Homily of Bishop Bernardino Cortez, Auxiliary Bishop of Manila during a Liturgical Reception at the Manila Cathedral on August 28, 2004 at 9:00 a.m.

 
His Excellency, the Apostolic Nuncio to the Philippines, Archbishop Antonio Franco,
Our beloved Archbishop, Archbishop Gaudencio Rosales,
My former bishops, His Excellency Bishop Francisco San Diego, Pasig
Bishop Leo Drona of San Pablo,
Reverend monsignori and brother priests from the Diocese of San Pablo
and our own Archdiocese, Manila,
Religious, women and men, seminarians
My beloved members of the family,
Brothers and sisters in the Lord,

June 4, 2004, first Friday, His Excellency the Apostolic Nuncio, Archbishop Franco invited me to take lunch with him and his staff at the Nunciature to discuss about my ordination. And in the course of our sharing the Nuncio told me, “Bishop Leo Drona is from San Pablo, isn’t he?” I said “yes Your Excellency, actually he is a native of Pakil, Laguna. That’s why he will be back in San Pablo in Laguna.” “You are from Baclaran, aren’t you?” “Yes Your Excellency.” “That’s why you will be back to Manila.”

Brothers and sisters, yes I was born and I grew in Baclaran, Metro Manila; a pupil of Baclaran Elementary School; a student at UST High School; a seminarian of the Archdiocese of Manila in Our Lady of Guadalupe Minor Seminary, San Carlos Seminary, Maryhill School of Theology.

The call of the mission is in my heart. At the end of my seminary formation, that experience with my lola Mauricia Achaga Cortez at Pansol, Calamba, Laguna came back to me and kept coming to my mind. Our lola Mauricia was recuperating from her paralysis at Pansol. Being a manang she wanted to attend mass daily or at least attend the Sunday mass but there was none at Pansol. I could remember before we left Pansol because she was healed, the parish priest came to celebrate the fiesta mass and administered the baptism and again led the barrio. I saw the joy of my lola. Child as I was, not yet at elementary school, I said to myself, if God would call me to his service, I would serve this place.

And so, I went to Cardinal Santos, the Archbishop of Manila to ask permission that I would work in the Diocese of San Pablo and I presented myself then the bishop of San Pablo, Bishop Bantique as candidate for state of clergy of San Pablo. That’s why I returned to San Pablo and was ordained on June 23, 1974 for the Diocese of San Pablo at Sta. Rita de Cascia, Baclaran by Bishop Pedro Bantique.

God wants me to be in Manila that’s why in 1979-1982, I was a guest priest not only at any parish in the Archdiocese of Manila but at the heart of the Archdiocese of Manila in Sto. Niño Parish, Tondo, Manila. I worked side by side with the late bishop Amado Paulino, serving the district of Manila North, a secretary and treasurer of the Catechetical ministry. Those were the times when your servant was identified not only with the late bishop Paulino but even with Cardinal Sin especially by the good Cardinal Sin who would celebrate foundation masses and celebrations of special events in the different public elementary and high schools of Tondo. It was in 1979, the Synod of Manila was held. Though I was not a delegate, I was with bishop Paulino. Every morning at breakfast table he would share with us the discussion, the orientation and even the conflicts of the Synod. It was the Archdiocese of Manila, probably to recognize my service, that arranged my papers, worked out my papers towards my journey to France for Carmelite Formation in Carmelite Spirituality in Notre Dame de Vie, France. There in the desert, how true is the word of the Lord to prophet Isaiah “I will lead you to the desert and I will speak to your heart. In the desert I experienced and I would confess that prayer is the test of everything. Prayer is the source of everything. Prayer is the rector of everything, the driving force of everything. If prayer is right, everything will be right for prayer will not allow anything to go wrong.

