Dozens join mass confirmation

CEBU, Philippines — A total of 285 individuals received the sacrament of confirmation yesterday in a rite officiated by Father Ruben Labajo at Domus Camomot Chapel in Villadolid, Carcar City, Cebu.

Mother Superior Louella Grace Buscato of the Daughters of Sta. Teresa (DST) said this is the fourth year such mass confirmation is held at the place where the body of former Archbishop Teofilo Camomot was laid to rest.

Buscato said that the confirmation rite was done for free, and was attended by children and adults, especially those who are about to get married.

“Ang confirmation is meant to complete the sacrament. Kay ang tawo inig ka bunyag niya, dili pa man na siya makasulti nga gidawat niya ang Ginoo sa iyang kinabuhi. Mao ni nga ang confirmation, siya na gyud ang modawat sa grasya sa Ginoo (A child, when baptized, cannot physically say he or she has accepted God in his or her life. So confirmation allows him or her to declare that he indeed accepts God),” said Buscato.

The confirmation is part of the series of activities designed by the DST sisters for the weeklong commemoration of the 106th birth anniversary of the late Cebuano archbishop. The birthday falls on March 3.

Camomot is a candidate for sainthood.

The DST congregation, which is founded by Camomot himself some 60 years ago, is lobbying for the cause of his sainthood at the Vatican after San Pedro Calungsod and San Lorenzo Ruiz.

Beginning February 22 until March 3, a Eucharistic celebration will be held every 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. at the Dumos Camomot chapel, which also doubles as a museum where memorabilia of the former Cebuano prelate are on display.

Camomot was born on March 3, 1914 in Carcar, Cebu to parents Luis Camomot and Angela Bastida.

He died in a vehicular accident at Sitio Magtalisay in Barangay Sangat, San Fernando, Cebu while on his way home to Carcar on September 27, 1988. (FREEMAN)