Cebu churches to open doors to evacuees

PRAY, PREPARE. Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma urged people to pray as supertyphoon Ruby nears. He leads in praying the Oratio Imperata. (CDN PHOTO/JUNJIE MENDOZA)

CEBU Archbishop Jose Palma has instructed  parishes to open  churches for the people as evacuation centers.
The prelate stressed that the doors of the churches should be opened, not just to Catholics but even to those belonging to other religious sects.
“We’re opening the churches and whatever available resources we have like gymnasiums and pastoral centers for evacuees. Please take refuge in our churches. We’re ready to accept you,” he  told reporters yesterday.
“Go to the church if you need medicine, food, water and shelter. Our churches are ready to accommodate you,” he added.
Palma at the same time urged the people to storm the heavens with petitions to spare the country from devastation as he directed all priests to lead the people in prayer.
“We need to pray. We have yet to fully recover from Yolanda and here comes another strong typhoon. This is already beyond human effort. We could not redirect typhoons,” he said in a press conference at the Patria de Cebu.
Fathers Charles Jayme and Carmelo Diola were designated to mobilize all parishes especially in northern Cebu where typhoon Ruby is expected to pass.
Msgr. Joseph Tan, media liaison officer of the Archdiocese of Cebu, said a total of 164 parishes including quasi-parishes in the province of Cebu could serve as evacuation centers.
Jayme, head of the relief and rehabilitation unit of the Cebu Archdiocese, said they have prepared food, water, clothing, tarpaulin sheets, and emergency kits for distribution to typhoon victims.
“We have readied everything in our warehouse in Bogo City. Caritas Cebu is also preparing more food items in case typhoon Ruby will make landfall. We have slim time but we still have time,” he said.
The Oratio Imperata or obligatory prayer for deliverance from calamities will be recited in all Masses in Cebu starting today.  Prayers seeking the intercession of Our Lady of Guadalupe, the patroness of Cebu; St. Joseph, St. Pedro Calungsod, and St. Genevieve, patron against disasters will also be offered in churches.
“Almighty and Merciful God, Creator of all. Have mercy on your Filipino people who turn to you for help as we face the ferocity of typhoon Ruby. Save us from this calamity. Bind its anger and cast it into the depths of the sea,” a portion of the Oratio Imperata said.