Confraternity of Catholic Saints
The Confraternity of Catholic Saints (CCS) was a Catholic organization of young people in the Philippines. Their dedication is to proclaim the gospel and to promote the Catholic view that holiness is very possible. In 2014, the Confraternity decided to change its name to The Cause for Canonization of Blessed Ivan Merz. Overview The Confraternity of Catholic Saints, was an organization of young people in the Philippines, consecrated to the Trinity through the Blessed Virgin Mary. Using the gospel of Jesus Christ and the lives and works of Catholic saints to fulfill their mission, they promoted holiness among Catholics and to the world with a special focus on youth. The purpose of their ministries was to inspire people to be holy, and to encourage loyalty to the Roman Catholic Church, its teachings, the Pope, and the Diocesan Bishop. The fulfillment of their mission was to realize the universal call to holiness of the Catholic Church. History of CCS The Confraternity of Catholic Saints began on 1 October 2003 as the Ministry for the Promotion of Holy Men and Women at the Roman Catholic Diocese of Cubao, dedicated to promote the new Saints of the Catholic Church. Its foundation was led by Dave Caesar Dela Cruz and Lloyd Paul Elauria, both from the Diocese of Cubao. In August 2006, it changed its name to the Confraternity of Catholic Saints (CCS) in the presence of the pioneer fraters of the CCS, namely (each with his religious name) Dave Caesar Dela Cruz (Francis Teresa Maria of the Immaculate Conception and of the Holy Cross), Lloyd Paul Elauria (Tarciso Bonaventura Maria a Croce), Weldann Lester Panganiban (John Ezekiel Maria of the Miraculous Medal and of the Cross), Matthew Taleon (Joseph Pio Maria of the Visitation of our Lady), John Felix Santos [John of Saint Mary, Mother of God], Adrian Millena (Paul Lawrence Maria of the Resurrection), Carlos Babiano (Josemaria of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary), and Roel San Miguel (John Therese Maria of the Annunciation). The charism of the CCS was the promotion of devotion, lives and spirituality of the Catholic Saints. On 13 July 2007 Rev. Fr. Angelo Ma. S. Legal, of the Catholic (OSB) became the Spiritual Director of the CCS. The CSS was the Official Promoter for the Cause of Canonization for Blessed Ivan Merz of Croatia in the Philippines, the Official Group-Promoter of Blessed Alberto Marvelli of Italy in the Philippines, a recognized prayer group for the Cause of Beatification and Canonization of the Servant of God, Pope John Paul II, and Recognized Promoter of Saint Rita de Cascia (by the Mother Abbess), Monastery of Saint Rita de Cascia, Cascia, Italy. In October 2007, Director, Dave Caesar Dela Cruz, visited the tomb of Blessed Ivan Merz in Croatia. The Confraternity was recognized by the Archbishop of Zagreb, Josip Cardinal Bozanic; the Archbishop of Sarajevo, Vinko Cardinal Puljik (Bosnian, Croatian: Vinko Puljić); and the Bishop of Banja Luka, Franjo Komarika. On 5 October 2008, the fifth anniversary of the