Cebu Archdiocese eyeing to build Villagio Calungsod

The legacy of San Pedro Calungsod doesn’t end with his canonization.

To perpetuate the memory of the first Visayan martyr and second Filipino saint, the Cebu Archdiocese plans to build a “Villaggio” or a village in his honor.

Msgr. Esteban Binghay, episcopal vicar of the archdiocese, said the Church is doing its best so people won’t forget the Visayan saint.

“We have to preserve, not just his memory, but also the devotion. His virtues should always be alive,” Binghay said.

“Villaggio” is an Italian word for a residential village.

The construction of a villagio in Cebu was the idea of Archbishop Emeritus Ricardo Cardinal Vidal, Binghay said.

He said the low cost housing project will benefit Church workers and the poor.

He said around 200 houses will be built inside the village.

“We are looking for a lot for the project. This (villaggio) is intended to perpetuate the memory of Pedro,” he said.

Aside from constructing a villaggio, Binghay said novenas and fiesta celebrations in honor of Calungsod will be made in Churches.

“Saints lead us to God. They help us love the Lord and our neighbors,” Binghay said.

He said Calungsod’s sainthood also reminds everyone to be faithful to God amid adversities.

Calungsod was beatified on March 5, 2000.

After the beatification, Binghay said the archdiocese  built the Pedro Calungsod Shrine inside the Archbishop’s Residence compound along D. Jakosalem Street, Cebu City.

Binghay said the shrine has become the center of devotion for Calungsod.

The shrine was recently renamed to San Pedro Calungsod following the Visayan martyr’s elevation to sainthood last Sunday, along with six other new saints.

“Vatican wanted us to propagate the devotion to Calungsod—a requirement for canonization,” Binghay said.

A thanksgiving Mass for the canonization of Calungsod will be held at the South Road Properties in Cebu City on Nov. 30. / Ador Vincent Mayol, Reporter