Don Guanella Oratory

Cuddalore – Until there are no longer poor and neglected to be assisted there is no end to our Charity. In view of actualizing this holy statement of our Founder, the Cuddalore Guanellian community has happily started Guanella oratory for the poor slum children around the house. It was inaugurated on March 19th, the feast day of St. Joseph, who is also the foster father of all poor and abandoned children. The objective of the oratory is “Intelligence and Morality”. Around 40 children were present at the inauguration. It was a blessed moment for all of us to sense the ministry of Jesus met through the footsteps of St. Louis Guanella and his servants.

Advertisement

Seminary Day

Cuddalore – The Guanellians of St. Joseph’s Seminary were indeed happy to celebrate ‘Seminary Day’ on the solemnity of St. Joseph, March 19th. The Festal Celebration commenced with the Ex-Seminarians Meet animated for all those who discontinued their formation as Guanellian religious.  Next was the St. Guanella Super Singer Competition for all children and youth of the area. In the evening a Procession of St. Joseph, our patron, led to the Solemn Holy Eucharist, which was presided by Fr. Visuwasam, Superior. All the parishioners, religious friends from neighboring communities and parishes, benefactors, GLM members, and all our beneficiaries doubled our joy by their gracious presence.

St. Joseph’s Feast

Cuddalore – The confreres of St. Joseph’s Seminary joyfully celebrated the solemnity of St. Joseph, the patron. The neighboring religious priests and sisters were invited for the celebration. The young seminarians were busy decorating and preparing the festal premises. The luminous and colorful atmosphere was well appreciated by all. The participation of Guanellian sisters, GLM, Guanellian Benefactors, beneficiaries and other well-wishers enriched the feast. The feast included a procession, Solemn Holy Mass, honoring the achievers of the Sports Meet, Guanella Quiz, and Cultural Evening. A fraternal agape meal was shared bringing the feast to an end. Viva San Giuseppe!!!

Pilgrims Flood Shrine

Grass Lake – On the March 19th Solemnity of St. Joseph, Husband of Mary, the Shrine of St. Joseph was filled with a constant flow of pilgrims. The Women’s Guild prepared the Shrine by stocking the gift shop, setting up St. Joseph’s table and filling the place with votive candles for the pilgrims to light in honor of their loved ones. Pilgrims arriving in the morning were blessed with the celebration of the Holy Mass and the sacrament of Confession. They also had time to enjoy lunch and refreshments offered by the Women’s Guild. The Chaldean pilgrims arriving in the afternoon had time to visit all areas of the Shrine, pray for their loved ones, light candles and receive blessings from Fr. Satheesh, Shrine Director. Many of our Chaldean sisters pray for the safety of their husbands still living in Iraq. A total of eleven buses visited the Shrine that day.

Blossoming Vines

Legazpi – The Guanellian community in Legazpi has been working with the children, youth and adults in one of the isolated areas in Barangay Bogtong since last year. It seems too hard to penetrate due to a language barrier, but through the help of local Guanellian seminarians somehow its roots are reaching out. One proof of their labor under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit is the existence of a number of youth who show interest to learn and soon will be gathered as one group. They emerged on March 5th for the “Kumpisalang Bayan” that was held there. On March 19th they wholeheartedly reenacted the passion of Christ. Their regular attendance at the liturgical celebration, going to confession and so on are manifestations that they have God’s inspirational gifts to serve the church as youth in their own way.

Ministry Conferred

Manila – Bro. Alfie Matulac received the Ministry of Lector on March 19th, Solemnity of St. Joseph. During Mass, Fr. Loyola Diraviam, homilist and main presider, stressed the importance of imitating and learning from St. Joseph who was holy, obedient and silent. The Ratio Formationis stressed that those who receive the Ministry of Lector must love and have a good knowledge of Holy Scriptures, tradition and the Magisterium, as well as the functional value of the heeded, meditated, announced and witnessed Word. The confreres, Guanellian Sisters, friends and beneficiaries also celebrated and gave thanks to the Lord for the college graduation of aspirant, Generoso Daing. He received a BA in Philosophy from St. Anthony Mary Claret College.

Devotion to St. Joseph

Legazpi – On March 12th the Quasi Parish of St. Joseph, Husband of Mary  in Rawis, Legazpi City conducted its 3rd Maritime Procession in preparation for the solemnity of St. Joseph on March 19th. The activity began with the Eucharistic celebration in the morning. Immediately after Mass,  Fr. Jonathan Calleja, the parish priest, led the faithful to the waterfront for the procession. Fr. Battista Omodei and his students participated joyfully in this celebration.  The people who remained at the shore during the procession prayed to St. Joseph for guidance and blessings so that native Bicolanos people may be saved from typhoons and other natural calamities.

Pilgrims Flock to Shrine

Grass Lake – March 19th is the Solemnity of St. Joseph and the Shrine of St. Joseph becomes a very busy place with many pilgrims coming to visit and receive blessings from the Foster Father of Jesus. This year too there were many bus loads of pilgrims who came to the Shrine and prayed to St. Joseph. They are all Chaldean Catholics and it was wonderful to see them praying in their language which Jesus also spoke. They were also very pious to receive a blessing from the priest. Their piety and devotion to St. Joseph is outstanding and inspiring. May God continue to bless them through the powerful intercession of St. Joseph.