ARCHDIOCESE PREPARES FOR VISITORS TO CARDINAL VIDAL’S GRAVE NEXT WEEK, PLEDGES TO CARE FOR HIS FAMILY’S TOMBS AS WELL

After serving Cebu for three decades, the late Cebu Archbishop Ricardo Cardinal Vidal had built a strong web of connections here. That extended to his family as well. The Archdiocese of Cebu has pledged to continue to care for the graves of Cardinal Vidal’s relatives in the Carreta cemetery. There, the cardinal’s father Fructuoso Sr., his aunt Illuminada Jamin, and his sister Maria Loreto are buried. The pastoral team will clean and maintain their graves, Msgr. Joseph Tan, the archdiocese’s spokesperson, said. Church officials are also preparing for the crowds who are expected to visit Cardinal Vidal’s grave in the Metropolitan Cebu Cathedral mausoleum next week, on All Souls’ Day.

The Archdiocese of Cebu will continue to take care of the graves of the late Cebu Archbishop Ricardo Cardinal Vidal’s relatives at the Carreta cemetery.

Msgr. Joseph Tan, Cebu Archdiocesan spokesperson, told SunStar Cebu that Vidal’s father Fructuoso Sr., his aunt Illuminada Jamin and his sister Maria Loreto are buried there.

As of now, there are no plans to transfer their graves, he said.

He said the pastoral team of the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral will clean and maintain their graves.

These will be ready for visitors on All Souls’ and All Saints’ Day next week, he said.

Tan added that cathedral officials will also provide lighting for their graves. Final preparations the Vidal’s cemetery father in 1994. was buried in The last time Cardinal Vidal visited their graves was two years exam-ast year, Vidal was not able to visit during All Souls’ Day because he was in the hospital. In a related development, people are expected to flock to the cathedral mausoleum on All Souls’ Day to pay their respects to the late prelate. Church officials are fast-tracking renovations on the mausoleum, including putting a permanent stone slab that will seal Cardinal Vidal’s coffin.