Bacolod Bishop Vicente Navarra yesterday called on Negrenses to emulate San Sebastian and to be ready to receive the arrows of rejection, criticism and persecution as they proclaim God and His kingdom in their lives and in the Church.

During a concelebrated mass held yesterday at the San Sebastian Cathedral in Bacolod City to mark the Feast of St. Sebastian, Navarra said the life of the Negrosanons today is far from what the Church is advocating every Sunday.

"Our declaration of our faith to God cannot be seen in our acts," he said. The Bishop said this is what they discovered during the second Diocesan Synod held in the city and attributed the change of behavior in the people to the influence of mass media.

Navarra said people think what is modern or easy is right.

"As a result what we are now experiencing are shameful and terrible acts, and the people and the world are straying from God," he added.

"Let us call on St. Sebastian to hear us and bring before God our pleas so that we will be liberated from our hypocrisies and our fears in proclaiming and defending the truth," Navarra said. He said people are afraid that if they proclaim the truth, others will not accept it and they will be rejected.

Navarra also asked the people to pray that the Holy Spirit will change the world so that like St. Sebastian, the people will be ready to proclaim God and His Kingdom to everyone.

Navarra will be celebrating his 67th birthday on Sunday. "I wish that I will be more faithful to my shepherding and for the people to have a blessed life," he said when asked for his birthday wish. "I also wish that Bacolod City would flourish," he added.

Before the mass ended, Navarra asked the congregation to pray for him the way he has prays for them as everyone sang him a birthday song.*CGS

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