Vol. 18 No. 10 May 12 - 25, 2014 Php 20.

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Caritas Philippines appeals
for more Yolanda aid
THE Catholic Churchs social action arm
said it needs 9.7 million, or roughly P600
million to sustain its rehabilitation efforts in
typhoon Yolanda-ravaged areas.
The Caritas Philippines reiterated its ap-
peal for more assistance to the dioceses in
the Visayas that have suffered much the
aftermath of super typhoon Yolanda that
struck in November last year.
Fr. Edu Garguez, executive secretary of
Caritas Philippines, said they are set press
for donors from Caritas Internationales in
order to continue their rehabilitation work.
Caritas / A6
A3 C1
B1
The Cross
A Supplement Publication of KCFAPI and
the Order of the Knights of Columbus
Communication at the
Service of an Authentic
Culture of Encounter
CBCP chief: Cross-
check Napoles lists
NOW that the controversial
list of lawmakers suppos-
edly involved in the pork
barrel scam is out, the head
of the Catholic hierarchy is
not buying it just yet.
While the list should not
be taken as Gospel of truth,
Archbishop Socrates Vil-
legas said it may serve as a
guide to ferret out the truth
behind the scam.
He said that contents of
the Napolist should not
be taken as the only refer-
ence, if only to prosecute
those involved in the mul-
tibillion anomalies.
[You need] all of them
because if you name just
one, you will exclude the
others. As long as there is a
source that is available, you
should explore that, said
Villegas, Catholic Bishops
Conference of the Philip-
pines (CBCP) president.
Aside from the Napoles
list, which former senator
Panflo Lacson submitted
to the Senate blue ribbon
committee on Tuesday,
the archbishops said other
sources like the reports and
records of the Commission
on Audit, the Senate, the
Department of Budget and
Management, and other
government agencies can
be utilized.
If you want to authenti-
cate the document that you
have, you have to cross-
check it with other sources
and references and then
you can come-up a certain
degree of certainty that this
one is the authentic, this
one is less accurate, and so
on, he explained.
President Benigno Aqui-
no III has earlier said that
his administration has at
least three versions of the
Napolist.
The frst version, he said,
was the one that had been
sent to him, the second
in the hands of Justice
Secretary Leila de Lima,
and the third version in
the possession of Lacson.
Asked whether the CBCP
is willing to help in cross-
checking the different lists,
the Lingayen-Dagupan
archbishop said it is not
within the expertise of the
bishops.
We are not competent
for that. We do not have the
professional preparation to
do that because our mis-
sion is charity, mercy, and
compassion, said Villegas.
Villegas noted how the
CBCP had declined in tak-
ing part of the commission
that was formed to probe
the assassination of former
senator Ninoy Aquino for a
similar reason.
That is not our mission.
Not that we dont like. But
[with] responsibilityif
you are not able, you can-
not be responsible, he
said. (CBCPNews)
Livelihood for Yolanda survivors, not contraceptives bishop
AS Yolanda victims
continue to suffer, a
Catholic bishop has
criticized some foreign
aid agencies for giving
out contraceptives such
as condoms and pills in
Eastern Samar, instead
of focusing on liveli-
hood needs.
Instead of birth con-
trol, Borongan Bishop
Crispin Varquez said
what the people need at
the moment are liveli-
hood and other means
to survive.
We must be extra-
careful in dealing with
NGOs, which promote
artificial reproductive
devices, Varquez said.
They are taking ad-
vantage of the vulner-
ability of the victims.
More than six months
after Yolanda struck,
he said victims are still
suffering from the lack
of food supply, no per-
manent shelter and no
livelihood to help them
recover.
The bishop called on
the clergy, especially
those assigned in ty-
phoon-hit parishes, to
ask their parishioners
to reject artifcial birth
control devices offered
to them by certain aid
agencies, which he did
not identify.
Let us teach our
people to accept their
assistance for shelter
and livelihood, but re-
fuse their promotion
of artificial reproduc-
tive devices, added
Varquez.
It is our moral stand
that the survivors still
Youth urged to act fast on environment issue
YOUNG people may be the
hope of tomorrow, but their
work of saving the environ-
ment starts now.
This was what Commissioner
Nadarev Yeb Sao of the Phil-
ippine Climate Change Com-
mission stressed in his keynote
address at the Student Catholic
Action of the Philippines (SCAP)
11th National Leadership Con-
ference (NLC), that urged par-
ticipating student leaders to
act now and be the make a
difference for the environment.
Social media advocates
There is still time, but the
time to act is now. We are at war
and we cannot afford to lose,
and we can win this, said Sao.
He expressed joy that SCAP
chose to tackle climate change
because the youth play an
integral part in saving the
environment.
Every single act you do,
small acts of kindness and
love, you make a difference
and when combined with
others, we make a greater dif-
ference, he added.
Aside from the urgency
of the climate change issue,
Sao also talked about how
young people can use social
media networks to share the
environmental advocacy.
We need real people and
real ties to save the environ-
ment. Confronting climate
change means building a bet-
ter nation, he added.
Sao said social media as
very effective in reaching the
goals of such an advocacy.
Understanding climate change
While Sao admits that
saving the environment starts
at the personal level, he also
believes that a solution must
be collectively initiated by all
sectors through cooperation.
When we change the cli-
mate, we change everything,
Sao added.
According to him, climate
change is not the problem but
the symptom of many other
problems. He stressed that
human activities accelerate
climate change and its effects.
Sao said in terms of trans-
portation there must be a
shift from roads to rail, ef-
ficient transport, and pedal
power. He advocates for the
use of public transport than
private vehicles and for the
promotion of a culture that
Priest alarmed by growing number
of homeless people
THE number of home-
less, hungry, and sick
people in the streets of
Metro Manila and other
cities in the country
has grown to an unset-
tling number in the past
several decades, says a
priest.
Fr. Dari Dioquino,
pri est - i n- charge of
Kanlungan ni Maria
Home for the Aged,
shared the same ob-
servation with a fellow
clergy that in the 1970s,
the number of street va-
grants could be counted
2 nuns start graveyard evangelization
A PAIR of nuns, whose
congregation is known
for its apostolate of
evangelization through
media, set out early this
year to help bring hope
among cemetery set-
tlers by bringing them
the Word of God.
Daughters of St. Paul
Sr. Evangelina Canag,
who was thrice elected
Provincial Superior of
the congregation, and
Metro Manila streets has become home to an increasing
number of people from street kids to abandoned
elderly.
|Concerned citizens protest against the pork barrel fund scam
during the Million People March on August 26, 2013 at the
Quirino Grandstand. The anomalies surrounding the use of
pork barrel funds continue to undergo investigation.
Families and communities devastated by super typhoon
Yolanda continue on the long process of recovery
and rehabilitation by focusing on basic needs like
establishing regular sources of livelihood and shelter.
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Protect marriage and
family Vatican offcial
By Roy Lagarde
A visiting Vatican offcial
has called on the people of
goodwill to fght any efforts
that would destroy true
marriage and the family.
Secretary of the Pontifcal Coun-
cil for the Family Bishop John Laf-
ftte said the tradition of marriage
needs to be protected from every
possible misrepresentation from its
true nature.
People of goodwill, not only
Christians, Catholics or whatever,
but all people have to fght against
(these attacks on family), he said.
According to him, the family is
threatened today by wrong ideas
about human nature.
The bishop equated protecting
marriage and family with defend-
ing the common good.
Everybody has to consider [it]
not only as a national treasure,
but also a treasure of the common
good, Lafftte said.
In his address on the Charter of
Rights for Family before lawmak-
ers and lawyers on May 13 at a
hotel in Manila, Lafftte lamented
how some policies, instead of sup-
porting the family institution, are
working to weaken it.
Today, marriage is explicit that
its between a man and a woman.
It seems obviously in the Philip-
pines, but its not the case in many
countries, he said.
Therefore, the family is not an
institution that could be available to
the legislature and the prey of the
innovative fancy of policymakers,
added Lafftte.
Among those in attendance
during his address include Papal
Nuncio Archbishop Giuseppe
Pinto; Archbishop Socrates Ville-
gas, Catholic Bishops Conference
of the Philippines (CBCP presi-
dent); and several bishops from the
Philippines and from Indonesia,
Laos, Thailand, Nepal, Pakistan,
Protect / A6
Catholic bishops from different Asian countries concelebrate the holy mass at the opening of the 2014 Asian Conference on the Family at the Cardinal Sin Auditorium,
Paco, Manila, 13 May 2014. Bishop Jean Lafftte (inset), Secretary of the Vaticans Pontifcal Council for the Family, calls on participants to fght policies that attacks
the family, saying that protecting the basic unit of the society is defending the common good.
N
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Pope tells U.N. respect for
life, solidarity essential
for development
A2 Vol. 18 No. 10
May 12 - 25, 2014
CBCP Monitor
World News
Vatican Briefng
Pope to newly ordained: always be merciful
In his homily at an ordination Mass this morning,
Pope Francis urged those becoming priests to follow
Christs example of mercy in the sacrament of Con-
fession. Never grow tired of being merciful! Please!
You have the capacity to forgive as did the Lord,
who did not come to condemn, but to forgive! Have
mercy, a lot! he urged the 13 men being ordained to
the priesthood in St. Peters Basilica on May 11. If
you come to have concerns about being too much
of a forgiver, think of that saintly priest...who went
before the tabernacle and said, Lord, forgive me if I
have forgiven too much. But you have given me the
worst example! As Bishop of Rome, Pope Francis
ordained 13 men to the priesthood, 11 from the
diocesan seminary in Rome and two missionaries
from Pakistan and Vietnam. (CNA)
Paul VI to be beatified at close of synod
on family
The Vatican has announced that Pope Paul VI will be
beatifed this October at the conclusion of the synod
of bishops on the family. A statement from the Holy
Sees press offce on May 10 read, the Holy Father
has authorized the dicastery to communicate that
the rite of beatifcation of the Venerable Servant
of God Paul VI will take place, in the Vatican, on
October 19, 2014. The beatifcation ceremony will
take place just as the worlds bishops conclude their
meetings regarding matters related to marriage and
family life. Paul VI is particularly well known for
his encyclical, Humanae Vitae, which spoke about
the importance of generosity in married love and
the principles of responsible parenthood. (CNA)
Gossip is the plague of community life, Pope
tells seminarians
In a meeting with all of Romes seminarians, Pope
Francis spoke frankly of the challenges of commu-
nity life, including the temptation to gossip and
the importance of prayer. Seminary life, that is,
community life, is very important. Community life
is not paradise: rather, its purgatory, he admitted
as nearly 6,000 seminarians and priests laughed and
cheered in agreement. Gossip is the plague of a
community, Pope Francis stressed to the men gath-
ered in the Vaticans Paul VI audience hall on May
12. One speaks to (someones) face, alwaysdont
go a friends room to badmouth (someone else).
He went on to note that some say that gossip is a
thing of women; but its also of men, of us! We gos-
sip enough and that destroys community. (CNA)
The ecumenism of martyrdom: Pope
Francis way
Martyrdom is a call to Church unity, Pope Francis
observed to the head of the Armenian Apostolic
Church, signaling his preference for a means of
ecumenism favored by his representative for Chris-
tian unity. Cardinal Kurt Koch became president of
Pontifcal Council for Promoting Christian Unity in
February 2013, taking over from Cardinal Walter
Kasper. In line with Pope Francis, he has returned
to a focus on ecumenism of blood, whereas Cardi-
nal Kasper had preferred a spiritual ecumenism.
The sufferings endured by Christians in these last
decades have made a unique and invaluable con-
tribution to the unity of Christs disciples, Pope
Francis said May 8 at an audience with Karekin II,
Patriarch of the Armenian Apostolic Church. So too
in our time the blood of innumerable Christians has
become a seed of unity. (CNA)
Priesthood is not a business, monarchy,
orphanage, pope tells students
Pope Francis told seminarians not to become or-
phan priests, who are motherless without Mary;
businessman priests, who are after money; or
prince priests, who are aloof from the people. He
also warned them not to give boring homilies,
saying their refections should be brief, powerful
and address the problems and concerns people are
really going through. In a private audience in the
Vaticans Paul VI hall with thousands of seminarians
and priests from around the world who are studying
in Rome, the pope spent 70 minutes answering the
questions of eight pre-selected participants. (CNS)
Pope says jealousy is devils work; Holy Spirit
brings unity
Beware of the devil, who wants a jealous, power-
hungry and divided church, Pope Francis said.
Be open to the Holy Spirit, who brings unity and
harmony, and who pushes people to focus fully on
Christ, the pope said April 29 during his homily
at Mass in the Domus Sanctae Marthae, where he
lives. The popes morning homily refected on the
days reading from the Acts of the Apostles (4:32-37),
which describes the early Christian community as
being made up of believers who were of one heart
and mind, who bore witness to the resurrection
of the Lord Jesus, and who distributed their assets
to each according to need. Pope Francis said the
passage describes what every Christian commu-
nityincluding parishes and diocesesshould
model and aspire to: peace, witness, poverty and
taking care of the poor. (CNS)
Vatican offcial rebukes U.S. nuns group for
fundamental errors
Using what he acknowledged was unusually
blunt language, the head of the Vaticans doctrinal
offce rebuked offcers of the Leadership Confer-
ence of Women Religious for honoring a Catholic
theologian whose work was judged seriously
inadequate and for promoting futuristic ideas he
described as opposed to Christian revelation. Car-
dinal Gerhard Muller, prefect of the Congregation
for the Doctrine of the Faith, made the remarks April
30 in an address to the presidency of the LCWR, a
Maryland-based umbrella group that claims about
1,500 leaders of U.S. womens communities as mem-
bers, representing about 80 percent of the countrys
57,000 women religious. The group is currently
undergoing a major reform ordered by the Vatican
in 2012. At the April 30 meeting with LCWR off-
cials, Cardinal Muller voiced increasing concern
about the LCWRs promotion of the concept of
conscious evolution in various publications and
in the directional statements of some member
congregations. (CNS)
Nigerian cardinal urges action
to free kidnapped girls
ABUJA, Nigeria, May 7,
2014Cardinal John Onai-
yekan of Abuja has called
for concrete action to
save the hundreds of girls
kidnapped by Boko Ha-
ram, saying his country is
ashamed by the failure
to fnd them.
Up until now we are
hearing practically nothing
concrete on the issue, Car-
dinal Onaiyekan told Vati-
can Radio May 6. I think
almost every Nigerian is
taken aback. We cannot ex-
plain what is happening.
Its still more baffling
that our president seems to
be impotent. We have to see
concrete action.
Nearly 300 girls, most of
them aged between 16 and
18, were kidnapped April
14 from their boarding
school in Borno, Nigerias
northeastern-most state, by
members of the radical Is-
lamist group Boko Haram.
Boko Haram, whi ch
means Western education
is sinful, launched an up-
rising in 2009 and hopes to
impose sharia law on Nige-
ria. It has targeted security
forces, politicians, Christian
minorities, and moderate
Muslims in Nigerias pre-
dominantly Muslim north.
There are 276 girls still in
captivity, while 53 escaped,
the Associated Press reports.
The schools in the area
had been closed due to the
threat of Boko Haram; Car-
dinal Onaiyekan said there
was supposed to be secu-
rity at the school, which
had temporarily reopened
so that the girls could take
fnal exams.
The soldiers who were
there could not face the group
of terrorists that invaded both
the town and the school, the
cardinal reported.
Boko Haram l eader
Abubakar Shekau has
claimed responsibility for
the abductions and has
threatened to sell the girls
into slavery, threatening
more attacks on schools.
A May 5 attack on anoth-
er town in Borno, in which
some 300 persons died, was
attributed to Boko Haram.
The previous day, another
11 girls were kidnapped in
an attack on two villages.
Cardinal Onaiyekan not-
ed the unprecedented
demonstrations by Nige-
rians seeking the return of
the girls.
The crime has drawn
international attention.
U.S. president Barack
Obama has said his gov-
ernment will work with
the international com-
munity and the Nigerian
government to do every-
thing we can to recover
these young ladies, he
told the NBC television
show Today.
But were also going to
have to deal with the broad-
er problem of organizations
like (Boko Haram) that
can cause such havoc in
peoples day-to-day lives.
The president told ABC
News that Boko Haram is
one of the worst regional
or local terrorist organiza-
tions and has been killing
people ruthlessly for many
years now.
