First Mass in the Philippines commemorated

 A more accurate representation of the Mass compared to the Botong Francisco version

A special report from CBCPNews

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MAASIN, Southern Leyte, April 10, 2011--THE Diocese of Maasin last March 31 marked the 490th anniversary of the First Mass in the Philippines with a Eucharistic celebration that launched the Diocese’s Decade of Renewed Evangelization Program. [Was the first Mass in the Philippines, held on an Easter Sunday, celebrated 490 years ago, held using the same ritual that was used in 1521?  NOT!]  Presiding at the Eucharistic celebration held in an open field overlooking the Shrine of the First Holy Mass was Most. Rev. Jose Palma, DD, Archbishop of Cebu. [One of my fave bishops.] Concelebrating were diocesan priests led by Maasin Bishop Precioso Cantillas, SDB, DD.

Referred to as the diocese’s “decade preparation” for the forthcoming 500th anniversary of the First Mass in 2021, the ten-year countdown has for its theme “Renewed Evangelization”, concurring with the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines’ (CBCP) proclamation of the current decade as the Decade of Renewed Evangelization. [Still bit skeptical on how this will be done.  But anywho...we do need that just as what the Holy Father did in Rome by creating a new Roman Dicastery.   But...will the new evangelization target heretics, schismatics, pagans, cafeteria Catholics, obnoxious-attention hungry-overweight-homosexual...you get the point.]

“We intend to spend the coming ten years with more dedication to the mission of evangelization and to a more intense life of Communion in faith, hope and love for God and one another,[hmmm...something that came out of the pages of MST and SVT and Ecclesia of Women in Asia...Ha!] ” Bishop Cantillas said of the diocese’s program, adding that during his audience with the Pope at the ad limina visit last Feb. 14, the Holy Father Benedict XVI gave his blessing to the Program. The upcoming golden anniversary of the Diocese of Maasin in 2018, Bishop Cantillas said, “is another reason to strongly resolve to renew our life of faith.”

Hundreds of Eucharistic Lay Ministers [sic!  Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion!  Lay people will NEVER..EVER be ministers of the Eucharist!  Not even a deacon!  Only an ordained priest is!  You'll be surprised who wrote this report.  We'll keep that later.] from all the parishes of the diocese renewed their vows, [EMHCs have VOWS!  Wow!  I did not know that EMHCs now are covered by Canon Law and are now subject to the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life!  Wait...do they have a habit?  And where are their signed vows?  Do they have an abbot, superior or something like that?]  witnessed by the faithful many of whom came in droves by boat from the mainland. Limasawa’s high school students staged a reenactment of the first Mass on the island, [with back turned to the people?  Oh my goodness!  That has to be stopped!  Very disrespectful!  You do not turn your back to your guests?  You talk to them FROM ACROSS THE TABLE?  Right, Jeff?] reliving history in color and dance [In the reenacted Mass or in the inculturated Mass?  Ha!] as the rest of the island’s citizenry watched in the shade of the trees on the fringes of the field.

The program following the Mass honored the coming of Christianity to Limasawa’s shores and “the country’s acceptance of a life of faith” [Ugh!] and provided an opportunity for Church and government officials alike to reiterate their united pro-life stand against the RH Bill. [GREAT!  GREAT!  GREAT!] Bishop Cantillas recalled the fervor of the 7,000 people who in an early-March rally had braved a tsunami alert and the rains to proclaim their opposition to the bill.  [Now that is what I am talking about?]

Southern Leyte Congressman Roger Mercado [pray for this legislator folks?] animatedly spoke against the RH Bill for the other government officials present—Gov. Damian Mercado, Vice-Gov. Miguel Maamo, Limasawa Mayor Melchor Petracorta, other Mayors of the province, and other provincial and municipal officials. He also disclosed to the audience that he has pushed House Bill 4065 in the Lower House in Congress which seeks to declare March 31 every year as national non-working holiday.  [Hey Señor Carlos!  Go there!  And rip out their posters!  You love traveling, right?]

This bill, he added, is to highlight the significance of the coming of Christianity to the Philippines and in Asia.

Abp. Palma lauded the congenial collaboration among the clergy, government officials, military and civilians as demonstrated by the enthusiastic yet orderly celebration of the momentous event. With renewed evangelization as the thrust of the diocese’s decade preparation for the 500th jubilee of the First Mass, Abp. Palma said, “the faithful can expect meaningful changes.”  [Brick by brick?  hehehe]

The historic first Mass in the Philippines (and in Asia) was held on March 31, 1521, on the island of Limasawa. At present, 35 percent of the island’s 6,000 population are Catholics; the rest are divided into 11 protestant sects. Those who participated in the Eucharistic celebration last March 31 gained plenary indulgence granted to the Diocese. (Teresa R. Tunay, OCDS)  [Secular Discalded Carmelite. Yup!  Does not know what an EMHC is.  Guess the good sister does not have a Competency in Liturgy, right, Jeffrey?  Oh, I mean MA?  Maybe the Fisher guy has. Ha!]