Chapel of San Lorenzo Ruiz

The Chapel of San Lorenzo Ruiz is a Catholic facility in Lower Manhattan designated for the Filipino Apostolate of the Archdiocese of New York. It was named as the official "Church of Filipinos" by Edward Cardinal Egan of the Archdiocese of New York on June 15, 2005."Visit of Her Excellency President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo to Participate in the 2005 World Summit - High Level plenary session of the 60th Session of the United Nations General Assembly, New York, United States of America, 12-15 September, 2005", press kit, Office of the President, Government Mass Media Group, Bureau of Communications Services, Manila, September, 2005.]

The Filipino Apostolate

The Filipino Apostolate was established by the late Cardinal John O'Connor on April 11 1995 to address the pastoral needs of Filipino Catholics in New York. The Filipino Apostolate is in charge of the Chapel of San Lorenzo Ruiz and the Philippine Pastoral Center. Father Erno Diaz was appointed as the first archdiocesan coordinator and director of the Filipino Apostolate.

The Philippine Pastoral Center

In 1998, a building was leased to the Filipino Apostolate at 248 East, 62nd Street, Manhattan, New York. The building was officially named as the Philippine Pastoral Center and became a venue for priests and cultural groups in New York, giving lectures, celebrating masses and performing cultural and religious activities.

History and significance

The Chapel of San Lorenzo Ruiz officially opened on September 1 2005. The opening was followed by an inaugural mass celebrated by Cardinal O'Connor on September 15 2005. It is the second church dedicated to Filipinos outside the Philippines, the first one - The Basilica of Sta. Pudenciana (1991) - is in Via Urbana 160, Rome. [ [http://nuntia.cs.depaul.edu/romapinoy/chaplaincy.htm Nonong, Father Fajardo, CM. The Basilica of Sta. Pudenciana: The Filipino Church in Rome, Brief History of the Chaplaincy, DePaul.edu] , retrieved on: 10 June 2007]

Location and structure

The Chapel of San Lorenzo Ruiz, formerly known as the Most Holy Crucifix Church, is located at 378 Broome Street (between Mulberry and Mott Streets), New York, within the vicinity of Chinatown and Little Italy in downtown Manhattan. It has a capacity of 250 persons, and is attached to the Philippine Pastoral Center of the Filipino Apostolate. [http://www.chapelofsanlorenzoruiz.org Filipino Apostolate/Archdiocese of New York, Chapel of San Lorenzo Ruiz, ChapelofSanLorenzoRuiz.org] , retrieved on: 09 June 2007]

The site of the chapel is an old 1925 church originally assigned to Italians. The building has three floors that houses the "Cardinal Sin Memorial Hall", offices and living quarters for the archiodese coordinator.

an Lorenzo Ruiz

On September 15, 2005, a bronze statue of the first Filipino saint, San Lorenzo Ruiz, was enshrined and unveiled in the chapel. It was originally donated by Cardinal Sin from the Philippines to the Filipinos in America in 1982, the year when the Filipino Apostolate started a movement to promote the blessed San Lorenzo Ruiz in the United States. The bronze image of the Philippine saint was brought to the United States by Celso Al Carunungan, author of "To Die A Thousand Deaths", a book on the life and martyrdom of San Lorenzo Ruiz. Carunungan was accompanied by Father Ramon Salinas who is the national director of the "Movement for the Cause of San Lorenzo Ruiz and Companion Martyrs". Both Carunungan and Father Salinas were delegated by Jaime Cardinal Sin to establish a movement for San Lorenzo Ruiz in the United States. Father Erno Diaz of the Filipino Apostolate is the first director of the movement.

Since 1982, the statue of San Lorenzo Ruiz had been displayed every September at Saint Patrick's Cathedral during the mass for the Filipino saint's feast day. It was originally displayed at the Holy Family Church at the United Nations until it was transferred to the Philippine Pastoral Center in Lower Manhattan in 1998.

Weekly masses and novenas are held in the Chapel of San Lorenzo Ruiz to honor the first Filipino saint and martyr. The statue is considered miraculous by devotees.

Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo was the Filipino Apostolate's guest of honor during the statue's unveiling on September 15, 2005.

20th anniverary

On September 29, 2007, the Catholic Church celebrated the 20th anniversary of Lorenzo Ruiz’ canonization in 1987. Manila Archbishop Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales said:

“"Kahit saan nandoon ang mga Pilipino, ang katapatan sa Diyos ay dala-dala ng Pinoy."
("Wherever the Filipino may go, he carries his faith in God.")

[ [http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/nation/view_article.php?article_id=91532 Inquirer.net, Church marks 20th anniversary of Lorenzo Ruiz sainthood] ]

Purpose

Although not an official parish church, Cardinal Egan has authorized the Chapel of San Lorenzo Ruiz to offer weekday and weekend masses and all of the Sacraments of the Church, with the exception of the Sacrament of Confirmation (only a bishop can confer the Sacrament of Confirmation). Sunday Masses, Filipino-style weddings, baptisms, and funerals are held in the Chapel of San Lorenzo Ruiz. Although the chapel has been designated as a church for the Filipino community and was authorized to perform Filipino liturgies, it welcomes all peoples regardless of ethnicity and background to attend its services and to participate in the events held in it and the Philippine Pastoral Center.

Goal

The Filipino Apostolate's aim is to elevate the designation of the Chapel of San Lorenzo Ruiz into a parish church status. Factors that will help the Filipino Apostolate in achieving this goal is by maintaining good record-keeping, financial management and pastoral programs.

References

Footnotes

See also

*Pontificio Collegio Filippino
*Philippine Center, New York
*Mother Ignacia del Espiritu Santo
*Jeronima de la Asuncion
*Religious of the Virgin Mary
*Three Fertility Saints of Obando, Bulacan, Philippines
*The First Filipino Nun