Seven priests of the Archdiocese of Palo, Philippines, were ordained amid the ruins of the typhoon-ravaged Cathedral of the Transfiguration of Our Lord in Nov. 25 ceremonies.

Although Super Typhoon Haiyan caused the roof of the 16th-century cathedral to collapse and destroyed much of the interior furnishings, Archbishop John Forrosuelo Du decided to ordain the priests in the church as a sign of hope for the Catholic community.

"We may have lost everything, but our faith is becoming ever stronger.

No trial or storm or typhoon can destroy our resolve to have faith in Jesus," said Father Amadeo Alvero, the archdiocese's spokesman.

Alvero said the ordinations served as a "concrete action" to show the people's faith in God despite the devastation brought about by Typhoon Haiyan that claimed more than 5,200 lives and left millions of people homeless.