Rev. Fr. Rudy Romano remembered

CEBU, Philippines - The Redemptorist community in Cebu yesterday commemorated the 28th anniversary of the disappearance of Rev. Fr. Rudy Romano during the martial law era.

The congregation started the commemoration with a wreath-laying ceremony in the morning at the site where Romano was abducted in Barangay Tisa, Cebu City.

 It was marked as the place where the Redemptorist father and human rights fighter was abducted by armed men on July 11, 1985.

There was also a poster-making and essay writing contests, which were participated in by students from the Catholic Schools in Cebu, with a theme “How the youth can help build the Church of the Poor following the example of Fr. Rudy Romano, CSsR”.

A mass to remember Father Romano was celebrated in the afternoon at the Redemptorist Church which was followed by a short program and awarding of prizes to the winners of the poster-making and essay-writing contests.

The entire anniversary commemoration  ended with a candle-lighting ceremony at the Redemptorist Church rotunda.

All parishes were also encouraged to read Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma’s statement on the commemoration of the 28th year of the abduction/disappearance of Fr. Romano in all masses last Sunday.

Palma earlier urged Cebu parishes, religious communities, and schools to make the people aware of the life and advocacies of Romano.

Palma also recommended to the local church to follow the examples of Romano in addressing legitimate human needs and social concerns.

Romano, a native of Samar, disappeared in 1985 along with student leader Levi Ybañez. The incident remains unsolved until now.

With Romano’s exemplary contribution in promoting human rights, rendering concrete assistance and social service to less-privileged Cebuanos, and making Cebu a strong bastion of the people’s successful fight for freedom and justice during the dark years of the deposed dictatorship, the Cebu government passed a resolution in 1987 adopting him a “Son of the Province of Cebu”.  (FREEMAN)