SPEAKING IN Tagalog, Vice President Jejomar Binay called our OFWs modern-day heroes at the 25th National Migrants Sunday Mass at Cuneta Astrodome on March 13. His speech came after the Pontifical Mass officiated by Cardinal Rosales with four bishops and 20 priests concelebrating. At least 5,000 people from the different dioceses in Metro Manila, who have “migrants and itinerant people” among their relatives, attended the celebration.

Binay said OFWs in Libya, tragedy-struck Japan and war-torn countries can avail of the services offered by Pag-ibig, Owwa and the Department of Labor. He said the reprieve given by China on three OFWs scheduled for execution for drug trafficking was truly a miracle. “Let us continue to pray that their lives will be spared,” he said.

Cardinal Rosales, on the other hand, said “Ang Pilipino ay mabuting tao” (The Filipino is a good person), bringing with them abroad the values of industry, loyalty, friendliness and a strong faith in God. It is a phenomenon, he said, that there are at least 10 million OFWs; and that there are 320,000 Filipino seamen and seawomen, the biggest in the world.

People on the move

“We are a people on the move,” Cardinal Rosales said in his homily. ” So much so that a “theology on people on the move” has been made for them. Fr. Artemio Fabros, commissioner of the Archdiocese of Manila Commission on Migrants and Itinerant People, was an OFW before he joined the priesthood. He knows how it is to work abroad, away from family and friends, adjusting to other cultures, bearing the loneliness and performing hard work to be able to send financial support to their families. He shares his experiences with OFWs who seek his counsel.

Laarni Lozada, Pinoy Dream Academy Champion of ABS-CBN, sang “Light of the Million Mornings” for the invocation.

San Lorenzo Ruiz

Our first Filipino saint, San Lorenzo Ruiz, was also an OFW when he travelled to Nagasaki in 1636 with some Dominican priests. He tried to teach the natives about Jesus Christ, but the pagan lords at the time punished him for it. Not wanting to renounce his faith, he chose a martyr’s death in 1637. The Church declared him patron saint of OFWs and migrants.

The Bayanihan Dance Company brought the saint in a dance on the way to the altar in Cuneta Astrodome. They also brought the image of Nuestra Señora de Guia who is also prayed to for safe travel (so much like Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage).

The Association of Filipino Americans in Bergen County (New Jersey) donated the image of San Lorenzo Ruiz for the event through the San Lorenzo Ruiz Global Ministry headed by Fr. Erno Diaz as founding chair. The group also sent 5,000 novenas.

The San Lorenzo Ruiz Global Ministry can send novenas to San Lorenzo Ruiz to parishes that don’t have them. Please text 0917-8718870.

Shrine of St. Lazarus

The new altar of the Shrine of St. Lazarus will be consecrated and dedicated by Cardinal Rosales on March 29, according to Ronnie Batac, worship committee chair. Feast day of the saint is April 10. The history of the shrine and San Lazaro Hospital is very interesting.

The barefooted Franciscans first arrived in Manila in 1578. With them was a lay brother named Fray Juan Clemente. While other Franciscans went to different provinces, Fray Juan Clemente, who was in charge of the portery and who had a natural gift with medicinal plants, started taking care of the sick at an area near the entrance of the convent. This was the beginning of Hospital de San Lazaro.

In “Historica Filipina Cronica” (1676), Fray Francisco de Sta. Ines wrote that Fray Clemente started begging for alms to support the work for the sick. With the alms, he was able to build two wooden rooms near the convent—one for men and the other for women. But he also prayed for a bigger hospital made of stone. Not only a hospital, but a chapel, as well.

Without explanation, money kept pouring in to also build a chapel which was first named Chapel of St. Anne.

San Lazaro Hospital

For as long as we can remember, the José Reyes Memorial Hospital was always called San Lazaro Hospital, along Rizal avenue in Sta. Cruz. San Lazaro was the first leprosarium registered in the Annals of Extreme Orient (Far East). It also received 150 Christian lepers from Japan during those early days. Fray Juan Clemente, after working for the sick for more than 20 years, died at the age of 74, side by side with his patients.

‘Day of the Unborn’

March 25, feast of the Annunciation, was declared Day of the Unborn by former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo with Proclamation No. 586, dated March 24, 2004. Pro-Life Philippines will mark the day in a special way. Why March 25? The feast of the Annunciation signifies the acceptance of Mary to become the Mother of God. Her fiat assured our salvation because Jesus, our Savior, was born through her. In her decree, President Arroyo wrote reasons for the decree: to prevent and effectively manage complications of pregnancy and childbirth, it is necessary that quality and timely interventions before, during and after pregnancy be developed through comprehensive health services; and the “Day of the Unborn” will promote a culture of life and defense of life from the moment of conception.”

Pro-life vigil

Fr. Melvin Castro and Pro-Life Philippines will hold a prayer vigil on March 25, 5-9 p.m., at Quirino Grandstand to celebrate “Day of the Unborn.”

Bishop Jaucian

Bangued Bishop Leopoldo Jaucian is marking his 23rd anniversary as a priest (March 12) and his fourth year as bishop (March 26) of the Diocese of Bangued, Abra. Let us pray for Bishop Jaucian’s good health, long life and continued holiness.

Lenten pilgrimage

The Cofradia de la Nuestra Señora de Soledad de Porta Vaga is organizing a Lenten pilgrimage to Ilocos covering 15 churches March 25-27, in the towns of Sarrat, Laoag, San Nicolas, Paoay, Badoc, Cabugao, Magsingal, San Vicente, Bantay, Vigan, Sta. Maria, Candon and Sta. Lucia.

Text Ryan Enriquez at 0918-9283408 or Ronald Trupel at 0917-5022376.