JERSEY CITY, NJ - As millions of Filipinos worldwide celebrated the canonization of teen Filipino missionary at the Vatican on Sunday, an image of San Pedro Calungsod was blessed and enshrined at the St. Anne’s Catholic Church in Jersey City on the same day.
Parish Priest, Father Ernesto Tibay said, “It’s an affirmation that we have grown in our faith, as a nation.”
Filipinos attended a special mass in honor of an historic event to welcome the second Filipino Saint, after San Lorenzo Ruiz.
Jersey City Filipino community leader, Tina Edelmann said, “I thank God that we Filipinos have a second saint to intercede and pray for us in heaven.”
Meantime, the Jersey City Municipal Council unanimously passed a resolution proclaiming October 21st to be recognized and observed as San Pedro Calungsod Day in Jersey City, New Jersey.
Jersey City Councilman Steve Fulop told Filipino parishioners, “We’re recognizing the Filipino community as part of the Jersey City greater community. It is the largest growing community in the city and we’re very proud to have the Filipino Community here.”
In his teens, San Pedro Calungsod went to Guam, where he suffered religious persecution and martyrdom for his missionary work in 1668.
The Catholic faith was planted in the Marianas and grew, thanks to Calungsod and other martyrs like him who persevered in their missionary efforts of evangelization.
Edelamnn said, “It is very timely that Calungsod is canonized today and we Filipinos are called to evangelize all over the world.”
source: abs-cbnnews.com
