The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic will not stop the country, especially the Catholic church, in holding a year-long celebration of the 500 years of Christianity, leaders of the House of Representatives declared as the chamber joined the commemoration of the historic religious event in the Philippines.
A month before the quincentenary celebration of the Catholic faith in the country, the Lower House unanimously adopted on Wednesday House Bill 1637 entitled “Resolution Celebrating the Catholic Faith and Commemorating the 500 years of Christianity in the Philippines.” HR 1637 was introduced by Speaker Lord Allan Jay Velasco, together with Majority Leader and Leyte Rep. Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez and Minority Leader and Abang Lingkod Partylist Rep. Joseph Stephen “Caraps” S. Paduano.
The resolution noted that the year 2021 marks the 500 years of Christianity in the country, wherein the faith was introduced to Filipinos by Spanish missionaries and settlers in an expedition headed by Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan.
Authors said the Catholic Bishops of he Philippines has announced a year-long celebration this year of the 500 years of Christianity due to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
A nine-year preparation for the quincentennial started in 2013 with the theme Integral Faith Formation and will culminate with the theme “Missio Ad Gentes” or “mission to the nations” in 2021. Each year since 2013 focused on the various aspects of the Church and faith life.
Authors of HR 1637 said the CBCP will commemorate on April 14 the first Christian Baptism and on April 17, the First Easter Sunday Mass.
“Whereas the celebration of the first Christian faith, through the fidelity of the Catholic Church, is also a thanksgiving for missionaries, priests, religious and lay people, among them our ancestors, who passed the faith from generation to generation,” HR 1637 read.
It noted that Philippines is “widely recognized for its strong Catholic faith which greatly influence the culture and character of Filipinos.” The Philippines is the only Christian country in Asia and ranks third in the world for the most number of Catholics estimated to be around 84 million or about 85 percent of the population.
“Whereas, this quincentenary celebration is not just an ecclesial celebration but also a recognition of the valuable contribution of Christianity in inspiring, educating and lifting the moral and spiritual values of the people who look forward with great hope and strengthened motivation to go out and sharethe gift of the Catholic faith,” stated HR 1637.