Socorro, Surigao del Norte - While the Augustinian friars in Cebu are already in full-swing preparing for what could be the biggest Catholic event in the Philippines since the visit of Pope Francis last January. The 450th anniversary of Kaplag is set to be celebrated on April 28, 2015. The celebration is the 450 years anniversary of the finding of the Sto. Nino image in Cebu.
The parish administrators of the Our Mother of Perpetual Help Parish in Socorro, Surigao del Norte also take part in the big celebration since it is one of the mission apostolates of the Augustinians in the Philippines. On April 10, 2015, a public forum on Bible and Catholic faith will be held in the municipal gym of Socorro, Surigao del Norte. The speaker of the forum is Bro. Socrates Fernandez, the well-acclaimed and sought-after speaker of the Catholic Faith Defender group. The primary aim of the event is to give light to the local Catholics about their questions and doubts of their faith. Other religious communities are also invited in the forum for open discussion. It is to be noted that there are only 22% of Catholics in the entire island of Bucas Grande out of more than 20,000 residents. There are 450 pieces of Bisayan Bible to be freely given to the families and individuals who will attend the event. This is in collaboration of the program of CBCP’s Episcopal Commission on Biblical Apostolate and Philippine Bible Society “ May they Be One,” a project that aims to give one bible for every Filipino family.
The parish administrators of the Our Mother of Perpetual Help Parish in Socorro, Surigao del Norte also take part in the big celebration since it is one of the mission apostolates of the Augustinians in the Philippines. On April 10, 2015, a public forum on Bible and Catholic faith will be held in the municipal gym of Socorro, Surigao del Norte. The speaker of the forum is Bro. Socrates Fernandez, the well-acclaimed and sought-after speaker of the Catholic Faith Defender group. The primary aim of the event is to give light to the local Catholics about their questions and doubts of their faith. Other religious communities are also invited in the forum for open discussion. It is to be noted that there are only 22% of Catholics in the entire island of Bucas Grande out of more than 20,000 residents. There are 450 pieces of Bisayan Bible to be freely given to the families and individuals who will attend the event. This is in collaboration of the program of CBCP’s Episcopal Commission on Biblical Apostolate and Philippine Bible Society “ May they Be One,” a project that aims to give one bible for every Filipino family.
The forthcoming forum is only one of the series of events that had been planned by the parish since the simultaneous opening ceremony of the celebration last April 28, 2014 in Cebu.
Last August 28, 2014, the Augustinian Quiz Bee was held for the youth of the parish, which was organized by the Friends of St. Augustine. On November 30, 2014 one new chapel was erected and solemnly blessed in Sitio Sabang, Brgy. San Roque. The chapel is dedicated to the Holy Child on the occasion of the celebration.
Another significant event that was held in the island of Socorro is the celebration of the first Catholic mass in Brgy. Salog and Brgy. Del Pilar. Since the foundation of the parish in 1986 by the SVDs, it is believed that there is no Catholic presence in those barangays. Most of its residents belong to sects, which only members of the group can exclusively live in the area. On December 21, 2014, Sunday, the first mass for each in Brgy. Salog and Brgy. Del Pilar was solemnly celebrated. The mass in Brgy. Salog was held in the morning inside the house of a Catholic family, who had been living in the barangay for 30 years. Meanwhile, the mass in Brgy. Del Pilar followed in the afternoon that was held on the stage barangay multi-purpose hall. These are considered the first steps of a long journey towards the deep development of faith in the island.
The recent activity on the occasion of the 450th Kaplag is the image of the Holy Child’s visit in the island. The image of Snr. Sto Nino arrived on January 31, 2015 together with the Cofradia del Sto. Nino de Cebu representatives before the local fiesta celebration of Sto. Nino on the following day. There was a Sinulog dance offered by every chapel in the island. Devotees joined together in dance and praise in that wonderful day of February 1, 2015.
Indeed the countless blessings of the Holy Child as symbolized in the 450th anniversary of the finding of the image in Cebu had reverberated in this remote mission island. The Augustinians remain steadfast in spirit to continue the legacy of their forefathers that started 450 years ago.
Part of the big celebration is the 450th anniversary of Augustinian presence in the Philippines and the 50 anniversary of the elevation of Sto. Nino Church as Minor Basilica.
Last August 28, 2014, the Augustinian Quiz Bee was held for the youth of the parish, which was organized by the Friends of St. Augustine. On November 30, 2014 one new chapel was erected and solemnly blessed in Sitio Sabang, Brgy. San Roque. The chapel is dedicated to the Holy Child on the occasion of the celebration.
Another significant event that was held in the island of Socorro is the celebration of the first Catholic mass in Brgy. Salog and Brgy. Del Pilar. Since the foundation of the parish in 1986 by the SVDs, it is believed that there is no Catholic presence in those barangays. Most of its residents belong to sects, which only members of the group can exclusively live in the area. On December 21, 2014, Sunday, the first mass for each in Brgy. Salog and Brgy. Del Pilar was solemnly celebrated. The mass in Brgy. Salog was held in the morning inside the house of a Catholic family, who had been living in the barangay for 30 years. Meanwhile, the mass in Brgy. Del Pilar followed in the afternoon that was held on the stage barangay multi-purpose hall. These are considered the first steps of a long journey towards the deep development of faith in the island.
The recent activity on the occasion of the 450th Kaplag is the image of the Holy Child’s visit in the island. The image of Snr. Sto Nino arrived on January 31, 2015 together with the Cofradia del Sto. Nino de Cebu representatives before the local fiesta celebration of Sto. Nino on the following day. There was a Sinulog dance offered by every chapel in the island. Devotees joined together in dance and praise in that wonderful day of February 1, 2015.
Indeed the countless blessings of the Holy Child as symbolized in the 450th anniversary of the finding of the image in Cebu had reverberated in this remote mission island. The Augustinians remain steadfast in spirit to continue the legacy of their forefathers that started 450 years ago.
Part of the big celebration is the 450th anniversary of Augustinian presence in the Philippines and the 50 anniversary of the elevation of Sto. Nino Church as Minor Basilica.