Monitor
CBCP
OCTOBER 1 - 14, 2018 VOL 22, NO. 20
THE CROSS
A SUPPLEMENT PUBLICATION
OF KCFAPI AND THE ORDER OF
THE KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS
Davao Archbishop Romulo Valles, CBCP President, incenses the statue of Padre Pio at the national shrine of the Italian saint in Santo Tomas, Batangas on September 23. The “incorrupt” heart relic of Padre Pio
will be in the country from October 6 to 26 and will be brought to Manila, Batangas, Cebu and Davao. PHOTO COURTESY OF THE NATIONAL SHRINE OF SAINT PADRE PIO
Cebu archbishop seeks
probe into deadly landslide
By Roy Lagarde
A RANKING official of
the Catholic Church is
seeking an ‘honest-to-
goodness’ investigation of
the deadly landslide that
claimed dozens of lives at a
quarry cement site in Cebu
province.
Archbishop Jose Palma of Cebu
said the incident calls for a “deeper
introspection” to prevent it happening
again.
“I urge all sectors involved to
conduct an honest-to-goodness
evaluation of the event in order to
Papal envoy says Vatican-China
deal ‘a step in the right direction’
Papal Nuncio Archbishop Gabriele Caccia arrives to celebrate Mass for the World Day
of Consecrated Life at the Manila Cathedral, Feb. 2, 2018. ROY LAGARDE
THE agreement between
China and the Vatican is a
“step in the right direction,”
Pope Francis’s envoy to the
Philippines said.
Papal nuncio Archbishop
Gabriele Caccia said the
PROTAGONIST OF TRUTH, PROMOTER OF PEACE
A3: NEWS
Writing on the wall for Philippine Christians
address the call for justice,” he said.
While he did not make a categorical
stand regarding the quarry operations,
Palma urged the government to take
the interests of future generations
into account in making decisions.
“Let it be considered in the
evaluation a foresight of the future,
placing an emphasis on the good of
the next generation,” Palma said.
The death toll in the landslide that
struck two villages in central city of
Naga on Sept. 20 has climbed to 72 as
of Sept. 29, with 11 listed as missing.
The tragedy forced the government
on Sept. 21 to suspend major quarrying
operations not just in Naga but also in
selected regions across the country.
Search and retrieval operations continue at the landslide area in Naga City, Cebu, Sept. 27, 2018. PHOTO
Probe / A6 FROM CEBU PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT
Church exec reiterates
opposition to lowering
age of criminal liability
THE Catholic Church’s
prison ministry firmly
objects to the proposed
measures seeking to lower
the age of child offenders
that will be subject to
penalties amid the
supposed rise in crimes
committed by minors, a
spokesperson said.
The Church urges the
government to improve
instead the implementation
of the country’s juvenile
justice law, said Rodolfo
Diamante, Executive
Secretary of the CBCP’s
Episcopal Commission
Church is always sincere on Prison Pastoral Care
about improving ties with (CBCP).
China. “The children are
“When there’s a possibility victims and must not be
to work together for the punished. In fact they
common good, it’s something
Envoy / A7
CBCPMONITOR@AREOPAGUSCOMMUNICATIONS.COM
A6: LOCAL NEWS B1: PASTORAL CONCERNS
What it was really like when John Paul II was shot Message of Pope Francis to the Catholics of China
and to the universal Church
Filipinos
urged on
martial law
anniv: ‘Resist
dictatorship’
CHURCH groups
marked a day for
“dignity and peace”
to demonstrate their
opposition against the
Duterte administration’s
“creeping dictatorship”.
Joined by students and
activists, they took to
the streets on Friday as
people marked the 46th
anniversary of Ferdinand
Marcos’ declaration of
martial law.
“Together, let us resist
dictatorship, uphold
the dignity of life, and
strive for peace based
on justice,” reads a joint
statement signed by the
Association of Major
Religious Superiors in
the Philippines and other
groups.
The groups also
criticized historical
revisionism on Marcos
and many Filipinos’
tendency “to ignore
history.”
“We must not move
on and simply forget
on the basis of lies and
historical revision of the
Marcoses ushered in,
venerated even, by the
Duterte administration,”
they said.
“Our faith moves us
to perseveringly strive
for peace based on
justice. One that can
be attained when the
likes of the Marcoses
are held accountable.
One that is rendered
by the healing of
both present and past
wounds spawned by the
many structural and
historical injustices in
our land,” they added.
Aside from AMRSP,
other signatories of
the statement are the
Sangguniang Laiko ng
Pilipinas, the Promotion of
Church Peoples Response,
Religious Discernment
Group, and Nicodemus.
(CBCP News)
Stop ‘insensitive’ remarks on Ompong
aftermath, says Baguio bishop
should be protected by
going after the alleged
syndicate,” he said.
Diamante’s comment
came after Senate
President Vicente Sotto
III filed a bill seeking
to lower the criminal
liability to 13 “to adapt to
changing times”.
Senate Bill 2026 seeks to
amend Republic Act 9344 Rescuers carry a body from the site where dozens of people are believed to have
been buried by a landslide triggered by heavy rains during Typhoon Ompong in Itogon,
or the Juvenile Justice Benguet, Sept. 17, 2018. CIRIACO SANTIAGO III, CSsR
and Welfare Act of 2006,
which exempts children
aged 15 and below from A CATHOLIC bishop has calling” which can inflict
criminal liability. appealed to refrain from further pain on the grieving
“The State must ensure making “insensitive remarks” families and other typhoon
that those children in as many people are reeling victims.
conflict with the law who from the effects of Typhoon “Let us stop using the
are currently exempt from Ompong. misery of others as a tool for
criminal liability who Bishop Victor Bendico of selfish propaganda that does
Liability / A7 Baguio implored the public to nothing to ease their sorrow
stop with “false accusations but instead sow confusion
and inappropriate name Remarks / A6
A2 WORLD NEWS October 1 - 14, 2018 Vol 22, No. 20 CBCP Monitor

Holy See, China continue to negotiate Vatican Briefing

situation of underground bishops
VATICAN CITY— Sources say the Holy
See and the People’s Republic of China
are involved in new negotiations over
the fate of bishops who have remained
faithful to Rome “underground” for
years in Communist China, Agence
France-Presse has reported.
These negotiations are a follow up
to the agreement that was reached
Sept. 22.
An unnamed Vatican source
reportedly told AFP that the Holy
See could win concessions from the
Chinese government by the end of
the year, and that Vatican negotiators
hope to convince Beijing to recognize
officially a dozen “underground”
bishops by December.
New regulations on religious practice
in China went into effect in February
2018 that codify increased scrutiny
and pressure on almost all religious
activities in China. The government has
recently been engaged in a crackdown
on religion throughout the country,
including bulldozing of Christian
churches and internment of Muslims.
In light of the government’s harsh
actions, “underground” clergy in the
country want safeguards, and the goal
of the new negotiations is to try to “give
more space” to Catholic believers, the
Vatican source told AFP.
Relations between the Chinese
government and the Vatican have
long been strained, as Catholicism
in China has been controlled since
1957 by the state-sanctioned Chinese
Catholic Patriotic Association, which
is now directly supervised by the
Chinese Communist Party.
The patriotic Church has long
been ordaining bishops illicitly, and
refusing to accept most appointments
of bishops from Rome.
Pope Francis waves to the crowd as he passes a person holding a Chinese flag during the World Youth Day
2016 in Krakow, Poland. SHIRLEY PAYNOR
There are still 40 or so bishops,
directly nominated by the Holy See
who have never been recognized by
the Communist regime in China,
though China has agreed not to force
them into the CCPA, AFP reported.
The Vatican Sept. 22 announced
that a deal had been struck with
the Chinese government regarding
the nomination of bishops, without
providing many details on the content
of the deal. The same day, the Vatican
also announced the admission of
seven Chinese bishops, who were
ordained in the patriotic Church
without Rome’s permission, into full
communion with the Catholic Church.
Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal
Pietro Parolin said the objective of the
deal was pastoral and meant to create
greater freedom and autonomy for the
Church in China, to aid its mission of
spreading the Gospel.
Some have criticized the deal,
however, including Cardinal Joseph
Zen Ze-kiun, Bishop Emeritus of
Hong Kong, who Sept. 26 called
the deal “an incredible betrayal,” as
reported by Reuters.
Pope Francis took responsibility for
the deal Sept. 25, saying that although
the negotiations were years in the
making, he personally reviewed and
signed off on the dossiers for each
illicitly ordained bishop.
The Vatican had previously
recognized 70 or so Chinese-ordained
bishops over the past two decades.
With the recognition of the final
seven, this means that, for the first
time, all bishops in China are in
communion with Rome, though not
all are recognized by the Chinese
government. (CNA/EWTN News)
Guardian angels are life’s traveling companions, pope says
Christians have guardian angels to encourage and guide
them so they won’t become sluggish on their journey in
life, Pope Francis said. Without the guidance of angels,
men and women who become settled in their ways and put
“their life on hold” are in danger of becoming like stagnant
water, the pope said Oct. 2 in his homily during morning
Mass in the Domus Sanctae Marthae. “So many people don’t
know how to walk or are afraid of taking a risk and they
remain still,” the pope said. “But we know the rule is that
a person who is stationary ends up stagnating like water.
When water is still, the mosquitos come, they lay eggs and
ruin everything. The angel helps us, he pushes us to walk.”
(Junno Arocho Esteves/CNS)
Church’s problems are caused by its own members, pope says
The barque of the church is being buffeted by strong
winds of scandal created by its own members, Pope Francis
told a group of priests from France. When the church is
“hit by opposing and violent winds, especially because of
grave sins committed by some of its members,” the pope
said Oct. 1, Catholics should not forget “the humble daily
fidelity” of “the vast majority of those who have given their
lives to the church as priests.” The pope spoke about the
scandal and the priesthood with 100 priests and friends
from the Diocese of Creteil, France, who were making a
pilgrimage to Rome. (CNS)
Love can make darkness of euthanasia disappear, pope says
Caring for the sick, especially those near death, cannot be
reduced simply to giving them medicine, but must include
providing healing and comfort that gives their lives value
and meaning, Pope Francis said. “Serene and participatory
human accompaniment” of terminally ill patients is crucial
at a time when there is a “nearly universal” push for
legalizing euthanasia, the pope said told participants in a
five-day conference on ethical health care at the Vatican
Oct. 1. The Oct. 1-5 conference was sponsored by the
Pontifical Academy for Life and led by Auxiliary Bishop
Alberto Bochatey of La Plata, Argentina, and the Health
Consensus Foundation, an Argentina-based organization
comprised of local and international health care providers,
according to the conference website. (Junno Arocho
Esteves/CNS)

Study finds increases in gold price increase sex- God works freely through whomever he wants, pope says
Jesus invites people to stop labeling others as being either

selective abortions in India “friends” or “enemies” or being “with us” or “against us,”
Pope Francis said. People should open their hearts and
minds to recognize God’s presence and action even in the
NEW DELHI, India— A ultrasound scans became most unusual and surprising places and in people “who are
study from the University widely available, fewer girls not part of our circle,” the pope said Sept. 30 during his
of Essex has found a link were born in months of gold Sunday Angelus address. “It is about being more attentive
between the global price price inflation, suggesting to the authenticity of the good, the beautiful, the true that is
of gold and the survival that those children were carried out and not to the name and provenance of the one
rate for Indian baby girls. being aborted rather than who does it,” he told those gathered in St. Peter’s Square.
Monthly increases in the neglected at birth. Tests to (Carol Glatz/CNS)
price of gold between 1972- determine the sex of a fetus
2005, the study argues, led have been illegal in India
to girls being more likely to Dowries are a transfer Gold, especially jewelry, since 2015. Pope: Pray to protect church from devil, step up fight
be aborted, die in the first of parental property upon is an integral part of Indian “We find that parents are against abuse
month of life, or suffer from marriage of a daughter, a dowries. Gold prices are consistently ‘eliminating’ Signaling his belief that the Catholic Church is facing
stunted growth. practice still widely found frequently reported in girls early in life, but the a serious crisis, Pope Francis asked every Catholic in
The study also concluded in Ind ia, Bang lad e sh, Indian media and are a pattern is that this is done the world to pray for the protection of the church from
that dowries are a major Pakistan, and Sri Lanka, regular topic of discussion, soon after birth before attacks by the devil, but also that the church would
contributing factor to despite being illegal in Bhalotra wrote in Quartz 1985, and while the girl is be more aware of its sins and stronger in its efforts to
India’s gender imbalance. India since 1961. India. in the womb after 1985,” combat abuse. Pope Francis asked Catholics to pray the
Sex-selective abortion, “While the original The study found that Bhalotra said. rosary each day in October, seeking Mary’s intercession
though illegal since 2015, dowry payments acted as from 1972 to 1985, an “[In 1994,] abortion in protecting the church, and “at the same time making
has been widely practiced a pre-mortem bequest to increase of approximately clinics in Mumbai had her (the church) more aware of her sins, errors and
since the 1980s, and daughters that afforded six percent in the posters with slogans the abuses committed in the present and the past, and
nationwide men outnumber them post-marital financial monthly price of gold such as ‘Better pay 500 committed to fighting without hesitation so that evil
women by nearly 37 million. protection, property rights was accompanied by a [rupees] now than 50,000 would not prevail,” the Vatican said in a statement
There are also an estimated over dowry are now often six percent increase in [rupees] later.’ The 500 released Sept. 29, the feast of the Archangels. United
21 million “unwanted” girls appropriated by the groom deaths of baby girls, with [rupees] is the cost of “in communion and penitence as the people of God,” the
who have been born in the or his parents rather than no significant change abortion and the 50,000 statement said, Catholics should plead for protection
country. retained by the bride,” the in deaths of baby boys. [rupees] refers to the against “the devil, who always seeks to divide us from
“Our contribution is to study states. Additionally women who future cost of dowry,” the God and from one another.” (Cindy Wooden/CNS)
provide what we believe The study cites estimates survived to adulthood author states.
is the first clear evidence that suggest a dowry may who were born during The study found that
of causal effects of dowry often be four to eight times that time period were after 1985, a 1 percent Pope expels Karadima, notorious Chilean abuser, from priesthood
costs on son preferring a family’s annual household more likely to be less tall increase in the global price Pope Francis expelled from the priesthood a Chilean who
behaviours,” said Sonia income, and that parents when they reach maturity, of gold led to an extra gained notoriety for sexually abusing young men in his
Bhalotra, a professor of often have to start saving possibly due to nutritional 33,000 “missing” female parish. In a statement released Sept. 28, the Vatican said
economics and the author for a girl’s dowry as soon as deprivation early in life. births each year. (CNA/ that Fernando Karadima was dismissed from the clerical
of the study. she is born. After 1985, when EWTN News) state by the pope, who “made this exceptional decision in
conscience and for the good of the church.” Citing canon
Chaput: Youth synod depends on faith, not sentimentality law, the Vatican said the pope “exercised his ‘supreme, full,
immediate, and universal ordinary power in the church’
aware of his service to the people of God as successor of
ROME, Italy— In an op-ed column “This is why many young priests, elements, to the exclusion of deeper
St. Peter.” Pope Francis signed the decree Sept. 27 and
published Saturday, Archbishop like those who wrote an open letter religious and moral issues,’ an
Karadima was informed of the decision the next day, the
Charles Chaput of Philadelphia to delegates of the impending synod ‘absence of the hope of the Gospel,’
statement said. (Junno Arocho Esteves/CNS)
has restated his concerns about earlier this month, see an opportunity and an ‘insufficient treatment of the
the upcoming synod of bishops on in the synod’s subject matter. As abuse scandal.’”
young adults, faith and vocational they make clear, the synod’s success “Comments like these sound
Catholics, Pentecostals should learn from each other, pope says
discernment, set to begin Oct. 3. depends on a profound confidence harsh,” Chaput admits, “but they are
Pope Francis said many Catholics share his initial
The column was published in the in the Word of God and the mission not wholly unwarranted. A synod
thoughts about the worship of charismatic Christians --
Italian newspaper Il Foglio. of the Church, despite the sins of her that deals with issues of sexuality
“that more than prayer meetings they seem to be samba
According to Chaput, after the leaders.” and young people should also deal—
schools” -- but he is convinced God wants Catholics and
Pennsylvania statewide grand jury “It’s in the light of their faith, and honestly and thoroughly—with the
Pentecostals to learn from each other. Catholics can
report, and abuse problems in Chile, the faith of other young men and roots of a clergy sexual abuse disaster
appreciate the way Pentecostals “live their faith, give
Germany and elsewhere, “the Church women like them, that the synod’s involving minors.”
praise to God and witness to the Gospel of charity,”
is in turmoil.” instrumentum laboris or ‘working “Neither the Pope nor the Church
although “often in ways different than we are used to,”
“In this turbulent environment, document,’ needs to be reviewed and is served—particularly in a time of
the pope said Sept. 28 during a meeting with members
the Holy See will host a world synod revised. As it stands, the text is strong humiliation and crisis – by an overdose
of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity.
of bishops, October 3-28, in Rome. in the social sciences, but much less of sentiment, accommodation, and
Pentecostals, on the other hand, should be helped to
Keyed to the theme of ‘young people, so in its call to belief, conversion, and sociology. Faith demands more than
“overcome their prejudices about the Catholic Church
faith, and vocational discernment,’ mission,” Chaput wrote. that,” Chaput, who is a delegate to the
and recognize that in the invaluable treasure of the
a more ironic, and more difficult, Citing a recently published synod, concluded.
tradition received from the apostles and safeguarded
confluence of bad facts at a bad theological reflection, Chaput Il Foglio- The Sheet- was founded
throughout history, the Holy Spirit has, in fact, not
time for the meeting can hardly be lamented within the document in 1996 by Italian journalist and
been extinguished or suffocated, but continues to work
imagined.” “‘serious theological concerns… agnostic intellectual Giuliano Ferrara.
effectively,” the pope said. Council members were holding
The archbishop explained that “this including: a false understanding Despite its limited circulation of
their plenary meeting, which focused on relations with
does not mean the synod need fail in of the conscience and its role in 47,000, the newspaper is regarded
Pentecostals, charismatics and evangelical Christians.
its work. Francis’ personal appeal and the moral life;’ a ‘false dichotomy as one of Italy’s most independent
(Cindy Wooden/CNS)
the good will it can engender remain proposed between truth and freedom,’ and influential voices in matters of
strong.” a ‘pervasive focus on socio-cultural politics, culture and religion. (CNA)
CBCP Monitor October 1 - 14, 2018 Vol 22, No. 20 NEWS FEATURES A3

Writing on the wall for Philippine Christians

MANILA— Priests in the
southern Philippine town
of Tigbao awoke on the
last Friday of September
to find that threats had
been written on the front
wall of their Iglesia Filipina
Independiente (IFI) church
building.
The denomination, also
known as the Philippine
Independent Church, split
with the Catholic Church
early last century amid
disquiet over abuses by some
Spanish clergy.
The slogans defacing the
church sought to link its
congregation and priests
to the New People’s Army
(NPA), the armed wing of
the underground Communist
Party of the Philippines.
The IFI’s Bishop Antonio
Ablon of Pagadian was
branded as an “NPA coddler.”
Other slogans tagged the
United Church of Christ in the
Philippines, a mainstream
Protestant group, and the
Catholic Rural Missionaries
of the Philippines, as
communists.
The attacks came as
President Rodrigo Duterte
accused a broad spectrum of
political and human rights
groups of conspiring with
leftist rebels to topple his
two-year-old administration.
The three religious groups
facing the vilification
campaign, in the southern
part of the island of
Mindanao, are all involved in
aiding communities of poor
farmers and tribal people
A slogan written on the wall of a chapel in the southern Philippines accuses Protestant churches of having links with communist rebels. UCAN
being forced from their lands
by the military and land
developers.
“The attacks are not
going to defeat the church,”
said Sister Patricia Fox, an
Australian missionary nun
who has been fighting an
attempt by the Bureau of
Immigration to deport her
from the Philippines.
“We will continue to do the
work asked of us by the God of
compassion and love. We will
continue to help people fight
injustice and oppression,
poverty and hunger.”
Bishop Ablon said attacks
were brazenly aimed at
silencing his continuing
human rights and peace
advocacy.
He told ucanews.com that
tribal people and farmers in
Mindanao are facing highly
militarized conditions. “I
have been working together
with other advocates to
defend them and be their
voice,” said the bishop.
Bishop Ablon linked what
he described as harassment
to a series of June “solidarity
mercy missions” for tribal
communities that he
conducted.
The Catholic Rural
Missionaries of the
Philippines and the United
Church of Christ in the
Philippines were also part of
the missions that investigated
reports of bombings in tribal
communities.
The bishop said villagers
in the town of Dumingag
reported harassment by
soldiers, including through
accusations of tribal links to
rebel forces.
After the June mission,
soldiers visited bishops,
priests and village officials
who were involved.
Bishop Ablon said
the threats come as top
military officials in the area
are seeking to create an
inter-agency body aimed
at fighting Asia’s longest
running insurgency.
“But they are not fighting
armed rebels,” said the
prelate. “Their real targets are
legal organizations, churches
and human rights groups that
refuse to be silent. They are
creating a scenario to justify
extraordinary measures.”
The prelate’s younger
brother, Father Chris Ablon,
who heads a church program
to aid tribal people, warned
that he would fight back if the
bishop is physically attacked.
In a Facebook post, the
priest wrote: “If you will
kill my brother ... which is
what usually happens to
human rights activists after
you vilify them ... I will not
seek justice from your courts
because we will never get
such justice as what happens
to all victims of your human
rights violations.”
He said it was the
government who turned
people into communist rebels
because relatives and friends
of victims of abuses often
choose to join the insurgents.
Priests, nuns, Protestant
pastors and lay leaders were
forced to go underground
during the years of martial
law under former dictator
Ferdinand Marcos, whose
rule ended in 1986.
Luis Jalandoni, former
chairman of the National
Democratic Front of the
Philippines, an alliance of
underground groups, used to
be a Catholic priest. His wife,
Coni Ledesma, is a former
nun.
While no group has claimed
responsibility for painting the
slogans on the IFI church
wall, witnesses said it was
done in full sight of military
and paramilitary groups in
the area.
An army sergeant who
spoke with the local clergy
said he would not erase
the slogans because they
might have been ordered by
“higher-ups.”
Earlier, former military
chief Eduardo Ano, who
now heads the Interior
Department, insisted that
rebel front organizations,
including labor groups, were
involved in a “grand scheme”
to stir unrest.
Armed Forces chief Gen.
Antonio Galvez has even
named legal organizations,
including church groups,
as alleged leaders of a plot
to oust Duterte. (Inday
Espina-Varona/UCAN)

Former hostage priest continues Networks, not division: Pope chooses

work for peace in Mindanao
ILIGAN City— When the clock
struck midnight on Sept. 17, Father
Teresito Soganub woke up to pray
and thank God for a new lease of
life.
He remembered and celebrated
what happened a year ago when
at exactly 12:15 in the morning he
escaped the clutches of Islamic State
inspired gunmen in Marawi City.
Terrorist gunmen held the Catholic
priest for 117 days, along with other
hostages, during the so-called siege of
Marawi that last five months.
Fr. Soganub still remembers
the night he made his escape with
Lordvin Ocopio, a teacher at a local
college, from a mosque and away
from their captors.
The priest recalled how the two
of them walked for two kilometers
out of the city along a street strewn
with bodies.
“It was the greatest fear I’ve ever
felt,” he told ucanews.com.
“I was afraid the terrorists might
see and shoot us. I was also afraid we
would be mistaken by [government
forces] for their enemies,” he said.
It was a risk, however, that he had
to take, said the priest who served
as vicar-general of the Prelature of
Marawi prior to the terrorist assault
on the city.
Celebrating a second chance
Before going to bed on Sept.
16, Soganub sent a message to
his teacher friend Ocopio to
congratulate him again for his
second chance at life.
“Congratulations, we are already
one-year-old today in our second
life,” wrote the priest in his message.
He did not get a reply. “I can
understand because he also needs
to take time and have some space,”
said the priest.
Since they escaped together last
year, the two have only seen each
other once when the priest went to
the teacher’s hometown to attend a
thanksgiving party.
“We talked about our close
encounter with death, a close
encounter with psychological
death,” said Soganub.
“It helped us move on from the
trauma. I was happy that I was with
my fellow survivor,” he said.
To celebrate the first year of his
“second life,” the priest celebrated
Mass and had dinner with friends,
relatives, and neighbors in his
hometown in South Cotabato, about
260 kilometers from Marawi.
He said seeing his family helps
2019 Communications Day theme
Fr. Teresito Soganub. FILE PHOTO
him overcome his trauma.
“It’s hard,” the priest said,
“because I have a wound that is
very deep.”
“We faced death so many times
for 24 hours a day over 117 days,”
said Soganub. “I asked the Lord to Pope Francis answers questions from journalists aboard his flight from Tallinn, Estonia, to Rome Sept. 25. PAUL HARING/CNS
accompany me and bless me in my VATICAN— Christians must do Communication Day 2019: “We in 2019 that will be June 2. Pope
healing process.” more to make sure the media, are members one of another: Francis usually issues a message
especially social networks, are From network community to on the theme, which the Vatican
The mission goes on places of dialogue and respect for human communities.” publishes Jan. 24, the feast of St.
Soganub still believes that what others, rather than instruments The theme is a call for “reflection Francis de Sales, patron saint of
happened to him, happened for a for highlighting differences and on the current state and nature journalists.
reason. increasing divisions, said the prefect of relationships on the internet, Social media can nourish “true,
“I will rise above the situation. I of the Vatican communications starting from the idea of community beautiful, solid relationships,”
will transcend what happened to office. as a network between people in Ruffini told Vatican News, but
me,” he said, vowing to continue his “The risk in our time is that their wholeness,” the Vatican said. it also can “feed hatred and a
peace-building efforts in Mindanao. of forming tribes instead of “The metaphor of the web as a friend or enemy mechanism. When
“I will continue to work for peace. communities -- tribes based on community of solidarity implies this happens, there is no real
It is what I have wanted to do since the exclusion of the other,” said the construction of an ‘us’ based on relationship.”
I was young,” he said. “Life is short, Paolo Ruffini, the new prefect of the listening to the other, on dialogue Pope Francis, he said, wants people
and we have to make good use of it.” Dicastery for Communication. and consequently on the responsible to use social media as a network, not
Soganub, who has been working Ruffini spoke to Vatican use of language.” a web, “not something that traps you,
in Marawi for the past 23 years, has News Sept. 29, the same day The Vatican and many dioceses but something that frees you and that
been active lately in campaigning the Vatican released the theme mark World Communication Day you make an instrument of freedom.”
for peace in Mindanao’s conflict Pope Francis chose for World on the Sunday before Pentecost; (Cindy Wooden/CNS)
areas.
“I believe the reason why a person
has religion is because of the desire
for peace, regardless of what religion
Monegasque princess removed from British line
they follow,” he said.
The priest said that any
misunderstanding can be solved if
of succession for becoming Catholic
people use their heart. MONACO— Princess from succeeding to the and was baptized as a of succession, Alexandra
“A person has a heart, if we can Alexandra of Hanover, throne. Lutheran two months is 12th in line to the
talk heart to heart, even if our a member of the royal The Succession to the after her birth. She is the Monegasque throne.
religions are different, we will family of Monaco, Crown Act 2013 allowed daughter of Caroline, She is a figure skater,
understand each other,” he said. has reportedly been heirs to the throne to Princess of Hanover and and has represented
He said that despite what removed from her marry Catholics, among Prince Ernst August of Monaco at international
happened to him, his response distant place in other changes. However, Hanover. Through her skating competitions.
would always be peace and love the British line of the law still stipulates father she is descended Along with Alexandra,
“because the way of Jesus is the way succession after having that the acting British from Victoria, Princess Lord Nicholas Windsor
of peace.” become a Catholic. sovereign mustn’t be a Royal, the eldest child of has also been excluded
As his “new year” starts, the priest The news was reported Catholic. Catholics have Queen Victoria and Prince from the British line of
said he would continue praying for in English Sept. 27 by been barred from the Albert. succession for becoming
his fellow hostages who did not Royal Central, which cited English throne since the Alexandra is the Catholic. Lord Nicholas
survive, especially his two altar Point de Vue, a French Act of Settlement 1701. granddaughter of is a great-grandson of
boys, John Wilbert Aninon Pasiorco weekly. The website of the Grace Kelly, who in George V, and was
and Sam Mangumpit. Because the British British monarchy lists 1956 became Princess baptized in the Church of
“I will pray for you,” he said. monarch is head of the only the first 17 persons of Monaco when she England. He was received
“For those who survived like me, Church of England, which in the line of succession. married Rainier III. So into the Catholic Church
God bless you,” added the priest. is the established church, Princess Alexandra, in addition to having in 2001. (CNA/EWTN
(Divina Suson/UCAN) British law bars Catholics 19, was born in Austria been in the British line News)
A4 OPINION October 1 - 14, 2018 Vol 22, No. 20 CBCP Monitor

