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Walk for Life 2024

Together, We Walk for Life!

It was a show of our Conviction to defend life from conception to natural death.

A reigniting of our Commitment – if you can wake up before the sunrise, walk down a highway to a program in a field – that’s commitment to a reignited cause!

And a strengthening of Community. Regardless of Arch/Diocese, Organization or affiliation, we all came together to be a Community of disciples towards a goal.

Thank you to all who made this possible. We are so blessed and thankful. Never imagined this, but like I said, we go where the Lord takes us, and we do what He wants us to do!

Xavier Padilla

President

Sangguniang Laiko ng Pilipinas

23rd Biennial National Convention Resolutions

SANGGUNIANG LAIKO NG PILIPINAS 
23rd Biennial National Convention 
October 27-29, 2023 

RESOLUTIONS 

We, the 299 participants representing the 28 Lay Organizations and Movements (LOMAS) and the 37 Arch/Diocesan Councils of the Laity are gathered during the 23rd National Biennial Convention of the Sangguniang Laiko ng Pilipinas held on October 27 to 29, 2023 in Tacloban City in the Diocese of Palo with the theme: ‘United in Mission as a Synodal Church’ which is held in time of the Synod on Synodality at the Vatican. 

It is the first time the participants from all over the Philippines are gathered face to face after the pandemic caused by Covid-19 virus. 

  1. INTEGRAL FORMATION 

As lay members of the Church, we are aware of the urgency to provide an integral, integrated formation for different age levels, cultures, languages, social classes, gender, etc. We are called to provide structures and spaces for this endeavor emphasizing the spiritual, doctrinal, and social dimensions, we resolve to: 

  • Deepen our relationship with God through prayer, contemplation, and silence that disposes a discerning and listening heart in all our activities and gatherings. 
  • Provide a common integral formation program on the role of the laity in the Church through the Apostolic Exhortation, Christi Fideles Laici that is made available for all Lay Organizations and Movements (LOMAS) and Arch/Diocesan Councils of the Laity. 
  1. CO-RESPONSIBILITY 

We recognize that we all called to serve through the gifts we receive from the Holy Spirit. Each one has equal opportunity to serve for the mission. As lay, we need to find ways on how we can complement and not to compete with each other. We can only do this if we know who we are and where we are coming from, we resolve to: 

  • Foster an environment of open dialogue and collaboration between lay and clergy for the fulfillment of the mission of the Church through listening, respecting each other and walking together. 
  • Promote affective collegiality among members of the Church to bring about a sense of owning in its activities and life. 
  • Journey together as a synodal Church with its structures of better listening that all voices are heard and valued. 

2.  INCLUSION 

A great challenge of a synodal Church today is a desire to be converted from our own pre-judgements and see things in the eyes of God; to be firm in our faith, to do what we believe and be able to respect others. We are convinced that dialogue is a way of building bridges to break boundaries that divide and foster unity in the midst of differences, we resolve to: 

  • Reach out and welcome everyone in the community; journeying with them in the different teachings and sharing our faith life experience. 
  • Provide opportunities of participation and engage in the mission of the Church, the young people, those who are considered to be in the peripheries, and those with special needs. 
  • Collaborate with people of other faith, Christian groups and denominations, and indigenous people in addressing our common concerns like working for peace, care for our common home, pursuit for good governance, and alleviation of poverty. 

All these, we entrust into the hands of God with Mary as our icon of synodality to accompany us, as we commit ourselves, dedicate our time, and economic resources for the fulfillment of these resolutions in the next two years. 

Sama-samang manalangin para sa kaligtasan ng lahat, panawagan ng mga obispo sa Luzon

Veritas 846
May 29, 2023

A farmer in the province of Camarines Norte shows the devastation his farm suffered due to the onslaught of typhoon “Ulysses” on November 12. (Photo by Mark Saludes)

Hinikayat ng mga obispo mula sa Luzon ang mananampalataya na manalangin upang ipag-adya ang lahat mula sa posibleng pinsalang dulot ng papalapit na bagyo na may international name Mawar.

