The Archdiocesan Shrine and Parish of San Nicolas de Tolentino in C. Padilla St., Cebu City celebrates today its 441st Annual Fiesta in honor of San Nicolas de Tolentino.
Rev. Msgr. Rogelio “Roger” Fuentes, PC, one of the Vicars General of Cebu, led the celebration of the Holy Eucharist.
Also present were the Team of Pastors of the parish: Rev. Fr. Eduardo Ventic (Moderator), Rev. Fr. Silvino Figues, Jr., Rev. Fr. Revocato Romarate, Rev. Fr. Ruben Endona, Rev. Fr. Sherwin Ferrater, and Rev. Fr. Neil Cortes, together with His Excellency, Most Rev. Osvaldo Padilla, former Apostolic Nuncio to Korea, along with more than sixty concelebrating priests.
In his homily, Msgr. Roger highlighted the common thread among the saints of the past, today, and the “saints next door.” He emphasized that saints such as San Nicolas de Tolentino, as well as modern witnesses of holiness like St. Pier Giorgio Frassati and St. Carlo Acutis, all began with simple lives yet were deeply rooted in the sacraments, service, and joy. God exalted their humility and holiness, raising them to sainthood. This same disposition, he added, is manifested by every “saint next door”—ordinary people who, in the midst of daily life, strive to live with extraordinary holiness.
He continued by saying that these “saints next door” are those individuals in the parish who have always been actively serving and generously giving themselves in the service of the Church and of God.