WITH CONSUL General Jaime Ledda and Labor attaché Leopoldo de Jesus carrying the statue of San Lorenzo Ruiz in the processional to the altar, the Powervoice sang the entrance hymn. Their voices rose up the halls of the 18th-century St. Augustine Church in Macau. Overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) sang with them.

It was a joyous welcome for San Lorenzo Ruiz, patron saint of OFWs and Filipino migrants and powerful intercessor.

Father Alex Barnedo, Society of Our Lady of the Trinity (SOLT), who celebrated the Tagalog Mass that morning, would later bring the statue to the Catholic Pastoral Center in Rua de Francisco Antonio where Masses are said everyday at 7:30 p.m. This is where San Lorenzo Ruiz will be enthroned.

Pancho Piano?s painting of the life of San Lorenzo Ruiz will hang in the center?s office. Helping Fr. Barnedo are other SOLT priests, Fr. Pedro Balde and Fr. Jun Tagaytay.

Joyous celebration

We attended the blessing of San Lorenzo Ruiz and Mass on August 16, sharing the moment with the Legion of Mary who arranged flowers. The legionaries served as lectors and commentators.

Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) chairperson Patricia Sto. Tomas and DBP consultant Arturo Quibal were also present. They came two days before to sign a contract with ICBC Macau to provide services for OFWs.

Making OFWs happy

As a treat to OFWs, the Powervoice held a concert at the Salesciano Church. Consul General Ledda and wife Gina stayed throughout the event, then moved to Macau Cathedral to do another concert before the 6 p.m. Mass where they also sang.

Organist and director Joemarie Manalo told me and Sonia Atabug that they were very happy to have been given the chance to make the OFWs happy with their singing.

In bringing Powervoice to Macau, Aurora Lazo, president of SM Lazo Medical Center, said: ?It was meant to bring the OFWs closer to the Lord.?

Paco fiesta

Sol Alturas Yu introduced me to the devotion to ?Sancto Sepulcro.? San Fernando de Dilao Parish in Paco will mark His feast day today with a 7 a.m. concelebrated Mass to be officiated by Bishop Broderick Pabillo.

Monsignor Domingo Cirilos is the parish priest. Aida Altamirano is pastoral council president.

Joint birthdays

Cory Quirino will celebrate her birthday on August 26, 12 noon, with other Rotarians marking their birthdays on the same day, at the Tuloy sa Don Bosco complex in San Jose Village on Zapote Road.

Instead of gifts, please give donations to Tuloy sa Don Bosco. RSVP, call Fr. Rocky Evangelista at 775-0484.