TRULY BLESSED AT FIFTY
The Golden Jubilee of the Diocese Ilagan
May 12, 2020
As we look forward to the GOLDEN JUBILEE OF THE DIOCESE OF ILAGAN on May 12, 2020, we solemnly trace together the graced history of our local church in the spirit of remembrance, celebration and prospection that we are TRULY BLESSED AT FIFTY.
The Golden Jubilee of the Diocese Ilagan
May 12, 2020
As we look forward to the GOLDEN JUBILEE OF THE DIOCESE OF ILAGAN on May 12, 2020, we solemnly trace together the graced history of our local church in the spirit of remembrance, celebration and prospection that we are TRULY BLESSED AT FIFTY.
TO REMEMBER THE PAST WITH GRATITUDE
WE ARE BLESSED TO REMEMBER THE PAST WITH GRATITUDE, especially our journey in forming ourselves as a local church with practically nothing to start with in the beginning — except that deep fervor, issuing from the providence of God, our Father, to respond to the Second Vatican Council's call to an "aggiornamento," a renewal, a new way of being church, that is, to be a church as people of God, and not only as hierarchy; a church of participation, and not only of authority; a church of communion, and not only of tradition; a church that evangelizes beyond itself, and not only within itself.
WE ARE BLESSED TO REMEMBER THE PAST WITH GRATITUDE, especially our journey in forming ourselves as a local church with practically nothing to start with in the beginning — except that deep fervor, issuing from the providence of God, our Father, to respond to the Second Vatican Council's call to an "aggiornamento," a renewal, a new way of being church, that is, to be a church as people of God, and not only as hierarchy; a church of participation, and not only of authority; a church of communion, and not only of tradition; a church that evangelizes beyond itself, and not only within itself.
TO CELEBRATE THE PRESENT WITH JOY
WE ARE BLESSED TO CELEBRATE THE PRESENT WITH JOY our struggles in becoming a church of liberation — from poverty, injustice and oppression— as our way of giving flesh to the Gospel of Jesus, the Son of God, that calls for the preferential option for the poor in the midst of the social realities that were brought about not only by the abuses of Martial Law and dictatorship of Marcos in the past, but also by the present exploitations resulting from the sway of the business elite and oligarchs, the manipulations ensuing from the clout of political dynasties, and maneuverings arising from the guile of political opportunists that continue to beset our nation and our people.
WE ARE BLESSED TO CELEBRATE THE PRESENT WITH JOY our struggles in becoming a church of liberation — from poverty, injustice and oppression— as our way of giving flesh to the Gospel of Jesus, the Son of God, that calls for the preferential option for the poor in the midst of the social realities that were brought about not only by the abuses of Martial Law and dictatorship of Marcos in the past, but also by the present exploitations resulting from the sway of the business elite and oligarchs, the manipulations ensuing from the clout of political dynasties, and maneuverings arising from the guile of political opportunists that continue to beset our nation and our people.
TO PROSPECT THE FUTURE WITH HOPE
WE ARE BLESSED TO PROSPECT THE FUTURE WITH HOPE, despite our shortcomings and failures in living up to our vision and mission as a diocese, for we believe that the Holy Spirit, the Lord and Life-Giver, will strengthen us in our commitment to build Basic Ecclesial Communities with the gifts of humility, compassion and mercy, especially to the least, the last, the lost and the left out lying at the margins, peripheries and frontiers of our society who desperately need to be lifted up, empowered, and included in our community.
By the patronage of St. Ferdinand and through the maternal love of Mary, Our Lady of the Visitation of Guibang, may we — as a diocese — REMEMBER WITH GRATITUDE, CELEBRATE WITH JOY, and PROSPECT WITH HOPE that we are TRULY BLESSED AT FIFTY.
WE ARE BLESSED TO PROSPECT THE FUTURE WITH HOPE, despite our shortcomings and failures in living up to our vision and mission as a diocese, for we believe that the Holy Spirit, the Lord and Life-Giver, will strengthen us in our commitment to build Basic Ecclesial Communities with the gifts of humility, compassion and mercy, especially to the least, the last, the lost and the left out lying at the margins, peripheries and frontiers of our society who desperately need to be lifted up, empowered, and included in our community.
By the patronage of St. Ferdinand and through the maternal love of Mary, Our Lady of the Visitation of Guibang, may we — as a diocese — REMEMBER WITH GRATITUDE, CELEBRATE WITH JOY, and PROSPECT WITH HOPE that we are TRULY BLESSED AT FIFTY.