Start of 9-day simbang gabi: Vidal: Focus on faith, not on material things

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu Archbishop Emeritus Ricardo Cardinal Vidal yesterday celebrated a dawn mass broadcast over CCTN channel, reminding people of their “responsibilities on earth.”

Held at the chapel of CCTN, yesterday’s mass was the first of the nine dawn masses Catholics traditionally hold before Christmas.

During his homily, Vidal reminded the people that the “Almighty God is the last to judge our wrongdoings and to determine what is right and just for the people on earth.”

According to Vidal, material things are less beneficial when a person lacks trust and prayers to God.

“The material part on the other hand, is the most expensive, but the least beneficial. The material part can in fact be ruinous and harmful, considering that you can start the year in financial trouble or hospitalized for high blood pressure,” Vidal said.

He stressed that Christmas is not complete if people are focused only on the material things but lack faith and prayers.

He reiterated that people should be more focused on the spiritual needs when celebrating the Christmas season.

Meanwhile, Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) Director Melvin Ramon Buenafe acted on the request of Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama for police visibility during the Misa de Gallo.

Buenafe said that there were no crime incidents reported during the first day of the Misa de Gallo.

He deployed around 500 personnel in the different Church areas in Cebu City yesterday.  There were also random checkpoints.

“Tuloy-tuloy na ito hanggang sa last day ng Misa de Gallo. We will be doing and applying our new deployment scheme pati na rin sa Christmas season up to the Sinulog, the Fiesta of Senior Sto. Niño,” said Buenafe.

Buenafe added that part of their new deployment scheme is that during day time, the deployment will be at the shopping malls or areas where shoppers are going, in the evening will be at the night spots and during the wee hours.

“We will deploy our personnel from day time until the wee hours of the night, even at the very late night sale and night market, continuous atong deployment,” Buenafe said. — /JPM (FREEMAN)