A Catholic priest in the Philippines is urging the public to celebrate Christmas even if they choose to make their celebrations more austere this year and do without parties in solidarity with the victims of Typhoon Yolanda.
“Forego Christmas party but please, celebrate Christmas. The Season of Advent is approaching and this is very important for us Catholics,” Father Benny Tuason, the director for Ecology of the Archdiocese of Manila, said in a Church forum Nov. 26.
Victims of the recent typhoon in the Visayas will truly experience the real meaning of Advent and Christmas, according to the priest.
“They will experience the real advent and Christmas not in terms of gifts. Because Christmas is about Jesus, coming into your hearts,” he said.
Father Tuason further said that the real Christmas is not about commercialism but experiencing Jesus Christ.
Members of the Catholic Educational Association of the Philippines (CEAP) National Secretariat said they will forego their Christmas party and instead would donate the money to typhoon victims.
