clothes, or the latest gadget.  What you are receiving now is way more valuable because it is a gift that equips you to go out into the world as faithful witnesses and disciples of Christ. So be grateful. Thank the Lord for his priceless gift to you.

The second thing you must know is that the Sacrament of Confirmation will help you become a faithful friend of the Lord.  What does it mean to be a friend of the Lord?  To be a friend of God means to be a saint.  I hope that among those of you who will receive the Sacrament of Confirmation today there are some of the future saints. What God wants most of all for each one of you is that you should become holy. He loves you much more than you could ever begin to imagine, and he wants the very best for you. And by far the best thing for you is to grow in holiness. Perhaps some of you have never thought about this before. Perhaps some of you think being a saint is not for you.  But I tell you, if you make good use of the gifts the Holy Spirit has given you, holiness is not impossible.  With the help of the Holy Spirit, you will be more loving toward your parents, more caring towards your peers, more diligent in your duties as students and more helpful to those who are in need. Do not be afraid to be holy.  You can become saints!

This leads me to the third point about the Sacrament of Confirmation.  As you grow in friendship with God, everything in your life begins to change.  You all know what it is like when you meet someone interesting and attractive, and you want to be that person’s friend.  As you come to know God better, you find you want to reflect something of his infinite goodness in your life.   You want to imitate him.  My dear young friends, as you receive the Sacrament of Confirmation, I pray that you will begin to think about how to best imitate God.  I am inviting to seriously think about to what vocation God is calling you.  Many of you may choose the life of marriagein the future.  That is beautiful!  Be holy husbands and wives, fathers and mothers. I hope that all of you will begin considering joining the ministries and organizations in the parish.  You received the Sacrament of Confirmation in order to continue the mission of Jesus.  Some of you, and this I really pray, may choose to become priests or consecrated persons in the future. That is even more beautiful! Please do not ignore the voice of the Lord that calls you: “Follow me”!

Dear friends, remember these three things about the Sacrament of Confirmation which you are about to receive.  It is a gift from God.  It will lead you to holiness.  It will help you discover your vocation. It will transform you into faithful disciples of Our Lord Jesus Christ.

Finally, I entrust you to the maternal embrace of the Blessed Virgin Mary.  I promise to pray for you, and I ask you to pray for me. May God bless you all! (Photo by Maricar Santos | Photogallery)

Rev. Fr. Paul Reagan Talavera, our parish priest, my dear brother priests and deacons; lay leaders of the parish; dear parishioners; dearly beloved in Christ:

We praise and thank the Lord for gathering us together to celebrate the 81st anniversary of Santisimo Rosario as a parish.  An occasion like this is an invitation to gratitude.   The apostles never forgot the moment when they first met Jesus, when Jesus touched their hearts: ‘It was about four o’clock in the afternoon’ (Jn 1:39).  Today, we remember with gratitude that day when this community became a parish.  From then on, God’s people will be reborn in the waters of baptism, nourished with the living bread and the word of life, and renewed through the sacraments.

We celebrate the Eucharist as we remember with gratitude.  We thank the Lord for his providence and mercy that sustained Santisimo Rosario Parish through the years.  We thank all the priests, lay leaders, and all other collaborators of the parish.  We give thanks to the Lord for he is good, for his love endures forever.

My dear candidates for Confirmation, I know you have been praying for this important day.  You have studied your faith and have gone through the necessary preparation for the worthy reception of this most important Sacrament in the life of every Christian.

I wish to share with you three things about the Sacrament which you are about to receive and how it will transform you into a faithful disciple of Our Lord Jesus Christ.

The first thing you must remember about the Sacrament of Confirmation is that, like all the sacraments, it is a gift given by God; and like all of God’s gift, it is designed to help us grow in holiness.   This sacrament brings us into closer relation with him through the imparting of grace.  Confirmation seals us with the Holy Spirit, who gives us his seven gifts: wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety, and fear of the Lord.   You all know how it feels when we receive gifts.  We feel overjoyed, especially when we know that the gift, we are receiving, is priceless.  My dear young friends, this gift you are about to receive is indeed more precious than an expensive sneaker, beautiful clothes, or the latest gadget.  What you are receiving now is way more valuable because it is a gift that equips you to go out into the world as faithful witnesses and disciples of Christ. So be grateful. Thank the Lord for his priceless gift to you.

The second thing you must know is that the Sacrament of Confirmation will help you become a faithful friend of the Lord.  What does it mean to be a friend of the Lord?  To be a friend of God means to be a saint.  I hope that among those of you who will receive the Sacrament of Confirmation today there are some of the future saints. What God wants most of all for each one of you is that you should become holy. He loves you much more than you could ever begin to imagine, and he wants the very best for you. And by far the best thing for you is to grow in holiness. Perhaps some of you have never thought about this before. Perhaps some of you think being a saint is not for you.  But I tell you, if you make good use of the gifts the Holy Spirit has given you, holiness is not impossible.  With the help of the Holy Spirit, you will be more loving toward your parents, more caring towards your peers, more diligent in your duties as students and more helpful to those who are in need. Do not be afraid to be holy.  You can become saints!

This leads me to the third point about the Sacrament of Confirmation.  As you grow in friendship with God, everything in your life begins to change.  You all know what it is like when you meet someone interesting and attractive, and you want to be that person’s friend.  As you come to know God better, you find you want to reflect something of his infinite goodness in your life.   You want to imitate him.  My dear young friends, as you receive the Sacrament of Confirmation, I pray that you will begin to think about how to best imitate God.  I am inviting to seriously think about to what vocation God is calling you.  Many of you may choose the life of marriagein the future.  That is beautiful!  Be holy husbands and wives, fathers and mothers. I hope that all of you will begin considering joining the ministries and organizations in the parish.  You received the Sacrament of Confirmation in order to continue the mission of Jesus.  Some of you, and this I really pray, may choose to become priests or consecrated persons in the future. That is even more beautiful! Please do not ignore the voice of the Lord that calls you: “Follow me”!

Dear friends, remember these three things about the Sacrament of Confirmation which you are about to receive.  It is a gift from God.  It will lead you to holiness.  It will help you discover your vocation. It will transform you into faithful disciples of Our Lord Jesus Christ.

Finally, I entrust you to the maternal embrace of the Blessed Virgin Mary.  I promise to pray for you, and I ask you to pray for me. May God bless you all! (Photo by Maricar Santos | Photogallery)

Rev. Fr. Paul Reagan Talavera, our parish priest, my dear brother priests and deacons; lay leaders of the parish; dear parishioners; dearly beloved in Christ:

We praise and thank the Lord for gathering us together to celebrate the 81st anniversary of Santisimo Rosario as a parish.  An occasion like this is an invitation to gratitude.   The apostles never forgot the moment when they first met Jesus, when Jesus touched their hearts: ‘It was about four o’clock in the afternoon’ (Jn 1:39).  Today, we remember with gratitude that day when this community became a parish.  From then on, God’s people will be reborn in the waters of baptism, nourished with the living bread and the word of life, and renewed through the sacraments.

We celebrate the Eucharist as we remember with gratitude.  We thank the Lord for his providence and mercy that sustained Santisimo Rosario Parish through the years.  We thank all the priests, lay leaders, and all other collaborators of the parish.  We give thanks to the Lord for he is good, for his love endures forever.

My dear candidates for Confirmation, I know you have been praying for this important day.  You have studied your faith and have gone through the necessary preparation for the worthy reception of this most important Sacrament in the life of every Christian.

I wish to share with you three things about the Sacrament which you are about to receive and how it will transform you into a faithful disciple of Our Lord Jesus Christ.

