San Pedro Calungsod second canonization anniversary remembered

CEBU, Philippines - Two years ago, Filipinos got their second saint and Visayans felt proud having their first saint canonized.

The canonization of San Pedro Calungsod was remembered yesterday in a mass led by Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma inside the chapel dedicated to the teen martyr inside the SM Seaside City at the South Road Properties.

Palma emphasized that Cebuanos must feel proud as we are the direct beneficiaries of the first Visayan saint.

Calungsod, having died in his teens while defending the Catholic faith in Guam on a mission, is the dedicated saint for the youth.

Palma stressed that the second Filipino saint, next to another martyr San Lorenzo Ruiz, rapidly became popular especially among the youth. Souvenir items, he continued, are selling like hotcakes in Rome.

“It is thanksgiving to God for giving us a saint. To thank also for the gift of faith. Garbo nato nga mga Cebuanos ang iyang pagka santos,” Cebu’s top Church official said.

The challenge with this faith, he added, is actually propagating along with the gifts and blessings bestowed by God, which also happens to be the central message and theme of the coming International Eucharistic Congress in 2016 to be held in the Philippines particularly Cebu.

The young Visayan martyr officially ascended to sainthood together with six other Blessed in Vatican as proclaimed by Pope Benedict XVI.

The pilgrimage of the San Pedro Calungsod image around the country continues two years after his canonization.

Cebuano masses are being done at several San Pedro Calungsod chapels in the United States, Switzerland, and Rome. — (FREEMAN)