Cardinal Theodore McCarrick, retired archbishop of Washington, prays in the ruined Cathedral of the Transfiguration of Our Lord in Palo earlier this month Below: More devastation wrought by Super Typhoon Haiyan (CNS)
By CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE on Wednesday, 27 November 2013
Seven priests of the Archdiocese of Palo were ordained amid the ruins of the typhoon-ravaged Cathedral of the Transfiguration of Our Lord in ceremonies on Tuesday.
Although Super Typhoon Haiyan caused the roof of the 16th-century cathedral to collapse and destroy much of the interior furnishings, Archbishop John Forrosuelo Du decided to ordain the priests in the church as a sign of hope for the Catholic community.
The ordination occurred as clergy and hundreds of faithful filled the church in bright sunshine. Blue lightweight coverings strung from the cathedral’s walls provided some shade for the congregation as the new priests vowed to serve the church and God in ministering to the people of the archdiocese.
Palo is located a few miles south of Tacloban, the provincial capital of Leyte, one of the provinces hit by the devastating storm earlier this month.
“We may have lost everything, but our faith is becoming stronger ever. No trial or storm or typhoon can destroy our resolve to have faith in Jesus. And it should be manifested in action,” Father Amadeo Alvero, the archdiocese’s spokesman, told the Asian church news agency UCA News.
Survivors place a makeshift flag over a sports hall Nov. 20 destroyed by Typhoon Haiyan in Tacloban, Philippines.
He said the ordinations served as a “concrete action” to show the people’s faith in God despite the devastation brought about by Typhoon Haiyan that claimed more than 5,200 lives and left millions of people homeless.
The new priests will play a major role in helping Catholics reeling from the typhoon’s effects, he added.
Up to 95 percent of structures in Palo, including churches, were destroyed by the typhoon. The city of 62,000 is located a few miles south of Tacloban, the provincial capital of Leyte, one of the provinces affected by the storm.
“We are still not so sure where we will get the funds for the repairs considering that everybody here is a victim,” Father Alvero said.
Tacloban Deputy Mayor Jerry Yaokasin said the city council is already preparing a rehabilitation plan for the region. “The relocation site for housing will be our priority,” he told UCA News.
Catholicism Pure & Simple 
Reblogged this on Catholic Glasses and commented:
Praise GOD!
LikeLike
I’ve seen the Cathedral dates from 1596 and was constructed by the Jesuits. Here it is in happier days:
LikeLike
I can almost smell the kerosene from the street food stalls in this one:
LikeLike
From the canonical installation of said Archbishop Du in May last year. Looks like a most charming man.
LikeLike
Oops, the 4th video in the set above shows the new Archbishop entering his cathedral.
LikeLike
What lovely pictures GC! And such a numerous congregation at the canonical installation of the Archbishop, with so many priests! So impressivel!
It makes the reality of this catastrophe that struck the Philippines pull even harder on one’s heart-strings, when seeing how beautiful it all was before.
Yet it also goes to show the staunch faith and courage of these wonderful people who carry on…. for in spite of all they have lost, they know that “neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate [them] from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:39)
LikeLike
“The Filipino soul is stronger than (typhoon) Yolanda” said Archbishop Jose Palma of Cebu, kathleen. Yet this report by the Filipino chaplain in Brisbane is horrifying.
The Philippines faces so many dangers of both the natural and man-made sort. I hear this was the 20th tropical tempest that they faced just this year alone. Fatal seismic and volcanic activity is also frequent. Strangely, this makes the Philippines quite rich in gold and other minerals and it supplies much of the country’s energy needs. As for cathedrals, Manila Cathedral burnt down in 1583, was destroyed or severely damaged in earthquakes in 1600, 1645 and 1863 and bombed to bits in 1945 by the Allied forces.
Did you see this short video of that recent ordination, kathleen?
LikeLike
And such a numerous congregation at the canonical installation of the Archbishop, with so many priests!
Yes, kathleen, and did you notice how it’s mostly our girlfriends filling up the Cathedral?
On the bottom of this page, you can click for pictures of churches destroyed on adjacent Samar Island.
http://adoptaparish.org/adopt-a-church/
LikeLike
“Yes, kathleen, and did you notice how it’s mostly our girlfriends filling up the Cathedral?”
Yes GC, I did! 🙂
Many thanks for all your great relevant links that you never fail to discover. A real genius!
LikeLike