The Minor Basilica and Metropolitan Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception located in Intramuros, Manila
By Kenneth Corbilla
Feb 16 2021
The cross recalls the oldest Christian artefact, with the name of Jesus in Latin and in baybayin: “it is a symbol of the encounter of faith between Western missionaries and our own culture and life”. The song “We give our yes” was composed by Charlemagne Marcelo and is performed and broadcast by pop singer Jamie Rivera. The inaugural celebration in the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception.
MANILA – Carrying the “missionary cross” and practicing the hymn “We Give our Yes”: this is the advice that the apostolic administrator of Manila, Msgr. Broderick Pabillo, gives the faithful of the cathedral to enter more and more into the spirit of the Jubilee of the 500 years of evangelization of the archipelago.
Historically, the gospel was brought to the Philippines by the Spanish explorer Ferdinand Magellan.
The “missionary cross”, in Greek form, takes up an ancient historical find that dates back to 500 years, and the name of Jesus is written on it in Latin characters and in the ancient Baybayin language. The faithful are invited to wear it as a “sign of our faith in Jesus, of protection from God and, most importantly, as a sign of our missionary commitment”.
For the Archdiocese of Manila, the cross is also the symbol of a positive encounter between Western Catholic and Filipino culture, the website says: “It is a symbol of the encounter of faith between Western missionaries and their own culture and life, which produced the colourful and vibrant faith of the Filipinos and which today has become our contribution to the universal Church.”
The song “We give our yes” was composed by Charlemagne Marcelo and is performed and broadcast by pop singer Jamie Rivera.
In Manila, the official inauguration of the Jubilee celebrations took place last February 6 with a mass in the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Manila. The mass was presided over by the nuncio Msgr. Charles John Brown and by Msgr. Broderick Pabillo. They were joined by dozens of priests.
In addition to the 500th anniversary, the Archdiocese of Manila also celebrates the 442th anniversary of the diocese’s erection.
The Mayor of Manila Francisco Domagoso, the deputy mayor Honey Lacuna and the mayors of the various areas of the metropolis were also present: Abby Binay for Makati, Imelda Calixto-Rubiano for Pasay. They too received the missionary cross and Msgr. Pabillo explained to them that in this way they show that they want to carry the cross to share evangelization and the gift of faith in the city.
Due to the pandemic, the Philippine Bishops’ Conference has extended the celebrations of the 500th anniversary of Christianity to a full year. The theme of the 500-year message is “Gifted to give”, which recalls the Gospel phrase “Freely you have received, freely give”. – AsiaNews
