Daily Live Mass at 12:15pm. Click here » 
Welcome to our website
"A dynamic and participative parish, relevant to the times and responsive to the needs of all sectors of a community, that is both evangelized and evangelizing, living the gospel values and working together with renewed hope for the kingdom of God."
News and Events
Catholic Articles
Testimonials
September 17: Saint Robert Bellarmine, Bishop and Doctor—Optional Memorial
1542–1621
Patron Saint of canon lawyers, catechism writers, catechists, and catechumens
Canonized by Pope Pius XI in 1930
Declared a Doctor of the Church by Pope Pius XI in 1931
Liturgical Color: White
Quote:
If I seek my maker, I find God alone. If I seek the material from which he made me, I find absolutely nothing. From this you can conclude that whatever is in me was made by God, and wholly belongs to God. If I ask about my nature, I find that I am the image of God. If I ask about my end, I find God himself, who is my supreme and total good. Therefore, I will recognize that I have a great bond with, and need for, God, as he alone is my creator, my maker, my father, my exemplar, my happiness, my all. If I understand this, what can happen except that I seek him ardently, that I think of him, that I yearn for him, desire to see and embrace Him? Should I not be horrified at the dense darkness of my heart, which for so long has considered, desired, and sought things other than God, who alone is my all?” ~Saint Robert Bellarmine, The Mind’s Ascent to God by the Ladder of Created Things
Reflection: Robert Bellarmine was the third of ten children born into a noble family in the town of Montepulciano within the Grand Duchy of Tuscany, modern-day Italy, about 100 miles north of Rome. Despite the family’s noble lineage, Robert’s parents were materially poor. When Robert was born, his uncle, Marcello Cervini degli Spannocchi, was a cardinal. When Robert was thirteen, his uncle was elected Pope Marcellus II, but quickly fell ill and died only twenty-two days later.
As a child, Robert was known for his intelligence. He was thought to have had a photographic memory, quickly memorizing pages of books and poems, such as Virgil’s poems in Latin. At the age of eighteen, he entered the Jesuit novitiate in Rome where he excelled. A few years later, when he was asked to teach Greek, which he did not know, he learned it with his students and quickly mastered the language as he taught it. His theological studies immersed him in the scholastic theology of Thomism. He studied in Padua and then Louvain, modern-day Belgium, where he was ordained a priest in 1570 at the age of twenty-eight.
As a newly ordained priest, Father Bellarmine was assigned to teach at the University of Louvain, where he had just completed his theological studies. After six years of teaching there, he was assigned to teach at the Roman College, now the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome. It was there that he became a spiritual director and confessor to the seminarian and future saint, Aloysius Gonzaga.
Both in Louvain and in Rome, Father Bellarmine became widely respected for his brilliance and preaching. While in Rome, Father Bellarmine’s lectures turned into a three-volume book called De Controversiis, a defense of the Catholic faith in the wake of the Protestant Reformation. Father Bellarmine addressed seventeen controversies that resulted from the Protestant Reformation, and he powerfully and eloquently defended Catholic doctrine against them. This was the first attempt by a Catholic theologian to directly address these controversies in a systematic and comprehensive way. His work became the standard for the theological defense of the faith across all of Europe. Topics included Scripture and Tradition, Christ, the pope and Church, the Sacraments, sin, grace, free will, and good works. Not only did he present the Catholic faith well, he also addressed the errors of Luther, Calvin, Zwigli, and others who were sowing confusion within the Protestant Reformation. Unquestionably, he was the holy hero that was sorely needed in the Church at that time.
In addition to his writing, teaching, and preaching, Father Bellarmine was called upon by popes for administrative and diplomatic tasks. In 1592, at the age of fifty, he was assigned as rector of the Roman College. In 1598, he was created a cardinal and given the role of Cardinal Inquisitor, which required him to serve as a judge in important matters of the Inquisition, such as trials for heresy. During his tenure, he participated in the trial of the former Dominican turned Calvinist, Giordano Bruno, who was found guilty and turned over to the civil authorities, who put him to death.
