Christopher S.

Mejia, SMM March 18, 2021

LGBTQ Ministry Dr. Nicole Tilman
Pastoral Plan

The Diocesan Shrine and Parish of Nuestra Señora de Aranzazu started way back 1596
by Spanish Augustinian friars who built the first settlements in the area. By the year 1659, the
first parish church was built in honor of St. Matthew, for it is located in the town of San Mateo in
Rizal. But in 1705, Fr. Juan Echzabal changed the patron of the parish to Nuestra Señora de
Aranzazu where the Jesuits started the devotion to Our Lady. The church was destroyed by
earthquakes and wars. However, the parish community still rises and continuously building the
Church. In 2004, the parish was proclaimed a Diocesan Shrine of Our Lady of Aranzazu by the
Vatican, being the only Church in the Philippines under the title of Nuestra Señora de Aranzazu
and only sister-parish of the Basilica of Aranzazu in Spain. (Cf.
https://aranzazushrine.ph/index.php/the-shrine/) Upto this time, people flock and show their
devotion to Our Lady of Aranzazu from different places and nation, in and outside the country.
The ministries and organizations of the parish continues to spread such devotion and service in
the parish.

Vision of the Community of the Diocese of Antipolo and to all parishes including the
Diocesan Shrine and Parish of Nuestra Señora de Aranzazu
"Isang Sambayanang Katoliko sa Diyosesis ng Antipolo na binubuo ng mga Munting
Sambayanang Katoliko na hinuhubog sa pagbibiyaya at pagtawag ng Ebanghelyo – sumasaksi sa
pananampalataya, pagmamahalan, pagkakaisa, pagdadamayan at pagiging mabuting
tagapangasiwa sa mga kaloob ng Diyos – upang matugunan ang pangangailangan ng sangnilikha
at makamit ang paghahari ng Diyos sa kanilang piling."
Translation:
One community of Catholics in the Diocese of Antipolo which consists of Mini Pastoral
Communities formed in sharing grace and call of the Gospel – witnesses to faith, love, unity,
compassion and to be good stewards of God’s graces – in order to respond to the needs of all
men and reach the Kingdom of God in their lives.
In order to see the beauty and realization of this vision of the parish, I have made here
priorities, objectives, strategies and task that will be able to serve and welcome fully our brothers
and sisters who consider themselves as part of the LGBTQ Community. The word “Catholic”
means universal and so it is very fitting that this paper will be seen as something universal,
meaning “for all”. I am not saying that this should be the standard of the Church. I, as a future
pastor of this Church would like to be in the experience of the people, in their struggles, joy,
downs and ups moments of their lives. This is not to contradict the teachings and doctrines but to
accept freely the “signs of the times”.
Priorities
Priority 1: To conduct a monthly recollection and gathering for our youth ministry members, so
that their faith may be strengthen in God and the Church.
Objectives:
1. Every 4th Saturday of the month there will be series of recollection or talks on Catholic
Teaching and Life, the youth of the parish will be invited. Inside the recollection, counseling or
spiritual direction will be made available.
Strategy: Starting August 21, John Paul Tolop, head of Ministry of Youth Affairs will
meet the members of MYA.
2. Every 4th of 5th Sunday of the month there will be gathering or AGAPE that is organized by
them by their assignments.
Strategy: After the meeting of the MYA, the last Sunday of August, the first gathering
will be made. It will be facilitated by Emmanuel Baque, the person that is assigned for
the LGBTQ members.
3. After the six months of recollection, they will be installed as members and leaders of the
LGBTQ Ministry in the Parish.
Strategy: By May 29, 2022, me, as the parish priest will install those who have
completed the six months of recollection. There will be confession before the day of
installation.
Priority 2: To make LGBTQ people be part of liturgical ministers in the parish and have a
special mass for them so that they may feel that they are welcomed not only by language but by
action and service.
Objectives:
1. Every Sunday at 4:00 o’clock in the afternoon, this is the mass for them, for those who are felt
that they are part of the LGBTQ Community.
Strategy: By July, series of announcement will be made in the parish masses. This
announcement will be made possible regarding the 4:00 PM Mass for the LGBTQ
members and parishioners who felt they are part of it.
2. As the parish priest, or a priest who feels that he has the compassion for this LGBTQ will be
the one to preside the mass.
Strategy: The first three months, I will be the one to celebrate the mass, then next
months, priest from different areas will be invited including Fr. Robert John Abada,
OFM.
3. They are the ones to serve just like when there is Children’s mass, the readers, altar servers as
well choir will be coming from them.
Strategy: After the 8 months of recollections and gatherings, some members of the
LGBTQ Ministry will be installed as lectors, altar servers and choirs so that they may
able to serve during their masses.
Priority 3: To make an additional organization in the parish, the new organization will be called
LGBTQ and Beautification Ministry. This helps for them to truly show not only their talents but
their ability to do things despite their being “indifferent” in the thinking of society.
Objectives:
1. The ministry is assigned to beautify and decorate the Church and the altar when there is/are
Liturgical celebrations like mass, processions, gatherings and others.
Strategy: Every Saturday morning, after the 6am Mass, the LGBTQ Ministry will
decorate the flowers and the altar for the Sunday Masses. They will start this ministry
after the first month recollection.
2. They are in this ministry so that they will be able to work with the other members of the
ministry and other members of the parish organization.
Strategy: They will attend the gatherings of the parish and meetings or assemblies. They
will be hand in hand with the Temporalities Ministry.
3. They are also the organizers when there are gatherings and parties in the parish to exercise
their creativity.
Strategy: On August 31, they will arrange the stage for the Harana kay Maria, in
preparation for the Fiesta 2021.
The Diocesan Shrine and Parish of Nuestra Señora de Aranzazu is the parish who really
loves anyone regardless of identity, status, or sexual orientation. Serving the Lord is not more on
gender, but the purity of heart, the desire to serve, and the commitment to live the faith. I
normally say that being in the Church is an assurance that we are already having points in
heaven. There might be mistakes or grudges but they are not hindrances to still follow the Lord.
The apostles were not perfect, in fact, they all had not so good life, way of life. They were
sinners but they turned to Christ because they saw a better purpose of life. The LGBTQ
Community is also the community of Christians. Many would not accept them but some would
welcome them. We are Church, and as a Church, we should be a temporary shelter for anyone.
This is the passages that calls our faith, that we give good attitude towards our neighbor
by first of all accepting Christ in our life. The LGBTQ People sometimes maybe rejected and
sometimes mocked because of their appearances, actions and ways. Sometimes other people
think that they can do nothing, but we can hear a lot of news that most of these people became
successful and inspiration. I am one with them, in their struggles, problems, rejections but I am
most one with them in faith.
 “Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place
by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his
body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a
sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse
us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold
unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how
we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as
some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the
Day approaching. If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the
truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire
that will consume the enemies of God. Anyone who rejected the law of Moses died without
mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. How much more severely do you think
someone deserves to be punished who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, who has treated
as an unholy thing the blood of the covenant that sanctified them, and who has insulted the Spirit
of grace? For we know him who said, “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” and again, “The Lord
will judge his people.” It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. Remember
those earlier days after you had received the light, when you endured in a great conflict full of
suffering. Sometimes you were publicly exposed to insult and persecution; at other times you
stood side by side with those who were so treated. (Hebrew 10:19-33)