Bishop Mylo Hubert Vergara will preside over a high Mass at 11 am tomorrow, August 23, at the Santa Rosa de Lima Parish in Bagong Ilog, Pasig City, in solemn commemoration of the Feast of Santa Rosa de Lima, the first canonized saint of South America, and the revered patroness of Lima, Peru; South America, and the Philippines.

Masses will also be held in honor of the patron saint in Sta. Rosa, Laguna; Alcoy, Cebu; Villareal, Western Samar; Gamu, Isabela; and in Cabangan, Zambales.
Santa Rosa is considered as one of the most popular and widely venerated saints of the Roman Catholic Church. She is well venerated in the Philippines as well as in many parts of the world.
Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI is a known devotee of Sta. Rosa de Lima.
Born in Lima, Peru on April 30, 1586, Sta. Rosa observed great reverence and pronouncedlove for all things related to God since her younger days.
At the age of 20, she entered the Third Order of St. Dominic.
She nurtured intense devotion to the Infant Jesus, the Blessed Mother, and the Holy Eucharist and religiously received Holy Communion every day up to the time of her death on August 24, 1617.
Pope Clement X canonized Santa Rosa on April 12, 1671. Her major shrine is the Basilica of Santo Domingo in Lima, Peru.