MANILA, Philippines - What is happening at the Monasterio de Tarlac in San Jose, Tarlac must be the will of God.

The Monasterio de Tarlac recently received from Ambassador Zvi Vapni of the Embassy of Israel a precious gift?a stone from the Holy Land. It will be used as cornerstone for the groundbreaking of the future basilica dedicated to the relic of the Holy Cross. This historic event will take place on July 13 on a hilltop sanctuary. Everyone is welcome to go up the hill either by car or bus or jeep and be part of this historic event.

When I went up the hill the first time five years ago with Domingo Tolentino a.k.a. ?Kuya D,? the hilltop was bare except for a small structure that was being built as the future hermitage. Today, pilgrims are going up to visit the Chapel of the Relic of the Holy Cross.

Miracles of healing are reported to have been happening here.

Now, the chapel will be converted into a basilica to make bigger the sanctuary of the relic of the Holy Cross. With the Servants of the Risen Christ (SRC) as caretakers headed by founder Fr. Archie Cortez, the basilica will be built. Where the money will come from, only God knows. But it will be done.

In the meantime, the order continues its work in guiding young men become monks and priests. Fr. Mark Mary Raphael was installed rector of the formation house on 182 Roosevelt Ave., San Francisco del Monte, Quezon City.

Peyton play

Fr. James B. Reuter of the Society of Jesus has taken the first steps to tell the story of Fr. Patrick Peyton of the Congregation of Holy Cross in video. This is the Family Rosary Crusade?s way of marking the 100th birth anniversary of Fr. Peyton in 2008.

Called the ?Rosary Priest,? Fr. Peyton was born in County Mayo, Ireland in 1908. As part of the commemoration celebrations, Fr. Reuter launched his video which he wrote, produced and directed last June 21 at the St. Paul University in Quezon City.
For the occasion, two priests from the Congregation of the Holy Cross arrived. Fr. James Phalan, CSC, director of Family Rosary International, and Fr. Arthur Colgan, CSC, provincial superior of the Eastern province, are here on a working visit.

The video features Fr. Peyton?s extraordinary devotion to the Blessed Mary and his life-long crusade to promote the praying of the Rosary to unite families. Playing the role of Fr. Peyton is stage and movie actor Victor ?Cocoy? Laurel, who once portrayed the Engineer in the West End production of ?Miss Saigon,? opposite Lea Salonga and a veteran of Repertory Philippines.

?The family that prays together stays together? is the motto that Fr. Peyton taught as early as the ?50s. Reuter and Peyton became life-long friends in the ?60s when the Family Rosary Crusade first came to the Philippines. They used media to spread devotion to the Rosary.

You can send testimonies of miracle healing wrought by God through the intercession of Fr. Peyton to the Family Rosary Crusade at Pius XII Catholic Center, United Nations Ave., Paco, Manila. To order the video, call Tess Alonzo at 5216953. To ask for estampita prayers, write to the same address and enclose a self-addressed stamped envelope for easier mailing.

Piat Mass

Tuguegarao Auxiliary Bishop Ricardo Baccay and Fr. Bong Cabrera of the San Perpetua Parish in Quezon City will concelebrate the Fiesta Mass of Our Lady of Piat on July 5, 8:30 a.m., at the Sto. Domingo Church.

The Devotees of Nuestra Señora de Piat Foundation is inviting the public in the celebration. Breakfast will follow at KFC after the Mass which will be an opportunity for members to meet.

Love offering for the breakfast is P200.

The Piat Legacy Foundation, will hold Mass at Club Filipino Kalayaan Hall on July 2, 6 p.m.

Marian pilgrimage

Fr. Melvin Castro, one of the proponents for the Church recognition of the apparitions of the Blessed Virgin in Lipa to Teresing Castillo, will lead a Marian pilgrimage to Spain, Portugal, France, and Italy. The special trip is intended to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the apparitions of Our Lady in Lourdes. The trip is from Oct. 11 to 24. For more info, please call Executive Resources at (02) 5238581 to 88.

Healing Masses

Healing priest Fr. Nelson Osorio from the Archdiocesan Shrine of St. Joseph in San Jose, Batangas is in the United States to celebrate Healing Masses on the following dates: June 27-30, San Diego; July 1-6, Los Angeles; July 7-17, New York, New Jersey and Atlantic City; July 18-21, Albany; July 21-24, Sacramento and San Francisco; July 25-28, Los Angeles; and July 28-Aug. 4, Tampa, Florida. For info on what churches in each area, please contact tel. no. 1646-5753300 or magicjack # 1415-2510682.

?Kanta Misa?

A CD entitled ?Kanta Misa,? a religious musical composition of Fr. Bernie O. Diaz, CM, and arrangements provided by Maestro Alfredo S. Buenaventura, has been released by Universal Records.

It is available in all record bars nationwide. Fr. Bernie wishes to acknowledge the following: Vicentian Fathers and Brothers (Congregation of Mission), Sta. Isabel Music Department, Sta. Isabel College Chorale with Maribel Miguel as musical director, Joseleo Logadat (vocals), Gayle Norombaba (vocals) and Francis Ondras (vocals).

Thanks to Brian Reyes, Charmaine Anzaldo, Marion Robas, Fed Factor, Joan Tigue and Jen Lobiogo, all from Adamson University.