Santo Niño De Cebu Enthroned in Prague, First Filipino Mass Celebration for PHL Independence Day
28 June 2017 PRAGUE —The famous Santo Niño de Cebu, an icon of Filipino Christian spirituality was enthroned at the St. Thomas Church at Josefská 8, Malá Strana, Prague, Czech Republic on the occasion of the Filipinská Fiesta in celebration of the 119th anniversary of Philippine Independence.
The first Filipino mass in celebration of Philippine Independence Day was held at St. Thomas Church, and was concelebrated by two Filipino Augustinian priests, Fr. Isabelo A. Carloman, Jr., and Fr. Imman Noel A. Abellana with the Augustinian prior Fr. William Faix, OSA at the St. Thomas Church.
Philippine Embassy Chargé d’affaires, a.i. Juan Dayang, emphasized the historic significance of the enthronment of the Santo Niño de Cebu in proximity to the Infant Jesus of Prague, whose shrine is only 300 meters apart. The presence of a permanent altar of the Santo Niño de Cebu in Prague is symbolic of Philippine-Czech partnership. He said that it is auspicious that two Filipino Augustinian priests arrived in Prague to start their missionary work in Czechia as the Augustinians were the first Christian missionaries in the Philippines in the 17th century.
The St. Thomas Church will have a regular mass in honor of the Santo Niño de Cebu every Friday at 6:30 PM and intends to start a Filipino mass on Sunday for the Filipino community and Filipino visitors in the Czech Republic.
For more information, visit www.prague.dfa.gov.ph or https://www.facebook.com/philembprague/ END
Charge d’Affaires Juan E. Dayang, Jr. and Administrative Florita M. Icasiano witness the enthronement of Sto. Niño de Cebu.