The Roman Catholic Church commemorates today, Feb. 8, the Feast of Saint Jerome (San Geronimo or Gerolamo) Emiliani, the revered patron saint of orphans and abandoned children.
Special masses in his honor will be offered at 6 a.m., 12 noon, and at 6 p.m. at the Saint Jerome Emiliani and Santa Susana Parish in Muntinlupa City.
The noon mass will be live-streamed.
At the church, about 300 persons will be allowed inside while observing physical distancing. Commemorative masses in honor of the revered Italian saint will also be held in Dinalupihan, Bataan.
Born in 1481 in Venice, Italy, St. Jerome dedicated his whole life in the service of the poor, the sick, and abandoned children.
Ordained priest in 1518, he founded in 1532 the Congregation of Clerks Regular of Somascha (Somaschan Fathers), a charitable congregation of clerics whose main apostolate was the care of orphans, education of the youth, and the formation of young priests.
He died in 1537 and was canonized by Pope Clement XIII in 1767.
In 1928, Pope Pius XI declared St. Jerome as the patron saint of orphans and abandoned children.