Countdown to Calungsod canonization launched in the Philippines

(July 16, 2012) Church leaders in the Philippines on Saturday launched what they called “100 days of grace” in the run up to the canonization of Blessed Pedro Calungsod on October 21. The teenage martyr will be canonized with six other Blesseds by Pope Benedict XVI in Rome. Archbishop Jose Palma of Cebu led proceedings at Fuente Osmena in Cebu City where students Church-based organizations, catechists, priests and members of religious congregations gathered for the launch. “These are days of grace and favour for the whole Cebuano community, indeed, for the whole country,” said retired Archbishop of Cebu Cardinal Ricardo Vidal. In Manila, Archbishop Antonio Luis Tagle announced the launch of the countdown during a social media summit in Marikina City on Saturday. Blessed Calungsod was a teenage catechist who served at the Jesuit mission in the Marianas from June 1668 until his death on April 2, 1672 in Guam. He was declared Blessed by Pope John Paul II on March 5, 2000 in the Vatican.