|
Sunday, April 13, 2008
Cebu news workers urged to 'live in spirit' to tell truth
CEBU CITY -- Cebu news workers were urged Saturday to continue "living in the spirit" as "it is the spirit that gives life, the flesh cannot help."
Fr. Aloysius L. Cartagenas, director of Seminario Mayor de San Carlos, warned that if news workers would choose to live in the flesh, truth would be in peril.
Arroyo Watch: Sun.Star blog on President Arroyo
"Searching for truth will be stifled, telling the truth will be prostituted, and everybody will be deprived of the truth about who we are, where we are going, why we are here, and what ought to be done," Fr. Cartagenas said in his homily at the mass on the 11th annual general assembly of the Cebu News Workers Multi-purpose Cooperative at the MBF Cebu Press Center in Sudlon, Lahug, Cebu City.
In defining "living in the spirit," Fr. Cartagenas said: "When, for instance, workers in an industry bond together to promote their genuine security and common well-being, that is living in the spirit."
In the name of the church, he thanked the news workers "for not running from the words that give spirit and life" and "for never giving up on each other's limitations and for carrying each other's burdens."
Effort in NewsCoop
Fr. Cartagenas cited as example of the living spirit the effort in the building of Cebu NewsCoop. Started in 1996 by Marissa Fernan with the support of local media leaders, it had only 34 members and total assets of P34,000. NewsCoop now has 670 members and total assets of P10.59 million.
Its membership was initially limited to print media news workers but has been expanded to include broadcast media news workers as well as newsboys and newsdealers and workers in allied industries such as advertising.
Fr. Cartagenas told the news workers: "You may not be God's mouthpiece, because you are not preachers of this or that religion. But you are His mouthpiece, no doubt about it, by being harbingers of the truths that God would like us to see and read and interpret.
"You may not be God's teachers, because you are not in the business of teaching religion. But you are street prophets, about it, in your efforts to help shape public opinion about things that matter most in life."
Noting that many members of NewsCoop are support staffs of journalists, Fr. Cartagenas said: "Many of you are not even media practitioners. But as integral part of the whole enterprise of truth-searching and truth-telling, your roles are as crucial as theirs. Which reminds me of the nameless men and women who were behind the success of Jesus and the apostles."
Truth guaranteed
Fr. Cartagenas said a long time ago, Jesus saw the future of his mission in the eyes of Peter and other disciples. "So too today. He is happy to see, that, in you, with you, and through you, the truth is guaranteed to continue to unfold in history."
Other activities of the assembly included reports on finances, membership, projects and the election of new officers. (Pacheco A. Seares of Sun.Star Cebu)For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star General Santos. (April 13, 2008 issue)
Write letter to the editor. Click here. |
|
|
|
[return to top]
[home]
|
|
Calibrated wage hike gains support