HAPPY EASTER 2009

Hello everyone...

It's been more than a month that I could not open my blog... there has been a problem with my email account password. Eventually I can manage the problems.

I have missed a lot of stories to tell here.... Too many stories to write here... Well, let me write some things that I still remember.

First... Assignment on Palm Sunday.
I cannot say that it was a success. Not at all... There were some problems that made the choir assignment unable to be done well. We found that the sound system did not reach us when we entered the church... during the procession. When we reached the choir bench, we still heard some songs sung by Pak Susilo and Pak Simon, but it did not sound loud... I was confused.. whether or not to continue singing with another song. Next time... it will be good if the choir sings 1-3 verses, then we stop the song and change to another song.

Second... Good Friday
Exultate had to sing at St Fransiskus Sukasari Church at 18.00. In general it ran well. For the first time in this church, the songs were sung without musical instruments... a capella. I think we could do it. Mas Susilo, Mas Gago and Mas Tingtung performed the Passio well... The problem happended because we lacked enough practice before.

Third... Easter Eve
Some Exultate members joined the BMV Parish Choir... We did. Pak Marhadi and I directed the choir. There was a problem as Mas Markus Herli could not join us as he had to sing in Cibinong parish. I had to sing two responsorial psalms; the other one was sung by Mbak Rina. BMV Choir could also sing "And the Glory of the Lord".

Fourth... Easter Sunday
Some members helped St Theresia BRP Choir to sing at 7-o'clock mass. The day before, Mas Gago, drg Cisca, dr Ika, Mbak Lia, Bu Evie and Bu Heri had joined the practice at Pak Totok's house in Bogor Raya Permai. Pak Simon did not join the practice on Saturday as he was not fit, but on Sunday, he joined and gave great help.

Well, it is good again to wish you all: HAPPY EASTER...

A DIFFERENT APPROACH OF FASTING

Fasts have a tendency to be oriented toward things like giving up food or television. But there are many other creative ways we can welcome Jesus' healing touch. Here are suggestions you may want to consider.

1. Fast from anger and hatred. Give your family an extra dose of love each day.

2. Fast from judging others. Before making any judgments, recall how Jesus overlooks our faults.

3. Fast from discouragement. Hold on to Jesus' promise that He has a perfect plan for your life.

4. Fast from complaining. When you find yourself about to complain, close your eyes and recall some of the little moments of joy Jesus has given you.

5. Fast from resentment or bitterness!. Work on forgiving those who may have hurt you.

6. Fast from spending too much money. Try to reduce your spending by ten percent and give those savings to the poor.

Please forward this to as many as possible and surely, you will be blessed abundantly.
Wishing you all Peace, Love, and Happiness during Lent.
SMILE – Jesus Loves You!

(PS. I got the good reading above from Mrs Evie Sinaulan through email. Thanks, Bu Evie for the email. God bless you. )
Thomas A. Sutadi

SONG LIST FOR LENT ASSIGNMENTS (temporary)

PADUAN SUARA EXULTATE - PAROKI KATEDRAL BMV
Minggu Prapaskah V /Th. B
Minggu, 29 Maret 2008 Pk. 9.00 di Katedral BMV

1. Pembuka PS. 479 Hamba-Hamba-Mu Berhimpun (unisono)
2. Kyrie PS. 339 Kyrie
3. Mazmur Tanggapan PS. 811 Karna Belas Kasih-Mu
4. Bait Pengantar Injil PS. 965 Terpujilah Kristus Tuhan
5. Persembahan PS. 486 Ya Tuhan, Engkau Sumber Air Hayat (unisono)
6. Sanctus PS. 385 Sanctus
7. Anamnesis TPE Marilah menyatakan… (Anamnesis 2)
8. Pater Noster TPE Bapa Kami
9. Pemecahan Roti PS. 406 Agnus Dei
10. Komuni 1 teks Tuhan Gembalaku
11. Komuni 2 MB. 403 Kamulah Sahabat-sahabat-Ku
12. Madah Syukur PS. 483 O Yesus, Putra Bapa
13. Penutup PS. 715 Jikalau Gandum (arr. MB. …)

Minggu Palma/Minggu Sengsara / Tahun B
Minggu, 5 April 2009 Pk. 9.00 di Katedral BMV

a. Pembuka Perarakan PS. 491 Hosanna Putra Daud
b. Perarakan 1 PS. 493 Hormat Puji dan Sembah
c. Perarakan 2 MB. … Di Kala Yesus disambut di kota Yerusalem

1. Pembuka Ekaristi PS. 479 Hamba-Hamba-Mu Berhimpun
2. Kyrie PS. 339 Kyrie
3. Mazmur Tanggapan
4. Bait Pengantar Injil PS. 965 Terpujilah Kristus Tuhan
5. Persembahan MB. 365 Karna Belas Kasih-Mu (PS. 811)
6. Sanctus PS. 385 Sanctus
7. Anamnesis TPE
8. Pater Noster TPE Bapa Kami
9. Pemecahan Roti PS. 406 Agnus Dei
10. Persiapan Komuni -
11. Komuni 1 MB. 403 Kamulah Sahabat-sahabat-Ku
12. Komuni 2 PS. 605 Dengarlah, ya Tuhan
13. Madah Syukur PS. 483 O Yesus, Putra Bapa
14. Penutup PS. 487 Golgota, Tempat Tuhanku Disalib

