Ancient rites at the palace

Ancient liturgical rites at the Archbishop’s Palace invested William Legaspi Olalia with the title "Knight of Magistral Grace", and Teresita Tambuting Liboro, Mercedes Arrastia Tuason and Lena Vera Dualan each with the title "Dame of Magistral Grace".

The high point of the ceremonies, at which Leocadio de Asis, Grand Cross of Magistral Grace and president of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta (local chapter) officiated, was the awarding of the Merito Melitense Honors, specifically the Gold Medal, to religious and civic leader Beatriz Zobel de Ayala, and the Grand Cross of the Order to Luis Ramon Quimson, Knight of Magistral Grace and Hospitaller.

The Order goes back to 1050 in the ancient Republics of Amalfi and Egypt. Its origin here dates back to the arrival of Magellan in 1521. Before World War II, Paulino Miranda Sampedro, a Spaniard who held the title of Knight, organized a delegation of the Order in 1948; in 1965, Chief Justice Manuel Moran acted as the association’s first president.

The 900-year-old Order was founded by Blessed Gerard to alleviate the plight of the poor and the sick.

Membership in the Order, a rare honor, is merited by dedication to humanitarian endeavors. For instance, Bea Zobel de Ayala’s long years of charitable work includes that among the lepers.

An official bulletin of Teresita T. Liboro’s philanthrophy reads thus: "She supervised the building of a 1,000-capacity church which her late mother Aurora and late brother Ramon donated to the depressed area of Bagong Silang, Phase 7, Caloocan on October 30, 1998.

"She donated two pavilions to the Elsie Gaches Village for 100 handicapped children on June 29, 2001. Together with her brothers Jose and the late Ramon Tambuting, she donated the Tambunting Hall on the 4th floor of the National Museum in Agrifina Circle."

Before the ancient liturgical rites began, Socrates B. Villegas, Auxiliary Bishop of Manila and Magistral Chaplain, SMOM said mass and delivered a most edifying homily.

Mission In The Mountains

Since Maryknoll priest Fr. Francis Schexnayder was assigned to the Catholic Mission in the mountains of Yuanli, Taiwan, over 20 years ago, he has become a dynamic spiritual force and a beloved figure to his parishioners to whom he speaks in fluent Chinese. How the children adore him!

With unswerving dedication, Fr. Francis has raised funds, almost single-handedly, for the building of a church and several mission schools. To continue their funding, New Orleans Chef John Folse will prepare a gourmet menu for the 16th consecutive benefit dinner at the Chateau Golf and Country Club of Al and Rita Swanner on Sunday Oct. 5. The dinner, of course, has been Fr. Francis’s idea all along. Please respond to his invitation by calling either Lorie Willie in Balon Rouge at (225) 751-1882 or Fr. Francis’s brother John at (504) 468-3601.

Fr. Francis always ends his letters to this Table Talker with "I’m feeling just super." With his noble, selfless mission, why shouldn’t he?