Seminary celebrates Philippines’ patron saint

On Sept. 27, St. Patrick’s Seminary & University celebrated the feast day of San Lorenzo Ruiz de Manila, the patron saint of the Philippine people. The day included a procession around the circular drive of the seminary with a statue of the saint accompanied by traditional Philippine music. Later, the community enjoyed bamboo pole dance and roast pig. (Photos courtesy St. Patrick’s Seminary & University)
 
October 21, 2019
 
On Sept. 27, the St. Patrick’s Seminary & University community celebrated the feast day of San Lorenzo Ruiz de Manila, the patron saint of the Philippines and the Filipino people, with a procession, Mass and traditional Filipino feast.
 
San Lorenzo Ruiz de Manila was a missionary to Japan during the Tokugawa Shogunate in the mid-17th century. He was eventually martyred along with his companions for his Catholic beliefs. His last words were “I am a Catholic and wholeheartedly do accept death for God; had I a thousand lives, all these to Him shall I offer.”
 
The annual event was hosted by the seminary’s Filipino seminarians, who make up a fifth of the student body.
 
The event began with a procession around the seminary’s main drive and into Mass in the main chapel.
 
Recently ordained Father Ernesto Jandonero celebrated the Mass, assisted by Deacons Ron Pangan and Junee Valencia of the Archdiocese of Agana, Guam. The homily was given by Father Victor Trinidad of the Diocese of San Jose, who detailed the sacrifice that San Lorenzo and his companions made for the faith. Seminary rector Father Dan Donohoo shared a reflection.
 
After the Mass, guests processed to the refectory for a reception with traditional Filipino foods and traditional “Tinikling” bamboo dance.