Saint pedro calungsod news and observer
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As a young migrant, he also left the safety of his home and faced hardship in a foreign land. “It’s inspiring to see community members lead with their talents, just as St. Pedro did with his faith.”
Volunteers serve Filipino cuisine to guests, including Washington Auxiliary Bishop Evelio Menjivar, during a luncheon on April 5, 2025 following a Mass at St.
Michael the Archangel Church in Silver Spring, Maryland, marking the feast day of St. Pedro Calungsod, a patron saint of the Philippines.
Washington Auxiliary Bishop Evelio Menjivar gives the homily during an April 5 Mass to commemorate the feast day of St. Pedro Calungsod at St. Michael the Archangel Church in Silver Spring. Pedro Calungsod is proof that sanctity does not require a long life or an early death —-only a life, whatever its length, lived with and for the Lord. For young people in today’s world, 17-year-old Pedro Calungsod shows them that saints can and do look like them. St.
Pedro Calungsod, pray for the youth of our Diocese and inspire them, like you, to love the Lord.
(Sources: Rev. Ilebdrando A. Leyson, “The Biography of Pedro Calungsod,” www.angelfire.com ; “Feast of St. Pedro Calungsod,” The Catholic Sun, April 2, 2018; “Pedro Calunsgod,” Wikipedia.)
Source: https://dioceseoftrenton.org/news/st-pedro-calungsod-never-too-young by Bishop David M.
O'Connell, C.M.
Marching with a martyr: D.C. Filipino Catholics celebrate St. Pedro Calungsod’s legacy
Faith, heritage and community spirit came together in a vibrant celebration at St. Michael the Archangel Church in Silver Spring, Maryland, on April 5, 2025. She holds a doctorate in education from George Washington University’s Executive Leadership Program and a master’s in human resources management from The Catholic University of America.)
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Eddie Tolentino, the pastor of St.Michael the Archangel Parish, warmly welcomed the congregation. (Catholic Standard photo by Mihoko Owada)aint of the Philippines. Pedro Calungsod, a teenage catechist from the Visayas region of the Philippines, was martyred in 1672 in Guam at the age of 17. “St. The event highlighted the unity and dedication of the Filipino faithful in the region.
The celebration began with a solemn procession and the recitation of the rosary, bringing the attendees together in reflection and prayer.
This gathering was held in collaboration with The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Washington’s Office of Cultural Diversity and Outreach. Pedro Calungsod
Saint Pedro Calungsod (c.
Around the world, the day was also a celebration of the many modern-day missionaries among the Filipino diaspora. He expressed joy at seeing the community come together to honor St.
Pedro Calungsod, emphasizing the importance of faith and unity. Whether they work as healthcare professionals, caregivers, service workers, or in other professions, many bear the quiet burden of sacrifice: separation from loved ones, cultural dislocation, and the ongoing struggle to maintain their identity while adapting to a new world.
He emphasized how St. Pedro’s unwavering faith, and sacrifice are as exemplary virtues that are particularly inspiring for the youth, who are driven by the noble aspiration to create a better world.
As the celebration concluded, the words of Pope Benedict XVI during St. Pedro’s canonization echoed with renewed meaning:
“With his faith, love, and courage, Pedro bore witness to the Gospel, even to the point of offering his life.
He serves as a model for everyone who seeks to live with purpose, even in the face of adversity. The Filipino Catholic community in metropolitan Washington, D.C., honored the feast day of St. Pedro Calungsod, the teenage Filipino martyr who serves as a powerful symbol of youthful faith and devotion.
The DC Filipino Catholic community organized the event with Father Ryan Pineda, the pastor of St.
Philip the Apostle Parish in Camp Springs, serving as chaplain and Lito Constantino as chairman. Like St. Pedro, they leave their homeland – often at significant personal cost – to serve, provide for their families, and live their faith in unfamiliar environments. Through their efforts, many receive the sacraments especially that of baptism. According to some accounts, Father Diego and his young assistant Pedro were ambushed one night by Choco’s companions while responding to the request of a native mother on an island village to have her child baptized,. Although Pedro could have escaped, he decided to stay with the priest. They threw a lance at the teenage Pedro which pierced his heart and, then, they killed Father Diego. Witnesses said that their bodies were stripped, thrown into the sea and never recovered.
Word of their martyrdom spread among the people of the Islands and Father Diego was proposed for canonization by the Jesuits. At his beatification in 1985, the heroic story of young Pedro caught the attention of Philippine Cardinal Ricardo Vidal and he initiated his cause for canonization. He was beatified in Rome by Pope St.
John Paul II on March 5, 2000. In his beatification homily, the Pope observed: ... The Mass was sponsored by the D.C. Filipino Catholic community to honor the patron saint of the Philippines.