Monitor

CBCP

August 19 - September 1, 2019, Vol 23, No. 17 CBCPMONITOR@AREOPAGUSCOMMUNICATIONS.COM

PROTAGONIST OF TRUTH, PROMOTER OF PEACE

‘Solidarity Masses’ held

for accused clergy
By Roy Lagarde

AS an expression of soli-
darity, Masses were held
across the country on Aug.
15 for clergymen accused
of destablizing the Duterte
administration.
Those were the second special
Masses this August for some bishops
and priests facing sedition charges
and other cases from the police.
“We entrust them to the Lord
and to our Blessed Mother,” said
Archbishop Romulo Valles, president
of Philippine bishops’ conference.
“Let us be in solidarity with them in
prayer”.
At the Caloocan cathedral, more
than a thousand people gathered
for the Mass to show support to the
accused clergymen including their
bishop, Pablo Virgilio David.
Bishop David’s strong stand for
the rights of the poor, especially the
families of victims of drug-related
killings, has earned him the ire of
President Rodrigo Duterte.
In a joint statement, the lay faithful
and the religious men and women in
the diocese expressed dismay over
the charges that their church leaders
are facing.
“We strongly denounce these false
charges against them,” they said.
“We ask the government to
withdraw the sedition charges and
other cases filed them,” they added.
The police filed sedition charges
against 36 individuals, including
eight clergymen, over a series of Catholic bishops arrive in procession for the canonical installation of Bishop Dennis Villarojo as the new head of the Diocese of Malolos at the Minor Basilica of Our Lady of Immaculate Conception
videos posted online linking Duterte in Malolos City Aug. 21. ROY LAGARDE
and his family to the illegal drug

ACN cries ‘persecution’ of clergymen in sedition case

trade.
Aside from David, other church
officials facing charges are Archbishop
Socrates Villegas, Bishop Honesto
THE Philippine office of the papal viral video on social media linking
Ongtioco and Bishop Teodoro Bacani.
charity Aid to the Church in Need President Duterte and his family to
Aside from the bishops, also
(ACN) decried as “persecution” the the illegal drug trade.
accused are Fr. Robert Reyes, SVD
criminal charges filed against some As a group that helps persecuted
Fr. Flaviano Villanueva, Jesuit Fr.
bishops and priests. Christians, Luciano said they
Albert Alejo, and La Salle Bro. Armin
ACN, a group that supports are saddened over the “baseless
Luistro.
churches in difficult situations, accusations” against the church
Early this year, most of these
came to the rescue of the clergymen leaders.
Catholic leaders received death
who are accused of sedition and The Justice department on Friday
threats for their pronouncements
other crimes. started its preliminary probe into
against Duterte’s bloody war on
“Such charges against them the police’s charges of inciting to
drugs that already claimed thousands
constitute persecution of the sedition, cyber libel, and obstruction
of lives.
church,” said Mr. Jonathan Luciano, of justice against 36 people, mostly
On Aug. 9, the Justice department
ACN Philippines national director. government critics.
has conducted a preliminary
“These charges are devoid of truth Among those accused are
investigation on the complaints.
and justice, decency and respect for Archbishop Socrates Villegas,
The next hearing is on September Priests Flavie Villanueva, Albert Alejo, and Robert Reyes, who are among those facing sedition
their human dignity,” he said. bishops Pablo Virgilio David,
6. charges, are prayed over by nuns and laypeople after a “solidarity Mass” at the Christ the King
Church in Quezon City Aug. 3. PHOTO FROM AMRSP The complaints stemmed from a Sedition / A2

Church groups mourn death Priest wounded in shooting Bishop calls for independent probe into Negros killings

of Gina Lopez incident in Laguna A CHURCH official called for

an independent investigation
into the spate of killings in
the central Philippines.
Bishop Broderick Pabillo,
the auxiliary of Manila,
said the surge of violence in
Negros Oriental demands
such action to bring justice
to the victims.
“Such an investigation
cannot be simply left to the
Philippine National Police
and the Armed Forces of the
Philippines who have been
implicated in the killings,”
Pabillo said.
Fifteen civilians were
killed by alleged vigilantes
in the province last month,
following the July 18
Killings / A6

Asian Catholic journalists unite against fake news

Environment Secretary Gina Lopez (left) leads the “Walk for the Environment” outside Bystanders help Fr. Emil Larano who was hurt in a shooting incident in San Pablo City
the Senate building in Manila, March 1, 2017. FILE PHOTO on Aug. 19. COURTESY OF JHEROME CORTEZ

TRIBUTES have been paid Social media users also A VILLAGE councilor was Initial investigation
to a longtime environment flooded Facebook and Twitter killed and a priest was injured showed that Galit was the
advocate who dedicated with the news of Lopez’s in a shooting in San Pablo main target of the attack.
many years of her life to the death, who was strongly City, Laguna on Aug. 19. Galit was reportedly
cause. supported by many bishops Authorities identified the driving his car along Shetelig
The Caritas Philippines and church groups for her fatality as Richard Galit, 36, Avenue when motorcycle- Journalists from different church publications in Asia team up to fight fake news and
strengthen evangelization efforts through the media during a conference organized
extended its sincere strong anti-mining stand. married and councilor of the riding gunmen shot him by SIGNIS Asia in Kuala Lumpur on Aug. 14 to 16.
condolences to the family “We grieve for Gina Lopez. city’s Barangay Conception. and a stray bullet hit the left
of former environment But we too are grateful for Also hurt in the attack was shoulder of Larano. AS in other demographics, Faced with these and
secretary Gina Lopez, who the gift of life, spent for Fr. Emil Larano, who is the Bishop Buenaventura religion is a field that has other challenges, Catholic
succumbed to brain cancer a worthy cause… a life of director of the San Pablo Famadico said the priest was become prey to the so- journalists in Asia seek
on Monday morning. She sincere commitment to what Diocesan Catholic School also driving his car and just called “fake news” and to strengthen themselves
was 65. Mourns / A6 System. Incident / A7 disinformation. Journalists / A6
A2 WORLD NEWS August 19 - September 1, 2019, Vol 23, No. 17 CBCP Monitor

Vatican Briefing Iraqi church formerly defaced by ISIS

rededicated on Assumption feast
Pope Francis: Discover the beauty of prayer in adoration
Pope Francis said Sunday that prayer in adoration of God and
service to others spreads the fire of God’s love, changing the world
one heart at a time. “I invite everyone to discover the beauty of the
prayer of adoration and to exercise it often,” Pope Francis said Aug.
18. Adoration of God in prayer is necessary to allow the fire of love
that Jesus brought to the earth to envelop our entire existence, the
pope explained. (Courtney Grogan/CNA)

Pope Francis gives thousands of rosaries to Christians in Syria

Pope Francis announced Thursday that he is giving 6,000 blessed
rosaries to Catholic communities in Syria as a sign of his closeness
on the Marian Feast of the Assumption. “Prayer made with faith is
powerful! We continue to pray the rosary for peace in the Middle
East and in the whole world,” Pope Francis said Aug. 15 in his
Angelus message for the Assumption of Mary. The pope blessed the
rosaries made by the Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need,
and said that the Syrian families that lost someone because of the
war are close to his heart. (Courtney Grogan/CNA)

Popular movements key to social change, pope says

Popular movements can spark the change needed to ensure a
future that is no longer in the hands of elites and powerful people,
but includes the poor who have the inalienable right to a life of
dignity, Pope Francis said. Grassroots organizations representing
the poor, the underemployed, indigenous communities and
farmworkers are “a sprout that, like a mustard seed, will bear
much fruit: the springboard of a great social transformation,”
the pope wrote in the preface of a book that will be published
in September by LEV, the Vatican publishing house. “Popular
movements, and this is the first thing I would like to highlight,
represent in my opinion a great social alternative, a profound The Church of Mar Behnam and Mart Sarah in Qaraqosh, Iraq celebrates Christmas Mass Dec. 25, 2018 before the church’s renovation. AFP/GETTY IMAGES

cry, a sign of contradiction, a hope that everything can change,” QARAQOSH, Iraq—An Iraqi church Christ who is celebrated in the Qaraqosh, Jahola explained.
he said. According to Vatican News, the new book, titled, “The damaged and defaced by the Islamic Resurrection. So the Resurrection During their occupation, the
Emergence of Popular Movements: Rerum Novarum of Our Time,” State in 2014 was rededicated Aug. of Christ is the resurrection of Islamic State desecrated the
was prepared by the Pontifical Commission for Latin America and 15 for the parish’s celebration of the the community itself that goes churches in Qaraqosh, in some
will be published in Spanish. “Rerum Novarum” was Pope Leo Feast of the Assumption of Mary. on. Our community has about cases writing battle instructions on
XIII’s 1891 encyclical on worker’s rights and is considered the The Syriac Catholic Church of 800 families,” Fr. George Jahola church walls. St. George’s Syrian
foundational document for the church’s social teaching. The new Mar Behnam and Mart Sarah in the told Vatican News in an interview Catholic Church was turned into a
book explores a series of World Meetings of Popular Movements Iraqi city of Qaraqosh welcomed published Aug. 15. bomb factory and used as storage
held since 2014 and supported by Pope Francis, it reported. Archbishop Petros Mouche of Five years ago on the August for supplies of deadly chemicals
(Junno Arocho Esteves/CNS) Mosul, priests, and the local Feast of the Transfiguration, the to make powerful explosives.
Catholic community to celebrate Islamic State devastated the city of The church of the Immaculate
Mexican Cardinal Sergio Obeso Rivera dead at age 87 the solemnity. Qaraqosh in Iraq’s Nineveh Plains Conception was used as an indoor
Cardinal Sergio Obeso Rivera, retired archbishop of Xalapa, Archbishop Mouche rededicated causing Christians to flee the region. shooting range with mannequins
Mexico, who was created a cardinal by Pope Francis a little over a the church’s altar, which had been “In 2014 we left our churches as targets, according to Aid to the
year ago, died at the age of 87. According to Vatican News, Cardinal burned by the Islamic State. After and our homes. The city had about Church in Need.
Obeso died Aug. 11 in Xalapa. The pope expressed his condolences renonvations and rebuilding, the 50,000 Christian inhabitants,” Fr. The Church of Mar Behnam and
in an Aug. 12 telegram to Archbishop Hipolito Reyes Larios of interior of the church, once charred Jahola said. Mart Sarah was charred black and
Xalapa and prayed that Jesus may grant the deceased cardinal “the black by fire, has been painted white. Now the Christian population its bell tower was demolished. “But
crown of glory that never withers.” According to Vatican News, “All these people do not see in the city has been reduced to we never stopped imagining how
Cardinal Obeso was buried in the city’s cathedral after a funeral the community reborn only half of what it was. About 26,000 beautiful our church would be, once
Mass Aug. 13. His death leaves the College of Cardinals with 216 as stones, but as faith around Christians have returned to fixed,” Fr. Jahola said. (CNA)
members, 119 of whom are under the age of 80 and therefore
eligible to vote in a conclave. (Junno Arocho Esteves/CNS)
‘Unplanned’ actress establishes scholarship for pregnant women
Pope approves new statutes for Vatican bank
COLUMBUS, Ohio— pregnancy resources to for Planned Parenthood, said applicants will be
Pope Francis approved new statutes for the Institute for the
Ashley Bratcher, lead expecting mothers in who had a conversion recommended from one
Works of Religion, often referred to as the Vatican bank, that
actress in the pro-life over 2,000 locations experience after of the agency’s pregnancy
include structural changes and a mandatory external audit.
movie “Unplanned,” worldwide. witnessing the horrors of help centers, where the
The renewed statutes, which were approved by the pope “ad
has helped establish a “Not only will the abortion. Today, Johnson mothers’ needs will be
experimentum” (on a trial basis) for two years, were published
scholarship for women scholarship financially is a pro-life advocate and best addressed.
by the Vatican press office Aug. 10. In a document signed by the
pursing an education support the decision the director of And Then “[Pregnancy centers]
pope Aug. 8, the pope emphasized the changes were to reinforce
during an unexpected of mothers to continue There Were None, a provide parenting classes
the Vatican bank’s intended mission to manage assets for “the
pregnancy. their education, but it ministry that helps other and financial classes.
works of religion or charity.” Among the primary changes to the
“Women can pursue will also connect them abortion workers leave the We are able to couple
statutes is the inclusion of an external auditor which, according
their careers, live out their to an organization industry. what we do through
to the document, can be either an individual or a company that is
dreams, and have richer, that will support them Following the movie’s these pregnancy health
proposed by the institute’s supervisory board and appointed by the
more fulfilling lives while throughout their release, numerous organizations with the
Commission of Cardinals overseeing the institute’s work. (Junno
balancing motherhood. pregnancy and beyond,” women reached out woman who wants to
Arocho Esteves/CNS)
Sometimes, it just takes Bratcher added. to Bratcher to share continue her education,”
a little help,” Bratcher Jor-El Godsey, their stories of difficult she said.
Church is a mother to all, remains close to those who suffer, pope says
said in a recent press president of Heartbeat pregnancy situations. “We are really looking
Like the apostles who brought spiritual and physical healing to
release from Heartbeat International, said the Andrea Trudden, director at exactly how to partner
those in need, Christians are called to tend to the wounds of the
International. scholarship will help of communications for with our pregnancy help
suffering and the downtrodden, Pope Francis said. The church does
“I wanted to be a part expecting mothers Heartbeat International, organizations in order to
not close its eyes when confronted with the sufferings of others
of empowering mothers embrace education and told CNA that many provide the funds to the
but instead “knows how to look at humanity in the face to create
to chase their dreams life. women shared a common women.”
meaningful relationships, bridges of friendships and solidarity,”
and to provide a means “Tucked into Unplanned conflict—they needed She said the
the pope said during his weekly general audience Aug. 7. It is a
for those who choose is a vivid reminder that financial support to finish scholarship will begin
“church without borders that is a mother to all, that knows how
life to continue their education can present their education. accepting applicants
to take them by the hand and accompany them to lift up, not to
educations.” an obstacle to accepting “After the release of at the end of this year,
condemn,” he said. “Jesus always, always stretches forth his hand,
The scholarship, the new life within,” said ‘Unplanned,’ Ashley had after the organization
he always seeks to raise up to help people heal, be happy and
called the Unplanned Godsey. a lot of different questions receives enough funds.
encounter God.” (Junno Arocho Esteves/CNS)
Movie Scholarship, will “The Unplanned Movie from moms who were The scholarship is now
give $5,000 annually Scholarship will be a reaching out sharing accepting donations at
Pope urges families build a better future through stronger prayer life
for a woman facing an lifeline to a young mom’s their stories about their www.UnplannedMovie
Pope Francis has asked families to set aside time to pray both
unplanned pregnancy. It future as she makes the unplanned pregnancies,” Scholarship.com
individually and together as a family. His prayer intention for the
can go toward educational brave choice to embrace she said. Trudden said the
month of August invites people to pray that “families, through
educational opportunities motherhood.” “The education aspect opportunity will provide
their life of prayer and love, become ever more clearly schools of
including college or trade Bratcher played Abby tended to be one of the women the support they
true human development.” At the start of each month, the Pope’s
school. Johnson in the movie, hurdles.” need to pursue their
Worldwide Prayer Network releases a short video of the pope
The project is backed by “Unplanned.” The story Trudden said the education, but it also
offering his specific prayer intention at www.thepopevideo.org.
Heartbeat International, a follows the life of Johnson, scholarship’s development presents a bigger message.
“The Pope Video” was first launched in 2016 to encourage people
pro-life agency providing a former clinic director is still underway. She (CNA)
to join an estimated 50 million Catholics who already had a more
formal relationship with the prayer network—better known by its
former title, the Apostleship of Prayer. The prayer network is more
German archbishop in Auschwitz: Stand up against hubris of the politically powerful
than 170 years old. (CNS) KRAKOW, Poland— On the eve of itself above another, the German Today, St. Maximilian Kolbe is a
the 80th anniversary of the German prelate stressed, adding that the patron saint of Europe, reminding
invasion of Poland, a German most important contribution of Catholics to stand against war,
Sedition / A1 archbishop has called for a stand Christians to peace and unity among abuse of power and arrogance on
against hubris and arrogance of peoples and nations was “to profess the part of politicians, powerful
Honesto Ongtioco and Teodoro that the government and respectful those in political power. the one and only benevolent God, men and leaders who presume to
Bacani, three priests, and several officials concerned will wield justice Speaking on the occasion of a Mass the Father of all creation.” take God’s place, Schick continued.
government critics. with truth, the practice of law with in the former Nazi concentration God gives equal dignity and rights Archbishop Schick is Chairman
Facing the same allegations integrity,” Luciano said. camp in Auschwitz/Oświęcim on to all people, peoples and nations, of the Contact Group of the
include Fathers Albert Alejo, Robert On Aug. 6, hundreds of priests, Aug. 14, Archbishop Ludwig Schick and imposes the same duties of German and Polish bishops’
Reyes, and Flavie Villanueva, and nuns, and laypeople showed their of Bamberg recalled the witness charity on all, Schick said, adding conferences. He is taking part
La Salle Brother Armin Luistro. support for the accused church of the Polish martyr and saint Fr. that St. Maximilian Kolbe had in the 10th workshop of the
Villegas, David and the three leaders during a “solidarity Mass” Maximilian Kolbe. deeply committed himself to the Maximilian Kolbe Foundation, of
priests previously claimed that and candle lighting activity. “On the anniversary of the obligation of charity. which he is Chairman of the Board
they have received death threats The Association of Major Religious beginning of the Second World The Polish priest resisted the of Directors, on St. Maximilian
for criticizing the spate of killings Superiors in the Philippines said the War, Maximilian Kolbe reminds us totalitarian terror of Nazi ideology Kolbe’s Day of Remembrance at
in the country. “silent gathering” was to resist the to profess that God is the Almighty and was incarcerated in Auschwitz Oświęcim/Auschwitz. Since last
Archbishop Villegas has been spate of killings and the persecution to whom all must submit for peace concentration camp. In 1941, he Sunday, 45 participants from
serving as president of ACN of church leaders “and those who and unity in our world today,” gave his life for a fellow prisoner. twelve European countries have
Philippines since the office was speak the truth”. (CBCPNews) Archbishop Schick said. He was brutally executed after been meeting there to discuss the
opened in Manila in 2016. “No person can put themselves suffering starvation in a hunger topic “Dealing with the violent
“We continue to pray and hope above God, and no nation can put bunker. past.” (CNA)
CBCP Monitor August 19 - September 1, 2019, Vol 23, No. 17 NEWS FEATURES A3

Appeals court upholds Cardinal Negros bishop takes up

peacemaker’s mantle
Pell conviction on abuse charges
MELBOURNE, Australia—
An Australian appeals court
upheld the conviction of
Cardinal George Pell on five
counts of sexually assaulting
two choirboys more than two
decades ago.
A three-judge panel of
the Appeals Division of the
Supreme Court of Victoria
announced its decision Aug.
21 in Melbourne with the
cardinal in attendance.
“Cardinal Pell is obviously
disappointed with the
decision today,” said his
spokesperson, Katrina Lee.
“Cardinal Pell maintains his
innocence,” and his legal
team will study the panel’s
judgment before deciding
whether to appeal to the High
Court of Australia.
Vatican spokesman Matteo
Bruni said an investigation
of the cardinal by the
Congregation for the Doctrine
of the Faith would not begin
until after the entire civil
process concludes.
“As in other cases,
the Congregation for the
Doctrine of the Faith is
awaiting the outcome of the
ongoing proceedings and the
conclusion of the appellate
process prior to taking up the
case,” he said.
Nevertheless, Bruni said,
as the Vatican affirmed in
February when the cardinal’s
conviction was announced,
“the Holy Father had already
confirmed the precautionary
measures imposed on
Cardinal Pell upon his return
to Australia, that is, as is the
norm, the prohibition from
exercising public ministry
and from any voluntary
contact whatsoever with
minors.”
Possible church penalties,
including removing a cleric
from the priesthood, are
imposed only after the
doctrinal congregation
Hospital boat named ‘Pope Francis’ sets sail to serve
Cardinal George Pell is pictured during the extraordinary Synod of Bishops on the
family at the Vatican in this Oct. 16, 2014, file photo. An Australian appeals court Aug.
21, 2019, upheld the conviction of Cardinal Pell on five counts of sexually assaulting
two choirboys more than two decades ago. PAUL HARING/CNS
completes its process.
Chief Justice Anne
Ferguson had read the
appeals panel decision during
a 30-minute hearing. She
said the court was split 2-1
on the cardinal’s argument
that the conviction was
“unreasonable” given the
evidence presented at trial
to convict him beyond a
reasonable doubt.
“Justice (Chris) Maxwell
and I accepted the
prosecutor’s submission
that the complainant was
a compelling witness, was
clearly not a liar, was not a
fantasist and was a witness of
truth,” Ferguson said.
The third judge, Justice
Mark Weinberg, agreed with
Cardinal Pell’s attorneys.
The chief justice also told
the court that the three judges
unanimously agreed to throw
out the two other grounds
for appeal: that the cardinal
should have presented his not
guilty plea in person to the
trial jury in December rather
than by video and that the
cardinal’s lawyers were not
permitted to play a 19-minute
animation to the jury in their
closing statement.
Ferguson said the court
decided that Cardinal Pell
must continue to serve at
least three years and six
months of the six-and-a-half-
year sentence he received
following his conviction in
December.
“Whether he will be
released on parole will be a
decision of the adult parole
board, not the court,” she
said.
“While reiterating its
respect for the Australian
judicial system,” the Vatican
“recalls that the cardinal
has always maintained his
innocence throughout the
judicial process and that it is
his right to appeal to the High
Court,” said Bruni, director of
the Vatican press office.
“At this time, together
with the church in Australia,
the Holy See confirms its
closeness to the victims
of sexual abuse and its
commitment to pursue,
through the competent
ecclesiastical authorities,
those members of the clergy
who commit such abuse,”
Bruni said.
The surviving victim, who
cannot be named for legal
reasons, said that he never
wished to damage the church
and he had never sought
compensation.
“After attending the
funeral of my childhood
friend, the other choir
boy, I felt a responsibility
to come forward,” he said.
“Some commentators have
suggested that I reported to
the police somehow for my
own personal gain. Nothing
could be further from the
truth,” he said through his
lawyer, Vivian Waller.
Archbishop Mark Coleridge
of Brisbane, president of
the Australian bishops’
conference, said the bishops
“believe all Australians must
be equal under the law and
accept today’s judgment
accordingly.”
The archbishop also
acknowledged the pain of
survivors of abuse and the
deep differences of opinion
among Catholics about
whether Cardinal Pell was
treated fairly.
Survivor support groups
applauded the judges’
decision. “For many
survivors, a conviction being
upheld against a high-profile,
once-powerful perpetrator
underlines faith in the justice
process and the possibility
of speaking out,” said Pam
Stavropoulos, spokesperson
for the Blue Knot Foundation.
The decision from the
three-judge panel followed a
two-day hearing June 5-6 in
which Cardinal Pell, 78, and
his attorneys argued that his
December 2018 conviction
on five counts of sexually
assaulting two choirboys was
“unreasonable” given the
evidence presented.
The conviction occurred
during the second trial for
Cardinal Pell. The first trial
in September 2018 resulted
in a hung jury. (CNS)
Bishop Gerardo Alminaza of San Carlos. FILE PHOTO
BISHOP Gerardo Alminaza’s
candid social media posts
give a picture of the ups
and downs of his days as
shepherd to a besieged flock
in San Carlos Diocese on the
central Philippine island of
Negros.
The prelate, who has
just turned 60, wears a
peacekeeper’s heavy mantle.
The four million residents
of the country’s fourth-largest
island are caught in the
middle as President Rodrigo
Duterte and communist
guerrillas face off with each
other.
Duterte ignored Bishop
Alminaza’s call for a ceasefire
amid a bloodletting that
killed 21 civilians in less than
two weeks last month.
Instead, the president
threatened emergency rule
“to replicate the atrocious
acts done by communist
rebels to the civilians,”
though there remains no
clear proof of rebel attacks
against non-combatants.
Duterte also dangled a
US$100,000 “dead or alive”
reward for the killers of four
police officers ambushed on
July 18.
Bishop Alminaza meditated
on the need for patience
and poise in facing dark
days. He offered quotes
from inspirational Catholic
authors.
From the late American
bishop and theologian Fulton
J. Sheen: “Patience is not the
to workers’ struggles
fueled rebellion and built a
bastion for the communist
underground.
Duterte has vowed to bring
back those old scorched earth
tactics.
President Corazon Aquino
succeeded Marcos in 1986
after the peaceful “people
power” revolt. She brought
sugar land under agrarian
reform. But she saddled
the measure with loopholes
benefiting landowners,
including her wealthy clan.
Today, 98,000 hectares
of agricultural land remain
undistributed on Negros,
which provides 45 percent of
the country’s sugar produce.
Only 1,860 individuals
own 34 percent of more than
424,000 hectares of sugar
land. More than 53,000
workers own only 35 percent.
Many agrarian reform
beneficiaries, bereft of
government support systems,
have ceded back control of
land.
Many of the island’s
385,000 farm workers are
employed for only six to
nine months a year, often on
a piecemeal basis, in some
cases earning less than US$3
a day.
Civilian targets
Bishop Alminaza has many
reasons to pray for fortitude.
In six months from September
2018 to March 2019, three
massacres snuffed out the

