Philippines: Jubilee Cross marks the beginning of a Year of Pilgrimage in the Apostolic Vicariate of Calapan

A historic 50-year-old Jubilee Cross, rediscovered in Victoria town’s Good Shepherd Parish, will spearhead the opening of the Jubilee Year in the Apostolic Vicariate of Calapan (AVC) on December 31, 2024.

This cross, which once journeyed from Victoria to Calapan in 1975, will visit the ten pilgrim churches across the province throughout 2025, symbolizing hope, faith, and unity for the local Catholic community.

The parish is in Victoria town, province of Oriental Mindoro.

“My husband (Rudy) in 1975 was helped carry the Holy Cross from Victoria, led by Father German Mehler, SVD, to Calapan.  They just walked!”, happily related Soldeliza Temporaza in a chat when she saw the photo on social media.

For the Jubilee Year Opening in the AVC, the Divine Mercy Chaplaincy will be the gathering area at 5 pm, on the Feast of the Holy Family,  and the starting point of the Rite of Opening of the Jubilee Year.  Participants are asked to being candles.

The opening ritual called "Collectio" consists of the opening hymn to be presided over by Bishop Moises Cuevas, opening praise, "Yobel" horn where the indigenous Mangyan blow the animal horn called budyong  that signals the Joyous Holy Year , Gospel, excerpt from Spes Non Confundit (Hope Does Not Disappoint) and departure for pilgrimage.  

Priests are vested with Chusable since it is a continuous rite.

At 5:30 pm is the Pilgrimage called "Perignasyon" with the following sequence:  incense, jubilee Cross with Candle carried by synodal representative, Gospel Book, Flags, Jubilee Logo, Bishop, AVC Priests, Synodal Representatives, Choir, Liturgical Ministers and the Faithful.

This is followed by the "Solemn Entrance to Cathedral" at 6:15 pm.  

There will be the Exultation of the Jubilee Cross, Blessing of Water, Sprinkling of Water, Ringing of the Bell while the Faithful go Inside the Church, The Solemn Entrance Jubilee Cross with Candles, Gospel Book, Clergy and the Bishop.  Upon reaching the sanctuary, the Bishop removes his cope and will be vested with Chusable.

 A Eucharistic Celebration will be held at 6:30 pm.  Upon Vesting and reaching the Cathedra, the GLoria will be sung and the Mass continues using the Formularies of Holy Family Sunday.

After Post-Communion Prayer, the Decree of Designating Pilgrim Churches  in the AVC will be read and the Parish Priest of the Pilgrim Churches will receive the decree from the Bishop.  

The 10 pilgrim churches are the Sto Niño Cathedral in Calapan, Immaculate Conception Parish in Puerto Galera, San Nicolas de Tolentino Parish in Naujan, St.  Joseph Parish in Bongabong, St.  Augustine Parish in Pinamalayan, St.  John the Baptist Parish in Pola, Sto.  Niño Parish in Roxas, Sts. Peter and Paul Parish in Bulalacao, Good Shepherd Parish in Victoria, and the Blessed Trinity Parish in Baco.

In his Pastoral Reflection for the Jubilee of Hope 2025 dated December 28, Bishop of Caloocan Pablo Virgilio Cardinal David, also the president of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines said “We are pilgrims of hope.”

“We are summoned to move forward together, in synodality. With the Final Document of the Synod on Synodality as our guide to become a synodal Church in mission, we embark on crossing to the other side together (Mk 4:35),” he said.

“The logo of the Jubilee Year also shows the people of God on the boat, navigating a rough sea, with the cross as their anchor. We are on the same boat called to conversion of relationships,” David added.