CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – The Santuario Eucaristico-Sacred Heart Parish in Cagayan de Oro – the Shrine of the Blessed Sacrament – has urged devotees and churchgoers here to join them as they revive the Corpus Christi procession in a "grandiose way" on June 10 this year.
Religious leaders of the Santuario Eucaristico-Sacred Heart Parish Church confirmed in a press conference on Wednesday, May 31, that this will be the first Corpus Christi procession after the height of the pandemic. The last procession happened in 2016.
THE Santuario Eucaristico-Sacred Heart Parish on Rodolfo N. Pelaez Boulevard, Barangay Kauswagan, Cagayan de Oro City. (Franck Dick Rosete)
In celebration of the solemnity of the most holy body and blood of Christ, a holy Mass will be conducted at 6 p.m. on June 10, which will be graced by Cagayan de Oro Archbishop Most Rev. Jose Cabantan. A procession will follow.
The solemn procession carrying the Blessed Sacrament with the monstrance will start in the Santuario Eucaristico-Sacred Heart Parish on RN Pelaez Boulevard. It will pass through the Maharlika Bridge, going to Don Apolinar Velez St. and Fernandez St., reaching the bishop's palace, and going to the Saint Augustine Metropolitan Cathedral church for the holy hour and benediction.
Rev. Fr. Wilbert Laroga said they are aiming to conduct fireworks display at the Maharlika Bridge to ward off evil spirits following the series of suicide incidents there.
SANTUARIO-Sacred Heart Parish Priest Rev. Fr. Wilbert Laroga (center), assistant parish priest Rev. Fr. Exzur Eballe (left), and parish treasurer Rev. Fr. Jessie Argoncillo (right) answers questions from the media during the Corpus Christi procession press conference at the Santuario Eucaristico-Sacred Heart Parish Church on RN Pelaez Boulevard, Cagayan de Oro City, on Wednesday, May 31. (Franck Dick Rosete)
He added that they want to promote the "Shrine of the Blessed Sacrament," which is located in the middle of the city, through the procession after the past seven years of not conducting the event.
"Dili mani basta-basta atong gi-promote, ang Ginoo gayod mismo, nga atong ipatigbabaw nga kita mga Kagay-anon, naa pa gihapon nato atong pagkarelihiyoso (We are not just promoting anyone, but the Lord himself. We should uphold that we, Kagay-anons, still have our religiousness)," said Laroga as he stressed the importance of the Blessed Sacrament in the life of a person.
Rev. Fr. Jessie Argoncillo, parish treasurer, urged individuals in these areas to pay respect and offer prayers once the procession passes in their areas.
Government offices have already finalized their coordination to ensure the event’s peace and order.
The parish has coordinated with Oro Rescue from the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Department as well as the Roads and Traffic Administration to ensure the smooth flow of the procession.
Rev. Fr. Exzur Eballe, assistant parish priest, also urged the devotees and churchgoers who will join the procession to observe the minimum public health standards as the Covid-19 remains a big threat.