VANCOUVER—Cardinal Tagle’s short visit to Vancouver will make a lasting impact for the many who saw him.

His much-anticipated stopover March 19 attracted thousands of people and cast a spotlight on ways to strengthen the faith and relationships of family members and young people.

“Very often I hear: ‘Oh, the young people of today, they are different,’” Cardinal Tagle told about 1,000 faithful and 30 priests at 12:30 p.m. Mass at Holy Rosary Cathedral. “Some will even say: ‘The lost generation.’ Are they lost? Or have we lost them?”

An additional 500 audience members, some of whom had lined up as early as 9 a.m., filled up the cathedral hall and watched him speak via live stream. Dozens of others couldn’t make it inside and were turned away.

“It is a common mission of father and mother to live in faith,” said Cardinal Tagle at Mass. “Every marriage should begin in heaven, just like Mary and Joseph. Their marriage was an act of obedience to God, in faith.”

He told parents: “Before you bring your children to the ball game, to rugby, to shopping on weekends, bring them to church.”

Cardinal Tagle gives a homily at Mass at Holy Rosary Cathedral March 19.

He also had a message for young, single, or celibate audience members: “How many young people are … looking for fathers? Looking for mothers? Looking for a family? The church, a community of faith, can be such a family. Every nuclear family can be a church in the home, living in faith, providing the security, stability, that young people look for.”

A few hours later, Cardinal Tagle was at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre for a reception with 150 church influencers and special guests. Filipino Father Milan Sajonas arrived from the Diocese of Prince Albert, Sask., just to see the him.

“I came to listen to his insights about family as a ‘global village,’” said Father Sajonas. “It will benefit a lot of families to know about his approach.”

After the reception, an estimated 2,700 people filed into theatre seats for a musical performance by Right Here, Write Now, then to hear Cardinal Tagle deliver a keynote speech on families, faith, and forgiveness.

Yolanda Lorenzana felt blessed by the cardinal’s visit. “I was so touched and especially about his emphasis on fathers and families,” she said. “We see him as a representative of Jesus here on earth. So, seeing him is like being close to Jesus, too.”

Cardinal Tagle distributes Communion at Holy Rosary Cathedral.

Amy Sundberg cut short a birthday trip in Edmonton to see Cardinal Tagle. “I am a great admirer because he gives a very balanced, very pragmatic, and yet very spiritual view to things. He’s got a fantastic sense of humor as well and I love him,” she said.

He’s a good pastor for the Philippines, she added. 

“The country is going through difficult transition. He’s been, I think, a very good shepherd. He is so loving, he is so gentle, and with great humour, is able to guide the flock. That’s what you need for these times.”

Archbishop J. Michael Miller had picked up Cardinal Tagle at the airport during a stopover from Los Angeles to Manila. The cardinal met with a few dozen archdiocesan employees, including Judicial Vicar Msgr. Pedro Lopez-Gallo, and Bishop Emeritus David Monroe of Kamloops, who had studied with him in Rome in 2003, before celebrating Mass at the cathedral. 

More photos are available at www.rcav.org/cardinal-tagle.