THE rector of the Basilica Minore Del Santo Niño urged the faithful to revive the virtue of patience and understanding in this fast-paced society.
"Being a person of faith requires thoughtful reflection and understanding of God's work. It is through this that we can be renewed disciples and live true Christian lives radiating God's love and grace to others," said Fr. Pacifico "Jun" Nohara, Jr., Basilica rector, during the mass and reenactment of the First Baptism at 9 a.m. today, January 20.
Nohara lamented that in this current society, younger people are no longer practicing patience and understanding in their lives due to the birth of faster and instant technology such as social media.
"They now want shortcuts to everything. They want everything that is instant, popular and trending. We are now slowly losing the act of patience," Nohara said.
He said that as young Christians lose their patience, they also lose their ability to reflect, understand and discern God's message.
Nohara admitted that keeping these virtues is one of the challenges that the clergy is facing as communication is vital to evangelization.
He urged younger Christians to remember the lessons of their forebearers, especially those who witnessed the birth of Christianization in the country.
As the 500th anniversary of the country's Christianization draws closer, Nohara urged the faithful to cherish their faith, through prayer to the Santo Niño.
The faithful should also convert their well-cherished faith in the Holy Child through works of mercy, Nohara added.
After the seaborne procession that brought the image of the Santo Niño and the Lady of the Guadalupe arrived at Cebu City Pier at 8 a.m. today, they were immediately brought to the Basilica for the 9 a.m. mass
A reenactment of the first mass and baptism was also held after the mass. (JKV/VoxPop Cebu)