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Year: 2023
Global crisis and mission: A plea for an apocalyptic missiology
Father Daniel Franklin E. Pilario, C.M. | November 23, 2023
How to move forward in a disruptive, volatile, and chaotic world? In what form does Christian theology and mission take in view of a world in crisis? When many people on the ground are experiencing an “apocalypse” in their lives — from Ukraine to Gaza, from victims of extrajudicial killings to victims of climate disasters, in what form does missiology take?
In such a context, I plead for an “apocalyptic missiology”.
Apocalyptic discourse is blamed for apathy and inaction because it is fear-mongering. If a crisis will surely end in catastrophe, can our insignificant steps prevent it? Is there a space for human responsibility in apocalyptic contexts?
Metz writes: “Our apocalyptical consciousness is not threatened with a paralyzing fear of catastrophe. It is, on the contrary, called upon to display a practical solidarity with the least of the brethren; that is clear from the apocalyptic chapters at the end of the gospel of St. Matthew.”
In short, for Metz, it is the sense of the end that leads us out of ourselves and to be responsible for the marginalized and the excluded. Apocalyptic spirituality is not about a frantic concern for one’s salvation in the face of God’s imminent arrival. No, it is about being in “practical solidarity” with the hungry, the thirsty, the mournful, and the lowly—for this is a sign that God’s kingdom has come into our midst (Matthew 25).
The great Protestant missiologist, David Bosch, echoes the same idea. In his book Transforming Mission, he calls St. Paul an apocalyptic. And Paul’s extensive missionary work is driven by apocalyptic missiology.
“Whereas in some early Christian circles, an ardent expectation of the imminent end tended to dampen the idea of a wide-ranging missionary outreach, exactly the opposite is true in Paul’s case: ‘He is the herald of the gospel… and all of this is part of his eschatological mission’.”
In times of apocalyptic crises, church people tend to be sectarian and exclusivist. We are tempted to get out of society and get into the church lifeboat to be concerned with our own salvation because the end is near. In the words of Pope Francis, in times of crisis, we tend to be a “self-referential church”, concerned only of our own self-preservation.
Paul was unlike the Parousia enthusiasts of his time. His zeal for the mission led him to go out beyond his borders, to preach to the Gentiles, to do more — because, in truth, we “can only proclaim the lordship of Christ, not inaugurate it; it remains the prerogative of God himself to usher in the end.” Authentic apocalyptic hope thus compels us towards ethical responsibility.
In theological language, Metz writes: “The Christian idea of imitation and the apocalyptic idea of the imminent expectation belong together. It is not possible to imitate Jesus radically, that is, at the level of the roots of life, if ‘the time is not shortened’. Jesus’ call: ‘Follow me!’ and the call of Christians: ‘Come, Lord Jesus!’ are inseparable.”
I would like to end with the mothers and widows of the extrajudicial killings. Despite the deaths of their breadwinners, they have survived the “apocalypse” of their lives, the killings. As if it was not enough it was not enough, another apocalypse came, the pandemic. But they survived.
The then Vice President of the Philippines, Leni Robredo, gave them a surprise visit to encourage them in their work. She entrusted them to sew more PPEs and face masks which the world desperately needs during the pandemic.
While the whole world lost their jobs, or while the Duterte government was busy cashing in on imported face masks from China, ironically the widows were honestly sewing facemasks to provide for their families.
One widow told me: “Our husbands were killed by armed men wearing facemasks. Now, we are making facemasks not to kill but to make people live.”
Continue readingHoly See urges social sustainability on World Fisheries Day
LiCAS News | November 22, 2023
The Vatican has renewed its call for fair and sustainable practices with the global fishing industry to mark the observance of World Fisheries Day.
In an event co-organized by the Food and Agriculture Organization, the Holy See underscored the critical inseparable link between social and environmental sustainability in the fisheries sector.
Sr. Alessandra Smerilli, secretary of the Dicastery for the Service of Integral Human Development, cited Pope Francis’s recent Apostolic Exhortation “Laudate Deum,” pointing out the dangers of intensive industrial fishing, which poses threats to marine biodiversity and the livelihoods of smaller fishers.
