Easter celebration: Church leaders laud frontliners, spirit of volunteerism

BACOLOD CITY — As Christians celebrate Easter, Church leaders have lauded the sacrifices of frontliners in the fight against COVID-19 as well as the spirit of volunteerism that has prevailed.

Amid the gloom caused by the deadly virus, Bacolod Bishop Patricio Buzon said the innate goodness of humanity shines brightly, offering much hope.

“We are moved by the heroism of the frontliners, the generous spirit of volunteerism, as exemplified by our own COVID warriors of Negros,” he said.

“I pray that when this catastrophe is finally over, everything does not go back to normal, to what it used to be, but to a new normal, a new way of life,” he said.

San Carlos Bishop Gerardo Alminaza described frontliners in the battle against COVID-19 as the “saints next door.”

“The concrete and reciprocal love you inspire among our people is truly touching and contagious so that even the poor among us are moved to even share out of their own need. Thank you for walking the extra mile,” he said.

Rev. Salvador Parpa, Bacolod Cosmopolitan Christian Church pastor, also spoke about charity for those in need.

“Fear not, keep calm, trust God in all situations in this time of crisis and throughout all the days of our lives,” he said.

For his part, Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson said, “to celebrate the risen Christ in the midst of the scare and uncertainty of a pandemic is to proclaim the victory of hope over despair, of faith over doubt”.

“Now, more than ever is the time to magnify the gift of love and life of our Savior Jesus Christ by our humility, discipline, and self-sacrifice for the good of all,” he said.