On Friday, September 18, St. Joseph the Protector Council #16255 proudly served our parish and diocese during the celebration honoring Saint Lorenzo Ruiz, the first Filipino saint.
Knights from our council, accompanied by the Assembly 51 Honor Guard, escorted the Most Reverend Rey Bersabal, Auxiliary Bishop of the Diocese of Sacramento, and participated in the procession with the statue of Saint Lorenzo Ruiz.
Saint Lorenzo Ruiz of Manila was a Filipino Catholic layman and a member of the Third Order of Saint Dominic. Of Filipino and Chinese heritage, he became the Philippines’ first martyr after being executed in Japan during the Tokugawa shogunate’s persecution of Christians in the 17th century.
Saint Lorenzo Ruiz is the patron saint of the Philippines and the Filipino people. Our council was honored to help celebrate his courageous witness to Christ and his enduring legacy of faith.
