‘Santo Nino de Cebu’ – Filipino community celebrate 500th anniversary
Archbishop Christopher Prowse and members of the Filipino community with a statue of Santo Niño de Cebú, (The Little Infant Jesus)
Dance and joyful praise filled St Christopher’s Cathedral recently as the Filipino community shared their devotion with the wider archdiocese.
The mass, held on Sunday 28 January, marked the 500th anniversary of Santo Nino de Cebu.
“Santo Nino de Cebu is the little infant Jesus,” organiser Rosa Stephens explained.
“It is very important for the Filipino community here, and also for the whole of Philippines and all over the world, to spread deep faith.”
The anniversary marks the arrival of Catholicism in the Philippines in 1521, when a Spanish exhibition sailed to the island of Cebu with the gift of a statue for the newly baptised ruler.
The statue depicts the child Jesus, influenced by the Spanish Catholic tradition with a gold crown, globus cruciger – a globe topped with a cross – sceptre and fine garments. It is the only canonically crowned image of Jesus Christ in the Philippines.
“This is a very miraculous thing for us,” Rosa said.
Statue of the Santo Niño de Cebú, (The Little Infant Jesus)
“We do believe with strong faith that if we ask Santo Nino de Cebu for something, it will be answered. It doesn’t always happen overnight, but we get the answer in a few months or maybe a year or more than two years – but it will still be answered.”
The celebration, which was delayed two years due to COVID, was an exuberant occasion.
“It is always very joyful, because he is a child and we want him to be happy all the time,” Rosa said.
“We dance him to the altar with blessings, and when we finish off the mass, we also dance all around the front of the cathedral to praise him.”
Rosa said the Filipino community hoped their deep faith would spread through other communities, wherever it was needed.
“We hope to encourage other cultures to be strong in their faith as well,” she said.
“Every time we dance, people across the road or passing by will stop to watch, and after that they will ask about the celebration, and if they can come next year. We want to share it with everyone!”