Kahupayan Center

10/05/2026

06/05/2026

The Patron Saint of Kahupayan Center

She was a forgotten name in a sealed tomb.
No biography.
No written history.

And yet Heaven revealed her as Saint Philomena.

In 1802, archaeologists exploring the Catacombs of Priscilla in Rome uncovered a small sealed tomb.

Inside were the remains of a young girl.

Next to the bones was a small vial containing dried blood — a traditional sign that the person buried there had died as a martyr.

Three terracotta slabs sealed the tomb. When they were rearranged, they formed a simple message in Latin:

“PAX TECUM FILUMENA.”

“Peace be with you, Philomena.”

Carved beside the inscription were symbols recognized by early Christians: a lily, arrows, an anchor, and a palm branch — signs of purity and martyrdom, like those associated with saints such as Agatha of Sicily, Lucy of Syracuse, Agnes of Rome, and Cecilia of Rome.

The archaeologists documented the bones.

But at the time, almost no one noticed.

All they knew was this:

She was a young virgin martyr, likely from the 4th century.

Then something unexpected happened.

Three years later, a priest from a small Italian village heard about the discovery. His name was Canon Francesco De Lucia.

Moved by devotion to the unknown martyr, he requested that her relics be transferred to his parish in Mugnano.

The request was approved.

Her relics were placed in the Church of Our Lady of Grace, in the town now known as the Sanctuary of Saint Philomena, not far from Naples.

And then the miracles began.

People reported extraordinary healings after praying at her shrine.

Cancer disappearing.
Blindness cured.
Seemingly impossible illnesses suddenly vanishing after prayers through her intercession.

Conversions multiplied.

One of the most famous miracles involved Blessed Pauline Jaricot, who was suddenly healed of a severe heart disease after praying through Philomena’s intercession.

At the same time, mystics in different parts of the world reported receiving visions describing the life of the young martyr.

One of the most detailed accounts came from Sr. Luisa di Gesù in 1833.

According to these revelations, Philomena had consecrated her virginity to Christ.

When the Roman emperor Diocletian desired to marry her, she refused.

She was only thirteen years old.

Enraged, the emperor ordered her tortured.

But she would not renounce Christ.

She endured suffering and imprisonment before finally being executed for her faith.

Over the decades, kings and queens, saints and blesseds, princes and paupers alike journeyed to Mugnano seeking the intercession of St. Philomena.

Even Blessed Pope Pius IX celebrated Mass at her altar on November 7, 1849.

In 1827, Pope Leo XII gave the original terracotta tomb slabs from the catacombs to the church in Mugnano.

Because of the numerous miracles reported at her tomb, Pope Gregory XVI declared Philomena a saint in 1837. Such recognition — based largely on her powerful miraculous intercession — was extraordinary.

He reportedly said:

“Whatever you ask from Saint Philomena, she will obtain for you.”

He called her “Thaumaturga” — the Wonder-Worker.

Some of the greatest saints of the modern Church became devoted to her.

One of them was Saint John Vianney, the humble parish priest of Ars.

He loved her deeply.

He built a shrine to her in his church and constantly entrusted his needs — and the needs of his parish — to her.

When miracles occurred — and they did — he refused any credit.

“It is not I,” he would say.

“It is Saint Philomena.”

Pilgrims poured into Ars by the thousands.
Hardened sinners returned to confession.
Souls were transformed.

And the Curé of Ars always pointed to the same heavenly helper.

Another saint who cherished her was Saint Padre Pio.

Padre Pio reportedly held a deep devotion to this young martyr, encouraging others to seek her intercession and trusting in her powerful help.

Today, pilgrims still travel to Mugnano to pray before her relics.

The forgotten girl in a catacomb.
The thirteen-year-old who chose Christ over an emperor.
The martyr whose miracles awakened the modern world.

Saint Philomena reminds us:
God can raise up the unknown.
Faith can defeat empires.
And Heaven still answers prayer.

If your problems seem impossible…
If hope feels distant…
If you wonder whether God still works miracles.

Remember the young martyr whose name slept beneath the earth — until Heaven made it known.

Saint Philomena, Wonder-Worker and patroness of the impossible, pray for us.

25/04/2026

In 2009, Patricia Noah was shot in the back of the head at close range by her ex-husband as she returned home from church. The bullet traveled through her skull, shattered her cheekbone, and exited through her left nostril. It missed her spinal cord, her brain, and every major artery. She walked out of the hospital still smiling. That was not the hardest thing she had survived.

Patricia Nombuyiselo Noah was born in 1964 in South Africa, in the cruel years of apartheid. As a Black Xhosa woman, her life was already filled with hardship. She taught herself to type. She learned English. She chased dreams the law said she could not have.

In 1984, she gave birth to a son. His father was a white Swiss-German man. Their relationship was illegal under apartheid. Their child was, in the eyes of the state, a crime.

She named him Trevor.

To protect him, she kept him indoors for years. She walked behind lighter-skinned friends in public, pretending to be the maid — just so she could be near her own child. She raised him with faith, humor, and fierce independence. She told him the world was his, no matter what anyone said.

