The newly inaugurated gallery is composed of a complete set of religious images belonging to the shrine, with respective prayers.
Philippines – Cebu (010/02/2022 09:00, Gaudium Press) The National Shrine of St. Joseph, located in Mandaue City, Cebu province, inaugurated its “Gallery of Saints” on February 2, Feast of the Presentation of the Lord.
Holy Mass and blessing of the gallery
The inauguration ceremony took place after a Holy Mass celebrated by the Archbishop of Cebu, Bishop Jose Palma, and concelebrated by his auxiliary bishop, Bishop Midyphil Billones – who is also the rector of the shrine – as well as some members of the local clergy.
At the end of the Eucharistic celebration, the faithful gathered at the “Dagkutanan“, the Cebuano term for the place where votive candles are lit for devotional purposes. There the blessing of the gallery took place, consisting of a complete set of religious images belonging to the shrine, with respective prayers.
Set of life-size images
Among the images are four of Christ, six Marian and five representing the most venerated Patron Saints of the province and patrons of the local Archdiocesan Shrines. The gallery also features the image of Our Lord at the Last Supper together with His disciples. It is the only set of life-size images of the Gospel scene existing in the province.
The shrine also has a special chapel for the Santo Niño of Cebu, the best-known image of the Child Jesus in both the province and the country. The importance of this place of worship is so great that it was here that the Philippines was consecrated to St. Joseph in the year 2021 through the recitation of an “Act of Filial Adoption of St. Joseph as Father of My Heart.” (EPC)
Compiled by Sandra Chisholm
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