COTABATO CITY, Philippines (UCAN) -- The outpouring of sympathy from Christians and Muslims over the murder of a priest has brought consolation to his congregation and strengthened its commitment to serve the poor.

Thousands packed Immaculate Conception Cathedral in Cotabato City, 885 kilometers southeast of Manila, where more than 65 bishops and priests led co-workers, students, family and friends of Oblate Father Jesus Reynaldo Roda in prayer at his funeral Mass on Jan. 23.

Many others attended Masses and vigils in various towns and cities during his weeklong wake.

The 53-year-old Oblates of Mary Immaculate priest was killed by armed men on Jan. 15 evening as he resisted their attempt to take him away from his mission on Tabawan island. The assailants fled, instead, with Notre Dame teacher Omar Taub, a Muslim, who remained missing at the time of the funeral.

In a tearful homily at the funeral Mass, Bishop Angelito Lampon of Jolo told stories of Father Roda's "simple" life on Tabawan and his "love" for its people. That love, he said, "made Father Rey (Roda) stay there despite the odds and threats to his life."

Father Roda led the Oblate mission based at Notre Dame of Tabawan School on the predominantly Muslim island, more than 1,110 kilometers southeast of Manila. He ran education, health and livelihood projects, and other social services for the people.

Tabawan is among 457 islands and islets of Tawi-tawi province. Jolo vicariate, administered by the Oblates and based in Jolo, the capital of neighboring Sulu, covers both provinces. Only 2 percent of the 1 million people in its territory are Catholics.

Father Ramon Bernabe, who heads the Philippine Oblate province, told UCA News Father Roda had refused an offer for police security after armed men appeared at Notre Dame of Tabawan shortly before he was killed.

The "outpouring of sympathy" from Muslims and Christians, including government officials and ordinary people, has reaffirmed to the Oblates that their work "is very much appreciated," Father Bernabe said.

"That is very consoling to us," he continued, and gives "hope and affirmation" for the Oblates' ministry and mission among "the poor and abandoned." He added that Sulu and Tawi-tawi "are the most abandoned, and we feel we should be there."

Father Bernabe said the first letter of condolence and support the Oblates received came from the Moro Islamic Liberation Front. The front, which claims 13,000 armed fighters, was established in the late 1970s to fight for Islamic rule in areas of the southern Philippines and outlying Palawan province. A cease-fire agreement is in place, though sporadic clashes occur, while the rebels and government try to negotiate a peace agreement, which has the support of activists and civil society groups including Oblate priests.

The Oblates are deeply "concerned" about the school in Tabawan where Father Roda worked, because the school year is ending in a couple of weeks. "We hope to announce an assignment there within the week," Father Bernabe told UCA News.

He noted that students Father Roda had provided with financial support were at the funeral. After Mass, they were among those who accompanied Father Roda's body to the Oblate cemetery in Datu Odin Sinsuat town, Shariff Kabunsuan province, for burial.

Children in school uniforms, some of the schoolgirls wearing the Islamic veil, lined the streets waving white flags and holding hand-painted posters declaring, "You are our hero," "Justice for Fr. Rey" and "Stop Killing Priests."

Speaking to UCA News, Oblate Father Rito Dquipil of Bongao, Tawi-tawi, said Governor Sadikul Sahali of Tawi-tawi had told Oblate priests that police suspect Abu Sayyaf militants may have killed Father Roda. According to the police, the militants are being "forced" to flee to Tawi-tawi by military operations targeting their hideouts in Jolo.

Mindanews, an online news service based in the southern Philippines, reported on Jan. 23 that a suspect had "surrendered." Quoting Chief Superintendent Joel Goltiao, regional police chief in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, it reported the suspect, a former member of a civilian citizens' sea patrol group in the south, denied involvement in the killing of Father Roda and abduction of Taub.

The suspect is reportedly "under the custody" of Philippine marines.

END