This is the day that the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it for the Lord has gifted us with so many precious gifts especially, the gift of Christian Faith.
The Archdiocese of Cebu celebrated the First-Day Triduum towards the commemoration of the First Baptism which is the significant part of the 500YoC in Cebu. The celebration started with a Holy Mass with Baptism of 100 children at the Archdiocesan Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe at 9:00 in the morning.
The mass was presided over by the Archbishop of Cebu Jose S. Palma together with Auxiliary Bishop Antonio Rañola, Cebu Auxiliary Bishop Midyphil Billones, and Palo Archbishop John Du.
Archbishop Palma in his homily said, “One hundred infants were being brought to our Christian Community. They can have something great to look back when they grow old, a once in a lifetime privilege that they are part of. Something to inspire and to motivate them. A strong foundation of their Christian faith. Parents can’t express how grateful they are for this momentum event.”
At around 1pm, motorcade was held within the Cebu City together with the Pilgrim Image of Sñr. Sto. Niño de Cebu and the Jubilee Cross.
In partnership with Smart Communication, Inc., InnoPub and SM City Cebu, the Archdiocese of Cebu launched the 500YoCCebu Exhibit: Mga Hulagway sa Pagtuo. The Rites of Blessing and Grand Launching was led by the Cebu Archbishop Jose S. Palma
The exhibit showcased well-kept and cherished relics of the saints, images, arts and paintings. Archbishop Jose Palma shared how these exhibits help in our journey to the past and appreciate how our faith has grown, how it gives joy to see that, despite the pandemic. “All of this beauty serves only one purpose – to encounter the beauty himself”, Rev Fr. Brian Brigoli, Chair of the Cebu Archdiocesan Commission on the Cultural Heritage.
The day was ended with a Cultural Event held at the grounds of the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral at 7:30pm. The show was entitled, “EL CAMINO A LAS FILIPINAS” – a journey of faith, a journey through our history, and a journey as a people of God.
It was a way of revisiting the past, how the faith was planted in Cebu and how it also spread throughout the country, how it progressed, develop and reached even until the present generation. (By Carmel Ferrater)