DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS 
P R E S S  R E L E A S E
www.dfa.gov.ph                                                                                           2330 Roxas Blvd., Pasay City, Philippines                                                                                 Tel. No. 834-4000 
SFA-AGR-477-06                                                                                                                                                                                                                             15 June 2006
 
PHILIPPINE MADRIGALS SING AT NOTRE DAME HIGH MASS FOR PARIS CELEBRATIONS OF PHILIPPINE INDEPENDENCE DAY

15 June 2006 — Philippine Ambassador to Paris, France José Abeto Zaide reported to the Department of Foreign Affairs that the Philippine Madrigal Singers accompanied the High Mass celebrated at the Notre Dame Cathedral on 11 June 2006 for the Filipino Community in Paris in commemoration of the 108th Anniversary of the Proclamation of Philippine Independence.

 Ambassador Zaide said that he had called on the Archbishop of Paris Cardinal Andre XXIII at the Archbishop’s Palace to thank him for allowing the Filipino community to commemorate Philippine Independence Day with a celebration of the Mass at the famous cathedral.  During his call, the Ambassador likewise informed the Cardinal of the active exercise of faith by Filipinos in France.  “The Cardinal was pleased to learn that the 54,000 Filipinos in Paris fill the churches and teach catechism in their homes,” Ambassador Zaide stated.

The Ambassador further said, “As a special dispensation, the Cardinal granted the favor of allowing the community inside the Holy of Holies, a closed portion where normally only the pomp and pageantry of scarlet robes was visible.  This privilege enabled the Filipinos to have the mass undisturbed, tucked away from the crowd of tourists.”

A dual flagstaff held up a pair of Philippine flags on the left side of the altar in homage to God and country.

Ambassador Zaide said that before the start of the Mass, the cathedral chaplain Msgr. Jacquin opened prayers by greeting the Ambassador and the Filipino community on their national day.  He invoked spiritual blessings for the Philippine nation and the country’s leaders, and on the Filipino community in France.

 

/epa