THOMASIAN lay liturgical ministers should emulate the Blessed Virgin Mary’s example of servant leadership and effective communication with God, UST Vice Rector for Religious Affairs Fr. Pablo Tiong, O.P. said.
These examples set by the Blessed Mother inspire the Thomasian identity, Tiong said in a Eucharistic celebration on Thursday commemorating the Virgin Mary’s nativity.
“In the Angelus, Mary said she was the handmaid of the Lord. Mary was presenting himself to God, willing to serve her vocation to be the mother of God. [The lay liturgical ministers] seem to be inspired by the Blessed Mother,” Tiong said.
Tiong highlighted the importance of learning from mistakes in every ministry as he recalled Mary’s open mind to learning during the finding of Jesus in the temple.
“Mary pondered the events in her heart during the three days that Jesus was lost. In our ministry, we are but human. We struggle to learn from mistakes. [We] have [chances] for us to learn because God is merciful,” said Tiong.
Tiong challenged the 25 newly installed liturgical ministers, technically “extraordinary ministers of the holy communion,” to serve in Eucharistic celebrations without treating it as a workplace.
“We should be always be united in the joy of realizing that God is with us in the Eucharist – the center of our sacramental life,” he said.
The Thomasian lay ministers consist of faculty members, support staff and students from the faculties and colleges in the University.
