MANILA, Philippines — Hundreds of Cebuano Catholic devotees came together on Monday, November 25, to celebrate the 425th founding anniversary of the Archdiocesan Shrine of Saint Catherine of Alexandria in Carcar City, Cebu.
On the eve of the fiesta, parishioners held a colorful “visperas” (vespers) procession.
On the fiesta day itself, Cebu Auxiliary Bishop Midyphil Billones led a Solemn Pontifical Mass in the parish, where he reminded parishioners to be “pilgrims of faith, hope, and love.” “Importante nga atoang pamalandongan, nga kita pilgrims dili turista. Kita dinhi mga pilgrims of faith, hope and love. Si Sta. Catalina nga atoang patrona, dili tour guide. Siya mao ang atoang pilgrimage guide to heaven,” he said in his homily on Monday, November 25.
(It is important to remember that us pilgrims aren’t tourists. We are here as pilgrims of faith, hope and love. Sta. Catalina is our patron, not a tour guide. She is our pilgrimage guide to heaven.)
The Archdiocesan Shrine of Saint Catherine of Alexandria shared the following snapshots from the celebration through the faith chat room of the Rappler Communities app.
The Archdiocese of Cebu, which currently houses the Archdiocesan Shrine of Saint Catherine of Alexandria, is considered the “cradle of Christianity” in Asia.
Got photos of religious celebrations in your community? Share them with us in the faith chat room of the Rappler Communities app. — Patricia Kahanap/Rappler.com