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Sunday, April 16, 2006
Church asks for stewardship, concern for others
By Jujemay G. Awit
Sun.Star Staff Reporter
BEING God’s steward starts in the family, Cebu Archbishop Ricardo Cardinal Vidal told a crowd gathered at the Cebu Cathedral last Friday for the Seven Last Words, or the Siete Palabras.
“Unta, magpakahimo gayud kita nga matinud-anon ug kasaligan nga piniyalan sugod gayod diha sa sabakan sa pamilya (May we be true stewards of God, starting in the family),” Vidal said.
The Siete Palabras is celebrated by Catholics during Good Friday to recall the last words Jesus uttered while he was dying on the cross.
But stewardship is a calling that should be followed even after the Holy Week, Vidal told the faithful.
“Gipiyal sa usag-usa ang mga sakop sa pamilya, madiotay sila og madaghan, makabos sila o maadunahan. Hinaut unta nga adlaw-adlaw magpakahimo gayud sila nga matinud-anon nga mga piniyalan og dili unta magpakaaron-ingnon (Every member of the family, rich or poor, is called to be God’s steward every single day),” said Vidal.
Cardinal Vidal led the three-hour Siete Palabras last Friday. After different speakers discussed the seven words, the archbishop delivered his message at 3 p.m.
He told the faithful to forgive and respect just as Jesus did. Forgiveness and respect are contained in Jesus’ first words: “Forgive them, Father! They do not know what they are doing,” “I tell you this: Today you will be in Paradise with me,” and “Woman, here is your son. Son, here is your mother.”
The first three words were read by Fr. Jesper John Petralba (chaplain of St. Catherine’s College in Carcar, Cebu), Fr. Jose Maria Lim (a co-pastor at St. Joseph Parish in Tabunok, Talisay City), and Fr. Mhar Balili (parochial vicar of Sto. Rosario Parish and co-chairman of the Diocesan Commission on Worship.)
“Dili kana sayon ug dili kana lalim buhaton tungod kay sa pagkatinuod, naa ang mga pwersa sa dautan nga mohaylo og mo lingla (Being a steward is not easy because forces of evil are always there to deceive us),” Vidal told the people.
The fourth and fifth words, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” and “I thirst” talk about trust, hope and suffering, Cardinal Vidal said.
These words were delivered by Fr. Ramon Ofredo (of the Spiritual Pastoral Formation Center of the San Carlos Seminary) and Fr. Adonis Aquino (a professor from the San Carlos Seminary).
Fr. Socrates Saldua and Auxiliary Bishop Julito Cortes read the sixth and seventh words, “It is finished” and “Father, into Your hands I commit my Spirit.”
While Jesus’ mission on earth ended on the cross, that of the faithful continues to this day, Vidal said.
“Gikinahanglan pa gayod nga adlaw, gabii itugyan gayod nato sa mga kamot sa Diyos ang tanan, ang tanan gayod...kinabuhi, kabataan, kabtangan, kay Iya man ang tanan ug kita lamang mga piniyalan (We still have to offer everything to God because everything is his and we are only stewards),” he added.
The image of a crucified Christ outside the Cathedral, near the grotto of Mother Mary, was also taken down to symbolize Jesus’ death. Hundreds of faithful reached out their hands to the image during the Veneration of the Cross, another Catholic tradition.
Many believe that the image and the cross heal illnesses.
Ponciano Brigoli Jr., 53, a member of the Three Divine Persons Missionaries tasked with dismantling the cross, said many people bring cotton swabs to wipe on the image or the cross.
At home, they put the cotton inside a jar with coconut oil. They then use this as an ointment for illnesses.
While there have been stories of healing, Brigoli said it all boils down to faith in God.
Joy Habel, 37, one of the faithful who attended the Siete Palabras celebration, agreed. She said healing happens out of a personal worship of God.
For Bisaya stories from Cebu. Click here. (April 16, 2006 issue)
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