Padre Pedro, as he is known to almost five generations of Caviteños, was born to a wealthy couple. Don Victor Lerena and Dona Joaquina Lerena, on January 31, 1901 in Berceo, Logrono, Spain. His Parents were his first religion teachers. Every Sunday, his father would bring him to Church and they would teach him how to genuflect before the Blessed Sacrament.
When he was old, Pedro studied Latin at San Millan de la Cogolla in Logrono Spain. He studied philosophy at the Recollect Mission Seminary in Monteagudo, Navarra, and his Sacred Theology at the Seminario de los Recoletos in Marcilla, Navarra. On June 14, 1925, he was ordained to the priesthood by the most Rev. Mateo Mujica y Urestarazu; D.D. at the Cathedral of Pamplona Navarra.
Six months after his ordination, Fr. Lerena was sent to the Philippines as a Recollect missionary. He was assigned as assistant parish priest of Calapan, Mindoro on December 18, 1925 and on March 7, 1926 he was transferred to Naujan as parish priest. On September 29, 1929, he was assigned as parish priest of San Pedro Apostol Parish at Cavite Puerto.
As parish priest of San Pedro, he was also in charge of the Ermita de Porta Vaga, the shrine of the Virgen de la Soledad de Porta Vaga. It was here where started to become a tireless promoter of the devotion to her.
When he saw the pitiful condition of the Ermita, Padre Pedro had more pews, windows, and electric chandeliers installed to lighten up the interior of the Church. He also placed a communion rail made of narra and marble flooring. He spared no expense to encourage the people to come to the Church and become fervent devotees, like him, of the Soledad.
Padre Pedro was a known artist. When he took charge of Cavite Puerto, he immediately organized a grand choir that Sang during services. He himself had a beautiful voice that added solemnly during Eucharistic Celebrations. His love for music made him a good Friend of Don Julian Felipe, the Church organist and composer of the Philippine National Anthem and the Hymn “Reina de Cavite.” As an expression of his love for the Virgin, Padre Lerena wrote the well-crafted lyrics of the song “O, Purisima Flor,” the music of which was adapted from the hymn composed by Fr. Domingo Canciller O.A.R. for the Lady of Mt. Carmel. In those days, it was quite a musical experience and truly delights to attend mass at eh Church of Cavite Puerto.
STRICT BUT WELL-LOVED PASTOR
As pastor of Cavite Puerto, Fr. Lerena knew his flock and touched their lives in his own personal style. He visited them in their homes and shared their joys, sorrow, pains and hopes.
“Whatever your problems, tell him. He was kind-hearted and always ready to hear it,” fondly recalls Carmelita “Ghit” Perello of San Roque. Ghit was one of many scholars of Fr. Lerena, who was also known for helping poor but deserving parishioners in need of education. He sponsored the schooling of many of the youths of Cavite
“He was also quite a disciplinarian, especially when it came to attending mass.” Adds Ghit. “He did not want anyone to wear sleeveless attire inside the Church. He did not want to hear any noise nor to see any children walking around while the mass going on. He was also particular when a consecrated communion host fell to the ground. He would cover it first with his clean handkerchief. And if a layman wanted to get that host, he would have to kneel it with tongue. No one could touch the host except the priest.”
Fr. Lerena was known for his generosity. He did not charge various church fees, such as weddings, baptisms special masses and funerals. As far as parishioners could recall, he did not undertake any fundraisings activities for his parish. He personally spent for church repairs.
Fr. Lerena came From a wealthy family in Spain who owned various vineyards. He had another brother, also a priest and known as an ascetic, Fr. Paulino Lerena.
In Ghit’s case, Fr. Lerena would have financed her entire education up to a masteral degree if she only persisted. Instead, Ghit finished a Bachelor of Science in Education degree and eventually became a teacher. Some of her other co-scholars were not able to finish since they opted to get married early.