The Nigerian govern-
ment had declined offers
of U.S. assistance until May
6, when U.S. Secretary of
State John Kerry called Ni-
gerian president Goodluck
Jonathan. U.S. military and
law enforcement personnel
headed to assist the rescue
effort include experts in
intelligence, investigations,
hostage negotiation, and
victim assistance, the White
House said.
It was announced May
7 that the U.K. will send
a small team of experts to
assist Nigerian authorities.
Nigerian police have of-
fered a $300,000 reward for
information leading to the
girls rescue.
The Council on Ameri-
can-Islamic Relations stated
May 5 that it is almost im-
possible to express the level
of disgust felt by American
Muslims at the un-Islamic
and obscene actions of the
terrorist group Boko Haram
for the kidnapping and
threat to sell hundreds of
Nigerian schoolgirls. We
urge authorities in Nigeria
and throughout the region
to do everything they can
to return the girls safely to
their families and to elimi-
nate the threat to peace and
security posed by Boko
Haram.
Boko Harams attacks
have killed thousands since
2009; according to the BBC,
they have killed 1,500 in
2014 alone. The U.N. esti-
mates that the attacks have
led to more than 470,000 in-
ternally displaced persons
in Nigeria.
The U.S. recognized Boko
Haram as a foreign terrorist
organization in November
2013, after a lengthy ad-
vocacy effort from human
rights and Christian groups.
We know that Boko
Haram have no sense of
humanity, Cardinal Onai-
yekan said.
We know that they are
killing innocent people.
But that they should be
able to cart away almost 300
children in the Northeast of
Nigeria without any trace
of where these children are
really baffes us. (CNA)
Cardinal John Onaiyekan of Abuja seen at the Vatican, Nov.
24, 2012.
UK Bishops Show Solidarity with Ukraine
During Plenary Assembly
LONDON, May 9,
2014The Catholic
Bishops of England
and Wales have shown
solidarity with those
suffering in Ukraine
by concelebrating the
divine liturgy of St
John Chrysostom with
Bishop Hlib Lonchy-
na, the Eparch of the
Ukrainian faithful of
the Byzantine Rite in
Great Britain.
The cel ebrat i on
came at the conclu-
sion of the bishops
conferences plena-
ry assembly, which
this year was held in
Leeds, and marked
the frst time that all
the Latin Rite bishops
in England and Wales
had together concel-
ebrated at a Mass in
an eastern Liturgical
Rite of the Catholic
Church.
The Catholic Bish-
ops Conference of
England and Wales,
who had gathered in
Leeds this week for
its plenary meeting,
offered prayers for
all in Ukraine and for
the estimated 35,000
Ukrainians in this
country.
The bishops also
prayed for the peo-
ple of South Sudan,
the Philippines and
Myanmar following
recent visits by bish-
ops on behalf of the
Conference.
Over the course
of the plenary meet-
ing, in addition to
many other issues
and ongoing work by
the Conference, the
Bishops discussed the
forthcoming Extraor-
dinary Synod on the
family this Autumn,
the ongoing debate
around assisted sui-
cide and the care of
elderly and vulner-
able people and cen-
tenary commemora-
tions for the fallen of
the First World War.
The bishops also
reflected on the re-
cent human traffcking
conference organized
in the Vatican, which
was attended and
commended by Pope
Francis.
The bishops called
for the Catholic com-
munity of England
and Wales to pray
for Christian unity
and the peopl e of
the Hol y Land on
May 25, when Pope
Francis meets Ecu-
meni cal Pat ri arch
of Const ant i nopl e
Bartholomew, con-
sidered first among
equals of the Ortho-
dox bishops. There
are 300 million Or-
thodox worldwide.
The meeting takes
place in Jerusalem
as part of Pope Fran-
cis pilgrimage to the
Holy Land. (Zenit)
Vocations in Bangladesh, born in the family, the root of all good
DHAKA, May 10, 2014--Every
family is a house church. It is the
root from which vocations grow.
Consumerism and love of luxury
are the barriers between man and
the call of God. We must defeat
this mentality, beginning with
the education of our children,
writes Fr. Dilip Stephen Costa,
national director of the Pontifi-
cal Missionary Society (PMS) of
Bangladesh, in his message for
the World Day of Prayer for Vo-
cations, which is celebrated on
11 May 2014.
In Bangladesh, the Catholic
community marks the event with
a prayer campaign and fundrais-
ing in favor of seminaries and
houses of formation: Last year,
we received about 400 thousand
taka (about 3,700 Euros) from pa-
rishioners, who gladly donate for
vocations. According to Fr. Dilip,
however, the most important thing
is to help young people to live
in an environment removed from
false values, so that they can listen
to the call of God.
In the majority Islamic country,
the PMS run about 50 seminaries
or houses for religious formation.
Today these facilities are preparing
between about 600 seminarians,
novices and aspirants to the priest-
hood. (AsiaNews)
Vietnam priest named information hero
for fearless reporting
HO CHI MINH, May 9, 2014Le Ngoc
Thanh, CSsR, a Vietnamese Redemptor-
ist was listed in the 100 information
heroes by Reporters Without Borders
for World Press Freedom Day, May 3.
Reporters Without Borders is registered
in France as a non-proft organization
and has consultant status at the United
Nations and UNESCO.
Through their courageous work or
activism, these 100 heroes help to
promote the freedom enshrined in ar-
ticle 19 of the Universal Declaration of
Human Rights, the freedom to to seek,
receive and impart information and
ideas through any media and regardless
of frontiers. They put their ideals in the
service of the common good. They serve
as examples.
World Press Freedom Day, which
Reporters Without Borders helped to
create, should be an occasion for paying
tribute to the courage of the journalists
and bloggers who constantly sacrifce
their safety and sometimes their lives to
their vocation, said Reporters Without
Borders secretary-general Christophe
Deloire.
These information heroes are a
source of inspiration to all men and
men who aspire to freedom. Without
their determination and the determina-
tion of all those like them, it would be
simply impossible to extend the domain
of freedom.
Anton le Ngoc Thanh works for Viet-
nam Redemporist News, a Catholic
news organization for which he has
worked since the 1990s, has caused him
numerous problems with the Vietnam-
ese authorities. In 2012 he was stopped
for questioning on his way to Bac Lieu
in the south of the country, where a
woman had set fre to herself in protest
against her daughter, the blogger Ta
Phong Tan, being put on trial. He was
held for several hours for causing a
traffc accident while travelling on foot.
He was arrested again last year dur-
ing a demonstration in support of the
blogger and activist Dinh Nhat Uy,
convicted for organizing a campaign for
the release of his jailed younger brother.
Thanh is under constant police surveil-
lance and is frequently prevented from
covering and publicizing the human
rights abuses that he has witnessed.
(UCAN)
For Mannar bishop,
Pope Francis will be in
Sri Lanka in January 2015
MANNAR, May 9, 2014
His Holiness Pope Francis
has already promised that he
wants to come to Sri Lanka
next year, said Mgr Rayappu
Joseph, Bishop of Mannar.
The prelate, who was in
Rome on 2-3 May for an ad
limina visit with 13 other Sri
Lankan bishops, said that
the apostolic j ourney is
scheduled for 13-15 January
2015.
With His Holiness, we dis-
cussed what worries us about
our country, about religion
and conditions of life, he
explained.
Pope Francis spoke about
a possible visit to Sri Lanka
at the World Youth Day in
Rio de Janeiro last year, on
his way back to Italy, when
he said, I will have to go to
Asia.
Speaking about the apos-
tolic visit, Mgr Joseph told
AsiaNews that it is more
than a hope because we
discussed it with our Bishops
Conference and with Pope
Francis.
He is scheduled to arrive
on 13 January. In the after-
noon, he will meet with the
countrys leaders. The next
day, he will celebrate high
mass with Sri Lanka Catho-
lics. In the afternoon, he
could visit the shrine of Our
Lady of Madhu, in our dio-
cese of Mannar, the bishop
said.
Here in the north, many
communities have suffered
a lot because of the war, and
His Holiness is very con-
cerned about those who lived
and still live in situations of
confict.
Madhu is one of the most
famous Marian shrine in Sri
Lanka. Every year on 15 Au-
gust, almost 600,000 people
from all over the country
make a pilgrimage.
We are not yet sure wheth-
er he will visit Madhu, but if
he does hundreds of thou-
sands of people would be
there to welcome him, the
bishop said.
As for the rest of the papal
schedule, the prelate only said
that on 15 January he might
already be on his way to other
countries. Perhaps, the Philip-
pines. (AsiaNews)
Le Ngoc Thanh receives accolade from
Reporters Without Borders
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A3 Vol. 18 No. 10
May 12 - 25, 2014
CBCP Monitor
News Features
Pope tells U.N. respect for life, solidarity
essential for development
VATICAN CITY, May 9,
2014Meeting top offcials
of the United Nations, Pope
Francis called for a world-
wide ethical mobilization
that would push technical
programs for justice, peace
and development further
by promoting respect for
human life, fraternity and
solidarity.
An important part of
humanity does not share in
the benefts of progress and
is, in fact, relegated to the
status of second-class citi-
zens, the pope said May
9 during a meeting at the
Vatican with U.N. Secre-
tary-General Ban Ki-moon
and members of the U.N.
System Chief Executives
Board for Coordination.
The board includes the
directors of 29 specialized
agencies and U.N. depart-
ments. The Vatican and
Catholic organizations
around the world work
closely with many of them,
such as the World Food
Program and the U.N. High
Commissioner for Refu-
gees. However, tensions also
have arisen with some of
the departments and agen-
cies, particularly concerning
population control programs
and efforts to broaden access
to legalized abortion.
While Pope Francis did
not dwell on the tensions
or mention any of them
specifcally, he insisted that
the promotion of human
dignity include a recogni-
tion that life is sacred and
inviolable from conception
to natural death.
The popes meeting with
the board came just days af-
ter Vatican representatives
were questioned by the
U.N. Committee Against
Torture and Other Cruel,
Inhuman or Degrading
Treatment, particularly
regarding the churchs han-
dling of the clerical sexual
abuse scandal, but also
about the churchs opposi-
tion to abortion in all cases.
During the May 5-6 hear-
ing, Felice Gaer, vice chair of
the committee, had said that
laws that criminalize the
termination of pregnancy in
all circumstances can violate
the terms of the interna-
tional treaty against torture
and inhuman or cruel treat-
ment. Archbishop Silvano
Tomasi, the Vatican repre-
sentative to U.N. agencies in
Geneva, responded that the
Catholic Church condemns
torture, including for those
who are tortured and killed
before they are born.
At the May 9 meeting
with the U.N. board mem-
bers, Pope Francis said im-
proving the lives and health
of all the worlds people in-
volves challenging all forms
of injustice and resisting the
economy of exclusion, the
throwaway culture and
the culture of death, which
nowadays sadly risk becom-
ing passively accepted.
The U.N.-coordinated
Millennium Development
Goals made significant
progress in decreasing
extreme poverty and im-
proving education levels
in many countries, the pope
said, but it must be kept
in mind that the worlds
peoples deserve and expect
even greater results.
The key to continued im-
provement, he said, is to ad-
dress the structural causes
of poverty and hunger,
attain more substantial re-
sults in protecting the envi-
ronment, ensure dignifed
and productive labor for
all and provide appropriate
protection for the family,
which is an essential ele-
ment in sustainable human
and social development.
Progress requires the co-
operation of governments,
international agencies, scien-
tists and technicians, he said,
but it will not occur without
a broad commitment of indi-
viduals to solidarity.
The gaze, often silent,
of that part of the human
family which is cast off, left
behind, ought to awaken the
conscience of political and
economic agents and lead
them to generous and cou-
rageous decisions, he said.
People also must recog-
nize that the spiritual, intel-
lectual and material goods
which Gods providence
has placed in our hands are
meant to be shared, includ-
ing through charitable aid
and the legitimate redistri-
bution of economic benefts
by the state. (CNS)
Women conceived in rape seek to inspire
others in choosing life
VATI CAN, May 6,
2014During Italys
fourth annual March
for Life, two women
shared testimonies of
bei ng concei ved i n
rape, and expressed
hope that they can offer
light to women who are
pregnant through simi-
lar circumstances.
Speaking of women
who become pregnant
as a result of rape, Re-
becca Keissling and
Mary Rathke told CNA
May 4 that they wish to
give them hope, and
that they wouldnt feel
alone.
The women were
present in Rome for
a May 3 international
pro-life leaders con-
ference, during which
Kiessling gave her per-
sonal testimony and
spoke of the importance
of not making excep-
tions in ones pro-life
stance. They also par-
ticipated in the annual
March for Life event
held the following day.
Both hailing from
Mi c h i g a n , US A,
Kiessling and Rathke
are International Prolife
speakers, and work as
part of Save the 1, an
organization dedicated
to educating society
on why all pre-born
chi l dren shoul d be
protected by law and
accepted by society,
without exception and
without compromise.
Referring to the orga-
nizations motto, taken
from the Parable of the
Good Shepherd who
leaves the 99 sheep in
search of the one who
is missing, Kiessling
noted that whenever
I hear the motto in the
pro-life movement of
save the 99 for the 1,
I always think of the
parable of the lost sheep
where Jesus was talking
about the little children,
and he made the one a
priority.
He spoke quite a
bit about the least of
these, and who are the
least of these in todays
society? Is it not all the
hard cases? Children
conceived in rape, and
children with special
needs?
Drawing attention
to the talk she gave
during the leader s
conference, Kiessling
observed that all life
needs to be protected
without compromise,
because as soon as you
say that children con-
ceived in rape can be
compromised, youve
basically negated your
whole position that life
is precious.
Speaki ng of how
she found out that she
was conceived through
rape, Kiessling revealed
that she always knew
she had been adopted,
and that when the man
she had believed to be
her birthfather passed
away, the family told
her that he had been
covering because they
didnt want anybody to
know that his wife had
been raped on her way
home from work.
Rathke explained that
she found out when she
met her birthmother at
the age of 19, and she
told me the whole aw-
ful story, and that she
tried to kill me in two
illegal abortions, so she
was honest with me.
But today she says
Im a blessing to her, I
honor her and I bring
her healing.
She voiced her de-
sire that the world
would come to real-
ize that just because
your conception might
have happened from
something bad, or in
my case my mother is
schizophrenic, that just
because shes mentally
ill doesnt mean that my
life doesnt have value
and that I cant be pro-
ductive and be a voice.
When asked about
their personal goals in
participating in Italys
March for Life, Rathke
stated her hope that it
opens the eyes of the
world and that others
will come forward.
What we see in the
United States is that
there are hundreds that
are coming out and
emailing us and say-
ing this is my story
too, where they felt so
alone, she continued.
And I know there
are people here in Italy
who have that story and
I hope theyll have the
courage then to say me
too, and to not have to
live with the stigma.
Keissling said that
her greatest desire is
to give women in the
same situation hope,
and recounted how she
had received an email
from a young woman
in Germany who had
decided to keep her
unborn child because
of her testimony on the
organizations website.
I had received an
email from someone
last year from someone
in Germany who had
Googled pregnant by
rape, and because on
my website I have my
story translated into
many languages, its
the frst thing that came
up in Germany when
they Googled it, she
explained.
She said that my
story had made her
realize that life was
the right choice. So it
shows that speaking
out, having the courage
to share a diffcult story
really does make a dif-
ference.
Explaining how the
use of social media has
helped to make their
voices heard, Kiessling
noted that when peo-
ple see our pictures
and hear our stories,
it makes it real. Its
not just a hypothetical
situation. Were real
people. (CNA/EWTN
News)
Rome, Italy - May 4, 2014: Rebecca Kiessling (L) and Mary Rathke (R) participate
in Italys 4th annual March for Life.
600 free boats give hope to Yolanda-hit fshermen
QUEZON City, May 11, 2014No less
than 600 boats painted yellow have
been given to poor fishermen from
Leyte, Samar and Cebu, who are still
in the process of recovering after super
typhoon Yolanda hit Central Visayas
last November 8.
We are replacing the boats fsherfolks
lost to typhoon Yolanda, Yellow Boat
of Hope Foundation Inc. vice-president
and co-founder Jay Jaboneta said.The
benefciaries in Visayas started receiving
boats in February.
The yellow boats are of two types, he
added. Some are engine-driven, others are
propelled by paddle. If fshermen would
buy the engine-driven, each would cost
about P25, 000, and P8, 000 for the manu-
ally driven ones.
According to Jaboneta, most of the re-
cipients of free boats are Catholics, with
some coming from other denominations,
since they are from the Visayas.
