CLOSEST friends, family and staff of the late Cebu Archbishop Ricardo Cardinal Vidal will serve the main entourage during his burial rites on Thursday.
In a press conference yesterday, Fr. Mhar Vincent Balili, who is in charge of the liturgical aspect for the burial rites, disclosed the names of those who will compose the late Cardinal’s entourage.
Balili said they were chosen because of their special relationship with the late prelate when he was still alive.
While Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma will be the main celebrant, Cebu Auxiliary Bishop Dennis Villarojo will serve as homilist during the funeral mass.
Villarojo was chosen as homilist because he served Vidal as one of his private secretaries during his time as Archbishop of Cebu.
Monsignors Guillermo Gorre, Arthur Navales, Alfredo Romanillos and Vicente Tupas were tasked to bear the pall or the cloth that will cover Vidal’s casket.
The four were chosen to bear the pall because they were the last monsignors who were appointed by Vidal just before he died.
Vidal’s younger brother, Juanito, is tasked to carry the cross.
To carry the gospel book will be Fr. Benedict Gacho of the Society of the Angel of Peace (SAP) in Talisay City.
Balili told SunStar Cebu that Gacho was chosen because the SAP was one of the religious organizations in Cebu in which Vidal declared himself as bishop protector.
Gacho also worked as personal aide to Vidal before.
Monsignors Rey Penagunda, Danilo Sanico, Achilles Dakay, Joseph Tan, Agustin Ancajas, Roberto Alesna, Adelito Abella and Ildebrando Leyson; and Fathers Joseph de Aquino and Expedito Torrevillas were appointed as Vidal’s coffin bearers.
Penagunda and Sanico are the current vicar generals of the Archdiocese.
Alesna and Abella served as Vidal’s Archdiocesan vicar general and chancellor, respectively.
While Ancajas previously worked as Vidal’s private secretary for eight years.
Dakay, on the other hand, was chosen because of his role as media liaison officer during Vidal’s term.
Tan, now the current media liaison officer, previously served as Oeconomus or Finance Officer of the Archdiocese during Vidal’s time as Archbishop.
While Leyson served as main postulator for St. Pedro Calungsod’s canonization during Vidal’s reign as Archbishop.
De Aquino was also chosen as coffin bearers because of his role as current secretary of Vidal until his death.
While Torrevillas was Vidal’s former master of ceremonies before he resigned as Archbishop in 2011. (JKV)