A Christmas Message (by Fr. Larry Faraon)

Posted on December 23, 2006
Filed Under Faith and Spirituality | Viewed 2138 times

Father Larry The cyclical Christmas is better than the parallel one. Putting Christmas in our life’s cycle would guarantee continuity. Some people would ‘stop’ the celebration of Christmas because ‘times are hard and harder’—-in fact, some would even cancel planned Christmas parties because of some typhoon victims who needed help and instead donate the money intended for the party to them. Noble, but not totally commendable. Why should the celebration stop; it’s just once a year when we commemorate in a special way the birthday of our Saviour Jesus Christ. If your heart is moved with pity for the victims of calamities, and we all should feel sympathy for them, then why not dish out more from your resources, but by all means, let us celebrate the sounds and the soul of Christmas. Our parties need not be elaborate and expensive. Remember, the first Christmas party was in a simple and humble venue…the stable. And the guests were as simple, namely, the angels singing from heaven, the shepherds, domesticated animals and of course, Mary and Joseph were there, epitomes of a real celebration from the heart. Besides in a cycle, the end is always the beginning, as Christmas would always be: the coming of Christ, the beginning and the coming of Christ, the second time around. So, how could Christmas stop. Let Christmas go on…and on..and on. MERRY CHRISTMAS.

Father Larry was born Laureano Balverde Faraon on 4 July 1956 n San Antonio, Binan, Laguna. He had his elementary and secondary education at the co-ed school of Sta. Catalina College in the same town. His name has at its end the titles: Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy and Bachelor in Theology and an Master of Arts in Religious Education with specialization in media—-all in the University of Sto. Tomas (UST). He is the son of the late Florentino Faraon and Josefina Balverde and blessed with four brothers and a sister. He is 30 years in the Dominican Order and is 24 years in the priesthood.

He was radio commentator, manager of Radio Veritas for a span of 23 years. A gospel columnist for several national broadsheets and magazines. He was national director of the Holy Name Society of the Philippines, TV host of the Family Rosary Crusade Media Director of the Dominican Province of the Philippines from 1985-2002. Consultant for the Center for Arts in Radio Broadcasting, Cultural Center of the Philippines. Consultant for the curriculum development of the secondary level for the Department of Education in 1999. He was also spiritual director of several renewal communities in the Philippines and abroad. His ministry brought him to different countries, US, Israel, United Arab Emirates, Oman, Bahrain, Yemen, Hongkong, Singapore, Taiwan, Saipan, Guam, Micronesia, Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia and Brunei. In universities such as UST, Miriam College, he is professor of journalism and communications. (source:http://larryfaraon.tripod.com/index.html)

Fr. Larry is a family friend.