Monday, August 02, 2004
Vidal urges flock to take good care of spiritual fathers
CEBU Archbishop Ricardo Cardinal Vidal urged the faithful to support and take care of their parish priests.
“Your parish priests are sent by me to minister to you. They are my representatives. Indeed, because they are the pastors in your locality, they are your spiritual fathers,” he said.
“Just as they take care of you, so must you take care of them. Pray for them. Support them in their apostolate,” Cardinal Vidal said in his homily yesterday at the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral, in a mass for the feast of St. John Marie Vianney, patron saint of all parish priests.
Vidal also appealed to the faithful to look up to the priests who have been designated as the guardians of the soul.
The prelate said priests are only human beings and are bound to commit mistakes, and if they do so, “correct them if they commit mistakes, but never take your love away from them.”
While it is difficult for a man to be a father to a family of six or even 12, Vidal said, how much more a priest, who ministers to about 50,000 children with all kinds of preferences and temperaments?
“Your parish priest is therefore overburdened with work, and he is only a human being. So please help him, understand him, pray for him. It is not easy to replace a priest,” Vidal said.
Also yesterday, the cardinal was dismayed that a town mayor reportedly tried to confront a priest over a sermon that he felt was directed against him. (See related story) JST
(August 2, 2004 issue)
Write letter to the editor.Click here.
Join the Sun.Star message board.Click here. |
