ILOILO City – Churches under the Archdiocese of Jaro are encouraged to schedule Candlemas celebrations this Sunday, a day before the feast of Nuestra Señora dela Candelaria (Our Lady of Candles).
Archbishop Jose Romeo Lazo of Jaro permitted the Candlemas in hopes of reducing the number of devotees expected to gather on the actual day of Jaro fiesta, Feb. 2.
“I permit and encourage the celebration of the Candlemas with the blessings of candles in one of the masses of Jan. 31, a Sunday in every parish,” stated Lazo in a circular issued last week.
Candlemas, also called the “Presentation of the Lord” or “Presentation of Christ in the Temple”, is a Christian festival commemorating the occasion when the Virgin Mary, in obedience to Jewish law, went to the Temple in Jerusalem both to be purified 40 days after the birth of her son, Jesus, and to present him to God as her firstborn (Luke 2:22–38).
The festival was formerly known in the Roman Catholic Church as the “Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary”.
Father Angelo Colada, director of social communications of the Archdiocese of Jaro, said parishes can set their own schedule for the celebration where Candelaria devotees could join.
“May gin-release man kami nga mga candles para mapadala ini sa mga parokya para may ara na sila nga mga kandila sa Jan. 31,” Colada said.
Apart from the Jan. 31 schedule, parishes will also hold masses on Feb. 2.
Based on the schedule released by the Archdiocese of Jaro, the coronation of Nuestra Señora dela Candelaria will be presided by Lazo at 6:30 p.m. on Feb. 2.
The following is the schedule of the masses at the main altar:
* 4 a.m. (Hiligaynon)
* 6 a.m. (English)
* 8 a.m. (Hiligaynon) – Pontifical Mass
Blessing of Candles and Solemn Concelebrated Mass with Most Reverend Jose Romeo Lazo, Archbishop of Jaro
* 10 a.m. (Hiligaynon)
* 12 p.m. (English)
* 3 p.m. (English)
* 5 pm. (English) – Pontifical Mass, Solemn Concelebrated Mass with Most Rev. Marvin A. Maceda, Bishop of the Diocese of San Jose de Antique
* 7 p.m. (English)
Colada clarified there will be no procession from the Archbishop’s residence to the Jaro Cathedral during the concelebrated Mass on Feb. 2.
“Wala na sang procession. Kon diin na nagatindog ang mga tawo dira na sila kag ang pari na lang sa altar masugod sang seremonyas kag pag-bless sang candles,” Colada said./PN
