SAVE THE DATE :
6 FEBRUARY 2010, SATURDAY, 7 p.m.
Come and join us at the
MHC’s 5th Annual People’s Mass
(2010 Misa ng Bayan)
in the U.S. capital’s historic cathedral...
ST. MATTHEWS CATHEDRAL
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2010 IS A SPECIAL YEAR FOR THE MIGRANT HERITAGE COMMISSION (MHC). IT’S MHC’s 5TH YEAR OF
FOSTERING A CULTURE OF UNITY AND SERVICE AND OF HONORING AND SERVING THE IMMIGRANTS.
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Migrant Heritage Commission’s (MHC)
5th Annual People’s Mass
“2010 MISA NG BAYAN”
Celebrating 104 Years of Filipino Migration to the U.S.A. in Unity and God’s Grace
February 6, 2010
Saturday, 7 p.m.
St. Matthews Cathedral
(The nation’s capital most historic church)
1725 Rhode Island Ave, NW, Washington D.C. 20036
(Off street parking FREE after 6:30 p.m.. Ample parking space also available at Pay Public Parking next to
the cathedral @ $ 5.00 after 6 p.m. Nearest Metro stops : Dupont Circle, Farragut North or Farragut West. )
With the special participation of the Knights and Columbus (thru the Santo Nino Council 9462) and the
combined volunteer choir members from the following church-based groups: El Shaddai Catholic
Charismatic Group of St. Stephen in DC, Fil-Am Ministry of St. Michael in Silver Spring,MD , Filipino
Community of the Most Blessed Sacrament in Washington D.C. and the Filipino Community of St. Rose of
Lima (Gaithersburg, MD) .
For more information, please call 202-247-0117, 202-631-8856 or 703-273-1196 or email
migrantheritage@ gmail.com
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Donations to MHC are highly appreciated to sustain MHC’s FREE service programs made available to
“kababayans” in need throughout the year – [Legal Resource, Health Resource, Cultural Resource, Socio-
Economic Integration, Research/Publicatio n, Networking/Outreach , Filipino Overseas Migrant Fund
(funeral assistance etc.) Non-formal education skills & the Carmen Guevara Scholarship Fund]. Pls make
checks payable to MHC and mail to 3930 Walnut St., Suite 200, Fairfax, VA 22030. Donations to MHC are tax
deductible to extent allowed by law)
The HOLY MASS is OPEN TO EVERYONE. There will be no MHC after-mass reception this year since St.
Matthews does not have a hall big enough to accommodate all attendees. But everyone is invited to join us
after the mass at the Valentines’ day dinner/non-stop dance reception organized by one of MHC’s partner
organizations- the Mother Butler’s Guild of St. Michael, 805 Wayne Ave., Silver Spring, MD. ($ 12.00 donation
requested by the Mother Butler’s Guild for the St. Michael Church). It is only approximately 6 miles away from
the St. Matthews Cathedral. It’s a non-stop dance / dinner party of the Mother Butler’s Guild for a good cause
History of the Misa ng Bayan
The People’s Mass (Misa ng Bayan) is an annual Holy Mass of the Fil-Am Community, organized by the
Migrant Heritage Commission (MHC), to thank our Creator for the continuous blessings and guidance for
sustained Immigration of the Filipinos to the U.S. In line with Migrant Heritage Commission’s institutional
programs, it is a way of honoring and saluting the Filipino Migrants for their vital contributions to the US
society and in helping sustain the Philippine economy. It is a well-attended event bringing people together in
God’s grace and to foster a culture of unity and service.
The special People’s Mass, celebrated by Rev. Fr. Steve de Leon, was first held at the Christ the King
Church in Silver Spring, Maryland, SVD during the 1998 Filipino Centennial Year Commemoration. This was
institutionalized by the Migrant Heritage Commission (MHC) in 2006 during the 100 Years (Centennial)
Celebration of Filipino Migration to the U.S. when it held a People’s Mass at the Basilica Shrine of the
Immaculate Conception (in DC) celebrated by Monsignor Lio Rotor of the Vatican (Holy See) Mission. The
2nd People’s Mass was held at the St. Michael the Archangel Church in Silver Spring, MD and the 3rd
People’s Mass was held back in Washington D.C. at the Shrine of the Most Blessed Sacrament (celebrated
by the Most Reverend Martin Holley, Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Washington D.C.) Last year’s
People’s Mass was held at St. Rose of Lima in Gaithersburg, MD.
An annual event of the Migrant Heritage Commission (MHC) with the support of various Fil-Am
organizations, key members of the immigrant community and MHC’s Envoys for Unity and Service.
ST. MATTHEW the APOSTLE CATHEDRAL
The St. Matthew’s Cathedral plays a major role in the Catholic life of the nation's capital. It is the seat of the
Archbishop of Washington. Pope John Paul II celebrated Mass here on October 6, 1979. President John F.
Kennedy's funeral Mass was said on November 25, 1963. Requiems have been held here for several heads
of state. The "Red Mass," celebrated annually in the fall, requests guidance from the Holy Spirit for the
conduct of the legal profession. It is attended by Supreme Court justices and members of Congress, the
Cabinet, diplomatic corps, and other government departments, sometimes including the President of the
United States.
Established in 1840, St. Matthew's originally was located at 15th and H Streets, N.W. Construction of the
present church began in 1893 under the direction of Monsignor Thomas Sim Lee. The first Mass was
celebrated on June 2, 1895. The church was dedicated in 1913 and designated a cathedral in 1939 when
the Archdiocese of Washington was established.
The Cathedral is one of the most impressive houses of worship in the United States. Designed by noted
New York architect C. Grant La Farge, the Cathedral has been cited "as [having] one of the most beautiful
church interiors of modern times." Its walls are laden with shimmering mosaics suggestive of those found
in the renowned churches of Ravenna, Italy. The Cathedral is in the form of a Latin cross 155 feet long and
136 feet wide at the transepts. The interior of the dome rises 190 feet. The body of the Cathedral seats about
1,000 persons. (Source: www.stmatthewscathe dral.org/ )
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MHC brings people together to foster a culture of UNITY and SERVICE
3 MHC Executive Directors
Grace Valera-Jaramillo
Jesse A. Gatchalian
Arnedo S. Valera, Esq.
202-247-0117/ 202-631-8856/ 703-675-6334
migrantheritage@ gmail.com
www. migrantheritage. org
Migrant Heritage Commission (MHC) is a non-profit 501 © 3 tax exempt, service-oriented non-
governmental organization that addresses the growing concerns of immigrants. With its many dedicated
volunteers, partner organizations/ institutions and supporters , MHC extends FREE consultations to
immigrants in need on legal/immigration, healthcare support/screening, financial guidance, cultural
promotion support, networking/outreach , publication (MH Chronicle), information & non-formal education.
MHC also provides funeral assistance to Fil.immigrants who die bereft of funds & w/o immediate families in
the U.S. It mobilizes the community for high profile cultural events (Nat'l Cherry Blossoms Fest, FIESTA Asia,
Asia Festivals, US National Day Parade, Dance DC Festival etc.), other significant & humanitarian
community undertakings. Among its institutionalized events in honoring the Migrants are People’s Mass
(MISA NG BAYAN), People’s Ball (biggest Fil-Am Community Gala in the U.S. capital region) & the Immigrant
Workers’ Day Celebration/ Int’l Migrant Heritage Fest.
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