APOSTOLIC Nuncio to the Philippines Archbishop Gabriele Giordano Caccia has left a “deep imprint” on some 3,000 Negrenses who attended the mass at San Carlos Borromeo Cathedral in San Carlos City, Negros Occidental on Saturday.
Caccia arrived in the province Friday to lead the 30th founding anniversary of the Diocese of San Carlos.
He was joined by Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines president Archbishop Romulo Valles, and three former San Carlos Diocese bishops, Daniel Parcon, Nicolas Mondejar and Jose Advincula.
However, when the Papal Nuncio was about to speak before the faithful after the mass officiated by Parcon, there was a power interruption.
It didn’t hinder Caccia though from addressing the crowd. He stood up and went in front of the altar to be closer to the people.
“When it was his turn to speak towards the end of mass after the communion, there was no electricity. Even our standby generator and portable sound system didn’t function. His character stood out when he opted to talk directly to the congregation without a microphone,” San Carlos Bishop Gerardo Alminaza said.
He added that the Papal Nuncio “moved us all” as he also “allowed people to take selfie pictures with him and was very approachable.”
Nuncio’s message to the faithful, according to Alminaza, is “our destination is not a place but a journey to holiness... which is not a matter of age because even San Carlos died at a young age of 46 and became a saint.”
“He was impressed by the sense of communion he experienced among us, starting with the presence of all three bishops who served the Diocese for 30 years...Whenever there is communion, there is God and with God, there is always hope,” Alminaza said.
Moreover, Alminaza hailed Papal Nuncio’s character.
“More than his words, it was his gestures that left a deep imprint in all of us,” he added.
Upon arriving in San Carlos City, Caccia visited the Diocese’s proposed mission stations where he met with GKK (Gagmay’ng Kristohanong Katilingban) leaders and the fifth batch of participants of their community-based wellness program for drug surrenderers, Alminaza said.
'Extraordinary' moment
For his part, Monsignor Eugene Peral, vicar general of the Diocese of San Carlos, said the people looked forward to Papal Nuncio’s visit as he is an ambassador of the Vatican.
He said the Catholic faithful were excited and clapped their hands when Caccia went closer to the crowd.
Papal Nuncio even greeted them “Maayong buntag,” Cebuano for good morning, drawing laughter from the people.
Peral said the Papal Nuncio was supposed to read the Apostolic Blessing, or message from the Pope, when the power was interrupted.
Instead of just staying on his seat, he drew closer to the faithful.
“It was spontaneous. It was an extraordinary moment. He was very down to earth,” Peral said.
He said Caccia caught the attention of everyone. “The people were clapping their hands, they were amazed by him,” Peral shared.
Peral added that those who were outside the Cathedral also went inside to catch a glimpse of the Papal Nuncio.
“He spoke the language of the people, very simple and understandable. He spoke about holiness,” Peral said.
He added Caccia’s speech lasted for three to five minutes.
Homily
Meanwhile, Alminaza said the homily of Parcon, who was former Diocesan Administrator of San Carlos, expounded on the theme “Remembering the Past with Gratitude, Living the Present with Enthusiasm, and Looking forward to the Future with Confidence,” as he highlighted the significant contributions of the three bishops of San Carlos.
He said Mondejar focused on what are shared in common and not on the differences, as he started the St. John Mary Vianney Seminary, the tithing system, and essential infrastructure of the young diocese while Advincula, now Archbishop of Capiz, brought the church closer to the people by establishing nine mission stations and three mission schools and many social projects for the poor.
Moreover, the Diocese, on its 30th year, received the Legacy Pledge from WeGen Distributed Energy Philippines, a next generation energy business that uses rapidly-advancing renewable energy, for its commitment to protect the Earth and environment, Alminaza said.
“My message to our people on our Pearl Jubilee is we continue to be a church of communion, a listening church that hears the cry of the poor, the youth and Mother Earth,” he added.
The San Carlos Diocese is comprised by 26 parishes, seven quasi-parishes, eight mission stations and one chaplaincy from the towns of Manapla, Toboso, Calatrava, Salvador Benedicto and the cities of San Carlos, Escalante, Cadiz and Sagay in Negros Occidental; and towns of La Libertad and Vallehermoso and the cities of Canlaon and Guihulngan in Negros Oriental.