A Plaque of Gratitude for Fr. Soc

On Thursday, August 4, is the birthday of our beloved spiritual adviser, Rev. Fr. Socrates Saldua. Fr. Soc, as he is fondly called by his parishioners, has been with us in our community… the Jesu Christi Community of Cebu, Inc., for the last 40 years now. We have passed through rugged hills and valleys in our community, and with Fr. Soc guiding us through all the years, our community, through our Manna Ministry, has produced priests, mariners, teachers and students who are now working not only locally but some of them abroad. We have feeding programs every week for the homeless and street children. Four times a month, our Manna Ministry goes to towns and the hinterland – as far as Bantayan Island, Camotes, Bohol and Leyte – to render free medical and dental services to the less fortunate. Not to mention the Navy and the Army who are always at our back and call.

“Plaque of Gratitude & Recognition is presented to Rev. Fr. Socrates Saldua for his significant contribution, love and support to the Catholic Charismatic Renewal in the Archdiocese of Cebu, promoting growth and inspiring communities with his passion to spread the gospel.”

It was given on the 20th day of May 2018, on Pentecost Sunday, at IEC Convention Center Cebu, in celebration of the Golden Jubilee of CCR in the Philippines in the year of the Clergy and Consecrated Persons.

The plaque was signed by Fe. M. Barino, Chair ACCCRS; Msgr. Frederick B. Kriekenbeck, Vicor General for Charismatic Renewal, Archdiocese of Cebu; and Jose S. Palma, D.D., Archbishop of Cebu.

We are so grateful to our dear Fr. Soc Saldua, because without this guidance, support and love for the community, we would not have reached our goal of helping and loving the poor and the needy.

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Dr. Jose “Bebe” Barba breezed into town and truly breezing since he stayed for only four days. He came only to be a sponsor of a wedding of his good friend`s daughter. After which he invited our group to an exclusive dinner at Casino Español de Cebu bringing along his niece from Australia, Beverly Anne Stafford. Exchanging of pleasantries was brief, for his time was limited. And next morning he flew back to New Jersey, but promised to be back on November!