Eucharistic Celebration of the Company of St. Dominic

 September 8, 2009
Nativity of Mary

Last September 8, 2009, Feast of the Nativity of Mary, the members of the Company of Saint Dominic (a newly established institute of consecrated seculars in the Archdiocese of Manila) offered a Thanksgiving Mass for the permission granted them by His Eminence Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales to establish their community at Sta. Catalina Convent in Legarda, Manila. They chose the date September 8 to underscore the strictly Marian character of the institute.
His Excellency Teodoro C. Bacani, the main celebrant of the Thanksgiving Mass

The Holy Sacrifice of the Mass was presided by the Most Rev. Teodoro C. Bacani, D.D. as the main celebrant. Bishop Bacani read the permission granted by the Archbishop of Manila and gave a very beautiful homily linking the birth of Mary with the birth of the Company of St. Dominic.
Bishop Bacani reads the framed permission from the Archbishop of Manila

The Thanksgiving Mass was concelebrated by Rev. Fr. Quirico Pedregoza,OP (Father Provincial of the Philippine Dominican Province) who led the Act of Consecration to Maria by the members of the Company of St. Dominic; Rev. Fr. George Moreno, OP, parish priest of Sto. Domingo; Rev. Fr. Pedro Taquena, OP, father confessor of the CSD; Rev. Fr. Wency Serafica, assistant parish priest of Nuestra Senora de Guia Parish in Ermita;and others.
Bishop Ted Bacani with Bro. Mars Llasos

The Thanksgiving Mass was well attended by the members of the Dominican Family, especially the Dominican sisters from various congregations. The Company of St. Dominic is under the spiritual care of the OP-Siena sisters. Hence, it's Mother Prioress, Mother Teresa Examen, OP was in attendance together with the rest of the OP-Siena sisters.
The Thanksgiving Mass, while a Dominican affair, was attended by a son of Our Holy Father St. Francis of Assisi. In photo is Friar Andrew, OFM together with Bro. Harold, his dear friend from the Company of St. Dominic

A sumptuous agape followed after the Mass. Despite the meager resources of the newly-formed secular institute, the food turned out to be surprisingly if not miraculously plenty. Like the wedding at Cana, I believe that the powerful intercession of the Blessed Mother before her dear Son made the "miracle" possible.

Friar Andrew, OFM and Bro. Mars Llasos. Bro. Mars earlier recieved his Franciscan formation from the Secular Franciscan Order - St. Peter Bautista Fraternity
Rev. Fr. Pedro Traqueña, OP, father confessor of the CSD, blessed the rosary of Bro. Marwil and granted it the Dominican indulgence.

 Source: http://bromarwilnllasos.blogspot.com