Today, Easter Sunday, we celebrate the Life of Salvation because Jesus rose from the dead after three days.

 

We also prepare for the much-awaited canonization of two great popes of the Catholic Church: Blessed John Paul II and Blessed John XXIII on April 27 in Rome.

 

On April 3, 2005, the Blessed Mother told Filipino visionary Nora Luna Ilagan through inner locution while she was inside the Adoration Chapel of Magallanes Church: “Rejoice! Celebrate because my son John Paul II is now with me in heaven.”

 

The day before, the pope passed away after a long bout with Parkinson’s disease.

 

Fr. Arnel Recinto, parish priest of the Blessed John Paul Church in Eastwood, is a devotee of Blessed John Paul II.

 

Already, he has a statue of the pope in the altar of his church. I understand Fr. Arnel’s devotion to this pope who inspired many of the clergy to become holy priests, never compromising their faith and commitment to the service of the Lord as priests.

 

Celebration

 

The Blessed John Paul II Parish will host the Diocesan celebration of the canonization of Blessed John Paul II and Blessed John XXIII on St. Peter’s Square in Rome on April 27 at 10 a.m. (4 p.m. in Manila).

 

It will be held at the open park of Eastwood City in Quezon City.

 

The faithful who come from either the Diocese of Cubao or other parishes can preregister either in their own parishes or at the event area before the Mass.

 

The Quezon City event will start at 1:30 p.m. with the praise and worship.

 

Msgr. Daniel B. Sta. Maria, the vicar general of the Diocese of Cubao, will officiate the concelebrated Mass at 3 p.m., representing Cubao Bishop Honesto F. Ongtioco.

 

At 3:45 p.m., the canonization will be broadcast live from St. Peter’s Square in Rome on the wide screen at the John Paul parish for all to witness.

 

The faithful are advised to whisper their petitions or prayers of thanksgiving when the bells ring at the moment Pope Francis announces that the two popes have been elevated.

 

Choirs from the different parishes of the Diocese of Cubao will perform  in a concert at 5:45 p.m.

 

Celebration at Araneta Coliseum

 

Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle, archbishop of Manila, will lead the celebration of the two popes’ canonization at the Araneta Coliseum on April 27 at 4 p.m. (10 a.m. in Rome).

 

It will be a concelebrated Mass.

 

Servant of God

 

Bishop Alfredo Verzosa

 

The cause of the canonization of Servant of God Bishop Alfredo Verzosa is now with the Sacred Congregation of the Causes of Saints in the Vatican.

 

Bishop Verzosa was the bishop of Lipa during the apparitions of Our Lady Mediatrix of All Grace to Sr. Teresing Castillo who was a postulant then at the Carmelite Convent in Lipa.

 

Bishop Verzosa had already retired to Vigan, Ilocos Sur, when the apparitions were declared fake, causing him to die brokenhearted. His tomb is now a site of pilgrimage of devotees who pray for his intercession.

 

One such devotee is Soledad Ventura Fariñas who was cured of cancer after making novenas and visiting Verzosa’s tomb. Her story will be the subject of a future column.

 

Auditions for Bishop

Verzosa musical

 

The “Alfredo Verzosa, Obispo, Ang Musikal” will be staged in July. Produced by the Bishop Alfredo Florentin Verzosa Foundation Inc., it will be  directed by Joey G. Nombres from a script written by Frank G. Rivera.

 

Auditions for male and female roles are set 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on April 21 at the training center of SM City Lipa, Batangas; April 29 at the event center of SM City San Fernando, Pampanga; May 3 at the Skydome, SM City North Edsa; and at SM City Rosales, Pangasinan.

 

E-mail resumés and full and half-body pictures to [email protected].

 

‘A Life of Union with Christ’

 

The Diocese of Pasig’s Chapel of San Pedro Calungsod in SM Aura will hold the fourth installment of its “The Laity as Bearers of Christ” lecture and sharing series on April 26 at 7 p.m.

 

The latest lecture, “A Life of Union with Christ,” will feature the teachings of the Catholic Church about the Sacrament of the Eucharist.

 

The speaker will be Erickson S. Javier, director of the Center for Christian Formation of Pasig Catholic College.

 

A special guest from the corporate world will share his experience and reflections. The faithful from the business community are urged to come.

 

To preregister and for complete schedule of topics, call 4033372 or e-mail [email protected].

 

Happy Easter to all my readers!

 

May God bless you all with good health and protection! (Psalm 91).