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“Without cost you have received; without cost you are to give.” (Mt 10:8b)  This was among the instructions that Jesus gave to his apostles, when sent them out on a mission.  It is also our inspiration for the year 2021, which we declared as a “Year of Mission”, with the theme “Gifted to Give”, as we prepare to commemorate the 500th Year of the arrival of Christianity in the Philippines.

POPE FRANCIS’ MESSAGE

This could not have been expressed more beautifully than by the Holy Father himself when he addressed Filipino Catholics in Rome and around the world and said, “On this important anniversary of God’s holy people in the Philippines, I also want to urge you to persevere in the work of evangelization—not proselytism, which is something else.  The Christian proclamation that you have received needs constantly to be brought to others…”  He also expressed how this could be carried out more concretely by asking us, “to care for those who are hurting and living on the fringes of life.”

Reflecting on John 3:16, the Holy Father asked us to think of mission as oneness with the God revealed to us in Jesus Christ as the one who “so loves” and “gives”; and that the giving always proceeds from the loving.  He therefore invites the Philippine Church to be “a Church that loves the world without judging, a Church that gives herself to the world.”

The Holy Father likewise warmed the hearts of our Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) when he said, “You received the joy of the Gospel… and this joy is evident in your people… in your eyes, on your faces, in your songs and in your prayers.  In the joy with which you bring your faith to other lands.”  He also humored us by referring to our OFWs as “smugglers of the faith” because, he said, “wherever they go to work, they sow the faith,” and he regards their “discreet and hardworking presence” as “a testimony of faith…through humble, hidden, courageous and persevering presence.”

For his part, our very own Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle affirmed the Holy Father’s message when he said, “We thank God for the bearers of the gift these 500 years.” Among them, he cited “the pioneering missionaries, the religious congregations, the clergy, the grandmothers and grandfathers, the mothers and fathers, the teachers, the catechists, the parishes, the schools, the hospitals, the orphanages, the farmers, the laborers, the artists, and the poor whose wealth is Jesus.”

THE BEARERS OF THE GIFT

There has never been, and will never be, a moment in Church history when the bearers of the gift entrusted to us by the Lord will not be both holy and sinful, noble and flawed, at the same time.  Such was the case, for instance, with the first Christians who came to our blessed islands in 1521 and encountered our native ancestors for the first time.  As in most situations in history, God did not seem to mind sowing the first seeds of the Gospel through flawed human beings like the Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan and the members of his crew in the 1521 expedition from Spain, who were all lay Christians, with the exception of one ordained priest in their company, Fr. Pedro de Valderrama, who was serving as their chaplain.

These men were mostly mercenaries.  But they almost instantly turned into missionaries the moment they “discovered” the fertile soil of good will in the natives they had encountered in Samar, Leyte, and Cebu.  They had come from distant Spain with a mandate—not to evangelize but to find an alternative route to the Moluccas.  They had arrived like hapless strangers in dire need of shelter.  They were sea-beaten, weary from the long and perilous journey through the South Pacific ocean, afraid of hostile natives, wary of pirates, hungry, thirsty and sick.  Of the five ships that departed from Spain, only three made it; one got ship-wrecked, and one deserted them.  They even had to deal with conflicts and mutinies among themselves while at sea.

THE GOLD THEY DISCOVERED

If they were in search of gold, these explorers knew they had found it, not underground or in treasure chests, but in the hearts of the nine simple fisherfolks who quickly disarmed their defensiveness with their childlike simplicity and friendliness.  They were surprised by these natives who made them feel welcome, gave them food, fish, fruits and coconuts, who allowed them to pitch their tents on the island of Homonhon and later, Limasawa, helped them care for their sick, bury their dead, and worship their God.

They who thought of our ancestors as pagans, as godless people, were surprised to find God in the generous hearts of these natives, who opened their doors and treated these weary travelers with compassion.  They also went out of their way to help them procure enough food provisions, to be able to reach the Moluccas and eventually return to Spain.  So touched must Magellan have been by the spontaneous gestures of hospitality, friendship, and generosity that he had observed while in the company of these natives, that, from mercenary, he suddenly shifted to acting like a missionary in all his awkward and limited knowledge of the Christian faith.

THE FIRST MASS AND THE FIRST BAPTISMS

Pigafetta, the chronicler, could not contain his own emotions as he narrated how awed he was about the kindness of these gentle souls to them.  He described in great detail how they had gone out of their way to build them a platform made of bamboos in Limasawa on which they could celebrate their first Mass on that Easter Sunday, March 31, 1521, and another one in Cebu when they celebrated the first Baptisms on the third Sunday of Easter, April 14, 1521. Magellan did not pressure them to do all of this at gunpoint.  They did it in the plain spirit of panunuluyan, pagpapakatao, and pakikipagkapwa-tao, which are the genuine vessels of evangelization. 

