Former Manila Archbishop Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, now in Rome where he’s prefect of the Holy See’s Congregation for the Evangelization of People, will hold an online Lenten recollection today, March 15, said Pontificio Collegio Filippino rector Fr. Gregory Gaston.

Earlier, Gaston said that the recollection with Cardinal Tagle for the Filipino migrant community had been postponed because of the coronavirus outbreak.

But the retreat will now push through but via virtual technology.

The Cardinal will celebrate the Holy Mass at 8 to 9 a.m. in Rome (3-4 p.m. in the Philippines), Father Gaston said. Then the Cardinal will deliver his “Lenten reflection” at 2-3 p.m. (9-10 p.m. in PH).

Meanwhile the Collegio Filippino, the dormitory of Filipino clerics studying or working in Rome, will hold an online Mass every Tuesday at 6:45 p.m. In other time zones: Philippines, 1 a.m.; Hawaii, 7 a.m.; United States West Coast, 1 p.m.; Saudi Arabia, 8 p.m..

Click on fb.com/collegio to watch from cell phone, tablet or computer.

‘Lies’

Bishop Ruperto Santos of Balanga called as “lies” the claim of President Duterte that Cardinal Tagle was removed from the Manila archdiocese because Pope Francis was angry at his involvement in politics and that church money was used to finance the political opposition.

“All lies. Distortion of truth,” said Santos.

Cardinal Tagle’s assignment in the Vatican “is a grace from God, a gift and blessing to the Philippines,” he said.

Meanwhile Bishop Pablo Virgilio David of Caloocan, vice president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines, called Duterte’s claim as “unbelievably ludicrous.” “I suggest that we go back to the real issues of the day,” said the Caloocan bishop.

Miracle 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.

Every Wednesday, 5:30 p.m., the church holds the perpetual novena to Saint Dominic de Guzman, founder of the Dominican Order.

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