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St. Ezekiel Moreno visits Ilocandia
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May 8, 2006
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Breakfast at Villa Angela Heritage House, Inc.
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Ilocos Province-A trip to the northern Philippines showcased the spectacular culture of the Ilocanos in a reception they feted to the entourage of the Biyaheng Recoletos caravan on May 8, 2006 in two major cities.
Mrs. Marjo Gasser gladly offered her Villa Angela Heritage House, Inc. in Vigan City to house the eighteen persons who were received yesterday by Msgr. Thaddeus Mercado, the Vicar-General and Chancellor of the Archdiocese of Nueva Segovia. The Recoletos caravan was declined access to celebrate the healing mass in honor of St. Ezekiel Moreno in St. Paul Cathedral due to conflicts in schedule which the cathedral chapter graciously explained to be difficult to forego.
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To compensate for the unavailability of the Cathedral for the healing mass, Msgr. Mercado offered instead the Chapel of Sta. Cruz known locally as “simbahan na basit,” located at the center of the Catholic cemetery of Vigan. Fr. Ferdinand Hernando, OAR administered the healing mass to around 150 faithful.
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Vigan Cathedral
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Two Augustinian Recollect bishops served in the diocese of Vigan in the 17th and 18th century, namely, Msgr. Juan Ruiz, OAR and Msgr. Mariano Cuartero, OAR respectively. Msgr. Ruiz served in the diocese of Nueva Segovia in Vigan for sixteen years (1780-1896) and constructed the cathedral and episcopal palace which, according to U.P. Historian Emmanuel Luis Romanillos, “almost drained the church coffer of the diocese.”
The clergy led by the diocesan administrator Msgr. Policarpo Albano and the local government of Laoag City headed by Mayor Michael Fariñas laid a red carpet welcome for the Biyaheng Recoletos entourage at St. William Cathedral in Laoag City. Several members of the parish organizations of the entire diocese were brought by their parish priests to welcome the pilgrim image of St. Ezekiel Moreno. Seven priests, namely, Msgr. Policarpo Albano, Fathers Lorenzo Torreflores, Leonardo Ruiz, Lester Menor, Edgar Calunod, SVD, Franklin Gorospe, and Cipriano Alnas, Jr. joined in the concelebrated mass presided by Fr. Hernando with more than five hundred faithful attending. Radio station DZEA Catholic Media Network-Laoag aired live the whole event that took place in the Laoag Cathedral at 2:00 PM.
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Dinner at Palazzo de Laog
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After the mass, Fr. Lester Menor, rector of St. Mary’s Seminary, and Fr. Leonardo Ruiz, SAC Director, accompanied the delegates to the minor seminary of the diocese where they were housed. Fr. Ferdinand Hernando, OAR, Prof. Luis Romanillos, Rev. Ian Espartero, OAR and Ms. Elena Culaton were billeted at the guest rooms of the monastery of Clarisas Capuchinas Sacramentarias located within the vicinity of St. Mary’s Seminary. Dinner was graciously sponsored by Mr. and Mrs. Manuel Ablan in their hotel named Palazzo de Laoag which also accorded the delegates a free dip into the hotel’s swimming pool.
The diocese of Laoag was very warm in its welcome of the pilgrim image of St. Ezekiel Moreno despite the vacancy of the episcopal seat in the diocese and the absence of a cathedral rector. This was made possible through the concerted efforts of all Laoageños headed by all parish priests and the different civil and religious organizations in the diocese.
- Rev. Ian Anthony Espartero, OAR
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