“… rest a while”

During this Year of the Clergy and Consecrated Persons I hope and pray that Bishops and Superiors of congregations and institutes of apostolic life will address the issue of physical and mental health in the New Evangelization.

While we are grateful for all the retreats and recollections, conferences and symposia, and liturgical and cultural celebrations in favor of individuals in the ordained ministry and vowed life, we are concerned that not enough is being done to address this problem effectively and sustainably.

The obligation and the skills of keeping the balance of work, prayer and recreation are undeniably part of the essential equipment of a true and evangelized evangelizer. Clearly this idea is a sign of the compassion of Jesus who said to his apostles, “Come away by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while.” Why? Because, “People were coming and going in great numbers and they had no opportunity even to eat”(Mt 6: 31). Workaholics and burn-outs are modern terms for church workers who are feverishly busy and depressingly tired. Another modern expression, they are always on the overdrive!

During my watch as archbishop of Davao I did three things to address this problem. I invited Dr. Acosta, a cardiologist, to speak to our priests on how to take care of the heart. Also, I invited Ms. Bustamante, a dietitian at San Pedro Hospital, to give correct information on the importance of good diet. And I invited my friends, the ladies of Brahma Kumaris, to give a seminar to all the cooks of our parishes on how to engage in a peaceful cooking activity and how to prepare healthy dishes.

But while these experts did satisfactorily well, their activities were done only once. They should be sustained in the form of an official program of dioceses and institutes of apostolic life.

I think the compassion of Jesus not only for the materially poor but also for the bodily and mentally poor servant leaders of the New Evangelization should be built on that Latin principle, Mens Sana In Corpore Sano, which means, A Healthy Mind In A Healthy Body. Hopefully.