HomeNewsImage of St Josemaria in Our Lady of Guadalupe Chapel, DECA Homes, Marilao, Bulacan, Philippines
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Image of St Josemaria in Our Lady of Guadalupe Chapel, DECA Homes, Marilao, Bulacan, Philippines

May 13, 2008

Tags: Pictures and statues of St Josemaria Escriva
On the 7th of July 2007, a Mass in honor of St. Josemaria was held in the newly constructed chapel dedicated to Our Lady of Guadalupe inside the DECA Homes subdivision in Marilao Bulacan, an hour’s drive from the capital of the Philippines.

DECA Homes is an 11-phase low cost housing project undertaken by CERES Homes Incorporated. While being definitely a business venture, the project proponents were clear about the idea of corporate social responsibility. Hence, they sought not only to provide the buyers –mostly coming from low-income groups- with a roof over their heads but also an environment that will contribute to their family’s total development as persons. This included plans to build a chapel within the subdivision to facilitate access to the Sacraments for the majority who are Catholics, a new 3-storey building for donation to the public school already existing adjacent to the housing site, a commercial center and a public market where the homeowners who wish to, can sell their goods.

The Board of Directores of CERES Homes Inc. decided that the chapel be dedicated to Our Lady of Guadalupe to whom many have devotion. Then, the suggestion to place an image of St. Josemaria to spread the devotion to him followed. It couldn’t be more fitting that St. Josemaria, who preached about the value of ordinary work, found a place in the chapel of a subdivision where many members of the labor force in the metropolis live. Moreover, it is well-known that the Saint had a deep and tender devotion to the Virgin especially to the Guadalupana.

Upon request, the Vicar of Opus Dei in the Philippines gladly furnished a relic of St. Josemaria Escriva, ex ossibus. With a lot love and care, his image was placed on the front left part of the Chapel and before it, the relic mounted on a silver reliquary, encased in beautiful pink marble. Prayer cards were left nearby for the people to get as needed.

Slowly, devotion to him is seen to be growing. Proof of this is the procession held on the occasion of Our Lady of Guadalupe’s feast, 12 December 2007. Together with parading the image of the Virgin, the parishioners decided to include that of St. Josemaria as well.