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Filipinos mourns passing of Cardinal Sin
MANILA, 23 June 2005 — Thousands of faithful erupted into sorrow and instantly trooped to the Manila Cathedral to mourn the passing of one of Asia's great religious leaders.
In a mass held yesterday morning led by Manila Archbishop Gaudencio Rosales and some members of the Catholic Bishop's Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), many students accompanied by their teachers, flock to Manila Cathedral to pay tribute and pray for the late Jaime Cardinal Sin.
Meanwhile, police authorities have been positioned including some K-9 units to ensure the security at the cathedral. Metro Manila Development Authorities (MMDA) personnel have also been deployed to manage the traffic near the said church.
Upon the arrival of Sin's remains at the cathedral around 1 p.m., on June 21, the first requiem mass was held since his death that was also led by Abp. Rosales along with more than 100 priests. Also in attendance were former President Corazon C. Aquino and former Ambassadors Howard Dee and Harietta de Villa.
"The Catholic Bishops are saddened by the departure of a friend and brother," says CBCP President Archbishop Fernando R. Capalla.
He said that Cardinal Sin was a great man, a great Filipino, a great prince of the Church.
"We are saddened that he left us. But we rejoice that he has entered into real life-- one that never ends," he added.
According to Peachey E. Yamsuan, Archdiocesan Office of Communications' Executive Director of the Archdiocese of Manila, Cardinal Sin, who at 39 was appointed Coadjutor Bishop of Jaro with right of succession on March 18, 1967, was the youngest ever to be a member of the CBCP. He officially took over the post of Bishop of Jaro in October 1972 at the age of 44.
Two years after, he was appointed Archbishop of Manila, and in 1976 was appointed Cardinal by Pope Paul VI.
In 1977, he was elected president of the CBCP for a two-year term, and re-elected to serve another term until 1981.
His remains will be open for public viewing from 5 a.m., to 3 a.m., except during the hours when Masses are celebrated, at 9 a.m., 12 noon and 7 p.m.; Recitation of the Rosary at 10:30 a.m. and 3 p.m.; Evening Prayers at 6:30 p.m. and Taize Prayer by the Youth at 8:30 p.m. He will be buried in a crypt beneath Manila Cathedral after a funeral mass on June 28. (Roy Q. Lagarde)
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