8 bishops, 7 priests to lead Dong-Yan wedding

 

With eight bishops and seven priests, the wedding of Kapuso Royal Couple Dingdong Dantes and Marian Rivera will be the biggest for the venue of the event since it became a cathedral in 2003.

 

Immaculate Conception Cathedral rector Fr. Ariston Sison Jr. also said the number of bishops and priests celebrating the Mass is comparable to an ordination.

 

Sison said the eight bishops do not even include the main celebrant, Cubao Bishop Honesto Ongtioco.

 

"Ito na yata pinakamalaking wedding since naging cathedral ang Immaculate Conception Parish Church," he said in an interview on GMA's "Unang Balita."

 

The cornerstone of the Immaculate Conception Church was laid in 1950, but it was not until 2003 that it was liturgically proclaimed a cathedral.

 

"Ang main celebrant sa kasal mamaya si Cubao Bishop Honesto Ongtioco. Apart from him, he has eight concelebrating bishops and seven more concelebrating priests," Sison said.

 

With the number of priests, he said the altar will be full during the Mass, like an ordination.

 

"Yan ang lokohan namin, parang ordinasyon ng pari," he said.

 

Sison also said the wedding could get long not because of the number of celebrants but because of the entourage.

 

He said the entrance march alone would involve 20 braidesmaids, and 20 pairs of sponsors.

 

The bishops and priests will also join the procession, he said.

 

"Ang Misa itself pareho lang. Hahaba ang misa kasi involved lahat na members ng family ni Marian at Dingdong," he said.

 

He also said they accommodated the big number of bishops and priests because they are close to the couple-to-be.

 

Expected to read the Gospel at the Mass is Fr. Tito Caluag, Dantes' high school principal.

 

Delivering the homily is retired Novaliches Bishop Teodoro Bacani Jr., who is close to Dantes.

 

"So it's a celebration of family and close friends. A big, big family and so many friends," Sison said.

 

The choir will be the Hail Mary the Queen Children's Choir.

 

"Dingdong is from the area, dito siya bininyagan, bahay is a few blocks from the cathedral," Sison explained.

 

On the other hand, Sison said the couple-to-be wants to "celebrate with everyone."

 

Even fans will have a "representation" in the cathedral, he said.

 

"They want to celebrate with everyone," he added. — Joel Locsin/TJD, GMA News