Diocesan probe into sainthood of catechist 'Ka Luring' begins

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Diocesan probe into sainthood of catechist 'Ka Luring' begins

Sherrie Ann Torres,

ABS-CBN News

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MANILA — The Diocese of Pasig started Wednesday the diocesan inquiry into the sainthood of Laureana Franco, also known as "Ka Luring".

The Minor Basilica and Archdiocesan Shrine Parish of St. Anne in Taguig started Wednesday the diocesan inquiry into the sainthood of Laureana Franco, also known as "Ka Luring".

Priests, nuns, catechists, lay people and even local politicians attended the "Opening Session on the Cause of Beatification and Canonization of Servant of God Laureana Franco” at the Minor Basilica and Archdiocesan Shrine Parish of St. Anne.

The opening session saw the appointment of four priests who will serve as "Officials of the Inquiry" or members of the "Tribunal," whose task is to receive and investigate the veracity of stories about the supposed miracles that happened through the intercession of Ka Luring who is now categorized as a "Servant of God."

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The evaluation of stories of miracles that happened to people connected to Ka Luring started through the request of Dr Erickson Javier, Doctor of Ministry, who now serves as the "Postulator" of the causes of the late catechist's story.

Pasig Bishop Mylo Vergara has approved the request of Javier, which will now be followed by the confidential evaluation of the tribunal.

Aside from the appointment of the Officials of the Inquiry, a list of individuals who reportedly received miracles through the intercession of Ka Luring was also submitted during the event.

These individuals will be required to face the tribunal for interview and evaluation.

The tribunal is also tasked to investigate Ka Luring's life, Bishop Vergara said, during the mass that followed the opening session, Wednesday night.

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ROAD TO CANONIZATION BY THE VATICAN
Laoag Bishop Renato Mayugba who attended the opening session, explained what will happen next.

"Pagkatapos ng proseso dito sa Diocese of Pasig, pagka-na-satisfy na, gagawin na lahat ng investigation. Tapos nyan ay isa-submit sa Roma. Magkakaroon doon ng another tinatawag na process naman doon sa Vatican," Mayugba said.

There is no specific period given for one to follow the possible canonization process, he said, but added that "one miracle" linked to Ka Luring is needed, for her to be beatified, and another miracle connected to her, so she can be canonized as a saint, the Bishop explained.

Last April 7, Mayugba initiated the "Cause for Beatification" for 13-year old Niña Ruiz Abad who died of cancer year 2013.

This makes Ka Luring among the Filipinos on the road the sainthood who, like Abad, is a lay person, the bishop pointed out.

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Niña's "source of sanctity," was her deep connection to the Holy Eucharist.

Ka Luring's source of sanctity on the other hand, was on catechism and she was also known for giving the eucharist during communion, Mayugba said.

"So, parang ang mensahe ng Diyos sa atin ngayon eh: Aba, dapat bumalik tayo sa pagmamahal sa ating Blessed Sacrament, sa Holy Eucharist," Mayugba said.

"Yung mga ordinary day-to-day sacrifices that many people are doing," he added.

Mayugba said that even if Ka Luring is still under evaluation for beatification and eventual canonization, the faithful, can already pray and solicit her intercession.

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Asked if people can already seek Ka Luring's help as intercessor to their petitions to God, Mayugba said: "Yes."

"Yung huling part ng proseso (ng session) ay nagdasal na si Bishop (Vergara) kasama nung lahat. And yang panalangin na yan ay naniniwala na, pinagdadasal na itong ating candidate ay tunay na ngang makakarating sa pagiging santa. At kaya tayo nagdadasal ay sana nga, tuluyan na siyang maging santa," Mayugba said.

"In the meantime, we are praying for the blessings or intercession of Ka Luring, kasi yun din ang basehan kung ang isang candidate ay makakapasa at magiging santa. The power of her intercession," he added.

STORIES OF 'ANSWERED PRAYERS'

Ka Luring's cousins and other relatives attended the Opening Session.

And this is mainly because they are all overjoyed by the importance being given by the Catholic church and the public to Ka Luring.

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Among them, retired dentist Aurora Mercado, who in previous years, also joined her first cousin Ka Luring in her catechism activities to public elementary students.

Ka Luring also spends all her money helping the poor, Mercado shared.

"Lagi yang paladasal. At sabi pa nya sa akin, ayokong may pera ako sa bulsa. Kaya yan lakad-lakad lang yan," Mercado shared.

"Kaya ako natutuwa kasi sabi ko (dati) balang-araw magiging santa siya... kung tawagin ko yan, Mother Teresa," she said.

"Natutuwa kami na isang member ng family namin tinawag ng Panginoon na mag-serve sa Kanya. Servant of God. Tuwang-tuwa kaming magkaka-mag-anak... kinikilabutan ako (sa daming mga tao). Sayang-saya ako talaga. Meron nang magpe-pray sa amin," Mercado said.

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Elizabeth Gestiada, Ka Luring's niece, believes her aunt interceded for her so she could totally become breast cancer-free.

According to Gestiada, Ka Luring was also suffering from ovarian cancer when she was in the middle of her fight with cancer in 2011.

"Isa rin ako sa mga pinagaling nya sa breast cancer stage 3... nung nakaratay pa sya dumalaw ako sa kanya. Pero alam nyang ako ay inoperahan... nung nag-usap kami, sabi nya sa akin 'huwag kang mag-alala Beth, pagagalingin ka nila sa taas. At saka hindi ka nya pababayaan," Gestiada said.

During the wake of Ka Luring, Gestiada claimed to have seen her aunt's face move while she was looking at her inside the coffin.

All throughout that wake, according to Gestiada, her only prayer to Ka Luring was to help her be cured of cancer.

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"Hanggang ngayon survivor ako for 13 years... siya (Ka Luring) talaga ang naging instrumento na gumaling ako. At naniniwala ako sa kanya Gestiada said.

And her story according to Gestiada is one of the many "healing miracles," linked to Ka Luring through prayers.

"Nawa'y lahat ng nagdarasal sa iyo ay matulungan mong gumaling at magong instrumento ka rin sa bawat isa sa amin na humihingi ng dasal. At ikaw mag-intercede sa taas din," Gestiada said.

WHO WAS KA LURING?

Franco served St. Michael Parish in Taguig City as a catechist, and also attended to the poor and sick for decades.

She succumbed to ovarian cancer on October 11, 2011 at age 75.

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The eldest in a brood of eight who worked as telephone switch operator at the Philippine Air Force, Ka Luring resigned in 1969  after successfully sending her siblings to school.

She then began her personal dream to attend to the sick and the needy even up to the days where she was already suffering from ovarian cancer.

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