SAN SEBASTIAN CATHEDRAL/ October 20, 2010.
The San Sebastian Cathedral in Bacolod City. FOR LIFESTYLE.
INQUIRER PHOTO/ ALANAH TORRALBA
BACOLOD CITY — Police have filed charges against the man allegedly responsible for the theft of a monstrance with the Blessed Sacrament from the Adoration Chapel of the San Sebastian Cathedral here last Saturday, Dec. 30.
Theft charges were filed against Edmar Rojo Yanson of Barangay 12 before the Bacolod City Prosecutor’s Office on Tuesday, Jan. 2, said Maj. Elmer Bonilla, Police Station 1 chief.
Bonilla said they have witnesses who tagged Yanson, a jobless man, as the thief although he denied having stolen the sacred items.
READ: Bacolod church’s stolen items returned
“It will be up the court to determine the penalty to be meted on Yanson with the return of the stolen items,” he said.
Bonilla said Yanson had intended to sell the stolen items but news of the theft and the appeal of Bacolod Bishop Patricio Buzon for its return prevented the suspect from doing it.
A period of spiritual reparation will be conducted following the return of a monstrance with the Blessed Sacrament.
Buzon said the process has to be done before the Adoration Chapel can be reopened.
“This is a very, very sad moment for the Church. We know very well from our faith that this is the most sacred possession of the Church–the Eucharist, the body of Christ,” the prelate said in a statement.
“We believe that Jesus is truly present, body, blood, soul and divinity, in the consecrated host at Mass. This means that the Eucharist is not simply bread, but Jesus himself.”
The monstrance with the Blessed Sacrament was stolen from the Adoration Chapel of San Sebastian Cathedral at around 6:25 p.m. on Dec. 30.
The Adoration Chapel was temporarily closed until further notice.
Msgr. Ronaldo Quijano, rector of the San Sebastian Cathedral, said the monstrance with the Blessed Sacrament was found inside a bag outside the gate of the church last Sunday.
Buzon said security at the churches in the Diocese of Bacolod will be discussed with the priests to avoid a similar incident from happening.
“The incident at the San Sebastian Cathedral shows how vulnerable the security is,” he said.
Buzon appealed for compassion and understanding for the person who took the monstrance.
“We don’t judge whoever did this. Maybe he didn’t even realize the gravity of the act, which we definitely condemn,” he said.
A statement from the San Sebastian Cathedral stressed the significance of the Blessed Sacrament.
“When viewed in this light, it should pain us whenever we hear or witness offenses against the Eucharist. It is not an offense against a piece of bread, but an offense against the One we love with all of our heart, Jesus Christ,” it said.