Library in Rome Named for Blessed Michael McGivney
The Pontifical Filipino College library was recently renovated with Knights’ support
5/16/2024
Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle and Supreme Knight Patrick Kelly cut the ribbon on the new Blessed Michael McGivney Library at the Pontifical Filipino College in Rome, April 27. Father Gregory Ramon Gaston (left), rector of the college; Bishop Pablo Virgilio David of Kalookan (right); and other guests look on. (Photo by Tamino Petelinšek)
On April 27, the Pontifical Filipino College in Rome renamed its library — recently renovated and expanded with support from the Knights of Columbus — in honor of the Order’s founder, Blessed Michael McGivney.
Supreme Knight Patrick Kelly and Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, former archbishop of Manila and a pro-prefect of the Dicastery for Evangelization, both attended the library’s dedication. Cardinal Tagle, a longtime Knight, also celebrated Mass at the college’s Chapel of Our Lady of Antipolo before the blessing.
In his homily, the cardinal encouraged the Filipino priests studying in Rome to root their academic pursuits in the fundamental search for God.
“It is not just research on ‘something,’” Cardinal Tagle said. “All that research will amount to nothing if we do not say what Philip says: ‘I am looking for the face of the Father.’ That library, with all the books and wisdom contained in it, will serve its purpose if it enhances our search for the Father.”
The Knights of Columbus has been active in the Philippines since 1905 and has grown rapidly in recent years to more than 500,000 members. The Order has long assisted the Pontifical Filipino College by providing scholarships to priests from each of the nation’s three island groups: Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.
The college library has resources on theology, philosophy and canon law for priests studying at the college, as well as books on Filipino history, culture and anthropology.
“Any researcher in Rome or Europe who wants to know more about the Philippines can come to our library,” said Father Gregory Ramon Gaston, rector of the college. “With the extension, we could put in more books, and [the priests] have a beautiful place to study. … We’re thankful for the Knights of Columbus — we have so many members in the Philippines, and many of our priests are members as well.”
Bishop Pablo Virgilio David of Kalookan, president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines, also thanked the Knights for their support of the CBCP and for extending that generosity to the college.
“I feel very much connected to the [Knights of Columbus]. You are very much our partner,” he said.