Archdiocese of Cebu celebrates its 75th founding anniversary today, it thanks the Sto. Niño and Our Lady of Guadalupe for the blessings it has received over the years.Cebu Archbishop Ricardo Cardinal Vidal will launch the celebration by opening the Holy Door of the Cathedral.Passing trough the Holy Door, which will remain open throughout the jubilee year, grants a parishioner plenary indulgence.At least 4,000 additional chairs will be placed inside and outside the cathedral.The streets around it will be closed to traffic to accommodate the crowd.
Later tonight, the Archdiocese will stage a cultural event at the Cebu International Convention Center that will showcase the growth of the Archdiocese of Cebu since it was founded in 1934.“Cebu as an archdiocese has been so blessed by the Sto. Niño and Our Lady of Guadalupe, allowing the Archdiocese to grow over the years,” said Msgr. Achilles Dakay, media liaison officer of the Cebu Archdiocese.There are now 144 parishes all over Cebu, spreading the Gospel even to the remotest barangays.“Cebu is not just the cradle of Christianity in the far East.
We have grown out of the cradle and grown in size, wisdom and grace,” said Dakay.Among those expected at the 4:30 p.m. mass are the Apostolic Nuncio of the Philippines Archbishop Edward Joseph Adams and Archbishop Angel Lagdameo, president of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines.“The whole year will be a Year of Grace. It is a time when we are to be good and should do good,” said Msgr. Dakay.
While the four gates of the cathedral will be opened as early as this morning, the main door of the church will remain closed, and will be opened only after the opening of the Holy Door.The Holy Door was last opened in 2000 which was celebrated by the universal church.It was opened again in 2005 on the occasion of the year of Jubilees or special pilgrimage years observed by the local church of Cebu in 2006.Pope Benedict XVI granted the people who pass through the door plenary indulgence, which is the remission of sins after they go to confession and receive communion, and pass through the holy door and pray 1 our father, 1 hail mary and 1 glory be for the intentions of the holy father.
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