October 21st- The newly instituted Parish of Blessed Pope John Paull II Parish celebrates the Feast of its Patron Saint, culminating in a procession around Eastwood City.
Karol J. Wojtyla, known as John Paul II since his October 1978 election to the papacy, was born in Wadowice, a small city 50 kilometres from Cracow, on May 18, 1920. He was the second of two sons born to Karol Wojtyla and Emilia Kaczorowska. He reigned as Pope of the Catholic Church from 1978 until his death in 2005. He was the second-longest serving Pope in history and the first non-Italian since 1523.
Mass celebrated by the Bishop of the Diocese of Cubao, Most Rev. Honesto F. Ongtioco, D.D.
Final Blessing...
Ready for the procession, after the Mass the crowd outside instantaneously came to life with the marching band playing and with devotees flocking towards the carroza of Blessed Pope John Paul II for picture taking.
A well loved Pope, inspiration for the youth hanging out in Eastwood City. "Young people are threatened... by the evil use of advertising techniques that stimulate the natural inclination to avoid hard work by promising the immediate satisfaction of every desire."
Top Right, Caracol dancers exiting the Parish...
The image of the beloved Pope exits the church. Bishop Ongtioco joins the faithful in the procession around Eastwood City.
Dancing the night away. "Freedom consists not in doing what we like, but in having the right to do what we ought."
A beautiful night for a procession, for dancing and for fireworks. Blessed Pope John Paul II, pray for us!
To sing and to dance for the beloved Pope..."I have a sweet tooth for song and music. This is my Polish sin."
The Modern Pope, bringing the catholic chuch to the new millennium. "The future starts today, not tomorrow."
A very charismatic figure, John Paul II was acclaimed as one of the most influential leaders of the 20th century. He was instrumental in ending communism in his native Poland and eventually all of Europe.[1] John Paul II significantly improved the Catholic Church's relations with Judaism, Islam, the Eastern Orthodox Church, and the Anglican Communion. Though criticised by progressives for upholding the Church's teachings against artificial contraception and the ordination of women, and by traditionalists for his support of the Church's Second Vatican Council and its reform, he was also widely praised for his firm, orthodox Catholic stances (from Wikipedia).
He was one of the most-travelled world leaders in history, visiting 129 countries during his pontificate. As part of his special emphasis on the universal call to holiness, he beatified 1,340 people and canonised 483 saints, more than the combined tally of his predecessors during the preceding five centuries. He named most of the present College of Cardinals, consecrated or co-consecrated a large number of the world's past and current bishops, and ordained many priests.[2] A key goal of his papacy was to transform and reposition the Catholic Church. His wish was "to place his Church at the heart of a new religious alliance that would bring together Jews, Muslims and Christians in a great [religious] armada".[3][4] On 19 December 2009, John Paul II was proclaimed venerable by his successor Pope Benedict XVI and was beatified on 1 May 2011 (taken from Wikipedia).
An Eastwood Fiesta
A huge celebration in Eastwood will not be complete without a spectacular fireworks display, the perks of having a parish in Eastwood City...the night sky was transformed into a ballet of dancing colors and sparkles making the night's festivities even more memorable.
I kept thinking of nebula, nebula...
Pope John Paul, we love you!
See Part 1.
