(This article is re-posted from SVD PHC website. Special thanks to Pamela Avellanosa for this article.)
CAINTA, PHILIPPINES - St. Arnold Janssen Shrine located in Janssenville, Cainta was blessed and dedicated last Nov. 30, 2007.
The Shrine was named after St. Arnold Janssen, founder of three religious missionary congregations, the Society of the Divine Word (SVD), Holy Spirit Sisters (SSpS) and the Holy Spirit Sisters of Perpetual Adoration (SSpSAp), tasked to spread the light of the Word to all nations. The congregations are active in many parts of the world in various apostolates such as continuing education, pastoral care, biblical apostolate, mission animation, social communication apostolate to mention a few.
The blessing/dedication was led by Bp. Gabriel Reyes of the Diocese of Antipolo, where Cainta belong. Newly installed Bp. Pol Jaucian, SVD of the diocese of Abra and the Provincial Superior of the SVD Philippine Central province, Fr. Nielo Cantilado, SVD also concelebrated in the event, along with other SVD and diocesan priests.
In his homily, Bp. Reyes stressed the importance of building a suitable house for God.
Key political persons from both the Municipality of Cainta and Antipolo also attended the event, along with German officials and benefactors who participated in the offertory and candle lightning ceremony of the program. A film showing of the Shrine's beginning also marked the occasion.
The Shrine, which initially began as a small chapel, was envisioned to be a parish by Msgr. Mariano Balbago, during its inauguration in Nov. 30, 2003, in Janssenville. Fr. Leo Schmitt later was installed as its Parish Priest on January 15, 2004, and with the support and approval of the local diocese, the groundbreaking of the Shrine was held during the Easter Sunday of 2004, and the rest is history.
About 85% finished, the shrine which stands on a 2500 sq. meter lot area, is another pet project of Fr. Leo Schmitt, SVD.
Fr. Schmitt, a German missionary, is tagged as the builder-priest in the Philippines for his low-cost housing projects for the poor and homeless, especially the employees of the SVDs. To date, he has developed four (4) decent, yet affordable subdivisions in Cainta and Antipolo - among these are the St. Joseph Freinademetz Subdivision in Antipolo and the Jannsenville in Cainta, named after the two (2) founding saints of the Society of the Divine Word. All through the years of living and doing mission for the poor, he likewise organized numerous communities in the area.