The first thing you must remember about the Sacrament of Confirmation is that, like all the sacraments, it is a gift given by God; and like all of God’s gift, it is designed to help us grow in holiness.   This sacrament brings us into closer relation with him through the imparting of grace.  Confirmation seals us with the Holy Spirit, who gives us his seven gifts: wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety, and fear of the Lord.   You all know how it feels when we receive gifts.  We feel overjoyed, especially when we know that the gift, we are receiving, is priceless.  My dear young friends, this gift you are about to receive is indeed more precious than an expensive sneaker, beautiful clothes, or the latest gadget.  What you are receiving now is way more valuable because it is a gift that equips you to go out into the world as faithful witnesses and disciples of Christ. So be grateful. Thank the Lord for his priceless gift to you.

The second thing you must know is that the Sacrament of Confirmation will help you become a faithful friend of the Lord.  What does it mean to be a friend of the Lord?  To be a friend of God means to be a saint.  I hope that among those of you who will receive the Sacrament of Confirmation today there are some of the future saints. What God wants most of all for each one of you is that you should become holy. He loves you much more than you could ever begin to imagine, and he wants the very best for you. And by far the best thing for you is to grow in holiness. Perhaps some of you have never thought about this before. Perhaps some of you think being a saint is not for you.  But I tell you, if you make good use of the gifts the Holy Spirit has given you, holiness is not impossible.  With the help of the Holy Spirit, you will be more loving toward your parents, more caring towards your peers, more diligent in your duties as students and more helpful to those who are in need. Do not be afraid to be holy.  You can become saints!

This leads me to the third point about the Sacrament of Confirmation.  As you grow in friendship with God, everything in your life begins to change.  You all know what it is like when you meet someone interesting and attractive, and you want to be that person’s friend.  As you come to know God better, you find you want to reflect something of his infinite goodness in your life.   You want to imitate him.  My dear young friends, as you receive the Sacrament of Confirmation, I pray that you will begin to think about how to best imitate God.  I am inviting to seriously think about to what vocation God is calling you.  Many of you may choose the life of marriagein the future.  That is beautiful!  Be holy husbands and wives, fathers and mothers. I hope that all of you will begin considering joining the ministries and organizations in the parish.  You received the Sacrament of Confirmation in order to continue the mission of Jesus.  Some of you, and this I really pray, may choose to become priests or consecrated persons in the future. That is even more beautiful! Please do not ignore the voice of the Lord that calls you: “Follow me”!

Dear friends, remember these three things about the Sacrament of Confirmation which you are about to receive.  It is a gift from God.  It will lead you to holiness.  It will help you discover your vocation. It will transform you into faithful disciples of Our Lord Jesus Christ.

Finally, I entrust you to the maternal embrace of the Blessed Virgin Mary.  I promise to pray for you, and I ask you to pray for me. May God bless you all! (Photo by Maricar Santos | Photogallery)

Rev. Fr. Paul Reagan Talavera, our parish priest, my dear brother priests and deacons; lay leaders of the parish; dear parishioners; dearly beloved in Christ:

We praise and thank the Lord for gathering us together to celebrate the 81st anniversary of Santisimo Rosario as a parish.  An occasion like this is an invitation to gratitude.   The apostles never forgot the moment when they first met Jesus, when Jesus touched their hearts: ‘It was about four o’clock in the afternoon’ (Jn 1:39).  Today, we remember with gratitude that day when this community became a parish.  From then on, God’s people will be reborn in the waters of baptism, nourished with the living bread and the word of life, and renewed through the sacraments.

We celebrate the Eucharist as we remember with gratitude.  We thank the Lord for his providence and mercy that sustained Santisimo Rosario Parish through the years.  We thank all the priests, lay leaders, and all other collaborators of the parish.  We give thanks to the Lord for he is good, for his love endures forever.

My dear candidates for Confirmation, I know you have been praying for this important day.  You have studied your faith and have gone through the necessary preparation for the worthy reception of this most important Sacrament in the life of every Christian.

I wish to share with you three things about the Sacrament which you are about to receive and how it will transform you into a faithful disciple of Our Lord Jesus Christ.

The first thing you must remember about the Sacrament of Confirmation is that, like all the sacraments, it is a gift given by God; and like all of God’s gift, it is designed to help us grow in holiness.   This sacrament brings us into closer relation with him through the imparting of grace.  Confirmation seals us with the Holy Spirit, who gives us his seven gifts: wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety, and fear of the Lord.   You all know how it feels when we receive gifts.  We feel overjoyed, especially when we know that the gift, we are receiving, is priceless.  My dear young friends, this gift you are about to receive is indeed more precious than an expensive sneaker, beautiful clothes, or the latest gadget.  What you are receiving now is way more valuable because it is a gift that equips you to go out into the world as faithful witnesses and disciples of Christ. So be grateful. Thank the Lord for his priceless gift to you.

The second thing you must know is that the Sacrament of Confirmation will help you become a faithful friend of the Lord.  What does it mean to be a friend of the Lord?  To be a friend of God means to be a saint.  I hope that among those of you who will receive the Sacrament of Confirmation today there are some of the future saints. What God wants most of all for each one of you is that you should become holy. He loves you much more than you could ever begin to imagine, and he wants the very best for you. And by far the best thing for you is to grow in holiness. Perhaps some of you have never thought about this before. Perhaps some of you think being a saint is not for you.  But I tell you, if you make good use of the gifts the Holy Spirit has given you, holiness is not impossible.  With the help of the Holy Spirit, you will be more loving toward your parents, more caring towards your peers, more diligent in your duties as students and more helpful to those who are in need. Do not be afraid to be holy.  You can become saints!

This leads me to the third point about the Sacrament of Confirmation.  As you grow in friendship with God, everything in your life begins to change.  You all know what it is like when you meet someone interesting and attractive, and you want to be that person’s friend.  As you come to know God better, you find you want to reflect something of his infinite goodness in your life.   You want to imitate him.  My dear young friends, as you receive the Sacrament of Confirmation, I pray that you will begin to think about how to best imitate God.  I am inviting to seriously think about to what vocation God is calling you.  Many of you may choose the life of marriagein the future.  That is beautiful!  Be holy husbands and wives, fathers and mothers. I hope that all of you will begin considering joining the ministries and organizations in the parish.  You received the Sacrament of Confirmation in order to continue the mission of Jesus.  Some of you, and this I really pray, may choose to become priests or consecrated persons in the future. That is even more beautiful! Please do not ignore the voice of the Lord that calls you: “Follow me”!

Dear friends, remember these three things about the Sacrament of Confirmation which you are about to receive.  It is a gift from God.  It will lead you to holiness.  It will help you discover your vocation. It will transform you into faithful disciples of Our Lord Jesus Christ.

Finally, I entrust you to the maternal embrace of the Blessed Virgin Mary.  I promise to pray for you, and I ask you to pray for me. May God bless you all! (Photo by Maricar Santos | Photogallery)

Rev. Fr. Paul Reagan Talavera, our parish priest, my dear brother priests and deacons; lay leaders of the parish; dear parishioners; dearly beloved in Christ:

We praise and thank the Lord for gathering us together to celebrate the 81st anniversary of Santisimo Rosario as a parish.  An occasion like this is an invitation to gratitude.   The apostles never forgot the moment when they first met Jesus, when Jesus touched their hearts: ‘It was about four o’clock in the afternoon’ (Jn 1:39).  Today, we remember with gratitude that day when this community became a parish.  From then on, God’s people will be reborn in the waters of baptism, nourished with the living bread and the word of life, and renewed through the sacraments.

We celebrate the Eucharist as we remember with gratitude.  We thank the Lord for his providence and mercy that sustained Santisimo Rosario Parish through the years.  We thank all the priests, lay leaders, and all other collaborators of the parish.  We give thanks to the Lord for he is good, for his love endures forever.

My dear candidates for Confirmation, I know you have been praying for this important day.  You have studied your faith and have gone through the necessary preparation for the worthy reception of this most important Sacrament in the life of every Christian.

I wish to share with you three things about the Sacrament which you are about to receive and how it will transform you into a faithful disciple of Our Lord Jesus Christ.

