A joyful celebration of Filipino faith at the Cathedral Basilica
The Filipino Apostolate of the Archdiocese of Newark gathered in faith, joy, and thanksgiving on Oct. 4 for its annual “Filipino Heroes of Faith” celebration. The special Mass honored Saint Lorenzo Ruiz, Saint Pedro Calungsod, and the Filipino Servants of God whose lives continue to inspire Filipinos to live their Catholic faith with courage, fidelity, and love.
More than 700 pilgrims from the four counties of the Archdiocese of Newark and beyond came together for this beautiful event. To make the gathering accessible, the Filipino Apostolate provided 12 free buses from different communities, bringing pilgrims together from across the archdiocese for a stirring expression of faith and unity.
This year’s celebration was made even more meaningful by the commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the Canonical Coronation of Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary of Manaoag. Devotion to Our Lady of Manaoag holds a special place in the hearts of generations of Filipino Catholics.
Sharing the gift of Filipino spirituality
At the heart of the celebration was a beautiful and solemn Eucharistic celebration with Most Rev. Efren V. Esmilla, Auxiliary Bishop of Philadelphia, as the main celebrant and homilist. Together with priests, religious, community leaders, families, young people, and hundreds of pilgrims, the Cathedral became a beautiful image of the Church as one family gathered around the altar of the Lord.
The Filipino Apostolate of the Archdiocese of Newark seeks to nurture this rich heritage of faith while bringing Filipino Catholics into an ever-deeper participation in the life and mission of the local Church.
More than preserving Filipino traditions, the Apostolate seeks to build communion, strengthen families, encourage the participation of young people, promote vocations and Christian service, and share with the wider Church the particular gifts of Filipino Catholic spirituality: a deep love for the Eucharist, devotion to the Blessed Mother, closeness to family, joyful hospitality, and a faith that remains strong through sacrifice and adversity.
The extraordinary attendance at this year’s celebration was a beautiful testimony that Filipino faith remains alive, vibrant, and strong. We are deeply grateful to the priests and ministers who participated, our sponsors, volunteers, community leaders, bus captains, choirs, liturgical ministers, and especially the more than 700 pilgrims who filled the Cathedral with prayer, joy, and devotion. Their presence made the celebration a powerful expression of faith and revealed the beauty of what happens when our Filipino communities come together as one family and one people of God.
Father JM Manolo A. Punzalan is the pastor of Immaculate Conception Parish in Mahwah and director of the Archdiocese of Newark’s Filipino Apostolate.
To view more photos from the apostolate’s Filipino Heroes of Faith celebration, CLICK HERE.
You can view video highlights of the special liturgy below:
Featured image: The Filipino Apostolate of the Archdiocese of Newark gathered on Oct. 4 for its annual ‘Filipino Heroes of Faith’ celebration at the Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart in Newark, NJ. (Photos by Julio Eduardo Herrera / Archdiocese of Newark)
