One of the best things to ever happen to local Christendom is the papal approval of the canonization of Blessed Pedro Calungsod, a Molo, Iloilo City native who came to Cebu to help the missionaries spread the faith.
Calungsod was never ordained into priesthood but remained an acolyte who was skilled in Cathechism. He accompanied Blessed Diego Luis de San Vitores to the Marianas Islands to catechize and spread missionary works.
In 1672, Calungsod, aged 17 at the time, and San Vitores, were caught and murdered by natives after baptizing an infant girl and mother who converted to Roman Catholicism. Calungsod was thus martyred in pursuit and defense of the faith.
He was beatified on March 5, 2000 by then Pope John Paul II along with Father San Vitores and 43 other individuals that the pope declared as Servants of God. Regarding Calungsod’s work and deeds, here is what Pope John Paul II declared, as quoted in Wikipedia:
“From his childhood, Pedro Calungsod declared himself unwaveringly for Christ, responding generously to his call. Young people today can draw encouragement and strength from the example of Pedro, whose love of Jesus inspired him to devote his teenage years to teaching the faith.
“Leaving family and friends behind, Pedro willingly accepted the challenge put to him by Father Diego de San Vitores to join him. In a spirit of faith marked by strong Eucharistic and Marian devotion, Pedro undertook the demanding work asked of him.
“He bravely faced the many obstacles and difficulties he met. In the face of imminent danger, Pedro would not forsake Father Diego but as a good soldier of Christ preferred to die at the missionary’s side.”
When Pope John Paul II’s successor, Pope Benedict XI, approved last December 19, 2011 the miracle attributed to Blessed Pedro (that of a woman brought back to life after being clinically dead for two hours), that paved the way for his canonization and declaration as a saint.
After San Lorenzo Ruiz, Calungsod will become the second Filipino martyr declared Saint by the Roman Catholic Church. There is no official date announced yet for the canonization but many expect it to come early next year.
I am privileged to be associated in a very small and insignificant way with Blessed Pedro. You see, I live in an apartment owned by the couple Nonnie and Jo Mapeso, who also own Springpark Mountain Resort in Cantabaco, Toledo City.
Shortly after the beatification of Blessed Pedro, Nonnie and Jo donated a one-hectare lot adjacent to Springpark to the Archdiocese of Cebu. On that piece of land now stands the still unfinished Blessed Pedro Calungsod parish church.
Aside from donating the land, Nonnie, an architect, designed the church. And with their own money and various contacts, the couple started the initial work on the church. Others, especially those in the immediate and outlying communities, soon pitched in what they could.
The church is still far from finished. But it is slowly taking shape, thanks to those who have responded to calls for donations. Every now and then, the Mapeso couple would take me and a few journalist friends to the church to check on the work in progress.
The Blessed Pedro Calungsod parish church in Cantabaco, Toledo City is the very first church in the entire Philippines dedicated to Blessed Pedro. And it would be great to see it finished by the time he is officially canonized next year.
So, this appeal goes out to all Cebuanos and other Filipinos who, I am sure, will start to become devotees of the first Bisdak saint, to please please help finish the church in his name. It would be great to have the first Mass after his canonization there in a finished church.