Sunday. September 20, 2026. Today we remember a whole group of courageous Korean Christians—113 martyrs canonized together in 1984. Among them were Andrew, a 21-year-old priest; Paul, a 45-year-old seminarian. Christianity came to Korea in secret in the 17th century. People who traveled to foreign lands learned about Jesus and were baptized. When they returned home, they shared their faith with others. The Korean government did not allow Christians to practice their faith. The Church in Korea was led quietly by lay people for many years until priests and a bishop were brought into the country and hidden from the government. When these Church leaders were discovered, they were martyred. During a Japanese invasion in 1592, a small number of Koreans were baptized. Soon after, Korea cut itself off from the rest of the world. Around 1777, some Confucian scholars decided to follow Christ after reading books brought into the country by Catholics from China. When a Chinese priest secretly arrived about 12 years later, he found 4,000 Catholics who had never seen a priest. Korea’s first Christian community was made up entirely of laypeople. Between 1839 and 1867, there were fierce persecutions. 113 members of this community were martyred along with 3 bishops and 7 priests from the Paris Foreign Mission Society.
Andrew Kim Taegon was the first native Korean priest. He was the son of converts. His father, a farmer, was also martyred. Andrew was baptized when he was 15. He then attended the seminary in Macao, China, 1,300 miles away from home. He also spent time studying at Lolomboy, Bocaue, Bulacan. After six years, Andrew returned to Korea and assumed the job of bringing missionaries into the country secretly. The Korean Catholics were overjoyed to finally have a priest who could celebrate the sacraments with them. But in 1846, Father Taegon was arrested, tortured, and beheaded for his faith at the age of 25.
Paul Chong Hasang was also the son of converts to Christianity—he was born in 1795, and though several members of his family were also martyred, he also sought the faith. He took a job serving a government interpreter, which allowed him to travel to Beijing. There, he asked the bishop to establish a diocese in Korea and send priests, which happened in 1825. As a lay leader and married man, Paul was a unifying figure for Christians and advocated for them to the Korean government. When another persecution broke out, he was arrested, tried, and tortured, then placed on a cross and died.
Pope John Paul II traveled to Korea to canonize these Martyrs of Korea. We honor their sacrifice. They help us to remember that faith is a virtue that makes it possible to believe in God. Their sacrifice also reminds us that we are blessed to live in a country where we are free to live our faith. (Maridol: My Morning Prayer)
O God, you have created all nations, and you are their salvation. In the land of Korea, your call to the Catholic faith formed a people, whose growth you nurtured by the blood of Andrew, Paul, and their companions. Through their martyrdom and their intercession, grant us strength that we too may remain faithful to your commandments until death. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
WORD Today. Matthew 20:1-16a. Jesus told his disciples this parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out at dawn to hire laborers for his vineyard. After agreeing with them for the usual daily wage, he sent them into his vineyard. Going out about nine o’clock, the landowner saw others standing idle in the marketplace, and he said to them, ‘You too go into my vineyard, and I will give you what is just.’ So they went off. And he went out again around noon, and around three o’clock, and did likewise. Going out about five o’clock, the landowner found others standing around, and said to them, ‘Why do you stand here idle all day?’ They answered, ‘Because no one has hired us.’ He said to them, ‘You too go into my vineyard.’ When it was evening, the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, ‘Summon the laborers and give them their pay, beginning with the last and ending with the first.’ When those who had started about five o’clock came, each received the usual daily wage. So when the first came, they thought that they would receive more, but each of them also got the usual wage. And on receiving it they grumbled against the landowner, saying, ‘These last ones worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us, who bore the day’s burden and the heat.’ He said to one of them in reply, ‘My friend, I am not cheating you. Did you not agree with me for the usual daily wage? Take what is yours and go. What if I wish to give this last one the same as you? Am I not free to do as I wish with my money? Are you envious because I am generous?’ Thus. The last will be first, the first will be last.
Reflection. The words of the Popes. The labourers who had remained in the marketplace had probably given up all hope. That day had come to nothing. Nevertheless, someone still believed in them. What point is there to take on labourers only for the last hour of the working day? And yet, even when it seems we are able to do little in life, it is always worthwhile. There is always the possibility to find meaning, because God loves our life. And the originality of this landowner is also seen at the end of the day, at pay time. (…) For the owner of the vineyard, that is, for God, it is just that each person has what he needs to live. He called the labourers personally; he knows their dignity, and based on this, he wants to pay them, and he gives all of them one denarius. The story says that the labourers from the first hour are disappointed: they cannot see the beauty of the gesture of the landowner, who was not unjust, but simply generous; who looked not only at merit, but also at need. God wants to give his Kingdom, that is, full, eternal and happy life, to everyone. And this is what Jesus does with us: he does not establish rankings; he gives all of himself to those who open their hearts to him. (Pope Leo XIV, General Audience, 4 June 2025)
After Mass
Almighty Father, give us humble and grateful hearts, rejoicing always for the blessings You pour upon us and others. Help us to remember that everything we have is a gift of Your grace. Thank You for Your love and generosity. Teach us not to compare ourselves with others but to trust in Your perfect wisdom and goodness. Lord, free us from envy and entitlement. You know what is best for each of us and that Your timing and generosity are perfect. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.
