SAINT PAUL SANCTUARY, MAKATI, PHILIPPINES— The Society of Saint Paul Province of Philippines and Macau and the Pauline Family officially celebrate here the 100th Year Foundation of the Society of Saint Paul and of the Pauline Charism in a Eucharistic Celebration presided by the newest Cardinal of the Philippines Catholic Church, His Eminence Orlando Cardinal Quevedo, OMI on August 23, 2014, Saturday at 9 AM.
Against the background of the fragile peace and order situation in the Philippines and the world because of religious fanaticism, the good Cardinal challenges the Paulines to hang-on to the treasured inspirations bequeathed by the Founder, St Paul and Mary, Queen of Apostles as Paulines live and give Jesus Master, Way, Truth and Life to the world in a fast changing new language and culture created by media. He throws some ‘trivia” challenges: a national Catholic TV with professional staff; reaching out to the poor through social media and The Word Today, the Saint of the Day popularized through social media.
Also in the liturgy, the message of Superior General Don Silvio Sassi, SSP who emphasized to the Pauline Family that “we may operate with greater decision for the convergence of our apostolic works,” was read by Fr. Domie Guzman, Jr., SSP the Provincial Vicar, after which the apostolic collaborators of the SSP in its biblical and media undertaking were also given the plaques of Papal Blessing by the Cardinal and the Provincial Superior, Fr. Jose Aripio, SSP.
EARLIER, on August 20, 2014, the SSP Foundation Day, the Sanctuary celebrates four masses accented by priest being available for confessions so that all who have completed the necessary requirements are granted the Plenary Indulgence, a privilege granted to this sanctuary by the Pope on this Centenary Year. Also in this day at the 6 PM Mass, ST PAULS soft launches in the homily, the three books that are for the first time available in English: Blessed James Alberione - A Light to Communicate the Gospel, Testimonies on Blessed James Alberione and The Diary of Blessed Joseph Timothy Giaccardo (all trans. by Fr. Romeo Hitosis and Rev. Khris Llacer),
The other local communities also have held their specific celebrations around this date and special mention is Macau Community on August 23 at Macau Cathedral with Bishop Jose Lai as presider.
On August 21, 2014, the Pauline Family also gathers at the Alberione Hall, for the whole day, to listen to two invited speakers: Fr. Mon Bautista, SJ on Religious Formation Today and the charismatic lay evangelist, Br. Bo Sanchez on Evangelization by the Laity as he focuses on “loving the lost.”
To cap the marking of the centenary, the Pauline Family celebrates at the SM Megamall Chapel, a televised Eucharistic celebration also presided by his Eminence Orlando Cardinal Quevedo, OMI over Solar TV. This is in collaboration with the ACTS Community some of whom are under-formation as Pauline Cooperators of the Society of Saint Paul.
The gatherings never happen without the agape of food, stories and presences in this year of grace.