In the desert, the spirit let me to be acquainted with the girl. A young girl who is now theyoungest doctor of the Church. St. Therese of the Child Jesus. The spirit led me to Therese so that I become a devotee and follower of her la petite voie, a little way la vie de l’amour, la vie de la confiance, the way of love, the way of trust. In the desert, I also came to feel the heart of the Church. I came not to know only with my mind but with my heart the documents of Vatican II and in particular the constitution, the pastoral constitution of the Church in the modern World, Gaudium et Spes. That’s why I cannot resist, I cannot but consider Gaudium et Spes as my motto, my coat of arms. My coat of arms is OMNIBUS CARITAS, that is taken from Gaudium et Spes 92. Gadium et Spes speaks about the Church in dialogue with the world but also the Church in dialogue within herself. And in the dialogue we mean herself the guiding principle, the holy spirit, through the late Pope John 23 rd initiated the principle In Necessaries Unitas, In Dubis Libertas, In Omnibus Caritas. And to make it practical that would make things necessary, let there be unity. In things that are now doubtful, let there be liberty but in all things let there be love. Concretely speaking, we can say where women reign in the church or not, In Dubis Libertas, liberty. Where the faithful receive by hand or by mouth, In Dubis Libertas. When a priest have a card, a credit card or not, In Dubis Libertas. When the form of our government be parliamentary or shall we maintain the two houses, In Dubis Libertas, liberty. But, a necessaries unitas, we cannot compromise the sanctity of life. We cannot compromise the blessedness of marriage. We cannot stand right and close lips in the midst of injustices and corruption. We cannot but be united when we have pronounced that the church in the Philippines must be church of the poor. The church in the Philippines must be a community of disciples. And here in the Archdiocese, we cannot but be united in showing and experiencing this church of the poor by our program and vision, Pondo ng Pinoy. We cannot but be united…Pondo ng Pinoy. “Anumang magaling kahit maliit basta’t malimit ay patungong langit.”

Hindi po yan nagpapalakas kay Archbishop, talagang nasa puso . Because through this Pondo ng Pinoy we are transforming our values. In transforming our values, we will transform our attitude and outlook in life. This is true not only for the rich but even more for the poor. Pondo ng Pinoy. But in Omnibus Caritas, in all things love, hate the sin, but love the sinner. We can be distant, without being disagreeable. Let there be love because God is love. Today the feast of a great bishop, St. Augustine, the one who have known love quietly. St. Augustine in his confessions revealed, “Late have I loved you, O beauty ever ancient. You were within me but I was outside. And it was there when I searched for you. You were with me when I was not with you. I have tasted you and now I hunger and taste forever more.

Brothers and sisters, St. Augustine is telling us, if I may use the expression in French. Forbidden son, we have known the Lord by our celebrations, by our ministries, by our life. We are close to the Lord. Take advantage of this closeness to our God. Make the most of our Christian faith. And the beauty, and the treasure of our faith is revealed if we are not only in touch but we are in communion and intimacy with our Lord Jesus Christ. Again, I would return to that desert experience. In prayer, in our own personal silent prayer, this intimacy and communion with our Lord Jesus is strengthened and deepened. More so, that at least for us bishops, we will become true servants of the gospel and hope for the community. But I guess St. Augustine is telling us, the Love of God is in each one of us and that love of God cannot keep us idle. That spirit of love of God in each one of us, one way or another is crying out for each one of us. This servant of the goodness make hope of your community.

Brothers and sisters let me express my gratitude to the Archbishop of Manila, for one way or another opening the ministry in Archdiocese, for myself. I’m treating my brother priests in the Archdiocese, the religious sisters, the lay leaders. As an auxiliary bishop, I think if we will compare pastoral ministry to a basketball game, the Archbishop is the captain and the playing coach. My rule is to wait for his passes and to wait for his instructions. Kung gusto mong mag-shoot at medyo kailangan ng follow up, that’s the rule of the auxiliary bishop. But maybe in my own little way, may I contribute in the Archdiocese this moving principle. “In necessary things, let there be unity. In doubtful things, let there be liberty, but in all things, we are Christians, we are children of God, let there be love. Amen. And thank you very much.