The echoes of the cold breeze resounded over the mountains of Boso-Boso right after the holiday season.  During the cold spell, it felt like autumn in Boso-Boso as the leaves, hit by strong cold winds, detached themselves from the trees and fell to the ground.  Indeed, the holidays were not yet over…the spirit was still alive and so were the spirits of the parishioners of Nuestra Señora dela Anunciata Parish. Renewed and recreated, the local church of Boso-Boso started the year full of hope and great anticipation.

RENEWED LIFE FOR OUR “TB” PATIENTS

Since last year, our community health program has been focusing its efforts on our tuberculosis patients in Boso-Boso and nearby sitios. The community health volunteers started giving lectures to the different chapels of the parish; the talks were incorporated in the basic ecclesial organization gatherings. At the same time they also visited patients diagnosed with TB. Seventy percent of our patients included in the DOTS Program who have been taking the medication for almost six months now will be ‘graduating’ this month. They are renewed individuals who can now serve their family and neighborhood. Some of them are helping the community health volunteers visit and follow up other patients still undergoing the medication program called ‘tutok gamutan.’

RENEWED VOICES TO PRAISE HIM

The Nuestra Señora dela Anunciata Parish Children’s choir, with the guidance of the Franciscan Sisters of the Sacred Heart assigned in the parish, is giving a new taste of songs to the parish. Fr. Meng and the Franciscan Sisters conduct formative activities for the youth involved in the ministry ranging from voice lessons to catechetical and values formation classes. The choir members are increasing in number; there are now members coming from the different sitios of the parish.

RENEWED PARISH ORGANIZATIONS

Fr. Meng Barawid, MI said: “Many people want to be involved and have a full active participation in the church.”  This, indeed, would be the statement that can appropriately describe the happenings in the parish organizations through the efforts of the Parish Pastoral Council headed by Yolanda Rodriguez and with the guidance Fr. Meng. There are new faces in the parish grounds taking part in every activity.

The Couples for Christ of the parish is making a breakthrough into the homes of the families in Boso-Boso as they strive to invite more parishioners to join.  The membership statistics is in fact increasing.  Every Saturday, the couples gather to reflect on the word of God and share their struggles and God-experiences with one another.

On the one hand, the Community Health Volunteers continue to touch lives and to gain more volunteer applicants who will become future ‘servants of the sick’ in their respective areas.  There are already volunteers coming from San Josep and San Isiro.

The “kursilyo” is also helping members renew their Christian faith through their continued follow-up and gatherings during which they reflect on their gifts and experiences.

With all these organizations at hand, the local church of Boso-Boso is soaring over the mountains reaching people and renewing lives.

FUTURE RENEWAL

About two months from now, the parish fiesta on the feast day of Nuestra Señora dela Anunciata on March 25 will once again be celebrated.  In connection with this, the parish has launched the search for Mr. and Miss Anunciata 2009. The youth who will participate in the contest will be the ones working for the needed improvement of the church building. Let us support them and pray for the success of the fiesta, which for sure will be another moment of renewal for the parish community.