Organizers Shrug Off Monsoon Rains Threat, To Hold 51st IEC Closing Mass At SRP ‘Rain Or Shine’

Organizers of the 51st International Eucharistic Congress (IEC) have shrugged off threats of monsoon rains and possible flooding at the Cebu City-owned South Reclamation Properties (SRP) and decided to push through with the Statio Orbis, the closing ceremony of the international religious event, at the SRP on Sunday as scheduled.

Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma, 51st IEC president, said they decided to stick to the original plan.

“We will find a way to make it dry. We will continue the original plan to hold it at the SRP,” Palma said.

He said there is no other venue in Cebu that can match the size of the SRP.

The closing mass will be held on a 27-hectare open space at the SRP, the same area used in the thanksgiving mass for the canonization of San Pedro Calungsod in Novemver 2012 which was attended by more than one million people.

IEC organizers said they also over a million people to attend the closing mass at the SRP.

Palma said they have consulted the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa), who told them that skies will be sunny until Sunday.

But Palma said delegates should be ready, if rain comes, with raincoats, which are included in their kits and rain-ready footwear.

He said those delegates who are concerned with their health can skip the closing mass.

But Palma reminded everyone that last year, Pope Francis was able to hold mass in the middle of a storm in Tacloban City.

“Even in Tacloban, the people were not afraid of the storm. We should not be afraid of the mud,” Palma said.(PNA) FPV/EB/EDS