Cardinal Rosales leaves for US, Rome

Manila Archbishop Gaudencio B. Cardinal Rosales left last night (June 18) for a two-week trip to the United States to celebrate Masses with Filipino communities and in Rome to attend a meeting of Cardinals in the Vatican. Accompanying him on the trip is his secretary Fr. Reginald Malicdem.

His first stop is San Francisco where he will visit with members of the Rosales clan on June 19 and with the staff and officials of the Philippine Consulate on June 20. He will celebrate Mass at the St. John the Baptist Parish in Milpitas in San Jose, California, whose pastor is Fr. Norman Segovia the vicar for Filipino clergy of the Diocese of San Jose.

He returns to the Bay Area for masses at the St. John the Evangelist Church in San Francisco on June 21 at 9 am and in the afternoon of the same day at the St. Anne of the Sunset Parish Church in San Francisco, where he will talk about Pondo ng Pinoy. He will have dinner with the Filipino Community in the Bar Area.

The Cardinal proceeds to Washington D.C. where he will be formally welcomed at a reception at the World Bank on June 22 by Msgr. Walter Rossi, Rector of the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, Theodore Edgar Cardinal McCarrick, Archbishop Emeritus of the Archdiocese of Washington D.C., Archbishop Pietro Sambi, Apostolic Nuncio to the United States of America, Fr. Joseph Holcomb, Director of Pilgrimages, Msgr. Godfrey Mosley, Spiritual Adviser of Birhen ng Antipolo, and priests and lay leaders of the archdiocese. Highlight of his visit in this state is to preside at the Mass for the 10 th Annual Filipino Pilgrimage of Our Lady of Peace & Good Voyage (Birhen Antipolo) at 2 p.m. on June 23.

Cardinal Rosales was personally invited by a group of Filipino American devotees of Our Lady led by Msgr. Rossi when they visited the Philippines and made a courtesy call to him in February 2006.

The Birhen ng Antipolo is enshrined in the huge Cathedral in the heart of the United States’ seat of power. According to the Shrine’s website the Oratory which honors the 16 th century devotion of Filipinos to the much beloved Birhen ng Antipolo, was dedicated on June 7, 1997 by the late James Cardinal Hickey of the Archdiocese of Washington and Bishop Protacio Gungon, now retired Bishop of Antipolo. Following the dedication, an annual pilgrimage at the Basilica National Shrine was started and which continues to attract devotees from various parts of the United States and even Canada.

The Cardinal will also visit various community leaders in the Metropolitan Washington DC area, celebrating Mass at St. Columba Church in Maryland on June 24. He will visit the offices of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops on June 25 and will be welcomed by Msgr. David Malloy, USCCB General Secretary and its Filipino employees led by Cecile Motus.

The Cardinal’s next stop is Chicago where he will meet with Filipino Community at the Our Lady of Ransom Parish Church in Niles, Illinois. He departs for Italy on June 28 where he will celebrate Sunday Mass on July 1 with Filipinos in Milan.

His meeting at the Vatican of the Council for Economic and Organizational Affairs of the Vatican City State will start on July 2 and end on July 3. The explanation for the body is contained in Pope John Paul II's apostolic constitution "Pastor Bonus" (No. 24-25) which says: "The council is convened by the cardinal secretary of state, usually twice a year, to consider those economic and organizational questions which relate to the administration of the Holy See, with the assistance, if needed, of experts in these affairs.

"The council also considers the activities of the special institute which is erected and located within the state of Vatican City in order to safeguard and administer economic goods placed in its care with the purpose of supporting works of religion and charity."

The Cardinal is expected to be back in Manila on July 5. ##