EDITORIAL

China and the Vatican

ON September 22, 2018, the Vatican has announced that it
has signed with the People’s Republic of China a “provisional
agreement on the appointment of bishops,” allowing Chinese
Catholics to have bishops who are in communion with Rome
but at the same time recognized by Chinese authorities.
This move has provoked criticism from Chinese Catholics
faithful to Rome and, notably, from U.S. religious freedom
leaders, who contend that the Vatican initiative concedes
too much power to the government and undermines efforts
to protect those behind the iron curtain. The president of
the Religious Freedom Institute in the U.S., Thomas Farr
said that the Agreement “will not improve the lot of Catholic
in China, much less the status of religious freedom for non-
Catholic religious communities,” rather it will inadvertently
encourage “China’s policy of altering the fundamental nature

ILLUSTRATION BY BLADIMER USI

of Catholic witness.”
This may have prompted Pope Francis to issue a message
to “the Catholics of China and to the Universal Church” last
September 26. He said, “Of late, many conflicting reports
have circulated about the present and, in particular, the
future of the Catholic communities in China. I am aware
that this flurry of thoughts and opinions may have caused
a certain confusion and prompted different reactions in the
hearts of many. Some feel doubt and perplexity, while others Religious and laity Living Mission
sense themselves somehow abandoned by the Holy See and
anxiously question the value of their sufferings endured out of
fidelity to the Successor of Peter. In many others, there prevail
joined in mission Fr. James H. Kroeger, MM
positive expectations and reflections inspired by the hope of a
more serene future for a fruitful witness to the faith in China.”
While critics argue that the provisional agreement is more IN his straightforward language, Pope in communion.” They should be focused (2014) Pope Francis speaks “not only
of diplomacy than Christian witness, it actually delves deep Francis challenges “all the members of on the “spirituality of communion” to consecrated persons, but also to
into the very core of Christianity itself. Which is why it is very the Church [to] come out of yourselves and work to make the Church “the the laity, who share with them the
consoling to hear it from Pope Francis himself who, consistent and go forth to the existential peripheries. home and the school of communion.” same ideals, spirit and mission.” He
with his brand of Petrine ministry, says, “In the sixth year of ‘Go into all the world’; these were the True communion is always open notes that some religious institutes
my Pontificate, which I have placed from the beginning under last words which Jesus spoke to his to “encounter, dialogue, attentive have a long tradition of associating
the banner of God’s merciful love, I now invite all Chinese followers and which he continues to listening and mutual assistance. Such lay persons with their charism,
Catholics to work towards reconciliation. May all be mindful, address to us (cf. Mk 16:15).” communion inoculates us from the while for others it is a more recent
with renewed apostolic zeal, of the words of Saint Paul: “God… “A whole world awaits us: men and disease of self-absorption”! phenomenon.
has reconciled us to himself through Christ, and has given us women who have lost all hope, families This communion is to be lived first and “Indeed, around each religious family,
the ministry of reconciliation” (2 Cor 5:18). in difficulty, abandoned children, young foremost within religious communities every Society of Apostolic Life and every
people without a future, the elderly, sick themselves. Francis says: “I would Secular Institute, there is a larger family,
Developing an operative faith and abandoned, those who are rich in ask you to think about my frequent a ‘charismatic family,’ which includes
the world’s goods but impoverished comments about criticism, gossip, envy, a number of Institutes which identify
WE should be concerned about this matter. Our faith should
within, men and women looking for a jealousy, hostility as ways of acting with the same charism, and especially
not remain only in the theoretical, intellectual level. It has
purpose in life, thirsting for the divine…. which have no place in our houses…. lay faithful who feel called, precisely
to be a functioning one, giving shape and direction in our
Work concretely in welcoming refugees, We need to ask ourselves about the as lay persons, to share in the same
thoughts and intentions, our words and deeds. In fact, it
should shape our whole life. drawing near to the poor, and finding way we relate to persons from different charismatic reality.”
The ideal is that we feel it immediately. Indeed, it should creative ways to catechize.” cultures, as our communities become These groups are often called by
be like an instinct such that whatever we think, say or do, or “Don’t be closed in on yourselves, increasingly international.” a variety of names: lay cooperators,
whenever we have to react to something, it is our faith that don’t be stifled by petty squabbles, Consecrated men and women, Pope associates, third orders, affiliates,
should guide us. We have to understand that it is our faith don’t remain a hostage to your own Francis writes, “are also called to true adjunct members, or lay partners. They
that gives us the global picture of things, since it is God’s gift problems. These will be resolved if synergy with all other vocations in the seek to live the spirit and share in the
to us, a gratuitous sharing of what God knows about himself you go forth and help others to resolve Church, beginning with priests and charism and apostolate of the religious
and about the whole of creation. It is meant for our own good, their own problems, and proclaim the lay faithful, in order to ‘spread the family to which they are linked. The
for us to live out our true dignity as children of God. the Good News. You will find life by spirituality of communion, first of all Pope asks that the laity, along with the
It is a kind of knowledge that will lead us to our eternal giving life, hope by giving hope, love in their internal life and then in the clergy and religious, become more aware
life. It will make us relate everything in our earthly by giving love.” ecclesial community, and even beyond of this special gift so as to respond “to
life, both the good and the bad, to this ultimate goal in Challenge to Religious. Speaking its boundaries’.” the promptings of the Spirit in Society
life which is to be in heaven with God, a state that is to both men and women religious, Pope Response of Laity. In his apostolic today.” Truly, this is another form of
supernatural. But it is a divine gift that we need to take Francis challenges them to be “experts letter for the year of consecrated life being in mission today!
care of. It is like a seed that has to grow until it becomes
a big tree and bears fruit.
Mary’s quiet presence in
For this, we really need to have a living contact with
Christ who is the fullness of God’s revelation to us. He is the And That’s the Truth the brown scapular
substance, the content and the spirit of our faith. So, the first Teresa R. Tunay, OCDS
thing that we have to do is to look for him always in whatever
thing we are thinking, saying or doing. We need to check our
attitudes and dispositions. Do we really look for him, in the
manner spelled out by Christ himself, that is, with constancy
and determination? Christ said: “Ask, and it shall be given “WHAT’S that thing about the Salonpas bit, but but being made of wool, judging from the volume of
you. Seek, and you shall find. Knock, and it shall be opened plastered on your back— it led to his virtual initiation it’s itchy—to better fortify devotees (in the Philippines)
unto you.” (Mt 7,7) Salonpas?” a male colleague into Carmel and the brown us against the pursuit of who unabashedly wear the
What obviously would help is the habit of reading and in the newsroom asked. “Oh scapular devotion. Serves vainglory? Yes. Remember brown scapular—from prison
meditating on the gospel, at least for a few minutes everyday. that? It’s a scapular.” I him right. “Don’t believe the sackcloth worn by inmates to celebrities—one
In that way, we get to know Christ better, and to familiarize didn’t realize it was semi- what you hear about the Elijah and John the Baptist. would think that Our Lady
ourselves with his words, deeds and reactions to the different visible through my white brown scapular protecting We’re also not supposed to of Mt. Carmel (OLMC)
situations he encountered. Let’s remember that since he shirt, and so, assuring him you from bullets or knife display it, although some must be the best known of
is “the way, the truth and the life,” everything in him will that I wasn’t in need yet of attacks,” I warned him, of us, probably believing it Mary’s manifestations in
always be a guide to us. Besides, Christ himself wants to Salonpas—a pain-relieveng “Hindi iyon anting-anting expresses our “zeal for the the Church. But no, despite
identify himself completely with us by becoming and offering patch for arthritis or other (amulet) or a lucky charm to Living God”, wear all sorts the thousands of brown
the “Bread of Life” to us. Do we realize that we have to avail muscle aches—I felt obliged make you rich and famous or of ornate scapulars during scapulars sold in religious
ourselves of the Holy Eucharist as the prime source of our to tell him a bit about the find you the right spouse. It’s “gala” occasions—huge like bookstores and distributed
duty to identify ourselves also with him, he who is actually brown scapular. For us our Carmelite habit, a sign the ID cards during the papal for free during her feast on
the pattern of our humanity and the savior of our damaged Secular Carmelites, it is that we belong to Mary.” visit, embroidered with the July 16, countless others
humanity? formally imposed during a I like what author John Carmelite logo, hung with a have yet to be introduced to
We have to realize that the ideal bearing and outlook ceremony marking a stage in Zmirak said about the crucifix, and bearing the text the truth about it, and how
we ought to have is something spiritual and supernatural. our formation; it’s made up scapular being a “sleek and of the so-called Sabbatine it relates to Our Lady of Mt.
We have to be wary of getting stuck in the level of our of two pieces of plain brown minimalist version of the privilege. All sorts—all Carmel whose popular image
senses and emotions, in the level of our physical and wool cloth the size indeed of Carmelite habit”. The one unnecessary, but all tolerated wears brown with a cream
material world, or in the level of our intellectual world, a Salonpas patch. we Secular Carmelites wear for the love of God. colored mantle, holds the
of our sciences, ideologies and technologies that are not Maybe he was just kidding may be sleek and minimalist Come to think of it, And That’s the Truth / A7
yet inspired by faith. We have to make many acts of faith
during the day, so that our faith would really become
operative. We should devise some plan to accommodate
the requirements in developing a living faith. Our lifestyle
The art of killing birds Candidly Speaking
should be eminently marked by our faith.
Fr. Roy Cimagala

Monitor
CBCP
O blessed times, how complicated and issues, the projects, the people, plus my shared by many people. We just have
complex you have become. You never own personal needs that also would get to learn how to cover a greater area of
fail to make new challenges to us. May more complex with age—I need to kill responsibility with more or less the same
PROTAGONIST OF TRUTH, PROMOTER OF PEACE we understand you better, and know many, many birds with just one stone resources at hand.
how to handle you in such a way that as much as possible! What is clear is that we have to
Pedro Quitorio we continue to pursue our proper goals Of course, I have realized long time sharpen our virtue of order. Whatever
Editor-in-Chief in life without getting confused and lost. ago that 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, helps in growing in that virtue should
These words come spontaneously to are really not enough for me to be on be pursued and cultivated. We have to
Nirva’ana E. Delacruz Ron Ramos, Sky Ortigas mind whenever I realize that my work top of everything. I just have to learn to have a good sense of focus.
Associate Editor Design Artists is getting more exciting and challenging. live with that reality. But it should not This can mean that we develop the
In spite of trying my best to be sport stop me from trying to do what I know skills of making good use of time,
Roy Lagarde Mercedita Juanite in all this, I just can’t help but feel I have to do as much as I can. organizing our day with clear vision of
News Editor Circulation Manager
overwhelmed sometimes. Truth is there are so many people what we are supposed to do during the
Marcelita Dominguez For a long time, I have been an avid to reach out to and each one has to be day, doing things with dispatch without
Christine Paguirigan
Managing Editor Comptroller fan of the idiomatic expression, to kill understood and helped in his concrete unnecessary delays, learning how to
two birds with one stone. I have tried to situations and distinctive circumstances. shift from task to another without
The CBCP Monitor is published fortnightly by the live it out always, and to some extent, I I know I have to avoid dishing out wasting too much time.
CBCP - Media Office with editorial and business offices
at 3rd Floor, CBCP Compound, 470 General Luna have been successful. generic pieces of advice and other This can also mean that we have to
Street, Intramuros, Manila. Email Address: cbcpmonitor@ But nowadays, it seems that killing blanket forms of help and support. know how to group more or less related
areopaguscommunications.com, Business: (632) 404 - 1612.
ISSN 1908-2940. two birds is not enough. With all the And I am sure that this predicament tasks together so they can be done
things I have to face—the challenges, the is not unique to my case but is rather Candidly Speaking / A6
CBCP Monitor October 1 - 14, 2018 Vol 22, No. 20 A5

Law—and instrument of
By the Roadside justice or vendetta? Commentary
Fr. Eutiquio ‘Euly’ Belizar, Jr. SThD Rowland Atkinson and Mariann Hardey

“A society of men is just only if it obeys
You.” —St. Augustine
IN the Philippines it is a known fact
that people in power use the country’s
legal system not only to advance various
programs for the economy, social
services etc. but also to get back at or
harass political, personal or ideological
enemies. This practice is not exclusive
to one administration. The motive
may not necessarily be rooted solely in
vindictiveness. When administrations
after the ouster of the late strongman
Ferdinand Marcos engaged his heirs
to litigation after litigation, one
commendable purpose was to recover
the country’s lost assets and wealth after
decades of Martial Law which saw both
the economy and politico-social realities
reduced to undeniable ruins. So far
there have been limited successes but
also disheartening fiascos, such as the
dismissal of a number of cases. Which
leads us to another factual observation.
The other reality we deal with in
these islands is that having friendly
or unfriendly relations with people in
power can mean being at the receiving
end of the blessings or wrath of the
law. A lady senator, a Chief Justice
and a male senator, for instance, in
various instances had rubbed this
government’s leader the wrong way;
in consequence, they have reaped legal
woes. The lady senator is incarcerated,
the CJ removed from office and the
male senator’s amnesty declared void
“ab initio” (from the beginning). The
phrase “void ab initio”, i.e., non-existing
from the start, legally characterizing the
The power of prayer
WE thank the Lord that
Super Typhoon Ompong,
with international name
Mangkhut, did not really
cause great havoc in the
Philippines. The forecast of
heavy rains and high storm
surges did not happen.
Northern Luzon was very
much prepared to face the
fury of Ompong, so are the
Metro Manilans.
Days before monster
Ompong hit the country,
and while it was causing
damage to Guam, Saipan and
Mariana Islands, prayer text
brigade had been going on in
social media in the country.
Everybody was telling
everyone to pray that the
Philippines be saved from
the wrath of Ompong; that
either: Ompong will weaken
or Ompong will divert its
direction and will not landfall
in the country. It is like
praying for a miracle because
the World Meteorological
Organization forecasted
the monster typhoon as the
strongest in the world and
that it will hit the Philippines
with winds at 205kph
and gustiness of 255kph,
equivalent to a Category
CJ’s appointment and male senator’s democratic, can stand. Or it stands on Three things we can all
amnesty, appears to be a clever legal
way of circumventing a previous
sand.
Isaiah has unkind words to those who learn from people who
administration’s legal acts. forget the law’s mission to do justice:
For theology seminarians, canon
law students and priests the phrase is
“Woe to those who make unfair laws
and who, when writing them, write
don’t use smartphones
reminiscent of the Church’s declarations
of nullity affecting certain marriages;
injustice in order to oppress the poor
in judgment, and to do violence to the
or social media
they are also considered “void ab initio”. case of the humble of my people...” (Is
MANY of us spend hours every day tethered to our devices,
But we all know how such judgments 10:1-2). St. Ambrose, too, has this to say:
pawing at the screen to see if it will deliver a few more likes or
are arrived at sans the least motive of “The rule of justice is plain: namely, that
emails, monitoring the world and honing our online presence.
vindictiveness but with the maximum a good man ought not to swerve from
Social networking platforms such as Whatsapp, Snapchat,
consideration of persons’ highest good, the truth, nor inflict any unjust loss on
Instagram, Facebook and Twitter are supposed to make us
including their salvation. In contrast, anyone, nor act in any way deceitfully
feel more connected. Yet our reliance on technology to “see”
one would be hard put to prove that the or fraudulently.”
the social world around us can be a heavy burden.
“void ab initio” legal ploy in our country This month being October, let me
The Pew Research Centre recently reported that about a
aims at persons’ highest good. People share what I call a “post-millennial
quarter of US adults say they are “almost constantly” online.
in power can always say the recourse prayer to Guardian Angels” whose feast
Stress, addiction, depression and anxiety seem unsurprising
aims at serving justice. But this claim we recently celebrated. Like our quest
consequences of using social platforms often specifically
rings hollow, to say the least. Why? One for justice they do not expire. We need
designed to keep us repeating the same actions over and
needs only to consider the fact that our their help too as we aspire and work for
over again.
judiciary, including the highest court of a truly just and peaceful Philippines.
Even so, many would find the prospect of living offline
the land, has shown, in more than one
worrisome, or simply impossible. That’s why we undertook a
instance, a partiality favoring power- “Angels of God, our guardians dear,
small study with 50 people who may seem nothing less than
or-influence-wielders in the present forgive us when at times we refuse to
social outcasts in today’s screen saturated environment. None
circumstances. As one ex-chief executive hear
of our participants used social media or had a mobile phone,
was wont to say, “Weather-weather your voices ringing in our ears,
and most even refused to email.
lang yan (It depends on the time and when we instead listen only
We wanted to understand why these people had decided to
circumstance).” In a word, what today’s to our fears.
switch off, and how they managed it. But rather than seeking
power-holders consider legal may be In the face of evil
quick fixes for overuse, we explored the principles and values
rescinded by the next as violative of help us be and do good,
that drove our participants to live the way they do. Much has
the law. always resisting Satan as we should
already been written about how we can switch off—but that
Meanwhile, a sine-qua-non of both in whatever shape or form
won’t achieve much, unless we really feel the benefits.
democracy and a truly Christian society he is construed.
Here’s what our respondents said they’d learned, from living
falls victim and is trampled underfoot— In Jesus’ Name let us follow you
their social lives offline.
justice. with the certainty of pulling through.
Spending time with others. Part of the problem with
Why do we people of faith need As we walk towards life, truth and
social networking platforms is that we don’t just use them
to care? Because the law, as pope justice,
for communicating—they also promote a particular way
after pope have emphasized to us, is a help us not to waver till we arrive at
of being connected to and supportive of those around us.
servant of justice. Without justice no peace.
These interactions are channeled through the platform to
society, especially one that calls itself Amen.”
create data, which is ultimately fed back to data brokers and
marketers.
Our participants shared a deep belief in, and attachment
Duc in Altum to, a different way of socializing that’s focused on expression,
touching, talking and being in the same space, physically. For
Atty. Aurora A. Santiago them, this helped to maintain a feeling of human bonding
and connection.
And while this slower, deeper acknowledgement of others
was especially valued by our participants, they also thought
5 hurricane, with 900 Barangay Ucab, Itogon, the grounds where the it might be valuable to society more broadly. Given the
kilometers radius and storm Benguet, the residents of the bunkhouses are standing. angst-ridden nature of frenetic social networking, we could
surges at 6 meters. Oratio place recalled that it is like Meanwhile, in Barangay all benefit from slowing down and taking stock more often.
Imperata is also prayed; the mountain falling down Tinaan and Naalad in For many people today, the sense of being “always-on” is
it is the obligatory prayer and the sound can be heard Naga City, Cebu, a massive generating a desire to achieve greater balance and disengage
during natural calamities from a far distance. Reports landslide also happened. from the things that are causing them stress. For our
such as storms, drought or said that most of the 59 dead, It “swallowed” 30 homes, participants, who didn’t use smartphones and social media,
other natural calamities or including the 12 missing, killed at least 90 people and time with others was associated with a sense of calm and
circumstances which merit were from Ifugao Province. more missing. purpose in life.
the prayers. It is also invoked Those who were killed were Disaster scientist Mahar Switching off is not missing out. Our participants
during wars, plague and small scale miners while Lagmay had been to questioned what exactly is “social” about social media: what
disruption of public peace others were laborers. They Itogon and Naga City and constitutes communication, and what do we get from the way
in society, customarily led came from different places, he concluded that both that social stuff is measured on online platforms—whether
by the archdiocese. finding hope in digging for landslides were “the same”. that’s friendship, support or social contact. Rather than
In the Diocese of Kalookan, gold ore. (1) Both triggered by “their having hundreds of “friends”, they would always choose to
the parishioners pray so The Itogon mining mountainsides getting see people face to face and nurture relationships that would
hard for the intercession community was vulnerable soaked with water”. Itogon’s support them through the tough times.
of the second patroness to landslides. When typhoon was triggered by the rains Taking the opportunity to switch off may, at first, cause
of San Roque Cathedral, Ompong was forecasted to of Ompong while Naga’s some anxiety. But the trick is to realize that switching off is
Nuestra Señora Virgen de have a landfall in Northern was triggered by the rains not the same as missing out. When you first switch off, you
Nieva, the patroness against Luzon, the residents were of habagat or southwest may spend more time in your own company. But from these
typhoons, earthquakes and told to evacuate but they monsoon. (2) The landslides moments may come a realization of how exhausting it is to
calamities. Faith can really resisted, thus, resulting to in Itogon was “aggravated sustain online connections, and indeed how superficial it is to
move mountains. Although casualties and damage to by small-scale mining”; be locked in endless exchanges of trivial information.
there were casualties due properties. the oldest mining company Those who chose to disconnect are neither sad nor excluded.
to landslides, the fury of Lessons learned: Benguet Corporation was Freed from the screen, they escaped from the overwhelming
Ompong did not cause Follow the instructions of being blamed by the local flows of information and tasks. Their deep sense of connection
flooding in the flood-prone authorities when told to government. There is with the world, and their loved ones, was clear to see.
areas of the Diocese. To evacuate. On the other hand, a quarry in Naga, Cebu, Being, rather than doing. Many of those who switched
the surprise of everyone, the government authorities operated by APO Land and off enjoyed new-found vitality, because they found time to
Ompong left the country must implement compulsory Quarry Corporation but connect with the world in the here and now. This is crucial to
Saturday evening instead of evacuation, especially when local and national officials helping us reset and relax, so that we are prepared for more
Sunday morning yet. That is they know the terrain of the have not pointed to it as the stressful times.
what we call “Nasa Diyos ang place is dangerous; and that reason for the landslide. Time spent scrolling through content may feel as though
awa, nasa tao ang gawa.” the rainfall that goes with (3) In Itogon, local officials it makes light demands on body and mind. But the visual
About the landslide in typhoon Ompong saturated Duc in Altum / A7 Commentary / A6

