CEBU CITY– Four pulpit panels stolen several decades ago are finally back to their rightful home.
CEBU Archbishop Jose Palma presides over a thanksgiving Mass during the reinstallation of the recovered four pulpit panels at the Archdiocesan Shrine of Patrocinio de Maria Santisima in Boljoon, Cebu on Friday, March 21. (Sugbo News)
The four sacred artifacts were reinstalled at the Archdiocesan Shrine of Patrocinio de Maria Santisima in Boljoon, Cebu, marking the end of efforts to recover the carved wooden panels taken away in the 1980s.
A thanksgiving Mass presided over by Cebu Archbishop Josel Palma highlighted the event on Friday, March 21.
Upon persistent request of Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia, the National Museum of the Philippines (NMP) turned over the panels to the Archdiocese of Cebu. The panels were previously donated to the NMP by private collectors.
In his homily, Palma emphasized the importance of the panels in the life of the Church.
The prelate also acknowledged the effort of Garcia in bringing back the panels to Boljoon.
“Dako ang akong kalipay ug pagpasalamat sa tanan (I have great joy and gratitude to everyone, but for today, I just would like to mention) ang atong inahan sa atong porvinsya tungod sa iyang paningkamot, tungod sa iyang tinguha (our mother in the province, because of her effort, because of her hard work), the honorable Gwen Garcia,” Palma said.
With the reinstallation of the four panels, only one remains unaccounted for.
Garcia urged people in possession of the remaining panel to return it.
“I once again direct my plea, my prayer, that whoever is in possession of that sixth panel, please return this panel to the rightful owner, the Achdiocese of Cebu. Please return it to the people of Boljoon. Give it back to the heritage of the Cebuanos,” Garcia said.