When in France, visit 3 places where Pinoys gather

Where in France could Filipinos often be seen? There are at least three areas in that country in Western Europe where Pinoys gather, and all of them are places of worship – the St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, the Chapelle Sainte Bernadette d’Auteuil, and the American Church in Paris. The St. Joseph’s Catholic Church located at 50 Avenue Hoche, 75008 Paris, is one of the few churches in France where Mass is said in English. According to the church’s Web site, St Joseph is a “well-established church playing a vital role in the spiritual life of the city's English-speaking Christian community." Saying Mass in English at St Joseph was a product of a long struggle, dating back to 1863 when an English priest, Fr J.S. Rogerson, tirelessly looked for priests to minister the growing population of English-speaking Ramon Catholics in Paris. However, despite getting promises from government and church hierarchies, Rogerson failed to have the priests he was asking for. It was Fr Ignatius Poli, who would later become the Archbishop of Bucharest, who made Rogerson’s dream come true. His request was granted when three priests of the Congregation of the Passion were sent to Paris to build an English-speaking church there. In June 1869, during the feast of saints Peter and Paul, St. Joseph’s Church was consecrated. Today, the church serves not only as a place of worship, but also an area where Filipinos meet and share stories. According to the Association of Euro-Pinoy, the church organizes many activities that are well-attended by Pinoys. The group says that after the 6:30 p.m. Mass every Sunday, a small palengke (market) is set up near the church, where Filipino delicacies such as puto and bibingka (rice cakes), chicharon (deep-fry pork skin), and pritong bangus (fried milkfish) are sold. If you want to hear Mass the way it is being done in the Philippines, go to the Chapelle Sainte Bernadette d’Auteuil. The name of the place may be hard to pronounce, but Masses there are said in Tagalog every Sunday. The church is located at 4 rue d’Auteuil, which is also in Paris. The Association of Euro-Pinoy says there is also a palengke in the church that sells Filipino goods. Finally, the American Church in Paris located at 65 Quai d'Orsay, 75007, is where Filipino worshippers could also be seen. Child care is being offered at the church during its 11 a.m. service. The church says it “is an interdenominational gathering of the Church from all nations" where “many cultures, races, and denominational backgrounds come together to express their unity of faith in Christ in the midst of their cultural diversities." Data from the Philippines' National Statistics Office showed that from 1995 to 2004, the government had deployed to France an average of 3,100 overseas Filipino workers yearly or 2,000 male and 1,100 female OFWs. - ARCS, GMANews.TV