A Parish for Others: Remembering. Celebrating. Believing

by: Fr. Steve Zabala – Parish Priest

I am still on a high. I am still in awe. I have just finished my longest fiesta celebration with a parish in almost twenty-four years of ministry.

From September 1 to November 30, we marked Christ the King Parish’s 40th anniversary with activities that came in rapid succession.

Most of us grew up celebrating colorful Filipino fiestas. The gaily colored banderitas, the loud blasts of the drum and lyre band, the gyrating, percussive Ati-Atihan—all are cultural elements that draw us into the festive mood.

Looking back, I now realize that CTK had a different mold in marking its fiesta. In fact, when you think about it, all the activities that happened within the ninety-one days of CTK’s 40th remind me of three things that are very akin to the celebration of the Holy Eucharist.

WE REMEMBER
Remembering the least, last, and lost was one of the first activities in our celebration. September was also our fourteenth anniversary as a Stewardship Parish. For five weekends, we looked back at how the parish has reached out to those who have less in life through a series of vignettes. But beyond that, we put our remembering into action. We welcomed the Kariton ni Kiko in our parish, praying and interacting with the poor. We made them realize that they are part of this “parish for others.

In a special way, we also remembered those who started us off in this faith journey—Fr. Tony Lanuevo, Msgr. Jaime Mora, Bishop Antonio Tobias, Bishop Honesto Ongtioco, Msgr. Dan Sta. Maria, Fr. Bong Tupino, even Bishop Raul Martirez. This was the reason why we thought it best to invite clergy who had a special bond with CTK in our Novena Masses. The Clergy Homecoming was also a poignant experience because priests that were part of the fabric of CTK’s faith experience came and bonded with our young altar servers.

We also remembered the growth of community relationships through snapshots of our past. The Images of Faith photo exhibit was painstakingly curated to allow the living pioneers to reminisce and to give the young a sense of parish history.

We had a meaningful recollection of our church dedication when the pioneers and the young relived the lighting of dedication candles done on October 30, 1988. For us it meant hope and the continuity of our values as a community, as the light of the Christ was passed on from the forerunners to the young.

WE CELEBRATE
We celebrated a bountiful harvest of confirmands and communicants in our Kumpilang Bayan and First Communion. The Vatican also gave CTK a special papal blessing and plenary indulgence for all faithful that visit CTK church until December 31.

But what was touching is the way the community celebrated beyond the sacramentals. We bonded as a community. I was impressed by the turnout at the Fun Run and the nonstop throng of people in the Coffee After Church Ministry Fair. These events showed that beyond rituals and prayers, there is a sense of fun, fellowship, and community that weaves us all together.

We also discovered that our fellowship can be translated into song. We launched our very own parish hymn, “Christ in Our Hearts” in November. Hearing the entire congregation sing the verses and refrain with gusto is a veritable goosebump moment. Why? Because in one voice, you were all singing your story.

WE BELIEVE
We launched several things that would seal our bond as a parish and strengthen our Catholic faith. In the Home Visits of the CTK Image, smaller communities are joined in prayer to Christ the King and the Blessed Virgin Mary. To mark Mary’s Nativity, we opened Mary’s Garden that will promote the devotion to the Blessed Mother. No less than Manila archbishop, Cardinal Chito Tagle, led our 40th anniversary recollection to show us how we can find Christ the King amidst the din of our present lives.

But what is utterly inspiring is that this community clearly believes its character as a “parish for others.” We see this in the sparkle in the eyes of people the parishioners visited and helped—the persons deprived of liberty, the lolas of Lingap, the sick, the poor, the unschooled, the residents of Gawad Kalinga Zabarte, the newly empowered individuals that were taught livelihood opportunities, and of course, the youth.

So why do I feel that I am still on a high even after the three month celebration? This is because the celebration has not ended. In my heart, I know that Christ the King community will continue its mission to be a “parish for others” in the years to come.
We continue to remember.
We continue to celebrate.
We continue to believe, way beyond our 40 years.
Happy 40th Fiesta to all!