Another Angle The rosary and the priesthood

Fr. Emmanuel Mijares

THERE is a link between Mary and
the ministerial priesthood which is
not only devotional but, we could
also say, essential. Through the
annunciation Mary has conceived in
her womb the Word of God, Jesus.
He has given us Jesus through her
“fiat”. In the Holy Eucharist, does not
the priest realize the same reality?
The priest, through the mass, gives
to us the Body and Blood of Christ.
It is as if were, he generates Christ,
albeit sacramentally. Is this not the
role of Mary, to give Christ? The
priest necessarily is related to Mary
theologically. As Peter Chrysologus
said that Christ “is the bread that
sowed in the Virgin, leavened in
the flesh, kneaded in the Passion,
baked in the oven of the sepulcher,
kept in the Church, taken to the
altars, gives the faithful heavenly
food every day.” The divine wheat
is her Son and the priests continues
to give Him every time there is the
“breaking of the bread”.
Moreover, the priest has to be first
of all a disciple of Christ. Was not
Mary, as has been presented by the
Second Vatican Council, the perfect
disciple, a model to who we could
imitate and base our lives in order
to become like Jesus? St. Louis
M. Grignion De Montfort writes
in “True Devotion to Mary”: “Take
notice, if you please, that I say the
saints are molded in Mary. There
is a great difference,” continues
Montfort, “between making a figure
in relief by blows of hammer and
chisel, and making a figure by
throwing it into a mold. Statuaries
and sculptors labor much to make
figures in the first manner; but to
make them in the second manner,
they work little and do their work
quickly.” And St. Augustine calls our
Blessed Lady ‘the mold of God’—the
mold fit to cast and mold gods. He
who is cast in this mold is presently
formed and molded in Jesus Christ.
At a slight expense and in a short
time he will become God, because
he has been cast in the same mold
which has formed a God.” Mary
then is closely related to the priests,
as disciples of Christ.
The Pope, two years ago wrote an
encyclical Novo Millenio Inneunete.
In that letter he invited us to a
“high standard” of Christian life,
to fix our eyes on the crucified and
risen Lord, to believe in the love of
God for every man and woman, for
everyone, and to live the Church as
the home and training ground of
communion: where the law is loving
one another as Christ loved us.
The new gift that John Paul II
gave us October of last year, with
the letter on the Rosary of the Virgin
Mary, is in perfect continuity with
the invitation and program of the
Novo millennio ineunte. The Pope
underlines this in the introduction
of this latest letter. He says that it
is “a complement” to the previous
one. In order to fix our eyes on
our Lord, it is not enough to learn
what He taught but of learning
him. And so “could we have any
better teacher than Mary?” (n. 14).
Because he says, “from the divine
standpoint, the Holy Spirit is the
interior teacher who leads us to
the full truth of Christ. But among
creatures, no one knows Christ
better than Mary.” (ibid).
Here is, therefore, is the intimate
relationship between the Rosary
and the priesthood. Saying the
Rosary—explains the Pope—puts
us on this wavelength. The rosary
is a pedagogy invented by Mary. It
is her maternal love helping us to
“learn” Jesus. Do we not meditate,
in the mysteries of the rosary, the
main events of his life? And do
we not meditate them, impressing
them on our mind and heart so as
to “clothe ourselves” with his very
own sentiments?
This prayer, which is so simple
that it can be everyone’s prayer
in all circumstances, affirms the
Pope, “marks the rhythm of human
life”, bringing it into harmony
with the “rhythm” of God’s own
life, in the joyful communion of
the Holy Trinity” (n. 25). And he
confesses: “The rosary is my favorite
prayer” (n. 2). How much more
for us priests who want to be the
presence of Christ on earth? If the
Pope invites all Christendom to do
so, how much more those who are
dedicated to the service to teaching
others to be like Christ?
We could say that the Rosary
that has grown from being a simple
prayer to becoming a road to
holiness, a road of discipleship, to
the extent that it inserts us, by this
art of praying, into the communion
Another Angle / A6
A6 LOCAL NEWS
What it was really like when Proposed US green
card restrictions
John Paul II was shot worries bishop
St. John Paul II’s bloodied cassock displayed at the Saint John Paul II Sanctuary in Krakow, Poland. The cassock is the one the Pope was wearing when he was shot in 1981.
ANALYN PERUCHO
TWENTY thousand people
were waiting to see Pope
John Paul II when he was
shot and gravely injured by
Mehmet Ali Ağca 37 years
ago. A Catholic journalist
from Norway, who was a
20-year old visiting Rome
with friends at the time,
shares what it was really
like in St. Peter’s Square
on May 13, 1981, the 64th
anniversary of the first
apparition of the Lady at
Fátima.
After thirty-seven years,
Hans Rossine, an eyewitness
to the event, shared about
what for him was the most
startling thing about the
whole episode: the deafening
New bishop’s reflection: ‘Mary guided me’
IN thanksgiving Mass with alumni
of the Immaculate Conception Major
Seminary (ICMAS) on Sept. 17, Antipolo
Auxiliary Bishop Nolly Buco reflected
on the Blessed Virgin’s presence and
guidance in his life.
The newly-ordained prelate noted
how his ministry was all through “Mary
who guides me.” He lately realized that
he grew up in a barrio named De la Paz
(in honor of Mary as Queen of Peace)
in San Francisco, Southern Leyte. Buco
also reflected on how he was led to serve
the Diocese of Antipolo, dedicated to
Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage
(Nuestra Señora de la Paz y Buen Viaje).
The bishop said it was a “great deal”
for him to be led by God through
Mary. Buco called himself a biyahero
(traveller) for being been born in
Mindanao, growing up in the Visayas,
and being ordained a priest in Luzon.
He expressed deep joy that studying and
serving the Church in different places
made him realize that it was “God’s
way” for him to realize who God is in
his vocation.
‘Lamp of life’
The first alumnus of the institution
Commentary / A5
interference from a bright
screen is far from relaxing.
You are much less likely to
have restful sleep if you share
a bed with your smartphone,
or surf to sleep.
As mindfulness is
becoming more popular, its
core ideas are often coopted
by technology. On Instagram,
for example, successful
influencers show off their
yoga skills and promote
spiritual disciplines. Fitness
trackers, health data and yoga
apps consistently rank among
the top appsdownloaded by
smartphone users.
Remarks / A1
and further division. We are better than
this,” Bendico said.
On Sunday, President Rodrigo Duterte
blamed priests for the collapse of a
church in the mountains of Itogon in
Benguet province during the onslaught
of Ompong, killing a number of people.
It turned out, however, that the
structure—a former mining bunkhouse
that was converted into a chapel by a
Pentecostal group—was wiped out by
landslides.
October 1 - 14, 2018 Vol 22, No. 20 CBCP Monitor
Balanga Bishop Ruperto Santos, chairman of the CBCP Commission for the Pastoral
Care of Migrants and Itinerant People. ANALYN PERUCHO
A CATHOLIC bishop has hardworking and helpful,”
expressed concern for said Santos, who is also a
overseas Filipino workers member of the Geneva-
who could be barred from US based International Catholic
green cards based on the use Migration Commission
of public benefits. (ICMC).
Bishop Ruperto Santos of “Let us pray and hope that
Balanga said the move could there would be changed of
have a chilling effect for green hearts and their laws would
silence in St. Peter’s minutes to 30 minutes in prayerful joined the Catholic Church, card holders, especially for be best, beneficial to all,” he
after the shooting. silence. said the experience has had a low-income immigrants. added.
“…The special thing According to him, while the profound effect on him. “It’s disheartening news, The Philippine government
[was] I think today when prevailing atmosphere in St. “Of course you’re thinking and could cause difficulties for earlier assured assistance
we hear some shots, people Peter’s was of “confusion and of the bigger questions in our immigrants,” said Santos, to OFWs who will be
throw themselves down on shock,” there was no panic life…like that there’s a very chairman of the bishops’ affected by the proposed
the earth or run, but that nor stampedes. short line or difference Commission on Migrants and policy announced by the US
didn’t happen. Everybody Rossine recalls hearing between life and death. So Itinerant People. Department of Homeland
was standing still… People, shots 10 to 15 meters from you think about the power of Still, the bishop advised Security.
a lot, were praying, waiting where they were standing prayer as well.. You also think the OFWs to follow the US Under the new rules,
for information… and it was during the shooting itself. about the influence of God, immigration law so as not to immigrants who legally use
quite quieter. Thousands God’s will, and then God’s “jeopardise” their immigrant public benefits like food aid,
of people just very, very ‘Bigger questions in life’ plan,” he shared. status. public housing or Medicaid
quiet,” he said in a recent “We saw Pope John Paul St. John Paul II would later “We, Filipinos abroad, are could be denied green cards.
interview. II falling or going down and on credit his survival to Our known as very law abiding, (CBCP News)
we saw blood on his white Lady of Fatima, who first
Silently praying [cassock.] And then the papal reportedly appeared to three Candidly Speaking / A4
The Norwegian, who was mobile was driving very shepherd children in Cova
a baptized Lutheran at the quick, then back [to] where da Iria, in Fátima, Portugal. with some sense of synergy of our problem is that we
time, said the crowds lingered it came from,” he said. (Nirva’ana Ella Delacruz and save time and energy, tend to get stuck with our
in the square for some 10 Rossine, who has since / CBCPNews) how to prioritize things and failures and difficulties.
delegate some tasks to others, What to me is most
how to make prudent use of important in this regard is to
technologies so they can truly
help us in our work and not
have an abiding presence of
God, since after all everything
become distractions. has to be done for his glory.
ordained a bishop reflected on his own This can also mean that Besides, with God we tend to
new status, asking, “Who am I to become we know how to ignore have a keen sense of order
a bishop?” He continued jokingly, certain things that can and propriety. With him
“Yet, when I see you here, I am now unduly interfere in our we would find it easier to
convinced, I am a bishop.” work, and these days, there handle any situation, good
According to the new prelate, he are just so many of them. or bad, without getting
realized that the events of his life We also need to know spoiled, diverted or stuck.
are miracles from God. Buco added, how to be flexible as we We would have a good sense
“Who am I to have this miracle of can encounter surprises of direction.
the priesthood?” Yet he stressed anytime. Also the art of In the end we would know
that he believes God’s grace has moving on especially when that whatever happens, we
truly been working in his life and we suffer some setbacks are still playing along the
in his ministry. He linked this to along the way. A good part all-wise providence of God!
his episcopal motto “Lex Dei vitæ
lampas”, which means “The law of Another Angle / A5
God is the lamp of life.”
of the Holy Spirit, and directs of Christ. And she teaches
After 35 years Most Rev. Nolly Buco during his ordination as Auxiliary our attention to the whole us the way that is hers and
In a message to the new bishop, Bishop of Antipolo at the Our Lady of Peace and Good mystery of Christ and Mary. ours, living her mysteries in
ICMAS rector Fr. Emmanuel I. Cruz Voyage Cathedral on Sept. 8. PHOTO COURTESY OF CHANDA
PASCUA VIA DIOCESE OF ANTIPOLO
It helps us to have within the holy Rosary: the “Way of
praised Buco for his “humility, which ourselves constantly, with Mary”, Mary’s road.
is a remarkable gift for a priest and He finished his theological studies in the strength of the word of As disciples, by praying the
for a bishop.” He added, “Bishop, ICMAS in 1993 after which he was God and the formulae of rosary we also bring Mary
you are not only a miracle. You are a ordained a priest for the Diocese prayers in the Church, the into the home of our hearts
great sign for all these people present of Antipolo. He was ordained a same thoughts that were and in the living room of our
here. You have let yourself become an bishop at the Antipolo Cathedral in Christ Jesus and were souls. There she could teach
instrument of God.” on Sept. 8, memorial of the Mary’s in the heart of the Mother. us about He Son, our Lord.
After 35 years as a house of nativity. (Sem. Kendrick Ivan We are able to travel the Like St. John the beloved
formation, ICMAS was honored to B. Panganiban and Sem. Rey way of Christ, the way of joy disciple who was also a priest.
have Buco as its first bishop alumnus. David A Gayas) and light, of sorrow and of She is the best teacher who
glory, in communion with could lead us towards Christ.
the one who in the first place Through praying the holy
for herself and also for all rosary, we could always be in
Our disconnected group These disconnected being of many. Until then,
of us has traveled the way the school of Mary.
told us that we should be people did not switch off maybe it’s best to put our
more critical of our use to be “anti-social”. They did smartphones down—or at Probe / A1
of apps and start leaving so to take charge of when least switch them off a little
our phone behind. If and where they connected more often. Environment chief Roy notebooks for the kids,
mindfulness is a state with people. They may Cimatu said it will allow clothings, and hygiene kits.
of being focusing on the well be part of a vanguard, (Rowland Atkinson is the government to review Meanwhile, in the northern
present—channeling leading to new ways of Chair in Inclusive Societies quarrying activities in sites Philippines, authorities have
thoughts, feelings and being happier, more rested at the University of Sheffield considered as geo-hazard shifted from search and
sensations as they flow and, yes, more social. and Mariann Hardey is a zones. rescue to retrieval operations
through us—then what Ten years from now, member of the Directorate A week later, however, he for about 20 miners still
use is a screen? Constant we might look back at the for Advanced Research lifted the suspension order buried by a landslide on Sept.
connection paradoxically emergence of social media as Computing (ARC) at on 90 percent of quarrying 16 that engulfed a bunk house
results in less free time, and a part of humanity’s growing- Durham University. Sourced operations across the in a mining village in Benguet
periods when we are able to up—a time that created from MercatorNet, this country. province.
think without interruption social divisions, anxiety article is republished from The archbishop on Sept. “They’re now presumed
give precious refuge from and restlessness and which The Conversation under a 22 visited the survivors and dead,” said Victorio
the demands of daily life. damaged the health and well- Creative Commons license.) led a Mass for the wake of Palangdan, mayor of Itogon
those who were killed in the town.
landslide. “We have not recovered any
“Until now, we are still survivors who was actually
The bishop said disaster-stricken “It is difficult enough to witness the caught in the sad news that buried. The only survivors
communities need solidarity and devastation around us – the damages many are still missing and we rescued were not actually
cooperation, not things that encourages to roads, homes, crops, livelihood, and the death tolls are still rising,” buried,” said Palangdan.
hatred. other facilities. But even more tragic Palma said. A total of 54 bodies have so
“Let us move from the prevailing that human lives have been lost. We He also stressed that the far been recovered.
politics of blaming and shaming to the earnestly pray for them,” he said. tragedy is not the occasion Heavy rains brought by a
gospel of sincere concern for the poor Bendico, meanwhile, praised the for blame game, as he strong typhoon triggered the
and marginalized,” he said. rescue efforts and those involved in the urged parishes and other landslide. Authorities said
The death toll from the landslide in relief operations. organizations to continue the typhoon left more than a
Itogon climbed to 22 on Sept. 19, as “We continue to assist the victims helping the victims. hundred other deaths in other
search and retrieval operations continue until they can stand again,” he said. Caritas Cebu said evacuees parts of the country. (With
for missing miners. (CBCP News) need sleeping mats, reports from UCAN)
CBCP Monitor October 1 - 14, 2018 Vol 22, No. 20 DIOCESAN NEWS A7

Nun tagged as communist Religious festival to welcome

reopening of Boracay

fears for life

A CATHOLIC nun who
has been active in social
justice issues in the southern
Philippines is fearing for her
life after she was tagged as a
communist by the military.
Sister Susan Bolanio of
the Oblates of Notre Dame
condemned what she
described as “red tagging”
by the military, describing it
as a “farcical lie.”
In a statement on Oct.
2, the nun called on
authorities to investigate
those behind efforts to
label her as a communist
rebel, saying it exposes her
life to danger.
“The mere suggestion
of affiliation to a terrorist
communist group poses a
serious threat to the lives,
dignity and security of the
persons singled out,” said
Sister Bolanio.
A social media post on
Sept. 28 accused Sister
Bolanio and tribal leaders
Dande Dinyan and Victor
Danyan of being part of the
Far South Mindanao Region
rebel front. The post was no
longer available on Oct. 2.
Danyan used to be
chairman of the tribal
group Taboli-Manobo S’daf
Claimants Organization.
He was killed along with
seven other tribal people
in December 2017. Dinyan
Sister Susan Bolanio of the Oblates of Notre Dame says it is a ‘farcical lie’ to describe her as a communist rebel. BONG SARMIENTO/UCAN
replaced the slain leader as
head of the organization.
Sister Bolanio, who
is executive director of
the church-run Hesed
Foundation in General Santos
City, has been helping the
tribal organization with its
livelihood and development
projects.
The nun said the attempt to
link her to the underground
rebel movement was a
“malicious and vile design
to put her life in danger,
especially as Mindanao is
under martial law.”
“To be linked to a terrorist
communist group is to
condemn a person as all-out
anti-government,” she said.
The nun has been actively
involved in local and regional
special government bodies
in the region in the past
30 years. “How can I be a
terrorist, an enemy of the
state, when I have been
engaging with officialdom?”
she asked.
Lt. Col. Jones Otida,
commander of the Philippine
Army’s 27th Infantry
Battalion in South Cotabato
province, said his unit
was not behind efforts to
implicate the nun. “We don’t
know where that information
came from,” he said in a radio
interview.
Sister Bolanio said her
lawyers were already looking
into possible cases to file
against the military. (Bong
Sarmiento/UCAN)
FILIPINOS are to hold
a festival in honor of the
Child Jesus to welcome
the reopening of Boracay
Island, one of the country’s
top tourist destinations,
which was closed in April for
rehabilitation.
An “Ati-Atihan,” a celebration
traditionally held every third
Sunday of January, will be held
in honor of the island’s patron,
the Santo Nino.
Albert Menez, chairman of
the Kalibo Santo Nino Ati-
Atihan Foundation, said the
October celebration would
serve as the “opening salvo”
of the January observation of
the Feast of the Child Jesus.
Menez said the street
dancing and merrymaking
“are part of our thanksgiving
to the Child Jesus for all the
blessings bestowed upon us.”
Bishop Jose Corazon Tala-oc
of Kalibo said he appreciates
the government’s efforts to
rehabilitate Boracay.
“Boracay is a gift and
creation of God, therefore,
the government is facilitating
the rehabilitation of a natural
gift of God,” said the prelate.
The island, known for its
turquoise waters and powdery
white sand, is ranked as one
Liability / A1
take advantage of the same
must not be given the same
privilege,” Sotto said in his
explanatory note.
Diamante, however, said
the reason cited by the
senator is “not acceptable”.
of the top tourist destinations
in the world.
Tourism and development,
however, have taken its toll
on the island’s environment.
President Rodrigo Duterte
even compared the island to
a “cesspool”.
The government is set to
reopen the island to tourists
on Oct. 26, six months after
Duterte ordered its closure in
April to facilitate a clean-up.
The six-month closure
was aimed to fix the island’s
sewage system and roads and
remove structures built in its
forest and wetlands.
Authorities said tourists
might be required to acquire
tap cards or access bracelets as
a security measure to regulate
the number of visitors when
the island reopens.
The Department of
Environment and Natural
Resources said initially the
number of tourists allowed
to stay on the island would
be pegged at 6,405.
Environment Secretary Roy
Cimatu, meanwhile, said tribal
people on the island affected
by the rehabilitation would
receive assistance to ensure
compliance of environmental
laws. (Jun Aguirre/UCAN)
focus in addressing the more
serious problems of the
country,” he added.
“The CBCP-ECPPC
believes that the lawmakers
should pass measures that
will instead improve the

Church in Palawan aims to plant 10k trees “The Senate under his
leadership should instead
situations of children,” said
Diamante. (CBCPNews)

IN response to Pope Francis’ encylical
Laudato Si, the Vicariate of Puerto
Princesa is set to plant 10,000 trees
in a protected landscape in South
Palawan.
“Let us protect this project, let us
take care of our common home.” said
Bishop Socrates Mesiona, Apostolic
Vicar of Puerto Princesa.
Spearheaded by the Augustinian
Missionaries of the Philippines IPs
Mission (AMP IM), the greening
project in Mount Mantalingahan
Protected Landscape (MMPL) kicked
off August of this year.
According to Sr. Mae Juanitas of
AMP IM, the Church implements
the project through the help Aside from continual planting, Envoy / A1
of the Pala’wan ethnic group in there will be a series of multi-sectoral
Brookes Point town, with support tree planting activities to be led by good and help overcome the same everywhere.”
from the Department of Natural Mesiona. possible divisions,” he said. He also said that they
Resources (DENR), the Palawan NGO Since 2003, the Catholic Church Pressed for additional details view the agreement from a
Network, Inc., and other civil society has supported a community-based of the historic agreement, pastoral point of view more
organizations. greening project which planted 90,000 Caccia said his information than diplomatic perspective.
“During our launching, we planted trees in Mount Mantalingahan. is limited to what has been The Vatican on Sept. 22 said
some 200 endemic trees in the The 240, 000-hectare Mount released to the media by both that it had reached a “provisional
mountain, but this is continuous till Mantalingahan Protected Landscape the Holy See and China. agreement” with the Chinese
we reach our target in one year,” the covers five towns in Palawan: “It is a provisional agreement government to end decades
missionary sister said. Quezon, Rizal, Sofronio Española, on the appointment of bishops, of tensions over the right to
She added that preparation of Brookes Point, and Bataraza. It is very specific,” the nuncio appoint bishops in China.
seedlings is done in the “indigenous currently undergoing the final phase said, adding that he looks The deal removes the
way.” “This is also our way of of evaluation for its application to forward for a united Catholic illegitimate status of seven
respecting their culture,” explained be declared a world heritage site. community in China. bishops who were appointed
Juanitas. (Katya Santos/CBCPNews) China has some 10 million by China without the
Catholics. Vatican’s approval, and were
Caccia acknowledged excommunicated.

If BECs are alive, vocations are alive, says priest
QUEZON City— St. Vincent
School of Theology (SVST)
rector Fr. Danilo Pilario, CM
revealed during a talk on
Sept. 8, that the vibrancy of
Basic Ecclesial Communities
(BECs) is linked to the
vibrancy of vocations.
“Individuals will enter into
the priesthood or religious
life only if your BEC is alive,”
said the priest in Filipino.
“If you want to increase and
enliven vocations, increase
and enliven your BEC,
bukluran, and homes,” he
added, during the assembly
of BEC members celebrating
their 2nd Vicariate BEC Big
Day.
“Why do I say this? I
myself am a fruit of BEC,” he
continued in the local tongue,
“My mother was a BEC leader
in our barrio. As a child, she
would take me with her and
I would gladly come along
because after the prayers
there will be food.”
5-km walk to Church
With his talk entitled, “BEC:
Buong Simbahan, Bahagi Sa
Pagpapaunlad Ng Bokasyon”,
Pilario shared his vocation
story. According to him, his
mother’s involvement in
BECs and his parent’s faithful
Duc in Altum / A5
already observed that the soil is
already saturated with water from
the rains but they said that the said
condition is not found in Barangay
Ucab. In Naga, there were concrete
signs and warnings of landslides by the
City Risk Reduction and Management
Council; cracks and fissures in the
affected areas were found. (4) Maps
every situation is different
“and there are different
exigencies and different
The agreement also gives
the pope a say in appointing
bishops, and grants him
would do back then, he histories so each one is borne veto power over candidates.
would probably not be a of particularity which is not (Melo Acuña/CBCPNews)
priest today.
And That’s the Truth / A4
“Vocations come from
the living faith of BECs and Child Jesus in her left arm reserved for God alone, where
Church, of the family and and in her right hand—you no human creature has ever
home,” he stressed. guessed it—a brown scapular. left its trace, where love and
Pilario said the quality The Church teaches that zeal for the glory of God and
of BEC life will determine “The scapular is a Marian the salvation of mankind reign
the quality of priests and habit or garment. It is both supreme… Those who want
nuns in the future. He then a sign and pledge. A sign of to live their devotion to Our
challenged the attendees to belonging to Mary; a pledge Lady of Mt. Carmel to the
bring their BECs to life, so of her motherly protection, full must follow Mary into
that there will be more future not only in this life but the depths of her interior life.
priests and nuns coming after death. As a sign, it is a Carmel is the symbol of the
from their community. conventional sign signifying contemplative life, the life
Vocations thrive from living BECs, according to Fr. Danilo Franklin Pilario, CM, rector “Thus, if you do it right three elements strictly joined: wholly dedicated to the quest
of the St. Vincent School of Theology. MINNIE AGDEPPA now, you can be assured first, belonging to a religious for God, wholly orientated
that–20 years from now, family particularly devoted towards intimacy with God;
attendance in Sunday Mass his siblings would often be 30 years from now–you’ll to Mary, especially dear to and the one who has best
despite the great distance of seated in the aisle of the jeep have honest, holy, and lively Mary, the Carmelite Order; realized this highest of ideals is
the church from their home to get to their destination priests in the Diocese of second, consecration to Mary, Our Lady herself, ‘Queen and
in the mountains played a for free. There were only Novaliches,” he ended. devotion to and trust in her Splendor of Carmel’.”
great role in his decision to three jeepneys that time in The 2nd BEC Big Day of the Immaculate Heart; third, an “If we gaze into Mary’s
say yes to the priesthood. their barrio and their family Vicariate of Holy Spirit under urge to become like Mary by soul…” Whew, tall order in
“That is where my vocation would often be avoided by the Diocese of Novaliches imitating her virtues, above this day and age of verbal
as a priest started. Because the jeepney drivers because coincided with the feast of all her humility, chastity, and diarrhea! Gazing implies a
I came from a family and of this. the Nativity of the Blessed spirit of prayer.” numbing silence—shutting
a BEC who brought me to Virgin Mary. The vicariate More specifically, a out all words and thoughts
Church,” said Pilario. Families in the BEC, comprises the six parishes Discalced Carmelite priest as noise impeding the ascent
He said he, his 11 siblings, wellspring of vocations belonging to Barangay Holy and a revered authority on to the Divine through Mary’s
and his parents would walk Although this was very Spirit: Hearts of Jesus and Carmelite spirituality Fr. portal. How dare we gaze into
5 kilometers every Sunday inconvenient and very Mary; Holy Spirit; Jesus Gabriel of St. Mary Magdalene Mary’s soul! But we must at
to get to church. Since they frustrating for him, Pilario of Nazareth; Jesus, Lord de’ Pazzi, OCD, wrote that least try, humbly, as the brown
were a big family, his parents admits that had his parents of Divine Mercy; San Jose, devotion to Our Lady of Mount scapular—devoid of popular
could only afford to pay for not done so every Sunday, Ang Tagapagtanggol; and Carmel means “a special call superstitions and self-serving
themselves in the jeepney instead of bringing him the St. Benedict. (Minnie to the interior life, which is notions—reminds us of Mary’s
ride to the town. So he and cockpit as most parents Agdeppa/CBCPNews) pre-eminently a Marian life. quiet presence in our lives and
Our Lady wants us to resemble assures us beyond words of her
her not only in our outward untiring maternal guidance.
vesture but, far more, in heart In “following Mary into the
of Itogon showed the danger zones manner that quarrying in Naga and spirit. If we gaze into depths of her interior life” we
which are prone to landslides and continues to be unregulated. Mary’s soul, we shall see that heed her advice in Cana, “Do
unsafe. The same is observed in Naga With the landslides, Department of grace in her has flowered into as He tells you to do,” knowing
where the houses were occupied by Environment and Natural Resources a spiritual life of incalculable beyond doubt that our faith
the employees of quarrying company (DENR) Secretary Roy Cimatu ordered wealth: a life of recollection, will lead us to “a spiritual life
APO. (5) Thousands of miners have the stoppage of all mining operations in prayer, uninterrupted oblation of incalculable wealth” and
been mining unregulated in Itogon the Cordillera Region; he also ordered to God, continual contact, an intimate friendship with
for years and that left the government to stop quarrying operations in 8 and intimate union with him. our Lord Jesus. And that’s
authorities ineffective. In the same regions across the Philippines. Mary’s soul is a sanctuary the truth.
A8 PEOPLE, FACTS, AND PLACES October 1 - 14, 2018 Vol 22, No. 20 CBCP Monitor