In 1602 Cardinal Bellarmine was ordained a bishop by Pope Clement VIII and assigned as Archbishop of Capua. When Pope Clement VIII died three years later, Cardinal Bellarmine was among the cardinal-electors and received some votes. Cardinal Alessandro de’ Medici was ultimately elected and chose the name Pope Leo XI, but died twenty-six days later. In the next conclave, Cardinal Bellarmine narrowly escaped being elected, much to his relief. Cardinal Camillo Borghese was chosen instead, taking the name Pope Paul V. Pope Paul V, in keeping with the mandates of the Council of Trent, ordered that the bishops who were living in Rome needed to return to their dioceses to fulfill their duty as shepherds. However, he asked Cardinal Bellarmine to stay, to which he obediently agreed. He resigned his archbishopric and became a prominent member of the Holy Office and other congregations and was the chief advisor and theologian for the Holy See.
Over the next sixteen years, Cardinal Bellarmine became a central figure in the Vatican. He helped resolve divisions within the Church, clarified the Church’s position on relevant topics, helped implement the use of the recently published Roman Catechism, or Catechism of Trent (which he had earlier helped to write), communicated with and even rebuked kings and secular rulers, and served in numerous other capacities. In 1616, Cardinal Bellarmine was involved in responding to the controversial teachings of Galileo, whom he considered a friend. Though the cardinal did not condemn him, he did deliver the Church’s position that, since Galileo’s conclusions could not be substantiated scientifically, the traditional understanding of Scripture must hold. He also explained that if science were to prove Galileo’s view (that the earth revolved around the sun), then the Church had a duty to interpret the Scripture in light of those new facts. It wasn’t until after Bellarmine’s death that the Church went further, erroneously condemning Galileo, much to its later humiliation.
After one more conclave, Cardinal Bellarmine fell ill and retreated into retirement. During these last years of his life, he wrote some beautiful devotional works: “The Mind’s Ascent to God by the Ladder of Created Things,” “The Seven Words on the Cross,” and “On the Art of Dying Well.” His other earlier works include a masterful commentary on the Psalms, the earlier mentioned De Controversiis, his contribution to the Roman Catechism, as well as several other minor works.
Saint Robert Bellarmine was naturally gifted with a brilliant mind. What made him a saint is that he devoted himself and every natural ability to the service and glory of God. God took that offering and did great things through him. As we honor this brilliant and holy saint, ponder the importance of offering to God the gifts and talents you have. What are you good at? What are you capable of? No matter what that is, offer yourself to God and commit yourself to becoming a holy instrument for His eternal glory.
Prayer: Saint Robert Bellarmine, God used you for His glory and praise by placing your mind at his service. God used you to articulate His truth in a systematic and practical way that strengthened and unified the Church. Please pray for me, that I will always place my gifts and talents at the service of God so that He will use me to fulfill His perfect will. Saint Robert Bellarmine, pray for me. Jesus, I trust in You.
Unit Leader: Bro. Dave & Sis. Tess Calces
☺Household Leader: Bro. Daniel & Sis. Dome Magno
Members:
-Bro. Joewey & Sis. Mayang Morales
-Bro. Rodel & Sis. Shirly Saludes
-Bro. Emman & Sis. Joan Leonor
☺Household Leader: Bro. Sonny & Sis. Cora Andal
Members:
-Bro. Bernie & Sis. Lorna Faustino
-Bro. Bong & Sis. Lani Mangalus
-Bro. Randy & Sis. Gina Salma
-Bro. Nonie & Sis. Josie Fajilan
☺Household Leader: Bro. Edmund & Sis. Eve Espiritu
Members:
-Bro. Bart & Sis. Kathy Fallaria
-Bro. Dan & Sis. Tess Tolentino
-Bro. Eric & Sis. Lilian Lingal
☺Household Leader: Bro. Rodel & Sis. Mhang Manuel
-Bro. Bong & Sis. Irene Austria
-Bro. Willy & sis. Milly Lathrop
-Bro. Randy & Sis. Jessa Quing-quing
-Bro. Ernie & Sis. Darmie Sojor
☺Household Leader: Bro. Cris & Sis. Nora Pineda
Our Activities:
National Shrine of Saint Jude: Legion of Mary Praesidium
MARIA SPES SINENSIUM Members :
- President: Caroline Gozun
SCOPE OF WORK:
Home to home visitation; taking and updating of the parish census; recruitment and follow up of active and auxiliary members; follow up on marriage validation, baptismal, Holy Communion and confirmation cases; hospital visitation; block rosary; participation in various parish and curia activities.
