Palma: Celebrate the rise of Christ with Mama Mary

CEBU, Philippines - Being one with Mama Mary in rejoicing for the risen Christ was the message of Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma during yesterday’s Easter Sunday Mass.

“Kuyog kita kang Maria sa pagsadya ug paglipay kay ang katapusang pulong dili mahitungod sa kamatayon apan sa kaluwasan,” Palma told churchgoers during his Easter Mass at the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral.

The struggle of Jesus’ mother from the time He was tried and crucified symbolizes our personal hurdles, the prelate added.

“Si Maria ang nagpadako ni Hesus. Pagkakita niya nga si Hesus gilansang sa Krus, midanguyngoy siya pag-ayo. Ang tanang inahan sama ni Maria mudanguyngoy gayud kung anaa sa ingon ana nga sitwasyon,” Palma continued.

Palma, who is also the president of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines, recalled how priests were encouraged to crack jokes during Easter Mass to cheer up churchgoers.

“Now, I believe this is not necessary because everybody is smiling with the resurrection of Jesus Christ,” he said.

Following the first two Filipino saints, San Lorenzo Ruiz and San Pedro Calungsod, Palma urged Cebuanos to help the church pray for another possible saint from Carcar, Cebu —Bishop Teofilo Camomot.

“Pero ang akong punto kay dili lamang sila ang atong i-ampo aron mamahimong santos apan kitang tanan angay mag-ampo aron makabaton ug kinabuhing santos,” Palma explained.

Meanwhile, over 7,000 people went the Archdiocesan Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe parish grounds for the annual staging of the Sugat Sa Guadalupe.

In his homily, parish priest Msgr. Jose Montecillo said emulating the life of Christ was the “instrument for salvation”.

“Ang pagtoo kang Hesus ipatigbabaw kay mao kini ang instrumento sa kaluwasan sa kalag sa mga tawo. Ug ang pagtabang sa isig ka tawo mao’y angayan nga ipatigbabaw karong Pasko sa Pagkabanhaw,” Montecillo said.

Sugat sa Guadalupe director and radio news personality Aljin Abaquita said the production had about 180 performers.  At least 120 were angels and the rest are characters for the fictional and biblical skits.

For the second year, GMA TV news reporter and anchor Lou Anne Mae Rondina reprised her role as the Lady Angel guiding the younger angels.

“It is hard to keep the character of Lou Anne because she is very busy.  But we were able to manage the schedules,” Abaquita said.

Rondina said she took a leave of absence from her work just to make sure she can attend this “new tradition” of hers.

“Aljin asked me to play the part again as early as November last year.  So we were able to fix the schedule.  I am on leave for the Holy Week especially for the Sugat sa Guadalupe,” she told The FREEMAN.  — /BRP