• MESSAGES • AWARDEES •

• JAIME L.CARDINAL SIN • JOSEPH E. ESTRADA • Ar. ANTONIO FRANCO • Bp. TEODORO C. BACANI •
• GLORIA M. ARROYO • HENRIETTA T. DE VILLA • JOSE L. ATIENZA Jr. • Msgr. DOMINGO A. CIRILOS Jr. •
• DANILO B. LACUNA • JOEY D. HIZON • Fr. OSCAR ANTE, OFM • Fr. PERCY JUAN BACANI, CICM •

Christianity is always a call to community.  The Spirit did not lead the disciples individually and separately.  This is because each disciple is united with Jesus, all believers are united with him. The Church was born as a gathered people, as the assembly of fellow-believers, fellow-witnesses, and fellow-disciples.  They are brothers and sisters in Christ sharing in His life. The Church is therefore a gathered community originating from the journeying in history through the abiding unity of Father, Son and Spirit.

It is this same journey that characterizes the community of San Fernando de Dilao Parish of Paco, Manila.  It is with immense joy that I greet you on the occasion of your quadricentennial anniversary.  Very few communities can lay claim to this distinct honor and privilege.  And you are able to reach this milestone because you have journeyed in unity and love --with one another and with the Triune God.  From the simple beginnings began by the Franciscan missionaries in 1599 to the administration of the CICM Fathers and now under the care of the diocesan clergy, you have grown to become a community bonded in faith, hope and love. This is because you have been receptive to the promptings of the Spirit who gives life and direction.

In these preparatory years leading to the Great Jubilee of the Year 2000, your cooperation and involvement as a parish community becomes a fitting welcome to the Lord Who comes as the very destiny of every human pilgrimage.  May you continue the good work you have begun so that your lives may be brought to fulfillment in the kingdom of heaven promised by the Lord!

God bless you always.

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My most cordial greetings to the parishioners of San Fernando de Dilao, Paco, as you celebrate your 400th year Founding Anniversary.

Today's commemoration of the Quadricentennial of your town is important in nurturing our identity as Filipinos.  This identity we must now see as a key to our country's growth and development.  In the process of reminiscing on the principles and ideals that our ancestors have fought and died for, we are
likewise reminded of carrying on the present task of nation-building with more zeal and fervor.

With the theme," Apat na Raang Taon ng PagIalakbay sa Pananampalataya sa Patnubay ng Espiritu Santo," may this event vividly manifest the Filipino's deep religiosity and bring to fore our spirit of community.  I join you in enriching the significance of this occasion.  Carry on with your good deeds and face the opportunities and challenges more prepared and confident of what we as a nation want to achieve.

MABUHAY AT MASIGLANG PAGDIRIWANG!

On this historical and happy occasion of the Quadricentennial Anniversary of the stone Church
built by the Franciscans in 1599, I am pleased to convey my sincere congratulations and prayerful best wishes to all the parishioners of San Fernando de Dilao Parish.

Four hundred years is a long period which must have been marked by immense growth in faith.  Looking back to the humble beginnings of your parish church is enough to evoke sincere gratitude for the toils of those who came to serve as your pastors. May you have the same courage which motivated the missionaries of the past and same readiness to listen to the voice of the Spirit (Redemptoris Missio, n. 30), as you continue the task of renewed evangelization.

As the Third Millennium draws near, the Christian community is summoned to embrace new horizons in the proclamation of God's Kingdom. This demands a commitment from each and everyone "to live in the world knowing that they must be leaven and, as it were, the soul of human society, destined to be renewed in Christ and transformed into the family of God." (Incarnationis Mysterium, n. 2)

Invoking the Holy Spirit's guidance, I pray that you may be filled with fervor in giving yourselves totally to the service of God and His Church.

Greetings of Peace in the Lord!

I rejoice with you as you celebrate the 40Oth year of San Fernando de Dilao Parish.  I was given the grace to stay in your parish and serve its people for eleven years, and so, I cannot but join you in your joy.

While I was with you, I and the priests who worked with me sought to bring the Church close to the people, and tried to make the people realize that they were the Church.  I was very happy to experience the participation of the people in parish life and worship, and the collaboration of so many lay leaders.  I knew that I was not starting from scratch but was only continuing what the CICM priests and others before them had sought to do.

Paco Catholic School was also a jewel, both for the number of its students and the quality of Catholic education imparted in it.  The school community was a real Catholic community which
produced not a few priestly vocations.

Today I am glad to see not only a vibrant Christian community but also a renovated parish church and new school buildings.  The Holy Spirit has been truly at work in San Fernando de Dilao Parish and in Paco Catholic School, and the people have responded wonderfully to
his actions.

May you continue to grow in the life of faith as a true family of God, and may your influence extend to more and more people.  May the quadricentennial celebrations be happy and fruitful!

I join in prayer the parishioners of San Fernando de Dilao Parish of Paco, Manila on the celebration of its 400th Foundation Anniversary.

This Quadricentennial celebration with the theme, "Apat na Raang Taong Paglalakbay sa
Pananampalataya sa Patnubay ng Espiritu Santo” it should serve as a renewal of our commitments to God, our families, and our nation.  The socio-economic progress attained by your parishioners through the years lays credence to your people's diligence, industry and solid kinship.

