For the second time, lay persons will share the pulpit with priests in reflecting on the Seven Last Words of Jesus Christ or the Siete Palabras on Good Friday at the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral.
Retired Judge Simeon Dumdum Jr. and Maria Elena Limocon, general manager of Lamac Multi-Purpose Cooperative will join four Cebuano priests, and a nun.
Last year, the Year of the Laity, there were three lay persons in the lineup.
Two key events will guide the reflections: 2015 as the Year of the Poor as declared by the Philippine bishops and the Year of Consecrated Life celebrated in the Universal Church.
The meditations will start at 12 noon and will be broadcast live over GMA-7 and through the radio.
The first word “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do” will be discussed by Fr. Ramon Echica, dean of studies of the Seminario Mayor de San Carlos.
The meditations on the second word “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise” will be led by Fr. Rolyn Vics, the parish priest of San Roque Parish in Subangdaku, Mandaue City.
Fr. Carmelo Diola, chairman of the Committee on Solidarity and Communion for the 2016 International Eucharistic Congress, will talk about the third word of Jesus on the cross “Woman, behold your son; Son, behold your mother.” Diola is also the executive director of the Dilaab Foundation Inc.
Maria Elena Limocon, general manager of Lamac Multi-Purpose Cooperative, will expound on the fourth word “My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?”
Retired Judge Simeon Dumdum will give his reflections on Jesus’ fifth word “I thirst.”
The meditations on the sixth word “It is finished” will be led by Sr. Esterliuta Lauros, superior general of the Daughters of Saint Teresa (DST).
The last meditation on “Father, into Your hands I commend my spirit” will be given by Fr. Vicente C. Florido Jr., founding member of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Scholarship Fund Inc.
Msgr. Renato Beltran Jr., the Archdiocesan Chancellor, will open the reflections. Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma will conclude the meditations with a prayer.