Fr. Lerena personally knew who his daily mass goers and communicants were Purificion “Aling Puring” Nicolas Ballesteros, 69, the storyteller of Cavite Puerto, recalls: “He was really a good priest. He would walk around the parish premises everyday and observe his parishioners who would go inside the Church. He would sometimes give me my baon (allowance) of 20 centavos, at that time already a big amount since my normal daily provisions was only one or two centavos. He would eat with his youth members, especially the choir and during May and June, after practice, we would gather at the parish pagoda and have a feast. He loved to eat and share with us food sent by his relatives from Spain. Galante talaga siya.”
Known for his kind-heartedness and strict but austere lifestyle, Padre Pedro was known for being an avid cigar-smoker. He would converse with his parishioners passing by his veranda daily, puffing away with his famous cigar trademark tobacco. His surroundings were always neat and tidy, with only a boy to take care of his personal needs.
Regarding his devotion to the Virgin of Solitude, Aling Puring points to Fr. Lerena as the one who really propagated the devotion to their patroness. “He even brought the original icon in his car to the International Eucharistic Congress. During the procession he would point her out to the crowd and say, ‘Oy, este Nuestra Señora de la Soledad de Porta Vaga.!’ ” During fiesta time in San Roque, he would be seen waiting at the Church door entrance waiting for the icon to be brought out and back yearly, until he passed away in 1972 at the age of 71. He died on a heart attack while preparing for his six o’clock mass.
WORLD WAR II AND THE LOST ICON
So intense was Fr. Lerena’s love for the Caviteños that he chose to stay with them even amidst the danger and sufferings of the Second World War. When Japanese soldiers took the image of the Virgin from the Ermita de Porta Vaga, he lost no time in making representations with the high command of the Japanese Imperial Navy. His efforts were rewarded when one day, found the lost icon at one of the junkyards of Sangley Point. He immediately brought the priceless icon to the Archbishop’s Palace in Intramuros. Later, when he saw the impending bombardment of Manila, hid the image in one of the safety vaults of the Philippine National Bank.
In 1945, Padre Pedro brought back the image of the Virgin to Cavite. At that time the Puerto was totally razed to the ground. The Ermita was completely destroyed. Only one Church was left intact-the Church of San Roque.
Padre Pedro was appointed of parish priest of San Roque and there, he enthroned the Virgin in one of the side altars, where she is well-secured at present. He was also able to salvage some of the bells of the Ermita which are still being used at San Roque Church to this day.AS SAN ROQUE PARISH PRIEST
As a zealous pastor, Padre Pedro saw to it that children were taught catechism. As the only priest in Cavite City at that time, he had to minister to all the people of San Roque, San Antonio, Caridad, Sta. Cruz and the Puerto. He carefully organized the catechetical program in each district of the city.
As parish priest, Padre Pedro much for the physical improvement of San Roque Church. In 1963, he undertook the renovation and enlargement of the buildings. He elevated its roof and added two wings attached to the nave to be able to accommodate all his parishioners. He had a beautiful altar, carved by a Caviteño sculptor. Felix Villamarin. Whenever he would take a vacation in Spain, he would bring back precious sacred vessels. One time, he brought back a small pipe organ for the Church, a gift from his family.
He was a meticulous pastor, especially when it came to Church matters. Reflecting the great discipline that he imposed, he made sure that the Church was well-kept at all times. He was very particular with the cleanliness of his surroundings, the maintenance of the sacred vessels and Church linens. He saw to it that his Church was worthy of holding magnificent liturgical services that he would celebrate.
In matters of decorum, he made sure, he made sure his parishioners wore proper and modest attire particularly as they lined up to receive Holy Communion. He had ushers who saw to it that people received communion in an orderly and solemn manner. Since he personally knew his parishioners, he made sure that those received first went to confession. Every Saturday afternoon at four, he would be found seated at the confessional box waiting for penitents.
Even the flowers inside the Church had to be in harmony with liturgical colors. Vestments were always the best and the finest and mostly imported from him native Spain. Thus the flowers, altar cloth and songs were always in keeping with liturgical prescription. As a result, the sacredness and solemnity of his masses and other religious services succeeded in bringing the people in close contact with the Divine.
