IT WAS an early Easter gift being there in the Relic Room of the National Shrine of the Sacred Heart last March 22.
Twenty-two devotees belonging to the Society of St. Expeditus, headed by Nida Buencamino Lopez, visited that day. It was the last in a pilgrimage of the five Jubilee Churches of the Archdiocese of Manila for this Year of Faith.
Fr. Vic Apacible, rector and parish priest, granted our spiritual director, Fr. Diwane Cacao, permission to celebrate Mass at 4 p.m.
Those of us suffering from serious illness were very grateful to have been there, holding rosaries that had touched the relics, particularly the Relic of the True Cross that stood in the middle of the room encased in a reliquary.
The shrine is holding an exposition of the relics of saints and holy men and women until the Feast of Christ the King in November.
History of our faith
The exhibit goes through the history of our faith, from the time of Our Lord (March, Lent) to the present (May-November).
The current exposition consists of the Silent Testimonies of Our Lord’s Passion: A Relic of True Cross, Holy Nail, Holy Sepulchre, Holy Face of Manoppello and of the Holy Land, with the 12 Apostles and the Biblical Witnesses of the Passion.
This April and Easter Season, the exhibit will feature not only the relics of the early martyrs and disciples of the Church but also the relics of Popes.
For more info and booking request for pilgrim groups, call 895-6331 or text 0922-898-1006; e-mail: [email protected].
Anniversary of Calungsod’s martyrdom
The Archdiocese of Cebu will celebrate a Thanksgiving Mass on April 2 to mark the 341st anniversary of the martyrdom of Pedro Calungsod.
Rosary begins at 5:30 p.m. at the Archdiocesan Shrine of St. Pedro Calungsod in the Archbishop’s Palace compound on Jakosalem St., Cebu City. Mass follows at 6 p.m.
On April 2, 1672, Pedro Calungsod, a migrant missionary catechist gave up his life in the name of the Christian faith. After suffering four years of religious persecution, inflicted by the pagan Chamorro natives on the Spanish Jesuit missionaries and the workers of the San Diego Mission to the Marianas (Guam), he was martyred while doing missionary work.
Also martyred was the Jesuit missionary Blessed Diego Luis de San Vitores. Together, they traversed the perilous islands of the Marianas, preaching the Christian faith, baptizing children and adult natives.
Play on Calungsod
Francis O. Villacorta’s historical drama, “San Pedro Calungsod, Batang Santo,” tells the valiant story of the young Visayan-Filipino from the 17th century who was canonized on Oct. 21, 2012 at St. Peter’s Square in Rome.
The play has been staged in Catholic schools, starring Bryan James Forbes who plays Calungsod. Villacorta is convinced that there is so much to learn from the story of the young soldier of Jesus Christ.
“In telling his story, I seek to challenge the young generation today to find meaning in their own lives and define the essence of their own existence through the example of San Pedro Calungsod’s short yet fruitful Christian life. For in the end, our lives will be defined by what we do for the rest of humanity or simply, for another person’s life,” Villacorta said.
Sacerdotal anniversaries in Butuan
The Diocese of Butuan that covers Agusan del Sur and Agusan del Norte celebrates the 23rd Sacerdotal anniversary of 10 priests who were ordained on April 3, 1990 by Bishop Carmelo Morelos at the St. Joseph Cathedral.
It was the largest ordination in Mindanao, according to Fr. Joesilo Amalla, and all 10 priests are still in the ministry.
On April 3, marking their 23rd anniversary as priests are Fathers Joesilo Amalla, Vincent Blanco, Chito Bitardo, Felicito Cepeda, Leonardo Guiritan, Rufino de Gracia, Dennis Mira, Eddie Teo and Santiago Ybañez. The present bishop is Most Rev. Juan de Dios Pueblos, DD.
The diocese of Butuan was created on March 20,1967.
Feast day of St. Vincent Ferrer
April 5 is the feast day of St. Vincent Ferrer who is portrayed with wings.
In the town of Odiongan in Romblon, devotion to him has spread to Catholics and Aglipayans, with members of both groups carrying the image to sea in a fluvial procession.
In Barangay Buli in Taal, Batangas, the fiesta is also celebrated on April 4 and 5. In charge is the Barangay Buli Catholic Chapel Council headed by Tita Alcazar. Hermana mayor is Lulu Gahol with her family.
Blessings to Yuan Gabriel Parica de Jesus who in kindergarten received many awards. He is the godson of designer Ali Rich Garcia.
Happy Easter greetings to all! El Señor Recucitado (The Risen Christ), bless us with good health and the need to be closer to You through Mary, your Mother!
