The Philippines begins construction of a shrine dedicated to Padre Pio that will house a 30-meter-high statue of the saintly friar.
Newsroom (23/09/2022 8:45, Gaudium Press) The archdiocese of Cebu, in the Philippines, has a project to build a giant image of Padre Pio.
The audacious project has already begun and intends to build a 30-meter-high statue of Padre Pio in the island’s sanctuary that will be dedicated to the Capuchin saint.
Inauguration of the construction
The inauguration ceremony for the construction of the shrine took place last week and was attended by the Archbishop of Cebu, Monsignor Jose Palma.
The ceremony was held with the Padre Pio contemplative community made up of consecrated Catholic lay people who live the devotion to St. Pio of Pietrelcina.
The Archbishop hopes that the shrine can unite families and bring families closer to Christ, especially through devotion to St. Pio of Pietrelcina.
“May Padre Pio inspire every Filipino to protect each and every family and to raise children according to the teachings of the Gospel,” said Archbishop Jose Palma.
A privileged place for construction
The shrine is located in the town of Pulangbato. The shrine which is still under construction sits on a hill from which there is a panoramic view of Cebu.
The lay people who are part of the Padre Pio community consider the location of the future shrine a sign.
“It is symbolic that the shrine is the highest church located on the island that welcomed the first missionaries 500 years ago,” Joey Cagasero told UCA News.
A shrine for the whole country
The Archdiocese of Cebu stated that the construction work for the shrine will be finished next year and the plan is to make a welcome center for the whole country.
“There would be healing masses and confessions here. This is our goal. We hope that millions, if not thousands of devotees of Padre Pio will visit this place,” Joey explained.
Catholicism came to the Philippines when Portuguese discoverer Fernando Magellan landed in the central Visayas region in 1521. (FM)
Compiled by Dominic Joseph
