A MOONLIT MASS.
Hundreds walked or drove in the rain to get to the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral before the 4 a.m. Misa de Gallo, the first of a nine-day series of dawn masses. What advice did Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma give during his homily?
CEBU Archbishop Jose Palma urged the faithful to change for the better during his dawn mass yesterday, which police described as peaceful.
The masses were not marred by any untoward incident, Chief Supt. Noli Taliño, Police Regional Office 7 director, said.
He had directed the city and provincial police directors to deploy personnel to the churches and other places, such as eateries, markets and terminals, where the public goes after hearing mass.
Taliño said they will not conduct Oplan Tokhang, the police’s anti-illegal drug program, in churches, saying they might distract the churchgoers.
“Maaga pa, siyempre nagmamadali yung mga tawo na magsisimba. Dapat tuloy-tuloy na yung pagpunta nila sa simbahan (The mass is early and the people are in a hurry go- ing to church. They must not be interrupted)” he told reporters.
The police official, however, said there are personnel from police stations who are distributing flyers with anticriminality tips to the churchgoers and police hotline numbers.
In his dawn mass at the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral, Palma urged churchgoers spend time praising God to use their gifts in serving others.
Despite the slight drizzle in some parts of Metro Cebu yesterday, the faithful came in droves to attend the first Misa de Gallo.
Celebrate
In his homily, Palma said that in the rush of the Christmas season, people should not forget who they are celebrating the holidays for.
“The main reason for the season is Jesus Christ. It is His birth that we are preparing for,” Palma said.
In connection with the new liturgical year, Palma reminded the faithful to become a community that symbolizes unity among people of different backgrounds.
This year, the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines formally opened the Year of the Parish as the Communion of Communities.
Palma lamented that with the country scattered by islands, cultures and political beliefs, the community is needed.
On security, the region remains on full alert, which means police personnel are not allowed to go on leave.
Security
Cebu City Police Office ( CCPO) Director Joel Doria said additional police forces are deployed near churches to ensure the security of churchgoers.
“We have given directives to our station commanders to specifically monitor our churches for police visibility. There are also police officers who celebrated the mass as well so that will be added security,” Doria said.
Doria said they will follow this security scheme until the last day of the nine-day dawn masses.
Police officers in civil- ian clothes will monitor church grounds during the dawn masses in Cebu City.
He advised the public to avoid wearing jewelry during mass to avoid attracting snatchers and pickpockets.
He said the public should also be careful not to leave behind bags and other bulky objects when they leave the church to avoid causing panic.