Pinoys mark Blessed Pedro Calungsod feast day in Australia

Filipinos in Sydney, Australia marked with a celebration of the Holy Mass on March 31 the feast day of Blessed Pedro Calungsod, who is expected to become this year the second Filipino saint. According to a news release of the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Sunday, the Mass was held at the Mary Mother of the Church in Macquarie Fields in New South Wales. The Mass was presided over by Fathers Marlon Maylon, Bernard Espiritu, and Michael Knight.   "In his homily, Father Espiritu recounted the saintly qualities of Blessed Pedro Calungsod, a source of inspiration to many Filipinos, especially the youth of today. He also noted the strong Christian faith and tradition which migrant Filipino communities manifest to the advantage of many parishes overseas," the DFA said. Philippine Consul General Anne Louis urged the officers and members of the Blessed Pedro Calungsod Association to continue "sowing seeds" of peace and harmony among Filipinos and the local community.   During the Mass, a tribute was given to the late Rosa Taboada, a Filipino migrant from Bohol who founded in 2006 the annual celebration of Blessed Pedro Calungsod's feast day at the Mary Mother of the Church parish.   Her legacy was carried on by the officers, members and supporters of the Blessed Pedro Calungsod Association led by its president, Pikes Garcia.   Garcia told members of the Filipino and Australian communities the Association will also host activities to mark the canonization of Calungsod in Rome on October 21.   Calungsod was doing missionary work in Guam in 1672 when he was killed at age 17. He was beatified on March 5, 2000, by the late Pope John Paul II, who was himself beatified on May 1 last year.   At the time of his martyrdom, Calungsod was a companion of Blessed Diego Luis de San Vitores to the Marianas Islands.   The two were caught and killed after baptizing an infant and mother who converted to the Catholic faith. - VVP, GMA News