FMAA LUZON CHRISTMAS PARTY AND POLA UNIT BATANGAS PILGRIMAGE LAST DECEMBER 6, 2008

The FMAA Luzon held its Christmas party in Lian, Batangas last December 6, 2008 which started at 3 PM. St. John the Baptist Unit prepared the venue and a hearty dinner for all the members. A Christmas program was prepared by the regional officers and was hosted by Frts. Randy and Bill John. Parlor games and raffle draws were actively participated by all the attendees.

The POLA Unit officers and members sponsored the Batangas pilgrimage. There were numerous churches visited such as Our Lady of Guadalupe in Cavite, Our Lady of Lourdes in Tagaytay, Our Lady of Caysasay in Batangas. After the pilgrimage, all proceeded to Lian , Batangas for the Christmas Party.

FMAA BATANGAS HELD ITS PLANNING SESSION LAST NOVEMBER 16, 2008

FMAA Batangas held its planning session last November 16, 2008. Officers from the St. Xavier Parish and St. John the Baptist units attended the session.

While the Batangas FMAA officers were updating their plans, the FMAA POLA Unit officers went around Batangas to do the ocular visit for the Batangas pilgrimage to be held on December 6, 2008.

EVALUATION MEETING OF FMAA OFFICERS LAST OCTOBER 24, 2008

FMAA Officers of Luzon and POLA unit held an evaluation session last October 24,2008. They evaluated the 1st Luzon general assembly last October 4, 3008 attended by 51 members from Tarlac and POLA.

Overall, the officers rated the event as successful. Recommendations for the next assembly are the following:

• increase the number of participants following up attendees
• as much as possible, cater food so that everybody can attend the assembly
• raise funds.

Venue of the next general assembly will be either in Tarlac or Batangas.

October 5, 2008 - FMAA Luzon and POLA unit officers, and NCC Chairman Sis. Beth Samodan held a meeting last October 5, 2008 at POLA, Mandaluyong City. Sis. Beth Samodan attended the 1st general assembly of FMAA Luzon last October 4, 2008.

The FMAA Luzon reported the previous activities and the updated plan of activities of POLA and Tarlac units. It was also reported that there will be a regional planning that will consolidate the plans of the different units in the region scheduled before end of October, 2008.

The NCC Chairman informed everybody that there will be a standard BMO module and there will be printed copies of the revised Constitution and By-Laws of FMAA to be given to each region. After the meeting, the group toured Sis. Beth to Mall of Asia and a midnight snack in Aristocrat Restaurant in Roxas Boulevard, Manila.

October 4, 2008 - FMAA Luzon 1st General Assembly was held last October 4, 2008 at the St. Therese Educational Private School in Sgt. Bumatay, Mandaluyong City. The assembly started at 7:30 am with a mass celebrated by Rev. Fr. Tophie Amoroso. The FMAA members and guests were acknowledged by Sis. Emma Carballo, FMAA Luzon RCC Vice-Chairman and welcomed by Rev. Fr. Pat Casino, MSP, the MSP National Mission Promotion Director.

Overview of the general assembly was given by Sis. Dina Arguillo, FMAA Luzon RCC Chairman. After the overview, Sis. Beth Samodan, FMAA NCC Chairman , gave an inspirational message. A health break followed before Rev. Fr. Edgar Labagala, an ex-Associate Member of MSP and the Director of the ASSYST, delivered a very enriching input on the assembly theme "FMAA Luzon: Continuing the zeal moved by the Pauline passion as mission partners of MSP".

After lunch, Rev. Fr. Pat Casino, MSP gave the FMAA directions for the year 2008 - 2009 that became the basis of the workshop that followed. POLA unit updated their 2008 plans while Tarlac parish unit made their initial plan for the year 2008 - 2009. After the group reporting, paraliturgy followed to close the assembly.

At 6 PM, a thanksgiving mass was offered for the 1st sacerdotal anniversary of Rev. Fr. Tophie Amoroso. Foods were prepared by the eight sub-parishes of POLA. As a gift to Fr. Tophie, the Ola-Main Youth Ministry presented a hand-mime to the tune of "The Mission".

September 27, 2008 - FMAA St. Francis Xavier Parish Unit held a general assembly last September 27, 2008 at Nasugbu, Batangas. A mass was celebrated by Rev. Fr. Tophie Amoroso after the assembly.

September 20, 2008 - FMAA John the Baptist Parish Unit held a meeting facilitated by Rev. Fr. Tophie Amoroso last September 20, 2008 in Lian, Batangas. A Basic Mission Orientation was conducted before the meeting was held.

September 13, 2008 - FMAA Luzon Priest Coordinator Rev. Fr. Tophie conducted a BMO to the old and prospective members of FMAA. It was held at the house of the Unit coordinator, Sis. Lolit dela Cruz. Meeting of the unit was held after the BMO. The forthcoming 1st general assembly was discussed during the meeting.

July 27, 2008 - Fil-Mission Sunday. The FMAA POLA Unit helped distribute envelopes to nine parishes in Metro Manila.

July 22, 2008 - Deaconal Ordination of Rev. Robert and two seminarians. FMAA Luzon officers attended the celebration.

July 6, 2008 - FMAA POLA Unit held the Basic Mission Orientation (BMO) last July, 6, 2008 at POLA Function Hall. Rev. Fr. Tophie Amoroso, MSP and Sis. Dina Arguillo conducted the orientation to less than thirty prospective members.

FMAA LUZON PRIEST COORDINATOR PAYS VISIT TO TARLAC BISHOP

June 24, 2008 - FMAA Luzon priest coordinator, Rev. Fr. Tophie Amoroso, MSP, visited Tarlac Bishop last June 24, 2008 together with the FMAA Luzon RCC officers and members. After the visit, the FMAA Tarlac San Roque Parish Unit officers invited the group to Sis. Gonyang's house. A short meeting was held to discuss the activities of the unit. A hearty lunch prepared by the unit was enjoyed by the group.

June 16, 2008 - FMAA Luzon attended the sacerdotal anniversary of Frs. Dong Mercaida and Sonny Cantillano last June 16, 2008. Rev. Fr. Socrates Mesiona, MSP concelebrated in the Thanksgiving mass. MSP priests, MSP seminarians and FMAA Luzon members and officers attended the celebration.

FMAA HOLDS ITS SIXTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY IN DAVAO CITY

April 25, 2008 - THE FMAA-DAVAO hosted the 6th General Assembly of the Fil-Mission Auxiliary Association (FMAA) last April 25-27, 2008. The biennial gathering, which called on 165 delegates, was held at the Charles Borromeo Retreat House in Matina, Davao City.

The delegates came from FMAA Luzon POLA Unit, Tarlac San Roque Parish Unit, Nasugbu/Lian St. Francis Xavier and St. John the Baptist Parish Units , Cebu City, Gingoog City, Marawi City, Davao City and one delegate from Seoul, South Korea. The MSP priests who participated were Frs. Soc Mesiona, Pat Casino, Ed Edpalina, Eric Galo, Cedric Alimbuyong, Pete Mesiona, Rey Lipat and Tophie Amoroso.