QUEZON CITY – In celebration of the 70th year of foundation of St. Joseph Shrine, a Eucharistic celebration was led by the Archbishop of Manila, His Eminence Jose Cardinal Advincula, last November 23, 2021.
For seventy years, the St. Joseph Shrine stood as a shining reminder of God’s presence amidst the busy streets of Aurora Boulevard. As the universal Church dedicated this year as the Year of St. Joseph and the 500th Year of Christianity in the country, the theme of the celebration was rightly captioned as: “Pitong Dekada ng Parokya, Biniyayaan para Maging Biyaya.”
After Manila was ravaged by World War II, thousands of Manila residents and government workers have been relocated to the Housing Project in a district of the newly-established Quezon City. It was in 1951, through the leadership of Rev. Fr. Jose Sunga, who spearheaded the creation of the chapel which will later become as an important shrine for the residents, workers, and commuters around the area of Projects 2 & 3 of Quezon City.
The good Cardinal highlighted the importance of reliving the virtues of St. Joseph in our earthly pilgrimage. In the life of St. Joseph, he has always listened to the voice of God through the angel: “Paligiang nakinig at nagtiwala si Jose sa plano ng Diyos… at dahil sa pagtitiwala ni Jose sa plano ng Diyos ay natupad ang isang mas magandang plano ng Diyos. Kaya ba nating magtiwala sa Diyos nang katulad ni Jose?” Cardinal Advincula emphasized.
Cardinal Advincula also posed a challenge to remedy a world that is suffering with father hunger. “May mga anak na gutom sa pagmamahal sa kanilang mga ama, may mga taong pinagkatiwalaan pero inabuso ang tiwala ng mga maliliit,” he narrated.
With this present reality, Cardinal Advincula suggested that in imitating St. Joseph, we can address this father hunger phenomenon. He continued by saying: “There can be healing by imitating St. Joseph–someone who always listens and who can sacrifice all for his love for the beloved. Baunin natin at tularan ang halimbawa ni San Jose.”
In his thanksgiving message, the Shrine Rector, Rev. Fr. Ronald Macale, thanked everyone who helped in the realization of the celebration of the 70th foundation anniversary.
In a special way, he also thanked the priests of the Society of the Divine Word (SVD), represented by Rev. Fr. Randy Flores, SVD, who were the first missionaries to administer the sacraments when the shrine was still a chapel.
Moreover, Fr. Macale mentioned that St. Joseph Shrine was the first Church established in Quezon City that was dedicated under the patronage of St. Joseph.
The Mass was concelebrated by the Bishop of Cubao, Most Rev. Honesto Ongtioco, the Shrine Rector and Parish Priest, Rev. Fr. Ronald Macale, and with twelve priests both from the Archdiocese of Manila and the Diocese of Cubao.