At the first Mass in Limasawa, Pigafetta describes how the families of Rajah Kolambu and his brother Rajah Siagu even volunteered to join them, how they too knelt at the consecration with them, how they offered them gifts of two slaughtered pigs and assisted them in planting the cross.  The icon of the cross which means the whole world to us now, this symbol of God’s eternal love and the price the Son of God is willing to pay for love of humankind, this cross of our redemption, became the first Christian icon ever to be brought to the consciousness of our ancestors. 

If Pigafetta had lived in our own times, he would probably be saying these natives put them to shame—they, who claimed to be Christians. They, who thought they were bringing us the Christian faith, must have felt like they had “discovered”  it instead in the beautiful hearts of our ancestors, and the baptizing became practically a mere naming of what they had “discovered”—namely, God’s grace already at work in them.

So why should we be surprised about the swiftness in the process that led to the first baptisms in Cebu?  The woman named Humamay, the wife of Rajah Humabon, whom they named Juana, was just acting out the childlike faith of these people when she chose the Santo Niño as gift.  These natives had accepted them as friends, without malice, like little children who instinctively respond with trust, even to strangers, and express affection to them, no matter what other hidden motives they might have. And, as always, these hidden agenda eventually rear their ugly heads, since they are always Satan’s favorite strategies for “nipping in the bud” the seedlings that have sprouted from the seeds sown by God.

WEEDS AND WHEAT IN THE FIELD

As in the parable of the field planted with the good seeds of wheat (Mt 13:24-30), soon, Satan gets busy at sowing the seeds of ill will, hidden agenda, and wrong motives that have always served as a huge challenge in the work of evangelization.  But the mystery of it all is that the Great Sower allows both the weeds and the wheat to grow together, and does the sifting only at harvest time. 

In those 46 days (March 16 – May 1, 1521) that God got busy sowing the seeds of the Gospel on the soil of friendship and good will between Magellan’s company and the natives and their Chieftains, the devil also got busy sowing the seeds of hidden motives and political agenda that would lead to a whole string of treacherous acts on either side.

Activities Throughout the Year 2018
2018 Year of the Clergy and Consecrated Persons
December 03, 2017 – November 25, 2018

 DECEMBER 2017

 December 03, 2017 

Ø     First Sunday of Advent
Start of the Year of the Clergy and Consecrated Persons

·      Pastoral Letter to be read during the Sunday Masses (parish level)

·      Prayer for the Year of the Clergy and Consecrated Persons before the Final Blessing during the Community Masses in parishes through-out the year

·      Special Intention for the Year to be inserted in the Prayers of the Faithful especially during Sunday Masses

·      Catechetical Information about the Year in all printed Liturgical Guides such as Missalettes nationwide

·      Possible Media Launching Activity

·      Start prominent display and use (printing/uploading) of Logo

·      Start teaching/singing/broadcasting/uploading of Theme Song 

December 04-07, 2017

Ø     Training Workshop for Vicars for Clergy and Members of Diocesan-Level Commission on Clergy  (Level II of the Vicars for Clergy Gathering meant to empower them and professionalize their roles in the Diocese for the good of the Clergy) :  First Stop – Western Visayas, Ecclesiastical Provinces of Jaro and Capiz 

December 16-24, 2017

Ø      Simbang Gabi 2017

·      Themes and suggested Homilies including the Year of the Clergy and Consecrated Persons, Seminary Formation & Vocations 

Visit of Pilgrim Relic (Relic of the Saint’s Heart?) of Padre Pio to all the 16 Archdioceses of the Philippines throughout the Year 2018 :  (still to be scheduled and arranged with individual archdioceses) the year 2018 is the 100^th Year of the Stigmata of Padre Pio and the 50^th Year since his death in 1968.  Padre Pio is a model of parish priests when he was Parish Priest of San Giovanni Rotondo, Italy and he is also a consecrated person, a Franciscan Capuchin.  So Padre Pio or more accurately St Pio of Pietrelcina would be a good role model for the Year of the Clergy and Consecrated Persons. 

