ILOILO City – The Archdiocese of Jaro is ready for the expected arrival of thousands of devotees who will be visiting and attending mass at Jaro Cathedral this Friday, Feb. 2, to celebrate the feast of Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria (Our Lady of Candles).
Reverend Father Angelo Colada, the director of the Archdiocese of Jaro’s Social Communication Office, has announced the official schedule of fiesta masses to assist devotees in planning their itineraries.
LED walls will be set up around the exterior of the cathedral, enabling those outside to follow the services conducted inside.
“The church grounds are ready, and we will provide LED walls to avoid overcrowding inside,” Father Colada stated to Panay News on Tuesday morning.
The archdiocese has begun distributing Candelaria perdon candles to churches, allowing devotees to start purchasing them.
This year’s candles are blue, priced at P35 each at the Jaro Cathedral and P40 each as the suggested retail price in other churches within Iloilo province.
This year’’s religious activities of the archdiocese are limited, featuring the coronation of Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria on Thursday afternoon, Feb. 1.
A mass led by Most Rev. Midyphil B. Billones, D.D., auxiliary bishop of Cebu, will follow the coronation.
The stairs to the grotto of Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria will be temporarily closed during the coronation but will reopen afterwards for devotees wishing to offer prayers.
On Friday at 8 a.m., there will be a blessing of perdon candles before the high mass, led by Archbishop Jose Romeo Lazo.
Additionally, a traditional procession is planned for 3 p.m. around the streets near Jaro Cathedral.
Father Colada advised devotees to arrive early at the Jaro Cathedral and to attend mass to prevent congestion during the 8 a.m. high mass.
“We have scheduled numerous masses to accommodate our devotees,” Colada said.
Devotees are reminded that lighting candles inside the Jaro Cathedral is prohibited to avoid accidents, given the large turnout expected.
Candles can be lit in the “Chapel of Lights” adjacent to the cathedral instead.
The official schedule of masses at the Main Altar and at the St. John Paul II Hall is as follows:
* 4 a.m. – Hiligaynon – Rev. Fr. Rey Zerrudo SSI, Rector, St. Joseph Regional Seminary, Jaro, Iloilo City
* 6 a.m. – English – Rev. Fr. Jose Albero Guillen, Priest, Moderator, National Shrine of Our Lady of Candles, Jaro, Iloilo City
* 8 a.m. – Solemn Pontifical Mass with Blessing of Candles – Hiligaynon – Archbishop of Jaro, Most Rev. Jose Romeo O. Lazo, D.D.
* 10 a.m. -Hiligaynon – Rt. Rev. Msgr. Higinio Velarde, Jr. JCD, Episcopal Vicar on Clergy, Archbishop of Jaro
* 12 noon – English – Rev. Msgr. Meliton B. Oso, Director, Jaro Archdiocesan Social Action Center, Archdiocese of Jaro
* 3 p.m. – Hiligaynon – Very Rev. Msgr. Jose Marie Amado S. Delgado, Vicar, General Archdiocese of Jaro
* 5:30 p.m. – Solemn Concelebrated Mass – English – Most Rev. Victor Bendico, D.D, Archbishop of Capiz
* 7 p.m. – Hiligaynon – Rev. Fr. Randy Doromal, Directo, Jaro Archdiocese Commission on Family and Lofe Parish Priest, Holy Parish, Lemery, Iloilo
* 8 p.m. – English – Rev. Msgr. Ely Rafael Fuentes, Superintendent of Jaro, Archdiocesan Catholic Schools, Parish Priest, Archdiocesan Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima Parish, Alta Tierra Village, Jaro, Iloilo City
MASSES AT ST. JOHN PAUL II HALL
* 4:30 a.m. – Hiligaynon – Rev.Fr. Nathaniel G. Gentizon
* 5:30 a.m. – English – Rev. Fr. Paul Patrick A. Alipao
* 6:30 a.m. – Hiligaynon – Rev. Fr. Gremas Lacson
* 7:30 a.m. – English – Rev. Fr. Bunnie Reydel T. Ambao
* 8:30 a.m. – Hiligaynon – Rev. Fr. Joe Marie Villalobos
* 9:30 a.m. – English – Rev. Fr. Philip Vincent Sinco
* 10:30 a.m. – Hiligaynon – Rev. Fr. Peter John Guarin
* 11:30 a.m. – English – Rev. Fr. Joaper Geraneo
* 3:30 p.m. – Hiligaynon – Rev. Fr. Christopher Villa
* 6:30 p.m. – English – Rev. Fr. Aris James Java
* 7:30 p.m. – Hiligaynon – Rev. Fr. Julius Jacobres/PN
