To culminate the week-long relief program for the communities affected by recent calamities, a Closing Mass for the Cebu Caritas Week was celebrated at the Sto. Nino Quasi-Parish in Nailon, City of Bogo — one of the parishes that sustained major damages after the earthquake.
Fr. Jimmy Tolentin (Vice-Chair of Cebu Caritas) presided over the Holy Mass with Fr. Alex Cola (Chair of Cebu Caritas, Inc.) delivering the homily. Together with them was Fr. Jeffmonray Romarate (Quasi-Parish Chaplain).
Anchoring his homily on the celebration’s theme “Accompanying Cebu’s Anawim, Pilgrims of Hope, in this time of climate and corruption crises,” Fr. Cola emphasized that we are all “anawims.” We continue to remain faithful and trusting in the Lord despite life’s difficulties and challenges.
He encouraged the faithful to hold on to Jesus, our hope, for He shall never abandon us.
“Taliwala sa mga kalisdanan nga atong nasinati, Jesus gives us hope. He is our salvation. Wa gyod tay laing kadangpanan ang Ginoo ra gyod. Way lain nga mahatag natong kahupayan, Ginoo ra gyod,” he said.
He recalled a striking line from a conversation their team had with survivors from Binabag when they conducted an assessment after the recent earthquake. The person who was interviewed said, “Diha sa kangitngit, diha sa kalisod sa among sitwasyon, tungod sa nahitabo nga linog, halos nawad-an na gyod mi’g paglaum. Apan dako kaayo namong pasalamat tungod kay ang naghatag namo’g paglaum ang Ginoo pinaagi sa Iyang Simbahan.”
He called on the faithful to seek faith, hope, and solace in the Church, saying, “Kon mangita tag paglaum, kahupayan, ari tas simbahan, mga igsuon! Ang Simbahan maoy nahimo natong kahayag taliwala sa kalisdanan.”
While the Mass was ongoing, a simultaneous Medical Mission was also conducted at Barangay Pandan, City of Bogo, Cebu.