Mary as Model of Charity
By Crissy Castillo
When I think of charity, the words that come to mind are “selfless” and “giving.” Mary, for me, is someone who embodies these characteristics.
“I am the servant of the Lord. May it be done to me according to Your word.” (Lk 1:38)
From the moment the Angel Gabriel told Mary that she would become pregnant with Jesus, and we read about her ‘Yes!’ to God, we knew that Mary was selfless.
As a young girl, I was always impressed with the story of a girl who trusted God so much at a young age. I had started to learn about what it means to give selflessly of one’s self for another. I could not imagine myself being able to give myself the way Mary did to what the Angel Gabriel told her.
What is it like to absolutely trust in God? To absolutely trust the plan of God when you are saying “Yes!”?
The one thing that I am always asked to give of myself – especially when it comes to our church ministries, events and outreaches – is my time. I have always been hesitant about saying yes to planning and organizing things, because I know how much TIME that would involve. Time away from friends, time away from family, time away from myself. And I always question how I get into a situation where I am asked to give more and more of my time to the church, especially just when I have said no to other requests.
But then I remember Mary, who trusted in God’s plan for her so much, that she said yes. A Yes that would change her life completely. She gave herself completely to the will of God. So, I have learned to serve the Lord where He calls me. And, as of now, He calls me to give my time to the church, to serve our community with my time and energy.
Charity is more than just giving clothes and money (I’m not saying that they are not important). For me, charity is giving of one’s self, of one’s time. For me, charity is presence.
Mary has always been present in the life of Jesus. From the annunciation, to His birth, to His death (Jn 19:25-27), Mary was there. Mary was a constant presence in the life of Jesus.
It is hard to ask other people to be active in church, to come to church, to be involved in the church, if I myself am not present in church. I cannot ask someone to be charitable with their time and effort if I myself am not. Read more from this week’s Parish Bulletin>>>>>
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SSAP Pre-Cana
REGISTER HERE FOR THE NEXT SCHEDULED SEMINAR
Santuario de San Antonio Parish Pre-Cana program, conducted by its Ministry of Family and Life are scheduled every 1st Saturday of the month. Register online, here, or with Jasmine at the Parish Office, 843-8830 to 31 #4 and provide your preferred schedule, individual full names, nicknames, contact numbers and email addresses. If your wedding is not going to be held at SSAP, pls. seek permission from the parish of your wedding venue before signing up for SSAP Pre-Cana.
Read an article from one of the engaged couples>>>>>
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OVERSEAS INQUIRIES/RESERVATIONS:
Please read through the information provided in our Parish Services page before sending your inquiries to the following individuals:
For WEDDING c/o Fe Fernandez – beguirmaria20@gmail.com
For CRYPT c/o Ma. Belen R. Salano – belen.salano@yahoo.com
For FUNERAL CHAPEL & PARISH CENTER c/o Alice Loto – adjosh911@yahoo.com.ph
For BAPTISM services & MASS CARDS c/o Edna Limpiada – ednalynanesco@gmail.com
For Parish Bulletin Ads c/o Marie Tycangco – ssappb@yahoo.com