rural Amazon region absence of action; rather, it is

the power of right action — it
lives of 29 men from towns in
his diocese, which spans the
waits on the right time to act, border towns of the island’s
BELEM, Brazil— A hospital boat named based on the right principles two provinces. All were sugar
the “Pope Francis” set sail this week in and executed on the right workers and small farmers.
the Amazon River to bring medical care strategies.” All were breadwinners, barely
to rural populations. From the late Italian earning enough to feed their
“Just as Jesus, who appeared walking Catholic activist Chiara families.
on water, calmed the storm and Lubich, founder of the They were either struggling
strengthened the faith of the disciples, Focolare Movement that for the right to own land
this boat will bring spiritual comfort promotes the ideals of unity they had tilled for decades
and calm to the worries of needy men and universal brotherhood: or helping others to do the
and women, abandoned to their fate,” “God allows moment of same.
Pope Francis said in a letter sent to darkness, of agitation, and In 10 days in July, 21 more
mark the ship’s launch Aug. 17 in bitterness, so that we might men were gunned down in
Belem, Brazil. know who we are and, his diocese. The targets were
“In addition to being a beautiful conscious of our misery, and now mostly from the “middle
concrete gesture in view of the Synod of of our nothingness, we might class”: a lawyer, educator
Bishops for Amazon, this river hospital throw ourselves back onto siblings, village chiefs, a
is above all a response to the Lord’s Him, with total trust only in councilor, a former mayor, a
mandate, who continues to send His Pope Francis hospital ship. VATICAN MEDIA Him.” father and his child.
disciples to proclaim the Kingdom of One more post states that a Police and military
God and to heal the sick,” the pope said, During the visit, the pope encouraged “Barco Hospital Papa Francisco” will moment of patience can ward units had tagged most as
according to Vatican News. Friar Francisco Belotti to expand his travel along the Amazon River to reach off disaster while the opposite either communists or rebel
The hospital boat is the initiative of religious order’s charitable works into people who live in communities in the may ruin lives. supporters. Several were
the Fraternity of Saint Francis of Assisi the Amazon region. Amazon only accessible by river. publicly threatened with
in the Providence of God in partnership The boat, 32 meters in length, It is staffed by 20 medical volunteers, Social volcano death by vigilante groups.
with their local diocese and the Brazilian contains an operating room and analysis 10 crew members, and a Franciscan boat A day after Duterte’s threat, Rights groups link the
government. laboratory, and is able to provide a range director for each 10-day voyage. Bishop Alminaza issued his murder spree to Duterte’s
The Brazilian Franciscans were of medical services, including X-rays, Pope Francis, who has often spoken of strongest statement yet. He Memorandum 22, signed in
inspired to create the floating vaccinations, electrocardiogram, the Church as a “field hospital,” added criticized the deployment November 2018, to “suppress
hospital when Pope Francis visited mammograms, and ultrasounds. The that the Church can also now be seen as of 300 crack policemen on lawless violence” in the
their healthcare facility during World hospital began treating its first patients a “hospital on the water.” (Courtney the island and urged the island’s two provinces.
Youth Day in Rio de Janeiro in 2013. Aug. 18. Grogan/CNA) president to “address the The practical expression
roots of armed conflict.” of Duterte’s order is
How one priest is helping children who’ve escaped slavery in the DRC mines “Martial law is neither conflating activism with
the answer to centuries-old terrorism. He has blamed
KINSHASA, Democratic including young children, are started an educational center the boy needed someone to agrarian problems nor to communists for exploiting
Republic of the Congo— Fr. often exploited. in the city. He described the listen to him. “After giving decades of armed rebellion,” land unrest by instigating a
Willy Milayi is a Missionary “The exploitation of these center as “a home where they him something to eat, he told said the bishop. farmers’ campaign to occupy
of the Immaculate Conception mines is in the hands of the can learn a trade that ensures me about his life,” Milayi said. His passionate defense of undistributed land.
who lives in the Democratic guerrillas,” explained Fr. them a future away from the The boy said that his family human rights and the dignity
Republic of the Congo. He Malayi in an interview with mines and to never return to had been kidnapped from of life echo that of the late Deadline passes
works rescuing children who the Diocese of Málaga in the streets.” their house by militiamen, bishop, Antonio Fortich of Despite these draconian
fled the coltan mines and Spain. “We can’t solve all the who took them to the forest Bacolod. measures, Duterte missed
offering them a place to live “Our cell phones are stained problems, but we thank God and told them they must In the 1970s, Bishop his mid-June 2019 deadline
and learn a trade. with the blood of the ‘walking for every one of the children choose between death and Fortich had called Negros to crush the 50-year-old
The Democratic Republic dead children’.” we can rescue. It’s a true mining coltan 13 hours a day. “a social volcano” because communist rebellion.
of the Congo is one the Malayi works with children miracle that is made possible The family chose the mines: an economy based on a He is expected to step up the
world’s top producers of who have escaped forced thanks to people of goodwill,” “They worked 650 feet below single plantation crop, sugar use of urban drug war tactics,
coltan, a rare mineral used labor in the mines. Many of Malayi said. the surface taking out 15 sacks cane, had spawned obscene with death squads providing
in the manufacture of many them are living on the streets The priest recounted one of coltan a day, for which they contrasts between the lives proxy services in provincial
electronic devices, such as cell when he finds them. Some boy he encountered in his received two dollars at the end of a handful of families and centers as two army brigades
phones. 20,000 children live on the ministry, who had escaped of the month,” Milayi said. hundreds of thousands of conduct sweeps of suspected
Working conditions in streets of Kinshasa alone. the mines and fled hundreds When riots broke out against field hands and mill workers. guerrilla zones.
the DRC’s coltan mines are The Missionaries of the of miles. the militias, they raped and The late dictator Ferdinand But he now faces a New
dangerous and the workers, Immaculate Conception have Starving and grief-stricken, Mines / A7 Marcos’ ruthless response Mantle / A7
A4 OPINION August 19 - September 1, 2019, Vol 23, No. 17 CBCP Monitor

EDITORIAL

Stifling the truth is retrogressive

OF course, the same problems plaguing the country today
are the very same hitches that Filipinos have been bearing
since decades ago. The perennial poverty, peace and order,
pervasive corruption, the secessionist groups, patronage
political culture and many more stud the litany of the
sorrowful fate that the country seems to have been condemned
into.
The perceived election manipulation aside, Filipinos have been
seemingly hoodwinked into voting candidates to the highest
office of the land believing they were the messiahs, or so they
are promised during electoral campaigns, that could transform
the Philippines into that relative greatness before the 14 years
of Martial Law plundered both its resources and dignity. The
country has been retrogressing and its citizens salivating at the
progress that has become of their Asian neighbors that, forty or
so years ago, were looking up to the Philippines.
Even more painful than the empty stomach of millions of
Filipinos is the growing problem of disinformation and the
government’s seeming intolerance of critical dissent. These
being the stuff that totalitarian governments are made of,

ILLUSTRATION BY BLADIMER USI

makes it even more worrisome. Totalitarian governments
are centered and subservient to their leaders not to their
citizens, and, therefore, progress, if ever it happens, is vertical,
not horizontal. History is replete with despots who ruled
with greed and fleeced their subjects. The first thing that
totalitarian leaders do is spread disinformation or propaganda
then stifle opposition or critical dissent.
Disputable as it may seem, but there are streaks of indicators
that the Philippines is heading to a near future that is not so
democratic. Filing charges of inciting sedition to people who
Youth respond to Living Mission
are telling the truth and critical to the present dispensation
but upholding instead liars and con artists does not augur for
Christus Vivit Fr. James H. Kroeger, MM
a better Philippines.

Parents are our first teachers IN the Diocese of Vicenza, Italy, Laphidil as we young people have strength, No one can be indifferent or stand apart,
Oppong Twumasi, the head of the youth enthusiasm, charism, but we need since each stone is needed to build the
THERE’S no denying about it. No matter how much we try, group of the Ghanaian community, experience and the knowledge of adults home” (n. 217).
we can never thank our parents enough. Through them and recently expressed her evaluation who can show us the way and help us Parishes, schools, and Church
through their love, we come into being. They are actually the of Pope Francis’ Christus Vivit. She channel our gifts.” organizations must seek to create
ones used by God to put us into existence. Thus, they are our noted her satisfaction that the Pope’s A Young Catechist’s View. As spaces where one truly feels at home,
first link to God. Seeing them is like seeing God right behind exhortation is not “merely a manual an engaged catechist-teacher, Alessio feels loved, and at the same time is
them. of doctrine and teachings,” but rather Lorrai has observed that he finds in accompanied, guided, even corrected.
They are the first ones to have authority over us in this “a guide and a set of suggestions, Pope Francis’ Christus Vivit, an honest All this is done with the desire that each
world. And they exercise that authority with such tenderness something that we may be referred to attempt to answer deep questions that person, the young in particular, will
and affection that we do not even realize that authority is when we feel a little lost. It does not youth face today. These are the same bear much fruit, rooted in the soil of the
exercised over us. We are not even aware that we are obeying have pre-packaged answers to our dilemmas faced by the rich young man Church, our home.
and following them, especially when we are still very small.
questions.” in the Gospel (Mk 10:17-27; cf. Mt 19:16- Fostering Open, Authentic
Parents should then realize that their authority is no laughing
“It is up to us as young people in the 22). There is often a struggle between Communication. Several youth
matter at all. Their authority over us is always a participation in
the authority of God as St. Paul once said. (cfr. Rom 13,1) They Church, involved in youth pastoral cultural values that emphasize having have noted that an important underlying
have to be aware that they have to exercise their authority the care, in the parishes … to get up and material possessions and the following theme that permeates much of Pope
way God would exercise it over us. And in our case, as their to get busy. We must pick up the of Jesus’ values and teachings. Francis’ Christus Vivit is the promotion
children, since our parents gave birth to us and put us to life, final document of the Synod and this How can the Church respond to real of genuine communication in society
their authority over us has a wider and deeper coverage than Apostolic Exhortation, extrapolate the challenges facing the youth today? One and in the Church. Truly, this is a
that of the other authorities we have in life. themes and issues closest to us, and of the many possible responses that never-ending challenge; a few issues
Parents have to realize that their authority over us does adapt them to our needs.” Lorrai finds in Christus Vivit is Pope and concerns, raised by the youth, are
not spring simply because of their biological relation to us. She enthusiastically continued: “This Francis’ suggestion that the Church noted here.
That’s because from that biological basis arise many other and tells me that there is a mutual need, that needs to “make a home” and “create “The digital environment is
more important aspects of their authority. It’s not limited to there must be closeness between the a family.” “A home, as we all know, characteristic of the contemporary
the physical, material, emotional. It goes to the spiritual and ‘adult’ Church and the ‘young’ Church, demands that everyone work together. Living Mission / A5
supernatural aspects of our life.
Thus, our parents as our first authority here on earth are
also our first teachers. And they teach us not only how to Bullied and helpless?
smile, speak, walk, eat properly, especially when we are still
small, but also how to think, reason out, react and behave in
And That’s The Truth
the different situations in life as we grow up. Teresa R. Tunay, OCDS
But there is one aspect of their being teacher to us that they
should be ready to carry out. And that is to teach us how to
develop our spiritual life, how to be not only truly human but also
truly Christian, a firm believer and lover of God and of everyone BEFORE the month of August the land of his birth—how Filipinos—not only for his cooked.
else. More than the schools and the churches, more than the ends, Beijing will witness the will his Chinese counterpart supporters—while PROC’s Digong: Your Excellency,
teachers and priests and nuns, who only play a subsidiary and meeting between President take it? Will he smile or master of ambiguity responds it has been months since
supporting role in the education and formation of children, Rodrigo Duterte and smirk or simply keep up that with enigmatic one-liners. Beijing promised to
it is the parents who should help their children acquire the President Xi Jinping. In the inscrutable oriental face? Digong: Your Excellency, investigate the unfortunate
spiritual and supernatural life proper to all of us. light of current developments Not only do Digong and Xi my people are getting more incident in Recto Bank when
For this reason, they have to be ready to teach their children involving Chinese nationals have contrasting personalities and more worried about one night your mighty ship
about God, Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit, the Church and the and operations in the that might hamper diplomatic China’s militarization in rammed our humble fishing
sacraments, the commandments and morality, and especially Philippines, it’s anybody’s communication—cultural our territory. They see boat and vanished in the
about prayer. They have to see to it that their children are guess how that encounter will differences can also come the structures you have dark without helping our
truly learning these things properly. play out. into play to aggravate built—and they think you drowning fishermen. May
And more than teaching by words, they have to teach by Will Digong continue to be matters. Even when trying are preparing to go to we know what has come of
their deeds and example. The guidance and accompaniment as eager as a puppy to please his best to be civil or feigning war. I cannot convince this investigation and when
they give to their children should not just be physical and Xi or will he now hiss and modesty, Digong rattles off my countrymen that we may we be officially informed
material, not even simply emotional and intellectual, though show his fangs on the issue what’s on his mind, while Xi are friends if you continue about it?
these are already a tall order. They have to provide the of China’s territorial grab in is typically more circumspect putting radars, airports, Xi (looks up at the ceiling,
appropriate moral and spiritual guidance and accompaniment the West Philippine Sea? Can in his statements. fighter jets, and submarines sighs, and says): Watch till
to their children. For sure, parents need to be given due he do that without bursting Let’s give Digong the in our waters. clouds part to see moonlight.
formation for this delicate task of theirs. So, they should be the
into expletives? And if he benefit of the doubt and Xi (after some silence, Digong (getting impatient):
first ones to realize that they have to look for that formation.
does descend into the level of imagine him truly, sincerely, strokes his chin and says Your Excellency, in the
They should not take this matter for granted.
On the part of the schools, churches, LGUs, NGOs, etc., they obscenities and profanities— and politely speaking this very slowly): The timber is interest of peace and in the
should also contribute in this concern by providing the appropriate as he almost always does in time for all concerned already a boat; the rice is And That’s The Truth / A6

programs for this purpose. There should be an active campaign to

involve as many parents as possible in these programs.
At the moment, there is truly a great need for ongoing When failures come Candidly Speaking
formation programs for parents, given the galloping
developments we have around. We are now before an Fr. Roy Cimagala
increasingly complicated challenge in the world insofar as the
formation of parents and children are concerned.

Monitor
FAILURES do happen in our lives. They We should not forget that there are What we ought to do is to go
CBCP can happen everyday, and many times many other more pleasant possibilities immediately to God and to refer things
during the day. They may not be big than getting stuck with our failures. As to him. He will be the one to reassure
failures. They are usually small ones. But one saint would put, when one door us that everything will just be fine.
they are somehow like a constant feature closes, then open another one. In life, Nothing happens without him knowing
PROTAGONIST OF TRUTH, PROMOTER OF PEACE of our life. We should not anymore be there are actually many doors that we and allowing it to happen. And if he
surprised by this fact of life, and much can open. allows it to happen, it is because there is
Pedro Quitorio less, held captive by them. If we have the proper attitude, if we a greater good that can be derived from
Editor-in-Chief We should know how to handle them. are with God, we would know that our it. In God’s math, the gains far outweigh
Not only that, we should know how life possesses an infinity of possibilities. the losses.
Nirva’ana E. Delacruz Ron Ramos, Sky Ortigas we can derive some good from them. The spiritual and supernatural character Of course, what this greater good is
Associate Editor Design Artists That’s because our failures can actually of life makes that possible, since it can escape our understanding, given our
channel great things for us. They can be transcends the limitations of the limitations. And that’s why we have to
Roy Lagarde Mercedita Juanite a blessing in disguise. material and natural dimensions of activate our faith. Otherwise, we would
News Editor Circulation Manager
In this life, we are supposed to be our life. confine ourselves to our own limited
Christine Paguirigan Marcelita Dominguez clever as serpents while remaining We always have to remember that understanding of things that can make
Managing Editor Comptroller simple as doves. (cfr. Mt 10,16) That’s God is always on top of things. Nothing us suffer unnecessarily. Of course, there
the advice Christ gave his disciples in happens outside of his providence no will always be suffering involved, but
The CBCP Monitor is published fortnightly by the
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ISSN 1908-2940. how to let go and to move on when we always be in our mind so that we do not things we do not know. And the things
suffer failures. overreact when failures come. Candidly Speaking / A5
CBCP Monitor August 19 - September 1, 2019, Vol 23, No. 17 OPINION A5

Learning from Gina L

By the Roadside Whatever
Fr. Francis Ongkingco
Fr. Eutiquio ‘Euly’ Belizar, Jr. SThD

“Sometimes it takes a person born to

affluence and privilege to teach more
“There was something in me that was
looking for something and i didn’t
faith or Christianity as “a religion” and
it “does not equate to spirituality”, that Heart map
effectively those who are in hot pursuit find it in the church...The church can is beyond sad. It is downright tragic.
of them the truth that the meaning of life be very external and ritualistic, not For Christianity, the Catholic faith itself, “ONE, two, three, four and interpret what she came up
lies elsewhere”—Yogi the Owl touching the soul. I don’t see how you though often known only as religion, five,” Sheila counted her with.”
can feel God unless you do some kind is also a spirituality. But then again steps. Then she sat down and “Oh, you mean her pirate
MANY Filipinos are in genuine mourning. of meditation, stilling the mind, feeling differences in understanding spirituality meticulously jotted it down in map?” She asked.
My own younger sister who once by peace inside” (Interview with Yvette Tan, play a role in this impasse. If spirituality a piece of paper. “So, she told you about it?”
accident met her and takes pride in Spotlight, ANC, August 19, 2019). To were seen only as a way of getting in “One, two, three, … fifteen!” “In fact, she was very
having her smiling face taken in a selfie my mind this is a reality check for those touch with the ‘spirit’ dimension of the She exhaled with apparent excited about it. Is there
with her recently expressed a palpable of us who habitually present only the human person, then the “external” and exhaustion from counting anything that she may have
sadness at a Facebook post. institutional side of the Church, perhaps “ritualistic” Catholicism most Catholics and jotting down her steps. done wrong?”
Yes, on the morning of August 19, 2019 unintentionally. It not only does not are exposed to is quite off the mark. But “One, two, three, … twenty- Sheila’s tutor only smiled
a really famous Filipino environmentalist reflect the whole mystery of Jesus Christ; if spirituality were understood as a way of three and one-half up the and handed her the map.
named Gina L passed on. Like most it also does very little in leading people following Jesus Christ and his Gospel— stairs till the door,” she froze Mrs. Daniel recognized
Filipinos, I never met her personally. to the same. Priests, bishops, catechists, as it is understood by trained people of to immediately recorded her the parchment paper that
Perhaps there was no need to. She herself pastoral workers, parents, teachers of faith—then the external and ritualistic carefully counted steps. she and Sheila had bought
had shared so much of her life’s journey, the faith better pay attention: If even aspects of “church experience” will be “Honey?” Her mother at the paper shop. Together
including her innermost thoughts, to the most privileged among us who have seen for what they are—as forming part called out from the kitchen. she helped her carefully burn
the media. Like many more Filipinos, I access to the best Catholic education feel of the nature of sacraments in the Church. “Yes, mommy!” She its edges to give it a fragile
regarded her unabashed passion for life, shortchanged in the things of the spirit, They are “visible signs” of “invisible answered. and antique appearance.
for the poor and for the environment we cannot remain unperturbed. I wonder realities” that manifest the presence of “What are you counting?” Afterwards, she left Sheila
with deep admiration. I know that I am if even our best Catholic education may Jesus Christ and effects his saving acts. The sound of random metal alone to finalize her map on
not alone. But I also realize with sadness not necessarily be imparting the true In the seminary we were taught that even clutter echoed from the the parchment.
that there are not too many Filipinos like wealth of the Catholic faith or at least if the minister of a sacrament (“ex opera kitchen. She unfolded the map.
her who live by their passions and leave aspects of Catholic life that can effectively operantis”) is unworthy, the sacrament “My steps, mommy,” she On the uppermost part was
behind an “impact” (her own word). respond to the often tumultuous spiritual itself “effects what it signifies” (“ex opere said. written: My Secret Treasure
Even now people are singing her struggles of the Church’s sons and operato”). Of course, we say, this is “When you’re done and Map. The dotted lines,
praises. Given her family’s unparalleled daughters of today. because Jesus Christ uses the sacrament if you want, maybe you can indicating the path to follow,
identification not only with wealth but The later Gina changed her view of the and its minister, acting through it by the give me a hand in preparing started at their doghouse. The
also with media, it is a forgone conclusion Church and even observed that her own power of the Spirit to bring us the fruit daddy’s favorite dessert!” starting point had a number
that there will be more in the days ahead. mother belonged to a Christian meditation of his saving work. But therein lies a “Yeees, mommy. I want to summing up the steps one
But as a priest and still a struggling group and her father to a Zen meditation problem. When a minister relies too much help prepare his dessert!” had to take to the next marker.
believer, I was struck by some aspects of community “headed by a priest and s on the inherent power of (Jesus Christ “Thanks sweety!” It was ten steps from the
Gina L’s life that to me speak of realities nun”. Still she mused: “Religion does in) the sacrament and ignores putting on “Is it okay if I finish the first doghouse to the front door.
relevant to anyone who takes the Church not really equate to spirituality, that’s Christ and living like Christ as he should, part of my map, mommy?” From the entrance was four
seriously. what I discovered. I think something consciously or unconsciously thinking “Sure! Finish what you need steps to the landing and three
First off, the earlier Gina made an inside of me was looking for something, that by ‘ex opera operantis’ he does not to do and come right down so more to the staircase. Then
admission that she did not find the so I ended up in Ananda Marga, and I need to, then he is the foremost promoter you can wash the strawberries from the bottom to the top
answer to her inner search for the ended up leaving them after a long time.” of “religion” that “does not equate to and prepare the whip cream.” were twenty-three and one-
“something more” in life in the Church. If indeed Gina thought of the Catholic By the Roadside / A7 “Coooming!” Sheila runs half steps to the door of the
down zipping into the master’s bedroom.
The truth will set us free kitchen. From the door were dotted
Duc in Altum “So, why were you counting
your steps?” She hands
lines that led to their bed and
finally the ‘X’ marking the
Atty. Aurora A. Santiago her daughter the bowl of spot! At the bottom of the
strawberries. ‘X’ was a small heart and the
“I’m making a pirate’s word TREASURE!
treasure map, mommy.” At first, she wondered if
THE clergy, religious, and bishops, priests and the laity to pray for the safety and country and all over the “A treasure map? That’s Sheila could have hidden
the laity of the Diocese of because those charges are all good health of Bishop Ambo world to pray for the bishops very interesting.” something under their bed.
Kalookan pushed through lies. The Church leaders did and all the clergy; that they and priests, for truth and “In history class I chose But then that would have been
with the Solidarity Mass at what they ought to do, to believe in the truth and justice to prevail, and for a pirate character and the easily noticed. She pondered a
San Roque Cathedral, on the follow the teachings of Jesus justice that Jesus brings; that the charges to be dismissed. map goes with the pirate,” little more and traced the little
occasion of the Solemnity Christ, because they are the Bishop Ambo is the shepherd She enumerated the many Sheila started washing the heart with her index finger.
of the Assumption of the shepherd; that every life is and his flock will continue to projects of Bishop Ambo strawberries in the sink. Then she realized what the
Blessed Virgin Mary, to important and no one has support him and the clergy. wherein the Diocese partners “Since when did you want treasure was.
support the bishops and the right to kill anyone; that The Council of the Laity of with the government. Like to become a pirate?” Her Teary-eyed, she hands the
priests, specially its shepherd the Diocese, through Bishop Kalookan (CLK) President the lay faithful, CLK is mother chuckled. map back to Sheila’s tutor.
Bishop Pablo Virgilio Ambo, was one of the first Atty. Aurora Santiago read also asking why sedition “Ever since I watch the “I believe we both
“Ambo” David, who were to appeal “Stop the Killing, the Statement of the lay charges were filed against Pirates of the Caribbean, understand what her treasure
falsely accused of sedition Start the Healing.” Drug faithful entitled “The Truth Bishop Ambo despite his mommy!” is now,” she said.
and other charges. addicts are sick, they are not Will Set Us Free”. The laity many projects that help the “And how many islands When Mrs. Daniel arrived
Fr. Jeronimo “Jerome” criminal. is concerned and worried people, his partnership with and galleons will you own?” home, she took out her
Cruz, Vicar General and The Diocesan Ministry of because the charges against the LGU’s, his advice to the “Hundreds!!!” smartphone and jotted down
Rector of the Cathedral, Youth Affairs President Kriz the bishops and priests have faithful to follow the law, *** the following considerations:
presided over the Mass. In Payumo read the “Statement no clear basis. “The Church, respect the dignity and right A few weeks later, Sheila’s 1) Come out with my own
his homily, Fr. Jerome said of Support of the Youth”. particularly Bishop Ambo, of the people and value life?” mom receives a phone call spiritual heart map for my
that the clergy, religious, He said that the accusations neither said nor encouraged Fr. Willy Samson, S.J. from her daughter’s tutor. husband and each of my
the laity from the Diocese against the bishops and the downfall of the present read the Statement of the It wasn’t yet the usual children
and other Dioceses and the priests, particularly Bishop administration, and never Association of Religious in scheduled session and she 2) Remember the steps
LGUs (Local Government Ambo, might be the means told the people to revolt. the Diocese of Kalookan wondered what important it takes to each one’s heart
Units) partners, gathered to expose the truth, to see the Only his love for the People (ARDOK) and Mission matter would be brought up. concretized in one good deed
together to pray, through the value of life, to know Jesus of God pushed him to Stations in the Diocese of “Mrs. Daniel, there is no every day
intercession of the Blessed more, and to understand express his opposition to Kalookan (MSDOK). Entitled need to be upset. I simply 3) Daily consider my heart
Virgin Mary, that truth and His teachings. The youth is the policies which do not “Commitment and Support” wanted to show you Sheila’s map to ask myself if my heart
justice will prevail in the united in giving support and value life, dignity and rights for truth, justice and peace, history project and perhaps, is truly in the treasure that is
country. love to Bishop Ambo. “We of the citizens”. The CLK they object to the filing of how you would prefer to my family
He rebuked that there is know that our shepherd is calls for a truthful, honest, false charges against the
no truth to the allegation of honest, caring, loving and fair and thorough review bishops and others. The Living Mission / A4
sedition and other charges values life”. He affirmed of the charges; it called on church leaders’ concern is to
against Bishop Ambo, other that the youth will continue the lay faithful in the Duc in Altum / A6 world…. It is no longer merely a question of ‘using’
instruments of communication, but of living in a highly

