Cardinal Jose Advincula, the archbishop of Manila, marked the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe on Monday by urging the faithful to bring their devotion to serve the people.
He said that devotees of the Virgin of Guadalupe are challenged to be servants of God’s people, especially those who are suffering and struggling.
“Ang tunay na deboto ni Maria ay laging nakikisangkot para tumulong at maglingkod sa nangangailangan,” Advincula said in his homily at the National Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Makati City. (The true devotee of Mary is always involved to help and support those in need.)
“Sikapin din natin ito sa lebel ng kultural at lipunan para sa ikabubuti ng higit na nakararami,” he said. (Let us also strive for it at the cultural and social level for the good of the majority.)
At the start of the Mass, the cardinal installed Fr. Carlos Reyes and Fr. John Barro as Rector and team ministry member, respectively, of the shrine.
Reyes succeeded Fr. Roderick Castro, who was transferred as Rector of the Shrine and Parish of the Sacred Heart at San Antonio Village in Makati.
The cardinal then expressed hope that the national shrine will not just be a center of Marian devotion in the country but also a Christian community of sincere faith and fervent prayer.
“Maaakit natin ang iba sa pananampalataya kung makikita nila ang ating pagsaksi, ang ating pagtatanghal sa Diyos at sa kanyang mga gawa,” he said. (We can attract others to faith through our witnessing, our presentation of God and his works.)