Jumat Agung dalam Pekan Suci / Tahun Liturgi B
Jumat,10 April 2009 Pk. 18.00 di Gereja St. Fransiskus Sukasari

1. Mazmur Tanggapan PS. 820 Ya Bapa, ke dalam Tangan-Mu
2. Bait Pengantar Injil PS. 966 Terpujilah Kristus Tuhan
3. Kisah Sengsara teks Kisah Sengsara
4. Selingan 1 PS. 507 Hai Umat, apa Salah-Ku (Bait 1-2)
5. Selingan 2 PS. 480 Mari Kita Merenungkan (Bait 1, 3-4)
6. Selingan 3 PS. 485 O Yesusku
7. Doa Umat meriah PLPS hal. 54-58 Marilah Kita Mohon
8. Penghormatan Salib PLPS hal. 58-59 Lihat kayu salib
9. Iringan 1 PS. 489 Yesus, Tuhanku, Mana Cahaya-Mu? (MB. 380)
10. Iringan 2 MB. 405 Kasih Yang Paling Agung
11. Iringan 3 PS. 508 O Salib Tanda Agung (MB. 413)
12. Persiapan Komuni PS. 483 O Yesus, Putra Bapa
13. Pater Noster TPE Bapa Kami
14. Komuni 1 teks Ego Sum Panis Vivus (a capella)
15. Komuni 2 teks Tuhan Gembalaku
16. Madah Syukur PS. 512 Salib di Puncak Golgota

HAPPY FASTING 2009

From Wednesday 25 February to 11 April 2009 Catholics join pre-Easter religious activities. We started the Lent… moment to do fasting and abstaining…

Fasting on Wednesday 25 February and Friday 10 April means that you only eat full once a day… much lighter than other religious followers’ fasting. Abstaining means you avoid certain things that you most love or often do… they could be food, spices, meat, cigarettes, beer, snacks, being angry easily, being lazy, etc.

There are three things suggested we do during pre-Easter period:
a. Praying
b. Alms giving
c. Fasting and Abstaining

The money that we do not use to buy food and other things we are abstain from can be given for charity… give it through APP envelopes that our Catholic neighbourhood head gives to us.

I attended Ash Wednesday Eucharist on Wednesday 25 February at 19.30 at the Cathedral. The Eucharist was led by Father Alfons Sebatu, Father Sutanto and Father Tri Harjono. Father Alfons said in his sermon that Lent is like the moment when we take our car to the garage to check the engine and other parts… it is like a moment when you go to the doctor regularly to have your health checked up… It is a moment to sharpen our heart… to check and clean our soul… to fix things inside our life… so that we can continue our journey…

St Caecilia Choir sang Eucharist songs … Pak Marhadi and Mbak Myrna performed so well that all choir members could sing beautifully… I hope Exultate can also perform well like that… in the future…

Happy fasting and abstaining… Prepare yourself for Easter.

OUR PRAYERS FOR DR IKA'S FATHER

After praying for Raymund Genty Laras's health and joining in happiness for his recovery, Exultate joins dr Ika to pray for her father who is still hospitalised for a stroke. He has been at Salak Hospital since Sunday 8 February. Indeed we are concerned about his condition... and we hope he will recover soon. May dr Ika and her family keep fit and strong...

ASSIGNMENT OF FEBRUARY 2009

There was only one assignment in February 2009. It was on Saturday 7 February 2009 at 9.00 at the Cathedral. We sang on a holy matrimony mass. There were only one fourth of Exultate members who could sing... most of us failed to come as some of us still had to work, go out of town or got sick. Somehow, we could sing well... softly... Thanks to Sheila and Mbak Rina who made the assignment run well. Thanks to others as well.

Thomas

DRG FRANCISCA ELIAS' HAPPY MOMENT

Sunday, 18 January 2008 at 13.00 in the Cathedral.

Theresia Cynthia Rozyanda Asi, daughter of Ibu Francisca Elias (drg Cisca) and Bapak Eka, married FX. Rodo Tua Hasiholan Sitohang, son of Bapak and Ibu D. Sitohang.

The liturgy of Sacrament and the Eucharist were led by Father Thomas Slamet Riyadi from Ciluar Parish. The church was almost full of family members and their friends and colleagues. Exultate joined the happines by singing the liturgical songs...

The mass was preceeded by a song “Rahmat Kasih Perkawinan” (MB 1001). To accompany the bride and the groom when they entered the church, Sheila played the instrument “The Wedding”. For the offering procession, there was a Batak traditional musical instrument prepared by Rodo’s family.

In general the mass ran smoothly... and the songs were sung well... except when Father Thomas sang the doxology ... he sang differently from the common musical note... and this created confusion to everyone when we sang “Amen..."

The biggest surprise came from Father Thomas when he sang “From This Moment” during the signing of the church documents. His voice was terrific... and the way he sang was excellent.

We found that the liturgical service was a solemn... merry... happy one... It was a really happy moment...

For Exultate, the most unforgettable thing is the choir uniform... The new uniform we were wearing during the mass were given by Ibu Cisca... Thank you very much, doctor Cisca. Congratulations to Cynthia, Rodo, Ibu Cisca, Pak Eka and all their family members.