DAVAO CITY (MindaNews / 07 January) – “I am ready to go.”
In his homily during the requiem mass for Archbishop Emeritus Fernando Capalla, who died at shortly before 2 a.m. on Saturday, January 6, Davao Archbishop Romulo Valles said that when Capalla returned to his residence at the College Seminary Compound after his confinement at the San Pedro Hospital during the holidays, he left instructions not to be brought back to the hospital anymore because “I am ready to go.”
Valles has yet to respond to MindaNews’ query on days of confinement and discharge of Capalla but in his homily, he said Capalla was firm in his not wanting to be returned to the hospital because “I am ready to go.”
Requiem mass for Davao’s Archbishop Emeritus Fernando Capalla at the San Pedro Cathedral on Saturday afternoon,January 6, 2024 was concelebrated by Archbishop Romulo Valles, Auxiliary Bishop George Rimando and 21 priests of the Archdiocese. MindaNews photo by CAROLYN O. ARGUILLAS
Capalla, who was born in Leon, Iloilo on November 1, 1934, had just celebrated his 89th birthday.
Valles was master of ceremonies when Capalla was installed as the third Archbishop of Davao on November 28, 1996.
On May 22, 2012, Capalla and the Papal Nuncio, Giuseppe Pinto, welcomed Valles at the entrance of the San Pedro Cathedral during the “Rite of Liturgical Reception Eucharistic Celebration and Canonical Possession,” on his installation as the fourth Archbishop and the first Dabawenyo to lead the Archdiocese.
Nearly 12 years later, at 3:30 p.m. on January 6, it would be Valles waiting at the entrance of the cathedral during the Rite of Reception for the white casket that contained Capalla’s mortal remains.
Valles succeeded Capalla as the fourth Archbishop of Davao.
Capalla served as Auxiliary Bishop of Davao from 1975 to 1977, was Bishop of Iligan from 1977 to 1994, returned to this city as Bishop co-adjutor from 1994 to 1996 and was Davao Archbishop from 1996 until Valles took over in 2012.
Capalla co-convened the Mindanao Bishops-Ulama Forum (now Conference) in November 1996, an interfaith mechanism that assisted in the peace process in Mindanao, initially in the aftermath of the signing in September 1996 of the Final Peace Agreement between the Philippine government and the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF).
Cardinal Orlando Quevedo (in white barong) with convenors of the Bishops-Ulama Conference (L to R) UCCP Bishops Hilario Gomez, Davao Archbishop Emeritus Fernando Capalla and Judge Abo Cali of Ulama League of the Philippines 5th General Assembly of the Bishops-Ulama Conference on 27 November 2018 at the Ateneo de Davao University. MindaNews photo by CAROLYN O. ARGUILLAS
The BUC is a forum of Catholic, Christian, and Muslim religious leaders in Mindanao. It held regular meetings at the onset.
Capalla served as President of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) from 2003 to 2005.
According to CBCP News, Capalla also led its various departments such as the Episcopal Commission on Interreligious Dialogue and Episcopal Commission on Ecumenical Affairs.
The report said Capalla’s efforts in interfaith dialogue earned him several awards, including the San Lorenzo Ruiz Award for Peace and Unity in 1991, Ateneo de Manila University’s Public Service Award for Peace in 1998, and the Aurora Aragon Quezon Peace Award for Peace Advocacy and Peace Building in 2000.
A requiem mass followed the reception rite last Saturday, with Capalla concelebrating it with Auxiliary Bishop George Rimando and 21priests of the Archdiocese.
Daily masses at Capalla’s wake are scheduled at 7:30 p.m. until January 14.
Interment is on Monday, January 15, at the cathedral crypt. (Carolyn O. Arguillas / MindaNews)
