RP bishops to lead celebration of Pauline Year at Araneta Coliseum

A liturgical-biblical-ecumenical celebration to commemorate the bimillennium anniversary of the birth of the Apostle Paul will be held at the Araneta Coliseum on January 25, feast of his Conversion, to be led by the country’s Catholic bishops.

Centered on the theme “I am not ashamed of the Gospel”, the half-day multi-events celebration event will start at 8 a.m.

Aside from the feast of the Conversion of St. Paul, January 25 is also National Bible Sunday, both a Church and civil celebration. Another occasion that adds to the importance of the event is the observance of Ecumenical Week or Week of Prayer for Christian Unity that is traditionally celebrated the week before January 25.

The annual plenary meeting of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines also falls on January 24-25 this year.

Activities lined up during the celebration will be the solemn enthronement of the Bible with ecumenical service by the President of the Catholic Bishops Conference, Jaro archbishop Angel Lagdameo, to be assisted by Christian Bishops and Pastors. Papal Nuncio to the Philippines, Archbishop Joseph Edward Adams will address the assembly.

His Eminence Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales, archbishop of Manila, will lead the Eucharistic celebration to be concelebrated by the Archbishop of Cebu, His Eminence Ricardo Cardinal Vidal, Apostolic Nuncio to the Philippines, Archbishop Edward Joseph Adams, CBCP president and Jaro Archbishop Angel Lagdameo, and other bishops. Chairman of the Episcopal Commission on Biblical Apostolate and Sorsogon Bishop Arturo Bastes, SVD will give the homily during the Mass while Bishop Honesto Ongtioco of Cubao will lead the assembly in praying the Jubilee prayer.

Other highlights of the celebration are inspirational talks by Imus Bishop Luis Antonio Tagle and Charismatic preacher Bo Sanchez of Shepherd’s Voice Foundation, Inc.

Celebrated artists and musicians will also lend their voices to inspire the audience with their music in this once in a lifetime event.

Organized by Pauline congregations in the Philippines and lay Pauline collaborators headed by Judy Roxas Araneta and former Ambassador Henrietta de Villa, the Pauline event, which is free to the public aims to deepen the knowledge and devotion of Christians in the country to the Apostle Paul.