ABOUT:
The Legion of Mary
The object of the Legion of Mary is the glory of God through the holiness of its members developed by prayer and active co-operation in Mary’s and the Church’s work. The unit of the Legion of Mary is called a praesidium, which holds a weekly meeting, where prayer is intermingled with reports and discussion. Persons who wish to join the Legion must apply for membership in a Praesidium. The Legion sees as its priority the spiritual and social welfare of each individual. The members participate in the life of the parish through visitation of families, the sick, both in their homes and in hospitals and through collaboration in every apostolic and missionary undertaking sponsored by the parish. Every legionary is required to carry out a weekly apostolic work in the spirit of faith and in union with Mary.
The Legion of Mary is a lay apostolic association of Catholics who, with the sanction of the Church and under the powerful leadership of Mary Immaculate, Mediatrix of All Graces, serve the Church and their neighbour on a voluntary basis in about 170 countries. The first meeting of the Legion of Mary took place in Myra House, Francis Street, Dublin, Ireland, on 7 September, 1921. This meeting was to have very beneficial consequences for the mission of the Catholic Church and, in a special way, for millions of members of Christ’s lay faithful who would serve in the Legion and for those who would be served by the legionary apostolate. Many persons outside the Catholic Church would also benefit from that apostolate. With the approval and support of the Popes and a great many Bishops, Priests and Religious, as well as the prayers and efforts of legionaries, the Legion, by the grace of God, has grown into a worldwide organisation with several million members.
Drawing its inspiration from the True Devotion to Mary, as taught by St. Louis Marie de Montfort, and which had a profound influence on the Founder of the Legion, the Servant of God, Frank Duff, the Legion is at the disposal of the Bishops and Priests for use in the mission of the Church. While essentially a lay association, legionaries look for spiritual and apostolic formation to priests and religious, who, as Legion Spiritual Directors, hold an honoured place in the Legion system. The Legion requires ecclesiastical approval to work in a diocese or parish. Loyalty to the Magisterium and to Ecclesiastical Authority is a basic legionary principle. The Legion aims to bring Mary to the world as the infallible means of winning the world to Jesus and legionary service is based on the doctrine of the Mystical Body of Christ so that in their fellow members and in those they serve, legionaries seek to have the Person of our Lord once again seen and served by Mary, his Mother.
The general and essential means by which the Legion of Mary is to effect its object is personal service acting under the influence of the Holy Spirit, having Divine Grace as its moving principle and support, and the glory of God and the salvation of souls as its final end and purpose. Evangelisation, especially the seeking of conversions to the Church, should be a priority for the Legion. Through the visitation of homes and by other means, the Legion must, as a first principle, set out to establish a contact of some sort with every soul everywhere. Seeing and serving Christ in the sick and marginalised is another vital part of the legionary apostolate. While not engaging in the giving of material relief, legionaries will often find opportunities to do works of service for the needy.
The basic unit of the Legion is called a praesidium, which is normally based in a parish. A parish may have more than one praesidium. To be an active legionary it is necessary to apply for membership in a praesidium, which holds a weekly meeting and allocates a weekly apostolic task to the members, who generally work in pairs. After a successful period of probation, members are called to make the Legionary Promise (this is only applicable for members over 18 years) which is directed to the Holy Spirit. Realising the necessity for a strong support of prayer, the Legion has Auxiliary members, who associate themselves with the Legion by undertaking a service of prayer in its name. The administration of the Legion is carried out through its various councils at local, regional and national level. The central council, the Concilium Legionis Mariae, meets monthly in Dublin.
The Cause for Beatification has been introduced for three legionaries: The Servant of God, Frank Duff (1889-1980), Founder of the Legion, who attended the Second Vatican Council as a Lay Observer; Venerable Edel Quinn (1907-1944), Legion Envoy to East Africa; and the Servant of God, Alfie Lambe (1932-1959), Legion Envoy to South America.