Two groups of pilgrims from Adam’s Travel gathered at the Chapel of the Collegio Filippino on April 27, Divine Mercy Sunday, to attend the Eucharistic celebration officiated by Fr. Anton Pascual, president of Caritas Manila. Fr. James Kroeger, MM, Fr. Noel Labendia and Fr. Bong Pinto of Christ the King Seminary in Green Meadows were concelebrants.
The Holy Mass was followed by the live telecast of the canonization of Popes John XXIII and John Paul II on St. Peter’s Square.
It was a holy moment as we watched and prayed to St. John Paul II and St. John XXIII.
Some of the bishops I saw at Collegio the day before the canonization were Archbishop Paciano Aniceto of San Fernando, Pampanga; Bishop Ramon Villena of Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya; Bishop Antonio Tobias of Novaliches; and, of course, Bishop Arturo Bastes, SVD, of Sorsogon, our pilgrimage chaplain.
Bishop Bastes told me later that during the canonization, he sat right behind Pope Francis.
Padre Pio
In our journey the following day to the Shrine of St. Padre Pio in San Giovanni Rotondo with Bishop Bastes and Fr. Vic Robles, we became more fervent in our prayers.
We arrived on time to attend the Holy Mass at the Chapel of Our Lady of Grace with Bishop Bastes as main celebrant and Fr. Jocis Syquia, Fr. Ramon Merino and Fr. Robles as concelebrants.
Most of the faithful were Filipino pilgrims who later walked to the new shrine to venerate the incorrupt body of San Padre Pio. We felt a healing presence in the place.
St. Anthony de Padua Mass
Most memorable was the Holy Mass celebrated at the Chapel of St. Maximilian Kolbe in St. Anthony de Padua in Padua, Italy, on May 2.
Bishop Bastes told us how St. Anthony, baptized Fernando in Lisbon, had opened the door to another little boy one day when his parents were away.
Fernando rushed to get food for the boy, but the boy told him, “I don’t need food, Fernando, but will you give me your heart?”
Recognizing Jesus, Fernando replied, “Ah, you are Jesus. Yes, I will give you my heart.”
Anthony of Padua, OFM, was born Fernando Martins de Bulhõe on Aug. 15, 1195, and died June 13, 1231. He became known for his preaching and writings and was proclaimed a Doctor of the Church in 1946. As a saint, he is said to be very miraculous. He is the saint of finding things or lost people. Wives abandoned by their husbands prayed to him and found their husbands coming back to them.
During the Offertory, Fr. Robles gave us little candles to offer for our families. Later, we proceeded to the tomb of St. Anthony where we dropped our petitions and touched his tomb asking for healing.
In the Chapel of the Relics where St. Anthony’s incorrupt tongue is enshrined, we walked slowly and asked for his intercession for our needs.
Pope Paul VI
Pope Francis has set a beatification date for Pope Paul VI on Oct. 19 at the Vatican after the miracle wrought by God through his intercession was approved by the Holy Father.
Pope Paul VI, who died in 1978 after a 15-year pontificate, is remembered for his ban on artificial contraception for Catholics.
Collegio Filippino needs help
Pontificio Collegio Filippino, located on Via Aurelia in Rome, is presently the residence of 27 diocesan priests who are taking up higher studies in Rome’s pontifical universities. The present rector is Rev. Fr. Gregory Ramon Gaston, STD, who was ordained by Pope John Paul II on June 13, 1993, in Seville, Spain, together with Rev. Fr. Stephen Simangan, canon lawyer and the chaplain of the Philippine Coast Guard in Palawan.
Officially called Pontificio Collegio Seminario de Nuestra Señora de la Paz y Buen Viaje (Pontifical College Seminary of Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage), it was formally established as an institution with pontifical rights by Pope John XXIII on June 29, 1961, through the Papal Bull Sancta Mater Ecclesia.
When we were there, Wilfredo Layug, famous sculptor from Betis, Pampanga, showed us the retablo he built at the Chapel of the Crypt on the occasion of the canonization of St. Pedro Calungsod on Oct. 21, 2012. It was a retablo featuring San Lorenzo Ruiz and San Pedro Calungsod.
I was able to attend the Holy Mass officiated there by Msgr. Gary Formoso of Vigan in the afternoon of April 26 that was attended by his pilgrims.
Those who wish to help in the construction of the new wing and repair of the old parts of the Collegio building can e-mail Fr. Gregory Gaston at gdgnet@gmail.com or contact him at +39-388-7564552, fax +39-06-6604-1602, or visit www.pcfroma.org.
Marian seminar at UST
During this Year of the Laity, Mary as Role Model of the Laity will be discussed in the Marian Encounter seminar to be held on May 25, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., at the University of Santo Tomas Tan Yan Kee Student Center.
Speakers are Msgr. Sabino Vengco Jr.; Fr. Rolando de la Rosa, OP, former UST rector; and Fr. Aloysius Aliño, parish priest of the Shrine of Sto. Niño in Bago Bantay, Quezon City, and spiritual director of the Missionaries of Mary.
Fr. Franklin Beltran, OP, will be the Mass presider at 4 p.m.
Call Missionaries of Mary at tel. 7438729.