(Photo credit: Julius Bennedick Penafiel)
The 3rd National Church Media Convention (NMC 2017) opened in Lahug, Cebu on the eve of the Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, August 14, 2017.
The Most Rev. Dennis Villarojo, Auxilliary Bishop of Cebu, paid tribute to Our Lady in his homily, calling her a “model communicator”. He cited the scene of the disappearance and finding of the child Jesus in the temple and the wine incident at the wedding in Cana.
Bishop Villarojo lauded the Blessed Virgin’s perfect timing, careful choice of words, and full trust in her Son. He urged the assembly of 128 Social Communications Ministry directors and workers from different dioceses in the Country to emulate her in their their role as communicators.
On the other hand, concelebrator Most Rev. Mylo Hubert Vergara, Head of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines Episcopal Commission on Social Communicators (CBCP-ECSC), echoed Bishop Villarojo in saying that ability to commune with God in his reflection during the Holy Hour that followed.
Bishop Vergara identified three important things needed to be a Christian communicator: “Prayer, Recognition of Jesus Christ’s presence, and hope.” He shared his battle with Prostate Cancer last year and said the experience has taught him to be more compassionate towards the seriously-ill and the dying to whom he ministers. (~Maria Mercedes Robles)
