TACLOBAN CITY – The Archbishop Lino R. Gonzaga Foundation Inc. was formally launched Friday night with the sole aim of raising funds to help those aspiring for priesthood who are enrolled at the Palo Seminary.

Msgr. Pedro Dean, Archbishop of the Palo Diocese, in his speech before those who attended the launching, said that he was happy that a foundation with this purpose was instituted by a group of professionals in the city.

According to the prelate, there is no doubt that the Archbishop Lino R. Gonzaga Foundation Inc. would be a great help to young men who wish to become priests but are constraints due to financial conditions.

Msgr. Dean, who was chosen as the honorary chairman of the foundation, said that majority of the theologians at the Palo Seminary come from poor families.

“We need this kind of foundation. It is, I think, the duty of the Christians to help and support this foundation more than the money but also prayers,” the archbishop said before a crowd mostly composed among the city’s most prominent families.

The Palo Archbishop, meantime, lauded the people behind the foundation for naming it after the late archbishop of the Palo Diocese.

According to Msgr. Dean, Gonzaga made a lot of contributions to the spiritual growth not only in Leyte but also in areas in the country like Zamboanga, his last place of service.

Gonzaga served as the bishop of Palo Diocese on Nov. 12, 1951. He died at the Cebu Doctors Hospital in 1980 at the age of 74. He was a native of Jaro, Leyte.

Gonzaga was ordained as priest on March 19, 1929 at the age of 22 and once served as president of the influential Catholic bishops Conference of the Philippines.

Among his contributions was the translation of the Church Liturgy to the vernacular; the introduction on study of Catholic religion in public elementary schools; the construction of the Archbishop Palace which was renamed by Dean after his name.

Along stretch of road along Leyte national High school, this city, was named after by him by virtue of an ordinance passed by the Sangguniang Panlungsod last year. During the launching, the group led by retired General Primo Cordeta was able to raise P500, 000 of pledges.

It was learned from Atty. Manuel Cadano, who is a member of the board of trustees that they intend to have one scholar beginning next school year as a starter.

Aside from Cadano, also in the board of trustees are retired Brig. Gen. Primo Cordeta Jr.; Attys. Vicente Solis, Antonio Reyna, Teresita Rojas and Margarito Redoña, and Fr. Nicolas Valeriano III.