A million devotees expected to attend Calungsod thanksgiving mass

November 29, 2012 9:58pm

One million devotees are expected to flock to Cebu City's South Road Properties (SRP) on Friday to attend the national thanksgiving mass for the recently canonized Saint Pedro Calungsod.

According to a report by Kara David on GMA News' "24 Oras," among those attending the mass are high ranking church and government officials, including President Benigno Aquino III.




The mass will begin at 5 p.m., following two processions. The first procession will start at 1 p.m., and an 81-float fluvial parade will begin at 2 p.m.

The fluvial parade will bring the image of Saint Pedro Calungsod from Mandaue in Cebu to the Templete de Pedro, an altar at the SRP where it is to be installed.

Meanwhile, the Chapel of San Pedro Calungsod in Cebu City was blessed and formally opened on Thursday.

Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma led the celebration of a mass at the chapel, along with over 20 bishops and Cebu Archbishop-emeritus Cardinal Vidal.

"He is a Bisaya, that means from Cebu. So we are proud to have him," said Cebu Auxiliary Bishop Emilio Bataclan of the teenage saint on the "24 Oras" report.

"We might be people who are insulted by the big powers...China, or the other nations or what. We might be trampled on, but we have a God who died for us," he added. — Amanda Lago/DVM, GMA