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Month: February 2022

“The Truth Will Set You Free” (John 8:32)

A Pastoral Letter of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP)

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

May the peace of Jesus be ours, He who said:
If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples.
Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.
John 8:31-32

As we commemorate the EDSA People Power Revolution this February 25, the day we reclaimed our freedom, we call upon you brothers and sisters, whatever your political color or status in society.

We are aware of the complexity of things, especially in the area of politics, as well as our different views. The present state of division among us due to politics, is unfortunate. Yet, we hope all of us consider the common good as foremost concern. Let us respect one another; – not giving in to hatred and rash judgments. Let us diligently seek the truth that we may do what is right and avoid evil.

For many of us, ‘politics‘ is a distasteful word. Yet, Pope Francis invites us all towards a renewed appreciation of politics as “a lofty vocation and one of the highest forms of charity, inasmuch as it seeks the common good” (Fratelli Tutti, #180). Can our world function without politics? He further asks (cf. FT #176).

We have no ambition of appropriating for ourselves your distinct role as laity in the just ordering of society, nor do we intend to usurp the role of the government. We are here to provide moral and spiritual guidance, in accord with our mission of proclaiming the truth from our faith.

The Truth at Stake

The elections are fast approaching, and we wish to remind you: ‘All citizens, (therefore), should be mindful of the right and also the duty to use their free vote to further the common good’ (Gaudium et Spes, #75). But we are appalled by the blatant and subtle distortion, manipulation, cover-up, repression and abuse of the truth, like: historical revisionism – the distortion of history or its denial; the proliferation of fake news and false stories; disinformation – the seeding of false information and narratives in order to influence the opinion of the people, to hide the truth, to malign and blackmail people. There are troll farms which sow the virus of lies.

Let us examine ourselves. Perhaps we, too, sow the virus of lies, which spreads wildly and numbs our consciences. This virus paralyzes our capacity to recognize God, respect truth and goodness. Thus, we do not realize that there is a ‘pandemic of lies,’ especially in the social media. This is very serious.

In this letter, we favor none but the truth. We wish to warn you of the radical distortions in the history of Martial Law and the EDSA People Power Revolution.

In 1986, some of us were already members of the CBCP. We issued a ‘Post-Election Statement,’ dated February 13, 1986, regarding the systematic disenfranchisement of voters, widespread and massive vote-buying, deliberate tampering of election returns, intimidation, harassment, terrorism and murder. In the same Statement we said: “a government that assumes or retains power through fraudulent means has no moral basis.” Thus, we asked you to see, to judge and to act, clearly not with violence, but through peaceful means. And that was what happened. The people – the NAMFREL, the Comelec computer Technicians, the Poll Officials – registrars, teachers, government workers, millions of ordinary voters together with priests and religious men and women, Radio Veritas and press people acted peacefully. They were not able to take the blatant deception and cheating. They, including Officials in the Batasan, the military, Comelec Officials, followed their conscience. And the events led to EDSA. (cf. CBCP Post-Election Statement, 1986)

We did not invent the historic event that happened in EDSA; it was a fruit of love of neighbor and faith. With you, we were simply part of it. You and the world witnessed the peaceful revolution, which was rightly called ‘People Power.’ The peaceful revolution was not an invention of one person, one party, or one color. It was a triumph of the entire Filipino People.

Many of us, Bishops, were witnesses of the injustice and cruelty of Martial Law. And up until now, the human rights abuses, the victims, the corruption, the grave debt and economic downturn of the country due to dictatorship are all well-documented. Again, we did not make these up. These are all written in our history.

We are alarmed by this distortion of the truth of history and the attempt to delete or destroy our collective memory through the seeding of lies and false narratives. This is dangerous, for it poisons our collective consciousness and destroys the moral foundations of our institutions.

Neglect of truth is detrimental for all of us, for the foundation of a good society and responsible government is the truth. Shall we allow that our children and the young be educated in lies? Can we afford to make lies become the basis of our laws and their implementation? What happens to a family or a society that is not founded on truth?

Dear Brothers and Sisters, let us stand up for truth. Remember: goodness without truth is pretense. Service without truth is manipulation. There can be no justice without truth. Even charity, without truth, is only sentimentalism. An election or any process that is not based on truth is but a deception and cannot be trusted.

Truth is intimately related to freedom (cf. John 8:32). Disrespect for truth is disrespect for freedom. When we disregard truth, we disregard our obligation to be accountable. Can we address corruption if there is no truth? We must be ready to face the truth about ourselves.

