Italian Priest Inspires Youth in Manila
by Margaux Salcedo
Father Lorenzo Ruggiero is the vicar of St. Alphonsus Mary de Liguori Parish in Magallanes, Makati. He is Italian but has lived in the Philippines for over ten years. His Tagalog is flawless!!
Father Lorenzo initiated the Young Adult Ministry at the St. Alphonsus Mary de Liguori Parish. He also pioneered In Vino Veritas (in wine there is truth!), a program targeting those ages 18 to 39, where the young adults are gathered to learn more about the faith. Talks are held in unconventional spaces like restaurants or bars. Guest speakers have included His Eminence Cardinal Tagle, who gave a talk in between jazz sets of the youth, and even sang Vincent (Starry Starry Night); the Archdiocese of Manila's Exorcist, Fr. Jose Francisco Syquia; and this Saturday, His Grace, Archbishop Gabriele Giordano Caccia, Papal Nuncio to the Philippines.
Father Lorenzo is the priest head for the Neo-Catechumenal Ministry in St. Alphonsus Parish. The Neocatechumenal Way, also known as the Neocatechumenate, NCW, colloquially The Way or "kikos", is a charism within the Catholic Church dedicated to Christian formation. It was formed in Madrid in 1964 by Kiko Argüello and Carmen Hernández.