San Mateo, Rizal-Parishioners of the Diocesan Shrine and Parish of Nuestra Señora de Aranzazu rejoice as the celebration of the Feast of Sto. Niño started this early Sunday morning.
The festivity kicks off with a solemn procession of the image of the Child Jesus from the house of this year’s Hermano Mayor, Bro. Sendong Atanacio to the parish, followed by the celebration of holy mass presided by the Shrine Rector and Parish Priest, Fr. Lopito “Bembol” Hiteroza.
In celebration on the 43rd year of devotion and veneration of the people of San Mateo to Child Jesus, Fr. Bembol calls out the wrong practices of Filipino Catholics in celebrating the festivity that should be corrected, including the practice of basing the names of the images of Niño according to their garments, their uses, or to our likeness.
“Ano ba naman yan? We fashion our lord Jesus Christ according to our image and likeness. Mali po. Sapagkat nasusulat sa aklat ng Genesis, we are created neatness and likeness of God…tayo ay nilikha na kawangis at kalawa ng Diyos. Ngunit anong ginagawa natin? Binibihisan natin ang batang si Jesus ayon sa kagustuhan natin ayon sa kalarawan natin, ayon sa kawangis natin,“ Fr. Bembol exclaimed.
Aside from that, the Rector also reminds us that we should observe the sacredness of the procession of the images of Sto. Niño to maintain its Christian way and to remove the paganism acts that some of us subconsciously committed before.
“Nahahaluan na ng paganism, bakit po? Kung hindi tayo magpuprusisyon ng maayos, may solemnity…[magpapatuloy lang na]may sigawan, may mga lasing… lasing at yung halimbawa ng pagbubuhos ng tubig, hindi po tama sa pagiging Kristiyano yan, I’m sorry to say that,” he added.
On the other hand, Fr. Bembol expressed his respect to the beliefs of the people.
“Of course I respect you, I respect your belief, pero sana alam natin kung ano talaga ang meaning ng pagsamba,” Fr. Bembol reiterated.
United by Faith
Though mistakes have been committed before , Hermano Mayor Sendong Atanacio still found something that we should grasp as Filipino Catholics.
“Tama naman yung sinabi ni Fr. Bembol, dapat talaga na kung ano yung ginagampanan ng Panginoon natin, yun yung sinusunod natin. Pero kung minsan, nagkakabaligtad tayo na naayos natin na naayon sa gusto natin. Pero maliban doon, eh iisa lang naman tayo ng pananampalataya dangan nga lang kung minsan, nagkakaiba tayo ng paniniwala…pero yung pananampalampataya natin sa Panginoon, kung ano man yung bihis mo sa kanya bilang Sto. Niño, dapat isinasabuhay natin.” Atanacio said.
Flint Osric Gorospe
Senior Writer, Website Team - Media Ministry
Flint is an 18 year-old journalism student from the Polytechnic University of the Philippines. He is also a developing writer, actor, singer, photographer and a church servant. Started as a young member of Tanghalang Aranzazu, Flint had developed his craft throughout the years and expanded his networks as he joined in different church organizations. Currently, he is the Secretary of Avant Garde Singers and also a member of Ministry of Altar Servers, Tanghalang Aranzazu and Media and Public Information Ministry.