The Politics of Truth, Goodness, Justice and Peace

Thus, and also in view of the coming elections, we call on you, Brothers and Sisters – especially the Youth, to examine carefully what is happening in our quest for a true and just society. Engage in dialogue and discernment. Listen to your conscience. Be the ones to decide. We trust in your capacity to discern what is true and good. We all seek the common good. And, in the light of the Gospel of Jesus, let us follow the path of truth, goodness, justice and peace – not the path of violence, vengeance or evil.

Let us not give up on our search and defense for truth – by way of reason and faith, by common dialogue and discernment, prayer and action. Let us have faith as we persevere in overcoming evil by goodness (Romans 12:21). May truth unite us all.

It is our sincere prayer that we find the Truth, who is none other than Jesus –the Way and the Life (cf. John 8:31). For ‘if God is with us, who can be against us?‘ (Romans 8:31).

We ask for the prayers and protection of our Beloved Mother, Our Lady of Peace. May God Almighty bless all our strivings that truth and the good prevail, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

For the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines,

+ PABLO VIRGILIO S. DAVID, D.D. 
Bishop of Kalookan 
CBCP President 
25 February 2022

Ang Katotohanan ang Magpapalaya sa Inyo (Juan 8:32)

Liham Pastoral ng Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP)

Mga Kapatid,

Ang kapayapaan ni Jesus nawa’y suma-ating lahat, Siya na nagsabi:
“Kung patuloy kayong susunod sa aking turo, kayo nga’y tunay na mga alagad ko. Makikilala ninyo ang katotohanan, at ang katotohanan ang magpapalaya sa inyo” (Juan 8:31-32).

Sa paggunita natin ng araw ng EDSA People Power Revolution ngayong Pebrero 25, kung saan nanaig ang kapayapaan sa pagbawi ng ating kalayaan, kami ay muling nananawagan sa inyo, anuman ang inyong kulay o katayuan sa lipunan.

Batid naming hindi malinaw ang maraming bagay, lalo na sa pulitika. Iba’t-iba ang ating pananaw. At nakalulungkot ang kasalukuyang pagkakahati ng bansa dahil sa pulitika. Gayon pa man, nawa ang kapakanan ng lahat (common good) ang higit nating isaalang-alang. Igalang natin ang isa’t-isa, huwag tayong padadala sa galit, iwasan ang panghuhusga. Masigasig nating hanapin ang katotohanan. Gawin ang tama, iwaksi ang mali at masama.

Marami sa atin ang nadidismaya sa salitang ‘pulitika.’ Inaanyayahan tayo ni Papa Francisco tungo sa bagong pagpapahalaga sa pulitika bilang isang ‘matayog na bokasyon’. Ito ay isa sa pinakamataas na anyo ng pag-ibig, sapagkat hangad nito ang kapakanan ng lahat’ (Fratelli Tutti, #180). Tatakbo ba ang mundo kung walang pulitika? tanong pa niya (cf. FT #176).

Hindi po namin ambisyon na agawin sa inyo ang mahalagang papel sa pagsasa-ayos ng lipunan, ni ang papel ng pamahalaan. Nandito kami upang magbigay ng moral at espiritwal na gabay, alinsunod sa aming misyon na magpahayag ng katotohanan mula sa pananampalataya.

Nakataya ang Katotohanan

Papalapit na ang Halalan, at nais naming ipaalala: ‘Karapatan at obligasyon ng bawat mamamayan ang malayang pagboto upang itaguyod ang kabutihan at kapakanan ng lahat’ (Gaudium et Spes, #75). Subalit, kami ay labis na nababahala sa mga hayagan at patagong pagbabaluktot, pagmamanipula, pagkukubli, pagsusupil at pag-aabuso ng katotohanan, tulad ng historical revisionism – pagbaluktot ng kasaysayan; paglipana ng fake news at false stories; ‘disinformation’ – ang pagpapakalat ng maling impormasyon o mga imbentong kuwento para impluwensyahan ang isip ng mga tao, pagtakpan ang katotohanan at manirang-puri. May mga troll farms na naghahasik ng virus ng kasinungalingan.

