Philippine Church ready for 5th centenary celebrations
Catholicism in the Philippines is believed to have arrived in 1521 when renowned Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan first set foot in what is now Cebu province.
By Robin Gomes
The Philippine Church is set to kick off celebrations to mark 500 years of Christianity in the country. Two Philippine dioceses have anticipated the celebrations ahead of the national inauguration in April.
Easter Sunday launch
Dioceses across the Philippines will designate “jubilee churches” for the 500th anniversary celebrations. Archbishop Romulo Valles, president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines will formally inaugurate the jubilee year at the national level by opening the pilgrim churches’ “holy door” on Easter Sunday, April 4. This, he said, is to recall that on this day, the first recorded Eucharist was celebrated in the land.