DAVAO CITY, Philippines — The 84-year-old St. Mary’s Cathedral in Marawi City, will be among the structures up for demolition should the government start to rehabilitate the war-torn city.
The Catholic Bishop Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), website reported that Bishop Edwin dela Peña of Marawi, has given his consent for the demolition of the cathedral, including his official residence.
The news story added, Bishop dela Peña, manifested his visit last Saturday, April 14, 2018, might be his last, to see his church, as the government recommended the demotion, citing that the building is no longer structurally sound.
The church was among the severely damaged building during the five-month Marawi siege. It is located within the most affected area.
Marawi City is the home of the Meranaw’s who are believer of Islam. But the St. Mary’s Cathedral, for the Roman Catholic exists, as people respect each other’s creed and religious affiliation.
The CBCP news stressed “From the debris will rise a simple church that aims to symbolize the prelature’s mission of reconciling presence in Marawi.”
“We will rebuild the cathedral but only after they have rebuilt their city and their Masjids,” Dela Peña in the same report said.
“For the meantime, we focus our energies on rebuilding communities,” he said.
Rey Barnido, executive director of Duyog Marawi, said the bishops also prayed for those who are working for peace in the region.
“It was both a symbol of solidarity of the whole Mindanao Church with the Marawi prelature and at the same time a symbolic blessing and prayer for peace,” he said.
The Church leaders originally intend to hold a mass inside the devastated church but the military did not allow them citing security reasons.
Rey Barnido, executive director of Duyog Marawi, said the bishops also prayed for those who are working for peace in the region, the report added.
“It was both a symbol of solidarity of the whole Mindanao Church with the Marawi prelature and at the same time a symbolic blessing and prayer for peace,” he said.
This developed, as people of Marawi is hoping that the government planners will sit down and listen to their predicament before they implement their own plan for Marawi.
The displaced people of Marawi have been asking the government to allow them to participate in the planning, saying it involves them and their community, and they should be consulted.
Residents inside the most affected areas, can only enter the place upon coordination with the military authorities.
BIshop dela Peña was accompanied by bishops Severo Caermare of Dipolog, Angelito Lampon of Jolo, Julius Tonel of Ipil, Emmanuel Cabajar of Pagadian, and archbishops Martin Jumoad of Ozamiz and Antonio Ledesma of Cagayan de Oro. Fr. Jose Roel Casas, the administrator of Isabela prelature, during the Saturday visit. -Editha Z. Caduaya/Newsline.Ph with reports from CBCP News