Suriin natin ang ating mga sarili. Marahil kasama rin tayo sa nagpapakalat ng virus ng kasinungalingan, na mabilis kumalat at pinamamanhid ang ating konsyensya; pinaparalisa ang kakayahang kilalanin ang Diyos at igalang ang kabutihan at katotohanan. Hindi natin namamalayan, mayroon ding ‘pandemya ng kasinungalingan’ lalo na sa panahong ito ng social media. Seryoso ang bagay na ito.

Sa sulat na ito ay wala kaming pinapanigan kundi ang katotohanan. Nais lamang naming magbigay ng babala tungkol sa tahasang pagbabaluktot ng kasaysayan tungkol sa Martial Law at EDSA People Power Revolution.

Noong 1986, ilan sa aming nakatatandang Obispo ay bahagi na ng CBCP. Nagpalabas kami ng Post-Election Statement (Pebrero 13, 1986) tungkol sa malawakang pandaraya sa eleksyon, sistematikong pag-agaw ng karapatan sa pagboto, talamak na pambibili ng mga boto, pamiminsala ng election returns, pananakot, terorismo at pagpatay. At ayon sa nasabing Statement: ‘ang isang gobyerno na pandaraya ang paraan ng pagkuha ng o pananatili sa kapangyarihan ay walang basehang moral.’ Kaya hinimok namin kayo na magsuri, magdesisyon at kumilos (see, judge & act). Nilinaw din namin na ang pagkilos na nararapat ay hindi isang paraang marahas, kundi mapayapa. Ganoon na nga ang nangyari. Ang taong bayan – ang NAMFREL, ang Comelec Computer Technicians, ang mga Poll Officials – mga registrars, teachers at government workers, milyon-milyong mga ordinaryong botante kasama ng mga pari at madre, ang Radyo Veritas at iba pang mga media ay mapayapang kumilos. Hindi na nila nasikmura ang tahasang panlilinlang at pandaraya. Sinunod ng mga tao – kasama na ang officials sa Batasan, ang military, mga Comelec Officials – ang kanilang konsyensya, At ang mga pangyayari ay humantong sa EDSA. (cf. CBCP Post-Election Statement, 1986)

Hindi namin imbento ang makasaysayang pangyayari sa EDSA, na isang bunga ng pakikipagkapatiran at pananampalataya. Naging bahagi lang kami nito, kasama kayo. Nasaksihan ninyo ito at ng buong mundo, at kinilala sa daigdig bilang “People Power.” Ang mapayapang rebolusyon ay hindi gawa ng isang tao, partido o kulay. Ito ay tagumpay ng Sambayanang Pilipino.

Marami sa aming mga Obispo ang nakasaksi sa kalupitan at karahasan ng Martial Law. At hanggang ngayon ay dokumentado ang mga paglabag sa karapatan, ang mga biktima, ang korapsyon, ang napakalaking utang ng bayan na nagpalubog ng ekonomiya, bunga ng pamahalaang diktador. Muli, hindi namin ito inimbento. Ito’y nakatala sa ating kasaysayan.

Nakababahala lamang ang pagbabaluktot ng kasaysayan at tila pagbura ng ating alaala sa pamamagitan ng paghahasik ng mga maling kuwento at kasinungalingan. Mapanganib ito sapagkat ito’y paglason sa ating kamalayan at pagwasak ng mga pundasyong moral ng ating mga institusyon.

Ang magwalang-bahala sa katotohanan ay makapipinsala sa atin, sapagkat ang pundasyon ng mabuting lipunan at responsableng pamamahala ay ang katotohanan. Papayagan ba natin na kasinungalingan ang ituturo sa ating mga kabataan at sa paaralan; na kasinungalingan ang magiging batayan ng mga batas o pagpapatupad nito? Ano ang mangyayari sa isang pamilya o lipunan na hindi nakabatay sa katotohanan?

Mga kapatid, manindigan tayo sa katotohanan. Tandaan po natin, ang kabutihang hiwalay sa katotohanan ay pagbabalatkayo. Ang paglilingkod na hindi ayon sa katotohanan ay maaaring panggagamit lamang. Walang hustisya kung walang katotohanan. Maging ang pag-ibig, kung hindi nakabatay sa katotohanan, ay sentimyento lamang. Ang isang eleksyon o anumang proseso na hindi makatotohanan ay panlilinlang at hindi mapagkakatiwalaan.

