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Official Publication of the Philippine Information Agency Bicol Regional Office, in cooperation with the RIAC-REDIRAS - RDC Bicol



Tuesday, August 12, 2014

LGU Naga declares Days of Mourning over the passing of Caceres Archbishop Emeritus Leonardo Z. Legaspi

BY: ANA-LIZA S. MACATANGAY

NAGA CITY, Aug.12 (PIA)--- Flags in all public places, buildings and installations in the entire city  will  be flown on half-mast today until the 13th after the 11th Sangguniang Panglungsod under the headship of City Vice Mayor Nelson S. Legacion enacted on joint and collective motion Resolution No. 2014-316.

In the said resolution, members of the august body expressed their deep condolences to the bereaved family of the Most Reverend Leonardo Z. Legaspi, O.P.,D.D., Archbishop-Emeritus. They are one with the entire Catholic family who are mourning over the demise of the church official.

The three-day period was also declared as days of mourning in the entire city of Naga as stated in Proclamation N0. 2014-005 signed by Naga City Mayor John Bongat. In the said edict, Bongat enjoined the people to assemble on that day in their respective places of divine worship, to bow down in submission to the will of the Almighty God and to pay homage of love and reverence to the memory of the late Archbishop.  

Legaspi joined our Creator on the early morning of August 8, after he succumbed to his long battle with cancer.  He was 78. The date coincided with the Feast of Our Holy Father St. Dominic de Guzman and the anniversary of his episcopal ordination dated August 8, 1977 by the Papal Nuncio to the Philippine Archbishop Bruno Torpigliani and Juan Velasco Diaz then Bishop of Xiamen and Jesuit Bishop Federico Escaler, then Bishop of Kidapawan.

In recognition of his contribution to the Marian devotion, the city of Naga then conferred to Legaspi the singular title of the “Beloved Honorary Nagueno” by virtue of Sangguniang Panlungsod Resolution No. 2012-408, acknowledging among others his exemplary leadership in uniting and binding together all the devotees closer to their faith, particular to Inang Peñafrancia.

Legaspi first set foot in Naga City on October 20, 1983 after he was appointed as Archbishop of Caceres. He was 47 years old at that time. The next 28 years until his retirement on September 8, 2012 speaks of the significant changes to the many lives that the Archbishop has touched.

His immense power of faith was shared from across the land, spreading like wildfire as the devotees saw his personal devotion to Ina.  

From the Chapel of the University of Santo Tomas in Manila, the Archbishop’s remains was flown to Legazpi City and was transferred to the Basilica Minore on Monday and was received by the  Archbishop of Caceres, Most Rev. Rolando J. Tria Tirona, OCD, DD, the entire family of the Archdiocese of Caceres and the people of Naga.

The Archbishop’s remains is now at the Naga Metropolitan Cathedral until tomorrow and will return to Manila for the internment at the Santuario de Santo Domingo after the 2:00 p.m. Funeral Mass at the Sto. Domingo Church in Quezon City in time for the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

While in Naga City, memorial contributions may be made to The Fund for Retired and Sick priests during the funeral wake here. The Fund for the Educational Assistance of the Seminarians of the Dominican Province of the Philippines can be donated for the duration of the funeral wake in Manila.

Legaspi’s significant contribution to the propagation of deep faith to Our Lady of Peñafrancia is perhaps the greatest legacy that he left to all Marian devotees. (AAN/LSMacatangay, PIAV/Camarines Sur)  


- See more at: http://news.pia.gov.ph/index.php?article=861407831081#sthash.hy1u6FlW.dpuf

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