Pray for departed kin, Palma asks Cebuanos

CEBU Archbishop Jose Palma reminded Cebuanos to remember their departed loved ones through prayers even if they cannot visit their graves.

“Our prayers will certainly reach them. Even if they are physically no longer with us, our relationship with them will not end but is raised to a higher level,” Palma said during Mass on All Souls’ Day at at the mausoleum of the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral.

Prominent church leaders and priests are buried in the Cathedral mausoleum, which was founded by the late Cebu Archbishop Julio Cardinal Rosales in the 1980s.

Among the bishops buried there are Cardinal Rosales; Bishop Manuel Salvador, a native of Dalaguete and coadjutor Archbishop of Cebu; Bishop Sincero Barcenilla Lucero of Carcar, who was bishop of the Calbayog Diocese; Archbishop Mariano Gaviola, archbishop emeritus of Lipa City in Batangas; Cebu Bishop Juan Gorordo and Archbishop Lino Gonzaga of the Archdiocese of Zamboanga. Palma blessed their tombs with incense and holy water.

Cebu Archbishop Emeritus Ricardo Cardinal Vidal offered a short prayer. Family members of the departed church members also attended the mass, lighted candles and offered prayers.

Every Monday, a Mass is held in the mausoleum. In front of the altar is the tomb of Archbishop Rosales, who died in June 1983. A large image of the Santo Entiero is encased in glass.

Stained glass windows also depict Jesus’ resurrection and the image of Mary holding her son’s body on her lap. Reporter Candeze R. Mongaya