BACOLOD City, Dec. 16, 2011—Bacolod Bishop
Vicente M. Navarra had issued orders for the faithful to do an “Act of
Reparation” following the theft of two ciboria in the parish church of
Our Lady of Lourdes in Pulupandan.
In a letter of December 1 sent to Pulupandan parish priest Fr. Tomas
Rito, the bishop told the faithful that the theft of the sacred vessels
was a sacrilegious act. He also denounced it as “shameless” because the
ciboria were inside the Tabernacle and contained the Sacred Hosts.
The parochial school’s Our Lady of Lourdes Academy was recently
burned down, but Navarra said the theft is more serious because “whoever
did this or anyone who has anything to do with this brazen act against
the Blessed Sacrament commits a sin [the forgiveness of which] is
reserved only to the Holy Father. Therefore, only the Holy Father can
forgive this sin.”
“In the meantime that he has not been forgiven by the Holy Father,” the Bishop said, “he remains excommunicated.”
As acts of reparation for the theft of the sacred vessels, Navarra
instructed the faithful to hold penitential procession while chanting
the litany of the Saints from December 2, first Friday of the month,
until December 7, eve of the Immaculate Conception.
The procession was held inside the church and followed by the
exposition and benediction of the Blessed Sacrament and ending with
prayer of the Consecration to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
The bishop also said that the parish priest shall keep the Blessed
Sacrament inside the convent in a secured and decent place with a vigil
lamp placed at the Tabernacle.
The scheduled concert of the clergy in the parish was cancelled because of the matter.
Navarra reminded the faithful of Pulupandan that the recent events
that happened in the parish were a wake-up call for them to rely on God
and to place their hope and faith only in Him.
He also said that in their Act of Reparation and penitence, they
should not forget the need for conversion of those people who
perpetuated this sacrilegious act.
Expressing his solidarity with the faithful in their prayer and
penitence, Navarra said that may “God forgive us all and strengthen our
faith in Him and in His sacraments and His Church.”(Modesto Sa-onoy)
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