Praise the Lord! We made it again, and we made it the biggest attendance and most joyful so far.

Ruben, my Brothers and Sisters in AFC, and all the leaders and representatives of Fil-Am Organizations who supported the 2014 Filipino Saints Fiesta Celebration: On behalf of all the Filipino priests working in the Archdiocese of Baltimore, I wish to thank you so much for your generous sacrifices to make our 2014 Filipino Saints Fiesta Celebration an awesome success. Words by priests and the Archbishop and the new Director of Office of Worship were all so positive and commending of your display of good energy, faithfulness to the Church, and joyfulness to serving the Lord.

All the attendees were so pleased with all the preparations we have done. The overall quality of the celebration is awesome – organized, smooth, and well attended. Everyone prayed well, is happy and well-fed. As I have written my desire in the souvenir program, ‘as Filipinos in this Archdiocese, our first YES is to promote our devotion to these two Saints among our families and friends.

When we have done this, we can spread the spirit of the two Filipino Saints to other places. Confident that we have the support and encouragement of the Archbishop and priests of the Archdiocese of Baltimore, we can always make this Fiesta Celebration, honoring San Lorenzo Ruiz and San Pedro Calungsod, a fruitful spiritual gathering of all devotees, Fil-Am families, Fil-Am organizations, and friends of Filipinos.

WE DID IT AGAIN, and THIS TIME, MUCH BETTER! Because of what you have done. I thank and commend you especially ALL CURRENT OFFICERS OF AFC, ALL LEADERS OF FILIPINO ORGANIZATIONS, AND REPRESENTATIVES OF ALL FIL-AMERICAN ORGANIZATIONS FROM VARIOUS PARISHES OF AOB, who are “Mission Partners” of the AFC.

I pray that through the intercession of St. Lorenzo Ruiz and San Pedro Calungsod, God will bless all of you and your families a hundredfold.

My friends, we are always blessed by God! Let us be grateful and generous! Nothing can stop us to realize our vision and mission, because God, who is gracious and merciful, is with us. “In God alone is our strength.”

LET US CONTINUE HELPING EACH OTHER SUCCEED!

Yours in Christ,

FR. Pete