Shows anchored on faith

I am a Roman Catholic and I hear Mass every Sunday with my husband, Orange. For my entire life, hearing Mass is like clockwork, only the schedule changes, and the parish where I hear Mass. When I was a child, I heard Mass at Good Shepherd in Fairview with my parents. Mama Elaine would complain that our priest would only talk about politics. When I was in college, I went to Radio Veritas. I appreciate the Indian priests with their concise and meaningful homilies. And there is the Feast of Bro. Bo Sanchez, which I used to attend.

Other parishes I attended are the Arzobispado in Mandaluyong and the parishes near my place of work.

Confession: I seek out priests who are effective speakers.

These may sound off-key to some, especially the religious, but I really have to admit that I have my biases, but this not out of disrespect to some priests who have chosen the vocation to be good shepherds of the Church. We worship God and not the priests, some would perhaps say. Their role is very important in bringing us closer to God.

It’s Semana Santa again and I am set to attend the recollection today at the Ateneo with Manila Archbishop Chito Tagle. I am a groupie of Bishop Chito, and perhaps all those familiar faces that I see during his Advent and Lenten recollections. This is an opportunity for me to reflect on life’s purpose, and the Manila Archbishop has that gift of making one realize that.

That is why every Sunday morning, I would wake up early for work. Enjoy the quiet drive along EDSA, and when I reach the makeup room, turn on the television and watch the Word Exposed hosted by Archbishop Tagle on ANC at 6 a.m. In the program, the readings for the Sunday Mass are explained, as well as doctrines and traditions that the Roman Catholic Church adheres to. I find it very helpful and it serves as my quiet time from my busy schedule. But a reminder to Catholics, this is not a substitute to the Holy Mass.

Religious organizations, Catholic or otherwise, see the value of television in spreading the Word. It is more of a need than a luxury, especially since everyone is into TV, and the material that we air on TV becomes pop culture. Because of TV, girls want to look like Anne Curtis, become the next big star like Angeline Quinto, or be part of the next batch of housemates in Pinoy Big Brother. There is nothing wrong with that, but what can be bothersome is if we neglect the reason why we exist and do bad things. I believe we need to anchor ourselves on our faith and work at it.

Meanwhile, the Jesuit Communications (Jescom) Foundation, Inc., a non-stock and non-profit media organization, is the one producing the Word Exposed as well as Kape’t Pandesal, a two-minute segment that airs at 4 a.m. on ABS-CBN. (I watch the latter before Umagang Kay Ganda.)

I support their advocacy and I urge you to support it, too.

Cheche Lazaro hosts Sa Mga Yapak ni Hesus, a Lenten special of Jesuit Communications on ABS-CBN

My first impression about the Jescom was that it was supported by the Ateneo and that it had lots of financial support. Actually, not. They occupy a space at the Ateneo campus and they also have to pay the rent for it. According to Fr. Nono Alfonso of Jescom, “Under the Jesuit Constitution, the Jesuit Community gives to apostolates such as schools, but not vice versa.”

I believe in the advocacy of the Jescom, as I believe in other advocacies like health or women’s rights, or the environment (which I will later write about in this column). But supporting Jescom is on top of my list because what they deliver is intangible, but essential — that is, faith in God, which is the heart of all advocacies and giving.

To support, you may send donations to:

Banco de Oro Katipunan Branch

Account Name: Jesuit Communications Foundation, Inc.

Account Number: 207-0033984

Account Type: Savings

EastWest Bank Katipunan Branch

Account Name: Jesuit Communications Foundation, Inc.

Account Number: 002-702-002802

Account Type: CASA

Bank of the

Philippine Islands Loyola – Katipunan Branch

Account Name: Jesuit Communication Foundation, Inc.

Account Number: 3081-1128-18

Account Type: Checking

Jescom is now working on its Lenten specials, collectively called as Mga Kuwento Mula sa Lupang Pangako, which will be aired on ABS-CBN Channel 2.

Sa Mga Yapak ni Hesus features different stories of pilgrims who went on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land, their life-changing experiences in the Way of Light highlight the documentary. It is narrated by Cheche Lazaro, and will be aired on April 5, Maundy Thursday.

Ang Makabagong Disipulo features the life and journey of Archbishop Tagle, from his childhood to his present pastoral assignment in Archdiocese of Manila. It will be aired on April 6, Good Friday, hosted by yours truly on ABS-CBN.

(For your comments, e-mail me at [email protected].)