Around 18 bishops, 25 monsignori and several priests and lay leaders from dioceses from Romblon to Samar, will converge in Dumaguete City on October 14-16 for the 9th Visayas Regional Assembly.

Msgr. Julius Perpetuo Heruela, parish priest of Bacong, who is in charge of the preparations for the assembly, said yesterday that 152 delegates from 18 dioceses in Romblon, Panay, Cebu, Negros, Bohol, Leyte and Samar, and under the coverage of the archdioceses of Capiz, Jaro, Iloilo, Cebu, and Palo, Leyte, are participating in the three-day activity.

The assembly was originally set to be held in Bohol, but it was postponed due to last year’s earthquake that ravaged the province.

On the first day of the assembly, Archbishop John Du of the Archdiocese of Palo, Leyte will preside over a concelebrated Mass at the St. Catherine of Alexandria Cathedral in Dumaguete, the seat of the Diocese of Dumaguete.

Dumaguete Bishop Julito Cortes will deliver his welcome remarks after the mass, that will be followed by the welcome ceremony with a “Palihi” by students from the Foundation University dance troupe.

Other activities are talks by Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma on the 51st International Eucharistic Congress; and the Basic Ecclesial Communities: Lay Formation and Stewardship by Rev. Fr. Amado Picardal, executive secretary, CBCP Committee on BEC; and presentation of plans from each metropolitan province.

A highlight of the assembly will be a book launching in honor of the late Rev. Onesimo Gordoncillo, former archbishop of the Archdiocese of Capiz.

The group will present for approval its assembly statement at the closing of the assembly.

In 1954, Pope Pius XII instituted the feast of the Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary to be celebrated on May 31, and in 1969, Pope Paul VI transferred the feast to August 22, making it a memorial during the octave of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

In 1996, the Visayas Regional Pastoral Assembly voted unanimously to celebrate the feast of the Blessed Virgin Mary for the entire Visayas, and chose the feast of the Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

In 1997, the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines confirmed the request of the Bishops of the Visayas, and that year, then Pope John Paul II granted the indult for the Visayas to celebrate August 22 as a Patronal Feast, and added the title, “Our Lady, Queen of the Visayas" to the feast, Heruela added.*JFP

back to top