JANUARY 2018 

January 15 – February 16, 2018

Ø     Course on Human Sexuality & Celibacy

·      John Mary Vianney-Galilee Development and Retreat Center for Priests
069 Bonifacio Drive, Brgy. Silang Crossing Tagaytay
Website: http://galileecenterphil.org
Mobile: (63) (917) 505-
(63) (933) 868-5477
Email: galilee.center2007@gmail.com  

January 22-26, 2018

Ø     National Conference on the New Ratio Fundamentalis and National Consultation on the Ratio Nationalis on Seminary Formation 

·      Venue:   IEC3 Convention Center in Cebu
Pope John Paul II Ave, Cebu City, 6000 Cebu

FEBRUARY 2018 

February 02, 2018

Ø     Feast of the Presentation of the Lord / World Day of Consecrated Life 

·      Diocesan-level celebrations and activities to be organized with the communities of the Religious and other Consecrated persons within the diocese 

February 05 — 11, 2018 

Ø     World Retreat for Priests

·      Shrine of St. John Baptiste Marie Vianney at Ars, in France on the occasion of the 200^th Anniversary of the arrival of Saint John Mary Vianney to the Parish of Ars.

·      Those who are interested kindly visit http://clerus.org for more information and arrangement. 

February 19 – 23, 2018

Ø     Training Workshop for Vicars for Clergy and Members of Diocesan Commission on Clergy :  Second Stop – Ecclesiastical Province of Zamboanga 

February 19 – 23, 2018

Ø     Assessment Week 1

·      John Mary Vianney-Galilee Development and Retreat Center for Priests
069 Bonifacio Drive, Brgy. Silang Crossing Tagaytay
Website: http://galileecenterphil.org
Mobile: (63) (917) 505-
(63) (933) 868-5477
Email: galilee.center2007@gmail.com

MARCH 2018 

March 5 – 23, 2018

Ø     Return Workshops 1

·      John Mary Vianney-Galilee Development and Retreat Center for Priests
069 Bonifacio Drive, Brgy. Silang Crossing Tagaytay
Website: http://galileecenterphil.org
Mobile: (63) (917) 505-
(63) (933) 868-5477
Email: galilee.center2007@gmail.com

March 5 – 16, 2018

Ø     Best Wine Served Last: A 2 – Week Retreat-Seminar for Senior Clergy (Ages 65 and above)

·      St. Clements Retreat House

Lapaz, Iloilo City

Tel. (630 (033) 329-1332

Email: redemretreatministry@gmail.com

Or contact: Ms. Cynthia C. Baga, MS  

                    G.A.M.O.T. Resources, Inc. 

                    Mobile: (63) (917) 241-2114

                                  (63) (917) 620-9044

                    Email:  sofiaemmanuelle@yahoo.com

APRIL 2018 

April 02 – 6, 2018

Ø     Priests in Transition: Making Sense of Life’s Changes

·      Our Lady’s Hill Center for Spirituality and Retreat House

Brgy. Dulao, Bago City, 6100 Negros Occ.

Tel. (63) (034) 703-8834

Telefax: (63) (034) 710-0002

Or contact: Ms. Cynthia C. Baga, MS  

                    G.A.M.O.T. Resources, Inc. 

                    Mobile: (63) (917) 241-2114

                                  (63) (917) 620-9044

                    Email:  sofiaemmanuelle@yahoo.com                    

April 09 — 13, 2018 

Ø     National Gathering of the Vicars for Clergy of the Philippines and Members of the Diocesan-Level Commission on Clergy 

·      Final Venue will be announced later, most likely in Davao City

·      Check updates at: http://eccler.org

·      Email: eccleroffice@gmail.com or eccleroffice@yahoo.com

 April 09-13, 2018

Ø     National Convention for Vocations Directors

·      Theme: “Youth & Vocation Discernment”

Venue:  Ozamiz City

April 21-22, 2018 

Ø     Good Shepherd Sunday, Fourth Sunday in Easter. 

·      Vocation Jamboree with Overnight Vigil

Venue: To be held in the respective Arch/Dioceses (Regional or Diocesan)

April 23 – July 20, 2018  

Ø     Assisted Intensive Renewal (AIR-1) for Priests

·      John Mary Vianney-Galilee Development and Retreat Center for Priests
069 Bonifacio Drive, Brgy. Silang Crossing Tagaytay
Website: http://galileecenterphil.org
Mobile: (63) (917) 505-
(63) (933) 868-5477
Email: galilee.center2007@gmail.com

MAY 2018 

Ø  Ø  May 10 – 17, 2018 :  Orientation for New and Incoming Seminary Formators also in Baguio City 

JUNE 2018 

June 08, 2018

Ø     Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus / Day of Prayer for the Sanctification of Priests. 

·      Parish or Diocesan level celebrations, Holy Hour, Prayer Vigils by the lay faithful, all towards the specific intention of the Sanctification of Priests. 

