ILIGAN City — Members of the Gagmayng Simbahang Katilingban (GSK) used a “Dress Like a Saint” activity on October 31 to encourage Christians to focus on holiness and the virtues of saints beyond Halloween celebrations.
Participants dressed as different Christian saints and joined a procession around St. Michael the Archangel Church, highlighting the religious significance of All Hallows’ Eve, the day before All Saints’ Day on November 1.
The activity offered a faith-centered alternative to Halloween’s frightening costumes and imagery, reminding participants of the Christian call to live according to the teachings of Jesus Christ.
Bishop Stephen Villaester of Bible Center Anglican Church reinforced the message in his sermon, urging believers to deepen their faith, pursue holiness and reflect their Christian calling through their daily conduct.
Villaester discussed Halloween’s origins and expressed concern over practices involving witchcraft, divination and attempts to communicate with the dead. He cited biblical passages that he said warn Christians against such activities and encouraged believers to remain grounded in Scripture.
He also explained the distinction between All Saints’ Day, which honors the saints, and All Souls’ Day on November 2, when families remember their departed loved ones through cemetery visits, flowers, prayer and gatherings.
The bishop challenged the idea that sainthood is limited to people formally recognized by church authorities. Citing Ephesians 1:1, he said believers in Jesus Christ are also called saints through their faith.
He stressed that righteousness cannot be attained through human merit alone but depends on the righteousness of Jesus Christ.
Villaester pointed to the lives of apostles Paul and Peter as examples of faith, perseverance and service to God despite their human weaknesses. He said Christians should serve as witnesses through their character and daily actions, particularly in their families and communities.
Citing Romans 12:1-2, he urged believers to renew their minds and guard their thoughts and actions against influences that could lead them away from God.
On death and eternal life, Villaester cited Hebrews 9:27, reminding listeners that human beings will face judgment. He encouraged them to establish a personal relationship with Jesus Christ while they are alive.
He also quoted Jesus’ declaration in John 11:25, “I am the resurrection, and the life,” to emphasize his belief in the promise of eternal life for those who believe in Christ.
Villaester expressed disagreement with the doctrine of purgatory, saying he did not find it supported in the Bible. His position differs from Roman Catholic teaching, which recognizes purgatory as a state of purification for those who die in God’s grace but are not yet fully purified.
The bishop also reminded Christians that faith should not be measured solely by material prosperity or the absence of problems. Instead, he said believers should find strength and joy in the Lord as they face life’s trials.
Through the “Dress Like a Saint” activity and the bishop’s sermon, the GSK observance encouraged Christians to carry the values of holiness, faith and service into their everyday lives, even after Halloween has ended.
