Caleruega Philippines, the retreat house of the Philippine Dominican Province, will hold “Growing Older & Wiser Gracefully, Gratefully: A Retreat for Senior Citizens” on Feb. 7-9.

Caleruega in Nasugbu, Batangas, is famous as a wedding place because of its beautiful chapel and scenic landscape.

But Caleruega is really a retreat house for spiritual recollections. Students and faculty of Dominican schools as well as lay persons and even couples about to get married or are already married hold their retreats there.

This time, Caleruega will hold a special recollection for the elderly (tel. 0921-2709890, email caleruega_philippines@ yahoo.com).

Help for typhoon victims

More than 2.1 million people in Eastern Visayas were affected by the Christmas Eve Typhoon “Ursula,” said church officials.

The typhoon, which packed 120 kph winds with gusts of up to 150 kph, made landfall on Christmas Eve.

In the Diocese of Borongan in Eastern Samar, according to United Catholic News, Bishop Crispin Varquez has asked priests to conduct donation campaigns for typhoon victims.

Catholics and others wanting to give relief and donations may contact the Bishop’s Residence in Borongan City. (tel. 055-2613317, 5609325; fax 2613317).

They may also get in touch with Caritas Manila (tel. 85620020-25 local 126 and 142).

Saints this week

Feasts this week are: St. Hilary of Poitiers (4th century), bishop and Doctor of the Church, Jan. 13; St. Francis Capillas (1607-1648), Spanish Dominican friar who worked as a missionary in the Philippines before being martyred in China, canonized by Pope John Paul II in 2000 as the “Protomartyr of China,” Jan. 15; and St. Anthony of Egypt (251-356), more popularly known as San Antonio Abad, one of the Desert Fathers and founder of the monastic movement, “Father of All Monks,” Jan. 17.

For announcements, email [email protected].