The holy remains of Blessed Bishop Alvaro del Portillo, who was beatified in Madrid, Spain, yesterday, will be transferred from Our Lady of Peace Chapel in Buono Bozzi in Rome to the Basilica of St. Eugene on Sept. 29 for public veneration. I myself swear to the efficacy of Blessed Del Portillo’s intercession, especially in financial needs.

 

In New York, Filipinos devoted to San Lorenzo Ruiz led by Fr. Erno Diaz, the new parish priest of Guardian Angels Church, celebrated his feast this week through novena Masses.

 

The San Lorenzo Ruiz Choir of New York sang at the Mass installing Father Erno as parish priest last Sept. 7; they helped make the liturgy vibrant. Incidentally, the choir mounted a concert, “Gloria,” on Sept. 27, the eve of San Lorenzo’s fiesta, at Our Lady of Pompeii Church, also in New York City.

 

On Sept. 26, Father Erno celebrated the fiesta Mass at the Immaculate Conception Church, the parish church of Zeny Abbariao, a native of Tuguegarao and cousin of the late Bobby Caballero.

 

Global Ministry

 

Father Erno said he hopes to base the San Lorenzo Ruiz Global Ministry in his parish. He added the group will cosponsor a regular Sunday evening Mass for young adults.

 

“I’m looking at the possibility of reviving the San Lorenzo Global Hour,” he wrote me. “Please pray for this.”

 

Those living in New York and in the US can e-mail Father Erno their intention to join at [email protected].

 

Happy fiesta, San Lorenzo Ruiz de Manila!

 

Ina Poong Bato in Pasig

 

Pasig Bishop Mylo Hubert Vergara led the blessing and dedication of the Ina Poong Bato grotto at the Immaculate Conception Cathedral grounds in Pasig City last Sept. 8, Nativity of the Blessed Mother.

 

Renena Prieto, who facilitated the construction of the grotto, was present along with Nona Ricafort, a longtime Ina devotee, and Angelica Cheng, daughter of the late Rosellyn Magsaysay who promoted the devotion to Ina for over 30 years in Zambales, elsewhere and abroad.

 

The Ina Poong Bato Pasig chapter, headed by Perla Damian and Purisima Barbosa, sponsored the Marian event.

 

Vatican appoints Filipino

 

Pope Francis has appointed Fr. Gerard Francisco P. Timoner III, OP, the prior provincial of the Philippine Dominican Province, to be a member of the International Theological Commission, which advises the Pope on doctrinal matters. He is among 30 new members from around the world appointed by the Pope for a five-year term.

 

Reappointed by the Pope as secretary general and prefect of the ITC is another Dominican, the Frenchman Fr. Serge Thomas Bonino, OP.

 

Before being elected as prior provincial by his Filipino Dominican confreres, Father Timoner was rector of the Central Seminary of the University of Santo Tomas. He took up his higher theological studies at the Pontifical University in Manila and the Catholic University of Nijmegen in the Netherlands.

 

Santisima Trinidad in Manila needs help

 

The Parish of Santisima Trinidad on Estrada and Dian Streets in Malate, Manila, needs to be reconstructed and/or renovated.

 

Fr. Jojo Buenafe, the parish priest, is asking for financial help to have the church renovated.

 

Fr. Domingo Baybay retired last year as parish priest after having served there for 20 years.

 

You may send your donation directly to the parish office or get details from Isabel Barcenas (tel. 0917-2838870).

 

Buen Suceso in Cavite

 

The Nuestra Señora del Buen Suceso, or “Nana Ciso,” the new patroness of the Eastern Catholic Church in Cavite, will visit “oikoses” or parishes from Sept. 27 to Dec. 8, feast of the Immaculate Conception.

 

For details, contact Fr. Marcel   Gonzales at tel. 0906-3080087.

 

St. James Alabang concert

 

St. James Church of the Poor Apostolate invites everyone to the benefit concert, “Heroes and Friends,” featuring Christian Bautista, Karylle, Matteo Guidicelli and the Manila Symphony Orchestra on Oct. 2, 7:45 p.m., at the St. James the Greater Church in Ayala Alabang.

 

For tickets, contact tel. nos. 0917-8981977 or 0908-8838266.

 

Mary Mediatrix T-shirts

 

Tony Medina, publisher of the Philippine Catholic Herald, is printing Mary Mediatrix T-shirts to promote her cause and spread the prophecy on China that she told Teresita Castillo on Oct. 17, 1949.

 

“The T-shirts when worn is a mobile vehicle to spread the heavenly ordained message,” explained Medina.

 

To order, contact Tony at tel. 0916-3205394.

 

Delivery can be arranged.