The visit of the relic of St. Padre Pio of Pietrelcina brought a message of love, prayer and trust to the La Consolacion College Bacolod community Friday, Oct. 2, as the institution gathered for its First Friday Mass and offered a special blessing for teachers ahead of World Teachers’ Day.
Rev. Fr. Raymon Asoy presided over the Mass at the LCC Bacolod Quadrangle, where students, faculty, administrators and personnel joined in prayer during the visit of the relic of the Capuchin friar known for his deep spirituality, life of prayer and perseverance amid suffering.
In his homily, Asoy reflected on the enduring love of God and encouraged the community to recognize God’s presence not only in moments of joy but also in times of difficulty, uncertainty and loss.
Using the human heartbeat as a simple image, Asoy invited members of the congregation to place a hand over their hearts and feel each beat, drawing attention to life itself as a continuing reminder of God’s love.
He emphasized the Christian understanding that God is love and reflected on how people, through genuine love for others, become expressions of that love in their families, communities and everyday relationships.
Asoy also spoke about faith in the midst of suffering, drawing from the biblical story of Job to underscore the importance of continuing to trust God even when familiar sources of comfort and security are taken away.
The message resonated with the presence of the relic of St. Padre Pio, whose spirituality has long been associated with prayer, sacrifice and steadfast faith during suffering.
The Mass also became part of LCC Bacolod’s series of activities marking World Teachers’ Day, with educators receiving a special blessing in recognition of their vocation and service to the school community.
The blessing highlighted the role of teachers not only in imparting knowledge but also in accompanying and forming students through their example, guidance and daily presence.
The observance brought together two themes central to the celebration — faith that remains steadfast amid life’s challenges and gratitude for educators whose work calls for patience, commitment and service.
Through the First Friday Mass, the visit of the Padre Pio relic and the blessing of teachers, the LCC Bacolod community was invited to carry forward a spirituality rooted in love, sustained by prayer and strengthened by trust in God.