The Roman Catholic Church commemorates Tuesday, May 17, the Feast of San Pascual (Paschal) Baylon, one of Obando, Bulacan’s three revered patron saints.
Malolos Bishop Dennis C. Villarojo will preside over a concelebrated mass in his honor at 8 a.m. at the San Pascual Baylon Parish (Obando Church) in Obando, Bulacan.
With the theme “Pista ng Pasasalamat ng Bayang Pinagpala,” holy masses will also be celebrated at 5 a.m., 6:30 a.m., 7:30 a.m. (start of procession with fertility dance), 9:30 a.m., 4 p.m., 5:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. which will be followed by a solemn procession.
The three-day Fertility Dance, the “pandanggo” dance procession of childless couples, also begins today until May 19. Novena masses in honor of San Pascual were offered from May 8 to 16.
Born on May 16, 1540, San Pascual was a Spanish Franciscan lay brother and mystic whose intercession is often sought by unmarried individuals to find a suitable life partner. His piety drew people to him who sought his counsel. A devotee of the Blessed Sacrament, he lived a life of prayer, penance, and mortification from youth. He died on May 17, 1592 at the age of 52. Many miracles were reported at his tomb.
San Pascual was born and died on the Feast of the Pentecost.
He was canonized on October 16, 1690 by Pope Alexander VIII and in 1897 was declared patron saint of Eucharistic confraternities and societies by Pope Leo XIII.