MANILA, Feb. 3, 2015 — “For the repose of the souls of the 44 commandos of the Special Action Force of the Philippine National Police”, the Ecclesia Dei Society of St. Joseph – Una Voce Philippines (SEDSI-UVP) will offer a Traditional Latin Mass according to the Missal of St. John XXIII on Saturday, Feb. 7, 7:30PM, at the Holy Family Parish Church at Roxas District, Quezon City.
In the Traditional Latin Mass for the Departed, the liturgical color is black as a sign that the Church as a Mother also mourns her departed children. (Photo: Maurice Almadrones)
“We will offer the Traditional Mass primarily so that the Lord may forgive them [SAF 44] of their sins and receive them into His presence, and secondly, that justice may be served,” SEDSI-UVP Chairman Gerald Cenir said in an interview with CBCPNews, alluding to the tragic circumstances surrounding the deaths of the 44 police officers.
Cenir extends to the bereaved loved ones of the 44 SAF officers the Society’s pledge of prayer. He also asks the public to join the Mass and bring flowers and candles that will be offered in memory of the slain policemen after the Eucharistic celebration.
SEDSI-UVP regularly sponsors the celebration of the Traditional Latin Mass now known as the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite or EF Mass as stipulated by the motu propio Summorum Pontificum of Pope Benedict XVI.
It is a movement of lay people promoting the celebration of the EF Mass. They also sponsor trainings of seminarians, priests and laity. SEDSI is under the Diocese of Cubao. It is also a member and acknowledged Philippine representative of the Foederatio Internationale Una Voce (FIUV), the international federation of Una Voce movements around the world promoting the EF Mass.
One of SEDSI’s members, Carlos Antonio Palad, sits as Counsellor of the International Council of FIUV.
The group held similar calls for public prayers and Masses for important events of the country such as the Novena of Traditional Latin Masses for the success of the visit of Pope Francis to the Philippines.
The group also held an EF Mass of Reparation in reaction to the sacrilegious art of Mideo Cruz at the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP). SEDSI-UVP likewise celebrated Mass at the Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions (CITEM) in Pasay City after which a procession of religious images made its way to the CCP. (Rommel Lopez/CBCPNews)