June 18 – July 20, 2018

Ø     Celebrating Midlife Promises: A 5 – Week Retreat-Seminar for Priests in their Midlife Years (Ages 35 – 65).

·      The Holy Family Retreat House

                  Nivel Hills, Cebu City, Cebu City, 6000 Cebu

Tel. (63) (032) 232 6564

Email: redemretreatministry@gmail.com

Or contact: Ms. Cynthia C. Baga, MS  

                    G.A.M.O.T. Resources, Inc. 

                    Mobile: (63) (917) 241-2114

                                  (63) (917) 620-9044

                    Email:  sofiaemmanuelle@yahoo.com 

JULY 2018 

July 2018         

Ø     Annual Retreat of the CBCP during the month of July 

·      Joint Retreat with Major Superiors of Men and Women Religious 

July 18 – 20, 2018 : Reunion of Previous Batches of Assisted Intensive Renewal (AIR) for Seminary Formators at the Assumption Sabbath Place, Baguio City

July 20-22, 2018 

Ø     Philippine Conference on the New Evangelization (PCNE 5)

·      University of Santo Tomas, España Street, Manila 

July 30 – August 3, 2018

Ø     Assessment Week 2

·      John Mary Vianney-Galilee Development and Retreat Center for Priests
069 Bonifacio Drive, Brgy. Silang Crossing Tagaytay
Website: http://galileecenterphil.org
Mobile: (63) (917) 505-
(63) (933) 868-5477
Email: galilee.center2007@gmail.com

AUGUST 2018 

August 05, 2018 

Ø     St. John Baptiste Marie Vianney Sunday  

·      In Churches, “Special collection on all Sunday Masses and the evening before is to be made” in all parishes “for the on-going formation of the clergy” (cf. Ordo 2017). 

August 6 -24, 2018

Ø     Return Workshops 2

·      John Mary Vianney-Galilee Development and Retreat Center for Priests
069 Bonifacio Drive, Brgy. Silang Crossing Tagaytay
Website: http://galileecenterphil.org
Mobile: (63) (917) 505-
(63) (933) 868-5477
Email: galilee.center2007@gmail.com

SEPTEMBER 2018 

September 01 – 30, 2018 (Tentative Dates)

Ø     ‘Sabbatical sa Vatican’

·      Pontificio Collegio Filipipino

Via Aurelia 490 – 00165 Rome – Italy

For more information please contact:

Fr. Gregory Ramon D. GASTON

                gdgnet@gmail.com

                +39-388-756-4552 (with Viber)

Or visit: http://www.pcfroma.org 

September 10 – December 07, 2018  

Ø     Assisted Intensive Renewal (AIR-2) for Priests

·      John Mary Vianney-Galilee Development and Retreat Center for Priests
069 Bonifacio Drive, Brgy. Silang Crossing Tagaytay
Website: http://galileecenterphil.org
Mobile: (63) (917) 505-
(63) (933) 868-5477
Email: galilee.center2007@gmail.com

OCTOBER 2018

NOVEMBER 2018

November 25, 2018

Ø     Solemnity of Christ, King of the Universe

·      Closing of the Year of the Clergy and Consecrated Persons.

DOWNLOAD Official Logo:   

DOWNLOAD: Possible Events at Local Level

To FABC MEMBERS

16th May 2019 in Bangkok

Cardinal Charles Maung Bo, SDB

Dear Friends,

Peace of Christ.

This is a painful talk.

Painful because we have gathered here after the death of innocent people, killed inside the church in Sri Lanka. Our prayers and fellowship are with the Christians families. This talk is painful because we belong to a faith tradition, that preaches NOT vengeance but forgiveness and reconciliation.

We never condoning the heinous crime against humanity, are called to emulate Christ who on the Cross amidst his grotesque suffering could call out “Father forgive them, for they do not know what they do”.

It is painful.

It is painful to know that Easter became Good Friday for our brothers and sisters in Sri Lanka on that fateful day. We sit at the graves of Holy Saturday and waiting for the streaks of hope of resurrection amidst the silence of the graves.

Until that happens the pain persists in the dawn, in the noon and through the pestering pain of the survivors, the relatives wading through this heart wrenching tragedy. Words fail in these paralyzing moments of darkness. A catastrophic tragedy reminding us of the cry of Rachel: A voice is heard in Ramah, weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted, because they are no more.”

