Mindanaotoday.com | Priest to Oro dads: Act as bridges, not walls
By: Uriel Quilinguing
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – A Roman Catholic priest on Sunday morning advised newly elected officials of Cagayan de Oro to act as bridges to serve people well.
“Be bridges, not walls,” Mons. Perseus Cabunoc of the Roman Catholic Church’s Jesus Nazareno Parish said in his homily during a Thanksgiving Mass at the City Amphitheater, prior to the oath-taking rites of Mayor-elect Rolando Uy.
Uy, as well as the 16 city council members aside from the city vice mayor who acts presider, and two district representatives to Congress are set to assume their posts noon of Thursday, June 30.
Cabunoc’s discourse was based on Sunday’s Gospel reading from Saint Luke (9:51-62) which narrated Jesus’ journey to Jerusalem and he likened the life of public service – that of politicians – to a journey.
Cabunoc said no less than Pope Francis has described politics as the highest form of vocation and that it is God’s calling.
He urged city officials to forge “good, friendly, and welcoming” relationships with the people, serving those who voted for them and those who did not, including non-residents.
Cabunoc assured them they (the religious) will unceasingly pray so that local elected officials, who got the mandates through votes, would be able to internalize their responsibility of hearing and heeding the voices of the people.
“The voice of the people is the voice of God,” the parish priest of Jesus Nazareno said.
Uy is the first village official (barangay captain) in 72 years to be become City Mayor.
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