Today, the Archdiocesan Shrine & Parish of Our Lady of Fatima in Basak, Mandaue City, celebrates its 50th Founding Anniversary with the theme: “Celebrating 50 years as a Parish Fully Alive.”
Cebu Archbishop Alberto “Abet” Uy presided over the Holy Mass. He was joined by Cebu Auxiliary Bishop-Emeritus Emilio “Boy” Bataclan, Msgr. Vicente Rey Penagunda (Vicar General), the parish team of pastors led by Fr. Joselito Gutierrez (Team Moderator), and other visiting priests.
In his homily, the Archbishop emphasized that a parish is more than a physical structure — it is a community of people bound together in faith.
He highlighted the responsibility of caring for one another, fostering harmony, and building relationships rooted in charity. No matter how magnificent the building may be, he said, all efforts come to nothing if the community within is divided and disordered.
“Sa atong pag-amping, pag-amuma sa balay sa Diyos, kita sab sa atong panimalay, amumahon niya. Ang balay sa Diyos dili lang kaning building, kondili ang iyang katawhan. Bisag unsa pa kanindot ang inyong building o simbahan, kon ang katawhan nagkaguliyang, nagkagubot, walay pulos ang tanan,” said Archbishop Abet.