Papal Nuncio Archbishop Charles John Brown called on the Filipino faithful "to share the gift of faith" as an expression of gratitude to God for sending His Son, Jesus Christ, to save mankind.
In a message sent to the Diocese of Maaasin in Southern Leyte, the Papal envoy called on the faithful to share the gift of faith as an expression of thanksgiving to God "who has loved us through His Son."
Brown was supposed to lead the celebration of a Pontifical Mass to mark the 500th anniversary of the first Easter Mass at the Magellan’s Shrine in Limasawa Island last March 31.
But because of the pandemic, an advisory from the Department of Foreign Affairs prevented him from attending the occasion.
Maasin Bishop Precioso Canatillas said the advisory of the DFA restricts all dignitaries in the country from traveling.
"Five hundred years after the first mass was offered in this archipelago, the Church in the Philippines is invited anew to ‘go forth’ and become a community of authentic missionary disciples. The love of Christ, made present in every celebration of the Holy Mass, impels us to proclaim the Gospel we have received to all the world," the Church leader said in his message that was read by Rev. Fr. Mark Vincent Salang of the Diocese of Maasin.
"It is in this sharing of the gift of faith with others that we can best express our thanksgiving to God who has loved us through His Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ, who suffered, died and rose again from the dead," he added.
The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) has adjusted the schedule for the celebration of the 500 years of Christianity in the country because of the pandemic.
The scheduled events this year had been adjusted and made to extend until 2022.
"The original schedule for the culmination of the celebration in April 2021 will now instead serve as the launching of the year-long celebration that will end in April 2022," the CBCP said.