Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle on Maundy Thursday made a wish for more priest choosing to serve in poor parishes. Tagle made the wish before the archdiocese’s priests at a Chrism Mass at the Manila Cathedral, the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines news site said. “I look forward to the time when our priests would be vying for assignments in the poorest parishes,” the CBCP news site quoted Tagle as saying in his homily. He said it is the duty of priests to serve those most in need, particularly now as this is the Year of the Poor. The prelate recounted a meeting he had with survivors of a fire that destroyed several houses in the Parola compound in Manila earlier this year, where 15,000 were displaced. He noted that despite their plight, those affected still had “their faith unshaken and stronger than ever amid the devastation.” Those affected by the fire appeared thankful and happy that “God loves them regardless of what they have been through,” and that the Church “made an effort to be with them, to join them in their hardships.” Fr. Jeremiah Adviento of the Nuestra Señora de la Soledad de Camba Parish, which has jurisdiction over Parola, was with Tagle cardinal when he visited the area, recalled Tagle rode a jeepney to the site. Adviento added Tagle held Mass last April 1 in a makeshift basketball court. — Joel Locsin/LBG, GMA News
