Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Manila (Agenzia Fides) - Muslims joined Christians on the island of Tawi-Tawi, to commemorate Fr. Jesus Reynaldo Roda, a member of the Oblate Missionaries of Mary Immaculate shot dead by armed robbers on 15 January (see Fides 16/1/2008).
The whole province of Tawi-Tawi where Fr. Roda ministered, is in mourning. For the local Muslims the priest, who was headmaster at local Notre Dame Catholic School which accepts Christian and Muslim pupils, Fr Roda was a "friend”.
Notre Dame School Tabawan and other schools in the province will be closed on the day of the funeral 23 January in a sign of mourning.
Pope Benedict XVI, through his secretary of state Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, sent a telegramme of condolence to the Bishop of Jolo in which he expressed appreciation for Fr Roda a 'generous priest' of “courage and fidelity, and an example for the religious and faithful in the region, especially young people. Condemning the brutal murder the Pontiff called on those responsible to "renounce violence” and work to build “a society of justice and peace where people live together in harmony”.
The crime was also condemned by leading Muslim personage Mohammad Muntassir, of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front who stated that for Islam life is inviolable.
In the meantime at the OMI House in Cotabato, message of condolence continue to arrive. This evening the body of Fr. Roda will be moved Cotabato Cathedral for a night long prayer vigil before the funeral tomorrow at 8.30 presided by Bishop Angelito Lampon, Vicar Apostolic of Jolo, and concelebrated by Archbishop Orlando Quevedo of Cotabato, and Bishop Romulo dela Cruz of San Jose de Antique, in the presence of numerous priests, religious and lay faithful. Civil and religious delegations from the provinces of Kidapawan, Maguindanao and Tawi-tawi will attend. Fr. Roda will be buried in the OMI cemetery in Cotabato, close to a replica of the Grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes.
In the search for the assassins, the police are investigating paths leading to two members of the terrorist group Abu Sayyaf. The assassins still hold two laymen taken hostage at the time: Omar Taup, a teacher at Notre Dame School Tawi-Tawi, and Hussin Sahirul, local fisherman. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 22/1/2008 righe 29 parole 296)
