On March 10, 2026, the Redemptorists from the two units in the Philippines—the Province of Cebu and the Vice Province of Manila—gathered to celebrate the 120th anniversary of the Redemptorists’ arrival in the Philippines.
The celebration was a joyous occasion, with over 70 Redemptorist priests and brothers, along with their lay partners, participating in a pilgrimage to the National Shrine of Virgen de La Regla in Opon (Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu).
The event began with a land-and-sea pilgrimage. The Redemptorists sailed in a fluvial procession starting from Pier 3 at Cebu Port, while their lay partners participated by land on designated buses departing from the Our Mother of Perpetual Help Church Redemptorist in Cebu City. This pilgrimage commenced with a ritual emphasizing the spiritual significance and missionary dynamism of commemorating the Redemptorist mission’s beginnings in the Philippines and Asia. It was noted that the first Redemptorists, who belonged to the Irish province, arrived in Opon, Cebu, on June 30, 1906, and subsequently established missions in Compostela, San Francisco, and the Camotes Islands.
Following the pilgrimage, a Mass was held, presided over by Fr. Rogério Gomes, CSsR, the Superior General of the Redemptorist Congregation. He was joined at the altar by Fr. Edilberto Cepe of Cebu and Fr. Raymond Urriza of Manila, the Superiors of the two Philippine units. Also concelebrating were Fr. Paul Vinh and Fr. Gerardo Hernandez Carrasquillo, two consultors from the General Government in Rome.
In his homily, Fr. Rogério Gomes expressed the congregation’s unwavering commitment to serving those in need. “The Redeemer continues to guide us today: to go out to meet the poor and to accompany those wounded by life,” Gomes stated.
He added, “We are called to walk with young people, to defend human dignity, and to proclaim hope in a world often marked by discouragement, war, and violence.”
This event also marked the 30th anniversary of the Cebu unit as an independent province within the Asia-Oceania Conference.
In 1928, the Philippine Redemptorists, originally part of the Irish Province, were divided into two vice provinces. The Cebu vice-province was responsible for the Visayas and Mindanao and fell under the Irish Province, while the Manila vice-province, which was responsible for Luzon, came under the Australian Province, now headquartered at the National Shrine of Our Mother of Perpetual Help in Baclaran.
In 1996, the Cebu vice-province became an independent province, now known as the Cebu Province.
Miguel Gaspe, CSsR.
(Provincial Communications Media & Evangelization Office)
