Today, Cebu celebrates the 461st Fiesta Señor with the theme, “In Santo Niño we are One.”
Cebu Archbishop Alberto “Abet” S. Uy presided over the Solemn Pontifical Mass at the Basilica Minore del Santo Niño early this morning.
Together with him were Most Rev. Stephano Lameck Musomba, OSA (Bishop of Bagamoyo, Tanzania), Msgr. Jan Thomas Limchua (Counselor of the Apostolic Nunciature to the Kingdom of the Netherlands), Msgr. Vicente Rey Peñagunda (Vicar General), Fr. Andrew Batayola, OSA (Prior Provincial of the Augustinian Province of Santo Niño de Cebu-Philippines), Fr. Andres Rivera Jr., OSA (Basilica Rector), Augustinian friars of the Basilica, and other visiting monsignori and priests.
In his homily, the good Archbishop reminded the faithful that their unity as a people of God should always prevail especially in times of struggles and difficulties. He continued by saying that every moment is filled with love when we are all connected.
“Importante gyod mahiusa sa usa’g usa. With each other, we rise above every challenge. In unity there is always victory. Even the ‘we’ becomes strong, when they are united,” he exhorted.
He also urged not only political and government leaders but also the clergy, religious, and laity, to unite and work for the good of their communities, showing solidarity and synodality as one people journeying toward God.
“In the Señor Santo Niño, we are one, meaning we are united with Christ not because of our human efforts but because of his redeeming love. Iya man ning lihok, sa Diyos man ni, dili man ni ato,” he said.
Before the Final Blessing. Fr. Albert Benedict Soliman, OSA (Provincial Liturgist and Secretary of the Basilica Augustinian Community) read the letter from the Holy Father sent through the Apostolic Nunciature, which expressed the Holy Father’s oneness with the Augustinian friars in the celebration of the Fiesta Señor.
He prays that this feast will help the faithful better understand the gift of baptism, which brings us closer to Christ and makes us children of God and members of the Church.
“It is, therefore, his hope that you will be inspired by a greater desire to embrace the baptismal call to live a grace-filled life in Christ and in service to your brothers and sisters, especially those on the margins of society, so that you will bear greater witness to Christ’s call to unity and reflect the life of charity of the Most Holy Trinity,” the letter stated.