Whisper from the Desert
Fr. Amado L. Picardal, CSsR, STD
WE find ourselves living in a society
where killing and corruption have
become normal. People don’t even
consider these as sin. What is happening
can be described as the “culture of
death”—a term used by Pope John II
in his encyclical “Evangelium Vitae.” It
simply means a way of life, of behaving,
acting and thinking that does not put
value on human life—where it is easy to
kill. Madali lang ang pagpatay, sanayan
lang ang pagpatay. It is a culture that
produces and normalizes death—that
kills. It begins in the womb—abortion—
the mass murder of the unborn.
This is manifested in murder carried
out by criminals and also by the police
and death squads and by the military –
through extra-judicial killings. This is
also being carried out by armed groups
fighting the government. War is another
manifestation of the culture of death.
Death penalty or capital punishment is
part of the culture of death. Euthanasia
is another form of the culture of death.
What is not obvious is the destruction
of the environment—the logging,
mining, coal-fired power-plant. It is not
The culture of death
and social sin
just the murder committed by assassins
on the environmentalists and protesters.
It is also the effect of these that poisons
the environment and the climate change
which will lead to the destruction of
our common home that will kill us all.
Poverty can also be the breeding ground
of the culture of death because it can
kill, sometimes bloodlessly, at times
with blood. The victims of the War on
Drugs are the poor, many of users of
shabu are poor.
Corruption is also part of the
culture of death. Corrupt government
officials, policemen, military men
resort to murder to enrich themselves.
The corrupt officials enable drugs
to pass through customs, continue
the destruction of the environment,
construct substandard bridges and
buildings. All these contribute to death.
Thus, the culture of death is so pervasive.
Pope John Paul II associates the culture
of death with what he calls “veritable
structures of sin” or in other words social
sin. Sin is not just a personal act it also
has a social dimension. Sinful acts or
behavior such as killing, stealing, lying,
adultery are personal acts with social
consequences and even origin. They
may begin within the hearts and minds
of individuals—rooted in selfishness,
greed, avarice, etc. But they are also
embedded in the systems and structures
of society—political, economic, social,
cultural, etc. Economic systems such as
capitalism and neo-liberalism are based
on selfishness and greed—maximizing
profits and exploiting workers and the
environments. Authoritarian, dictatorial
political systems is based on the greed
for power and violation of human
rights. It is maintained through blind
obedience.
Corruption can also be part of the
political culture (the patronage politics).
It is called social or structural sin
because these structures induce people
to commit sin—to steal, lie, kill, etc.
An honest person can become corrupt
within a bureaucracy infected by a
culture of corruption. A pious police
officer can become a murderer when the
PNP becomes involved in extrajudicial
killings etc. Nurses and doctors may
Whisper from the Desert / A7
digitalized culture that has had a profound impact on ideas of
time and space, on our self-understanding, our understanding
of others and the world, and our ability to communicate, learn,
be informed and enter into relationship with others” (n. 86).
The youth today “confront a new challenge: that of
interacting with a real and virtual world that they enter
alone, as if setting foot on an undiscovered global continent.
Young people today are the first to have to effect this
synthesis between what is personal, what is distinctive to
their respective cultures, and what is global. This means
that they must find ways to pass from virtual contact to good
and healthy communication” (n. 90). Indeed, a perennial
question emerges: How can the Church continue to effectively
accompany the “digital youth” of today?
Candidly Speaking / A4
that we know usually are those that favor our own subjective
view of things. We cannot have a completely objective view
of everything. Only God the creator has that. We should just
trust him, just as we usually trust our elders even in things
that we do not quite understand. That’s what faith is all about.
So let’s see to it that we are not unnecessarily detained
or distracted by our failures. We have to learn how to let
go and move on. Better still, we have to assume that more
supernatural attitude of letting go and of letting God resolve
the issues that still grip us.
If we have done our part and still face a blank wall, then
let God do things for us. We know that we cannot and are
not expected to solve everything in our life. Our death, for
example, is something we can never avoid and undo. But
God takes care of it.
It would be good if everyday, as we suffer the usual failures,
we would immediately let go and move on. If one door closes,
let’s open another one. We may have better luck there. And
with it, we can make up for our failures somehow.
A6 LOCAL NEWS August 19 - September 1, 2019, Vol 23, No. 17 CBCP Monitor

Church communicators dared to fill social media with ‘good news’ Duc in Altum / A5

defend life, justice and the Bishop Ambo because all

A CATHOLIC bishop dared
those working for the
Church’s communications
ministry to fill the various
social media platforms and
the internet with “good
news.”
Speaking before a national
assembly of Philippine
Catholic media workers,
Bishop Mylo Hubert Vergara
urged media practitioners
to find ways to facilitate
“communion.”
The bishop of Pasig,
who heads the Episcopal
Commission on Social
Communications, echoed
Pope Francis’ call to use
the internet to help build
Christian communities.
“The challenge for us now is
the shift from communication
to communion,” said the
prelate during this year’s
National Catholic Media
Bishop leading migration ministry visits OFWs in Jordan, Lebanon
THE head of the bishops’ Commission
on Migrants and Itinerant People
has made a pastoral visit to Filipino
chaplaincies in the Middle East.
Bishop Ruperto Santos of Balanga
went to Jordan on Aug. 7 and met with
Filipino workers in Jordan, his first
destination.
Accompanied by Scalabrinian Fr.
Restituto Ogsimer, his secretary in the
ministry, they stayed in the majority
Muslim country until Aug. 13.
“We desire to let them feel that our
Church is with them, walking with
them and working for their welfare and
Journalists / A1
through networking and
updating.
On Aug. 14 to 16, Catholic
editors and journalists gathered
in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia to
work toward the promotion of
regional collaboration and regular
training in Catholic journalism.
In a post-meeting statement,
the journalists did not provide
a solution to fake news but said
that they can do something about
the misguided reporting about
the church and their societies.
“We abhor sensationalism
and fake news and we resolve
to abide by the Gospel
values of truth, honesty and
transparency in our ministry,”
part of the statement read.
“We shall strive to stand for
and with the Church to uphold
hear greater good, especially in
promoting justice and services
to the poor,” it stated.
Congress. common good. The Church those accusations are lies.
Bishop Vergara said what is supports the government in They know it for they are
important is that the spread finding solutions to illegal the shepherd’s flock. Jesus,
the Gospel “will not just stay drug problem. The Church the ultimate Good Shepherd,
in the social media but will wants to help the innocent attests to it for His Person is
also touch the hearts of the people who were drawn to embodied in the shepherd.
people for them to experience illegal drug, not cause the He enjoins everyone in the
God’s love.” downfall of the government. parishes to do what is right
He said that building It is a big mistake to file and to pray for one another
a community of social sedition and other charges especially for Bishop Ambo.
communicators is needed against the Bishop and Bishop Ambo on his
amid the “persecution” being Bishop Marcelino Antonio Maralit Jr. (left) receives the standarte from Bishop Mylo others. The association part thanked everyone for
experienced by Catholics in Hubert Vergara during the turnover of the leadership of the CBCP Episcopal Commission
on Social Communications at the end of the 5th National Catholic Media Convention give their whole-hearted their support. He said that
the country. in the province of Batangas Aug. 9. PHOTO FROM NCMC prayer and support to the the statements of support
“It is at this time that we bishops. They appeal to the gradually wipe out all
cannot work alone, that is, that the Church will be able country joined this year’s government to dismiss the the worries in his heart.
to each his own. We need to adapt to developments in gathering that was held in the case of sedition and other He stated that no person
to work together given our technology. province of Batangas, north charges. is inherently bad and no
identity and mission as one “We already have a network of Manila. Fr. Gaudioso “Gau” person has the right to end
body of Christ, one Church,” of good news. It means that The four-day meeting Sustento, the Chancellor the life of another, even
he said. we too have to organize to was organized by the of the Diocese, read the if that person is on illegal
Bishop Marcelino provide ‘faith news’ not Catholic bishops’ social Statement of Support of drugs, because that person
Antonio Maralit Jr., ‘fake news’,” the prelate told communications commission the Clergy. In 2016, at the is sick and he needs help,
incoming head of the participants of the gathering. to strengthen collaboration height of the government’s care and rehabilitation. He
social communications More than 180 participants among Catholic media campaign against illegal drug, said that the Diocese opened
commission, expressed hope from dioceses across the organizations. (UCAN) the Diocese of Kalookan, the parishes to surrenderers,
under the leadership of plea bargainers, children in
Bishop Ambo, started the conflict with the law for the
community-based drug Salubong program. “This is
wellbeing,” Santos said. partnership and collaboration for the rehabilitation through its what our religion wants us
The Filipino chaplaincy in Amman promotion and protection of our OFWs,” Salubong Program. The to do, as disciples of Christ.
was established in 2016 with Fr. Gerald he said. LGU of Caloocan, Malabon Individuals got involved in
Metal of the Antipolo diocese as its first From Amman, Bishop Santos travelled and Navotas work with the illegal drugs due to poverty,
Filipino chaplain. to Lebanon where there are approximately Diocese in this project. lack of hope, no education,
About 26,000 to 28,000 Filipinos are 30,000 Filipinos, most of whom are The Statement said “Bishop abuse, mental health issues.”
living and working in Jordan, according women working as domestic helpers. Ambo is our shepherd. He is Bishop Ambo mentioned
to the Philippine embassy in Amman. The prelate also held Masses and meet the voice of those whose what St. Ignatius of Loyola
Christians in the country are a very with OFWs and Philippine embassy cries are muted and silenced said, the competition
small minority with only about two officials in Beirut, where he stayed until by the guns of violence. He between two flags: the
percent of the overall population. Aug. 20. is the voice of the widows flag of Christ and the flag
Bishop Santos also met with officials Although Islam has a strong presence and the orphans who are left of Satan. “Together with
of the Latin Patriarchate of Jordan and in Lebanon, a country of about 5 million, behind by the victims of the Mother Mary, we will not
the Philippine embassy in the area. Christians are free to practice their faith. war on drugs. Never has our surrender the spiritual
“We would like to express our (CBCPNews) shepherd’s voice spoken to battle for the flag of Christ,
bring down any government even if the dragon runs
Killings / A1 or to destroy any duly elected after us. There are many
official by the people. Our sacrifices in following the
Convened by the Asian chapter ambush of four cops by the can act to stop the carnage”.
shepherd, respects the mission of Christ but we
of SIGNIS, a Vatican-recognized communist rebels. Joined by Benedictine
choices that people make. should stand firm and we
lay organization of Catholic On March 30, at least 14 nun Mary John Mananzan
He only has the welfare of should not worry because
communicators, the meeting suspected rebels were killed and former senator Rene
the people in his mind and Christ, our Lord and our
reflected on the theme “Peace in a supposed clash with Saguisag, the campaign
heart, the flock that the Good Savior, is always with us.
Journalism in a Viral Culture”. security forces, police said, urged Filipinos to be
Shepherd Jesus entrusted to Maraming salamat po sa
At least 18 journalists attended but human rights activists steadfast in upholding
him.” The clergy condemns inyong pakikiisa.” (Thank
the gathering coming from the said those who died were human rights and dignity.
any accusation of sedition you very much for your
Philippines, Bangladesh, India, farmers. They also warned
and other charges against support).
Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Korea, “A bloodbath is now President Duterte against
Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, happening in Negros. This inciting the state forces to Mourns / A1
Thailand, and Vietnam. cannot go on. The killings retaliate against alleged
Speakers include SIGNIS must stop,” Pabillo said. rebel atrocities, saying truly matters,” said Fr. Edwin comply with environmental
World President Helen Human rights groups that this could lead “to Gariguez, Caritas’ executive safety standards.
Osman and Dr. Peter Rachada have reported at least even more indiscriminate secretary. The Global Catholic
Monthienvichienchai, 87 killings of unarmed killings and exacerbate the She lived her life to the Climate Movement (GCCM)
Executive Director of the civilians in Negros since the spiral of killings”. full, happily and with love. – Philippines also lauded
Union of Catholic Asia News. government intensified its “We likewise call on all With her, we celebrate life Lopez for her “passionate
Fr. Pakkam Michael Harris anti-insurgency campaign Filipinos to help stop the meaningfully,” he said. commitment to care for our
of the Vatican Dicastery for in 2017. bloodbath in Negros,” The Commission on common home”.
Communication, and Fr. Paul The prelate is also leading they said. “Together, let us Appointments in 2017 “You will always be
Samasumo of the Vatican Radio a signature drive to stop the achieve peace and justice rejected the appointment as remembered by the Filipino
also updated the participants on killings on Negros Island through dialogue and the environment chief of Lopez, people with love and
the reforms and operations of the “which we will send to all highest respect for human who led a crackdown on gratitude,” the GCCM said.
Vatican media. (CBCPNews) parties and individuals who life.” (CBCPNews) mining firms that didn’t (CBCPNews)

And That’s The Truth / A4

spirit of sharing the bounty in our
seas, the Philippines is pleased
to give you permission to fish in
our territory, even though your
son-of-a-horse patrol boats always
terrorize away our fishermen who
for centuries have depended on our
waters to earn a living. Even the
UNCLOS is on our side!
Xi (solemnly utters): If you are
smartest person in room, then you
are in wrong room.
Digong (regaining his composure):
Your Excellency, a few days ago,
news spread about a swarm of 140
Chinese ships surrounding Pag-asa
Island from February this year until
July, and Chinese warships recently
passing through Sibutu Straits
without seeking prior clearance
from us as other countries do, even
the United States. To make it worse,
your warships turned off their
automatic identification system,
making it impossible to track them.
My Defense Secretary asks, “Why
the secrecy?” My Chief Legal
Counsel says, “We are friends, so
there should be no secrets between
friends.”
Xi (nodding his head, says):
When a mute eats dumplings, he
knows how many he has eaten.
Digong: Your Excellency, my
people are alarmed that Philippine
Offshore Gaming Operators facilities
are located near military bases.
These gambling hubs are run by the
Chinese, employ Chinese workers,
and are patronized by Chinese
tourists. The Filipino people are
wondering why these facilities are
very close to military bases. Tell me
this a mere coincidence.
Xi (shaking his head): Man with
one chopstick go hungry.
Digong: Not only that, Your
Excellency. Last July 23, two
groups of Chinese tourists were
caught taking photos inside our
naval facility at Parola in Palawan,
Puerto Princesa, where a new naval
ship was berthed. Any idiot knows
that military facilities are off limits
to tourists. So my people are saying
that they are sure the Chinese
tourists were not roaming around
there hoping to take selfies with
American sailors. What can you
say about that?
Xi: Time flies like an arrow. Fruit
flies like bananas.
Digong: Your Excellency, the
whole world respects the Filipino
worker. You and I have closed
so many deals in support of our
Build, Build, Build program. But
now my people are sad that you are
importing Chinese construction
workers for these projects, taking
away job opportunities from them.
It is reported that we already
have 400,000 Chinese nationals
working in our country without
Alien Employment Permits. What’s
the matter with you? Don’t our
Chinese partners trust the expertise
of the Filipinos?
Xi (yawns and then says):
Dragons soaring, tigers leaping.
Digong (grinning like an
ambassador): Thank you, Your
Excellency! This visit has been
very fruitful! (And then mutters:
Sampalin kita diyan, pisting yawa!
Pa-bugtong-bugtong ka pa, barilin
na lang kita, ipalaman kita sa
siopao! Uwi na ko! Let’s go, Bong
Go!)
We dread to see the meeting end
up in a stalemate. We can no longer
play blind to the writing on the wall.
One need not be an economist, a
political strategist, or a military
expert to see how Beijing is slyly
tightening the noose around our
collective neck while persuading
our decision makers to accept China
as our economic savior. We only
need common sense and a nose
for danger in order to connect the
dots—it’s really but child’s play for
the intuitive.
It was bad enough that the
Duterte government did not uphold
the UNCLOS ruling that scored
a victory for the Philippines and
invalidated China’s sweeping claim
to ownership of practically the
entire South China Sea. In spite of
that, Digong began playing footsies
with Xi Jinping while calling Barack
Obama a son-of-a-bitch; this is like
having your house burgled while
you’re asleep, and then inviting the
burglar to stay over for breakfast,
assuring him we don’t keep guard
dogs.
We further invited the burglar
to lunch, quite literally, when we
signed the 29 deals with China
during Xi’s visit to the Philippines
in November 2018. Then again we
laid out the red carpet and invited
the burglar to dinner, when Digong
signed 19 agreements with Chinese
businesses during the Belt and Road
forum in Beijing last April.
Malacañang said on April 26
that these 19 agreements—a chop
suey package of memoranda of
understanding, memoranda of
agreement, purchase agreements,
and one contract agreement—
could bring $12,165 billion (634
trillion pesos) worth of investments
to the Philippines and provide
employment to 21,000 Filipinos.
Isn’t that a rather reckless gamble—
welcoming investments worth 634
trillion pesos when the country’s
entire budget for 2019 is but 3.7
trillion? Are we already dying of
hunger that we would eat anything
that looks like food without first
scrutinizing its contents? Or are
our businessmen salivating over
the projected profits to accrue over
time?
Economics, development,
progress—they are not just about
money, but also about choices and
alternatives, and remembering (in
this case) that we are a sovereign
nation whose God is above and
beyond money. We must learn to
look carefully beneath the glossy
surface of these business deals, and
teach our children—particularly
the millennials and Gen Zers—
to be as discerning, for if they
do not understand things now,
insurmountable problems will fall
on their laps 25 years hence if our
government fails to pay up the
loans. Problems that compromise
our sovereignty and rob our people
of dignity.
China is aiming not only at
regional supremacy in our part
of the world, but also towards
global domination. They have
schemes that have trapped at least
eight partner-nations in debts
that were offered as honey-coated
collaboration projects with their
land and natural resources as de
facto collaterals. These victim
nations’ mistakes can help us avoid
disaster. If China’s ambitions
include plans to set up a permanent
station in outer space by 2020, it is
foolish to doubt that their net traps
are already set in our very territory.
In Beijing’s eyes, the colonization
of the Philippines is a piece of cake.
Time and again, our president has
admitted that we are no match
against China’s military might,
justifying his fawning way of dealing
with his friend Xi. But as Senator
Richard Gordon reminded, “We
should not let the president’s
personal friendship dictate foreign
policy.” The deals and agreements
with China show who is dictating
the terms. Millennials, Gen Zers,
wake up!
Beijing does not see Filipinos
as equals; China does not help us
because it admires us—China wants
us because it can use us cheap.
One item in the 19 agreements
signed last April is a Memorandum
of Agreement to “establish a
strategic partnership to train and
to introduce Filipino Domestic
Helpers to China”. Among other
agreements on huge infrastructure
and telecommunications projects,
why “train” our most precious
resources to become servants in
their land? So their citizens can
be free to pursue a capitalistic
lifestyle while our college graduates
scrub their toilets? Why not train
out talented young people in their
aerospace program, for instance?
Or let our linguists train their
professionals to teach English to the
Chinese? Don’t they see we have
geniuses in our midst?
We are a country of 108,315,639
Filipinos, all talented and blessed
in our own right, and all with the
potential to lift this world up from
festering mediocrity. Jeremiah
1:45. 17-19 ought to give us hope as a
nation: “As for you, prepare yourself
for action… Have no fear of them
and in their presence I will make
you fearless… They will fight against
you but will not overcome you, for
I am with you, Yahweh declares, to
rescue you.”
We were not born to be bullied
and helpless. Let nobody think our
destiny is to be used as doormats,
but after we pray we must act. We
are not Juan Tamad waiting for the
guava fruit to fall into his gaping
mouth. We believe in God; this
God is within us, and we do His
will. We shall overcome. And that’s
the truth.
CBCP Monitor August 19 - September 1, 2019, Vol 23, No. 17 DIOCESAN NEWS A7

Mindanao religious leaders adopt Priest dies at ordination of youngest

pope’s Abu Dhabi document
DAVAO City— Religious
leaders in the southern
Philippine region of Mindanao
adopted a document last
week, endorsed by Pope
Francis early this year, to
foster mutual understanding
among different faiths.
Archbishop Romulo
Valles of Davao, president
of the Catholic bishops’
conference, said he would
recommend the country’s
Catholic prelates adopt
the document as a “code of
conduct.”
Pope Francis and Ahmad
Al-Tayyeb, the grand
imam of Al Azhar, issued
the “Document on Human
Fraternity for World Peace
and Living Together” during
the pontiff’s visit to Abu
Dhabi.
A gathering of Christian
and Muslim leaders was held
in Davao City last week in the
wake of recent bomb attacks
in Sulu and Zamboanga
provinces.
Jesuit priest Joel Tabora,
president of Ateneo de Davao
University, described the
document as “remarkable”
because it is the product of
dialogue.
The priest noted the long-
standing “history of conflict,
violence and war” between
Muslims and Christians
despite the fact that “both
believe in one God of
Compassion.”
“Dialogue promotes
Religious leaders in Mindanao hold a conference on ‘Walking and Working Together for Reconciliation and Unity’ at the Ateneo de
Davao University on Aug. 14. PHOTO COURTESY OF OPAPP
of armed conflict and the
spread of violent extremism”
in the region.
“We will use this document
as a basis for our agency’s
interventions,” said the
former military general.
The Mindanao meeting,
which carried the theme
“Working and Walking
Together for Healing and
Reconciliation,” aimed to
gather suggestions on how
to address peace and security
concerns.
Professor Moner Bajunaid,
secretary-general of the
National Ulama Conference
of the Philippines, said
religious diversity in the
Philippines should be a basis
for dialogue.
two religions. We should be
careful not to touch on each
other’s sensibilities,” he said.
Father Tabora, meanwhile,
noted the timeliness of
the document’s release in
relation to the ratification
of a peace deal between the
Philippine government and
Moro rebels in Mindanao.
“The ratification [of the
peace agreement] was
a historic ‘yes’ to peace
in Mindanao and in the
Philippines between
Muslims and Christians
who had been at enmity with
each other for centuries,”
said the priest.
After four decades of war,
the government and the rebel
Moro Islamic Liberation
paves the way for the creation
of a new Muslim autonomous
region.
The new Muslim region is
envisioned to have broader
autonomy, more powers
and resources, and larger
territory than its predecessor.
“An arduous peace
process determined that
the historical injustice
committed against the
Bangsamoro could be
righted,” said Father Tabora.
The priest highlighted the
major declarations made
by Pope Francis and Al-
Tayyeb in the document that
included “the adoption of
a culture of dialogue is the
path, mutual cooperation
is the code of conduct, and
Filipino bishop
IPIL, Zamboanga Sibugay—
A CATHOLIC priest died
due to heart attack while he
you have left and to meet our
Creator,” the diocese posted
on its Facebook page.
was to attend the episcopal In his message after his
ordination on Aug. 20 of ordination, Bishop Rapadas
Bishop Jose Rapadas of admitted that his “feeling
Iligan in Mindanao. of joy and exaltation” was
Dozens of Iligan clergy “tempered by sorrows” with
went to Ipil in Zamboanga the demise of Fr. Trazo.
Sibugay for the ordination At one part of his speech,
of their new bishop, among he also called for a moment
them was Fr. Albert Trazo. of silence to pray for Fr. Trazo
Minutes before the “who served the Lord and his
ceremony begun at the St. people as pastor”.
Joseph the Worker Cathedral, “May the Lord in His
the 60-year-old priest was mercy also reward him,”
rushed to a hospital. said Rapadas, who is also the
The Iligan diocese said that country’s youngest bishop
by 9:24 a.m., he passed away at 47.
due to “acute myocardial Bishop Rapadas will be
infarction”. installed as the new bishop
“Amidst our joy and of Iligan at the St. Michael
thanksgiving for the gift of Cathedral on Sept. 5.
God in the person of Bp Joey, (CBCPNews)
Diocese grants episcopal coronation
decree for Marikina’s Our Lady of Fatima
MARIKINA City— After
almost nine years, a decree
recognizing the episcopal
coronation of the image of
Our Lady of Fatima at a
parish in Marikina City was
released recently.
The Diocese of Antipolo
granted the decree to the
St. Paul of the Cross Parish
(SPCP) during a Mass
attended by hundreds of
people on Sunday, Aug. 18.
The event also coincided
with the visit of the National
A woman prays before an image of Our
Pilgrim Image of Our Lady Lady of Fatima at the St. Paul of the Cross
of Fatima from its national Parish in Marikina City.  COURTESY OF SPCP
shrine in Valenzuela City. SOCCOM MINISTRY

