MANILA — The Diocese of Cabanatuan has requested members of the clergy and the faithful to attend the funeral of slain Catholic priest Richmond Nilo on Friday.
In a memorandum circular, Bishop Sofronio Bacud also urged those who will pay their last respects to Fr. Nilo to wear black shirts.
“May we therefore request our Reverend Pastors, Superiors of religious communities, and Catholic school administrators to organize and mobilize delegations from your communities for the funeral of Fr. Richmond on June 15,” said the circular issued Wednesday.
“All attendants are requested to wear black for the occasion,” it added.
Bacud said the late priest will be interred at the Nicolas of Tolentine Cathedral crypt after the 10 a.m. funeral mass at the cathedral.
“Sambayanang Pagluluksa. The death of Fr. Richmond is not just a loss to his sister Rosemeline nor to his brother-priests. His death is a great loss for all of us Catholic faithful in the Diocese of Cabanatuan! We grieve because we lost a brother, shepherd, father and friend to a murderer’s bullet,” he said.
“As one community in prayer and solidarity, we gather together and cry out to the Lord that justice may be served. And that peace may rule in our land. We also pray for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit that our hearts may be set on fire as we bear our mission to fearlessly proclaim the Gospel and become authentic witnesses of Christ,” the Catholic prelate added.
Nilo was shot dead by still unidentified assailants last Sunday as he was about to celebrate mass in a chapel in Zaragoza, Nueva Ecija. (Ferdinand Patinio/PNA)
