During IEC closing event Archdiocesan priests told: No wedding, funeral mass

CEBU, Philippines - Archdiocesan priests in Cebu will not hold funeral and wedding services during the culmination activity of the 51st International Eucharistic Congress to allow them to participate in the event as part of their annual retreat.

 Reverend Jonathan Rubin, 51st IEC media relations officer, said that all Archdiocesan priests were required by Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma to join the IEC activities.

Their presence is specifically required during the Statio Orbis or Closing Mass at 4 p.m. on January 31 at the South Road Properties.

“They are required to attend and that will serve as their annual retreat,” Rubin said.

The IEC is scheduled from January 24 to 31 after the end of a weeklong celebration for the Holy Child and as a very meaningful occasion of the preparations for the 500th anniversary of the Evangelization of the Philippines in the year 1521.

Rubin, however, clarified that the parish may allow somebody to solemnize marriage and hold burial mass in lieu of the parish priest as long as he is qualified to perform the sacrament.

“Mag-agad ra gyod na sa parokya. Depende na sa pari kun momisa siya or dunay mo-replace niya,” he said adding that it also depends on the arrangement between the church and the parties involved.

 Other than the archdiocesan priests, however, there are also priests coming from the religious orders who are qualified to solemnize marriage and perform funeral services.

There are at least 165 churches under the Archdiocese of Cebu, including among others the Archdiocesan Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Our Lady of Lourdes, Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral, Santo Rosario, and Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Parish.

Joy Ceniza, a florist based in Mandaue City, posted over the weekend on her Facebook account about it.

“On IEC week, no mass for wedding in all archdiocesan churches in Cebu; no funeral mass; no regular mass for one week... so dili busy ang taga wedding industry,” her post read.

In a phone interview, Ceniza said their booking for the January 9 wedding was cancelled by the archdiocese due to the upcoming event.

“Gibalibaran gyod mi na dili na pwede,” she said.

Palma and other church officials have been very busy preparing for the congress.

Ceniza said the wedding venue was transferred instead to St. Jude in Camp Lapu-Lapu in Barangay Lahug.

She admitted that the IEC is somehow affecting her livelihood as wedding florist and organizer. She even attributed the “low” wedding bookings for January because of the IEC.

“Maka-affect but not totally gyod,” she said.

Despite the effect, she said they are still happy for Cebu being the host of the 51st congress. She recognized that this is an important ecclesial event.

“Niapil gani mga pari sa ubang nasod sa ato mga parokya na noon dili nga usahay ra na mahitabo,” she said. — /FPL (FREEMAN)