MANILA, Philippines—San Bartolome Parish, the oldest in Malabon City, is celebrating its 400th founding anniversary on May 17.
The parish, founded by the Augustinian friars in 1614 with St. Bartholomew the Apostle as its patron saint, is under the guidance of the Diocese of Kalookan and parish priest Rev. Father Ricardo Torrefiel.
To mark its quadricentennial anniversary, the parish will hold a rededication of the church on Saturday, May 10, at 3:30 p.m. There will be a concelebrated Mass at 5:30 p.m. to be led by Archbishop Bernardito Auza, apostolic nunciature to Haiti, and Torrefiel.
On May 16, there will be a pre-celebration with a holy Mass at 5:30 p.m., followed by a program from 7 p.m. to 11:45 p.m. and a countdown to the anniversary itself.
On May 17, the celebration will start at 8 a.m. with a wreath-laying by ambassadors from the United States, Spain and Japan and the launching of a quadricentennial commemorative stamp with the Postmaster General Ma. Josefina de la Cruz and Philippine Postal Corp. Chair Cesar Sarino. There will be a high Mass at 10 a.m. with Bishop Socrates Villegas as the main presider followed by a program at 11:30 a.m.