Members of the Society of the Angel of Peace assist Msgr. Cristobal Garcia in celebrating Mass at the Shrine of Jesus of Nazareth in Talisay City in this 2007 file photo. (CDN FILE PHOTO)
With their chief shepherd in hot water and out of Cebu, they could have easily disbanded.
But the Society of the Angel of Peace (SAP), a monastic society founded in 1992 by Msgr. Cristobal Garcia, continues its work in Talisay City, where they have a church and a monastery with about 70 seminarians.
“By God’s grace , we continue what we do. If the Lord called us to serve him, we shall endure and persevere whatever adversities come our way,” said one SAP brother, who asked to remain unnamed in the interview.
SAP brothers and sisters, distinguished by their brown-and-cream robes, assist in Masses and other liturgical celebrations of Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma and other priests.
They also run the San Pedro Calungsod Shoppe that sells religious items beside the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral and print the “Mag-Ambahan Kita” a monthly leaflet which contains daily Gospel readings, prayers and the order of the Mass widely used by parishes.
In a visit yesterday to the church compound in barangay Cansojong, Talisay, an unfinished two-story building, reportedly the “dream museum” where Msgr. Garcia had planned to house his extensive private collection of Sto. Niño icons and other religious figures.
Garcia was suspended from his priestly duties by the Vatican in mid-2012 before the National Geographic magazine released its October issue and whose cover story “Ivory Worship” mentioned the Cebu monsignor as “one of the best-known ivory collectors in the Philippines.” The suspension was for a different reason — a revived case of child abuse involving an altar boy in the United States about 30 years ago which the Vatican is now investigating.
Recently the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) in Region 7 said it closed its investigation of Garcia after finding “insufficient” evidence in his alleged involvement in ivory smuggling.
Of his collection of almost 5,000 religious icons, only three appeared to have ivory parts. The NBI, however, does not posses the expertise to determine the age of the ivory and whether it was acquired before the 1989 global ban against ivory.
The NBI said the allegations in the article by NatGeo reporter Bryan Christy remain as hearsay but the case can be reopened if new evidence will surface.
The accusations against their founder, caused SAP members much pain.
“Msgr. Cris has done so much for the Church and just like that, everything seemed to be forgotten. But that’s how it is if you serve the Lord,” said the SAP brother.
The young man said the controversies putting Garcia in a bad light was the “work of the devil.”
SAP FOUNDER
Garcia founded the religious society in 1992 with a focus on liturgical services. The chapel built there is now the Archdiocesan Shrine of Hesus Nazareno.
When the Vatican had Garcia removed from all his positions in the Cebu Archdiocese in 2012, Archbishop Jose Palma assumed leadership of the SAP but day-to-day operations are handled by three priests who were former SAP brothers.
The three, ordained in 2010, are Fr. Romeo Vitor, Fr. Alvin Medina and Fr. Rhanmar Singuran.
SAP also has a school for brother seminarians who are taking the 4-year AB Philosophy course. Garcia’s private collection of religious icons were housed in the Talisay shrine with some items displayed during Christmas and special occasions.
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