Challenge: ‘Like Santo Niño, feel small before the Lord’
Like the Child Jesus, clergymen and other religious workers should strive to “feel small” and always show joy in their service to the people, said Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma.
“The Santo Niño is a child. Like the Santo Niño, we should feel small before the Lord. We have nothing to brag about before God,” the 65-year-old prelate said during the pontifical mass at the Basilica Minore del Sto. Niño yesterday morning.
Palma’s homily centered on the fiesta’s theme “Santo Niño: Inspiration of Renewed Disciples for New Evangelization,” which is also based on the yearly pastoral thrust of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines.
Reflecting on the theme, Archbishop Palma admitted he has been receiving complaints from some parishioners about the bad attitude of some priests. Some are arrogant or no longer enthusiastic in their pastoral work.
“We should always be happy in our pastoral work. The world knows so much pain and many problems. Let us not add more to it by showing our bad attitude,” Palma said. He reminded the clergy to strive to be like the late Archbishop Teofilo Camomot, who was known for his dedication in serving his flock despite the distance or the lack of accessibility.
“He should serve as our model,” Palma said.
At least 80 priests attended the pontifical mass, the highlight of the religious side of Cebu’s largest annual celebration.
The Archdiocese of Cebu has the largest number of priests among dioceses across the country. Currently more than 612 priests serve in Cebu, of whom 200 come from religious organizations.
Combined, about two million showed up for the religious activities and Sinulog grand parade, the police estimated.
A strict ban on liquor within 300 meters of the parade route helped prevent trouble during and after the parade.