Naga Cathedral to celebrate feast of titular patron of Caceres

By Myrna S. Bermudo

The Naga Metropolitan Cathedral invites everyone as it celebrates the Solemn Feast of St. Peter Baptist, the Titular Patron of the Archdiocese of Caceres. The theme for this year’s celebration is “Journey in One Mission: United in Faith, Witness to the Gospel of Love.

Novena masses were held from January 27 until February 4 at 5:30 in the afternoon. The Feast Day mass on Sunday, February 5, will be presided by Fr. Dario I. Echipare, Director of the Naga Parochial School.

Born in Avila, Spain in 1542, St. Peter Baptist was sent to the Philippines in 1584, where he preached God’s Word and journeyed with the people. He sought to understand their culture, and then ushered them to a communal life anchored on the Gospel. He established the Parishes of Baao, Buhi, and Libmanan in Camarines Sur, and the Parishes of Cagsawa, Oas, and Ligao in Albay.

“In St. Peter Baptist, we find a model and inspiration as our Church calls for synodality. Let us pray to him, that through his intercession and example, we too may be able to fulfill our mission of witnessing to the Gospel,” the parish said in the invitation.

On February 5, 2022, in celebration of the Solemnity of St. Peter Baptist and of the 500th Year of Christianity in the Philippines, a bone relic of St. Peter Baptist arrived from the Basilica Minore de San Pedro Bautista in Quezon City and was permanently enshrined at the Naga Metropolitan Cathedral.

The parish invites everyone to come and join the Eucharistic celebration, to thank God for the gift of San Pedro Bautista’s life, mission and martyrdom.

Missionaries of Fazenda da Esperança Brazil, Thailand and Philippines visited Most Rev. Rolando J. Tria Tirona, OCD, DD, Archbishop of Caceres. Fazenda Naga welcomed the visit of Richardson and Marinéia (Regional responsibles) and Angelucia and Ricardo (members of the Presidency of Fazenda da Esperança). Fazenda da Esperança translated from Portuguese means the Farm of Hope, and it is the home for people in search of care and treatment to overcome all forms of addiction. Fazenda da Esperança (Farm of Hope) originated in Brazil and now have 162 communities around the world. In the Philippines, there are have two communities, one for boys and one for girls. Fazenda came to the Philippines in 2003, in Masbate. In Naga it was established in 2009 at the invitation of then Archbishop Leonardo Legaspi, OP, DD. The establishment of another community in Dumaguete is under way. (Text and photo credit: Fazenda da Esperança - Asia)