The Pontificio Collegio Filippino, the dormitory of Philippine secular priests studying or working in Rome, has postponed indefinitely its annual Lenten retreat set for March 15 because of COVID-19 spread risks.

Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, former Manila archbishop and now the prefect of the Vatican’s Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, is supposed to participate in the one-day retreat for Philippine priests and religious and the Philippine migrant community in Rome.

Fr. Gregory Gaston, rector of the Collegio Filippino, said the postponement was “out of deference to the Italian government, that declared the suspension of classes at all levels as a precautionary measure to help contain the Covid-19.”

“We are also monitoring instructions from the different dioceses of Italy, especially where we celebrate Masses for our dear Filipino migrants,” added Father Gaston.

Bohol, Cebu Lenten pilgrimage

Pilgrims of Green Faith Travels, a nonprofit Catholic pilgrimage apostolate, will visit 11 restored heritage churches of Bohol and Cebu heavily damaged by the 2013 earthquake for its annual Lenten Pilgrimage of Faith and Heritage on March 25 to March 29.

The five-day Visita Iglesia is an advanced commemoration of the 500th anniversary of the arrival of Christianity in 2021.

Bohol itinerary: St. Augustine Parish (1782) in Panglao, Assumption of Our Lady Shrine-Parish (1697) in Dauis, St. Joseph the Worker Cathedral (1767) in Tagbilaran City, Immaculate Conception Parish (1596) in Báclayon, Sta. Monica Parish (1842) in Alburquerque, Most Holy Trinity Parish (1799) in Loay, Sto. Niño Parish (1793) in Cortes, Our Lady of Mt. Carmel (1829) in Balilihan, and San Nicholas de Tolentino Parish in Dimiao.

Cebu itinerary: Archdiocesan Shrine of St. Pedro Calungsod, Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral, Basilica Minore del Santo Niño, Archdiocesan Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Chapel of the Holy Relics, National Shrine of St. Joseph in Mandaue and the Shrine of the Our Lady of the Rule in Mactan Island.

Ten slots are still available for P35,000 per pilgrim, which covers round-trip airfare and transport, all meals and snacks, entrance and terminal fees, and a pilgrim’s kit. Deadline of payment is on March 16.

Bro. Edwin P. Galvez, Tel. 09266152596, email [email protected], follow Green Faith Travels on Facebook.

Miraculous saints

Santo Domingo Church in Quezon City is holding the Novena to San Vicente Ferrer every Friday, 5:30 p.m. St. Vicente Ferrer is considered a miraculous saint.

Meanwhile St. Peregrine Laziosi Church in Tunasan, Muntinlupa, hosts the shrine to the patron saint of cancer patients.

Run by the friars of the Order of of the Servant Mary, better known as the Servites, the church has a relic chapel containing the rib of St. Peregrine.

For announcements, email [email protected].