MANILA, March 21, 2013 – With the first memorial of St. Pedro Calungsod coming up on April 2, young people are particularly encouraged to revisit their fascination and devotion for the young martyr who died 341 years ago.
“We invite young people to participate in whatever way they can as dioceses, parishes will give considerable time and attention to celebrate the memorial of [St.] Pedro Calungsod,” Episcopal Commission on Youth (ECY) executive director Fr. Conegundo Garganta said in an interview.
Sending a communication to all diocesan youth ministries and Federation of National Youth Organizations member organizations, the ECY exhorted young Filipinos to take part in the liturgical commemoration of St. Pedro that will be celebrated on March 23, since April 2, the original memorial date, will fall within the Easter octave.
Fr. Garganta said the memorial could also be a good opportunity for young believers to read about the life of the saint and look back on how his canonization last November personally affected them.
“How is the fire, the enthusiasm now after several months?” he asked, posing the question to the many young Catholics who were fired up last year by the news of a second Filipino saint.
He said, special prayers, coming up with Calungsod-inspired slogans and maybe a stage play of St. Pedro’s life organized by the dioceses would be ideal ways to celebrate his memorial.
Since the Easter octave takes precedence over feast days and memorials of saints, this year, St. Pedro’s feast day will be moved on March 23, Saturday before Palm Sunday. [Nirva’ana Ella Delacruz]
