Hundreds of members of the faithful on Saturday joined the eucharistic celebration held a day after the church’s 28th anniversary.
Santisima Trinidad Parish Priest Fr. Jojo Buenafe is grateful to see efforts to improve the church come to fruition, after withstanding the test of time and many challenges.
“It means a lot. Because this church is a symbol of God’s presence among us. Very memorable and meaningful itong event na ito (This event is very memorable and meaningful) because it is a way of glorifying our God and thanking him. This church is a fruit of unity of our parishioners,” he said.
Manila Archbishop Jose Cardinal Advincula presided over the rite of dedication of the church and the consecration of the altar on Saturday afternoon.
In the rite of dedication, the bishop dedicates the church to God or establishes the church as a place of worship. During the solemn rites, there is a blessing of the space with holy water, followed by the incensing and the anointing of the altar and walls of the church with holy chrism oil. It continues with the adornment of the altar with cloth and the lighting of the altar.
Cardinal Advincula likened the rites to baptism, wherein the faithful are welcomed to the church and begin service to the Lord. He reminded the faithful that the beauty of the church should also be reflected in the actions of its people.
“Sa parokyang ito wala sanang makakaramdam katulad ni Zaqueo na mag-isa lang siya sa buhay. Sa simbahan, bukas ang mga pintuan at puso natin upang yakapin at tanggapin ang lahat,” he said during his homily.
[Translation: I hope that no one in this parish feels lonely in life just like Zacchaeus. In church, our doors and hearts are open to embrace and welcome everyone.]
Over the years, the parish has faced several challenges, including land dispute, renovation funding issues and most recently, the COVID-19 pandemic. Fr. Buenafe said all the struggles helped them remember the importance of keeping faith in the Lord.
“This is something beautiful because even in the midst of pandemic, even in the midst of crisis, you see here really that the people did not forget about God. All the more they cling to God,” he said.
The structure, first built in 1935, was a church of the Iglesia Independendista de la Santisima Trinidad, a breakaway sect of the Aglipayan Church. The late Manila Archbishop Jaime Cardinal Sin established it as a Catholic church on March 25, 1994.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 27) — The Santisima Trinidad Parish in Malate reveals its full glory to churchgoers for the first time after completing the nearly two-year renovation.