We really dont ask about religion, but
I assume majority are Catholics, he said.
The boats were blessed [by a priest] dur-
ing the turnover ceremony.
Earl y thi s year, Ameri can best-
selling author Mitchell David Mitch
Albom donated six boats to the Yellow
Boat of Hope Foundation through
National Book Store (NBS) for fisher-
men who lost their bancas to typhoon
Yolanda.
The yellow boats donated by Albom
bear the titles of his books, which include
Have A Little Faith, Tuesdays with Mor-
rie, The Time Keeper, The First Phone Call
from Heaven, and For One More Day.
The distribution of free boats to poor
fshermen along devastated coastal com-
munities continues, Jaboneta added.
The foundation is constructing more
boats in Northern Cebu, Leyte, and
Samar.
Yellow Boat of Hope Foundations
Adopt-A-Fisherman project was launched
in Davao Oriental after fshermen in the
area lost their boats to typhoon Pablo on
December 3, 2012.
The devastation of typhoon Yolanda
prompted the organizers to extend the
program to fishermen in the Visayas,
Jaboneta said.
Many groups support the Adopt-
A-Fisherman project, he said. Most of
them are associated with companies or
overseas groups. Donations also come
from fundraising campaigns conducted
by priests.
The foundation was established 3
years ago, when we found out there
were children who had to swim to
school without boats, Jaboneta said.
When we were giving them our
first boat, we decided to color it yel-
low just like the yellow school bus.
In 2013, the foundation donated 300
boats to help school children go to
school.
It has adopted communities in different
parts of the country, where school kids
routes to school include bodies of water
with a lack of boats to transport them.
(Oliver Samson)
Bishops request: Run around,
preach Gospel!
NAGA CITY, May 3, 2014Accord-
ing to a bishop, running means
more than just a physical activity,
it can come to symbolize how com-
mitted people are to spreading the
Gospel of Jesus.
People were strongly attracted
to the person of Jesus. Thus, on
the day he had risen, people were
running around to tell everyone
the Good News, said Caceres
Archbishop Rolando Tria Tirona as
he celebrated his 40th Sacerdotal
Anniversary recently.
According to him, running is a
response to an attraction, a very
strong attraction to Jesus and
shows a desire to spread the Good
News.
Tirona said, [Running] is also
a response to a commitment or
engagement.
An act of faith, running serves
as a transmission of faith itself.
People run to proclaim the Good
News, their direction and mission
in life, added Caceres.
During a recent thanksgiving
mass at the Naga Metropolitan
Cathedral, the prelate gave much
emphasis on the verb, run. As op-
posed to other action words such as
come and listen, run is rarely used
in the Bible, Tria Tirona observed.
Are you willing to run with
me? he asked the faithful present.
At the end of the his message,
Tria Tirona said, No priest has
ever said, I deserve to be a priest.
Everything is grace.
Accordi ng t o hi m, t he onl y
natural response for a believer is
to say humbly, Here I am Lord, I
will run with you to proclaim the
Good News.
In closing, Tria Tirona prayed for
strength, courage and most espe-
cially, the joy of running around
to proclaim how good is the Lord.
(Natalie Hazel Quimlat)
Marian equals manang? Pasig
man disagrees
PASIG Ci t y, May 11, 2014A
veiled, cranky, though sincere el-
derly lady, who wears Catholicism
like a badge is the picture people
often have of a Marian devotee.
This stereotype of what is de-
risively called manang, with her
proverbial estampita and all, is so
ingrained in the Filipino psyche
that she has become a stuff of cari-
cature worthy of Rizal.
No stereotype
But Jose Marcelino Romualdo
Martinez of Manggahan, Pasig
City is a living proof that it is just
thata stereotype which he hopes
no educated person should take
seriously.
A proud Marian devotee he is,
but he surely is everything the
manang of lore is not: male, active,
informed, and techie. Martinez
strives to do everything for the
glory of the Lords Mother.
This 43-year old father of four
kids, while not busy earning a
living as an ordinary employee,
spends an entire living on what he
loves doing bestspreading the
devotion to Our Lady.
Ive always been devoted to
Mama Mary, he said, almost as if
in prayer.
He credits the intercession of
the Blessed Virgin for all the many
graces he has received from God.
It is all thanks to her that I made
it through my struggling years of
college, he recalled.
Martinez shared that when he
was still studying at the Univer-
sity of Santo Toms (UST), his feet
would drag him to Santo Domingo
Church. There he woul d pray
for Our Lady of La Navals help
in finding the means to pay his
tuition when he almost felt like
dropping out.
Marian exhibits
To this day, he is grateful to her
that she did not let him down. He
has been a devotee since and bless-
ings from the Mahal na Ina keep
coming his way.
As leader of the Cofrada de los
Hijos de Mara, a lay group of chil-
dren of the Blessed Virgin, Martinez
makes Mama Mary known to as many
people as possible through exhibits
of Marian images he helps organize.
These events, which take place
at the Santa Lucia Grand Mall
twice each year, one during Lent
and another in August, brings
together collectors and custodians
of religious artwork from different
parts of Metro Manila and nearby
provinces.
We always try to keep in touch
with groups from different places.
We encourage them to get them-
selves involved in projects like
ours both inside and outside their
parishes, he said.
Martinez and his Cofrada as-
sociates even reach out to people
interested in owning an image of
the Virgin, but who do not have the
money to buy one. He knows sante-
ros in Pasig, Bulacan, Bataan, and
Pampanga who can create images
of ones choosing.
He laments, though, that Catho-
lics are still accused of idol-worship
because of their love for Mary.
I maintain that veneration of the
Blessed Virgin is a good thing. As
the mother of Our Savior, it is only
just that Catholic Christians pay
the Blessed Virgin the respect that
is due her, he said. (Raymond A.
Sebastin)
Young devotees carry the image of Ina Poon Bato, another beloved Marian icon of
Filipinos, in procession.
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The yellow boats donated by Mitch Albom to the Yellow Boat of Hope Foundation in February of this year through National Book Store await
their fshermen benefciaries, who lost their main source of livelihood after super typhoon Yolanda destroyed their boats late last year.
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A4 Vol. 18 No. 10
May 12 - 25, 2014
CBCP Monitor
EDITORIAL
Opinion
Pedro C. Quitorio
Editor-in-Chief
Nirvaana E. Delacruz
Associate Editor
Roy Q. Lagarde
News Editor
Kris Bayos
Features Editor

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SOME lay people, in order to grow in their spiritual life and help
sanctify the world, join secular institutes. In the Philippines,
members of secular institutes exercise an apostolate of presence.
They are to be found in the feld of education (in schools, colleges
and universities), in the feld of health (as doctors and nurses), and
in offces. They also exercise a direct apostolate at the service
of the local Churches, as members of parish pastoral councils,
as organizers of the social apostolate, as retreat directresses, as
catechists or formators of catechists. But whatever they do, they
strive to sanctify the world as leaven, from within.
Other lay people have joined Third Orders of religious institutes.
Such Third Orders were established by the frst missionaries
almost from the time they set foot on our shores. We acknowledge
our debt of gratitude to these movements of lay spirituality. We
expect that as they continue to be renewed according to the
spirit of Vatican II together with the orders to which they are
attached, they will yield a more bountiful harvest of holiness.
Providence has decreed that the frst Filipino to be canonized
would be a lay person, St. Lorenzo Ruiz de Manila, martyred
in Japan together with other missionaries. His canonization
emphasizes the vocation of all the lay faithful to holiness and
to a sharing in the evangelizing mission of the Church.
We conclude these refections on the lay faithful by appreciating
that Pope John Paul II inspires us with a vision of a countless
number of lay people, both women and men, busy at work
in their daily life and activity, oftentimes far from view and
quite unclaimed by the world, unknown to the worlds great
personages but nonetheless looked upon in love by the Father,
untiring laborers who work in the Lords vineyard. Confdent
and steadfast through the power of Gods grace, these are the
humble yet great builders of the Kingdom of God in history.
(Christifdeles Laici, 17). (PCP-II Acts of the Council Nos.
444-447)
Acts and Decrees of the Second Plenary Council of the
Philippines
IN a recent news story by CBCPNews, Fr. Dari Dioquino, a
priest who is in-charge of a home for the aged, is reportedly
alarmed by the growing number of homeless people, especially
in Metro Manila and in urban centers around the country. He
did not base his assessment from any government statistics or
from some social surveys, but from his daily work of tending
to the poor and the abandoned.
The alarming growth rate of the homeless is true, too, in other
countrieseven in wealthy ones, like the United States of
America. But what is strange in this country is that nobody
talks about it, not even in the media where it is yet a non-issue.
It is either that the sight of them has become normal fxtures
of, for instance, Manila by night or people have just been so
used with their presence and have become numb to the qualms
of social conscience.
Truth to tell, the homeless are one of the better indicators of a
plummeting society in terms of economy, political governance
and social responsibility. Ironically, the present dispensation
has been trumpeting a 7.2 Gross Domestic Product (GDP),
which is relatively high compared to our Asian neighbors.
But only the rub is, it is never felt. Some independent
economists call this situation a jobless growth because
while the GDP soars statistically, ground reality records an
increasing joblessness. The lack of jobs should logically
trigger a slowdown in economic growth and an increasing
hunger and poverty index.
That economic logic does not appear in government statistics.
In fact, what is being spinned now is the increasing government
efforts towards inclusive growth that gives a wide window of
opportunity for the poor to improve their lot. The so-called
Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program or 4Ps is among those
at the forefront of this political initiative, which, again, is not
making a dent of good on the ground.
Not to mention the recent squabble over large scale corruption
of pork in both houses of Congress and among the presidents
menwhich has been the sole culprit for the retrogression of
this countrypeople have shown their frustration towards the
Aquino government.
Atty. Jose Sison tells it better in his recent column at the
Philippine Star. He writes, People feel that it was a bigger
mistake to have elected P-Noy as president because of what is
happening in our country right now. After four years in offce
people are not only disappointed because of failed expectation.
They are actually disgruntled and angry because the present
government appears to be worse than the previous ones not
only in the performance of their jobs as public servants, but
also and more especially in avoiding and preventing graft and
corruption. Scams and anomalous deals are still happening
and appear to be on a bigger scale.
But the homeless are not indicators. They are people, brothers
and sisters. In July last year, Pope Francis invited 200 homeless
individuals to dinner at the Vatican. Hereabouts, Caritas Manila
does that in so many ways, which includes the program called
Hapag-asa.
Fr. Roy Cimagala
Candidly Speaking
Candidly Speaking / A5
Lay spirituality
Homeless
and then there were
three
Consistency and
adaptability
A Vocation to Holiness
and Heroism
Oscar. V. Cruz, DD
Views and Points
THE break is over. The Holy Week has
ended. The horrible-looking effgies were
burned. The EDCA was signed. The Obama
visit is done. Now back to the rather old
normal. The PDAF galore. The PDAF plun-
der. The PDAF queen and her cohorts. The
PDAF queens hospitalization. The same
PDAF queen on her confession prior to her
operation.
The drama goes on. The public is watching
closely. The media outlets are eagerly wait-
ing. People remain angry; so much of their
private resources became public funds. Pub-
lic funds went to private pockets; so much
graft and very corrupt practices repeatedly
and nonchalantly passed by the Matuwid
na Daan.
Who are the PDAF benefciaries among
the honorable public offcials in the coun-
try? Why is it that only three names are
repeatedly mentioned and heard? Are the
suspects only those not politically associ-
ated with Malacaang? Are all others holy
men and women? What about the other
members of the Senate? What about the
members of Congress? What about the
members of the Executive Department?
And what about the lower public offcials
who either actively participated or played
deaf and dumb by allowing themselves to
be used for the big success of the PDAF
scam?
A list of the suspect PDAF plunder char-
acters is in the hands of the Secretary of
Justice as revealed by the plunder queen
who must be handled with great care. She
personally went to Malacaang to sur-
render. She was received by Malacaang
personally. She was accompanied to the
PNP camp personally. Conclusion: The
Secretary of Justice has to clear the list with
Malacaang personally.
One list is in the hands of a former senator
who is known for his honesty and integrity.
He revealed where it came from. He men-
tioned that a number of some high ranking
public offcials listed therein.
One list is held by the President of the
Whistle Blowers. She got it from an impec-
cable source. She knows all those suspect in
the plunder debacle. She is a trustworthy
and brave woman.
Thus: And then there were threethree
lists that cannot but substantially agree
who are considered the PDAF benefciaries.
While the frst list has to be cleared frst with
Malacaang before it is actually bared, the
other two lists are ready to be released any
time, any day.
Does crime pay? People will know soon!
Fr. James H. Kroeger, MM
Living Mission
Year of Laity Reflections
TO guide the local Church dur-
ing the 2014 Year of the Laity, the
Catholic Bishops Conference of
the Philippines (CBCP) issued a
pastoral exhortation titled: Fili-
pino Catholic Laity: Called to be
Saints Sent Forth as Heroes!
This document seeks to renew
the evangelistic fervor of the
laity. As the mid-point of the
year approaches, we can again
explore some pivotal passages
of the bishops statement.
You, our dear lay faith-
ful, have as your particular
mission the sanctifcation and
transformation of the world
from within...Your own specifc
task...[is] to sanctify the world
and transform it so that this
world becomes more and more
Gods world, Gods kingdom,
where his will is done as it is in
heaven.
The CBCP notes that Jesus
command to preach the Gospel
and make disciples, though
given to the entire Church, falls
especially on you, who are in
the world. You must go into
the world of the family, of busi-
ness, of economics, of politics,
of education, of the mass media
and the social media, to every
human endeavor.
Gospel Challenges for the
Laity. Addressing the local la-
ity, the CBCP observes: When
we look at our Philippine world
with the eyes of faith, there are
several areas of special concern
which you, our lay faithful,
should direct your attention and
action to.
The CBCP addresses the re-
ality of poverty. Poverty is a
social and spiritual problem in
our country...The wealth of our
country has remained woefully
maldistributed. This endemic
poverty is gravely contrary to
the will of God.
You, our dear lay faithful, are
in the best position to creatively
work out solutions which will
satisfy the demands of justice
and charity. What are you do-
ing to create wealth, to preserve
wealth, and to share wealth? Do
the more prosperous among you
feel the sufferings of our poor
brothers and sisters, and do you
think of ways and means to al-
leviate their poverty and help
them towards prosperity?
Laity and the World of Poli-
tics. Straightforwardly, the
bishops state: Politics as it is
practiced in our country is per-
haps the single biggest obstacle
to our integral development as a
nation...Our elections are notori-
ously noted for their violence
and vote-buying and for the lack
of proper discernment in the
choice of candidates.
Recent developments have
highlighted the corruption con-
nected with the pork barrel
which those in power are loath
to give up...It is now clear that
our people are poor because
our leaders have kept them poor
by their greed for money and
power.
The Philippine bishops ask:
What are you doing to get rid
of the politics of patronage, vio-
lence and uneducated choices?
What are you doing, our dear
lay faithful, to rid our country
of graft and corruption?
The renewal of our country
thus demands of us all, and es-
pecially of you, our lay faithful,
a return to truthfulness and the
fostering of the sense of the com-
mon good. Profound refection
and collective concerted action
are imperative!
WE need to strike a healthy balance between
consistency and adaptability in our behavior,
especially as we go about reclaiming our
life, now warped here and there by so many
confusing elements, for God.
Again, the ultimate model for this is Christ
who did nothing other than to carry out the
will of his Father and yet was game to all the
possibilities that human freedom would take
him, including dying on the Cross.
I am sure that even in our ordinary affairs,
we need to do some kind of balancing. Our
life is flled with many things, often with
competing values that objectively are good in
varying degrees, not to mention the constant
clash between good and evil. We have no
other alternative, but to fnd that balance that
would give due consideration to all these
elements of our life.
Yes, we need to have consistency in our
life, in our identity, in our mission. But we
should not understand this consistency as
rigidity, inflexibility, hardness. Christian
consistency is very much compatible with
adaptability. In fact, Christian consistency
requires an adaptability that goes all the way
till death, like what Christ did.
Neither should we understand adapt-
ability as a lawless attitude toward life. We
always need to acknowledge the law that
comes from God, as well as to acknowledge
when that law is followed and when it is
violated. We have to avoid the thinking that
everything will just have the same value.
Thats adaptability gone haywire.
