Bishop Ron Hicks to mark 500th anniversary of Christianity in the Philippines with special Mass on March 12

Bishop Ron Hicks will celebrate a Mass commemorating the 500th anniversary of the introduction of Christianity in the Philippines on Sat., March 12 at the Cathedral of St. Raymond Nonnatus in Joliet.

The 1 p.m. Mass joins the year-long quincentennial celebration launched in April 2021 by the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines. The Mass will feature Scripture readings and prayers recited in various languages spoken in the Southeast Asian country, including Tagalog.

The Mass will be preceded by a procession on Raynor Avenue highlighting four Filipino devotions, weather permitting.

“I am always excited to celebrate Mass,” Bishop Ron Hicks said. “Yet this liturgy is an opportunity to honor the rich contribution of the Filipino community to the Catholic Church while reminding us that we are one people in Christ.”

The Christian faith arrived in the Philippines in March 1521, when Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan landed a Spanish expedition on the island country in search of the so-called “East Indies.” The first Mass on Filipino soil was celebrated a few weeks later.

The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines chose “Gifted to Give” as the theme of the quincentennial, citing Matthew 10:8 as inspiration. Activities for the 500th anniversary celebration were intended to culminate in April 2021, but the coronavirus pandemic forced a later start for the initial festivities. More information may be found at www.500yoc.com.

The 1 p.m. Mass will be livestreamed at https://youtu.be/6iXdK3WN8cQ.