Thanksgiving and Promulgation of Decree of Heroic Virtues: Thousands rally for Camomot

CEBU, Philippines —  Even with the piercing heat of the sun, the solemn thanksgiving mass and promulgation of the decree of heroic virtues of the Venerable Teofilo Camomot brought thousands of devotees and religious leaders to the St. Teresa de Avila Chapel at the Daughters of Saint Teresa (DST) compound in Valladolid in Carcar City, Cebu on Wednesday, July 27, 2022.

Authorities estimated the attendees at 3,500 with 245 law enforcement personnel deployed to the compound to ensure peace and order.

Archbishop Charles John Brown, the Apostolic Nuncio to the Philippines, attended the event.

The event took place two months after Camomot received the title “Venerable” in May after Pope Francis authorized Marcello Cardinal Semeraro, Prefect of the Congregation of the Causes of Saints in the Vatican, to promulgate a decree on Camomot’s heroic virtues.

Prior to the Mass and promulgation in Carcar City, Rev. Fr. Samson S. Silloriguez, OAR - the Postulator of the Cause Camomot’s Canonization, discussed the process of beatification and canonization of Satins.

Brown celebrated the Mass that followed and Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma read the decree. A portrait of Camomot was also unveiled at the chapel. 

Camomot is the founder of DST in Carcar City.

In his homily, Cagayan de Oro Archbishop Jose Cabantan described Camomot as “truly a man of prayer,” a good master, formator, and founder – recalling his personal experience with Camomot who also served as archbishop of the province.

After the Mass, devotees offered flowers at Camomot’s tomb at the Dumus Teofilo House also located at the DST Compound.

Brown also blessed Camomot’s tomb.

Fr. Mhar Balili, the one on top of Camomot’s cause for sainthood, said prayers continue for miracles so that Camomot will eventually be declared a saint.

“Our prayers are answered. Now we continue to pray for a miracle for him to be declared as blessed,” Balili said.

It would need two more miracles for Camomot to reach sainthood.

Background

Camomot was born on March 3, 1914 in Carcar, Cebu. He was ordained to the priesthood on December 15, 1941.

He founded the Carmelite Tertiaries of the Blessed Eucharist in Misamis Occidental in November 1959. This would later become the Congregation of Santa Teresa.

Camomot died in a vehicular accident on September 27, 1988. He was 74.

In a Facebook post, the Roman Carholic Church said that Camomot is known for his fame of sanctity during his life, his death and after his death, the diocesan process of the cause of his beatification and canonization was opened for the first time in the archdiocese of Cebu on December 27, 2010 during the incumbency of Ricardo Cardinal Vidal.

Mother Louella Grace Buscato, superior general of DST, said the congregation will continue to pray for miracles. It was DST that initiated Camomot's beatification and canonization to become the next Filipino saint after San Lorenzo Ruiz and San Pedro Calungsod. – Rowena D. Capistrano, JMO (FREEMAN)