Ayon kay Balanga Bishop Ruperto Santos, dahil sa inaantabayanang bagyo ay isinasagawa na sa mga parokya ang pananalangin ng Oratio Imperata gayundin ang pag-aalay ng dasal sa mga parokya.

“We are already praying the ‘Oratio Imperata’ and offering our Holy Masses that God in His mercy and power, the typhoon will not make landfall, it will be weakened and dissolved,” ayon kay Bishop Santos.

Nawa ayon sa obispo ay humina ang taglay na lakas ng bagyo at mailigtas mula sa kapahamakan ang mamamayan.

“We pray that we will be spared and be saved from dangers and calamities. We put our trust to God and rely on His saving words and works. It is our hope that God hears us and help us. May our blessed Mother Mary take us under her maternal embrace and protection,” ang bahagi ng panalangin ni Bishop Santos.

Tiniyak naman ni San Jose Nueva Ecija Bishop Roberto Mallari ang ginagawang paghahanda ng Social Action Center ng diyosesis sa mga maaring maapektuhan, gayundin ang pagbubukas ng mga parokya bilang pansamantalang tutuluyan ng mga magsisilikas.

Ito ayon sa obispo ay bukod pa sa mga nakatalagang evacuation centers ng lokal na pamahalaan.

Panalangin naman ni Bishop Mallari ang sama-samang pananalangin para hingin ang tulong ng Panginoon para sa kaligtasan ng lahat laban sa super typhoon.

Nawa sa kabila ng mga pagsubok ay maging daan ang kalamidad sa pagkakaisa ng bawat Filipino.

“Ama namin sa langit, Ikaw po ang pinanggalingan ng aming buhay; Ikaw ang pinanggalingan ng lahat ng mga nilalang, Ikaw ang pinanggalingan ng kalikasan.

Hinihiling po naming sa Inyo sa kapangyarihan ding nasa Inyo bilang aming tagapaglalang na protektahan po Ninyo ang Inyong bayan sa darating na super typhoon. Sana po ay magkaroon kami ng katatagan para harapin ito at iiwas Niyo po ang madami mula sa kasiraan na dala ng bagyo.

Ikaw po ang may alam ng lahat-lahat, inilalagay po namin sa Inyo ang aming buhay, ang aming bansa, ang aming pamilya. Alam namin na kung kasama ka namin ang lahat ay makakayanan, kung kasama ka Namin ang lahat ay nagiging posible. Ang imposible ay nangyayari.

“Sana po ay magkaroon kami ng katatagan para harapin ito at iiwas Niyo po ang madami mula sa kasiraan na dala ng bagyo.

Kaligtasan po ang hinihiling po namin, proteksyon, at katatagan…at mas maalab pang pananampalataya para sa lahat.” ang panalangin ni Bishop Mallari.

Ang typhoon Mawar na may local name na super typhoon Betty ay nasa loob na ng teritoryo ng Pilipinas na maaring makaapekto sa mga lalawigan sa Nothern Luzon.

Taglay ng bagyo ang lakas ng hangin na 195 kilometro at pagbugsong 240 kilometro kada oras na kumikilos pasilangan hilagang-silangan sa bilis na 25 kilometro kada oras.

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INVITATION: 5.18.2023 Laudato Si’ Film Online Facilitators’ Training

May 9, 2023

Dear Laudato Si’ Movement Pilipinas Partner,

Easter greetings from the Laudato Si’ Movement Pilipinas and Partner Organizations.

Laudato Si’ Week began in 2016 as a way to celebrate the first anniversary of Pope Francis’ world-changing papal encyclical letter, “Laudato Si’: On Care for Our Common Home.”

Since then, the annual celebration has become a way for us Catholics to unite and rejoice in the progress we’ve made in bringing Laudato Si’ to life and to further commit ourselves to prayers and actions for our common home.

This year, we will be celebrating Laudato Si’ Week on May 21-28 with the theme “Hope for the Earth, Hope for Humanity”. The Laudato Si’ film “The Letter” which tells the story of four social poets affected first-hand by the climate crisis who traveled to Rome to meet Pope Francis will be the main resource guiding the week’s events. Laudato Si’ Movement is enjoining dioceses, parishes, religious congregations, schools and other institutions, as well as organizations and groups all over the world to organize community screenings of “The Letter” in their respective areas.

