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FILIPINO PARISH NETHERLANDS LAUNCHED ON THE OCCASION OF PHILIPPINE HISTORICAL EVENTS
INO PARISH NETHERLANDS LAUNCHED ON THE OCCASION OF PHILIPPINE HISTORICAL Taguba
The Netherlands
Thu 18th August 2011
The Filipino Parish Netherlands (FPNL) was successfully launched last 19 June at the Old Catholic Church in Amsterdam in connection with the celebration of the 150th birthday anniversary of Dr. Jose P. Rizal and the 113th Philippine Independence Day anniversary.
Opening the General Assembly was a pictorial review of the meetings and church activities since October 2010 and a narrative of the parish history. This was followed by the ratification of its Constitution and By-Laws, approval of its one-year program and budget and electing its Parish Council officers. The Parish program includes: Christian Growth and Pastoral Care, Migrant/Refugee Rights and Welfare, Skills Training and Empowerment and Philippine Concerns and Projects. ## following were elected Parish Council members: Rev. C.T.Taguba, chairperson; Rev. Fr. Dr. Peter-Ben Smit, vice chairperson; Grace Punongbayan, Secretary; Lualhati Belen Hartong-Taguba, Treasurer and Aldo Gonzales, auditor with Rt. Rev. Dr. Dirk Jan Schoon, Bishop of Haarlem of the Old Catholic Church (OCC) as consultant/adviser.
Guests who delivered their greetings were Ms. Kathleen Ferrier, member of parliament, Dr. and Mrs. Paul The, chairperson of SKIN (Association of Migrant Churches) and Ir. Anmar Hayali, coordinator of SKIN. As former coordinator of SKIN, Kathleen Ferrier expressed interest in the rights and welfare of au pairs. Also present were former congressman and chair of the Makabayan Partylist Coalition Satur Ocampo, Vic Ladlad and Atty Carlos Zarate.
In his homily, Bishop DJ Schoon, spoke of the relevance of the Pentecost (gift of God’s Holy Spirit to his people) to the continuing liberation struggle and longing for a world of real peace for all peoples and the casting away of fear. He said that the launching of the Filipino Parish is a “new chapter to the book of the Church of Christ” and a community which “glorifies God in the liturgy and sharing of experiences and lives together”. Bishop DJ Schoon called on the parishioners to constantly open themselves to the working of the Holy Spirit who guides people in their quest for genuine peace and justice in the Philippines, Europe and the worldover.. He considers the FPNL as a “spiritual home” of migrants and refugees especially the most vulnerable like the undocumented.
The solemn commemorative program was a historical narrative of the Filipino people’s struggle for freedom up to the present. It included the reading of excerpts of Rizal’sMi Ultimo Adios (My Last Farewell), singing of Lupang Hinirang, reading in Pilipino and English of Amado Hernandez’s Kung Tuyo and Luha Mo (If Your Tears Flow No More, My Motherland) and singing of Ang Bayan Ko in Pilipino and Dutch.
The FPNL which describes itself as Maka- Dios (for God), Maka- Tao (for migrant/human rights) and Maka –Bayan ( for land and people) holds its mass/service and information-education and socials every 3rd Sunday of the month.
Information regarding the FPNL can be provided by Bishop DJ Schoon (djschoon@planet.nl>, 020-6628313 and Rev. C.T. Taguba, 033-4723084.