Bishop Julito Cortes re-emphasized in his homily the six areas of concern for the Diocese of Dumaguete in its role of evangelization and spreading the faith, while involving the communities.
“We look forward to the future with hope”, he said, as he presided over the concelebrated mass Tuesday in celebration of the 60 th founding anniversary of the diocese.
Cortes said the six areas are renewed evangelization of Christian communities; an integrated liberation that promotes justice, solidarity, charity, and love of preference for the poor; empowerment of the laity, guided by the principles of participation and communion, with emphasis on the youth of today; a renewed clergy and the religious; collaboration and sharing of charisms in the spirit of co-responsibility and recognition of another’s giftedness in building the Church and fulfilling its mission; and the formation of the Basic Ecclesial Communities.
These are outlined in the 1st Diocesan Synod in 1992, during then Dumaguete Bishop Angel Lagdameo, now the archbishop of Jaro, Iloilo, Cortes said.
He took on the challenge of Pope Francis to journey to the peripheries and “start thinking of strategies on how to reach out to Catholics and even to non-Christians who seldom come to Church for whatever reason.”
By visiting the peripheries, Cortes reiterated what Manila Archbishop Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle had cited during the Pope’s visit early this year, including certain groups that need focus and attention, such as the poor, the youth, the incarcerated, those in the hospitals, and in the world of politics, finance, arts, the sciences, culture, education, and social communication.
The Diocese of Dumaguete was founded April 5, 1955, but the mass and other activities related to its 60 th anniversary was moved to April 7 as its original founding date fell on Easter Sunday this year.
The celebration was also timely for the 101st birthday of the late Bishop Epifanio Surban, the first prelate of the diocese.
The growth in the number of parishes and chaplaincies, with the diocese’s territory remaining as is since its creation, will allow for wider reach and cater to its pastoral concerns, Cortes said.
The number of priests in the diocese has also increased with 91 diocesan and 15 religious priests today, versus only 36 priests when it was created, Cortes said.
He called on the people to continue praying for the priests and religious and those in the consecrated life as he reiterated the need for more young men considering the priestly vocation.
The parochial schools in the diocese also saw a rise over the years, having only five back when the diocese was established to 13 elementary, secondary and college parochial schools today.
Cortes also recognized the multiplication of religious organizations as of present, compared to only a few several decades ago, in responding to the call of God” and now being collaborators with the Church.
Cortes acknowledged the many challenges to the diocese, but expressed hope inspired by the image of the Sto. Niño de Cebu, he would like to believe that they will never be wanting in enthusiasm and desire to always do good for others and for God.
