He added that he hoped the facilities needed for the welfare and education of the children will be available by the time classes start.
The Department of Education (DepEd) is currently implementing the Oplan Balik Eskwela program to ensure the smooth opening of classes.
Cebu Provincial Schools Division Superintendent Recaredo Borgonia assured that there are enough classrooms to ensure that no class will be held “under the mango trees” this school year.
Shrine
Regional Director Carolino Mordeno also assured that DepEd is trying to promote an ideal ratio of one teacher for every 40 students by hiring 10,000 teachers nationwide.
Cardinal Vidal made his call after he led over 300 devotees in declaring the Angel of Peace Chapel of Perpetual Rosary in Cansojong, Talisay City as an archdiocesan shrine of Jesus of the Nazarene.
He pointed out that not all parishes can become shrines immediately. One requirement is for the church or chapel to have a huge population of devotees and churchgoers.
Other archdiocesan shrines include parishes from Argao, Cebu; Basak, Mandaue City; Alumnos, Cebu City, among others.
The national shrines in Cebu include the St. Joseph’s parish in Mandaue and Virgen de la Regla parish in Lapu-Lapu.
The Basilica del Sto. Niño is considered an international shrine, with devotees coming in from around the world, said Msgr. Cris Garcia, chairman of the Cebu Archdiocese’s Commission on Worship.
Cardinal Vidal said that more Catholics have been flocking to the Angel of Peace chapel.
According to Garcia, also the monastery chapel’s founder, devotees of the new shrine will receive more “spiritual graces” and will be taught more properly about the mercy of faith.
He narrated that inside the chapel last Sunday, a crippled man, after feeling to urge to go to the replica of the Black Nazarene, was able to walk and jog around.
Today marks the 400th anniversary of the Black Nazarene’s arrival in the Philippines from Mexico.
Talisay City Mayor Socrates Fernandez, who was also present during the mass, said the Black Nazarene is the epitome of love, reminding politicians to communicate God’s Word through their deeds. (NRC)
