Asian Journal- The Filipino-American Community Newspaper

The Christmas season is always a time for transformation -- a moment to look back and be thankful for all the blessings we’ve received throughout the year, at the same time an opportunity to give back and share what we have to the less fortunate. The Asian Journal MDWK Magazine celebrates the birth of our Savior with two touching stories: one about a church that has become a cradle of faith and generosity, the other an inspiring tale about altruistic acts. It is through these stories that we hope to impart the true message of the holidays: that Christmas is not just about giving gifts to our loved ones, but giving the gift of life to those who especially need our help, and that even ordinary folks are capable of bringing joy to those in need.

‘Isang Duyan ng Pananampalataya:’ Immaculate Heart of Mary, The ‘Can Do’ Church

“In Aristotle’s Nicomachean Ethics (Circa 325 BC), the central questions are about character.  Aristotle begins by asking “What is the good of man?” and his answer is “an activity of the soul in conformity with virtue.” To understand ethics, therefore, we must understand what makes a virtuous person, and Aristotle, with a keen eye for the details, devotes much space to discussing particular virtues such as courage, self-control, generosity and truthfulness…Socrates, Plato and a host of other ancient thinkers all approached ethics by asking: “What traits of character make one a good person?” - James Rachels, The Elements of Moral Philosophy, 2003.

When Asian Journal featured the life stories of Filipino Priests in the USA, ethical virtues embodied in men became known and more prominent.  

In some gatherings, previously unknown priests became common topics of discussion, particularly their heroic struggles to practice their ministries to many folks in the Philippines and here in the USA.  It allowed folks to see their common humanity as men behind the cloth and how they led their churches.  

Invariably, folks examined their practices and their professed allegiance to virtues.

Immaculate Heart of Mary Church

Immaculate Heart of Mary Church’s building was once described by a transient parishioner as ill-maintained, with leaky roofs, peeling paint, tattered carpets and a picayune baptismal font. Its small-sized font and its lack of repair belied the true character of generosity in its parishioners and its infinite potential of growing love and generosity within.  

It is a ‘can do’ church, where Spanish, English and Tagalog are spoken together and not separately, equal in stature in its holiday masses of Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter.  This intentional practice convey to those from Central America, Mexico, Philippines and the US, that all are born equal, as beloved children of God into this world. It is “isang duyan ng pananampalataya”, one cradle or crib of faith, as Fr. Miloy Pacanza described on Dec. 19, 2011 during Simbang Gabi.

Mind you, it is cold during these wintry months.  Not even the birds would dare chirp this early. But the voices of the IHMC’s choir are bold and fearless in fully manifesting their faith.  

When they sing May Bukas Pa, even Christine Oshima, a Japanese-American Lutheran practitioner could not help, but say, “I feel at home here and their songs stir me inside,” with tears, at times. 

A new grandmother, Carmen Salindong, leaves her grandchild quietly to come to Simbang Gabi before baking loaves of LA’s finest artisan french breads and pastries for choice accounts in Los Angeles.  

Another, JV Samson shares the worship aid, while he leads the voices in a pew and rushes downtown to work in the garment district. 

Their nine-day Simbang Gabi tradition is standing room-only: young and old, middle–aged. All know their pastor, Fr. Rodel Balagtas by name and Fr. Rodel seems to know all of his parishioners’ innermost concerns by heart. It has earned him their adulation one Thanksgiving: “Kay Balagtas, wala kang ligtas. He lights the sparks in hearts to love more.”

The net of love spread wide by IHMC is inescapable. When you meet established Filipino-Americans, they remember fondly their first son’s baptism and how they were warmly accommodated.  
The faithful of IHMC

Carole Cotter’s son is now 28 years old. Jojo and Meg Gutierrez worshipped there in 1983 until they moved to San Gabriel Valley. Rose and Ed Alcantara went there every Sunday from 1976 to 1979, before moving to Cerritos. 
But why does Kendro Calica, who hails from San Diego, come every Sunday to play the violin with the IHMC choir? Or Mike Zuniga who drives 50 miles to sing in IHMC choir? Or the non-stop participation of Venice and Pete Avendano, creating and composing songs for IHMC’s liturgy and the upcoming centennial celebrations?

How does one explain the yearly visits from priests who live from far-flung areas of the Philippines? Those who study in Catholic universities in Europe and the US who take a detour to join celebrations of Simbang Gabi, like Fr. John V. Era, Fr. Anthony Carreon, and Fr. Kenneth Massong?

