MANILA (UCAN): “This papal award was given as recognition for a lay person’s efforts in sharing in the Catholic Church’s mission,” Bishop Roberto Gaa of Novaliches, the Philippines, said at a recent Mass in Caloocan City as he conferred the Pontifical Equestrian Order of Saint Sylvester on Noli Vitug.
Vitug, a civil engineer who known in his diocese for sharing material resources and temporal goods with the poor, received the award in recognition of his philanthropic efforts in aid of Catholic Church projects
The Saint Sylvester medal symbolises the Catholic Church’s affirmation of the awardee’s service to his local church or diocese, Bishop Gaa said.
Pope Saint Pius X formally constituted the Order of Saint Sylvester in a motu proprio (own initiative) on 7 February 1905.
The award is usually bestowed by the pope himself and is given to individuals for their invaluable contributions to the Catholic Church.
“For practical reasons, especially those awardees who are not from Rome, the nuncio or the local bishop has authority to confer the award,” Bishop Gaa explained.
Through his construction company, Vitug, has helped parishes in Novaliches build churches and religious edifices.
When asked what motivated him, Vitug said he wanted his diocese to be the cradle of the youth, where young people would be attracted to go to church.
“I want to build churches primarily because churches are houses of God. They are where we keep the Blessed Sacrament. But they are more than a place of worship, they are also places where people who worship God gather together,” Vitug said.
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One of Vitug’s projects was the construction of a parish church for 120,000 people in Kristong Hari (Christ the King) Parish in Quezon City.
“I want this parish to be a central place of worship for young people. I wanted to build a beautiful church so that the young will be inspired to go and receive the sacraments,” Vitug said.
Bishop Gaa said that while receiving the award was a big honour, it also served as a reminder that the awardee had a “big responsibility.”
He said, “There is a big responsibility that comes with it. We become witnesses, fearless in proclaiming the gospel truth, in continuing to share the goodness of God. The award does not end it.”
Vitug’s fellow parishioners and churchgoers from the Diocese of Novaliches said the award was well deserved.
“This puts our humble diocese on the map. We are blessed to have him as a parishioner,” Maricel Cuña from Kristong Hari Parish, said.
She said the award should serve as inspiration for people to donate or share their talents and resources through the Catholic Church.
“I urge fellow Filipinos to do the same. May we all be collaborators in building the Kingdom of God here on earth,” she said.
