Calungsod’s sainthood set in October

FILIPINO Mass goers Sunday welcomed with joy news that Pope Benedict XVI has approved the canonization of Blessed Pedro Calungsod.

Shouts of “Viva San Pedro de Cebu” filled churches in the provinces of Cebu and Leyte for their katagilungsod (compatriot) who will soon be raised to sainthood.

The pope announced Saturday evening (morning in Italy) that Calungsod, a Filipino lay catechist, is one of seven blessed persons to be recognized as saints on October 21 in Vatican City.

Calungsod was martyred in Guam in 1672 with a Spanish Jesuit priest, now Blessed Diego Luis de San Vitores, and was beatified by Blessed Pope John Paul II in 2000.

Archbishop Emeritus of Cebu Ricardo Cardinal Vidal, who is in Rome to attend the consistory, delivered a message posted by his former secretary Fr. Mhar Balili on his Facebook account.

“I would like to thank all those who have contributed to the promotion of Blessed Pedro’s cause. I hope that their blessing will help unite our people and bring in peace and harmony,” said the 81-year-old Vidal.

The announcements to the faithful began as early as 5 a.m. during the Mass led by Fr. Dodong Desuyo at the Our Lady of Remedies parish church in Barangay Odlot, Bogo City to Villaba town in Leyte Province.

Fr. Erwin Miro, from the Holy Child Parish in Villaba town in Leyte, made the same announcement during the 6:30 a.m. mass.

Sun.Star Cebu also received similar reports of elation from the people in some parishes where announcements were made during Masses.

These included Our Lady of the Sacred Heart parish in Barangay Capitol Site, San Isidro de Labrador Parish in Barangay Talamban in Cebu City, San Sebastian Parish in Borbon, Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral and St. Joseph the Patriarch Parish in Barangay Mabolo, Cebu City.

Report from Sun.Star