The first thing you must remember about the Sacrament of Confirmation is that, like all the sacraments, it is a gift given by God; and like all of God’s gift, it is designed to help us grow in holiness.   This sacrament brings us into closer relation with him through the imparting of grace.  Confirmation seals us with the Holy Spirit, who gives us his seven gifts: wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety, and fear of the Lord.   You all know how it feels when we receive gifts.  We feel overjoyed, especially when we know that the gift, we are receiving, is priceless.  My dear young friends, this gift you are about to receive is indeed more precious than an expensive sneaker, beautiful clothes, or the latest gadget.  What you are receiving now is way more valuable because it is a gift that equips you to go out into the world as faithful witnesses and disciples of Christ. So be grateful. Thank the Lord for his priceless gift to you.

The second thing you must know is that the Sacrament of Confirmation will help you become a faithful friend of the Lord.  What does it mean to be a friend of the Lord?  To be a friend of God means to be a saint.  I hope that among those of you who will receive the Sacrament of Confirmation today there are some of the future saints. What God wants most of all for each one of you is that you should become holy. He loves you much more than you could ever begin to imagine, and he wants the very best for you. And by far the best thing for you is to grow in holiness. Perhaps some of you have never thought about this before. Perhaps some of you think being a saint is not for you.  But I tell you, if you make good use of the gifts the Holy Spirit has given you, holiness is not impossible.  With the help of the Holy Spirit, you will be more loving toward your parents, more caring towards your peers, more diligent in your duties as students and more helpful to those who are in need. Do not be afraid to be holy.  You can become saints!

This leads me to the third point about the Sacrament of Confirmation.  As you grow in friendship with God, everything in your life begins to change.  You all know what it is like when you meet someone interesting and attractive, and you want to be that person’s friend.  As you come to know God better, you find you want to reflect something of his infinite goodness in your life.   You want to imitate him.  My dear young friends, as you receive the Sacrament of Confirmation, I pray that you will begin to think about how to best imitate God.  I am inviting to seriously think about to what vocation God is calling you.  Many of you may choose the life of marriagein the future.  That is beautiful!  Be holy husbands and wives, fathers and mothers. I hope that all of you will begin considering joining the ministries and organizations in the parish.  You received the Sacrament of Confirmation in order to continue the mission of Jesus.  Some of you, and this I really pray, may choose to become priests or consecrated persons in the future. That is even more beautiful! Please do not ignore the voice of the Lord that calls you: “Follow me”!

Dear friends, remember these three things about the Sacrament of Confirmation which you are about to receive.  It is a gift from God.  It will lead you to holiness.  It will help you discover your vocation. It will transform you into faithful disciples of Our Lord Jesus Christ.

Finally, I entrust you to the maternal embrace of the Blessed Virgin Mary.  I promise to pray for you, and I ask you to pray for me. May God bless you all! (Photo by Maricar Santos | Photogallery)

Rev. Fr. Paul Reagan Talavera, our parish priest, my dear brother priests and deacons; lay leaders of the parish; dear parishioners; dearly beloved in Christ:

We praise and thank the Lord for gathering us together to celebrate the 81st anniversary of Santisimo Rosario as a parish.  An occasion like this is an invitation to gratitude.   The apostles never forgot the moment when they first met Jesus, when Jesus touched their hearts: ‘It was about four o’clock in the afternoon’ (Jn 1:39).  Today, we remember with gratitude that day when this community became a parish.  From then on, God’s people will be reborn in the waters of baptism, nourished with the living bread and the word of life, and renewed through the sacraments.

We celebrate the Eucharist as we remember with gratitude.  We thank the Lord for his providence and mercy that sustained Santisimo Rosario Parish through the years.  We thank all the priests, lay leaders, and all other collaborators of the parish.  We give thanks to the Lord for he is good, for his love endures forever.

My dear candidates for Confirmation, I know you have been praying for this important day.  You have studied your faith and have gone through the necessary preparation for the worthy reception of this most important Sacrament in the life of every Christian.

I wish to share with you three things about the Sacrament which you are about to receive and how it will transform you into a faithful disciple of Our Lord Jesus Christ.

The first thing you must remember about the Sacrament of Confirmation is that, like all the sacraments, it is a gift given by God; and like all of God’s gift, it is designed to help us grow in holiness.   This sacrament brings us into closer relation with him through the imparting of grace.  Confirmation seals us with the Holy Spirit, who gives us his seven gifts: wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety, and fear of the Lord.   You all know how it feels when we receive gifts.  We feel overjoyed, especially when we know that the gift, we are receiving, is priceless.  My dear young friends, this gift you are about to receive is indeed more precious than an expensive sneaker, beautiful clothes, or the latest gadget.  What you are receiving now is way more valuable because it is a gift that equips you to go out into the world as faithful witnesses and disciples of Christ. So be grateful. Thank the Lord for his priceless gift to you.

The second thing you must know is that the Sacrament of Confirmation will help you become a faithful friend of the Lord.  What does it mean to be a friend of the Lord?  To be a friend of God means to be a saint.  I hope that among those of you who will receive the Sacrament of Confirmation today there are some of the future saints. What God wants most of all for each one of you is that you should become holy. He loves you much more than you could ever begin to imagine, and he wants the very best for you. And by far the best thing for you is to grow in holiness. Perhaps some of you have never thought about this before. Perhaps some of you think being a saint is not for you.  But I tell you, if you make good use of the gifts the Holy Spirit has given you, holiness is not impossible.  With the help of the Holy Spirit, you will be more loving toward your parents, more caring towards your peers, more diligent in your duties as students and more helpful to those who are in need. Do not be afraid to be holy.  You can become saints!

This leads me to the third point about the Sacrament of Confirmation.  As you grow in friendship with God, everything in your life begins to change.  You all know what it is like when you meet someone interesting and attractive, and you want to be that person’s friend.  As you come to know God better, you find you want to reflect something of his infinite goodness in your life.   You want to imitate him.  My dear young friends, as you receive the Sacrament of Confirmation, I pray that you will begin to think about how to best imitate God.  I am inviting to seriously think about to what vocation God is calling you.  Many of you may choose the life of marriagein the future.  That is beautiful!  Be holy husbands and wives, fathers and mothers. I hope that all of you will begin considering joining the ministries and organizations in the parish.  You received the Sacrament of Confirmation in order to continue the mission of Jesus.  Some of you, and this I really pray, may choose to become priests or consecrated persons in the future. That is even more beautiful! Please do not ignore the voice of the Lord that calls you: “Follow me”!

Dear friends, remember these three things about the Sacrament of Confirmation which you are about to receive.  It is a gift from God.  It will lead you to holiness.  It will help you discover your vocation. It will transform you into faithful disciples of Our Lord Jesus Christ.

Finally, I entrust you to the maternal embrace of the Blessed Virgin Mary.  I promise to pray for you, and I ask you to pray for me. May God bless you all! (Photo by Maricar Santos | Photogallery)

Rev. Fr. Paul Reagan Talavera, our parish priest, my dear brother priests and deacons; lay leaders of the parish; dear parishioners; dearly beloved in Christ:

We praise and thank the Lord for gathering us together to celebrate the 81st anniversary of Santisimo Rosario as a parish.  An occasion like this is an invitation to gratitude.   The apostles never forgot the moment when they first met Jesus, when Jesus touched their hearts: ‘It was about four o’clock in the afternoon’ (Jn 1:39).  Today, we remember with gratitude that day when this community became a parish.  From then on, God’s people will be reborn in the waters of baptism, nourished with the living bread and the word of life, and renewed through the sacraments.

We celebrate the Eucharist as we remember with gratitude.  We thank the Lord for his providence and mercy that sustained Santisimo Rosario Parish through the years.  We thank all the priests, lay leaders, and all other collaborators of the parish.  We give thanks to the Lord for he is good, for his love endures forever.

My dear candidates for Confirmation, I know you have been praying for this important day.  You have studied your faith and have gone through the necessary preparation for the worthy reception of this most important Sacrament in the life of every Christian.

