Let us share what we have for that is not ours but God’s.”
This was the message conveyed by Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma as priests and lay people pondered upon the life of the late Bishop Teofilo Camomot whose cause for sainthood has been processed by the archdiocese.
Local church officials held a symposium on the life and ministry of the Cebuano bishop at the IEC Pavilion in Mabolo, Cebu City yesterday afternoon.
At least 12 persons shared their personal encounter with the Carcar City-native whose generosity and love for the poor was exceptional.
The event was part of the activities in commemoration of the 102nd birth anniversary of Camomot.
In his homily, Palma encouraged the faithful to emulate Camomot’s holiness and generosity.
“We must learn to love and serve others,” he said.
The archdiocese is currently interviewing witnesses to bolster Camomot’s cause for sainthood.
So far, the archdiocese has 85 witnesses. 20 of them have already been interviewed, said Fr. Mhar Balili, the vice postulator of Camomot’s cause for sainthood.
Camomot was born on March 3, 1914 in Carcar, Cebu. He was ordained as diocesan of the Archdiocese of Cebu in 1941. In 1955, he became auxiliary bishop of Jaro in Iloilo and became Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Cagayan de Oro in 1958. He died in a vehicular accident in San Fernando town, Cebu on September 27, 1988 at the age of 74.
In 2010, Archbishop Emeritus of Cebu Ricardo Cardinal Vidal announced that the Holy See had approved the opening of the cause for beatification Camomot.
The prelate was known for his simplicity, love for the poor, holiness and extreme generosity.
There were instances when Camomot would pawn his pectoral cross and give the money to the poor. He also didn’t mind people who took advantage of his generosity, saying they too badly need help.
Vidal also attested that Camomot could bilocate or the ability to be in different places at the same time. This was the same attribution to other saints like Padre Pio.
If Camomot’s cause for sainthood will be approved by the Vatican, he will become the third Filipino saint, the second from the Visayas and the first Filipino saint who was a member of the clergy.
The first two Filipinos saints are lay persons: Lorenzo Ruiz de Manila and Pedro Calungsod.
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