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Wednesday, February 15, 2006
Celebrating a year of jubilees
By Nelia G. Neri
A well-loved figure not only in Cebu but in other places far and wide, His Eminence Ricardo J. Cardinal Vidal was feted to day-long celebration on his 75th birthday by his “flock,” his family and friends. This year marks the golden jubilee of his ordination as a priest, his 35th year as a bishop, his 25th year as Archbishop of Cebu, and his 21st year as a prince of the church. A year of jubilees indeed!
At the crack of dawn on Feb. 6, well-wishers trooped to the Archbishops Palace for a ma¤anita and for Holy Mass. Cardinal Vidal was deeply touched by the show of affection from the different sectors of the community. Lunchtime found more friends and admirers greeting the revered Cardinal.
The finale of the day began with a Eucharistic Celebration at the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral at 5 p.m. followed by a dinner reception at the ballroom of the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel organized by “the Clergy, the Religious and the Lay Faithful of the Archdiocese of Cebu.”
Among those enjoying the show were the Papal Nuncio to the Phil., Most Rev. Antonio Franco, Archbishop Gaudencio Rosales, Archbishop Pedro Dian, Archbishop Fernando Capalla, Gov. Gwen Garcia, Vice Mayor Mike Rama, Bishop Rey Evangelista, Bishop John Du and church benefactors Julita Go with daughters Elvira and Zenaida.
A beautiful program unfolded after dinner. Dubbed “A Celebration of Life,” it featured songs and dances from the Ecclesia Caebuana Children’s Choir, the San Diego Dancers and the San Carlos Seminary Choir. Special performers included Wendy Prado, Ian Perpetua, Antoinette Gregorio, Grant Dosdos, Paula San Diego, Yentel Beltran and Mary Rose Maghuyop. And then there was that heartwarming serenade from Cebu’s clergy.
A very remarkable number came from the Cardinal’s Marinduque kababayans. They treated the audience to a performance of the famed “Moriones.” One more presentation from them was the “Magpuputong” serenade which ended with the “crowning” of Cardinal Vidal.
At the end of the program, a beaming Cardinal Vidal thanked everyone - his family and friends, his co-worker’s in God’s vineyard, and his kababayans who made the long trip from Marinduque and reminded him of home.
For Bisaya stories from Cebu. Click here. (February 15, 2006 issue)
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