By Loida Castillo
On the 29th of June, we will celebrate the Solemnity of Sts. Peter and Paul.
This feast is a moment of spiritual and cultural importance for all Catholics like our own people. These two great apostles are pillars of the Church — Peter, the rock upon which Christ built His Church, and Paul, the tireless missionary to the Gentiles. Their lives, sacrifices, and witness to the faith speak powerfully to the Filipino soul, shaped by centuries of Catholic tradition and a profound love for the Church.
Saint Peter's life resonates with many Filipinos because of his humanity — his weaknesses, doubts, and eventual conversion into a bold leader. Like Peter, we often struggle with faith amid trials, but through God's mercy, we rise again with deeper trust.
Saint Paul, on the other hand, embodies the missionary spirit — one that we strongly embrace. As a predominantly missionary country, we, Filipinos serving as priests, nuns, and lay workers around the world, Paul’s passion to preach the Gospel mirrors the Filipino call to evangelization.
Their feast reminds all of us about the unity of the Church. Despite their different missions, Peter and Paul stood united in Christ, giving witness even unto martyrdom. In a country often divided by politics, social inequality, and natural calamities, this feast is a call to remain united in faith, in service, and in love — guided by the teachings of Christ handed down through the apostles. Sts. Peter and Paul, pray for us!
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