Bp. Apigo celebrates 1st mass for San Nicolas de Tolentino fiesta

MATI CITY—Bishop of Mati Abel Apigo has celebrated his first fiesta Mass at San Nicolas de Tolentino Cathedral for its 82nd parochial fiesta, September 10.

Bishop Apigo said he is happy to have celebrated the mass since he was installed as bishop of Mati last year.

He said he was not able to preside over the mass in 2018 since they were called to attend the seminar for new bishops in Rome which also coincided with the fiesta of Mati.

In his homily, the bishop underlined gratitude to God in the celebration of fiesta.

He said that San Nicolas de Tolentino remained humble, even considering himself fragile like an earthen vessel—a sinner.

He added that serving God through others should not be credited to the servant but to God.

“Don’t thank yourselves. Thank God,” he said.

“We are weak but God selected us,” he added, referring to how Jesus selected the 12 apostles despite their various backgrounds.

The bishop also said that parents should treat their children as God’s gifts and that forming them to become good Christians have lasting effects in their lives.

“Let’s continue to share the heavenly bread—the Word of Jesus Christ and Jesus Christ Himself,” the bishop said.

Before the end of the mass, the bishop blessed the breads and distributed them to the mass-goers. It is a tradition every fiesta of San Nicolas to distribute the breads, in remembrance of the healing which happened to San Nicolas by eating the bread dipped in water.