I wish to share with you three things about the Sacrament which you are about to receive and how it will transform you into a faithful disciple of Our Lord Jesus Christ.

The first thing you must remember about the Sacrament of Confirmation is that, like all the sacraments, it is a gift given by God; and like all of God’s gift, it is designed to help us grow in holiness.   This sacrament brings us into closer relation with him through the imparting of grace.  Confirmation seals us with the Holy Spirit, who gives us his seven gifts: wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety, and fear of the Lord.   You all know how it feels when we receive gifts.  We feel overjoyed, especially when we know that the gift, we are receiving, is priceless.  My dear young friends, this gift you are about to receive is indeed more precious than an expensive sneaker, beautiful clothes, or the latest gadget.  What you are receiving now is way more valuable because it is a gift that equips you to go out into the world as faithful witnesses and disciples of Christ. So be grateful. Thank the Lord for his priceless gift to you.

The second thing you must know is that the Sacrament of Confirmation will help you become a faithful friend of the Lord.  What does it mean to be a friend of the Lord?  To be a friend of God means to be a saint.  I hope that among those of you who will receive the Sacrament of Confirmation today there are some of the future saints. What God wants most of all for each one of you is that you should become holy. He loves you much more than you could ever begin to imagine, and he wants the very best for you. And by far the best thing for you is to grow in holiness. Perhaps some of you have never thought about this before. Perhaps some of you think being a saint is not for you.  But I tell you, if you make good use of the gifts the Holy Spirit has given you, holiness is not impossible.  With the help of the Holy Spirit, you will be more loving toward your parents, more caring towards your peers, more diligent in your duties as students and more helpful to those who are in need. Do not be afraid to be holy.  You can become saints!

This leads me to the third point about the Sacrament of Confirmation.  As you grow in friendship with God, everything in your life begins to change.  You all know what it is like when you meet someone interesting and attractive, and you want to be that person’s friend.  As you come to know God better, you find you want to reflect something of his infinite goodness in your life.   You want to imitate him.  My dear young friends, as you receive the Sacrament of Confirmation, I pray that you will begin to think about how to best imitate God.  I am inviting to seriously think about to what vocation God is calling you.  Many of you may choose the life of marriagein the future.  That is beautiful!  Be holy husbands and wives, fathers and mothers. I hope that all of you will begin considering joining the ministries and organizations in the parish.  You received the Sacrament of Confirmation in order to continue the mission of Jesus.  Some of you, and this I really pray, may choose to become priests or consecrated persons in the future. That is even more beautiful! Please do not ignore the voice of the Lord that calls you: “Follow me”!

Dear friends, remember these three things about the Sacrament of Confirmation which you are about to receive.  It is a gift from God.  It will lead you to holiness.  It will help you discover your vocation. It will transform you into faithful disciples of Our Lord Jesus Christ.

Finally, I entrust you to the maternal embrace of the Blessed Virgin Mary.  I promise to pray for you, and I ask you to pray for me. May God bless you all! (Photo by Maricar Santos | Photogallery)

Rev. Fr. Paul Reagan Talavera, our parish priest, my dear brother priests and deacons; lay leaders of the parish; dear parishioners; dearly beloved in Christ:

We praise and thank the Lord for gathering us together to celebrate the 81st anniversary of Santisimo Rosario as a parish.  An occasion like this is an invitation to gratitude.   The apostles never forgot the moment when they first met Jesus, when Jesus touched their hearts: ‘It was about four o’clock in the afternoon’ (Jn 1:39).  Today, we remember with gratitude that day when this community became a parish.  From then on, God’s people will be reborn in the waters of baptism, nourished with the living bread and the word of life, and renewed through the sacraments.

We celebrate the Eucharist as we remember with gratitude.  We thank the Lord for his providence and mercy that sustained Santisimo Rosario Parish through the years.  We thank all the priests, lay leaders, and all other collaborators of the parish.  We give thanks to the Lord for he is good, for his love endures forever.

My dear candidates for Confirmation, I know you have been praying for this important day.  You have studied your faith and have gone through the necessary preparation for the worthy reception of this most important Sacrament in the life of every Christian.

I wish to share with you three things about the Sacrament which you are about to receive and how it will transform you into a faithful disciple of Our Lord Jesus Christ.

The first thing you must remember about the Sacrament of Confirmation is that, like all the sacraments, it is a gift given by God; and like all of God’s gift, it is designed to help us grow in holiness.   This sacrament brings us into closer relation with him through the imparting of grace.  Confirmation seals us with the Holy Spirit, who gives us his seven gifts: wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety, and fear of the Lord.   You all know how it feels when we receive gifts.  We feel overjoyed, especially when we know that the gift, we are receiving, is priceless.  My dear young friends, this gift you are about to receive is indeed more precious than an expensive sneaker, beautiful clothes, or the latest gadget.  What you are receiving now is way more valuable because it is a gift that equips you to go out into the world as faithful witnesses and disciples of Christ. So be grateful. Thank the Lord for his priceless gift to you.

The second thing you must know is that the Sacrament of Confirmation will help you become a faithful friend of the Lord.  What does it mean to be a friend of the Lord?  To be a friend of God means to be a saint.  I hope that among those of you who will receive the Sacrament of Confirmation today there are some of the future saints. What God wants most of all for each one of you is that you should become holy. He loves you much more than you could ever begin to imagine, and he wants the very best for you. And by far the best thing for you is to grow in holiness. Perhaps some of you have never thought about this before. Perhaps some of you think being a saint is not for you.  But I tell you, if you make good use of the gifts the Holy Spirit has given you, holiness is not impossible.  With the help of the Holy Spirit, you will be more loving toward your parents, more caring towards your peers, more diligent in your duties as students and more helpful to those who are in need. Do not be afraid to be holy.  You can become saints!

This leads me to the third point about the Sacrament of Confirmation.  As you grow in friendship with God, everything in your life begins to change.  You all know what it is like when you meet someone interesting and attractive, and you want to be that person’s friend.  As you come to know God better, you find you want to reflect something of his infinite goodness in your life.   You want to imitate him.  My dear young friends, as you receive the Sacrament of Confirmation, I pray that you will begin to think about how to best imitate God.  I am inviting to seriously think about to what vocation God is calling you.  Many of you may choose the life of marriagein the future.  That is beautiful!  Be holy husbands and wives, fathers and mothers. I hope that all of you will begin considering joining the ministries and organizations in the parish.  You received the Sacrament of Confirmation in order to continue the mission of Jesus.  Some of you, and this I really pray, may choose to become priests or consecrated persons in the future. That is even more beautiful! Please do not ignore the voice of the Lord that calls you: “Follow me”!

Dear friends, remember these three things about the Sacrament of Confirmation which you are about to receive.  It is a gift from God.  It will lead you to holiness.  It will help you discover your vocation. It will transform you into faithful disciples of Our Lord Jesus Christ.

Finally, I entrust you to the maternal embrace of the Blessed Virgin Mary.  I promise to pray for you, and I ask you to pray for me. May God bless you all! (Photo by Maricar Santos | Photogallery)

Rev. Fr. Paul Reagan Talavera, our parish priest, my dear brother priests and deacons; lay leaders of the parish; dear parishioners; dearly beloved in Christ:

We praise and thank the Lord for gathering us together to celebrate the 81st anniversary of Santisimo Rosario as a parish.  An occasion like this is an invitation to gratitude.   The apostles never forgot the moment when they first met Jesus, when Jesus touched their hearts: ‘It was about four o’clock in the afternoon’ (Jn 1:39).  Today, we remember with gratitude that day when this community became a parish.  From then on, God’s people will be reborn in the waters of baptism, nourished with the living bread and the word of life, and renewed through the sacraments.

We celebrate the Eucharist as we remember with gratitude.  We thank the Lord for his providence and mercy that sustained Santisimo Rosario Parish through the years.  We thank all the priests, lay leaders, and all other collaborators of the parish.  We give thanks to the Lord for he is good, for his love endures forever.

