Filipino Catholics of the Paterson Diocese gathered to celebrate two martyrs of their homeland — St. Lorenzo Ruiz and St. Pedro Calungsod — during an annual Mass on Sept. 28 at Sacred Heart of Jesus Church in Rockaway.
Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney was the main celebrant and homilist of the Mass, which was concelebrated by Filipino clergy and guest priests. They included Father Cerilo Javinez, parochial vicar of Sacred Heart/Our Lady Queen of the Most Holy Rosary Parish in Dover, who also is consultant to the Diocesan Commission for Catholic Filipino Ministries.
Canonized by St. Pope John Paul II in Rome on Oct. 18, 1987, St. Lorenzo Ruiz was martyred during the persecution of Christians in Japan during the 17th century while on a missionary expedition.
A layman with a wife and three children, St. Lorenzo is a patron of lay and married people and poor people because he was a poor sacristan from Binondo, Manila. He is also a patron saint for artists because he was skilled in calligraphy and was employed by the Dominican Fathers. His feast day is Sept. 28.
Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI canonized St. Pedro Calungsod on World Mission Sunday in 2012. The saint was martyred on April 2, 1672, when he was 17, one week before Palm Sunday. He began serving God when he was 13 as a Jesuit missionary.
With Jesuit Father Diego Luis de San Vitores, St. Pedro traveled to Guam to catechize the native Chamorros.
They were attacked and killed when the village chief learned his baby daughter had been baptized. It is believed that St. Pedro could have escaped the attack but did not want to leave Father Diego alone. His feast day is April 2.
— MICHAEL WOJCIK
BEACON PHOTOS | DENNIS DALELIO