The secret to all this is to imitate Christ. He
ceaselessly preached the truth about God,
about ourselves and everything else. He
persisted in it regardless of whether he was
understood or not, believed or not.
In spite of all diffculties and contradic-
tions, including being betrayed and denied
by those close to him, he continued with His
redemptive work. He kept this determina-
tion alive by spending time in prayerHe
would spend nights talking with his Father.
He was not afraid of making all kinds of
sacrifces.
And He did everything to make himself
understood and accessible to people. He,
frst of all, being God became man, so He can
truly be, not only with us, but also bear in His
humanity all the wounded condition of man.
This truth was vividly described by St.
Paul when he talked about the self-emp-
tying of Christ. Have this mind among
yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus,
who, though he was in the form of God,
did not count equality with God a thing to
be grasped, but emptied himself, taking the
form of a servant... (Phil 2,5ff)
In His preaching, He used parables to
make His messages more understandable
to the people. He was extremely patient
with everyone, even if on occasion He had
to make corrections.
He may have done a good number of
miracles, but they were made not to impress
people, but rather to show them genuine
compassion and to help them build up their
fedgling faith.
Then He allowed himself to go through
all the suffering and all the way to death on
the Cross, in obedience to his Father, to take
up all the sins of men, to die to them only
to resurrect. This is the ultimate example
of how Christ lived both consistency and
adaptability.
The crux of the secret is to imitate Christ
in his obedience to His Fathers will. Father,
A5 Vol. 18 No. 10
May 12 - 25, 2014
CBCP Monitor
Opinion
Atty. Aurora A. Santiago
Duc in Altum
Fr. Francis Ongkingco
Whatever
Three boys,
tomorrows fathers
To All Mothers, Happy
Mothers Day!
Rediscovering San
Isidro Labrador
iConfess
Candidly Speaking / A4
not my will but yours be done,
He said. It is this obedience that
would show the full extent of our
faith, hope and charity in God
through Christ in the Holy Spirit.
It is in imitating Christ in this
obedience to His Fathers will
that would indicate how willing
we are to be with God even if we
would already run out of reasons
to follow Him. Faith and reason
should go together, but faith can
outrun reason.
We need to process this truth
of our faith slowly and deeply,
so we can relish the many im-
plications and consequences,
theoretical and practical, of how
we can live both consistency and
adaptability in our Christian life
and mission.
Some of these implications are
that we really need to commit
ourselves to a certain plan of
life, made up of certain practices
of piety and continuing forma-
tion. This way, we nourish our
spiritual life, we keep ourselves
spiritually healthy and morally
active both in good times and
in bad.
In short, we have to think of
spending time in serious per-
sonal and intimate prayer, study
of the doctrine of our faith, and
recourse to the sacraments.
Teresa R. Tunay, OCDS
and thats the truth
NIAGARA Falls, Buffalo, New
YorkHappy Mothers Day
to my mother, Gloria Angeles-
Santiago, and to all mothers in
the world. My siblings and I are
indeed very blessed, thanks God,
for we still have our 96 year-old
mother with us; she is turning
97 next month, June 13, the Feast
of St. Anthony of Padua. Thank
you, Lord, for the gift of mothers.
Pardon me if I would devote
most of my column to my moth-
er. Gloria. I wish to share with
you this secret so you can make
your mother happy. We shower
our mother, Gloria, with tender
loving care, to the point of spoil-
ing her, giving her everything,
doing whatever she wants. As
we her children always say,
Whatever Gloria wants, Gloria
gets. That is how much we
love her. We have to patient
with her tantrums, yes, she does
have them many times, hahaha.
We always take her out so that
she will not complain of being
bored in the house. Whenever
my schedule permits, I make
it a point to call her daily (via
Facetime) and visit her at least
once or twice a year (she lives in
L.A. with my sister Vicky).
She is enjoying our family
vacation right now; we are on
a long drive from West Coast
(Los Angeles, California) to
East Coast (Washington D.C.,
New York, New Jersey, There is
still some snow foating on the
waters of the Niagara River due
to the severe winter in the area.
And our mother is enjoying it,
together with my 3 month-old
nephew Rome, the oldest and
the youngest in the family, re-
spectively.
We are still on the road. Ev-
eryone is enjoying the family
reunion. More so of Inay (that is
how we call our mother) because
almost everyone in the family
is with hermy Ate Violy and
sister Vicky; my brother Nito
and wife Nisa; my brother Roy,
his wife Jinky and son Rome; my
nephews Glenn and Eric; nieces
Ria and Raiza; and I.
I wish you have already shown
your love and affection to your
mother on Mothers Day. It is
not yet too late to do so. Have
you told her that you love her? I
am sure she would appreciate it
and she would really feel happy.
Everyone needs to be told, espe-
cially mothers, that she is loved.
Let us thank the Lord for the
gift of mothers. Do not forget to
tell your mother, and all moth-
ers, that you love them and that
they are doing a great job. We
have only one mother and we
ought to give her our outmost
love and care. God bless and take
care of all mothers.
***
Here is a friendly reminder
to our readers. Those who are
qualifed to vote must register,
so that you can vote in the 2016
elections. In 2016, we will vote
not only for the president and
senators of our country, but
also for local government of-
fcials like the congressmen or
representatives of congressional
districts, provincial and city/
municipal elective offcials.
You must also register if you
are already 18 years old or will
be 18 years old by May 9, 2016
elections.
You must reactivate your reg-
istration if you have not voted
or failed to vote in the last 2
elections.
Likewise, even if you are al-
ready a voter and voted in the
last two elections, I suggest that
you verify your registration, lest
you should be unable to vote.
Remember the registered voters
whose names could not be found
in the Comelec listings and con-
sequently were not able to vote?
Do not let it happen to you.
We must exercise our sacred
right to vote. Voting the right
person will mean good gover-
nance of our only country.
***
We condemn the kidnapping
of 250 school girls in Nigeria by
the Boko Haram militant group.
Let us all pray for the safety of
the girls.
***
We also join the Catholic Cler-
gy in requiring Justice Secretary
Leila De Lima to release the
names of all senators and repre-
sentatives (congressmen) who
are involved in the P10-Billion
pork barrel scam. We also ve-
hemently oppose making Mrs.
IN my hometown of Bo-
rongan, May has been
a festive month for as
long as I remember. No
other thing makes it so
than the many neighbor-
hoods, clans, barangays,
farmers and workers
associations associated
with San Isidro Labrador,
prompting people to re-
quest masses in honor of
the farmer saint for their
association or commu-
nity and organize dance
parties in the aftermath.
(Our team ministry was
once inundated with such
requests that I almost
collapsed out of sheer
exhaustion on top of the
summer heat after my
last San Isidro Mass).
You could say we are
exceedingly religious to
be requesting masses
to introduce street or
neighborhood parties.
I would grant a point
there. But, as I have of-
ten publicly decried, the
presence of mostly a
handful of women and
children in these liturgi-
cal celebrations, while
the men folk and the rest
of the people troop to the
evening dance parties in
droves is very telling.
And it is very telling, for
one, of how much we
could keep a tradition
without remembering
why, of how we could
be deeply involved in an
event without knowing
its story.
To say that San Isidro
Labrador celebrations
should never be used
as an excuse for semi-
pagan revelry may sound
like non-Catholic com-
mentary. But nothing is
more Catholic, Christian
and sane than purifying
our celebrations around
the feasts of our favorite
saints in order to make
them serve better the true
teachings of the faith and
Christ-centered living.
Even the saints would
desire that. And miss
we must not what our
forebears were teaching
us in the original story of
our traditions around San
Isidro Labrador -- things
that San Isidro Labra-
dor himself continues to
teach us from his deeds
rather than his words.
One: Worship of God
is the highest priority.
San Isidros example of
going to Mass frst thing
in the morning is essen-
tially the spirit behind
our forebears instructing
us to request a mass in
honor of the farmer saint
before even considering
other activities to mark
his feast day. It should
not escape our attention
that San Isidro himself
even ignored his fellow
farmers complaints and
taunts when he spent
plenty of time in wor-
ship and prayer at mass
before he would even
handle a plough. Nowa-
days, we easily go where
the crowds are headed,
which tells us how much
courage it took San Isidro
to follow his highest pri-
ority.
Two: What works in
life is not you and I insist-
ing, Show me, Lord, and
Ill believe but the Lord
urging us, Believe frst
and Ill show you. Again
we gather this from San
Isidros example. When
asked by his landlord,
Juan de Vargas, at the
prompting of other com-
plaining farmers, if some-
one was helping him till
his parcel of land to ex-
plain its greater yield, San
Isidro insisted he only
had himself and God.
The truth of the matter
was, he had so much faith
in God it bore fruit in
miracles, including those
tales of angels helping
him plow the feld and
his reaping big harvests.
Three: Charity may
begin at home but it
doesnt end there; it is
also extended to others,
especially to those most
in need. Accounts tell of
how San Isidro would
divide his harvests and
earnings into three: a
portion was reserved for
the Church, another for
the needy and the third,
for his family. At the risk
of being accused of bias,
I see in this act, San Isidro
Labradors expression of
his love for God above
everything and love of
neighbor as extension of
his love of self which in-
cludes love of family. San
Isidros practice of char-
ity is a proclamation that
Gods love is not, as it
were, a self-enclosed lake,
but a river that overfows.
And it overflows into
his creatures, us human
beings, especially whom
he expects must share
the flow with the most
deserving. Of the stories
regarding San Isidros
charity, I like best the
one in which he brought
beggars with him to a
luncheon invitation. On
being told only he was
invited, he nevertheless
asked for his share and
divided it with the beg-
gars. What a catechism
in action. (I might add,
partly in jest, how San
Isidros courage went
with his charity because
it took a lot of courage to
ask for his share after the
rebuff by his host.)
Four: Love of God and
love of neighbor includes
practical love for the rest
of Gods creation. For
instance, who would
miss the account of San
Isidros kindness to hun-
gry birds? We are told of
the farmer saint bringing
a sack of corn to the mill
one morning and, seeing
hungry birds scaveng-
ing vainly for food on a
frosty feld, poured half
of the sacks contents for
the birds to eat. Again
he ignored the taunts
of people around him
when he did this. But,
on arriving at the mill,
his sack was full again
and the resulting ground
corn produced twice as
much four. The farmer
saint ignored and, it is
safe to say, even forgave
his enemies. I guess I
could say that the Lord
blessed him for that and
got even on his behalf.
But that is not the point
I wish to make. What we
must gather from the
farmer saints example is
his love for Gods crea-
tures, which is very much
of a piece with todays
Churchs emphasis on
the integrity of Gods
creation and our obliga-
tion in charity to protect
the environment. Love
not usefulness should be
our motivation.
Finally, his daily union
with Jesus in the Eucha-
rist and through personal
prayer bore fruit in the
Lord working in him and
through him. Should we
be surprised about the
miracle stories through
the farmer saints inter-
cession before and after
his death? Of how he sim-
ply pricked the earth one
day and a spring gushed
forth, of how he helped
the triumph of Christian
troops over the Moors
through a secret path he
revealed to Alfonse VIII
to spring a surprise at-
tack on them; of how he
obtained cures for peas-
ants and royalty alike; of
how even his dead body,
which was discovered to
be incorrupt, occasioned
spectacular healings? In
awe, yes; but surprised,
we need not be. Why? Be-
cause Jesus who worked
miracles while on earth
is still present and con-
tinually working in his
Church; and this is clear
especially in his saints.
Yet I humbly submit
that the greatest miracle
of San Isidro Labrador is
his staying power even
in our modern conscious-
ness. This is something
that comes, I believe,
from the timelessness of
his lifes message: Faith
that is expressed in char-
ity is the key not only to
the consolations of God,
but especially to the God
of consolations.
Rev. Eutiquio Euly B. Belizar, Jr., SThD
By the Roadside
JADE was just rounding the street corner towards the church
when he saw someone very familiar coming out of the church
door.
I cant believe THIIIS! He exclaimed.
What? his girlfriend asked.
Its Craig, my long-time high school classmate, he said.
[SIGH!] His girlfriend eye-ball rolled at him. So, does
this mean that our window shoppings over?
No, no, not at all! Jade replied. Im just so surprised to
see him coming out of a CATHOLIC Church.
Not Catholic?
Ever since high school, Craig never took his faith seriously.
In fact, after his parents separated he abandoned all religious
practices.
All? Surely, not all? If he aint that Catholic, then someone
in your batch must have just gotten married, she remarked.
Dont look like theres a marriage in sight, Sheila, Jade
observed.
Then the simplest thing would be to ask him, sides you
havent met for years, right?
Craig! Craig! Jade waved at his old classmate.
Jade, is that you? Dude, you havent changed much!
Neither have you, except for your balding head and white
hair, Craig laughed off his observation and gave Jade an
embrace.
Whats up, Craig? Jade delicately asked.
Oh, I just went to see Fr. Kempton for confession...I just
thought of preparing myself since its the Easter Season.
Jade couldnt believe what he was hearing. He stood there
paralyzed for about half a second until his girlfriend nudged
him, Eehem!
You alright, dude? Craig tapped him on the shoulder.
Yeah, yeah...Sorry...Oh, Craig, this is Sheila, my girlfriend.
Sheila, Craig...
Craig, its been a while. Why dont we meet up one of these
days and catch up with old times!
Sure, heres my number, Jade.

* * *

I was just telling Sheila the other day that ever since high
school you werent a very religious person. Thats why I was
sooo shocked when you told me you had seen Fr. Kempton
for confession.
Craig smiled and intensely absorbed the coffees aroma from
the border of the cup. Guess..., you could call it a conversion?
Dude, its great to have you back! You dont mind if I asked
you about it? Jade couldnt hide his joy for his friend.
Well, after mom and dad broke off, I really went from bad
to worse. I just didnt have anyone to open my anxieties to.
I was depressed, suicidal and even had some trouble about
my gender identity...
You, gay? Jade gave out a hearty laugh.
Nothing like you think, dude. I think many people pass
through that emotional stage, especially within dysfunctional
families. Ive been reading much about it. Luckily, I realized it
was just a side-effect, and saw that it wasnt going to resolve
my personal issues.
So from there...where? Jade took a bite of his doughnut.
I was living with dad till he died.
Oh, Im sorry to hear that.
But before he died, we somehow patched up our differ-
ences. He apologized for everything and asked me the favor
of looking up a priest for him, so he could do his confession.
Your folks werent really religious, right?
Nope, but I never poked my nose into what I thought was
a private matter.
Did you get him a priest?
Yeah, but I did that just to get it over with. Deep inside, I
still felt so distant and could not forgive him for what he did.
And mom...?
She knew about dads death, but she never went to his
funeral, Craig pensively sipped his coffee.
Thats really sad. Thats how deeply hurt she was?
I couldnt blame mom, but Im sure she will also come to her
own senses. Wish she would let me share dads last words.
Would they change anything?
Oh, yes! They changed me, said Craig, smiling.
How?
The night before he died, he told me Craig, I love you. Im
saying this because at least I can go and know that you heard
it with your own ears, even though your heart isnt ready to
take it in. But at least I can tell our Lord, I said sorry by say-
ing I LOVE YOU to my son, and Im sorry for not LOVING
YOU MORE.
Whoa! Dude, thats really something!
and, he begged me to do one more thing Craig tried
swallowing the growing lump in his throat.
What? Jade was all ears.
He asked me to repeat the same words to him.
Did you?
I didnt know how. But he said, I could just say it even if
I didnt feel them. What mattered was that while he lived, he
heard me saying it. That was all he asked for.
I bet you did, Craig. But how did that lead you back and
to all things, confession? Jade looked at his watch.
Funny, I didnt really become religious even after that. I
said some prayers and confessed directly to God like I used
to do as a kid.
But at least thats something already.
Yeah, but what struck me was reading the Bible one day.
I realized that although I could confess directly to God, there
was still some missing piece in the puzzle of my life. In the
Gospels, I observed that whenever our Lord cured or healed
someone, there was something public about it.
Duc in Altum / A6
Whatever / A7
TO sort of keep in touch with the masses I
like to take the public transport on occasion.
Contact with the common tao both grounds
and energizes me. Thus, on a solo pilgrimage
to Our Lady of Antipolo shrine last May 13,
I took a jeepney from EDSA Central, choos-
ing the front seat. Between the driver and
myself sat a frail-looking boy of about 14 or
15 who fell asleep and leaned against me for
the most part of the trip. Out of discomfort,
I would shift in my seat now and then, hop-
ing he would awaken, but he wouldnt, so
conscience compelled me to hold him instead
lest he topple over to the drivers side as the
jeepney twisted and turned its way uphill.
