FCCR Blog

FCCR MUSIC MINISTRY

Sat, 10 Jan 2026 16:00:27 GMT

Humble and Proud

Back in December 2023, we dreamed of re-establishing a choir for our community—one that would fully embrace our Christ-centered and service-oriented mission. Deep in my heart, I dreamed even further: I envisioned a choir that would one day perform in a festival or something just as meaningful. I remember sharing this during our very first practices, not knowing how God would move in the months ahead.

Our first mission was simple but challenging: find and encourage people to step forward. And God sent us help. We invited choirs from different communities to sing for our services, praying that their voices would inspire ours.

To FCC Dordrecht (my angels from Dordrecht), FCCN-Hoofddorp (Ate Fely and Lorie), and our ever-loving brothers and sisters from El Shaddai Amsterdam Chapter (Kuya Joel!)—thank you. You inspired us to offer our voices wholeheartedly for the Lord.

Today, my heart is humbled and overflowing. To the FCCR Music Ministry, your dedication, perseverance, and willingness to serve at every opportunity fills me with so much gratitude. And to our leader, Sai, your determination has carried us through. I’m personally proud that you listened to the dreams I had for our group and made them your own. Seeing each one of you shine and take pride in what we’ve accomplished in such a short time—it’s a blessing I will always cherish.

A gentle reminder as we move forward: let us continue strengthening our formation, deepening our faith, and nurturing the mission we have embraced—so that we may truly live out our calling as one of the key ministries of our community.

Thank you, FCCR Music Ministry!

Here are some photos from Himig ng Papuri, to keep those beautiful smiles glowing!

In Christ’s Love,

Marvin

𝐎𝐧𝐞 𝐅𝐚𝐢𝐭𝐡, 𝐎𝐧𝐞 𝐅𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐲 𝐂𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐨𝐧 𝐉𝐞𝐬𝐮𝐬, 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐒𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐞

Sat, 10 Jan 2026 15:18:33 GMT

�� , �� !

As we celebrate the birth of Jesus—the heart and center of our community, our one big family—we pause to look back on the year that was. It was a year filled with fun, laughter, celebrations, and meaningful milestones. It also carried moments of grief and sadness, yet through it all, we were sustained by abundant blessings.

In spite of, and despite all the challenges we faced as a family in Christ, our hearts remain full of gratitude and thanksgiving.

We are grateful for all the services we shared, both liturgical and community-based, and thankful for the growth and dedication of our ministries:

�� – who extended their service beyond our community to the international community at the Liduina Basiliek and other places, inspiring intimate, prayerful, and joyful celebrations of the Eucharist.

�� – who faithfully prepared both ordinary and special celebrations, bringing creativity, dedication, and ingenuity, even when time was limited.

�� – who showed us that serving others can be filled with joy and laughter, ensuring that this vital mission is shared not only by adults but especially by the little ones who will carry it forward in the years to come.

�� – who, with perseverance and much love, demonstrated how listening with open hearts allows us to truly respond to the needs of a specific group within our community.

�� – who found creative ways to engage both within and beyond the church. The sports days and other activities they organized brought joy and strengthened bonds among the young, and the young once, of our community.

�� – our newest ministry, yet already a vital mission in our community. It reminds us that ministries can grow naturally when the right atmosphere is present—springing from the bonds we build with one another, often without even realizing it.

So many reasons to be grateful and thankful! We pray that we may be blessed with many more years to continue serving this community, our fellow Filipinos in this country, and all those within our reach.

We are also deeply grateful for the gift of our dear sister, Ate Bing. Our hearts overflow with thanks to You, dear Lord, for allowing us to walk with her, laugh with her, pray with her, and serve with her. We trust that she now joins Your choirs of angels in heaven.

Finally, we pray for Your blessings upon this community, this family, that we may always glorify and praise You, and remain faithful in serving others. Lord Jesus, stay in our midst and guide us as we live out our commitment to serve.

Lead others to find their place in our family, and continue to open hearts within our community to warmly welcome new ones.

�� , �� .

Simbang Gabi 2025

Sat, 10 Jan 2026 15:13:33 GMT

Simbang Gabi 2025

We completed the nine days of this year’s Simbang Gabi. For us in FCCR, this last night marked the ninth night of the ninth year that we have tried—and continue to try—to keep this beautiful Filipino Catholic tradition alive here in the Netherlands. For eight of those years, we have been deeply grateful to have Fr. Gilbert as our guide.

Though Filipino in origin, Simbang Gabi carries a universal message. The Gospel stories proclaimed over these nine nights remind us how richly we have been blessed to receive the gift of Jesus in our world.

