A FEW people dropped by the Cathedral Mausoleum in Cebu City yesterday to pray at the tomb of Cebu Archbishop Emeritus Ricardo Cardinal Vidal and the other prelates interred therein.
Msgr. Ruben Labajo, team moderator of the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral, urged the public to observe the solemnity of the place and forgo the use of candles.
“We discourage the general public from lighting candles inside. We only allow the families and relatives of those buried inside the mausoleum to light candles,” he said.
At 5 p.m. yesterday, Cebu Auxiliary Bishop Dennis Villarojo presided over a Mass inside the mausoleum, while retired Bishop Emilio Bataclan gave the homily.
In his message, Bataclan lauded Vidal and the late Cebu Archbishop Julio Cardinal Rosales for their contributions in leading the people to God.
“We have these two cardinals as examples. Cardinal Rosales left Samar, while Cardinal Vidal left Mogpog, Marinduque. They gave up the comforts of life to come to Cebu. I thank both of them,” he said.
“Deep in our hearts, we know they are in heaven. I hope they will pray for us so that one day, God will accept us in His kingdom,” Bataclan said.
Bataclan said Filipinos, particularly Cebuanos, will forever be grateful to Vidal for his efforts in giving the Visayas its first saint, Pedro Calungsod, and for starting the cause for sainthood of Archbishop Teofilo Camomot who was known for his extreme generosity.
“We Cebuanos owe him a lot. He gave us San Pedro Calungsod. And imagine him going to Rome even during winter. That’s perhaps contributed to his pneumonia. He suffered so much. Why? Just to get updates on the sainthood of Archbishop Camomot. He forgot himself for the good of others,” he said.
Present during the Mass were Vidal’s younger brother Juanito and his household in Sto. Niño Village.
Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma will preside over a Mass at the Cathedral Mausoleum at 10 a.m. today, the commemoration of all the faithful departed.