AMID the extraordinary times caused by the coronavirus disease (Covid-19), the Diocese of Bacolod through Bacolod Catholic Bishop Patricio Buzon, SBD, D.D. consecrated the City of Bacolod and the Province of Negros Occidental to the Immaculate Heart of Mary in a mass offered to the Blessed Mother held at the San Sebastian Cathedral in Bacolod City on May 13.
Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson, who is a Catholic faithful, attended the mass officiated by Bishop Buzon.
The governor represented the province in the Consecration of the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
The Diocese of Bacolod has joined the entire country in the National Consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary which coincided with the 103rd anniversary of the apparition of the Blessed Mother in Fatima.
Buzon in his homily pointed out that the consecration is an act of entrusting ourselves, our city, the province and the nation to the Blessed Mother (Mama Mary), so that God will make it holy.
As the bishop reflected on it, he saw the plan of God for all of us in the depth of Covid-19.
“Through the consecration, we are returning ourselves and our community and country to God. It is a way of returning something that comes from God. We are journeying together towards holiness,” he said.
The bishop has seen how hard it is for the people and even the Church to endure the challenges brought by Covid-19 as the physical health and well-being of the people and the community were put to risk.
Church and religious gatherings have been suspended when the city, the province, and the nation went on enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) where social distancing is a must to prevent Covid-19 from spreading and affecting people’s health.
Despite the restrictions in holding masses, the Diocese has opted to digitize the holding the masses aired via social media.
The bishop has urged everyone to continue praying to God through the intercession of the Blessed Mother that all these challenges will come to an end.