By Felipe V. Celino
ROXAS CITY, Capiz — After being cancelled twice because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the historic preinstallation of Cardinal Jose Advincula, archbishop-elect of Manila, finally happens today, June 18, 2021, with limited audience.
The “red hat” celebration was supposed to be held May 28 but it was rescheduled to June 8 because Papal Nuncio Archbishop Charles Brown underwent 14-day quarantine following his US trip.
The June 8 activity was also canceled because of stricter quarantine protocols cause by the upsurge in cases.
For the first time in the Philippines, the Catholic Church will present Advincula’s insignia in his home country instead of the ceremony held at the Vatican, according to Fr. Emilio Arbatin, spokesperson of the Capiz archdiocese.
Archbishop Brown will lead the rites to be held 3:30 p.m. today at the Immaculate Conception Metropolitan Cathedral.
“In observance of the health protocols to prevent the spread of COVID-19 virus, attendance to the event will be per invitation and will be strictly limited,” according to Arbatin.
Catholic faithful were encouraged to watch the ceremony through livestream on the Facebook page of the archdiocese.
The rites will include the bestowing of the red biretta, the hat worn by cardinals, which signifies Advincula’s “readiness to act with courage even to the shedding of own blood” for the Christian faith and for the “freedom and growth” of the Catholic Church.
During the rites, Advincula will also be given the cardinal’s ring symbolizing fidelity to the Church. He will also be assigned a titular church in the Diocese of Rome in Italy.
Advincula, 69, will also celebrate a thanksgiving Mass. The ninth Filipino cardinal and the first from Capiz will be installed as archbishop of Manila on June 24.
Pope Francis appointed Advincula together with 12 new cardinals around the world in October last year.
A native of Dumalag town in Capiz, Advincula has been serving as archbishop of Capiz since 2011. He is among four living Filipino cardinals that include Gaudencio Rosales, Orlando Quevedo, and Luis Antonio Tagle.
