WITH the yearlong commemoration of the 500th anniversary of the introduction of Christianity in the country, a Church official urged the faithful to make their faith relevant in social discourse.
This can be done, Archbishop of Caceres Rolando Tirona said, through the deepening of one’s faith and emulating the example of Saint Joseph.
He noted many Christians are “sacramentalized but not fully evangelized.”
“Most Catholics receive sacraments and take part in social action activities, such as, relief operations, gift giving, voluntary services for PWDs (persons with disabilities), tree planting, and building houses for the poor. But they do not give much time [to] understanding the faith through formation,” Tirona said.
The prelate said this is more crucial, as the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) celebrates the Year of the Missio Ad Gentes (Latin for Mission to All Nations) and the Year of Saint Joseph.
“As we celebrate the 500 year of Christianity, we renew our commitment to share our faith. The first step, however, in taking up the challenge of bringing the good news is to renew once again our understanding of the faith,” Tirona said.
Citing Saint John Paul II, Tirona said this could be achieved not just by spreading the faith in non-Christian areas, but also “responding to the social challenges of poverty, migration, and megapolises or huge cities.”
He said this was shown by no less than Saint Joseph, who despite having a “discreet and hidden presence,” played an incomparable role in the history of salvation.”
“We are inviting all of you to dedicate this year reflecting on the importance of mission and inspiration of Saint Joseph on how we can continue to take part in the mission of salvation,” Tirona said.
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We should always be aware on what will be the effect of our action and we should always remember that everyone of us has the ability to inspire others and also help anyone who needs helps.