My dear candidates for Confirmation, I know you have been praying for this important day.  You have studied your faith and have gone through the necessary preparation for the worthy reception of this most important Sacrament in the life of every Christian.

I wish to share with you three things about the Sacrament which you are about to receive and how it will transform you into a faithful disciple of Our Lord Jesus Christ.

The first thing you must remember about the Sacrament of Confirmation is that, like all the sacraments, it is a gift given by God; and like all of God’s gift, it is designed to help us grow in holiness.   This sacrament brings us into closer relation with him through the imparting of grace.  Confirmation seals us with the Holy Spirit, who gives us his seven gifts: wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety, and fear of the Lord.   You all know how it feels when we receive gifts.  We feel overjoyed, especially when we know that the gift, we are receiving, is priceless.  My dear young friends, this gift you are about to receive is indeed more precious than an expensive sneaker, beautiful clothes, or the latest gadget.  What you are receiving now is way more valuable because it is a gift that equips you to go out into the world as faithful witnesses and disciples of Christ. So be grateful. Thank the Lord for his priceless gift to you.

The second thing you must know is that the Sacrament of Confirmation will help you become a faithful friend of the Lord.  What does it mean to be a friend of the Lord?  To be a friend of God means to be a saint.  I hope that among those of you who will receive the Sacrament of Confirmation today there are some of the future saints. What God wants most of all for each one of you is that you should become holy. He loves you much more than you could ever begin to imagine, and he wants the very best for you. And by far the best thing for you is to grow in holiness. Perhaps some of you have never thought about this before. Perhaps some of you think being a saint is not for you.  But I tell you, if you make good use of the gifts the Holy Spirit has given you, holiness is not impossible.  With the help of the Holy Spirit, you will be more loving toward your parents, more caring towards your peers, more diligent in your duties as students and more helpful to those who are in need. Do not be afraid to be holy.  You can become saints!

This leads me to the third point about the Sacrament of Confirmation.  As you grow in friendship with God, everything in your life begins to change.  You all know what it is like when you meet someone interesting and attractive, and you want to be that person’s friend.  As you come to know God better, you find you want to reflect something of his infinite goodness in your life.   You want to imitate him.  My dear young friends, as you receive the Sacrament of Confirmation, I pray that you will begin to think about how to best imitate God.  I am inviting to seriously think about to what vocation God is calling you.  Many of you may choose the life of marriagein the future.  That is beautiful!  Be holy husbands and wives, fathers and mothers. I hope that all of you will begin considering joining the ministries and organizations in the parish.  You received the Sacrament of Confirmation in order to continue the mission of Jesus.  Some of you, and this I really pray, may choose to become priests or consecrated persons in the future. That is even more beautiful! Please do not ignore the voice of the Lord that calls you: “Follow me”!

Dear friends, remember these three things about the Sacrament of Confirmation which you are about to receive.  It is a gift from God.  It will lead you to holiness.  It will help you discover your vocation. It will transform you into faithful disciples of Our Lord Jesus Christ.

Finally, I entrust you to the maternal embrace of the Blessed Virgin Mary.  I promise to pray for you, and I ask you to pray for me. May God bless you all! (Photo by Maricar Santos | Photogallery)

Rev. Fr. Paul Reagan Talavera, our parish priest, my dear brother priests and deacons; lay leaders of the parish; dear parishioners; dearly beloved in Christ:

We praise and thank the Lord for gathering us together to celebrate the 81st anniversary of Santisimo Rosario as a parish.  An occasion like this is an invitation to gratitude.   The apostles never forgot the moment when they first met Jesus, when Jesus touched their hearts: ‘It was about four o’clock in the afternoon’ (Jn 1:39).  Today, we remember with gratitude that day when this community became a parish.  From then on, God’s people will be reborn in the waters of baptism, nourished with the living bread and the word of life, and renewed through the sacraments.

We celebrate the Eucharist as we remember with gratitude.  We thank the Lord for his providence and mercy that sustained Santisimo Rosario Parish through the years.  We thank all the priests, lay leaders, and all other collaborators of the parish.  We give thanks to the Lord for he is good, for his love endures forever.

My dear candidates for Confirmation, I know you have been praying for this important day.  You have studied your faith and have gone through the necessary preparation for the worthy reception of this most important Sacrament in the life of every Christian.

I wish to share with you three things about the Sacrament which you are about to receive and how it will transform you into a faithful disciple of Our Lord Jesus Christ.

The first thing you must remember about the Sacrament of Confirmation is that, like all the sacraments, it is a gift given by God; and like all of God’s gift, it is designed to help us grow in holiness.   This sacrament brings us into closer relation with him through the imparting of grace.  Confirmation seals us with the Holy Spirit, who gives us his seven gifts: wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety, and fear of the Lord.   You all know how it feels when we receive gifts.  We feel overjoyed, especially when we know that the gift, we are receiving, is priceless.  My dear young friends, this gift you are about to receive is indeed more precious than an expensive sneaker, beautiful clothes, or the latest gadget.  What you are receiving now is way more valuable because it is a gift that equips you to go out into the world as faithful witnesses and disciples of Christ. So be grateful. Thank the Lord for his priceless gift to you.

The second thing you must know is that the Sacrament of Confirmation will help you become a faithful friend of the Lord.  What does it mean to be a friend of the Lord?  To be a friend of God means to be a saint.  I hope that among those of you who will receive the Sacrament of Confirmation today there are some of the future saints. What God wants most of all for each one of you is that you should become holy. He loves you much more than you could ever begin to imagine, and he wants the very best for you. And by far the best thing for you is to grow in holiness. Perhaps some of you have never thought about this before. Perhaps some of you think being a saint is not for you.  But I tell you, if you make good use of the gifts the Holy Spirit has given you, holiness is not impossible.  With the help of the Holy Spirit, you will be more loving toward your parents, more caring towards your peers, more diligent in your duties as students and more helpful to those who are in need. Do not be afraid to be holy.  You can become saints!

This leads me to the third point about the Sacrament of Confirmation.  As you grow in friendship with God, everything in your life begins to change.  You all know what it is like when you meet someone interesting and attractive, and you want to be that person’s friend.  As you come to know God better, you find you want to reflect something of his infinite goodness in your life.   You want to imitate him.  My dear young friends, as you receive the Sacrament of Confirmation, I pray that you will begin to think about how to best imitate God.  I am inviting to seriously think about to what vocation God is calling you.  Many of you may choose the life of marriagein the future.  That is beautiful!  Be holy husbands and wives, fathers and mothers. I hope that all of you will begin considering joining the ministries and organizations in the parish.  You received the Sacrament of Confirmation in order to continue the mission of Jesus.  Some of you, and this I really pray, may choose to become priests or consecrated persons in the future. That is even more beautiful! Please do not ignore the voice of the Lord that calls you: “Follow me”!

Dear friends, remember these three things about the Sacrament of Confirmation which you are about to receive.  It is a gift from God.  It will lead you to holiness.  It will help you discover your vocation. It will transform you into faithful disciples of Our Lord Jesus Christ.

Finally, I entrust you to the maternal embrace of the Blessed Virgin Mary.  I promise to pray for you, and I ask you to pray for me. May God bless you all! (Photo by Maricar Santos | Photogallery)

Rev. Fr. Paul Reagan Talavera, our parish priest, my dear brother priests and deacons; lay leaders of the parish; dear parishioners; dearly beloved in Christ:

We praise and thank the Lord for gathering us together to celebrate the 81st anniversary of Santisimo Rosario as a parish.  An occasion like this is an invitation to gratitude.   The apostles never forgot the moment when they first met Jesus, when Jesus touched their hearts: ‘It was about four o’clock in the afternoon’ (Jn 1:39).  Today, we remember with gratitude that day when this community became a parish.  From then on, God’s people will be reborn in the waters of baptism, nourished with the living bread and the word of life, and renewed through the sacraments.

