Bishop Cortes: Sustain efforts to help the poor

DUMAGUETE CITY, Philippines – Even after the Year of the Poor celebration of the Catholic Church, the people should continue catering to the needs of the poor.

Bishop Julito Cortes of the Diocese of Dumaguete issued this call, saying that the Year of the Poor celebration was an opportunity to highlight the Church’s activities for the poor, and to develop among the faithful the right attitude to the concerns of the poor.

But “it does not mean that our concern and activities for the poor have ended. Rather, what realizations have come up during the Year of the Poor (celebration) should be followed through, as what the religious would say, ‘this day and beyond’,” said the prelate.

Cortes, citing the participation of the Basic Ecclesial Communities, said that what is needed now is to strengthen the building blocks for continued and more sustainable activities for the poor.

The BECs have been promoting activities for the poor at the different parishes, and the bishop said he has been hoping they would be a venue for providing help and addressing the needs of the underprivileged sector of society.

Cortes on Friday led a concelebrated Mass at the St. Catherine of Alexandria Cathedral in Dumaguete City for the formal end of the Year of the Poor and then the launching of the Year of the Family and the Year of the Eucharist.

For the Year of the Eucharist celebration, Cortes said there has to be greater appreciation, understanding and awareness of and love for the sacrament of the Eucharist.

“This is especially so in a world that has less faith in the Lord, much less in the Eucharist,” said the bishop, adding that this dictum would be the main objective of the 53rd International Eucharistic Congress to be held in Cebu City in January 2016.

The Year of the Family celebration, on the other hand, would focus on at least two main concerns of the late Pope John Paul II, during his ad limina audience with the bishops, for which he asked them how the families and the youth in all dioceses were doing.

According to the Catholic Encyclopedia, the visit ad limina means the “obligation incumbent upon members of the heirarchy to visit the ‘thresholds of the Apostles,’ Saints Peter and Paul, and of presenting themselves before the pope to give an account of the state of their dioceses, as a show of reverence for the Successor of St. Peter.”

It is crucial to celebrate such “considering the world is facing the challenges that are eroding the living out of the Christian discipleship in the family,” Cortes added. (FREEMAN)