1st Filipino bishop appointed by Filipino bishop

Pope John Paul II passes away Padilla, Mongolia’s
first prelate, dies

This undated photo shows retired Archbishop Edmundo Abaya of Nueva Segovia with
St. John Paul II at the Vatican. Abaya passed away on Sept. 20 at the age of 89. PHOTO
COURTESY OF CARITAS MONGOLIA

FILIPINO Bishop Wenceslao his generosity and availability

This undated photo shows retired Archbishop Edmundo Abaya of Nueva Segovia with St. John Paul II at the Vatican. Abaya passed away on Sept. 20 at the age of 89. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
THE first appointee of the late
pope-turned-saint John Paul
II as bishop in the Philippines
passed away on Thursday,
Sept. 20.
Retired Archbishop
Edmundo Abaya of Nueva
Segovia died at around
3pm at the Cardinal Santos
Medical Center in San Juan
City. He was 89.
Ordained a priest for Nueva
Segovia in 1953, Abaya was
named the third bishop of
Laoag in 1978 and served the
diocese for two decades.
In 1999, he was elevated
as archbishop of Nueva
Segovia, making him the
first Ilocos Sur native to
serve the post.
Archbishop Abaya was
responsible in the Episcopal
Coronation of “La Virgen
Milagrosa de Badoc” in 1980,
making the jumpstart of the
devotion.
He served the pastoral
ministry for 65 years until
his retirement as archbishop
in 2005.
During his active years in the
ministry, Abaya had served
as chairman of the CBCP’s
Commission on Ecumenical
and Interreligoius Affairs
from 1988 to 1989.
He was also a member of
the CBCP Permanent Council
from 1990 to 1991.
The prelate was laid to rest
after a funeral service held
at the Vigan Cathedral on
October 1. (CBCPNews)
Padilla, Mongolia’s first and as presider of various
only prelate who oversaw FABC plenary assemblies
the growth of the Catholic and programs as well as
Church through the nation’s his valuable contributions
tumultuous period, died on during the central committee
Sept. 25. He was 68. executive and offices
The bishop from the meetings,” LaRousse said.
Congregation of the Padilla was ordained a
Immaculate Heart of Mary priest in 1976 and sent to
was found lifeless at his office Taiwan the following year on
in Ulaanbaatar at around his first mission assignment.
7pm, local time. From 1985 to 1990, he
After an investigation, local served as Provincial Superior
authorities have ruled out of the Chinese Provinces of
foul play in the sudden death CICM, which also covers
of the 68-year-old prelate. Taiwan, Hong Kong and
The CICM revealed that Singapore.
Padilla “has a history of heart Two years later, together
problem”. with two other confreres,
The Catholic Bishops’ he started a new mission in
Conference of the Philippines Mongolia that the Vatican

‘Theology school’ for lay launched in Palawan (CBCP) was saddened over
the sudden death of Padilla.
Bishop Pablo Virgilio
had entrusted to CICM.
As the superior of the
mission, he was made Prefect
David, CBCP Vice President, of Ulaanbaatar in 2002 and
said he personally witnessed was appointed Mongolia’s
how Padilla cared for his flock first bishop the following
in Mongolia. year.
A few years ago, David After 25 years of church’s
facilitated the annual retreat presence in Mongolia,
of the Sino Mongolian the country now has over
Province of the CICM and 60 missionaries from 12
Padilla was one of the religious congregations
retreatants. serving about 1,200 Catholics
“I also noted his (Padilla) in six parishes.
genuine respect for the In 2016, Padilla also
Mongolian culture. His ordained Mongolia’s first
simplicity and humility were native-born priest, a young
very edifying,” said David. man he baptized as a child
The Federation of Asian many years ago.
Bishops’ Conferences (FABC) Padilla, along with other
also mourned the death of Asian bishops, had just
Padilla who represented the attended a pilgrimage in
Bishop Socrates Mesiona blesses the Board of Trustees and technical working group of AVPP Institute. other associate members of South Korea’s Seoul City two
the body’s central committee weeks ago.
THE Apostolic Vicariate of Puerto it will serve as a regular “school of as professors of the institute which will over the past nine years, from The pilgrimage was
Princesa on Sept. 24 officially launched theology” for lay people, which will be directly under the auspices of the 2009 to 2017, as he served highlighted with a ceremony
“Pasonaid,” a four-month course where equip them to evangelize others. Office of the Bishop, with Fr. Eugene three terms. officially declaring Seoul as
lay people can learn more about the “Of course, I cannot do it alone, I need Elivera as institute director. Fr. William LaRousse, FABC an international pilgrimage
Catholic faith and theology, at Holy the help of the priests, I need the support Classes are set to start on Oct. 9, Acting Assistant Secretary destination by the Vatican
Trinity University in this city, of our lay servants,” he said in Filipino. every Tuesday, 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. at the General, said it was in 2009 from Sept. 10 to 14.
A native Palawan word, “pasonaid” The prelate sees the program as an Immaculate Conception Parish-Hall. when an amendment was A native of Tubao in La
means “compassionate self-giving.” important tool to reach out to “the The Vicariate of Puerto Princesa made to the FABC statutes to Union province, he served the
In support of his mission “to be unchurched,” as he observed that most comprises 32 parishes, 4 chaplaincies include an associate member priestly ministry for 42 years.
a bishop of proclamation,” Bishop Catholics are “sacramentalized” but not in Palawan’s capital Puerto Princesa and to represent other associate Bishop Padilla’s funeral
Socrates Mesiona initiated “evangelized.” nine other towns in southern Palawan. members on the central will be held in Ulaanbaatar
the said program in the hopes that Priests and some academics will serve (Katya Santos/CBCPNews) committee. Cathedral on October 14. (Roy
“We are deeply grateful for Lagarde/CBCPNews)

‘Nature rights’ campaign launched in ‘Last Lung of Manila’

ORGANIZERS of the Rights
of Nature Campaign aptly
launched the said event
earlier today, Sept. 29, at
Arrocerros Forest Park, also
known as the “Last Lung of
Manila.”
According to one of
the organizers, Caritas
Philippines, “’rights of
nature’ is a concept, at the
heart of which lies the key in
addressing our dysfunctional
economic system and the
legal, social and political and
modern cultural frameworks
that are destroying people
and planet.”
The campaign recognizes
that the environment has
rights just like human beings.
Arrocerros Forest Park
is up for cutting and
demolition to pave the
way for a gymnasium, a A priest and nuns hug a tree during the launching of the “Rights of Nature” campaign at the “threatened” Arroceros Forest Park in
project pushed by Mayor Manila, Sept. 29. PHOTO COURTESY OF NASSA
Erap Estrada. According
to research done by the included in the CITES List and live band performances Misereor Partnership, Inc.,
Commission on Higher of Threatened Species. inspired by “harmony with Silsilah Dialogue Movement,
Education and the Business The launch involved art nature.” and the Association of Major
Mirror, the forest park is exhibits and installations, Organizers included the Religious Superiors of the
home to 3 endemic species arts and craft workshops, Global Catholic Climate Philippines (AMRSP).
of butterfly, one of which is poetry reading, film showing, Movement, Philippine (CBCPNews)
CBCP Monitor
Pope Francis greets pilgrims from China during his general audience in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican March 28. PAUL HARING/CNS
Message of His Holiness Pope Francis to the
Catholics of China and to the universal Church
DEAR brother bishops, priests,
consecrated men and women and
all the faithful of the Catholic Church
in China, let us thank the Lord, for
“eternal is his merciful love! He
made us, we belong to him; we are
his people, the sheep of his flock”
(Ps 100:3).
At this moment, my heart echoes the
words of exhortation addressed to
you by my venerable predecessor in
his Letter of 27 May 2007: “Catholic
Church in China, you are a small
flock present and active within the
vastness of an immense people
journeying through history. How
stirring and encouraging these words
of Jesus are for you: ‘Fear not, little
flock, for it is your Father’s pleasure
to give you the kingdom’ (Lk 12:32)!
… Therefore, ‘let your light so shine
before men, that they may see your
good works and give glory to your
Father who is in heaven’ (Mt 5:16)”
(BENEDICT XVI, Letter to Chinese
Catholics, 27 May 2007, 5).
1. Of late, many conflicting reports
have circulated about the present
and, in particular, the future of the
Catholic communities in China. I am
aware that this flurry of thoughts and
opinions may have caused a certain
confusion and prompted different
reactions in the hearts of many.
Some feel doubt and perplexity, while
others sense themselves somehow
abandoned by the Holy See and
anxiously question the value of
their sufferings endured out of
fidelity to the Successor of Peter. In
many others, there prevail positive
expectations and reflections inspired
by the hope of a more serene future
for a fruitful witness to the faith in
China.
This situation has become more
acute, particularly with regard to the
Provisional Agreement between the
Holy See and the People’s Republic
of China, which, as you know, was
signed in recent days in Beijing.
At so significant a moment for the
life of the Church, I want to assure
you through this brief Message that
you are daily present in my prayers,
and to share with you my heartfelt
feelings.
They are sentiments of thanksgiving
to the Lord and of sincere
admiration—which is the admiration
of the entire Catholic Church—for the
gift of your fidelity, your constancy
amid trials, and your firm trust
in God’s providence, even when
certain situations proved particularly
adverse and difficult.
October 1 - 14, 2018 Vol. 22 No. 20
“Eternal is his merciful love; He is faithful from age to age” (Psalm 100:5)
These painful experiences are part of
the spiritual treasury of the Church
in China and of all God’s pilgrim
people on earth. I assure you that
the Lord, through the crucible of
our trials, never fails to pour out his
consolations upon us and to prepare
us for an even greater joy. In the
words of the Psalmist, we are more
than certain that “those who are
sowing in tears, will sing when they
reap” (Ps 126[125]:5).
Let us continue to look, then, to the
example of all those faithful laity
and pastors who readily offered their
“good witness” (cf. 1 Tim 6:13) to the
Gospel, even to the sacrifice of their
own lives. They showed themselves
true friends of God!
2. For my part, I have always looked
upon China as a land of great
opportunities and the Chinese people
as the creators and guardians of an
inestimable patrimony of culture
and wisdom, refined by resisting
adversity and embracing diversity,
and which, not by chance, entered
into contact from early times with the
Christian message. As Father Matteo
Ricci, S.J., perceptively noted in
challenging us to the virtue of trust,
“before entering into friendship,
one must observe; after becoming
friends, one must trust” (De Amicitia,
7).
I too am convinced that encounter
can be authentic and fruitful only
if it occurs through the practice of
dialogue, which involves coming to
know one another, to respect one
another and to “walk together” for
the sake of building a common future
of sublime harmony.
This is the context in which to view
the Provisional Agreement, which is
the result of a lengthy and complex
institutional dialogue between the
Holy See and the Chinese authorities
initiated by Saint John Paul II and
continued by Pope Benedict XVI.
Through this process, the Holy
See has desired—and continues to
desire—only to attain the Church’s
specific spiritual and pastoral aims,
namely, to support and advance
the preaching of the Gospel, and
to reestablish and preserve the full
and visible unity of the Catholic
community in China.
With regard to the importance of this
Agreement and its aims, I would like
to share with you a few reflections
and provide you with some input
of a spiritual pastoral nature for the
journey we are called to undertake in
this new phase.
It is a journey that, as in its
earlier stages, “requires time and
presupposes the good will of both
parties” (BENEDICT XVI, Letter
to Chinese Catholics, 27 May 2007,
4). But for the Church, within and
outside of China, this involves more
than simply respecting human
values. It is also a spiritual calling:
to go out from herself to embrace
“the joys and the hopes, the grief
and anguish of the people of our
time, especially those who are poor
or afflicted” (SECOND VATICAN
ECUMENICAL COUNCIL, Pastoral
Constitution Gaudium et Spes, 1) and
the challenges of the present that God
entrusts to us. It is thus an ecclesial
summons to become pilgrims along
the paths of history, trusting before
all else in God and in his promises,
as did Abraham and our fathers in
the faith.
Called by God, Abraham obeyed by
setting out for an unknown land that
he was to receive as an inheritance,
without knowing the path that lay
ahead. Had Abraham demanded
ideal social and political conditions
before leaving his land, perhaps he
would never have set out. Instead,
he trusted in God and in response
to God’s word he left his home
and its safety. It was not historical
changes that made him put his
trust in God; rather, it was his pure
faith that brought about a change in
history. For faith is “the assurance of
things hoped for, the conviction of
things not seen. Indeed, by faith our
ancestors received [God’s] approval”
(Heb 11:1-2).
3. As the Successor of Peter, I want
to confirm you in this faith (cf. Lk
22:32)—in the faith of Abraham, in
the faith of the Virgin Mary, in the
faith you have received—and to ask
you to place your trust ever more
firmly in the Lord of history and in
the Church’s discernment of his will.
May all of us implore the gift of the
Spirit to illumine our minds, warm
our hearts and help us to understand
where he would lead us, in order
to overcome inevitable moments
of bewilderment, and to find the
strength to set out resolutely on the
road ahead.
Precisely for the sake of supporting
and promoting the preaching of the
Gospel in China and reestablishing
full and visible unity in the Church, it
was essential, before all else, to deal
with the issue of the appointment of
bishops. Regrettably, as we know,
the recent history of the Catholic
Church in China has been marked by
deep and painful tensions, hurts and
divisions, centred especially on the
figure of the bishop as the guardian
of the authenticity of the faith and as
guarantor of ecclesial communion.
When, in the past, it was presumed
to determine the internal life of the
Catholic communities, imposing
direct control above and beyond the
legitimate competence of the state,
the phenomenon of clandestinity
arose in the Church in China. This
experience—it must be emphasized—
is not a normal part of the life of
the Church and “history shows that
pastors and faithful have recourse to
it only amid suffering, in the desire to
maintain the integrity of their faith”
(BENEDICT XVI, Letter to Chinese
Catholics, 27 May 2007, 8).
I would have you know that, from
the time I was entrusted with the
Petrine ministry, I have experienced
great consolation in knowing the
heartfelt desire of Chinese Catholics
to live their faith in full communion
with the universal Church and with
the Successor of Peter, who is “the
perpetual and visible source and
foundation of the unity both of the
bishops and of the whole company
of the faithful” (SECOND VATICAN
ECUMENICAL COUNCIL, Dogmatic
Constitution Lumen Gentium, 23). In
these years, I have received numerous
concrete signs and testimonies of that
desire, including from bishops who
have damaged communion in the
Church as a result of weakness and
errors, but also, and not infrequently,
due to powerful and undue pressure
from without.
Consequently, after carefully
examining every individual personal
situation, and listening to different
points of view, I have devoted much
time to reflection and prayer, seeking
the true good of the Church in
China. In the end, before the Lord
and with serenity of judgment, in
continuity with the direction set by
my immediate predecessors, I have
determined to grant reconciliation to
the remaining seven “official” bishops
ordained without papal mandate
and, having lifted every relevant
canonical sanction, to readmit them
to full ecclesial communion. At the
same time, I ask them to express with
concrete and visible gestures their
restored unity with the Apostolic
See and with the Churches spread
throughout the world, and to remain
faithful despite any difficulties.
4. In the sixth year of my Pontificate,
PASTORAL CONCERNS B1
which I have placed from the
beginning under the banner of
God’s merciful love, I now invite all
Chinese Catholics to work towards
reconciliation. May all be mindful,
with renewed apostolic zeal, of the
words of Saint Paul: “God… has
reconciled us to himself through
Christ, and has given us the ministry
of reconciliation” (2 Cor 5:18).
Indeed, as I wrote at the conclusion of
the Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy,
“no law or precept can prevent God
from once more embracing the son
who returns to him admitting that
he has done wrong but intending to
start his life anew. Remaining only
at the level of the law is equivalent to
thwarting faith and divine mercy…
Even in the most complex cases,
where there is a temptation to apply
a justice derived from rules alone,
we must believe in the power flowing
from divine grace”(Apostolic Letter
Misericordia et Misera, 20 November
2016, 11).
In this spirit, and in line with the
decisions that have been made,
we can initiate an unprecedented
process that we hope will help to
heal the wounds of the past, restore
full communion among all Chinese
Catholics, and lead to a phase of
greater fraternal cooperation, in
order to renew our commitment
to the mission of proclaiming the
Gospel. For the Church exists for
the sake of bearing witness to Jesus
Christ and to the forgiving and saving
love of the Father.
5. The Provisional Agreement signed
with the Chinese authorities, while
limited to certain aspects of the
Church’s life and necessarily capable
of improvement, can contribute—for
its part—to writing this new chapter
of the Catholic Church in China. For
the first time, the Agreement sets
out stable elements of cooperation
between the state authorities and
the Apostolic See, in the hope of
providing the Catholic community
with good shepherds.
In this context, the Holy See intends
fully to play its own part. Yet an
important part also falls to you,
the bishops, priests, consecrated
men and women, and lay faithful:
to join in seeking good candidates
capable of taking up in the Church the
demanding and important ministry
of bishop. It is not a question of
appointing functionaries to deal
with religious issues, but of finding
authentic shepherds according to
Message / B7
B2 FEATURE October 1 - 14, 2018 Vol. 22 No. 20 CBCP Monitor

The office of Peter

Putting the Vigano affair in perspective (Part III)
By Fr. Jaime B. Achacoso, J.C.D.
indignant is asking for, probably
only because Francis had “dared” to
appoint in the United States some
bishop who are less conservative
than those previously appointed,
when it was cardinals like Bernard
Law who advised on the American
appointments.
That it is a biased operation, it is
evident to anyone who reflects on
the succession of events, without
the need to revisit information
that tends to discredit the figure of
Viganò.”

The canonical considerations

Archbishop Carlo Maria Vigano, then nuncio to the United States, and then-Cardinal Theodore E. McCarrick of Washington, are seen in a combination photo during the beatification Mass of Blessed Miriam Teresa
Demjanovich at the Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart in Newark, N.J., Oct. 4, 2014. GREGORY A. SHEMITZ/CNS
Chronology of the Vigano
affair
On 20 August 2018, following a
report from the Grand Jury in
Pennsylvania, which documented
70 years of sexual abuse cases
involving some 300 priests and
more than 1,000 minors in six of the
state’s eight dioceses, Pope Francis
wrote a Letter to the People of God,
in which he asks forgiveness for
crimes committed by consecrated
people and clergy and invokes the
commitment of the entire Church to
uproot the culture of abuse.
On 26 August, the last day of
the Pope’s trip to Ireland, Abp.
Carlo Maria Viganó, the former
Papal Nuncio to the United States,
released a letter claiming that the
Vatican hierarchy was complicit in
covering up accusations that Card.
Theodore McCarrick, archbishop of
Washington, had sexually abused
seminarians and that Pope Francis
knew about it. He contended
that Pope Francis did nothing to
sanction the Cardinal and called
for Pope Francis’ resignation: “In
this extremely dramatic moment
for the universal Church—Vigano
declares—Pope Francis must be
the first to set a good example for
cardinals and bishops who covered
up McCarrick’s abuses and resign
along with the rest of them.”
Referring to Vigano’s letter, the
Pope told journalist in the news
conference on the flight back to
Rome on the night of August 26:
“I must say this, to you and to
all those interested: Read the
statement carefully and judge for
yourselves. I will no say a single
word about this. I believe the
statement speaks for itself. And
you have the journalistic capacity
to draw you own conclusions. It’s
an act of faith. When some time
passes and you will have drawn
your conclusions, I may speak.
But, I would like your professional
maturity to do the work for you.”
Distorted facts and logic
Since a lot of ink has flowed
regarding this controversy, I would
like to rely on an article by Andrea
Tornielli, published in La Stampa
(a centrist Italian newspaper with
extensive coverage of the Vatican)
on 28.VIII.2018, that to my mind
offers the best analysis of the events
and the facts presented. Following
is an extensive excerpt (in English):
“Not only should we ask
ourselves if what Viganò tells is
true (as the media repeat like a
mantra, asking in a loud voice
for Francis’ resignation). One
should also wonder whether the
sequence described by Viganò,
his considerations, his omissions,
his interpretations are reasonable
and really lead to attributing some
responsibility to the reigning
Pontiff today. In any case, attending
to the pure and crude facts, and
assuming that every detail told by
the former nuncio is true, here is
what happened.
There was a holy Pope, whose
entourage (much less holy)
promoted and made cardinal a
homosexual bishop who abused his
power to sleep with seminarians,
even if it is not clear how much
information had reached directly
the ear of John Paul II, then
perfectly capable of understanding
and willing, to whom certainly
could not pass unnoticed the
importance of the appointment of
the Archbishop of Washington.
There was another Pope who
has emerged today, Benedict XVI,
who (perhaps) would have ordered
this cardinal to live withdrawn but
without then being able to enforce
his orders, who never flinched not
even after seeing him arrive at the
Vatican on several occasions, and
without his nuncio to the USA
(Viganò) having any problem in
taking pictures next to him, in
concelebrating with him, in having
dinner with him, in pronouncing
speeches in his presence.
And finally, there is a Pope,
Francis, who stripped the cardinal—
despite being old and retired for
some time--from his cardinal status
after having reduced him to silence,
forbidding him from celebrating
in public. And yet it is the latter’s
head that the former nuncio today
Without further fanning the
controversy, which is causing so
much division in the Catholic world,
I would like to make the following
canonical considerations.
Firstly, it is obvious that the
Office of Peter was meant to be
occupied for life, except by reasons
of incapacity and resignation.
Since Pope Francis is obviously not
incapacitated—far from it, thanks
God—the only way for him to lose
the papacy is by resignation. That
there is a concerted effort to force
him to resign should be obvious by
now to an impartial observer.
Secondly, the Supreme Pontiff
neither has to explain his actions
to anybody nor is accountable to
any other human authority; he is
only accountable to God. This is
because he received his authority
directly from God: the Conclave
only elected him, not constituted
him in office. Hence, for him to
choose to be silent in the face of
the present allegations and to
allow prudent time to pass, leaving
the journalists (and everyone for
that matter) to form their own
judgments regarding Abp. Vigano’s
open letter is a heroic act of faith
(as he stated) and—I might add—of
prudence.
Thirdly, whatever truth may
remain to be discovered or
discerned, the fact is the abuses
have been committed—not only by
the disgraced Cardinal but by so
many other clerics and religious
as the report reveals—and there
have been victims, not the least of
whom is the Ecclesial Community
as a whole. Rather than fan the
controversy and inflict more pain
and suffering, the charitable thing
to do now is to heal the wounds and
make sure such harm is avoided in
the future. That is what the Holy
Father has invited the whole Church
to do in his Letter to the People of
God. This is what faithful Catholics
should be doing now.

