IMUS CITY, Cavite – Thousands of pilgrims, devotees and Cavite parishes, diocesan schools, religious institutions and communities here are expected to flock to the Diocese of Imus and its cathedral to view the relics of Saint Therese of the Child Jesus on March 7-9.
Bishop Reynaldo G. Evangelista of the Diocese of Imus has made preparations, with the support of brother priests, the Catholic congregation, school directors, and the lay faithful, calling for participation in this significant event.
The religious event has already drawn the support of the Cavite provincial government, various local government units (LGUs) and other civic organizations.
The Sangguniang Panlalawigan (Provincial Council) has passed Resolution 925 during their 75th Regular Session. Sponsored by Councilor Kerby J. Salazar and unanimously endorsed by the SP members, the resolution enjoins the Catholic community to join all activities during the relics’ visit.
Beginning Saturday, the religious celebration will kick off with a Holy Mass at 8:30 a.m., to be followed by another Mass at 1:30 p.m. at the Provincial Gymnasium in Trece Martires City.
On March 7, the relic will be received by the Saint Joseph Parish in Carmona town at 8:30 a.m. and a motorcade will be held from the church to the De La Salle University (DLSU) chapel, where a procession will follow from the DLSU-D Chapel to Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish in DBB-Bagong Bayan of Dasmariǹas City and a Mass will be held at 11 a.m. The Public Veneration of Relics will be held from 12 noon to 3 p.m.
before the relics’ motorcade proceeds to the Imus Cathedral at 3:30 p.m. for the Solemn Office of Reading and Te Deum.
From the Imus Cathedral, the motorcade will pass along Medicion, Binakayan, Noveleta, Rosario, Tejero, Saint Augustine, and Sta. Cruz Parish in Umboy, Tanza where a “caracol” (religious procession) will be conducted at 6:30 p.m., preceding the Diocesan welcome Mass at 8 p.m. and public veneration at 9 p.m.
A midnight mass opens the second day of the visit of the relics, to be followed by public veneration until 6 p.m. and a Holy Mass before the relics are brought to their next destination at the Saint Gregory Parish in Indang. Procession from the Cavite State University to the parish is slated to be held at 9 a.m., to be followed by a Holy Mass at 10 a.m. and public veneration before the relics move on to Saint Joseph Nepomucene Parish in Alfonso, Cavite.
The relics’ final day in Cavite will feature a midnight mass, a public veneration and a diocesan farewell mass at 4 a.m., to be followed by a penitential walk with St. Therese from Saint John Nepomucene Parish to Aguinaldo Highways at 5 a.m. From Cavite, the relics will be brought to Batangas on March 9.
St. Therese of the Child Jesus, more popularly known as “The Little Flower of Jesus”, was a French Catholic Discalced Carmelite nun who for her simplicity and practicality, has been regarded as a highly influential model of sanctity for Catholics and for the others.
The Diocesan Committee on the Visit of the Relic of St. Therese pioneered the visit of the pilgrim relics of St. Therese of the Child Jesus and holds it every five years as customary religious worship of St. Therese. (PNA)
