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Binyagang Bayan 2023: Towards A New Life With Christ As One Body Of The Church

Jun. 22, 2023 09:46 AM

Rev. Fr. Rufino C. Sescon Jr., Rector & Parish Priest administered the sacrament of baptism together with Rev. Fr. Robert Arellano, LRMS, Parochial Vicar and Rev. Fr. Earl Valdez, Attached Priest this Binyagang Bayan 2023 in preparation for the upcoming Feast Day of the Birth of St. John the Baptist (Photo by Social Communications Ministry (SOCCOMM), Quiapo Church)

 

Quiapo, Manila – On June 17, 2023, at 11:00 a.m., the Minor Basilica and Archdiocesan Shrine of the Black Nazarene held its ‘Binyagang Bayan.’ A total of forty-five children aged 0-7 years old received the sacrament of baptism through the administering by Rev. Fr. Rufino C. Sescon Jr., Rector & Parish Priest, together with Rev. Fr. Robert Arellano, LRMS, Parochial Vicar and Rev. Fr. Earl Valdez, Attached Priest. This event aligns with the upcoming feast day of Solemnity of Birth of St. John the Baptist, patron saint of the Quiapo Church, as a parish on June 24, 2023. 

Mr. Jomer Vitino, cathechist from the Cathechetical Foundation of the Archdiocese of Manila (CFAM) delivered a brief cathechism to the parents and godparents. In his talk, he gave a general overview of what sacraments are. According to him, the word ‘sacrament’ comes from the Greek word “sacramentus” – ‘sacra’ meaning holy and ‘mentum’ as sign. In short, sacraments are the signs from God. In his words: “Tanda na si Hesus Nazareno ang nag-iwan ng mga tanda. Bago umakyat si Hesus Nazareno sa langit, hindi po siyang parang bulang nawala kundi para hindi natin siya lalo makalimutan at lalong dumaloy ang kaniyang biyaya, itinatatag niya po at iniwan niya po ang mga sakramento at isa na doon ay ang sakramento na tatanaggpin ng inyong mga anak, ang sakramento ng binyag.” (It is evident that Jesus of Nazareth left signs. Before Jesus of Nazareth ascended to heaven, he did not disappear like a bubble, but so as we would not forget Him and His grace would flow further, He established and gave to us the sacraments and one of those is the sacrament that will be accepted by your children, the sacrament of baptism). 

Binyagang Bayan 2023 (Photos by Social Communications Ministry (SOCCOMM), Quiapo Church)

 

The sacrament of baptism, that falls under the category of initiation as the preparation stage to receive other sacraments such as the sacrament of communion, confirmation, marriage and priesthood as well. As he explained why there is a need for baptism, he referred to the story of The Creation, wherein how Adam and Eve, the first man and woman as our parents. However, their disobedience to God by eating the fruit of knowledge of Good & Evil through the trickster of the serpent, had pulled them away from the Lord. For Mr. Vitino, falling into sin by harming and doing evil deeds against their fellow brethren becomes easy to commit at present. However, through the passion, death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, we are given new life: “Hinubad ang sarili at nagpakasakit. Namuhay katulad natin at namatay at naging tapat sa Diyos. Ang lahat ng ginawa niya hindi para sa kaniya kundi para sa atin.”(He had emptied himself and willingly suffered. He had lived like us and become obedient to God. All of these he had done not for Himself, but for our sake). Through baptism, from the Greek word “baptizien” translated as dip or plunge in the water, we become ‘new creations’ and one with the Church. As Mr. Vitino quoted: “Isang Simbahan tayong lahat na nabinyagan kay Kristong Hesus. Tayong lahat na bininyagan sa ngalan ng Ama at Anak at ng Espiritu Santo ay Simbahan. Tayo ang bumubuo ng Simbahan. Tayo ang katawan ng Simbahan at ang ulo ay ang ating Poong Hesus Nazareno.” (We are a one Church baptized through Jesus Christ. We are all baptized in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. We are the body of the Church with Jesus of Nazareth as our head). 

The baptism rites led by Rev. Fr. Rufino C. Sescon Jr. with parents and godparents lighting their candles symbolizing the light of the resurrected Christ symbolizing new life (Photos by Social Communications Ministry (SOCCOMM), Quiapo Church)

In the final part of the event, Rev. Fr. Rufino C. Sescon Jr. led the rites of baptism for the 45 children who are now part of the Christian community. The Binyagang Bayan serves as a reminder of our commitment to follow and accept Jesus into our lives through public statement of faith and obedience. From when Jesus had first instituted the sacrament of baptism as found in this bible verse, Matthew 28:19: “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit”. An eternal bond with God is formed through the promised salvation at the core of our foundation as Church community members.

– Kidanzac A. Tallada | EIAM & ADRM