Swapping Readings in the Liturgy of the Hours

(Father Edward McNamara, professor of liturgy and dean of theology at the Regina Apostolorum university, answers the following query:)

Q: We have a practice in our seminary where
the seminarians would preach during Vespers
of Saturday evening. It is after the reading and
before the responsory. However, the formator
asked that instead of reading the readings
in the breviary, we read the Sunday Gospel
since that is the basis of our preaching and
Sunday reflection. Is changing the readings
of Evening Prayer I of Sunday to the Sunday
Gospel allowed? — R.S., Manila, Philippines
A: The short answer is no. The short reading
at Vespers (or any other office) may not be
substituted by any Gospel text.
The introduction to the Liturgy of the Hours
describes the nature of the readings in general
during the office:
“140. The reading of sacred Scripture,
which, following an ancient tradition, takes
place publicly in the liturgy, is to have special
importance for all Christians, not only in
the celebration of the Eucharist but also
in the divine office. The reason is that this
reading is not the result of individual choice
or devotion but is the planned decision of the
Church itself, in order that in the course of
the year the Bride of Christ may unfold the
mystery of Christ ‘from his incarnation and
birth until his ascension, the day of Pentecost,
and the expectation of blessed hope and of
the Lord’s return.’ In addition, the reading of
sacred Scripture in the liturgical celebration
is always accompanied by prayer in order that
the reading may have greater effect and that,
in turn, prayer – especially the praying of the
psalms—may gain fuller understanding and
become more fervent and devout because of
the reading.
“141. In the liturgy of the hours, there is
a longer reading of sacred Scripture and a
shorter reading.
“142. The longer reading, optional at
morning prayer and evening prayer, is
described in no. 46.
“Cycle of Scripture Readings in the Office
of Readings
“143. The cycle of readings from sacred
Scripture in the office of readings takes into
account both those special seasons during
which by an ancient tradition particular books
are to be read and the cycle of readings at Mass.
The liturgy of the hours is thus coordinated
with the Mass in such a way that the scriptural
readings in the office complement the readings
at Mass and so provide a complete view of the
history of salvation.
“144. Without prejudice to the exception
noted in no. 73, there are no readings from
the Gospel in the liturgy of the hours, since
in the Mass each year the Gospel is read in
its entirety.”
The exception in No. 73 to the exclusion of
Gospel texts regards vigils and not the daytime
hours:
“70. The Easter Vigil is celebrated by the
whole Church, in the rites given in the relevant
liturgical books. ‘The vigil of this night,’ as St.
Augustine said, ‘is of such importance that
it could claim exclusively for itself the name
‘vigil,’ common though this is to all the others.’
‘We keep vigil on that night when the Lord rose
again and inaugurated for us in his humanity
that life … in which there is neither death nor
sleep…. Hence, the one whose resurrection
we celebrate by keeping watch a little longer
will see to it that we reign with him by living
a life without end.’
“71. As with the Easter Vigil, it was customary
to begin certain solemnities (different in
different Churches) with a vigil. Among these
solemnities Christmas and Pentecost are pre-
eminent. This custom should be maintained
and fostered, according to the particular usage
of each Church. Whenever it seems good to add
a vigil for other solemnities or pilgrimages, the
general norms for celebrations of the word
should be followed.
“72. The Fathers and spiritual writers have
frequently encouraged Christians, especially
those who lead the contemplative life, to
pray during the night. Such prayer expresses
and awakens our expectation of the Lord’s
Second Coming: ‘At midnight the cry went
up: “See, the bridegroom is coming, go out
to meet him … ” (Mt 25:6). Keep watch, then,
for you do not know when the master of the
house is coming, whether late or at midnight
or at cockcrow or in the morning, so that if
he comes unexpectedly he may not find you
sleeping’ (Mk 13:35-36). All who maintain the
character of the office of readings as a night
office, therefore, are to be commended.
“73. Further, since in the Roman Rite
the office of readings is always of a uniform
brevity, especially for the sake of those
engaged in apostolic work, those who desire,
in accordance with tradition, to extend
the celebration of the vigils of Sundays,
solemnities, and feasts should do so as follows.
“First, the office of readings is to be
celebrated as in The Liturgy of the Hours
up to the end of the readings. After the two
readings and before the Te Deum canticles
should be added from the special appendix
of The Liturgy of the Hours. Then the gospel
should be read; a homily on the gospel may
be added. After this, the Te Deum is sung and
the prayer said.
“On solemnities and feasts, the gospel is
to be taken from the Lectionary for Mass;
on Sundays, from the series on the paschal
mystery in the appendix of The Liturgy of the
Hours.”
The possibility of expanding the
readings in morning and evening prayer as
mentioned above in No. 142 is described as
follows:
“46. Especially in a celebration with a
congregation, a longer Scripture reading may
be chosen either from the office of readings or
the Lectionary for Mass, particularly texts that
for some reason have not been used. From
time to time some other more suitable reading
may be used, in accordance with the rules in
nos. 248-249 and 251.
“47. In a celebration with a congregation, a
short homily may follow the reading to explain
its meaning, as circumstances suggest.”
“248. In the office of readings, the
current cycle of sacred Scripture must always
be respected. The Church’s intent that ‘a more
representative portion of the Holy Scriptures
will be read to the people in the course of a
prescribed number of years’ applies also to
the divine office.
“Therefore the cycle of readings from
Scripture that is provided in the office of
readings must not be set aside during the
seasons of Advent, Christmas, Lent, and
Easter. During Ordinary Time, however, on a
particular day or for a few days in succession,
it is permissible, for a good reason, to choose
readings from those provided on other days or
even other biblical readings—for example, on
the occasion of retreats, pastoral gatherings,
prayers for Christian unity, or other such
events.
“249. When the continuous reading
is interrupted because of a solemnity or feast
or special celebration, it is allowed during the
same week, taking into account the readings
for the whole week, either to combine the parts
omitted with others or to decide which of the
texts are to be preferred.
“251. The readings, prayers, songs, and
intercessions appointed for the weekdays
of a particular season may be used on other
weekdays of the same season.”
Therefore, while the Liturgy of the Hours
has a certain degree of flexibility with respect
to the choice of reading, this does not include
the use of the Gospel texts.
With the exception of the vigils mentioned
above, the only Gospel texts in the Liturgy
of the Hours are the three canticles of the
Benedictus, Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis.
CBCP Monitor October 1 - 14, 2018 Vol. 22 No. 20 FEATURE B3

‘Undocumented Filipinos’ in the Philippines In the spirit of

By Bishop Pablo Virgilio David
Laudato Si’
By Bishop Pablo Virgilio David

WHAT can we do to stop this madness of

Bishop Pablo Virgilio David of Kalookan leads the blessing and inauguration of a relocation site for at least 40 urban poor families in Malabon City. ROY LAGARDE
I HAVE heard a lot about “undocumented
Filipinos” in foreign countries, such as in
Europe and America. During the time that I
was doing my doctoral studies in Belgium, I
met several of them in Brussels, in Paris and
in London. The term that was used, back
then, to refer to undocumented Filipino
migrant workers was TNT (acronym for “tago
nang tago”). But undocumented Filipinos
in the Philippines? Yes. I remember getting
reactions from fellow Filipinos like, “Are
you kidding me?” Or “what are you talking
about?”
It was through our mission stations that
I found out about this phenomenon. It is
what usually makes it difficult for us to
bring street children back to school. Most of
them, like many other children in the slums,
have never been registered with NSO. When
people are so poor, they wouldn’t prioritize
setting aside 140 Pesos for a live birth
certificate. The consequence of this is, they
cannot be enrolled, even in a public school
without a birth certificate. In one of our slum
communities where sisters are engaged in
feeding programs for malnourished children,
aside from finding out that most of them
were “severely wasted” and infected with
TB (primary complex), they also discovered
that most of them are “undocumented”.
And they find it utterly absurd. The Korean
sisters in Navotas told me that they’ve
already promised to subsidize the children’s
incidental needs for elementary education
(including food, transportation, project,
& uniform), they still are unable enroll for
lack of a birth certificate. A late registration
usually costs even much more: at least 590
Pesos. There are additional fees for children
born to parents out of wedlock.
The next time you visit a barangay and
get some official statistics for the total
population in that barangay, you’ll probably
have to add at least another 20% to reckon
with undocumented citizens, just to get a bit
closer to the truth. This is specially true in
urban poor communities where the majority
are informal settlers.
Is there any way we can ask the NSO to
waive the penalties and additional charges
for late registration of live birth? I am asking
our mission stations to do all they can to help
get “Undocumented Filipinos” registered
with NSO. As far as the poor are concerned,
it’s just a piece of paper. But when we are
able to make them realize that that piece of
document is about the only evidence that
their children exist in the Philippines and
can be officially recognized as citizens of this
country, it is only then that they take us more
seriously.
WISH KO LANG: Can the NSO not consider
granting an amnesty for late birth registration
to poor, undocumented Filipinos, if only
to get a more accurate figure on the real
population of our country?
dumping solid wastes on our waterways? Here
are seven suggestions. Any practical addition
to these seven points will be welcome.
1) LGUs can employ duly mandated strict
law enforcers who can apprehend people who
dump solid wastes on our esteros and creeks.
These should regularly patrol a whole area
assigned to them and have the authority to
issue tickets or impose penalties and fines on
violators.
2) Informal settlers living along waterways
should be prioritized for humane relocation in
NHA sponsored resettlement projects.
3) Every city or municipality should have
a properly functioning sewerage system. All
home and factory sewers and culverts that
dump waste water directly into creeks, rivers
and other waterways must be closed perma-
nently. Private culverts must lead to public
sewers equipped with water treatment facili-
ties that will make sure only clean water will
be allowed to flow into our waterways.
4) We need to educate the public more
effectively on ecological solid waste manage-
ment. The principles can be simplified through
slogans like SRC “Segregate, Recycle, Com-
post”, or 5-Rs “reduce, reuse, recycle, repair,
recover.”
5) Metal screens can be installed in the
creeks and other waterways at the border of
each LGU so that all solid wastes that flow
down can be trapped and collected and pre-
vented from flowing into the sea. All the solid
wastes trapped at the end of the creek within
a specific barangay/LGU is a responsibility of
that barangay/LGU.
6) All LGUs should implement the law on
solid waste management. All solid wastes must
be segregated FROM SOURCE. Garbage col-
lectors should be given the authority to impose
fines on people whose garbage is unsegregated.
If garbage is unsegregated it can be picked up
but only after being weighed. Violators should
be made to pay for every kilo of unsegregated
waste given to garbage collectors. Reward
points can be given to those who give properly
segregated wastes. According to RA 9003, all
biodegradable and recyclable wastes must be
managed on the barangay level by properly
functioning MRFs (Materials Recovery Facili-
ties). Residual wastes are a responsibility of
the city or municipal governments, while toxic
or hazardous wastes are a responsibility of the
provincial governments.
7) All dumpsites must be closed perma-
nently. RA 9003 considers maintaining open
dumpsites for residual wastes a criminal
offense. Violators should be apprehended,
charged and jailed. The “green or environ-
mental courts” should be allowed to function
as mandated by the law.

Helping millennials to be temperate

By Bernardo M. Villegas
PARENTS and educators are being
told that the youth who belong to
the Y (millennials) and Z (born
after 2000) generations today are
easily distracted, unable to focus
on anything for more than a few
minutes, and find it difficult to live
the virtue of temperance. Here again,
let me say as an educator that there
is nothing inherently wrong with the
moral fiber or character of the youth.
They may manifest some of these
weaknesses of character, not because
they are inherently less capable of
virtue than the baby boomers or
the X generation, but because of
the pressure that the digital age is
exerting on them. As described in a
recent article that appeared in www.
opusdei.org entitled “Interior Quiet
in the Digital Age,” all of us, not only
the youth, are bombarded with an
ever-increasing volume of constantly
available information. We no longer
are surprised to receive news from
faraway places in real time (as in
the case of the thirteen Thai youth
trapped in a cave or the World Cup
matches in Russia). This rapid
supply of facts poses to us especially
the challenge of how to manage
correctly so much information from
so many different sources. Because
they are still in the formative stages
of their character, the youth have
a special difficulty meeting this
challenge.
Those of us who are older may
have already developed certain good
habits of cultivating a reflective
attitude which enables us to cope with
the growing amount of information
available and discern the data that
is truly worthwhile. The easily
impressionable young, however,
may find it more difficult to cope
with such an information explosion.
The speed with which information is
communicated (especially through
their increasingly sophisticated
smart phones) may exceed their
capacity for reflection and judgment,
making it very difficult for them to
achieve more balanced and proper
forms of self-expression. Since a
wide variety of different stimuli
may demand their attention (text
messages, photos, music, etc.),
they face the risk of getting used to
responding to them immediately,
setting aside the activity they are
intending to carry out (especially
serious study). Parents and educators
must try their best to convince the
young that silence too is part of
the process of communication. It
opens up moments of reflection that
enable them to absorb what they have
perceived and to give an appropriate
response. Pope Francis asked people
to pray that “the men and women of
our time, often overwhelmed by the
noise around them, may rediscover
the value of silence and know how
to listen to God and their brothers
and sisters.”
It may be easier said than done but
there is no alternative to teaching
the youth to learn how to guard
their external (their eyes and ears)
and internal senses (memory and
imagination) in order to attain the
interior recollection that allows
them to put their attention into
the work at hand. This applies
especially to the use of the electronic
media, which like all material goods,
should be used in moderation. The
virtue of temperance is an ally in the
preservation of our inner freedom as
we enter the digital world. To make
right choices in the use of electronic
devices and services, even when
these are free, we must consider not
only their appeal or utility, but also
whether or not they are in keeping
with a temperate lifestyle. One must
ask herself if the device or the app
will help her make better use of her
time, or will it simply be a source
of distractions. Do the additional
features, which come in rapid fire
fashion, justify another purchase, or
could she continue to make do with
what she already has.
The use of the new technologies
will depend on the particular
circumstances and needs of each
one. Everyone, helped by the advice
of more experienced mentors, has
to find his or her own measure. It is
important to always ask ourselves if
we are being moderate. Emails, for
example, can be useful to stay close
to a friend, but if they become so
numerous that they entail constant
interruptions in our work or study,
we would probably be already falling
into frivolity and wasting time. It
is self-mastery that can help us
overcome our impatience and to
leave the answer for later, so we can
devote ourselves to a task requiring
concentration, or simply pay
attention to the person with whom
we are talking. To develop the virtue
of temperance in the use of digital
technologies, one can limit internet
access to specific times, deciding in
advance the number of times a day
we will check social media or look
at emails; disconnecting electronic
devices at night; avoiding their use
during meals and when greater
recollection is called for, such as
during days of a spiritual retreat. It is
advisable to access the Internet only
at appropriate times and places, so
that we do not end up surfing the web
without a specific purpose, and thus
run the risk of encountering sites that
contain immoral content or at least
involve a total waste of time.
The youth of today must be
National Youth Day 2017 in Zamboanga City. ANALYN PERUCHO
especially convinced that learning
for them is necessarily a lifetime
process. They must have the habit
of constantly studying new things to
cope with the exploding amount of
knowledge that scientific advances
bring with them. This habit of
study, which directs the desire for
knowledge to higher goals, is usually
seen as being related to temperance.
The eagerness for knowledge is
enriched when it is directed to the
service of others, such as the desire
of some millennials to learn all about
fintech in order to help the unbanked
among the poor to have access to
credit and other banking services.
I know of young professionals who
have used the contacts provided
by the GoNegosyo program of the
Department of Trade and Industry
to learn all about urban gardening so
that they can help poor households
grow their own nutritious food and
even produce a surplus for sale to
augment their meagre incomes.
This constant desire to learn new
things should be distinguished
from a restless concern for what
is happening in the world, with a
curiosity shown, for example, in
the desire to be informed about
everything and not wanting to miss
a single thing. This can only lead
to superficiality and intellectual
dispersion. One should always resist
the temptation of setting aside an
obligatory task or study project in
order take up another “less profitable
study,” such as checking the latest
news or replying to an email.
Besides helping us devote some
time during the day to conversing
with our Creator, silence also leads
us to be attentive to others and
reinforces fraternity, enabling us
to recognize people who need help,
charity and love. Pope Francis invites
us to “recover a certain sense of
deliberateness and calm. This calls
for time and the ability to be silent
and to listen…if we are genuinely
attentive to listening to others, we
will learn to look at the world with
different eyes and come to appreciate
the richness of human experience as
manifested in different cultures and
traditions.” More than ever in the
digital age, we must rediscover the
value of silence.
(For comments, my email address
is bernardo.villegas@uap.asia)
B4 FEATURE October 1 - 14, 2018 Vol. 22 No. 20 CBCP Monitor

Message of the Holy Father Francis for

the 60th International Day of the Deaf

Pope Francis uses sign language to say thank you while meeting a deaf father and his family during an encounter with families in the Mall of Asia Arena in Manila, Philippines, Jan. 16, 2015. Also pictured is Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle of Manila. PAUL HARING/CNS

DEAR brothers and sisters!
Today I wanted to be with you, but
unfortunately it was not possible; therefore
I present myself with this message to express
my closeness, as I wait for a coming occasion
to meet you.
On this occasion of the 60th International
Day of the Deaf—the first was celebrated in
Rome on 28 September 1958—I wish first of
all to thank the Lord for the testimony of your
Association, the National Deaf Association,
and of many men and women of good will,
that for many years have been committed to
fighting exclusion and the culture of waste in
order to protect and promote, in every area,
the value of the life of every human being
and, in particular, the dignity of deaf people.
The story of the E.N.S. is made up of people
who believed in unity, solidarity, sharing
common goals, in the strength of being a
community in a long journey marked with
progress, sacrifice and daily battles. A story
made by those who did not give up and
continued to believe in the self-determination
of deaf people. This is a great result if I think
of the many deaf people and their family
members who, faced with the challenge of
disability, no longer feel alone.
In these decades great progress has been
made in various fields—scientific, social
and cultural—but at the same time the
dangerous and unacceptable throwaway
culture has also spread, as a consequence
of the anthropological crisis that no longer
places man at the centre, but instead seeks
economic interest, power and unbridled
consumption (cf. Evangelii gaudium, 52-
53). Among the victims of this culture are
the most vulnerable people: children who
have difficulty participating in school life,
the elderly who experience loneliness and
abandonment, and young people whose life
loses its meaning and who see themselves
robbed of their future and their best dreams.
Thinking of you, I would like to remind
you that being and forming an association
is in itself a value. You are not a sum of
people, but you have joined together in order
to live and transmit the will to accompany
and support those who, like you, are in
difficulty but are first and foremost bearers
of a priceless human wealth. Today there is a
great need to live with joy and commitment
the associative dimension: being united
and united, meeting, sharing experiences,
successes and failures, pooling resources,
all of this contributes to increasing the
human, social and cultural heritage of a
people. Associations like yours—thank God
in Italy there are not just a few—encourage
everyone to form a community, indeed, to be
a community, to welcome each other with our
limits and our efforts, but also with our joys
and our smiles. Because we all have capacities
and limits!
We are called together to go against the
current, struggling most of all so that the right
of every man and every woman to a dignified
life always be protected. It is not just a matter
of satisfying certain needs, but rather of
recognizing one’s desire to be welcomed
and to be able to live independently. The
challenge is for inclusion to become a
mentality and a culture, and for consistent
and concrete support for this cause not to be
lacking among legislators and leaders. The
rights to be guaranteed should include those
of study, work, a home, and accessibility in
communication. For this reason, while the
dutiful fight against architectural barriers
is being pursued with tenacity, efforts must
be made to break down all the barriers that
prevent the possibility of relationship and
meeting in autonomy and of reaching an
authentic culture and practice of inclusion.
This applies both to civil society and the
ecclesial community.
Many of you have reached your social and
professional position, even at a high level,
with great difficulty because of your deafness,
and this is a great human and civil conquest.
But how happy I am when I see that you,
as well as other people with disabilities, by
virtue of your Baptism achieve these goals
within the Church too, especially in the field
of evangelization! This becomes an example
and stimulus for Christian communities in
their daily lives.
I hope that in every diocese you, as deaf
people, together with the pastoral agents
prepared in sign language, lip-reading and
subtitling, cooperate so that deaf people
may be fully integrated into the Christian
community and that their sense of belonging
may grow. This requires inclusive pastoral
care in parishes, associations and schools.
The first place of inclusion is, however, as
always, the family. Therefore, in this case too,
families with deaf people are protagonists
of the renewal of mentality and lifestyle.
This applies to them in their roles both as
recipients of the services they rightfully
claim from the competent institutions; and
as subjects of promotional action in the civil,
social and ecclesial sphere.
Dear friends, much has been done, thanks
also to you, to increase acceptance, inclusion,
encounter and solidarity. But much remains
to be done for the promotion of deaf people,
overcoming the isolation of many families
and redeeming those who are still the subject
of unacceptable discrimination. May my
prayer and my blessing accompany you in
this renewed effort. But you too, please, do
not forget to pray for me and for the whole
Church, so that it may become an increasingly
fraternal and hospitable community.
From the Vatican, 28 September 2018
FRANCIS

Attire of Women EMHC New Community of

September 28, 2018
Memorial of San Lorenzo and
Santo Domingo Ybanez
ALD Circular 2018-17
RE: Attire of Women EMHC
 
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ:
The Second Synod of Lingayen
Dagupan decreed that Extraordi-
nary Ministers of Holy Commu-
nion shall be lay persons between
25 to 60 years old who have re-
ceived all the sacraments of Chris-
tian initiation. (Title IV Chapter 1,
Article 46.2).
This decree effectively opened
this lay ministry to women. Some
parishes have installed women
Extraordinary Ministers of Holy
Communion last Pentecost Sunday.
For the sake of pastoral order
and liturgical decorum, the women
EMHC must observe the following
norms with regard to attire:
1.   The standard attire for wom-
en EMHC when assisting at Mass
is long sleeved white blouse and
below the knee black skirt. The
long sleeved blouse is matches the
long sleeved barong Tagalog of the
men EMHC.
2.   The women should refrain
from wearing heavy facial make up,
perfumes, coiffed hair and ornate
jewelries.
Saint Paul admonished women
in these words I also want women
to dress modestly, with decency
and propriety, not with braided
hair or gold or pearls or expensive
clothes, but with good deeds, ap-
propriate for women who profess
to worship God. (1 Tim 2:9-10)
3.   It is forbidden for women
EMHC to wear pants or slacks
when assisting at Mass. For the
sake of stability when walking, the
women EMHC are kindly advised
to avoid wearing high-heeled shoes
to avoid tripping while doing their
ministry.
4.   The practice of monthly con-
Christ’s Faithful
fession, frequent Communion and
September 27, 2018 will be the first community in Asia.
family rosary is the best attire that
Memorial of Saint Vincent de Paul The pioneer community is headed
our women EMHC must always
ALD Circular 2018-16 by Father Adrian Crowley, an Irish
strive to wear.
RE: New Community of Christ’s priest member of the Cenacolo, with
Your beauty should not come
Faithful three brothers from Italy, Croatia
from outward adornment, such
  and Slovakia.
as braided hair and the wearing
My dear brothers and sisters in Cenacolo is not only a place of
of gold jewelry and fine clothes.
Christ: rehabilitation and social assistance,
Instead, it should be that of your
I am pleased to inform you that we but a place where people can be
inner self, the unfading beauty of
have a new community of Christ’s educated to freedom and hope. It is
a gentle and quiet spirit, which is
faithful duly recognized by the Holy a clear proposal of Christian expe-
of great worth in God’s sight. For
See called CENACOLO COMMU- rience proving that rediscovering
this is the way the holy women of
NITY now living behind the Chapel faith in God rewards, gives dignity
the past who put their hope in God
of Saint Jude in Barangay Inmalog, and beauty to the human being.
used to make themselves beauti-
San Fabian. God willing, the commu- Let us pray that this apostolic ini-
ful. (1Peter 3:2-5)
nity plans to open a fraternity house tiative may bloom and grow and bear
I commend all our women Ex-
in Ambalangan Dalin in San Fabian abundant fruits of renewal and hope
traordinary Ministers of Holy
to help us in ministering to young for those who live in confusion and
Communion to the Blessed Virgin
people addicted to drugs. spiritual isolation because of drugs.
Mary.
The Community proposes a way Our addicted brethren need hope
 
of community called “school of life”, and love not threats and more fears.
where through fraternal friendship Pray for the Cenacolo Community.
Sincerely yours,
and prayer, conscience is enlight-
ened, freedom is recovered and Sincerely yours,
+SOCRATES B. VILLEGAS
availability to service is developed.
Archbishop of Lingayen Dagupan
The community is present in 18 +SOCRATES B. VILLEGAS
countries in the world. San Fabian Archbishop of Lingayen Dagupan
CBCP Monitor October 1 - 14, 2018 Vol. 22 No. 20 STATEMENTS B5

Message of Most Rev. Joel Baylon, Chairman

of the CBCP Episcopal Commission on Prison Endorsement
Pastoral Care, on the occasion of the 31st SEPTEMBER 21, 1972 is remembered as the date of putting the
entire Philippines under Martial Law during the presidency of the

Prison Awareness Sunday celebration

“I was imprisoned and you visited me” Mt. 25:36
Dear Sisters and Brothers in the
Lord of Mercy and Love,
On 28 October next, the 30th
Sunday in Ordinary Time, we will
celebrate the 31st Prison Awareness
Sunday. For this year we have for
our theme, “Lord, that I may SEE,
HEAR and ACT on the plea for help
of Your people.”
Once again we are asked to focus
particular attention on the plight of
our brothers and sisters who are in
prison, deprived of liberty and, more
often than not, also deprived of even
their most basic human rights.
We are all aware, for instance, of
the fact that many of our prisons
are so congested beyond their
normal holding capacity, thereby
creating inhuman living conditions.
A good number of inmates have
been languishing in jails without
the benefit of even a preliminary
hearing and their right to a day in
court. Many prisoners are suffering
from many forms of skin diseases, or
getting really sick, but do not have
the benefit of medical assistance.
And there are many more problems
that these incarcerated brothers and
sisters of ours are facing inside the
prisons.
But oftentimes their problems are
hidden from our eyes and unheard
by our ears. Not many of us have
had the occasion to visit a jail for
even once in our lives. Some of us
are even afraid to do so, our minds
and hearts filled with fear and
negative impressions, thinking that
the prison is a place to avoid. Not
too long ago Pope Francis warned
“against the hypocrisy of viewing
inmates only as criminals beyond
hope who deserve to spend their
lives in jail”.
“At certain times a certain
hypocrisy pushes us to see in prisons
only people who have done wrong,
Statement of the Roman Catholic Diocese of
Detainees at Manila City Jail. FILE PHOTO
for whom the only path is that of
the prison,” the Pope said in an
interview published on 13 April
2017, forgetting that “we all have the
possibility of making mistakes. All of
us in one way or another have erred”.
Indeed the prison is a place to
avoid, in view of committing crimes.
We must never do anything that will
make us end up in jail! But it also
matters that we get to know, first-
hand if possible, about the reality
of our prisons and the cries of those
inside them. Let us not forget them
and their pleas for help because
no matter what, these are human
beings with inherent rights and
privileges.
The Holy Father reminds us
further: “when we stay closed in our
prejudices, or are enslaved by idols
of a false well- being... we do nothing
other than stand between the narrow
walls of the cell of individualism and
self-sufficiency”.
Kung kaya, sa abot ng ating
makakaya, let us be aware and
concerned of what is going on
inside these prison walls. Let us do
advocacy work in order to tell our
leaders to do something to alleviate
prisoners’ living conditions and
to respect and uphold their basic
human rights. For those of us who
can, let us be part of our respective
local churches’ prison ministry, and
provide a sustained and meaningful
program of human, social and
spiritual apostolate for these our
brothers and sisters in prison.
In the Gospel for this particular
Sunday, Jesus heals the blind
Bartimaeus and makes him see. Let
us ask the Lord to do the same for
our hearts, that we may also “SEE,
HEAR and ACT” on the pleas of our
sisters and brothers languishing in
jails, deprived of liberty.
Through the intercession of Mary,
Mother of us all, may God bless our
efforts with meaning, fruitfulness
and success!
+ JOEL Z. BAYLON, D.D.
Chairman, CBCP Episcopal
Commission on Prison Pastoral Care
late President Ferdinand E. Marcos through proclamation No. 1081.
We were then ushered as a country to trying times and many passed
through the crucible of moral and social dilemma. Many emerged
and proved their nobility by upholding human dignity and people’s
basic rights despite of the dictatorial pressure. Some even fought
to the point of death.
Contemplating on our historical experiences, we have all the
more learned the meaning of the words of the Holy Mother Church
on building our society based on “truly human basis by fostering
inward sense of justice and kindliness, and of service to the com-
mon good, and by strengthening basic convictions as to the true
nature of the political community and the aim, right excuse, and
sphere of action of public authority” (Gaudium et Spes 73). Thus
our experience of freedom is based on our self-directedness guided
by grace towards our human and divine goals and not merely due
to any compulsion or any form of dictatorship.
I would like then to urge our Catholic faithful living nearby and
Catholic institutions to join the ecumenical prayer rally in front of
the Provincial Capital grounds on September 21, 2018 at 1:00 PM.
May our peaceful gathering awaken in us vigilance in defending ba-
sic human rights and authentic human development. May the Lord
listen to our prayers and send us a ray of truth from the Holy Spirit.
Journeying with you,
+JOSE ROMEO O. LAZO
Archbishop of Jaro
Pastoral Letter on the culmination
of the Pastoral Visit 2018
“I give thanks to my God…praying always with joy for
all of you. I am confident that the one who began a
good work in you will continue to complete it.”
(Philippians 1:3-4,6)
Visit without the graciousness of
God and all of you, and so I say with
all sincerity: “Thank you very much.”
We witnessed the giftedness of
the people and the Province of
Batangas which is richly blessed by
God. The Pastoral Visit revealed the
spiritual jewels of faith and values,
the diversity of skills and abilities of
both old and young, the Batangueño
culture and natural resources, the
abundance of fruits and variety of
cuisine. We saw the joy and desire of
the people to give back to God and
to the community and to commit
themselves not only to prayer,
worship and ongoing formation of
the youth and families but also to
serve and take care of the poor and
the disabled, the elderly and ecology.
Archbishop Gilbert Garcera of Lipa. FILE PHOTO
For this readiness to share the
WE started the Pastoral Visit of the divinely bestowed giftedness, we say

