Mandaue ready for Pedro

DEVOTEES will be allowed to get close and touch the official image of San Pedro Calungsod when it is taken tomorrow to the National Shrine of St. Joseph in Mandaue City, a parish official said.

The icon will be placed on the left side of the main altar for veneration.

Serina Gonzales, president of the Mandaue Parish Pastoral Council, said that after the Triduum Mass, devotees may line up and approach the image and, as is the custom, touch the icon and pray.

A vigil starts at 10 p.m. with different religious groups taking turns in leading the prayers.

Traffic rerouting in Mandaue City will start about 4 p.m.

Tricycles and jeepneys passing through S.B. Cabahug Street will be rerouted to P. Burgos Street. The interior portion of the city will be closed in anticipation of the heavy influx of people.

Vendors in Mandaue city plaza will be asked to move out as the area will be used as parking space.

Pasigarbo festival dancers will welcome the arrival of Calungsod’s motorcade at around 6 p.m. The second Triduum Mass will be celebrated by Bishop Antonio Rañola.

At 7 p.m. the San Pedro Calungsod Commemorative Album, which contains a full-color compilation of pictures taken during San Pedro’s canonization in Rome, will be launched.

The Mandaue shrine will remain open even after midnight as long as there are people paying homage, the PPC’s Gonzales said.

After a 10 a.m. farewell mass to be celebrated by parish priest Msgr. Adelito Abella, San Pedro’s image will be brought to the Ouano wharf for the start of the fluvial procession en route to the SRP

There will be no foot procession from the shrine to the private wharf, Gonzales said. The wharf will be off limits to the public. /REPORTER Jucell Marie P. Cuyos