Years later, she married a man named Abel Shingange. The marriage turned violent. He abused her and her children. After years of suffering, she divorced him in 1996.

She rebuilt her life. She remarried. She believed the worst was behind her.

Then in 2009, her ex-husband was waiting outside her home when she returned from church.

He shot her in the leg. Then he shot her in the back of the head.

Doctors called what happened next a miracle. The bullet missed her spinal cord by a hair. Missed her brain. Missed every major vein and artery. It traveled through her head and exited through her left nostril.

She survived. She healed. She walked out of that hospital still smiling.

Her attacker was convicted of attempted murder.

Her son Trevor Noah went on to become one of the most recognized comedians in the world — host of *The Daily Show*, bestselling author, and a global voice for humor and kindness.

In his memoir *Born a Crime*, he wrote about the woman who hid him from a government that considered his existence illegal. The woman who taught him to laugh when life gave him every reason not to.

He called her his teammate. His best friend. His hero.

When people ask where his courage comes from, he gives the same answer every time.

*"My mother."*

Patricia Nombuyiselo Noah survived apartheid. Survived poverty. Survived abuse. Survived a bullet to the head. Survived a system designed to break her.

Through every storm, she held on — not because life was easy, but because she believed love was stronger than fear.

Today, she still lives in Johannesburg. She still laughs. She still prays. She still inspires.

The strongest people are not the ones who never fall.

They are the ones who rise every single time.

Patricia Noah rose. And because she rose, the world gained a son who makes millions laugh. 🌟

03/03/2026

PATRON SAINTS OF THE IMPOSSIBLE

Patron saints of the impossible serve as powerful intercessors during times of dire need, offering hope and guidance in seemingly insurmountable situations.

1. St. Rita of Cascia, known as the "Saint of the Impossible," is celebrated for her steadfast faith and forgiveness, often invoked for help in impossible circumstances.

2. St. Jude Thaddeus, the patron of hopeless cases and lost causes, provides comfort to those facing desperation.

3. St. Gregory of Neocaesarea, a miracle-working bishop, is revered for his role in converting entire communities, symbolizing divine intervention in the face of the impossible.

4. St. Philomena, a young martyr credited with numerous miracles, is called upon when all else fails. These saints inspire faith and perseverance, reminding us that even the most challenging situations can be overcome through divine aid.

02/03/2026

Punch is a baby macaque from a zoo in Japan, abandoned by his mother at birth. Without her, he never learned the warmth of being held, the safety of closeness, or the love of his own kind.

Alone, he clung to a stuffed toy—a big plush orangutan. It became his comfort and constant companion. He carried it everywhere, holding tight to what little warmth he could find. To many who saw his photos and videos, it felt like watching a small soul reaching for the love he was denied—seeking what his mother could not give.

As his story spread, people saw more than an adorable animal. They saw a wounded heart longing to belong, and it touched millions.

But the story didn’t end in loneliness.

With patient care, the keepers helped Punch slowly join the troop. It wasn’t easy. Some adults rejected him. Others ignored him. Still, Punch persevered.

Then came a quiet, powerful moment: an adult macaque sat beside him and gently placed an arm around him. Not mere tolerance—but acceptance. In that instant, Punch was no longer alone.

The plush toy is still nearby, but often left on the ground now. He has found something greater—real connection, real family, real warmth.

🌿 A Catholic reflection
Punch’s journey echoes a deep truth of our faith: God does not abandon the abandoned.
“Can a mother forget her infant? … Even should she forget, I will never forget you” (Isaiah 49:15).

Like Punch, many carry wounds from love delayed or denied. Yet the Lord, in His time, sends instruments of mercy—people, communities, quiet gestures—that heal what was broken. Through patience and grace, isolation gives way to communion.

May this little macaque remind us to be that gentle arm for others—to welcome, to console, and to love—trusting that God is always at work, turning loneliness into belonging. ❤️🐒✝️

15/02/2026

Celebrating 21 years of God's abundant grace, countless healing journeys, and lives gently transformed through compassionate care!

15/02/2026

Praise God for the blessings of Bishop Julito B. Cortes for conceiving a responsive-special initiative the Kahupayan Pastoral Care and Counseling Center for Women in crisis and for sustaining Kahupayan for 21 years due to God's graces for the unconditional, unending services of all Volunteers: Directors, Counselors, Receptionists and the trust of Clients.

Congratulations to all of us! Celebrate! 🎊🥂

30/09/2025

I will keep forever, within my heart,
The people that came when life fell apart,
Because it's not always, who you would assume,
That comes to your rescue when problems loom.

In shadows of sorrow, their kindness shone through,
With a touch of comfort, a hand that felt true,
They gathered around, like stars in the night,
Their laughter a comfort, their presence a light

Through trials and troubles, they'd silently stand,
With warmth in their eyes and love in their hands,
In moments of darkness, each spirit did ignite,
A beacon of hope, shining so bright.

So here's to the souls who've ventured so near,
With kindness to soften the edges of fear,
I’ll cradle their memories and cherish their part,
And hold sincere gratitude, deep in my heart ..

🖋️C.E. Coombes
🎨 via Pinterest credit to unknown artist

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