austraLasia
#1759
Cebu Cardinal Vidal joins
Lourdes Parish 50th celebrations
CEBU CITY: 13th February 2007 -- Long time close friend of the Salesians in Cebu,
His Eminence Ricardo Cardinal Vidal, solemnised the celebrations for the
Salesian Lourdes Parish Golden Jubilee on Sunday 11th February, drawing a crowd
of more than 3,000 parishioners. Last October, the Shrine was proclaimed an
archdiocesan shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes, with its own grotto built on similar
dimensions to the original. This celebration was an occasion, in the
presence of the Cardinal, for Parish Priest Fr Peter Porio to thank his
Eminence, but also the many who had contributed to parish life and parish
projects over the years.
The 50th anniversary celebration
was three years in the planning. As a parish it is far more than a centre of
worship. There are prominent social services carried out by the parish - a
clinic, and a food programme for the poor. Sunday's pontifical Mass was well
prepared for with a novena, packed each day by parishioners, and the Saturday
evening saw a candlelight procession with at least 10,000 participants joining
in from all the barrios making up the parish area, moving towards the church
itself. Celebrated in the local language, Cebuano, the Mass involved a
band of 100 mandolins played by parish youth, and was concelebrated by some 60
priests. Bishop Patrick Buzon, a former provincial of the Southern
Philippines province, joined the Salesian Regional Councillor Fr Klement, many
local Salesian priests and clergy from Religious Congregations and the Diocese.
The Mass was followed by a dinner and a massive fireworks
display.
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