Members of different parishes in Rizal province participate in the series of religious activities lined-up prior to the solemn declaration of the Antipolo Cathedral as an international shrine on January 26.

Fr. Reynante Tolentino, shrine rector and administrator of the Antipolo Cathedral, said praying of the Holy Rosary, celebration of the Eucharistic Mass and evening procession began on Jan. 17, participated in by members of different parishes under the Diocese of Antipolo, are part of the activities in preparation for the Jan. 26 event.

During the procession, hundreds of parishioners joined the parade of images of their respective patron saints following the Holy Mass at 5 p.m. 

The first day of the activities saw the attendance of the parishes under the Vicariate of Saint Jerome which covers Catholic Churches in Morong, Binangonan, and Cardona. The delegation from Binangonan’s Saint Ursula Parish included Mayor Cesar Ynares and other local officials.

On Jan. 18, members of the Vacariate of the Our Lady of Aranzazu covering San Mateo, Rodriguez and Nangka in Marikina City attended the event in Antipolo City.

Other parishes in the diocese are also scheduled to take part in the pre-declaration activities at the cathedral.

Outreach programs dubbed “Works of Mercy” that included visits to the Antipolo City Jail on Jan. 6, medical and surgical mission at the Antipolo Cathedral compound, and visit to the home for the aged and homeless shelters -- the Missionaries of Charity and Kanlungan ni Maria on Jan. 20 -- are part of the pre-declaration activities of the diocese.

Fr. Tolentino said bishops from all over the country including Antipolo Bishop Ruperto Santos are expected to attend the historic event at the Antipolo Cathedral at 9:30 a.m. on Jan. 26, with Most Reverend Charles John Brown, D.D., the apostolic nuncio to the Philippines ,officiating the Holy Mass and Solemn Declaration.