I wondered why he wouldnt be roused,
and suspected he might be on drugs, so I
(fnally) asked the driver if he knew the boy.
No, hes just a passenger. At this point the
boy woke up, looking refreshed, so I asked
him point blank: Bakit tulog na tulog ka?
Bangag ka ba? (Why are you in such deep
sleep? Are you high on drugs?) He replied,
Nag sidecar po ako. Long story short, I
learned that he was up the previous night
pedaling a trisikad (a foot-propelled
bicycle with a sidecar) in Baclaran to raise
enough money for the trip to Antipolo.
His uncle with whom he lives employs
him on a per need basis; hes on standby
24/7 with no fxed hours for mealtimes or
sleep. I was aghast when he said he is paid
60 pesos per day. Hes 15 years old, quit high
school on his second year, has no drivers
license and is completely ignorant of the
Labor Code or his rights as a child. Unable
to see beyond his daily existence he was
mum when asked what he wanted to be in
the future. Even returning to school seemed
impossible because we have no money.
I asked what his favorite subject in school
was. Math po, he said. Getting to our
destination I simply encouraged him to pur-
sue his studies even as a working student.
Meddler that I am, I suggested he ask his
uncle to enroll him in TESDA as his math
skills could make him a good automotive
mechanic, refrigeration technician, or even a
mechanical engineer later on. I just wanted
him to have a dream.
During the homily, I was reminded of
sidecar boy when the priest spoke about
how shocked he was to fnd out that a 12-
year old boy in his parish was discovered to
be a drug pusher. Actually, his parents are
the pushers, said the priest, but they use
the boy to deliver the drugs because hes just
a child, and who would suspect a child to be
involved in such deals? So, here again its
the elders who take advantage of the child
just like those who engage teenage girls and
boys to make money lending their bodies to
online pornography, or those who train and
utilize their young sons in war strategies, etc.
I wondered how many of the parents in our
country actually are already of this mentality,
and how through the years Filipinos have
changed in the way we regard our children.
In the Adoration Chapel, as I was prepar-
ing to leave, two boys walked in, rosary in
hand. I was curious as they were not ac-
companied by an adult, so I stayed a bit to
observe. Apparently a well-fed 10-year-old,
the older one seemed to pray his rosary in
earnest, kneeling still the whole time while
the younger one (around 6, perhaps), was
quite a wiggler, trying but failing to distract
the older one, who only budged to kneel on
the foor and kiss it! I must admit the sight
delighted me as I thought, Could this be the
bud of a priestly vocation?
This boy is quite a different image from
the frst two I had encountered, but having
And Thats The truth / A6
A6 Vol. 18 No. 10
May 12 - 25, 2014
CBCP Monitor
Local News
Napoles a star witness. As
such, she has the right and privi-
lege of not being prosecuted for
the crimes she has committed in
relation to the pork barrel funds
of lawmakers. She is the brain of
the pork barrel scam, why make
let her go scot-free? She is as
guilty as the lawmakers included
in the list. The Filipino people
deserve to know the truth.
***
I wish to greet a very happy
birthday to my sister-in-law Jinky
Santiago, the better half of my
brother Dr. Andres Roy San-
tiago and Mommy of my new-
est nephew Romarico Rome
Santiago. Same greetings go to
Fr. Romeo Estanislao,OFM of the
Diocese of Kalookan and Kate
Buenconsejo of Sangguniang
Laiko ng Pilipinas.
Had my brother-in-law Kuya
Celestino Cel Rosales been
alive, he and my eldest sister,
Violeta Santiago-Rosales, would
have celebrated their wedding
anniversary on May 12. Kuya Cel
passed away last April 11.
Duc in Altum / A5
come one after the other, all in one
morningthe frst one I touched
and conversed with; the second, I
heard about; the third, I sawall
three vignettes came as one to
stir my imagination. How many
more years before advocates of
social behavior change can
get hold of these boys and re-
mold their minds into the new
normal? As things are in our
country right now, government
authorities (purveyors of the con-
traceptive mentality) are already
blindly luring our young slowly,
but systematically into a world
where ones pleasure, needs, and
desires matter most. Top that
with the popular media offerings
that aim to brainwash audiences
into embracing a new meaning
of marriage, family, and parent-
hood, et al. Shows both for-
eign and locally produced teach
viewers its not only pass, but
even cruel to have moral values,
particularly if such moral values
stand in the way of ones right
to happiness.
Where will those three boys
be 10 years from today? I dread
to think that poverty may turn
the sidecar boy and the child
drug pusher into child abusers
themselves, or that with the on-
set of puberty the rosary boy
will drop his devotion in favor of
worldlier gains. What will they
believe in? What causes will they
be fghting for? Will they clamor
for divorce or same sex marriage?
Will they approve of abortion, or
themselves assist the suicide of
their elders? What stories will
they tell their children? The forces
of darkness disguised as light-
bearers are working double-time
to ensnare our young, but I believe
that God will not allow them to
succeed. And thats the truth.
And Thats The truth / A5
have the right to health and life.
The artifcial reproductive devices
are threats to such rights, he said.
Birth control is a delicate subject
in the predominantly Catholic
country, especially with the recent
implementation of the controver-
sial Reproductive Health (RH) law.
The church offcial also said that
farmers and fshermen need all
the support they could get from
the government and aid agencies.
Though the bishop did not
identify any group, among the
visible agencies providing aid in
the province in the form of fam-
ily planning is the United Nation
Population Fund (UNFPA).
Immediately after the on-
slaught of the typhoon, the
UNFPA rolled out an informa-
tion campaign on birth control
services in Eastern Visayas.
The UN agency said that they
are concerned about unwanted
pregnancies and the possible
spread of sexually transmitted
diseases. (pacifctimes.org)
Livelihood / A1
on the fngers of one hand.
Today, there are so many of
their kind wandering to uncertain-
ty in the streets, he said. Some
of them are even naked. It seems
that nobody cares about them.
The institutions as well as the
individuals who have the moral
and social obligation to help the
street vagrants to rebuild their
lives and become better have be-
come uncomfortable with their
responsibility, Fr. Dioquino said.
We have come to not wanting
to be involved with their lives,
he said.
The priest expressed sadness
over mere rhetoric, non-action,
and excuses perpetuated in the
culture of such institutions and
among people who are sup-
posed to help these poor people
improve their lives.
Despite this indifference to hu-
man sufferings, Christians still
describe themselves as believers,
he said. Confronting unchristian
behavior becomes boring and
scandalous, Fr. Dioquino said,
while turning away and apathy
towards the needy become ac-
ceptable and convenient.
We are guilty of the sin of
omission, Fr. Dioquino said.
Christ exhorted the faithful
to care for the hungry, the sick,
the prisoner, and be good for the
stranger, he pointed out.
Fr. Dioquino encourages the
people to read and follow the
Gospels written by the Apostles,
hoping that through them the
faithful and the Church founded
by Christ Himself would not
get lost.
Please read the Acts of the
Apostles, he said. Our Lord
Jesus Christ tells us in the Gospel
how we should live [in the] here
and now.
Aside from street vagrants,
Fr. Dioquino observed that the
number of less fortunate and
abandoned elderly is growing
as well.
Fr. Dioquino has been in
charge of the home for the aged
in Antipolo in the last 12 years.
He lives under the same roof
with them. (Oliver Samson)
Homeless / A1
uses more bicycles with a better
policy on bike lanes.
Sao pointed out that people
must address root causes, adapt
and be resilient, address poverty,
and promote environmental sus-
tainability. But an important factor
to consider, Sao said is that we
need national solidarityEvery-
one has a part and we cannot solve
this if we act separately.
The 11th NLC was hosted by
the SCA Archdiocesan Council
of Cebu that was held from April
30 to May 4, 2014 at the Talavera
House of Prayer, Basak, Cebu
City with the theme SCAn
Ako, LAyko (Leadership in Ac-
tion Youth Ako with this sub-
theme, Renewal of the Laity.
Paramount is Climate Change.
(Mark Vertido)
Environment / A1
Sr. Divinia Declaro be-
gan conducting Bible
seminars for graveyard
colonists in this city last
January.
Graveyard evangeliza-
tion
There [is] such a de-
light when they stop at
something to hear the
Gospel, the septuagenar-
ian nun, Sr. Canag, said.
The audience consists
of men and women of
different ages, especially
children, who gather at
a large tomb to hear the
Good News.
They place the Holy
Book on the tomb, she
said. The visual aids used
to facilitate the lectures
are stuck on the tombs
sides.
The departed must be
pleased the Bible is en-
throned on his tomb and
he is hosting the Bible
study, Sr. Canag said,
describing the experi-
ence. Some children run
around, stopping from
time to time to listen.
They embarked on
re-evangelizing grave-
yard settlers in coordina-
tion with the Sta. Clara
de Montefalco Parish
Church, and through the
assistance of Ka Jojo, a
parish lay person, who
is the contact person be-
tween the nuns and the
families who call the cem-
etery their home.
The Good News in us
The sisters believe the
Gospel is similar to staple
food in the sense that it is
incorporated into the in-
ner self when the person
takes it in.
Just like the nutrients
of the food that becomes
part of the body, the Word
of God also becomes part
of the body when in-
gested, she said.
The graveyard settlers
are among the poor fami-
lies who annually receive
the P1, 000 gift packages
from the congregation
during Yuletide season,
Sr. Canag said.
They also receive free
copies of Bible from the
Daughters of St. Paul.
Ac c or di ng t o Sr.
Canag, cemetery set-
tlers can be self-suffcient
if the government and
non-government orga-
nizations help them fnd
home and jobs.
The two nuns are plan-
ning to conduct future
Bible studies for the
cemetery settlers at the
Daughters of St. Paul
Central house in the city.
The former Provin-
cial Superior, however,
expressed sadness over
Catholics general lack
of attention and effort to
bring the faithful back
into the Church. Other
churches conduct Bible
studies at the cemetery,
she said.
She once asked a child
what the Good News is,
who said in return Gos-
pel. Who told you so?
Sr. Canag asked. Pastor
said so, came the reply.
(Oliver Samson)
Evangelization / A1
According to him, the amount
will be used for the continuing
housing and livelihood projects
and for its disaster risk reduction
program.
This is being done in nine
affected dioceses and the com-
munity is part of the planning
because the needs for livelihood
and shelter vary between dif-
ferent affected areas, Gariguez
said.
He revealed that he and other
representatives from Caritas
Philippines are set to go to Eu-
rope this month to launch their
appeal for aid from their Caritas
international partners.
Its good as approved actual-
ly and thats a very conservative
estimate which we can raise and
I think we can even go beyond
the target, said Gariguez.
Thats why we also need to
go personally to UK and Rome
for a meeting with Caritas Inter-
nationales, he added.
But even before they could
launch their appeal, the Caritas
UK, through its Catholic Agen-
cy for Overseas Development,
has already pledged an ad-
ditional 2 million or roughly
P150 million.
We are yet to renew our ap-
peal but CAFOD already made
a commitment, he said refer-
ring to the offcial Catholic aid
agency for England and Wales.
(CBCPNews)
Caritas / A1
Secular Franciscans discuss New Evangelization
at natl meeting
THE National Fraternity of the
Secular Franciscan Order (OFS)
Philippines recently held its
11th National Chapter from 1 to
4 May 2014 to talk about chal-
lenges and perspectives in rela-
tion to the New Evangelization
and to elect a new set of offcers.
Inspired by the theme Keep-
ing the Fire Burning in the Era
of the New Evangelization, the
OFS delegates were given the
opportunity to review and refect
on the challenges of spreading
the Gospel in the modern world,
especially in the family, and to
defne the direction of the Order
in the light of these challenges.
Held at the St. James Retreat
Center in Tagaytay City, the
Chapter convened about 110 per-
manently-professed members
from different fraternities across
the country, to review the accom-
plishments of the previous three
years, to defne the priorities of
the Order, as well as to elect the
members of the National Council
for the next three years.
The OFS offcers elected for the
new three-year term from 2014 to
2017 are: Ma. Yvonne Lanuza,OFS,
Minister; Luz Hernandez, OFS,
Vice-Minister; Aldo Tayao, OFS,
Formator; Larry Manongtong,
OFS, Secretary; Garlene Jose, OFS,
Treasurer; Antonio Maghirang,
OFS, Councilor 1; and Belinda
Inao, OFS, Councilor 2.
The delegates were ably guid-
ed by their spiritual assistants
from the First Order: Fr. Joe
Litigio, OFM; Fr. John Vianney
Ma. Acosta, OFM Conv.; and Fr.
Jonecito Saguban, TOR; and the
OFS clergy, represented by Fr. Ed
Coroza, OFS and Fr. Rolito Ra-
mos, OFS. The elections for the
National Council was presided
over by Doug Clorey, OFS, and
was witnessed by Fr. Amando
Cano, TOR.
The assembly was frst wel-
comed by an inspiring message
from Catholic Bishops Confer-
ence of the Philippines (CBCP)
President Archbishop Socrates
Villegas, OFS. Prominent lit-
urgy celebrants included Bishop
Francisco de Leon, OFS and
Bishop Reynaldo Evangelista,
Three Provincial Ministers of the
First Order, Fr. Greg Redoblado,
OFM; Fr. Eugene Lopez, OFM
Cap.; Fr. Francis Victor Mateo,
OFM Conv.; and Fr. Amando
Trujillo Cano, TOR, one of the
four comprising the Conference
of General Spiritual Assistants of
the Order, celebrated the open-
ing liturgy of the event.
The Secular Franciscan Order
is an organic union of Catholic
fraternities whose members in
their secular state have commit-
ted themselves through public
profession to live the Gospel
in the manner of St. Francis of
Assisi, by following the Rule
approved by the Church.
Presently, the Order in the
Philippines has 125 established
local fraternities, 31 emerg-
ing local fraternities, 24 consti-
tuted regional fraternities and
1 emerging regional fraternity.
(Jess Matias)
The opening liturgy for the 11th National Chapter of OFS Philippines is celebrated by the three Provincial Ministers
of the First Order: Fr. Greg Redoblado, OFM (second from left); Fr. Eugene Lopez, OFM Cap.(ffth from left);
Fr. Francis Victor Mateo, OFM Conv.(sixth from left); and Fr. Amando Trujillo Cano, TOR (seventh from left),
representing the Conference of General Spiritual Assistants of the Order.
Bishops welcome Pope Paul VI beatifcation
CHURCH leaders are af-
frming they are delighted
by the offcial announce-
ment that Pope Francis
will beatify the frst pon-
tiff who visited the Philip-
pines, Pope Paul VI.
The bishops, among
them Jaro Archbishop
Angel Lagdameo, said
that Pope Paul VI is held
in great esteem, not just
by church leaders, but
by people of good will in
the world.
I am very happy for
him. It was in his pa-
pacy that Vatican II was
held. Blessed Paul VI suc-
ceeded Pope John XXIII,
who opened Vatican II,
he said.
Sorsogon Bishop Ar-
turo Bastes noted how
Paul VI defended the
sanctity of human life
and the family through
his encyclical Humanae
Vitae, published in 1968
The encyclical reaf-
frmed the Churchs teach-
ing against artifcial con-
traception and abortion.
It is a very good deci-
sion. He wrote the pro-
phetic encyclical letter
Humanae Vitae for which
he suffered very much,
Bastes said.
Bishop Honesto Ong-
tioco of Cubao, mean-
while, said that Paul VI
was a good shepherd of
Gods fock, very simple
and holy.
Paul VI was very frm
in the teachings of the
church during a time of
crises and turbulence in
the world, he said.
Paul VI, who will be
beatifed at the Vatican
on October 19, was the
first pope to visit the
Phi l i ppi nes i n 1970,
ahead of Saint John Paul
II. (CBCPNews) Pope Paul VI
Bangladesh and Taiwan.
Philippine Senate President
Franklin Drilon, Senators Sonny
Angara, Grace Poe, Cynthia Vil-
lar, Nancy Binay, Koko Pimentel,
Vicente Sotto and Gringo Hona-
san were present.
Former Supreme Court Chief
Justices Hilario Davide, Jr., and
Artemio Panganiban, Executive
Secretary Paquito Ochoa, Manila
Mayor Joseph Estrada, and sev-
eral congressmen and lawyers
also graced the event.
