MANILA, PHILIPPINES – Liter of Light, a Filipino-born global grassroots solar lighting movement, will build the largest (solar) rosary in the world to unite the Philippines in a prayer for healing in this new year, 2021, which also marks the 500th year of Christianity in the Philippines.
The “Light of Faith” (solar) rosary project is being done in partnership with the Manila Cathedral, the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines, under the auspices of the National Quincentennial Committee, the inter-governmental body responsible for organizing the events around the quincentennial. Collaborating institutions include Archdiocese of Cebu, San Agustin Church in Intramuros, Our Lady of Aranzazu Shrine, St. Andrew Cathedral Parish, National Parks Development Committee, National Museum and Rotary Club of Makati Business District.
The Healing Rosary for the World will be led by. Fr. Arnold Santa Maria OSA on Wednesday, January 6 coinciding with the traditional feast day of the Epiphany. The rosary will be streamed online via the Manila Cathedral Facebook page at 9:00pm. Rev. Fr. Kali Llamado, Vice Rector of the Manila Cathedral helped organized the recitation of the rosary.
“As we welcome a new year, a year that also marks 500 years of Catholic faith in the Philippines, we wanted to create a platform for everyone to unite in prayer. For the challenges that still require our strength, and for the front liners who continue to shield us from the scourge of this pandemic, we invite everyone to join us in a unifying act through our virtual, online recitation of the rosary”, says Illac Diaz, Founder of Liter of Light.
Each of the hand-built solar lights that make up the beads of the (solar) rosary was built by thousands of participants in Liter of Light’s “Light It Forward” Challenge, which has given Filipinos a new way to connect for good. Inspired by the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge, LIGHT IT FORWARD invites ordinary people to do extraordinary things by building solar lights for communities without electricity from the safety of their homes.
The Five Mysteries of the rosary will be marked by five carrozzas or carriages with images of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the saints lent by the San Agustin Church in Intramuros, Our Lady of Aranzazu Shrine and St. Andrew Cathedral Parish.
The (solar) rosary is the third of three large-scale solar installations that the Liter of Light has built in Luneta Park since November 2020. The foundation built the largest Philippine solar-powered flag in Asia, which was unveiled on Monday, November 30, the birth anniversary of Andres Bonifacio, and just last December 30, Liter of Light paid tribute to Jose Rizal with a large-scale solar portrait of the national hero.
All three of these images were made in honor of the Filipino frontliners that have kept us safe, healthy, and well during the COVID-19 pandemic.
