Traffic routes in Saturday procession for Pedro

MOTORISTS and commuters are advised to avoid D. Jakosalem Street, F. Ramos Street and Gen. Maxilom Avenue tomorrow afternoon as the Archdiocese of Cebu will hold a procession celebrating the feast day of Blessed Pedro Calungsod.

The procession follows after a 4 p.m. Mass celebrating the martyrdom of Calungsod.

The procession route is the same taken as in previous years.

From the Calungsod shrine in the compound of the Cebu Archbishop’s Residence, the procession will proceed to D. Jakosalem Street, passing Ramos Public Market going to F. Ramos Street.

Devotees will then turn right to Gen. Maxilom Avenue, finally making a right turn at D. Jakosalem St. before reaching the Archdiocesan Shrine.

Blessed Pedro’s feast day falls on April 2, but the Archdiocese decided to move the celebration to tomorrow , March 31, to give way to the Holy Week celebration that starts on Palm Sunday, April 1.

This year’s feast day for Calungsod will be his last to be addressed as “blessed.” The teenage catechist who was killed in Guam in the 17th century is scheduled for canonization in Rome on Oct. 21.

Msgr. Ildebrando Leyson, shrine chaplain, said the adjusted schedule is well timed for the martyrdom of Calungsod as he was killed on the Saturday preceding Palm Sunday.

This year’s palm Sunday is on April 1.

He said the feast day will follow the prescribed Gospel reading for the day in the Catholic liturgical calendar. /Correspondent Jessa Christina Marie J. Agua