​ONE HUNDRED TWENTY THIRD BIRTHDAY OF THE SERVANT OF GOD ALFREDO MA. OBVIAR WAS CELEBRATED

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August 29, 2012, the 123rd birthday of the Servant of God Alfredo Ma. Obviar was celebrated at the MCST Compound in Tayabas City.  It was attended by almost 2,000 Maka-Obviar members and non-members particularly from the 5 dioceses and one Prelature, namely,  Archdiocese of Lipa. Diocese of San Pablo, Diocese of Lucena, Diocese of Gumaca,  Diocese of Boac, and  Prelature of Infanta.  The theme of the celebration was,  “Pagsulong kasama ng Lingkod ng Diyos Alfredo Ma. Obviar Patungo sa Makabagong Ebanghelisasyon.” (Onward together with the Servant of God Alfredo Ma. Obviar towards the New Evangelization.) 

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It was a colorful day since every diocese had its own color coding to distinguish the delegates from other delegates.  Many of the delegates were members of the Maka-Obviar Association.



​This association started from the Archdiocese of Lipa in which the members in particular were the immediate members of the family of Bishop Obviar, relatives, friends, provincemates, of all ranks. His Eminence Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales, the Cardinal Emeritus of Manila himself initiated this movement in his province in Batangas.  When the cause was formally opened in the Diocese of Lucena where the Servant of God, Alfredo Ma. Obviar had served first as administrator and later became the residential bishop until he died on October 1, 1978, on the feastday of St. Therese from whom he named the Congregation he founded as Missionary Catechists of St. Therese of the Infant Jesus.(MCST) The membership of the Maka-Obviar Association is no longer limited to the Batanguenos only but was extended to everybody who is willing to know  who Bishop Obviar was, to imitate his life and virtues, those who are willing to pray, to support and promote his cause.  There are members all over the country and abroad. We have in the United States of America, and in Europe through the initiative of the  MCST Sisters.  Very active of these members in Europe are from Milano, Italy where they have regular meetings and seminars, symposia and other activities organized  by the MCST sisters assigned in Italy.



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The main celebrant at the Holy Eucahrist during the last August 29 was His Eminence, Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales, concelebrated by Most Archbishop Ramon Arguelles, of the Archdiocese of Lipa, Most Rev. Bishop Salvador Quizon, of Lipa, Most Rev. Emilio Marquez, of the Diocese of Lucena,  Most Rev. Ben Famadico of the Diocese of Gumaca, Most Rev. Bishop Reynaldo Evangelista of the Diocese of Boac, Marinduque and several priests particularly from the Archdiocese of Lipa.  In his homily, the Cardinal gave stress on  Bishop Obviar’s life of prayer, his perseverance and his deep love for Jesus in the Eucharist in which the Servant of God Alfredo Ma. Obviar had practiced in his  whole life, comparing with the perseverance of St. Monica in her prayer for the conversion of his son Augustine who was not only converted to the Catholic Faith but became a priest, a bishop and finally became a Saint Augustine, an eloquent preacher and a doctor of the Church.  The vision to reach the people in the remote areas who have no one to bring them the Word of God moved Bishop Obviar  to found a Congregation who could devote themselves in catechizing the children, the youth and the adults.  And through his perseverance in prayer his dream came true when the Congregation he founded on August 12, 1958,  became a Pontifical Institute.    And upon receiving the approval from Rome, he was able to say, “Now I can already die.”  But God had given him more years to live to see the growing of the Instritute he founded.



Every year, the organized Maka-Obviar Assocciation from the mentioned Archdiocese, Diocese and Prelature gather at the MCST Compound in Tayabas City Philippines, to participate in the celebration of the Birthday of the Servant of God Alfredo Ma. Obviar and to pray especially for his immediate beatification and also to ask for his prayer and intercession.  After the celebration of the Holy Euccharist,  was the partaking of the simple food prepared by the MCST Sisters.