Novaliches Bishop Roberto Gaa will preside over a concelebrated fiesta mass at 9:30 a.m. today, Dec. 13, at the Sta. Lucia Parish on J.P. Rizal St., Novaliches, Quezon City, in solemn commemoration of the Feast of St. Lucy (Sta. Lucia), the patron saint of the blind and those with eye problems.
Novaliches Bishop Emeritus Antonio Tobias will also celebrate a holy mass at 6 a.m. It will be followed by a motorcade at 7:30 a.m. In the afternoon, a Eucharistic celebration will be held at 4:30 p.m. The online fiesta mass will be celebrated at 6 p.m.
This year’s theme is “Parokya ng Sta. Lucia: Sambayanang Naging Matatag sa Pananampalataya, Pagkakaisa, at Pagtutulungan sa Panahon ng Pandemya.”
Feast masses in honor of St. Lucy will also be offered in Sasmuan, Pampanga.
In Venice, Italy, devotees traditionally gather on her feast day at her major shrine, the Church of San Geremia, where her sacred relics are kept.
Popular in many parts of the world, St. Lucy is one of seven women, excluding the Blessed Mother, who is commemorated by name in the Roman Canon. The Catholic Church recognizes her courage in defense of the faith. She lost her life during the persecution of Christians in the early 4th century.
St. Lucy is also venerated in the Anglican, Lutheran, and Eastern Orthodox Churches.