Magkakambal ang katotohanan at kalayaan (cf. Juan 8:32). Kapag pinaglalaruan ang katotohanan, pinaglalaruan din ang ating kalayaan. Ang pagbalewala ng katotohanan ay pagbalewala din ng tungkuling managot (accountability). Masusugpo ba natin ang korapsyon kung walang katotohanan? Kailangan handa rin tayong harapin ang katotohanan patungkol sa ating mga sarili (cf. 1 Juan 1:8).

Ang Pulitika ng Katotohanan, Kabutihan, Katarungan at Kapayapaan

Kaya po, at dahil rin sa darating na eleksyon, nananawagan kami sa inyo, mga kapatid – lalo na sa ating mga kabataan – na suriing mabuti ang mga nangyayari patungkol sa pagtataguyod natin ng makatotohanan at makatarungang lipunan. Mag- usap-usap at mag-aninaw kayo. Pakinggan ang inyong konsyensya. Kayo rin ang magdesisyon. Nagtitiwala kami sa inyong kakayahang makita ang katotohanan, ang tama at mabuti. Pareho naman ang ating inaasam –ang kapakanan ng lahat. At ayon sa liwanag ng Ebanghelyo ni Jesus, tahakin natin ang daan ng katotohanan, kabutihan, katarungan at kapayapaan, – hindi ng dahas, paghihiganti o kasamaan.

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Listening to the Signs of the Times: Reparation and Repentance for National Healing

My dear people of God in the Archdiocese of Lingayen Dagupan:

Our country the Philippines needs healing. We are a bleeding nation and if this is not stopped, we will bleed to death. We have seen killings and have seen deaths. Corruption in plunder proportions is admitted by those in power and endured by those in the margins. Vulgarity has become funny and exemplary. Lies are spread to sow anger and hate. The helpless gullible believe falsehoods while the hapless jobless seek jobs as liars. The well fed throw away food while the hungry eat spoiled food in the trash. Atheist communists are stealing our seas as our lapdog leaders idle and waltz with them. Blasphemy and treachery have dominion.

If we have muted the voice of God and conscience, maybe the blaring voice of the calamities one after another will make us ask “Are we getting our punishment?” Let the typhoons and volcanic eruptions and earthquakes and widespread sickness jolt us from our stupor. There is a message.

I remember the prophetic words of Saint John Bosco: Very grave trials await the Church. What we have suffered so far is almost nothing compared to what is going to happen. The enemies of the Church struggle their utmost to sink the Church.

And the Word of God rings again…

If my people, upon whom my name has been pronounced, humble themselves and pray, and seek my face and turn from their evil ways, I will hear them from heaven and pardon their sins and heal their land. (2 Chron 7:14).

At Fatima, the Mother God gave us a message from heaven. Penance! Penance! Penance! Prayers! Prayers! Prayers!

Padre Pio said, “The rosary is the weapon for these times!”

I am appealing for a Lenten season of REPARATION ROSARY for NATIONAL HEALING starting on Ash Wednesday March 2 until Holy Wednesday, April 13.

  1. For every day of the Lenten season, we will pray together for all the civil provinces all over the Philippines according to the enclosed schedule.
  2. As the rosary is prayed publicly in all churches at a time when most people can join, we also plead that the family rosary at home be restored as a devout family practice even in our work places.
  3. I invite our brother priests to make confessions more available to our people specially this Lenten season and I beg our faithful to go to confession.

We have voted for all types of politicians through the years. Promises after promises! Scandal after scandal! Nothing has changed! What is wrong? What is lacking?

We have abandoned GOD! God is lacking in our country.

Reparation! Atonement! Penitence!

Having offered our reparation rosary for the Lenten season, we will offer our REPARATION ADORATION for NATIONAL HEALING starting Easter Monday, April 18 until May 8, the vigil of our national elections.

  1. The Blessed Sacrament is to be exposed publicly for one hour in the parish churches, chaplaincies and pastoral stations as the people are requested to stay in SILENT ADORATION, as much as possible kneeling down, to atone for the sins of the nation.
  2. On Sundays, the exposition adoration will be done one hour BEFORE the FIRST MASS.
  3. We will pray for twenty one days for all the voters in the coming elections. Every age bracket of voters will be assigned for each day of adoration according to the enclosed schedule.

We cannot delay offering reparation for our personal and national sins. The bitter fruits of our sins are already strangling us.  We are reaping what we have sown.

Again from Don Bosco, “Only two things can save us in such a grave hour: devotion to Mary and the Blessed Eucharist. Let us do our very best to use these two means and have others use them everywhere.”

