Originally, the feast of the Holy Cross is celebrated Sept. 14, which is also the foundation anniversary of the Servants of the Risen Christ monastic community. This year, due to pilgrims’ request to make the celebration on a weekend, the feast of the Triumph of the Holy Cross will be celebrated on Sept. 21.
Tarlac Bishop Florentino Cinenze will officiate the Concelebrated Mass with priest-monks of the community headed by Fr. Archie Cortez, SRC, at 10 a.m. Concelebrating is Bangued Bishop Leopoldo Jaucian, SVD, who will be the homilist.
The Holy Mass will be followed by the exposition of the relic of the True Cross. Fr. Cortez will lead the Healing Prayer before the public veneration.
This year’s hermanos mayores are Eduardo and Baby Perez. Tarlac Gov. Victor Yap will welcome the pilgrims, while Vice Gov. Kit Cojuangco will lead the prayers.
Santuario de San Vicente de Paul parish
Located along Tandang Sora Avenue in Quezon City, the Santuario de San Vicente de Paul Parish and Shrine (SVDPPS) marked its first anniversary as a parish and shrine for the poor last July 22.
Thanksgiving Mass was held on July 21 by Fr. Roland A. Tuazon, CM, parish priest, with the members of the different ministries of the Santuario gracing the event.
The huge structure can accommodate over 1,000 people, and a columbarium integrated into the total Santuario design can hold as many as 9,000 niches.
Ten years into the construction, the church, however, is not yet finished. Ching Juan Chee Kee, a lector of the parish, told me the windows which double as walls have not been installed. Though the roof is finished, there are no tiles, except in the sanctuary; and there are no pews yet. People have to use monoblocs when they attend Mass.
What happened before
Fr. Venerando D. Agner, CM, provincial visitor, recalls how “a little chapel started it all—when St. Vincent seminary moved to its present location, its humble chapel became a magnet for many passersby and churchgoers, attracting them to its liturgical celebrations.”
It was Jaime Cardinal Sin, a product of the Vincentians, who gave the permission for the building of the shrine. With the seminary chapel and the priests’ building torn down, Sunday Masses had to be held for a time at the covered court, but when, in 2005, the still rough structure’s gigantic roof was installed, weekly Masses were held at the new church which has been interchangeably called as “St. Vincent” or “Santuario.”
Please help
Fr. Tuazon invites generous souls to support the Santuario. “One could sponsor a pew near the altar for P50,000, and further back, for P25,000. This could be done also by individuals who, together, can pool resources and donate a pew in memory of someone dear or in thanksgiving for a grace received. Relevant details will be engraved on a small plate which will be fixed on the pew.”
Gothic windows
To sponsor windows in Gothic style, friends could pool P75,000 for a small window or P100,000 for a large window with hinge-panels. Or, families can get a unit at the Santuario Columbary priced from P60,000 to P100,000 with settings for three inurnments. “It is an investment which may appreciate, as a mortuary chapel will soon be built nearby,” said Fr. Tuazon.
Donors may deposit directly to Santuario’s Metrobank account (No. 326-7-32651435-3), or send a check payable to RCBN-Santuario de San Vicente de Paul Parish. Pledges for construction materials are also welcome. Call tel. 9268063 or 4543597.
‘Nuestra’ in Bahay Pare
Devotees of Our Lady of Mercy in Bahay Pare, Candaba, Pampanga, call the Virgin Mary “Nuestra” (which in Spanish means “our” or “ours”).
The new parish priest Fr. Pete Sitchon will lead the Novena Masses on Sept. 15-23 at 5:30 p.m.
The original image will be brought in a procession on Sept. 22, 3 p.m., from the Chapel of St. Lucy in Dulong Ilog to the parish church.
Fiesta Masses on Sept. 24 are at 5, 6:15, 7:30 and 8:45 a.m. Concelebrated Fiesta Mass is set at 10 a.m. with Archbishop Aniceto Paciano as main celebrant.
Other Masses are at 3, 4:30 and 6 p.m.
Padre Pio’s ‘caretaker priest’
Fr. Ermelindo di Capua, OFM Capuchin, one of two Capuchin priests who had lived with St. Padre Pio, will be in Sto. Tomas, Batangas, for the blessing of the shrine on Sept. 23.
On Sept. 20, there will be “An Evening with Fr. di Capua,” which will start with a Holy Mass at 5 p.m., followed by a benefit dinner and concert where priests from the Archdiocese of Lipa will perform.
It was Fr. Di Capua who took care of Padre Pio in the friary in San Giovanni Rotondo.
The shrine welcomes donations. Call tel. 043-7843568 or 0917-5049594.