The “Octave” End of Special Jubilee Along with SPC Youth

Transcending San Pedro Cathedral’s capacity, that is how we envisioned the number of people who attended the celebration of the 2nd Sunday of Easter, Divine Mercy Sunday, and the Closing of the Holy Door of San Pedro Cathedral Parish, which is among the Jubilee Churches in the Archdiocese of Davao commemorating the 500th Celebration of Christianity in the Philippines, on April 24, 2022, Sunday, which was presided by Most Reverend Romulo G. Valles, DD, Archbishop of Davao. On this day, the Archdiocese of Davao formally ended the 500th Year of Christianity (YOC) celebration and the closing of the Holy Door, “Kining maong adlawa, labi na karon, atoang gitak-opan, we are concluding, we are closing, the special jubilee diha sa atoang pagsa-ulog sa kinyentos ka tuig sa gasa sa pagtuo nga atoang gipuy-an dinhi sa Pilipinas,” Archbishop Valles said.

In relation to the Easter Octave, according to the Archbishop, the eight days is an extension of the Easter celebration, so we, Christians, gathered in this event to end or finally close the extended glorious remembrance of Christ’s victory.

Furthermore, the “Octave” is also the day which marks the end of a one-year special Jubilee of remembering and thanking the Lord for the faith given to us for 500 years now. The best way to commemorate the closing of the 500 years of Christianity is to close the holy doors. “Ang symbol lang gyud ana atoang sarad-an, tak-opan, sirahan ang balaan nga portahan,” said Archbishop Valles.

We, Christians must remember that the first recorded Catholic Mass in the Philippines took place on March 31, 1521. The said date was Easter Sunday or “Domingo Sa Pagkabanhaw”. He added that “we come to know Jesus”, a message implying that in celebrating the 500 years of Christianity, we will find it spiritual, by knowing and believing in God. By the grace of God, we believe Christianity has become an inseparable part of our Filipino culture. Our faith has kept us going in a joyful and hopeful manner, despite the numerous challenges in both our personal and spiritual lives. Our faith has sustained us through the various trials we have faced. We view this event extremely beneficial not only for us, but particularly to those young Christians who have been misled about the origins of Christianity.

Lastly, this 500 years of Christianity as it continues to its 501st we also continue to strengthen our faith to God even during this time of great difficulty caused by the pandemic. (Angelica Magoling | San Pedro Cathedral Youth SOCCOM)