St.Anthony of Padua relic to arrive in Leyte’s town

TABONTABON, LEYTE, Philippines — A festive atmosphere will pervade in this town on May 2 when the relic of Saint Anthony of Padua from Italy will arrive in this town for its historic pilgrim visit.

“This is a big event and activity that will happen in Tabontabon, Leyte,” said Saint Anthony of Padua Parish Priest Reverend Father Ebert Concon Trinchera.

Palo Archbishop John Du will preside a pontifical concelebrated Mass at the new parish church, with a number of priests in attendance, he said.

Trinchera said the relic of Saint Anthony of Padua will arrive at the Tacloban City Airport at 6:30 a.m. and a motorcade will follow from the airport to this town, and by 10 a.m. the veneration and Mass will be celebrated.

The relic of Saint Anthony of Padua is his rib and skin, Trinchera said, adding that Tabontabon got the luck of being chosen as the only one among the 78 parishes in the Archdiocese of Palo, as recommended by Archbishop Du.

The “pilgrim relic” will be accompanied to the Archdiocese of Palo by the Franciscan Conventual priests and around 11:30 a.m. on the same day, it will be brought to the Saint Anthony of Padua Parish Church in Sulangan, Guiuan, Eastern Samar.

Meanwhile, Councilor Nestor Abrematea authored a resolution, unanimously approved by the Municipal Council in last week’s session, requesting the Tabontabon Police chief to come up with a traffic plan during the visit of the relic.

Abrematea also thanked 1st Leyte Engineering District Engineer Johnny Acosta for clearing the road to Tabontabon of any obstructions and of grasses along the road’s shoulder near the town’s boundary.

Tabontabon, a 5th class municipality, is only 25 kilometers southeast of Tacloban City.  (FREEMAN)