Three Saints’ Statues Installed, Chapel Facilities Blessed at RVA Headquarters in Manila

Radio Veritas Asia (RVA) blessed and installed statues of St. Paul VI, St. John Paul II and St. Teresa of Calcutta at its Three Saints Chapel on October 9, honoring the three saints whose lives and missions continue to inspire the Catholic platform’s evangelization across Asia.

Cardinal Jose Advincula, archbishop of Manila, blessed the statues and the chapel’s newly installed pews during a special Mass at RVA headquarters in Quezon City, Metro Manila. The ceremony formed part of the launch of RVA@60, marking the beginning of preparations for the station’s 60th anniversary in 2029.

Following the homily, Cardinal Advincula, accompanied by Fr. John Mi Shen, RVA program director, and Fr. Felmar Fiel, the general manager, received the statues in a solemn procession to the front of the altar.

RVA staff members Luis Molina, human resources head, and Gerry Gasacao, financial administrator, carried the statue of St. Paul VI, representing the station’s founding vision and its mission to proclaim the Gospel through the media. Pope St. Paul VI inaugurated RVA’s ministry in Manila in 1969.

Fr. Anthony Swamy, SVD, coordinator of RVA’s Tamil Service, and Sovanna Ly of RVA’s Khmer Service in Cambodia carried the statue of St. John Paul II. Their participation represented RVA’s language services, which bring the Gospel to people across Asia in their own languages and cultural contexts.

A senior couple representing the faithful who attend the Three Saints Chapel carried the statue of St. Teresa of Calcutta, symbolizing the wider RVA family, including its listeners, supporters and benefactors.

During the procession, a commentary explained the significance of each saint to RVA’s mission. After each saint was invoked by name, the congregation responded, “Pray for us.”

Cardinal Advincula then blessed the three statues and the chapel’s new pews with holy water as the RVA Three Saints Anthem was played.

The statues were subsequently installed at a side altar in the chapel, where visitors can pray and seek the saints’ intercession.

The blessing prayer described the chapel as a place where people gather to listen, learn, communicate and serve. It asked that those who worship there grow in faith, communion and prayer, and that the saints’ example inspire RVA to proclaim Christ courageously, serve with love and bring hope to those in need.

The October 9 celebration brought together nearly 100 faithful, including bishops, priests, religious and RVA language service coordinators from across Asia. Bishops concelebrating included Bishop Marcelino Antonio “Junie” Maralit Jr. of San Pablo, Bishop Mylo Hubert Claudio Vergara of Pasig, Bishop Roberto Gaa of Novaliches, and Bishop Jose Silva of Sri Lanka.

The Mass followed a four-day intensive workshop for RVA language service coordinators held October 5–8 at the Sisters of Mary, Girlstown, in Silang, Cavite, and the station’s annual budget meeting on the morning of October 9.

Other milestones during the Mass included the launch of RVA@60 and the unveiling of the RVA Three Saints Anthem.