• ANDREW ALTAREJOS
The Diocese of Bacolod marked the 100th anniversary of the Solemnity of Christ the King with a celebration on November 23.
The festivities began with a Holy Hour at the Sacred Heart Shrine, followed by a Eucharistic Procession joined by priests, seminarians, and hundreds of faithful starting from the Central Vicariate, moving from the Shrine through the city’s main streets towards the Bacolod Public Plaza.
At the plaza, Bacolod Bishop Patricio Buzon led a Eucharistic celebration, concelebrated by about 30 priests.
In his homily, Buzon reflected that a century after Pope Pius XI instituted the feast, his words still resonate as true and lasting peace remains elusive.
“Christ has not yet fully reigned in the hearts of every person. Greed continues to thrive, corruption has become systemic, and our nation drifts steadily into moral decline,” he stated.
The bishop also addressed modern challenges, saying, “There are many lies and fake news, and so much deception is sown to confuse and divide our people. Communication, in its most advanced form, is being exploited by men with evil intent to destabilize the present order for their political gain or ideological agenda.”
He further lamented, “Corruption in government and business has reached an incredible level. Greed has caused the loss of lives and properties, as we have seen in the recent floods because of corruption and plunder.”
The Solemnity of Christ the King was instituted by Pope Pius XI in 1925 at the closing of the Holy Year. The feast, first celebrated on October 31, 1926, was added to the Sacred Liturgy to honor the Kingship of Jesus Christ. It emphasizes Christ’s sovereignty over all creation and was established as a response to the growing secularization and political pressures after World War I. It is now observed by Catholic churches worldwide.
Also present at the celebration were Vicar General and San Sebastian Cathedral rector Msgr. Ronald Quijano and Sacred Heart Seminary rector Very Rev. Ruel Jundos. The Diocese-wide event was also held in other Vicariates under the Diocese which were also attended by their respective parishioners.*
