Mass for Fr. Halley

The Philippine Women’s University will hold a Misa Requiem for murdered Irish priest Fr. Rufus Halley, who once served as its Chaplain in 1974 at 12 noon today at the University Chapel, Taft Avenue campus, in Manila.

Helena Benitez, PWU chairperson said, "the late Fr. Halley is well remembered as a gentle and caring soul specially solicitous of the children in the Justice Jose Abad Santos Memorial School (JASMS)."

"Ironically", she lamented "Justice Abad Santos was also executed in Malabang town during World War II by the Japanese Army for refusing to betray the country."

Halley, who was recently buried in Cagayan de Oro, was brutally murdered last Aug. 28 by suspected Moro rebels outside Malabang town in Lanao del Sur.

Beatriz Biyo, information desk officer of PWU, remembers him as a "jolly and kind priest, who loved to wear wooden "bakya" and spoke in Pilipino, rather than in English."

"As we extend our sympathies and condolences on his death, we condemn in the strongest possible terms the inhuman and cowardly act of those who assassinated him for no apparent reason," Benitez said.

"We pray to," she added, "that the goal of peace that Fr. Halley was espousing could ultimately be attained."

Officiating priest and presently PWU Chaplain Fr. Jun Pilotos, Jr. is enjoining our Muslim brothers and sisters in the community and alumni to join the celebration.