A week after the release of the latest Philippine Nursing Board Exam results, lots of newly registered nurses came back to San Lorenzo Ruiz de Manila Parish Church for a thanksgiving prayer. They testified that their success came about through the intercession of St. Camillus, San Lorenzo, St. Joseph and Mama Mary.

A similar testimony was shared by one section of nursing students from a nearby university when 99% of them passed their comprehensive exam.

Aside from the success stories of people in the nursing profession, many other testimonies from sick people who were touched and healed from illnesses like cancer, heart ailment and diabetes have been documented by the parish.

San Lorenzo Ruiz de Manila Parish celebrates a Healing Mass every Tuesday at 7:30PM. This special ministry started in 2000 when Fr. Mar Ladra, a diocesan priest, was assigned in the area. The “healing and charismatic priest,” Fr. Mar, is still the one and only beloved pastor of the parish up to now.  With vigor, enthusiasm and passion, he propagates the devotion to St. Camillus, San Lorenzo, St. Joseph and Mama Mary.  An increasing flock of devotees and believers continues to swarm the Tuesday Mass. The surging number of participants was generated simply by word of mouth.

“When I started my healing ministry here, I already included St. Camillus as one of the intercessors, though at that time we had no image of him yet,” Fr. Mar revealed.

It was only last October 2007 that Fr. Mar finally acquired one. He was visiting her sister in Bologna, Italy when his sister’s employer gifted him with an almost century old image of St. Camillus. The old lady employer was not connected to the Camillians there but she had possessed the image already for many years.  “I consider it a sign that St. Camillus really wanted me to help propagate the devotion to him,” the pleased Fr. Mar said.

The image of St. Camillus was formally welcomed by the parish last November 2007. Among the crowd present at the occasion were Camillian Fathers Rolly Fernandez, Evan Villanueva, and Boy Guinit.

The desire for more strength and inspiration ascends like a prayer straight from the heart of Fr. Mar. These, he said, power him up in continuing the healing ministry that God has granted him.

“And wherever I go, I will always bring with me St. Camillus,” quipped the Camillian by heart, Fr. Mar, who was once a member of our Order.

The Prayer to St. Camillus and the Prayer to Our Lady, Health of the Sick were among the various prayers compiled and published by Fr. Mar in his book “Straight from the Heart.” Copies are still available at San Lorenzo Ruiz de Manila Parish Office & St. Paul’s Bookstores.