“Destructive fishing in the marine ecosystem takes advantage of the work of the fishers, who know better how important the care of the sea is for the future of their livelihood,” she said.
Sr. Smerilli emphasized the necessity to counter the “arrogance of the strong” and urged a concerted effort to listen to the voices of fishers, whose wisdom emerges from the margins.
She called for collective action to reimagine the world’s future, reaffirming the Church’s commitment to upholding human dignity and environmental stewardship.
Monsignor Fernando Chica Arellano, the Permanent Observer of the Holy See to FAO, echoed Sr. Smerilli’s sentiments in his concluding remarks.
He affirmed the Holy See’s enduring support for fishery workers, particularly those less fortunate, advocating for their fundamental right to decent and dignified work in a healthy and sustainable environment.
Msgr. Arellano commended the FAO for implementing regulations that promote new fishing models, ensuring quality catches, environmental respect, and fair sector development.
He reiterated Pope Francis’s call for an “ecological conversion,” emphasizing the need for a corporate strategy of social responsibility that prioritizes solidarity over profit.
The Holy See stressed that an ethical approach respecting individuals would enhance the well-being of port workers.
Msgr. Arellano envisioned ports as spaces of integration, fraternity, and loyal collaboration, where true solidarity becomes a path to overcome selfishness and indifference.
Highlighting the Church’s ongoing work for seafarers, Msgr. Arellano acknowledged the efforts of Stella Maris, the Catholic Church, and the Holy See in providing human and spiritual care to those working or transiting in ports, advocating for their well-being, and supporting initiatives to ensure that no one is left behind.
Cardinal Michael Czerny, Prefect of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development, conveyed a message during the FAO session.
He called for an “integral ecology,” emphasizing the need to safeguard the environment, jobs, and fishing communities facing new challenges threatening their survival.
Cardinal Czerny expressed gratitude to fishermen for their valuable work, acknowledging them as sentinels of delicate balances and pioneers of integral ecology.
He recognized the often unacknowledged and exhausting nature of their work, emphasizing the importance of societal recognition for their contributions.
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Pope Francis launches novena to pray for peace
Francis asks for prayers for peace in the world and in the Holy Land, that “the difficulties resolve themselves in dialogue and negotiation and not with a mountain of dead.” The Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network proposes a novena.
(ZENIT News / Rome, 11.22.2023).- Francis has asked the Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network to organize a campaign of special prayer for peace in the world and in the Holy Land. “Let us pray – he says in a video made in Spanish and available with subtitles also in English, French, Portuguese, Italian, Arabic and Hebrew – that the difficultiesresolve themselves in dialogue and negotiation and not with a mountain of dead on each side.”
In his request, Francis recalls, “We all feel the pain of the wars,” and that “there are two very near that force us to react: Ukraine and the Holy Land.” What is going on in the Holy Land, he adds, “is very painful.” In addition, he remarks, “the Palestinian people, the people of Israel” are “two fraternal peoples” and “have the right to peace, have the right to live in peace.”
This is not the first time that the Pope has made a call for peace. Not a week passes that he does not ask for prayers insistently for peace in war-torn Ukraine, or for so many other countries, as most recently for Sudan. And how many times has he denounced war and the conflicts that are born in the hearts of men and women and in fear? “Understand that terrorism and war never lead to a solution. War is a defeat. Every war is a defeat!” How often, on the contrary, in the midst of a divided and fragmented world, has Francis asked for the promotion of the values of peace, living together and the common good?
Today he invites us again to pray with ever more insistence for peace in the world and in the Holy Land. Francis asks us to pray for the grave situation in Palestine and in Israel, where very many persons have lost their lives. How often, with pain, has he asked that spaces be opened to guarantee humanitarian assistance and that the hostages be released?
On 17 October, he invited all believers to unite with the Church in the Holy Land and to dedicate the day to prayer and fasting, since “prayer is the meek and holy force to oppose the diabolical force of hatred, terrorism and war.” As we now approach Advent, the hope of the birth of the Prince of Peace, Jesus, he again invites us to pray.
