BACOLOD CITY –– Bacolod Bishop Patricio Buzon has launched a 40-day program to allow people to reflect and renew themselves amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.
“The COVID-19 pandemic should not be viewed solely as a crisis, but also as an opportunity for renewal. This 40-day communal reflection aims at forming renewed Christians, families, and communities,” he said.
Buzon said the diocese has devised this activity to invite everyone to enter into a process of renewal using the eyes of faith.
“By participating in this exercise, one hopes to discover God’s message in this trying time, and consequently, respond in faith,” he said.
Since September 1 was declared by Pope Francis as “World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation” and the start of the yearly observance of the “Season of Creation”, the diocese joins the universal Church in answering the Holy Father’s call for renewal.
“Just as the number 40 symbolizes a moment or a period of formation in the bible, so will it be for us who are giving ourselves a sufficient amount of time to purify, to prepare and to renew ourselves as new persons, as new families, and as new people,” Buzon said.
The 40-day exercise is also geared to forming new habits towards integral formation through daily and weekly prayers, fasting, and almsgiving.