A Christmas message

(Message during the DADITAMA meeting at Tagum last December 5-6)

“Dakong pasalamat nato sa diocese sa Tagum, magbaguod gyud ta with a smile,” says new CBCP President Archbishop Romulo G. Valles D.D. during the quarterly meeting of the Archdiocese of Davao, Dioceses of Digos, Tagum, and Mati (DADITAMA) at Tagum City. It was the last quarterly meeting thus a pre-Christmas party happened and Abp. Valles had an opportunity to speak to everyone.

“Daghang salamat sa tanan, ilabina sa atong tanang DADITAMA meetings,” he said he was very thankful most especially that the DADITAMA quarterly gathering was being attended faithfully by the archdiocese and dioceses since not all who tried to do this kind of gathering thrived.

He continued praising the wonderful work of service of the bishops, priests, and sisters, “that is not surprising because that is expected of us what is surprising is the service of the lay people,” he emphasized. Abp. Valles reiterated his point on the wonderful work of service of the lay people, who even though they have main priorities in life such as their own families, work and among others, they still continue to serve with a joy that radiates to other people.

“Mao mana ang among gikaupawan,” he went back to the life of service of the clergy and the consecrated persons which we also celebrate this new liturgical year that started last November 26, “that is not surprising.”

He went on clearly telling everyone about his remembrance of all the DADITAMA meetings, “kung magmeeting ta, sige ra ta ug hisgot ug unsa ang atong ikahatag, ug pwedeng mabuhat nga makaayo sa katawhan, but we never asked ‘unsa may akong makuha niini?” That every single one of them just thought of giving and not of receiving. Lastly he said, “Jesus joyfully gave, maong Merry Christmas gayud! With smile and joy, Merry Christmas!”