MANILA, Philippines - Excerpts from the homily delivered by Archbishop Socrates B. Villegas on the occasion of his installation as Archbishop of Lingayen-Dagupan on Nov. 4 at the Cathedral of Saint John the Apostle in Dagupan City:
The ways of the Lord are mysterious and hard to comprehend. Eighteen years ago, before Archbishop Cruz was installed Archbishop of Lingayen-Dagupan, Dagupan was hit by a severe earthquake that rendered the city in shambles and the old cathedral church in ruins. This year, apparently in preparation for this momentous occasion, the Archdiocese was hit with massive flooding that rendered great havoc upon our flock. Our gathering of joy is mixed with sentiments of uncertainty about what lies ahead of Pangasinan. I know the faith of the Pangasinenses is strong and firm. I want to assure, though: it is not Archbishops who cause disasters to happen!
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I come to live in your midst…as Jesus came, the servant who called us to be “salt of the earth and the light of the world.” Please give me a chance to love you, to serve you.
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We must pray but it is not enough to pray. Our prayer must make us think and talk and listen and act and be like Jesus — that is the apostolic action that we need in the Church. Any pastoral action or assembly that does not come from prayer will fail. Any prayer that does not lead us to apostolic charity will wither. Love without service is mere sentimentalism. Service without prayer is social activism.
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Brother priests, I bid you: Go preach the gospel. Talk if necessary. Pangasinan does not need teachers. Pangasinan needs witnesses. Fathers: Give us Jesus, only Jesus, always Jesus.
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We cannot proclaim Jesus and waltz with corruption in public or in private. We cannot be rightly called Christians and play games with evil…Be happy givers! Be holy priests by your courageous and generous self-sacrifice! Bawal ang paring duwag! Bawal ang paring kuripot!
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My dear children and the youth, be the salt of the earth. May your lives be clear like crystal salt, pure and fresh and always new. By your young and restive hearts, may we your elders find new inspiration. Your mission as Church youth is to inspire and to ignite.
My poor brothers and sisters from the far barangays, be the salt of society. Even if sometimes, salt and rice is all we can eat, do not forget your dignity as children of God.
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My dear government officials, give us the salt of livelihood and honest public service. Spare the people from salty words of anger and malicious conduct that kill and destroy. Serve the people with honesty. Serve the people well. We can work together for the people.
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People of God in the Archdiocese of Lingayen-Dagupan, I am all yours. Take me as your own. I embrace you now as my very own. God has given us each other. Let us give ourselves to the Lord. Amen.