Please Welcome New
Center 47 of the Philippines
Universal Archconfraternity of Saint Philomena

I am Edrian J. Meneses, 28 years old, from Valenzuela City - Philippines, Vicariate of Saint Didacus of Alcala - Diocese of Malolos, a member of the Universal Living Rosary Association of Saint Philomena - USA since February 2002, a member of the Apostleship of Prayer - Philippines since June 2012, a member of the World Apostolate of Fatima - Philippines since July 2013, a member of the Universal Archconfraternity of St. Philomena - Italy since March 2014 and a member of the Saint Anna Schaffer Society - Germany since April 2014.

The story of my devotion to Saint Philomena begun in 2001, when one of the parish catechist, Mrs. Ella Enriquez introduced to our parish community a new association promoting the daily recitation of the Holy Rosary for the "Triumph of the Immaculate Heart of Mary and for the Honor Saint Philomena", the Universal Living Rosary Association of Saint Philomena (ULRA). At first, we are hesitant to join this new association because we haven’t heard of such a devotion like this and we don’t even know Saint Philomena. But because Mrs. Enriquez is good in giving talks, we joyfully embraced this devotion of the Most Holy Rosary through the inspiration of Saint Philomena. Since then, Saint Philomena started performing many miracles in our community such as healing of the sick devotees and many other miracles through the pious wearing of her Holy Cord and praying the little crown, the Chaplet. Many are cured not only on their physical sickness but also spiritual. One of the devotees of Saint Philomena, a doctor, Dr. Grace Magdael, experienced the help of the saint when her grandson, an athlete, was miraculously cured of a heart failure. Mrs. Enriquez herself also experienced the powerful intercession of the saint by having cured of a severe back pain when she wore the Holy Cord of the saint around her waist. Me, my sister and my mom, who consecrated ourselves under the patronage of Saint Philomena, also experienced her help in our financial difficulties and money worries, in health issues, problems of the broken heart, special protection against danger and ridding of evil spirits. We did experience her famous ''knock of assurance'' reminding us that she's always beside us and always ready to assist us in our needs. She even visited me in my dreams just to say that she is Philomena, my beloved saint. We are very grateful of our dear little princess and we owe everything to her just like Saint John Mary Vianney. In return, we shared the devotion to the saint not just in our community but also with other people. As a proud devotee, we encouraged our friends and co-parishioners to devote themselves to Saint Philomena to experience her powerful intercession. And as my own little way of promoting the devotion to the saint, I printed out some pictures of her and distributed it with novenas and photocopies of her life story to those who wish to have one. But because of limited budget, I now use Facebook as a media/channel to post information and links regarding the saint, the Universal Archconfraternity of Saint Philomena to all of my Facebook friends consisting of some bishops, priests, nuns, religious and lay brothers and sisters in Christ. Last February 2015, Msgr. Giovanni Braschi and Mrs. Marie Burns appointed me as the Center Representative for the Universal Archconfraternity of Saint Philomena Center 47 - Valenzuela, Philippines. As of now, we are making plans for the launching of the Center here in Valenzuela, that will jumpstart a new devotion to the saint, of course with the blessing of the Rector of the Sanctuary of Saint Philomena in Mugnano del Cardinale-Avellino-Italy, Rev. Msgr. Giovanni Braschi. Our plans will come to reality, of course, with the help of our dear little princess, Saint Philomena.

Saint Philomena is not an extra, but an essential help in these days. She has been sent by God to restore the faith and hope to those most in need. She teaches us the value of purity, the pure following of God’s will, and of suffering. Truly, Saint Philomena was sent by God the Father to help us. God understands that we need her and we need miracles today. Let us pray to Saint Philomena with all confidence and do everything in our power to share her devotion with as many others as possible. May our dear little princess, our patroness, our protectress, our dearest saint, Saint Philomena, the New Light of the Church Militant, help us.

Edrian Jones Meneses
edrianmeneses@yahoo.com

Please Welcome New
Center 47 of the Philippines
Universal Archconfraternity of Saint Philomena
(Philippine language)

