DRAWN BY FAITH IN THE HOLY Child, devotees of Sto. Niño de Providencia came as early as 7 a.m. on Jan. 23, crowding Aurora Pijuan St. in BF Resort Village, which was lined with Monobloc chairs.

Enthroned at the altar was the miraculous Sto. Niño de Providencia who people asked for healing or thanked for answered prayers. At least 5,000 people must have come that day, judging from the packets of prayers and holy oil that were given away, and the packed lunches and dinners for all who came.

Among them were faithful devotees Betsy Reyes from Bacolod who was cured of breast cancer 11 years ago, and Lindy Lopez Vito who is thankful for answered prayers. Then there was Ching Tubon who came with her family. Listen to her on DWAD 1098 AM band (MWF), 9-10 a.m., on ?Jesus the Divine Healer.?

Pray for the ?sick?

In his homily during his healing Mass at 10 a.m., Fr. Gerard Deveza said: ?Pray for those who are away from Christ because they are sick in the soul. You are here, perhaps, in pain, but you are with Christ.?

The people stayed for the anointing of the oil and, much later, joined a motorcade bringing the Sto. Niño to the Mary the Mother of the Church parish for the 3 p.m. Mass. The Eucharistic Healers of Mary (EHM) sang in the Mass and Responsorial Psalm.

Concelebrated Mass

Msgr. Philip Ocol, parish priest, officiated the concelebrated Mass with Fr. Larry Faraon, Fr. Randy Vergara, SSS, Fr. Narciso Desuyo, EHM, Fr. Arturo Gonzales and Fr. Daniel Healy. In his homily, Fr. Faraon said: ?Always keep the child in you because the Holy Child is in you. The Sto. Niño is in the family. Don?t lose the Child, don?t lose the family.?

Sto. Niño procession

The Congregacion del Santissimo Nombre del Niño Jesus holds its annual procession today at 3 p.m. from Philtrade Center to Quirino Grandstand. This is the Congregacion?s 30th procession. One hundred eighty carrozas are expected to join.

Our Lady of Candelaria

After the Vesper Mass at 7 p.m. on Feb. 1 at the shrine of the miraculous Lady of Candelaria, the patroness of Iloilo will be crowned.

The next day at 8:30 a.m., a procession from the Archbishop?s Palace to the Cathedral will take place followed by a Pontifical Mass to be officiated by Jaro Archbishop Angel Lagdameo.

Eucharistic Healers of Mary

Ten years ago, Tuguegarao Archbishop Diosdado Talamayan founded the Eucharistic Healers of Mary (EHM), a religious institute that would take care of old and sick priests in the archdiocese. Putting Fr. Lorenzo Marzo in charge, the order opened its formation house in a small house at 43 Morning Star Drive, Sanville Subd., Barangay Culiat, 1123 Quezon City.

Believing in God?s providence through fundraising concerts and the help of many benefactors, the order thrived, producing five priests, three candidates for diaconate and l6 seminarians in Philosophy and Theology. But help is needed to be able to send the poor seminarians to school.

If anyone would like to support a seminarian to become a priest, please text Fr. Lorenzo Marzo at 0939-5738047. Please make checks payable to Eucharistic Healers of Mary.

World Leprosy Day

Dr. Gemma Cabanos, executive director of Philippine Leprosy Mission, says that the theme of World Leprosy Day (today) is ?empowering persons, families and communities toward a leprosy-free Philippines.? Celebration in the Philippines was Jan. 29.

To highlight the event, an Inquirer advocacy advertisement appeared today featuring the Philippine Declaration in both Tagalog and English and a Global Appeal to End Stigma and Discrimination Against Persons Affected by Leprosy. It is supported by authorities from the Department of Health, World Health Organization and local and international NGOs, people?s organizations and private groups shown by their affixed signatures.

Oberramergau passion play

Of interest to Christians all over the world is the staging of the Passion Play in Oberramergau, Germany, May 15-Oct. 2. The passion play will be performed daily for the 41st year with hundreds of Bavarians performing different characters of the New Testament. Its history began in 1633 during the Thirty Years War, when after much suffering and thousands of death caused by the Black Plague, the surviving population of Oberramergau vowed they would perform the ?play of the suffering, death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ? every 10 years if they were spared from extinction.

Healing priest Efren ?Momoy? Borromeo will lead pilgrims as chaplain on May 18. Included are seven countries with five Unesco Heritage Sites?Berlin, Medjugorje, Prague, Dubrovnik, The Divine Mercy, Munich, Salzburg, Krakow, plus the romantic places of Eastern Europe. Because of limited slots, early reservation is advised. (Adams Express Travel, 521-1651/1638/1698, adamstvl@yahoo.com.)

Relic of the Holy Cross

The Servants of the Risen Christ (SRC) celebrated yesterday the third anniversary of the enthronement of the Relic of the Holy Cross at the Monasterio de Tarlac in San Jose, Tarlac. Msgr. Bauer of Essen, Germany, concelebrated in the Mass. Fr. Archie Cortez is prior.

Latin Mass

Priests who attended the Second National Congress of the Clergy are invited to concelebrate the Latin Mass today, 9:30 a.m., at the National Shrine of St. Sherese in Villamor airbase. Msgr. Cesar Salomon is main celebrant.

?Tindahan ni Enteng?

Catch the exhibit of seminarian Bernice Wynn of the Archdiocese of Tuguegarao and Dionisio Mayores, CM, (Jan. 31-Feb. 5) at the De Paul House on 221 Tandang Sora Ave. (tel. 939-4361), for the benefit of the project ?Tindahan ni Enteng? that benefits 51 families and 10 soldiers.

Healing Masses

Healing priest Nelson Osorio, OSJ, will hold healing Masses today at 6 p.m. at the Blessed Sacrament Parish in South City Homes, Biñan, Laguna, and Feb. 3, 5 p.m., at the Archdiocesan Shrine of St. Joseph in San Jose, Batangas.