In a historic moment, Cebu Archbishop Jose S. Palma delivered the homily from the old pulpit of the Archdiocesan Shrine of Nuestra Señora del Patrocinio de Maria in Boljoon where he unveiled the reinstalled pulpit panels of the Church that have gone missing for decades.
He thanked many personalities for the repatriation of these antique panels, including the National Museum of the Philippines who listened to the clamor of the Cebuanos and cooperated with Church and Civil Government officials in facilitating the return of the panels.
But the Good Archbishop gave credit where credit was due: the Governor of Cebu.
“Dako ang akong kalipay ug pagpasalamat sa tanan, but for today, I just would like to mention ang inahan sa atong Probinsya tungod sa iyang paningkamot, tungod sa iyang tinguha — the Honorable Governor Gwen Garcia!” the Archbishop said in his homily.
Archbishop Palma, who just celebrated his 75th birthday on the feast of his namesake San Jose on March 19, said that in his 49 years as a priest, he was only able to deliver homilies on Spanish-era pulpits like in Boljoon thrice.
He acceded, moreover, that of the three rare occasions, he found the pulpit of Boljoon the most beautiful upon which he delivered the homily.
“Nganong importante kining pulpit nga nia karon ang pari magsermon dinhi? Because the Word of God becomes alive when preached and when reflected upon, pamalandong sa atong kinabuhi,” Archbishop Palma said. | SN