Baguio on the recent super typhoon Ompong 64 parishes in the Archdiocese of

Volunteers pack relief goods for the victims of typhoon Ondong in the Diocese of Baguio. PHOTO COURTESY OF DSAC-BAGUIO
TO the Faithful of the Diocese of
Baguio and Other Concerned People
Even with great sadness in our heart,
we offer our prayers to all the vic-
tims of the super typhoon Ompong
especially those who perished due to
landslides and we convey our pro-
found sympathy and condolences to
their grieving families. It is difficult
enough to witness the devastation
around us—the damages to roads,
homes, crops, livelihood, and other
facilities. But even more tragic that
human lives have been lost. We
earnestly pray for them.
We commend all those members of
disaster response groups for their
heroic efforts in the preparation,
assessment and coordination, relief,
rescue and retrieval operations, in-
cluding all concerned people for the
outpouring of spiritual and moral
support, and for various goods they
contributed to help our affected
brethren. We continue to assist the
victims until they can stand again.
We urge everyone to avoid every
kind of insensitive remarks, false
accusations, and inappropriate
name calling that cause more harm
than comfort. Let us stop using the
misery of others as a tool for selfish
propaganda that does nothing to
ease their sorrow but instead sow
confusion and further division. We
are a better people than this. Let us
move from the prevailing politics of
blaming and shaming to the gospel
of sincere concern for the poor and
marginalized. These difficult times
certainly call for human solidarity
and cooperation.
With our common resolve to help
the victims, let us rise to the occasion
and prove once again that—united as
one people of Baguio and Benguet
—no super typhoon can dampen
our hope, no tragedy can ever defeat
the greatness of the human spirit
and our faith in God. I commend
everyone to the love and mercy of
God. God bless us all!
+VICTOR B. BENDICO, D.D.
Bishop of Baguio
September 20, 2018
Lipa on April 3, 2018 when we visited
the Parish of St. Martin of Tours
in Taal, Batangas. On September
22, 2018, after almost six months,
the canonical visitation came to a
close in the Parish of St. Therese of
the Child Jesus in Santa Teresita,
Batangas. Words cannot adequately
describe the richness and fullness of
the whole process of the canonical
visitation from the preparation
to the actual visit and ending.
We experienced graciousness;
we witnessed giftedness; we saw
the guidance of Jesus, the Good
Shepherd.
We experienced the graciousness
of God when we went through the
preliminary visits of the parishes
from January 4 to June 1, 2018 and
then during the Canonical Visitation
from April 3 to September 22, 2018.
We praise and thank the Lord who
undoubtedly blessed our Pastoral
Visitation Team as well as the Vicars
Forane with inspiration, motivation
and physical stamina and, above
all, with faith, hope and love which
enabled us to endure and persevere
and come out with smile on our
faces and joy in our hearts. We
also experienced the graciousness
of the parish communities that
we visited with their hospitality,
cooperation and generosity—
the Parish Priests and Parochial
Vicars, the Parish Pastoral Councils
and Parish Finance Councils, the
Pastoral Ministries and Religious
Organizations & Movements, the
Local Government Units from the
provincial down to the municipal
and barangay levels, the Philippine
National Police officers, the schools
(public, private and Catholic), and
the parishioners in general. We
appreciate with joy the attendance
of the representatives of all Religious
Communities in the Archdiocese as
well as of our Seminary Formators
and even our Senior Clergy who,
during the pastoral visitation, heard
and seen the working of the Spirit
that continuously flows into the
hearts of our parishioners. As
the Archbishop of Lipa fulfilling a
canonical mandate (rf. Can. 396.1),
I could not have done the Pastoral
with admiration: “God bless you.”
We saw the guidance and maternal
care of the Blessed Mother, Our
Lady Caysasay, to whom we pray
as “our refuge in times of need, our
protection and shield against our
foes.” We trust that she has always
accompanied us in our journey of
faith to know, love and serve her
Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. As we
move on with our life-long journey,
we ask her: “Pray for us.”
The Pastoral Visit has come to a
close, but this end is but the start
of another stage in our continuing
exodus of faith towards the abundant
life to which the Good Shepherd
is leading us. The fruits of our
endeavor to converse with one
another, to ascertain the pastoral
situation, to reflect on the data
obtained and to enliven our pastoral
activity will strengthen and inspire
us to continue and to enhance the
good we have been doing and to fine
tune and improve on other things.
What do we expect? For the
next several months, we will be
issuing pastoral exhortations
based on the canonical visitations,
the consultations, the pastoral
reflections and prayers of our
communities. These exhortations
will not only serve as a summary
of findings but also as humble
directives to see where Jesus wishes
to lead us (rf. John 14:18; Matthew
28:20).
As we are about to embark on
our three-year preparation and
one-year celebration of our Golden
Anniversary as an Archdiocese,
let us continue to pray and strive
together to offer the best of who we
are as the blessed and proud flock
of Jesus Christ, the Good Shepherd,
who is always with us to lead us to
ever greener pasture.
I bless the Archdiocese of Lipa
as I echo the words of St. Paul, “I
give thanks to my God…praying
always with joy for all of you. I am
confident that the one who began a
good work in you will continue to
complete it” (Philippians 1:3-4,6).
+ GILBERT A. GARCERA, D.D.
Archbishop of Lipa
23 September 2018
B6 REFLECTIONS
Marriage: a call to discipleship
27th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B (Mark 10:2-16)
October 7, 2018
By Msgr. Lope C. Robredillo, SThD
WHEN ONE IS joined in marriage
ceremony, he is usually filled with
hope and expectation, with joy and
happiness. In the weeks or months
that follow, he continues to have
the confidence that he had made
the right decision; he thinks that
he has chosen the best partner he
could ever have. Soon, however,
that dream-world stage expires; he
discovers that the woman he has
married is not what he thought her
to be. Then, the trouble starts. The
crack in the wall of what seemed
once a fortress begins to show. And
when the going gets tough, there is
always the temptation to call it quits,
without our realizing that after all
the one he has married is a human
being, full of imperfection, faults,
warts and all. Thus, he tends to
assume as his very own the question
that the Pharisees posed to Jesus: “Is
it permissible for a man to divorce
his wife?” (Mark 10:2).
Needless to say, when we, either
as husband or wife, begin to ask
that question, it is a tacit admission
that we have failed to live according
to God’s original intention. “At the
beginning of creation God made
them male and female; for this rea-
son a man shall leave his father and
mother and the two shall become as
one. They are no longer two but one
flesh. Therefore let no man separate
what God has joined” (Mark 10:8-9).
Instead of living according to God’s
intent, we wish to follow the dictate
of our hardened heart. Probably un-
Cost of discipleship
28th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B (Mark 10:17-30)
October 14, 2018
By Msgr. Lope C. Robredillo, SThD
OUR Gospel today begins with the
most basic and decisive question:
“What must I do to share in ever-
lasting life?” (Mark 10:17). Chris-
tians should not only ask them-
selves this question. Even more
important, they should always raise
it every day, so they will always
have some direction in their lives.
We always ought to have a reason
for living—and a correct one. But
it is important to get the sense of
the question. The inquiry does not
assume that eternal life is a reward
for our work. Both in Judaism and
in Christianity, eternal life, life with
God, life in the Kingdom of God
—this is a gift. We do not work for
it. But this offer of God requires
our response. How do we respond
to his offer?
It is unfortunate that many con-
tinue to hold false views on the
relationship between God’s offer
and our response. For some, God
is a God who is a heavenly book-
keeper. He keeps a ledger in which
good acts are entered on the credit
side. They think that as long as the
trial balance shows that the credit
side is weightier than the debit side,
they will inherit eternal life. For
others, the relationship is basically
concerned with the “As-long-as-I-
do-not-harm-anyone” mentality.
As long as they do not offend their
neighbor, they are of the belief that
God will reward them. It is like say-
ing that a good driver is one who has
never been involved in a vehicular
der the influence of our day-to-day
business, we tend to think that mar-
riage is simply a contract between
two individuals. As in a purchase of
a stereo or car, we want to have our
money back, if not satisfied with the
commodity.
In today’s Gospel (Mark 10:2-16),
Jesus clarifies to us something about
marriage. First of all, it is not simply
a contract between two individu-
als. First and foremost, it is God’s
gift. Like other injunctions in the
Old Testament, it is an expression
of God’s care for his people. At the
basis of it is God’s loving concern for
each one of us. Therefore, when God
says that “that is why a man leaves
his father and mother and clings to
his wife and the two of them become
one body” (Gen 1:24), this was not
given to make man unhappy or
bind him in legalism. Rather, this
is connected with his observation in
the 1st Reading that “it is not good
for man to be alone. I will make a
suitable partner for him” (Gen 2:18).
God’s will is always our happiness.
But because it is a gift, we can only
benefit from it if we live it according
to God’s intention. Therefore, in
marriage we have to discern the will
of God as we live it—namely, one has
to make a gift of himself or herself
to his or her partner unconditionally
and in love. That is the essence of
being constituted as “one flesh”. If
we do not act on God’s will for us in
marriage, we can hardly expect to
experience what God has promised.
accident, or that a good engineer is
one whose projects have never been
destroyed by earthquake.
When we hold these or similar
views, we are like the man in today’s
Gospel. At first blush, we would
think he is an ideal man. Because
love of God is obviously expressed
in the love of neighbor, all that
Jesus asked him was about the
second segment of the Decalogue
(Mark 10:19; cf Ex 20:12-16). And
the man said he kept all these since
childhood. Nobody could be more
ideal. But before we venture to imi-
tate him, we could probably ask: has
it occurred to us that we fulfill the
commands simply because we live
in comfort? Would it be different
if we were living in deprivation?
Or, have we consciously made a
decision to follow them, or we are
able to follow them simply because
we do not have the opportunity to
do the opposite? We do not steal,
for example, simply because there
is nothing to be stolen? The truth
is, we can follow many commands
of the Decalogue by doing nothing.
But the Gospel is about doing
something. In Mark, a Christian
must go beyond the Old Testament
morality, and therefore we have to
take a further step. Not only that we
do nothing against the command-
ments; even more important, we
imitate Jesus, following his foot-
steps. That is discipleship. And
that what is distinctively Christian.
(To follow the Ten Commandments
Moreover, precisely because it is
God’s gift, marriage is not for every
one. When the disciples, having
heard of their Master’s reply to
the Pharisees on the question of
divorce, observed that it was better
not to marry, the Matthean Jesus
noted that “not everyone can accept
this teaching, only those to whom
it is given to do so. Some men are
incapable of sexual activity from
birth; some have been deliberately
made so; and some there are who
have freely renounced sex for the
sake of God’s reign. Let him accept
this teaching who can” (Matt 19:11-
12). One therefore does not marry
because tradition demands it; he
must first of all discern whether he or
she has the gift. Certainly, there are
people who are married but should
not have married in the first place.
Some people should not marry be-
cause physically they are incapable
of living a married life. Others
should not, because psychologically,
they are unprepared to live it, even if
they think they are. Still others are
too selfish to be capable of giving
a gift of himself. Being a man or a
woman is not a sufficient qualifica-
tion for marriage. It remains a gift,
and not everyone has it.
But there is another point that
should not be missed in today’s
Gospel. It is to be noted that the
pericope on the question of divorce,
as far as Mark’s editorial hand is
concerned, is placed within the sec-
Marriage / B7
is not distinctively Christian. The
Jews have them. The Muslims
observe them.) But discipleship
is about renunciation of our selves.
Eternal life is for those who are
ready to lose their life: “Whoever
would preserve his life will lose it,
but whoever loses his life for my
sake and the gospel’s will preserve
it” (Mark 8:35). And our Gospel,
being like the previous Sunday’s,
which is found in the Markan sec-
tion of the instructions on disciple-
ship, is a commentary on this text.
The renunciation of our selves in-
cludes the renunciation of our pos-
sessions. That is the price to be paid
for following Jesus. That is our re-
sponse to the offer of eternal life. It
is unfortunate that we have so many
decent people who call themselves
Christians but have not embraced
discipleship. They have not gone
beyond the Old Testament ethics.
For them, not harming anyone
else, or fulfilling the external signs
of being Catholic—that is already
enough. They lack something: the
renunciation of themselves to allow
the Spirit to work in them.
Of course, it is often argued that
as part of our renunciation, we
contribute something to the poor.
But often we do this in terms of
our definition of what renunciation
shall consist of. Often enough, as
long as it does not cost us much,
we allow ourselves to be deprived of
something—our spare cash. Inside,
Cost / B7
October 1 - 14, 2018 Vol. 22 No. 20
God’s plan for the human family
27th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B (Mark 10:2-16)
October 7, 2018
By Fr. Sal Putzu, SDB
MAN and woman are not intended
to live in isolation. (See Gn 2:18.)
As social beings, they are meant
for social life, communication,
friendship, communion . . .
. As sexual beings, man and
woman are physically and
emotionally complementary,
and are meant to propagate and
perpetuate their own selves in
an ever-expanding chain of new
members of the human species.
In God’s plan, marriage is
the unbreakable covenant
of love in which one man
and one woman fulfill their
social, affective and sexual
needs. It is the foundation of
the family, the basic form of
human society. Every family
should be a reflection of God’s
creative and caring love. It is within
their own family that people are
expected to be instruments and
recipients of God’s love in all its
wonderful features: life-giving, full
of care, ever open to accept and
appreciate the “other,” ready to
give one’s best and to forgive even
the worst.
All this starts with husband and
wife, but does not end with them.
Together, through the oneness
and communion they create,
they become the “sacraments”
of the Lord’s love also for
the other members of the
family, especially their
children. Completing the
circle, the children should be
the “sacraments” of God’s love
for their parents and for one
another.
St. Paul spells out this truth in
very concrete terms (see especially
Col 3:18-21), and the Church –
under the guidance of the Holy
Choosing the riches within
28th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B (Mark 10:17-30)
Indigenous People’s Sunday, October 14, 2018
By Fr. Sal Putzu, SDB
THERE was sadness in the eyes of
the young man – sadness all over
his face – as he moved away from
Jesus. (See Mk 10:22.) He had
asked the right question: “What
must I do to inherit eternal life?”
(Mk 10:17). That was the question
that matters most in life. But he
had been unable to accept the right
answer: “Go and sell what you have
and give it to the poor . . . then come
and follow me” (Mk 10:21).
Jesus’ answer contained
the challenge to go beyond
what is prescribed by the
Commandment, and venture
trustfully into the demand-
ing realm of discipleship. This
includes: hands empty of material
resources, a heart filled with love
for God and neighbor, a will set on
following Jesus till the end of our
earthly pilgrimage, at all costs.
The rich young man was not
prepared to stake so much. His
heart was chained to his riches.
He preferred the deceptive se-
curity of earthly possessions
to the apparent risk of total
detachment and generosity.
From that moment he slipped into
oblivion, joining the crowd of those
who are unable to make spiritual
values, the treasure of their lives.
He failed to realize that the lasting
wealth was in being with Jesus and
thus belong to the Kingdom.
Others, wiser, would have ac-
cepted the challenging invita-
tion of Jesus. Solomon would
surely have accepted it, for
he preferred the spirit of Wisdom
to scepter, throne, and gems. (See
CBCP Monitor
Spirit – has come to realize ever
more clearly the sanctifying role of
the family.
But marriage and the family,
like all other human realities,
bear the consequences of
original sin and sin in general.
This terrible, destructive force
relentlessly tries to tear apart what
God’s plan has united. All the worst
tendencies of the wounded human
nature—jealousy, sensuality,
unfaithfulness, possessiveness .
. . coupled with the bad example
from the environment, continually
threaten to destroy the harmony of
even the best families.
Under the violence of such
attacks, the Christian couples
should always be mindful of
the grace of the sacrament
that has bound them to each
other as Christ is bound to the
Church. That grace needs to be
“activated” through faith, prayer,
faithfulness to the commitments
undertaken. The mutual duties of
sincere love, acceptance, assistance,
encouragement, forgiveness . . .
have to be fulfilled with constant
generosity.
Every family has to learn to
kneel down in prayer and to
go to God together. Regardless
of what may have come to pass
the day before, every dawn must
usher in a “newness” that heals the
wounds of the past and reaches
out beyond the present clouds and
storms.
Then, every Christian family will
really be a “little Church,” a lovely
place to be in, and an inspiration for
others to follow. The witness which
a real Christian family can offer is
one of the best gifts to the Church
and society at large.
Wis 7:7-9.) The apostles did accept
the invitation to forsake everything
and just be with Jesus. (See Mk
10:28.)
St. Anthony the Abbot ac-
cepted it as he divested himself of
all his possessions and made Jesus
his only treasure. Francis of As-
sisi did accept that challenge,
too. He was rich and young. He
renounced all earthly properties to
embrace the poverty of Christ, who
“though he was in the form of
God . . . emptied himself and
took the form of a slave” (Phil
2:6.7). And from that moment on-
ward, Francis started experiencing
perfect happiness and freedom.
Like these, during 20 cen-
turies of Christianity, thou-
sands of others, who had
been born rich and powerful,
chose the poverty of the cross
and the richness of radical
discipleship. In this way, they
become “free people” filled with the
inner peace and joy which no thief
can steal. They became “people for
others” like their Leader. Their
empty hands were freer to
rise in prayer and to serve
countless millions of needy
brothers and sisters.
Today’s world, drugged with
material ambitions and obsessions,
needs to be reminded of the liber-
ating richness of hands emptied
of material resources but filled
with love. Our world needs to
see that the real treasure is
“within” each human person.
It needs to see this truth lived out
in me and you.
CBCP Monitor October 1 - 14, 2018 Vol. 22 No. 20
The silence that surrounds abuse
By Fr. Shay Cullen, MSSC
ANGELINE is just one of millions
of children who are scared and
intimidated to run and tell that they
had been raped, abused or sexually
assaulted. “Telling was the hardest
thing, I was frightened,” she said.
“He threatened to kill my mother
and burn our house down if I told,
I had no one to trust, no one who
could protect me from my abuser,
he was my father.”
She was only 13 years old when it
first happened and she hid it out of
fear. Angeline was saved when her
abusive father took a neighbor’s
eight-year-old girl into a beach
house and Juanito, a neighborhood
boy crept up to the open window.
When he saw the abuse happening he
fearlessly and instinctively shouted
out “stop!” and threw stones on the
roof of the beach house.
The father of Angeline was
arrested and jailed and put on trial.
It was only then that Angeline was
able to tell of her terrible experience
of being raped by her own father.
Worldwide, incest is a word of
shame, a word most people will not
utter, talk about or even think about.
It is as if humans don’t want to admit
the barbarity of the abusive human
being and call them “animals” or
“beasts.” But they are humans with
reason, knowledge of right and
wrong and free will. When one in
every three girls suffer abuse, mostly
in their own family, is it any wonder
that sexual assault is as common as
blinking your eyes?
The world is blind and dumb,
asleep to the extent of this terrible
human vice, terrible for the abused
children, a crime that mostly goes
unchallenged, unpunished. The
sexual abuse of women is perhaps
even more frequent. A woman is
raped every minute, some studies
say. It is a horrid thing but millions of
Message / B1
the heart of Jesus, men committed to
working generously in the service of
God’s people, especially the poor and
the most vulnerable. Men who take
seriously the Lord’s words: “Whoever
would become great among you must
be your servant, and whoever would
be first among you must be the slave
of all” (Mk 10:43-44).
In this regard, it seems clear that an
Agreement is merely an instrument,
and not of itself capable of resolving
all existing problems. Indeed, it will
prove ineffective and unproductive,
unless it is accompanied by a deep
commitment to renewing personal
attitudes and ecclesial forms of
conduct.
6. On the pastoral level, the Catholic
community in China is called to
be united, so as to overcome the
divisions of the past that have caused,
and continue to cause great suffering
in the hearts of many pastors
and faithful. All Christians, none
excluded, must now offer gestures
of reconciliation and communion.
In this regard, let us keep in mind
the admonition of Saint John of the
Cross: “In the evening of life, we will
be judged on love” (Dichos, 64).
On the civil and political level,
Chinese Catholics must be good
citizens, loving their homeland
and serving their country with
diligence and honesty, to the best
of their ability. On the ethical level,
they should be aware that many of
their fellow citizens expect from
them a greater commitment to the
service of the common good and the
harmonious growth of society as a
whole. In particular, Catholics ought
to make a prophetic and constructive
contribution born of their faith in
the kingdom of God. At times, this
may also require of them the effort
to offer a word of criticism, not out
of sterile opposition, but for the sake
of building a society that is more just,
humane and respectful of the dignity
of each person.
7. I now turn to you, my brother
bishops, priests and consecrated
persons who “serve the Lord with
gladness” (Ps 100:2). Let us recognize
one another as followers of Christ in
the service of God’s people. Let us
make pastoral charity the compass
for our ministry. Let us leave behind
past conflicts and attempts to pursue
our own interests, and care for the
faithful, making our own their joys
and their sufferings. Let us work
humbly for reconciliation and unity.
With energy and enthusiasm, let us
take up the path of evangelization
indicated by the Second Vatican
Ecumenical Council.
children endure abuse by their own
biological father or by a stepfather
or live-in partner of their mother or
grandfather.
Most people are not Juanitos, they
are more like Angeline. They are
scared, frozen, numb, silenced with
fear of what might happen if they
cried out and accused another of
wrongdoing. They are conditioned to
stay silent, say nothing, do nothing.
What is wrong with the human
species that humans abuse their
own offspring and kill with impunity
while others see and know what is
being done and yet turn the other
way. Most people fail to be outraged
enough to act and take a stand and
speak out to defend the suffering
child or adult. They abandon the
higher value to help the wounded,
save the victim and to act in a just
morally right way based on values
of defending human dignity and
innocent victims.
Adults are paralyzed by fear of
what others will say, that they will
not be believed, they will be vilified
and that there will be retaliation
against them. They have been
conditioned by a culture of cover up
and silence to abuse, trained by the
leaders of church and society to shut
up and say nothing. The old saying
“Silence is golden” should never
have been coined. The millions of
ordinary people- priests, laity and
citizens are shamed and intimidated
by the power and the impunity of
those leaders that cover up abuse in
their name.
Sexual abuse of children or adults
is about power, domination and
control, oppressing others and
seeking at the same time satisfaction
of an insatiable urge for sexual relief,
pleasure and satisfaction. But it is
the moral duty for all decent human
beings to oppose and speak against
To everyone, I say once more with
great affection: “Let us be inspired
to act by the example of all those
priests, religious, and laity who
devote themselves to proclamation
and to serving others with great
fidelity, often at the risk of their
lives and certainly at the cost of their
comfort. Their testimony reminds
us that, more than bureaucrats and
functionaries, the Church needs
passionate missionaries, enthusiastic
about sharing true life. The saints
surprise us; they confound us,
because by their lives they urge
us to abandon a dull and dreary
mediocrity” (Apostolic Exhortation
Gaudete et Exsultate, 19 March 2018,
138).
I ask you wholeheartedly to beg for
the grace not to hesitate when the
Spirit calls us to take a step forward:
“Let us ask for the apostolic courage
to share the Gospel with others and
to stop trying to make our Christian
life a museum of memories. In
every situation, may the Holy Spirit
cause us to contemplate history in
the light of the risen Jesus. In this
way, the Church will not stand still,
but constantly welcome the Lord’s
surprises” (ibid., 139).
8. In this year, when the entire
Church celebrates the Synod on
Young People, I would like to say a
special word to you, young Chinese
Catholics, who enter the gates of the
house of the Lord “giving thanks
[and] with songs of praise” (Ps 100:4).
I ask you to cooperate in building
the future of your country with
the talents and gifts that you have
received, and with the youthfulness
of your faith. I encourage you to
bring, by your enthusiasm, the joy
of the Gospel to everyone you meet.
Be ready to accept the sure guidance
of the Holy Spirit, who shows today’s
world the path to reconciliation and
peace. Let yourselves be surprised
by the renewing power of grace, even
when it may seem that the Lord is
asking more of you than you think
you can give. Do not be afraid to
listen to his voice as he calls you to
fraternity, encounter, capacity for
dialogue and forgiveness, and a spirit
of service, regardless of the painful
experiences of the recent past and
wounds not yet healed.
Open your hearts and minds to
discern the merciful plan of God,
who asks us to rise above personal
prejudices and conflicts between
groups and communities, in order
to undertake a courageous fraternal
journey in the light of an authentic
culture of encounter.
Nowadays there is no lack of
such lust for power and satisfaction.
It is the total secularization and
dehumanization of society that has
robbed people of their sense of the
spiritual value of life and human
dignity.
Commercialization of humans and
making marketable commodities of
children for the sexual gratifications
of adults for cash has desensitized
societies and cultures. The sex-for-
sale industry, sex tourism that is
allowed and licensed by government
and fueled by Internet pornography
is an indication of how morally low
society has sunk. Blessed are those
who join rallies against it. Not to act
allows it to continue unabated and
creates a culture of silence.
That is what is happening in
our societies and our cultures and
institutions. Even if the child is
abused before our eyes- innocent
temptations: the pride born of
worldly success, narrow-mindedness
and absorption in material things, as
if God did not exist. Go against the
flow and stand firm in the Lord: “for
he is good; eternal is his merciful
love; he is faithful from age to age”
(Ps 100:5).
9. Dear brothers and sisters of the
universal Church, all of us are called
to recognize as one of the signs of our
times everything that is happening
today in the life of the Church in
China. We have an important duty:
to accompany our brothers and
sisters in China with fervent prayer
and fraternal friendship. Indeed,
they need to feel that in the journey
that now lies ahead, they are not
alone. They need to be accepted
and supported as a vital part of the
Church. “How good and pleasant it
is, when brothers dwell together in
unity!” (Ps 133:1).
Each local Catholic community in
every part of the world should make
an effort to appreciate and integrate
the spiritual and cultural treasures
proper to Chinese Catholics. The
time has come to taste together the
genuine fruits of the Gospel sown in
the ancient “Middle Kingdom” and to
raise to the Lord Jesus Christ a hymn
of faith and thanksgiving, enriched
by authentically Chinese notes.
10. I now turn with respect to the
leaders of the People’s Republic of
China and renew my invitation to
continue, with trust, courage and
farsightedness, the dialogue begun
some time ago. I wish to assure
them that the Holy See will continue
to work sincerely for the growth of
genuine friendship with the Chinese
people.
The present contacts between the
Holy See and the Chinese government
are proving useful for overcoming
past differences, even those of the
more recent past, and for opening
a new chapter of more serene and
practical cooperation, in the shared
conviction that “incomprehension
[serves] the interests of neither the
Chinese people nor the Catholic
Church in China” (BENEDICT XVI,
Letter to Chinese Catholics, 27 May
2007, 4).
In this way, China and the Apostolic
See, called by history to an arduous
yet exciting task, will be able to
act more positively for the orderly
and harmonious growth of the
Catholic community in China. They
will make efforts to promote the
integral development of society by
ensuring greater respect for the
human person, also in the religious
sphere, and will work concretely to
youth, suspects- are shot dead and
many choose to see no evil, hear no
evil and never to speak out about
evil. That is why one in every three
girls is sexually abused and there are
23,000 dead.
It is that institutional silence that is
rightly condemned when it occurs all
too frequently in churches, colleges,
the military, the government, the
movie industry and now more
recently in the development aid
industry. The leaders of charities
and some members are accused
of knowing about sexual abuse of
vulnerable women and children.
Many are victims of disasters
and abused by personnel in their
organizations. “MPs accuse aid
groups of ‘abject failure’ in tackling
sexual abuse,” reads The Guardian
headline. It quotes: “Charities have
shown “complacency verging on
protect the environment in which we
live and to build a future of peace and
fraternity between peoples.
In China, it is essential that, also on
the local level, relations between
the leaders of ecclesial communities
and the civil authorities become
more productive through frank
dialogue and impartial listening, so
as to overcome antagonism on both
sides. A new style of straightforward
daily cooperation needs to develop
between local authorities and
ecclesiastical authorities—bishops,
priests and community elders—in
order to ensure that pastoral activities
take place in an orderly manner,
in harmony with the legitimate
expectations of the faithful and the
decisions of competent authorities.
This will help make it clear that the
Church in China is not oblivious
to Chinese history, nor does she
seek any privilege. Her aim in the
dialogue with civil authorities is
that of “building a relationship
based on mutual respect and deeper
understanding” (ibid.).
11. In the name of the whole Church,
I beg the Lord for the gift of peace,
and I invite all to join me in invoking
the maternal protection of the Virgin
Mary:
Mother of Heaven, hear the plea of
your children as we humbly call upon
your name!
Virgin of Hope, we entrust to you the
journey of the faithful in the noble
land of China. We ask you to present
to the Lord of history the trials and
tribulations, the petitions and the
hopes of all those who pray to you,
O Queen of Heaven!
Mother of the Church, we consecrate
to you the present and the future of
our families and our communities.
Protect and sustain them in fraternal
reconciliation and in service to the
poor who bless your name, O Queen
of Heaven!
Consolation of the Afflicted, we turn
to you, for you are the refuge of all
who weep amid their trials. Watch
over your sons and daughters who
praise your name; make them one
in bringing the proclamation of the
Gospel. Accompany their efforts
to build a more fraternal world.
Grant that they may bring the joy of
forgiveness to all whom they meet, O
Queen of Heaven!
Mary, Help of Christians, for China
we implore days of blessing and of
peace. Amen!
From the Vatican, 26 September
2018
FRANCIS
SOCIAL CONCERNS B7
complicity” in responding to sexual
abuse that is endemic across the
sector, according to a damning
report by MPs.”
This has befallen the Catholic
Church and other church
denominations also. They cover
up the crimes of child abuse by
some clergy or members of their
organizations to avoid shame,
embarrassment and scandal, loss
of support and funds and to continue
to reject a false reputation of sanctity
and humanitarian concern. In fact,
they are accessories to the crimes
against children.
Yet the greatest crimes are
in families, perhaps someone
you know. Perhaps there is an
awakening, a glimmer of hope as
more suspects are being challenged
by the Juanitos of this world and are
being held accountable.
Marriage / B6
tion on discipleship. In this section,
Jesus taught his disciples what it
means to follow the Messiah in
his footsteps (Mark 8:27-10:52).
Mark’s point is quite obvious.
Marriage is a form of discipleship.
If this is correct, then whatever is
said of discipleship must apply to
marriage, because discipleship is
expressed in it. For this reason, it
is in marriage that we can concretize
the demands of denying ourselves,
taking up the cross, following Jesus
in his footsteps, and losing our lives.
Consequently, while marriage is
intended for our happiness, it is,
paradoxically, likewise a vocation
to suffering. In marriage we also
undertake the journey to Calvary.
Therefore, when the going gets
tough, we should all the more give
expression to the cross of Christ.
It is not without reason that the
marriage rite stresses that the bond
is “for better, for worse, for richer or
poorer, in sickness and in death.”
We can always expect negative
experiences in marriage. We shall
experience difficulties and suffer-
ings as we follow Jesus in disciple-
ship. But these sufferings and dif-
ficulties could be opportunities for
growth and deepening of love and
happiness. For as the 2ndReading
assures us: the experience of suf-
fering and death leads to glory. It
is through suffering that we perfect
the work of happiness and salvation
(Heb 2:9-10).
Cost/ B6
however, we do not really want to
let go of our comfort and fabulous
lifestyle. We are like the man in the
Gospel who could not accept the
challenge of discipleship because
we really hold on to our posses-
sions. Not surprisingly, Jesus told
his disciples: “How hard it is for the
rich to enter the kingdom of God ”
(Mark 10:23). And to make sure
that his disciples heard it correctly,
he added: “My sons, how hard it is
to enter the kingdom of God ! It is
easier for a camel to pass through a
needle’s eye than for a rich man to
enter the kingdom of God ” (Mark
10:24b-25). Clearly, discipleship
is not about doing nothing; on the
contrary, it is about doing some-
thing: it requires the renunciation
of ourselves, and of what we have so
that our ultimate value will be none
other than Jesus and his kingdom.
Only then can we walk in accord
with God’s will, and, having truly
responded to God’s offer in grace,
experience eternal life.
B8 ENTERTAINMENT October 1 - 14, 2018 Vol. 22 No. 20 CBCP Monitor