These nine years have truly been filled with blessings. From our humble beginnings in a small chapel in the basement of the old MSC Fathers’ house in Rotterdam, to the beautiful churches - Sint Bavokerk, Sint Josephkerk, Sint Marthakerk, H. Michaelkerk and Liduina Basiliek, we celebrated this years Novena masses, we have witnessed God’s providence at every step. Even during the two years of uncertainty brought about by the pandemic, we found new ways to continue—opening chapels in living rooms of families who generously welcomed this celebration into their homes. Today, it is truly heartwarming to see Filipinos and people of other nationalities celebrating this tradition together—whether with us, in Hoofddorp organized by FCCN Hoofddorp, or in Amsterdam organized by El Shaddai. This gives us hope that we remain connected to the true reason for this season.

We express our sincere gratitude to all the communities we have partnered with to keep this tradition alive this year: FCC Gouda; Tulong Kabayan—SARO, Filmis, and MCVO; CFC; FCC Dordrecht; FCM Tilburg; the international community of the Agustinusparochie; and the Liduina Basiliek. We also thank our generous sponsors from the FCCR community, all our lovely families who journeyed with us in faith. We also thank Renzo and Christine for being our altar servers for most of the nine nights. And of course, our heartfelt thanks to the FCCR Music Ministry, who not only completed all nine nights but also served as choir for most of the celebrations.

Finally, our deepest gratitude goes to Fr. Gilbert, who from the very beginning of his involvement in Simbang Gabi has given his all, helping us reach more people each year. We are truly blessed to be guided by you.

As we conclude this Simbang Gabi, we pray that our hearts are now ready to celebrate the birth of Christ—our greatest gift from God, our Redeemer.

A joyful and grace-filled Christmas to all!

FCCR Liturgical Weekend

Thu, 19 Sep 2024 00:00:00 GMT

A Weekend of Renewal: Liturgical Workshops Inspire Faith and Deeper Understanding

FCCR recently organized a “Liturgical Weekend” aimed at refreshing and deepening our understanding of the basics of liturgy and catechism. Held across three days, from September 13-15, the event brought together faithful participants eager to learn and grow in their service to the Church. The workshops were led by Bro. Christian Caberoy, a seminarian with a rich background in music ministry, who guided attendees through a spiritual and educational journey that left a lasting impact.

The weekend was structured into three parts. On Friday evening, Bro. Christian conducted a workshop titled “Music and Liturgy” for the Music Ministry, hosted at the home of Paul and Mafe Marco in Schiedam. Here, Bro. Christian highlighted the role of music in the liturgy. He carefully explained the guidelines set out in Musicam Sacram, reminding participants that music is not just an accompaniment to the mass but an integral part of worship, designed to enhance the liturgical text. The focus was on selecting appropriate music for various liturgical seasons and ensuring that songs align with the message of the liturgy.

Saturday’s session, the “Liturgical Formation Workshop,” was held at Sint Bavo Kerk in Slinge. It provided a broader perspective on the liturgy as a whole. Bro. Christian explained that liturgy is not only the actions we perform but primarily what God does through the celebration of the Eucharist. He introduced participants to the structure of the mass, the significance of the liturgical calendar, and the importance of using the proper liturgical colors and symbols in alignment with the church’s seasons and traditions. This workshop illuminated how every liturgical celebration is an action of Christ, in which the whole Church—past, present, heaven, and earth—participates.

The weekend concluded with a Sunday mass at H. Michael Kerk in Breda, bringing together all that was learned in a profound celebration of faith.

An Engaged and Inspired Community

Participants were fully engaged throughout the workshops, asking questions and diving into discussions. The enthusiasm in the room reflected the community’s deep desire to grow in their understanding of the liturgy and their role within it. One particularly moving realization was the presence of Christ in every liturgical celebration, a concept that deeply resonated with many attendees. The recognition that the entire Church, across time and space, is united in the liturgy was a powerful moment for everyone involved.

Personal Reflections and Renewed Purpose

For many, including myself, this weekend was not just an educational experience but a spiritual renewal. I left the workshops with a deepened sense of humility, realizing the depth of our faith and the privilege it is to serve at the altar. Understanding that we participate in the sacrifice, resurrection, and coming of Christ through the liturgy instilled in me a renewed sense of purpose. I am more conscious now of my actions and service, recognizing that while I may never be worthy of this role, I can strive to serve God through my service to His people.

Moving Forward with Liturgical Knowledge

The weekend’s greatest takeaway was the sense of unity and determination to follow the proper liturgical guidelines in our service. Bro. Christian’s teachings equipped us with the knowledge and inspiration to improve how we serve the community, not just in the mass but in all liturgical celebrations. We are now planning to make liturgical catechism workshops a regular part of our community activities, ensuring that this newfound understanding continues to grow and bear fruit.