Lafftte is in Manila for the
4-day Asian Conference on the
Family, organized by the CBCP
in collaboration with the Pontif-
cal Council for the Family, as a
response to the secularist infu-
ences that threaten the sanctity
of the family.
With the theme Families of
Asia: Lights of Hope, the gath-
ering aims to generate discussion
on the Charter of Rights of the
Familyits message, challenges,
and impact on families in the
Asian region30 years after it
was promulgated on October
22, 1983.
The Charter, which came two
years after the Apostolic Exhor-
tation of Pope John Paul II on the
role of the Christian family in the
modern world (Familiaris Con-
sortio), was intended to provide
a formulation of the fundamen-
tal rights that are inherent in the
natural and universal society
which is the family.
Hundreds of religious, educa-
tors, lay faithful, and even politi-
cians all over Asia are attending
the conference to tackle the current
situation of the human family.

Pope: Deepen your faith
In his message, Pope Francis
encouraged the participants to
deepen their Catholic faith and
share it with others.
The Holy Father calls upon
all the lay faithful gathered to
deepen their experience of faith
and communion, under the
guidance of the Successor of
Peter and the Bishops, so as to
be a leaven of Christs love in the
midst of humanity.
The pontiffs message was
relayed by Archbishop Pietro
Parolin, Vatican Secretary of
State, to the CBCP through the
Apostolic Nuncio, Archbishop
Pinto.
Pope Francis also imparted
his apostolic blessing to the con-
ference as a pledge of peace and
joy in our Lord Jesus.

Examples to the world
Archbishop Villegas said the
Philippines was chosen as venue
for the international event, so
that thriving Filipino families
may serve as an example to the
rest of the world.
Its an acknowledgment by
the Holy See that the Filipino
family is an example for families
in the world. Lights of hope,
he said.
While same conferences have
been held in other Asian coun-
tries in the past, this is the frst
time that a Vatican offcial from
the Pontifical Council for the
Family graced such event in
Asia.
We come to host the ACF
with a certain sense of holy pride
because we want to say to the
rest of the world that the Asian
families are signs of hope, lights
of hope, symbols of hope for the
rest of the families of the world,
said Villegas.
Where does the light of the
Asian family come from? [There
is] only one source from the light
of the holy family itself: the fam-
ily of Jesus, Mary and Joseph,
he said.
Protect / A1
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Youth confab to focus on liturgy
HEEDING St. John Paul IIs
1981 call to new evangelization,
the upcoming 10th John Paul II
Catechetics & Youth Ministry
Conference (JP II CYMC ) on
May 14 16, 2014 will focus on
liturgy and catechesis, as well
as on empowerment of the laity.
Joining the Church in celebrat-
ing the 50th anniversary of Sac-
rosanctum Concilium (SC), the
Second Vatican Councils (Vatican
II) Dogmatic Constitution on the
Sacred Liturgy, the conference
aims to renew ways of doing
catechesis and youth ministry in
keeping with its theme Celebrat-
ing the Mystery, Professing the
Faith.
Dr. Josefna M. Manabat, Dean
of the San Beda College Gradu-
ate School of Liturgy, will be
guiding the participants through
SC, the frst document issued by
the Vatican II in 1964.
Manabat will be sharing her
thoughts on SCs impact in the
liturgical renewal, which had
started even before Vatican II,
and on the positive and negative
practices done in the local church
since its implementation.
Liturgical and devotional
prayer experiences on the second
day will culminate with a Eucha-
ristic celebration themed The
Eucharist: the Work of Redemp-
tion Is Accomplished (SC 2).
This will be followed by a one-act
play on Pope John Paul II as a ftting
tribute to one whom the Church
recently raised to the altar.
The theme Liturgical Cate-
chesis with Liturgical Life means
Evangelizing Liturgy of Life
will set the tone of the confer-
ences third and last day.
The conference will be held
on May 14 16, 2014 at the Don
Bosco Technical Institute, Arnaiz
Avenue, Makati City. (Raymond
A. Sebastin)
A7 Vol. 18 No. 10
May 12 - 25, 2014
CBCP Monitor
Diocesan News
New saints relics
to visit Iloilo
ILOILO City, Iloilo
The rel i cs of newl y
canonized Popes, St.
John Paul II and St.
John XXIII, will visit
the faithful of Iloilo from
May 20-22, 2014 in what
seems to be a re-visit
by the former who made
his papal visit to the city
in 1981.
It was a very rare
privilege for us in Il-
oilo to have been visited
by a Saint Archbishop
Angel Lagdameo said,
remembering the first
ever papal visit to the
city from February 20
21 in 1981.
The relics of the St.
John Paul II and St. John
XXIII are scheduled to
arrive in Iloilo on May
20 at 5:20 a.m. and will
be brought by motor-
cade to the University
of San Agustin.
At 11 a.m., Archbish-
op Lagdameo will cel-
ebrate a holy mass at
the University chapel to
welcome the relics of the
newly canonized Saints.
St. John Paul II and St.
John XXIIIs relics will
be enshrined at the said
University of San Agus-
tin chapel for the entire
duration of the visit.
The holy mass will be
celebrated at 4 p.m. on
the frst day and second
days of the visit and at 7
a.m. on the second and
third days.
The public are also in-
vited to attend the Cate-
chesis on the Veneration
of the Saints and their
Relics that will be given
at the same venue with
the following schedule:
May 20, 12 p.m.
and 5 p.m.
May 21, 8 a.m.,
12 p.m. and 5 p.m.
May 22, 7: 30
a.m.
At 6:30 p.m. Vespers
with the Saints will be
prayed in the chapel on
the frst and second days
of the visit.
The rel i cs wi l l be
available for public ven-
eration the whole day
until 9 p.m. on May 20
and 21. On May 22, a
closing mass will be cel-
ebrated at 9 a.m. before
the relics are brought
to the Iloilo airport at
10:30 a.m.
The relics of Saints
John Paul II and John
XXIII are brought to
Iloilo courtesy of the
Offce of the Vice Pos-
tulation for the cause for
canonization of Blessed
Ivan Merz which, on the
occasion of Pope John
Paul IIs canonization,
has organized the Public
Exposition and Venera-
tion of the Popes relics.
(Fr. Mickey Cardenas)
Public? Jade asked.
By public, I mean that
Jesus was the only one
who could help the sick,
dying and possessed. But
His miracles were not for
private consumption. For
example, the woman with
a hemorrhage tried to hide
her cure, but Jesus exposed
the miracle to everyone.
And His miracles often ex-
posed the persons shame-
ful weakness or illness in
the public eye.
So youre saying
Im saying that when I
confess to God directly, there
seems to be still something
Im hiding. On the other
hand, when I go to confes-
sion, Im publicly seen go-
ing though definitely not
my sins, but by going, Im
conveying to everyone (in-
cluding the priest) that Im
a sinner, that I need Gods
grace to be forgiven and I
also need their prayers for my
conversion.
Wow, dude! I never saw
it that way before...but
something else with your
dad?
Actually, yes, Craig
became pensive.
So?
I told you that I got him
a priest?
Yeah, so what?
Did you know, that he
was the same priesthe
told me only afterwards
who offciated my parents
wedding?
Whoa! Coincidence?
You can say soBut it
seems not.
Im all ears!
When the priest left,
dad was crying by him-
self. I asked him if there
was anything I could do
to help. He said, no. Dad
only said that he wanted to
share with me that the same
priest confded to them on
the day of their marriage.
Which was?
One of their sons would
be responsible for bringing
God to them, and that son
will, Craig held Jade in
brief suspense.
Wait a minute! Youre
not saying! Jade guessed
from his friends expres-
sion.
Yes, Jade. I didnt only
see Father Kempton for
confession. In fact, hes
preparing me to enter the
seminary.
Wow! Im uploading
this new status in FB
Jade whisked out his phone.
Whatever / A5
Silsilah cites Zamboanga crisis as motivation
to further advocacy for peace
AMMAN, Jordan, May 11,
2014When the forces of de-
struction work hard, then the
forces for peace and harmony
must work harder.
This was what Fr. Sebastiano
DAmbra, founder of Silsilah
Dialogue Movement (SDM), said
when he received the frst prize
in the World Interfaith Harmony
Week that was awarded to SDM
by no less than King Abdullah II
of Jordan last month.
DAmbra said the recogni-
tion of SDMs initiative in Zam-
boanga by the King of Jordan
was made more meaningful
when it came after the armed
conflict in the province last
September.
To recall, Moro National Lib-
eration Front (MNLF) founding
chairman Nur Misuari and his
followers attacked Zamboanga
City in the hope of taking over
the local government. MNLF
took civilians as hostages in
an attempt to derail the gov-
ernments negotiations for a
peace deal with the Moro Is-
lamic Liberation Front (MILF),
which is expected to result in
a Bangsamoro Political Entity
that will replace the Autono-
mous Region in Muslim Mind-
anao (ARMM).
The armed tension between
MNLF and the Armed Forces of
the Philippines (AFP) had not
only displaced civilians but also
caused fatalities and injuries
to both uniformed and civilian
men.
Fr. DAmbra told the King of
Jordan that a lot of people have
been killed, ten thousand houses
were destroyed and burned and
more than one 150,000 people
were forced to leave their houses.
Many of them are still in evacu-
ation centers today.
However, even in this situa-
tion we continue to celebrate the
World Interfaith Harmony Week
to give new hope to the people.
We are convinced that this is
our mission. When the forces of
destruction work hard, then the
forces for peace and harmony
must work harder, he said.
The long-running conflict
in Mindanao has inspired Fr.
DAmbra to establish the SDM
with his Christian and Muslim
friends. He said his fellow vol-
unteers continue to give hope in
Zamboanga amid so much divi-
sion and often hatred between
different groups.
The conflict in Mindanao
which started in the seventies
has resulted in a lot of victims,
prejudices and hatred among
Muslims and Christians and a
lot of poverty up to now. In this
context, The Silsilah Dialogue
Movement was formed with the
hope to build peace starting from
a spiritual aspect of dialogue for
peace based on love, he added.
Fr. DAmbra said other win-
ners of the World Interfaith
Harmony Week share in the
global initiative to work for
peace within and outside a reli-
gious framework. Other winners
include Mr Saeed Khan Falahi
and Mr Nazar Abbas of India,
Mrs Eman Saddik and Mr Ashraf
Godha of Egypt and Mr Michael
Boyondo and Ms Irene Bulindi
of Uganda.
We know that they are striv-
ing equally hard to promote
peace in their respective coun-
tries, and it is a great encourage-
ment to meet them, exchange
ideas and experiences, and to
participate in this global solidar-
ity of love of God and love of the
neighbor, he said.
We extend their apprecia-
tion of this recognition of their
efforts, and we pray that we
will all beneft from reaping the
seeds of peace we are sowing,
Fr. DAmbra added. (KB/CBCP
News)
Lack of carpenters hinders Yolanda rehabilitation
PALO, LeyteHome-
builders cannot get many
projects off the ground in
typhoon-ravaged Leyte
because of a shortage of
experienced carpenters, a
Catholic archbishop said.
Palo Archbishop John
Du said the shortage of
skilled carpenters is so bad
that it hinders the progress
of housing projects for ty-
phoon survivors.
He said that the demand
for labor is high for thou-
sands of survivors to have
permanent shelters.
Our problem now is
manpower. There is a short-
age of carpenters, Du said.
As they struggle to as-
semble crews, he said some
dioceses have sent carpen-
ters to Leyte to help in the
Churchs housing project.
Im very thankful to
the dioceses of Pagadian
and Tagum and also the
Archdiocese of Cagayan de
Oro for the manpower for
the repair and relocation,
he said.
The archbishop also an-
nounced that his archdio-
cese donated seven hectares
of land to be used as a
housing site for residents
displaced by Yolanda.
He said the archdiocese
donated three hectares of
the land to the government,
while the church and its
partner non-government
organizations will manage
the remaining four hect-
ares. (CBCPNews)
The Rural Missionaries of the Philippines Western Visayas sub-region distributed construction
materials to 45 households in Mambacayao Island for the rebuilding of their houses destroyed by
supert yphoon Yolanda last Feb. 13 to14. The construction materials were bought through the
funds raised by the Presentation Sisters of the Blessed Virgin Mary and their supporters in Ireland.
Home for the aged runs on Gods providence
ANTIPOLO CITY, May 3, 2014A
home for the aged in Antipolo that
provides abandoned and less fortu-
nate senior citizens with free board
and lodging has been in operation
for 12 years, relying on nothing but
the generosity of God.
During recent meeting of Kan-
lungan ni MariaHome for the
Aged, Inc. (Kanlungan ni Maria)
stakeholders, it was reported that
the home has been running for
more than a decade, funded only by
donations from private individuals
and organizations.
No fundraising
According to Kanlungan ni
Maria priest-in-charge Fr. Dari
Dioquino, the home, which began
operation in May 1, 2002, did not
engage in any fund raising activ-
ity yet it did not have any unmet
needs.
Gods infinite provisions for
the needs of resident elderly are
channeled through charitable in-
dividuals and organizations, he
said. The donations for goods are
overfowing.
Dioquino said the home regular-
ly receives canned milk donations,
often more than what residents can
consume.
The priest said the home is forced
to judiciously give canned milk
near its expiry date to poor neigh-
bors to avoid wasting resources.
Rachel Mariano, a social worker
in charge of the elderly residents,
said Kanlungan ni Maria stands
out as a home for the aged, and
it is a major reason why sponsors
continue supporting it.
Some residents in other shelters
for old people begged her to trans-
fer them to Kanlungan ni Maria,
she said.
Outstanding reputation
Asked why Kanlungan ni Maria
earned such an outstanding repu-
tation, both the resident elderly
and the staff said it is because of
the character and integrity of Fr.
Dioquino, whose name has become
synonymous with the home.
Kanlungan ni Maria staff shared
that Fr. Dioquino, who lives togeth-
er with the resident elderly, sleeps
in a Spartan bed in the same space
donated goods are stored.
Facilitated by Horacio Torres,
a Kanlungan ni Maria volunteer
who works in Canada, and Oscar V.
Banias, a retired training specialist,
the stakeholders meeting, which
was held at the Sisters of St. Paul
of Chartres Vigil House in Taytay,
Rizal, singled out donor-fatigue
as a possible threat to the houses
bid for existence.
To hold on to the good reputation
of Kanlungan ni Maria, Torres and
Banias recommended keeping the
donors well-informed about how
funds and goods are used.
Currently, Kanlungan ni Maria is
home to 22 senior citizens; 5 men
and 17 women. (Oliver Samson)
Kanlungan ni Maria resident elderly eat a free lunch sponsored by a family
on January 29, 2014. The house is located at #17 Lanzones Road, Nayong
Silangan, Antipolo City.
Well-being program director Mary Jean Netario-Cruz massages the arm of an
elderly person with magnesium oil at the Kanlungan ni Maria - Home for the
Aged, Inc. in Antipolo.
Know why you serve bishop to lay ministers
NAGA CITYA bishop
challenges lay ministers,
church volunteers who play
a crucial role in the sacra-
mental life of parishes, to
know their motivation for
serving because it should
always lead them back to
Jesus.
In his message to more
than 4,000 church workers
at the Jesse Robredo Coli-
seum, Caceres Archbishop
Rolando Tria Tirona asked
them to answer the ques-
tion What motivates me
to serve?
Principled service
He said the reason for
serving should be fuelled
by the acronym FIRE,
meaning full of faith; in-
timacy with Jesus, renewal
and engagement.
According to Tria Tirona,
those who serve the Church
should pray for the same
qualities of Jesus. He added
that principled service
will always call for obedi-
ence, humility, commit-
ment, and a relationship
with the Holy Spirit.
The annual archdiocesan
renewal formation themed
Layko Ako: Inapod magin
Santo asin Saksi ni Kristo sa
Banwaan held Saturday,
April 26, also featured Dr.
Josefna Manabat, San Beda
College Dean of Graduate
School of Liturgy, who en-
couraged the attendees to
strive to actively participate
in the holy mass.
According to Manabat,
who was t he keynot e
speaker for the event, be-
ing truly present at the
holy mass will allow the
graces of the liturgy to
be received.
She said since the lit-
urgy is a communal act,
everyone, especially lay
church workers should
be instruments for others,
to guide them and allow
them to fully participate in
the mass.
Active participation in the
mass
In a follow-up session,
Julma Narvadez, a facilita-
tor for the Caceres Congress
of the Laity, revealed that
active participation during
the liturgy is one of the
challenges faced by the lay
faithful in Caceres.
