Mass for Lorenzo Ruiz at the Santa Maria Catholic Church in Orinda, CA

Yesterday, Sunday, October 6, I was invited by my next door neighbor, Dorothy Mussey💚, to attend mass and celebration of the feast day of Saint Lorenzo Ruiz at the Santa Maria Catholic Church in Orinda, Ca.  Dorothy mentioned a special choir of Filipino-American musicians will be singing at the mass. At the end of the mass there will be sala-salo of Pinoy Dishes. 

Without hesitation an opportunity to attend mass in person and taste Pancit, and Lumpia again, I accepted the invitation with lots of excitement.  The afternoon of Mass and Pinoy Food exceeded my expectation. Another item that I did not expect was the news that Dorothy knows the Ibabao Family in Orinda💜- our Compadre/Comare in the early 1980's when we were still Resident of Pinole, Ca. The news about Dr. Lilia Ibabao💚💙 and son Greg/ however was sad and not worthy of writing of what Dorothy knows of the current living situation of my Comare Lilia and only son- Greg. Dr Tino Ibabao passed away in 2021.  The Ibabaos were the witness/'sponsor of my late son confirmation, thus the term Compadre/Comare.    

💜https://theorindanews.com/2021/10/26/long-time-orinda-resident-passes-away-at-age-98/

💚💙https://theorindanews.com/2022/05/26/lilia-ibabao-celebrates-95th-birthday-at-santa-maria-church/

santa maria catholic church orinda

I took photos of the occasion as follows:     

So who is Lorenzo Ruiz? -Here's what Wikipedia says:   

Lorenzo Ruiz (Filipino: Lorenzo Ruiz ng Maynila; Chinese: 李樂倫; Spanish: Lorenzo Ruiz de Manila; November 28, 1594 – September 29, 1637), also called Saint Lorenzo of Manila, was a Filipino Catholic layman and a member of the Third Order of Saint Dominic. A Chinese Filipino, he became his country's protomartyr after his execution in Japan by the Tokugawa shogunate during its persecution of Japanese Christians in the 17th century. Lorenzo Ruiz is the patron saint of, among others, the Philippines and the Filipino people. He is the first Filipino Saint. 

Lorenzo was canonised by Pope John Paul II on October 18, 1987, among the 16 Martyrs of Japan, making him the first Filipino saint. Ruiz' canonization was supported by a miracle in October 1983, when Cecilia Alegria Policarpio of Calinog, Iloilo, was cured of brain atrophy (hydrocephalus) at the age of two, after her family and supporters prayed to Lorenzo for his intercession. She was diagnosed with the condition shortly after birth and was treated at University of the East Ramon Magsaysay Memorial Medical Center.

Thank you Dorothy for the invitation and for an exhilarating/adventurous afternoon both in mind and spirit (mass) as well as body and my stomach ( Pancit and Lumpia). It is an experience I will always remember.  The Pancit and Lumpia reminded me of the hundreds of Salo-Salo I have attended prior to my move to THD. Besides the lumpia and Pancit, there was cassava cake and sticky rice cake (suman) for dessert.   

💚Dorothy just moved to THD about 3 weeks ago. She used to sing in the Choir at Santa Maria Church.   She is selling her house in Walnut Creek and have 4 offers today. Good Luck Dorothy in your House Sale and May your stay Here at THD a Happy One. Again welcome, Neighbor! I hope Batman and Robin do not bother you with their daily outings in our adjoining patio.