Final Thoughts

To those who were not able to attend, my message is simple: liturgy is at the heart of our faith. It is not just a set of rituals but a profound encounter with Christ, an invitation to participate in His saving work. Whether you serve in ministry or attend mass regularly, I encourage you to deepen your understanding of the liturgy. It is through this understanding that we truly appreciate the beauty and significance of every celebration and can fully enter into the mystery of our faith.

Simbang Gabi 2023

Mon, 25 Dec 2023 12:45:29 GMT

What is Simbang Gabi?

Simbang Gabi or “evening or night Mass,” is a series of nine evening Masses. It is a Filipino Christmas tradition, held during Advent from December 16-24 (with some starting it on the 15) in preparation for Christmas Day. It originated from the Missa Aurea (golden Mass) practiced by the Roman Catholic Church. The concept was brought by the Spanish friars in the Philippines to allow farmers to hear mass before going to the fields in the morning.

However, Simbang Gabi is not just a tradition. It is a spiritual way to prepare for Christmas. In this way, we worship and praise God. It is an offer of sacrifice and to seek blessings from the Lord.

For 2023, the community, in partnership with other Filipino Communities in the Netherlands, brought the Simbang Gabi to different parts of the Netherlands. Communities involved hosted a night or two of Simbang Gabi in their location and church. This allowed their community members to attend a night of Simbang Gabi Mass but some went also to other communities' to attend the other masses.

The following were our goals for the Simbang Gabi 2023 are:

- Prepare ourselves for the celebration of Christmas in line with our Catholic faith.

- Popularize this Filipino tradition in the Dutch setting and hopefully also attract non-Filipinos to join and understand the value of this tradition.

- Foster inter-communities’ cooperation and unity.

The Philippines Embassy in the Hague also helped in promoting the Simbang Gabi for our fellow Kababayans.

The Simbang Gabi brought people and communities together in preparation for the celebration of Christmas, in the Philippines' tradition.

20th Living Rosary 2023

Tue, 31 Oct 2023 10:10:13 GMT

We look back with joy and pride. The rosary is brought out in the open as a community event. It has called people to pray for peace together. It encourages the community to celebrate the milestones of the life of Jesus and to honor His mother, Mary. Pope John Paul II issued an Apostolic Letter entitled The Rosary of the Virgin Mary, proclaiming the year from October 2002 to October 2003 to be "the Year of the Rosary", adding five new Mysteries of Light! What a perfect timing to popularize the rosary!

FCCR hope to pass on to our children that prayer is a powerful tool for community building that strives to be Christ-centered and service-oriented.

Twenty years ago this month, Filipinos from Dordrecht, Gouda, Rotterdam, Tilburg and elsewhere were requested to bring a bandana, a scarf or a shawl in St. Hildegardis Church for the first Living Rosary of the Filipino Catholic Chaplaincy Zuid Holland.

There was excitement, curiosity and confusion - what is a Living Rosary? Lingid sa kaalaman ng karamihan, it was a tradition in the making! Each bead is represented by a person. Each person says the prayer designated for each bead. After one’s turn, the participant must tie one’s scarf to that of the previous person – thus forming a chain of colorful shawls, scarves and bandanas.

From the start, the annual Living Rosary has stirred the imagination of FCCR volunteers, even during a pandemic situation. It has taken many forms, decors and props. There have been films visualizing the mysteries, dramatization, music, dance interpretations, poems and sharing of reflections. Creativity blossomed, one spiritual event with a cultural twist - doves were let go, balloons released to the sky, lighted candles, ribbons and flowers, lots of them!

Watch the video coverage of the 20th Living Rosary and more in our youtube channel .

CONTINUE TO PRAY THE ROSARY!!

“I am the Mother to you all, thanks to the unfathomable mercy of God”

- Sta. Faustina (Diary 449)

FCCR Blog

FCCR MUSIC MINISTRY

Humble and Proud

𝐎𝐧𝐞 𝐅𝐚𝐢𝐭𝐡, 𝐎𝐧𝐞 𝐅𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐲 𝐂𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐨𝐧 𝐉𝐞𝐬𝐮𝐬, 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐒𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐞

������������ ������������������ ���� ����������������, ������ �� ���������� ������������������!

Simbang Gabi 2025

Simbang Gabi 2025

FCCR Liturgical Weekend

A Weekend of Renewal: Liturgical Workshops Inspire Faith and Deeper Understanding

An Engaged and Inspired Community

Personal Reflections and Renewed Purpose

Moving Forward with Liturgical Knowledge

Final Thoughts

Simbang Gabi 2023

What is Simbang Gabi?

The Simbang Gabi brought people and communities together in preparation for the celebration of Christmas, in the Philippines' tradition.

20th Living Rosary 2023

Watch the video coverage of the 20th Living Rosary and more in our youtube channel .

CONTINUE TO PRAY THE ROSARY!!

�� , �� !