by: ANGELI MAE S. CANTILLANA and KRYSTEL NICOLE A. SEVILLA
Renewed understanding of the clergy and laity’s role will strengthen the Catholic Church’s unity.
Fr. Gerard Timoner III, O.P., prior provincial of the Dominican Province of the Philippines, assured this to the thousands of Catholics during the celebration of La Naval de Manila 2014, last Oct. 12 at Santo Domingo Church in Quezon City.
Timoner said, the Catholics are facing two conflicts that hinders the roles of both the clergy and laity as members of the Church—clericalism and laicism.
Renewed understanding of the clergy and laity’s role will strengthen the Catholic Church’s unity.
Fr. Gerard Timoner III, O.P., prior provincial of the Dominican Province of the Philippines, assured this to the thousands of Catholics during the celebration of La Naval de Manila 2014, last Oct. 12 at Santo Domingo Church in Quezon City.
Timoner said, the Catholics are facing two conflicts that hinders the roles of both the clergy and laity as members of the Church—clericalism and laicism.
He defined clericalism as the due deference given to priests that sometimes goes overboard, while laicism is priests’ reliance of most of their duties to the laity.
“Nagkakaron po kung minsan ang hindi pagkakaunawaan sa loob ng simbahan sapagkat kung minsan, nagkukulang din yung ating pagkilala sa tamang ugnayan ng pari at layko,” Timoner said in his homily during the Eucharistic celebration of La Naval.
He added the difference between the clergy and laity is not absolute, noting that their roles would not be possible without each other.
“Ang pagkakaiba ng ating ugnayan ay tulad ng pagkakaiba ng husband and wife. Hindi pwedeng sabihin na ikaw ay husband kung ikaw ay walang wife,” said Timoner, who was recently appointed as a member of the International Theological Commission. “At sana, sa loob ng simbahan, bigyan ng pagpapapahalaga ang ating pagkakaiba at ang ating pagkakaugnay.”
This year’s theme is “Maria: Inang Layko, Inang Layko,” which likens Mary’s connection with the Christ to the priests’ connection with Him.
The gathering of Marian devotees for the Our Lady of La Naval festivities was in commemoration of the stunning victory of the Philippines against Dutch invaders in 1646.
Filipinos and Spaniards sought the aid of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary in the five famous naval battles against the Dutch invaders, with a vow that all the defenders would walk barefoot in procession towards her shrine in the old Santo Domingo Church in Intramuros.
The Philippines, equipped with only two galleons, faced 15 Dutch ships and won the battles miraculously.
“Nagkakaron po kung minsan ang hindi pagkakaunawaan sa loob ng simbahan sapagkat kung minsan, nagkukulang din yung ating pagkilala sa tamang ugnayan ng pari at layko,” Timoner said in his homily during the Eucharistic celebration of La Naval.
He added the difference between the clergy and laity is not absolute, noting that their roles would not be possible without each other.
“Ang pagkakaiba ng ating ugnayan ay tulad ng pagkakaiba ng husband and wife. Hindi pwedeng sabihin na ikaw ay husband kung ikaw ay walang wife,” said Timoner, who was recently appointed as a member of the International Theological Commission. “At sana, sa loob ng simbahan, bigyan ng pagpapapahalaga ang ating pagkakaiba at ang ating pagkakaugnay.”
This year’s theme is “Maria: Inang Layko, Inang Layko,” which likens Mary’s connection with the Christ to the priests’ connection with Him.
The gathering of Marian devotees for the Our Lady of La Naval festivities was in commemoration of the stunning victory of the Philippines against Dutch invaders in 1646.
Filipinos and Spaniards sought the aid of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary in the five famous naval battles against the Dutch invaders, with a vow that all the defenders would walk barefoot in procession towards her shrine in the old Santo Domingo Church in Intramuros.
The Philippines, equipped with only two galleons, faced 15 Dutch ships and won the battles miraculously.