The 6th Manila Cathedral-Basilica (MCB) Pipe Organ Concert  slated on  Nov. 29, 7 p.m., will welcome Chito Tagle,  the new Archbishop of Manila, while bidding goodbye and paying tribute to Cardinal Rosales, who has retired.  The event will serve as  the grand opening of the  Pipe Organ Festival which will run until Dec. 31.

Tagle will be installed as new Manila archbishop on Dec. 12.

Aside from celebrating the feast day of Our Lady of  the Immaculate Conception on Dec. 8 and the dedication anniversary of the Manila Cathedral on Dec. 10, the 6th MCB Pipe Organ Concert also aims to celebrate the 30 years of Manila Cathedral as a minor basilica.

The concert will feature  homegrown talents from the MCB Institute of Liturgical Music (MCBILM), with noted organist Armando Salarza and other instrumentalists.

Pop singer-songwriter Jose Mari Chan and Myramae Meneses, a 2010 National Music Competition for Young Artists (NAMCYA) winner are featured performers.

New compositions  by MCBILM’s pillar, Ferdinand Bautista,  like his new Wedding Mass Songs and new Christmas song, will be launched.

‘Soledad’ icon in Lyon

Remigio “Boy” David,  the “hermano mayor”  of the forth coming fiesta of Our Lady of Soledad de Porta Vaga (Nov. 13) in Cavite City recalls how he discovered the icon of  the “Soledad” in the Notre Dame de Fourviere in Lyon,  France on Sept. 16, 2009.  He went down to  the crypt of St. Joseph and saw Marian images, and to his surprise, also the icon of the “Soledad.”

Boy David said he had prayed in Lyon to Our Lady so she would help his mother, Lourdes Ignacio David, have a peaceful death. The following day, he received a call from his sister telling him their mother has expired two hours before.

Fr. Cezar Reyes of San Roque Church said outgoing Imus Bishop and incoming Manila Archbishop Tagle will officiate the Concelebrated Mass on Nov. 11 at 5:30 p.m.

Venerable Mother Maria Theresia Bonzel

On March 29, 2010, Pope Benedict XVI signed the decree which recognized Mother Maria Theresia Bonzel’s heroic virtues and named her “Venerable,” which precedes the step to beatification.

Mother Theresia is the founder of the Sisters of St. Francis of Perpetual Adoration in Olpe, Germany.  The nuns came to the Philippines straight to Baybay, Leyte in September 1962.

Miracle of healing

Already in 2001, a miracle reportedly through  Mother Theresia’s intercession, was officially recognized. This was the healing of   Luke Gruppe,  a four-year-old boy of Colorado Springs, Colorado, USA.

The little boy had a persistent severe viral illness that normally ran its course in one week but stretched to months.  The OSF Sisters made a novena to their founder.  No medical reasons could be given to the miraculous cure.

For vocations, e-mail to theVocation Director, [email protected]  For prayer cards,  write to Sister Judith Lorica at the St. Martin de Porres Novitiate, Baybay, Leyte .  Please enclose a self-addressed stamped envelope.

A million roses

The Family Rosary Crusade launched “A Million Roses for the World” last Oct. 10. The prayer for the world will end May 30, 2012.

Day 25 of the prayer movement is Nov. 7, and the prayer will be for Liberia in Africa. The  Joyful Mysteries for  Liberia will come with  these intentions:

l)  For healing and restoration of the war-torn nation; 2 ) For Liberians to have better access to better sanitation;  3)  For an end to cannibalism and witchcraft ; 4) For leaders to become honorable stewards of the nation’s wealth and natural resources; and 5)  For government to rebuild infrastructure and generate new jobs.

Malate Church fund-raising

Our Lady of Remedies Parish has asked the the Spirit of  ’67 band to perform during the fundraising concert  on Nov. 17, 7 p.m. at the Palacio de Manila on Roxas Blvd. near Remedios St., Malate.

Let us help restore the church.  The restaurants in the area like Aristocrat,  Club Socialista, to name a few, are helping.

For tickets call 523-2593  or  400-5876 or text 0939-226-8l02.

St. Nicholas of Bari

Fr. Rene Ruellos, CM says Mass every Monday in honor of St. Nicholas of Bari every Monday at 8 a.m. at San Marcelino  Church.

St. Nicholas is the patron saint of 350,000 Filipno seafarers, businessmen, the children and the sick.

Msgr. Josemaria Escriva prayed  to him when the Opus Dei needed money.

Estampitas are available at the foot of the image in the church.

Goodbye, Manong Abe

My youngest brother, Abraham, would have been 52 tomorrow had he not passed away from multiple myloma last Oct. 11 at the Manila Sanitarium.

His body was brought to Laoag for the wake and funeral.

His customers at the Evergreen Restaurant call him”Manong Abe” and they came  to pay their respects, especially the Ilocos Norte High School teachers. My brother Jose Darang teaches Social Studies there.

I was devastated, but Dr. Salve Olalia reminded  me, “Your brother is better where he is (in Heaven)  because he is not in pain anymore.”

I am sure Tata Ponga (  Cua Bon Pong)  of Town  Bakery in Laoag is also sad because Abe had been his customer since he was in grade school.

Please pray for the repose of Abe Darang’s soul.  Thank you for your kindness.

Healing mass

The National Shrine of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal in Posadas Village, Parañaque will hold a Healing Mass by Fr. Diwane Cacao on Nov. 12 at 6 p.m.  The public is invited, especially the sick.