Cebu priests renew vow to serve God, community

CEBU, Philippines — Amid the various problems in the society, the Catholic Church leader in Cebu has left a challenge to all the diocesan and religious priests within the archdiocese that holds the largest number of clergy in the country.

Addressing before nearly 400 priests at the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral, Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma called on the local clergy to reaffirm their sacred vows by drawing closer to the abandoned communities and isolated sectors.

“(We should establish) closeness to the people… if we indeed listen to God, we must also listen to the people and to the needs of the poor, of the sick, the street children, the prisoners. With the many demands on our journey, may we have that closeness for those who long, who hunger and thirst for God,” he said in his 16-minute homily during the Chrism yesterday.

About 380 diocesan and religious priests from the 169 parishes in the Cebu archdiocese, considered the largest in the country, gathered yesterday for the yearly renewal of commitment to priestly service, which is usually held here before the Holy Week.

The Chrism Mass is commonly celebrated on Maundy Thursday but because of the huge territory of the archdiocese and distance from other parishes to Cebu City, the solemn activity was moved yesterday.

Palma motivated the priests to always uphold their commitment by bringing good tidings to the people and to proclaim the good news of the Lord.

He underscored that by the time they were ordained to priestly vocation, they already committed their selves to God and that they are bound to God’s will.

“Today we are reminded that we belong to God. During the ordination, the hand of the bishop that is placed on our heads symbolizes the hand of God. It is Him giving an assurance that I will take care of you and you are loved in a special and wonderful way… because we belong to God, our service also belongs to Him. It is not on what we should do but on what God wants us to do. We do the works of the Lord. We become servants and ministers of the Lord,” he said.

Palma in his homily reflected on these two main ideas that (1) having belongingness with the Lord, (2) the priests must take on the task of reaching out to the people and creating closeness to the less fortunate.

During the Mass, Palma also blessed the Sacred Chrism or the olive-based oil placed in jars that will be used all year round for the administration of the sacraments.

The priests will return to their parishes with the oil that will be used for the various ceremonies or religious rites such as the sacraments of confirmation, baptism, ordination of priests, or the blessings of major church bells, and the consecration of churches and bishops. — GAN (FREEMAN)