Bishop Reynaldo Evangelista of Imus presides over the funeral Mass for late Bishop Manuel Sobreviñas at the Divine Mercy Parish Church in Silang, Cavite on July 20. Photo: Diocese of Imus Facebook Page
IMUS, Cavite – A former bishop of the Imus diocese, Manuel Sobreviñas, was laid to rest on Monday.
His funeral Mass was held at the Divine Mercy Parish Church in Silang, Cavite and some people came to pay their respects.
It was a Mass celebrated in extraordinary circumstances where public gatherings are still restricted to slow the spread of coronavirus.
It meant seats were limited inside the church, however many people viewed the funeral Mass as it was streamed live online.
Notable during the Mass was an image of the Virgin Mary, placed beside his coffin, from the Diocesan Shrine of Nuestra Señora de Aranzazu in San Mateo, Rizal, where he served as parish priest from 1962 to 1975.
Bishop Reynaldo Evangelista of Imus revealed that the presence of the revered image was requested by Bishop Sobreviñas himself a few years before he died.
Attached to Our Lady’s scepter was the late bishop’s ring, which he offered for the canonical coronation of Nuestra Señora de Aranzazu in 2017.
“That’s how deep his devotion was to the Virgin Mary,” Bishop Evangelista said in his homily.
Bishop Evangelista described the late bishop as “a shepherd who is faithful and humble”.
“He was so full of humility,” he said. “And this is a great challenge for me and all the priests to emulate his shepherding.”
The third bishop of Imus passed away on July 18 at the age of 96, making him the oldest Catholic bishop in the country.
Before the Requiem Mass, a public viewing of the bishop’s remains was held at the Imus cathedral for several hours on Sunday before he was brought to Silang town in the evening.
Bishop Sobreviñas was interred at the Himlayang Pastol beneath the church, which is the final resting place for the bishop and clergy of the Imus diocese. Reports: CBCP News | Roi Lagarde
