Caption Msgr. Julien Kabore, charge d’ affaires of the Apostolic Nunciature to the Philippines, with Bishop Ruperto Santos and Gov. Albert Garcia. Contributed photo
BALANGA CITY — The charge d’ affaires of the Apostolic Nunciature to the Philippines said the Santuario dela Sagrada Familia in the upland village of Tala in Orani, Bataan can be truly considered as “the gate of heaven.”
“It seems and I believe that in this santuario this evening, heaven and earth have met in a healing and merciful embrace. It seems that all the tears of the earth, shed because of much abuse and unconsidered exploitation and deforestation are wiped away here,” Msgr. Julien Kabore said in his homily at the site Saturday.
He narrated that when he arrived in the site, he was thinking that while considering the heavy construction machines, the shrine building may be hurting the nature.
He was wrong, he said, because he saw some trees preserved and untouched in the middle of the santuario.
“I realize that here the work of human hands and the machinery do not destroy the nature but they contribute to preserve its harmony and its beauty, making it even more hospitable,” he said.
“It therefore seems that the earth is smiling and that we can hear indeed its soft and tender laugh, echoed by the waterfalls, the gentle breeze and the blooming ecology. It seems that all the trees and rain forests of these mountains are exulting before the Lord who comes to judge the earth,” Kabore added.
Barangay Tala which is home to beautiful resorts, SinagTala one of them, has a climate comparable to Tagaytay City.
Gov. Albert Garcia on Wednesday said Kabore with Bishop Ruperto Santos of the Diocese of Balanga and some priests conducted Saturday the first Holy Mass in the Santuario dela Sagrada Familia, the unveiling of the casa del clero and the Prayer of Consecration of Bataan to Christ the King.
Former Defense Sec. Norberto Gonzales donated the shrine to the Bataan Catholic diocese.
“Lubos ang pasasalamat ng pamahalaang panlalawigan kay dating DND Secretary Norberto Gonzales at sa kanyang pamilya sa pagpapatayo ng sagradong kanlungang ito para sa ating mga kababayan bilang bahagi ng adhikain ng simbahang Katoliko na mas pagtibayin pa ang pananampalataya nating mga Bataeno lalo na ngayong panahon ng pandemya at maging pilgrimage destination ang ating lalawigan,” the governor said.
Bishop Santos thanked Gonzales and family.
Also attending the evening ceremony were Vice-Gov. Cris Garcia, Dinalupihan Mayor Maria Angela Garcia, Hermosa Mayor Jopet Inton, former Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority chairman Felicito Payumo, among some others.
