Man poses as priest, tries to hold Mass

Beware of fake priests.

A church official issued the warning after a man posed as a priest and celebrated Mass last Sunday afternoon in barangay Camposong, Borbon town, northern Cebu.

“This is not new. We have had cases like this in the past. Our concern is how it will affect the integrity of the sacraments,” Msgr. Joseph Tan, media liaison officer of the Cebu Archdiocese, told Cebu Daily News.

Sosimo Gizem Enricoso, a native of Lapu-Lapu City, was brought by barangay officials of Camposong to the police station after he tried to officiate  Mass together with 10 others, including minors.

PO1 Dominador Banzon, desk officer of Borbon police station, said the man arrived in the barangay with vestments and a cross necklace.

But no one in the area was able to recognize the man. He was about to officiate Mass when barangay officials apprehended him.

The man was later released after he settled the matter with barangay officials.

Tan advised people to coordinate with and notify their  parish priest whenever Masses are celebrated outside the churches.

“Parish priests manage the celebration of the sacraments and who are allowed to celebrate the sacraments in the area. Parish priests then have to be informed of the celebration of the Mass in his area, not celebrated by him or his assistant priests,” he said.