ON 15 JANUARY 2012, Feast of the Holy Child, the St.

Anthony of Padua Parish had a special rite of blessing for children. Images of the Sto. Nino were also brought by the parishioners to the church to be blessed. In the afternoon, a Childrens Party was held at the formation center. Snacks prepared by the family of the late Benito Cuison, long-time lay minister of the parish, were partaken of by those present. Parlor games, musical and dance numbers also entertained the children. Gifts were also distributed by the Rotary Club of Virac represented by its president, Atty. Susan UbaldeOrdinario and Catanduanes State Colleges President Dr. Minerva I. Morales. Gifts offered and collected during the last Misa de Gallo and Christmas season were also given away. It was truly a day of pure joy for children in whose likeness one gains entrance to the Kingdom of Heaven.

36

THE NEO-CATECHUMENAL EVANGELIZATION, a program that is essentially a serious call to personal faith and conversion had given birth to a community of 33 members at the St. Anthony of Padua Parish. Following a 2-Sunday campaign, the sessions were started on 17 January 2012. A group of catechists from the neo-catechumenal community of the Immaculate Conception Cathedral Parish came for the talks. The group was led by Felix and Rita Vargas. Other members were: Anselmo and Anita Vargas, Jose and Teresita Suarez, Wilfredo and Nelly Torrecampo, and Florencio and Melinda Aries. On 7 March, Bishop Manolo A. de los Santos came to preside over the rite of handing of the Word of God. The live-in convivence was held on 9 11 March at the Galilee Retreat House, Palawig, San Andres which eventually gave birth to the community. Fernando and Grace Molina, Gil and Monette Rodulfo, Heri and Ellen Techon, Pacifico and Evelyn Sorreta, Gloria Rodulfo and Emelita Barba, serve as responsibles while Ruben Tapit is the head cantor.

37

FOLLOWING A SERIES OF SESSIONS started on 18 February 2012 and held at the parish formation hall, a new community of the Couples for Christ (CfC) had been born in Cabugao. It is a most welcome development in the continuing efforts of the parish to proclaim the Good News to all strata of society and create small faith communities as mandated by diocesan norms. A group of speakers and facilitators led by CfC Bikol regional coordinator Michael Bukuhan willingly came to share their time, talent and treasure for its realization. Coordinators are Mr. & Mrs. Rogelio Rodriguez Jr., Mr. & Mrs. Rudy Buenafe, and Ms. Edna Tapit.

38

A SOLEMN RITE of burning last years Passion Sunday palms meaningfully opened the observance of the Lenten season in the parish last Ash Wednesday, 22 February. With the heavy smoke coming from the burning palms filling the parish church, the Cabugao pastor reminded the faithful of the meaning of smoke in biblical times as symbolic of the presence of God. The process of burning the dried palm fronds into ashes was also an apt picture of conversion, which is basically a renewal of the heart, he said. Renewal of the heart involves not just moral change or turning away from ones evil actions, but an ontological change or change of the whole person, possible only through the grace of God. The holy season of Lent is an opportune time set by the Church so that man may seek this grace from God through prayer, fasting, penance and good works. The burning of palms was followed by the Liturgy of the Word which culminated with the blessing and imposition of ashes on the faithful. At 8 oclock in the morning of the same day, a Holy Mass was also held at the Cabugao Integrated School with the imposition of ashes on the teachers and students. Newly installed Bato West District Supervisor Nelia O. Tan and CIS Principal Nieva de Jesus Tuibeo were in attendance. Blessed ashes were also imposed on the administrative staff, faculty, and students of the TESDA Cabugao School of Handicraft and Cottage Industries at around 9:30 am as requested by School Administrator Elpidio R. Tuboro.

39

IN ORDER TO BRING THE CALL TO CONVERSION of the Holy Season of Lent to all sectors of society, the traditional Via Crucis was held in the different barangays and zones of the parish. On the first Friday of Lent, it was held in Marinawa, on the second in Binanuahan, third in San Ramon, fourth in San Roque and San Andres, fifth in Salvacion and sixth in San Antonio. On Good Friday, it was started in Marinawa and ended at San Andres.

40

On 4 March 2012, 2nd Sunday of the holy season of Lent, no less than a hundred parishioners of St. Anthony of Padua scaled the heights of Mt. Lantad to solemnly and sacrificially reflect on the Lord's VIA CRUCIS to Calvary. On each station, key persons representing the parish centennial committee, parish youth movement, campus ministry and religious associations, planted an "igot" seedling as part of the continuing advocacy of the parish for responsible stewardship of the environment. Upon reaching its peak, with its commanding, unobstructed view of the Cabugao Bay, from Nagngangang Buaya to Tagontong Points, with the Bato poblacion, Bimasanca area, and Virac in the foreground, a wooden cross was planted by the Cabugao pastor assisted by Centennial Committee chair Miguelito Rodriguez, Youth Movement president Allan Diaz, DOST provincial director and tree-planting chair Jimmy Cabrera, and ANF president and lay minister Bro. Jess Rodriguez. Before the final blessing was bestowed, the parish priest also requested all those present to "prayover" the parish for a meaningful celebration of the Lord's passion, death and resurrection. The event was set on this date to highlight the mystery of the Lord's Transfiguration, which was the gospel of the day.

41

42

43

44

45

46

47

48

49

50

51

FIRST AND ONLY TIME. This years Santacruzan was held last May 27. It had an added feature: the image of San Antonio to remind the faithful of the centennial celebration of the foundation of the parish. Indeed, the cultural and religious heritage of Cabugao would never be complete without its revered patron and protector.

53