Group to launch Calungsod canonization page on Facebook

Manila, Philippines -  A group is planning to launch a page in the popular social networking site Facebook to drum up awareness on Blessed Pedro Calungsod, who is expected to be declared as the second Filipino saint in October.

CBCPNews, the official news service provider of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), said that the group, called +Big Movement, is also planning to start a one-week promotional campaign for Calungsod’s canonization.

The campaign called “I like Pedro Week” will start on July 8 and last until July 13.

The +Big Movement is dedicated to promote the life and virtues of Blessed Calungsod among the Filipino faithful and to generate more awareness about him.

Clarke Nebrao of +Big Movement said, “We have a friend who did a random survey in the A & B class in our society. It was found out that only about 23 percent know about Pedro in Metro Manila, while for the classes C, D, E, F crowds, only 17 percent know about him.”

As for the Facebook page for Calungsod, their group is hoping that thousands of people would “like” the page.

“We would like to really pull all the network of the Catholic Church in putting a face to Pedro. With this, we are aiming to accomplish 100,000 likes for the Saint Pedro Calungsod Facebook page,” Nebrao said.

Meanwhile, organizers in charge of promoting Calungsod’s canonization released the dates of the liturgical celebrations slated before and after the canonization on Oct. 21.

A Triduum of Masses would be celebrated from Oct. 18 to 20 at the Basilica of St. Augustine, Piazza di Sant’Agostino 80 at 4 p.m.; Church of Gesu, Via degli Astalli 16 also at 4 p.m.; and Basilica of St. Mary Major, Piazza di Santa Maria Maggiore at 10 a.m., all located in Rome.

A vigil and penitential service is set on Oct. 20 from 8:30 to 10 p.m. at the Chiesa di Santa Pudenziana Via Urbana 160.

Blessed Calungsod will be canonized with six others on a Sunday morning at St. Peter’s Square in Rome.

Vespers together with a procession of the second Filipino saint’s icon will be brought around the vicinity of Chiesa di Santa Pudenziana in the evening.

A thanksgiving mass would be celebrated on Oct. 22, the day after the canonization, at 8 a.m. at the apse of St. Peter’s Basilica.