Bishop stresses commitment for the poor and for new vocations

Manila (AsiaNews) - To mark the feast day of the newly proclaimed Saint, Hannibal Mary di Francia, the two orders he found  the late 19th century, the Rogationists of the Heart of Jesus and the Daughters of Divine Zeal, held a National Thanksgiving Mass, led by Manila Archbishop Gaudencio Rosales, at the Manila Cathedral.

The Holy Father canonized St. Hannibal in Rome on May 16th, along with five other new saints. One of the miracles attributed to him is the miraculous recovery of a Filipina infant from severe bacterial meningitis in 1993. The Vatican Congregation for the Causes of Saints officially recognized this miracle.

In the Thanksgiving Mass homily June 1st, Archbishop Rosales stressed the two charisms of St. Hannibal, caring for children and the poor, and promoting  religious and priestly vocations. Bishop Gabriel Reyes of Antipolo explained further that St. Hannibal is relevant for all Filipino people because, of the " lack of vocations here. St. Hannibal stressed the need for prayers for vocations."

"Father Hannibal emphasized taking care of the poor and orphans. In the Philippines we have so many poor people - at least 40 percent live below the poverty line," the Bishop stated. "So it is good that we have Father Hannibal because the apostolate he stressed are very much needed here in this country."

With the intercession of St. Hannibal, the Rogationist Community is welcoming new vocations. Thirty-year-old Carlos Guzman, was ordained May 16 as a Rogationist priest, the same day St. Hannibal was canonized in the Vatican. He flew to his first parish assignment in Papua New Guinea June 2. "It is a parish assignment with a school and a centre for students who live in other islands."  The parish was run by Australian Missionaries of the Sacred Heart who had to hand over the responsibility due to a lack of vocations. The Bishop there, also the former provincial of the Salesians, invited Rogationist missionaries to take over the post. "I joined this congregation because God called me into this kind of life", Fr. Guzman stated. "Maybe God wanted me to know Him more through the lifestyle I have now, as a Rogationist priest". (S.E.)

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