Amid preparations for the canonization of the second Filipino saint, a church lector in Cebu has claimed seeing an apparition of Blessed Pedro Calungsod.
Rose Camomot, who serves at the San Pedro Calungsod Parish in Cebu's Barangay Cantabaco, reported seeing the soon-to-be saint arranging flowers in the church Thursday noon, according to an ABS-CBN report.
Camomot claimed it was the second time that she saw Calungsod.
Although noting that he has heard about the alleged apparition, Msgr. Achilles Dakay, Cebu archdiocese media liaison officer, declined to comment on the veracity of the claim.
"We are still investigating the matter. These are all rumors for now," Dakay told Yahoo! Southeast Asia in a phone interview late Friday.
He also declined to speak on the issue's impact on preparations for Calungsod's canonization at the Vatican Oct. 21, Sunday.
Calungsod was a teenage Cebuano catechist killed while on an evangelization mission in Guam in 1672. He was beatified in March 2000 by then Pope John Paul II.
The Cebuano saint's promotion into sainthood has received national attention with President Benigno Aquino III declaring the date of his canonization as a national day of celebration.
Over a thousand Filipino pilgrims are meanwhile expected to flock to Vatican for the rites, with Vice President Jejomar Binay leading the Philippine contingent.
"It is an honor to lead my fellow Filipino Catholics in witnessing this historic event. Blessed Pedro Calungsod’s life was one of service and I pray that his dedication and sacrifice will inspire the Filipino youth to live their lives in service of their fellowmen," Binay said in a statement.
A mass at the St. Peters' Square will mark the start of the canonization rites for Calungsod and six others, the statement from Binay's office also noted.
Sunset prayers a procession of the new saints' icons will be held at the Chiesa di Santa Pudenziana after.
The Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines has earlier announced that a three-foot Calungsod image will be brought to the Vatican as a passenger on a Cathay Pacific flight Oct. 16.
After the canonization, celebrations will also be held in Cebu in honor of Calungsod, with the Cebu Archdiocese expecting more than a million pilgrims to attend.
Preparations are ongoing for processions in all Cebu parishers, including a fluvial procession of Calungsod's statue along the Mactan Channel.
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