June 18 day of mourning for slain Cabanatuan priest

The Diocese of Bayombong in Nueva Ecija will observe June 18 as a Day of Mourning to mark the ninth day of the death of Fr. Richmond Nilo, a priest from the Diocese of Cabanatuan.

In a message, incoming Bayombong Bishop Jose Elmer Mangalinao and the Clergy of the Bayombong diocese said, all parishes in the diocese will offer their Masses for peace and justice for slain priests including Fr. Nilo.

“We call on our faithful in the Diocese of Bayombong to observe a Day of Mourning on June 18, 2018, the 9th day of the death of Fr. Richmond Nilo. On this day, we ask that all Celebrations of the Holy Mass be offered for the eternal repose of the souls of the priests being murdered, for the speedy resolution of their cases, and for peace in our country,” the message read.

Church bells will ring for 15 minutes at 8 p.m. until Bishop Mangalinao is formally installed on July 25.

The prayers will serve as a call for justice and peace for all slain priests including Fr. Nilo, Fr. Marcelito Paez of San Jose Nueva Ecija and Fr. Mark Anthony Ventura of the Archdiocese of Tuguegarao.

“This is not the change that we wanted for our country. The death of Fr. Richmond and other victims of coldblooded killings is crying for justice and calling us to be awake from our slumber of fear and callousness. Fear should not paralyze us. Rather, the blood that they sacrificed should strengthen us to keep the flame of faith burning in this perilous times of our church,” Mangalinao said.