Diocese of Legazpi launches celebration of 500 years of Christianity

LIBON, Albay — The Diocese of Legazpi on Sunday launched the 500 years of Christianity celebration in this town, marking the start of the observance that will end in April 2022.

Bishop Joel Baylon of the Diocese of Legazpi, in an interview, said the town of Libon was chosen because it was here that the very first Spanish settlement in the Bicol region was established in 1573 which eventually opened the door to the start of the work of evangelization among the natives by the Franciscan friars in 1578.

The Albay prelate officiated a Holy Mass at the St. James the Greater Parish in Libon, signaling the observance of the 500 years of Christianity in Albay.

“Because of the present COVID pandemic the launch was for only a day (Nov. 29), but the entire celebration would be a one-year affair with many activities lined up, both on the local as well as on the national level,” Baylon said.

He, however, said the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) has allowed those dioceses that feel there is less threat of the COVID-19 virus, to open already. This Sunday is the 1st of Advent, the start of the new liturgical year, which was also the original date of the launching ceremony.

The CBCP in its bulletin said it has adjusted the schedule for the celebration of the 500 years of Christianity in the country because of the pandemic. The opening ceremony was postponed to April next year, so the whole celebration will end in April 2022.

The CBCP bulletin said the scheduled events next year have also been adjusted and made to extend until 2022.

“The original schedule for the culmination of the celebration in April 2021 will now instead serve as the launching of the year-long celebration that will end in April 2022,” the bulletin said.

The year-long celebration for the 500 years of Christianity in the Philippines will begin on April 17, 2021, to commemorate the first Easter Sunday mass in the Philippines at Limasawa Island in Southern Leyte. The Diocese of Maasin will lead the celebration.

On April 14, 2021, the first Baptism in the Philippines will be commemorated. This celebration will be spearheaded by the Archdiocese of Cebu.

/MUF