a culture of tolerance and “This work of attaining Front eventually hammered reciprocal understanding is The image was episcopally
reduces economic, social, peace through dialogue out a comprehensive peace the method and standard.” crowned on Oct. 17, 2010, welcoming of the national
political, and environmental should be a continuous agreement in 2014. The document also calls during the administration pilgrim image of Our Lady
problems,” said Father Tabora. endeavor,” he said, adding Residents of predominantly for the protection of places of Bishop Emeritus Gabriel of Fatima.
Carlito Galvez Jr., the that, “there is a need to Muslim regions in Mindanao of worship—synagogues, Reyes. The decree states that “the
government’s peace adviser, make this more dynamic.” ratified the deal with the churches and mosques— However, the issuance of strong and lively devotion
said the document “would “We should bear in mind passage of the Bangsamoro during times of conflict. the decree was delayed due of the parishioners has led
help prevent the recurrence that we do not only have Organic Law in January that (UCAN) to the period being between them to the celebration of the
Bishop Reyes’ retirement and Episcopal Coronation under
Mantle / A3 Bishop Francisco De Leon’s the title ‘Our Lady of Fatima.’”
succession in Antipolo. “It further reminds the
People’s Army (NPA) that has expanded from the ranks of the middle forces” — violence with violence.
Last July 26, the parish faithful how such a grant is
enough to put up rural shadow a phrase used to describe professionals “Our people have suffered more than
has petitioned the diocese “aimed to deepen and renew
governments. and small business owners. enough. Let us stop the cycle of violence
to grant the decree of the their faith in the Triune God,
Duterte, who used to taunt guerrillas The rebel group said local guerrillas, by going back to the negotiating table and
episcopal coronation of strengthen their love for God
about not being able to hold a single slice of a village defense unit and a people’s pursue a just and lasting peace,” he said.
the image of their second and neighbor, especially the
Philippine territory, now says the left has militia stood guardOn the day rebels “Yes, we understand the animosities and
patroness. poor and the neglected in
formed “quasi governments” in the Negros released the statement, the last series anger between state forces and rebels. Both
On Aug. 5, Bishop De society,” the decree reads.
countryside. of attacks on civilians started with the sides are burning with rage and desire for
Leon approved the petition, The National Pilgrim
An NPA statement released on July 23 ambush of lawyer Anthony Trinidad. revenge.”
recognizing the act of his Committee of Our Lady
could explain the reason for Duterte’s Following Duterte’s threat, the NPA He warned that a “militarist approach
predecessor. of Fatima expressed its
ire. It hailed the completion on July pledged to fight for civilians and step up of governance, or pessimism to the
SPCP parish priest Fr. felicitation for the parish as
21 of an island conference of some attacks against the military, police and death attainment of peace” would only worsen
Peter Julian Eymard Balatbat the Fatima image of Marikina
200 leaders of underground mass squads, suspected to be former rebels. conflict and add to the burdens of
said that the devotion to Our joins three more icons of
organizations from the peasants, the Bishop Alminaza warned the rebels the poor. (Inday Espina-Varona/
Lady of Fatima in the parish Our Lady of Fatima in the
youth, women “and support groups and other groups against countering UCAN)
has been prominent since the Philippines that have been
Whisper from the Desert / A5 image’s arrival. granted such a coronation.
The decree was read to These are Our Lady of Fatima
become complicit in murder of the and violence, etc. We should act as also means promoting consistent the faithful by Fr. Alejandro of Las Piñas City (2007), Our
unborn in a country where abortion is conscience of society. We also should ethic of life. We are called to be pro- Pestaño, the diocesan Lady of Fatima of Binakayan,
legalized. call people to conversion. life. This means fighting against all chancellor. Cavite (2009) and Our Lady
When sin becomes embedded in the We should also proclaim the Gospel form and manifestation of the culture Also present during of Fatima of Valenzuela
political, economic, social, cultural of Life. According to Pope John Paul II of death: abortion, drug addiction, the ceremony was Bishop City (2017). (Kendrick
systems and structures, it leads to in Evangelium Vitae—this is part of our EJK, war, violence, death penalty, Nolly Buco, the auxiliary of Ivan Panganiban/
suffering and death. It is a system prophetic role—of evangelization. We corruption, environmental destruction. Antipolo, who also led in CBCPNews)
where sin and evil rules, where there need to proclaim that life is sacred. Life Our advocacy should be holistic and
is darkness. It produces a society and is sacred because God our Creator is the broad: defense of human rights and Mines / A3
environment that is lacking in mercy and source of life. All of us were made in the rule of law, Respect for life—the right
compassion. image and likeness of God. This is the to life, poverty alleviation (instead of killed the boy’s mother and step,” he said.
It is a system when ordinary people source of human dignity and equality. population control), peace (instead of two teenage sisters. They also Malayi called on Christians
lose their sense of right and wrong, when This is the source and foundation war and armed struggle), defense of killed his father. to “defend the dignity of the
they lose their conscience. of our human rights. The basic and the environment and good governance. “He managed to escape. But person, the image of God” and
What can we do amidst the culture fundamental of all rights is the right to As Christians, we are called upon to he told me amid tears: ‘I’m not recognize the value of each
of death and the sinful structures and life. This is a right guaranteed to all—no struggle against sin that is within each afraid of death, I’m a corpse person as a brother or sister.
systems in society? As Christians, we matter how sinful (including addicts and one of us—in our hearts and minds. But and a corpse does not fear “In our world this concept
are called to exercise a prophetic role. convicted criminals). Life is sacred— we also need to struggle against sin and death’,” the priest said. has been lost, and we have
This requires denouncing the culture from the moment of conception to its evil in our midst—in society and the At the educational center, put material things ahead
of death and social sin. and announcing natural end. This is reinforced by God’s policies, structures and systems that the Missionaries of the of people,” he said. “What is
and proclaiming the Gospel of life. commandment: “Thou shalt not kill.” are sinful and that breed sin. This is Immaculate Conception teach killing us today is indifference.
We cannot remain silent amidst the Jesus also proclaimed “I came that they a task that is not just exclusive to the the children “to take care of We don’t want to know
culture of death and the sinful structures may have life and have it abundantly.” clergy and religious. Lay people are each other,” Malayi said. anything about other people’s
and systems that prevail in our society. Pope John Paul II reminds us called to actively participate in this “We have heard more than problems, and we just talk
We must denounce the manifestation of to promote a culture of life amidst mission. This is not just for adults but one of them say: ‘Father Willy about our own. What is more
these: Whether human rights violation, the culture of death. This means also for young people—as task that taught us that when we are worrisome than material
EJK, corruption, ecological destruction, promoting a culture that values life, they should become more aware of older we’ll have to help.’ I poverty is spiritual poverty.”
abortion, capital punishment, war compassion, mercy and peace. This especially during this Year of the Youth. think this is a very important (CNA)
By the Roadside / A5 Incident / A1
spirituality”. Naturally, he and even close collaboration always exhibited a readiness propel her service to the poor happened “to be at the wrong Michael the Archangel Parish
will not be alone. The so- with some priests and bishops to make war with any form of and the country as a whole. place at the wrong time”. in Calamba cheated death
called “faithful” who are such in her advocacies were a abuse against it; preferential Maybe I should paraphrase “Let us pray that the when gunmen fired shots at
because they habitually take criterion for judgment, one love for the poor, children Brutus here: I have not written suspects will be arrested and his car while on his way to a
part—mostly, if not only—in could say that she must have. and the marginalized, for this piece to praise Gina L but that justice will be served meeting.
the external aspects of religion And fortunately her return to she showed compassion for to see what we in Church could for the victims,” Famadico The priest, a former police
are his accessories. They may the Philippines after years as the least in society that was hear and learn from her and said over Radio Veritas on chaplain, suffered wounds
verbally call on and proclaim an Ananda Marga missionary translated into efforts to uplift her kind. Aug. 20. to his left upper back and
Jesus Christ, but they do not in Africa and even in India them economically, socially, In the final analysis, Gina He said that Fr. Larano left arm.
impart Jesus Christ. They have led her back to the embrace culturally and politically; truth, L has reaffirmed for me what remains in a stable condition Local authorities are yet to
a religion, but it is devoid of of core Catholic values: social for she did not hesitate to point many believers have realized while undergoing treatment make arrests in the attack.
spirituality. justice, for she tirelessly out to people with enormous in other epochs: That the at a hospital in the city. At least three priests
I do not know if Gina L worked that the wealth of wealth and power realities of journey of faith is sometimes In June 2018, a priest of were killed in the country
found the essential meaning the country be also shared abuse and corruption; love, for like our journey home; it may the San Pablo diocese was in the span of six months
of, or made peace with, by the majority; integrity of she reveled in her experience find itself taking circuitous hurt in a shooting attack in last year, and none of the
the institutional side of the creation, for she epitomized and rediscovery of God’s love routes, but will ultimately Calamba City. cases has been solved.
Church. If her mainly friendly love for God’s creation that she in her life and allowed it to reach its destination. Fr. Rey Urmeneta of the St. (CBCPNews)
A8 PEOPLE, FACTS, AND PLACES August 19 - September 1, 2019, Vol 23, No. 17 CBCP Monitor

Church ordains new bishop for Novaliches

MORE than a thousand
people gathered in Manila
on Aug. 22 to celebrate the
ordination of a new bishop of
the Catholic Church.
Churchgoers at the Manila
Cathedral applauded when
Roberto Gaa prostrated
himself in front of the altar
and was anointed as the new
bishop of Novaliches.
At 57, he is also one of the
eight Filipinos appointed by
Pope Francis as bishops this
year.
Cardinal Luis Antonio
Tagle said the archdiocese
is grateful to receive the
“beautiful gift” in Bishop Gaa
“who is now asked to share
that gift to others”.
“And we hope that your
ordination as a bishop on
the queenship of Mary would
constantly remind you that
the royal people must be
led in faith,” Cardinal Tagle
enjoined him.
“That’s your personal
mission and mission as a
bishop,” he said.
The ordination marked
a milestone for Cardinal
Tagle as he presided his first
episcopal consecration since
he took the post as Manila
archbishop in 2011.
Before his appointment,
the bishop had been serving
as rector of the Manila
archdiocese-run Holy Apostle
Senior Seminary (HASS) in
Makati City.
He is also the second
bishop who graduated from
HASS after Bishop Mylo
Hubert Vergara of Pasig.
The new prelate admitted
he feels “so inadequate”
because he served most of
his priestly ministry as a
seminary formator.
“There are so many
challenges ahead, but with
your prayers [and] God’s
guidance, everything will fall
into place,” Bishop Gaa said.
A number of top church
officials attended the
ceremony including Cardinal
Gaudencio Rosales and
Archbishop Gabriele Caccia,
the Apostolic Nuncio to the
Philippines.
Archbishop Romulo Valles,
president of the Catholic
Bishops’ Conference of the
Philippines, was also among
the 40 prelates in attendance.
The new bishop was
installed as the third head
of Novaliches diocese at
the Cathedral Shrine and
Parish of the Good Shepherd
Aug. 24. (Roy Lagarde/ Bishop Roberto Gaa reacts to applause from the congregation and his fellow bishops as he takes his place among them after the ordination rite at the Manila Cathedral Aug.
CBCPNews) 22. ROY LAGARDE

Malolos diocese welcomes new bishop New prelate for Iligan ordained

Bishop Jose Rapadas (center) is welcomed into the College of Bishops by other prelates during his
episcopal ordination Aug. 20. PHOTO FROM THE DIOCESE OF ILIGAN

A 47-YEAR-OLD man of the cloth that I may be a joyful and humble

Bishop Dennis Villarojo greets the faithful after his installation as the fifth bishop of Malolos Aug. 21. ROY LAGARDE
A HUGE crowd filled the church on
Aug. 21 and burst into applause as
they welcomed the new bishop of
the Diocese of Malolos.
Bishop Dennis Villarojo was
installed as the diocese’s pastoral
leader during a Mass at the Malolos
Cathedral, also known as the Minor
Basilica of Our Lady of Immaculate
Conception.
The fifth bishop of Malolos, he’ll
now serve as head of the diocese,
home to nearly 4 million Catholics
in the entire Bulacan province and
the nearby city of Valenzuela.
Villarojo, 52, has served as
auxiliary bishop of Cebu since 2015.
During his installation on Aug. 21,
he was recognized as one who can
provide a renewed sense of hope
and faith for the local church.
“The mission of the Church is
to wipe away the blood, tears, and
sweat of those who are heavily
laden,” Villarojo said.
The first 20 minutes of the
Mass was dedicated to Villarojo’s
installation officiated by Cardinal
Luis Antonio Tagle of Manila and
Archbishop Gabriele Caccia, the
Apostolic Nuncio to the Philippines.
A mitre was placed on his head,
a shepherd’s staff was handed to
him and then he sat in the cathedra,
signifying his possession of the
ecclesiastical jurisdiction of Malolos.
He was then greeted by members
of the diocesan clergy and lay faithful
who represented various parts of
the diocese. Some government
leaders also came up to greet him.
Also present were 50 bishops and
around 200 priests, mostly Cebu
and Malolos.
Upon his arrival in Malolos on
Aug. 19, Villarojo visited some
ministries that attend to the
church’s works of mercy – such as
houses of charity and a correctional
facility.
The diocese has been without a
bishop since Bishop Jose Oliveros
died in May 2018. For more than
a year, the ecclesiastical territory
was overseen by Bishop Honesto
Ongtioco of Cubao as apostolic
administrator.
Many of the bishops present
during the installation also came
all the way from Ipil, Zamboanga
Sibugay for the episcopal ordination
of Bishop Jose Rapadas of Iligan on
Aug. 20.
Bishop Rapadas is the first priest
from the country’s youngest diocese
to be raised to the episcopacy. He
will be installed as the new bishop
of Iligan in Lanao del Norte on
Sept. 5. (CBCPNews)
has become the first priest to be
ordained bishop in Ipil diocese in
southern Philippines.
Bishop Jose Rapadas was raised
to the episcopacy in a ceremony at
the town’s St. Joseph the Worker
Cathedral on Aug. 20.
Ipil is the youngest Catholic
diocese in the country with around
half-a-million Catholics.
It was the first episcopal
ordination in Ipil since 2010 when
it was erected into a diocese.
Hundreds attended the
ceremony, among them 24 prelates
including Archbishop Gabriele
Caccia, the Apostolic Nuncio to
the Philippines.
Bishop Julius Tonel of Ipil was
the principal consecrator with
Bishops Alberto Uy of Tagbilaran
and Jose Cabantan of Malaybalay
as co-consecrators.
Speaking after the Mass, Bishop
Rapadas said he knows he faces
challenges and asked the faithful for
prayers in his new mission.
“Please pray for me that I may
have the courage and strength…
servant to the people of Iligan
entrusted to my care,” he said.
Pope Francis on June 13 had
tapped Rapadas to lead the Diocese
of Iligan in Lanao Del Norte, also in
Mindanao.
He also becomes the youngest
member of the College of Bishops
in the Philippines.
Bishop Rapadas will be formally
installed as the fifth bishop of Iligan
at the St. Michael Cathedral on
Sept. 5.
Catholics make up about 65
percent of Lanao del Norte’s around
1.5 million population.
Rapadas was ordained a priest in
1999 after finishing his studies at St.
John Vianney Theological Seminary
in Cagayan de Oro City.
He has a licentiate in dogmatic
theology from the Loyola School
of Theology at Ateneo de Manila
University.
As a priest, he served as a seminary
professor and rector, director
of catechesis, parish vicar and
coordinator of the diocesan social
pastoral ministry. (CBCPNews)

