C I R C U L A R
No. 1, Series of 2020
To : The Clergy, Religious and Lay Faithful of the Archdiocese of Lipa
Re : A Call for Vigilance and Prayer Amid the Threat from Taal Volcano
By this present letter, we wish to alert our faithful – priests, religious and lay – of the escalating eruptive activity of the Taal Volcano.
As per DOST-PHIVOLCS, the alert status of Taal Volcano was raised from Level 3 (magmatic unrest) to Level 4 (hazardous eruption imminent). With this, it strongly recommends evacuation of Taal Volcano Island and other areas at high-risk to pyroclastic density currents and volcanic tsunami within a 14-kilometer radius from the main crater.
As an immediate precautionary response, I have instructed Fr. Jayson T. Siapco, the head of the Ministry on Social Services, to monitor the Taal Volcano in coordination with DOST-PHIVOLCS, provide support to local government units in the event of evacuation of affected communities, and mobilize our Social Action Team and Volunteers for possible relief operation.
With the threat posed by the Taal Volcano before us, I urge our faithful – priests, religious and lay – to stay calm, watch through Internet and broadcast media for additional safety precautions specially those areas closely affected and join us in praying the Oratio Imperata, a prayer for deliverance from the looming violent eruption of the Taal Volcano.
Attached is the Oratio Imperata in English and Filipino.
I am also appealing to our faithful for donations for our affected fellow Batangueños. You may bring your donations to any parish office or to the office of the Ministry on Social Services/LASAC, Inc. located at LAFORCE Building, J. P. Laurel Hi-way, Marawoy, Lipa City. For inquiry, you may contact LASAC through (043) 404 8057 or 0925 559 5968 and Fr. Jayson T. Siapco through 0917 508 9701 or 0917 704 5064.
Let us entrust the whole province of Batangas to the maternal protection of the Blessed Virgin Mary that we may be spared from the threat of Taal Volcano’s eruption.
Given this 12th of January on the Feast of the Baptism of Jesus in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty at our Chancery, Cathedral Site, Lipa City.
(sgd)✠ Gilbert A. GARCERA, D.D.
Archbishop of Lipa
(sgd) Rev. Fr. Jayson N. ALCARAZ
Chancellor
ORATIO IMPERATA (Filipino)
Ama naming makapangyarihan, itinataas namin sa iyo ang aming buong sarili kalakip ang aming taos pusong pasasalamat sa mga kahanga hangang bagay na iyong nilikha kung saan ang bawat isa sa amin ay bahagi nito, gayundin sa iyong patuloy na paggabay at sa iyong karunungan na gumagabay sa pag-inog ng mundo.
Kinikilala namin ang aming mga kasalanan laban sa iyo at sa buong sangnilikha. Hindi kami naging karapatdapat na tagapangalaga ng kalikasan. Hindi namin ganap na naisabuhay ang pangangalaga ng mundo.
Lumilingon kami sa iyo, mapagmahal na Ama, at humihingi ng kapatawaran sa aming mga kasalanan.
Hinihiling namin na kami, ang aming mga mahal sa buhay at ang kapwa naming Batangueño na naninirahan malapit sa Bulkang Taal ay maging ligtas sa pagsabog ng bulkan, sa lindol at tsunami.
Hinihiling naming kami ay lumago, na mabuting katiwala ng iyong mga nilikha at maging bukas palad sa mga kapatid naming higit na nangangailangan. Amen.
San Jose, patron ng Arsidiyosesis ng Lipa, ipanalangin mo kami.
Mahal na Birhen ng Caysasay, Ina at Reyna ng mga Batangueno, ipanalangin mo kami.
ORATIO IMPERATA (English)
Almighty Father,
we raise our hearts to You
in gratitude for the wonders of creation
of which we are part,
for Your providence in sustaining us in our needs,
and for Your wisdom that guides the course of the universe.
We acknowledge our sins against You
and the rest of creation.
We have not been good stewards of nature.
We have confused Your command to subdue the earth.
We turn to You, our loving Father,
and beg forgiveness for our sins.
We ask that we, our loved ones, and all our fellow Batangueños living close to Taal Volcano be spared from the threat of its eruptions, the earthquakes and possible tsunamis that may ensue.
We beseech You to inspire us all
to grow into responsible stewards of Your creation, and generous neighbors to
those in need.
Amen.
Saint Joseph, patron of the Archdiocese of Lipa, pray for
us.
Our Lady of Caysasay, Mother and Queen of Batangueños, pray for us.
