Aside from bringing the Good News to others, a Catholic prelate has challenged the faithful to rediscover their faith this Year of Missio Ad Gentes (Mission to All Nations).
Caceres Archbishop Rolando Tirona explained that the first step in taking up the challenge of bringing the Good News is "to renew once again our understanding of the faith."
(Photo courtesy of Caceres Archdiocese Facebook page via PNA / FILE PHOTO / MANILA BULLETIN)
He added that faith in Jesus is the greatest gift to Filipino Catholics. The prelate lamented that while most Catholics are "sacramentalized but not fully evangelized."
"Most Catholics receive sacraments and take part in social action activities, such as, relief operations, gift giving, voluntary services for PWDs, tree planting, and building houses for the poor.
But they do not give much time in understanding the faith through formation," said Tirona in a pastoral letter released on Saturday, January 2.
"Many people today do not know the doctrinal content of the faith," he added. This, Tirona said, is the reason why religious instructions and catechetical formations should be given importance in parishes and schools.
"When we rediscover the beauty of what we believe we gain a 'new confidence in the truth of our message.' The result is the 'willingness and the desire to share the faith.'" he said.
Tirona issued the pastoral letter for the launching The Archdiocese of Caceres launched of the Year of the Missio Ad Gentes and Saint Joseph in the archdiocese Sunday, Jan. 3.
It was in 2012 when the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines designated 2021 as the Year of Missio Ad Gentes.
On December 8, 2020, Pope Francis declared on the same day up to December 8, 2021 as the Year of Saint Joseph.