From the Metropolitan Cathedral of Saint John the Evangelist in Dagupan City this seventeenth day of February, 2022, the 150th anniversary of the martyrdom of Fathers Gomez, Burgos and Zamora

+SOCRATES B. VILLEGAS  
Archbishop of Lingayen Dagupan

A Pastoral Letter from the CFC International Council

February 23, 2022

Dear CFC Family,

OUR SACRED RIGHT AND DUTY AS CITIZENS

In 2021, our beloved community Couples for Christ celebrated our 40th Anniversary. It was a milestone not only because of the length of our existence but also because it marked the end of our first generation. We are reminded that when the second generation of God’s people, led by Joshua, entered the Promised Land, it was not to live a quiet and peaceful existence but rather, to fight numerous battles and struggle to survive.

Today we face the first major battle of our second generation. Today we stand at the crossroads of our life and mission, where our choice will define us as a community and as citizens of our beloved country. We refer to our May 2022 elections when we are called to exercise our sacred right and duty as citizens of our land.

We are aware that amid the din of campaign speeches in these 2022 elections, exacerbated by fake news and trolling, you look to us, your International Council, for guidance and direction on how to navigate this particular battleground. In every election, we have tried our best to do that; we have consistently provided the basic foundation upon which your discernment will flow. In every election, we have issued pastoral statements and guidelines (see attached) that have sought to clarify our stand as a community.

In our pastoral letter dated December 5, 2021, we reiterated those guidelines, and we quote:

1. “CFC as an institution will not endorse particular candidates or parties. However, this does not preclude our individual participation in the electoral process.

2. WewillbeguidedbytheadmonitionofourChurchleadersforparticipation in PRINCIPLED POLITICS. This is what Bishop Broderick Pabillo echoed during our CFC-sponsored webinar on “Responsible Christian Citizenship” last September 28, 2021. Quoting from the pastoral letter of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) entitled “Seek the Common Good,” issued on January 28, 2019, he said that “Participation in politics for Christian laypeople is not just to be limited to non-partisan involvement. Christians are also encouraged to engage in principled partisan participation. This means that they can campaign for good candidates as an exercise of their Christian faith.”

The new CBCP President, Bishop Ambo David, emphatically weighed in on PRINCIPLED POLITICS for the election during the online courtesy call of the International Council brothers to him last December 3, 2021.

3. We are called to respect each other’s opinions and preferences. At every opportunity, we shall relate in love and respect and care for one another. We should not indulge in divisive discussions. All of us should keep to heart and mind that national elections come around every six years, but our bonds of mutual love, respect, and friendship will always remain.

4. Participatein“circlesofdiscernment.”Generally,thesearesmallgroupsmade up of 7-10 persons who may choose to come together to study relevant issues, examine each candidate’s platform and professed values, go into deep prayer and reflection in order to form enlightened opinions that will guide their individual choices on the day of the election.

5. Support efforts for clean and honest elections. Setting aside partisanship, wherever practicable, join independent accredited groups whose goal is to ensure that elections are clean, honest, and transparent.”

Like many of you who have already begun studying the qualifications of the presidential candidates to help you discern your choice, we in the International Council went through the Circle of Discernment (COD) process last Sunday, February 20, 2022, so that we may be further guided in our reflection and study. We began our exercise with the celebration of the Holy Eucharist to set the activity’s solemn and sacred tone.

We deemed as important to our discussion and discernment the following appropriate sections of our Vatican International Statutes, granted to us in 2005:

1. Section 2.24 – “Societal/national/global renewal: “COUPLES FOR CHRIST, in raising up holy Christian men and women, likewise raises up responsible members of society and patriotic citizens of countries.”

2. Section9.0-COUPLESFORCHRISTasanagentofrenewalwithintheCatholic Church:

a. 9.42 – COUPLES FOR CHRIST will conform to and support official and orthodox Church teachings and stands on issues.

b. 9.43 – COUPLES FOR CHRIST is committed to the communication of the Catholic faith in all its integrity to its Catholic members.

We also went into a deep discussion of the criteria we felt were crucial in choosing the best leaders for our country. We reviewed the criteria that some organizations have formulated, such as the diocese of Cubao and our own STMA, and juxtaposed those with our CFC values of Pro-God, Pro-Family, Pro-Life, and Pro-Poor. In the end, we came up with the following simplified criteria which we highly recommend all of you adopt in your own CODs:

1. Karangalan–Ourcandidatemustbehonorable,meaningdeservingofhonorand respect; exhibiting honesty and good moral character; is fair and proper, not deserving of blame or criticism

2. Katapatan–Thisencompassesmanyattributes:devoted,loyal,faithful,constant, genuine, truthful, honest, someone who walks the talk, who has integrity and moral authority.

