WHAT: Ateneo Alumni Mass

WHEN: September 20, 2002 (Friday), 6:30PM

WHERE: St. Malachy's Church, 49th St. between 8th Ave. and Broadway, New York, NY

THEME: Rekindling the Ateneo Spirit in New York

CELEBRANT: Fr. Manoling Francisco, SJ

CHOIR: Bukas Palad Music Ministry

SHORT WRITEUP ON FR. FRANCISCO: Fr. Manuel Francisco, S.J. is the composer of "Hindi Kita Malilimutan", the inspirational song popularized by Basil Valdes. Fr. Manoling wrote this song when he was only a first year high school student in Ateneo. The lyrics were written by his classmates under the guidance of Mr. Onofre R. Pagsanghan. This earned Fr. Manoling six Cecil Awards. Fr. Manoling also composed contemporary liturgical and inspirational songs. These include "Tanging Yaman", "Sa 'Yo Lamang" and "Aleluya, Wikain Mo". Most of the songs were recorded by the Bukas Palad Music Ministry, which Fr. Manoling formed together with Norman Agatep and Jandi Arboleda. Dulce, Joey Albert, Pilita Corrales, Louie Heredia, Dingdong Avanzado, Asin, the Ateneo Glee Club, Raul Sunico, and the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra have also recorded Fr. Manoling's songs.

Volunteers are requested for the following roles:

(1) Sacristans
(2) Readers
(3) Offertory Collectors

Please PM me if interested in volunteering.

how do i get there?

Tapos na. Very well attended. But for future reference, you can get there via #1 or #9 train or the N or R train to 50th St. The church should be about a block or two away from the station. Just ask around how to get to 49th bet. 8th and Broadway.

BTW, Filipino mass w/ Bukas Palad member choir is held there every third Sunday of the month (except for this month) at 5PM.

What a big success this mass really was! Close to 200 members of the Ateneo community in the Big Apple and Tri-State area converged in St. Malachy's Church last night. It was one of the largest Atenean gatherings in New York in recent history. Co-celebrants Fr. Manoling and Deacon Ernest masterfully united the congregation in one whole community of prayer. Fr. Manoling's homily focused on the need to understand the Atenean values in a new context, espescially now where we all co-exist with people from all over the world.

The night was filled with beautiful music from the members of the Bukas Palad Music Ministry. To top the event off, the whole congregation sang the "Song for Mary" (alma mater song).

Those who couldn't make it last night will be pleased to know that the alumni association will be hosting more of these events in the months to come. Please check the New York alumni thread in this forum for more details or PM me your e-mail address so I can include it in our mailing list.