Increasingly persecuted community – Christians

As international groups have pointed out, Christians have become the most persecuted religious group in the world. In the Middle East, in China, in India, in Sri Lanka, in Egypt, in Libya and other places Christians have become the scapegoats. In many Middle Eastern Countries the once flourishing Christian communities have disappeared. Too many innocents lost their lives and their blood cries out.

The Challenging Task to the Shepherds of Asia.

We need to be people of Hope, especially those of us who are Shepherds. We cannot allow ourselves to be gripped by fear and paralysis. These are the moments the Shepherds need to walk through the way of the Cross – never losing the hope of a better tomorrow – not only for our people but those who fell victim to evil.

As Shepherds, we are called upon to be hope generating agents. Remember the Psalm 23. This is a Shepherd’s song. It is dark everywhere. With faith and hope let us sing with the psalmist: “Even if we walk through the Valley of Death, You will guide us”.

Road Ahead – Preaching Peace, promoting Reconciliation

The first task is to preach peace – not vengeance. I come from a country where religious extremism saw violence and tears of the thousands. When Pope Francis visited Myanmar, he left a mandate “Do not repay hatred with hatred. Be an instrument of peace”. Let us remember violence begets more violence. Killing begets more killing. And eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth is an outdated mandate. Remember Gandhi who said “an eye for an eye makes the whole world blind.” Christ road-map is different “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” These words may look unkind and painful at the present situation. But that is the way of Cross.

Violence is for the weak. Non-Violence and forgiveness is possible only for those who are strong morally and spiritually. This sensibility needs to be nurtured among our people. The Church, in the words of Francis of Assisi, needs to become an instrument of peace praying “where there is hatred, let me sow love.”

At this juncture, Christians face four threats to their life and dignity:

1. Nationalism:

This phenomenon, often cited as a backlash to unfettered globalization is a fast spreading danger. Nationalism is defined as “loyalty and devotion to a nation, especially a sense of national consciousness “exalting one nation above all others and placing primary emphasis on promotion of its culture and interests as opposed to those of other nations or supranational groups.” The danger in many countries of Asia is a warped sense of victimhood of the majority community: “the minority complex of the majority community”. Both in Myanmar and Sri Lanka and in India, groups that celebrate their victimhood are becoming mainstreams. The minorities become the scapegoats. Rene Girard the philosopher has treated the violence against the minorities as the process of “scapegoating.”

Historically, nationalism has been used to define and explain everything from radical political and militaristic movements like Nazism to strong protectionist policies controlling modern foreign policy and economy. Nationalism, in its extreme forms, has led to genocide, the Holocaust, and more specifically, the ethnic cleansing in Bosnia in 1990s and elsewhere.

Many of us come from countries where the toxic lava of nationalism and hatred is in full flow. In India, self-professed “Hindu nationalist” Narendra Modi has been elected with a robust verdict. Violence against Christians and church personnel is becoming a norm. Even in Europe and US nationalistic politicians are on the rise. Over concerns for economic wellbeing, Britain announced its exit from the European Union in 2016, dubbed “Brexit.” Even in the most wealthy country like US white nationalism is threatening Jews and African Americans.

2. Terrorism: What is Terrorism?

In the last five years, Christians have shed blood in Asia and the Middle East by suicide bombing. Terrorism has been described variously as a tactic and strategy, a crime and a holy duty, as well as a justified reaction to oppression and an inexcusable abomination. But the killing of Christians is connected to the global conflicts in the near east, an increasing identification of Christians with the western political and economic interests. Attacking Christians also brings immense publicity for terrorists. The world has not taken seriously the silent genocide of Christians.

3. Religious Extremism

Some years ago, Professor Samuel Huntington wrote a provocative book: The Clash of Civilizations implying that the western Christian civilization will be at loggerheads with Islamic civilization impacting peace and development in the world. He proposed a hypothesis that people’s cultural and religious identities will be the primary source of conflict in the post-Cold War world. The events of the last two decades seem to prove his prediction. Violence in the name of religion is growing.

Terrorist acts done in the name of religion, typically aim to enforce a system of belief, viewpoint or opinion. The validity and scope of religious terrorism is limited to an individual’s view or a group’s view or interpretation of that belief system’s teachings. There are some researchers however, who argue that religion should be considered only one incidental factor and that such terrorism is primarily geopolitical.

What has happened in Middle East and Afghanistan in the last four decades is growing into international threat to small communities. With the spread of social media, terrorists have found safe spaces to spread their mission of hatred. In recent years religious riots in India, the slaughter of innocent Muslims at prayer by a white Nationalist in New Zealand, Muslim suicide bombers killing Christians in Sri Lanka have all made religion seem valueless and brought disgrace upon organized religion’s reputation.

