Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma (right) celebrates Mass at the Capitol Parish Church for the late Bishop Teofilo Camomot, whose cause of sainthood is being processed. (CDN PHOTO/JUNJIE MENDOZA)
TO MAKE known his life and ministry to the people, the Archdiocese of Cebu yesterday held another symposium about the late Cebuano Bishop Teofilo Camomot, whose cause for sainthood is being processed.
“It is a grace to be given someone like him (Camomot). While only Rome has the call to make him a saint, we will also do our part to introduce him to the people,” said Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma in his homily during the Mass at the Social Hall of the Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Parish in Cebu City.
“I hope, by God’s will, he will be beatified. Let us emulate his life and virtues,” he added.
Concelebrating with Palma during the Mass was Fr. Mhar Vincent Balili, the vice-postulator of Camomot’s cause for sainthood.
The symposium will be held on Saturday from 1 to 3 p.m. at the IEC Pavilion in Mabolo, Cebu City. It will end with a Mass to be presided over by Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma.
Camomot was born on March 3, 1914 in Carcar, Cebu. He was ordained as priest of the Archdiocese of Cebu in 1941. In 1955, he became auxiliary bishop of Jaro in Iloilo and became Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Cagayan de Oro in 1958. He died in a vehicular accident in San Fernando town on Sept. 27, 1988 at the age of 74.
In 2010, Archbishop Emeritus of Cebu Ricardo Cardinal Vidal announced that the Holy See had approved the opening of the cause for the beatification of Camomot.
The prelate was known for his simplicity, love of the poor, holiness, and extreme generosity.
There were instances when Camomot would pawn his pectoral cross and give the money to the poor. He also didn’t mind people who took advantage of his generosity, saying they too badly need help.
Vidal also attested that Camomot could bilocate or have the capacity to be in different places at the same time. This was the same attribution to other saints like Padre Pio.
If Camomot’s cause for sainthood will be approved by the Vatican, he will become the third Filipino saint, second from the Visayas, and the first Filipino saint who was a member of the clergy.
The first two Filipino saints are lay persons: Lorenzo Ruiz de Manila and Pedro Calungsod.