Buhay San Miguel Brothers Matias

A Simple Favor Lolo Kiko Bladimer Usi

Buhay Parokya
FIND 3 MISSING THINGS:
1. ST. JOHN PAUL XXIII
2. HOLY WATER FONT
3. POPE FRANCIS

Director: Paul Feig Lead Cast: Anna Kendrick, Blake Lively, Henry
Golding Screenwriter: Jessica Sharzer Producers: Paul Feig,
Jessie Henderson Editor: Brent White Musical Director: Theodore
Shapiro Genre: Mystery, Drama, Dark Comedy
Cinematographer: John Schwartzman Distributor: Pioneer Films
Location: Ontario, Canada Running Time: 1hr 57min

Technical assessment: 3.5 Moral assessment: 2.0

CINEMA rating: V18 MTRCB rating: R16

Stephanie Smothers (Anna seem. Kendrick as the jumpy,

Kendrick) is a small town
vlogger and doting mother
to Miles (Joshua Satine),
a favorite classmate of
Nicky (Ian Ho), the son of
sophisticated PR executive
Emily Townsend-Nelson
(Blake Lively). With their sons
wanting have a play date (at
the Nelsons’ plush residence),
the two mothers come to
know each other. Convinced
that she and Emily have
become friends, Stephanie
opens up as Emily insists true
friends share secrets. And
so they trade their deepest
secrets over gin and tonic
while their sons play. One
day, Emily asks Stephanie
for “a simple favor” — to look
after Nicky for the day — then
Emily fails to return. Through
her vlog that usually focuses
on cooking and housekeeping
stuff, Stephanie searches
for her friend Emily, and
the story of the mysterious
disappearance draws more
and more visitors to the vlog.
Not long after, Emily’s body is
fished out of a lake, positively
identified by her husband
Sean Townsend-Nelson
(Henry Golding) through
her tattoos and engagement
ring. Stephanie finds herself
looking after not only Nicky
but also Sean, who soon sees
her as more than a sob sister.
The film version of Darcy
Bell’s whodunit novel of the
same title, A Simple Favor
is actually a far-from-simple
movie that — because it’s so
twisted and twisty  —   m ight
take at least two viewings to
decode. Then, on hindsight,
one can understand why this
character seemed like a psycho
case, why that actor acted
that way, why circumstances
took initially ungraspable
turns — and realize that in life,
things are not really what they
eager-to-please single mom
and Lively as the enigmatic
femme fatale gave solid in-
character performances,
and even Golding retained
his eye-candy appeal (first
seen in Crazy Rich Asians)
playing the emotionally flaky,
flash in the pan novelist.
The set and the soundtrack
match the film’s many moods,
with certain songs subtly
mirroring clues to the riddles
the crime investigation
unearth. At bottom line it
shows the novelist’s knack for
obfuscating matters, leading
to a story that keeps viewers
on the edge of their seats.
Be aware that A Simple Favor
is pure fiction despite the
text-conclusion that tries
to make it appear like a
real-life story. The movie
aims to flaunt and mock
the distortions of modern
love, marriage, parenting,
success in the corporate
ladder, and yes, vlogging.
CINEMA cautions against
mainstreaming certain
distortions into the minds of
very young audiences. This is
a very adult theme, and the
genre of film noir and black
comedy does not lend itself to
easy appreciation. A Simple
Favor underscores, however,
the fact that childhood
experiences impact a person’s
development into adulthood,
sometimes with disastrous
results. Haven’t we heard
so often, “… as the tree is
bent…” or “The child is father
to the man…”? With parents
nowadays doggedly pursuing
career success at the expense
of the child’s healthy growth,
the movie serves as a call to dyowa, si Pia (Angelica paghihiwalay. Ngayon, nakakasawa ang anggulo pwede na itong pamarisan
sane parenting. Take note, Panganiban) at Nix (Carlo sa kanilang pagtatagpong ng kamera sa tinitirhan ni ng mga kabataan. Ilang
millennials: you wouldn’t Aquino), sa pagbubukas ng muli, may iba nang katagpo Nix. Pinupunuan na lang mga kritiko ang pumuri
want your children turning barng matalik na kaibigan si Pia. ang kakulangang ito ng sa pagiging “malaya” ng
into adults with a criminal ni Nix. Sa pagsasalubong Klarong-klaro na may makatotohanang dialoguena pelikula na talakayin ang
mind. ng kanilang mga tingin, “chemistry” sila Panganiban madaling masakyan ng mga mga isyu ng pakikipag-

Exes Baggage DIRECTOR: Dan Villegas

LEAD CAST: Angelica
Panganiban, Carlo Aquino
PRODUCER: Elma Medua
SCREENWRITER: Dwein
Baltazar
EDITOR: Marya Ignacio
GENRE: Romance, Drama
PRODUCTION COMPANY:
Black Sheep Productions
DISTRIBUTOR: Star Cinema
COUNTRY: Philippines
LANGUAGE: Filipino
RUNNING TIME: 104 minutes
Technical assessment: 3.0
Moral assessment: 2.5
CINEMA rating: V16
Sa hindi nila inaasahang
pagkakataon, magkikitang
muli ang dating mag-
ipinapahiwatig na may
nakaraan na ang dalawa, at
maaaring may mangyari ulit
mula ngayon. Sa kanilang
pag-uusap ay lulutang ang
mga mahahalagang bahagi
ng kanilang nakaraan,
kung paano sila nakarating
mula doon hanggang
ngayon. Sa halos dulo
ng mga “flashbacks” ay
babagsak na ang “bomba”
na magbibigay katuwiran sa
pamagat ng pelikula  —   a ng
mga “dalahin”nia Nix at Pia
mula sa mga nakaraang mga
relasyon nila sa ibang tao,
na nakasugat sa kanila at
nagiging sanhi ng kanilang
di pagkakaunawaan at
at Aquino, totoong-totoo
ang mga enkwentro — bagay
na pagtatakhan mo kung
sila ba’y mahuhusay
lang na mga artista, o
dahil lang sa “dinaanan”
na nila ang kuwento sa
tunay na buhay? (Dating
magsing-irog diumano ang
dalawa, kaya talagang mga
“exes” na sila). Pero sa
mga eksenang hiwalay ang
dalawa  —   s a pakikiharap ni
Pia sa mga kliyente niya,
o ni Nix sa mga parokyano
niya  —   k araniwan lang ang
dating ng dalawa, salat
sa damdamin. Limitado
ang hamon ng pelikula sa
production set — halimbawa,
manunuod. Anupa’t dalang- relasyon sa panahon ngayon
dala ang mga manunuod nang hindi nabibilanggo sa
na humihiyaw sa mga “makalumang moralidad.”
kakilig-kilig na tagpo ni Paalala lang ng CINEMA:
Panganiban at Aquino, at hindi kailanman naluluma
nagbubuntung-hininga sa ang pagpapahalaga sa
pagwawakas ng pelikula. katawan ng isang tao,
Kahit na isang makabagong at sa kasagraduhan ng
romansa ang Exes Baggage, kasal upang pangalagaan
wala naman itong bagong ang pagpapahalagang
hain sa genre nito, at hindi ito. Ang paghahanap
lumabas sa pormula ng ng kasiyahang dulot ng
romance comedy para katawan bilang tanda ng
maibigay ang inaasahan ng pagmamahalan, ngunit
kanilang target audience. hindi naman hinaharap
Sa laki ng kinita nito sa ang pananagutang kaakibat
unang tatlong araw sa nito, ay isang makasariling
takilya, tagumpay ang hilig lamang na laging
pelikula sa hinangad nito, makakasugat ng damdamin
pero hindi ibig sabihin ay at isipan.
 THE CROSS
A Supplement Publication of the Order of the Knights of Columbus and KCFAPI
CBCP Monitor Vol. 22, No. 20 October 1 - 14, 2018

‘Faith in action is possible

with prayer, discernment’
– Bishop Ambo David SEPTEMBER 14, 2018 –
Liturgically, the day is the
Feast of the Exaltation of the
Holy Cross but for us members
of the Order of the Knights of
Columbus, it is also a day in
which we commemorate the
passing to eternal life of our
Father, the Servant of God Fr.
George J. Willmann.
Through the initiative of
the Knights of Columbus
Fr. George J. Willmann
Charities, Inc. (KCFGJWCI)
led by its Chairman, Hilario
G. Davide, Jr.; President,
Alonso L. Tan and Executive
Vice President, Ma. Theresa
G. Curia, the Annual TV Mass
was celebrated at San Agustin
Church, Intramuros, Manila.
The bishop of the Diocese
of Kalookan, Most. Rev. Pablo
Virgilio S. David, DD, presided
the Holy Mass with Rev. Msgr.
Pedro C. Quitorio III, Rev. Fr.
Jeronimo Ma. J. Cruz, Rev.
Fr. Benjamin Deogracias M.
Fajota, Rev. Fr. Jose William
D. Araña, OSA, Rev. Fr.
Arnold C. Sta. Maria, OSA,
Rev. Fr. Robert T. Young, Rev.
Fr. Janrey J. Zabala, Rev. Fr.
Carlo Magno Marcelo, Rev.
The 41st Death Anniversary Mass of the Servant of God Fr. George J. Willmann presided by Most Rev. Pablo Virgilio S. David, DD at San Agustin Church. KAYNGCO Faith / C3

KCFAPI tenders testimonial dinner for Supreme

Court Associate Justice Reyes
IN celebration of the appointment of
the Supreme Director, Luzon North
Deputy and KCFAPI Chairman,
Bro. Jose C. Reyes, Jr. as the new
Associate Justice of the Supreme
Court of the Philippines, the Knights
of Columbus Fraternal Association
of the Philippines, Inc. (KCFAPI)
organized a Testimonial Dinner held
at the Roma Salon of the Manila
Hotel last September 27, 2018.
The event was attended by the
State Officers, brother knights, the WREATH-LAYING CEREMONY. On the occasion of Fr. George J. Willmann’s 41st Death Anniversary. A
KCFAPI management and the family wreath-laying ceremony was held at Fr. George’s monument at the KCFAPI Center after the Holy Mass at
of Bro. Reyes. San Agustin Church. (Photo credits : KAYngco)
Rev. Msgr. Pedro C. Quitorio
III, KCFAPI Spiritual Director,
presided the Holy Mass with Rev. Fr.
Robert T. Young, KC Priest-Scholar
Association’s President.
Bro. Alonso L. Tan, KC Foundations
President; Bro. Anthony P. Nazario, The Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the Philippines with his Lady Ma. Ofelia, his son Leonard
Dinner / C3 with wife Hannah, daughters Olivia and Valerie and granddaughter Leia. KAYNGCO

The four State Deputies during their recognition ceremony at the Diamond Hotel during KCFAPI’s 60th
Founding Anniversary Celebration. In photo were (L-R) KCFAPI Chairman Bro. Jose C. Reyes, Jr., KC
Foundations President Bro. Alonso L. Tan, Keys Realty and Development Corporation President Bro. Arsenio
Isidro G. Yap, KCFAPI President Bro. Ramoncito A. Ocampo, KCFAPI Spiritual Director Rev. Msgr. Pedro
C. Quitorio III, KCFAPI Treasurer Bro. Gerry Eutemio T. Mission, KCFAPI Executive Vice President Sis. Ma.
Theresa G. Curia and KCFAPI Corporate Secretary Bro. Anthony P. Nazario.

KCFAPI Marian Exhibit. Rev. Fr. Benjamin Deogracias M. Fajota blesses the images of the Blessed Virgin Mary during the formal opening of the 2018 Marian
Exhibit last September 7, 2018 with the theme, “Nawa’y maging hantungan pinakamimithing kaharian” held at the KCFAPI Center Lobby.

VISAYAS JURISDICTION. The Feeding Program at Barangay 91, Abucay, Tacloban City, September 22, 2018
MINDANAO JURISDICTION. Knights of Columbus Council Meeting and Consultation in ZAMBASULI, Zamboanga City and Ipil with MD SK Gerry Eutemio T. Mission, sponsored by Deputy Grand Knight Ted Pining, Jr. as one of the lined-up activities for the 33rd Charter
September 22 & 23, 2018. Anniversary of Council 9091, Redemptorist Council, Tacloban City.
C2 October 1 - 14, 2018, Vol 22, No. 20 THE CROSS
Ramoncito A. Ocampo Jose C. Reyes, Jr.

President’s Chairman’s Message

Message
Finally... after nine nominations (like a novena)

