UC asks public to join feast of Calungsod

THE University of Cebu (UC) enjoins its alumni, parents, students, teachers and staff to join in the 11th annual fiesta celebration of Beato Pedro Calungsod,   starting with novena Masses at 4 p.m. at the UC Main Chapel from Feb. 28 to March 7.

The feast day on March 8 will feature a solemn procession at 3 p.m. and a Pontifical Mass at 4 p.m.

The UC community exerted effort and offered prayers for the canonization of Calungsod. Immediately after his beatification in March 2000, the UC Campus Ministry had Calungsod enshrined in their chapel.

A year later, the administration agreed to name him as patron of the UC Main Campus.

Every year since 2001, the hermano and hermana will be appointed as elder brother and sister to take charge in the preparation of the fiesta celebration.

This year’s hermano and hermana

are Dr. Leonilo B. Oliva and Araceli C. Tiukinhoy.

Pedro Calungsod was martyred together with the Jesuit missionary, Fr. Diego Luis de San Vitores in Guam on April 2, 1672. Fr. Vitores was beatified on Oct. 6, 1985.

Last Dec. 19, Pope Benedict XVI approved the canonization of Blessed Pedro Calungsod to sainthood. Calungsod’s canonization will be held on Oct. 21 in Rome.