Bishop tells future priests: Be a father to all

“In righteousness, be a father to all.”

These are the words of newly-ordained Bishop of Pagadian Ronald Lunas to the graduating seminarians of St. Francis Xavier Regional Major Seminary of Mindanao (REMASE).

During the Baccalaureate Mass prior to the graduation ceremonies, March 19, Bp. Lunas said that they must be a father to all despite the difficulties that the Church faces today.

He said that sooner or later, people will call the graduates “father” as they will be ordained to the priesthood.

Bp. Lunas said that the figures in the Scriptures namely, Abraham, St. Joseph and God Himself are fathers to the people.

“There is crisis in faith in the father figures today,” Bp. Lunas said adding that the problems facing the families is also happening in the Church.

“Some do not anymore believe in fathers because of those irresponsible and abusive. This even affected relationship with God,” he said.

“But the world needs to believe in the Father’s love once more; it needs you and me,” Bp. Lunas said to the 28 Theology 4 graduates and 17 Theology 3 seminarians present during the Mass. Seminarians from other year levels and the families and friends of the graduates also attended the ceremony.

He added that future priests like them should perform their role to the flock that they serve amidst all challenges.

“The controversies and scandals clergy are involved in indicate how we do not become what we should be: ‘fathers’ to all people, ‘fathers’ of the body of Christ,” he quipped.

“Let us be the fathers God intended to be,” Bp. Lunas ended.