(Dec. 4, 2008) The Daughters of St. Paul celebrated their 70th anniversary of their presence in the Philippines with Lipa as their first foundation. Archbishop Ramon C. Arguelles, who officiated at the Thanksgiving Mass in their Divino Maestro chapel inside the monastery compound, just across the Redemptorist Divino Amor Church. In his homily, he paid tribute to the
pioneers as he recalled his childhood trips to the Redemptorist Church.
”After confession, I used to drop by the store of the Daughters of St. Paul and would usually buy a new stampita. This is what I remember the DSP, now FSP, for. Still a lot of people equal the Sisters with the bookstore,” said the Archbishop.
He recalled also with fondness the late Bishop Verzosa who welcome the first foundation of the Sisters here in the Philippines. Later, he inquired how many Batanguenas have joined the congregation. One of them, Sr. Perinia Enriquez, comes from Bauan and is the oldest sister in the community. Sr. Perinia is better known as a musician in her younger days. She collaborated with the late Fr. Phil Vinteres, C.Ss.R., in popularizing the first Tagalog folk Mass.
Msgr. Ruben Dimaculangan, Fr. Joaf Africa (parish priest of St. Paul Parish, Isla Verde) and Fr. Nonie Dolor concelebrated with the Archbishop. Later, Fr. Jonas Palmares (Chancellor) and Fr. Toter Resuello, Director of the Archdiocesan Commission on Vocation, joined them during lunch. The Sisters’ benfactors and friends were also at hand to celebrate the historic event.
“We decided to celebrte this event inasmuch as this year is also the 2,000 years anniversary of our patron saint, St. Paul, the Apostle,” declared Sr. Edith Ledda, FSP, superior of the Lipa community. ”We are also committed to help Fr. Joaf to make the Pauline pilgrimage to his parish a success,” she promised to the Archbishop. Fr. Joaf’s parish is the only parish dedicated to this apostle of the Gentiles. Archbishop Arguelles has decreed that this parish be a pilgrim church. This means that faithful making their pilgrimage to this island parish gets the prescribed plenary indulgence, subject to the regular conditions.
