Most Rev. Florentino Cinense, bishop of Tarlac, led the groundbreaking ceremonies for the construction of the new parish of St. Josemaría Escrivá in Gerona, Tarlac, on Sunday, June 26 after celebrating Mass at the open field, site of the future parish church.
“I want this church to be the showcase and the model for all the churches to be constructed in the diocese of Tarlac in the future. That is why I wanted it to be here by the main highway,” the bishop said. “This church will be truly a work of God, Opus Dei, where one will be inspired to pray,” he added.
The bishop asked for the support of all because he was eager to bless and inaugurate the finished church by June 26 of next year. Father Jonas Agustin, appointed parish priest of the new parish in March 2003, concelebrated the Mass with Bishop Cinense.
Following the bishop’s request, Father Agustin told the faithful gathered there to “continue seeking the intercession of St. Josemaría for the material and financial resources needed for this project, and also for all your personal intentions. St. Josemaría is a very effective intercessor.”
The new Tarlac parish was canonically established on February 24, 2003 and comprises 9 barangays in the town of Gerona. The parish church is provisionally in a barangay town hall.
“We pray and continue to work so that this first parish church in Asia dedicated to Saint Josemaría Escrivá will soon no longer be a squatter on borrowed property, and finally be installed on sacred ground,” Father Agustin said.
After the Mass, the 1000 faithful of the new parish who attended the ceremony had the privilege to venerate the relic ex ossibus of their patron saint.
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St. Josemaria Escriva Parish
Gerona, Tarlac
Philippines
sjme_parish@yahoo.com.ph
Tel. +63918 9205397