We celebrate the Eucharist as we remember with gratitude.  We thank the Lord for his providence and mercy that sustained Santisimo Rosario Parish through the years.  We thank all the priests, lay leaders, and all other collaborators of the parish.  We give thanks to the Lord for he is good, for his love endures forever.

My dear candidates for Confirmation, I know you have been praying for this important day.  You have studied your faith and have gone through the necessary preparation for the worthy reception of this most important Sacrament in the life of every Christian.

I wish to share with you three things about the Sacrament which you are about to receive and how it will transform you into a faithful disciple of Our Lord Jesus Christ.

The first thing you must remember about the Sacrament of Confirmation is that, like all the sacraments, it is a gift given by God; and like all of God’s gift, it is designed to help us grow in holiness.   This sacrament brings us into closer relation with him through the imparting of grace.  Confirmation seals us with the Holy Spirit, who gives us his seven gifts: wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety, and fear of the Lord.   You all know how it feels when we receive gifts.  We feel overjoyed, especially when we know that the gift, we are receiving, is priceless.  My dear young friends, this gift you are about to receive is indeed more precious than an expensive sneaker, beautiful clothes, or the latest gadget.  What you are receiving now is way more valuable because it is a gift that equips you to go out into the world as faithful witnesses and disciples of Christ. So be grateful. Thank the Lord for his priceless gift to you.

The second thing you must know is that the Sacrament of Confirmation will help you become a faithful friend of the Lord.  What does it mean to be a friend of the Lord?  To be a friend of God means to be a saint.  I hope that among those of you who will receive the Sacrament of Confirmation today there are some of the future saints. What God wants most of all for each one of you is that you should become holy. He loves you much more than you could ever begin to imagine, and he wants the very best for you. And by far the best thing for you is to grow in holiness. Perhaps some of you have never thought about this before. Perhaps some of you think being a saint is not for you.  But I tell you, if you make good use of the gifts the Holy Spirit has given you, holiness is not impossible.  With the help of the Holy Spirit, you will be more loving toward your parents, more caring towards your peers, more diligent in your duties as students and more helpful to those who are in need. Do not be afraid to be holy.  You can become saints!

This leads me to the third point about the Sacrament of Confirmation.  As you grow in friendship with God, everything in your life begins to change.  You all know what it is like when you meet someone interesting and attractive, and you want to be that person’s friend.  As you come to know God better, you find you want to reflect something of his infinite goodness in your life.   You want to imitate him.  My dear young friends, as you receive the Sacrament of Confirmation, I pray that you will begin to think about how to best imitate God.  I am inviting to seriously think about to what vocation God is calling you.  Many of you may choose the life of marriagein the future.  That is beautiful!  Be holy husbands and wives, fathers and mothers. I hope that all of you will begin considering joining the ministries and organizations in the parish.  You received the Sacrament of Confirmation in order to continue the mission of Jesus.  Some of you, and this I really pray, may choose to become priests or consecrated persons in the future. That is even more beautiful! Please do not ignore the voice of the Lord that calls you: “Follow me”!

Dear friends, remember these three things about the Sacrament of Confirmation which you are about to receive.  It is a gift from God.  It will lead you to holiness.  It will help you discover your vocation. It will transform you into faithful disciples of Our Lord Jesus Christ.

Finally, I entrust you to the maternal embrace of the Blessed Virgin Mary.  I promise to pray for you, and I ask you to pray for me. May God bless you all! (Photo by Maricar Santos | Photogallery)

Rev. Fr. Paul Reagan Talavera, our parish priest, my dear brother priests and deacons; lay leaders of the parish; dear parishioners; dearly beloved in Christ:

We praise and thank the Lord for gathering us together to celebrate the 81st anniversary of Santisimo Rosario as a parish.  An occasion like this is an invitation to gratitude.   The apostles never forgot the moment when they first met Jesus, when Jesus touched their hearts: ‘It was about four o’clock in the afternoon’ (Jn 1:39).  Today, we remember with gratitude that day when this community became a parish.  From then on, God’s people will be reborn in the waters of baptism, nourished with the living bread and the word of life, and renewed through the sacraments.

We celebrate the Eucharist as we remember with gratitude.  We thank the Lord for his providence and mercy that sustained Santisimo Rosario Parish through the years.  We thank all the priests, lay leaders, and all other collaborators of the parish.  We give thanks to the Lord for he is good, for his love endures forever.

My dear candidates for Confirmation, I know you have been praying for this important day.  You have studied your faith and have gone through the necessary preparation for the worthy reception of this most important Sacrament in the life of every Christian.

I wish to share with you three things about the Sacrament which you are about to receive and how it will transform you into a faithful disciple of Our Lord Jesus Christ.

The first thing you must remember about the Sacrament of Confirmation is that, like all the sacraments, it is a gift given by God; and like all of God’s gift, it is designed to help us grow in holiness.   This sacrament brings us into closer relation with him through the imparting of grace.  Confirmation seals us with the Holy Spirit, who gives us his seven gifts: wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety, and fear of the Lord.   You all know how it feels when we receive gifts.  We feel overjoyed, especially when we know that the gift, we are receiving, is priceless.  My dear young friends, this gift you are about to receive is indeed more precious than an expensive sneaker, beautiful clothes, or the latest gadget.  What you are receiving now is way more valuable because it is a gift that equips you to go out into the world as faithful witnesses and disciples of Christ. So be grateful. Thank the Lord for his priceless gift to you.

The second thing you must know is that the Sacrament of Confirmation will help you become a faithful friend of the Lord.  What does it mean to be a friend of the Lord?  To be a friend of God means to be a saint.  I hope that among those of you who will receive the Sacrament of Confirmation today there are some of the future saints. What God wants most of all for each one of you is that you should become holy. He loves you much more than you could ever begin to imagine, and he wants the very best for you. And by far the best thing for you is to grow in holiness. Perhaps some of you have never thought about this before. Perhaps some of you think being a saint is not for you.  But I tell you, if you make good use of the gifts the Holy Spirit has given you, holiness is not impossible.  With the help of the Holy Spirit, you will be more loving toward your parents, more caring towards your peers, more diligent in your duties as students and more helpful to those who are in need. Do not be afraid to be holy.  You can become saints!

This leads me to the third point about the Sacrament of Confirmation.  As you grow in friendship with God, everything in your life begins to change.  You all know what it is like when you meet someone interesting and attractive, and you want to be that person’s friend.  As you come to know God better, you find you want to reflect something of his infinite goodness in your life.   You want to imitate him.  My dear young friends, as you receive the Sacrament of Confirmation, I pray that you will begin to think about how to best imitate God.  I am inviting to seriously think about to what vocation God is calling you.  Many of you may choose the life of marriagein the future.  That is beautiful!  Be holy husbands and wives, fathers and mothers. I hope that all of you will begin considering joining the ministries and organizations in the parish.  You received the Sacrament of Confirmation in order to continue the mission of Jesus.  Some of you, and this I really pray, may choose to become priests or consecrated persons in the future. That is even more beautiful! Please do not ignore the voice of the Lord that calls you: “Follow me”!

Dear friends, remember these three things about the Sacrament of Confirmation which you are about to receive.  It is a gift from God.  It will lead you to holiness.  It will help you discover your vocation. It will transform you into faithful disciples of Our Lord Jesus Christ.

Finally, I entrust you to the maternal embrace of the Blessed Virgin Mary.  I promise to pray for you, and I ask you to pray for me. May God bless you all! (Photo by Maricar Santos | Photogallery)

Rev. Fr. Paul Reagan Talavera, our parish priest, my dear brother priests and deacons; lay leaders of the parish; dear parishioners; dearly beloved in Christ:

We praise and thank the Lord for gathering us together to celebrate the 81st anniversary of Santisimo Rosario as a parish.  An occasion like this is an invitation to gratitude.   The apostles never forgot the moment when they first met Jesus, when Jesus touched their hearts: ‘It was about four o’clock in the afternoon’ (Jn 1:39).  Today, we remember with gratitude that day when this community became a parish.  From then on, God’s people will be reborn in the waters of baptism, nourished with the living bread and the word of life, and renewed through the sacraments.

