LOS ANGELES FILIPINO COMMUNITY TO CELEBRATE 500 YEARS OF CHRISTIANITY AND 35TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE FEAST OF SANTO NIÑO WITH SPECIAL MASS PRESIDED BY ARCHBISHOP GOMEZ
January 12, 2022  |  By:   |  Press Releases  |  

On Sunday, January 16, 2022, a Mass will be held at 3:30 p.m. presided by Archbishop José H. Gomez at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels in downtown Los Angeles. Every third Sunday of January, people of all ages come to the Cathedral to celebrate the solemn Feast of Santo Niño, the Divine Infant Jesus. This year’s theme is “Gifted to give and share of faith” (Pinagpala Upang Isabuhay at Ibahagi ang Ating Pananampalataya).

“’Gifted to give and share of faith’ means living and sharing love and compassion. It is evangelization by how we relate kindly, living in peace and loving unconditionally,” said Fr. Rodel Balagtas, pastor of Incarnation Church in Glendale.

Pre-liturgy activities at the Cathedral Plaza will portray 500 years of Filipino evangelization, culture and traditions, including performances by Sinulog dancers. The Filipino community will also feature canonically crowned images of the Blessed Virgin Mary from different areas in the Philippines that they continue to venerate and treasure today. Also, they will highlight the Santacruzan, a religious historical procession held in honor of Queen Helena and her son Constantin for finding the true cross that is said to be the one upon Jesus was crucified.

Faithful are encouraged to bring their statues of Santo Niño, the Holy Child, on Sunday for a blessing. The image of Santo Niño is particularly revered by people from Cebu with the devotion to Christ Child Jesus spreading beyond that region over centuries.

In the 16th century, the first statue of Santo Niño was presented to Queen Juana, wife of King Humabon of Cebu. She was overjoyed upon seeing the innocent and kind face of Baby Jesus.  She was baptized and embraced Catholicism. Ferdinand Magellan planted the Cross of Christianity on the day that baptisms occurred in Cebu. To this day, Filipinos bring prayers to the Santo Niño, as their protector who has power to grant and answer their prayers. Devotions to him are part of every parish’s life.

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