Pope Francis has granted a jubilee year with the inherent plenary indulgence for the 500th anniversary of the arrival of Christianity in the Philippines. It was 500 years ago when Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan representing the Spanish Empire, arrived in the Visayan region of the Philippines in 1521 and planted the cross in the island of Cebu, the cradle of Christianity in the Philippines.
The pope made the decision in a decree issued on Feb. 25 to the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines. It was signed by the Head of the Vatican's Apostolic Penitentiary, Cardinal Mauro Piacenza. The celebration officially starts on April 4 which would be an opportunity to increase the virtues of faith, hope and charity.
The country’s 85 dioceses have listed about 537 pilgrimage churches for the quincentennial celebration of the evangelization of Asia’s bastion of Christianity. Still, when the faithful make the pilgrimage, they have to meet the usual conditions of going to confession, receiving the Eucharist, and praying for the intentions of the pope.
“Gifted to Give," that’s the theme of the celebration of the 5th Centenary of Christianity in our country. It’s taken from the gospel of St. Matthew, chapter 10, verse 8 where we hear Christ telling his apostles: “Freely you have received. Freely give.” It’s actually Christ’s order for his apostles to do all, to give all they have got in their work and mission of apostolate. The theme and logo of the celebration was approved by the permanent council of CBCP on September 18, 2019.
Recently, the Catholic Bishop Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) has initiated a fundraising by making available the 500 Years of Christianity (YOC) commemorative plate that encapsulates the encompassing theme of the 500 YOC celebration in the Philippines. This plate is a valuable souvenir to go with it and the best memorabilia for this joyous event. It is also an important reminder of how the Christian faith came to the shore of Mactan, Cebu in 1521 which grew throughout the Philippine islands for the next 500 years.
Made of a sturdy metal substrate, the 500 YOC commemorative plate is a unique collectible that signifies a once in a lifetime celebration of faith in the midst of this pandemic. It serves as a proof of becoming and belonging to the Church of Christ, a seal or certificate of support to the celebration of the evangelical mission of the church and a visual imagery that symbolizes that you are a blessed Filipino Christian Catholic.
By acquiring a 500 YOC commemorative plate, every Catholic will be a blessing to others. From the sale, the proceeds will be allocated to the evangelization and the missions of the CBCP, dioceses, parishes, and religious sectors. The project will provide financial contributions directly to the Catholic Church and its beneficiaries, specifically for the construction of the L’ Annunziata Parish Church and material support to the community pantries in OSJ Healing Foundation of St. Joseph’s Table, Santuario De San Jose Parish, St. Joseph Morello Parish Antipolo and Emmaus Philippines Foundation.
For half a millennium, the Christian faith in the country has spread and remained a strong influence in the culture and character of Filipinos. As the third country in the world with the greatest number of Catholics in its population, the Catholic faith and devotion of Filipinos is recognized in the world.