Sr. Maria Leonor, OND, returns to God at 88

TAMONTAKA, Maguindanao Norte - SR. MA. LEONOR M. BERNARDO, OND peacefully returned to our Creator on March 11, 2023, at the St.

Dame in Tamontaka, the Oblates of Notre Dame in a magazine entitled Sentinel. Without the knowledge of her parents, she wrote to then Fr. George Dion, OMI about her intent to join the young congregation and become a missionary in Mindanao. At the age of 25, she made the first vows of the evangelical counsels of chastity, poverty and obedience on April 06, 1961 and the perpetual profession on May 21, 1966. elected Assistant General in the 70’s. For several years, she was the FOND (Friends of the Oblates of Notre Dame) coordinator.

Sr. Leonor was born on June 15, 1934 in Calamba, Laguna, the sixth child of eight siblings of Mr. Basilio Bernardo and Mrs. Isabel Malabuyok Bernardo. In 1959, she read about

THE National Shrine of Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage or Antipolo Cathedral will officially assume its new status as an international shrine on March 25.

The cathedral announced Tuesday it received the Vatican decree elevating the church to the rank of international shrine.

“It’s official. We are now elevated into an international shrine,” it said. “The decree has been sent to us by the Holy See and will be effective by March 25, 2023.”

For 61 years as an OND, her mission engagements were in Cotabato provinces, Visayas and NCR, most had been in the school ministry and Radio Veritas. She has served in the VocationFormation Ministries and was

Her personal motto, “To be rather than to empress” was most visible in the way she related with peoples from all walks of life in the various ministries to which she was sent—a warm, thoughtful, caring and endearing person to all she touched along life’s road. She was a woman who wasted time conversing the Word of life, the Word of God with each one.

In retrospect, Sr. Leonor had a trademark that endeared her to her former students and partners in the mission: the visitation she would make (in Notre Dame of

The declaration makes the Antipolo Cathedral the country’s first international shrine, the third in Asia, and the 11th worldwide.

It was in June 2022 when Bishop Francisco de Leon of Antipolo said that the Vatican approved their petition to grant the shrine that particular privilege.

“We are now in full anticipation of the solemn declaration of our international shrine in the coming months,” the cathedral added.

March 25 also coincides with

Bongao, Tawi—Tawi, she was the first OND who visited the homes of all students-Christian and Muslim alike), sharing her books, or photocopies of pages from books or stampitas with inspirational quotes, and the much awaited “Pangaral.” When cellphones became the fashion, she sent spiritual messages and had a consistent way of making us know that she remembered us and the members of our families.

The first day wake mass for Sr. Leonor was presided by Fr. Ignacio Rellin, OMI, second day with Fr. Mars Andres, OMI and the third day we were grateful by the presence of Archbishop Angelito Lampon, OMI, DD and Fr. Ronald Abad, OMI as the the day when the image of Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage departed the Mexican town of Acapulco on board a galleon 397 years ago.

During the three-month voyage, according to the shrine, the galleon was battered by storms and almost caught on fire. Despite these circumstances, it arrived safely on the Philippine shore on June 18, 1626, hence, the title Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage was attributed to the image. CBCP News homilist.

The Funeral Mass for Sr. Leonor was celebrated last March 15, 2023 at 8:30 in the morning at Our Lady of Hope Chapel in Tamontaka, and burial rites at the adjacent OND cemetery with, His Eminence Orlando Cardinal Quevedo, OMI, DD as main presider and homilist.

On behalf of the congregation of the Oblates of Notre Dame, Sr. Erlinda C. Hisug, OND Superior General, conveys her gratitude and appreciation to all who joined the congregation in praying for the repose of the soul of Sr. Leonor and in thanksgiving for the support given to her who in life strove to please God always. Sr. Maria Luz Fernandez, OND

American prelate named new apostolic nuncio to Thailand

See. He has worked in Rome in the administration of the Secretariat of State and has been an archbishop and a nuncio since 2016.

The prelate entered the diplomatic service of the Holy See on July 1, 1999, working in the apostolic nunciature in Nigeria and, beginning in 2002, in the Section for General Affairs of the Secretariat of State.

He was appointed to head the English-language desk in 2006 and was named assessor on July 16, 2009.

Pope Francis named Archbishop Wells secretary of the five-member Pontifical Commission, responsible for investigating the Institute for the Works of Religion in 2013. He also served as president of the Holy See’s Financial Security Committee.

On February 9, 2016, the prelate was appointed apostolic nuncio to South Africa and Botswana and titular archbishop of Marcianopolis. He was also later named apostolic nuncio to Lesotho and Namibia.

appointed apostolic nuncio to Eswatini.

On February 8, 2023, Pope Francis appointed him as nuncio to Thailand and Cambodia and Apostolic Delegate to Laos.