As a lover of music, Padre Pedro so to it that his choir was well rehearsed for every service. Not only the choir but also his churchgoers were well-instructed when it came to liturgical music. He himself would track the songs and would not stop until the choir and churchgoers learned them well. He would check whether his singers’ tune and a harmony met his rigid standards.
During Fr. Lerena’s time, Herminia Victoriano, a church organist since she was 14 years old, headed the choir. Most of the choir members either studied music or were opera singers like the famous Purita Borromeo, one of the stars of the famous Opera House and Metropolitan Theatre, Borromeo was the first Filipina to sing the classic opera song “Lucia de Lamiuemour.”
When the Second Vatican Council ordered more laity participation in Eucharistic Celebrations, Padre Pedro personally practiced his parishioners in how to respond during services and in the singing. He would make sure everyone inside the Church had copies of the prayers and songs, and the latter learned and well-rehearsed.
Fr. Vir Mendoza recalls that his vocation was very much influenced by Fr. Lerena. What particularly struck him was Fr. Lerena’s inspiring liturgical services. “You would feel the changes in the liturgical season in the way he fixed the church and his choices of the songs. When it came to church vestments, he makes sure they were magnificently made. He believed that for God, everything should be the best. There was as always, an aura of the Divine whenever one entered his Church. As Fr. Lerena grew older, even if his homilies became shorter, still, the way he celebrated the mass made one feel as if he was having an encounter with the Divine.”
On the personal level, the tall, regal-looking, ruggedly handsome Padre Pedro had a powerful voice. He had simple tastes. His food, even if he loved to eat, were considered austere. He kept most of the gifts given to him so that after his death, a lot of unused personal effects were found in his room. If he was magnificent and rather flamboyant with Church vestments, he was quite modest in his ordinary attire. Fr. Pedro Lerena’s efforts and accomplishments in his parish, especially in his austere lifestyle and well-managed stewardship did not go unnoticed. In June 1962, he was appointed to the following positions: As Fiscal and Defender of the Bond, to the Matrimonial Tribunal of the Diocese of Imus, and as Superintendent of Catholic Schools. On June 20, 1964, he was promoted to the dignity of Domestic Prelate by His Holiness; Pope Paul VI was solemnly invested together with Monsignor at the Manila Metropolitan Cathedral on November 30, 1964 by the first Bishop of Imus, Most Rev. Artemio Casas, D.D. He was also appointed Diocesan Superintendent of Catholic Schools, member of the Diocesan Financial Board and Chaplains of the Apostles of Mary.
Fr. Lerena was also instrumental in establishing St. Joseph College of the Augustinian Recollect sisters and San Sebastian College of the Augustinian Recollect Fathers. This was proof that even if he became a member of the diocesan clergy during his stay in his parish in Cavite, he still expressed his affection and links to his religious order.
In spite of his strictness, his parishioners loved him in return. In his sickness, he became less active in parish affairs, the zealousness he showed during his early years were never forgotten by his parishioners. He even had his younger brother, Fr. Paulino Lerena, an Augustinian Recollect, as his assistant for several years. Fr. Lerena died on May 25, 1972 at the San Juan de Dios Hospital suffering from a stroke. Throughout the duration of his wake, until his interment, San Roque’s Church bells tolled every half hour to express his parishioners’ deep mourning and sense of loss
All of Cavite’s parish priests as well as the Recollect fathers from various convents in the Philippines attended his funeral held high noon at the Catholic Cemetery of Cavite City. With reverence, the Filipino priests first carried his remains which were placed in a third class casket in line with his simple taste. They were followed by the Spanish priests as they neared his final resting place in the very city of the people he loved and served for most of his religious life.
Till the last moment, Padre Pedro Lerena manifested his desire to be with Caviteños. In life and in death, he loved them and was truly one with them. He chose to remain in Cavite as a Caviteño, rather than a Spaniard.
For their part, Caviteños remember him today with fondness because of his spiritual influence on them, but most especially for his wholehearted dedication to the cause of spreading the devotion to the Nuestra Señora de la Soledad de Porta Vaga.
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