Asian Catholics
The Office of Asian Ministry provides a channel for systematic communication, collaboration and coalition among the many different Asian communities and their organizations within the Diocese. We provide continued evangelization of Asian Catholics. In collaboration with the other ministries of the Diocese we provide ongoing training and education for lay leadership. The Office of Asian Ministry and the Diocese of Richmond provides the opportunity to listen to and respond to the strengths, challenges and needs of these diverse communities.
This Being Asian is best discovered and affirmed not in confrontation and opposition, but in the spirit of complementarity and harmony. In this framework of complementarity and harmony, the Church can communicate the Gospel in a way that is faithful both to her own tradition and to the Asian soul.
The Church of Asia (Ecclesia in Asia), no.6
Asian Ministry Calendar of Events
Filipino Commission
Mission Statement: “We, the Filipino Commission of the Catholic Diocese of Richmond, are here to assist the Bishop and the Diocesan Church in welcoming, empowering and affirming the faith of and reaching out to the Filipino Community. We seek to raise the consciousness of the Diocesan Church to the needs of the Filipino community and to the richness of the Filipino culture and religious traditions. The Filipino Commission of the Catholic Diocese of Richmond with its God-given gifts will support the Catholic Church in becoming more inclusive of all cultures in its journey towards “Harmony in Faith. ””
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| Filipino Commission Photos |
The Filipino Commission meets quarterly and the commission members are listed below.
Melchor Lazo, Chair, Holy Spirit, Virginia Beach
Rey Bonjoc, Vice-Chair, Church of the Redeemer, Mechanicsville
Flora Cantor, Secretary, St. Andrew, Roanoke
Purita Agbuya, Church of the Ascension, Virginia Beach
Virgie Baluyot, St. Anthony, Norton
Marissa Clemente, St. Pius X, Virginia Beach
Dario Macatangay, Our Lady of Lourdes, Richmond
Myrna Nario, St Luke, Virginia Beach
Delfin Raymundo, Church of Epiphany, Chesterfield
Jane Soriano, St. Gregory the Great, Virginia Beach
Astrophel Tejada, St Matthew, Virginia Beach
* Please join us on Saturday, December 10, 2011, 1:00 pm at the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart in Richmond for the commissioning of Simbang Gabi. Most Rev Francis DiLorenzo, Celebrant.
Simbang Gabi, or "Night Mass", an important Filipino tradition, is a nine day novena of Masses in anticipation for the Nativity of Jesus. It begins December 15 and ends December 23rd. The Office of Asian Ministry and the Filipino Commission invites everyone to join them each night as we joyfully await the coming of our Lord. We will begin with a Commissioning Mass on Saturday, December 10, 2011, at the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart in Richmond, where several parishes will process in with their banners or flags. Our first scheduled evening novena will be on Thursday, December 15, 7:00 pm, at Church of the Holy Spirit, Virginia Beach. Please visit the Asian Ministry Calendar of Events to view the entire schedule. If you have any questions please contact Pam Harris or any of the Filipino Commission members.
Links/Resources
http://new.usccb.org/issues-and-action/cultural-diversity/asian-pacific-islander/