Story and Photos By Georgene Quilaton-Tambiga
On the occasion of the Solemnity of St. Ezekiel Diaz Moreno, Rev. Fr. Enrico Silab, OAR primarily praised the beloved saint’s underrated accolade—that of being the General Preacher of the Order.
Furthermore, Fr. Silab pointed out that St. Ezekiel, Patron Saint of the Augustinian Recollect Province in the Philippines, gave the brothers of the Order a simple model for homilies that should teach and instruct the laity but not rebuke the sinners. Thus, Fr. Silab instructed the laity to recognize the “God-given gift” of holiness that is in each person.
The Thomasian community’s celebration of the saint, who was one of the early missionaries to the Philippine Islands, was at the Sto. Tomas de Villanueva-Recoletos Chapel, with Fray Raymund Alcedo, OAR, Rev. Fr. Monday Benjamine Edobor, OAR, Rev. Fr. Jorr Rabacal, OAR, and Rev. Fr. Excel Saycon, OAR. Fr. Silab was the main celebrant and homilist.
Since St. Ezekiel is the Patron Saint of Cancer Patients, the anointing of all the faithful was the highlight of the Holy Mass celebrated in his honor.
Meanwhile, Thomasian teachers and staff also took a break from the hectic preparations for the first day of school on August 22 to join in the blessing and dedication of St. Ezekiel’s new altar at the second floor landing of the school’s third building which is also named after him.
