We print a letter of Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle, Archbishop of Manila, to the chair of the Inquirer regarding his project to strengthen the Catholic Church through the ecclesiastical formation of Filipino priests at Pontificio Collegio Filippino. The rector is Fr. Gregory Gaston who was ordained by Pope John Paul II himself on June 13, 1993, in Seville, Spain, with Fr. Stephen Simangan of Tuguegarao, Cagayan.

The Cardinal wrote: “The Collegio is the residence of Filipino priests who are sent by bishops and local churches to pursue further studies in the different Pontifical Universities in Rome, Italy. After they finish their ministry of scientific reflection on the faith, the alumni return to the Philippines and play vital roles as seminary formators, professors and collaborators in the Diocesan Curia, or in other specialized ministries.

“As a home, the Collegio also welcomes our brothers and sisters from the Philippines and many other people who find the Filipino culture and the Filipino faith a source of inspiration.

“In existence for over 50 years, the Collegio is now in need of a long-overdue maintenance. For it to keep its door open for our brothers who are in the service of the Church and the Filipino faithful, its building structure would have to be renovated and its daily operation has to be funded.

“A campaign to raise funds for the Collegio will be rolled out in late October to December this year through an information drive using traditional media. This we hope would reach a large number of Filipino Catholics and generate interest for the campaign…”

Those interested to help may contact Lito Buñag of Investor Relations Global at tel. 8138841 or 0917-8932890, or e-mail [email protected]; or Marie Tuprio of First Metro at tel. 8587951 or 0919-9902835, or e-mail [email protected].

Visiting Collegio Filippino

I was very blessed to have visited the Collegio Filippino last April 26, in preparation for the canonization of St. John Paul II and St. John XXIII on April 27 in Rome.

I was very happy to meet priests like Fr. Robert Young of the Prelature of Batanes, who served at the Holy Trinity Parish in Balic-Balic while studying Canon Law at the UST Central Seminary. Father Robert is now in Rome pursuing a doctorate in Canon Law.

170 years of loving the Sacred Heart

Great news! The Apostleship of Prayer is 170 years old this year. It celebrates its 170 years of loving the Sacred Heart, praying for the pope, and praying with the pope.

A grand celebration will mark the occasion on Nov. 29 at the Medicine Auditorium of the University of Santo Tomas.

The Association was founded in 1844 in Vals, France, when a group of seminarians were anxious to join the missions. But Fr. Henry Ramiere, SJ, and Fr. Gautrelet, SJ, said that while it was not time for them to go, they could be missionaries, too, by their prayers, like St. Therese of Lisieux, by offering all of what they did the whole day daily.

Pretty soon, the townspeople of Vals joined them in their prayers and came to be organized as Apostleship of Prayer.

The Apostleship of Prayer spread all over the world and was brought to the Philippines by the Jesuits. The first three organized groups were at Sta. Isabel, Ateneo de Manila and Our Lady of Remedies parishes.

Today, the AP is in all dioceses in the country.

Bro. Richie Fernando, SJ

On the occasion of Bro. Richie Fernando’s 18th death anniversary, a Mass will be presided by his best friend, Fr. Totet Banaynal, SJ, on Oct. 17, 6 a.m., at the Jesuits’ Sacred Heart Novitiate, Quirino Highway, Novaliches, QC.

This will be followed by a floral offering and prayer on his tomb. For more info, contact Mervyn Perez at 0916-6537644, or the Friends of Bro. Richie Fernando, SJ, at [email protected].

There are about 30,000 friends of Bro. Richie in Facebook. Those who need prayers to Bro. Richie can write to me c/o Phil. Daily Inquirer on Chino Roces Ave., Makati City. Please enclose a self-addressed stamped envelope for easier mailing.

Ephesus community is 13

Bro. Mario Somera, my friend from Philippine Airlines who used to be purser and is now retired, has run the Ephesus community in Guiguinto, Bulacan, for the past 13 years, taking care of poor boys and girls, feeding them and sending them to school.

Thanksgiving Mass is at 9 a.m. at the Divine Mercy Chapel.

Please drop by. It will run until 9 p.m. Bring your blessings to share.

Glan in Sarangani is 100 years old

The town of Glan in Sarangani turns 100 on Oct. 8.

Cousins Freddie Santos and Narichu Nepomuceno are going home. Narichu’s lolo was Don Tranquilino Ruiz, father of her mother Esperanza Ruiz Hizon, 97, and the eldest of three surviving siblings.

Don Tranquilino Ruiz founded the town of Glan l00 years ago. His other daughter, Carmen Ruiz Santos, is the mother of actor/director Freddie Santos.