Filipinos in Canada join other Filipinos all over the world in celebrating the 500th year of Christianity in the Philippines which started with the launch of the 500YOC Prayer on December 14, 2019. To commemorate this event, the Filipino Catholic Ministry of the Archdiocese of Vancouver has taken the lead in Canada.
When Spain colonized the Philippines with the arrival of Miguel López de Legazpi's expedition on February 13, 1565, and the establishment of the first permanent settlement in Cebu, Spain also introduced Christianity to the inhabitants and baptized the Filipinos in the Roman Catholic faith. Although Spanish rule ended in 1898 with Spain's defeat in the Spanish–American War, Catholicism has been a major influence in the Philippines since the Spanish times.
To mark this occasion, the Filipino Catholic Ministry has scheduled several events in March starting with a virtual Misang Pilipino on March 15th at 7 pm. To participate in this Mass via livestream, go to: https://youtu.be/1j06eS_sdzY . The Mass will physically happen in All Saints Church, 821 Fairfax Street, Coquitlam, B.C. Right after the Mass, holy communion will be distributed outside from the front door of the church. The church also has WiFi connection in the parking lot so participants can hear Mass in their parked cars and then receive holy communion right after Mass. Celebrating the Mass is Fr. Amador Abundo.
March 19th is the feast day of St. Joseph, the Patron Saint of Canada. A Novena to St. Joseph both to celebrate his feast and also to commemorate the dedication of Year 2021 to him is being planned. For more information on this and their monthly 3-hour intensive prayer session, please contact the Filipino Catholic Ministry in Vancouver at <
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