What is missing is the vigorous condemnation of the fringe groups by the silent majority. God tells us that such activity must not be covered up or sanitized by believers. It must be vigorously and publicly condemned since it undermines the very ability of religion to influence people to live according to God’s directives. Now, people presume that religious people can do dastardly things.

A threatening example is ISIL (ISIS)

This group claimed responsibility for the Sri Lankan Easter attack. Thought to be wiped out in Middle East, the Sri Lankan attack demonstrated its growing influence in Asia and Africa.

ISIS aimed to create an Islamic state called a caliphate across Iraq, Syria and beyond. The group was implementing Sharia Law, rooted in eighth-century Islam, to establish a society that mirrors the region’s ancient past.

ISIS is known for killing dozens of people at a time and carrying out public executions, crucifixions and other acts. ISIS uses modern tools like social media to promote reactionary politics and religious fundamentalism.

Terrorism is not a poor man’s game

The jihadi bombings in Sri Lanka on Easter Sunday are the latest reminder that terrorism is not driven by deprivation or ignorance. As with the 2016 cafe attack on foreigners in Dhaka, Bangladesh, the slaughter of churchgoers and hotel guests in Sri Lanka was carried out by educated Islamists from wealthy families. Two of the eight Sri Lankan suicide bombers were sons of one of the country’s wealthiest businessmen. Several of the attackers had the means to study abroad.

Terrorists are neither poor nor do they represent the interests of the poor. The interests of the West and its handling of the Middle East crisis continue to be the root cause of spread of disaffection and dastardly acts.

The past role of the West in supporting dark forces

Most of those who indulge in violence in the name of Islam are those inspired by an ultra conservative movement: Wahhabism. According to many authors, aided by the oil price boom, Saudi actively promoted these ultra conservative Islam, to various parts of the world.

But the oil price boom was not the only factor contributing to Wahhabism’s rapid spread. The so called Islamic terrorism did not start with the some Muslims. The export of this jihad-fostering ideology was also promoted by the United States and its allies to stem, for example, the threat from Soviet communism: The painful role of some rich western countries in the modern day terrorism is well documented. The CIA, according to the author Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (the nephew of former U.S. President John F. Kennedy), “nurtured violent jihadism as a Cold War weapon”. Targeting terrorists and their networks brings only temporary success—but the long-term strategy needs to focus on discrediting these ideologies that attract attackers.[1]

We need to understand innocent Christians are sacrificed because of the last five decades of geostrategic conflicts between the Islamic countries and the West. More such violence cannot be ruled out. The very name Christian has become a liability. Western Societies have the capacity to protect themselves. But Asian countries and African countries especially the Christians will bear the brunt of violence. We appeal to all nations – solve your geostrategic conflicts. Live and let live Asian Christians.

Response to Religious Violence

The West has not understood Islam. While western countries manipulated orthodox regimes like Saudi for cheap oil, in the bargain allowing the ultra conservative merciless Wahhabism to spread to every corner of the earth.

The role of Saudi needs to be isolated from Islamic communities and countries. There are 47 Muslim dominated countries and more than a quarter of them are at peace with multiculturalism.  

Terrorists and religious extremists gain when stereotyping of a whole religion for the crime of a few. We need to take notice Islamic terrorists have killed more Muslims than any other community.  

“Jerusalem is the foundation of our vision and our entire life. She is the city to which God gave a particular importance in the history of humanity. She is the city towards which all people are in movement – and where they will meet in friendship and love in the presence of the One Unique God, according to the vision of the prophet Isaiah: «In days to come the mountain of the Lord›s house shall be established as the highest of the mountains, and shall be raised above the hills; all the nations shall stream to it (…) He shall judge between the nations, and shall arbitrate for many peoples; they shall beat their swords into ploughshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more» (Is. 2:2-5). Today, the city is inhabited by two peoples of three religions; and it is on this prophetic vision and on the international resolutions concerning the totality of Jerusalem that any political solution must be based. This is the first issue that should be negotiated because the recognition of Jerusalem›s sanctity and its message will be a source of inspiration towards finding a solution to the entire problem, which is largely a problem of mutual trust and ability to set in place a new land in this land of God.”
Kairos Palestine Document—A Moment of Truth, Chapter 9.5

Introduction

Easter Blessings! Thank you for accompanying us in this journey to the cross. The purpose of the annual Kairos alert is to shed light on the reality on the ground and provide a Christian commentary and analysis to this reality. Indeed, you have heard from voices on the ground and international activists on what it means to live as Palestinians and Palestinian Christians under systemic injustice and discrimination. Whether we talk about political pressure, collective punishment, restriction of movement, or the denial of entry to holy sites, it all points to the severity of the situation.

