Mindanaotoday.com | Prelate calls for care of creation
By: URIEL QUILINGUING
Roman Catholic Archbishop Jose Cabantan of the Archdiocese of Cagayan de Oro, in his homily, reechoed Pope Francis’ call for the care of God’s creation in a mass at the Saint Augustine Metropolitan Cathedral on Monday, August 28, this year.
Cabantan said the life of St. Augustine, the patron saint of sinners who, through the unceasing prayers of his mother, Saint Monica, had a spiritual transformation of the heart and became a respected theologian and revered bishop.
He said every devout Catholic must strive for metanoia which means a change of heart in the caring for self, of others, and of God’s creations, always conscious that “every creature has its own value and significance.”
Speaking in the vernacular, the archbishop said every city resident must consciously take good care of the rivers that pass through the city, though he did not recall the destructions and loss of lives due to typhoon Sendong in 2011.
But the Cagayan de Oro river, he said, has been part of Cagay-anons daily life for all these years. It was vital in their journey from the time their forefathers were converted to Christianity in 1622. It was on its estuary where an apparition of a “Birhen sa Kota” [Lady of the Fort] on a night sky was seen by moro pirates.
Thus, residents from riverside villages would hold a fluvial procession of religious images from the mouth of the river to the Cathedral every year, during the Feast Day of St. Augustine, ever grateful for protection and blessings.
Aside from Cagayan de Oro River, five other bodies of water flow to Macajalar Bay passing through the city: Agusan, Ala-e, Biga-an, Iponan, and Umalag.
Mayor Rolando Uy, Vice Mayor Jocelyn Rodriguez, 2nd District Representative Rufus Rodriguez, Councilors Joyleen Balaba, Maria Lourdes Gaane, James Judith II, and Yan Lam Lim attended the Mass.
2023 Miss Cagayan de Oro Vince Tormis, First Runner-up Katheryn Guipetacio, and Second Runner-Up Hanna Marie Carpenter were seated with the city officials on the front pew.
Rosalina Huerbana, Safer River Life Saver Foundation executive director, hailed the archbishop for bringing out environmental issues and in highlighting the care of rivers in the homily. She was with Archbishop Emeritus Antonio Ledesma and City Councilors Jay Pascual, Balaba, Gaane and Judith on board a Liceo de Cagayan University-owned river taxi in the fluvial procession.
At least 10 motorized watercrafts, representing the participating barangays, carried images of St. Augustine, St. Monica, and St. Ambrose–the bishop behind young Augustine’s formation for priesthood.
Archbishop Emeritus Ledesma, Monsignor Rey Monsanto, and Father Allan Pulgo, parish priest of St. Augustine, were co-celebrants in the Mass.
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