Saturday. October 3, 2026. Saint Mother Theodore Guerin was born Anne-hérèse Guérin in Brittany, France, to an officer in the French Navy and Isabelle. They had four children. Anne-Thérèse knew from an early age that she would devote her life to serving God. At 15, tragedy struck the family. Bandits robbed and killed her father as he was traveling home to visit. Her mother fell into a deep depression. Anne-Thérèse accepted the responsibility of caring for her mother and sister, as well as the home. At 20, she asked for her mother’s blessing to join a religious order, but still unable to cope with her loss, refused, 5 years later, Isabelle recognized the depth of Anne-Thérèse’s devotion to God and permitted her to leave home to join a convent. She entered the Sisters of Providence in 1823, taking the name Sister Saint Theodore. An illness during the novitiate left her with lifelong fragile health, but that did not keep her from becoming an accomplished teacher. At the invitation of the bishop of Indiana, they were sent to Saint Mary-of-the-Woods to teach and to care for the sick poor. She was to establish a motherhouse and novitiate. She proved to be a skilled businesswoman and leader, as well as a beloved general superior and spiritual leader. Despite numerous challenges and hardships during the congregation’s early years, which included rebuilding after destructive fires and crop failures, prudent use of limited finances, and negotiating disagreements with Catholic leaders, she remained devoted to her work. She once told her sisters, “Have confidence in the Providence that so far has never failed us. The way is not yet clear. Grope along slowly. Do not press matters; be patient, be trustful.” Another time she asked, “With Jesus, what shall we have to fear?” She suffered from poor health for most of her adult life; she died at the age of 57. “What have we to do to be saints? Nothing extraordinary; nothing more than what we do every day. Only do it for God’s love…”
Saint Theodore was a real person who dealt with real problems; her trust in Providence was considered a model of virtue and beacon of hope due to her strength and tradition of prayer. The protective care of God led her to accomplish amazing things. (Maridol: My Morning Prayer)
Anne Therese Guerin, Saint Theodora, I call upon you to help me through my present situation. You know how dependent I am on God’s Providence to fill my need. Out of love and respect for your holiness, as well as my admiration for your strength of character, I ask for your assistance now. You were able to withstand so many difficult situations, yet you relied on God’s endless Providence to meet the needs of you and your community. Please implore Providence, on my behalf, to remember my needs. Mention your need or concern. “My wife Ester and I pray for Your blessings to grace our children, and their children’s children, to wholeheartedly support the Montinola Cumagun Care Foundation objectives: (1) Special Children’s special education; and the Handicapped Senior Citizens’ Physical Therapy. (2) Financial Support for Diocesan priests and Grade School Teachers for the rural areas. (3) Computer Start-up Education Tools for selected public schools and (4) Selected Start-up Management and Financial Support for Small Businesses.
Let the Montinola Cumagun Care Foundation’s Good Work speak, not the name. “From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.” (Luke 12:48) Anne Therese Guerin, Saint Theodora, let the foundation wake’s light enlighten not only my wife and me, and our children and grandchildren, but also families who have more in life! In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Thank you, Saint Mother Theodore, for coming to my side at this time of need. Allow me to lean on you with my concerns. Amen.
WORD Today. Luke 10:17-24. The seventy-two disciples returned rejoicing and said to Jesus, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us because of your name.” Jesus said, “I have observed Satan fall like lightning from the sky. Behold, I have given you the power ‘to tread upon serpents’ and scorpions and upon the full force of the enemy, and nothing will harm you. Nevertheless, do not rejoice because the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice because your names are written in heaven. At that moment he rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said, “I give you praise, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for although you have hidden these things from the wise and the learned, you have revealed them to the childlike; such has been your gracious will. All things have been handed over to me by my Father. No one knows who the Son is except the Father, and who the Father is except the Son and anyone to whom the Son wishes to reveal him.” Turning to the disciples, said, “Blessed are the eyes that see what you see. For I say to you, many prophets and kings desired to see what you see, but did not see it, and to hear what you hear, but did not hear it.”
Reflection. The Evangelists Matthew and Luke have handed down to us a “jewel” of Jesus’ prayer, called the Cry of Exultation. It is a prayer of thanksgiving, as Jesus addresses God, “Father.” This expresses Jesus’ awareness of being “the Son” in communion with Him, the focus of Jesus’ prayers. We see it throughout the entire text. Jesus said: “No one knows who the Son is except the Father, or who the Father is except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.” Let us ask ourselves: to whom does the Son want to reveal God’s mysteries? At the beginning, Jesus expresses his joy because the Father’s will is to keep these things hidden from the learned and the wise and to reveal them to little ones (cf. Lk 10:21). Thus, Jesus manifests his communion with the Father’s decision to disclose his mysteries to the simple of heart: the Son’s will is one with the Father’s. Divine revelation is not brought about in accordance with earthly logic, which holds that cultured and powerful people possess important knowledge and pass it on to simpler people, to little ones. God used a different approach: those to whom his communication was addressed were, precisely, “babes”. This is the Father’s will, and the Son shares it with him joyfully. (Pope Benedict XVI, General Audience, 7 December 2011)
First Saturday Devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary
O Most Blessed Mother, heart of love, heart of mercy, ever listening, caring, consoling, hear our prayer. As your children, we implore your intercession with Jesus, your Son. Receive with understanding and compassion the petitions we place before you today, especially … Special Intention. For the Montinola Cumagun Care Foundation Trustees to be true to the Articles of Incorporation and faithful to the By-Laws. To the foundation’s providers of governance and environment, the tools on how to take advantage of the opportunities to help themselves. “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.” (Matthew 25:40). To the donors: “From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.” (Luke 12:48.) To the Founders and family, Peace and Familiality of love, respect, and loyalty. “The sin of the rich man was not that he did wrong things, but that he did nothing.” (William Barclay, in A. G. Cumagun Autobiography Song of Myself Memoirs, Looking Back at Serendipity, 2002)
We are comforted in knowing your heart is ever open to those who ask for your prayer. We entrust to your gentle care and intercession those whom we love and who are sick or lonely or hurting. Help all of us, Holy Mother, to bear our burdens in this life until we may share eternal life and peace with God forever. “Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to thy protection was left unaided…” Amen.
