Kalibo bishop reminds country’s leaders, parents to save, care for the youth

KALIBO, Aklan—Kalibo-based Bishop Jose Corazon Tala-o has called on parents, leaders of the church and officials of the country to address the plight of the youth and help them attain a bright future.

In his 24-minute homily at a Mass in celebration of the feast of Sto. Niño de Kalibo on Sunday, Tala-oc reminded parents and leaders of their responsibility over their children.

“Parents, fathers and mothers, where are your children? Do you know where (they are)?(Be) like Mary and Joseph. They sacrificed to look for their son,” Tala-oc said, citing the biblical story on how Jesus went missing when he was 12 and was eventually found by his parents in a temple in Jerusalem, speaking with religious leaders.

He urged parents to look at their troubled children and ask them why they went away or astray even if this meant hearing painful answers.

“To all of us who are now mature, especially to us leaders of our church and our country … where are our young ones? Where are they now? Have we looked for them?” he told thousands of devotees who attended the Mass celebrated on an elevated platform fronting the St. John the Baptist Cathedral.

The devotees, including government officials, spilled from the grounds of the cathedral to the streets around the Pastrana Park.

“We always say that (the children) are the future. Let us take care of them. Or maybe they are exploited by our plans?” the prelate said. SFM