Cebu Archdiocese prepares for Cardinal Vidal’s funeral
CEBU CITY — The Cebu Archdiocese’s Committee on Liturgy (COL) has chosen men of the cloth and religious organizations who will perform special tasks during the funeral rites for Cebu Archbishop Emeritus Ricardo Cardinal Vidal Thursday morning.
Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma will be the main celebrant in the 9 a.m. funeral mass, while Cebu Auxiliary Bishop Dennis Villarojo, who served as Vidal’s secretary for a long time, will preach the homily.
“We understand that in some cases, the Pope appoints a papal legate to represent him. As of this time, we have not received word from them. But if ever there will be a papal legate, he will be the one to preside the funeral rites. If not, Archbishop of Cebu will be the main celebrant of the mass,” explained Cebu Archdiocese Media Liaison Officer Msgr. Joseph Tan.
At the start of the mass, four priests who became Monsignors during Vidal’s stint as cardinal — Monsignors Vicente Tupas, Guillermo Gorre, Arthur Navales and Alfredo Romanillos — will cover his casket with a white cloth or “pall.”
The white mortcloth reminds those assembled of their faith in the resurrection and further symbolizes putting on the robe of Christ’s righteousness in baptism — the beginning of a Christian life — as the body of someone who has faithfully served the Supreme Being in life enters the church for the last time.
“It is connected with the Sacrament of Baptism that we are clothed by the armor of the Lord as we go to heaven,” said Fr. Mhar Balili, a former secretary of the late Cardinal.
Juanito, the Prince of the Church’s surviving younger brother, will put the crucifix down.
Subsequently, Fr. Benedict Gacho of the Society of the Angel of Peace (SAP) in Talisay City, Cebu will carry the gospel book.
No bier SAP was among the congregations in Cebu that assisted Vidal during liturgical celebrations, Balili explained.
Fr. Glenn Guanzon, COL Chairperson said the late Cardinal’s coffin will not be placed on a bier. Instead, it will be placed on the ground. “That symbolizes abasement and humility,” Guanzon said.
The pallbearers are Monsignors Tan, who served as economous during Vidal’s time; Achilles Dakay, then media liaison officer; Agustin Ancajas, Vidal’s former private secretary; Roberto Alesna, the archdiocese’s former vicar general; and Ildebrando Leyson and Danilo Sanico, Rey Penagunda, current vicar generals of the archdiocese; and Fathers Joseph de Aquino and Expedito Torevillas, who served as Vidal’s last secretary and master of ceremonies, respectively.
The “peacemaker’s” coffin will be placed on an elevated carroza after the mass since it is set to be out for a short procession on the roads surrounding the mother parish.
Vidal will be laid to rest in the morning of October 26 at the mausoleum adjacent to the cathedral’s sacristy. The structure serves as a resting place for bishops and members of the clergy of Cebu.
Quiet supporter Former president and now Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada yesterday flew to Cebu City to pay his last respects to the late Cebu Archbishop at the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral.
Estrada expressed his grief over the passing of Vidal, his friend and former spiritual adviser, who, he said, quietly supported him during his “tumultuous years” in Malacanang.
“I am all praises to Cardinal Vidal, hindi siya nakikialam sa pulitika,” the Manila mayor said. “His death is a great loss not only to the Church but to the Filipino people as a whole.”
It was Cardinal Vidal’s advice that gave him strength during his Senate impeachment trial.
“‘Don’t lose faith, just pray to God and you will be strong’, that’s what he (Vidal) advised me. Kaya naging strong ako throughout those years of crisis,” Estrada recounted. “Cardinal Vidal doesn’t intervene in politics. I have all praises for him because he respects the separation of Church and state.”
As of Monday, at least 24 bishops have signified their intention to attend the funeral.
The three remaining cardinals — Gaudencio Rosales; Luis Antonio Tagle; and Orlando Quevedo are also expected to be present as well as the incoming president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) Romulo Valles, the Archbishop of Davao.
Archbishop Gabriele Caccia, the Apostolic Nuncio is out of the country and will be sending his secretary, Msgr. Gabriel Viola as his representative.
Cardinal Vidal succumbed to septic shock on October 18 after a week at the intensive care unit of the Perpetual Succour Hospital, after years of battling pneumonia.
Holiday
President Duterte has declared October 26, Thursday, a special non-working holiday in Cebu province to honor Vidal.
“It is but fitting and proper to give the people of the Province of Cebu the opportunity to remember, honor and show respect, and join the interment of the late Archbishop Vidal,” who “enjoyed great affection by the people in the Roman Catholic Church and deep respect by the people of other Christian denominations and Islamic faith,” the President said in Proclamation No. 333. (with a report from Jaimie Rose R. Aberia)