San Lorenzo Ruiz Community
HISTORY OF SAN LORENZO RUIZ DE MANILA
San Lorenzo Ruiz Community in Jerusalem, Israel organize masses, spiritual events, community programs and activities to promote values and spiritual support. Being aware of the gift of faith, striving to be a Christ-
centered and prayerful community with servants' heart, working towards unity and wholeness of the Filipinos in the Holy Land.
The community provides program that includes lectures and activities to promote courage, perseverance and service. As our devotion also to St. Niño, the community extended an annual celebration in Ratisbonne Monastery, fostering community and connection. It is providing our emotional support by bridging the distance between the family living afar. The community also organized formation and leadership training facilitated by Sister Maria David Magbanua and attended mostly of the community officers and active members to cultivate strong and capable leaders to inspire people and to foster, grow and develop skills in communication, problem-solving and strategic thinking. It also anticipates challenges to have a best decision to ensure lasting success for the community. Most are caregivers in Holy Land, the community also organized two batches of first aid training to give opportunity to others to broaden their knowledge in terms of the basic emergency cases especially to their patients. Time to pray and meditate with simple chants, worship music and reflective reading from the scriptures through Taize prepared and facilitated by Bro. Quang Nguyen, SDB. As part of Jubilee year, also the community organized a trip to Ein Kerem to visit some Holy sites such as; The Visitation, St. John The Baptist Nativity Church and St. John at the Desert Monastery. July 5-6, 2025, had a Retreat in Sta. Martha Monastery that comprised of officers and other members needed to deepen the bond to one another, to reflect and relax leading to new perspective with one's personal and professional growth. To strengthen the individual's spiritual life and to have more and intimate relationship with Christ, the community had a Renewal of Baptism in Jordan River and visited Mt. of Temptation, Sycamore tree and Dead Sea that composed of 54 trippers. The community always render charitable works, like visiting the sick, donating resources especially the needy in Israel and Philippines.
Ultimately, San Lorenzo Ruiz Community has a weekly Holy Eucharistic Celebration every Sunday from 9:30-10:45 AM, exploring the importance of community ritual, spiritual nourishment and guidance. Therefore, attending mass regularly serves as a vital reminder to embody Christ love in the world. After the Holy Mass, we have food group schedule, who are assign to bring and prepare food for our lunch. It highlights the sense of belongingness, bonding and transforming it into our second home. The community also has a Regular Monthly Meeting every first Sunday of the month, attended by the Priest-in- Charge, officers, active members and parishioners promoting a productive and collaborative environment within the group. By consistency providing a time for updates, strategic decision and problem solving in the community. It also helps strengthen interpersonal bonds and shared sense of purpose. Therefore, maintaining a commitment to these regular gatherings is essential for sustaining a project and outcome to be successful.