After three years of a break, due to the pandemic COVID-19, the yearly celebration of SCJ Memorial Day with Benefactors in the Dehon House Community in Manila has resumed. This year it was held on November 25th at 6:00 PM. As usual, it started with the concelebrated Holy Eucharist headed by Fr. Francis Pupkowski, SCJ, in charge of the fundraising project. In his homily Fr. Francis presented the different modes or colors of martyrdom in the historical and modern context with its challenges.

According to Pope Francis: Martyrs are “the witnesses who carry forward the Church; those who witness to the fact that Jesus is risen, that Jesus is alive, who witness to Him with coherent lives and with the strength of the Holy Spirit they have received as a gift”.

Martyrdom is not just something that happened a long, long time ago and that we celebrate on remote feast days in the middle of the week. Martyrdom is something we live in our very bodies and in our hearts. Martyrdom – white or red, is our chance to be witnesses for Jesus – our opportunity to testify to His truth.

Martyrdom – white or red, is our chance to be witnesses for Jesus – our opportunity to testify to His truth. And if we have to offer up our bodies as the guarantee of our belief – then that is our sure path to heaven.

We don’t know if we will be called to die for the Faith and that is OK. All that matters is living daily the vocation God has given us and loving Him above all else. We need to be prepared.

The Holy Eucharist was followed by a common supper with a short video clip about the SCJ Martyrs, who had died in the field of the service for the Lord.

The celebration was attended by some benefactors from nearby places, especially Quezon and Mandaluyong City.