CEBU Archbishop Jose Palma said he is ready to have himself vaccinated.
Palma, during the launching of the Archdiocese’s official website and the website and social media platforms for the 500 Years of Christianity (500 YoC) celebration on Tuesday, Feb. 2, 2021, said they have defined their priority in case the Covid-19 vaccine becomes available.
“We, bishops, should be vaccinated in front of the TV, so that people will know. The question is, asa man (which part of the body)? Sa bukton (in the arm)? Tiyan o sa tiil (stomach or feet)? Anyway, we are that ready,” he said during the press conference.
Palma said the people should be open to vaccination.
The prelate said that while waiting for the vaccine, they still monitor the cases regularly and they are hopeful that in “God’s time, wonderful surprises” will come in the middle of the year that would make it possible for the incoming celebrations to accommodate physical participation of the faithful.
Activities
Before the official launching of the year-long 500 YoC celebration on April 4 (Easter Sunday), Fr. Mhar Balili, who chairs the committee assigned for the celebration, divulged to the public the latest significant updates and lineup of activities for April.
Balili said simultaneous masses all throughout the parishes under the Archdiocese of Cebu will be held at 4 p.m. on April 4.
Afterwards, there will be an unveiling and blessing of the Jubilee cross in front of the grounds of the different parishes in Cebu and the reading of Palma’s circular declaring the opening of the year-long 500 YoC.
Balili said the Jubilee cross that will be mounted is about two meters long and weighs 150 kilos.
There will be a reenactment of the first baptism in front of the Magellan’s Cross at 10 a.m. on April 14. This will be followed by a 4 p.m. mass to be officiated by the new Papal Nuncio to the Philippines Most. Rev Charles Brown, renewal of baptismal promises for those who will attend the mass in the same venue and the baptism of 10 children who are recipients of the apostolate of the first five major religious congregations that first arrived in Cebu centuries ago.
Balili said triduum celebrations will also be conducted on April 11 to 13, prior to the main event on April 14.
On April 11, a mass and baptism of 100 children will be held at the Our Lady of Guadalupe Church at 9:30 a.m.
It will be followed by a motorcade of the Jubilee cross and the image of Sto. Niño in Cebu City at 1 p.m. and a cultural show in Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral at 7:30 p.m.
On the following day, April 12, a mass and the confirmation rites for 100 children will be held at the St. Joseph National Shrine in Mandaue City at 9 a.m. Another motorcade of the Jubilee cross and the image of Sto. Niño will be conducted from the southern Cebu City South to Talisay City at 1 p.m. The day will be capped off by a cultural show in Ayala Terraces at 7:30 p.m.
On April 13, another mass and adult initiation rite will be held at the National Shrine of Our Lady of Rule in Lapu-Lapu City at 9 a.m. It will be followed by the continuation of motorcade towards Cebu City’s north, Mandaue City and Lapu-Lapu City at 1 p.m., and a cultural show at the Sto. Niño Basilica Templete at 7:30 p.m.
Balili said these activities were submitted to the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases, and they are in constant coordination with the local government officials regarding the 500 YoC celebration.
“Mag-ampo ta nga moubos ang Covid dinhi sa Cebu para mapadayon ang atong mga plano (We should pray that the Covid-19 cases in Cebu will drop so our plans will push through). But if worse comes to worst nga moingon ang IATF nga wala’y paapilon or wala’y face-to-face nga misa, virtual lang tanan (the IATF decides no one can attend or cancels face-to-face masses, all activities must be virtual), then we are very open to that,” he said. (WBS)