Archbishop Palma: Never lose hope

Devotees raise their hands in veneration to the Señor Sto. Niño during the Pontifical Mass officiated by Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma at the Pilgrim Center of the Basilica Minore del Sto. Niño on Sunday, Jan. 20, 2019, as Cebu celebrates through the Sinulog Festival the Feast of the Child Jesus. / CDNDigital photo by Zena Magto

CEBU CITY — You are not alone.

This was the message conveyed by Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma as Cebuanos celebrated the feast of the Sto. Niño de Cebu on Sunday.

Amid obstacles and problems, the 68-year-old prelate reminded the people to never lose hope and put their trust in God. “Before, we were a lost people. We were pagans until the Sto. Niño came in 1521. It is the Sto. Niño who found us and showed us His love,” said Palma in his homily during the 6 a.m. Pontifical Mass at the jam-packed at the Basilica Minore del Sto. Niño’s Pilgrim Centre.

“We are not worthy and yet God made us His children and members of his family. Thanks be to God. We are loved by Him,” he added. This year’s celebration carries the theme “Sto. Nino: Guide of God’s Children to Service and Humility ” which is patterned after the pastoral thrust of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) on the Year of the Youth.

In 2013, the CBCP launched a nine-year “spiritual journey towards the 500th anniversary of the Christianization of the Philippines in 2021 with different themes for each year.

Palma expressed hope that Pope Francis will again visit the country, particularly Cebu, in 2021 to celebrate a milestone in the history of Catholicism in the Philippines.

He said an invitation was already sent to the Holy Father.

“Let us pray that the Pope will come here,” Palma said.

Joining Palma during the Mass were Palo Archbishop John Du, retired Bishop Antonio Rañola, and about 40 priests.

During the offertory, people waved their hands in the air as they sang “Bato-Balani sa Gugma (Magnet of Love),” an ancient Cebuano hymn in honor of the Sto. Niño. Despite the prohibition, some people — most of whom were staying outside the Basilica — managed to release balloons with rolled pieces of paper containing prayer petitions. Since the basilica’s courtyard was packed, devotees spilled over to the streets.

They watched the Eucharistic celebration on large LED screens installed around the basilica.

After the Mass, Palma and the bishops led the faithful in dancing the traditional Sinulog at the Pilgrim Center.

Nine other Masses are to held today, Sunday, January 20,  to celebrate the feast of the Sto. Niño.

Several people also lined up to kiss and venerate the original image of the Sto. Niño de Cebu housed inside a bullet-proof glass case inside the centuries-old church./elb