The Roman Catholic Diocese of Antipolo in Antipolo City, Rizal Province, marked its 41st anniversary of canonical establishment on Tuesday, June 25.
Antipolo Bishop Ruperto C. Santos officiated a Eucharistic celebration at 8 a.m. at the Antipolo Cathedral, now known as the International Shrine of the Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage.
Shrine rector and administrator Fr. Reynante “Nante” Tolentino said more than 120 priests, representing churches under the Diocese of Antipolo that covers the entire Rizal Province and Marikina City in Metro Manila, joined the religious and historic event.
Bishop Santos, who celebrated his 14th episcopal ordination anniversary on June 24, was the fifth bishop of the diocese to celebrate the canonical establishment of the diocese.
During his homily, Bishop Santos reminded the faithful to look up to God and listen to what He tells us.
"Mula dito, ating nabatid na sa pagdiriwang ng ating anibersaryo sa pagkakatatag ng ating Diyosesis ng Antipolo, tumingin tayo hindi sa ibaba, lumingon tayo, hindi sa paligid, tumanaw tayo sa itaas. Pakinggan natin ang Kaniyang sinasabi sa ating puso, sa ating Diyosesis ng Antipolo, sa pagkakatatag nito at sa darating pang panahon. Matapat, mabuti, at makapangyarihan ang ating Panginoong Diyos, (From here, we know that in the celebration of our anniversary of the establishment of our Diocese of Antipolo, let's not look down, let's not look around, but let's look up. Let's listen to what He says in our hearts, in our Diocese of Antipolo, in its establishment and in the future. Our Lord is faithful, good, and powerful)," Bishop Santos said in his homily.
Part of the celebration was the blessing of the Pastoral Center located at the Diocesan Curia at Daang Bakal Road.
Information gathered from the office of the cathedral showed that the diocese was canonically established on June 25, 1983, or a day after the late Pope John Paul II announced its creation in his Angelus message.
Its first bishop was the late Bishop Protacio G. Gungon, followed by Bishop Crisostomo Yalung, then succeeded by Bishop Gabriel V. Reyes. Then auxiliary and later coadjutor bishop, Francisco M. de Leon, became the fourth bishop.
Pope Francis later appointed Bishop Nolly C. Buco as the auxiliary bishop, followed by the appointment of Bishop Santos as the present bishop.
The Diocese of Antipolo is the third largest local church in terms of Catholic population after the Archdiocese of Cebu and the Diocese of Malolos.
The center of the diocese is the Antipolo Cathedral, the first international shrine in the country and 11th in the world, the home of the 17th century old image of the Nuestra Señora dela Paz y Buenviaje.