I hope that this celebration will further enhance spiritual empowerment and reawaken our spirit to the highest and noblest of universal values and virtues. In this fast-paced and ever changing world of diverse creeds and religions, we all have the same mission --to serve God and fellowmen and to find and nurture that seed of spirituality in us. I call upon all of you to always give glory to God, work harder and share the benefits of development, for it is through this sharing that the universal good is attained.

Good luck and more power. MABUHAY!

Warm greetings from Rome.

The gaze of everyone here in Rome is on the Great Jubilee 2000, as I imagine the gaze of all people of Paco is on the coming quadricentennial anniversary of its parish, San Fernando de Dilao.

How I remember Paco during my CLP and PPCRV years in the late '80s and early '90s.  The fruitstalls abounding around the church yard, the jeepneys in a constant traffic jam in its narrow streets and the people --literally an explosion of people in the Church, in the market, anywhere and everywhere in what was known to me to be Paco.  0, how I remember the warmth and simple goodness of the people I knew in the parish.

I remember, too, the street Masses in the different areas into which the parish was divided then.  Those street Masses were veritable missions proclaiming and bringing Christ to the parishioners in the places where they lived and worked and went through life's daily joys and pains.  The bishop and priests of Paco then were so enthusiastic about those parish missions, but what has left such an impact on me was the vibrant participation of the lay people.

And I remember Paco church standing tall and huge and filled to its rafters with its worshipping community.  Paco Church - the proud repository of Paco's rich history, more importantly, its splendid sign and call to communion.

Yes, the Paco I remember was the place of a happy convergence of movements --the movement of God in the people, the movement of the people towards God and their movement towards one another.

Truly, the people of God of Paco have 400 and more reasons for thanksgiving to the Lord. Paco has been blessed with 4 centuries of marvelous faith, of marvelous love which must impel its people to give witness to a marvelous hope that the Father loves each one of us, that Jesus, his Son, remains with each of us, that the Holy Spirit is alive and active in all of us.

From Rome, I keep Paco and all its people in my prayers and in my heart.

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My warmest greetings and congratulations to the parishioners of San Fernando de Dilao Parish, Paco, Manila on the occasion of their parish 400th Year Anniversary.  It is very heartwarming to note that this coming August your parish will, likewise, celebrate the Feast of your Patron, Our Lord of the Holy Sepulchre, which highlights your Quadricentennial Celebration.

Indeed, your theme: " Apat na Raang Taon ng Paglalakbay sa Pananampalataya sa Patnubay ng Espiritu Santo," aptly articulates the moral guidance of the Holy Spirit in strenghtening our faith in our Lord.   It is very timely that you will come up with a special coffee-table book which will enshrine your parish historical growth throughout the 400 years of its existence.

The City of Manila joins you on this momentous occasion. The joy we feel every time we hear
worthy endeavors such as yours for the advancement of faith is truly heartwarming. We will always appreciate your continued help to become even much brighter, colorful and progressive. We must always be proud of Manila: A City of our fondest hopes and dreams.

Mabuhay ang San Fernando de Dilao Parishioners!

With the greatest of pleasure, I wish to convey my most profound greetings to San Fernando de Dilao Parish on the occasion of its 400th year founding anniversary with the theme, “Apat na Raang Taon ng Paglalakbay sa Pananampalataya sa Patnubay ng Espiritu Santo.”

In the midst of merriment and revelry, remember what message we ought to discern that
will unveil the real meaning of this historical event.

I also wish to express my sincerest appreciation for the great honor and privilege of being a part of this momentous once-in-a-lifetime Quadricentennial celebration.

"Maligayang Kapistahan sa Inyong Lahat!"

My family and I wish to extend our warmest
greetings to all the constituents and parishioners of San Fernando) de Dilao Parish as you celebrate the
Feast of our I.ord of the Holy Sepulcher on August 22 which also coincides with the quadricentennial founding anniversary of the same parish.

Albeit the economic crisis we are currently facing, the celebration of a town Fiesta is an annual tradition which we try to observe even in our
simplest way to highlight our profession of faith and thanksgiving for His bountiful graces to us. May you find in your heart the willingness to share such blessings to those in need. Likewise, it is my most fervent prayer that everyone of us continue to
lead the righteous path and always remain under the blanket of His care. May our Patron Saint continue to sow the seeds of Love that will unite the world and bind all Mankind.

HAPPY FIESTA TO ALL OF YOU!!!

It is with great joy and deep gratitude to God that I extend to the Community of San Fernando de Dilao Parish my warm greetings and congratulations on your Quadricentennial Foundation
Anniversary.

The celebration of your Quadricentennial Foundation Anniversary traces back and re-affirms not only the rich and diversified cultural and religious heritage but above all the flaming faith that has become the living legacy of the early Franciscan missionaries to the Christian community of Paco. Such faith which has withstood through times and ages has proved its genuineness like silver tested on fire. Indeed, you have all the reasons to reverberate in song,
and thanksgiving to God for the precious gift of faith that has blossomed and has
bore its fruits through the years.

As you lift your hearts in humble gratitude to God for the outpouring of his divine goodness and love, let this
grace-filled celebration continue to challenge and compel you to work for
greater paraticipative and active collaboration in the task aimed towards
integral evangelization. Moreover, let this celebration invigorate and strengthen you in your resolve to renew
your christian faith by giving witness to the Gospel truths and by responding generously to the exigencies of the times.

May the guiding presence of the Holy Spirit sanctify and empower the entire
Christian community of San Fernando de Dilao Parish with greater zeal in proclaiming God's reign.