Cebu archbishop calls for simple, meaningful Christmas celebration

Cebu Archbishop Albert "Abet" Uy has called for a "Christ-centered" Christmas celebration that would bring joy, healing and "true honor to the newborn King."

In a pastoral appeal before the celebration of the Advent Season, which heralds the beginning of the liturgical Christmas celebration of the Catholic Church, posted on Monday, Archbishop Uy noted that Cebu province was hit by several calamities, "the earthquake in the north, the typhoon and flooding that affected so many families, the destruction of homes, chapels, livelihood."

"I am inviting all of us to celebrate Christmas in 2025 with greater simplicity, deeper compassion, and more intentional solidarity with the poor," the prelate said.

A magnitude 6.9 earthquake struck in Bogo City, Cebu last September 30 with 79 fatalities and 559 people injured according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC).

A total of 747,979 people or 216,947 families in Central Visayas were affected by the earthquake.

Meanwhile, Typhoon Tino (international name: Kalmaegi) also struck Cebu on November 4, 2025 causing massive flooding in many parts of the province. The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) reported that the death toll at 232 with 112 missing individuals.

"Christmas is not about extravagance. It is not about noise, fireworks or lavish food," he added.

To parishes, religious communities, families, and institutions, he suggested the following:

1. Avoid extravagant decorations and celebrations.
2. Avoid fireworks, loud noises, and unnecessary expenses.
3. Keep your Christmas party or gathering modest. Keep the food simple and avoid wastefulness.
4. Set aside extravagant shopping.
5. Celebrate with gratitude, prayer, and togetherness. Let our home shine not with lights but with love. Let our parishes be filled not with noise but with prayer. Let our celebrations focus not abundance but on presence-God's presence and each other's presence.

"Let Christmas be about family, prayer, and faith," said the archbishop, underscoring atending religious activities.

1. Attend Misa de Gallo with the family.
2. Celebrate Christmas Eve and Christmas Day mass with grateful hearts. Spend quality time with loved ones.
3. Tell your children what Christmas really means.
4. Reconcile with a family member or with a neighbor.
5. Visit the sick or those in prison.

"Let our simplicity bring hope to others. Whatever we save from avoiding extravagance, I encourage you to share it with someone who needs it more," Archbishop said, suggesting the following:

• A poor family in your barangay.
• An elderly neighbor.
• Children who have nothing to eat.
• A family still recovering from the earthquake.
• Typhoon survivors still rebuilding their homes.
• Someone who will have no Christmas unless you share yours.

Archbishop Uy also emphasized that Christians should focus on the babe in the manger, in his first Advent-Christmas message as the shepherd of Cebu archdiocese.

"The baby in the manger - the Child who owned nothing, the Child who was given only love - will be happiest when we celebrate His birthday with simplicity, sincerity, compassion, and solidarity with the poor," he said.

In conclusion, he underscored, "May our simple celebration this year bring deep joy to our homes, healing to our land, and true honor to the newborn King." — BAP, GMA Integrated News