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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider Visayas devider Liloan church reopens 1 month after gruesome murder of woman

Liloan church reopens 1 month after gruesome murder of woman

Published Nov 24, 2025 06:39 pm
SAN Fernando Rey Parish Church, (FB)
SAN Fernando Rey Parish Church, (FB)
CEBU CITY – A church in Liloan town, northern Cebu province finally reopened nearly a month after it bore witness to a gruesome crime.
San Fernando Rey Parish reopened on Sunday, Nov. 23, after the Archdiocese of Cebu completed the required rites of reparation and reconsecration.
Built in 1847, the church was closed on Oct. 24 after a 44-year-old woman, Estela Ligaray, was found dead inside.
Ligaray bore injuries on the neck and head and was bleeding from the nose when her body was found.
Police investigation confirmed that the woman was murdered inside the church. Lawmen later identified the woman’s husband as a suspect.
Because of the incident, Cebu Archdiocese Alberto Uy ordered the church’s closure due to a grave act of desecration.
Uy presided over the reopening Mass, which came after a penitential service and parishioners’ confessions as part of the restoration process.
He described the reconsecration as a moment that signaled the parish’s spiritual renewal. He emphasized g that the reopening served as a testament to God’s mercy, peace, and enduring love that surpasses the sorrow and fear caused by the violence inside the church.
In his homily, Uy spoke about the community’s grief and resolve, saying the parish gathered with hearts carrying both sorrow and hope. “Lord, here we are. Still Yours. Still one family,” Uy said.
Uy said the temporary closure served as a reminder of the need to protect and preserve the sacredness of God’s house.

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Liloan Cebu Murder Deaths Crime Church San Fernando Rey Parish Church
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