A portrait of the late Cebuano archbishop Teofilo Camomot was adorned with flowers during the thanksgiving Mass on Wednesday. (NESTLE SEMILLA/ INQUIRER VISAYAS)
CARCAR CITY, Cebu — Throngs of people gathered here for the Thanksgiving Mass following the declaration of the late Cebuano archbishop Teofilo Camomot as “venerable.”
Papal Nuncio to the Philippines Archbishop Charles John Brown, who represented Pope Francis, presided over the 4 p.m. Mass at the Daughters of Sta. Teresa (DST) Compound in Barangay Valladolid, Carcar City.
Camomot was declared “venerable” by the Vatican on May 21, 2022. This means he is two steps away from becoming a saint.
A miracle is needed so he will become a “blessed” and another miracle to become a “saint.”
READ: Pope Francis declares late Cebuano archbishop Camomot ‘venerable’
Present during the Thanksgiving Mass were Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma, Cebu Auxiliary Bishop Midyphil Billones, Bishop-elect Ruben Labajo, other bishops, and priests.
Fr. Samson Silloriquez, the Rome-based postulator for Camomot’s cause for sainthood; and Fr. Mhar Vincent Balili, the vice postulator also attended the event.
A Vatican commission that oversees the complex process that leads to the canonization of saints has unanimously affirmed that Cebuano archbishop Teofilo Camomot lived a virtuous life.
It was the Daughters of St. Teresa, a religious congregation founded by Camomot, which earlier petitioned for the opening of a cause for beatification and canonization of the Cebuano archbishop.
On October 15, 2010, Ricardo Cardinal Vidal, then the archbishop of Cebu, announced that the Holy See had approved the opening of the cause for Camomot’s beatification and canonization. A diocesan inquiry was then made.
Since the cause for sainthood was started for Camomot, the late archbishop has been called a “Servant of God.”
Camomot, fondly known as Monsignor Lolong, was known for his exceptional love for the poor.
In some instances, the Carcar City native pawned his episcopal ring and pectoral cross (the large crucifix worn by bishops) and gave the proceeds to the poor. The archbishop would also give away whatever he had to the needy.
Camomot died in a vehicular accident in San Fernando town on September 27, 1988. He was 74.
If his cause for sainthood will be approved by the Pope, Camomot will become the Philippines’ third saint next to San Lorenzo Ruiz de Manila and San Pedro Calungsod – both lay persons.
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