Cardinal Sin’s first death anniversary marked this week

The country’s Catholic hierarchy will pay tribute this week to an influential leader whose advocacy for democratic change greatly contributed to the toppling of a dictatorship and an administration allegedly rife with corruption.

The commemoration of the first death anniversary of Manila Archbishop Jaime Cardinal Sin Wednesday will be highlighted by a three-day series of Masses and activities at a village named after him in Punta, Sta. Ana starting today.

Balanga, Bataan Bishop Socrates Villegas, the late cardinal’s longtime assistant, will be the main celebrant of the Mass at 8 a.m. today at the new Ina ng Saklolo parish inside the Cardinal Sin Village.

According to the Archdiocese of Manila, a VCD entitled "Pamana ni Cardinal" will also be launched during the Mass as part of the tribute.

There will also be a blessing of the third building in the charity village with 84 units. Certificates of occupancy to poor families will also be awarded during the first-day program, which also includes free medical mission and livelihood seminar.

The Cardinal Sin Village was put up by the cardinal himself through Serviam Foundation in an effort to provide homes for poor families and create a peaceful community for them. It now has two residential buildings and a school with 160 students in pre-school and first grade.

On the second day of the celebration, a book in honor of the late cardinal entitled "Remember, I Love You All Very Dearly, Jaime L. Cardinal Sin, The Final Journey" will be launched at the Our Lady of EDSA Shrine during the Mass at 5:30 p.m. to be officiated by Antipolo Bishop Gabriel Reyes.

The book chronicles the wake and funeral of the cardinal last year and also features messages, homilies and testimonies of people in the Church and society who have worked and collaborated with him.

On the third day, the Archdiocese of Manila will pay its own tribute to its former leader for almost three decades with a Mass to be celebrated by Manila Archbishop Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales at 9 a.m. at the Manila Cathedral in Intramuros.

Sin, who died at 76 on June 21 last year, was widely known for leaving a legacy of heroism, patriotism, holiness and committed services for the benefit of the poor.

In 1986, Sin’s voice was heard on radio calling on the faithful of this predominantly Catholic nation to "protect" the rebel soldiers holed up in Camps Crame and Aguinaldo from the dictator Ferdinand Marcos and his army.

Millions of Filipinos heeded the cardinal’s call and people power was born that led to the ouster of Marcos.

In 12001, Sin supported President Arroyo when she took over as constitutional successor of President Joseph Estrada, who was deposed at the height of the second people power due to allegations of plunder.

Despite his frail physical health, Sin stood up against groups who plotted to overthrow Mrs. Arroyo and her administration.

The cardinal touched on pertinent issues like political leadership, birth control, poverty and even the United States-led war in Iraq, never afraid to bridge the gap between politics and religion.

Dubbed as one of Asia’s most prominent religious leaders, Sin died two months after Pope John Paul II passed away. Sin’s death was believed to have left Filipinos in a "vacuum at a time when our nation needs a voice to speak the truth for us and to us." — Edu Punay