CEBU, Philippines — At least 100 faithful have joined the confirmation rites presided over by Palo Archbishop John Du at the National Shrine of St. Joseph in Mandaue City during the second day of the Triduum Mass for the 500 Years of Christianity celebrations.
Joining Du in the celebration was Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma and Cebu Auxiliary Bishop Midyphil Billones, Bishop Daniel Parcon of the Diocese of Talibon and Auxiliary Bishop-Emeritus Antonio Ran~ola.
“The zeal in Christianity continues to spread. It is flourishing and it is being strengthened by this confirmation. [Our dear confirmands], you are also challenged to be missionaries," Du said in his homily.
A total of 100 confirmands from 12 parishes joined the confirmation rites in which the youngest confirmand is Niño Sean Bensi, 12 years old from Tipolo, Mandaue City and the oldest is Analyn Formentera, 37 years old from Camotes Island.
The confirmands came from the parishes of the National Shrine of St. Joseph, Nativity of Mary-Canduman, San Roque-Subangdaku, Our Lady of Fatima-Basak, Christ the King-Alang-alang, Holy Family-Maguikay, Sto. Nin~o-Paknaan, all in Mandaue City; Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral, Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Parish-Recoletos, Archdiocesan Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe and Saint Joseph the Patriarch Parish, all in Cebu City.
Du said the celebration was very special being held in Cebu, the cradle of Christianity, amidst the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
Du said that on the second day of the Triduum Mass which is the confirmation rites, it showed the continuation and the increasing number of Christians as the first day of the Triduum Mass started with the baptism of 100 children.
Meanwhile, a motorcade procession of the image of Señor Sto. Niño and the 2021 Jubilee Cross was also held from Basilica Minore Del Sto. Niño after the mass.
The motorcade passed through the South Road Properties then to San Isidro, Tabunok, Bulacao, Lawaan, Linao, in Talisay City then back to where it started.
Jonathan Tumulak, head of the City of Talisay-Traffic Operations Development Authority, was thankful that the procession, which lasted for an hour, went on smoothly. — Rowena D. Capistrano, GMR (FREEMAN)