Where can the Novena for Peace be downloaded?
Novena for Peace on Click To Pray: https://clicktopray.org/campaigns/902
Novena for Peace Booklet: EN: https://issuu.com/popesprayernet/docs/novena_-_blessed_are_the_peacemakers_en
Pope Francis Explains Why the Church is Catholic
Address at the General Audience of November 22, on the second aspect of the proclamation: universality
(ZENIT News / Vatican City, 22.11.2023).- The Wednesday General Audience began at 09:00 am on November 22, during which Pope Francis developed the second aspect of the Christian proclamation: the fact that “it is for everyone” (the previous week he developed the first aspect and then he anticipated that three aspects would be addressed). This would be the penultimate catechesis dedicated to “The Passion for Evangelization: The Apostolic Zeal of the Believer,” which with this Wednesday’s makes it the 27th catechesis on the subject.
Here is the text of the Pope’s address, translated from the Italian original into English by the Holy See.
——————–
Dear brothers and sisters,
After having seen, last time, that the Christian proclamation is joy, today let us focus on a second aspect: it is for everyone, the Christian proclamation is a joy for everyone. When we truly meet the Lord Jesus, the wonder of this encounter pervades our life and demands to be taken beyond us. He desires this, that His Gospel is for everyone. Indeed, in it there is a “humanizing power,” a fulfilment of life that is destined for every man and woman, because Christ was born, died, and rose again for everyone. For everyone: no-one excluded.
In Evangelii Gaudium we read that everyone has “a right to receive the Gospel. Christians have the duty to proclaim the Gospel without excluding anyone. Instead of seeming to impose new obligations, they should appear as people who wish to share their joy, who point to a horizon of beauty and who invite others to a delicious banquet. It is not by proselytizing that the Church grows, but ‘by attraction’” (no. 14).
Continue readingKape’t Pandasal
Opening Mass of the 23rd Laiko National Biennial Convention
Closing Day Eucharistic Celebration of the 23rd Laiko National Biennial Convention
New Laiko Board of Trustees Elected for the term 2024 to 2025
Welcome and congratulations to the incoming Board of Trustees of the Sangguniang Laiko ng Pilipinas who will serve from January 1, 2024 to December 31, 2025. Here is the complete roster of the new officers.
President- Francisco Xavier Padilla
Executive Vice-President- Albert A. Loteyro
Vice-President for Ecclesiastical Province of Manila- Gertrudes Bautista
Vice-President for Luzon- Armin Leonardo F. Ibarra
Vice-President for Visayas- Dr. Rene Josef C. Bullecer
Vice-President for Mindanao- Atty. Proculo Sarmen
Secretary- Mayette H. Bugaoan
Treasurer- Ma. Lourdes de Guzman
Auditor- Nancy Abcede
PRO- Michael Bukuhan
TRUSTEES:
Dr. Noe D. Bataga
Danilo Billedo
Rene de Jesus
Arch. Edric Marco Florentino
Dr. Divina Lupe Lazaro
All Sessions of Day 2 of the 23rd Laiko National Biennial Convention
This video includes:
1. “United in Mission as a Synodal Church” Keynote Address by MOST REV. BRODERICK S. PABILLO, D.D. Apostolic Vicar Taytay, Palawan Chairman CBCP Episcopal Office on Stewardship
2. Talk 1: “Co-responsibility as Servant Leaders in the Life and Mission of the Church”
REV. FR. JASON H. LAGUERTA Director Office for the Promotion of New Evangelization Archdiocese of Manila
DR. ERICKSON S. JAVIER Chairman Commission on Integral Evangelization Manila Ecclesiastical Province Educational Association Systems Vice President for Christian Formation Pasig Catholic College
3. Talk 2: “Formation of the Lay Faithful” BRO. ROQUEL A. PONTE LAIKO Immediate past President
23rd Laiko National Biennial Convention “United in Mission as a Synodal Church” Summit Hotel Tacloban October 27 to 29, 2023