austraLasia #1759

Cebu Cardinal Vidal joins Lourdes Parish 50th celebrations

CEBU CITY: 13th February 2007 -- Long time close friend of the Salesians in Cebu, His Eminence Ricardo Cardinal Vidal, solemnised the celebrations for the Salesian Lourdes Parish Golden Jubilee on Sunday 11th February, drawing a crowd of more than 3,000 parishioners. Last October, the Shrine was proclaimed an archdiocesan shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes, with its own grotto built on similar dimensions to the original.  This celebration was an occasion, in the presence of the Cardinal, for Parish Priest Fr Peter Porio to thank his Eminence, but also the many who had contributed to parish life and parish projects over the years.
    The 50th anniversary celebration was three years in the planning. As a parish it is far more than a centre of worship.  There are prominent social services carried out by the parish - a clinic, and a food programme for the poor. Sunday's pontifical Mass was well prepared for with a novena, packed each day by parishioners, and the Saturday evening saw a candlelight procession with at least 10,000 participants joining in from all the barrios making up the parish area, moving towards the church itself.  Celebrated in the local language, Cebuano, the Mass involved a band of 100 mandolins played by parish youth, and was concelebrated by some 60 priests.  Bishop Patrick Buzon, a former provincial of the Southern Philippines province, joined the Salesian Regional Councillor Fr Klement, many local Salesian priests and clergy from Religious Congregations and the Diocese. The Mass was followed by a dinner and a massive fireworks display.
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