The Filipino clergy of Staten Island will hold a concert on Oct. 1, 7:30 p.m., at the St. Joseph-St. Thomas Parish Auditorium on 6097 Amboy Rd, Staten Island, New York for the benefit of the First National Assembly of Filipino Priests that will take place in Los Angeles, California on Nov. 8-11.
Some 800 Filipino priests serving in various dioceses all over the US are expected to go to the event.
The concert, “Cantate,” will feature Filipina soprano Lani Misenas, tenor Jun Peñaverde, and the San Lorenzo Choir of New York City. The Singing Filipino Priests of Staten Island, with some lay friends, will also perform choral numbers.
Fr. Erno Diaz, now based in Staten Island as administrator of St. Margaret Mary’s Parish, is the concert coordinator.
Appeal of Bishop Solis
The benefit concert is in response to the appeal of Bishop Oscar Solis, the Filipino Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, to help support the First National Assembly of Filipino Priests, whose aim is “to organize all Filipino priests serving in the USA and form a national association… and to provide a national venue for Filipino priests to come together in a spirit of fraternity and unity, foster solidarity, and provide support for each other in our pastoral ministry in this country.”
The general admission ticket is $25. Call Fr. Erno Diaz at 0917-8290742, Fr. Frank Lanzaderas at 718-344-3041, Fr. Gil 0917-8425169), Fr. Vic Arenas at 646-750-9463, Fr. Leeboy Anung at 718-689-0238, Fr. Anthony Gonzalez at 646-469-8922, Fr. Deo at 0917-6094830, Deacon Gary Villanueva at 718-727-7350.
Blessed Bonifacia Rodriguez
Blessed Bonifacia Rodriguez, co-founder of the Congregation of the sisters Servants of St. Joseph, will be canonized in Rome on Oct. 23.
The congregation is active in the Philippines. I learned about them first from Linda Atayde who is the education committee chair of SM Foundation. The Mother Superior here the late Mother Valentina Ayera gave her a Rosary which she keeps until now. It has brought healing to her.
Blessed Bonifacia Rodriguez died 100 years ago. Born in Salamanca, Spain in 1837, she met Fr. Francis Butina, a holy Jesuit, with whom she founded the Congregation in 1874. She died in Zamora in 1905. Her congregation is now active in Spain, Italy, the United States, Cuba, Colombia, Peru, Argentina, Chile, the Philippines, Zaire and Papua New Guinea.
Pope John Paul II declared her “Blessed” on Nov. 9, 2003, together with Fr. Juan Nepomuceno Zegli Moreno and Fr. Valentin Paquay OFM, both of whom also died in 1905. Adam’s Travel is arranging travel to Rome plus other Marian places, including Our Lady of Grace Chapel in San Giovanni, Rotondo. Call 5211651/98 or text Anna at 0908-5919908.
Ambassador Tuason
So much was the devotion of Philippine Ambassador to the Vatican Mercedes Tuason to Our Lady Mediatrix of All Grace that she brought 20 three-feet statues and 100 small ones to Rome when she was appointed.
Ambassador to the Vatican by former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo in 2009.
The statues were distributed to Filipino communities in Italy. A three-feet image adorns her dining room in the embassy with a 18 x 24 framed photograph of Blessed John Paul II.
Although Lipa Archbishop Ramon Arguelles has affirmed the order of then Archbishop Mariano Gaviola that the image of the Mediatrix be returned to the Carmelite monastery in Lipa for veneration, the authenticity of the apparitions has still to be determined by the Vatican.
The generation of the ’40s experienced the wonder of the falling of red rose petals in the Carmelite monastery, but the veneration of the Virgin Mary had to be stopped upon the order of the committee investigating the apparitions to then postulant Sister Teresing Castillo. Our Lady told her “I am the Mediatrix of All Grace.” Surely, all of us have experienced Our Lady’s intercessions.
Our OFWs and Filipino migrants in Italy can now pray to her and touch her image. Thanks to Ambassador Tuason. And also thanks to Danny Dolor for donating the land where Our Lady Mediatrix of All Grace Parish Church now stands in Lipa.
Couples for Christ
Couples for Christ (CFC) , a movement for Catholic Christian renewal recognized by the Vatican, is celebrating its 30th (Pearl) anniversary by organizing a faith-filled journey to the Holy Land, Egypt and Jordan.”
Called “CFC Pearlgrimage,” the tour will visit all the holy sites that the Lord Jesus visited. One of the highlights of the tour is the renewal of wedding vows at the Church in Cana and also the renewal of baptismal vows at the River Jordan where Jesus was baptized by St. John the Baptist.
Following the life and passion of Jesus, the pilgrims will pray at the birthplace of Jesus and at the Holy Sepulchre, cruise the Sea of Galilee and carry the cross at the Via Dolorosa.
The tour is headed by CFC Council Overseer Joe Yamamoto and is being arranged by Adams Express Travel. The pilgrimage starts on Nov. 20 and will last for 13 days, or until Dec. 2. CFC members from all over the world are joining the pilgrimage.
Call Michelle Llaban, CFC Holyland Pearlgrimage Secretariat, at 0933-2757376; or Anna at 5211651 (Adam’s). Deadline is Aug. 31.
