Google+CEBU, Philippines – Bishops and Archbishops who joined the national thanksgiving Mass for San Pedro Calungsod on Friday expressed their happiness over the Cebuanos’ effort in organizing such a big event.
They said that it was a chance for everyone to renew their faith especially during the Year of Faith.
Bishop Julius Tonel from the Diocese of Ipil in Zamboanga-Sibugay said Calungsod’s sainthood was celebrated at the right time when the Church is facing key challenges.
“It’s very important especially for our faith as a Catholic nation in many situations that we are threatened by moral issues and our faith would give us, our very core what it means to live as Catholic missionaries like Pedro Calungsod,” said Bishop Tonel.
Bishop Ricardo Baccay, Auxilliary Bishop of Tuguegarao, said Calungsod is everyone’s saint, and everyone is encouraged to follow his ways.
“There are many ways to have Pedro in our lives, but for me, now especially in the Year of Faith and call for evangelization, all of us are being called radically to follow him,” said Bishop Baccay.
But aside from Calungsod’s sainthood, Bishop Jose Romeo Lazo of Antique said Cebuanos and the entire country should also celebrate and be thankful that another Church leader has been elevated as Cardinal.
He said Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle and San Pedro Calungsod have something in common -- their youth. Tagle is one of the youngest Cardinals while Calungsod is also a young saint.
“There’s timing in this situation that we are in, a young Cardinal like that will also be a witness how the young can be really alive in their faith,” said Bishop Lazo.
Cardinal Tagle felt humbled by his elevation. He said that he still feels nervous but promised to serve his best as a man of God.
Tagle, who will have his thanksgiving Mass on Saturday, also expressed his happiness over Friday’s event.
He emphasized how Calungsod unconditionally gave his love, service, and faith to others and offered his life to God.
“Si Pedro Calungsod ngayon ay larawan na ng lahat ng Pilipino, ng kagitingan, nga kabanalan, at yung kakayahan natin pala na ‘yung Pilipino ay kayang magbigay ng sarili, ng kabutihan kahit na sa kanyang hindi kababayan. Kitang-kita natin sa ating mga OFWs, seamen, sa mga tao na gumagawa ng mabuti hindi lamang para sa kanilang pamilya at sa kapwa Pilipino kung ‘di pati na sa ibang bansa. Ito ay talagang Thanksgiving Day,” said Tagle, who went back to Manila with Cardinal Rosales immediately after the thanksgiving Mass.
Cardinal Gaudencio Rosales also said Calungsod should really be admired because despite his young age, he was able to prove his faith.
“Pedro Calungsod is not only a Cebuano, a real Filipino and a model for young people, the idealism that he showed should be an example for our young Filipinos. His love for the church, love for the gospel, love for higher truths, higher values, should also be followed by Filipino people especially the young,” he said.
By Carine Asutilla, ABS-CBN News Central Visayas
(c. 1654 – 2 April 1672) was a young Roman Catholic Filipino migrant, sacristan and missionary catechist, who along with Blessed Diego Luis de San Vitores, suffered religious persecution and martyrdom on Guam for their missionary work in 1672. Through Calungsod and San Vitores' missionary efforts, many native Chamorros converted to Roman Catholicism.
0 comments:
Post a Comment