For this reason, we would like to invite you to another Online Facilitators Training for Community Screening on Thursday, May 18 from 4PM – 5:30PM. We will be accompanied by the international team of Laudato Si’ Movement. Please click below to receive the link to the online training:

https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZwvfuitrzgvHtYIGHn4n-AvY_xI54BjKajV

We are happy to inform you that the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines has endorsed the community screening of the Laudato Si’ film “The Letter”.

Please find attached copy of the CBCP endorsement. Thanking you, as always, for your continued support in advancing the call to bring Laudato Si’ to life.

One with you in hope for the Planet and Humanity,

Pope Francis’s Prayer Intentions for May, 2023

Pope Francis’ prayer intention for the month of May is for ecclesial movements and groups.

“Ecclesial movements are a gift; they are a treasure in the Church,” the Holy Father said in a video released by the Vatican on May 2.

“These movements renew the Church with their capacity for dialogue at the service of her evangelizing mission,” he said. “Each day, they rediscover in their charism new ways of showing the attractiveness and the newness of the Gospel.”

“How do they do this? Speaking different languages, they seem different, but it is their creativity that creates these differences. But always understanding themselves and making themselves understood.”

He added: “Always be on the move, responding to the impulse of the Holy Spirit to the challenges, to the changes in today’s world.”

Pope Francis encouraged members of ecclesial groups to “remain in harmony with the Church, since harmony is a gift of the Holy Spirit.”

The pope concluded his message with a prayer: “Let us pray that ecclesial movements and groups may daily rediscover their mission, an evangelizing mission, and that they place their own charisms at the service of the world’s needs.” Pope Francis’ prayer video is promoted by the Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network, which raises awareness of monthly papal prayer intentions.

Pope’s April prayer intention: ‘For a nonviolent culture’

Pope Francis releases his prayer intention for the month of April, and urges everyone to pray and work for a nonviolent culture which promotes peace.

By Devin Watkins

As the Church marks 60 years since Pope St. John XXIII published his encyclical Pacem in Terris, Pope Francis is calling on Christians to pray for a nonviolent culture.

The Pope released a video accompanying his prayer intention for April 2023, produced by the Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network.

He recalled that “war is madness” which is “beyond reason”.

“Any war, any armed confrontation, always ends in defeat for all,” he recalled.

Culture of nonviolence

Pope Francis contrasted a conflictual mentality with one based on nonviolence.

“Living, speaking, and acting without violence is not surrendering, losing or giving up anything, but aspiring to everything,” he said.

Everyone, added the Pope, is called to “develop a culture of peace.”

Nonviolence, he said, can offer a guide for our actions, “both in daily life and in international relations.”

“Let us remember that, even in cases of self-defense, peace is the ultimate goal, and that a lasting peace can exist only without weapons,” he said.

Pope Francis wrapped up his intention video with the heart of his prayer appeal.

“And let us pray for a more widespread culture of nonviolence,” he said, “which will progress when countries and citizens alike resort less and less to the use of arms.”

Peace in our hearts

A press release accompanying the video recalled the many people who have promoted the cause of peace and nonviolence, including Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King Jr., and St. Teresa of Calcutta.

Besides Pope Francis speaking, the video features scenes of destruction from various wars currently marring the world, along with the black-and-white portraits of advocates of peace.

In his Pacem in Terris, John XXIII lamented the extremely negative effects of violence, which “sows no seeds but those of hatred and violence.”

Fr. Frédéric Fornos SJ, International Director of the Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network, said peace among peoples begins “in the most concrete and intimate part of our hearts”, just as war and conflict have their roots there.

“The Gospel shows us that the life of Jesus reveals the true way of peace and invites us to follow Him, said Fr. Fornos. “It is in this spirit that we are called to ‘disarm’ ourselves, in the sense of ‘disarming’ our words, our actions, our hatred.”