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Month: September 2022

National Laity Week Celebration Invitation

August 18, 2022

TO: ALL PRESIDENTS/HEADS/ SERVANT LEADERS:
NATIONAL LAY ORGANIZATIONS ARCH/DIOCESAN COUNCIL OF THE LAITY
RE: LAUNCHING OF THE NATIONAL LAITY WEEK CELEBRATION

Dear Brothers & Sisters:

Christ’s love & peace be with you!

As communicated to you, we will be celebrating the National Laity Week on September 24 to October 1, 2022 to highlight once again the laity’s indispensable role in the transformation of our society. This year’s theme is “Journeying Together and Reflecting Together on the Journey that has been Made…Communion, Participation, and Mission”.

In line with this, we are pleased to invite you or your representative to the Launching of the Celebration on Saturday, September 24, 2022, 7:00 am to 2:00 pm, at the Lay Formation Institute (Layforce) San Carlos Seminary Complex Guadalupe, Makati City. The event is hosted by the Council of the Laity of the Archdiocese of Manila. No registration fee will be collected. Snacks & lunch will be served.

Because of existing health protocols, limited participants could only be accommodated at the venue (only One (1) representative or delegate per National Lay Organizations and Diocesan Councils of the Laity), however, other participants could also join online via zoom. Attached is the program and the Pre-Registration Form for both face to face & online participants. Deadline of the registration is on September 15, 2022.

We pray for your utmost support and favorable response.

Sincerely yours in the service of the Lord,

National Laity Week Launching

“Journeying Together and Reflecting Together on the Journey that has been made… Communion, Participation, and Mission”

7:00 – 8:15 am Registration Breakfast/snacks

8:15 -8:55 am RCAM Historical Film Viewing Philippine National Anthem

RCAM Panalangin ng Laiko

Welcome Remarks MR. TEODORO G SANTIAGO
RCAM-CLM Interim President

Presentation of Delegates BRO. XAVY PADILLA
P.R.O.
Sangguniang Laiko ng Pilipinas (LAIKO)

The “Buling-Buling” Dance STO. NIÑO PARISH, PANDACAN

9:00-10:30 Eucharistic Celebration HIS EMINENCE JOSE F. CARDINAL ADVINCULA, D.D.
Archbishop of Manila

PROGRAM

10:30-12:00 Introduction of Guest Speaker MR. RAYMOND DANIEL CRUZ, JR
National President
Sangguniang Laiko ng Pilipinas (LAIKO)

Guest Speaker DR. EDWIN ODULIO Senior Consultant
John J. Caroll Institute on Church and Social Issues (ICSI)

12:00 -1:00 Lunch Break

1:00 – 1:45 Open Forum & Synthesis John J. Caroll Institute on Church and Social Issues and
LAIKO

1:45 – 2:00 Laity Response MS. MARY GRACE MERILLES
Vicariate Youth Coordinator
Vicariate of Espiritu Santo

Acknowledgements REV. FR. RUFINO SESCON, JR
Commissioner
RCAM Commission on Lay Formation

Missioning and HIS EXCELLENCY BISHOP ENRIQUE MACARAEG, D.D.
Closing Prayer Chairman,
Episcopal Commission on the Laity
Bishop of the Diocese of Tarlac
Final Hymn SANLIBONG BUHAY
NOEL CABANGON with
BUKAS-PALAD MUSIC MINISTRY
Based on the Prayer of San Lorenzo Ruiz de Manila

HOME SWEET HOME
STAY SAFE AND GOD BLESS!

Laiko Season of Creation Preparation

September 5, 2022

To: All Laiko Members: National Lay Organizations

Dear Brethren in Christ:

The peace & love of the Lord…

We are all, in one way or another affected by the adverse consequence of climate change brought about by our negligence and indifference towards the care of our environment. The intensity of destruction now is unfathomable – that’s why Pope Francis has called it now a “CLIMATE EMERGENCY”!

Thus, the call for all of us to take an active part in caring for our common home is now a moral imperative. We must act now while we are still blessed with capabilities and precious time, moreso as persons of influence in our respective organizations, communities, parishes and even in our families.

In response to this very clear & present danger, at the top of LAIKO’s priority is the “care for our common home”. LAIKO actively works with other environmental groups in pursuing activities that would mitigate the negative effects of climate change and promote care and love for God’s gift of creation. To intensify our effort and work cohesively and effectively in LAIKO, may we ask from you the following information/materials:

• Initiatives done or being done related to environmental protection

• If you have an Ecological Desk/ Office/Ministry in your organization.

• Ads or promotional materials that can be uploaded at our website & facebook page to help you promote.

