The message of St. Francis and Pope Francis

CEBU, Philippines - On passing by the parish church of Naga City, Cebu, one cannot but notice the huge tarpaulin hanging above its front door:  "185th Parish Founding Anniversary Celebration June 12, 2014."

It means that this Archdiocesan Shrine of St. Francis of Assisi started as a parish in 1829.

The City of Naga's patron saint and the present Pope, both named Francis, have a very important message for us. And our beloved Ricardo J. Cardinal Vidal echoed the same message to Cebu's clergy in his valedictory address titled "Conform not to this world's materialism."

In the light of this continuing appeal, the Italian St. Francis would react, "Magare!" while the Argentinian Pope Francis would exclaim, "Ojala!" And the rest of us should respond, "Hinaut pa unta" (May it be so).