Members of the Cofradia del Sto. Niño de Cebu, Philippines, are preparing for a global congress in Vatican City in October 2027 following the successful 7th International Convention of the confraternity held in Singapore from May 9 to 11.
The convention, which coincided with the 41st National Convention, brought together more than 600 delegates representing Santo Niño confraternities from the Philippines and overseas chapters.
The Cofradia del Sto. Niño de Cebu traces its origins to April 28, 1565, the day the image of the Holy Child Jesus, or Santo Niño, was discovered in Cebu, a major island province in the central Philippines. It is recognized as the country's first religious association and continues to promote devotion to the Holy Child through pilgrimages, formation programs, and the establishment of affiliated confraternities in the Philippines and abroad.
Teofilo "Jun" Cabahug, president of the Cofradia del Sto. Niño de Cebu, said official affiliation with the mother confraternity based at the Basilica Minore del Santo Niño in Cebu City ensures pastoral support and guidance for local chapters.
Speaking to Radio Veritas Asia, Cabahug said the 2027 World Congress is expected to attract delegates from around 200 confraternities, including chapters from outside the Philippines.
He noted that devotion to the Santo Niño has expanded to countries with large Filipino migrant communities, including Singapore, Indonesia, Italy, Germany, the Czech Republic, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
Cabahug also said efforts are underway to establish a confraternity in Qatar. He credited Filipino devotees Eriberto and Maria Naguiat, who previously lived in Singapore and are now based in the Gulf state, for helping promote the devotion there.
According to Cabahug, Filipino migrant workers in Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, and Saudi Arabia have shown strong devotion to the Santo Niño, creating opportunities to organize confraternities within the territory of the Apostolic Vicariate of Northern Arabia, which serves Catholics in several countries of the Arabian Gulf.
Fr. Andres Rivera Jr., OSA, rector of the Basilica Minore del Santo Niño and spiritual director of the confraternity, together with its officers, has invited Bishop Aldo Berardi, Apostolic Vicar of Northern Arabia, to attend the Santo Niño celebrations in Cebu City in January 2027.
Cabahug said the invitation would allow the bishop to experience one of the Philippines' largest religious celebrations and witness the deep devotion of Filipino Catholics to the Holy Child Jesus.
During the Singapore convention, Fr. Tito Soquino, OSA, praised the gathering for its strong spiritual focus and the active involvement of lay devotees in organizing the event. He also commended the homilies delivered by CICM priests Fr. Peter Koh and Fr. Kamelus Kamus.
Radio Veritas Asia (RVA), a media platform of the Catholic Church, aims to share Christ. RVA started in 1969 as a continental Catholic radio station to serve Asian countries in their respective local language, thus earning the tag “the Voice of Asian Christianity.” Responding to the emerging context, RVA embraced media platforms to connect with the global Asian audience via its 21 language websites and various social media platforms.
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