Solemnity of Christ the King celebration to mark end of liturgical year

THE Archdiocese of Cebu is now 80 percent ready for the upcoming celebration of the solemnity of “Christ the King” on Sunday.

“As we all know we are celebrating the Christ the King to end up the year of the clergy and start the year of the youth. As we welcome the year of the youth, we are going to celebrate the Christ the King Mass,” said Fr. Mark Barneso, Commission on Youth (COY) chairman.

The celebration marks the end of the liturgical year.

The assembly time for the event will start at 2:45 p.m. at the Fuente Osmeña Circle in Cebu City, wherein the youth will be asked to make Divine Mercy Chaplet, which will be followed by a Holy Mass.

At 5:30 p.m., a Eucharistic procession will commence from Fuente Osmeña, down to Jones Avenue, P. Burgos Street and will end at the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral.

“Since we are going to welcome the year of the youth, we will be unveiling the year of the youth logo and theme song,” he added.

Fr. Andrei Ventanilla, Assistant Chairman of the COY, said that this year’s Christ the King will also highlight the promotion of the National Youth Day celebration that will be held in Cebu in 2019.

“We will promote the National Youth Day, which will be hosted by the Archdiocese of Cebu on April 23 to 28 in 2019. Part of the highlight is the releasing of the official music video of the theme song,” Ventanilla said.

Ventanilla is targeting around 5,000 youths to join the Eucharistic procession on Sunday.

He said participants are discouraged from bringing bag pack, bladed weapons, and balloons, among others as part of their security preparations.

Ventanilla said they are also coordinating with the Cebu City government and the Philippine National Police for the activity.

The theme for the year of the youth is “Filipino Youth in Mission: Beloved, Gifted, and Empowered.”

The archdiocese has also issued a circular to cancel the Masses on Sunday afternoon in Cebu City to make sure that all parishes will join the Eucharistic procession.

Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma described the incoming liturgical year as a sign of hope for the country.

“We welcome the new year’s focus which is the young people. As mentioned and realized by Cardinal Charles Maung Bo, why are we happy people? It’s because we have a lot of young people, which represents hope in our nation,” Palma said.

Palma urged the youths to join the event.