Nominations now open for 2019 Catholic Social Media Awards

CATHOLIC social
communicators will have the
chance to shine at this year’s
Catholic Social Media Awards
(CSMA).
Once again there’s no fee
to enter the award categories
which cover various social
media platforms.
Now on its fourth year, the
CSMA hands out recognition
to encourage dioceses, parishes
and church organizations to
evangelize through the digital
world.
Organizers launched
CSMA 2019 on Aug. 22 with
nominations now open for 13
categories.
The categories open for
submissions until October 6
are: instil a sense of responsibility
• Best Parish Facebook page among online communicators.
• Best Catholic Organization YouthPinoy is a group of
Facebook Page “online missionaries” who
• Best Facebook Public Group “strives to win the world
• Best Diocesan Website through the Word”.
• Best Parish Website The awards also run under
• Best Catholic Organization the auspices of the Media
Website Office of the Catholic Bishops’
• Best Catholic Blog Conference of the Philippines.
• Best Catholic Vlog “CSMA was established to
• Best Twitter Account motivate Filipinos to initiate
• Best Instagram Account and nurture the culture of truth
• Catholic Song of the Year in social media,” said Msgr.
• Male Social Media Influencer Pedro Quitorio, CBCP Media
• Female Social Media Director.
Influencer This year’s CSMA will be
The CSMA was established held on Nov. 16, which will
by YouthPinoy and Areopagus culminate the 8th Catholic
Communications in 2015, Social Media Summit to be held
which aims to encourage and Manila. (CBCPNews)
CBCP Monitor
(In May this year, the Holy See Press Office released the following message of Pope Francis for the 105th World Day of Migrants
and Refugees that will be observed in September 29, 2019.)
Pope Francis visits with refugees in Sofia, Bulgaria, May 6, 2019. PAUL HARING/CNS
“It is not just about migrants”
Message of His Holiness Pope Francis for the 105th World Day of Migrants and Refugees 2019
DEAR Brothers and Sisters,
Faith assures us that in a mysterious
way the Kingdom of God is already
present here on earth (cf. Gaudium
et spes, 39). Yet in our own time, we
are saddened to see the obstacles
and opposition it encounters.
Violent conflicts and all-out wars
continue to tear humanity apart;
injustices and discrimination follow
one upon the other; economic and
social imbalances on a local or global
scale prove difficult to overcome.
And above all it is the poorest of the
poor and the most disadvantaged
who pay the price.
The most economically advanced
societies are witnessing a growing
trend towards extreme individualism
which, combined with a utilitarian
mentality and reinforced by the
media, is producing a “globalization
of indifference”. In this scenario,
migrants, refugees, displaced
persons and victims of trafficking
have become emblems of exclusion.
In addition to the hardships that
their condition entails, they are often
looked down upon and considered
the source of all society’s ills. That
attitude is an alarm bell warning
of the moral decline we will face
if we continue to give ground to
the throw-away culture. In fact, if
it continues, anyone who does not
fall within the accepted norms of
physical, mental and social well-
being is at risk of marginalization
and exclusion.
For this reason, the presence
of migrants and refugees—and
of vulnerable people in general—
is an invitation to recover some
of those essential dimensions of
our Christian existence and our
humanity that risk being overlooked
in a prosperous society. That is
why it is not just about migrants.
When we show concern for them,
we also show concern for ourselves,
for everyone; in taking care of them,
we all grow; in listening to them, we
also give voice to a part of ourselves
that we may keep hidden because it
is not well regarded nowadays.
“Take courage, it is I, do not be
afraid!” (Mt  14:27).  It is not just
about migrants: it is also about our
fears. The signs of meanness we
see around us heighten “our fear
of ‘the other’, the unknown, the
marginalized, the foreigner... We
see this today in particular, faced
August 19 - September 1, 2019 Vol. 23 No. 17
with the arrival of migrants and
refugees knocking on our door in
search of protection, security and
a better future. To some extent, the
fear is legitimate, also because the
preparation for this encounter is
lacking” (Homily in Sacrofano, 15
February 2019). But the problem is
not that we have doubts and fears.
The problem is when they condition
our way of thinking and acting to the
point of making us intolerant, closed
and perhaps even—without realizing
it—racist. In this way, fear deprives
us of the desire and the ability to
encounter the other, the person
different from myself; it deprives
me of an opportunity to encounter
the Lord (cf. Homily at Mass for
the World Day of Migrants and
Refugees, 14 January 2018).
“For if you love those who love
you, what recompense will you
have? Do not the tax collectors do
the same?” (Mt 5:46). It is not just
about migrants: it is about charity.
Through works of charity, we
demonstrate our faith (cf. Jas 2:18).
And the highest form of charity
is that shown to those unable to
reciprocate and perhaps even to
thank us in return. “It is also about
the face we want to give to our
society and about the value of each
human life... The progress of our
peoples... depends above all on
our openness to being touched and
moved by those who knock at our
door. Their faces shatter and debunk
all those false idols that can take
over and enslave our lives; idols that
promise an illusory and momentary
happiness blind to the lives and
sufferings of others” (Address at
the Diocesan Caritas of Rabat, 30
March 2019).
“But a Samaritan traveler who
came upon him was moved with
compassion at the sight” (Lk 10:33). It
is not just about migrants: it is
about our humanity. Compassion
motivated that Samaritan—for the
Jews, a foreigner—not to pass by.
Compassion is a feeling that cannot
be explained on a purely rational
level. Compassion strikes the most
sensitive chords of our humanity,
releasing a vibrant urge to “be a
neighbour” to all those whom we
see in difficulty. As Jesus himself
teaches us (cf.  Mt  9:35-36; 14:13-
14; 15:32-37), being compassionate
means recognizing the suffering
of the other and taking immediate
action to soothe, heal and save. To be
compassionate means to make room
for that tenderness which today’s
society so often asks us to repress.
“Opening ourselves to others does
not lead to impoverishment, but
rather enrichment, because it
enables us to be more human: to
recognize ourselves as participants
in a greater collectivity and to
understand our life as a gift for
others; to see as the goal, not our
own interests, but rather the good of
humanity” (Address at the Heydar
Aliyev Mosque in Baku, 2 October
2016).
“See that you do not despise one of
these little ones, for I say to you that
their angels in heaven always look
upon the face of my heavenly Father”
(Mt  18:10).  It is not just about
migrants: it is a question of seeing
that no one is excluded. Today’s
world is increasingly becoming
more elitist and cruel towards the
excluded. Developing countries
continue to be drained of their
best natural and human resources
for the benefit of a few privileged
markets. Wars only affect some
regions of the world, yet weapons of
war are produced and sold in other
regions which are then unwilling
to take in the refugees produced
by these conflicts. Those who pay
the price are always the little ones,
the poor, the most vulnerable, who
are prevented from sitting at the
table and are left with the “crumbs”
of the banquet (cf.  Lk  16:19-21).
“The Church which ‘goes forth’...
can move forward, boldly take the
initiative, go out to others, seek
those who have fallen away, stand
at the crossroads and welcome
the outcast” (Evangelii Gaudium,
24). A development that excludes
makes the rich richer and the poor
poorer. A real development, on the
other hand, seeks to include all the
world’s men and women, to promote
their integral growth, and to show
concern for coming generations.
“Whoever wishes to be great
among you will be your servant;
whoever wishes to be first among
you will be the slave of all” (Mk10:43-
44). It is not just about migrants: it is
about putting the last in first place.
Jesus Christ asks us not to yield to
the logic of the world, which justifies
injustice to others for my own gain
or that of my group. “Me first, and
then the others!” Instead, the true
motto of the Christian is, “The last
shall be first!” “An individualistic
spirit is fertile soil for the growth of
that kind of indifference towards our
neighbours which leads to viewing
them in purely economic terms, to
a lack of concern for their humanity,
and ultimately to feelings of fear and
cynicism. Are these not the attitudes
we often adopt towards the poor,
the marginalized and the ‘least’ of
society? And how many of these
‘least’ do we have in our societies!
Among them I think primarily of
migrants, with their burden of
hardship and suffering, as they seek
daily, often in desperation, a place to
live in peace and dignity” (Address
to the Diplomatic Corps, 11 January
2016). In the logic of the Gospel,
the last come first, and we must put
ourselves at their service.
“I came so that they might have
life and have it more abundantly”
(Jn  10:10).  It is not just about
migrants: it is about the whole
person, about all people. In Jesus’
words, we encounter the very
heart of his mission: to see that all
receive the gift of life in its fullness,
according to the will of the Father.
In every political activity, in every
programme, in every pastoral action
we must always put the person
at the centre, in his or her many
aspects, including the spiritual
dimension. And this applies to all
people, whose fundamental equality
must be recognized. Consequently,
“development cannot be restricted
to economic growth alone. To be
authentic, it must be well-rounded;
it must foster the development
of each man and of the whole
man” (SAINT PAUL VI, Populorum
Progressio, 14).
“So then you are no longer
strangers and sojourners, but you
are fellow citizens with the holy
ones and members of the household
of God” (Eph  2:19).  It is not just
about migrants: it is about building
the city of God and man. In our
time, which can also be called the
era of migration, many innocent
people fall victim to the “great
deception” of limitless technological
and consumerist development
(cf.  Laudato Si’, 34). As a result,
they undertake a journey towards
a “paradise” that inevitably betrays
their expectations. Their presence,
at times uncomfortable, helps to
debunk the myth of a progress
PASTORAL CONCERNS B1
that benefits a few while built on
the exploitation of many. “We
ourselves need to see, and then to
enable others to see, that migrants
and refugees do not only represent
a problem to be solved, but are
brothers and sisters to be welcomed,
respected and loved. They are an
occasion that Providence gives us to
help build a more just society, a more
perfect democracy, a more united
country, a more fraternal world
and a more open and evangelical
Christian community” (Message for
the 2014 World Day of Migrants
and Refugees).
Dear brothers and sisters, our
response to the challenges posed
by contemporary migration can be
summed up in four verbs: welcome,
protect, promote and integrate. Yet
these verbs do not apply only to
migrants and refugees. They describe
the Church’s mission to all those
living in the existential peripheries,
who need to be welcomed, protected,
promoted and integrated. If we put
those four verbs into practice,
we will help build the city of God
and man. We will promote the
integral human development of all
people. We will also help the world
community to come closer to the
goals of sustainable development
that it has set for itself and that,
lacking such an approach, will prove
difficult to achieve.
In a word, it is not only the cause of
migrants that is at stake; it is not just
about them, but about all of us, and
about the present and future of the
human family. Migrants, especially
those who are most vulnerable, help
us to read the “signs of the times”.
Through them, the Lord is calling
us to conversion, to be set free from
exclusivity, indifference and the
throw-away culture. Through them,
the Lord invites us to embrace fully
our Christian life and to contribute,
each according to his or her proper
vocation, to the building up of a
world that is more and more in
accord with God’s plan.
In expressing this prayerful hope,
and through the intercession of the
Virgin Mary, Our Lady of the Way,
I invoke God’s abundant blessings
upon all the world’s migrants and
refugees and upon all those who
accompany them on their journey.
From the Vatican, 30 April 2019 
FRANCIS
B2 FEATURE
The Judicial Office in the Church
By Fr. Jaime B. Achacoso, J.C.D.
Davao Archbishop Romulo Valles, CBCP President, and the delegates of the 26th National Convention of the Canon Law Society of the Philippines pose for a
group photo after the Mass at the San Pedro Cathedral in Davao City, Feb. 26, 2018. PHOTO FROM THE DAVAO CATHOLIC HERALD
After studying the canonical theory
behind the process, and the subjects
(the parts and the competent
tribunal) that are involved in it, we
can now go step by step through the
paradigm of the judicial process: the
ordinary contentious trial. The
other types of special processes—
e.g., matrimonial processes—are
only variations of this basic type.
1. Stages and Processal
Activities
As previously seen, the process
is procedural precisely because it
consists of a series of acts which
must follow an order.
a. The Stages of the Process
(or Trial). A trial may be
viewed as consisting of four stages,
each one of them made up of a series
of processal (or pre-processal) acts:
1) Introductory Stage
(cc.1501-1525): This includes the
petition made by the active part
Carrying the Book of the Gospels
(Father Edward McNamara, professor of liturgy and sacramental theology and director of the Sacerdos Institute at the Regina Apostolorum university,
Q: As one who carries the Book of
the Gospels at our Masses, I have
some questions. When the book
is being carried in, should it be at
a modest elevation with the cover
facing outward or facing the lector/
carrier? I also read that one should
make a profound bow when leaving
the Book of the Gospels on the
altar. Should that be a bow after
depositing the book or before that
act? — R.B., Rockport, Ontario
A: Not everything is specified in
detail in the liturgical books. This
is especially true of elements such
as carrying the Book of the Gospels,
which is a relative novelty in the
current Latin liturgy, albeit with
historical antecedents.
There are some surviving
examples of beautiful manuscript
versions of the Books of the Gospels
for liturgical use until about the 12th
century. From about 1200 onward
the convention of including all the
readings for Mass within the missal
led to the practical disappearance of
separate lectionaries.
Before the current liturgical
reform reintroduced the Lectionary
and the Evangeliary as distinct
books, it was possible for a local
bishop to authorize the publication
of separate lectionaries and Books of
the Gospel extracted from the missal
for certain solemn celebrations.
This was far from being a universal
practice, however.
The Introduction to the Book
of the Gospels has the following
indications:
“9. In the Entrance Procession,
the vested deacon reverently carries
the Book of the Gospels before him
so that it may be seen by the faithful.
With the priest he makes the proper
reverence and goes up to the altar,
placing the Book of the Gospels
on it. The deacon then kisses the
altar at the same time as the priest.
In the absence of a deacon, the
reader reverently carries the Book
The Ordinary Contentious Trial
(actor, petitioner or plaintiff) to
the judge, its acceptance by the
judge, the citation of the passive
part (respondent or defendant) by
the judge, presentation of possible
exceptions or counter-claims
(reconvention) by the respondent,
and the establishment of the
grounds which results in the joinder
of the issues.
2) Evidentiary or Probatory
Stage (cc.1526-1600): The
Instruction of the Case. This
includes the collection of proofs—
including those related to any
exceptions, counter-claims, or
incidental questions introduced by
the parties—, the publication of the
acts and the conclusion in causa
(i.e., the conclusion of the probatory
stage of the proceedings).
3) Discussion Stage (cc.1601-
1606): This includes the briefs,
animadversions, and whatever oral
argument made.
answers the following query:)
of the Gospels in procession. The
reader follows the acolytes and other
ministers in procession. The reader
places the Book of the Gospels on
the altar, but the reader does not
kiss the altar.”
The General Instruction of the
Roman Missal (GIRM) adds the
following indications for deacons
and lectors carrying the Book of the
Gospels:
“A. MASS WITHOUT A DEACON
“The Introductory Rites
“120. Once the people have
gathered, the priest and ministers,
clad in the sacred vestments, go in
procession to the altar in this order:
“a. The thurifer carrying a thurible
with burning incense, if incense is
used;
“b. The ministers who carry
lighted candles, and between them
an acolyte or another minister with
the cross;
“c. The acolytes and the other
ministers;
“d. A lector, who may carry the
Book of the Gospels (though not the
Lectionary), which should be slightly
elevated;
“e. The priest who is to celebrate
the Mass.
“172. Carrying the Book of the
Gospels slightly elevated, the deacon
precedes the priest as he approaches
the altar or else walks at the priest’s
side.
“173. When he reaches the
altar, if he is carrying the Book of
the Gospels, he omits the sign of
reverence and goes up to the altar.
It is particularly appropriate that he
should place the Book of the Gospels
on the altar, after which, together
with the priest, he venerates the
altar with a kiss.
“If, however, he is not
carrying the Book of the Gospels,
he makes a profound bow to the altar
with the priest in the customary way
and with him venerates the altar
with a kiss. Lastly, if incense is used,
he assists the priest in putting some
(Part II)
4) Decisionary Stage (cc.1607-
1655): This includes the sentence,
any possible impugning of the
sentence, and the execution of the
sentence.
b. Time Limits or Deadlines.
Since the ordinary process, governed
by the written principle (which takes
time), is limited by law to not more
than one year in the first instance and
six months in the second instance
(c.1453), the different processal
activities must be well defined and
time limits fixed for each of them.
There are three kinds of deadlines
in Processal Law:
1) Legal Deadlines: These are
fixed by law itself, and can be of
two kinds:
a) Peremptory Legal Deadlines
(fatalia legis) are those which
extinguish the right in question—
i.e., to carry out a processal
act—if the deadline is not met.
Can.1465,§1 states the principle
This Dec. 13, 2015 photo shows Bishop Walker Nickless of Sioux City, Iowa, carrying the Book of Gospels into the church of the Cathedral of the Epiphany during
Mass. CNS/JERRY MENNENGA, CATHOLIC GLOBE
into the thurible and in incensing
the cross and the altar.
“D. THE DUTIES OF THE
LECTOR
“Introductory Rites
“194. In coming to the altar, when
no deacon is present, the lector,
wearing approved attire, may carry
the Book of the Gospels, which is
to be slightly elevated. In that case,
the lector walks in front of the priest
but otherwise along with the other
ministers.
“195. Upon reaching the altar,
the lector makes a profound bow
with the others. If he is carrying the
Book of the Gospels, he approaches
the altar and places the Book of the
Gospels upon it. Then the lector
takes his own place in the sanctuary
with the other ministers.”
While it is clear that the Book of
the Gospels should be elevated in
August 19 - September 1, 2019 Vol. 23 No. 17
of non-prorogability and non-
restrictability of peremptory legal
deadlines. The rule of thumb is that
legal deadlines which refer to the
parts are peremptory: e.g., cc. 1505,
§4; 1460, §3; 1623; 1630, §1; 1633
and 1646.
b) Non-peremptory Legal
Deadlines are those which, if unmet,
do not extinguish the right. The
rule of thumb is that legal deadlines
which refer to the court are non-
peremptory: e.g., cc.1453; 1609, §5.
An exception to this rule of thumb
is c.1506.
2) Judicial Deadlines are those
defined or set by the judge, taking
into consideration the nature of the
act (c.1466).
3) Conventional Deadlines
are those defined by agreement of
the parts. Can.1465,§2 states the
principle of prorogability (at the
instance of the parts or with their
prior knowledge) and restrictability
(only with the agreement of the parts)
of both judicial and conventional
deadlines; with a caveat against
overly prolonging the trial by such
prorogation (c.1465,§3).
c. Peremption or Abatement
(cc.1520-1523). This is the
extinction of an instance by lack
of processal impulse due to the
negligence of the parties.
Can. 1520 states: Barring some
impediment, if no procedural act
is proposed by the parties for six
months, the prosecution of the suit
is abated. Particular law can state
other time limits for abatement.
The assumption is that, when an
unimpeded party takes no interest
whatsoever in the trial for a period
of six months, such negligence
amounts to a tacit renunciation of
the instance.
2. The Introductory Stage
What follows is a summary, with
the more practical details of interest.
a. Presentation of the Petition
(libellus litis introductorius).
The judicial petition is an act by
which a part, alleging a concrete will
of the law which guarantees him a
certain good, declares his will that
this will of the law be actuated, and
the procession, nothing indicates the
direction of the book as such. I would
say that it is customary to have the
front of the book facing outward
toward the people even though this
means turning it when reaching the
altar so that, in accordance with the
practice of the Roman rite, it lies flat
upon the altar table.
Indeed, precious bindings and
covers for the Book of the Gospel
frequently have finer decoration on
the front, precisely with the different
processions in mind.
While the texts distinguish
between the deacon “going
up” to the altar and the lector
“approaching the altar” it is not
clear if any ritual implications
would follow. Perhaps it could
mean that the deacon would
practically always go around the
altar before placing the Book of the
Gospels and await the arrival of the
CBCP Monitor
invokes for such end the authority
of the judicial organ.
Can.1504 requires the libellus
introducing a suit to state the
following:
1) Petitioner (a quo): name
and family name, domicile or
quasi-domicile, juridic (judicial)
and processal capacity, legitimate
mandate (in case of procurator).
2) Respondent (quis): name and
family name, domicile or quasi-
domicile, guardian or curator (for
a person with processal incapacity)
or legitimate representative (for a
juridic person).
3) Judicial organ (coram quo)—
invoking the competence of the
tribunal (cc.1502, 1504,1°).
4) What is being petitioned (quid:
Petitio iudicii)—specifying what
is being asked (c.1504, 1°) or the
object of the controversy (c.1502).
Precision is important, since the
judge will act only on what is being
asked.
5) Title of the pretension (quo
iure: Causa petendi): The
totality of juridic data invoked by
the petitioner as foundation of the
petition (c.1504, 2°).
6) Written: The use of the term
libellus—with its meaning in Roman
Law—implies that the petition must
be written ordinarily (c.1502). An
oral petition may be admitted in
special circumstances, but an act
must be made by the tribunal itself
(c.1503).
b. Citation of the Respondent.
This is a processal act, by which a
person is informed of a suit that he
has been named respondent in, and
he is told that he is called to trial
(in iudicium vocatur) and is cited
to answer (in writing) or to appear
in person (c.1507,§1). It is a public
act, by decree of the judge, which
is inchoative of the process before
the consolidation of the processal
relation (c.1509,§2).
The citation has the following
effect:
1) Origin of the Judge-Respondent
Processal Relation. Once the citation
has been legitimately communicated
(independently of the will of the
Judicial / B7
priest while the lector will often
place the book on the altar from its
front. The vast variety of sanctuary
designs makes it very difficult to
determine exact procedures in this
matter.
In general, a profound bow is not
made while carrying the book as is
specifically indicated for the deacon.
There is no norm as to making a bow
after leaving the Book of the Gospels
upon the altar, and the deacon
would certainly not do so as he will
kiss the altar with the priest.
It is understandable that the
lector carrying the Book of the
Gospels might feel that a bow toward
the altar is appropriate at this time,
but GIRM No. 195 (above) would
appear to suggest that he or she
proceed directly to the lector’s
assigned place in the sanctuary with
no further acts of reverence at this
time.*
CBCP Monitor August 19 - September 1, 2019 Vol. 23 No. 17
Addressing climate emergency
By Bro. Jaazeal Jakosalem
CLIMATE Change already made
its impacts on our planet, of our
own making—disastrous impacts
on humanity and all of creation.
We have paid the cost of climate
divergence: damaging to humanity,
irreparable to nature and a bleak
future for the generations to come;
and climate change is not being
treated as an emergency.
‘Climate Emergency’ offers
a new approach to our climate
action, more than just a campaign
slogan or any sort of parliamentary
declaration; it is however, a call to
engage governments, institutions,
organizations and even individuals
to prioritize drastic response to
any environmental damages. No
more sweet talks, or capitalistic
sloganeering on the environmental
campaigns. We have to immediately
change from normal mode to
emergency mode.
We need to take part in responding
to the climate emergency with
urgency:
First, the need to embrace the
emergency mode, we have to end
the climate change romanticism.
Or else, the extreme climate events
remain in the news, more and more
damaging impacts are happening.
The warnings are real, ‘1 million
species already face extinction’;
and we cannot allow the damaging
accelerated rate of extinction.
Undeniably governments must
address drivers of climate divergence
Enhancing welfare of Filipino seafarers
By Bernardo M. Villegas
LAST February 16, 2019, The
Economist carried an article entitled
“Unsung Filipino seafarers power
the global economy.” The figures are
impressive: “Today, more than nine-
tenths of global trade (by weight)
is carried by sea, on some 100,000
merchant vessels drawing on a pool
of 1.2 million mariners. Of these,
well over a quarter, 378,000 are
Filipinos—by far the biggest number
by country of origin.” According to
Engineer Nelson Ramirez, President
of the United Filipino Seafarers,
Filipino seafarers are appreciated for
the following qualities: They speak
English. They work hard. They are
well trained in the scores of marine
colleges all over the country. They
are adaptable to any job assignment,
“pliant like the bamboo.” No wonder
that they represent only 3 percent
of all Overseas Filipino Workers
but account for 15 percent of the
remittances of more than $30 billion
annually.
Despite their significant
contributions to the economy, not
enough is being done for the Filipino
seafarers by either the Government
or the private sector. As pointed out
in the article that appeared in The
Economist they are often victimized
by unscrupulous operators who
tempt seafarers into launching
spurious injury claims against ship
operators and then pocket the bulk of
the damages. There are times when
shipowners vanish behind brass
plates and leave crews stranded and
unpaid. Then there are the myriad
of official documents and certificates
that they have to present as they
travel from one port to another. That
is why one of the aims of the party
list Angkla is to get the Maritime
Industry Authority, a government
agency, to set up regional branches
so that seafarers do not have to
in emergency mode, “the direct
drivers of change in nature with
the largest global impact have been
changes in land and sea use; direct
exploitation of organisms; climate
change; pollution; and invasion of
alien species” accelerating during
the past 50 years.
The declaration must be forceful
and decisive, demanding consistent
ecological framework among
governments. This was clearly
articulated by Greta Thunberg, she
tweeted: “It’s 2019. Can we all now
please stop saying ‘climate change’
and instead call it what it is: climate
breakdown, climate crisis, climate
emergency, ecological breakdown,
ecological crisis and ecological
emergency?”
Second, the need to strategize
the speed of response, climate
emergency demands swift and
strategic response. In 2018, thru
the IPCC report, the world’s
leading climate scientists have
warned us that we only have 12
years to limit climate change
catastrophe—keeping the 1.5°C to
a maximum.
Third, the need to have clarity
of targets; targets for a fossil-free
future, targets for biodiversity
protection, targets for a sustainable
future—all warrant sustained
efforts without compromise. We
need realistic targets.
For us to seriously act on climate
emergency, we should let our
Filipino seafarers at work in the West African country of Cameroon. FILE PHOTO
travel all the way up to the National
Capital Region in order to renew
their seaman’s passbook. And that
is only of the numerous documents
that they have to keep updated.
Fortunately, an application of
blockchain technology is recently
being considered by the Philippine
maritime industry to help seafarers
cope with their documentation
challenge which can occupy a
lot of their very limited time on
shore. An entrepreneur I met
when I was a Visiting Professor
at the IESE Business School, Mr.
Anjaney Borwarnkar, has recently
introduced to the Philippines the
Coconut farmers in Tanauan, Leyte, help prepare each other’s fields for vegetables in this Feb. 7, 2014, file photo. Catholic bishops in the Philippines criticized
“the continuing destruction of our common home” and called for “ecological conversion” amid “climate emergency.” TYLER ORSBURN/CNS
voices be heard, our actions too are
important, and amplifying our call
to be heard by others is necessary.
Well-articulated by Extinction
Rebellion, we must demand from
our governments to: (1) tell the
truth by declaring a climate and
ecological emergency, working with
other institutions to communicate
the urgency for change, (2) act now
services of a company he established
in Singapore. The firm is called
Navozyme and has the mission
to enhance lives in the maritime
industry via innovative technology
solutions that raise the safety, the
productivity and the reputation
of the global maritime industry.
Navozyme’s blockchain-enabled
platforms will help maritime
stakeholders to securely exchange
real-time critical data related to
ship and seafarers’ certifications.
The platform can be used to manage
complex processes related to
maritime training, certifications,
port clearances, etc.
to halt biodiversity loss and reduce
greenhouse gas emissions to net
zero by 2025, (3) create and be
led by the decisions of a Citizens’
Assembly on climate and ecological
justice.
Pope Francis recently said:
“Today’s ecological crisis, especially
climate change, threatens the very
future of the human family… Faced
Navozyme will bring the Philippine
maritime industry to the fourth
industrial revolution, specifically
through two solutions. The first
one is N-MAP (Navozyme-Maritime
Authentication Platform) which is
targeted at ship owners/managers/
operators port authorities,
classification societies and agencies
who handle the port-clearance
processes for ship’s entry into a
port. With the blockchain-enabled
platform, the maritime stakeholders
will be able to share authentic real
time information in a secure manner.
N-MAP can increase productivity,
reduces costs and enhance safety
FEATURE B3
with a climate emergency, we must
take action accordingly, in order
to avoid perpetrating a brutal act
of injustice towards the poor and
future generations.” In this era
we experienced the brutality of the
climate impacts. Let us embrace
this declaration—as individuals, as
organized citizens, as institutions,
and as a community of faith.
standards and reputation of the
stakeholders. Video about the
NMAP can be viewed at hhttps://
www.navozyme.com/ncap.
The second is called N-CAP
(Navozyme-Certificate
Authentication Platform). This
platform can bring about
productivity gains and eliminate
paper-based risks and processes
related to maritime certifications.
Maritime training institutions,
shipping companies/manning
agents (who hire seafarers) and
individual seafarers can benefit from
N-CAP as certificate information
now can be shared on a secure
and digital manner amongst
permissioned stakeholders. N-CP
also aids shipping companies with
easier GDPR compliance. A video
about N-CAP can be viewed at
https://www.navozyme.com/ncap.
The people behind Navozyme
should be thanked for enhancing
the welfare of the oftentimes
unsung Filipino seafarers who
will be around for many more
decades to come even if land-based
Overseas Filipino Workers may
dwindle as the Philippine economy
transitions to First World Status
and is able to significantly reduce
mass poverty. Since seafaring is
an occupation or profession that
comes naturally to many Filipinos,
we will always have them earning
substantial foreign exchange for
the Philippines even as we reduce
the number of Filipinos who go to
work abroad because of economic
necessity. Thanks to technologies
like those of Navozyme, Filipino
seafarers today and tomorrow
will have less trouble coping
with the many documentation
challenges inherent to the
seafaring profession. For more
information on Navozyme, please
visit www.navozyme.com. For
comments, my email address is
bernardo.villegas@uap.asia.
B4 FEATURE
(The following are the sub-topics for Weeks 42 (October 13-19) and 43 (October 20-26) of the continuing catechetical preparation
for celebration of 500 Year of Christianity; prepared by the Episcopal Commission on Catechesis and Catholic Education.)
WEEK 42 : Oct.13-19: Sub-topic: A
CALL TO SERVE THE POOR AND THE NEEDY
SINCE Christ willed to be born
poor, he chose for himself disciples
who were poor. He made himself
the servant of the poor and shared
their poverty. He went so far as to
say that he would consider every
deed which either helps or harms the
poor as done for or against himself.
Since God surely loves the poor, he
also loves those who love the poor.
For when one person holds another
dear, he also includes in his affection
anyone he loves or serves the one he
loves. That is why we hope that God
will love us for the sake of the poor.
So when we visit the poor and needy,
we try to understand the poor and
weak. We sympathize with them so
fully that we can echo Paul’s words:
” I have become all things to all men”
Although in his passion he almost
lost the appearance of a man and
was considered a fool by the Gentiles
and a stumbling block by the Jews,
he showed them that his mission
was to preach to the poor: “ He
sent me to preach the good news
to the poor.” We also ought to have
this same spirit and imitate Christ’s
actions, that is, we must take care of
the poor, console them, help them,
support their cause.
We must try to be stirred by our
neighbors’ worries and distress. We
must beg God to pour into our hearts
sentiments of pity and compassion
and to fill them again and again with
these dispositions.
Word of God:
Prov 14:31 Speak up and judge
fairly; defend the rights of the poor
and needy….Whoever oppresses
the poor shows contempt for their
Maker , but whoever is kind to the
needy honors God.
Psalm 9:17-18 “Because the poor
are plundered and the needy groan,
I will now arise,” says the LORD. “
I will protect them from those who
malign them”.
Values / Attitude (towards the
poor and the needy)
Kindness
• Empathy
• Generosity
• Charitable
Doctrine
Fraternal Charity : A Work of
Justice Pleasing to God ( CCC 2462 ).
How can we not recognize Lazarus,
the hungry beggar in the parable (
cf. Lk 17:19-31 ), in the multitude of
human beings without bread, a roof
or a place to stay? How can we fail
to hear Jesus : “As you did it not to
one of the least of these, you did it
not to me” ( Mt 25:45 )?
Moral
Spiritual and Corporal Works
of Mercy. The works of mercy are
charitable actions by which we
come to the aid of our neighbor in
his spiritual and bodily necessities.
Instructing, advising, consoling,
comforting, are spiritual works of
mercy, as are forgiving and bearing
wrongs patiently. T he corporal
works of mercy consist especially
in feeding the hungry, sheltering
the homeless, clothing the naked,
visiting the sick and imprisoned, and
burying the dead. Among all these,
giving alms to the poor is one of the
chief witnesses to fraternal charity.
Worship
Prayer of intercession has
particular value, for it is an act
of trust in God and, at the same
time, an expression of love for our
neighbor. I n reality, our prayer
will be all the more pleasing to God
and more effected for our growth
in holiness if, through intercession,
we attempt to practice the twofold
commandment that Jesus left us.
Intercessory prayer is an expression
of our fraternal concern for others,
since we are able to embrace their
lives, their deepest troubles and
their loftiest dreams. Of those who
commit themselves generously to
intercessory prayer we can apply the
words of Scripture : “ This is a man
who loves the brethren and prays
much for the people” ( 2 Mac 15:14 )
Faith Response
Affirmation/ Conviction: Empathy
with the poor in the community
Commitment: Involvement
in the feeding program of our
parish
Celebration / Prayer:
Prayer of the Faithful ( General
Intercessions, Monday first week
of Lent) with the response: LORD,
LET US LOVE AND SERVE YOU
IN OTHERS.
That the Church may become
a home for the lost, the stray, the
weak and the wounded. Let us pray
to the Lord.
That rich nations may seriously
undertake steps to help in the
development of poorer nations. Let
us pray to the Lord.
That through our practical
generosity, the neglected and
rejected of our society may be drawn
to the Kingdom of God. Let us pray
to the Lord.
That we may spread the reign
of the Kingdom in our homes,
workplaces and in the community
we belong. Let us pray to the Lord.
That the dead may enter the
Kingdom prepared for them. Let us
pray to the Lord.
Father, knowing your boundless
love for all people, we confidently
bring our intentions before you in
the Name of Jesus Christ our Lord,
Amen
A painting by national artist Fernando Amorsolo on the first baptism in the Philippines on April 14, 1521.
WEEK 43: Oct. 20-26: Sub-topic: BLESSED
ARE THE POOR
THE Church’s social doctrine is
marked with a “preferential option
for the poor” PCP 11 asserts that this
option, following Christ’s own, takes
on great urgency in our country
where a very great number of our
people wallow in abject poverty
and misery, while tremendous
social privileges and deference are
accorded the rich and powerful. (
PCP 11 312 )
This option, however, must be
properly understood. The Church
obviously desires to bring the
message of salvation to every human
being, to every culture and social
environment, but in the first place
to those who are most in need. Thus
“the preference for the poor
is a Christian preference,” for
Christ came to proclaim a message
of salvation to the poor (cf. John
Paul 11, to people of Tondo,3).
It is an “option in the exercise
of Christian charity to which the
whole tradition of the Church bears
witness. It affects the life of each
Christian inasmuch as he or she
seeks to imitate the life of Christ.
But it applies equally to our social
responsibilities and hence to our
manner of living.(CFC1187)
Word of God : Lk 6:20-23
The poor incarnate the evangelical
values in their lives:
Blest are you poor, the reign of
God is yours;
Blest are you who hunger, you
shall be filled;
Blest are you who are weeping,
you shall laugh.
Blest shall you be when men hate
you, when they ostracize you and
August 19 - September 1, 2019 Vol. 23 No. 17
insult you and proscribe your name
as evil because of the Son ofMan…
Rejoice and exult, for your reward
shall be great in heaven.
Values/Attitude
• Kindness
• Generosity
• Empathy
• Charity
• Detachment
Doctrine: Love for the poor
God blesses those who come to
the aid of the poor and rebukes
those who turn away from them.”
Give to him who begs from you, do
not refuse him who would barrow
from you”; “ you received without
pay, give without pay”( Mt5:42)It
is by what they have done for the
poor that Jesus Christ will recognize
his chosen ones ( Mt25:31-36)
When the poor have the good news
preached to them” it is the sign of
Christ’s presence. ( Lk 4:18 ) The
Church’s love for the poor is a part
of her constant tradition .This love
is inspired by the Gospel of the
Beatitudes, of the poverty of Jesus
and of his concern for the poor.
Love for the poor is even one of the
motives for the duty of working so
as to be able to give to those in need.
( Eph 4:28) It extends not only to
material poverty but also to the
many forms of cultural and religious
poverty.(CCC 2444)
Moral
St. Luke does not speak of poverty
“of spirit” but simply of those who
are “poor”(cf.Lk6:20). In this way,
he too invites us to live a plain and
austere life. He calls us to share in
the life of those most in need, the life
lived by the Apostles, and ultimately
CBCP Monitor
to configure ourselves to Jesus who,
though rich, “made himself poor” (2
Cor8:9)
Worship
The ultimate criterion on which
our lives will be judged is what
we have done for others. Prayer
is most precious, for it nourishes
a daily commitment to love. Our
worship becomes pleasing to God
when we devote ourselves to living
generously, and allow God’s gift,
granted in prayer, to be shown in our
concern for our brothers and sisters.
This is the worship most acceptable
to God.(GE 104)
Faith Response
Affirmation: Appreciation of the
blessedness of the poor
Commitment: Giving hopeful
advice to the confused and weary
Celebration: Prayer for solidarity
with the poor.
Compassionate and loving God,
We praise you for the many gifts
you provide us
May we be mindful of those who
go without, each and every day.
Help us to provide the resources
needed for our brothers and sisters.
Burdened by the suffering caused
by poverty and oppression, Let our
work this day be a reminder of our
interconnectedness with all your
beloved children. Open our eyes
to see the needs of the community.
Cleanse our ears to hear the cries
of the poor. Anoint our hands and
feet to be instruments in fulfilling
your justice. We ask this all through
your Son Jesus Christ who lives and
reigns with you and the Holy Spirit
one God forever and ever.
Amen.
CBCP Monitor August 19 - September 1, 2019 Vol. 23 No. 17 STATEMENTS B5

Isang paninindigan at suporta kay Bishop Ambo

David, iba pang mga Obispo, mga Pari at Layko
“Pinagpala ang mga inuusig nang
dahil sa kanilang pagsunod sa
kalooban ng Diyos, sapagkat
kabilang sila sa kaharian ng
langit.” (Mateo 5:10)
KAMI, ang mga relihiyoso,
kaparian, madre at layko na kabilang
sa Association of Religious in the
Diocese of Kalookan (ARDOK) at
Mission Stations ng Diyosesis ng
Kalookan (MSDOK) ay naninindigan
para sa katotohanan, katarungan
at kapayapaan. Naniniwala kami
na ANG BUHAY AY SAGRADO
(Genesis 1:27). Ang buhay ay
natatanging biyaya mula sa Diyos,
kaya’t tungkulin nang lahat na
pangalagaan, pagyamanin at
ipagtanggol ito.
Naniniwala kami na ANG BAWAL
NA GAMOT AY ISANG MABIGAT
NA SULIRANIN NG PAMILYA
AT KOMUNIDAD. Sinisira nito
ang ating buong pagkatao, kasama
na ang ating katawan at kaisipan,
maging ang ating ugnayan sa kapwa
at Diyos. Kaya’t tungkulin ng lahat
na maghanap nang maagap at
makataong solusyon. Nakikiisa kami
sa ating Pamahalaan na masugpo
ang problema sa drogra.
Naninindigan kami na HINDI
PAGKITIL NG BUHAY (Jeremiah
22:3) ang tamang solusyon sa
problema ng bawal na gamot. Hindi
makatao, hindi bumubuhay at hindi
tunay na solusyon ang pananakot at
pagkitil ng buhay.
Kaya’t KAISA NG AMING
OBISPO, Pablo Virgilio David,
tahasan rin naming tinutuligsa ang
palasak na pagkitil ng buhay o extra
judicial killings bilang pangunahing
solusyon sa problema ng bawal na
gamot. Labag ito sa utos ng Diyos
at karapatang pantao. Sagrado
ang bawat buhay kaya’t dapat
pangalagaan. Karapatan ng bawat
isa ang magbagong buhay at walang
karapatan ang sinuman na kumitil
ng buhay ng iba.
Tulad ng isang MABUTING
PASTOL (1 Pedro 2:25), buong-
pusong tinutulungan ng aming
Obispo ang mga pamilya ng biktima
ng extra judicial killings sa Diyosesis
ng Kalookan. Sa tulong ng ating mga
lokal na pamahalaan, ahensiya ng
pamahalaan, NGOs at Simbahan,
buong kabutihan nilang sinasagip
ang mga nagumon sa droga, at ang
mga inosenteng pinaghinalaang
gumagamit ng bawal na gamot.
Kayat’ isang malalim
na KALUNGKUTAN AT
PAGKADISMAYA ang aming
naramdaman sa kasong sedisyon na
isinampa ng pamahalaan laban sa
aming Obispo Ambo Virgilio David,
Obispo Honesto Ongtioco, Obispo
Teodoro Bacani Jr, Obispo Socrates
Villegas, mga kaparian at layko.
NAKIKIISA ang ating Simbahan,
mga obispo, kaparian at layko sa
ating pamahalaan sa paghahanap
ng tamang lunas sa problema ng
droga. Hindi nila adhikain ang
magpabagsak ng ating pamahalaan.
Ang tanging nais ng lahat ay tulungan
ang mga inosenteng mamamayan at
mga nagumon sa bawal na gamot,
at hindi ang magpabagsak ng
pamahalaan. Kaya’t isang malaking
pagkakamali na sampahan ang
mga Obispo at mga kasamahan ng
kasong sedisyon at iba pa.
Kaya’t KAMI, ang Association
of the Religious of the Diocese of
Kalookan (ARDOK) at Mission
Stations ng Diyosesis (MSDOK), ay
mahigpit na tumututol sa mga maling
paratang na ito. Naniniwala kami sa
kabutihan-loob ng aming Obispo
at iba pa. Malinis ang kanilang
hangaring makiisa sa pamahalaan
sa pagsugpo sa probema ng bawal
na gamot.
KAYA’T ibinibigay namin sa aming
mga Obispo at iba pang nasasakdal,
ANG AMING BUONG-PUSONG
PAKIISA sa kanilang mabuting
adhikain. Makakaasa kayo ng aming
panalangin at suporta sa anumang
hakbang na inyong tatahakin.
Sasamahan namin kayo. Naniniwala
kami sa inyong ipinaglalaban. Iisa
ang ating ipinaglalaban.
Kayat’ hinihiling namin sa ating
pamahalaan na IPAWALANG-BISA
ANG KASONG SEDISYON AT IBA
PANG KASO na isinampa laban
sa mga Obispo, pari at layko na
idinawit sa kasong ito. Malinis ang
integridad ng lahat nang nasasakdal.
Ang tanging layunin ng lahat ay
ipaglaban ang buhay, katarungan at
kapakanan ng lahat. Wala kaming
nakikitang mali na mahalin ang mga
naliligaw ng landas. (Lukas 15:1-7)—
Association of Religious in the
Diocese of Kalookan (ARDOK)
Mission Stations of the Diocese of
Kalookan (MSDOK)