3. Kakayahan – The leader with kakayahan has the ability and capability to perform the task assigned, is competent.

4. Karunungan – More than intelligence, the leader must be wise, capable of analyzing all aspects of a given situation, and deciding for the common good.

5. MaytakotsaDiyos–MorethanGod-fearing,thecandidatemustalsobeseen,by action and not merely by word, as God-loving.

We began our discussion of the criteria on the premise and realization that there is no perfect candidate. At the end of our prayerful immersion and meaningful discussion, the members of the IC reached the decision to support the presidential candidacy of Leni Robredo.

Those of you who have been with CFC for many years will realize that this is the first time the International Council is announcing its support, based on individual IC member choices, for a particular candidate.

In stating its support for Leni Robredo, however, the International Council recognizes and acknowledges the God-given right of each and every member to make his/her choice. Thus, we are not imposing this decision on anyone. We recognize that the very essence of democracy is the freedom of everyone to express their own views, to make their own choices and to demand, if not agreement, at least respect for their decisions. As has been our policy over the years, we do not and will not endorse candidates because we do not want to see CFC as an institution imposing block voting on the brethren.

We arrived at our individual decision to support Leni Robredo after much prayer, discernment, and dialogue. We expect you to do the same and go through the same process of discernment we went through. Should your decision differ from ours, we will respect your choice in the spirit of love and brotherhood that has characterized, and will continue to characterize, our being CFC.

We ask only that we all remain faithful to our Christian calling and that we be actively involved in principled politics as our Church teaches. We are one with our Church in our desire to see only God-fearing men and women in leadership positions who will lead us and the next generations into a free, progressive, and united Philippines.

We reiterate that elections come and go, but our brotherhood and community life will remain for many more years to come. The noise of the campaign will cease, but the force of our love for each other, and the depth of our shared mission will continue.

Let us all exercise our sacred right because, in the face of the challenges our country now must overcome, this has become not just a privilege but our Christian duty.

We believe our theme – Christ Heals! – is God-inspired, not just for our community but for our entire country. May God’s healing grace be upon us all.

THE CFC INTERNATIONAL COUNCIL

Walk for Life 2022

February 4, 2022

To: All Laiko Members: Arch/Diocesan Councils of the Laity & National Lay Organizations

Dear Brothers & Sisters:

The peace & Love of the merciful Lord!

In line with our common dream and vision to “build together a life integrated in our faith, founded on love, solidarity, righteousness and peace,” the Sangguniang Laiko ng Pilipinas will be holding once again the annual WALK FOR LIFE on February 26, 2022, 9:00 am – 11:30 am.

This year however, because of the ongoing restrictions, we will do it again differently. Instead of the actual walk, we will have an online event with the theme: “Sulong LAIKO! Halalang Marangal tungo sa pag-angat ng BUHAY”.

While we continue to uphold, promote and defend the sacredness of life and the dignity of every person, we also would like to take this opportunity to make a clear stand, as we will once again elect our leaders on May 2022. Our country needs good and capable leaders in government who have the political will to serve our country, promote the common good and offer a better life for all.

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Ash Wednesday Reparation Prayers for the Country and Alay Kapwa Telethon

February 21, 2022

To All Laiko Members: National Lay Organizations & Arch/Diocesan Councils of the Laity

Dear Brothers & Sisters:

As we prepare for the 2022 Lenten Season, let us begin to ask the Lord that we may appropriate the many graces accompanying our prayers, fasting and good works.

On Ash Wednesday, a nation-wide appeal for Reparation Prayers for the Country will be launched and we will send out more information about this.

There will also be an Alay Kapwa Telethon, the purpose and mechanics of which are contained in the attached letter from the CBCP-Nassa Caritas.

Lastly, we are also receiving spiritual senses from Lay-leaders of the need for us to take seriously the “spiritual warfare” we are in during this campaign period, and with that sense an appeal for fasting and penance.

If you can, please do consider these and encourage your members to do the same.

“Jesus said to him, “If you can! Everything is possible to one who has faith.” (Mk 9:14-29)

Thank you very much.

Sincerely in the service of the Lord,