It was the first sunday of lent. My special studies group was doing their experiment at the university and I need to look after them. They finished by 10:30 am and I need to look for a nearby church with a mass starting near noontime. Luckily, Manila Cathedral has a mass starting at 11:30am.

The official name of Manila Cathedral is Minor Basilica and Metropolitan Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception. Located at the historic walled city of Intramuros within today’s modern city of Manila, the cathedral was built in 1581 and has been rebuilt eight times. It serve as the episcopal see of the Archbishop of Manila, head of Archdiocese of Manila. The archdiocese encompasses the cities of Manila, Makati, San Juan, Mandaluyong and Pasay. Interestingly, the EDSA Shrine or the Archdiocesan Shrine of Mary, Queen of Peace (which I have visited last week) in Quezon City is also under the Archdiocese of Manila.

Before the mass, the prayer for coronavirus was done followed by a prayer for the new archbishop of Manila. The position is now vacant as Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle assumed office as Prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples in Rome. I am lucky to have attended a mass with Cardinal Tagle during my birthday last year at the National Shrine of St. Jude Thaddeus in celebration of the feast of the saint.