Religion

Can a priest freelance his services?

January 30, 2012
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Can a priest freelance his services?

By Fr. Tirso Villaverde Associate Pastor of St. Bartholomew Parish Reflections     Recently on different occasions, several people have asked me if priests are allowed to be “freelancers.”  To be clear, there is no such thing as a “freelancing” priest.  All priests must be connected to a particular diocese either by his own...

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The meaning of the new translation during mass

October 31, 2011
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The meaning of the  new translation during mass

By Father Tirso Villaverde Reflections St. Bartholomew Parish Associate Pastor   This month’s article, and subsequent articles, will be directed mainly toward Catholics only because the topic will impact them in a great way.  The end of October is the First Sunday of Advent. Catholics who regularly attend English Masses will be using the...

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Unity among Filipino Americans

September 30, 2011
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Unity among Filipino Americans

By Father Tirso Villaverdo St. Bartholomew Parish Reflections This past July, some of you may remember that Bishop Oscar Solis, auxiliary bishop of the Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles, came for a visit to Chicago to meet with Filipino priests of surrounding dioceses and to promote the first ever National Assembly of Filipino Priests. ...

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A priest’s passage

June 2, 2011
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A priest’s passage

Reflections By Father Tirso Villaverde St. Bartholomew Parish There have been two questions that I have been getting lately from parishioners.  The first is, “When are you going to be reassigned?”  And, the second is connected to the first, “Why do you have to be reassigned?”  Inevitably during a priest’s tenure at a particular...

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The process of becoming a Saint

April 29, 2011
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The process of becoming a Saint

By Fr. Tirso Villaverde Reflections St. Bartholomew Parish   On the first day of this month, there will most likely have been some coverage of the beatification ceremony of the late John Paul II.  It is a ceremony that will mark a major step in his being numbered among the countless Saints of the...

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Preparation for Easter

April 5, 2011
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Preparation for Easter

Reflections By Fr. Tirso Villaverde St. Bartholomew Parish   Later this month, Christians throughout the world will celebrate the holiest days of our faith.  With Holy Thursday, Good Friday, Holy Saturday, and Easter Sunday, Christians will celebrate the culmination of salvation.  For Catholic Christians, the celebrations on these days are marked by rituals that...

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St. Peregrine – Patron Saint of cancer patients

January 31, 2011
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St. Peregrine – Patron Saint of cancer patients

By Fr. Tirso Villaverde St. Bartholomew Parish Reflections Not knowing the exact statistics, it is most certain that every one of us has been affected by the disease of cancer in one way or another.  Whether we ourselves are cancer victims and/or survivors or someone we know has been affected by it, cancer seems...

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Is the World Going to End in 2012?

December 31, 2010
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Is the World Going to End in 2012?

Reflections By Fr. Tirso Villaverde Contributing Editor As we begin the year of 2011, I think many of us cannot help but call to mind the “predictions” that the world will supposedly come to an end in the year of 2012.  This is based on the theory that the ancient Aztec calendar, together with...

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The Simbang Gabi Novena

November 23, 2010
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The Simbang Gabi Novena

By Fr. Tirso Villaverde Contributing Editor “Ang Pasko ay sumapit!  Tayo ay magsiawit ng magagandang himig dahil sa ang Diyos ay pagibig…” For most Filipinos, even for those who may have grown up here in the United States, the Christmas season is incomplete without hearing “Ang Pasko ay Sumapit” at least once during the...

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Understanding the marriage covenant: Part 2

September 30, 2010
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Understanding the marriage covenant: Part 2

By Father Tirso Villaverde PINOY Contributor Is it permissible for a Catholic to divorce?”  By the very nature of Catholic marriage as a lifelong expression of Christ’s own love for His Church, marriage is also a lifelong commitment.  The end of a marriage relationship is a serious issue just as the decision to marry...

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