Malolos Bishop Jose F. Oliveros concelebrated a Mass with Caloocan Bishop Deogracias S. Iñiguez and 26 priests of the Diocese of Malolos to mark the 25th anniversary of the Parish of St. Anne as as a national shrine. (Photo: Rose Carmel Acuña)
HAGONOY, Bulacan, Oct. 31, 2016 – In a Mass to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Parish of St. Anne as as a national shrine, a bishop called on the older generation to follow in the footsteps of the Blessed Virgin’s parents, St. Joachim and St. Anne, by being models to young people.
“You, older ones, be an example to the youth,” said Malolos Bishop Jose F. Oliveros, who concelebrated the Mass with Caloocan Bishop Deogracias S. Iñiguez and 26 priests of the Diocese of Malolos.
He encouraged the devotees of St. Anne to be an example to the youth by drawing inspiration from the lives of St. Anne and St. Joachim when guiding the younger generation in developing and nurturing their faith in God.
In his homily, the prelate also highlighted the significance of remembering all the graces and blessings the Church has received through St. Anne and her spouse, St. Joachim. “We remember things so as to somehow transport the past to the present,” said Oliveros in Filipino.
He also called on the youth to follow and respect the elderly not because they are weak but because they are “the developers and the nurturers of faith.” “You, youth, respect your elders,” said Oliveros.
In 1991, the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines declared the Parish of Saint Anne in Hagonoy a national shrine, choosing it among many other parishes dedicated to the said saint.
Before the Mass, 25 benefactors were awarded in recognition of their endless support to the National Shrine and Parish of Saint Anne that helped the shrine remain a center of popular devotion in Luzon.
After the Mass, Oliveros asked for the faithful’s support, particularly for the projects under the Annual Bishops’ Appeal. (Manuel Geon Dela Cruz/CBCP News)
