Libmanan, Camarines Sur. In simple but solemn rites, the altar of St. James the Greater Cathedral of the Diocese of Libmanan was dedicated and its refurbished center retablo and side retablos blessed, on the feast of Sts. Peter and Paul, the 29th of June 2024.
The dedication and blessing were actually premature because the renovation of the whole church has yet to be completed, what with the façade/portico construction and the whole church exterior still waiting for facelift improvement, repair and restoration upgrade to begin. The makeover, however, of the church sanctuary has been accomplished, prompting the Cathedral Parish Council, with the concurrence of Fr. Frederick Bailey, the Parish Priest, to have the altar dedicated and the retablo blessed in consideration of the stipulation of No. 922, of the Ceremonial of Bishops which states: “Since an altar becomes sacred principally by the celebration of the Eucharist, in conformity to this truth the celebration of Mass on a new altar before it has been dedicated should be carefully avoided, so that the Mass of Dedication may also be the first Eucharist celebrated on the altar.” To wait for the completion of the whole project would mean using the altar and sanctuary without formally being dedicated and blessed.
In view of this, even if the whole church is not yet ready for a more elaborate blessing, Fr. Bailey and the Parish Council—this time also with the concurrence of the bishop, Bp. J. Rojas—decided to have an early dedication at least of the altar table. They also requested that the whole sanctuary, including the center and side retablos be blessed. Planned as a simple celebration, Bp. Rojas presided over the dedication and blessing, without the usual presence of other Church dignitaries in celebrations of such kind. A more grand and solemn blessing of the whole church may have to be planned for the future once the renovation of whole church structure is completely done.
The newly remodeled sanctuary features a refurbished marble retablo, with two niches on both sides, in which the images of the diocese’s patrons are enshrined, Our Lady of the Pillar on the left and St. Joseph the Patriarch on the right—replacing what used to be St. James the Greater’s and St. Isidore the Farmer’s niches. The centuries-old silver tabernacle has been put back in place in the middle and hanging above it is a large crucifix.
The sanctuary space itself has been enlarged to accommodate a new marble-finish “cathedra” (the seat of authority of the bishop), a new lectern for the liturgy of the Word slightly in front of it, and a new marble altar table right in the middle of the sanctuary.
Underneath it, an authentic first class relic, ex ossibus, of St. Peter the Apostle has been laid (courtesy of Nicolaus Ferrante in causis servorum Dei Congregationis SS.MM. Redemptoris and obtained through the generosity of Rev. Fr. Tito Oliva, Parish Priest of St. Padre Pio de Pietrelcina Parish, Sabang, San Jose, Camarines Sur).
At the ceiling of the sanctuary—its four corners are now adorned with paintings of the four evangelists’ portraits, those of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. The concrete support of the old cupola above the altar remains in place, but this time wrapped with decorative frames, though still without the stained glass panels that will serve as the ceiling meant to cover the space below the hip roof (cuatro aguas).
The left wing retablo now features the Cathedral’s patron saint, St. James the Greater, in front of which the ancient baptismal font was fixed. It is widely believed that the First Bicolano Archbishop, Santiago Sancho of San Vicente (Libmanan), who became Archbishop of Nueva Segova in 1951, was baptized at this font. Meanwhile, the right wing retablo features its secondary patron, St. Isidore the Farmer. Beneath the floor this side, remains the grave of the First Bishop-Prelate of Libmanan, Prospero N. Arellano, marked by a black marble epitaph.
The celebration was low-key as planned, but it was well-attended just the same by the clergy of the diocese and the lay faithful. It was a fitting day for a church dedication since it coincided with the feast of Sts. Peter and Paul–St. Peter, in particular, being the head of the Apostolic College and a fellow apostle of the church’s patron, St. James the Greater.
