Palo Archdiocese ready for Pope’s visit.... TACLOBAN CITY -- The Archdiocese of Palo is now 80 percent ready for the pastoral and state visit of Pope Francis in January 2015. Fr. Chris Arthur H. Militante, information and social communications officer of the Archdiocese of Palo, said there are still details to be addressed, such as physical arrangements for the open air mass at the Tacloban airport, but the plans are ready. The Pope is scheduled to spend six to seven hours in Tacloban City and Palo town in the province of Leyte. Upon his arrival on January 17, an open air mass will be held at the Daniel Z. Romualdez Airport in Tacloban. Militante said a templete will be built at the airport where an altar to accommodate the Pope will be constructed. The area for the mass at the airport that is being developed can accommodate close to 200,000 people. Daniel Z. Romualdez Airport repair and improvement ongoing in preparation for Pope Francis visit to the Philippines The Daniel Z. Romualdez Airport in Tacloban City, Leyte has been developed in preparation for Pope Francis visit to the province on January 17, 2015. A Holy Mass will be held at the airport upon the arrival of the pope. (Photo by Jean Mondonedo-Ynot/Sunnex) Security protocols are now in place for those who will be attending the mass. The Archdiocese will handle the accreditation and issuance of passes for the mass attendees. Militante said they are now finalizing the preparations for the mass like the sound system to be used, assignment of medical teams and even the liturgical flow. He said a motorcade from the airport to the Palo Metropolitan Cathedral was also proposed as one of the activities during the papal visit. At the Cathedral, the Pope is planned to have an audience with members of the clergy and the religious. He will then have lunch with selected victims of Typhoon Yolanda from the Archdiocese of Palo and other victims of calamities from the other dioceses. Fr. Alcris Badana, chairman of the relief and rehabilitation committee of the Palo Archdiocese, said guidelines are in place in the identification of victims who will be dining with the Pope. The Vatican gave the Archdiocese of Palo full authority to select the victims. We take charge in selecting, Badana said. He said though that there is no final number yet of people who will be dining with the Pope. A local committee and the Archdiocese will be making the selection, deliberation and documentation of the selected individuals or families. It was also proposed that Pope Francis will bless a complex financed by the Vatican and which has five buildings to house the elderly and orphans of the Archdiocese. Pope Francis Complex inside Archbishops Residence compound in Palo, Leyte, Philippines The Pope Francis Complex being constructed inside the Archbishops Residence compound in Palo, Leyte, Philippines. (Photo by Jean Mondonedo-Ynot/Sunnex) The complex is scheduled for completion by end of December, said Fr. Militante. He clarified that the activities set for the papal visit are just proposals, since there is still a possibility that some things will be added to the activities depending on the last-minute requests of the Pope. Fr. Amadeo Alvero, social communications coordinator of the Archdiocese, said aside from the physical preparations, the church is also preparing for the spiritual needs of the people. He said the theme of the Popes visit is mercy and compassion. When they are sick, we try to visit them. When they are hungry, we feed them. When they are thirsty, we give drink to them. When they are wrecked and no clothes, we clothe them. When they have no homes, we shelter them. When they are in prison, we visit them. When they are sick, we try to visit them. When they are dead, we bury them, Alvero explained on the works of mercy and compassion that members of the diocese could respond to. The preparation for Popes visit will lead us to become merciful and compassionate, he added. The detailed summary of the Popes visit will be announced soon by the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines. (Sunnex) By Laureen R. Mondoñedo and Mildred V. Galarpe Sun Star/ Nov 10, 2014 Picture of The Chancery of the Archdiocese of Palo (Photo by Laureen Mondoñedo-Ynot)
Posted on: Tue, 11 Nov 2014 20:19:17 +0000