Fiesta of St. Fabian, Pope and Martyr. 20 January 2006, Friday

The annual fiesta celebration in honor of St. Fabian, Pope and Martyr, was celebrated by the whole parish last 20 January, the feast day of St. Fabian. The celebration began with the 7:30 AM procession in honor of St. Fabian. The images of the different barangay patron saints were also brought in for the procession.

The mass of thanksgiving in honor of St. Fabian was celebrated by Msgr. Oscar V. Cruz, DD, the Archbishop of Lingayen-Dagupan. He preached about the difficulties and challenges that are besetting the Filipino people today. The good news however is that we as a people have a God who has mercy on us. Repeatedly the good Archbishop prayed the Kyrie: Lord, have mercy. Christ, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.

The celebration of the Sacrament of Confirmation was administered by Very Rev. Fidelis B. Layog, the Vicar Forane of the Vicariate of the Queen of Apostles. He is at present the Parish Priest of the Holy Family Parish, Sta. Barbara, Pangasinan.

St. Fabian, Pope and Martyr, pray for us!

Start of the First Confession/Communion Celebrations

12 January, Thursday. Longos Proper Elementary School became the first school to hold the First Confession and Communion of its Grade Three Elementary pupils. The Parish catechists prepared them for almost six months.

Regular catechism classes have been going-on in all the barangay schools of San Fabian. The Parish catechists who number about forty volunteer to go these different barangay schools to conduct catechism classes in all grade levels every week. Since last year, the Parish has been conducting catechism classes also to some High School students in the different barangays, most especially in the San Fabian National High School.

The catechists at the same time receive regular updating classes on the doctrines of the faith every week during the Faith Formation Program for Adult Catholics being given by the parish priest, and twice a month on catechetical methods by the Parish Catechetical Program Director, Ms. Gloria Emuslan.

Novena in honor of St. Fabian. 11-19 January 2006

The Novena Masses to commemorate the feast of the patron saint of the parish, St. Fabian, Pope and Martyr, began last Wednesday, 11 January. Different religious groups and associations were on hand to sponsor each of the nine days of the novena.

Mass is celebrated at 4,30 pm. It is preceded by the praying of the Rosary and the Novena Prayer of the day.

4 January 2006, Wednesday: Opening of the Blessed Sacrament Chapel

The Blessed Sacrament was transferred to the new Blessed Sacrament Chapel of the Divine Mercy. It was formerly at the foot of the statue of St. Fabian at the center of the sanctuary, just at the back of the altar.

The Blessed Sacrament Chapel of the Divine Mercy was a project of the Parish which was started last August 2005. The chapel was formerly the baptistery, located at the base of the belfry.

"Come and See", was the answer of Jesus in the gospel read for the day to the question of his disciples as to where he was staying. "Come and See" is an invitation for all of us to visit him, to to feel his divine presence, to keep watch, to spend time with Him in prayer and adoration.

My Barber

His friends tease him that he is the only one in the parish who can twist and turn the head of the Parish Priest; and the Parish Priest can not do anything about it! The Parish Priest always obeys his wishes and commands!

It is true, of course. When he tells me to bow my head, I do it. Or when he says to turn a little to the left, I do it. "Keep still", he says. I keep still.

His friends after all are not exaggerating. He really can twist and turn my head!

He is after all my barber!

When he sees my hair getting long, he tells me. He makes the sign with his two fingers as if they are scissors and make cutting movements. Then he points his finger to his head. Meaning: I need a haircut. And so we make an appointment. Usually after the mass in the morning. That is because, he is a daily mass goer.

My barber comes to mass everyday. He is also a commissioned Minister of Holy Communion, and serves every second mass of Sundays. He drives me around too when I go to the different Elementary Schools of the town to hear the first confessions of the grade school kids and give them their first communion. Of course, he comes together with his friends, who are also Ministers of Holy Communion.

Cutting my hair gives him satisfaction; a sense of service. In the same way when he distributes the Holy Communion to the parishioners, especially to the sick members of the community. My barber serves.