March 23, 2023 | Information Office
Below is the transcript of Homily of Cebu Archbishop Jose S. Palma for the Confirmation of Grades 8 and 9 students at the Archdiocesan Shrine of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus along D. Jakosalem Street in Cebu City last June 11, 2022.
At the outset, I would like to apologize for my hoarse voice. But more importantly, I’d like to express my congratulations to the school Chaplain, Fr. Nonong Belarmino, members of the School Board and members of the faculty, dear parents, and in a very special way to all of you, who will receive the Sacrament of Confirmation. Everybody, I would like to sincerely express to you my joyful Congratulations. Once more, we give the candidates a big round of applause.
It is my great consolation and joy when I realize today that a particular institution endeavors to give excellent academic formation. And I can see that PAREF Springdale School, and you parents and students, know deep in your heart that when you enroll in the School, you will receive excellent academic formation. It is a special privilege and joy.
But today, we also would like to congratulate you because I know that besides academic formation, the School is also interested to give that holistic, that integral formation. The discipline in the mind, and likewise, in the heart.
Put that simply, the School is entrusted not only that you will become qualified, knowledgeable in science, in academic endeavors but also that you are also trained, that you develop Christian formation, that you also grow spiritually, morally, socially.
That’s why I’m very happy that part of the school activities are the sacraments. Today, I’d like to congratulate you, students, because when you reach this level, you know that you are being prepared to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation.
You are being catechised and you know what you received, and those are the added gifts of the Spirit. But when you have to receive the added gifts, the simple reason is all of you are baptized, all of us were baptized when we were very young.
We did not understand the meaning of the sacraments. And yet that’s an important sacrament. And so because of the Church’s love for all of us, in our journey through life, it is the will of Jesus that we receive what we would call the Sacrament of Maturity.
As we grow more mature, we receive the added gift of the Spirit and that’s what will happen to you. Maturity means that we become more aware of what’s good, of our responsibilities, and we are given the courage to perform them, to do them.
I can recall a few instances, just to show my appreciation of what young boys and girls can do. Knowing that if you perform what’s right and good, we can influence the community, the family for the better.
One time when I went to Palawan, I borrowed a car from a classmate and some other boys joined me. When we passed by the mall to buy some ice cream, it was with a cone. One boy told me, ”Bishop, don’t throw your peelings, your wrappers, on the road. There’s a three hundred peso penalty.” I just smiled because he’s a little boy, and yet, he has the honesty and courage to tell me, “Bishop, don’t throw your peelings outside. You will pay three hundred pesos,” and I admired him for that.
Just another instance. Once more in the company of two sisters, the sisters of my friends in Rome and we went to the Vatican Garden in Castel Gandolfo. In the middle of the garden, my friend told the girl, “May I borrow your camera?” Then the girl said, “You, too, have a camera.” I said, “Yes, but we left it at the porticoes because it’s not allowed to take pictures.” And the girl said, “It’s not allowed to take pictures, why do you have to take pictures? And why do you have to use my camera?” I just smiled. Even that little girl can tell an elderly priest if it’s not allowed, it’s not allowed. Don’t use my camera.”
It takes knowledge, it takes courage to do that. Even as simple as when you sit down for lunch and say, [One daughter, one boy] “Can we say a prayer?” That’s the most inspiring. And I say this because I just said we grow in maturity and the Spirit helps us. And now as we receive the sacraments, it is my prayer, in the near future, you will decide the various courses you will take when you go to college.
Your parents love you, and I congratulate them for sending you to an excellent school. But they could not always be with you. Maybe you will be left alone in the apartment. You may be on your own already when you go to school. Much of it depends on you. To perform and to do what you think is good, what you think can be your fulfillment, can you finish the course, can enable you to graduate as you wish, and as you long for.
Your teachers, your parents can help you but in life there are many things that only we can do. And in that sense, we need the grace of the Spirit, that we will be able to perform our responsibility for our good and for the good of the community.
We now proceed with the sacrament and as I congratulate you, I want you to be truly happy. You only receive this sacrament once. And today, in a special way, the Spirit comes to your life to be with you as you journey towards the Lord.