Church execs mark Msgr. Camomot’s centennial with Eucharistic celebration

CEBU, Philippines - Eucharistic celebrations yesterday marked the 100th birth anniversary of a Cebuano priest who has been pushed by local Catholic Church leaders to be the next Visayan saint.

The late Monsignor Teofilo “Lolong” Camomot was born on March 3, 1914 in Barangay Cogon, Carcar City as the eighth offspring to Luis Camomot and Angela Bastida.

He was known for living a low-key life despite belonging to a well-to-do family and being a top local Catholic Church official.

Several testimonies point that the late monsignor is capable of being in more than one place officiating mass, praying over the sick, among others, at the same time.

He was also said to be gifted with healing, reading people’s hearts, as well as levitation or the phenomenon of a person or thing rising into the air by apparently supernatural means.

In remembrance of his birthday, Eucharistic celebrations in Cebu were held yesterday morning.

Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma led the mass held at the Daughters of St. Teresa in Carcar, the hometown of the late monsignor.

Another mass was held at St. Thomas de Villanueva Parish in Pardo, Cebu City where Msgr. Camomot was the parish priest in 1970 while being appointed by Julio Cardinal Rosales as auxiliary bishop.

Cebu Archbishop Emeritus Ricardo Cardinal Vidal earlier announced in 2010 that the Holy See has opened the cause for the beatification of Msgr. Camomot, thus, a committee was formed late December 2012 to work on the beatification requirements.

Comprising the committee were instructor and Episcopal delegate retired Bishop Antonio Ranola, postulator Msgr. Dennis Villarojo, promotor of justice Msgr. Raul Go, notary reverend Jasper John Petralba, and adjunct notary Trinidad Calleno.

Tasked theological censors included Msgr. Guillermo Gorre, Msgr. Marnell Mejia, and Rev. Fr. Patricio Ornopia, while experts in historical matters were Rev. Fr. Marvin Mejia, Fr. Ramon Ofredo, and Msgr. Cayetano Gelbolingo.

Beatification is the initial step towards sainthood where documents and testimonies are recorded and verified by high Catholic officials and experts.

Camomot was ordained as priest on December 15, 1940 after finishing the course at the Seminario de San Carlos in Cebu City.

He became parish priest of St. Therese de Avila Parish in Talisay City, as well as Titular bishop of Clisma and auxiliary of Jaro, Iloilo.

In 1959, he was appointed as Co-adjutor Archbishop of Cagayan de Oro and parish priest of Balingasag, Misamis Oriental where he founded Carmelite Tertiaries of the Blessed Eucharist now known as Daughters of Saint Teresa.

He returned to Cebu in 1970 following a kidney surgery after stepping down as Coadjutor Archbishop of Cagayan De Oro.

Six years later, he was assigned to his hometown as parish priest of St. Catherine de Alexandria Parish in Carcar.

He died in a vehicular accident in San Fernando, Cebu on September 27, 1988 while he was on his way back to Carcar from Cebu City. (FREEMAN)