We hope to have a common response to address effectively the climate emergency that threatens all of us and we will send to you a proposal for a joint Season of Creation activity on October 1, 2022.

We look forward to your active collaboration and pray for your preferential attention to this concern.

Thank you & God bless!

Sincerely yours,

CWS 10th Anniversary

20 August 2022

Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ and fellow workers’ rights advocates,

Warm greetings from the Church people-Workers’ Solidarity (CWS)!

CWS is a non-profit, ecumenical organization in support of workers’ rights and welfare. Our solidarity with our marginalized sisters and brothers, is a Gospel imperative. This year marks our 10th year of tireless dedication in serving among the most basic and key sectors in effecting genuine social change in the Philippines —  the workers, who face more difficult and precarious times now more than ever. Our support has been carried out through our various programs including Education and Formation, Campaign and Advocacy, Welfare and Support Services and Networking. In so doing, we learn from the workers and draw in more members of the religious community to embrace their cause.  CWS is present in key cities in Metro Manila and in  the Visayas.

We thus commemorate our decade of service in a simple celebration with the theme, “CWS: Isang Dekada ng Pakikilakbay sa mga Manggagawa”. The activity seeks to i) highlight CWS contributions to the advancement of workers’ rights and welfare, and at the same time find means to address challenges that need to be overcome in the face of worsening state repression especially against workers; ii) further strengthen partnerships with workers’ organizations and other formations especially in parishes and communities; iii) contribute to expanding workers’ rights advocates and iv) contribute to strengthening CWS, including revitalization of national and regional formations. Workers and urban poor community members, religious sisters and brothers, and advocates will be participating.

We invite you to mark this journey with us on Saturday, 24 September 2022, at the Parish of the Risen Christ in Brgy. 128, Balut, Tondo, Manila. The activity will be from 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM, and will start with a Holy Mass officiated by our Chairperson, the Most. Rev. Gerardo Alminaza, D.D. and concelebrated by other priests networks of CWS.

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An Ecumenical Gathering on Our Commitment to Peace: Honoring Our Ecumenical Heroes and Partners

02 September 2022

Dear Fellow Peace Advocates,

Greetings of peace!

As we commemorate September as peace month and this year as the 50th anniversary of the declaration of Martial Law, the Philippine Ecumenical Peace Platform (PEPP) and the National Council of Churches in the Philippines (NCCP) will be holding a liturgical gathering entitled “Our Commitment to Peace: Honoring our Ecumenical Heroes and Martyrs” on 21 September 2022, 1:00pm to 3:30pm at the Church of the Risen Lord, UP Campus, Diliman, Quezon City. After the activity, everyone is highly encouraged to join in solidarity with the multisectoral activity along the University Avenue at 4:00pm-7:00pm.

This activity aims to serve as a platform to celebrate the International Day of Peace by highlighting the People’s Right to Peace and to shun a return to Martial Law or similar schemes through various activities; and, call for the resumption of the GRP-NDFP peace negotiations.

With this, we cordially invite you to join us in this important work as part of our advocacy and ministry to celebrate and advocate for peace based on justice for the Filipino people. For inquiries and concerns, please reach out to the secretariat at 0927 630 3392 or email at peaceplatform2007@gmail.com. Attached with this invitation letter is the concept paper for your perusal. Thank you very much.

Always in pursuit of a just and lasting peace,

Statements of Support from Religious Discernment Group

Statements of Support
Religious Discernment Group Gathering
03 September 2022

“Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves,
for the rights of all who are destitute.
Speak up and judge fairly;
defend the rights of the poor and needy.”

Proverbs 31:8-9

May we speak for those who speak for us

As we are called to speak for those who cannot speak for themselves (Proverbs 31: 8-9), we are also called to speak for the human rights defenders who stand up for the rights of the voiceless and who seek truth and justice.

The Religious Discernment Group (RDG) is one in prayer and solidarity with the Rural Missionaries of the Philippines (RMP), Karapatan, and Gabriela in demanding the dismissal of the charges of perjury filed against these organizations and their officers by former National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon Jr., at the Quezon City Municipal Trial Court Branch 139 in July 2, 2019.

The perjury charges were filed against the officers of the three organizations when they sought protection from the Supreme Court through the writs of amparo and habeas data. Filed a few weeks after the Court of Appeals denied the petitions for amparo and habeas data, the complaint against Karapatan and Gabriela was initially dismissed by Senior Assistant Prosecutor Nilo Penaflor on November 8, 2019. However, on February 24, 2020, City Prosecutor Vimar Barcellano reversed the resolution.

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