“The evil that men do lives after them; The good is oft interred with their bones.” (Shakespeare). Business Enterprises are not a legacy. Let the Montinola Cumagun Care Foundation Legacy’s Good Work Speak, Not the Family Name.
Our Lady of the Impossible, grace those late in life but had more in life who tried to be their brothers’ keepers for those who have less in life – “Ester and I pray for your blessings to grace our children, and their children’s children, to wholeheartedly support The MCC FOUNDATION – The MONTINOLA-CUMAGUN CARE FOUNDATION OBJECTIVES: (1.) Special Children SPED, “A child’s mind is the most precious thing to waste.” (The motto of the American Negro College), and the Handicapped Senior Citizens – Physical Therapy. (2.) Financial Support for Diocesan priests and Grade School Teachers for the rural areas. (3.) Computer Start-up Education Tools for selected public schools and (4.) Selected Start-up Management and Financial Support for Small Businesses. “From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.” Luke 12:48. “The sin of the rich man was not that he did wrong things, but that he did nothing.” (William Barclay, in Antonio G. Cumagun Autobiography Song of Myself Memoirs, Looking Back at Serendipity, 2002) Our Lady of the Impossible, “Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to thy protection was left unaided. . .” the good news of peace and justice through Ester and my founding the Montinola Cumagun Care Foundation. Business Enterprises are not Legacy: It is the fruits of the wake you leave, and who you leave it to, and what you leave. Let your wake speak, not your name.
Ester and my state of health – vital stats are recorded by Ester’s everyday, 24 hr. PDNs.
Ester’s morning BP was 110 /70. Hr. 65 O2sat 97%. Temp 36.4
Last Night’s BP 110/70. HR 86. O2sat 96%. Temp 36.3.
Tony’s morning BP was 100 /70. HR 69. O2sat 99%. Temp 36.6
Last Night’s BP 110/70. HR 85. O2sat 98%. Temp 36.5
Beata John Paul 1, watch over Cristina C, Justice Jun’s state of health, Ester’s recovery, and our autistic son John Paul’s emotional/emotional stability 57 (baptized John Paul a decade before Cardinal Luciano of Milan took the regnal name of John Paul), whom we met, promised to pray for him that John Paul II continued with Christmas greetings, and my weakening 89-year-old body.
FOR THE FAITHFUL DEPARTED AND SOULS IN PURGATORY
In Memory of all those who left us. We remember you in the morning and at night. You are always with us. We pray for the souls in Purgatory.
Blessed Mother Mary, I bring to you for your intercession the souls of Amb. Manuel R. and Dolores G. Cumagun, Juana Cumagun, Annette Cumagun, Lina Beltran, Judge and Mrs. Dolores Cumagun, Gov. Primo & Magdalena H. Gaffud, Dr. Trino, Sr. & Angeles Montinola, Betty, Luie, Trino, Jr. Montinola, Bernardino, and Isabel Jalandoni. Dr. Terry Lirio-Montinola, Dr. & Mrs. Tomacruz, Akira Tsusaka, Boy Eugenio, Jesus Ibañez, Sen. Nene Pimentel, Santiago Ranada 111, Boysie Villavicensio, Patria Manuel, Dr. Mariano Laurel, Rene Datu, (Ateneo ’54 – Jimmy Ongpin, Atty. Ato Gonzales, Buddy Joaquin, Fr. Unson, Msgr. Tantoco, Atty. Art Alafriz, Robert Arevalo Ylagan, Maximo Abesamis, Jr., Jesse Paredes), Atty. C. Platon, Araceli Rivera, Rey Castañeda, Col. Tanseco, Dr. E Fores, Dr. J. Caedo, Christine Syjuco, Leni Panganiban, Raul Boncan, Atty. Spanky and Dolly Perez, Amb. Albert del Rosario, Nellie Valdez, Toti Herbosa, Tec Syjuco, AL, Umberto (Beck) Gonzales, and Rufo Colayco. Pray 7 Our Father and The Credo