Eastwood City to host grand celebration of the canonization of Blessed John Paul II and John Paul XXIII

Megaworld Lifestyle Malls and Eastwood City invite everyone to join millions of Catholics around the world in witnessing and celebrating the canonization of Blessed John Paul II and John Paul XXIII.  

Eastwood City, home to the Blessed John Paul II Parish, will be hosting a grand celebration to be highlighted by a live viewing of the canonization of the two pontiffs on April 27 (Second Sunday of Easter, of the Divine Mercy) at the Eastwood Mall Open Park.

 

Those taking part in the event can witness live footages of the canonization directly from St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City and regale in a World Youth Day-inspired festivity featuring songs of praise and worship from different chorale groups as well as colorful performances from various youth organizations from 1 p.m. onward.
 

Led by the Ministry of Youth Affairs of the Diocese of Cubao and other religious congregations, the event is expected to attract more than 5,000 youth, families and devotees from the diocese and nearby parishes. 
 

The celebrations begin with a grand parade around Eastwood City featuring colorful street dancers and more than 100 flag bearers holding flags from different countries. Highlighting the procession are the ‘Little Popes’, young kids dressed as Pope John Paul II, and teen Swiss Guards parading along with the 1981 Pope Mobile.
 

The pageantries continue at the Eastwood Mall Open Park at 2 p.m. with massive and dynamic dance performances featuring over a hundred dancers as well as songs of praise and worship from different chorale groups. 
 

At 3 p.m., a Holy Mass will be celebrated at the venue, which will then be followed by the actual viewing of the canonization of Blessed John Paul II and John Paul XXIII. 
 

A World Youth Day-themed concert follows at 6 p.m., with different chorale groups like Kammerchor Manila, Solemne Ministry, Vicariate of Sto. Niño Choir and Hail Mary the Queen Children’s Choir singing different World Youth Day anthems including the song ‘Tell the World of His Love’, which was sang during the Catholic youth festival event held in Manila in 1995.
 

Capping off the celebrations in spectacular fashion is a majestic fireworks display, which will light up the sky at 9 p.m. following a grand finale performance from all the chorale groups.

Aside from holding the special event, Eastwood City will also be hosting the relics of Blessed John Paul II. From April 26 to 28, followers of the soon-to-be-saint can visit the Blessed Pope John Paul II exhibit at the Eastwood Mall Atrium—the latest leg of the “Totus Tuus Tour”, which means “Totally Yours”, one of John Paul II’s popular apostolic adages.  
 

The exhibit, available for viewing and veneration of the faithfuls, will showcase the revered pontiff’s relics, which came from Rome and the pope’s home country of Poland. 
 

Among the relics that will be on display include Blessed John Paul II’s zuchetto or skullcap, hair strands, blood stains, a large part of his cassock, a rosary, piece of the chair he used, a part of the bed sheet on which he died, the Papal Medal, Papal invitations, misalettes from his masses and the 1981 Pope Mobile, among others.
 

Also to be exhibited are relics of Pope John Paul XXIII, St. Faustina Kowalska, Padre Pio and Mother Teresa, skullcap of Pope Francis and images of Our Lady of Guadalupe and Our Lady of Poland, both of which were blessed by Blessed John Paul II when he was still the pope.
 

For more information, please call the Megaworld Lifestyle Malls Concierge at 709-9888 or 709-0888, 0917-8380111 or visit www.megaworldlifestylemalls.com.