Thursday, January 31, 2008 Utzurrum: Birthday blessings, healing masses and a poster contest By Chinggay V. Utzurrum The scene
COME Saturday, Feb. 2, healing priest Father John Iacono, will celebrate a Healing Mass at eight o’clock in the morning at the Asilo De La Milagrosa Chapel on Gorordo Avenue. The mass will be the regular first Saturday Mass, sponsored by the devotees of our Lady of Pilar.
On display will be a replica of the statue of Our Lady of Pilar, venerated in Zaragoza, Spain, and a relic of St. Pio of Petrelcina, a miraculous priest who counts thousands of devotees.
Father John has been a regular celebrant of this First Saturday devotion, and would like to invite all of you who need healing, not only physical, to this Holy Mass, with healing sessions to follow.
As Father John says: “Healing must be done in the church, in government, in day-to-day life, most of all, within ourselves.” Come One, Come all!
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Congratulations to the participants and winners of the Inter-School Peace poster Competition held at Mango Square Mall recently. The event was the project of one of the busiest civic clubs hereabouts, the Cebu Centennial Lions Club, with partner, Mango Square.
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When Sachiko Kono first stepped foot in the country from Japan, it was to attend her son Yuki’s wedding to a Cebuana, Adela Avila. Now, after many years, and being widowed, with her only family being Yuki’s, she returned to Cebu, loved the warmth and friendliness of its people and embraced not only Cebuano culture, but also the Catholic faith, which was not the predominant religion in her country, Japan.
Baptized with the name Sachiko Rosa Sienna Kono, “Okasan,” as she is fondly called, she was given a Thanksgiving Mass for her birthday. It was officiated by Msgr. Cris Garcia. Her brief speech in Nippongo, translated by son Yuki, was heartwarming and made many a guest, misty-eyed.
The highlight of the mass was the healing, when the good monsignor presented the miraculous hand of the Black Nazarene, which has cured thousands of faithful believers.
Okasan will never forget her 80th birthday, prepared with loving hands by daughter-in-law, Adela, who invited Kith and Kin to the unforgettable celebration!
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Both born in the same month and both avid golfers are Mari Cañizares and Aljim Jamandre, who marked their red-letter day at the Casino Español. Of course, in the company of fellow-golfers Gilder Alvarez, Joe Palma, Billy Tan, Fred Agor, Jack Huang. The wives were never far behind. Mads Palma, Nanette Alvarez, Rozana Jamandre, Marilou Cañizares, Mimi Huang, Miles Agor, and buddy Serge Romero.
The next question: “Who will celebrate next?”
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With Café Orchidia, a favorite haunt of birthday gal, Maritere Rotaeche, as venue, her gang gathered, all with smiles and in great anticipation. As the evening progressed, three latecomers walked in. Inday Briones-Blanco and her two brainy daughters, US-based (Iowa) Malu Blanco McMullan and Monina Blanco.
We are instantly supplied with the latest fads in the US, which also included political tidbits. Very interesting indeed!
