Be concerned, respond to ‘sign of the times,’ urges Bishop Bacani
Everyone must have empathy and must help in resolving today’s ‘sign of the times’—violence and indifference.
This was the message of Novaliches Bishop Emeritus Teodoro Bacani in his lecture in the Theological Society’s lecture series and general assembly on Oct. 19 at the UST Central Seminary Chapel.
“We must read the sign of the times [and] scrutinize them. There are many others but these two (violence and indifference) have special prominence to [us].”
Novaliches Bishop Emeritus Teodoro Bacani discusses violence and indifference, the two prominent 'signs of the times' of today. Photo by Joselle Czarina S. Dela Cruz of The Spiral Journal.
Bacani said empathy and charity are also needed besides knowing the ‘sign of the times.’
“We are sheltered for so much violence, but not the rest of the world. Wars and killings are not strangers in our ears. [B]ut there is this ‘deadma’ mentality. ‘Wala akong pakialam sa hindi ko kapamilya.’ This is the sad reality of our country,” he said.
“Hindi sapat ‘yung information. We need exposure. We need immersion. We need experience so as to we will be able to share the feelings of others and to see as they see,” he added.
Bacani said indifference is spreading throughout the world, called by Pope Francis as ‘globalization of indifference.’
“Pope Francis [...] speaks of [this]. This is happening, people are being killed, people are being injured, [and] people killed themselves. [This] is [also] the ‘dedma mentality,’” said Bacani.
The bishop also encouraged everyone to emulate Blessed Virgin Mary’s example of faith through prayer.
“When we start to have a heart like Mary’s, violence will be countered and indifference will be replaced by compassion,” he said.
The event titled "Pagpapakabana: Empathy in Action" was also followed by the oath taking and induction of Central Board of the UST Theological Society
Pagpapakabana is a Cebuano word for concern.
‘Pastoral Theologian’
Bacani discussed the pastoral theologian qualities that the seminarians must exercise when they become priests in the future.
A pastoral theologian is also a shepherd that must defend his sheep, said Bacani.
“Pastoral theology must be a theology that defends the sheep. Our people need to be defended,” he said.
“Why do they need to be defended? Because there are many predators in this world,” he added.
Bacani said pastoral theology must give and nourish the lives of the people.
“We do not theologize just in order to fill the libraries with masteral and doctoral thesis. We theologize that people may become more alive,” he said.