Tema: “Señor Santo Niño: Kanunay nag-uban ug namati diha sa Paghigugmaay ug Pag-alagaray isip Senodal nga Simbhan” (Holy Child: Constantly journeying with and listening in Love and Service to others as a Synodal Church)
January 15, 2023
Pagadian City comes alive once again with thousands of devotees bringing their own images of the Santo Niño and the faithful alike flocking to the Santo Niño Cathedral for the Annual Feast Day Mass with schedules beginning as early as 4:30 in the morning to as late as 8:30 in the evening. The vibrant colors of hangings and buntings that adorned the church premises along with the street vendors selling all kinds of religious articles, flowers and foodstuff scattered outside the vicinity added to the festive ambience of the Feast Day.
His Most Rev. Ronald Lunas officiated the concelebrated mass at 10:30 in the morning with several priests joining him. The church was so full beyond sitting capacity inside and a huge crowd gathered outside with so many standing all throughout the duration of the mass.
Bishop Bong called on all the children to join him at the altar before he gave his homily from the Sunday’s Gospel reading: “Let the children come to me…” He said that for God to reduce himself to that of a little child is a scandal for it defies our idea of God who is mighty and all powerful. Moreover, the fact that Jesus was born poor and appeared to the simple shepherds gives a clear message of how we should live our lives as well: humble, trusting, peace-loving, and readily available to reach out to those in the margins of society, the poor, the hungry and the outcasts. He ended by reminding us of the saying: “In the eyes of a child, there is peace, joy, hope and love…”
The mass ended with the blessing of the images of the Santo Niño dressed up in brightly colored vestments brought to the altar by their owners who joyfully danced to the beat of the Sinulog. The congregation also sang Happy Birthday to Rev. Fr. Allan Onden, the Cathedral Parish Administrator whose birthday also coincides today on the Feast Day of Sto. Niño de Pagadian.
Special thanks to all those who actively rendered their heartfelt services in all the masses from the priests, seminarians, lectors and commentators, lay ministers, altar servers, mass collectors and the choir without whom the Feast Day eucharistic celebrations would not have been made possible.
Malipayong Piyesta sa tanan! Viva Pit Senyor!
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