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| Walk for Life |
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| Mass at the Cathedral |
Palma marks birthday with Mass, walk against RH Bill, by Ador Vincent Mayol
For his 61st birthday yesterday, his first as Cebu's shepherd of the Catholic flock, Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma held a Mass and led 5,000 people in a penitential "walk for life" to signify the Church's opposition to the Reproductive Health (RH) Bill.
At dawn, 300 members of the clergy, lay groups and other charismatic organizations carried roses and lighted candles as they serenaded Palma on the proch of the chapel in the Cebu Archbishop's residence on D. Jakosalem Street, Cebu City.
Palma hummed along with the songs and thanked those who attended the traditional mananita.
"I'm very grateful for your sacrifice", Palma told the greeters who came with jackets and umbrellas as a light rain fell.
At 11 a.m. Palma officiated a Mass to mark the solemnity of St. Joseph, husband of Mary and patron of the Catholic Church.
Palma cited Joseph of the Old Testament, a dreamer who is the "provider" of the people and Joseph the father of Jesus as the "guardian" of his son.
"I wish I could be a good father like Joseph", Palma said.
He reminded the flock to be grateful for the gift of Christianity given to Cebu and to grow in holiness and sanctity.
Palma also called on the Cebuano faithful to support and help one another in building a Christian community.
In his homily, Palma urged the Catholic faithful to live up to ther Christian vows and evangelize, not just by words but also through actions.
The prelate reiterated the need for priests to be faithful to the Lord.
"I wish we take time to appreciate our priesthood daily and respond to the ministry in such a joyful and grateful way. We (clergy) should renew our baptismal and priestly promises daily", Palma said.
In his message Cebu Archbishop Emeritus Ricardo Cardinal Vidal, who cocelebrated the Mass with Palma yesterday morning, lauded his successor for his leadership of the Cebu Archdiocese and thanked him for giving him a remarkable birthday celebration last Feb. 6.
"His concern for an old man like me can only be an indication that he truly cares for all of us and that he will always be there for you", he said.
Palma took over the archdiocese last Jan. 13 from Vidal whose retirement was approved by Pope Benedict XVI.
Lunch was served after the mass. Palma was serenaded by the San Carlos Seminary College Choir led by Msgr. Rudy Villanueva who is responsible for Cebu's liturgical hymns. He later blew a candle on his birthday cake.
At 6 p.m. Palma let the penitential walk for life which started from Fuente Osema rotunda to the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral followed by a Eucharistic celebration.
In his homily, Palma said the Walk for Life is a declaration of how precious life is.
The walk was held to ventilate the Church's stand against the RH Bill.
Palma said the Walk manifests the importance of human life from the moment of conception.
"We are not dealing here with the life of a cat or a dog but of human life", he said.
Palma urged the people to listen to the voice of God through the church.
"It's not our will who shall be done but God's", he said.
In an interview, Palma said he is hoping lawmakers would denounce the RH Bill which the Church believes will lead to abortion.
Palma also expressed hope that Cebu will hose the 2016 International Eucharistic Congress in Cebu, which he said is the cradle of Christian civilization in the Far East.
"I know our God is a great God. All you know this (International Eucharistic Congress) is among the surprises that we might expect because of His great love", he said.
The International Eucharistic Congress will be held in Dublin next year. Palma said the last time the Philippines hosted the event was in 1937.
This article was published in Cebu Daily News on 20 March 2011. To visit the site click here: http://cdn.ph/news
To read the article about the Prayer Rally for the RH Bill which the trainees attended in February click here: http://donboscopasil.blogspot.com/2011/02/friday-11-february-prayer-rally.html