ARCHBISHOP Jose Palma will be holding Misa de Gallo in Cebu's nine oldest parishes starting Thursday, December 16, 2021.
In a statement posted on the Archdiocese of Cebu's official Facebook page, church officials announced that Palma will hold his first dawn mass at the Archdiocesan Shrine of St. Catherine of Alexandria in Carcar City on Thursday.
The church in Carcar City has been existence since the 19th century.
On Friday, December 17, Palma will then hold Misa de Gallo at the Archdiocesan Shrine of San Nicolas de Tolentino in Barangay San Nicolas, Cebu City. The old church in downtown Cebu City was built in 1584 and was considered as the first church managed by the Augustinians.
On Saturday, Palma will then proceed to Boljoon in southern Cebu to hold Misa de Gallo at the Patrocinio de Maria Parish. The old Boljoon church was completed in 1814.
On Sunday, December 20, Palma will then proceed to Argao town, also in southern Cebu, to hold Misa de Gallo at the Archdiocesan Shrine of St. Michael the Archangel, which was constructed in 1734.
On December 21, Monday, Palma will then proceed to Barili town, midwest Cebu to hold Misa de Gallo at the Archdiocesan Shrine of Santa Ana. According to the town' official website, the parish, which was dedicated to the mother of the Virgin Mary, was constructed in 1889.
On December 22, Tuesday, Palma will then proceed to Mandaue City to hold Misa de Gallo at the National Shrine of St. Joseph.
The parish, located in Barangay Centro, Mandaue City is considered one of the oldest in the country, as it was founded in 1638 by the Jesuits.
After holding mass in old parishes in Cebu's mainland, Palma will then proceed towards Bantayan town in Bantayan Island to hold Misa de Gallo at the Sts. Peter and Paul Parish on Wednesday, December 23.
The island parish was founded by the Augustinians in 1580. On Christmas Eve, December 24, Palma will return to mainland Cebu to hold Misa de Gallo at his official seat, the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral, which is also considered one of the oldest parishes in Cebu and was established when then Spanish conquistador Miguel Lopez de Legazpi landed in Cebu in 1565. (JKV)