Sta. Maria Goretti Parish at the Pope Pius XII Catholic Center on UN Avenue in Paco, Manila, will turn 30 on Dec. 11. A chapel for more than a decade, it was later issued the decree of canonical erection establishing it as a parish. Sta. Maria Goretti Parish used to be part of the San Vicente de Paul Parish on San Marcelino Street.

 

When the parish celebrated the feast of Sta. Maria Goretti last July 6, Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Tagle called the parish “the parish church where bishops pray.” In July every year, the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines holds its plenary assembly at the Pope Pius XII Catholic Center.

 

On Dec. 11 at 6 p.m., Manila Auxiliary Bishop Broderick Pabillo will officiate the concelebrated Mass with Fr. Joey Bustillo, the parish priest.

 

2013 Goretti calendar

 

The SMGP calendar for this Year of Faith 2013 is already available for sale for only P50. Proceeds will be used to finance spiritual and formation programs, and the improvement and upgrade of parish equipment and physical surrounding.

 

Call the parish office at 5361820.

 

New Gumaca priests

 

Two deacons of the Diocese of Gumaca will be ordained by Bishop Buenaventura M. Famadico: Rev. Victor R. Grimaldo of St. Ignatius of Loyola Parish in Gen. Luna, Quezon, and Rev. Reydelson N. Capanzana of Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary Parish in Lopez, Quezon.

 

They will be ordained separately in their own parishes on Dec. 10 (9 a.m.) and 11 (2 p.m.), respectively.

 

Congratulations to Fr. Vic Robles, builder of the National Shrine of the Divine Mercy in Marilao, who celebrated his 25th anniversary as a priest last Dec. 1, and to Fr. Aris Sison, who marked his silver jubilee as a priest last Sept. 19.

 

Papal awards

 

On behalf of Pope Benedict XVI, Bishop Jose F. Oliveros of Malolos, Bulacan, conferred on Dec. 7 the papal award, Knight of the Order of St. Gregory the Great, on outstanding parishioners—lawyer Manuel B. Gaite;  Dr. Virgilio  R. Villacorte, founding president of the Hermanidad de San Ildefonso; Jorge Allan R. Tengco, board member of the Cofradia de la Inmaculada Concepcion; lawyer Jose Maria R. Arcinas; Dr. Edgar  S. Yanga; engineers Virgilio B. Columna and Reynaldo D. Valerio; and Herminio S. Esguerra.

 

Dames of the Order of St. Sylvester

 

Two prominent ladies in Bulacan were also conferred by Bishop Oliveros the title Dame of St. Sylvester—Amelita R. Tengco and Fortunata B. O’ Santos.

 

The Knights of the Order of St. Sylvester were Francisco J. Fernando, Cesar S. Dulay, Nestor F. de la Rosa Sr., Pedro E. Joaquin, Cesar R. Paglinawan, Oscar D. del Rosario, Pablo E. Ramos, Francisco H. Duran, famous healer Carmelo V. Cortez and Juanito N. de la Cruz.

 

Guadalupe, Cavite fiesta

 

Theme of Our Lady of Guadalupe feast in Barangay Javalera in Gen. Trias, Cavite, is “Maria—Babaeng Pinagpala dahil sa Pananampalataya.”

 

Parish priest Fr. Reuel Castañeda leads the Novena Masses from Dec. 3 to 11 (Rosary at 5:15 p.m., Novena at 5:45 p.m. and Holy Mass at 6 p.m.).

 

There will be a procession Sunday night at 7.

 

On fiesta day, Dec. 12,  Fr. George Morales, apostolic administrator of the Diocese of Imus, will officiate the Concelebrated Mass at 9:30 a.m. Baptisms will be at 11 a.m., while Confirmations at 1 p.m. Devotees will go around the town in a “caracol” at 3 p.m., which will end up in the church for the Mass at  6 p.m.

 

Ina Poon Bato in Taiwan

 

The Ina Poon Bato Global Ministry, led by Roselynn Magsaysay and Msgr. Chris Cacho, recently  went on a Marian convention and pilgrimage to Taipei, Taiwan, where the 35-member Philippine delegation visited  Marian icons enthroned in five churches.

 

Pilgrims included Ofelia Huang, Sonia L. Atabug, Perla Damian, Modie Manuel, Dr. Mercedes Atupan, Cecille de la Cruz, Angie Panganiban, Kit and Bella Castillo.

 

Relics of St. Therese here Dec. 15

 

On Dec. 15, the relics of St. Therese of the Child Jesus will arrive for a four-month tour of at least 48 dioceses in Luzon, the Visayas and Mindanao.

 

The relics are bone fragments of the beloved saint housed in a special reliquary. They will travel from the Basilica of St. Therese in Lisieux, France, to Manila in her shrine in Newport, Pasay City, the first stop of her Philippine tour, on Dec. 15 at 3 p.m.

 

The Military Ordinariate of the Philippines, led by Bishop Leopoldo S. Tumulak, is the official host of the visit. This is the third time the pilgrim relics of St. Therese will visit the Philippines.

 

For updates, log on to www.ThereseRelics.ph and like the Facebook page www.facebook.com/ThereseRelicsPH. Also contact the Relics Secretariat at 853MARY (6279) loc. 122, 0917-5060806 or [email protected].

 

Goodbye, Nana Patty

 

Patricinio Espiritu Balmaceda de Guzman passed away last Nov. 29 in California, US. She was 88.

 

Originally from Manila, Nana Patty had been a resident of San Jose for almost 30 years. She was the beloved and respected matriarch of the Balmaceda family.

 

Patty leaves behind seven children (Georgia and Don Alviar;  Cornelio Balmaceda III; Francisco Balmaceda; Guillermo Balmaceda, Zenaida and Gerry Surla; Beatriz Balmaceda; and Raphael and Erica Balmaceda), 35 grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren, and dozens of nieces and nephews all over the world.

 

She joins her late husbands, Cornelio J. Balmaceda Jr. and Gerardo de Guzman of San Jose, California; and her son, Santos “Toti” Balmaceda in eternal life.

 

My condolences.

 

‘Madonna and Child’ exhibit

 

Try to catch Al Perez’s “Madonna and Child” exhibit at Gallery 9, 4/F SM Megamall until Dec. 15.

 

On the other hand, New York-based printmaker Lenore Lim opened her “Pieces of Dreams” exhibit at Gallery Orlina in Taal, Batangas, as one of the highlights of Our Lady of Caysasay fiesta on Saturday.