MANILA (RVA News): Bishop Socrates Mesiona, apostolic vicar of Puerto Princesa, in the western Philippines, called for shrines to be “VIP lounges” for ordinary people looking for refuge and joy found only in Christ, but especially as “hospitals of hope” especially for people struggling with mental health issues.
Bishop Mesiona led the Mass on the second day of the 29th National Assembly of Shrines in the Philippines on February 5, organixed by the Association of Shrines and Pilgrimages of the Philippines [ACSP] and hosted by the Diocese of Malolos in Central Luzon.
“In our stressful world, shrines via popular piety offer what therapy alone cannot – the Father’s patient love, healing, solitude with shared stories, and silence,” the bishop said.
He encouraged hundreds of shrine representatives attending the event to welcome every pilgrim not with “pretentions, fake smiles, or filters” but “raw hearts open to God.”
Bishop Mesiona said, “Shrines [must] always exude a welcoming spirit, not cold cathedrals of marble alone, but homes pulsing with warmth… When one is at home because of the hospitality of the host, [they] can be authentic to oneself.”
Furthermore, the bishop underlined why deepening the faithful’s understanding and appreciation of the popular piety celebrated in every shrine is key in turning parishes into an “oasis of healing.”
He noted, “We Filipinos proclaim our faith… [not through] steep theology debates over coffee or theological treatises, but [through] processions that turn into rivers of prayers, novenas that bind families together, and fiestas where saints are acknowledged as intercessors and role models to follow.”
The bishop stressed, “Our faith plays an important role in coping with stress and other mental health issues… science and Church agree: faith is not just a band-aid [but] a lifeline.”
Bishop Mesiona is also chairperson of the Episcopal Commission on Migrants and Itinerant People of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines, which oversees the programs of the ACSP.
