Vidal to remain until ordered to retire

Cebu Archbishop Ricardo Cardinal J. Vidal yesterday assured the public that he will remain as the Archbishop of Cebu until the Vatican tells him to retire.

The prelate claimed that his health “is not worsening at all but that his weakening is a natural sign of aging”. He will be celebrating his 78th birthday on February 6.

After a long period of rest due to health problems, the cardinal is finally back on track as he attended his first church engagement where he officiated the Pontifical Mass of the Sinulog grand parade at 6 a.m.

It was during the Mass when he first updated the public of his condition and also took the opportunity to thank his fellow believers for the prayers that they had offered for his healing.

“I hope that in your every ‘Pit Señor!’ is a silent sincere prayer for the cardinal,” Vidal said. He shared his hope to serve the Cebuano people “hopefully for some time more”.

To thousands of Sr. Santo Niño devotees who attended the early morning Mass, Vidal in his homily thanked the Lord for the strong faith of the people whose beliefs have remained firm despite the evil forces that try to secularize, politicize and commercialize their faith.

Vidal said that God has protected their faith and deepened it more as he has witnessed their growth since he started his service in Cebu 37 years ago.

Vidal belied assumptions that devotees of the Sr. Santo Niño grow in number and come to church because many are experiencing hunger. Vidal said that the truth behind multiplication of devotees is the mightiness of the Sr. Santo Niño as it brings wonders to the lives of many being the mighty God, eternal Father and prince of peace.

Among the wonders that Santo Niño has shown, Vidal said, are the good weather for the grand parade and the protection from all evil and anxiety anywhere and anytime.

Vidal passed on to Catholic faithful the teachings of Christ who wants people to be like children as He was once in His joyful mystery. People were taught to possess the kind of faith that children have which highlights obedience, compassion and unconditional belief.

Vidal will be attending the week-long Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines meeting starting today in Manila and he will be back in Cebu next month.

Hopeful devotees

Thousands of Catholic faithful filled the Basilica del Santo Niño Pilgrim Center as a demonstration of faith to Sr. Santo Niño and obedience to the commandment to honor the Sabbath day.

After the cardinal’s homily as the mass went on, people released hundreds of balloons containing pieces of papers printed with prayer petitions.

Devotees believe that those balloons will take their petitions to the Holy Child as they sang “Kanamo maluoy ka unta, nga kanimo nangilaba.”

Devotees also waved their hands and asked the Sr. Santo Niño for mercy, guidance and protection. — Jessica Ann R. Pareja/BRP (THE FREEMAN)