MANILA, Philippines - Students and alumni of the College of the Holy Spirit have a reason to rejoice. Mother Josepha Hendrina Stennmans, co-founder of Missionary Sisters Servants of the Holy Spirit, (S.Sp.S.) will be beatified on June 29 in Steyl, Tegelan, Netherlands.

St. Arnold Janssen, S.V.D. was the other founder.

I am a product of an S.Sp.S. education, having studied at the Holy Spirit Academy in Laoag City from kindergarten up to high school.

Studying under the S.Sp.S. nuns (both German and Filipino) means a strict upbringing in good manners and right conduct; not to mention the ability to use brains.

Also, the importance of God in our lives was inculcated so much in us that when we went out into the world after college, there was still the inner force that kept us from making fools of ourselves.

Guillerma ?Ging ? Ong, who studied in the order?s college along Mendiola in Manila, agrees that our spiritual formation in the days of our youth has kept us in good stead these days.

Who is Mother Josepha?

Mother Josepha was born on May 28, 1852 in Issum, Germany. With the love of Christ in her heart and zeal to spread His love, she went to Steyl, Netherlands. There, together with St. Arnold Janssen, SVD and Blessed Maria Helena Stollenwerk, she founded the congregation of the Missionary Sisters Servants of the Holy Spirit (S.Sp.S.).

Mother Josepha was a ?heart person.? Deep in her heart, she was united to God. This awareness of the love and presence of God within her became the integrating principle that enabled her to be present to God, to people, especially the sick, the needy and those living in poverty, and to the demands and challenges of daily life.

Her life is an invitation to us to be heart persons? with open hearts, to be always ready to go beyond ourselves and reach out to others.

Scholarship for the poor

Not all girls studying at the College of the Holy Spirit are rich.

Through the help of the College of the Holy Spirit Alumni Foundation, poor students are able to pursue their education.

This November, the alumni will sponsor the gala night of ?The Christmas Carol,? Repertory Philippines?s staging of a play based on the Dickens? story, at Onstage in Greenbelt I.

Working together in the project are Toni Gregory, president; Monette Hamlin, Rosalinda Solevilla, Yolanda Albano, Ging Ong, Jesusa de los Reyes, Sylvia On and Elena Mier.

Pampanga church construction

To build the St. Joseph Church in Cabalatian, Bacolor in Pampanga, 40 posts are needed.

Dr. Salve Olalia, president of the external officers committee of the church, told me that it had taken them years to put up P5 million through fundraising, but it was not enough.

The church?s architecture, as it is evolving, still sticks to the original design by architect Yolanda D. Reyes, FUAP.

The church was buried in lahar when

Mt. Pinatubo erupted on June 16, 1991. Dr. William Olalia, who grew up in Cabalatian, is doing all he can to rebuild the church, together with friends Teddy Kho, president of internal affairs; engineer Lucito Sibug, chair of the construction committee; and Richard Olalia, who is raising funds in San Francisco, where he is based.

Right now, parishioners attend the anticipated Mass on Saturdays at 6 p.m. in a temporary shelter with a roof but no walls. Fr. Jesus Manabat, parish priest of Bacolor, says Mass there.

Miracles continue to happen as the group continues to work at building the church. During the raffle last March, three winners of cash prizes (P500,000), (P300,000) and (P100,000) donated their prizes. The gentleman who won P100,000 donated P80,000 and the P20,000 was given to another charity. Dra. Olalia said that it was truly a miracle from St. Joseph that the winners donated their prices.

Please adopt a post. Text Doctor Salve at 0918-9056108.

Day of prayer

A day of prayer in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary under her title, Lady of All Nations, will be held on June 14 at the Archdiocesan Shrine of Divine Mercy at Maysilo Circle, Boni Avenue, Mandaluyong.

The program includes the Holy Rosary, Eucharistic Adoration, and two conferences on the day?s theme, ?The Lady of All Nations and her Call to Humanity Today.? Archbishop of Jaro, Angel N. Lagdameo, will preside at the 11:30 a.m. concelebrated Mass.

The gathering is being organized by Center for Peace, Asia, Bahay Maria, and the Confraternity of the Lady of All Nations. Call Thea at 843-9015.

New rector

Cardinal Rosales, Archbishop of Manila, recently appointed Msgr. Hernando M. Coronel as Rector of San Carlos Seminary in Guadalupe, Makati City and as a member of the Presbyterial Council of the Archdiocese of Manila.

He will be officially installed as Rector on June 1. Coronel was chaplain of the Philippine Women?s University for one year and three months. He spearheaded the holding of prayer meetings, shepherding of personnel, organizing recollections, formation retreats and inter-faith prayer dialogues reaching out among Moslems, Buddhists, Protestants and Christians.

Coronel entered the priesthood after he earned his Bachelor of Science in Management Engineering cum laude from Ateneo de Manila. He holds a Master?s degree in public administration and another Master?s in Pastoral Theology. He has also taken up special courses in management, budgeting and taxation.

Bibles needed

Alice Jose, a lector in Malate Church, told me that seamen going abroad should be equipped with the Bible that could bring them closer to the Lord. Those who wish to donate a Bible in either Filipino or English may text her at 0918-9382681.

Sacerdotal anniversary

Fr. Virgilio Saenz Mendoza will mark his 25th year as priest on June 4. Bishop Chito Tagle had celebrated Mass for him last

May 30 at the St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Gen. Trias, Cavite.