Tinig ng Pastol: MESSAGE OF BISHOP DENNIS C. VILLAROJO ON THE OCCASION OF THE DEDICATION OF THE MALOLOS CATHEDRAL (12.04.22)

Message of Bishop DENNIS C. VILLAROJO, D.D.
IN RELATION TO THE CELEBRATION OF THE FESTIVAL OF THE DEDICATION OF THE MALOLOS CATHEDRAL

04 December 2022

The Prophet Ezekiel describes that "The whole temple is full of the splendor of the Lord." (Ezekiel 43:5)

Malolos Cathedral is unique among all the churches in our Diocese not only because of its beauty, but because it symbolizes our unity as a Nation in the province of Bulacan and the city of Valenzuela.

Every fourth of December, the whole diocese celebrates as a festival, the year of the consecration of the Church and Shrine of our Cathedral. Whenever it is celebrated, we rejoice in our unity as the baptized and the anointed.
The actions in the liturgy of the consecration of the Church reflect the actions in the celebration of the Sacrament of Baptism. There is the sprinkling of water in connection with the pouring of water at the baptism, the anointing of Chrism on the altar and the pillars of the church as it is anointed on the mound of the newly baptized, the dressing of the white tablecloth on the altar as in the baptismal garment, and the lighting of the altar candles like silly candles for newly baptized.

But Brothers, there is nothing else that will shine more brightly in our Cathedral and in our other churches, if not our intense witness of being baptized. The real beauty of prayer houses is not only in the decorations, but in the actual practice of the faith of those who go there.

May we let the Lord shine in his house of prayer through our living faith.
According to the Table of Liturgical Days, the Consecration of the Cathedral Church is considered a Great Feast so the Diocese should celebrate it this Monday, December 5th because December 4th coincides with the celebration of the Second Sunday of Advent .