Fr. Randy Odchigue, Ph.D in Sacred Theology and current VP of Academic Affairs of Fr. Saturnino Urios University shares well-crafted and brilliant homilies which resonates with the parishioners.  
“IHMC is a vibrant community. Fr. Rodel and Fr. Miloy are generous pastors with a multiplier effect.  They do so much extra for the parishioners that because of these, the parishioners in turn volunteer and are so happy to give so much love and service to the community,” he said.

Nine years ago, Rev. Fr. Rodel Balagtas started the groundwork of deepening the faith in parishioners with bible studies, group discussions, door-to-door dialogues with families in the neighborhoods and various parish ministries became vibrant that to date, 62 exist.
Celebrations

Christmas brings a bevy of activities that recharge and inspire folks: IHMC children’s choir concert, IHMC school play, a visit to the convalescent home to sing to the seniors,  a priests’ holiday concert—serenading the parishioners for the holidays, a form of sacrificial

giving and blessings, that even the caregivers who were without families, found their belonging with the parish.  

Sadly, this year brought grief with the demise of children’s choir member, Klein Lapitan. A funeral mass was held for Klein.

Fundraisers and generous sponsors

On some Sunday afternoons, the smell of hot tortillas join in with the smell of pancit and barbecue in the garden patio to keep raising funds for the church.  IHMC held their first food fair last Dec. 18 and a month ago, the food committee could not imagine this could be done. But, Fr. Rodel prevailed in inspiring them.

Nino Jefferson Lim of Island Pacific Supermarkets and Charina Carrera made it happen for IHMC, to feed early morning arroz caldo to parishioners before going to work. 

Other generous businesses in the area joined in: Honeybee Food Corporation, aka Jolibee, Alice Sapin Sapin, Point-Point Joint Filipino Fast Food, Neri’s Filipino Bakery, Kainan Nino Restaurant, Pampanga Master Grill, DJ Bibingkahan, Manila Sunset, Goldilocks, Seafood City and Coffee Bean.  Families were so happy to buy breakfasts to take home that the Church raised $1,800 in 30 minutes. ABS-CBN’s Steve Angeles was seen amongst the crowds chronicling history.

No wonder 80% of the parishioners pledged close to $2 million fund and to date, new roof for the church and school, new electrical, new heating and new airconditioning have been installed. 

It seemed impossible, almost like a dream for the next century, as this church is mostly made up of working class folks, refugees, caregivers, retired folks, pensioners, and musicians, quite limited perhaps in income, but not in imagining fundraisers.

Folks cleaned out their jewelry boxes for gold and dollars, which were donated to the Church.  

Some organized a successful masquerade ball, raising thousands more for the Church’s coffers. 

Several musical concerts were held, inviting the Philippine Chamber of Music Singers to join, along with Ed and Annie Nepomuceno, Joan Cano and Pete Avendano.  

Tireless in concocting ways of serving their faith, further encouraged and appreciated immensely by their pastor, Fr. Rodel Balagtas and Fr. Miloy, who provides environmental stewardship, they lead the circle of generosity.  

Fr. Rodel summed it up: “My heart is with the poor. When I joined folks from Central America, I am struck by their simplicity, their faith that brings an entire family to sing and to dance and to give whatever they have and their joys, with their faith. And the Pinoy parishioners are so giving with their talent, time and treasures. When they give, they are so creative in developing the community. I see through their attitudes and they live their faith, even if it seems like this Church is living paycheck to paycheck, important thing is we are all building together a strong, vibrant community, restoring the church is an added bonus for we are doing it against all odds and common sense, in the middle of the worst recession.  When Klein Lapitan died (the 8th grader who is a member of IHMC’s children’s choir) I broke the news to all the 8 classrooms. I cried with the 8th graders as I now felt like his father, losing a child. [I prayed for him] with his parents and [I grieve] with them. At first, I could not break the news. But I remembered I am their pastor. Then, I also looked at all my dreams: What came true and what did not come true?  I realized all my dreams were fulfilled. When I dreamt to be a priest, it happened; I dreamt of being a pastor, it happened; I dreamt of my doctorate, it happened; I dreamt of restoring this church, it is happening right before our very eyes. It brought me new strength to feel God’s love for me has been always there.” 

I then asked him Nino Jefferson Lim’s question: “If you knew for sure you would not fail, what else would you do for IHMC?” To which, Fr. Rodel said “I would do my best to develop the school, financially and their curriculum, take up the challenge of growing the enrollment at IHMC school and make it the destination school in Los Angeles, a mirror of IHMC, the intentional church in Los Angeles. It is easy to give up on our relationships, our community but we cannot fail on love, we can’t fail on forgiveness, when it comes to loving heroically, there is no failure. We never lost the fight even in praying for Klein to overcome leukemia, for many folks bonded together, faith became stronger and children sang their cares for love of Jesus. When it comes to relationships, there is all gain.