“A family that prays together, PRAISE God! On August 9, 2018, Hilario Davide, also active in the Knights the clergy and other consecrated people
President Duterte appointed me as the of Columbus, encouraged me to aim who prayed with me and my family,
stays together” 179th Associate Justice of the highest for the Court of Appeals. Atty. Rene my colleagues in both the Judiciary
Court of the land – the Supreme Court. Saguisag, being my former professor and academe, and even people whom
FAMILY is the basic component of the society and it is the My journey to the Supreme Court started in SBC, gave his all-out support when I did not know yet willing to help.
single most important influence in a child’s life. From their there in 1978, when after graduating I applied and got short-listed for the The journey was long and at times,
first moments of life, children depend on parents and family to from San Beda Law School and taking Associate Justice post in 2003. For disappointing. But with God on my
protect them and provide for their needs. Parents and family the Bar Examination, I applied as 15 years, I served the Appellate Court side, I kept going until finally, after
form a child’s first relationships. It is where the child is being Technical Assistant in the office of then with honesty, probity, integrity, and nine nominations, by God’s grace, I
honed and prepared little by little to face the society at large SC Chief Justice Felix V. Makasiar. competence. I believe my religiosity got appointed as the 179th Associate
and life’s reality. Before he retired, he encouraged me to became my shield from temptation and Justice of the Supreme Court.
However, most families nowadays rarely pray. They would apply as Judge in the Metropolitan Trial kept me protected in my work and in all First of all, I thank God for this blessing.
rather choose to watch TV shows or movies while others focus Court. He even recommended me to the my other endeavors. I thank President Duterte for recognizing
their attention too much to social media sites (e.g. Facebook, Metropolitan Trial Court of Pasig City, With my long experience in the the value of Judicial Careerism as my
Instagram, Twitter, etc.). While the advent of technology is where I served for four years beginning Judiciary, coupled with my part-time strength for the job. And the members
also an indication of a growing and prosperous economy, one in 1987. This gave me the confidence to job as law professor, both now going of the Judicial and Bar Council, who did
of its downside is the disintegration of the family. Although dream that one day, I will be back in the on 40 years, I felt confident to apply not give up believing in my character
there are other contributing factors such as industrialization, Supreme Court as one of the Magistrates. to the Supreme Court. With a strong and capability to assume the post that
urbanization, education, enlightenment of women and the From there, I was promoted in 1991 to faith in God, I worked even harder to enabled me to come full circle in my
impact of western culture, there is nothing a prayer for our the Regional Trial Court of San Mateo, make my dream come true. Indeed, career as a lawyer. As a Bedan, let me
love ones cannot encompass. Rizal, where I served as Executive Judge God was so good to send me during my end by saying, “In everything we do, may
The power of prayer in our home, brings each and every for 11 years. Then SC Chief Justice journey, true friends, old classmates, God be glorified!”
family member closer to God and to one another, wherever
they may be. There is nothing more comforting than a family Ma. Theresa G. Curia
praying for each and every member’s well-being, safety,
happiness, contentment and the list goes on. Praying may not
readily guarantee result at an instant, but it delivers. It also Curia Settings
draws us nearer to God and the words expressed in prayers
have wonder-working ability. The rosary in our family, a personal reflection
May our families grow to be the family that prays together,
as Mother Teresa once said “Be sure to teach the families to
pray all together – father, mother, and children. For the family
that prays together stays together, and if they stay together
they will love one another as Jesus loves each one of them…I IF you watch videos of After the name of the mystery common business interest. Perhaps we can understand
will be praying that the Lord will bring peace into the world pilgrimages in Lourdes, is proclaimed, I confess that What pulls us together as better how the mysteries
through the love of fathers for their families…” Guadalupe, Fatima and I do not enter into the spirit one is the thought that we can shed better light on how
Prayer works in countless ways we can imagine. It gives us Medjugorje, you will notice of the mystery. I pray the acknowledge that we are we can improve our lives.
strength and courage to go on, regardless of our circumstance. that people seem to have a Hail Marys and Holy Marys before an awesome God who Perhaps we can grow deeper
It gives us enlightenment, a sense of contentment and peace of strong spiritual experience and sometimes I do not even has given us our lives and to in being more intimately
mind. It binds and unites us, as brothers and sisters in Christ. when they go there. These put my heart and mind to the whom we offer back our lives. connected to Jesus through
Vivat Jesus! places are worldwide words that I say. Here we acknowledge that our proclaiming the
pilgrimage sites because the Yet, especially when I pray we are weak creatures, and mysteries. Perhaps we do
Arsenio Isidro G. Yap Blessed Mother appeared it with my family, I just we need God. And in times not even know what it means
to simple people there. The know that our Rosary puts of problems and difficulties, to meditate on the mysteries.
A Brother’s Insight Marian apparitions which
happened in these places
all of us in a praying mode.
A mode that makes us put
we kneel before God.
We come together on
But still, we keep on
praying the Rosary as a
attract people to pray that ourselves in the presence of Sundays as a family to pray family Sunday after Sunday.
somehow when they go God. And I think that is not not because we are asking And no matter how shallow
there, they can also feel and bad. Praying is supposed to God for favors through our understanding of the
experience the visit of Mary make us be conscious that we the Blessed Mother. We mysteries, I don’t think we
in their lives, just as she are in God’s presence, isn’t gather together in honor of even worry about that. What
Our Lady of Guadalupe appeared to the visionaries. it? Definitely it makes me the memory of our mother we know is that we gather
We also notice that the realize at Rosary time that who taught us the Rosary. together as a family and
OUR Lady of Guadalupe first appeared to Juan Diego on Holy Mass is always a I am not doing a household But we gather especially recognize the centrality of
December 9, 1531 at Tepeyac Hill, Mexico City asking him central religious activity that chore, that I am not doing because we proclaim that God in our individual and
that She wanted a church built on the site. Juan Diego told the happens at pilgrims’ sites. a professional job, nor God is the center of our lives. collective lives. What we
archbishop of Mexico about this but was not taken seriously. The Blessed Mother does not merely socializing. This is Perhaps we do not have high know is that we put Mary
After the second apparition, Juan Diego again approached polarize the people towards a different family activity. theological understanding as our family intercessor.
the archbishop but this time the archbishop asked him to her. Instead, she effectively This is a sacred event. of the mysteries that we What we are sure of is that
give him a sign that the apparition really did happen. On the points them to her Son, thus This is a prayer time that are proclaiming. But our our hearts become one, we
third apparition, Our Lady told Juan Diego to gather the roses the mass is always central to makes us all pause, leave our faith makes us experience become united as a family,
and present it to the archbishop. Juan Diego did as told and the experience. other activities, get together our total dependence on and we remember our
gathered the roses and wrapped it in his tilma (an apron like However, we also see in one place and recognize God. It makes us all want mother who has taught us
garment worn by farmers). that the procession of the that this is a sacred moment. to recognize the presence this prayer. What we know
The archbishop was dumbfounded when Juan Diego pilgrims, honoring the This makes me feel that we of Mary in our family. And is that God loves us and we
presented the fresh roses to him. Roses at the time were not Blessed Mother, is also a are indeed really praying we experience our unity as can trust Him.
in season and in his amazement the tilma which Juan Diego main religious experience. together. The prayer to the family, our commitment Mama Mary, stay with us
had used to wrap the roses in had an image of the Our Lady During the procession, the Blessed Mother unites us as a to each other’s welfare and make us one. Make us
herself. The good archbishop then believed what Juan Diego Rosary is always prayed, family and we dedicate some whenever we gather together be united in our love for God.
was saying as he was such a simple peasant with a simple mind sometimes even in different moments to acknowledge and pray the Rosary. Mary lead us to Jesus always.
that he concluded Juan Diego could not have invented the languages. The recitation that God is in our midst; that Rosary time seems to be a Make us remember always
stories of the apparition. of the Rosary never ceases we are in the presence of our special moment when God that God loves us.
On October 12, 1895, Pope Leo XIII granted the canonical to lead the pilgrims to an God and of one another. No gathers us all together, like Although we cannot
coronation of Our Lady of Guadalupe. experience of the presence wonder that Jesus said, where a mother hen gathers her go together to the places
What is intriguing about this miracle is the fact that the tilma of Mary and Jesus. two or more are gathered in brood under her wings. God where you appeared to the
that was used to wrap the roses in was made only from cactus Sometimes when I pray my name I am there. is here to make us feel He visionaries, may we also
fiber and could have not lasted for more than fifty years. And the Rosary, I admit that I What unites us here is loves us. experience your presence
yet the tilma is still in very good condition almost five hundred really cannot put myself to not a common political Perhaps we can learn more when we pray together as a
years later. meditate on the mysteries. stance. Not an advocacy or the meaning of the mysteries. family.
A scientific study was made on it sometime in the 1990’s
Karlo Serviento
and the results were astonishing. The pupil of the left eye was
Message from the Vice President for Treasury, BRO and HRCC
magnified thousands of times and revealed pictures about
the story of Juan Diego and the apparitions of Our Lady of
Guadalupe. The paint was neither organic nor inorganic,
Pondering Just concluded 60th
meaning it could have not originated from earth. There was the Words anniversary celebration
no visible sign of what method the paint was applied on the
tilma. The paint was not applied by brush, stick, hand, fingers,
metal such as knives. It’s as if the picture was pasted on it. The LAST September 14, 2018 goal is to ensure that
scientists were short of saying that the image is a photograph the KCFAPI celebrated when a brother knight
made in heaven. The stars on Our Lady’s dress are the exact A call to be the new its six decades of life needs financial help, he
constellation of stars viewed at Tepeyac Hill, Mexico. Fr. George Willmann with a bang. One of the is a KCFAPI member who
There are other claims on the image which are very subjective highlights of the event can reap the benefits
in nature and/or have not yet been scientifically proven, among OUR Supreme Pontiff Francis, call for us to serve and not to was when the Association of being one whether
Brother’s Insight / C3
during one of his celebrations be served and to nurture the honoured and gave receiving an endowment
of the Holy Mass at St. Peter’s gifts He has entrusted to us. awards to 8 employees benefit, taking out a loan
Square stated, “The Eucharist We, as the fraternal benefits who have been a part or being a beneficiary due

THE CROSS
makes us strong to gift the
flowers of good works”. “As it
unites us to Christ, wresting
A Supplement Publication of the us from our selfishness,
Order of the Knights of Columbus and KCFAPI Communion opens and unites
us to all those who are one in
Editorial Board Him. This is the prodigy of
Jose C. Reyes, Jr. Ramoncito A. Ocampo Communion: we become what
Chairman President we receive!”
On the occasion of
Ma. Theresa G. Curia Msgr. Pedro C. Quitorio III the Knights of Columbus
Executive Vice President Spiritual Director Fraternal Association of
Mary Magdalene G. Flores the Philippines, Inc.’s 6oth
Editor-in-Chief Founding Anniversary this
year, we recall these words
Jhon Lyndon D. Palafox, Juan Karlo S. Serviento as we are the stewards of
Associate Editors these flowers of good works.
Our union with the Lord on
Jerome P. De Guzman, Erwin John B. Mallari, Kris Jay Rolex A. Yngco
Contributors
our partaking of the Holy
Eucharist proves that it
is the source and summit
The Cross is published monthly with its business at KCFAPI, General Luna cor. Sta.
Potenciana Sts., Intramuros, Manila with tel. no. (02) 527-22-23 to 27 (trunk line) local of our Christian life. Our
200, 221. Email Address: kcfraternal@kofc.org.ph. Website: http://www.kofc.org.ph communion with Him is a
arm of the Order, are our
brother’s keepers. We do not
merely work for money or
power or fame. We work out
of mercy and compassion.
We are the one that will bind
Christ and the Order as our
works are rooted in the life
and ministry of our Lord in the
footsteps left by our founder
Fr. George J. Willmann. We
all know that Fr. George lived
a saintly life, but we must be
living witnesses of his life. By
this, it is not Fr. George who
will be glorified, but our Lord
Jesus Christ, as He is the Chief
Shepherd in whose footsteps
our servant of God followed
throughout his life.
This is now the challenge
for all of us, to be the new Fr.
Pondering the Words / C3
of KCFAPI for 10, 15,
20 and 30 years. These
8 employees are just a
representation of the
many, many people who
have contributed to the
success of the fraternal
arm of the Order of the
Knights of Columbus.
With great pride, I am
one of the 8 honourees
that night who received
a plaque of appreciation
from the Chairman,
the President and the
Executive Vice President.
Being a part of KCFAPI
for 30 years is a big
feat with the various
challenges one has to
conquer to fulfill the goal
of Fr. Willmann. That
to untimely death of a
family member.
To grow with an
Association and learn
the various areas of
operation is already a
gift by itself since you
learn how to deal with
many types of people
and your spirituality
is strengthened when
faced with difficult
situations.
I would like to
congratulate the other
honourees last September
14, 2018 and they are:
Renante“Bong”Bragat
f rom our Cag ay an De
Oro Service Office,Erwin
John “EJ” Mallari
Message / C3
THE CROSS October 1 - 14, 2018, Vol 22, No. 20 C3

Our work continues

Through prayer, material aid and advocacy, we stand in solidarity with christians suffering in the middle east
by Supreme Knight
Carl A. Anderson
THIS ISSUE of Columbia
details our aid to our brothers
and sisters in the faith
who have been marked for
extinction by ISIS and other
terrorists in the Middle East.
The hard truth is that
Christians are on the verge
of extinction in the Middle
East. We must not allow this
to happen.
Since 2014, the Knights
of Columbus has committed
more than $20 million to aid
Christians and those of other
religions in their care. This
money has provided food,
shelter, clothing and medical
care to thousands who lost
everything in Iraq and Syria
because they refused to give
up their love of Christ.
We have supported true
heroes in these countries,
and several have spoken at
our Supreme Conventions —
including Patriarch Ignatius
Joseph III Younan of the
Syriac Catholic Church of
Antioch, Melkite Catholic
Archbishop Jean- Clément
Jeanbart of Aleppo, Syria, and
Chaldean Catholic Archbishop
Bashar Warda of Erbil, Iraq.
We have been proud to
support the medical clinic in
Erbil operated by St. Elizabeth
University of Health and
Social Sciences in Bratislava,
Slovakia. The young doctors
and staff of this clinic were
some of the first to treat
Yazidi and Christian women
escaping from sexual slavery
at the hands of ISIS.
Last year, we launched a
special initiative to resettle
the Iraqi town of Karamles. It
had been a Christian town for
centuries before ISIS overran
it, drove out its inhabitants,
destroyed their homes and
desecrated their churches.
When their land was
recaptured from ISIS, the
Christians were ready to
return to their homes. But
their towns were in ruins. Who
would help them rebuild?
The first to act was the
government of Hungary,
which provided funds to
rebuild the town of Teleskof.
During a consultation with
Hungarian government
officials in Budapest, I
discussed with them our
similar effort.
Today, with $2 million from
the Order, Karamles is being
rebuilt and Christian families
are returning home.
We have provided more
than financial aid. We worked
closely with then- Secretary of
State John Kerry to ensure that
Christians and other religious
minorities were recognized
as victims of genocide. We
also worked with U.S. Reps.
Jeff Fortenberry and Anna
Eshoo to urge Congress to
unanimously pass legislation
declaring Christians the
victims of genocide.
Similarly, we worked with
Rep. Chris Smith, who has been
a hero in leading the effort to
make U.S. assistance available
to these communities. He was
the first senior government
official to go to Erbil to see
firsthand the situation of the
Christians there.
Now, we are working with
Vice President Mike Pence
to see that U.S. assistance
reaches these communities.
When the conflict between
Kurdistan and the government
of Iraq threatened an ancient
Christian town, we alerted
the State Department and
the White House. We worked
with them to de-escalate
tensions and avoid a bloody
conflict that could have ended
the Christian presence in Iraq.
Archbishop Warda has said
that without the support of the
Knights of Columbus, Christianity
might have died in Iraq.
Our work has brought a
message of solidarity and
of hope — that no Christian
community is an island. Every
Christian is “a piece of the
continent.”
Every Christian is a member
of the Body of Christ. No
Christian has been abandoned
by the Lord. And no Christian
should be abandoned by us.
Their suffering continues.
And our work must continue.
This year’s pilgrim icon
program will focus the eyes
of our Church on the sacrifice
of these communities. As St.
John Paul II said in 2000:
“The precious heritage which
these courageous witnesses
have passed down to us is
a patrimony. … May (their)
memory … grow still stronger!
Let it be passed on from
generation to generation, so
that from it there may blossom
a profound Christian renewal!”
And to again focus the
attention of our nation,
this month we begin a new
national awareness campaign.
My brothers, these
heroic Christians have not
abandoned the field. And
neither will we.
Vivat Jesus!

The Gentle Warrior

By James B. Reuter, SJ
CHAPTER FOUR
The Knights of Columbus the living example of that little poem
which G .K. Chesterton himself wrote:
THEY adopted poor families, bringing The great Gaels of Ireland
them food, clothing and medicines. Are the men whom God made mad,
They presented plays, to raise funds For all their wars are merry,
for the poor, in the Ateneo Auditorium, And all their songs are sad.
which had been beautifully designed by But Horacio was a Filipino, and
Father Henry Lee Irwin, S.J. Filipinos normally do not enjoy
The Junior Auxiliary of the Knights confrontation. They would rather be
dissolved when World War II broke out friends with everybody. And Horacio
in 1941 — but their very existence was an was acutely aware that he was only
inspiration to George Willmann. Here twenty-five years old, that he had
was a group of young people — boys and graduated from college at the Ateneo
girls — organizing parties and dances only a few years ago, that he was still in
and picnics and plays, in an atmosphere his period of formation as a Jesuit. And
that was soaked with the grace of God! he realized that Hartendorp was a rough,
Their dances were joyous occasions, but tough, commercial, sophisticated,
also religious events! They ended their veteran American writer.
dances with prayers before the statue of So he was depressed.
the Blessed Virgin Mary! the newspapers, Horacio trailed in, sank George Willmann put down his
When the war broke, and George into a chair, and sighed. newspaper, leaned toward Horacio, and
was trying to help the soldiers of the George looked up, and said: “What’s said: “Now listen, son. You are doing
American Army, he remembered the the matter?” good work. You have written a beautiful
popularity of the Junior Auxiliaries. Horacio said: “We’re getting all book. Your broadcasts are superb.
Basketball and boxing were attractive kinds of flak in the newspapers…. Everybody listens to them. Even the
Father McGivney Office - Philippines promotes the Cause for the Canonization of
to young men, but so were parties and Hartendorp.” President treats everything you say with Venerable Fr. Michael McGivney by distributing Fr. McGivney prayer cards to patients
dances. It dawned on George that A. V. Hartendorp, at that time, was a reverence….And, remember! Anyone, in various hospitals in Cagayan de Oro City, Northern Mindanao.
young men could be drawn to God powerful editor and an excellent writer, who tries to do anything well, gets into
by any healthy, wholesome, human with a real talent for vituperation. He trouble Look at Dan Lord Look at Robert Brother’s Insight / C2
activity. And this included dancing. was attacking the whole Chesterton Bellarmine! Look at Saint Ignatius
The company of a good girl, and the Evidence Guild, on the grounds that Loyola! Look at Christ Our Lord! He which; the changing color of This is one miracle scientists
conversation of a good girl, in a place they were young schoolboys, immature, was doing everything right, and they the image at different angles have failed to scientifically
that was religiously agreeable, and inexperienced, and arrogant in their crucified him! When you are in trouble¸ and distance; that the tilma prove and disprove? One of
agreeably religious, could be a stepping ignorance. son, that is a good sign. It means that has a constant temperature of the very few miracles sciences
stone to God! Father Russell Sullivan, S.J., who you are really doing something!” 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit, just could not explain and yet would
He remembered this, when the was the Moderator of the Chesterton Every word that George said was true. like a living person. not admit that it is a miracle.
shadows of war were closing in on the Evidence Guild, rejoiced in these attacks. Horacio de la Costa had just completed
Philippines. The Commonweal Hour, in which the “Light Cavalry” — a history of the Jesuits Dinner / C1
Horacio de la Costa S.J., who was Chesterton Evidence Guild starred, was in the Philippines from the moment of Visayas Deputy; Bro. Sunshine of my Life.”
twenty-five years old at that time, and all over the newspapers. And Father their return to Manila in 1859, after Gerry Eutemio T. Mission, Finally, after the honouree’s
a Scholastic in Regency, was living Sullivan believed that there was no such the suppression of the Society of Jesus, Mindanao Deputy and Bro. response, Bro. Ramoncito A.
in the same Jesuit community with thing as bad publicity. He reveled in to 1941. The book was scheduled for Hilario G. Davide, Jr., KC Ocampo, Luzon South Deputy
George at the Ateneo de Manila. Late conflict. The other Jesuits at the Ateneo launching at Christmas time, that year. Foundations Chairman gave and KCFAPI President led the
one evening, when George was in the felt that Russell must have been Irish for their testimonies for Bro. Ceremonial Toast, in which
community recreation room reading the last fourteen generations. He was (to be continued on the next issue) Reyes as they have worked he followed with the Closing
Faith / C1
together with the honouree, Remarks.
in the Order and in the Once again, the KCFAPI
Association. extends its congratulations
Fr. Francis Anthony A. Cedo, C. Reyes, Jr. with his family first and foremost, that we best encapsulated in that Sis. Ma. Ofelia B. Reyes, and warm wishes to the
Rev. Fr. Jaime S. Ucab, Rev. led the Prayer for the Unity must be armed with no other prayer which we know the wife of Bro. Reyes, gave new Associate Justice
Fr. Isabelo D. San Luis, Rev. of Families. weapon except the cross of better as a liturgical song: her address. After which they of the Supreme Court.
Fr. Asis R. Bajao, OSA, Rev. Also present during the Mass Christ.” “Dearest Lord, teach me to were serenaded with their We are proud of you!
Fr. Roy Gallano, OSA, Rev. Fr. were the brother knights around “But finally, I must remind be generous. Teach me to theme song, “You are the (JSServiento)
James Uy, OSA and Rev. Fr. the country, Sis. Rosalinda you also that FAITH IN serve you as I should. To give
Randolf Dayan-dayan, OSA as Pimentel, the International ACTION is possible only and not to count the cost,
Pondering the Words / C2
concelebrants. Regent of the Daughters of by learning two important to fight and not to heed the
Lectors during the Mass Mary Immaculate International disciplines in the spiritual wounds. To toil and not to George of the Association. on praying for the Cause of Fr.
were Luzon South Deputy and its members and other warfare, which the Jesuits seek for rest. To labor and ask Let us remember that it is not Willmann’s Canonization and
Ramoncito A. Ocampo, respective guests. are good at: PRAYER AND not for reward, save that of always for our sake, but for Beatification. Let us storm the
Visayas State Secretary Noeni During the homily, Bishop DISCERNMENT. knowing that I do your most our brother’s sake. Every deed heavens, in great silence, with
S. Nepomuceno, Mindanao David stated, “This day is Fr. Willmann was a man holy will.” Dear brothers and every action must start in our prayers that one day, our
Deputy Gerry Eutemio T. made even more significant by of faith in action and man and sisters in the KCFAPI, I love and end in love. founder may be honoured in
Mission and VP for FBG Gari the fact that it is the feast day of prayer and discernment. invite you to reflect together As we face the coming years, the courts of the Lord as one
M. San Sebastian. KCFGJWCI of the Exaltation of the Cross. That is why what he has on this prayer. I also unite let us fulfil the mission of our of His saints.
President Alonso L. Tan read Our gentle warrior died on left with KCFAPI, DMI and myself with you in praying Servant of God, to become The legacy of the Knights
the Prayer for the Cause of this special feast day, perhaps CYO remains as an enduring for progress in the cause men of profound faith in of Columbus Fraternal
Fr. George J. Willmann. On to highlight the fact that, if we legacy. It is founded on a solid of the beatification of the action, to live poor and love Association of the Philippines,
the other hand, Supreme are to win the spiritual battle spiritual rock. He was a man Servant of God, Fr. George the poor and be firm believers Inc. will always burn flames
Director, Luzon North Deputy which we all have to learn to who lived out his founder’s Willmann SJ.”. he furthered. in the cause of the young, in in all our hearts as we head
and KCFAPI Chairman Jose fight well, we must discover, spirituality of generosity, (JSServiento) service to our brother knights to new heights and shine
and their families and to bright like a diamond as we
Message / C2 the church that was once are inspired and guided by
entrusted by our Lord to Fr. George J. Willmann, the
of the Fraternal Benefits Group, have been with the Association for thank again, the Brother Knights and Peter, and now unto us. Gentle Warrior, the friend of
Marianne”Em-Em”Gatdula of the 30 years are: Cynthia “CY” Genosa their families who are our “market”. This year, as we celebrate the poor, the missionary to
Underwriting Department. These of the Financial Management and They are the reason for our being, we the Year of the Clergy and the youth.
three employees have rendered 10 Accounting Services and our very own strive to do our best to have a long term Consecrated Persons, it is our Our Association’s triumphs
years of their life with KCFAPI. Cyrus EVP, Ma. Theresa G. Curia. Truly, relationship with them so their families own vocation to respond to for the past years are also
Lao of our Cebu Service Office has you are amazing, you are great and and future families will continue to be our church in need and open the triumph of Fr. George
spent 15 years of his life with KCFAPI you are assets of KCFAPI. a part of KCFAPI. our hearts and our eyes to our in heaven as we continue
while Ronnie Antero Infante(VP During the night, many people were Once again, thank you and let us all brothers and sisters who is to enliven his aspiration,
for MIS, Underwriting and Admin acknowledged and thanked for their express our heartfelt gratitude to the Jesus Christ himself. in making the Knights of
Services) stayed with KCFAPI for 2 contributions in making KCFAPI reach Lord, without whom we will not be. In Unity and Fraternity, Columbus Family, Our
decades. The last two employees who its 60th founding anniversary. Let me (MGFlores) together, we ask you, to persist Concern.
C4 October 1 - 14, 2018, Vol 22, No. 20 THE CROSS

KCFAPI 60th: ‘shines bright like a diamond’

SHINE BRIGHT LIKE A State Officers and
DIAMOND!, the theme that covers other distinguished
the prestigious and momentous guests that have
night of celebration as we rejoice in shared their time,
the 60th Founding Anniversary of knowledge and
the Knights of Columbus Fraternal experiences with the
Association of the Philippines, Inc. Association.
held at the Diamond Hotel, Manila. KCFAPI employees
It was on September 9, 1958, when prepared an opening
KCFAPI was duly licensed by the production number,
Insurance Commission to operate which they have
as an insurance entity solely for rehearsed for two
the members of the order in the months, as part of
Philippines with an initial funding their thanksgiving
of Php 32,000.00. As of today, to the Association.
KCFAPI is now extending its arms KCFAPI Executive
not only within the Order but to the Vice President
general public by its wholly-owned gave the Welcome
and majority-owned companies. Remarks for all
These companies are the Keys Realty the guests present.
and Development Corporation, KCFAPI Corporate
Kompass Credit and Financing Secretary Anthony
Corporation and MACE Insurance P. Nazario and
Agency, Inc. In addition, under Treasurer Gerry
KRDC, the Columbus Plaza Hotel Eutemio T. Mission
operates at Gen. Santos City and gave their Words of
the Holy Trinity Memorial Chapels Wisdom. Moreover,
and Crematorium in Parañaque KCFAPI Chairman
City. To cater to the needs of the Jose C. Reyes, Jr.
families of the brother knights for gave the Chairman’s In photo were the Philippine State Deputies: Bro. Jose C. Reyes, Jr. (Luzon North), Bro. Ramoncito A. Ocampo (Luzon South), Bro. Anthony P. Nazario (Visayas) and Bro. Gerry Eutemio
educational purposes (collegiate, Message which was T. Mission (Mindanao) with our KCFAPI Executive Vice President Ma. Theresa G. Curia, State Officers and KCFAPI employees.
sacred orders and licentiate), the then followed by a
KC Philippines Foundations, Inc. Ceremonial Toast for everyone to to the Association and the Order, a to those in need. A hand that is the suppressed. As our theme song
and the Knights of Columbus Fr. recognize KCFAPI’s legacy for the token of gratitude was also presented open to give itself to the welfare of is entitled, “Hands of Love”, we
George J. Willmann Charities, Inc. past years and well-wishes for the to them, given by the Executive Vice the Order, as Fr. George has done continue to be and aspire to be the
continue its operations with the aid years to come. President. in his earthly life. At all times, he best of those hands that will ensure
of the Association. In commencement of the State KCFAPI in its 60 years of existence never failed to reach the oppressed, us of the fraternal love, God’s special
The event was attended by the Deputies’ fortified fraternal service serves as the hands that give love touch the depressed and protect gift. (JSServiento)

KCFAPI recognizes Service Awardees

IN fulfilment of KCFAPI’s
mission to highly regard its
dynamic, committed, dedicated
and loyal management, staff
and field representatives,
and as it recall its years of
existence, the Association also
remembered those people
behind its milestones.
These people has served
the Association willingly and
devotedly, exerting their time
and efforts for its good and
the good of the Order of the
Knights of Columbus. The
outstanding service of years KCFAPI employees wearing their costumes for their Opening Production Number during
they have spent in service the 60th Diamond Anniversary Celebration.
has truly been a part of the
Association’s advancements
then and now. It is now the KCFAPI Chairman Bro. Jose C. Reyes, Jr. and President Ramoncito A. Ocampo with the eight (8) Service Awardees.
time for them to reap the
fruits of their labor and be Congratulations to all the as the inspiration for the dedicated employees of the
duly recognized. awardees! You will all serve next generations of loyal and Association. (JSServiento)

The finale part of the dance presentation during the employees’ opening number.

Words of Wisdom given by KCFAPI Corporate Secretary Anthony P. Nazario. KCFAPI Treasurer Gerry Eutemio T. Mission renders his anniversary message.

KCFAPI President Ramoncito A. Ocampo giving his President’s Message during the The 60th Anniversary Ceremonial Toast led by KCFAPI Chairman Jose C. Reyes, Jr.
anniversary. Fraternal Services Training 1 held at the KCFAPI Center last September 11 to 12, 2018.
In photo were the newly accredited fraternal counselors with the VP for FBG Gari M.
San Sebastian.

KCFAPI Executive Vice President Ma. Theresa G. Curia and VP for FBG Gari M. San Sebastian during the KCFAPI Sales Benefit Summit held at the 3F Social Hall last September
25, 2018 with Bro. Ricardo de Vera as its resource speaker.