Cebu Archdiocese helps Palo churches get back on its feet

THE Cebu Archdiocese gave some of its liturgical vestments for priests and sacred vessels to the Palo Archdiocese in Leyte province whose churches were destroyed by supertyphoon Yolanda last Nov. 8.

Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma recently handed over the donations to Palo Archbishop John Du who appealed for help on behalf of the churches under his supervision.

“We have become one ecclesiastical community tending after the needs of our less fortunate brothers and sisters. We have truly become authentic witnesses to the Gospel of Love,” Palma said in the Bag-ong Lungsoranon, the official newsletter of the archdiocese.

Fr. Charles Jayme, who was tasked to coordinate with local parishes for the donations, told Cebu Daily News the Cebu archdiocese received donations of chalices with paten and a ciborium (cups used in the Mass), and chausables, stolas and center stola worn by priests.

These will be distributed to parishes in Palo, Leyte.

Archbishop Du earlier reported that 70 out of 76 parishes were wiped out by supertyphoon Yolanda.

Du, a native of Bantayan Island in Cebu, said the typhoon looked like the “angel of death” as it claimed the lives of several people. The cathedral in Palo, its convent and Du’s home were among those badly damaged by Yolanda.

Palo was about to end its 75th anniversary celebration as an archdiocese when the storm through Leyte province. Supertyphoon Yolanda also wrecked several churches in northern Cebu which have been “adopted” by partner parishes in Metro Cebu. Reporter Ador Vincent Mayol