“The evil that men do lives after them; The good is oft interred with their bones.” (Shakespeare).
Business Enterprises are not Legacy: the wake you leave, let the Montinola Cumagun Care Foundation’s Good Work speak, not our family name.
One phrase in the Gospel (Good News) sounds familiar: “I will follow you, Lord, but first…” (Luke 9:57-62). Notice: the man did not say, “Lord, I will not follow you.” He wanted to follow Jesus. The problem was the words: “But first…” And perhaps that is also our children’s struggle to wholeheartedly support the Montinola Cumagun Care Foundation. We all love God; so do our children – we want to become better. We want to pray more, change our ways, serve others, and sacrifice even a widow’s mite and for public consumption more, but not yet! (Adapted from Repost Maruja Paredes)
Our Lady of the Impossible, grace those late in life but had more in life who tried to be their brothers’ keepers for those who have less in life – “Ester and I pray for your blessings to grace our children, and their children’s children, to wholeheartedly support The MCC FOUNDATION – The MONTINOLA-CUMAGUN CARE FOUNDATION OBJECTIVES: (1) Special Children SPED, “A child’s mind is the most precious thing to waste.” (The motto of the American Negro College), and the Handicapped Senior Citizens – Physical Therapy. (2) Financial Support for Diocesan priests and Grade School Teachers for the rural areas. (3) Computer Start-up Education Tools for selected public schools and (4) Selected Start-up Management and Financial Support for Small Businesses. “From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.” Luke 12:48. “The sin of the rich man was not that he did wrong things, but that he did nothing.” (William Barclay, in Antonio G. Cumagun Autobiography Song of Myself Memoirs, Looking Back at Serendipity, 2002) Our Lady of the Impossible, “Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to thy protection was left unaided…” Bless the good news of peace and justice through Ester and my founding the Montinola Cumagun Care Foundation.
Ester and My State of Health
(Vital stats of Ester and Tony C are recorded every day by 24 hr. PDNs.)
Ester’s morning BP was 110/70. HR 75. O2sat 97%. Temp. 36.4
Last Night’s BP was 110 /70. HR70. O2sat 98%. Temp 36. 4
Tony’s morning BP was 110/70. HR 64. O2sat 98%. Temp. 36.7
Last Night’s BP BP 110 /70. HR 54. O2sat 99%. Temp. 36.7
Beata John Paul 1, watch over Cristina C, Justice Jun’s state of health, Ester’s recovery, and our autistic son John Paul’s emotional stability 57. Johnny Ong’s youngest son, Richard, is diagnosed with blood cancer.
FOR THE FAITHFUL DEPARTED AND SOULS IN PURGATORY
In Memory of all those who left us. We remember you in the morning and at night. You are always with us. We pray for the souls in Purgatory.
Blessed Mother Mary, I bring to you for your intercession the souls of Amb. Manuel R. and Dolores G. Cumagun, Juana Cumagun, Annette Cumagun, Lina Beltran, Judge and Mrs. Dolores Cumagun, Gov. Primo & Magdalena H. Gaffud, Dr. Trino, Sr. & Angeles Montinola, Betty, Luie, Trino, Jr. Montinola, Bernardino, and Isabel Jalandoni. Dr. Terry Lirio-Montinola, Dr. & Mrs. Tomacruz, Akira Tsusaka, Boy Eugenio, Jesus Ibañez, Sen. Nene Pimentel, Santiago Ranada 111, Boysie Villavicensio, Patria Manuel, Dr. Mariano Laurel, Rene Datu, (Ateneo ’54 – Jimmy Ongpin, Atty. Ato Gonzales, Buddy Joaquin, Fr. Unson, Msgr. Tantoco, Atty. Art Alafriz, Robert Arevalo Ylagan, Maximo Abesamis, Jr., Jesse Paredes), Atty. C. Platon, Araceli Rivera, Rey Castañeda, Col. Tanseco, Dr. E Fores, Dr. J. Caedo, Christine Syjuco, Leni Panganiban, Raul Boncan, Atty. Spanky and Dolly Perez, Amb. Albert del Rosario, Nellie Valdez, Toti Herbosa, Tec Syjuco, AL, Umberto (Beck) Gonzales, and Rufo Colayco. Pray 7 Our Father and The Credo