Each of the 13 parishes will be designated or grouped to host one of the nine days of the Liturgy of the Hours or Evening Prayer and the Novena to the Holy Spirit.
The first day was hosted by Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Parish and the St. Paul Chong Hasang Church of the Korean Catholic Community.
Chalan Kanoa Bishop Tomas A. Camacho was supposed to lead the first night of the prayer service but Fr. Isaac Ayuyu took his place.
“The bishop, unfortunately, was not feeling well so we prayed for him. But the community’s response to the first day of novena and prayer was incredible,” Ayuyu said.
Fr. Ryan Jimenez delivered the reflection on “Mary’s Fiat: Model of Our Response to God’s Call.”
Fr. Florentino Recaido Jr. and Fr. Antony Kye Man Soo joined the service, and the Korean Catholic Community sang “Our Father” before the closing prayer.
“It’s very successful. We had challenges in the beginning but we would like to thank Fr. Isaac Ayuyu for putting together the prayer and we thank the people for joining us. It’s a bigger crowd than we expected. The prayers are very beautiful and very nice,” said Charles Cepeda, who is with the anniversary executive committee.
Ayuyu said he felt the people’s “sense of joy.”
“The prayer tonight was meaningful. I think people have a sense of participation and joy in anticipation for the celebration. They were excited so I am looking forward for everyday, for tomorrow again to the next parish who is assigned,” he said.
The Liturgy of the Hours is the set of daily prayers prescribed by the Catholic Church to be recited during a cycle of seven canonical hours by the clergy, religious orders and the laity.
The Novena is a prayer to the Third Person of the Blessed Trinity for light and strength.
It is recited to appeal that wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety and fear of God are granted to the people of the diocese of Chalan Kanoa, Bishop Camacho as its 25-year shepherd, and those entrusted with the election of the new bishop.
The jubilee prayer service starts at 7 p.m. and will be held every night until Jan. 17. Everyone is invited to join.
