CEBU, Philippines - Celebrating his birthday yesterday, Cebu Archbishop Emeritus Ricardo Cardinal Vidal expressed gratitude to the Cebuanos for the warm welcome he received upon coming to Cebu and love shown to him even until his retirement.
He thanked all those who came to his simple 83rd birthday celebration in his retirement home in Sto. Niño Village, Banilad, Cebu City.
Aside from Church officials and lay workers, Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama was among those who attended the Mass he officiated for his special day.
Well-wishers also shared lunch with Vidal after the Mass.
In particular, Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma, Palo Archbishop John Du, and Episcopal Vicar Esteban Binghay personally greeted the retired prelate.
Archbishop Palma mentioned Vidal’s big help in the canonization of San Pedro Calungsod, the first Visayan saint.
Palma also wished that Vidal be given continued good health so he could still attend and participate in the 51st International Eucharistic Congress (IEC) in Cebu in 2016.
The IEC gathers the clergy, religious, laity, and religious congregations from all over the world to celebrate the presence of Jesus in every Eucharistic celebration.
A Vatican committee came to Cebu last September and inspected the venues for the IEC, which takes place every four years.
The first time the Philippines hosted the IEC was in 1937 in Manila.
For the 51st IEC, it would take place on Jan. 21 to 24 in 2016, days after the feast of the Señor Sto. Niño.
Yesterday, Archbishop Du also wished Vidal good health, as the former Cebu archbishop had expressed strong interest in personally visiting Tacloban City and its neighboring areas, which super typhoon Yolanda ravaged last Nov. 8.
“He had wanted to go to the archdiocese of Palo but I stopped him because I know his health was not in perfect condition. But he has been supporting me in different ways, which helped me a lot in dealing with the aftermath of the super typhoon,†Du shared.
Vidal was born in Mogpog, Marinduque in 1931 and served as Cebu archbishop from 1982 until his retirement in January 2011.
Vidal’s retirement home in Banilad, Cebu City was a gift by parishioners who wanted him to permanently reside in Cebu. (FREEMAN)