THE diocese of San Jose, Nueva Ecija marked its 25th year of canonical erection with a solemn mass on July 14, led by the Apostolic Nuncio in the Philippines, Archbishop Edward Joseph Adams.
Themed Ika-25 taong anibersaryo: hamon sa patuloy na pagpapalaganap ng Damayang Kristiyano, the opening of the year-long jubilee festivities was held at the Cathedral of St. Joseph the Worker, San Jose City.
Twenty-nine other prelates including San Jose, Nueva Ecija Bishop Mylo Hubert Vergara, Bishop Florentino Cinense, first bishop of San Jose and current bishop of Tarlac, Bishop Leo M. Drona, SDB, the 2nd Bishop of San Jose and current Bishop of San Pablo, and Bishop Oscar Solis, a native of San Jose and currently Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, USA concelebrated in the Eucharist.
The clergy from the Dioceses of San Jose, Cabanatuan, Tarlac and Cubao also joined the celebration.
A jubilee message from the Pope was read by Bishop Sofronio Bancud of Cabanatuan during the Mass.
Bishop Vergara read the declaration officially opening the Jubilee Year of the Diocese of San Jose, Nueva Ecija from July 14, 2009 to July 14, 2010.
Three churches were designated as official pilgrimage churches during the year-long jubilee celebration. They are the Cathedral of St. Joseph the Worker in San Jose City, St. Nicholas of Tolentine Church in Carranglan, St. Jerome Church in Sto. Domingo, and St. Roch Church in Cuyapo.
A plenary indulgence is granted to the faithful who visit any of the jubilee Churches provided they observe the necessary requirements needed to receive the indulgence.
The diocese also distributed plaques of appreciation towards the end of the mass. Among those cited were the papal nuncio, the former bishops and two lay persons, Mr. Jayson Alejo who won the logo making contest and Mr. Francisco Beni, who topped the song writing contest.
Among the faithful who graced the occasion were representatives of different sectors and parishes of the diocese. Government officials headed by the Governor of Nueva Ecija, Aurelio Umali, Representatives Cherry Umali and Joseph Gilbert Violago also attended the celebration.
Jubilee preparations
Preparations for the jubilee have been going on since 2007. Vergara formed an AdHoc committee headed by the Vicar General Msgr. Rolando Mabutol to oversee the groundwork for the jubilee celebrations.
The committee heads and members are composed of priests, religious nuns and lay leaders. The AdHoc Committee meets once a month to plan for the occasion.
Upcoming celebrations
The year-long jubilee festivities also provided a means for the diocese to thank the different sectors which journeyed with the bishopric through the years.
A monthly celebration will highlight the different sectors and their contribution to the growth of the diocese: August, Religious; September, Catechists; October, Indigenous People/Community Based Health Program Workers; November, Schools; December, Damayang Kristiyano; January 2009, Parish Workers and Lay leaders; February, Clergy and Seminarians; March, Mandated Organizations; April, Youth; May, Farmers; June, Parish wide celebrations.
A synthesis of the year-long celebrations will be the culminating activity of the jubilee on July 2010.
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