Philippine Oblate Holy Land
When we say “Holy Land” our thoughts go the area where Jesus Christ lived, died and rose from the dead. However for me there is another area I call “Holy Land”. It is the Oblate cemetery in Cotobato, here in the Philippine Islands. The place of rest of some of our Oblate Martyrs. One of them is Fr. Jesus Reynaldo Roda OMI who was mercilessly killed on January 15, 2008 in the remote island of Tabawan. Around 7:30 in the evening Father Rey was praying inside the chapel, as he used to do after dinner, when he was taken forcibly by his captors. “If you want me, then just kill me here in God’s chapel!” Those were the words heard from Fr. Rey. Outside the chapel, a piercing shot was heard loud in the dark. Later, Fr. Rey’s body was found left on a road near the shoreline from where the murderers sped away in a motorized boat. His body bore several wounds from gunshots, stabs and lacerations in the head, face, neck, and abdomen and on the back. From the wounds it is quite clear that he was meant to be killed and not to be kidnapped. The same cemetery also treasures the remains of Fr Benjamin Inocencio OMI who was murdered at the back of the cathedral in Jolo on 28 December 2000. To many, Fr. Benjie as he was known, was the least likely victim of violence. He was one of the kindest and one of the most peaceful creatures on earth. As a scholastic and a missionary, he would prefer to do house chores to street demonstrations. Yet, in the end, the lamb-like Fr. Benjie ended in the altar of sacrifice –victim of wanton violence and fanaticism!
There is another oblate martyr: Bishop Benjamin de Jesus OMI who was murdered in front of Mt Carmel Cathedral in Jolo on 4th February 1997.
Bishop Ben would go around Jolo and the whole diocese always with a smile and a greeting of peace on his lips. He would listen endlessly to the cry of his people, Muslims and Christians alike.
Two weeks before the bishop was martyred, a devoted woman came to tell an Oblate of her vision. She said, “Father, I have seen a vision. I’ve seen throngs of people in the clouds and they were carrying lighted candles. They surrounded someone who was dressed in white robe.” Then, the lady asked innocently, “What does that vision mean, Father?” The priest did not know what it meant but he wanted to be polite with her and so he explained that perhaps what she saw in her vision was the Last Day of Judgment as told in the book of Revelations and depicted by artists in some of those medieval paintings. When she left, he forgot everything about that encounter. But during the wake Bishop Ben, that same woman approached him again and said, “Father, do you remember the vision I told you about”? He was temporarily suspended. He looked at her and said, “Yes, I remember.”
If indeed it was God’s will that Bishop Ben would die, then, we believe it was not without purpose. Bishop Ben’s death has moved many peace advocates throughout the country to work even more for peace to reign in the Philippines. His dream of a harmonious relationship among Muslims and Christians has inspired the hearts of a new wave of dialoguers. Bishop Ben’s martyrdom became a symbol of dialogue and peace.
There is another oblate martyr: Bishop Benjamin de Jesus OMI who was murdered in front of Mt Carmel Cathedral in Jolo on 4th February 1997.
Bishop Ben would go around Jolo and the whole diocese always with a smile and a greeting of peace on his lips. He would listen endlessly to the cry of his people, Muslims and Christians alike.
Two weeks before the bishop was martyred, a devoted woman came to tell an Oblate of her vision. She said, “Father, I have seen a vision. I’ve seen throngs of people in the clouds and they were carrying lighted candles. They surrounded someone who was dressed in white robe.” Then, the lady asked innocently, “What does that vision mean, Father?” The priest did not know what it meant but he wanted to be polite with her and so he explained that perhaps what she saw in her vision was the Last Day of Judgment as told in the book of Revelations and depicted by artists in some of those medieval paintings. When she left, he forgot everything about that encounter. But during the wake Bishop Ben, that same woman approached him again and said, “Father, do you remember the vision I told you about”? He was temporarily suspended. He looked at her and said, “Yes, I remember.”
If indeed it was God’s will that Bishop Ben would die, then, we believe it was not without purpose. Bishop Ben’s death has moved many peace advocates throughout the country to work even more for peace to reign in the Philippines. His dream of a harmonious relationship among Muslims and Christians has inspired the hearts of a new wave of dialoguers. Bishop Ben’s martyrdom became a symbol of dialogue and peace.
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