Praying, sharing midnight meal with family best way to greet New Year

A Catholic bishop on Friday reminded the faithful that praying and sharing the Media Noche meal together is still the best way for the family to welcome the New Year. 

Manila Auxiliary Bishop Broderick Pabillo said, "Be together as a family, pray together and eat together ... We should no longer use firecrackers to welcome 2017." 

On the other hand, Fr. Carmelo Arada Jr., assistant commissioner of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Manila (RCAM)-Commission on Liturgy said that January 1 is the feast of Mary the Mother of God.

"We celebrate New Year as the solemnity of Mary the Mother of God. So it is a way of orienting our year with the values of Mary. It is also a day of prayer for peace. 'Yan ang church celebration," he said. 

But he clarified that the Catholic Church doesn't take a particular stand on the debate on whether firecrackers should be banned for the New Year revelry.

"Wala naman (particular position . Basta huwag lang, 'yun iba kasi very harmful na. Magagalit sa atin yung mga taga-Bulacan. Wala tayong stand dyan pero ang stand natin ay spend the first moments of the New Year in thanksgiving and in prayer," he said.

He was referring to the province of Bulacan as the "firecracker capital" of the Philippines.

Arada added, "'Yung word na January came from Roman God na Janus, yung dalawa ang mukha. Two-faced God. It is taken to mean that the New Year is a time for us to look back and to look forward in gratitude and in faith. In gratitude for the blessings we received in 2016 and in faith that the lord will journey with us in the new year in 2017."

On Sunday, the world will welcome the year 2017. —LBG, GMA News