MANILA, Philippines–Show special concern for the poor and the sick, Rev. Fr. Ferdinand T. Hernando, founder-steward of the Missionaries of the Beatitudes, said Saturday.
In an exclusive interview in Quezon City, Hernando said that the faithful should emulate St. Ezekiel Moreno, patron of cancer patients, who, he said “selflessly dedicated himself to them by giving them his time” anytime of the day.
Hernando, also a healing priest, has been active in promoting the devotion to St. Ezekiel Moreno since 2006. He recalled that from May 1 to June 9, 2006, he launched a 40-day nationwide healing mass caravan in 35 cities in the Philippines and promoted the devotion.
“It was a miracle that we finished the caravan for 40 days. A week before the event, kailangan namin ng P3 million to P5 million budget para sa caravan. But we have only raised P180,000. Saan namin kukunin ang pera. Pero God works in mysterious ways. Through donations and fund-raising activities, we completed the caravan. Would you believe that we started with P180,000 and after one-month, ang natira sa amin ay P180,000 pa rin? If you will work for God, God will work for you!” said Hernando, who has cured a cancer patient and other diseases healing.
Hernando added that his missionary has chosen St. Ezekiel Moreno as the Patron Saint of the Missionaries of the Beatitudes in acknowledgment of his dedication to the poor and the sick. The missionary was founded on Dec. 8, 2007 after he left the Order of Augustinian Recollects to establish a community of priests and brothers dedicated to healing and renewal.
“The Missionaries of the Beatitudes, also known as Ezekielians is a public, clerical pious association of priests and brothers dedicated to healing and renewal, serving the poor and the sick,” said Hernando, also known as Fr. Soy.
St. Ezekiel Moreno was born in La Rioja, Spain on April 9, 1848. At the age of 17, he professed his religious vows in the Order of Augustinian Recollects in the convent of Monteagudo, Navarre, Spain in 1865.
Moreno was ordained to the priesthood in Intramuros, Manila on June 2, 1871. He was later assigned to the mission center of Calapan, Mindoro. He also served in the Recollect churches in Las Piñas (1876-1879), Sto. Tomas, Batangas (1879-1880), Intramuros (1880-1882) and in the Recollect farm house in Imus, Cavite (1882-18885).
Moreno’s Feast Day is on August 19. He died of cancer of the palate that affected his throat, nose, ears, and eyes. He was beatified by Pope Paul VI on Nov. 1, 1975 and canonization by John Paul II on October 11, 1992. Moreno became a special patron of cancer patients after several cures of cancer have been attributed to him.
MANILA BULLETIN
June 4, 2011, 9:45pm