Archbishop Wells completed his studies in philosophy at St. Meinrad Seminary College in Saint Meinrad, Indiana. He completed his studies in theology at the Pontifical North American College in Rome. In 1990, he obtained a Bachelor of Theology degree from the Pontifical Gregorian University

He was ordained a priest on July 12, 1991, for the Diocese of Tulsa. After his ordination, he worked as a curate at Holy Family Cathedral Parish in Tulsa, special secretary to the bishop of Tulsa, and vicar for religious education in the diocese.

Archbishop Wells, born on May 12, 1963, has spent most of his career in the diplomatic service of the Holy

Thereis this famous quotation from the short novel, The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint Exupery, “It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye.” We are used to seeing things with our physical eyes. In fact we sometimes judge people based on their physical appearance. The season of Lent is a time to look at things in a new way and from a new perspective. I was reminded of this when I went to my optometrist. My vision has changed. I can see better without my eyeglasses than when I wear them. Time for new eyeglasses.

He was consecrated archbishop on March 19, 2016, by Pope Francis. On June 13, 2016, Archbishop Wells was

Reflections

Rev. Fr. Antonio P. Pueyo, DCC tonypoy_dcc0@yahoo.com who brings judgement and salvation. Seeing Jesus in this light he worshipped him. He would not do this if he saw Jesus merely as a human being. On the other hand, the Pharisees who have eyes to see, remained blind. Their hearts were hardened and they could not see rightly.

He soon returned to Rome, receiving a Licentiate of Theology at the John Paul II Pontifical Theological Institute for Studies on Marriage and Family in 1992. In 1998 and 1999, he received a Licentiate of Canon Law and a Doctor of Canon Law degree from the Gregorian University. LiCAS. news

The first reading this Sunday tells the story of the anointing of David as king of Israel. The Lord instructed the prophet Samuel, “Not as man sees does God see, because man sees the appearance, but the Lord looks into the heart” (1 Sam. 16:9). The second reading from the letter to the Ephesians contrasts light and darkness. It is in the light that everything becomes visible. It is through Jesus our light that we see things rightly. The gospel tells the story of the man born blind. He was living in darkness until he met Jesus. When he was interrogated by the Pharisees, he held on to his story that it was Jesus who healed him. Amidst adverse pressure from the religious leaders he testified, “He is a prophet” (John 9:17). Because he stacked to his testimony, he was thrown out by the leaders. Jesus found him, and with his new eyes, he saw Jesus as not just a prophet but as the divine Messiah and proclaimed, “I do believe Lord” and he worshipped Him.

The blind man’s journey to the light was gradual. First He saw Jesus as a miracle worker who made him see. There were other miracle workers in Israel. He then saw Jesus as a prophet, one of the many prophets. Finally he recognized Jesus as the Son of Man, the divine Messiah

How then can we see rightly? There are different ways of seeing or looking: look around, look inside, look behind, look forward, and look up. Look around, be aware of things happening around us. Be aware of the signs of the times, so that we can respond rightly to events. As the Asin song goes, “Wala ka bang napapansin sa iyong kapaligiran, kay dumidumi na ng hangin pati na ang mga ilog natin.” When we open our eyes to the environment we will recognize the inconvenient truth that the earth and the living things therein are suffering. Look inside. What is in our heart? Do we still feel compassion, grief, love, and care. Do we still have the passionate anger that can move as to act for truth and justice? Or have our hearts become calloused to suffering? Look back. By looking at our personal history we will see patterns of responding to God’s call. We will also recognize patterns of sinfulness. Are we caught up in the same patterns or are we growing positively? Look forward. Are you still growing? Are you willing to leave comfort zones in response to God’s call? Or are we so set in our ways that like the Pharisees we refuse to see beyond our prejudices? Finally look up. God is everywhere, but looking up is a symbolic way of describing our relationship with God. We cannot do things on our own. We need the faith of the blind man who saw beyond the miracle worker and the prophet. He saw divinity and he worshipped Jesus. Today is Laetare Sunday, a day of rejoicing because Easter is near. May we move from darkness to light, from sin to repentance, from blindness to seeing.

Readings: Lect., S&S, no. 543, p. 778; BG, p. 430 or p. 431

1st Reading: 2 Samuel 7.4-5a, 12-14a, 16

2nd Reading: Romans 4.13, 16-18, 22

Gospel: Matthew 1.16, 18-21, 24a or Luke 2.41-51a

Readings: no. 245, p. 443

1st Reading: Ezekiel 47.1-9, 12

Gospel: John 5.1-16

Readings: no. 246, p. 446

1st Reading: Isaiah 49.8-15

Gospel: John 5.16-30Readings: no. 240, p. 429

Readings: no. 247, p. 449

1st Reading: Exodus 32.7-14

Gospel: John 5.18, 31-47++

Readings: no. 248, p. 452

1st Reading: Wisdom 2.1a, 12-22

Gospel: John 7.1-2, 10, 25-30

Readings: Lect., S&S, no. 545, p. 782; BG, p. 16

1st Reading: Isaiah 7.10-14; 8.10d

2nd Reading: Hebrews 10.4-10

Gospel: Luke 1.26-38