Bishop Jaime Soto is currently on pilgrimage in the Philippine Islands with a group of clergy and laity from the Diocese of Sacramento. Among the pilgrimage sites he and fellow pilgrims visited on Jan. 3 included the work of Catholic Relief Services (CRS) in Intramuros. CRS is the official international relief agency of the U.S. Catholic bishops.
On Jan. 4, pilgrims traveled to Laoag, where Bishop Soto celebrated Mass at Mary Cause of Our Joy College Seminary, joined by Father Jovito Rata, diocesan director of vocations, Father Alfredo Tamayo, pastor of Our Lady of the Snows Parish in Lake Almanor, and Bishop Renato Pine Mayugba of Laoag. Bishop Soto and Fathers Rata and Tamayo also celebrated Mass for the pilgrims at Paoay Church in Laoag, where Bishop Soto visited with locals and pilgrims following the Mass.
Bishop Soto and pilgrims will continue on their pilgrimage through Jan. 12.
To view more photos from the pilgrimage on Jan. 4, visit this album on the Diocese of Sacramento's Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1532619343442181.1073741836.495003973870395&type=1&l=864b9ce250