ILOILO City – Jaro Archbishop Jose Romeo Lazo encourages Ilonggos to be hopeful and remain faithful this 2023.
During the mass for the Solemnity of Mary, the Holy Mother of God, at the Jaro Metropolitan Cathedral on Sunday morning, Jan. 1, Lazo’s homily was about the New Year, the Blessed Virgin Mary, and world peace.
“Matuod nga nagakalangkag kita, may kahangawa kita. Ugaring gasarig man kita nga d’ya tanan bahin kang plano kang Dios nga sa anang kaayad kag gugma aton d’ya ma-atubang kag ma-welcome kon ano man ang aton mangin eksperyensya sa amo d’ya nga tuig,” he said.
The archbishop said 2023 will be full of uncertainties but he urged Ilonggos to be thankful for all the blessings received.
“Mangin hopeful kita kag masarigon kita sa mga matabu sa 2023 nga bahin kang pagpalangga kang Dios kag anang pag-atipan kanaton nga tanan. Kon na-eksperyensyahan naton tana kang 2022, ma-eksperyensyahan man naton tana sa 2023 nga may pagpasalamat sa ana gid nga pagpahayag kag ana gugma kag pag-atipan kanaton nga tanan,” Lazo said.
He also prayed for world peace, a focus of Pope Francis’ New Year message.
The World Day of Peace was being celebrated on January 1 as well.
Explained Lazo, world peace is possible if challenges are faced together, just like how everyone battled the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) crisis in the previous years.
Amid the pandemic, frontliners, local government units, and stakeholders helped each other; community pantries were set up; and the public had themselves vaccinated.
Then referring to the Russian aggression in Ukraine, he said, “Ginapangayo naton nga daad sa bag-o nga tuig nga d’ya may bag-o man nga paminsaron kag tagipusuon ang mga tawo nga makapabag-o kang anda mga desisyon sa pagpaluntad kang paghidaet. Indi inaway kundi paghidaet.”
Like the Pope, Lazo called for everyone to unite and avoid killing each other in wars or in the country’s campaign against illegal drugs.
“Iwasan daad naton ang pagpatay kundi tugroan kang kahigayunan ang tawo sa pagbag-o sa anda nga kabuhi,” he said.
He also mentioned the importance of saving the environment from climate change and explained that crises are rooted in humans’ bad habits and the prioritization of self-interest.
“Kabay nga masanagan kita sa bag-ong tuig nga d’ya, tanan may kaangtanan sa aton ginatawag nga common goal. Aton dya tanan nga balay, iririmaw kita nga naga-uli sa amo nga kalibutan tugruan man naton ang balay naton kang paghidaet,” the archbishop said.
Most importantly, Lazo encouraged everyone to do acts that make another feel loved, as we are all brothers and sisters in the eyes of God./PN