A statement of the Redemptorist Missionaries on the 34th

anniversary of the abduction of Fr. Rudy Romano, C.Ss.R.
“But if, out of love for others, you
give your life for others, like I am
going to give mine, you will have
an abundant harvest, you will
experience the deepest satisfaction.”
These were words uttered by El
Salvador Archbishop Oscar Romero
while giving a homily on April 1,
1979. A year later, Romero was
assassinated on March 24, 1980.
Most recently, he has been canonized
by Pope Francis and is now referred
to as San Romero del Mundo.
From the 1970s to the 1980s—
when there were many authoritarian
regimes that committed human
rights violations—there were many
martyrs in the Churches across the
world, specifically in Central and
Latin America as well as in countries
like the Philippines. Bishops, priests,
religious men and women and lay
leaders offered their lives as acts of
prophecy even as hundreds were
arrested, tortured and jailed. On
July 11, 1985, Fr. Rudy Romano,
a Redemptorist, was abducted
in Cebu City. The Redemptorists
did everything to find out what
happened to him even as there were
witnesses who claimed they actually
saw the abduction as it unfolded.
The military, suspected to be behind
this act, denied having a hand in his
Fr. Rudy Romano disappeared since July 11, 1985 disappearance.
Thirty-four years have passed.
Even as most Filipinos may have
forgotten this tragic incident
that took the life of our esteemed
confrere, we Redemptorists - along
with other Filipinos who continue to
care about the memory of the Marcos
dictatorship - keep alive our hope
that one day the truth shall finally
be revealed as to who victimized Fr.
Romano. And we continue to thank
God for the witness of Fr. Romano,
whose staunch advocacy to be on
the side of the poor inspired many
among us to take up our own cross
and follow the footsteps of our Lord.
We will always remember Fr.
Romano and on this day, we shall
find time to reflect on the meaning of
his life and sacrifice. There may have
been many changes in our country
through the past three decades,
but there are still some realities
that continue to characterize our
society, not unlike the one that Fr.
Romano critiqued in his own time.
The inequality that has persisted
stares us in the face, as a small
elite monopolizes the wealth of this
Republic while the majority remain
poor. Most peasants still are landless,
laborers still face contractualization,
indigenous peoples continue to
be dislocated from their ancestral
domains. Human rights violations
continue to take place as the drug
war still claims more victims.
As Pope Francis continues to
exhort the faithful today to go to
the peripheries and serve the flock,
we are once again reminded of the
example of Fr. Romano whose life
was spent primarily to serve the
needs of the marginalized. The 34th
anniversary of his disappearance
once more reminds us how urgent
this task is. In his memory, we
continue to take to heart the same
Gospel challenge. May God bless
our efforts as we reach out to the
wounded of our society and do
what we can “to bring about God’s
plentiful Redemption.”
And we ask San Romero and Our
Mother of Perpetual Help to instill in
us the deep sense of commitment to
justice and deep compassion for the
most abandoned among our sisters
and brothers.
FR. VICTORINO CUETO, CSsR
Vice-Province of Manila (Luzon)
FR. COPERNICUS PEREZ, JR.,
CSsR
Province of Cebu (Visayas &
Mindanao)
11 July 2019

Statement of the Holy Press Office on

Cardinal Pell
Issued by Matteo Bruni, director of the Holy See Press Office
WHILE reiterating its respect for the Australian judicial system, as stated on
26 February after the first instance verdict was announced, the Holy See
acknowledges the court’s decision to dismiss Cardinal Pell’s appeal.

As the proceedings continue to develop, the Holy See recalls that the Cardinal
has always maintained his innocence throughout the judicial process and that
it is his right to appeal to the High Court.

At this time, together with the Church in Australia, the Holy See confirms its
closeness to the victims of sexual abuse and its commitment to pursue, through
the competent ecclesiastical authorities, those members of the clergy who
commit such abuse.

(Responding to the queries of Journalists, the Holy See Press Office added the
following:)

“As in other cases, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith is awaiting
the outcome of the ongoing proceedings and the conclusion of the appellate
process prior to taking up the case.

Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni speaks Aug. 21, 2019, after an Australian appeals court upheld
the conviction of Cardinal George Pell on five counts of sexually assaulting two choirboys more than
two decades ago. JUNNO AROCHO ESTEVES/CNS
As was stated by the Holy See Press Office on 26 February, the Holy Father had
already confirmed the precautionary measures imposed on Cardinal Pell upon
his return to Australia, that is, as is the norm, the prohibition from exercising
public ministry and from any voluntary contact whatsoever with minors”.
B6 REFLECTIONS
Salvation as primarily the work of God, not ours
22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C, (Luke 14:1.7-14)
September 1, 2019
By Msgr. Lope C. Robredillo, SThD
IN today’s Gospel, we are told that
when Jesus was invited to dine at
a Pharisee’s house, he noticed how
the Pharisees chose the first places
for themselves. According to Luke,
these people were rigorous when it
comes to the law (Luke 6:2), and
sometimes did more than what it
required (Luke 18:12). Precisely
because of their effort to strictly keep
the law, they had reasons to think
that they had a great dignity before
God and of course before men. If
the Gospels portray them as lovers
of the first seats in the synagogues,
Can we really live together?
23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C, (Luke 14:23-33)
September 8, 2019
By Msgr. Lope C. Robredillo, SThD
A FEW YEARS ago, after the riot
in Los Angeles, California, Time
Magazine asked: Can we live
together? Of course, there has been
much progress in the relationship
between the Whites and the Blacks
(or the Colored) since the time of
Martin Luther King, Jr, thanks
to the civil right movements, but
racism has not vanished into thin
air. In the international scene, the
struggle between the Third World
countries and the First World has
still to see a definitive resolution.
It was Karl Marx who said, “the
history of all hitherto existing society
is the history of class struggle.”
One may dismiss his philosophy of
history, but one cannot deny that
the relationship between masters
and slaves in ancient times was
not substantially different from the
relationship between the lords and
serfs in the medieval ages, and the
workers and the owners of the means
of production in modern times. And
there is the difficulty of some peoples
to look beyond ethnic boundaries.
The question is not quite irrelevant:
can we really live together?
If we come to the brass tacks of it
all, we will see that we find it difficult
to live together because most of us
do not want to give up anything
that belongs to us. If economic war
happens, it is because no one wants
to renounce wealth. There is ethnic
cleansing because we cannot tolerate
the presence of people other than us.
We refuse to share with the Colored
because we deny them the right to be
human. That is why today’s Gospel
speaks of renunciation. Of course,
for Luke, God’s will is that we live
together—even here on earth, we
have to realize God’s kingdom where
everyone experiences wholeness,
a sense of belonging, fellowship in
the community. But according to
Luke, this is possible only if we as a
community enter into discipleship.
By this is meant the renunciation
of self, familial relationship and
possession, and the unconditional
and total commitment to Jesus by all
the members of the community. This
is evidenced by our total conversion
to Jesus’ life, words, and works.
At the center of the
community life in discipleship is
Jesus himself. It is to him that we
give our undivided loyalty. He is
our principle of unity. What should
craving for the special greetings in
public places, this should be thought
of as a natural consequence of the
dignity they claimed for themselves.
It is thus natural on the whole
that they sought the best places in
the banquet to which a Pharisee
invited them together with Jesus.
In our society of unequal wealth
and status, one could always find
sympathy with the Pharisees. At
our formal dinners, we more often
than not have a list of guests to be
seated at the presidential table. We
know that the seating arrangement
ultimately bind us together is not law,
political party, power, or economic
interest, but the person of Jesus
himself. Should there be a conflict
between our ethnic allegiance and
our allegiance to Jesus, it is the latter
that ought to prevail. Hence, Jesus
said, “If anyone comes to me without
hating his father and mother, wife
and his children, his brothers and
sisters, indeed his very self, he cannot
be my follower” (Luke 14:26). Each
of us lives in a network of loyalties—
loyalty to family, clan, school,
political party, friends, business
partners, corporations, etc.—but the
claims of Jesus precede all of them.
Since Jesus is the center of one’s life
and that of the community, all other
ties are reformulated in terms of our
relationship to Jesus. To emphasize
this priority, Luke uses the Semitic
expression “to hate” which does not
mean to loath or to consider oneself
as a scum, but which means to turn
away from, to detach oneself from,
to renounce oneself and family ties
and surrender oneself totally to
Jesus. Matthew, instead of retaining
the original hyperbolic form, tones
down the force of the saying by
paraphrasing it: “The man who loves
his father or mother more than me”
(Matt 18:37). Still, the point is that
one forgoes the security of family
ties so he can be totally united to
Jesus. But here, it is not only a
question of loving; it is rather a
question of making Jesus the center
both of one’s individual life and of
community life.
This brings us to the next point.
Since it is a question of making
Jesus not only the object of love
but also the center of the life of the
individual and the community, a
deeper meaning of discipleship is
unraveled. To be a disciple is to
undergo a transformation which
is seen in one’s new way of life,
since Jesus’ words, works and life
constitute a new principle that
defines and informs one’s life.
This means that Jesus’ way of life
becomes our way of life. It is for this
reason that Jesus added, “Anyone
who does not take up his cross and
follow me cannot be my disciple”
(Luke 14:27). The saying is of course
metaphorical. The cross was an
ancient instrument of torture and
execution for disreputable persons,
like slaves, thieves and rebels.
provides much indication of the
social standing not only of the guests
but also of the host himself. Tell
me who are your visitors, and I will
tell you who you are. Of course,
social climbers have been known
from Adam. Indeed, how often
we emphasize the importance of
knowing the right people, especially
because what is of consequence
nowadays in not so much what you
know as who you know. Unlike the
Pharisees, though, we do consider
dignity not in terms of following
Salvation / B7
People like them forfeited life and
honor. Jesus’ words are therefore
an invitation to give up personal
life and honor and embrace a life
of suffering, even to the point of
martyrdom. Such a life is certainly
devoid of self-assertion and self-
interest. Consequently, it is a life
that surrenders everything one has:
“none of you can be my disciple
if he does not renounce all his
possessions” (Luke 14:33).
One’s life is thus so transformed
that his outlook, behavior and
relationships are concentrated
on Jesus; at the same time, Jesus
defines one’s outlook, behavior and
relationships. The second reading
(Phil 9b-10.12-17) provides us an
example. Philemon, a resident at
Colossae and man of substance, had
a slave named Onesimus. At that
time, slavery was a social institution
in which a person was legally owned
by a master as property to be used at
will and counted nothing in the social
scale. Onesimus then was a man of
no rights. In the present letter, Paul
asked Philemon to receive his slave
as a brother (vv 16-17). To receive
a slave as a brother in the Lord is
a manifestation of what having
Jesus as the center of personal and
community life entails in a divided
social relationship between master
and slave. Of course, Paul did not
abolish the institution of slavery—
that would have been impossible;
but making Christ the center of
community life is irreconcilable
with the institution of slavery,
since in Christ “there is no more
Jew or Greek, slave or free, man
and woman” (Gal 3:27-28). Such
principle transformed the social
relationship between Onesimus and
Philemon, and one is not surprised
that people in the long run realized
how incompatible the institution of
slavery with Christianity was.
In the Old Testament, this
transformation is called wisdom
(Wisd 9:13-19, 1st Reading). When
such a change happens, one can be
certain that division is overcome,
self-interest is emptied of itself, and
the possibility of living together is
removed from the realm of dreams.
Yes, we can live together—if we
make Christ as the center of our
community life in discipleship. And
when that happens, the Kingdom of
God is realized, however partially.
August 19 - September 1, 2019 Vol. 23 No. 17
The challenge to be humble
and generous
22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C, (Luke 14:1.7-14)
September 1, 2019
By Fr. Sal Putzu, SDB
A LITERAL and superficial
interpretation of the conclusion
of the first part of today’s Gospel
passage can be misleading. It sounds
as if one should choose the lowest
place in order to be invited to move
higher, right in front of everybody.
(See Lk 14:10.) Such an intention/
attitude could hardly be called
humility. Rather, it should be called
hypocrisy. And it can hardly be what
Jesus is trying to teach his fellow
guests and us.
This section should not be
understood as suggesting a wrong
intention in the one who chooses
the lowest place; rather it states a
fact—how God (the Host) will treat
those who in this life have treasured
and practised humility. He will exalt
them, even as He will clamp down
those who have proudly exalted
themselves. (See v. 11. See also
Mary’s Canticle, Lk 1:52.) All this
amounts to an exaltation of God’s
justice and fairness. He promises a
reward to all those who deserve it,
even as He threatens punishment
to the unworthy.
And rightly so, for there is
nothing more revolting than pride,
and nothing more pleasing than
genuine humility. While pride is
the ultimate root of all sins and
vices, humility is the mother of all
virtues. Quite simply, these are the
two fundamental opposite attitudes
which will determine our eternal
destiny.
Contrary to all appearances,
pride is the manifestation of a
terrible spiritual poverty and moral
blindness. For all his/her self-
sufficiency, a proud person needs
others against whom to measure
himself/herself and feel that he/she
is stronger, richer, prettier, more
intelligent, more powerful, . . . more
everything! In their moral blindness,
The challenge to love as
Christ did and does
23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C, (Luke 14:23-33)
September 8, 2019
By Fr. Sal Putzu, SDB
ALL spiritual masters and great
leaders are noted for their being quite
demanding with their followers.
But none of them is as demanding
as Jesus. In fact, he requires that
his disciples practice a radical
detachment not only from material
things, but also from their closest
family ties and their very selves.
These demands are spelled out in
the sternest possible terms in the
first part of today’s Gospel passage.
(See Lk 14:26-27.) Even in the rather
mild rendering of our preferred
translation, the request that we
love Jesus more than our father,
mother, wife and children, brothers
and sisters and one’s very self (see v.
26) is undoubtedly the most radical
demand a leader can make of his
prospective disciples. We might
even get the wrong impression that
Jesus is a “heartless man” and would
want all his followers to be heartless,
too . . .
But, for sure, this is not what Jesus
is, or what he wants his disciples
to be, for there never was nor will
there ever be a greater and more
tender lover than he. It was he who,
up to the last hours of his earthly
life, kept insisting on one basic
CBCP Monitor
proud people refuse to recognize
that all the good qualities and assets
they possess are gifts from the Lord.
Deeply envious of the qualities or
success of others, they deny them or
attribute them to wrong intentions
or dealings . . . . Proud people feel
a devouring need to display their
trophies and achievements. They
refuse even to contemplate the
possibility of failing, but all the while
they keep nose-diving into their
final, irreparable failure – hell!
Diametrically opposite to such
spiritual misery and self-destructive
attitude towers humility, the sign
and fruit of a wonderful spiritual
richness. Humble persons see
themselves and others as gifts.
They readily acknowledge this truth,
and joyfully thank the Donor. Mary
is the most stupendous example of
such humility. (See the “Magnificat,”
especially Lk 1:46-49.)
Happy in receiving with gratitude,
and happier still in giving without
expecting thanks or reward, or
anything in return, humble people
readily rejoice in the good qualities
or successes of their neighbor. They
see no place, no occupation as being
too low for them, while considering
all others worthier than themselves.
Humble people see themselves
as having the mission to be helpful
to others, and continually try their
best to accomplish such mission.
They can be defined as “people for
others.” When they fail, they never
feel humiliated, for even the most
bitter failure is for them a stepping
stone toward the final success—
heaven!
Jesus Christ, the greatest of all,
was also the most humble of all. He
is the champion of all the humble.
All his life (including his death)
was the clearest example of what a
humble person should be and do.
commandment: “Love one another
as I have loved you.” (See Jn 13:34-
35; 15:12f.17. See also 1 Jn 4:21.)
What then does Jesus mean with his
shocking demands?
He asks us to overcome the
instinctive inclination to love in
an almost idolatric manner the
persons dearest to us. He wants
his disciples to learn to love as
he does. He wants them to love
their relatives and friends in a
“detached and pure manner.” Such
“detachment” and “purity” obviously
entail a tremendous amount of self-
forgetfulness and generosity. Not all
are able and willing to make so great
a sacrifice.
But for those who do their best
to comply with such a challenging
demand, a wonderful reward lies in
store—they will become able to love
their own people in a purified and
refined manner. They will love them
in Christ and as Christ loves them.
That’s the way he loved his mother
Mary and his disciples.
Not only this. Once they have
reached that degree of purification
and refinement in loving their
relatives, the disciples will be able
Challenge / B7
CBCP Monitor August 19 - September 1, 2019 Vol. 23 No. 17 SOCIAL CONCERNS B7

Helping the work of Saint Teresa in Calcutta

By Fr. Shay Cullen

Saint Teresa of Calcutta is pictured with an ailing man in an undated photo. CNS/CATHOLIC PRESS PHOTO
TO walk and meet a canonized saint
is a wonderful experience and that
I did when Saint Teresa came to
Manila. Yet many years previous
to that, it was my visit to her home
and that of the Missionaries of
Charity in Calcutta that had a
profound effect on me and my life.
The anniversary of her canonization
will be celebrated on 4th September
and her feast day is that of her death
anniversary on 5th September. So
it is timely to reflect on her work
from my actual experience of being
part of it.
I was welcomed in Calcutta (now
Kolkata) by the community of the
Missionary Brothers of Charity,
an order of young brothers started
by Mother Teresa with the help
of Father Ian Traverse Ball, an
Australian Jesuit dedicated in
helping the work of Saint Teresa and
her Sisters in the Calcutta slums.
There were about fifty brothers
living in the three-story house with
a flat roof. I was asked to be chaplain
for a few weeks until Father Andrew
(the name that Father Ian later
on took) returned from leave. It
was a very simple, ascetic living.
All unnecessary and superfluous
things were eliminated. We were all
considered brothers and “washers
of feet.” This is the spirit of Saint
Teresa: service to the poor is faith
in action.
It was a community of prayer,
meditation, reflection and service.
We sat on the floor on little cushions
in a circle for the celebration of
the Eucharist. Bread, baked by the
brothers, and a small cup of wine,
were offered on a large wooden plate
with flower petals and smoking
incense sticks. “Do this in memory
of me” is what we did. We broke
the bread and passed a cup of wine
into which we dipped the sacred
bread. We called it having a meal of
friendship or merienda with Jesus.
I was soon trudging out into the
slums with a small band of brothers,
making our way through crowds of
poor hungry people, many of whom
shuffled along from weakness or
deformity. While I walked with the
Brothers of Charity through this
wilderness of human suffering, I
felt as Saint Teresa must have felt-
frustrated and wanting to be able
to change it all and end the social
inequality. While striving for that,
we had to help those in immediate
need.
It was just a few rich owning so
much while billions suffered poverty
and hunger. It was similar in the
Philippines. In a world of vast wealth
and riches and mountains of surplus
food, why were so many starving
and dying in pain and loneliness,
rejected and abandoned? Would
justice ever come, I wondered.
The next day I joined the brothers
on their regular medical mission.
We entered a yard where a mobile
clinic was parked. We drove off,
crossed the big bridge that spanned
the Hooghly River, it was chocolate
brown from pollution and filth. The
mobile clinic stopped in the most
dilapidated and awful part of the
city. There were rats moving about
everywhere, unafraid, pausing to
look at us with glint in their beady
eyes, and then rummaging on
through the piles of garbage.
An animal stable stank like a
cesspool and nearby was a discarded
slaughterhouse. It was to this
festering armpit of indescribable
destitution that the lepers came, as
it was one of the few places where they
could come for treatment far away and
banned from society. They appeared
from clapboard hovels, sewers, and
tunnels. They welcomed the brothers,
unashamed of their own rotting putrid
flesh festering day by day.
Dirty rags covered the worst of
their wounds. They were the stricken,
the wretched of the earth, the real
untouchables—but not for the
brothers. Their cheerful banter with
the lepers whom they knew by name
showed me how they were friends
to these unwanted castaways of
humanity. Each had a medical record
in the mobile clinic and a history
of their treatment. The project
was to contact new sufferers and
administer drugs that would prevent
the leprosy from progressing. Those
already badly infected has no chance
of recovery but the progress of the
disease could be delayed. It was the
daily work of the Brothers of Saint
Teresa.
The patients were excited and
curious by my presence and soon
the Brothers were cracking jokes in
Urdu with them. I didn’t understand
but I could feel I was part of the
team. I was busy in preparing
the medicines that were to be
distributed and opening boxes of
clean bandages. The patients were
lining up to have their old bandages
removed, wounds dressed and
bandaged again.
After an hour, there was a long
line and the brothers encouraged
me to help with the dressings. They
gave me a pair of surgical gloves and
I couldn’t refuse an old man who
stretched out his bandaged hand to
me. To refuse would be unthinkable,
as if I rejected him, but I reached out
to help him, inexperienced as I was.
But I had first aid field training on
treating wounds when I was in the
Irish army reserve and knew what
had to be done.
I cut away the dirty cloth to reveal
the decaying fingers. The old man
didn’t feel anything because the
nerve endings were gone so I didn’t
have to worry about hurting him.
I swabbed away the pus and dirt,
applied an antiseptic ointment and
began to dress and bandage the
fingers. Two had already been half-
eaten away. It was my first effort
and he was so thankful and pleased.
Soon I was wrapping clean
bandages on the rotting fingers
of another old man. Then I was
dabbing another with cotton wool
and iodine. We performed simple
surgery; there was none else to do it.
I proceeded with greater confidence
urged on by the leper vigorously
nodding his head in approval. I
must be doing the right thing, I
thought, as I lobbed off another
bit of rotten finger of another
patient who seemed happy to get
the attention and help. I was pleased
with my efforts.
We had treated almost fifty by
noon. We continued to clean and
wash their wounds and wrap them in
clean bandages and then closed the
mobile clinic and distributed parcels
of food and headed for home, leaving
behind a happier group of the truly
wretched of the earth weakly waving
their bandaged limbs in gratitude.

Judicial / B2

respondent) or the parts have appeared before
the judge to pursue the case, the processal
relation between the respondent and the judge
is consolidated.
2) Birth of the instance (c.1517)—i.e., it give
rise to the instance or process.
c. Reply to the Charge. The judge
specifies the modes of replying in the citation
(c.1507,§1), which can be either:
1) Written, which shall contain the reply
of the respondent to the petition of the actor
contained in the libellus (c.1513, §2).
2) Oral, by appearing before the single judge
or the president of the tribunal. This mode
is stipulated for more difficult cases, for the
determination of the terms of the controversy
(c.1513,§1).
d. Different Postures of the
Respondent. The respondent can adopt
various positions in relation to the charge, any
of which constitutes a reply:
1) Contempt: A juridic situation (i.e., the
tribunal has to declare it) arising from the
inactivity of the respondent, who neither
shows up before the tribunal, nor alleges any
excuse.
2) Agreement: The declaration of the will of
the respondent of total conformity with the
pretension of the petitioner.
3) Opposition: The explicit defense of the
respondent, opposing the pretension of the
petitioner.
4) Reconvention: The explicit defense of the
respondent, not by opposing the pretension of
the petitioner, but by positing a counter-claim
action against him.
e. The Joinder of the Issues
(Litiscontestatio). The litiscontestatio
is a juridical situation which results from the
determination of the object of litigation, based
on the petition and reply of the parts, and
declared by a decree of the judge.
The joinder of the issues has the following
effects:
1) Interruption good faith (c.1514): It
interrupts the good faith of the possessor of
an object.
2) Petrifaction of the object of litigation:
The object of controversy can be modified
subsequently only through a new judicial
decree, by instance of a part alleging serious
reason, and after hearing the other part.
3) Closure of introductory stage: With this,
the processal relation is perfected. (To be continued)
4) Expectation of probatory stage. The CIC
does not establish a deadline for the opening
of the probatory stage, but leaves it to the
discretion of the judge (c.1516).
Summary of the Introductory
Stage
We can appreciate better the stepwise
consolidation of the processal relation as
follows:
1) Petition: Establishes the relation judge-
petitioner.
2) Citation: Establishes the relation judge-
respondent.
3) Litiscontestatio: Establishes the object
of the litigation.

