IN A QUIET PART of Lopez Village in Los Baños, Laguna, surrounded by trees stands the Sancti Dei Healing Center founded by healing priest Fr. Diwane Cacao in 2000. If you see it now, you wouldn?t imagine that it was bare land of 1,500 square meters donated by Nanay Zenaida Umali. Armed only with a strong faith in God?s providence, Fr. Cacao started to build step by step: first, the chapel, where many healing Masses have taken place throughout the years.
Through the kindness of many benefactors who believed in what he is doing, the Sancti Dei Healing Center was born and slowly, the place included an Adoration Chapel, a grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes and a two-story dormitory where retreats take place.
On Feb. 11, 9:30 a.m., Sancti Dei will celebrate its 10th anniversary and the blessing of the multipurpose center.
Present will be the volunteer catchers of those who are ?slain? during the healing. Those who are sick are invited to come. Thanks to Bishop Leo Drona for giving Fr. Cacao the assignment of full healing ministry.
Healing Masses
Fr. Cacao has also been invited to celebrate Healing Masses: Feb. 4, 6 p.m. at the Grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes, District I, Narra Park, Ayala Alabang (coordinator, Sr. Aida Bautista); Feb. 7, 6 p.m., Our Lady of Lourdes Parish, United San Pedro, San Pedro, Laguna (coordinator, Bro. Wally Eusebio); Feb. 12, 6 p.m., Our Lady of Remedies Parish in Del Remedio in ?Wawa,? San Pablo City (coordinator, Sr. Beth Lim).
St. John Vianney relics
The relics of St. John Mary Vianney, patron saint of priests, arrived yesterday by KLM from Ars, France, and was brought by motorcade to the National Shrine of the Sacred Heart in Dau St., Makati. The relics (his breviary, a part of his body and the stole he used for hearing confessions) will be brought this morning to Edsa Shrine in time for the 12 noon Mass. In time for the opening of the Second National Congress of the Clergy (Jan. 25-29), the relics will be brought to the World Trade Center. The relics were brought by two French priests.
Other schedules include: Jan. 29 at Sto. Niño de Tondo Parish on Charon St., Tondo; Jan. 30, Quiapo Church; and Jan. 31, St. John Mary Vianney Parish, Narra St., Cembo, Makati. The relics will be brought back to Ars on Feb. 1.
Miracle stories
Fr. Jimmy Marquez, parish priest of Cembo, told miracle stories during a press con at the Arzobispado last Monday. After six months of praying to the saint that his father would come to the church with him, the father of the boy finally went with him to the parish of St. John Mary Vianney. The mother of a little girl with an enlarged heart asked Fr. Jimmy to help her pray to the saint. The little girl?s heart turned to normal and was baptized and named after the saint.
5,000 priests
According to Ambassador Tita de Villa, 5,000 priests from 86 dioceses, including 100 bishops, priests from 38 religious orders are registered to join the Congress that opens tomorrow. The Council of the Laity is inviting the public to the recollection at the Araneta Coliseum on Jan. 28, to be given by Fr. Cantalamessa. Attendance is free.
Tuloy sa Don Bosco
The blessing and launch of the Learning Resource Center and Library at the Tuloy sa Don Bosco complex in Alabang last Jan. 13 was a joyous event. Besides the 3,500 books, mostly donated by Sun Power, 20 computers were donated by friends. The project was made possible by donors like Swiss Foundation (main donor), Malampaya Foundation (composed of Shell, Chevron, PNOC and Caltex) represented by Romeo Solis and Luke Esteban, Bob Miller, Eileen Smith, Howard Tong and Rotary Foundation.
Passport to heaven
Fr. Rocky Evangelista, president of Tuloy Foundation, told Aurora Lazo and myself that ?to save a child is one?s passport to heaven.? Not only one child has been saved, but 10,500 since 1993; 3,500 have graduated; and more than 2,000 are employed in vocational jobs.
John Kerr, EVP and board director and trustee, related that it all began in l993 when Fr. Rocky picked up 12 children off the streets of Makati and housed them in Don Bosco. By 2000, the number grew to 130, so DSWD offered the Lingap Center, a small plot of land near San Jose Village.
Nearby was bare land of 4.5 hectares that Fr. Rocky negotiated to rent, but was donated by the government after many years. By divine providence through benefactors, the Tuloy sa Don Bosco grew to include school buildings, dormitories where 200 boarders stay, a gymnasium and Chapel of the Forgiving Lord.
Pilgrimage to Nagasaki
Fr. Erno Diaz, founding chair of the San Lorenzo Ruiz Global Ministry, is chaplain of the pilgrims going to Nagasaki (March 28 to April 1). Organized by Catholic Travel and Miles and More Travel, the pilgrimage will visit Nagasaki where Lorenzo Ruiz was martyred in 1637 with 26 companions. Call 5232523 or text 0908-6288540. Deadline for deposit is Feb. 26.