This year marks the 10th anniversary of the Kairos document. When the document was written, the authors stated then: “Why now? Because today we have reached a dead end in the tragedy of the Palestinian people.” I wonder if they knew back then that things would be even worst 10 years later. Last year, Israel passed the new nation-state law, which arrogantly states that “the right to exercise national self- determination in the State of Israel is unique to the Jewish people.” This ignores the existence of millions of Palestinians who have been living in this land for hundreds if not thousands of years—long before Israel was even created— and prepares the way for more laws that will further deny their rights. This is apartheid legalized! It is clear for the world to see.

It is time to unite in our response for justice and equality. Yet, may our response honor the one whose sacrificial death we remember this holy week. As such, this call is grounded in logic of love and is a call for non-violent resistance.

In the face of discrimination and apartheid, we insist that the only way forward is a shared land and a political reality of justice and equality. Let us call and commit ourselves to work towards a new socio-political reality in which all the dwellers of the land share the land and its resources equally and have the same rights—regardless of their ethnicity, nationality and religion. There should be no “second-class” citizens in this land. This is our response to discrimination and apartheid. It all begins by ending the occupation.

We call on our sisters and brothers around the world to join the Kairos Global movement and its signature campaign, which aims to mobilize faith-based voices to lobby and unite towards ending the occupation. This is a call for persons from around the world to further the Kairos call for an end to the State of Israel’s oppression of the Palestinian people and its occupation of Palestinian territories. We urge you to consider signing, promoting and distributing this call to all your networks. The aim is to present this call on May 15, 2019, to Israeli embassies and foreign ministries all over the world

Finally, let us remember that the journey to the cross does not end on Friday. Yes, Friday may last long and Saturday even longer, but Sunday will inevitably come! It will be a day of resurrection gladness; a day in which we remember that truth will overcome injustice; light will overcome darkness; and freedom and liberty will overcome oppression and discrimination. And because we believe in life and resurrection, we commit even stronger to work tirelessly to make this a reality. Amen.

Kairos Palestine urges you to, please, do the following:

1. Distribute and study these theological reflections in your places of worship each Sunday to inform and educate your community about the suffering of your Palestinian family living under Israeli occupation.

2. Share the alert with congregations, regions, conferences, presbyteries and dioceses across your country.

3. Respond to the Call…Send letters of solidarity and support for justice in Palestine/Israel to the Israeli embassies in your own country. For further information, see www. allembassies.com/israeli_embassies.htm

4. “Come and see.” We will fulfill our role to make it known to you the truth of our reality, receiving you as pilgrims— sisters and brothers—coming to us to pray, carrying a message of peace, love and reconciliation. Thus, you will know the facts and the people of this land, Palestinians and Israelis alike. (Kairos 6.2)

5. Take tangible actions. Support Palestinian rights by supporting Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) against Israel until it complies with International Law and UN resolutions. Support the right of persons, corporations, states and nations to boycott Israel as an expression of their freedom of speech.

6. Inform your Palestinian brothers and sisters about the ways you have been involved with the Easter Alert by writing us at this email address: kairos@kairospalestine. ps. Contact us for any other reason, too. Our strength and courage are emboldened by our contacts with you.

Rev. Dr. Munther Isaac:

Palestinian Christian pastor, theologian, writer, speaker, blogger, and more importantly, a husband and a father. Munther wears many hats. He now pastors Christmas Lutheran Church in Bethlehem and is at the same time the Academic Dean of Bethlehem Bible. He is also the director of the highly acclaimed and influential Christ at the Checkpoint conferences and is a board member of Kairos Palestine. He speaks locally and internationally on issues related to the theology of the land, Palestinian Christians, and Palestinian theology. He is the author of “From Land to Lands, from Eden to the Renewed Earth: A Christ- Centered Biblical Theology of the Promised Land”. Munther is a musician. He plays the guitar and the flute. He is also an avid sports fan, specially football (aka soccer!) and basketball (NBA). Munther originally studied civil engineering in Birzeit. Realizing that numbers and construction sites are not his thing, he obtained a master’s in biblical studies from Westminster Theological Seminary and then a PhD from the Oxford Centre for Mission Studies. Munther is married to Rudaina – an architect, and together they have two boys: Karam (4) and Zaid (2).

H.B. Patriarch Michel Sabbah’s Easter message

“Christ is risen; indeed, He is risen.”

