As Roman Catholics from different parts of the country celebrate the Feast of the Santo Niño Sunday, a Catholic Church leader issued a reminder – “prioritize the welfare and needs of the children.”
“Jesus came to us, became a child like us. He grew like us. Children have a very special place in His heart. He cares for them, so concerned that His appeal to us is “Let the children come to me and don’t stop them” (Mark 10:14), a clear reminder to all of us to prioritize the welfare and safety of the children,” said Balanga Bishop Ruperto C. Santos.
The prelate cited the important needs of every child that must be met to help him achieve a brighter future.
“First, let us provide them with a secure shelter. Give them a shelter where they can stay and feel protected. Provide them with their needs. The streets are not their home. Children should not be made to live in the streets,” the bishop said.
“Second, let us keep them safe and provide them with a stable life. Our Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines-Episcopal Commission on Migrants and Itinerant People is the primary lead and convenor among Philippine Interfaith Movement against human trafficking and on line child sexual exploitation. Let us all be more careful and courteous with our words lest we offend and scandalize children. Let us be rightful and moral with our actions so that we give them a good example and not lead them to sin, and to disgrace,” Santos, the head of the CBCP-ECMI, said.
“Lastly, let us prepare them for the future. Let us make their future brighter and better and help them succeed in life,” he said.
Devotees of the Santo Niño from different parts of the country celebrate Sunday the Feast of the Child Jesus with festive rites and grand parades.
In Metro Manila, 33 fiesta masses, which started at 3 p.m. Saturday until 12 midnight today, will be celebrated at the Santo Nino de Tondo Parish in Manila, the center of celebrations in the metropolis. The grand procession will be held at 4 a.m. Sunday.
In Pandacan, Manila, 15 masses will be celebrated Sunday at the Santo Nino Parish from 5 a.m. until 8 p.m., including a community mass at the church yard at 7 a.m. which will be marked with the dancing of the “Ati-Atihan.”
In Cebu City, the widely popular Sinulog Festival in honor of Senor Santo Nino, the oldest festival in the archipelago, is expected to gather around one million devotees and tourists. Cebuanos do not consider the Christmas season over until after the celebration of the festive Sinulog Festival. (Christina I. Hermoso)
