Cover Will Ka Luring Franco be the next Filipino saint? (Photos: Facebook / St. Michael Parish Hagonoy Taguig)
Will Ka Luring Franco be the next Filipino saint? (Photos: Facebook / St. Michael Parish Hagonoy Taguig)
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All eyes are on the late catechist ‘Ka Luring’ as the Vatican green lights the probe into her sainthood
When asked to name the most devout, selfless, and holy catechist in the Philippines, numerous names may come to mind. However, one name shines above the rest—especially now that the Vatican has recognised her service before her passing, clearing the way for an inquiry into the cause for her sainthood.
Her name is Laureana “Ka Luring” Franco.
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On July 10, Pasig Bishop Mylo Hubert Vergara shared in a Facebook post that apostolic nuncio Archbishop Charles Brown and his counsellor, Monsignor Giuseppe Trentadue, had handed him a nihil obstat document from Rome. It marks one of the initial stages in the process of declaring a person a Catholic saint.
Signed by Cardinal Marcello Semeraro and Archbishop Fabio Fabene, the nihil obstat reads: “Having examined the matter, I am pleased to inform Your Excellency that on the part of the Holy See, there is nothing that stands against the Cause of Beatification and Canonization of the abovementioned Servant of God Laureana ‘Ka Luring’ Franco from being carried out, observing the ‘Norms to be observed in the Inquiries made by the Bishops in the Causes of Saints,’ issued by the same Dicastery on February 7, 1983.”
Who is Ka Luring?
Ka Luring was born in Hagonoy, Taguig City, the eldest of eight children, on July 4, 1936. Despite being poor, her parents endeavoured to teach their children the importance of prayer, regularly gathering as a family to recite the Angelus and the holy rosary. Indeed, the late devotee led a humble and unassuming life, far removed from the complexities and temptations of the world.
She became deeply reverent, eventually joining the Legion of Mary, where her profound devotion to the Blessed Mother blossomed.
Of service and sacrifice
As a member of the Legion of Mary, Ka Luring was once troubled by the absence of catechism in the parish’s regular activities and the lack of instruction for children. She sought and received permission to hold Saturday catechism classes under the shade of trees after school hours, teaching them about God, the Bible, the Church, and the saints.
Her commitment was such that she eventually resigned from her job as a switchboard operator and accounting clerk with the Philippine Air Force. She then enrolled in formal lessons at the Institute for Catechetics in Manila, preparing herself for full-time work as a catechist.
Ka Luring dedicated herself to teaching catechism. She embraced this vocation as a lifelong commitment; retirement was never part of her plans. She lived out this mission with unwavering joy until her passing.
Being recognised for her works
Above At a young age, Ka Luring became a member of the Legion of Mary, where she developed a strong devotion to the Blessed Mother. (Photo: Diocese of Pasig)
At a young age, Ka Luring became a member of the Legion of Mary, where she developed a strong devotion to the Blessed Mother. (Photo: Diocese of Pasig)
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Ka Luring has been recognised several times for her service to the Church and the children.
She received the Papal Award on April 1, 1990, in a simple ceremony befitting one whose enduring commitment and quiet ways ask no recognition. Apart from being a Pro Ecclesia et Pontifica Awardee, she also received the Missio Canonica Award on October 6, 1999, from then Archbishop of Manila Jaime Cardinal Sin, the Forward Taguig Award on April 25, 2002, and the Mother Teresa Award in 2002.
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Death
After years of struggle with cancer, Ka Luring died on October 17, 2011.
On her 10th death anniversary, Bishop of the Diocese of Pasig Mylo Hubert Vergara announced the opening of the Diocesan Process of Inquiry for the cause of beatification of Ka Luring, which commenced in 2021 in line with the celebration of the 500th year of Christianity in the Philippines.
Road to sainthood
The Catholic Church is actively seeking saints who can infuse their faith with relevance in the modern world. Among these candidates is Ka Luring, whose life and legacy continue to inspire. “May I ask for your unceasing prayers as we do the next steps required by the dicastery,” asks Vergara, upon announcing to the public the contents of the letter from the Vatican.
Another promising candidate is Niña Ruiz Abad, a 13-year-old girl from Sarrat, Ilocos Norte, who passed away from an incurable heart disease in 1993. Also recently, Pope Francis approved the sainthood of Carlo Acutis, a young computer programmer who died of leukaemia in 2006 and who has also gained a huge following in the Philippines.
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Angela Nicole Regis Guiral is a digital editor at Tatler Philippines. She studied journalism and has since written features that look closely at how culture, lifestyle and social impact converge, while occasionally wandering into the worlds of style and travel.
