Vidal visits chapel in Tangke

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu Archbishop Ricardo Cardinal Vidal yesterday visited the highly-congested coastal village of Tangke, Talisay City, to officiate a Holy Mass inside the newly renovated 88-year-old Sta. Cruz chapel.

In his homily, the prelate urged the hundreds of Tangke residents and city officials who came to practice “honesty” and “sincerity” in their everyday lives similar to what Jesus Christ had been doing during his time.

 “Si Hesus available bisag asa, walay gipili. Approachable ug walay kaaway, matinud-anon ug dili magpakaarun-ingnun. Busa susama Kaniya, kita maningkamot nga nga dili magpakaaron-ingnun, ug magpuyo nga mga magmatinud-anon ug sinsero,” said Vidal.

It was the first time that the cardinal set foot in barangay Tangke, which for many years has been known for its being drug-infested, apart from the fact that it is populated by families living below the poverty level. Hence, crime is not a stranger here.

Fr. Judito “Boboy” Rosende, a resident priest of the Sta. Cruz Chapel, said the cardinal was invited to bless the chapel “to give more significance to the event” and “to once again ignite the residents’ religiousity.”

Rosende said he believes that the chapel is an “instrumental factor” in drawing people back to the “right direction.”

It was after last December’s Christmas presentation in the same chapel when the people in the area through the efforts of Rosende started renovating the chapel.

Rosende said the chapel then was just “too small” and the parishioners are growing.

“We felt then the people’s spirit, that they wanted to do some more.

We started with a P33,000 donation, and look at it now. It’s a really God’s work,” said the priest.

Over the last five months the renovation was started through the assistance of some people and first district Rep. Eduardo R. Gullas.

Tangkehanon himself who was also there yesterday, and the bigger chapel which is now facing the covered court has been made.

Rosende said it can now hold at least 1,000 people. It is the biggest of all nine chapels in the barangay. (THE FREEMAN)