Catholic priest–cum-Mindanao peace advocate Fr. Eliseo Mercado, OMI. (Photo from Mercado’s FB Page)
COTABATO CITY – Prominent Mindanao peace advocate Fr. Eliseo Mercado, Jr. of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate (OMI) who recently died of cardiac arrest will be laid to rest on Saturday, his congregation said.
His remains now lie in state at the Archbishop Mongeau chapel inside the Notre Dame University here.
Wake masses are exclusive for the family of Mercado and the Oblates but it is live-streamed through the NDU Facebook page at 7 p.m. nightly.
Daily public viewing for Mercado’s remains is also limited to two hours in the morning and two hours in the afternoon, and attendees are strictly required to abide by minimum health protocols.
OMI said Mercado will be laid to rest at the OMI cemetery inside the Our Lady of Lourdes Grotto in nearby Barangay Tamontaka in Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao.
The cleric was rushed to the hospital on May 8 after complaining of difficulty in breathing and later tested positive of Covid-19.
He recovered from the virus on May 22 and was moved to the intensive care unit in preparation for his discharge when he suffered a cardiac arrest on Sunday, May 23.
He expired at 3:25 p.m. on the same day.
Fr. Hilario Asilo, OMI, in his homily during Wednesday night’s wake mass, described Mercado as an “ambassador of peace”.
“Fr. Mercado is a theologian, philosopher, professor, lecturer, retreat master, writer, spiritual director, counselor, artist, mystique, poet, the best chef, architect, gardener, nature lover, coffee drinker, a politician in a positive sense, helper of the poor, and a true friend of the Muslims,” Asilo said.
Cotabato Archbishop Angelito Lampon, OMI, will preside the requiem mass for Mercado at 8:30 a.m. on Saturday.
Meanwhile, Major Gen. Juvymax Uy, commander of the Army’s 6th Infantry Division, said his unit has also been grieving over the demise of Mercado who was a member of 6th ID’s multi-sector advisory board.
“He will be remembered for his remarkable act of volunteerism in helping us formulate plans on how to make the Mindanao peace process succeed in our area of responsibility and on how our units can best serve the local communities,” Uy said in a statement. (PNA)