May Easter bring all of us peace and justice in all countries around the world. In Palestine and Israel, in Jerusalem—the city of the Resurrection, in our prayer and in the heart of the conflict. This is our prayer from Jerusalem on this glorious day of Resurrection.

We live in Jerusalem around the church of the Holy Sepulcher, full of the hope that the Resurrection brings us. Because our lives and the lives of all the inhabitants of Jerusalem are full of death, along with the prayers of the righteous and good people of all religions. Death in our context is the oppression of one people on another; it is a human being humiliating another human being and uprooting that person from one’s holy city and home. Today, this is the death of the Palestinians of Jerusalem.

The light of the Resurrection shines for all who want to see it, as St. John said in his Gospel: «Light shines in darkness, and darkness could not overpower it” (John 1:5). Jerusalem today is in darkness, and its people seek life for themselves and their city. But life is far away. As we celebrate the light of the Resurrection, there is darkness and struggle in the hearts and in the town. We celebrate with great solemnity the light of good Saturday, as a sign which precedes the full light of the Resurrection, and the new life it brings. But the new life has not been reached by the people of Jerusalem, neither those who oppress nor those who are oppressed.

In Jerusalem and all the Holy Land, we see people committed to justice and peace for themselves only, built on injustice and occupation imposed on others. We see one human being living at the expense of another human being. Although Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world, died for the life of all. He died and rose from the dead, to give life for all, in order to enable everyone to triumph over death in him/herself, and become a maker of life, justice and peace for oneself, his/her people, and all the peoples of the earth. One should not live and another die. The life of no one should be based on the death of the other.

This is what is happening today in Palestine and Israel, in the Holy Land, the land of the Resurrection. The Israelis are asking the Palestinian people to die, to disappear, so that the Israeli people can live. The truth is, both should live as equal human beings.

The strong and powerful must realize that the life of a people cannot be built at the expense of the life of another people. Israel cannot be built and survive on the death of the Palestinian people, whatever the claims, whatever the forces and weapons, and whatever the human plans. The powerful people of this world, including Israel and the USA, must realize that the big sums offered instead of the just solution do not wash away the bloodshed, nor can they replace justice.

The Easter message, the Resurrection message, says to all: those liberated by God cannot be made slaves by anyone. The message of Resurrection says that a new human being can be born. A new man, a new woman, not a maker of war or death, nor a life-seeker at the expense of the life of another people. Israel can be this new being, who does not demand life at the expense of the life of the Palestinian people. Palestine can also be this new being, living free in dignity, sovereign, as all peoples of the earth

The Psalmist said: «He maintains the peace of your frontiers, gives you your fill of finest wheat. He sends His word to the earth; His command runs quickly” (147:14-15). But the question is, will the aggressors allow God Almighty to make their borders peaceful and to satisfy all peoples, to “fill them all of finest wheat”? Will the aggressors allow the word of God to reach the hearts of all people, especially the hearts of the strong and the powerful, so that Jerusalem truly becomes the city of the Resurrection and the new life?

We celebrate the Resurrection in the Holy City. We hope that all those all over the world who celebrate the Day of Resurrection will be aware of the ongoing death and struggle in the Holy City of the Resurrection. The oppressed seek refuge in God, and all the righteous in the earth. Jerusalem, the city of the Resurrection, needs to be saved from ongoing death, hatred and injustice imposed on its people. May new hope shine upon us, and a new life begin in Jerusalem for all those who love Jerusalem.

Christ is risen. He is truly risen.

Patriarch Michel Sabbah

H.B. Patriarch Michel Sabbah served as the Archbishop and Latin (Roman Catholic) Patriarch Emeritus of Jerusalem from 1987 to 2008. Patriarch Sabbah was ordained a priest for the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem in June 1955. He was a parish priest for a few years before being sent to the University of St. Joseph in Beirut to Study Arabic language and literature. Shortly thereafter, he became director of schools for the Latin Patriarchate. In 1980, he was named President of the Bethlehem University. In 1987, Pope John Paul II appointed him Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, making him the first native Palestinian to hold the office for centuries. Since 1999, Patriarch Sabbah has been the International President of Pax Christi, a Catholic organization promoting peace. Sabbah resigned as Patriarch in 2008. He is currently the Grand Prior of the Chivalric Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulcher of Jerusalem, one of the knightly orders founded in 1099. Patriarch Sabbah is a co- author of the Kairos Palestine Document and believes in pluralism and equality in order to preserve the dignity of human beings.

Kairos Palestine would like to thank all the contributors for their help on this Easter Alert.

A heartfelt thank you to Loay Sababa for the inspiring photos included.