UST Parish Priest Fr. Paul Talavera, O.P. encouraged Catholics to fulfill their mission as Christ’s stewards by actively participating in ministry, during a Mass for the opening of the 500th-anniversary celebration of the arrival of Christianity in the Philippines.
“Hindi lang po ang mga active na parish servants ang kailangan tumulong sa ating parokya. Kailangan natin ma-realize na tayo ay nakikisama at miyembro ng parish kaya tayo ay may responsibilidad din sa ating simbahan,” Talavera said in his homily at the Santisimo Rosario Parish Church.
(Active parish servants are not only the ones who need to help our parish. We need to realize that we must take part as members of the parish because we have a responsibility in our Church)
He added that being stewards of God was a mission bestowed during baptism.
Talavera also said the abolition of the arancel system, or the practice of collecting fees for Mass offerings and the sacraments, paved the way for churchgoers to “extend their generosity” to the Church.
“Ang ating mga sakramento ay libre. Libre nating natatanggap ang biyaya at libre din ito ibinibigay. Ngayon, tatanggalin na ang rate [ng mga sakramento] at depende na ito sa generosity ng mga tao sa ating simbahan,” he said.
(Our sacraments are free. We receive our blessings freely and they are given freely. Now, the rate [of the sacraments] will be removed and it will depend on the generosity of the people in our church to make donations.)
The UST Parish will celebrate the 500th anniversary of Christianity in the country by holding a profession of the Dominican laity, distributing the “500 Years Mission Cross” to members of the parish, and sending off images of the Santo Niño to basic ecclesial communities.
“In line with the theme Missio Ad Gentes (mission to the nations), tayo ay ipinapadala upang ipahayag ang ating pananampalataya. [S]a mission cross, nakasulat ang pangalan nina Hesus at Maria na nagpapaalala ng ating pagka-Kristiyano at misyon,” Talavera said.
(In line with the theme “Missio Ad Gentes”, we are harbingers of faith. The names of Jesus and Mary are written on the mission cross to remind us of our Christianity and mission.)
He added that the images of Santo Niño would help encourage families to pray for their mission.
“Ito din ay simbolo ng pagdalaw ng imahe ng Infant Jesus, ang unang imahe dito sa Pilipinas. ‘Yung version natin na may hawak na krus si Hesus ay tanda ng pagbibigay ng Panginoon ng kanyang buhay para sa atin at pagbibigay ng buhay para sa ating kapwa,” he said.
(It is also a symbol of the visit of the image of Infant Jesus, the first image here in the Philippines. Our version of the image, which is Jesus holding the cross, is a sign that the Lord gives His life for us and gives life for our neighbor.)
On Feb. 6, the Archdiocese of Manila launched the opening celebration for the fifth centenary of the arrival of Christianity in the country. Ma. Alena O. Castillo
