When six prominent women formed a “circle of discernment” in response to the call of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), in no time they gathered 100 women from La Strada Parish and other parishes to attend the the talk of Archbishop Antonio Ledesma on natural family planning.
The conveners are Teresita Narciso Ledesma, Mariter Jalandoni Macapagal, Mila Gomez David, Carmen Dayrit Padilla, Sister Cho Borromeo, FMM, and Sister Sonia S. Aldeguer, RSCJ.
When the CBCP issued a pastoral letter urging the faithful to form circles of discernment to address social and political issues, the women were joyful to discover that they were on the right path. Wanting to grow of one heart and one mind with Jesus through the Catholic Church, they wondered how it would be if they reached out to other like-minded women, women gifted with a discerning heart, compassionate and caring in the face of the reality around them.
Many are poor, oppressed and suffering. If the WNBCC pool their gifts, they will surely be able to build our nation, according to the will of God.
Other speakers were CBCP president Archbishop Jose Palma, who spoke on the “Important Role of Women”; Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle, who delved on the importance of compassion toward helping other women; and Fr. Karel San Juan, SJ, who spoke on spiritual leadership.
Convener Mila David said, “We want to continue to establish contact with the different organizations by holding fora with bishops and important speakers to be able to discuss issues and understand the thinking of the Catholic church. To join, call Helen at 8132051.
UST BS Chem ’63 marks golden jubilee
It is good to know that Fr. Norberto Castillo, OP, former rector magnificus of the University of Santo Tomas and now Apostolic Penitentiere Confessor at the Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome, is one of the jubilarians of UST Bachelor of Science in Chemistry Class ’63.
Before joining the Dominicans, he worked as a chemist at the central laboratory of San Miguel Corp. (SMC).
BS Chem Class ’63 will celebrate its golden jubilee from Feb. 18 to 23.
Other ’63 Thomasian chemists who worked at SMC include Eddie Buiser (deceased); Mila Dolores, author of “The Virgin of the Poor: A Tribute from her Filipino Children”; Leni Fernandez-Buccat, technical manager, Fast Laboratories and VP for finance of Lecel Crafts Inc.; Dery Grozman, retired vice president of SMC; Ben del Rosario, president, Rodel Chemical Corp.; and Ed Villena, class coordinator in the US.
Thanksgiving Mass
The celebration will start on Feb. 18 with a Thanksgiving Mass at 8 a.m. at UST’s Santissimo Rosario Parish, followed by a program at the Fr. Angel de Blas Hall, 3/F Main Building.
Pilgrimage sites on Feb. 19 include Mediatrix of All Grace in Lipa City, and the Virgin of the Poor at the Sisters of Mary Girlstown in Biga, Silang, Cavite, where a replica of the shrine in Banneux, Belgium, is located.
For more information, contact Dr. Aida Aguinaldo at 9419638, 9335751, 0919-5308703; Leni Fernandez Buccat at 9130250, 0906-4929819 or Ben del Rosario at 6872163, 0917-5780720. E-mail Mila Dolores at midpublish@yahoo.com.
Sancti Dei Healing Center turns 13
To celebrate the 13th anniversary of the canonical erection of the Sancti Dei Healing Center in Lopez Village, Los Baños, Laguna, healing priest Fr. Diwane Cacao will celebrate Healing Masses from Feb. 2 to 10 at 9:30 a.m.
On Feb. 11, Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes, the Fiesta Mass will be at 9:30 a.m., followed by the healing session at 10:30 a.m.
By the way, Fr. Cacao will do “healing on the air” over Radio Veritas 846 AM on Feb. 16, 8 to 9 p.m., in the program “San Expedito, Santong Madaling Lapitan.” Producer is the Society of St. Expeditus. Those who need novenas can write me at the Philippine Daily Inquirer, Chino Roces Ave., Makati City. Please enclose a self-addressed stamped envelope.
Holy Mass at the Prayer Mountain
Fr. Matthias Smith of the Secular Institute of the Two Hearts will celebrate Holy Mass at the Prayer Mountain in Dayapa, Tanay, on Feb. 16, 11 a.m., for pilgrims who are driving up via Marcos Highway.
Also called the Spring of Grace Pilgrimage Site, the pilgrims there venerate Maria Rosa Mistica, Mother of the Church.
Those who want to send prayer requests, please write to Teresa Bitanga Valeros, a natural wellness doctor, via P.O. Box 8016, DVA, 1222 Makati City.
Those who want to send donations for the building of the shrine can make checks payable to La Sorgente Foundation and address their letters to Teresa Valeros.
As a way to help, sculptor Ton Raymundo made a seven-foot-tall statue of the Rosa Mistica.
For more details on how to go to Dayapa, call Marivic Perez at 0918-3256475 or Remy Revamuntan at 0915-2765626.
Adventist recital
Dean Harold Perfecto Galang, formerly of the Philippine Women’s University, will hold a piano recital on Feb. 9, 6:30 p.m., at the Adventist University of the Philippines in Puting Kahoy, Silang, Cavite, to mark the 60th anniversary of its music department.