Festivity was in the air that morning on August 19, 2023 in Canossa Ville, Palo, Leyte among the residents of the 46 families, the Sisters and their guests for the blessing of a life-sized statue of St. Magdalene of Canossa, Patroness of Canossa Ville.
The joyful event was also the launching of the 250th birth anniversary of St. Magdalene.
The Eucharistic Celebration was presided over by Msgr. Gilbert Urbina, Vicar General of the Archdiocese, with Rev. Fr. Arnold Aurelio, Director of the Archdiocesan Catechetical Ministry, and Rev. Fr. Gerald San Gabriel, Priest in charge of St. Teresa of Calcutta Mission Station of Brgy. Castilla, Palo, Leyte. During the homily, he focused on the virtues of St. Magdalene, particularly that of her self-giving and her humility. Msgr. Gilbert reiterates to the audience especially to the young the imitation of the life of saints especially St Magdalene who left her comforts in order to embrace a simple life style for the love of the poor.
After the Mass, everybody went outside the multipurpose hall for the blessing of the Statue of St. Magdalene.
We were grateful for the presence of Sr. Estrella Vasquez, FdCC, Provincial Councilor, Vice Mayor Jonathan Chiquillo, Engr. Noel Nadera of the Leyte Department of Public Works and Highways and his wife Malou, district supervisor of the Department of Agriculture. Some Catechists from the Archdiocese also arrived, a number of lay ministers and friends from Sta. Teresa of Calcutta Mission Station. A number of Sisters of the Franciscan Handmaid of the Lord (FHL) and staff of the Chancery of the Archdiocese of Palo also joined the event.
After lunch, a strong rain poured down, but it did not hinder the joy we shared together. For it was a sign of a great blessing from St. Magdalene.
The Canossian Sisters of Palo is the community established to accompany the victims of the storm surge in Leyte in 2013 where the Canossa Ville Housing Project beneficiaries grew into a community. This housing project was a concerted effort of many groups of people – ecclesial, government and non-government organizations which joined resources for the victims of this grave calamity. May our Mother Foundress continue to look upon them and sustain in their temporal and spiritual needs.
