Lifetime service award for Vidal on Charter Day

CEBU, Philippines - The city government of Cebu will confer a Lifetime Service Award on Cebu Archbishop Emeritus Ricardo Cardinal Vidal on Monday’s 77th Charter Anniversary.

The City Council passed a resolution bestowing the award on the prelate as a way of acknowledging his “praiseworthy apostolic service” to the Archdiocese of Cebu.

Councilor James Cuenco, chairperson of the Committee on Tourism, said Vidal has showed devotion to the Roman Catholic church in Cebu.

He said Vidal was able to manifest his dedication and effort in renovating the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral church and the rehabilitation of its old rectory which was eventually turned into a museum.

“His Eminence’s consummate vision and spiritual legacy of edifying pastoral care, leadership and praiseworthy apostolic service to the Archdiocese of Cebu should be recognized,” the councilor from south district stressed in his sponsored resolution.

Vidal’s huge contribution to the canonization of the first Visayan saint, San Pedro Calungsod, was recognized. San Pedro Calungsod was a Visayan sacristan and missionary catechist who along with the Spanish Jesuit missionary, Diego Luis de san Vitores suffered religious persecution and martyrdom in Guam.

The archbishop emeritus celebrated his 83rd birthday last February 6 at his retirement home in Sto. Niño Village, Banilad, this city. The house was a gift from parishioners. He was born in Mogpog, Marinduque in 1931 and served as Cebu archbishop from 1982 until his retirement last January of 2011.

Vidal succeeded the late Julio Cardinal Rosales as the Archbishop of Cebu on August 24, 1972 and paved 29 years of spiritual shepherding in the ministry, including the Pastoral masterplan on Doctrinal Orientation and Integral Evangelization with its vision on maturation of faith through the Basic Ecclesial Communities (BEC).

“His years of service as the archbishop of Cebu led to the rise of newly ordained priests, establishment of additional parish church and the construction of two retirement houses for priests and bishops,” Cuenco said. — (FREEMAN)