Monday, December 17, 2007
Children take center stage in dawn masses
By Jujemay G. Awit
Sun.Star Staff Reporter
THE rise of abortion in the country worries Cebu Archbishop Ricardo Cardinal Vidal so much that he has decided to dedicate this year’s Misa de Gallo to the children.
That’s why he picked Barangay Suba, Cebu City as the site of his first dawn mass and Barangay Mohon, Talisay City for his last dawn mass this year.
“I picked these two places after being told that there are plenty of children here in Suba and Mohon,” the archbishop told hundreds who gathered at the Sto. Niño Parish in Barangay Suba yesterday.
Indeed, there were a number of children in church—even toddlers barely old enough to walk braved the 4:30 a.m. chill, hearing mass in their parents’ arms.
No matter how difficult life gets, Cardinal Vidal said, people must take responsibility for their actions.
“Sumala sa mga gibalita, daghan na intawon ang mga gibasura nga fetus (The news tells us that so many babies have been dumped with the trash),” he said during his 10-minute homily.
An Allan Guttmacher Institute survey released last July showed that 17 out of every 1,000 women in the Visayas resort to abortion. This is six women more than the figures recorded in a study six years before.
27 average
In the Visayas, Central Visayas posted the highest rate of abortions (24 out of every 1,000 women), while Eastern Visayas reported 17 for every 1,000, and Western Visayas, 10 for every 1,000 women. These figures were from the year 2000 yet.
The country has an estimated average of 27 abortions for every 1,000 women.
“Remember the prophets despite the darkness and learn to sacrifice amid difficulties,” the cardinal reminded the churchgoers.
“Fathers and mothers, you are God’s stewards and it is your responsibility and your right to love your sons and daughters.”
Because the mass was so early, Cardinal Vidal gently asked the attendees if they were still awake and listening to him. The faithful answered him with laughter.
The archbishop explained that the church’s goal in initiating a nine-day series of dawn masses was to gather the priests and the parishioners to go to church, praise God and to be grateful.
Cardinal Vidal was scheduled to celebrate his second dawn mass at the Parish of the Holy Family in Barangay Maguikay, Mandaue City a few hours ago.
For Bisaya stories from Cebu. Click here. (December 17, 2007 issue)
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