CEBU TRIP, Part 4 Preparations for the Holy Mass

The two Carmelite nuns watching over the vestments for priests

I was planning to present the events at Cebu chronologically but yesterday I received a personal request from our Provincial Superior to prioritize the Blessing of the House and the Inauguration so I decided to rush this one instead. It could have been done yesterday but we were busy preparing for today's BIBLE QUIZ BEE as part of the activities for the Feast of St. Jerome Emiliani. Instead, I sent the pictures of the organizations directly to the Provincial Superior and to our information office in Rome. The photos in this blog are lessened in pixels in order that they will not take much space or capacity. Those who wants the high quality copy please send me your personal request.

Fr. Abe, CRS with the two Carmelite nuns and Bro. G-One Paisones, a member of Catholic Faith Defender - Cebu.

Few hours before the Mass friends from the neighborhood started arriving, as well as the Fathers and Brothers from various parts of the country and nuns from different religious congregations. I was delighted that two members of Catholic Faith Defenders [CFD] were able to attend. One is Bro. Ryan Mejillano from Davao City who was then in Cebu to attend the Directors' Meeting of CFD. The other was G-One Paisones son of a CFD debater and now a CFD debater himself in Cebu. Actually, he was scheduled to debate a deacon of the Iglesia ni Cristo at the Plaza the following day.

The Carmelite Sisters again with Bro. Ryan Mejillano of CFD - Davao and G-One Paisones.

This morning is also special because it was my first time to meet Bishop John Du the well-loved Bishop of Dumaguete who is frequently visiting our children in that City. He is a very good shepherd of his flock, very fatherly to the orphans and needy children, and a great friend and supporter of religious life.

Bro. Narciso 'Narcing' Tiburcio, CRS. One of the religious assigned with children in this House.

It was also an opportunity among the Somascan Fathers to speak to each other because it is rare that we gather together en masse like this.

Mr. Rosauro Amistoso of AITV5 taking the video of the event with Fr. Romel Ermita, CRS the head of Casa Miani in Alabang.

The greatest blessing of all for me was the delight in seeing and hearing THE VOX ORPHANORUM [THE VOICE OF THE ORPHANS]. It is the chorale composed of the Boys of Casa Miani Dumaguete and the Cittadini Girls of Valencia. The children were marvelously transformed into excellent singers and by achieving so they greatly improved in personality and gained a lot of self-confidence.

Somascan Seminarians in the South with Bro. Lamberto 'Ambet' Timbol, CRS the head of Casa Miani Arvedi Dumaguete City.

Foreign volunteer workers

Fr. Lino Juta, CRS wearing my other alb with Bro. Antonio Galli, CRS from our General Curia in Rome

Since I was wearing a Black Cassock with laced Alb underneath the Chasuble and Stole, Bro. Galli jokingly was referring to me: "Lefebvre". Ha,ha,ha... to which I replied pointing to his black suit: "Anglicani".

The two Sisters in white are Augustinian Recoletos while those in gray are Ursulines Sisters of St. Jerome of Somasca.

Fr. Javier, his sister and Ms. Michilina Carpio

Frs. Richard Germanetto, CRS, Romel Ermita, CRS, Javier San Jose, CRS, John Cariño, CRS Michael Escoto, CRS and Augusto Dingal, CRS.

The same Fathers now accompanied by children

The Seminarians preparing the incense before the Mass

The Thurifer like the Angel of Revelation carrying incense before God