CEBU CITY, Philippines – Be heralds of hope in a world of increasing despair.
Tagbilaran Bishop Alberto Uy appealed to more than 5,000 catechists of the Archdiocese of Cebu on Monday, September 30, to stick to the mission of hope whenever they teach and pray. He was speaking at Cebu’s Archdiocesan General Catechists’ Assembly, which carried the theme “Teachers of Prayer, Bearers of Hope.”
In his talk, the popular bishop said depression among Filipinos has come to a point that the number of suicide cases increased by 57.3% in 2020, a figure reported by the Philippine Statistics Authority.
“Today we are reminded of our calling, our vocation which is to become heralds of hope,” Uy told catechists, or church workers who teach the Catholic faith mostly to the youth.
“Kita ang tigdala sa paglaum, sa paglaum nga gihatag sa Diyos sa kalibutan. Pakpakan nato ang mga katekista! Please ayaw ninyo na kalimti, sa pagpanudlo sa inyong pag ampo, ayaw kalimti ang kaluoy sa Ginoo,” he said. (We bring hope, the hope that God gave to the world. Let’s clap our hands for the catechists! Please, do not forget the Divine Mercy in your teachings and prayers.)
Uy also quoted the famous words of Saint Padre Pio, whose feast the Catholic Church celebrated last September 23: “Pray, hope, and don’t worry.”
The promise of a fresh start
During his talk, Uy also told the catechists to look forward to the Jubilee Year in 2025. He explained how in the times of the Old Testament, the jubilee year marked the freeing of slaves, the forgiveness of debt, and the return of properties acquired by others to their rightful owners.
The jubilee is very meaningful, Uy said, “it gives someone a new beginning, a fresh start.”
“The jubilee year is a time of forgiveness, mercy, and reconciliation among the people of God so it’s a special year,” he said.
He said the jubilee year will begin on December 24 when Pope Francis opens the Holy Door in Saint Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican.
Uy said that the different dioceses throughout the world, including the Archdiocese of Cebu, will open their own Holy Doors in designated cathedrals and other churches on December 29. He reminded the faithful not to miss activities during the Jubilee Year because the next one will still be in 2050 yet.
He explained to the catechists that those who pass through the Holy Door will earn a plenary indulgence after saying prayers and performing acts of charity. For Catholics, a plenary indulgence is the “remission before God of the temporal punishment due sins already forgiven,” according to the apostolic constitution Indulgentiarum Doctrina by Pope Paul VI.
He said that more than just hope, the Jubilee Year will also be a year of the Divine Mercy.
Uy closed his talk with a plea to parish priests to take care of their catechists if they want their parishioners served well.
Monday’s event started with a Holy Mass celebrated by Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma. Also present during the assembly were Cebu Auxiliary Bishop Ruben Labajo, vicar general Monsignor Rey Penagunda, and Archdiocese of Cebu catechetical ministry director Father Joseph Yntig.
The archdiocese also launched on Monday the Lesson Plan, Cebuano books that serve as guides for catechists. – Rappler.com
Max Limpag is a freelance journalist based in Cebu and is an Aries Rufo Journalism Fellow of Rappler for 2024.
