SILANG, Cavite, Feb. 6, 2015—Elated over the news that their beloved founder, Fr. Aloysius Schwartz, had been named “Venerable” by the Catholic Church, the Congregations of the Sisters of Mary and the Brothers of Christ are scheduled to offer Holy Mass and other activities on Saturday, Mar. 14, 3:00 p.m. at the Sisters of Mary Girlstown, Biga II, Silang, Cavite.
“Fr. Al is already a saint even without [a formal] declaration because of what he had done. I’m so thankful for having been one of his students,” shares Analiza Manansala of Parañaque City in a recent social media post.
Holy man
“Fr. Al, please always watch us and guide us to follow your steps. I love you so much,” she adds.
For Princess Keish Joseph of Talisay, Cebu, it is beyond question that the “Caviteño”-American priest is a holy man.
“Whenever I pray before his tomb [in Silang, Cavite] I have [an] unexplainable feeling … I feel his presence right there at the memorial center,” she recalls.
“You are my great super hero, Fr. Al! Thank you for sharing to the poor God’s blessings,” Mikeelyn Geraldizo exclaims.
The title Venerable is posthumously conferred on Catholic men and women “Servants of God” who are proven to have been “heroic in virtue” during their lifetimes, making them eligible for beatification and eventual canonization.
Other activities
The schedule of the program is as follows:
1:30 p.m. — Conference: The Process of Beatification and Canonization
Fr. Sammy S. Silloriquez, OAR (Postulator for the Causes of Saints)
3:00 p.m. — Eucharistic Celebration
Manila Archbishop Luís Antonio G. Cardinal Tagle
Reading of the Decree of Heroic Virtues
Manila Archbishop Emeritus Gaudencio B. Cardinal Rosales
Other activities include:
- Unveiling of Ven. Albert Schwartz’s portrait
- Procession to the Chapel of the Virgin of the Poor and the Tomb of Ven. Albert Schwartz
- Homage to Ven. Albert Schwartz
- Prayer for Beatification and Canonization
- Wreath-laying by Sisters of Mary, Brothers of Christ, and Graduates
- Cultural Show by Boystown and Girlstown Children (Raymond A. Sebastián/CBCP News)
