A bishop from the Philippines urged shrine ministers and promotors to transform their parishes into “hospitals of hope,” especially for people struggling with mental health issues.
For Bishop Socrates Mesiona, Apostolic Vicar of Puerto Princesa, in the western Philippines, shrines must become “VIP lounges” for ordinary people looking for refuge and joy found only in Christ.
“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,” he said.
Bishop Mesiona led the Holy Mass on the second day of the 29th National Assembly of Shrines in the Philippines on February 5, organized by the Association of Shrines and Pilgrimages of the Philippines (ACSP) and hosted by the Diocese of Malolos in Central Luzon.
The bishop also serves as chairman of the Episcopal Commission on Migrants and Itinerant People of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), which oversees the programs of the ACSP.
Bishop Mesiona 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.”
“Shrines [must] always exude a welcoming spirit,” said the prelate. “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 prelate 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.”
“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,” explained Bishop Mesiona.
“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,” the bishop also said.
