my grandmother passed away recently and the refusal of some church officials to allow my lola's last rites and burial mass to be held at the cathedral in laoag embroiled the family in a "battle" with church figures.
the family regretably accepted the church's decision but then we were outraged when they went ahead and allowed another's funeral mass to proceed. the turnabout in their decision was allegedly because the deceased was a loyal supporter of the church (generous in monetary terms) and Fr. Jack in general.
This prompted my cousin to write a letter to Fr. Jack, the Vicar General of the St. William's Cathedral. Her letter is copied below:
15 August 2004
Fr. Jacinto "Jack" Jose
Vicar General
St. William’s Cathedral, Laoag City
An Expression of Disgust re Herminia A. Pichay-Monroy Funeral Mass
Dear Father Jack Jose:
This is to express my strong personal disappointment and frustration at the decision of the church council and management, to not allow the funeral mass of my grandmother, Herminia P. Monroy, to be celebrated at the St. William’s Cathedral on her burial date last 5 August 2004.
The Monroy and Pichay families have been two of the most loyal, ardent and dedicated supporters of the St. William’s Cathedral since the 1900s. That is one century of all-out support, loyalty and dedication that you disregarded with your decision, which can only be described as unfair, inconsiderate and ungrateful.
This loyalty was best exemplified by my late grandmother herself, who went to church everyday in the last 40 years of her life. The church was one of the reasons she kept herself going, especially after the demise of my grandfather, Adramelec S. Monroy, in 1985. As much as I would like to, I could not comprehend the wisdom and logic of your decision. Your motivations will forever be suspect to me, and contrary to the very same tenets and values you should be espousing.
You have caused irreparable damage and it is very unfortunate for all of us that it has come to this. I wish to stress that I am expressing a personal opinion, and NOT that of the families concerned as a whole. I believe though that I share the same sentiments as those of my 1st cousin, Al M. Valenciano.
Of course, our loyalty really lies with God and the Catholic institution, not with location, personalities and specific factions. As such, we foresee ourselves remaining as members of the Catholic church. As to our relationship with the St. William’s Cathedral, however, that remains to be seen.
Thank you very much.
I remain,
Mediatrix Felicity P. Monroy-Blando
Grand-daughter of the late Herminia P. Monroy
c.c.:Most Rev. Ernesto Salgado, DD Bishop of Laoag
Felix delos Santos, Parish Pastoral Council
Alegria M. Valenciano, Rizal Street, Laoag City
Medard P. Monroy, Abadilla Street, Laoag City
Sally Rose M. Aoigan, Craig Street, Manila
Lucille Paz P. Monroy, Abadilla Street, Laoag City
Al Modesto M. Valenciano, San Fernando, La Union
and the corresponding reply of Bishop Salgado
on stationery with Diocese of Laoag in its letterhead...
August 23, 2004
Dear Ms. Blando,
Greetings of peace in the Lord.
Allow me to respond to your letter to Rev. Msgr. Jack Jose in fairness to him and to the priests of the cathedral re: the burial of the late Herminia P. Monroy. As bishop of the place, may I also be allowed to set the records straight. Please know that when the late Mrs. Monroy died, Msgr. Jack Jose was in the United States of America. Hence he is not to blame for the fact that the burial of Mrs. Monroy did not take place in the cathedral. According to my information he was contacted and did allow the burial to take place inside the cathedral.
Furthermore, the President of the Parish Pastoral Council, Mr. Felix de los Santos, himself personally went twice to the house during the wake to inform the family that since the group coming to demolish the roof of the cathedral could not arrive on the day stipulated, the cathedral was still available for the burial. Even if the group coming to demolish the roof of the cathedral would have come on time, he informed the Monroy family that the demolition could be postponed for her sake. The family response was, according to Mr. delos Santos: "we have already made the decision to have the burial in the cemetery." Again, Msgr. Jose was not responsible for that decision. It was the decision of the Monroy family.
The undersigned wanted to personally do the honors for the sake of the late Mrs. Monroy, a good friend, but since his godson, Rev. Fr. Victor Hernando, made the announcement before all the priests in my presence that he is volunteering to perform the burial, I did not want to disappoint him. And so I volunteered to celebrate the wake mass with many priests of the diocese. we wanted to give a signal that we do need to understand one another for the sake of the late Mrs. Monroy. I do not believe she is happy about the talks that still persist even as she lies in the grave. Mr. Al Valenciano could have properly informed you about these before you wrote the letter. However, it is good you did give us a chance to explain.
God bless you and your family.
