Diocese to formally open cause for beatification and canonization of Darwin Ramos
Published Aug 27, 2019 04:12 pm
By Leslie Aquino
The Diocese of Cubao will formally open on Wednesday the Cause for the Beatification and Canonization of "Servant of God" Darwin Ramos.
Darwin Ramos in a wheelchair with his friends of Our Lady of Guadalupe Center during Tulay ng Kabataan summer camp in 2008. (Darwin Ramos Cause for Canonization Facebook Page via CBCP / MANILA BULLETIN)
In an interview, Cubao Bishop Honesto Ongtioco said the activity will be part of the procedure for the cause of someone for sainthood.
"Part of the procedure for the cause of someone for sainthood is formal opening in the diocesan level," he said.
"It is mainly to inform people and get some data about Darwin. How has he affected people's faith, commitment, and so on," added Ongtioco.
The rites for the solemn opening and declaration of the cause will be held at 5 p.m. at the Immaculate Conception Cathedral preceding the Eucharistic celebration.
The solemn rites will be attended by Ramos' mother, Erlinda and the children from the Tulay ng Kabataan Foundation.
To recall, the Vatican declared on March 29 Darwin Ramos as “Servant of God,” the preliminary process for sainthood.
Declaring Ramos “Servant of God” was the first step towards recognizing him as a saint.
Other steps towards sainthood, are declarations of Venerable, Blessed and canonization.
The declaration gave the Diocese of Cubao the green light to initiate the process for beatification and canonization of the boy.
According to a CBCP News post, Ramos spent his early years in the slums of Pasay City. In order to help his family, he became a scavenger in the streets, with his younger sister.
Unfortunately, the initial symptoms of what will later diagnosed as Duchenne muscular dystrophy appeared. Progressively, he could no longer stand and his muscles weakened.
In 2006, after getting acquainted with a group of street educators from Tulay ng Kabataan (TnK), Ramos entered in one of its centers helping street children.
Discovering the Catholic faith, he received the sacrament of baptism in the same year, and had his first communion and was conferred the sacrament of confirmation in 2007.
Along the years, Ramos’ physical condition deteriorated. But despite this, he uplifted the staff and other children at the center by the way he lived with his illness.
Ongtioco said that Ramos developed a deep personal relationship with Christ, and not a day passed that the boy did not take time out to entrust himself to Jesus.
In 2012, Ramos’ condition worsened suddenly: he felt pain while breathing and was then brought to a hospital.
Even in these moments of suffering, he continued to maintain a friendly attitude, thanking everyone for helping him.
Ramos died at the Philippine Children’s Medical Center in Quezon City on Sept. 23, 2012, at the age of 17.
Darwin Ramos in a wheelchair with his friends of Our Lady of Guadalupe Center during Tulay ng Kabataan summer camp in 2008. (Darwin Ramos Cause for Canonization Facebook Page via CBCP / MANILA BULLETIN)
In an interview, Cubao Bishop Honesto Ongtioco said the activity will be part of the procedure for the cause of someone for sainthood.
"Part of the procedure for the cause of someone for sainthood is formal opening in the diocesan level," he said.
"It is mainly to inform people and get some data about Darwin. How has he affected people's faith, commitment, and so on," added Ongtioco.
The rites for the solemn opening and declaration of the cause will be held at 5 p.m. at the Immaculate Conception Cathedral preceding the Eucharistic celebration.
The solemn rites will be attended by Ramos' mother, Erlinda and the children from the Tulay ng Kabataan Foundation.
To recall, the Vatican declared on March 29 Darwin Ramos as “Servant of God,” the preliminary process for sainthood.
Declaring Ramos “Servant of God” was the first step towards recognizing him as a saint.
Other steps towards sainthood, are declarations of Venerable, Blessed and canonization.
The declaration gave the Diocese of Cubao the green light to initiate the process for beatification and canonization of the boy.
According to a CBCP News post, Ramos spent his early years in the slums of Pasay City. In order to help his family, he became a scavenger in the streets, with his younger sister.
Unfortunately, the initial symptoms of what will later diagnosed as Duchenne muscular dystrophy appeared. Progressively, he could no longer stand and his muscles weakened.
In 2006, after getting acquainted with a group of street educators from Tulay ng Kabataan (TnK), Ramos entered in one of its centers helping street children.
Discovering the Catholic faith, he received the sacrament of baptism in the same year, and had his first communion and was conferred the sacrament of confirmation in 2007.
Along the years, Ramos’ physical condition deteriorated. But despite this, he uplifted the staff and other children at the center by the way he lived with his illness.
Ongtioco said that Ramos developed a deep personal relationship with Christ, and not a day passed that the boy did not take time out to entrust himself to Jesus.
In 2012, Ramos’ condition worsened suddenly: he felt pain while breathing and was then brought to a hospital.
Even in these moments of suffering, he continued to maintain a friendly attitude, thanking everyone for helping him.
Ramos died at the Philippine Children’s Medical Center in Quezon City on Sept. 23, 2012, at the age of 17.