Caceres parishes celebrate Year of St. Joseph

By Myrna Bermudo

Parishes dedicated to St. Joseph and the rest of the parishes in the Archdiocese of Caceres will celebrate in a special way the Solemnity of St. Joseph, Patron of the Universal Church on March 19.

Pope Francis declared December 8, 2020 to December 8, 2021 as the Year of Saint Joseph. The celebration commemorates the 150th Anniversary of the Declaration of St. Joseph as Patron of the Universal Church. In Caceres, the theme for this year’s celebration is: ‘St. Joseph: Husband of Mary and the Gift of Faith’.

In the Archdiocese, there are four parishes dedicated to St. Joseph. They are in Cagliliog, Tinambac; Tamban, Tinambac; Palsong, Bula and San Jose, Camarines Sur. The St. Joseph parish church in San Jose has been elevated as an Archdiocesan Shrine. By an archdiocesan decree, they are also Pilgrimage Churches in the Year of St. Joseph.

The Blessing and Dedication of the Church and Altar of Parish of St. Joseph in Cagliliog, Tinambac will be held on March 18. The Eucharistic Celebration and Rite will be held at 09:00 in the morning and will be presided by His Grace, Most Rev. Rolando J. Tria Tirona, OCD, DD, Archbishop of Caceres. The church is under the care Fr. Herbert Machado, the parish priest.

On March 19, at 9:00am, there will be a Pontifical Eucharistic Celebration in the Parish of St. Joseph in Palsong, Bula with Archbishop Rolando Tria Tirona, O.C.D., D.D. He will be joined by Fr. Russell Pletado, the parish priest. The mass will be livestreamed in the social media account of the Archdiocese of Caceres.

For Fr. Joseph Wilfred M. Almoneda, rector of the Archdiocesan Shrine of St. Joseph, the Year of St. Joseph gives an opportune time to introduce the husband of Mary and give intensive catechesis to the members of the Cofradia de San Jose, an organization of male voyadores.

He intends to introduce the value of the family to the Confraternity members, single or married. “We all belong to a family. To give value to our family is to value our humanity. St. Joseph is the perfect model in valuing one’s family,” Fr. Almoneda said.

Health protocols will be given priority as the town of San Jose celebrates its parish day on March 19.

“We are inviting all of you to dedicate this year reflecting on the importance of mission and inspiration of Saint Joseph on how we can continue to take part in the mission of salvation,“ Caceres Archbishop Rolando J. Tria Tirona, O.C.D. , D.D., said in the pastoral letter issued during the Feast of the Epiphany for the launching of the year of Missio Ad Gentes and St. Joseph.

Quoting Pope Francis, Archbishop Tirona said: “the Covid-19 pandemic helped us see more clearly the importance of ordinary people who though far from the limelight, exercise patience and offer hope every day.”

“They are those who in their own ways participate in the mission of Jesus. These people resemble Saint Joseph. He is the man who goes unnoticed, a daily, discreet and hidden presence, who nonetheless played an incomparable role in the history of salvation, ” added Archbishop Tirona.

“May Saint Joseph, the patron of the Universal Church, continue to be our guide and inspiration in this year dedicated to him,” concludes Archbishop Tirona.