Cardinal Tagle celebrates Filipino Mass at cathedral during Congress

Cardinal Antonio Tagle, pro-prefect of the Vatican’s Dicastery for the Evangelization of Peoples, preaches during a Mass with 800 Filipino Catholics at SS. Peter and Paul Cathedral in Indianapolis. Six bishops, including Archbishop Charles C. Thompson, right, concelebrated, along with 40 priests. (Photo by Sean Gallagher)

By Sean Gallagher

Some 800 Filipino Catholics from across the U.S. gathered on July 18 at SS. Peter and Paul Cathedral in Indianapolis for a Mass during the 10th National Eucharistic Congress.

Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, pro-prefect of the Section for the First Evangelization and New Particular Churches of the Vatican’s Dicastery for Evangelization, was the principal celebrant of the liturgy. A native of the Philippines, he was formerly the archbishop of Manilla.

Six bishops, including Archbishop Charles C. Thompson, concelebrated the Mass, along with some 40 priests.

The bilingual liturgy featured prayers, Scripture readings and songs in both Tagalog, the principal native language in the Philippines, and in English.

In his homily, Cardinal Tagle reflected on Christ’s words in the Gospel for the day: “Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for yourselves. For my yoke is easy, and my burden light” (Mt 11:28-30).

He noted that yokes used in agriculture bring “more efficiency” to the work of farm animals.

“They are able to do much more than when left alone,” Cardinal Tagle said.

However, he also noted that the image of a yoke can be a “sign of oppression” both from “occupying forces” and from “religious leaders, the scribes, the Pharisees, who imposed on the people heavy burdens.”

In contrast, Cardinal Tagle said, “the yoke of Jesus is the law of love. Love God above all, with all your might, and love your neighbor as you love yourself. Love, yes, is a burden, but it is a burden that gives energy.”

Calling on mothers in the congregation, he said to them that “I’m sure when you see your son or daughter sick, taking care of him or her is a burden that is light, because it comes from love.”

Inspiring much laughter, Cardinal Tagle went on to ask, “Do you say the same thing when your husband is sick? … That’s a heavy burden.”

Reflecting on these burdens of love in family life, Cardinal Tagle said that they are “the burden of Jesus.”

“Even the cross, the heavy cross, for him is light,” he said. “He carries it out of love for the Father and love for all, even for enemies. Love towards enemies then is a burden that gives life.”

At the end of his homily, Cardinal Tagle called Filipinos in the United States to “be a burden that is light.”

“Please contribute to the faith life, the ministries, the animation of the communities to which we belong,” he said. “Let it not be said that the Filipino community is a heavy burden.”

Cardinal Tagle thanked the many priests taking part in the Mass and noted the bishops present who were born in the Philippines and who now help lead the Church in the U.S., including Archbishop-designate Ryan Paginate Jimenez of Aguana in Guam, a U.S. territory.

At the end of the Mass, Cardinal Tagle noted that this was his first visit to Indianapolis, but promised to return on one condition—“if one of your sons, born here, enters the seminary and is ordained a priest.”

After acknowledging the responding applause, Cardinal Tagle noted that vocations to religious life and ordained ministry can be a “sign of the maturity of the faith of migrant communities.”

Adel Balhon, a member of Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary Parish in Indianapolis who was born in the Philippines, attended the liturgy.

“I was reminded of how devoutly Catholic the country of my childhood is,” she said. “It was an exciting experience to see so many Filipinos at SS. Peter and Paul Cathedral and to celebrate a special holy Mass with Cardinal Tagle and Filipino bishops and priests. I felt such grace and inspiration from the number of Filipinos from across the country who accepted the invitation to join this great event.” †

 

(See all of our coverage of the National Eucharistic Congress at www.archindy.org/congress.)