Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle appealed to priests, nuns and lay leaders to transform their places of ministry into a “home” where everyone is a family.
The prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples warned against the danger for mission areas to easily fall into becoming mere institutions.
While “institutionalization” and having structures are necessary, the challenge is how to maintain the experience of being “a family of God,” said Cardinal Tagle.
“Let us transform our parishes, our schools, our Catholic hospitals and all the places that we are serving into a home,” he said.
The cardinal made the statement in his homily during Mass for the Feast of the Holy Family at the Pontifical Filipino College in Rome on December 27.
He stressed that in a familial environment, people will look forward to going to parishes “instead of running away.”
“Instead of considering religious services as an added burden, they look forward to being part of a family celebration,” said the cardinal.
“Instead of running away from monsignor, they dream of monsignor because they see the face of the loving, compassionate father in him,” he added.