‘HOPE AMID CRISIS’

Fr. Timothy Radcliffe (left) speaks of hope as a Christian virtue during the IEC Theological Symposium at the auditorium of the Cebu Doctors’ University. He later speaks with Cardinal Orlando B. Quevedo, archbishop of Cotabato and Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Tagle. (CDN PHOTO/CHRISTIAN MANINGO)

Clergy leaders highlight faith ahead of IEC event

Amid pain and misery caused by poverty, terrorism and other adversities, the Filipino faithful were urged not to lose hope and to hold on to their Catholic faith.

“Hope is the most profound gift the Church can give today. Appalling suffering may tempt us to doubt whether anything has meaning. (But) if everything goes wrong, we need not be afraid,”

Dominican priest, Fr. Timothy Radcliffe told the 1,500 people gathered for yesterday’s start of a three-day symposia held days ahead of the International Eucharistic Congress.

The symposia held at the Cebu Doctors’ University auditorium in Mandaue City kicked off amid the arrival of over 100 high-ranking Catholic Church officials in the country and abroad for the 51st IEC in Cebu City.

Radcliffe, who was appointed by Pope Francis as consultor to the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, said the rise in poverty and terrorism caused a “crisis of hope” which, if left unattended to, would lead to despair.

“In the darkest moment of human history, Jesus performed an amazing gesture of hope: ‘This is my body given for you. This is my blood poured out for you.’ When everything seems finished, the

Lord draws closer than we could ever imagine,” Fr. Radcliffe said.

Present realities

Present during the symposium yesterday morning were Archbishop Piero Marini, president of the Pontifical Committee of the IEC, Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle, Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma, Cotabato Archbishop Orlando Cardinal Quevedo, and several bishops and priests.

Delegates from Canada, the United States, Indonesia, Japan, and Hong Kong were also in attendance.

A construction worker dangles from a crane as he sets up the flags of participating nations outside the IEC Pavilion in barangay Mabolo, Cebu City. (CDN PHOTO/JUNJIE MENDOZA)

So far, 12,000 delegates from 71 countries have registered for the IEC which  starts on Sunday, January 24, said Cebu Auxiliary Bishop Dennis Villarojo, the IEC secretary-general. The registration ends on January 22.

Archbishop Palma, the president of the 2016 IEC, said the three-day theological symposia, the first part of the IEC, is intended to deepen one’s understanding and appreciation of the Eucharist.

“I hope and pray that this symposium won’t just become an event of words and a sort of theological gymnastics. Instead, may this lead us to a clearer understanding and deeper appreciation of the Eucharist especially in its dialogue with the present realities in the world today,” he said in a message he delivered at the start of the symposium.

Widening gap

While Filipino people express their faith publicly, Palma said many do not fully understand the meaning of the different religious practices.

In the process, he said people are “sacramentalized but not evangelized.”

“We are a people of great faith. Many go to churches and pray novenas to the different saints. But many also have a very shallow foundation of the things we believe in,” he said.

“There is a widening gap between liturgy and practice. And our council fathers point to our lack of understanding to the tremendous meaning of the Eucharist as its culprit,” Palma added.

Cardinal Tagle, in an interview, said the Eucharistic congress should lead everyone to hope in the Lord amid adversities.

Signs of hope

“There is hope. It is a time when people are really looking for someone to cling to. So Jesus in us is our hope of glory. This is not just intellectual curiosity, it’s also existential,” he said.

Fr. Radcliffe, the first speaker during yesterday’s symposium, said when Jesus instituted the Holy Eucharist at the night before he died, there seemed to be no hope.

Fr. Radcliffe said Jesus gave the apostles hope by giving his body and blood to remind them of his presence at all times.

In the war-torn country of Iraq and other neighboring places, Fr. Radcliffe said he found signs of hope amid the sufferings experienced by the people.

“Abiding is a sign of our hope in the God who will not go away,” Radcliffe said.

Lounge for bishops

GMR-Megawide Cebu Airport Corp. (GMCAC) corporate affairs head Estee Marie Plunket said four committees from the Vatican also arrived yesterday.

“We have had a very busy arrival here at the airport,” Plunket said.

She said they are coordinating with the secretariats of both the IEC and the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) to ensure the safety and convenience of IEC delegates.

“We have a lounge for the bishops. This is their holding area, where they can wait for the others to arrive so they can all be transported to their vans and hotels together,” Plunket said.

The temporary lounge is furnished with chairs, couches and other pieces of furniture from the LH Foundation, Inc (LHFI), the philanthropic arm of the LH Paragon Group of Companies.

Pilgrim Walk

The airport management also facilitated the baggage collection of the bishops, so they can head directly to the lounge instead of waiting around the baggage carousel for their luggage.

A reception desk for IEC delegates is also set up in the airport for the convenience of the delegates.

Plunket said the IEC has also sent their own committee to answer any questions the delegates may have and direct them to their destinations.

Several roads along the Pilgrim Walk route from the Hoops Dome via Maximo Patalingjug Avenue to the first bridge will be closed to traffic starting 2 p.m. on January 28.

Motorists from Mandaue City heading to Lapu-Lapu City and Cordova town will be diverted to Marcelo Fernan Bridge and advised to take either the Mactan or Marigondon roads.

Congestion

Trucks and trailers will take the New Aviation access road in going to Maribago, Marigondon and Cordova town.

Vehicles from Cordova, Marigondon and Maribago should take the same route in going to the Mactan Export Processing Zone.

The other side of Maximo Patalinjug Avenue from Marigondon to the first bridge and ML Quezon Pajo and Pusok is still open.

Frank Brazil, head of the City Traffic Management System (CTMS) of Lapu-Lapu City advised the public not to head to these places to avoid congestion.