An advance birthday celebration was held at the Archbishop’a Residence in Cebu City before Palma flew to Rome last week. (CONTRIBUTED PHOTO/ SAMMY NAVAJA)
Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma turned 64 years old yesterday but unlike his previous birthdays, he was not able to meet his well-wishers in Cebu.
Palma flew to Rome last week for a meeting with Archbishop Piero Marini, the head of the International Eucharistic Congress (IEC). He was accompanied by Msgr. Dennis Villarojo, IEC secretary-general, and Cebu Auxiliary Bishop Emeritus Antonio Rañola.
They brought with them documents to show the findings of the diocesan process on the cause for sainthood of the late Bishop Teofilo Camomot. The documents will be presented before the Congregation for the Causes of Saints.
Palma’s birthday falls on the same day the Catholics celebrate the feast of St. Joseph, the patron of the universal Church.
Since he is not around for his birthday today, priests and lay people in Cebu had an advance celebration at the Archbishops’ Residence last week where Palma presided over a Mass at the St. Joseph’s Chapel.
The archbishop has been urging the faithful to pray for the success of the 51st IEC that will be held in Cebu City from Jan. 24 to 31, 2016.
So far, he said, Pope Francis has not made an announcement on whether he will be attending the event.
Palma is expected to give updates on the ongoing preparations for the big event that is expected to draw at least 15,000 people from different parts of the world.
Palma was appointed by Pope Benedict XVI as the archbishop of Cebu in 2010 to replace Archbishop Emeritus Ricardo Cardinal Vidal whose retirement was approved by the Vatican.
A native of Dingle in Iloilo, he assumed his post as chief shepherd of the Cebu archdiocese on Jan. 13, 2011. He became the president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines before he chose to forego a reelection so he can focus on the preparations for the IEC.