Salvation / B6 Challenge / B6

the law, but in terms of power and
wealth.
In the Gospel, Luke portrays
Jesus as setting rules for guests
and host at a banquet. At first
blush, it would seem that Jesus was
giving the invited Pharisees and
their host a worldly wisdom with
regard to seeking out position of
prestige, meant at the same time as
a warning against embarrassment
in social functions. As it appears,
Jesus’ teaching about seeking the
lowest place at a banquet echoes an
Old Testament wisdom: “Claim no
honor in the king’s presence, nor
occupy the place of great men; for
it is better that you be told, ‘Come
up closer,’ than that you be humbled
before the prince” (Prov 25:6-7).
We do not know if historically
Jesus was concerned with proper
decorum in this episode; but there
is much reason to think that the
intention of Luke is not limited to
social etiquette. For one thing, Luke
clearly states that this is a parable
(Luke 14:7), and in Luke a parable is
usually about the Kingdom of God.
For another, one finds it strange that
in the entire gospel, it is only in these
sayings that Jesus concerns himself
with social etiquette. One may not
be mistaken in regarding the gospel
text not as rules of etiquette or social
graces but, most likely, as matters on
social behavior used to teach us two
important points about the Kingdom
of God.
The first lesson concerns the
composition of the Kingdom of God.
From his observation on guests
competing for the best places at
table to show their status before
other guests and the host, Jesus
draws the lesson that membership
in the community of the Kingdom
does not depend on one’s merits,
social standing or economic status.
Unlike in many marriage banquets,
these count nothing in the Kingdom
of God. We do not save ourselves by
these means. Salvation is the work of
God in the first place. Hence, those
who consider themselves worthy
of high places in the Kingdom, like
the Pharisees in Jerusalem who
expected the best seats as reward for
their meticulous observance of the
law, will find themselves humbled
to take the lowest places. After all,
they have received their reward in
the honor that banquets brought
them. Rather, membership in the
Kingdom, which can be identified
with one’s salvation, is given as an
unmerited gift to those whom God
in Jesus calls. He invites those who
acknowledge their unworthiness
before him. It is these who will
ultimately find themselves raised
up to high places. This reversal
of fortune is best expressed in
Mary’s canticle: “He has deposed the
mighty from their thrones and raise
the lowly to high places” (Luke 1:52).
Second, in the Kingdom of God,
fellowship is of great value. After
all, salvation is about living in
fellowship with the Triune God
and the saints. But this will not be
realized without having to cultivate
fellowship with those who are in the
lower brackets of society. It may be
recalled that the Pharisees refused
social contact with those who could
not fulfill the requirements of the
Pharisaic piety. This gave the
impression that, if the Pharisaic
practice was an indication of the
Kingdom of God, those who formed
part of the lowest rung of the Jewish
society, were to be excluded from
the communion in the eschatological
banquet. But it is precisely against
this tradition that Jesus’ words
about hosts at banquet are directed:
“When you hold a banquet, invite the
poor, the crippled, the lame and the
blind” (Luke 14:13). Indeed, merely
to associate with those who belong
to one’s social circle or standing,
or with those whom one wishes to
be with reinforces the inequality of
society. For Jesus, to be generous
toward those who are excluded by
standard piety constitutes a required
behavior in a community that reflects
the Kingdom of God. This recalls
Jesus’ sermon: “If you love those who
love you, what credit is that to you?”
(Luke 6:32). He illustrates this by
saying that those who belong to the
Kingdom of God cannot but show
solidarity with the poor, the crippled,
the lame and the blind by sharing
with them the festive table. When
they do this, the Pharisees would
show that they have been converted
to the values of the Kingdom.
to love everybody, without fear
or inhibitions. They will love not
only the lovable and the loving,
but also the un-lovable and the
un-loving. Their behavior will be
characterized by an attitude of
appreciation, acceptance, respect,
encouragement, attention . . .
toward all. Everyone will feel
“known” and loved in a very
personal manner.
Such a feeling experienced by
the persons who see themselves as
the object of a delicate, sincere and
affirming love will prompt in them
a similar response/attitude. It will
draw out from them the hero and
the saint that had been buried by
avalanches of rejection, neglect,
hatred or lust-filled love.
On seeing such a result, both in
themselves and in those they love,
the disciples will understand the
wisdom of Jesus’ demand and its
fruitfulness. They will be extremely
grateful to their Master for having
challenged them to soar to such
heights. And they will rejoice
in him who is the “Lord of all
beautiful LOVE.”
B8 ENTERTAINMENT August 19 - September 1, 2019 Vol. 23 No. 17 CBCP Monitor

Buhay San Miguel Brothers Matias

Fast and Furious: Hobbs & Shaw

Director: David Leitch
Lead Cast: Dwayne Johnson,
Jason Statham, Idris Elba,
Vanessa Kirby
TERIBOL OG Bladimer Usi
Screenwriters: Chris Morgan,
Drew Pearce
Producers: Hiram Garcia,
Dwayne Johnson, Chris
Morgan, Jason Statham
Editor: Christopher Rouse
Musical Director: Tyler Bates
Cinematographer: Jonathan
Sela
Genre: Action
Distributor: Columbia Pictures
Location: England, Scotland,
California, Hawaii
Running Time: 2hr 14min

Technical assessment: 3.5

Moral assessment: 3
CINEMA rating: V 14 But while you’ll miss the
MTRCB rating: PG original cast save for Dwayne

M16 agent Hattie Shaw
(Vanessa Kirby) and her
team extract a virus from
the biotechnology company
Eteon. The virus can liquefy
a person’s organs, and Eteon
intends to use it to kill millions
of people. Brixton Lore (Idris
Elba), Eteon’s superhuman
cyborg, kills all of Hattie’s
team. Cornered, Hattie
injects the virus on herself
and escapes. US agent Luke
Hobbs (Dwayne Johnson)
and ex-British military
operative Deckard Shaw
(Jason Statham) are deployed
to rescue Hattie before
Brixton can get to her. In the
mission, Hobbs and Shaw are
locked in endless squabbles
because they just so dislike
each other, like frenemies.
And Shaw is incensed that
Hobbs is gravitated to Hattie,
who turns out to be Shaw’s
estranged sister.
Fast and Furious Presents
has loads of action and a
decent plot to hold everything
together, with the altercations
and brawls between Shaw
and Hobbs sustaining the
momentum. Thanks to CGI
and other special effects,
the story transports us to
four countries: US, Russia,
Ukraine, and Hawaii. If
you haven’t seen any of
the previous movies in the
franchise, that’s alright. This
spin-off — minus Vin Diesel
and the rest of the team —
introduces a new material.
Buhay Parokya
Johnson, you’ll be amused to
see cameos of Helen Mirren FIND 3 MISSING THINGS:
as Shaw’s mom in prison and 1. VIRGIN MARY
Ryan Reynolds as a CIA agent. 2. HOLY CHALICE
While the movie is replete 3. SAINT PAUL
with lessons of family, love,
and brotherhood across
race and color, we regret
we can’t recommend it for
young children. It’s riddled
with expletives, strong words,
and violence. CINEMA does
commend the movie for
building a story around the
conflict between technology
and humanity and the danger
of allowing technology to be
more than a tool to mankind
and becoming lord to man.
It is no wonder that the
climax of the story happens
in the beautiful island of
Samoa, where there are no
guns because there is no
need for them. People live
peacefully. When Eteon came,
the Samoans fight with heart
and might. We also appreciate
the theme of reconciliation,
where forgiveness leads
to understanding and
acceptance. Hobbs and his
brother were estranged and
then they forgive. Hattie
disowned her brother Shaw
and then they reconcile.
One other thing. As in many
Hollywood movies these
days, the women of Fast and
Furious are strong, resolute,
and upright — the kind you’d
want to be on the same side
with when there are difficult
choices to make and wars to
wage.

Indak
DIRECTOR: Paul Alexie
Basinillo
LEAD CAST: Nadine Lustre,
Sam Concepcion, Yayo Aguila
SCREENWRITER: Paul Alexei
Basinillo, Juvy Galaminton, Kim
Noromor
PRODUCER: Vicente del
Rosario III, Veronique del
Rosario-Corpus
GENRE: Drama, Dance,
Musical
CINEMATOGRAPHER:
Odyssey Flores
DISTRIBUTOR: Viva Films
LOCATION: Philippines, South
Korea
RUNNING TIME: 117 minutes
Technical assessment: 3
Moral assessment: 3.5
CINEMA rating: V 13
MTRCB rating: PG

Hilig ni Jen (Nadine Lustre)
ang pagsayaw at pangarap
niyang makilala sa talentong
ito. Kaya’t nang may nag-
upload ng video kung saan
makikita ang husay niya
sa pag-indak habang nasa
bangka sa gitna ng dagat,
maraming humanga sa kanya
at nag-viral ito. Hinanap siya
ni Vin (Sam Concepcion) at
sinadyang pinuntahan kahit
pa sa isla siya nakatira upang
kumbinsihin na sumali sa
grupo nilang Indak Pinas na
makikipaglaban sa nalalapit
na paligsahan sa South Korea.
Bagama’t hindi sigurado at
may alinlangan sa sariling
kakayahan (gawa ng isang
mahapding karanasan sa
pagsayaw nung nakababata
pa siya), tinanggap na rin
niya ang alok ni Vin. Sa
basbas ng kanyang ina (Yayo
Aguila), sumama siya kay
Vin at naglayag patungong
Maynila upang mag-ensayo
at maghanda para sa
kumpetisyon.
Mahusay ang daloy at
pagkakalahad ng kuwento ng
Indak. Ipinakita sa pelikula
ang iba’t-ibang daigdig —
nariyan ang buhay sa isla,
sa siyudad, at sa ibayong
dagat. Sa sentro nito ay isang
babaeng nag-aagam-agam
at tila di tiyak sa kanyang
sarili at sa tunay na naisin
sa buhay. Makabago ang
paglalahad nito ng kuwento
— walang histerya, halos
walang mabibigat na eksena
— kumbaga sa sayaw ay alalay
lang at kusang dumadaloy.
Sa umpisa tila nakakabagot
ngunit habang lumalalim at
yumayabong ang kuwento,
kasabay ng mga indakan
at tugtugin, naliliwanagan
ang manonood na hindi
lang ito basta pelikulang
romansa o patungkol sa pag-
abot sa pangarap — tungkol
ito sa ating kasarinlan
bilang Pilipino na ipininta
sa makabagong panahon.
Mahusay ang naging
pagganap ni Lustre. Lutang
na lutang ang kanyang
husay dito hindi lamang
sa pag-arte kundi maging
sa pagsayaw at pagkanta
rin. Hindi rin matatawaran
ang angking galing ni
Concepcion sa pagsayaw at
pag-awit. Marahil nagkulang
sa lalim ng kilig o relasyon
ng dalawa ngunit maari na
itong palagpasin lalo pa’t
hindi naman ito ang sentro
ng kuwento. Mas naiangat
pa rin sana ang husay ng
lahat sa pagsayaw kung mas
naging kamangha-mangha
pa ang kanilang ipinakitang
pag-indak. Ngunit para sa
isang pelikulang nangahas
ipagyabang at sumugal sa
galing ng Pinoy sa pag-
indak, kapuri-puri pa rin ang
pelikula.
Hitik sa aral at
pagpapahalagang Pilipino
ang Indak. Nariyan ang
walang tigil na paalala
ng pelikula ukol sa hindi
paglimot sa pinanggalingan.
Nagsusumigaw ang
mensaheng ito sa maraming
eksena lalo na nung nasa Korea
na ang grupo — at madalas Hindi matatawaran ang
na ipinapaalala kay Jen naging dedikasyon ng bawat
hanggang sa huling sandali miyembro ng Indak Pinas
na anuman ang marating makamit lamang ang kanilang
niya’y mahalagang hindi siya inaasam-asam na pangarap.
lumimot kung sino siya at Pinakabuod na mensahe ng
kung saan siya nanggaling. pelikula ay ito — malawak
Sa panahong ito kung saan ang daigdig at maari mong
talamak sa mga kabataan ang abutin anumang pangarap
pagkakaroon ng maraming mo, ngunit wala nang higit
tanong at agam-agam ukol pang lalalim at lalawak
sa kanilang pagkatao, maging kaysa iyong karanasan at
ng kanilang kasarinlan bunga pagkatao na may kakayanang
ng impluwensiya ng social magmalasakit at magmahal
media, narito ang isang kasabay ng kakayanang
pelikulang nagsasabing mangarap at bumangon
hindi dapat kalimutan ang mula sa pagkabigo.
pinagmulan at dapat laging Makabuluhan ang pelikula
ipagmalaki ang kasarinlan. lalo na sa kabataan — ngunit
Nariyan din ang mga aral nangangailangan pa rin ng
ukol sa pagpapahalaga sa gabay ng magulang habang
magulang at pamilya at nanonood ang sinumang
tunay na pagkakaibigan. nasa edad 13 pababa.

CBCP Monitor. Vol. 23 No. 17
Celebrating Mary Most Holy
Mother Of Light
By Alma Alvarez
The Blessed Virgin Mary goes
by many names and titles, and
each Catholic has his or her
own personal favorite Marian
devotion. The Philippines,
dedicated to the Blessed Virgin
Mary as early as the Spanish
era, has the Our Lady of Guada-
lupe as patroness. In fact, Fili-
pinos call themselves Pueblo
Amante de Maria, a people in
love with Mary.
It is no small wonder then why the
CFC Handmaids of the Lord have
always been devoted to the Blessed
Mother, Mary being the first hand-
maid. HOLD honors her every year in
August with the Marian Conference.
Why August? Because it is during this
month when the Church celebrates not
one, not two, but five Marian feasts—
Our Lady of the Angels (August 2),
Our Lady of the Snows (August 5), Our
Lady, Refuge of Sinners (August 13),
Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
(August 15), and Queenship of Mary
(August 22).
And so let us have no more of the
superstition of August being the “ghost
month” and begin celebrating Mary,
Most Holy Mother of Light!
Mary, Lady of Light
On August 10, 2019, about 1,200
leaders of the CFC HOLD gathered
at the Henry Lee Irwin Theater,
Ateneo de Manila for the annual
HOLD Marian Conference. Del-
egates from Metro Manila, Batan-
gas, Bicol, Bulacan, Laguna, Rizal,
Quezon, Zambales, and even as far
as Mindanao came to honor the
Blessed Mother.
Our Lady’s apparitions have always
been accompanied by bright, glorious
light. What is the significance of this
light? In the first session, HOLD MM
West C Coordinator Allen Victorio
discussed three Marian apparitions
accompanied by brilliant light—the
CFC ANCOP HONORS DONORS, PARTNERS
On July 6, 2019, CFC ANCOP honored its
partners and donors through the ANCOP
Thanksgiving Night. Aptly titled “Be the
Light Concert”, the Thanksgiving Night
was held at the UP Bahay ng Alumni. Insti-
tutional partners, donors from Couples for
Christ (CFC) areas across the world, and CFC
Metro Manila Sectors attended the evening
of music and thanksgiving. Through the
concert, ANCOP wanted to promote good-
will and build a stronger relationship with
all its stakeholders. It was also part of CFC
ANCOP’s commitment to improve its ser-
vices for all stakeholders as an ISO-certified
organization.
The evening opened with Holy Mass
presided by Fr. Benedict Lagarde of the
Missionaries of Jesus. Fr. Benedict honored
the mission to the poor programs of CFC.
Reflecting on the Gospel message about the
mission of the 72, he reminded everyone
Ugnayan
THE NEWS SUPPLEMENT OF COUPLES FOR CHRIST
CFC HOLD Marian Conference features "To the Light with Mary", a celebration of the Blessed Mother as the Lady of Light. (photos: Arthur del Rio)
apparition to Catherine Laboure (Our
Lady of the Miraculous Medal), to the
three children in Portugal, and the
apparition of The Lady of Light in
Zeitoun, Egypt.
Mary Represented by Celestial Bodies
Celestial bodies are not solely symbols
of the occult or new age movements.
The Blessed Virgin Mary has many
titles, named after heavenly bodies.
Here are some of them:
• Mary the Rainbow - In the Book
of Revelation, St. John mentions a
rainbow which encircles the throne
of God (Revelation 4:3). According
to St. Bernardine of Sienna, it was
of the same rainbow that God made
of the Kingdom that is awaiting those who
answer the cry of the poor. He said, “The last
thing that dies is hope. Habang may buhay ay
[may] nagbibigay buhay,” (As long as we are
alive, we can give life to others.).
The program officially started with an in-
vocation by Elisha Jean Galarosa from North
B5 followed by the National Anthem led by
the Metro Manila South B Chorale. The night
began with a classical piano performance
by Paolo and Miguel Panagsagan, Youth for
Christ leaders from Metro Manila Central A.
Lito Tayag, former CFC ANCOP Chairman,
welcomed all the guests and attendees while
CFC ANCOP President Rudy Gaspillo, gave
an inspirational message.
Gaspillo spoke of the virtue of humility in
working with the poor, to keep on working
“behind-the-scenes” and to let God be known
and glorified. He said, “You are here tonight
not by your own making [or] your plans, but
a covenant with Noah after the
flood. This bow of eternal peace is
associated with Mary, who is the
“bridge of peace” who brings all
of mankind’s prayers through her
intercession so that God may for- • Mary, Morning Star - Not to
give their sins and confirm peace
with them.
• Mary, Star of the Sea - This
particular title may be based on
3 Kings 18:41-45, where a little
cloud, as small as a man’s hand,
appears above the sea as a sign of
hope for drought-stricken Israel.
The prophet Elias (Elijah),who
saw the cloud, understood this as
the symbol of the Virgin to come,
based on the prophecies of Isaiah.
Hence, Mary, Star of the Sea, has
it is the Lord who brought you to this venue,
to collectively glorify and honor Him for
using us all to be part of His grand plan [of]
salvation to the poor, whom He loves the
most.” He congratulated the partners and
donors for answering the call of the Lord to
help the poor. He expressed his hope for the
work of ANCOP to be sustained.
Each of the Metro Manila big sectors
performed onstage in the program that
followed.
The awarding of certificates for the Top
10 ANCOP Global Walk Donors of each
Metro Manila sector and the recognition
of partners who are the top donors to CFC
ANCOP programs was the highlight of the
evening. Among the top donor countries
were ANCOP Canada International, ANCOP
USA, ANCOP Australia, CFC UAE, CFC New
Zealand, CFC Qatar, CFC Oman, CFC Singa-
pore, CFC ANCOP DONORS NIGHT / P2
August 19 - September 1, 2019 C1
been invoked by sea workers. She • Mary the Moon - Early Church
is calmer of the storm, navigating fathers said Christ is the greater
the faithful through the tempests light who rules the just, and Mary
of life, guiding all towards the har- the lesser light, who rules the sin-
bor of safety who is Jesus, her Son. ners cast in the darkness. Pope
Innocent III wrote, “Whoever is in
confuse this with Jesus being the night of sin, let him cast his eyes
referred to as the Morning Star on the moon and look to Mary.”
in Revelation 22:16, the Blessed The moon reflects the light from
Mother is more associated with the sun, just like Mary reflects the
the planet Venus, commonly light of Christ.
known to astronomers as the
morning star. The planet Venus What do these titles of Mary signify? It
radiates a star-like light before is the fact that in man’s darkness, Mary
dawn, a few hours before the sun is always present. Some of the Blessed
rises. The sequence of appearance Mother’s apparitions also came in man’s
of the star Venus before the sun is darkest periods of history, whether
symbolic of Mary’s appearance war, or famine, or the reign of evil. And
before Jesus, who became man. MARIAN CONFERENCE / P2
MC TEACHING NIGHT
UNPLANNED: Movie Screening
SM Sucat
SM North EDSA
Mon & Tita Santiago of CFC &
SM North EDSA Heartbeat Asia
SM Fairview
SM Megamall
The CFC Metro Manila Mission Core held another special
movie screening for its Teaching Night on August 21, 2019,
this time for the film Unplanned. The movie is the true-to-life
transformation story of Abby Johnson, former Planned Parent-
hood clinic director in Texas. The film is being shown in 23 SM
Cinemas nationwide beginning August 21.
C2 August 19 - September 1, 2019 Vol. 23 No. 17 CBCP Monitor

FROM THE CHAIRMAN CFC O.N.E.

Rabboni Francis B. Arjonillo Michael C. Ariola

CFC and Technology:

John En Marsha Is Now On “Netflix!” When You Change the Way You Look at Things,
I was watching a re-run of household meetings. I eagerly in spreading the good news of the Things You Look at Change
John en Marsha on a local TV follow the teachings of my technology. In Venice, between 1610 and 1633, the great sci- that quartz technology came from Switzerland,
channel one night. During priest brother on his web page One day, he invited me entist Galileo had a hard time convincing people it was placed in the back burner of Swiss watch
a station break, I switched “Catholics Striving For Holi- to give a CLP talk. After the that Nicolaus Copernicus’ model of the universe makers for another country to take and develop.
channels and came across the ness.” My Apple notebook is talk, a CFC elder approached was right. According to Copernicus, the sun is the The rest is history.
story of Amazon Company connected to the LED TV of me and warned me not to use center of the universe and that the Earth revolves If I could travel back to 1967, I would ask the
and Jeff Bezos, the richest man the household meeting host, or my LCD projector and power- around the sun, and not the other way around Swiss one question: “What is impossible today in
on earth – his worth is Php6.5 I use my “old” and reliable LCD point slides as it was not part which was the popular idea at that time. Galileo your industry that if it could be done, would fun-
Trillion. The documentary projector for my exhortation of our CFC culture. Obedi- even gathered the leaders and scientists of his time damentally change it for the better?” Of course,
kept me so riveted, I never got and sharings to enhance the ent as always, I was about to in San Marco to use his invention (the telescope) so I can’t travel back in time, but pondering on this
to see the end of what was my prayer meeting experience. dump this “new” technology they could examine this theory themselves. question, I came to these six realizations:
favorite show way back when. when I got a call again from However, he failed to convince the leaders and • When a paradigm shift happens, everyone
The Internet of Things is Powerpoint and CFC's Reggie. Lo and behold, this other scientists. What was worse was they actu- goes back to zero.
real. Ordering food, hiring Point of Power same elder was requesting ally they badgered him and threatened him with • The people who create new paradigms are
taxi service, booking someone The use of technology in me to create powerpoint torture, and Galileo was forced to publicly recant usually outsiders – they have nothing to lose
else’s house for vacation, buy- Couples for Christ confer- slides for him for a talk he his revolutionary concept. His critics were not by creating something new.
ing things small and huge are ences was, I would say, quite was about to give! The rest, appeased with his public recantation. They placed • Almost always, the new ideas affect those at
now done massively through accidental. Twenty years ago, as they say, is history. him on house arrest for the remainder of his life. the edge – the peripheries
the internet. Even the most I was invited to speak in the Talks today use more vivid This was an interesting trivia but I asked myself, • Practitioners of the old paradigm who choose
human act of forming and CFC Ecstasy Weekend echo visuals and are more interac- What kept these men from appreciating Galileo’s to embrace the new paradigm early in its de-
maintaining relationships conference in Puerto Princesa, tive, with apps such as Slido revolutionary idea? One baffling thought also kept velopment, like Galileo and the Japanese, have
has not escaped the internet’s Palawan. The MS Powerpoint and MentiMeter bringing coming back to mind: How come people still reject to be very courageous.
power. Now, social media is was a new application then. the pulse of the audience to fresh ideas to this day? • The decision to embrace a paradigm shift can
where we connect, re-connect However, in my work, about the doorstep of the speaker. We are in the 21st century, when anything only be made out of faith.
and un-connect. 15 years before that, I was that was seemingly impossible in the past is • The mark of these paradigm pioneers is
Everything we used to do in already using a presentation The Message is the Same already happening. Which brings me to the great courage… and trust in their intui-
my generation had EFFORT software called Storyboard but the Conveyance Can Be concept of paradigm shifts. What is a paradigm tive judgment.
plastered on our foreheads, that I introduced in De La Salle Different shift? According to the dictionary, a paradigm So what am I driving at here? Basically, the only
complete with sweat beads and the College of St. Benilde John Puruntong spread his shift is “a fundamental change in approach or thing constant in this world is change, and the only
racing down our faces. To where I was teaching part- fatherly wisdom and mes- underlying assumptions”. According to Wiki- thing that we should do is to embrace change, trust-
mail letters, we had to go to time. They were convinced sages of family love and unity pedia, a paradigm shift is a fundamental change ing that those who effect change have the best of
the post office. To go to the to buy LCD projectors, an using the bulky boob tube in the basic concepts and experimental practices intentions in mind. We may not know at the onset
province, we had to go to the unheard of teaching tool at of the 1970s as his medium. of a scientific discipline. what the change would bring because the effects
bus station to reserve tickets. that time. I thought that this His messages continue to be Big words? Let’s simplify and define the word of change may become evident only over a period
If we wanted to read, we went emerging technology would relevant today, preserved and “paradigm” first. “Paradigm” means model or of time. So the next best thing to do is to go with
to the bookstore to buy books. be most beneficial because it delivered to us on our flat pattern. “Shift” means a slight change in posi- change, and see where it will take you.
Today, our mobile phones can increased learning - compre- LED TV screens. tion, direction, or tendency. If we put them However, there are leaders in history who
do everything. Even breaking hension and retention – by a Who knows what the fu- together, it simply means “a change in pattern also wanted to effect change but failed to
up a relationship is now effort- whopping 400% according to ture holds? We can only or model”. see how introducing a paradigm shift would
less – you can just say Goodbye the latest studies. imagine. But as technology Here's another story. For hundreds of years, affect the world. Adolf Hitler, for instance,
through the Net. At that time, I needed continues to reshape our Switzerland was renowned for watch-making desired to rid Germany of Jews and establish a
The spiritual sphere has someone to help me con- culture, CFC must show its excellence. They ushered in the mechanical New Order to counter what he saw as injustices
not escaped the invasion of vince our CFC elders that adaptability to remain rel- watch, which made timekeeping revolution- of the post-World War I international order
the Net. Which is actually a this technology would be evant. The message and the ary. Men began to wear mechanical watches on dominated by Britain and France. His first six
good thing. The Laudate app good for the community. A Good News is the same. But their wrist. These watches were powered by a years in power “resulted in rapid economic
is a daily staple for me as I can stranger by the name of Reg- with a “flix” of a finger, the mainspring that needed to be wound regularly recovery from the Great Depression, repealed
follow the readings when I gie Ragojos was also a speaker Net will deliver the same to keep the watch running. In 1968, 65% of the restrictions imposed on Germany after World
go to Mass. The Bible app has in that conference. We met messages more effectively in world’s watch market share belonged to the War I, and the invasion of territories inhab-
reduced my time in searching at the airport on the way to a newer and fresher way from Swiss, translating to 80% of the profits. ited by millions of ethnic Germans, which gave
for appropriate Bible passages. Palawan and became instant the perspective of the Culture In the 1960’s, the Swiss developed the first him significant popular support. However, as a
You Tube is a regular in my friends as he too took interest of the Future. analog watch, which ran on batteries instead result, World War II was triggered, 5.5 million
of mainspring, with the movement regulated Jews became victims of genocide, and more than
by a quartz crystal. It was more accurate than a 40 million soldiers and civilians perished from
MARIAN CONFERENCE / P1 mainspring/mechanical watch, and the Swiss the war.”
won awards for this new technology. Then there is Jesus, considered a radical in
However, at around the same time, Japan had His time, the Pharisees and scribes could not
perfected the same technology and competed swallow the ideas that He was introducing. His
with Switzerland in the race to bring the watch own disciples followed Him, but even they were
industry into a new era. In 1969, a year after the uncertain about the future. But because Jesus
Swiss won their awards, Seiko released the first remained by their side, they were able to harvest
commercially available quartz watch. A year the fruits of their obedience to their Master and
later, the Swiss decided to come out with their Teacher. Today, 2,000 years after His ascension
own quartz watch, but Japan had been ahead to heaven, Jesus’ followers continue to grow in
of the game. number, with 1 billion Catholics and XX million
What happened there? Both countries had the Christians worldwide.
technology. However, Japan went right ahead Here we have two leaders who both introduced
and manufactured the quartz watches com- fresh ideas that brought about a paradigm shift
mercially. Switzerland, on the other hand, was among their followers, but they saw different
reluctant to use the technology. They thought outcomes. Was it in the manner they introduced
Mary, the light, always leads her children to the people celebrated the feast of St. Mark in a the quartz technology would be incompatible their new ideas? Was it in the way people re-
Light—her Son Jesus Christ. church that was being restored, they heard with the tradition and art that mechanical ceived and embraced the paradigm shift? What
a rustling sound and soft strains of music watches represented. And so, despite the fact do you think?
To the Light with Mary and also saw a little cloud, which vanished
In the recent HOLD International Conference, to reveal a painting of the Blessed Mother ANCOP DONORS NIGHT / P1
the HOLD leaders were exhorted to live as children holding the Child Jesus in her arms. In the
of light, to imitate the Blessed Mother and grow painting, Mary’s eyes were half-veiled as
in her virtue. though lost in contemplation, taking coun-
How does one imitate Mary? Myra Respicio, sel from God, Jesus looking up at her as if to
HOLD Coordinator for Metro Manila, said, “As tell the faithful to look for counsel from her,
women, Handmaids of the Lord can imitate Mary the Seat of Wisdom.
in her motherhood. As mothers, HOLD is being The title of Mary, Most Holy Mother of
called to be nurturing (not only to her biological Light (Maria Madre Santissima de Lume)
children, but souls under her care), giving impor- had its origins in Sicily. At the turn of the
tance to the gift of life.” She gave the following 18th century, a Jesuit priest, Fr. Giovanni
qualities that can guide women on how to imitate Antonio Genovesi, went around preaching
Mary’s motherhood: Jesus. Before he went out, he would always ask
• Mother Most Pure - her purity allows her to be the Blessed Mother for guidance. He wanted
in perfect harmony with God’s will. to take an image of the Virgin Mary in his
• Mother Most Chaste - Mary is the perfect mission, so he commissioned an artist and
model of chastity in a world that mocks mod- asked a pious woman visionary for guidance
esty and chastity. in making the image of the Blessed Virgin.
• Mother Undefiled, Mother Inviolate - HOLD After the first painting was “rejected” by the
can be “undefiled” like Mary by avoiding sin Blessed Mother, Fr. Genovesi asked the vision-
and occasions that can lead to sin. ary woman to guide the painter personally,
• Mother Most Amiable - Being amiable and the image of Maria Madre Santissima de
is to be lovable (from the Latin word Lume came about.
a m a bi l i s) , t h e p e r fe c t re f l e c t i on of “Mary shows us the way by which we should Kuwait, CFC Spain, CFC Swit- sion in CFC. “This is our key Trio composed of Dr. Abe-
God’s beauty. fulfill our calling in life and in our service in the zerland, CFC UK, and CFC to heaven,” Villaroman added, lardo Galang, III on piano;
• Mother of Good Counsel – Like Mary, HOLD community,” Respicio concluded. She added, KSA. Meanwhile, the institu- reminding everyone that what Ms. Denise Santos-Huang on
should give good counsel to those who need “And so, to journey to the light, Mary Most Holy tional partners awarded were they do for the poor, they do violin; and Mr. Antoni Josef
it. This title originated from a miracle Mother of Light will be our guide towards her Cross Catholic Outreach, SM for God. Inacay on the cello. The Ma-
in Genazzano, Italy in 1467. While the beloved Son, Jesus Christ.” Development Corporation, CFC Chairman Rabboni nila Piano Trio are advocates
SM Foundation Inc., ABS- Francis Arjonillo expressed for promoting classical cham-
CBN Corporation, and Ze- his gratitude to all the part- ber music and Filipino works
ndesk, Inc. Samantha Ashley ner institutions, donors, and of various genres, providing

