ARCHDIOCESE of Davao

THE ARCHDIOCESE of Davao will lead an event titled Archdiocesan Penitential Walk and Holy Sacrifice of the Mass on Saturday, Oct. 25, to manifest a unified act of prayer against massive corruption in the country.

In a public advisory, Archbishop Romulo G. Valles said the city-wide event is the church’s response and participation in the National Day of Prayer and Public Repentance called by the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines.

“As God’s people in Davao, let us manifest our unified act of prayer and repentance. In humility, we ask the Lord to heal our land, even as we express our deep concern over the unprecedented massive corruption that we see today plaguing our nation,” Valles said.

“We echo the CBCP’s call to ‘make corruption shameful again’ — ‘ang pagpangawkaw makauulaw,’” the archbishop added.

The penitential walk will have three starting points: Coastal Road Tulip Road Open Space, Magsaysay Park, and Doña Vicenta Park.

The Coastal Road Tulip Road Open Space is for participants from the Sacred Heart Vicariate, La Purisima Vicariate, Sto. Rosario Vicariate, San Pablo Vicariate, ACLAIM members, and those from Catholic schools.

The Magsaysay Park is for participants from the Sta. Ana Vicariate, Immaculate Conception Vicariate, and St. James Vicariate, while the Doña Vicenta Park is for participants from the San Pedro Vicariate.

The introductory prayers will start at 4:15 a.m. at the three starting points, and the Penitential Walk will start simultaneously at 4:30 a.m. until it reaches St. Peter’s Square. 

Upon reaching St. Peter’s Square, particularly at Agila Stage (along San Pedro Street, fronting Unitop), the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass will start at 6:00 a.m.

No other activities will take place after the Mass.

The participants are requested to wear white shirts or white clothes, but if not possible, participants can wear white ribbons attached or pinned on their clothes.

Attendees are also told to secure a rosary, a candle, drinking water in bottles or tumblers, an umbrella or raincoat (in case of rain), and their own provision/baon for breakfast.

Meanwhile, all GKK servant-leaders from every GKK in the Archdiocese of Davao are expected to attend.

All parishes and public chapels in the Archdiocese on October 25 (except in monasteries, e.g., Pink Sisters and Carmelite Nuns) will have no 6:00 a.m. mass. For security reasons, participants are reminded that no backpacks are allowed.

“Let us come together as one family of faith — walking humbly with the Lord, praying for forgiveness, and committing ourselves anew to honesty, integrity, and justice,” Valles stressed.