Calungsod icon arrives in Bohol

CEBU, Philippines - Hundreds of Boholano faithful greeted the pilgrim image of San Pedro Calungsod upon its arrival in Bohol yesterday via chopper at Pres. Carlos P. Garcia sports complex.

Parish priest Rev. Fr. Jeffrey Malanog led in welcoming the image with top guns of the provincial and city government led by Governor Edgar Chatto and city councilors Edi Boarja and Anne Mariquit Oppus, students and the religious groups.

Devotees lined up in the main street to welcome the image as it passed through CPG St., en route to St. Joseph Cathedral, where Bishop Leonardo Medroso waited.

A Mass was celebrated in honor of the new saint at past 11 a.m., after which hundreds of the faithful queued for more than three hours just to touch and see the image.

The image will be brought up to at 7:30 a.m. today to the town of Jagna, before heading to Talibon town, the center of the Talibon diocese, where Bishop Vincent Noel will lead in welcoming the saint at 2 p.m.

Tomorrow, the image will be brought to Getafe then on board a fastcraft that will take it back to Cebu City.

There will be welcome rites at the port which will be followed by a motorcade passing Cebu City Hall to D. Jakosalem St. straight to the San Pedro Calungsod Shrine at the Archbishops’ Palace.

At 2 p.m. there will be welcome rites at the shrine and the pilgrim image will then be transferred to the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe for the first triduum mass at 6 p.m., which will be celebrated by Bishop Emilio Bataclan, the parish priest of Danao City.

In the second day, from Guadalupe it will pass through V. Rama Ave. Natalio Bacalso Ave., Osmeña Blvd., D. Jakosalem St., P. Gomez St. and then to the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral for the second triduum Mass at 6 p.m., which will be celebrated by Bishop Julito Cortes, the parish priest of Sto. Rosario.

On the third day, from the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral, the motorcade will pass through N. Bacalso Ave., Mambaling going to the San Pedro Church in SRP at 3 p.m.

Following the Mass which will be celebrated by Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma, the San Pedro Church will be consecrated.

From SRP, the motorcade will pass through Ouano Ave., Tribunal (Mandaue City Sports Complex area) going to St. Joseph’s Shrine for the last triduum Mass at 8 p.m., which will be celebrated by Bishop Antonio Rañola.

There will be a farewell Mass at the St. Joseph’s Shrine on Nov. 30, 7:30 am, to be celebrated by Msgr. Adelito Abella.

The foot procession will start at 1 p.m. while the fluvial procession will start at 2 pm.

The National Thanksgiving Mass will start at 5 p.m. and it will be celebrated by Cebu Archbishop Emeritus Ricardo Cardinal Vidal.

Mejia encouraged everybody to pray for a good weather and to pray for a solemn, orderly and safe holding of these activities.  – Niña G. Sumacot, Ria Mae Y. Booc, Marigold P. Lebumfacil and Ric Obedencio/BRP (FREEMAN)