Camomot sainthood not far from reality

CEBU, Philippines — The late Archbishop Teofilo Camomot has a big chance of becoming a saint.

This is the update from the Daughters of Saint Teresa, the religious congregation Camomot founded, following its members’ visit to Vatican City in Rome.

DST superior general, Mother Ma. Louella Grace Buscato, said it was Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma who was with them in meeting the relatore, Msgr. Paul Pallath, who asked Pallath of the possibility of Camomot getting canonized.

Pallath reportedly gave a positive response.

“Hopefully, in our own time, we will witness his beatification and then his canonization,” Buscato told The FREEMAN.

Sister Juliet Roferos of DST also shared:

“The relatore was asked if there are chances that Archbishop Camomot will become a saint. He said sure, sure. Because of the seven candidates he is handling, the one of Archbishop Camomot has been speedily developing,” she said.

Roferos said they consider Pallath’s smile and positive responses an assurance that Camomot will be raised to the altars of saints and holy men.

The group from the Philippines met with Pallath on March 6 to discuss the making of the "position," one of the steps in the beatification process.

Buscato said the visit to Rome was “meaningful, spiritual, and fruitful.”

Buscato travelled with two other DST sisters and two lay collaborators, Lyndee Tan and Nena Gullas, wife of The FREEMAN chairman Jose “Dodong” Gullas.

The Gullas couple has been supporting efforts to beatify and canonize Camomot.

Dodong, for one, hopes for Camomot to be declared saint in time for the centennial celebration of the University of the Visayas and The FREEMAN in 2019.

If not next year, Palma is hopeful that Camomot will be declared saint by 2021 in time for the 500th anniversary of the arrival of Christianity in the Philippines.

Some parts of the “positio” has been completed but are being reviewed by the main postulator in Rome.

Father Mhar Vincent Balili, vice postulator of the cause of Camomot's beatification, said two of the four chapters of the positio, or the developing book for the Cebuano candidate, are finished.

He said necessary documents have been submitted for review to the Rome-based postulator appointed by the Congregation for the Causes of Saints in Vatican City.   The Cebu archdiocese can proceed with the last two chapters after the postulator approves the first two.

The first chapter will provide the analysis of the answers of the witnesses or testimonies while the second will provide the analysis of the writings of Camomot. The third chapter will be his biography while the fourth will be a summary and thesis of Camomot’s heroic virtues and the fame of his sanctity. May B. Miasco — /JMO (FREEMAN)