Before he passed away, Kidapawan clergy hopes to establish home for elderly priests
COTABATO CITY, July 1 (PNA) -- A diocesan priest in North Cotabato has dreamed of establishing a "home for the elderly priests" of the Diocese of Kidapawan long before he died last week.
However, even before Fr. Rogelio Jake Nim could start his noble project, he died due to cardiac arrest last week.
During his burial Tuesday, his brother Reynando, appealed to the Diocesan clergy to push with his brother's dream for retiring priests.
In his eulogy, Reynando recalled that during the family reunion last year, Fr. Jake told his family that he wanted to build a home for the elderly priests so those who have served and retired will have a place called home.
Fr. Jake who died of cardiac arrest on June 22 was laid at the Queen of Prophets cemetery inside the Bishop’s residence in Barangay Balindog, Kidapawan City.
Reynando personally appealed to the diocese to push with his brother's dream.
“This is not a demand but I hope that the Diocesan Clergy will fulfill the dream of our brother as his legacy to fellow diocesan priests,†Reynando said.
Reynando also said the family had decided to ask the Diocese of Kidapawan leadership that whatever amount acquired and accumulated in the pasts 24 years of priesthood of Fr. Jake will be used for the establishment of home for elderly priests.
He said this is to ensure that all elderly diocesan priests can settle and live normally once they retire or become sickly.
Kidapawan diocesan priests who retire will return to their respective families.
“That is the reason why my brother wanted to have their own homes so that even in their twilight years they are still together,†Reynando said.
Monsignor Carlito Garcia DCK, the diocesan administrator, said the request of Fr. Jake's family will be considered and will be decided upon once a new bishop is named for the diocese.
Since March last year, the diocese have no bishop after Archbishop Romulo dela Cruz was named archbishop of Zamboanga.
Hundreds of parishioners, religious priests and nuns, lay leaders and ordinary people trooped the bishop’s residence to pay their last respect to Fr. Jake before he was laid to his resting place.
Cotabato Auxiliary Bishop Jose Collin Bagaforo officiated the requiem mass for Fr. Jake with other priests from the dioceses of Kidapawan, Koronadal and Cotabato.
Fr. Jake’s remains was laid between the grave of Fr. Tulio Favali PIME and Fr. Fausto Tentorio PIME at the Queen of Prophets cemetery. Fr. John Collago DCK was also buried in the same place.
“I hope that the good deeds my brother Jake had left will remain in our hearts and never be forgotten as we bury his earthly body here,†Reynando said. (PNA)
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