Sincerely in the Lord,
(sgd) Bishop Ernesto A. Salgado, DD
cc Jack Jose and Felix delos Santos
my cousins are busy writing their replies. the saga continues.....
the family regretably accepted the church's decision but then we were outraged when they went ahead and allowed another's funeral mass to proceed. the turnabout in their decision was allegedly because the deceased was a loyal supporter of the church (generous in monetary terms) and Fr. Jack in general.
This prompted my cousin to write a letter to Fr. Jack, the Vicar General of the St. William's Cathedral. Her letter is copied below:
15 August 2004
Fr. Jacinto "Jack" Jose
Vicar General
St. William’s Cathedral, Laoag City
An Expression of Disgust re Herminia A. Pichay-Monroy Funeral Mass
Dear Father Jack Jose:
This is to express my strong personal disappointment and frustration at the decision of the church council and management, to not allow the funeral mass of my grandmother, Herminia P. Monroy, to be celebrated at the St. William’s Cathedral on her burial date last 5 August 2004.
The Monroy and Pichay families have been two of the most loyal, ardent and dedicated supporters of the St. William’s Cathedral since the 1900s. That is one century of all-out support, loyalty and dedication that you disregarded with your decision, which can only be described as unfair, inconsiderate and ungrateful.
This loyalty was best exemplified by my late grandmother herself, who went to church everyday in the last 40 years of her life. The church was one of the reasons she kept herself going, especially after the demise of my grandfather, Adramelec S. Monroy, in 1985. As much as I would like to, I could not comprehend the wisdom and logic of your decision. Your motivations will forever be suspect to me, and contrary to the very same tenets and values you should be espousing.
You have caused irreparable damage and it is very unfortunate for all of us that it has come to this. I wish to stress that I am expressing a personal opinion, and NOT that of the families concerned as a whole. I believe though that I share the same sentiments as those of my 1st cousin, Al M. Valenciano.
Of course, our loyalty really lies with God and the Catholic institution, not with location, personalities and specific factions. As such, we foresee ourselves remaining as members of the Catholic church. As to our relationship with the St. William’s Cathedral, however, that remains to be seen.
Thank you very much.
I remain,
Mediatrix Felicity P. Monroy-Blando
Grand-daughter of the late Herminia P. Monroy
c.c.:Most Rev. Ernesto Salgado, DD Bishop of Laoag
Felix delos Santos, Parish Pastoral Council
Alegria M. Valenciano, Rizal Street, Laoag City
Medard P. Monroy, Abadilla Street, Laoag City
Sally Rose M. Aoigan, Craig Street, Manila
Lucille Paz P. Monroy, Abadilla Street, Laoag City
Al Modesto M. Valenciano, San Fernando, La Union
and the corresponding reply of Bishop Salgado
on stationery with Diocese of Laoag in its letterhead...
August 23, 2004
Dear Ms. Blando,
Greetings of peace in the Lord.
Allow me to respond to your letter to Rev. Msgr. Jack Jose in fairness to him and to the priests of the cathedral re: the burial of the late Herminia P. Monroy. As bishop of the place, may I also be allowed to set the records straight. Please know that when the late Mrs. Monroy died, Msgr. Jack Jose was in the United States of America. Hence he is not to blame for the fact that the burial of Mrs. Monroy did not take place in the cathedral. According to my information he was contacted and did allow the burial to take place inside the cathedral.
Furthermore, the President of the Parish Pastoral Council, Mr. Felix de los Santos, himself personally went twice to the house during the wake to inform the family that since the group coming to demolish the roof of the cathedral could not arrive on the day stipulated, the cathedral was still available for the burial. Even if the group coming to demolish the roof of the cathedral would have come on time, he informed the Monroy family that the demolition could be postponed for her sake. The family response was, according to Mr. delos Santos: "we have already made the decision to have the burial in the cemetery." Again, Msgr. Jose was not responsible for that decision. It was the decision of the Monroy family.
The undersigned wanted to personally do the honors for the sake of the late Mrs. Monroy, a good friend, but since his godson, Rev. Fr. Victor Hernando, made the announcement before all the priests in my presence that he is volunteering to perform the burial, I did not want to disappoint him. And so I volunteered to celebrate the wake mass with many priests of the diocese. we wanted to give a signal that we do need to understand one another for the sake of the late Mrs. Monroy. I do not believe she is happy about the talks that still persist even as she lies in the grave. Mr. Al Valenciano could have properly informed you about these before you wrote the letter. However, it is good you did give us a chance to explain.
God bless you and your family.
Sincerely in the Lord,
(sgd) Bishop Ernesto A. Salgado, DD
cc Jack Jose and Felix delos Santos
my cousins are busy writing their replies. the saga continues.....
Comments
Medette Monroy-Blando