Pinoys in NY remember San Lorenzo Ruiz

The Filipino community in New York is set to commemorate today the 20th anniversary of the canonization of the first Filipino Saint Lorenzo Ruiz with a Mass at the St. Patrick’s Cathedral.

Fr. Erno Diaz, coordinator of the Filipino Apostolate at the Archdiocese of New York, announced they would be marking the canonization of St. Ruiz at the same time as they will celebrate 25 years of celebrating Filipino Mass at St. Patrick’s Cathedral.

Fr. Diaz has been organizing Masses in the Filipino language since 1982,the year after Ruiz was beatified on Feb. 18, 1981. He was formally declared as a saint by the late Pope John Paul II on Oct. 18, 1987.

Antipolo Bishop Gabriel Reyes will be the principal celebrant during the Mass today at 2 p.m. Reyes was reportedly instrumental in establishing a Filipino Apostolate in the Archdiocese of New York.

Last year, about 4,000 people attended the Mass celebrated by Manila Archbishop Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales.  – Evelyn Macairan