AUGUST 8 is the feast of St. Dominic de Guzman, the founder of the Order of Preachers (OP, or Dominicans), one of the major movements of religious reform of the Middle Ages and a most influential religious order in the Church today.

At the Santo Domingo Church (SDC) in Quezon City, the headquarters of the Philippine Dominican Province, novena Masses have been held since July 29 culminating in the fiesta Mass today, Aug. 7, 4 p.m., to be led by parish priest Fr. Ramon Salibay, OP. Procession follows the Mass, according to Fr. Rolando Mactal, OP, prior of the SDC convent.

Tomorrow, Aug. 8, High Mass will be at 6 p.m., preceded by the recitation of the rosary at 5:30 p.m. The Mass in accordance with tradition will be led by a Franciscan friar, the Franciscans and Dominicans having partnered in the mendicant movement that reformed the Church in the Middle Ages.

Fr. Roland Mactal, rector of the Shrine of La Naval at SDC, said “agape” will follow the Mass at the Angelicum gymnasium with the Dominican family of friars, sisters, and laity in fellowship.

Dominican jubilee

The Dominicans are celebrating its 800th anniversary of their foundation. They are present in 100 countries. Dominicans are the foremost propagators of the rosary. As preachers, they continue to evangelize the word of God in thought, word and action.

In connection with the 800th anniversary of the OP, Santo Domingo Church in Quezon City is holding every Wednesday, 5:30 p.m., the perpetual novena to Santo Dominic de Guzman, founder of the Dominican Order.

Santo Domingo Church is also holding the perpetual novena to the Santisimo Rosario de La Naval de Manila every Saturday, 5:30 p.m. Holy Mass follows at 6 p.m. Everyone is invited to both novenas.

First Filipino saint

The Archdiocese of Los Angeles and the San Fernando Region will hold the 8th Regional Celebration of the feast of San Lorenzo Ruiz de Manila, the first Filipino saint, on Sept. 24, at the Holy Family Church-Glendale (209 East Lomita Ave., Glendale, CA 91205).

Procession will be at 4:30 p.m., then Mass will be at 5:30 p.m. with Msgr. Oscar A. Solis, auxiliary bishop of Los Angeles and the first ethnic Filipino to be elevated to the US episcopacy, as principal celebrant.

Contact Ping Bayani at (913) 5584332 or [email protected].

Charity outlet in Antipolo

Segunda Mana, the donations-in-kind program of Caritas Manila (CM), will reopen its Charity outlet in Comoda Ville, Antipolo City, Rizal, on Aug. 9.

Fr. Anton C.T. Pascual, CM executive director, will lead the blessing.

Segunda Mana accepts clothes, shoes, bags, toys, home and fashion accessories as gifts of charity. It advocates the 3Rs: reuse, reduce and recycle, and provides opportunities for livelihood to about 400 Segunda Mana micro-entrepreneurs. Segunda Mana also supports over 5,000 poor but deserving youth scholars under the flagship program of CM, the Youth Servant Leadership and Education Program.

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