Statue of the Catholic patron saint of the Philippines unveiled at Staten Island church

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — The San Lorenzo Ruiz Association of America, Inc. (SLRAA), Staten Island Chapter, celebrated its 36th annual Canonization Mass followed by the unveiling and dedication of an original San Lorenzo Ruiz de Manila statue at Holy Rosary Church in South Beach.

Interestingly, Saint Lorenzo Ruiz is the first Filipino venerated in the Roman Catholic Church. Of Chinese-Filipino parentage, he became the country’s martyr after his execution during its persecution of Japanese Christians in the 17th century.

In addition, Saint Lorenzo Ruiz is the patron saint of Filipino youth, the Philippines, people working overseas, and of altar servers. His feast day is marked on Sept. 28.

THE MASS

A total of 62 members and friends of the chapter — who are grateful to have found a welcoming home for the statue — attended the Mass concelebrated by Rev. Deo Lingao, who is in residence at St. Christopher’s Parish, and Rev. Michael Arphudpam, pastoral chaplain at Richmond University Medical Center in West Brighton.

Father Lingao, spiritual director of the SLRAA, led the group to the Prayer Garden at Holy Rosary R.C. Church, where, with the approval of Rev. Michael Martine, pastor of the South Beach Church, the Statue of San Lorenzo Ruiz was installed and draped with a white cloth.

Prayers were recited as the statue was formally unveiled, and Father Lingao dedicated and blessed the statue.

Officers of SLRAA, Father Lingao, Dr. Maria Paz Duaban, Digno Duaban, Edna Besabe, Evelyn Basa and Fred Fajardo, with assistance from Dennis A. Brown, designed and commissioned the San Lorenzo Ruiz statue and solicited bids for its manufacture on July 20, 2022. The statue arrived at the Port of New York a year later on July 23, 2023.

Brian W. Hall of Joseph G. Hall & Sons Monuments in Pleasant Plains, transported the statue from the warehouse in North…