CARITAS: God is Love

(Excerpt from Abp. Romulo Valles’ homily during the 50th Founding Anniversary of CARITAS DAVAO, June 13, 2022 at Our Lady of Sorrows Chapel, Teresian Daughters of Mary, Matina, Davao City)

“Makagagahom ug tunhay nga Dios gihatag mo sa imong katawhan si San Antonio (pwede pog pun-an nato ug si Antonio Mabutas) nga bantugang magwawali ug tigpangama alang sa ilang mga kinahanglan..itugot nga tinabangan niya kami, (kita labi na CARITAS members) nagsunod sa mga pagtulon-an sa kinabuhi ni Kristo, mag-ila nga Ikaw maoy nagpailawom pagtabang kanamo sa tanang mga kalisdanan.”

Once again today, we come together in this mass and assure ourselves or better remind ourselves what moved Antonio de Padua, what moved Antonio Mabutas…to start CARITAS Davao.

Kada misa baya nato, when we come to the altar it is one thing to know that we have Jesus, we have the presence of the Lord yes, we take His body and blood in Holy Communion, yes, but one thing important to realize kaning bag-ong verb, CHRISTIFY.

Christify Oh Lord, Christify us. Importante ta, part sa kada misa nato, we pray Christify us, make us Christified, we become truly the offering at Mass, because

EU is wonderful, good
CHARIS is gift, wonderful gift, tungod kay si Kristo ang gift, perfect gift.

But also ang tinguha sa Ginoo, we become like Him, we also become gifts in the mass, CHRISTIFY, becoming truly like Christ.

CARITAS: GOD IS LOVE

Ang inyong ngalan, kuyaw ngalana, balandra, CARITAS. If there’s one word, this is CARITAS, the CARITAS of Christ, Eucharist. Challenge na and therefore all the more murag challenge nga ang paninguha, ma CHRISTIFY ko so that the work of CARITAS will really be worthy of its name.

But what is CARITAS, then we see this in the gospel, lahi, lahi. If somebody asks you to walk with him or with her, one kilometer, walk an extra kilometer that is CARITAS. But I would like to close what moved Anthony of Padua, what moved Antonio Mabutas what moved you to continue serving for 50 years?

Ever enduring, never a mistake, you can never go wrong nga makarealize ta, in all endeavors like CARITAS Davao, ang Dios maoy nagpailawom sa tanan natong mga buhat. We are not here because of of each other but we are here because we are simply called by God and God tells us “I will be with you when you continue bringing My presence to people, a presence which is always CARITAS.