MANILA, Philippines – The Catholic Church in Basilan appealed for prayers for Bishop Leo Dalmao on Friday, December 27, after he was rushed to the hospital while delivering his Christmas Eve homily at the local cathedral.
The Christmas Eve Mass took place at 7:30 pm on Tuesday, December 24, at the Santa Isabel de Portugal Cathedral, listing Isabela de Basilan City Mayor Sitti Hataman as one of the sponsors.
In a Messenger exchange with Rappler, the Prelature of Isabela de Basilan social communications team recalled that Dalmao “stopped midway” through his homily during the Mass. This prompted another priest, Father Ronel Antonio, to take over.
The Basilan bishop “didn’t lose his consciousness” and “was able to step out of the ambo,” the lectern from which the priest reads the Gospel and delivers the homily.
“Luckily, many doctors attended the Mass” and “assisted right away,” the prelature’s social communications team added.
Dalmao’s condition was not announced to churchgoers that evening, and the Mass proceeded as scheduled.
The bishop, who was brought to the nearest hospital within five minutes, was later transported via sea ambulance to Zamboanga City.
Dalmao, who turned 55 last December 1, is now at the intensive care unit (ICU) of the Zamboanga Peninsula Medical Center, according to a statement by the Prelature of Isabela de Basilan.
Test results on Friday “revealed a heart tear and a cerebral clot,” said the prelature. Emergency air transport was being arranged to bring him to Manila for specialized care.
“We earnestly ask for your prayers for Bishop Dalmao’s healing, strength, and swift recovery,” said the prelature in a statement on Friday morning.
In a prayer for Dalmao, the prelature sought God’s “healing touch for our beloved bishop.”
“In the name of Your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, we rebuke all sickness and infirmity, and we ask for complete healing and strength for Bishop Leo,” the prayer read.
Born in Tagbilaran City, Bohol, Dalmao has been the Roman Catholic prelate of Isabela de Basilan for the past five years.
The Prelature of Isabela de Basilan, a smaller version of a Catholic diocese, is one of the few Catholic territories in the Philippines where Catholics comprise a small minority.
The prelature lists around 444,820 Catholics, or 28.9% of the local population. They have 13 Catholic priests and 10 parishes.
Before he became bishop of Basilan, Dalmao worked as a priest for the Claretian Missionaries.
A worldwide congregation founded by Saint Anthony Mary Claret in Spain in 1849, the Claretian Missionaries have been in the Philippines for nearly eight decades and are known for their missionary work in Mindanao, an island group known for its big Muslim population.
A Claretian missionary priest, Father Rhoel Gallardo, made headlines two decades ago after he was held hostage by the terrorist Abu Sayyaf Group in Basilan. The Abu Sayyaf killed Gallardo for refusing to renounce his Catholic faith. – Rappler.com
