- May 1, 2024
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The San Lorenzo Ruiz de Manila Devotees of Palm Coast presented a benefit concert, “A Magical Night of Unchained Melodies,” Friday, Sept. 30, at Santa Maria del Mar Catholic Church.
The concert was held in honor of San Lorenzo Ruiz, the first and only Filipino saint.
Ruiz was canonized Oct. 28, 1987. The Rev. John Reynolds, of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church, wrote a letter giving an account of the day, when Pope John Paul II said: “The Lord gives us saints at the right time, and God waited 350 years to give us this saint. It is the heroism, which he demonstrated as a lay witness to the faith, which is very important in today’s world. The witness of San Lorenzo is the testimony we need of courage without measure to show us that it is possible.
“Faith and life for Lorenzo was synonymous and inseparable. Life without faith would have been without value. He proved that sanctity and heroism are there for anybody and the final victory is made to size for each one of us.”
The concert featured music by Em Dinopol, Tim Rippey, the Doug Carn Quartet, and the Dinggin Choir, with the Rev. Al Esposito on the violin, and Trey de Leon and Ciara de Leon on the piano.
Dinggin is a Filipino choral group formed as a nonprofit organization in 1996 with a goal of promoting cultural appreciation and spiritual enlightenment through music.
At the concert, Esposito gave an invocation, in which he praised the Filipinos for being soul mates of Southern Italians, for their passionate love of God, devotion to Mary, being rooted in their families — and for loving good food.
Parochial Vicars the Rev. Peter Akin-Otiko and the Rev. Anthony Bonela were also in attendance.
— Send religion notes and pictures to Shanna Fortier at [email protected].
