MANILA, July 20, 2012—Young people can find in the soon-to-be saint Pedro Calungsod a friend whose values and conviction they can imitate, a Catholic priest said.
Fr. Chito Manio Vicente, a guest priest of Cubao diocese said the soon to be saint is really an approachable saint especially to the Filipino youth.
He is so easy to like because even at his young age, he was already steeped in Catholic values as he already offered himself to God and to the service of the Church.
“He left the country at a young age of 14, studied Catechesis and become a Catechist. His service to the Church led him to go to the Marianas, living in harsh conditions. He took the hardships of missionary life and already showed the values that he can make a donation of his life for others. But still, he lived a happy life and is not selfish in sharing his life to the young,” Vicente said.
“Our youth today are busy in social networking sites or going out with friends, playing sports and entertaining self, but Pedro, until he died engaged with something productive by helping others. He was a young man who was very clear on his mission. As God makes the world a better place to live in, Pedro [did the same], so the youth must also imitate his ways,” he added.
The priest emphasized that today’s young people must remember that they are Christians, children of God, even if a sinner, still, God loves them.
“To Pedro, that is clear.. . his dedication to God and to the Church is very clear. The young can get many lessons from him. Thus, they must approach him to ask for his intercession to do good things in their daily life,” Vicente said further.
He also suggested that promotional activities such as seminars, workshops and discussions about Pedro Calungsod must be done in order the young and the rest of Filipinos become more aware of the 2nd Filipino saint.
Currently, the priest has a devotion to Pedro and very passionate about him. He also said that Calungsod is not a stranger to him but a friend and a brother.
Vicente is a guest priest of St. Joseph Shrine in Anonas. As a deacon in Rome, he was assigned to proclaim the Gospel during the beatification rites of Pedro Calungsod in 2000 in Rome. (Jandel Posion)
