Archbishop Charles John Brown, the apostolic nuncio to the Philippines, marked the commemoration of the quincentennial of the first Easter Mass on Limasawa Island in Southern Leyte on Wednesday and said real thanksgiving to God meant proclaiming the Gospel of salvation to the world. “It is in this sharing of the gift of faith with others that we can best express our thanksgiving to God who has loved us through His Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ, who suffered, died and rose again from the dead,” Brown said. Also on Wednesday, the Catholics held a fluvial procession of the pilgrim image of Señor Santo Niño de Cebu to the Island of Limasawa —JODEE A. AGONCILLO
Papal nuncio marks 1st Easter Mass in PH
EASTER CELEBRATION Atableau depicting the firstMass officiated by Fr. Pedro de Valderrama, chaplain of the Spanish fleet, on Easter Sunday on March 31, 1521, is built atMagellan Shrine as a reminder of the important role of Limasawa Island in the history of the Philippines and the Catholic Church in the country. —PHOTO COURTESY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF TOURISMIN EASTERN VISAYAS