Diocese of Bacolod celebrates Feast of Blessed John Paul II

BACOLOD CITY ,Philippines  — The Diocese of Bacolod joined all Catholic churches around the world in the celebration of the 1st Feast Day of Blessed John Paul II Saturday (October 22), the day of his inauguration as Pope in 1978, with three major activities at the Pope Tower in the reclamation area in this city.

Bacolod Bishop Vicente Navarra and San Sebastian Cathedral rector Fr. Felix Pasquin led several Catholic priests and faithfuls in the blessing of the Blessed John Paul II Prayer Room designed by Bro. Jaazeal Jakosalem, the unveiling and blessing of the glass encasement holding the Papal Chair, and the unveiling of Blessed John Paul II painting that was done and donated by Bacolod-based portrait artist Jun Diose.

The Papal Chair was used as the pontifical throne by His Holiness Pope John Paul II during his pastoral visit to this city on February 20, 1981, Pasquin said.

“We will take care of this Papal Chair because it will become a secondary relic once the Blessed John Paul II becomes a saint,” he said.

Blessed Pope John Paul II served as Pope from Oct. 16, 1978 until his death on April 2, 2005 at the age of 84. He was beatified last May 1.

Pasquin said the Church needs only one more miracle from Blessed John Paul II to declare him a saint.

Navarra and Pasquin enjoined the people to emulate Blessed John Paul II in his dedication to a life of prayers, noting that the very first thing John Paul II did upon his crowning as Pope was to kneel down and pray.

Navarra said he wants to share a special joy to everyone present at the feast day because when the Blessed John Paul II was crowned Pope in 1978, he was one of the first whom he appointed as bishop in 1979, and he even visited Bacolod in 1981.

The seven-storey Blessed John Paul II Tower, donated by businessman Simplicio Palanca, has been declared a pilgrimage site by the Catholic Church and has been named “one of the new icons of Bacolod.”