Renowned journalist, historian and best-selling author Paul Badde will be in the Philippines to celebrate the first anniversary of the Shrine of the Holy Face in Nampicuan, Nueva Ecija, on Sept. 16.

The Holy Veil of Manoppello is believed to be the burial face cloth of Jesus—the Sudarium, that bears the Holy Face of the Risen Jesus. The original relic has been kept for over 500 years in Basilica del Volto Santo in the Apennines in Italy.

The Veil is made of “sea silk,” a rare material usually found in the tombs of Egyptian pharaohs, and the image on the Veil, like the Shroud of Turin, is referred to as acheropoietus meaning “not made by the hand of man.”

Paul Badde has written two books on this relic: “The Face of God,” a thrilling journey of discovery as he travels to research this remarkable relic, tracing the turbulent history of the Holy Face from ancient times up to the historic 2006 visit to Manoppello by Pope Benedict XVI; and “True Icon,” which investigates the artistic iconography of the image on the Holy Veil and shows the remarkable similarities between the image on the Veil and all other images made of Jesus Christ from the Eastern Roman Empire to the Middle Ages, Renaissance, and present day.

Most remarkable of all, according to Badde, “…when the image on the Veil of Manoppello is laid over the image of the face on the Shroud of Turin, the two images match perfectly. It is the same face.”

Badde was an editor of the German newspaper Die Welt, as its Jerusalem, and more recently its Vatican, correspondent, in Rome. In February 2013, when Pope Benedict resigned, he was interviewed by CAN/EWTN News in Rome.

For more info on, and directions to, the Shrine of the Holy Face in Nueva Ecija, visit www.holyfacenampicuan.com.

Peñafrancia fiesta

For those who cannot attend the Peñafrancia festivities in Naga City this year, the Peñafrancia Devotees Association of Metro Manila is observing the fiesta this month.

Theodosius Sebastian M. Cruz of the Peñafrancia association said the group is “inviting all Bicolanos and Marian devotees living in Metro Manila who cannot go to Naga City, Camarines Sur, for the festivities of Nuestra Señora de Peñafrancia and Divino Rostro this September.”

“Bicolanos celebrate this feast every third Sunday of September,” added Cruz, “but here in Metro Manila, they celebrate it on the second Sunday of September.”

The group will hold the Triduum Masses in honor of La Peñafrancia, Sept. 10-12, 6 p.m., at Our Lady of Remedies Parish Church, Malate, Manila.

On Sept. 13, there will be a procession at 2 p.m. from Malate Church to Agrifina Circle, Luneta Park.

Then “Ina” will be brought to the Manila Cathedral for the High Mass at 6 p.m.

Jesuit vocation seminar

The Vocation Promotions Team of Society of Jesus will hold a Meet the Jesuits Discernment Seminar on Sept. 13, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., at Ateneo Professional Schools in Makati City (130 De la Costa St., Salcedo Village, Makati).

The seminar is open to male college students and single young male professionals. Free registration. Those interested may call or text 0917-5378487 for more details.

E-mail announcements to lzulueta@inquirer.com.ph or noel

mogate11@gmail.com.