We celebrate the Eucharist as we remember with gratitude.  We thank the Lord for his providence and mercy that sustained Santisimo Rosario Parish through the years.  We thank all the priests, lay leaders, and all other collaborators of the parish.  We give thanks to the Lord for he is good, for his love endures forever.

My dear candidates for Confirmation, I know you have been praying for this important day.  You have studied your faith and have gone through the necessary preparation for the worthy reception of this most important Sacrament in the life of every Christian.

I wish to share with you three things about the Sacrament which you are about to receive and how it will transform you into a faithful disciple of Our Lord Jesus Christ.

The first thing you must remember about the Sacrament of Confirmation is that, like all the sacraments, it is a gift given by God; and like all of God’s gift, it is designed to help us grow in holiness.   This sacrament brings us into closer relation with him through the imparting of grace.  Confirmation seals us with the Holy Spirit, who gives us his seven gifts: wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety, and fear of the Lord.   You all know how it feels when we receive gifts.  We feel overjoyed, especially when we know that the gift, we are receiving, is priceless.  My dear young friends, this gift you are about to receive is indeed more precious than an expensive sneaker, beautiful clothes, or the latest gadget.  What you are receiving now is way more valuable because it is a gift that equips you to go out into the world as faithful witnesses and disciples of Christ. So be grateful. Thank the Lord for his priceless gift to you.

The second thing you must know is that the Sacrament of Confirmation will help you become a faithful friend of the Lord.  What does it mean to be a friend of the Lord?  To be a friend of God means to be a saint.  I hope that among those of you who will receive the Sacrament of Confirmation today there are some of the future saints. What God wants most of all for each one of you is that you should become holy. He loves you much more than you could ever begin to imagine, and he wants the very best for you. And by far the best thing for you is to grow in holiness. Perhaps some of you have never thought about this before. Perhaps some of you think being a saint is not for you.  But I tell you, if you make good use of the gifts the Holy Spirit has given you, holiness is not impossible.  With the help of the Holy Spirit, you will be more loving toward your parents, more caring towards your peers, more diligent in your duties as students and more helpful to those who are in need. Do not be afraid to be holy.  You can become saints!

This leads me to the third point about the Sacrament of Confirmation.  As you grow in friendship with God, everything in your life begins to change.  You all know what it is like when you meet someone interesting and attractive, and you want to be that person’s friend.  As you come to know God better, you find you want to reflect something of his infinite goodness in your life.   You want to imitate him.  My dear young friends, as you receive the Sacrament of Confirmation, I pray that you will begin to think about how to best imitate God.  I am inviting to seriously think about to what vocation God is calling you.  Many of you may choose the life of marriagein the future.  That is beautiful!  Be holy husbands and wives, fathers and mothers. I hope that all of you will begin considering joining the ministries and organizations in the parish.  You received the Sacrament of Confirmation in order to continue the mission of Jesus.  Some of you, and this I really pray, may choose to become priests or consecrated persons in the future. That is even more beautiful! Please do not ignore the voice of the Lord that calls you: “Follow me”!

Dear friends, remember these three things about the Sacrament of Confirmation which you are about to receive.  It is a gift from God.  It will lead you to holiness.  It will help you discover your vocation. It will transform you into faithful disciples of Our Lord Jesus Christ.

Finally, I entrust you to the maternal embrace of the Blessed Virgin Mary.  I promise to pray for you, and I ask you to pray for me. May God bless you all! (Photo by Maricar Santos | Photogallery)

Rev. Fr. Paul Reagan Talavera, our parish priest, my dear brother priests and deacons; lay leaders of the parish; dear parishioners; dearly beloved in Christ:

We praise and thank the Lord for gathering us together to celebrate the 81st anniversary of Santisimo Rosario as a parish.  An occasion like this is an invitation to gratitude.   The apostles never forgot the moment when they first met Jesus, when Jesus touched their hearts: ‘It was about four o’clock in the afternoon’ (Jn 1:39).  Today, we remember with gratitude that day when this community became a parish.  From then on, God’s people will be reborn in the waters of baptism, nourished with the living bread and the word of life, and renewed through the sacraments.

We celebrate the Eucharist as we remember with gratitude.  We thank the Lord for his providence and mercy that sustained Santisimo Rosario Parish through the years.  We thank all the priests, lay leaders, and all other collaborators of the parish.  We give thanks to the Lord for he is good, for his love endures forever.

My dear candidates for Confirmation, I know you have been praying for this important day.  You have studied your faith and have gone through the necessary preparation for the worthy reception of this most important Sacrament in the life of every Christian.

I wish to share with you three things about the Sacrament which you are about to receive and how it will transform you into a faithful disciple of Our Lord Jesus Christ.

The first thing you must remember about the Sacrament of Confirmation is that, like all the sacraments, it is a gift given by God; and like all of God’s gift, it is designed to help us grow in holiness.   This sacrament brings us into closer relation with him through the imparting of grace.  Confirmation seals us with the Holy Spirit, who gives us his seven gifts: wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety, and fear of the Lord.   You all know how it feels when we receive gifts.  We feel overjoyed, especially when we know that the gift, we are receiving, is priceless.  My dear young friends, this gift you are about to receive is indeed more precious than an expensive sneaker, beautiful clothes, or the latest gadget.  What you are receiving now is way more valuable because it is a gift that equips you to go out into the world as faithful witnesses and disciples of Christ. So be grateful. Thank the Lord for his priceless gift to you.

The second thing you must know is that the Sacrament of Confirmation will help you become a faithful friend of the Lord.  What does it mean to be a friend of the Lord?  To be a friend of God means to be a saint.  I hope that among those of you who will receive the Sacrament of Confirmation today there are some of the future saints. What God wants most of all for each one of you is that you should become holy. He loves you much more than you could ever begin to imagine, and he wants the very best for you. And by far the best thing for you is to grow in holiness. Perhaps some of you have never thought about this before. Perhaps some of you think being a saint is not for you.  But I tell you, if you make good use of the gifts the Holy Spirit has given you, holiness is not impossible.  With the help of the Holy Spirit, you will be more loving toward your parents, more caring towards your peers, more diligent in your duties as students and more helpful to those who are in need. Do not be afraid to be holy.  You can become saints!

This leads me to the third point about the Sacrament of Confirmation.  As you grow in friendship with God, everything in your life begins to change.  You all know what it is like when you meet someone interesting and attractive, and you want to be that person’s friend.  As you come to know God better, you find you want to reflect something of his infinite goodness in your life.   You want to imitate him.  My dear young friends, as you receive the Sacrament of Confirmation, I pray that you will begin to think about how to best imitate God.  I am inviting to seriously think about to what vocation God is calling you.  Many of you may choose the life of marriagein the future.  That is beautiful!  Be holy husbands and wives, fathers and mothers. I hope that all of you will begin considering joining the ministries and organizations in the parish.  You received the Sacrament of Confirmation in order to continue the mission of Jesus.  Some of you, and this I really pray, may choose to become priests or consecrated persons in the future. That is even more beautiful! Please do not ignore the voice of the Lord that calls you: “Follow me”!

Dear friends, remember these three things about the Sacrament of Confirmation which you are about to receive.  It is a gift from God.  It will lead you to holiness.  It will help you discover your vocation. It will transform you into faithful disciples of Our Lord Jesus Christ.