Ugnayan
Lo, the reigning Bb. Pilipinas
Grand International, was also
honored for being a strong
advocate for the Cornerstone
THE NEWS SUPPLEMENT OF COUPLES FOR CHRIST Program.
CFC ANCOP Chairman
Melo Villaroman, in his ex-
Redentor Ragojos hortation, said “You are here
IC Oversight because this is more than
Zenaida A. Gimenez Alma M. Alvarez work. This is God’ vision to
Editor-in-Chief Associate Editor use ordinary people like you
Deomar P. Oliveria Evangeline C. Mecedilla and me, to renew the face
Layout Artist Circulation Staff of the earth.” He mentioned
that ANCOP could not fulfill
The Ugnayan News Supplement is published by the Couples for Christ Global Mission Foundation, Inc., this vision if the donors and
with editorial offices at 156 20th Avenue, 1109 Cubao, Quezon City. partners do not keep the poor
Editorial trunk line: (+63 2) 709-4868 local 31 Direct line : (+63 2) 709-4856 at the center of their hearts,
www.couplesforchristglobal.org globalcommunications@couplesforchristglobal.org @CFChrist
minds and hands, as this is
the fullness of Christ’s mis-
CFC ANCOP workers for scholarship opportunities to
their tremendous efforts in the underprivileged through
bringing glad tidings to the Manila Piano Trio Founda-
p o or . He e m ph a s i z e d t h e tion, as well as bringing the
significance of CFC's and Filipino music to the interna-
ANCOP’s twin mission, which tional scene.
is “Building the Church of They staged a 50-minute per-
the Home and Building the formance of the music of Joseph
Church of the Poor.” Haydn, Felix Mendelssohn Bar-
Youth for Christ members tholdy, Astor Piazolla, and a
and ANCOP Scholars from rendition of a Cebuano song,
South B performed the AGW “Usahay.”
2019 Theme Song, “Light up The evening ended in a high
Lives” to invite everyone to note, with everyone having a
join AGW 2019 so that more firmer resolve to work even
poor but deserving students harder to help alleviate the
can go to school. plight of the less fortunate.
The “Be the Light Concert” (Patria Balila, ANCOP
featured the Manila Piano Communications)
CBCP Monitor August 19 - September 1, 2019 Vol. 23 No. 17 C3

FROM THE VATICAN AQUILA AND PRISCILLA

Joe Tale Jun & Jean Uriarte

Pearl of Great Price It shall not be so among you

Again, the kingdom of heaven
is like a merchant searching
with the Catholic Church, have
in fact opened up new horizons,
wrote the song "Pearl of Great
Price" in just one night.
Mark 10:43
for fine pearls. When he finds a wide open fields for evangeliza- I had a minor role in compos- A story is told that when St. John of the Cross to have practiced fraternal correction a few times.
pearl of great price, he goes and tion, for family renewal and for ing the song, essentially provid- was Vice Provincial of the Discalced Carmelites For instance, in Antioch, Paul corrected Peter for
sells all that he has and buys it. caring for the poor. ing the storyline of the entire in Andalusia, he visited many monasteries. Dur- his behavior: "And when Kephas came to Antioch,
Matthew 13:45-46 Much like the grain of sand song. The other composers were ing one such visit in Seville, he gently corrected I opposed him to his face because he clearly was
Many have various takes on that irritates an oyster (and Tito Cayamanda, Mike Serapio, two young priests, Fr. Diego Evangelista and Fr. wrong. For, until some people came from James, he
this wonderful verse. I would like produces a pearl in the process), Kirby Llaban, Nonong Sampang, Francisco Crisostomo, for spending too much time used to eat with the Gentiles; but when they came,
to share mine. these challenges have molded and Bob Serrano. outside the monastery preaching. They were good he began to draw back and separated himself,
CFC celebrated its 30th an- us as a community, and by the Composing the song, record- preachers but He reminded them that, as Carmelite because he was afraid of the circumcised. And the
niversary in 2011, our Pearl grace of God, the Pearl Maker ing it, making an MTV par- priests, they were expected to spend a greater part rest of the Jews also acted hypocritically along with
Anniversary. On that occasion, Himself, have turned us into ticipated in by CFC in other of their time in prayer and contemplation. This him, with the result that even Barnabas was carried
we published a commemorative a people poised to do more for countries, all these were done admonition filled the hearts of the two priests with away by their hypocrisy. But when I saw that they
book, aptly titled the "Pearl of His kingdom.” orchestrated by the Holy Spirit. resentment against John, a resentment that they were not on the right road in line with the truth of
Great Price". We had just then Now, eight years later, CFC The whole process was nothing would carry for the rest of their lives. the gospel, I said to Kephas in front of all, “If you,
emerged from our storms of has been blessed with several short of a miracle! (See the full Some years later, when Fr. Diego was assigned though a Jew, are living like a Gentile and not like
2007 and 2009. In my article gifts of pearls, all of them of story in the article "God writes the post of general definitor, he subjected Fr. John a Jew, how can you compel the Gentiles to live like
in that commemorative book, great price. We just need to be the Song" by Bob Serrano in our to unjust investigations. He tried to prove that Fr. Jews?” (Gal 2:11-14)
entitled "Honed by the Pearl sensitive enough and grateful 30th Anniversary commemora- John had indiscreet relationships with the Carmel- Giving fraternal or pastoral correction is not
Maker," I wrote: enough for these gifts that the tive book.) ite nuns, even offering the nuns gifts or threaten- easy and is fraught with danger. As we have seen
"On this our pearl anniversary Lord has blessed us with. I end by quoting the chorus of ing them with excommunication to force them in the case of St. John of the Cross, correcting
year, we can truly say that we cel- This Gospel verse makes me the song: to speak against John. John of the Cross suffered people, even among supposedly holy members
ebrate a new day. The dark night remember with fondness, a "Through God's power and from this persecution by his former novice, but of a religious community, can be a dangerous
has dawned into daybreak. Morn- brother and a sister, Bob and Ai- through His might, he used this persecution to practice the love that thing. Fr. Diego Evangelista was aware that he
ing has indeed broken, and what leen Serrano, both of them now One voice we sing like eagle's rise he preached to others and thus he wrote: “Have was a good preacher. For this reason, he preferred
a beautiful morning it is for the gone ahead. Oh how I miss them, And all shall bow down before a great love for those who contradict and fail to to stay outside the monastery to preach rather
next phase of our community life. wonderful persons, humble, our God love you, for in this way love is begotten in a heart than remain inside to devote more time to prayer,
We have just been through se- creative, talented. They brought Every tribe and tongue, color that has no love. God so acts with us, for he loves fasting and contemplation, as required by their
vere challenges, much more than many people closer to the Lord and race us that we might love by means of the very love he rules as Carmelites. Thus he preferred to do his
any other we have experienced in through their music, but more To g e t h e r p r o c l a i m i n g bears toward us.” will rather than God’s will for him as a priest
any period in CFC's history. But so by their zeal for evangeliza- throughout the world Even after the death of Fr. John, Fr. Diego re- of a contemplative Order. He probably enjoyed
these challenges, which could tion and by their example and In Jesus we found, the Pearl of mained bitter about the correction he had received the praises and admiration of people who heard
have broken us and even de- everyday witness of God's love. Great Price.” and regretted that John had escaped his hands: “If he his preaching more than he relished the silence
stroyed us, have instead united us I honor Bob especially for had not died, I would have deprived him of the habit and serenity of the cloisters of contemplatives.
as a community, have made our coordinating a group of CFC May it indeed be so. and he would not have died in the Order.” For this reason, Fr. John had to correct him. But
vision and mission clearer, have songwriters that together, (For the full song, please check Several years later, Fr. Diego was elected as he resented the correction made by John of the
strengthened our integration moved by the Holy Spirit, YouTube.) Provincial of Andalusia. When the news of his Cross – this gentle and compassionate priest who,
election reached the Carmelite nuns in Granada, together with Teresa of Avila, worked hard to
ANCOP Holds Groundbreaking Rites for Salcedoville they complained to God in prayer why the very reform the Carmelite Order.
person who persecuted their beloved John of In our own community, as in the Carmelite
Church Renovation the Cross, whom they considered as the Father community and the community of the early
of Carmel, would now become their Provincial. disciples, there will always be need for fraternal
"Therefore, devote ANCOP has expanded In their prayers, they heard God saying: “Do and pastoral correction in order to ensure the
your hearts and souls to to the renovation of not grieve. He will arrive dead in Granada.” A integrity and continuity of our life and mission.
seeking the Lord your the nearby church, in few days later, Fr. Diego was seized with a seri- But no matter how sincere and gentle we make
God. Proceed to build order to make the home ous illness in Alcala. He died and his body was the correction, we can never be sure that it will
the sanctuary of the partners’ spiritual for- brought to Granada to be buried. not be resented.
Lord God, that the ark mation more holistic. Just like St. John of the Cross, Jesus had also In our personal journey in the community, we
of the covenant of the Msgr. Alfredo Amis- corrected his disciples: James and John, the are among those who have been reluctant to give
Lord and God’s sacred toso celebrated the Holy sons of Zebedee, came to him and said to him, fraternal or pastoral correction because we fear
vessels may be brought Mass for all those pres- “Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever causing others hurt and resentment. It is perhaps
into the house built for ent, including the CFC we ask of you.” He replied, ‘What do you wish due to our long association with the diplomatic
the name of the Lord.” - ANCOP Team, mem- me to do for you?’ They answered him, ‘Grant community in ASEAN and in the United Nations
1 Chronicles 22:19 bers of the CFC Eastern that in your glory we may sit one at your right that we have always coaxed our language in the
The groundbreak- Samar Area Governance and the other at your left.’ Jesus said to them, most diplomatic manner even if, at times, a more
ing ceremonies, held Team, local CFC mem- ‘You do not know what you are asking. Can you direct language is called for.
on August 8, 2019, for bers, and the Salcedo- drink the cup that I drink or be baptized with Perhaps it is also because we know that we still
the renovation of the ville home partners. the baptism with which I am baptized?’ They do not have the moral authority of a St. Paul or
San Jose Chapel at Tag- George Campos, said to him, ‘We can.’ Jesus said to them, ‘The a St. John of the Cross. Perhaps we do not really
bacan, Salcedo, Eastern Head of the CFC cup that I drink, you will drink, and with the hear God’s voice that often or we have not truly
Samar was made pos- Church Relations Of- baptism with which I am baptized, you will be developed a close personal relationship with Jesus.
sible through the part- fice, together with his for all of the blessings where they met with
they have received. the Area Governance baptized; but to sit at my right or at my left Or perhaps we also fear being corrected by others
nership of CFC ANCOP wife Cynthia, exhorted is not mine to give but it is for those it has that we refrain from doing it ourselves. Whatever
and SM Development the home partners to The next day, the CFC Team and the Home
ANCOP Team made a Owners Association been prepared.’ When the ten heard this, they the real reasons are, we continue to pray that the
Corporation. From take good care of the became indignant at James and John. Jesus community will always be empowered by the Holy
the construction of new community and short visit to the Pope (HOA). – PMB, AN-
Francis Community COP Communica- summoned them and said to them, ‘You know Spirit to seek the will of the Father through his
the Salcedoville Com- the church, and to be that those who are recognized as rulers over the Son, our Lord. And if this means that some will
munity, the help from always grateful to God in Tacloban City, Leyte tions
Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones be raised by God to provide fraternal and pastoral
make their authority over them felt. But it shall correction to members of the community – then
Clean Water is Healthy Water not be so among you. Rather, whoever wishes
to be great among you will be your servant;
let God’s will be done.
And thus we further pray that God will
whoever wishes to be first among you will be anoint some to be just like St. John of the Cross,
2011—a more compact mechanism that can be the slave of all.’” (Mk 10:35-44) holy, discerning and contemplative, always
installed in the home. This gospel passage is pregnant with many les- yearning to be with God in heaven and thus
Aside from water filtration systems, Duque sons, meanings and messages. One of these messages able to pray:
also developed oxygenated alkaline water sys- relates to fraternal or pastoral correction. This is
tems, a non-chlorinated swimming pool system, evident in the words of Jesus: "But it shall not be This life that I live
and his latest award-winning invention, the por- so among you." Jesus was correcting his disciples Is no life at all,
table water purifier. concerning their wrong attitude towards their And so I die continually
His latest invention, which won a bronze medal respective roles in the community – they should Until I live with you;
in Geneva, Switzerland in April 2019, is a portable not be like rulers imposing authority but like slaves Hear me, my God:
water purifying system which can process even serving others. I do not desire this life,
murky water sources during disasters. Among the disciples, it is St. Paul who is reported I am dying because I do not die.
Duque won the award at the 47th Annual Ex-
hibition of Inventions in Geneva. The exhibition
had 800 participating inventors from different
categories. Duque was the only inventor from
MTC PROVIDES TVET TRAINING AT
the Philippines.
According to Duque, the portable water filtra-
POPE FRANCIS COMMUNITY
tion system is not only for disaster areas. Local
Government Units can deploy the apparatus to
far-flung or mountainous barangays where water
is usually sourced from deep wells, or remote areas
where water may be contaminated.
“The machine can produce 150 liters of water
in 1 hour, under normal circumstances,” Duque
shared. “But if the water is from muddy rivers, we
can produce about 100 liters only. If there is no
other source but flood waters, first we do floccula-
tion using alum, before we treat the water using the
filtration system.” (Note: Flocculation is the pro-
cess of causing fine impurities to clump together
using alum or what is commonly known as tawas.)
What is unique with Duque’s invention is the
filter itself. Unlike traditional filters which need
Necessity is indeed the mother of invention. to be replaced every so often, his invention’s filter
For Rudy Duque, it all started with a desire to help has a backwash mechanism. Meaning, one only
a community become self-sufficient. has to reverse the backwash valve, flush with with
IN 2003, Rody and Lyn Duque served in CFC’s water to clean the filter, and use the system again
work with the poor in Bagong Silang. During that as it is good as new.
time, the primary concern in Bagong Silang was Aside from his water purifying systems, Duque
the lack of safe drinking water. has also developed a contraption for cleaning
"There had been an outbreak of water-borne the air by keeping engines of smoke belching
diseases in the community, so my wife and I vehicles clean. He has yet to apply for a patent
thought of putting up a water refilling station as for this product.
a source of livelihood and or course, safe drinking From his desire to help a poor commu-
water. Back then, the homeowners were orga- nity, Duque’s dreams for cleaner water
nized into a kapitbahayan, but they did not have (and air) have gotten him this far. Though
any source of funds to run the various programs already retired, Duque remains enthusias-
in the community. So it was hitting two birds tic that his inventions can help greatly in The Mobile Training Center (MTC) of Don Bosco-One TVET Philippines and CFC ANCOP Global Foun-
with one stone." promoting a cleaner environment, which dation, Inc. once again provided TVET training for youth and parents who are home partners at the CFC
In 2009, Rody, who is a nuclear engineer, is his current advocacy. ANCOP Pope Francis Village in Bgy. New Kawayanan, Tacloban City, Leyte.
thought of improving the water refilling station He believes that man can still make a difference The week-long training was held from July 29 to August 2, 2019. A total of 24 trainees learned Electrical
system. Why not make it smaller? So after two in making this earth we live in fresher and cleaner. Installation and Maintenance (EIM) while 26 others were trained on Shielded Metal Arc Welding (SMAW).
years of relentlessly working on his new model, “We just need to act now before it’s too late,” Duque The training sessions were facilitated by experts from Don Bosco Technical Institute, who provided qual-
Duque finally had his innovation patented in said. (A. Alvarez) ity skills training for an NC II Certification. (PMB, ANCOP Communications)
C4 August 19 - September 1, 2019 Vol. 23 No. 17 CBCP Monitor

AGW 2019 kicks off in Australia, Canada, USA

Australia became the first country
in Oceania to launch this year's ANCOP
Global Walk (AGW). On August 5, CFC
Darwin held their successful Walk for
a Scholar. On August 11, CFC Sydney
and CFC Papua New Guinea held their
respective AGWs as well.
An ANCOP team from Sydney
participated in the iconic City2Surf
in the middle of a freezing polar
blast from Antarctica. Together with
80,000 other runners, the 15-person
ANCOP team crossed the finish line
in front of the iconic Bondi Beach.
City2Surf is one of the biggest fun
runs in the world.
Soon to be held are the AGW events
for the other Australian cities. These
events aim to raise awareness for the
work of ANCOP and to raise much
needed funds.
Unlike in the Philippines, the
AGWs in the Australian cities are
done through participation in local
fun runs, such as Sydney’s famous
City2Surf Run, Canberra’s Running
Festival, Cairns’ City Run, Perth’s
Chevron City to Surf, Bridge to Bris-
bane, and the Melbourne Marathon
Festival, among others.
On the other hand, ANCOP Canada
has also finished most of the scheduled
ANCOP Walks even as early as July!
The latest ANCOP Walk in Canada was
in Toronto, which took place at David
Pecaut Square. ANCOP Canada Head
Ricky Cuenca and his wife Irma headed
the walkers in Toronto.
ANCOP USA has likewise finished 7
of its 43 scheduled walks—4 in Southern
California, 1 in Virginia, 1 in North
Carolina, and 1 in Minnesota.
These three countries are among
the biggest supporters of CFC ANCOP
Global Foundation Inc. in terms of child
sponsorship.
The entire Philippines and other
countries are slated to hold their re-
spective ANCOP Global Walk events
on November 17, 2019, in line with
the celebration of the 3rd World Day
of the Poor.
Registration and monetary pledges
to the ANCOP Global Walk are still be-
ing accepted. For ANCOP Canada, visit
https://ancopcanada.org/; for ANCOP
USA, go to https://ancopusa.org; for
AGW 2019 in the Philippines and other
countries, please visit https://www.
cfcancop.org/.

CFC, A HIDDEN GEM FiG in Kenya Year 2

July 30, 2019 was a special blessed day for CFC at
the Vatican. Our small group of five at the CFC Sede
de Roma – Joe and I, Goi and Charm Villegas and
Aldrin Poyaoan - was honored with an intimate
meeting with a very special priest, Fr. Raniero
Cantalamessa, who has been the Preacher to the
Papal Household since 1980. As Preacher to the
Papal Household, his sermons/preachings had
been closely listened to by Pope John Paul II, Pope
Benedict XVI, Pope Francis, and members of their
respective Papal Households.
Joe presented to Fr. Raniero CFC’s various pro-
grams and activities, and gave him some brochures
and CFC books. We were so affirmed as, browsing
through our 35th Anniversary Coffee Table book
The very first Family is a Gift
event in Kenya took place in July
2018 with Couples for Christ col-
laborating the activity with the
Archdiocese of Nairobi. The event
was such a success that the archdio-
cese wanted to have more of the
same. Thus, on July 27 of this year,
the Archdiocese of Nairobi held its
second Family is a Gift event at the
Holy Family Minor Basilica.
It was a particularly warm
Saturday morning, although it
was the middle of the cold sea-
son. Participants started arriv-
ing early, welcomed with warm
greetings and songs of praise.
Rev. Fr. Simon Peter Kamomoe,
the parish priest at Holy Family
and also the spiritual director of
all family life associations in the
Archdiocese, gave the opening
remarks and led the opening
prayer. He exhorted everyone
to build firm families, saying:
(Grateful at 35), he said, "It is sad that media do
not pick up this "hidden gem", referring to CFC
and the photos of community life and worship he
saw in the book.
A CFC culture that he encourages the com-
munity to treasure and continue is the "small"
weekly household gatherings where members can
intimately pray and share reflections. The group
ended their meeting with Fr. Cantalamesa asking
everyone to hold hands as he confirmed his bless-
ings for the gift of Couples for Christ. He ended
his prayer by reciting the lyrics of a very familiar
song to CFC, “Spirit of the living God, fall afresh
on them. Melt them, mold them, fill them, use
them…” (Babylou Tale)
“As Christian families, there is
so much happening around us
and threatening the institution
of family. Building good families
is a process … in due time the true
and good fruit would be seen
and what is not good, the chaff,
would be thrown away.”
The plenary session, on Con-
jugal Love and Human Sexual-
ity, was given by Sr. Dr. Florence
Kabala of Philothea Missionaries
who is also the director of the St.
John Paul II Institute. She spoke
of a world where people are so busy
trying to make ends meet, it has
become difficult for people to take
time and reflect on the gift of mar-
riage, love and human sexuality.
At the break-away sessions,
Ken Munyua, a counselling
psychologist and director, con-
sultant and training at People
Centric Management Co. LTD
spoke about “Parenting: When
Children Know More than Par-
ents.” Mrs. Sabina Chege, a coun-
selling psychologist and student
advisor at the Technical Institute
of Kenya, spoke to older couples
in a workshop titled, ‘When the
Well Runs Dry’, while the young-
er couples received a workshop
titled, ‘Keep the Fire Burning’.
Sr. Kabala also gave a workshop
on “Pornography and its Effects
on the Family.”
Holy Mass, the apt conclusion
to every CFC event, was cel-
ebrated by Rev. Fr. Simon Peter
Kamomoe. He congratulated the
event organizers, and said there
is a need to hold more Family Is
a Gift events in the archdiocese
for many families are yearning
to learn more. He expressed the
desire for another FIG within the
next two months, or sometime
in the month of October. (Em-
manuel Muinde Mutua)