Her findings are based
on results from focus group
discussions held prior to
the Congress.
In the afternoon, Sam
Flores presented the new
database and system for the
Extraordinary Ministers of
Holy Communion; while
Archdiocesan Liturgical
Commission Director Fr.
Glenn Ruiz launched the
Liturgia, Ihiras Ta, a proj-
ect of the Commission.
Liturgia, Ihiras Ta aims
to give 10,000 copies of
the Order of the Mass to
frst communicants in the
Archdiocese.
Though a separate for-
mation program was held
for altar servers and parish
choirs, everyone gathered
for the concluding con-
celebrated mass at 3 p.m.,
which was presided over
by Archbishop Tria Tirona.
The event was held at the
Jesse Robredo Coliseum
and was attended by lec-
tors, Extraordinary Minis-
ters of Holy Communion,
collectors, ushers, mem-
bers of the Parish Worship
Committee, Mother Butlers
Guild, and Mother Butlers
Mission Guild. (Natalie
Hazel Quimlat)
Thousands of church workers gather for the annual archdiocesan renewal formation themed
Layko Ako: Inapod magin Santo asin Saksi ni Kristo sa Banwaan held on April 26, 2014 at the
Jesse M. Robredo Coliseum, Naga City.
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The Catholic faithful welcomes the new saints, St. John
Paul II and St. John XXIII during a ceremony attended by
millions at St. Peters Square on April 27, 2014.
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Vol. 18 No. 10
May 12 - 25, 2014
CBCP Monitor
A8 People, Facts & Places
Seminar to tackle
teen sexuality
AS part of its mission of
helping build a nation
that cares for human life,
the Pro-Life Philippines
Foundation, Inc. invites the
public, especially teach-
ers, counselors, catechists,
parents, youth formators,
and lay leaders, to a pro-
life training seminar, the
Teaching Teachers on
Teen Sexuality Workshop
from May 28 to 30.
This years training semi-
nar seeks to strengthen the
ability of each participant
to respond to the needs
of todays teenagers with
regard to vital issues that
affect them such as human
sexuality, marriage, family
planning, and population
education, according to
Catholic Church teachings.
The three-day seminars
range of topics cover: the
Meaning and Value of
Life; Defending Life;
Fertility Awareness; Un-
derstanding the Teenagers
Situation; Effective Teen
Counseling Techniques;
Workshop on Teen Coun-
seling; Orientation on
Module (Learning to Live
& Love Module); The Pied
Piper Came: How the
Youth Was Won in Manila;
Teaching Teeners on The-
ology of the Body; and
Culture of Life.
Attendees will
be t r ai ne d t o
i mpl ement t he
training modules
on teen sexual-
ity packaged in
the Pro-Life Phil-
ippines manual
Learning to Live
and Love.
The ba t t e r y
of abl e speak-
ers who are ac-
claimed experts
in their field in-
cl ude Pro- Li f e
Philippines board
secretary Dr. Me-
lissa Poblete; Pro-
Life Philippines
board chairman
Edgardo Sorreta;
Amparo B. de
Guzman; Pro-Life
Philippines ex-
ecutive director
Lorna Melegrito;
Catholic Bishops
Conference of the
Philippines (CBCP) legal
adviser Jo Imbong; law
professor and Catholic
apologist Marwil Llasos,
OP; and Filipinos for Life
president Anthony Perez.
Pro-Li fe Phi l i ppi nes
Foundation, Inc. is a non-
proft organization of citi-
zens concerned about
issues pertaining to the
inherent value and dignity
of human life.
Now a nat i onwi de
group, it functions as a na-
tional educational and ad-
vocacy body coordinating
with other pro-life groups,
providing instructions and
documentations on life is-
sues while seeking to raise
the awareness of Filipinos
on respect and responsi-
bility for human life.
The seminar will be held
at the St. Joseph Retreat
House conference room,
Our Lady of tLoreto Parish,
Manzanas St., Sampaloc,
Manila from 8:00 am to
5:00 pm.
The seminar fee costs
P1, 800. 00 (P600 a day)
and is inclusive of snacks,
meals, handouts, and cer-
tifcates.
For more information
and reservation, contact
the Pro-Life Foundation of-
fce (02) 733-70-27 and (02)
734-94-25, or visit www.
prolife.org.ph. (Raymond
A. Sebastin)
A new generation of young Filipinos is in need of formators, teachers and mentors who are able
to communicate a positive message about life and sexuality. Pro-life UP students pose with Dr.
Ligaya Acosta (in a red blazer), regional director of Human Life International Asia and Oceania.
Youth-produced play
to honor laity
THE youth of Barangay Ba-
rangka Ilaya, Mandaluyong
City is presenting a play
that will pay tribute to the
Churchs unsung heroes,
the laity.
Opening on May 24, Sat-
urday, at the fourth floor
of the San Roque Parish
building, the play Spotlight:
Anong Role Mo? revolves
around the lives of seven
different individuals whose
often troubled but colorful
personalities will pit one
against the other.
Since we are observ-
ing the Year of the Laity,
we thought its great to
produce something that
will put todays ordinary
Christian man and woman
in the spotlight, San Roque
Parish Youth coordinator
Bernardo Nioko Layon ex-
plained.
Layon called the play,
which is produced by the
San Roque Parish Youth
Ministry, a must see.
According to him, the
play is about how no one is
born by accident and how
ones existence depends on
my neighbor because were
all interconnected.
The plays production
staff and crew is itself a
testament to the indispens-
able role of the lay faithful,
especially the youth, in the
life of the Church.
San Roque Parish Youth
Ministry vice-president for
external affairs Mark An-
thony Orillo will be direct-
ing the play together with
treasurer Zandra Recones,
who doubles as assistant
director.
The cast, all non-pro-
fessional actors, are youth
leaders and church volun-
teers. They are Joshua Orillo
as Denmark (altar server);
Dee Marie Dada as Sa-
brina (projectionist during
mass); Nelvyn Mendoza as
Drew (catechist); Curt
Aniceto as Alexander
(catechist); Andree Jabal as
Dree (legionary); Jennaly
Pedrosa as Direk Elsa
(catechist); and Jaike Ramos
as Anna (catechist).
Our parish priest, Fr.
Andy O. Lim, has been all-
out in his support for the
production. He would go
out of his way to show us
how much he cares. Hes
also a good coach, Layon
shared.
I thank the youth minis-
try for conducting meaning-
ful activities like this one.
Im very glad to see that the
trust I have given them is
not wasted, Lim said.
Tickets are available at
the San Roque Parish offce.
For more information, visit
their offcial Facebook page
at www.facebook.com/
pages/Spotlight-Anong-
Role-Mo. (Raymond A. Se-
bastin)
Perpetual Help logo contest launched
THE Re de mp t o r i s t
family is inviting Our
Mot her of Perpet ual
Help with a knack for
the arts to take part in a
worldwide logo design
contest it is conducting
in preparation for the
beloved icons 150than-
niversary in 2016.
The icon of Our Moth-
er of Perpetual Help is
without doubt the most
universally loved icon
in the ChurchThe an-
niversary is a time for
us to rekindle our love
for and devotion to Our
Mot her of Perpet ual
Help, even as she ac-
companies us in the mis-
sion of evangelization,
said Fr. Brendan Kelly,
head of the Commi s-
sion for the 150th An-
niversary of the Icon of
Our Mother of Perpetual
Help.
According to Kelly, the
graphic design should
include the image of Our
Mother of Perpetual Help
and reflect the theme:
Mother of Perpetual Help
Icon of Love.
The congregation will
use the winning logo
worldwide to promote
the major event to take
place in 2016.
As a memento, he will
get a special copy of the
Icon of Our Mother of
Perpetual Help.
The Commission will
also award him a cash
prize of 300 (roughly
Php 18, 000) for his ef-
forts.
Each contestant must
provide a single image fle
including both black and
white and color versions
of logo on a white back-
ground (no transparency),
in .jpg or .gif or .png format,
placed in a 400600 pixel
format with a resolution
of 72 dpi.
He must also submit
a single multi-page pdf
set for high resolution,
containing the following
in this order and with the
following page restric-
tions:
Page 1: logo in color
Page 2: logo in black
and white
Page 3: and 4: logo
shown in use (e.g. web-
page, invitations, reports,
T-shirt, etc)
Page 5: documenta-
tion (summary descrip-
tion or explanation of
l ogo symbol i sm, de-
signer s intent)
Page 6: short biograph-
ic information of the de-
signer
Submitted fles may not
exceed 10 mb.
Contestants shoul d
email their entries to ol-
phlogo@gmail.com not
later than the midnight of
July 31, 2014 (GMT).
Kelly sees the contest
as an invigoration of the
mandate given to the
Redemptorists to make
her known.
He hopes t hat t he
theme and the logo to be
designed will commu-
nicate this anniversary
for what it is: a time of
grace.
For further informa-
t i on on t he cont es t ,
connect with Fr. Bren-
da n Ke l l y t hr o ug h
bkel l y@c s s r. c om, or
visitwww.cssrredemp-
toristi.com. (Raymond
A. Sebastin)
Shrine to showcase Marian images
MAY being the month of
Our Lady, the public, espe-
cially those with a special
devotion to the Blessed Vir-
gin, are invited to the frst
Grand Marian Exhibit
to be held at the National
Shrine of Mary, Help of
Christians, Paraaque City
from May 15 to 22.
The special event will
serve as a ftting prelude to
the 40th founding anniver-
sary of our shrine and par-
ish on May 24, Mary, Help
of Christians Shrine, secre-
tary Belen Bauza shared.
Some 60 much vener-
ated statues and icons of
the Virgin Mary owned by
custodians and collectors
of religious artwork from
different parts of the Phil-
ippines will be on display
after the official opening
on May 15, right after the
novena mass at 6:30 p.m.
The exhibit will include
replicas of Our Lady of Gua-
dalupe, Ftima, Lourdes, the
Abandoned, the Most Holy
Rosary, Porta Vaga, La Na-
val, Our Mother of Perpetual
Help, and the Immaculate
Conception, among many
others, including less famil-
iar ones.
Of course, Mary Help
of Christians will be there
as well, Bauza said.
The shrine is dedicated to
the promotion and propa-
gation of knowledge of and
devotion to the Blessed
Virgin Mary under the title
of Help of Christians.
The shrine-parish church
was constructed in May
24, 1972 on a piece of land
donated by the Serrano
and Dolor families at Better
Living Subdivision, Para-
aque, near the Provincial
Office of the Salesians of
Don Bosco.
In June 1975, His Emi-
nence Jaime Cardinal Sin
created the parish of Mary
Help of Christians and des-
ignated the shrine as a par-
ish church and the Salesian
Fr. Pierangelo Quaranta as
its first pastor, who also
oversaw its completion.
The Parish of Mary Help
of Christians was offcially
inaugurated at the shrine
in July 24, 1975, and was
consecrated on December 4,
1976 during the silver jubilee
year celebrations of Salesian
presence in the country.
In 1985, the Catholic
Bishops Conference of the
Philippines (CBCP) de-
clared the Marian sanctuary
a National Shrine.
In 1994, it welcomed the
earliest known statue of
Mary Help of Christians in
the country. (Raymond A.
Sebastin)
Crumbling Malate Church needs help
THE Parish of Nuestra Seora de
los Remedios (Malate Church),
whose centuries-old church has
recently seen a steady decline,
appeals to the faithful to restore
the baroque building to its for-
mer beauty.
Through its 5-5-5 March of
the Thousands campaign, the
parish hopes to raise five mil-
l i on pesos (P5, 000, 000) each
year to immediately address this
problem.
Deteriorating building
In 2009, a thorough study
conducted on the church by the
National Historical Commis-
sion of the Philippines (NHCP)
reveals that its exterior walls
and faade are in urgent need
of restoration, which prompted
the parish to come up with a five-
year restoration program.
NHCP investigation revealed
that the structure is showing
alarming signs like surface ma-
terial losses through pulveriza-
tion and disintegration; surface
scal i ng t hat dest roys newer
plasters; biological and woody
growths; rising dump and water
seepage; and detached adobe
components or falling debris.
The study also notes that the
churchs adobe material (blocks of
soft volcanic rock) has high mois-
ture content, which means that
it cannot withstand extreme and
prolonged weather conditions.
It explains that Malate Churchs
less-than-ideal location facing
Manila Bay exposes it even more
to the elements.
The cement plaster used exten-
sively for repairing the damage be-
fore the studys fndings did more
harm than good, it adds, because
the moisture trapped underneath
the walls detached the plaster.
NHCP is clear on the incom-
patibility of cement plaster and
adobe walls.
Rich history, rich devotion
As a declared National Histori-
cal Monument, the Malate Catho-
lic Church had to get NHCPs
approval for all restoration or
construction work.
What is now known as the
Malate Church was rebuilt for
the third time from scratch on the
site of an older building through
the initiative of then parish priest
Fr. Francisco Cuadrado after the
typhoon of June 1868 destroyed
it beyond repair.
Together with the poor fish-
erfolk of his parish, Cuadrado
toured the city and nearby prov-
inces to raise the much-needed
funds for the reconstruction.
The upper faade of the church
was completed thirty years later.
Experts say the faade of the
present church is a good blend-
ing of Muslim and baroque archi-
tectureThe three-story faade
integrates with ingenuity the cy-
lindrical end buttresses, hexago-
nal forms converted into belfries.
But besides its architecture, Ma-
late Church is also famous for the
beloved image enshrined within it,
the Virgen de los Remedios, which
was brought from Spain by Friar
Juan de Guevara, OSA in 1624.
Among the 17 listed Philip-
pines churches honoring Mary
with the title Nuestra Seora
de los Remedios, Malates is the
oldest, having been established
by the Augustinian friars on
September 8, 1588.
Interested donors are advised to
coordinate with the Malate Parish
office for proper acknowledge-
ment. Email: contact@malate-
catholicchurch.org; Phone: (632)
400-5876 to 77 and (632) 523-2593;
Fax: (632) 524-6866) (Raymond
Sebastin)
The Malate Church has been a witness to a rich history of faith and devotion
in the country.
In 1994, the country welcomed the earliest known statue of
Mary Help of Christians.
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B1
Vol. 18 No. 10
May 12 - 25, 2014
CBCP Monitor
DEAR Brothers and Sisters,
Today we are living in a
world which is growing ever
smaller and where, as a result,
it would seem to be easier
for all of us to be neighbors.
Developments in travel and
communications technology
are bringing us closer together
and making us more connected,
even as globalization makes us
increasingly interdependent.
Nonetheless, divisions, which
are sometimes quite deep,
continue to exist within our
human family. On the global
level we see a scandalous gap
between the opulence of the
wealthy and the utter destitution
of the poor. Often we need only
walk the streets of a city to see the
contrast between people living
on the street and the brilliant
lights of the store windows. We
have become so accustomed to
these things that they no longer
unsettle us. Our world suffers
from many forms of exclusion,
marginalization and poverty,
to say nothing of conficts born
of a combination of economic,
political, ideological, and, sadly,
even religious motives.
In a world like this, media
can help us to feel closer to one
another, creating a sense of the
unity of the human family which
can in turn inspire solidarity
and serious efforts to ensure
a more dignified life for all.
Good communication helps us
to grow closer, to know one
another better, and ultimately, to
grow in unity. The walls which
divide us can be broken down
only if we are prepared to listen
and learn from one another. We
need to resolve our differences
through forms of dialogue which
help us grow in understanding
and mutual respect. A culture
of encounter demands that we
be ready not only to give, but
also to receive. Media can help
us greatly in this, especially
nowadays, when the networks
of human communication have
made unprecedented advances.
The internet, in particular,
offers immense possibilities for
encounter and solidarity. This
is something truly good, a gift
from God.
This is not to say that certain
problems do not exist. The
speed with which information
is communicated exceeds our
capacity for reflection and
judgement, and this does not
make for more balanced and
proper forms of self-expression.
The variety of opinions being
aired can be seen as helpful,
but it also enables people to
barricade themselves behind
sources of information which
only confrm their own wishes
and ideas, or political and
economic interests. The world
of communications can help us
either to expand our knowledge
or to lose our bearings. The
desire for digital connectivity
can have the effect of isolating
us from our neighbours, from
those closest to us. We should
not overlook the fact that those
who for whatever reason lack
access to social media run the
risk of being left behind.