Finally, I entrust you to the maternal embrace of the Blessed Virgin Mary.  I promise to pray for you, and I ask you to pray for me. May God bless you all! (Photo by Maricar Santos | Photogallery)

Rev. Fr. Paul Reagan Talavera, our parish priest, my dear brother priests and deacons; lay leaders of the parish; dear parishioners; dearly beloved in Christ:

We praise and thank the Lord for gathering us together to celebrate the 81st anniversary of Santisimo Rosario as a parish.  An occasion like this is an invitation to gratitude.   The apostles never forgot the moment when they first met Jesus, when Jesus touched their hearts: ‘It was about four o’clock in the afternoon’ (Jn 1:39).  Today, we remember with gratitude that day when this community became a parish.  From then on, God’s people will be reborn in the waters of baptism, nourished with the living bread and the word of life, and renewed through the sacraments.

We celebrate the Eucharist as we remember with gratitude.  We thank the Lord for his providence and mercy that sustained Santisimo Rosario Parish through the years.  We thank all the priests, lay leaders, and all other collaborators of the parish.  We give thanks to the Lord for he is good, for his love endures forever.

My dear candidates for Confirmation, I know you have been praying for this important day.  You have studied your faith and have gone through the necessary preparation for the worthy reception of this most important Sacrament in the life of every Christian.

I wish to share with you three things about the Sacrament which you are about to receive and how it will transform you into a faithful disciple of Our Lord Jesus Christ.

The first thing you must remember about the Sacrament of Confirmation is that, like all the sacraments, it is a gift given by God; and like all of God’s gift, it is designed to help us grow in holiness.   This sacrament brings us into closer relation with him through the imparting of grace.  Confirmation seals us with the Holy Spirit, who gives us his seven gifts: wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety, and fear of the Lord.   You all know how it feels when we receive gifts.  We feel overjoyed, especially when we know that the gift, we are receiving, is priceless.  My dear young friends, this gift you are about to receive is indeed more precious than an expensive sneaker, beautiful clothes, or the latest gadget.  What you are receiving now is way more valuable because it is a gift that equips you to go out into the world as faithful witnesses and disciples of Christ. So be grateful. Thank the Lord for his priceless gift to you.

The second thing you must know is that the Sacrament of Confirmation will help you become a faithful friend of the Lord.  What does it mean to be a friend of the Lord?  To be a friend of God means to be a saint.  I hope that among those of you who will receive the Sacrament of Confirmation today there are some of the future saints. What God wants most of all for each one of you is that you should become holy. He loves you much more than you could ever begin to imagine, and he wants the very best for you. And by far the best thing for you is to grow in holiness. Perhaps some of you have never thought about this before. Perhaps some of you think being a saint is not for you.  But I tell you, if you make good use of the gifts the Holy Spirit has given you, holiness is not impossible.  With the help of the Holy Spirit, you will be more loving toward your parents, more caring towards your peers, more diligent in your duties as students and more helpful to those who are in need. Do not be afraid to be holy.  You can become saints!

This leads me to the third point about the Sacrament of Confirmation.  As you grow in friendship with God, everything in your life begins to change.  You all know what it is like when you meet someone interesting and attractive, and you want to be that person’s friend.  As you come to know God better, you find you want to reflect something of his infinite goodness in your life.   You want to imitate him.  My dear young friends, as you receive the Sacrament of Confirmation, I pray that you will begin to think about how to best imitate God.  I am inviting to seriously think about to what vocation God is calling you.  Many of you may choose the life of marriagein the future.  That is beautiful!  Be holy husbands and wives, fathers and mothers. I hope that all of you will begin considering joining the ministries and organizations in the parish.  You received the Sacrament of Confirmation in order to continue the mission of Jesus.  Some of you, and this I really pray, may choose to become priests or consecrated persons in the future. That is even more beautiful! Please do not ignore the voice of the Lord that calls you: “Follow me”!

Dear friends, remember these three things about the Sacrament of Confirmation which you are about to receive.  It is a gift from God.  It will lead you to holiness.  It will help you discover your vocation. It will transform you into faithful disciples of Our Lord Jesus Christ.

Finally, I entrust you to the maternal embrace of the Blessed Virgin Mary.  I promise to pray for you, and I ask you to pray for me. May God bless you all! (Photo by Maricar Santos | Photogallery)

Rev. Fr. Paul Reagan Talavera, our parish priest, my dear brother priests and deacons; lay leaders of the parish; dear parishioners; dearly beloved in Christ:

We praise and thank the Lord for gathering us together to celebrate the 81st anniversary of Santisimo Rosario as a parish.  An occasion like this is an invitation to gratitude.   The apostles never forgot the moment when they first met Jesus, when Jesus touched their hearts: ‘It was about four o’clock in the afternoon’ (Jn 1:39).  Today, we remember with gratitude that day when this community became a parish.  From then on, God’s people will be reborn in the waters of baptism, nourished with the living bread and the word of life, and renewed through the sacraments.

We celebrate the Eucharist as we remember with gratitude.  We thank the Lord for his providence and mercy that sustained Santisimo Rosario Parish through the years.  We thank all the priests, lay leaders, and all other collaborators of the parish.  We give thanks to the Lord for he is good, for his love endures forever.

My dear candidates for Confirmation, I know you have been praying for this important day.  You have studied your faith and have gone through the necessary preparation for the worthy reception of this most important Sacrament in the life of every Christian.

I wish to share with you three things about the Sacrament which you are about to receive and how it will transform you into a faithful disciple of Our Lord Jesus Christ.

The first thing you must remember about the Sacrament of Confirmation is that, like all the sacraments, it is a gift given by God; and like all of God’s gift, it is designed to help us grow in holiness.   This sacrament brings us into closer relation with him through the imparting of grace.  Confirmation seals us with the Holy Spirit, who gives us his seven gifts: wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety, and fear of the Lord.   You all know how it feels when we receive gifts.  We feel overjoyed, especially when we know that the gift, we are receiving, is priceless.  My dear young friends, this gift you are about to receive is indeed more precious than an expensive sneaker, beautiful clothes, or the latest gadget.  What you are receiving now is way more valuable because it is a gift that equips you to go out into the world as faithful witnesses and disciples of Christ. So be grateful. Thank the Lord for his priceless gift to you.

The second thing you must know is that the Sacrament of Confirmation will help you become a faithful friend of the Lord.  What does it mean to be a friend of the Lord?  To be a friend of God means to be a saint.  I hope that among those of you who will receive the Sacrament of Confirmation today there are some of the future saints. What God wants most of all for each one of you is that you should become holy. He loves you much more than you could ever begin to imagine, and he wants the very best for you. And by far the best thing for you is to grow in holiness. Perhaps some of you have never thought about this before. Perhaps some of you think being a saint is not for you.  But I tell you, if you make good use of the gifts the Holy Spirit has given you, holiness is not impossible.  With the help of the Holy Spirit, you will be more loving toward your parents, more caring towards your peers, more diligent in your duties as students and more helpful to those who are in need. Do not be afraid to be holy.  You can become saints!

This leads me to the third point about the Sacrament of Confirmation.  As you grow in friendship with God, everything in your life begins to change.  You all know what it is like when you meet someone interesting and attractive, and you want to be that person’s friend.  As you come to know God better, you find you want to reflect something of his infinite goodness in your life.   You want to imitate him.  My dear young friends, as you receive the Sacrament of Confirmation, I pray that you will begin to think about how to best imitate God.  I am inviting to seriously think about to what vocation God is calling you.  Many of you may choose the life of marriagein the future.  That is beautiful!  Be holy husbands and wives, fathers and mothers. I hope that all of you will begin considering joining the ministries and organizations in the parish.  You received the Sacrament of Confirmation in order to continue the mission of Jesus.  Some of you, and this I really pray, may choose to become priests or consecrated persons in the future. That is even more beautiful! Please do not ignore the voice of the Lord that calls you: “Follow me”!

Dear friends, remember these three things about the Sacrament of Confirmation which you are about to receive.  It is a gift from God.  It will lead you to holiness.  It will help you discover your vocation. It will transform you into faithful disciples of Our Lord Jesus Christ.

Finally, I entrust you to the maternal embrace of the Blessed Virgin Mary.  I promise to pray for you, and I ask you to pray for me. May God bless you all! (Photo by Maricar Santos | Photogallery)