Peñafrancia devotees asked, ‘What changes when you go home after the feast?’

By Natalie Hazel Quimlat

A question raised by Virac Bishop Luisito Occiano in his homily at the Diocesan Mass of Virac held in honor of Ina, Our Lady of Peñafrancia, last Sept. 15, Tuesday, at the Naga Metropolitan Cathedral.

“It is not merely enough to carry the image of Ina," he said. "We should allow her to transform our lives too."

Occiano highlighted qualities of Mary that are nurturing in nature. First, he said, Mary nourishes her children. She guides them towards her Son, Jesus, who spiritually nourishes us in the Holy Eucharist, the ultimate feast.

He also underscored the importance of the mass. “We can organize grand processions and colorful festivals, but if our people are not fed by the Eucharist, we remain spiritually malnourished," he said.

Second, Mary had compassion. Here, Occiano stressed the role of pastoral accompaniment and urged the devotees to reflect if we, ourselves, make the Church more felt for those who are around us and those who find themselves distant from the Church.

Third, Mary prepares us for the mission. "She does not want us to remain infants in our faith," the bishop said. He also urged those present to "be the Church" and called for continued formation not only for the lay faithful but also for the clergy.

Closing his homily, Occiano also asked those present to reflect on the kind of Church we are becoming.

While he commended the immense growth of the local Church in Caceres as it celebrates its 75th anniversary of as an Archdiocese, Occiano called on everyone to be more than a devotee, i.e., a disciple of Christ.