Photos By Sammy Navaja By CBCP News April 25, 2022 Manila, Philippines
The Philippine Catholic Church on Sunday officially ended its celebration of the quincentenary of Christianity in the Philippines by emphasizing the need for the Church to turn towards the fringes of society.
Echoing Pope Francis, the episcopal conference’s president, Bishop Pablo Virgilio David, said that the church does not even have to go distant places to engage in mission.
“The ones we are sent to might not even be very far from us— they are around us, in the peripheries,” David said in his homily during the closing Mass at the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral.
“We are never to allow it to happen that those kept at the fringes of society are also kept at the fringes of the Church,” he said.
Citing the Catholic social teachings, he said the only “civilization” that Christians should aim to build is something that “aims to raise our level of humanity” by caring for the poor and the vulnerable.
There is nothing Christian, according to him, in works that exclude the majority and treat the poor like “disposable trash”.
“In a truly humane society we are mindful of the common good; we protect and empower the weakest. Everyone matters. It is what being in mission means,” David said.
The last week of the year-long celebration was capped with the virtual 2nd National Mission Congress in two parts: the International Missiology Symposium and the National Mission Forum.
Among those who graced the Mass were 12 bishops, including Archbishop Charles Brown, the Apostolic Nuncio to the Philippines, and Bishop Socrates Mesiona, head of the CBCP Episcopal Commission on Mission.
The Vatican envoy encouraged the faithful “to keep our faith strong” and share it to other places in the world.
He also paid tribute to the parents “who give the light and life of the Catholic faith to their children”.
“There are no more important missionaries than fathers and mothers,” Brown said. “So, parents, grandparents, remember that you are missionaries in the most profound sense of the world.”
The gathering was also highlighted with the mission-send off rites for 5 priests, 5 religious women and several members of lay group Couples for Christ who are off to various missions in the Philippines and overseas.
The missionaries were also conferred with a “mission cross” by the papal nuncio.
Priests and religious have reportedly “forgotten to be prophets” and have not helped people to work for “principled political participation”
Marielle Lucenio April 22, 2022
Members of the clergy in the province of Bataan have openly endorsed the candidacy of Vice President Leni Robredo during a political rally on April 19, 2022. (Photo by Jire Carreon)
Members of the clergy and the religious should take an “active role” in politics, especially during the national elections on May 9.
The call was made by Vincentian priest and theologian Daniel Franklin Pilario during an online forum hosted by the Conference of Major Superiors in the Philippines on April 22.
Without naming names, Father Pilario said priests and religious should “promote efforts against some candidates” and “endorse others who can protect us” from atrocities like what happened during the years of martial law in the Seventies and the Eighties.
He said Church people should take a stand against “atrocious crimes,” such as human rights violations committed during martial law and in the recent “war on drugs” of the government.
The priest noted that many among members of the clergy and the religious have “forgotten to be prophets” and have not helped the lay people to work for “principled political participation.”
“If we are followers of Christ, why were we silent in times of killings?” said Father Pilario in Filipino.
Statements made by several Church leaders, who endorsed candidates for the coming elections, have become the subject of discussions within and outside the Church in recent weeks.
“We should have moved and taught people how to engage in partisan politics,” said the Vincentian theologian.
“We have to remember that peace and harmony should be based on justice, and if there is no justice and if [people] are killed, then you have [not achieved peace],” he said.
He then reminded priests and religious that “not working for the Gospel is not preaching it,” adding that “If you want to preach Jesus, be political.”
In a pastoral letter released in March, the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines called on voters to elect candidates who will improve people’s lives, especially the poor and the vulnerable.
“We need competent leaders and lawmakers with sincere intentions to serve the welfare of our communities,” read the bishops’ statement.
May we forward to you a Halalan Bingo material developed by our Paranaque Diocesan Council of the Laity as their contribution to the “Voter Empowerment” effort we are all being called to do.
In the latest pastoral letter issued by the CBCP, our bishops said:
“the family, community, and encourage participation; defend rights and fulfill responsibilities; demonstrate preferential option for the poor and vulnerable; uphold the dignity of work and the rights of workers; work for solidarity; and care for God’s creation.”
Furthermore they said: “Let us identify the candidates who put the welfare of the nation above their personal interests. We can employ the ‘LASER test’ on the candidates. LASER stands for Lifestyle, Action, Supporters, Election conduct and Reputation of a candidate.”
The DCL of Paranaque is willing to assist you in rolling this out in your respective parishes. Pls see their email below.
Thanks
Sincerely yours,
DOP CIRCULAR NO. 2022 – 032
23 March 2022
ATTENTION: ALL PARISH PRIESTS, PAROCHIAL VICARS, RECTORS OF SHRINES, PARISH PASTORAL COUNCIL HEADS IN THE DIOCESE OF PARAÑAQUE
In view of the upcoming election on May 9, 2022, the Diocesan Council of the Laity created a Voter’s Education model called “Halalan Bingo 2022”. It is a simplified discernment process on how to choose the best presidential candidate for our country in the spirit of synodality, listening to one another.
It aims to provide sound criteria and relevant information out of a fruitful discussion or “talakayan” to guide participants in coming up with a well informed decision. As lay servants of the Lord, we have a responsibility to help one another in this crucial time of choosing our next leader. Our ultimate goal is to reach our poor communities who are most vulnerable to massive disinformation and proliferation of lies.
We call on all Parish Pastoral Council Heads with the support of their respective Vicariate Coordinators to be the overall coordinator of this program in each parish. Expectations are as follows:
1. Ensure that this program is cascaded to all lay servants, their families, parishioners, renewal movements and poor communities within the boundaries of your parish before the May 9 election.
2. Identify potential facilitators who will conduct the sessions. Training will be provided.
3. Provide facilitators with the relevant materials.
4. Ensure sessions are conducted to all developing communities of your parish with COSHP’s assistance.
5. Report to the Vicariate coordinator the progress of this program e.g., no. of sessions conducted, no. of participants attended, succeeding schedules, etc.)
Virtual training sessions via Zoom for facilitators of the Halalan Bingo 2022 are scheduled on:
March 25, April 4, 6 & 8 from 8:00 to 9:00 PM. Participants need only to attend one. Each training session will be limited to the first 300 registrants. Those who have attended a virtual training session can train other facilitators in their parish.
