Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle has delivered a powerful message to the Filipino diaspora, urging a shift in perspective during the holiday season. Speaking to a vast congregation of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), he emphasized looking beyond commercial festivities to find deeper spiritual meaning.
A Call to Spiritual Pilgrimage in Abu Dhabi
On December 17, 2025, Cardinal Tagle addressed a massive gathering at St. Joseph’s Church in Abu Dhabi. The Pro-Prefect of the Dicastery for Evangelization reframed the beloved Filipino tradition of Simbang Gabi, the nine-day dawn Mass novena. He described it not as a mere social custom but as a profound journey of faith undertaken alongside the Holy Family.
"This is not just a ritual. It is a spirituality," Cardinal Tagle stated in his homily, as reported by the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines. He encouraged the faithful to walk this path with "our beloved Mother," Mary.
The event saw the presence of high-ranking Church officials, including Archbishop Christophe El-Kassis, the Apostolic Nuncio to the United Arab Emirates, and Bishop Paolo Martinelli of the Apostolic Vicariate of Southern Arabia. This service followed another significant event: an outdoor Mass in Dubai at St. Mary’s Catholic Church on December 16, which attracted over 30,000 worshippers.
True Readiness: A Matter of Heart, Not Plans
While acknowledging the value of holiday preparations like shopping and feasting for community building, Cardinal Tagle directed attention to the biblical Christmas story. He pointed out that, by worldly standards, Mary and Joseph were largely unprepared for Jesus's birth, confronting fear, legal issues, and deep uncertainty.
He highlighted Saint Joseph as a model of quiet obedience, whose preparation stemmed from his interior disposition. "Joseph was a just man," Tagle said. "He trusted Mary enough that he did not want to subject her to shame." The Cardinal noted that upon receiving the angel's message, Joseph acted immediately, demonstrating that his true readiness was "the preparation of a heart of faith."
A Message of Solace for Migrants and a Call to Mercy
The Cardinal's words resonated deeply with the thousands of migrant workers in attendance. He drew a parallel between the unplanned hardships of the Holy Family and the lives of OFWs, which are often defined by sacrifice and unexpected challenges.
"There are many events in our lives that we are not prepared for," Tagle observed. "You may be unprepared for a specific thing, but you are prepared to do God’s will." This reflection offered comfort and a new framework for understanding their own journeys.
Concluding his message, the former Archbishop of Manila called for using Advent as a time for reconciliation. He urged healing broken relationships and showing mercy to the marginalized. Sharing a moving memory from a Simbang Gabi celebration in a Philippine prison, he recalled an inmate's certainty: "there’s only one thing sure: Jesus loves me." For Cardinal Tagle, embracing this unwavering love is the ultimate preparation for Christmas.
