BIS Mumbai
BOSCO INFORMATION SERVICE #3151
PINOY CATHOLICS CELEBRATE ST LORENZO RUIZ DE MANILA FEAST
Michelle Fe Santiago
NORTHERN ARABIAN VICARIATE, OCTOBER 03, 2012 : It was a day of prayer and thanksgiving as Filipino Catholics trooped on Friday to the Parish Church of St. 
Therese of the Child Jesus in the Northern Arabian Vicariate for the annual celebration of the feast of St. Lorenzo Ruiz de Manila, the first Filipino saint.
The Filipinos commemorated and relived the life of the first Filipino saint who was born in 1600 in Binondo, Manila of a Chinese father and a Filipino mother. He died as a martyr during persecution of Japanese Christians under the Tokugawa Shogun in the Seventeenth century.
Lorenzo Ruiz was beatified in Manila on February18, 1981 by Pope John Paul II during his Papal visit to Manila, the first beatification ceremony held outside the Vatican. San Lorenzo Ruiz was elevated to sainthood 
and canonized by Pope John Paul II in the Vatican City, Rome on October 18, 1987 making him the first Filipino saint.
The event dubbed ‘Pistang Pinoy’ commenced with the celebration of the Holy Eucharist followed by a brief programme showcasing the rich culture and tradition of the Filipinos as well as the talents of the 
parishioners. Rev. Fr. Ben Barrameda, the priest in-charge of the Filipinos from the parish of St Therese of the Child Jesus, welcomed all the guests to the festive occasion.
He invited all the faithful to follow the example set by St Lorenzo Ruiz De Manila. “Let’s all set good examples to others and be a man for others”, he emphasized. The performers from different religious groups presented Philippine folk dances and modern dances to the delight of the audience.
Meanwhile, the “Pistang Pinoy” programme was hosted by Jane Nolasco. Some of the parishioners displayed their signing talent in the Videoke Singing Contest. Balladeer tom Antonio landed on the top spot followed 
by John Eric Binwag and Camille Sheila Mac Silva who won first and second runners up respectively.
Aside from the programme, different stalls dotted the hall with delectable Filipino dishes ranging from rice cakes, cassava cake, banana turon, siomai, carioca, buchi,pancit, gulaman at sago and many more. Some stalls also displayed and sold handmade accessories and other stuff.
“Admiring a saint and organizing a solemn programme is purposeless, if one does not emulate the saint” was the parting admonition of Fr. Ben to the faithful.
BOSCO BIS INFORMATION SERVICE (BIS) MUMBAI
Don Bosco Provincial House,
Matunga, Mumbai - 400 019. INDIA
Email: bis@donboscomumbai.org
Website: www.donboscomumbai.org
News Blog: http://bismumbai.blogspot.com