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FRC Visits St. Francis de Assisi Unit

We recently visited a new FRC Unit at the St. Francis de Assisi Parish, Cambridge, Cainta, Rizal.

The parish is one of the latest additions to the growing number of FRC Units in the Philippines. It was organized in 2011, the same year when the parish was formally established under the Diocese of Antipolo.

In his talk, Fr. Roque discussed the life of FRC founder, Fr. Patrick Peyton and his legacy of promoting family prayer.

About 70 active officers and block coordinators attended the meeting, where they reported the various activities in the parish. They also brought out some of the issues they encountered in transferring the image of the Blessed Mother to the different households in their barangay.

Notably, a young boy, who serves as a block leader of the Unit, also gave a report.

The Unit was also informed of the 8^th FRC General Assembly on June 22, which will be held from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Pius Catholic Center Auditorium.

The meeting also provided the opportunity to remind the members of the new timeslots of FRC's regular TV programs on Studio 23 (Sundays, 6 to 7 a.m.) and TV5 (Saturdays, 4:30 to 5:30 a.m.).

Fr. James Padilla, the parish priest is very supportive of the Unit in his parish.

See media center for photos

Mother Mary Visits Families

It was in October when a group of Marian devotees in a small parish in Antipolo embarked on the propagation of family rosary through the Block Rosary Movement. Deviating a bit from the traditional practice of bringing the image of Our Lady from one household to another every week, images of Our Lady are brought back to the parish where they will be handed to the next host family. It is greatly encouraged that the images are brought back to the parish by the whole family and handed likewise to the next family. In this simple gesture the handing of images by the priest after Mass makes it more solemn and thus becomes part of the parish activities.

To date, there are now more than 60 images of Our Lady of Fatima handed to 60 new families every Sunday, and the practice is still growing. Other nearby parishes have expressed their desire to adopt the practice.

Closely knit families is a Filipino characteristic and praying the Rosary as a group is one way the family is strengthened. Just like the beads of the rosary, family prayer brings them closer to Jesus through Mary and makes true the statement, The Family That Prays Together Stays Together.

Photos courtesy of Raena E. Abella, see media center

A Salute to Fr. James B. Reuter, SJ

Family Rosary Crusade stood witness at the Church of Gesu as people from different walks of life gathered and paid their last respect to God's Great Communicator, Fr. James B. Reuter, SJ., who died on December 31 at 12.31pm.

Concelebrated by about seventy (70) priests and 6 bishops with His Eminence Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle as the main celebrant, the final mass for Fr. Reuter was indeed a full house. At the end of the Mass, Father Nebres, Former President of Ateneo, asked everyone to give a final round of applause for Father Reuter. It was a standing ovation that lasted around 3 minutes.

In a related event, the Board and Staff of Family Rosary Crusade gathered on Thursday. January 3, at the Church of Gesu to offer a special Rosary for Fr. Reuter fondly called by the staff as "Papa Bear". The Rosary was led by the FRC Board Members: Amb. Dee, Charito Melchor and Loudette Banson, FRC host Bernard Canaberal, FRC Core Group Member Milagros Enriquez and FRC supporter Mely Diaz.

Fr. Roque, FRC's Executive Director read the tribute of Fr. John Phalen, CSC, President of Holy Cross Family Ministries. A short video prepared by FRC was shown before the rosary. Another video presentation was made by FRC before the funeral mass.

Fr. Reuter was the voice behind the OBB (opening billboard) of FRC programs and several documentaries produced by FRC. He has become so much a part of FRC that people would approach him and mistakenly address him as Fr. Peyton.

Fr. Reuter was a priest... an artist.... a Rosary advocate... a mentor and most of all a friend. Rest in Peace Fr. Reuter!!!

For Photos: See Media Center - Special Thanks to Fr. Anthony Coloma, SJ, Jelen Perlas Pronstoller and Cherry Aquino

For Video: http://vimeo.com/56897642