‘We all came from women, love them’ – prelate

DAGUPAN City, Pangasinan, September 11, 2014 – Respect and love all women. This was the timely message Archbishop Socrates Villegas gave 1,600 young people of Lingayen – Dagupan during the annual Marian Vigil from September 7 – 8, this year held at the Most Holy Rosary Parish.

“All of us came from women. Because all of us came from women, the first lesson for us is that women should be loved as mothers, sisters, as friends,” the prelate, who also heads the Catholic Bishops’ Conference told the attendees.

DAGUPAN City, Pangasinan — An estimated 1,600 young people from the archdiocese of Lingayen – Dagupan dance to an animation song during the annual Marian Vigil from September 7 –8, 2014 at the Most Holy Rosary Parish. (Photo: Franklin De Guzman)
Father Soc, as he is fondly called in his diocese, emphasized women’s important role of nurturing life.

“Everyone has a birthday but a birthday becomes important when you are able to give another person his birthday.”
In connection to the event’s aim of honoring the Blessed Virgin, Villegas explained why the Church stresses how important Mary’s nativity, traditionally celebrated on September 8, is.

“That is why the Virgin Mary’s birthday is important because she is the one who gave a body, a birthday to Jesus Christ.”
The Sacrament of Confession was also given importance in this year’s Marian Vigil as Sr. Marita Palma, executive secretary of the Archdiocesan Youth Ministry, said, “The best gift we could give to our Mother Mary is purity of heart.”

A worship band comprised of young people from the different parishes in the archdiocese also played for the first time during the Marian Vigil.
The participants were divided into three catechetical sites in which they listened to three different speakers discuss the three virtues of humility, simplicity, and charity.

Organized by the Archdiocese of Lingayen-Dagupan (ALD) Youth Ministry, this year’s Marian Vigil revolved around the theme, “Mary: A Woman of Humility, Simplicity, and Charity.” (Sher Pauline Palola)