The Diocese of Kabankalan in Negros Occidental opened the nine-day prayer in honor of Señor Santo Niño with a Novena Mass celebrated by Bishop Louie Galbines on Friday, January 10, which marks the official start of the Sinulog sa Kabankalan festival.
In his homily, Bishop Galbines emphasized that holiness is the ultimate goal for every believer. “The highest achievement a person can attain in this life is to live a life of holiness,” he said.
He encouraged the faithful to pursue holiness not just during extraordinary moments, but in the everyday aspects of their lives—within their homes, communities, and in the world at large.
Galbines then turned to the Gospel, recounting the story of Jesus healing a man with leprosy. When people heard of His miraculous power, they flocked to Him in great numbers. However, instead of seeking their praise, Jesus withdrew to a quiet, solitary place to pray.
Galbines pointed to this moment to highlight the profound humility of Christ. He contrasted it with today’s tendency to seek public recognition for good deeds.
He [Jesus] showed us that the power to heal didn’t come from Him but from the Father. Jesus teaches us that everything we receive comes from God, not from ourselves, the bishop uttered.
This lesson on humility led Galbines to discuss the vital connection between prayer and humility. “He who prays becomes humble,” he said.
Prayer helps us realize that all blessings, strength, and grace come from God, Galbines emphasized.
Galbines shifted the focus to hope, another central theme in his message. “He who prays carries hope in his heart,” he affirmed, emphasizing that prayer not only connects people to God but also infuses their hearts with hope.
He connected this idea to the theme of this year’s Sinulog sa Kabankalan: “Mapangamuyuon… Malaumon… Senor Santo Niño, Ibugay sa ciudad namon.”
The bishop urged the faithful to embody this theme of hope in their lives. “Hope and prayer go hand in hand,” he said. “When we pray, we become filled with hope. And with that hope, we can endure any trial.”
“Just as God the Father is the hope of Jesus, so too should Jesus be our hope,” he said.
He added that faithful should become agents of hope in the lives of others, particularly during times of trials or suffering.
As the Novena Mass kicked off the nine-day spiritual journey toward the Feast of Señor Santo Niño and the pinnacle of the Sinulog Festival on January 19, Galbines challenged the faithful to embrace holiness, humility, and hope as vital pillars of their devotion to God.
Reymund Titong is a Filipino journalist steadily building his voice in the field of news reporting, driven by a commitment to tell meaningful and relevant stories.
He serves as a correspondent for Rappler, contributes to Negros Daily Bulletin, and maintains a personal blog on Medium.