Happy God-blessed September!

We are now in the first of the “ber” months.

Before the pandemic, Christmas music and songs used to be aired as early as September. Except for a number of posts and TV news showing Jose Mari Chan, the composer of hits like “Christmas in Our Hearts” and “A Perfect Christmas,” there seems to be a strong uncertainty that the pandemic may last till this year’s Christmas and beyond.

In the midst of the continuing pandemic, Jose Mari Chan himself wrote new lyrics for the popular Christmas in Our Hearts as follows:

“Whenever I hear girls and boys, singing carols in my mind, I remember the past, when everything was fine. Whenever I see people, giving gifts to those in need, I believe this Christmas, we should be there to lead.”

“Let’s open up our hearts for a bright tomorrow, in any way we can and drive out all our sorrow.”

The new lyrics for his other song, “ A Perfect Christmas,”  include:

“My idea of a perfect Christmas is to spend it with you. We could Facetime an hour or two, any app would do. “

“Carry with you this Yuletide season, it would light up my life. Though we are distant, you’ll see in my face that my heart is with you.”

Let us all continue to pray God will allow us to spend a happy COVID-free Christmas this year.

Let us also offer ask our Mama Mary, whose birthday is coming soon, this September 8, to intercede for us and lift our prayers to God and His defeat of this virus.

Let us journey to joy each day, knowing God is in control and in His time and in His way, will make all things right and beautiful. Let us continue to stay in full faith and trust.

Fr. Jerry Orbos, SVD will lead a five-day Zoom webinar retreat, entitled “Journey to Joy,” from 4 to 5 p.m daily, starting September 4 to 8. His final talk will be followed by a birthday Mass for Mama Mary from 5-6 p.m. Bobby and Maribi Garcia will host the event.

We learned that there are already about 400 participants but as more expressed their desire to join, the organizers have decided to expand the number of participants to 600.

It is always a happy encounter to have Fr. Jerry Orbos as main speaker. His deep love for God and Mama Mary shine through his words and his acts. It is a blessing to be with someone so blessed like Fr. Jerry Orbos. Despite his bout with terminal cancer, his faith never waivered and God rewarded him with complete healing!

His sense of humor is also classic. He lightens and brightens up the narrow world we find ourselves in with his humorous punchlines. As this retreat will be conducted within the pandemic, many are truly looking forward to several days of inspired guidance from Fr. Jerry Orbos.

Another event to look forward to is the Divine Mercy Summit. Registration is now open. The invitation reads: “A time has come for a mercy movement! A movement of radical trust in Jesus and Devotion to His unfathomable mercy!”

The summit will have exclusive talks given by Divine Mercy experts from all over the world on topics ranging from the life of St. Faustina Kowalska and the secret underground work of Blessed Fr. Michael Sopocko. There will be a concert featuring some very talented artists who have written pieces about Divine mercy and the events that surrounded St. Faustina’s mystical life, and more.

Without doubt, this pandemic is certainly challenging creating so much anxiety, fear and concern for all. Gratefully, God our Father is always with us, with His love, mercy, protection and healing.