Nagsimula ang aking debosyon kay Santa Filomena noong taong 2001, nang ipinakilala ni Gng. Ella Enriquez, isang katekista ng aming parokya, si Santa Filomena sa amin sa pamamagitan ng isang bagong samahan, ang Universal Living Rosary Association of Saint Philomena (ULRA). Ang layon ng bagong samahang ito ay ipalaganap ang palagiang pananalangin ng Santo Rosario sa karangalan ng Kalinis-linisang Puso ni Maria at sa karangalan ni Santa Filomena. Noong una, marami sa amin ang nagdalawang isip na sumali sa bagong samahang ito sa kadahilanang hindi naman ito kilalang samahan at wala ring nakakakilala sa amin noon kay Santa Filomena. Ngunit dahil sa husay magpaliwanag ni Gng. Enriquez, ang lahat ay nagkainteres at isa-isang sumali sa samahan. Simula noon, unti-unti ng nakilala si Santa Filomena sa aming parokya at nagsimula na rin siyang tumulong sa kanyang mga bagong deboto sa pamamagitan ng paggawa ng maraming mga milagro. Marami sa mga bagong deboto ang gumaling sa kanilang mga sakit sa pamamagitan lamang ng pagsuot ng ''Holy Cord'' ni Santa Filomena. Ngunit higit sa kagalingang pisikal, ang mga deboto ay gumaling rin sa ispiritwal na aspeto, marami ang nagsisi sa kanilang mga pagkakasala at tunay na nagbalik loob sa Diyos. Isa sa mga kilalang deboto ni Santa Filomena sa aming parokya ay isang doktor, si Dra. Grace Magdael. Ang kanyang apo ay may malubhang karamdaman at kailangang maoperahan, ngunit dahil sa tulong ni Santa Filomena, na tunay ngang isang malaking milagro, napagtagumpayan ng kanyang apo ang karamdamang ito. Si Gng. Enriquez ay nakaranas rin ng tulong ni Santa Filomena, nang gumaling ang sobrang pananakit ng kanyang likod sa pamamagitan lamang ng pagsuot niya ng ''Holy Cord'' ni Santa Filomena. Ang aking pamilya, tulad nila, ay nakaranas rin ng mapaghimalang tulong ni Santa Filomena. Simula noong itinalaga namin ang aming pamilya sa kanyang pangangalaga, bumuhos na ang kanyang tulong sa bawat problema na aming hinaharap sa araw-araw tulad ng problema sa pera, mga karamdaman, at pati na rin sa panggugulo ng mga masasamang ispiritu. Madalas rin naming maranasan ang kanyang ''Knock of Assurance'', isang tanda na nagpapahayag na nariyan lamang siya at di niya kami pinababayaan. Minsan na rin niya akong dinalaw sa aking panaginip para lamang magpakilala na siya nga si Santa Filomena, ang aking pinakamamahal na santa. Ang lahat ng ito ay utang na loob namin kay Santa Filomena, at tulad ng personal na paniniwala ni San Juan Maria Vianney, si Santa Filomena rin ang nagsilbing daan namin patungo kay Maria at kay Hesus. At bilang pasasalamat namin sa kanya, ipinakilala namin ang debosyon kay Santa Filomena di lamang dito sa aming parokya kundi pati na rin sa iba pa naming mga kaibigan sa pamamagitan ng pagpapamahagi ng mga larawan, dasalan at kwento ng buhay ni Santa Filomena sa lahat ng mga nagnanais magdebosyon sa kanya. Gumawa rin ako ng isang facebook fan-page sa karangalan ni Santa Filomena para mas maipakilala ang debosyon sa kanya at maipalaganap ang Universal Archconfraternity of Saint Philomena sa mga kaibigan ko na binubuo ng ilang mga obispo, mga pari, mga madre at mga seminarista. Noong nakaraang Pebrero ng taong ito, isang karangalan ang ibinigay sa akin ni Msgr. Giovanni Braschi at ni Gng. Marie Burns nang itinalaga nila ako bilang Center Representative - Center 47 ng Universal Archconfraternity of Saint Philomena, ang pinakamalaking samahan ng mga deboto ni Santa Filomena para sa Lungsod ng Valenzuela sa Pilipinas. Sa ngayon, pinagpaplanuhan na namin ang paglulunsad ng Center 47 - Valenzuela ayon na rin sa mga direktibo na ibinigay ni Msgr. Giovanni Braschi, Rektor ng Santuario Santa Filomena - Mugnano del Cardinale, Avellino, Italy. Ang lahat ng ito ay matutupad sa tulong na rin ni Santa Filomena, ang pinakamamahal nating santa.

Edrian Jones Meneses
edrianmeneses@yahoo.com 

Support the Sanctuary of Saint Philomena

The Sanctuary of Saint Philomena is not a parish Church. We do not have parishioners who support this place of worship on a weekly basis. We are completely dependent on the love and generosity of you, the world-wide devotees, to keep the doors of the earthly home of Saint Philomena open.

We pray at the Sanctuary for the devotees of Saint Philomena to recognize and provide the means to pay our monthly utilities of gas and electricity. We also pray for the means to install a lift at the Sanctuary to enable physically challenged pilgrims to experience the entire home of their beloved Saint.

In order to ensure the Sanctuary is able to keep our doors open to you and to continue to offer God continual praise and to be the focal point through which our prayers are received by Saint Philomena and interceded for before God at the Sanctuary, you may donate in the following ways:

1. Direct to the Sanctuary:
   1. By personal check payable to the "Sanctuary of Saint Philomena." For security reasons, please send your donation through registered or express mail to the Sanctuary's address at the bottom of this newsletter.
   2. Online - Go to our Support Page, Click Here
   3. By bank transfer to the Sanctuary’s Bank account: SANTUARIO SANTA FILOMENA, BANCA UNICREDIT MUGNANO DEL CARDINALE (30525), BANK ACCOUNT: n° 000400102946, SWIFT CODE: UNCRITM1E94, IBAN: IT18D0200875790000400102946
2. U.S.A. Tax-Deductible Donations may be sent to the new non-profit set up in the United States:
   1. Online - Go to our Support Page, Click Here
   2. Postal mail donations can be made to: Saint Philomena Sanctuary Support Fund, Inc. P.O. Box 4114 Bergheim, Texas 78004, U.S.A.
3. ShopPhilomena.com