Tuesday, December 18, 2007
Follow Christian lifestyle in parenting, Vidal advises
HOW did Jesus grow up to become strong, good, and full of grace?
For Cebu Archbishop Ricardo Cardinal Vidal, Jesus’ parents Mary and Joseph played crucial roles in his upbringing.
For this reason, the prelate highlighted in his homily during the second night of the “Misa de Gallo” the challenge of raising children with Christian lifestyle at home.
“Why did Jesus grow up strong? The answer is that Mary cooks well and Joseph earns from a noble job as carpenter. And every year, both parents bring Jesus to the synagogue to pray and be taught,” said Vidal in Cebuano.
Jesus as child
Hundreds of churchgoers, mostly huddled in families, listened to his words in yesterday’s dawn mass at the Holy Family parish in Barangay Maguikay, Mandaue City.
After he stressed the image of Jesus as a child in the first “Misa de Gallo,” Vidal illustrated the image of Jesus as a young member of a family who “supported him in his mission to save mankind.”
“Jesus did not choose his parents who happen to be kind and holy. He did not wait on man’s goodness in order to fulfill his mission to save us,” the prelate said, with the stained glass image of the Holy Family in his back.
The Holy Family parish in Mandaue City, established in 1992, is one of two parishes in Cebu with the Holy Family as its titular head. The other one is in La Paz, Bogo, which was built in 1993.
While he joked that it has been a long time since he celebrated mass in the parish because there was no invitation, Vidal said he chose the one in Mandaue because he is aware that more families reside there than the one in Bogo.
“It would also be good to be here so that we can contemplate on the face of Jesus on the Bible. While we await the coming Christmas, as we celebrate in front of the `belen’ or before the Christmas tree or under the `parol,’ let us follow the example of the Holy Family who is full of patience, love, and care,” he said.
Vidal said the greatest gift this Christmas is a renewed Christian family life that can brave new forces of evil brought about by changing times.
The prelate was happy when he noted that the parish was jam-packed with children and adults. He also expressed hope that churchgoers were fine despite the early rise for the mass.
Observing the new pastoral thrust of the Archdiocese of Cebu: “Towards the 75th anniversary of Cebu as an Archdiocese: Contemplating the Face of Jesus in the Bible,” Vidal will celebrate “Misa de Gallo” in nine selected parishes that represent various faces of Jesus from birth to the resurrection.
Today, Vidal is scheduled to hold dawn mass at the Sacred Heart parish on Jakosalem St., Cebu City. (NRC)
For Bisaya stories from Cebu. Click here. (December 18, 2007 issue)
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