The ox and the ass

FR. FRANCIS ONGKINGCO 12/28/2018

Among the important elements — not decorations — of the Christmas season is the Crèche or the Nativity scene. In other countries, this representation of the Birth of Jesus is called “the Mystery” because it reminds us…

Angels’ Sunday

FR. FRANCIS ONGKINGCO 12/21/2018

Angel’s Sunday is assigned to the fourth Sunday of Advent. It is that moment when the angels appeared to the shepherds to announce “tidings of great joy!” It was an event that the angels’ sorrowful tears in…

Shepherds’ Sunday

FR. FRANCIS ONGKINGCO 12/14/2018

The Third Sunday of Advent is liturgically called Gaudete Sunday. Gaudete happens to be the first word of the entrance antiphon of the Mass for the Third Sunday of Advent inviting the faithful to rejoice because the…

The kingdom of mirrors

FR. FRANCIS ONGKINGCO 12/07/2018

A very vain King once declared that in his kingdom, only the king could have mirrors. He took all the mirrors in the kingdom and assessed each one. When his image was not well reflected, he had…

Novena + 1

FR. FRANCIS ONGKINGCO 11/30/2018

Father, what’s a novena?” Jonathan asked. “It’s a prayer or a spiritual offering for nine days,”  I replied. “Why nine?” he asked. “I think there isn’t one reason why, Jonathan. At least, the most concrete is that…

Décors and Christmas

FR. FRANCIS ONGKINGCO 11/23/2018

The thermostat of the air-conditioning unit of the SUV was at MAAAX!!! I felt like a defeathered chicken in Antarctica. Ed, however, was a sweating polar bear inside a microwave. “Dapitan!!!?” I asked. “Yes, Fathu,” his stubby…

Pain and Loss

FR. FRANCIS ONGKINGCO 11/16/2018

There wasn’t enough space to properly settle down in the cemetery. Luckily, there was no one visiting their beloved relatives close to my grandparent’s grave. Ed, as though he were in the beach, nonchalantly unfurled the mantle…

Spaces

FR. FRANCIS ONGKINGCO 11/09/2018

There’s that relieving sensation when you have been desperately searching for a parking space for nearly thirty minutes and suddenly a vehicle a few meters from you exits to give you that longed for providential space. “Whew!…

Three-in-One

FR. FRANCIS ONGKINGCO 11/02/2018

Someone asked me once how he could better appreciate and take advantage of the sacrament of confession. At that very moment we were both enjoying some brewed coffee and doughnuts. It then occurred to me to relate…

‘Saintennials’

FR. FRANCIS ONGKINGCO 10/26/2018

The Synod on Young People, the Faith and Vocational Discernment will conclude on the 28th of October. Even before it summarizes all the rich reflections and resolutions into a formal document, it has already proposed an even…

Sub tuum praesidium

FR. FRANCIS ONGKINGCO 10/19/2018

The fruits and protection that this prayer showers upon the Church is also applied to every person who recites it. Pope Francis recently encouraged the faithful to recite what is probably the oldest prayer dedicated to the Blessed…

The God of rest

FR. FRANCIS ONGKINGCO 10/12/2018

Man has become a slave to work. He has reduced work to an end rather than a means to be able to contemplate an activity he shares with God. In a tour through Egyptian artifacts in the…

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