MANILA, Philippines - Mona Lacanlale, president of the Eucharistic Adorers? League, has impressed upon me with the importance of kneeling before Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament and praying fervently. She says ?There?s nobody else! There?s only Jesus to turn to when one is suffering!?
It is for this reason that the Eucharistic Adorers? League is helping the Pink Sisters hold the 21st Eucharistic Congress on Nov. 29, 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Speakers are Daet Bishop Gilbert Garcera, Fr. Roderick Salazar, SVD and Fr. Apolinario Ty, SSS. Abra Bishop Leopoldo Jaucian will lead in the procession of the Blessed Sacrament around the St. Joseph Convent compound at 7l Hemady St., New Manila.
St. Alphonsus Ligouri in his treatise ?Visits to the Blessed Sacrament? writes: ?And what are we to do in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament? Love Him. Praise Him. Thank Him. Ask of Him. What does a poor man do in the presence of a wealthy man? What does a sick person do in the presence of a doctor? What does a thirsty person do in the sight of a fountain of sparkling water?? He is saying that Jesus is the source of all good, a healer and the one who will quench our thirst for God.
The St. Alphonsus Ligouri Parish in Magallanes Village, Makati, has a special devotion to the Eucharist.
Fr. Benny Tuazon, parish priest, leads his flock in adoration, with people alternating in attendance.
In Conversation with God, Volume Five says: ?Let us resolve to seek His company every single day without fail. Those few minutes spent in our visit will be the most productive moments of the day.? (Ordinary Time, 30th week, Thursday).
Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati, whom Pope John Paul II called ?man of the beatitudes,? had urged the Catholic youth in Pollonia, Italy, on July 29, l923, to approach the Eucharistic Table as often as possible. He told them: ?Feed on this Bread of the Angels from which you will draw the strength to fight inner struggles, the struggles against passions and against all adversities, because Jesus Christ has promised to those who feed themselves with the most Holy Eucharist, eternal life and the necessary graces to obtain it.?
Eucharist promoters
The Pink Sisters, together with the Eucharistic Adorers? League, will give awards to Msgr. Sabino Vengco and the late Atty. Gregorio T. Basilio for promoting the devotion to the Holy Eucharist.
Fr. Raul Caga, SVD, will lead in prayers and songs in the early afternoon of Nov. 29, at the St. Joseph Convent on Hemady St., New Manila.
Malate feast
For the feast of Our Lady of Remedies on Nov. l6, the theme is ?Mary our companion in poverty, truth and peace.?
Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales in his message to the parishioners said, ?With Mary as our companion is the last line of our Apostolic vision in the Archdiocese of Manila. In the process, we underwent in formulating our vision, there was a common feeling of the need to mention Mary whom we lovingly call ?Our Mother.? This only proves our deep love and filial devotion to Mary. We are indeed a Marian people. We love Mary because we know that she also loves us in her Son, Jesus.?
The feast day of Our Lady of Remedies, patroness of Malate, is being celebrated with Novena Masses and a Fiesta Mass today with a Concelebrated Mass at 9 a.m. with Fr. Anton Pascual, as main celebrant.
Our Lady of Remedies is known for her miraculous intercession for safe delivery which is why pregnant women go to her.
Our Lady of Soledad
St. Francis of Assisi Church in Gen. Trias, Cavite, will mark the 30th anniversary of the Canonical Coronation of Our Lady of Soledad de Porta Vaga and the 10th anniversary of the Cofradia de la Soledad de Porta Vaga with a High Mass to be concelebrated by Bishop Nestor Cariño with Fr. Virgilio Saenz Mendoza on Nov. 17, at 5 p.m. There will be a grand procession around the town at 6:30 p.m. The public is invited.
Rombloanons? reunion
Metro Manila residents from Romblon are gathering in a reunion today at 8 a.m. at San Carlos Seminary.
The reunion will discuss how they can help the medical insurance of their priests in the diocese, which is headed by Bishop Jose Corazon Talaoc. Those who want to help can call Martina Festin at 523-1355.
Women?s conference
Dr. Amelita D. Go, overall chair of the Asean Regional Conference will give talk on Womenomics, on Nov. 20-23, at the Manila Hotel, quoted Pope John Paul II, who said that ?women are nurturers.?
The Asean Confederation of Women?s Organization (ACWO) with Dr. Amelou Benitez Reyes as president is helping women rise above poverty, by teaching them livelihood projects and empowering them to rise above their situation.
?Asean womenomics? is a way of women helping other women by teaching them about micro-finance, safety and services, trade and technology, with NGOs as partners. The Philippines as a member country has formed the National Women Council of the Philippines, of which Dr. Reyes is president. She said that the conference aims to empower women, so they could participate in the globalized economy.
Manyip, pro-women
Although the Asean Confederation of Women?s Organizations (Awoc) are composed mostly of women, Manyip Corp. has come in to help as a sponsor.
Founded by David Lopez who is also its president, Manyip which means in Chinese ?a ten thousand opportunity? is committed to support in Awoc?s plans to empower women.
Manyip, which manufactures Black Beauty beauty products is committed to boost women?s self-confidence by donating their products for the conference. Expressing the company?s commitment was Doy Toledo, vice president for operations.
Abortion economics
Sister Pilar Verzosa, RGS, is inviting the public to go listen to Canadian psychologist Dr. Philip Ney explain how abortion is destroying our economy on Nov. l9 at 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., at the Word Community Church near Ultra in Pasig. The forum is free. Call 9ll-29ll.
Tribute to Dominicans
Sto. Tomas Rector Magnificus Fr. Rolando de la Rosa, O.P. departed from the usual practice of the Rector?s Report, an annual faculty convocation at the Pontifical University at the UST Medicine auditorium, to pay a touching tribute to three senior Dominican missionaries. According to the current edition of the Varsitarian, UST?s official student paper:
?The Rector gave lifetime achievement awards to Fathers Fidel Villarroel, O.P., Pedro Gonzalez Tejero, O.P., and Pedro Traqueña, O.P., calling them exemplary Dominicans.
?The moving tribute started with a video presentation which showed Villarroel as a young scholar in London, Tejero?s missionary work in the Binondo Chinese enclave, and Traqueña?s long missionary years in the Babuyan islands and later, his equally long work as UST Hospital chaplain.
?The three priests humbly followed orders and embraced their tasks no matter how small, the Rector said.
?Villarroel, 79, historian and missionary, served as the University archivist for the longest time and reorganized and systematized the UST Archives for the modern times.
?A highly respected and award-winning historian, Villarroel ?single-handedly? conducted the research that led to the beatification and canonization of San Lorenzo Ruiz de Manila, the first Filipino saint, along with other Dominican martyrs.
?Meanwhile, Tejero, 89, labored in the Dominican mission among the Chinese in Manila from 1983 to 1990, and documented the Order?s work in his 1993 book, ?Binondo: 400 years of Dominican Apostolate.?
?The only Filipino priest among the three honorees, Traqueña, 89, was cited for his missionary work in the Babuyan Islands. In UST, he continues to administer to the spiritual needs of patients at the UST Hospital?s charity ward.
?These are men whom we can take inspiration from because of their exemplary dedication to whatever work they were given in the University.? De la Rosa said.
The UST community gave the three priests a standing ovation, the Varsitarian reports.
