Palma’s 68th birthday wish: Peaceful Cebu

CEBU, Philippines — Celebrating his 68th birthday yesterday, Archbishop Jose Palma hopes that Cebu will regain a peaceful atmosphere amid the spate of killings.

Palma admitted that the Catholic community in Cebu has been disturbed by the series of shootings involving ordinary civilians and government officials.

“Of course, we are alarmed but as always we communicate with our leaders and ask what we can do so that somehow people will be reminded of the sanctity of life and of the ways we can act so that we would be extra solicitors for the life of each other,” Palma said.

The prelate offered a Mass at his residence yesterday as part of his birthday celebration and on the occasion of the Feast of St. Joseph. The Mass was attended by the other church officials and Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña. Former mayor Michael Rama was also around.

In fact, the two political adversaries even shared a table with Palma during reception after the Mass. As birthday wish, Palma wants Cebu to be peaceful.

“As always, deep in our hearts there is a prayer for peace. And as what I had been mentioning, our faith (should) be translated not only in processions and prayers but also love, charity and good works,” he said.

Palma underscored that any form of killing only marks grief to the community especially to the families of the victims.

“For us, it is a source of sadness and sorrow… It’s always sad when we hear the series of killings,” he lamented.

“The Church has always been very critical of all types of killings and we know it’s not in the mind of the Lord that people kill each other and so we pray to the Lord that even as we look forward to the big celebration of the fifth centenary of Christianization here in the country that we respect life and we enact things in accordance to the process of the law,” Palma added.  (FREEMAN)