While these drawbacks are
real, they do not justify rejecting
social media; rather, they
remind us that communication
is ultimately a human rather
than technological achievement.
What is it, then, that helps us,
in the digital environment, to
grow in humanity and mutual
understanding? We need, for
example, to recover a certain
sense of deliberateness and
calm. This calls for time and the
ability to be silent and to listen.
We need also to be patient if we
want to understand those who
are different from us. People
only express themselves fully
when they are not merely
tolerated, but know that they
are truly accepted. If we are
genuinely attentive in listening
to others, we will learn to look
at the world with different eyes
and come to appreciate the
richness of human experience as
manifested in different cultures
and traditions. We will also
learn to appreciate more fully
the important values inspired by
Christianity, such as the vision
of the human person, the nature
of marriage and the family, the
proper distinction between the
religious and political spheres,
the principles of solidarity and
subsidiarity, and many others.
How, then, can communication
be at the service of an authentic
culture of encounter? What does
it mean for us, as disciples of the
Lord, to encounter others in the
light of the Gospel? In spite of our
own limitations and sinfulness,
how do we draw truly close to
one another? These questions
are summed up in what a
scribea communicatoronce
asked Jesus: And who is my
neighbor? (Lk 10:29). This
question can help us to see
communication in terms of
neighborliness. We might
paraphrase the question in
this way: How can we be
neighborly in our use of the
communications media and in
the new environment created
by digital technology? I fnd
an answer in the parable of the
Good Samaritan, which is also a
parable about communication.
Those who communicate, in
effect, become neighbours. The
Good Samaritan not only draws
nearer to the man he fnds half Themes / B6
Pastoral Concerns
Communication / B6
Communication at the
Service of an Authentic
Culture of Encounter
World
Communications
Day
Themes from 1967-2014
Francis
2014 - Communication at the service of an authentic culture of
encounter
Benedict XVI
2013 - Social Networks: portals of truth and faith; new
spaces for evangelization.
2012 - Silence and Word: path of evangelization.
2011 - Truth, proclamation and authenticity of life in the
digital age
2010 - The priest and pastoral ministry in a digital world: new
media at the service of the Word
2009 - New Technologies, New Relationships: Promoting a
Culture of Respect, Dialogue and Friendship
2008 - The Media: At the Crossroads between Self-Promotion
and Service Searching for the Truth in order to Share it with
Others
2007 - Children and the Media: a Challenge for Education
2006 - The Media: A Network for Communication,
Communion and Cooperation
John Paul II
2005 - The Communications Media: at the Service of
Understanding Between Peoples
2004 - Media and the Family: A Risk and a Richness
2003 - Communications Media At The Service Of Authentic
Peace In The Light Of Pacem In Terris.
2002 - Internet: A New Forum for Proclaiming the Gospel
2001 - Preach From The Housetops: The Gospel In The Age
Of Global Communication
2000 - Proclaiming Christ In The Media at The Dawn of The
New Millennium
1999 - Mass Media: A Friendly Companion For Those In
Search Of The Father
1998 - Sustained By The Holy Spirit, Communicate Hope
1997 - Communicating Jesus: The Way, The Truth And The
Life
1996 - The Media: Modern Forum For Promoting The Role Of
Women In Society
1995 - Cinema: Communicator Of Culture And Of Values
1994 - Television And The Family: Guidelines For Good
Viewing
1993 - Videocassettes And Audiocassettes In The Formation
Of Culture And Of Conscience
1992 - The Proclamation Of Christs Message In The
Communications Media
1991 - The Communication Media And The Unity And
Progress Of The Human Family
1990 - The Christian Message In A Computer Culture
1989 - Religion In The Mass Media
1988 - Social Communications And The Promotion Of
Solidarity And Fraternity Between Peoples And Nations
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Filipino bishops learn more about online communications during a recent workshop on social
media during the Catholic Bishops Conference plenary assembly in January 2014.
It is not enough to be passersby on the digital highways, simply
connected; connections need to grow into true encounters.
We cannot live apart, closed in on ourselves. We need to love
and to be loved. We need tenderness.
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Papal Nuncio to the Philippines Archbishop Giuseppe Pinto and the participants of the 2nd Catholic Social Media Summit (CSMS) listen to the lecture of Msgr. Paul Tighe about social media evange-
lization. Tighe is part of the team that manages the Holy Fathers Twitter account and is currently the executive secretary of the Pontifcal Council for Social Communications. The CSMS version 2.0
was held on November 23 to 24, 2013 at the Colegio San Juan de Letran in Intramuros, Manila.
B2 Vol. 18 No. 10
May 12 - 25, 2014
CBCP Monitor
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The duty to preach
By Jaime B. Achacoso, J.C.D.
At times I have been asked by my
teen-aged daughter whether listening
to the homily is essential to attending
Holy Mass. I can only surmise that it
was a veiled reference to the quality of
some homilies, especially those which
tend to be long-winded or unrelated to
the scriptural readings of the Mass, or
worse with political undertones. On the
other hand, I have always been puzzled
as to why at times there are Masses with
homilies and at other times there is no
homily. I was even more puzzled when
in one particularly politicized Mass, a
well-known political figure was asked to
step up to the podium to speak after the
reading of the Gospel. Can you please
enlighten me on this matter, so I can
explain to my daughter?
SINCE the people of God are first
brought together by the word of
the living God (c.762 in principio),
among the principal duties of the
sacred ministers is the authoritative
proclamation of the Gospel to the
faithful (cf. c. 762 in fine). Such
authoritative presentation of doctrine
to gatherings of people is called
preaching, and the Code mentions
several forms of preaching, of which
the homily is singled out as the pre-
eminent form.
The Homily
Among the forms of preaching the
homily is pre-eminent. It is a part of the
liturgy itself, whereby the mysteries of
faith and the norms of Christian living
are expounded from the sacred text
through the course of the liturgical year
(c.767, 1).
A 1964 Instruction provides a fuller
description: By a homily derived from the
sacred text is understood an explanation
either of some aspect of the readings from
holy scripture or of another text from the
Ordinary or Proper of the Mass of the day,
taking into account the mystery which is
being celebrated and the particular needs
of the hearers.
1
Of late, Pope Francis dedicated
a good part of his first Apostolic
Exhortation, Evangelii Gaudium (24.
XI.2013) on the homily (nn.135-144)
and its preparation (nn.145-159).
The Code established the following
norms regarding the homily:
a) Obligation to preach: A homily
is to be given at all Sunday Masses and
at Masses celebrated on holy days of
obligation; it cannot be omitted without a
serious reason (c.767, 2). Furthermore,
if a sufficient number of people are present
it is strongly recommended that a homily
also be given at Masses celebrated during
the week, especially during Advent or
Lent or on the occasion of some feast day
or time of mourning (c.767, 3).
b) Proper Subject: The homily
is reserved to the priest or deacon (c.767,
1). This question had been debated
for a time due to the apparent margin
for lay preaching given by c.766. It was
authoritatively settled in 1987 by the
Pontifical Council for the Authentic
Interpretation of Legislative Texts,
which declared that the reservation
of the homily to ordained ministers
stipulated in c.767 cannot be dispensed
by the diocesan Bishop.
2
The Instruction of 1997 is more
explicit: The homily, therefore,
during the celebration of the Holy
Eucharist, must be reserved to the
sacred minister, Priest or Deacon to
the exclusion of the non-ordained
faithful, even if these should have
responsibilities as pastoral assistants
or catechists in whatever type of
community or group. For the
same reason, the practice, on some
occasions, of entrusting the preaching
of the homily to seminarians or
theology students who are not clerics
is not permitted. Indeed, the homily
should not be regarded as a training
for some future ministry. All previous
norms which may have admitted the
non-ordained faithful to preaching the
homily during the Holy Eucharist are
to be considered abrogated by canon
767, 1.
3
The reason is the fact that the homily
is an integral part of the Eucharistic
liturgy, which demands that its subject
be an ordained minister.
c) Content: In the homily the mysteries
of faith and the norms of Christian living
are to be expounded (c.767, 1). The
homily must express the faith of the
preacher, his love for God and the
people, with a special emphasis on the
sharing of the people in the eucharistic
sacrifice.
With the option taken by the Second
Vatican Council to make the sermon
homiletici.e., based on the scriptural
readings of the days Massthere is
a greater need for the minister of the
word to plan and prepare his homilies,
so that the systematic explanation of
the doctrine of Christian faith and
morals is not neglected.
d) Obl i gat i on t o at t end t he
homily: The obligation of preaching
a homily in Sunday Masses and in
those celebrated on holy days of
obligation (c.767, 3) seems to imply
a corresponding obligation on the
part of the faithful to be present at the
homily, since it forms an integral part
of the Eucharistic liturgy, attendance
to which is obligatory on those days.
Other forms of preaching
Aside from the homily, which
occupies pride of place in the forms
of preaching, the following are also
mentioned in the Code:
a) Spiritual exercises or sacred
missions: At certain times according to
the prescriptions of the diocesan bishop,
pastors are to arrange for those types
of preaching which are called spiritual
exercises or sacred mission (c.770).
These are periods of recollection in
which the faithfulthrough a series
of conferences or meditations based
on the word of Godare made to
consider the fundamental realities of
their Christian vocation.
b) Radio or television talks on
Christian doctrinefor the giving of
which, the prescriptions of the conference
of bishops are to be observed (c.772, 2).
c) Other types of preachi ng.
Without specifying, the Code lays
down the duty of the pastor of souls
to arrange for his flockif not the
previ ousl y menti oned spi ri tual
exercises or sacred missionsother
types of preaching adapted to their needs
(c.770). In any case, the norms issued
by the diocesan bishop concerning the
exercise of preaching are to be observed
by all (c.772, 1).
It is to these non-homiletic forms
of preaching that the dispositions for
the participation of the non-ordained
faithful mentioned above apply. The
1997 Instruction summarizes these
as follows: Preaching in churches or
oratories by the non-ordained faithful
can be permitted only as a supply for
sacred ministers or for those particular
reasons foreseen by the universal
law of the Church or by Conferences
of Bishops. It cannot, however, be
regarded as an ordinary occurrence nor
as an authentic promotion of the laity.
4
Conclusions
By way of conclusion and in answer
to the questions posed at the start, we
can summarize the all the foregoing
as follows:
The homily is the pre-eminent form
of preaching, whereby the mysteries
of faith and the norms of Christian
l i vi ng are expounded from the
sacred text through the course of the
liturgical year (c.767, 1). It should be
an explanation either of some aspect
of the readings from holy scripture or
of another text from the Ordinary or
Proper of the Mass of the day, taking
into account the mystery which is
being celebrated and the particular
needs of the hearers.
A homily is to be given at all Sunday
Masses and at Masses celebrated on
holy days of obligation; it cannot be
omitted without a serious reason
(c.767, 2). Furthermore, if a sufficient
number of people are present it is
strongly recommended that a homily
also be given at Masses celebrated
during the week, especially during
Advent or Lent or on the occasion of
some feast day or time of mourning
(c.767, 3).
The homily, during the celebration
of the Holy Eucharist, must be
reserved to the sacred minister, Priest
or Deacon, to the exclusion of the
non-ordained faithful, even if these
should have responsibilities as pastoral
assistants or catechists in whatever
type of community or group. For the
same reason, the practice, on some
occasions, of entrusting the preaching
of the homily to seminarians or
theology students who are not clerics
is not permitted.
The obligation of preaching a
homily in Sunday Masses and in
those celebrated on holy days of
obligation (c.767, 3) seems to imply
a corresponding obligation on the
part of the faithful to be present at the
homily, since it forms an integral part
of the Eucharistic liturgy, attendance
to which is obligatory on those days.
Footnotes:
1
S.C.Rites, Instruction Inter Oecu-
menici, 26.IX.1964, n.54.
2
Cf. AAS 79 [1987], 1249.
3
Instruction Ecclesia de Mysteriis (15.
VIII.1997), Art.3, 1.
4
Instruction Ecclesia de Mysteriis (15.
VIII.1997), Art.2, 4.
(Father Edward McNamara,
professor of liturgy and dean
of theology at the Regina
Apostolorum university,
answers the following query:)
Q: Is it proper for a seminarian
who is on pastoral experience
to be allowed to take those
parts in Mass which the
deacon says? I ask because our
parish priest seems to allow
this. The seminarian who is
not ordained has been taking
all the parts that a deacon
would normally take if he
is present. In the same vein,
can a layperson be allowed
to do the same if the pastor
allows him to do so? What
does the GIRM say? Is there
any guidance?E.C., Kabwe,
Zambia
A: In principle each minister
may carry out such tasks, and
only such tasks, as correspond
to his proper ministry.
Therefore a seminarian
may not carry out such tasks
as these are exclusive to the
deacon or priest. However, if
he has received the ministry
of acolyte he may carry out
such actions that an instituted
acolyte may do in the absence
of a deacon.
The General Instruction of
the Roman Missal (GIRM)
describes these tasks in the
following way:
98. The acolyte is instituted
to serve at the altar and
to assist the priest and
deacon. In particular, it is his
responsibility to prepare the
altar and the sacred vessels
and, if it is necessary, as an
extraordinary minister, to
distribute the Eucharist to the
faithful.
In the ministry of the
altar, the acolyte has his own
functions (cf. below, nos. 187-
193), which he must perform
personally.
100. In the absence of
an instituted acolyte, lay
ministers may be deputed to
serve at the altar and assist
the priest and the deacon;
they may carry the cross,
the candles, the thurible, the
bread, the wine, and the water,
and they may also be deputed
Seminarian in a Deacons Role
to distribute Holy Communion as
extraordinary ministers.
187. The duties that the acolyte
may carry out are of various kinds
and several may coincide. Hence,
it is desirable that these duties
be suitably distributed among
several acolytes. If, however, only
one acolyte is present, he should
perform the more important duties
while the rest are to be distributed
among several ministers.
The Introductory Rites
188. In the procession to the
altar, the acolyte may carry the
cross, walking between two
ministers with lighted candles.
Upon reaching the altar, the
acolyte places the cross upright
near the altar so that it may serve
as the altar cross; otherwise, he
puts it in a worthy place. Then he
takes his place in the sanctuary.
189. Through the entire
celebration, the acolyte is to
approach the priest or the deacon,
whenever necessary, in order to
present the book to them and
to assist them in any other way
required. Thus it is appropriate,
insofar as possible, that the
acolyte occupy a place from
which he can conveniently carry
out his ministry either at the chair
or at the altar.
The Liturgy of the Eucharist
190. If no deacon is present,
after the Prayer of the Faithful
is concluded and while the
priest remains at the chair, the
acolyte places the corporal, the
purifcator, the chalice, the pall,
and the Missal on the altar. Then,
if necessary, the acolyte assists the
priest in receiving the gifts of the
people and, if appropriate, brings
the bread and wine to the altar
and hands them to the priest.
If incense is used, the acolyte
presents the thurible to the priest
and assists him while he incenses
the gifts, the cross, and the altar.
Then the acolyte incenses the
priest and the people.
191. A duly instituted acolyte,
as an extraordinary minister, may,
if necessary, assist the priest in
giving Communion to the people.
If Communion is given under
both kinds, when no deacon is
present, the acolyte administers
the chalice to the communicants
or holds the chalice if Communion
is given by intinction.
192. Likewise, when the
distribution of Communion is
completed, a duly instituted
acolyte helps the priest or deacon
to purify and arrange the sacred
vessels. When no deacon is
present, a duly instituted acolyte
carries the sacred vessels to the
credence table and there purifes,
wipes, and arranges them in the
usual way.
193. After the celebration
of Mass, the acolyte and other
ministers return in procession
to the sacristy, together with the
deacon and the priest in the same
way and order in which they
entered.
From this it is possible that it
could appear that a seminarian
was taking the place of the deacon
without this being necessarily
the case.
If the seminarian is not yet an
instituted acolyte, then he could
still serve at the priests side,
assist him with the missal at the
altar, offer him the paten and, if
necessary, be named ad hoc as an
extraordinary minister of Holy
Communion.
If he is an instituted acolyte, then
he could also purify the sacred
vessels at the credence table. If he
is not an acolyte, then the priest
purifes the sacred vessels.
However, he may not carry out
any function that is proper to the
ordained minister.
Thus, during the Liturgy of
the Word he may not read the
Gospel or preach the homily.
As the instruction Redemptionis
Sacramentum states:
63. Within the celebration of
the Sacred Liturgy, the reading
C
N
A
of the Gospel, which is the
high point of the Liturgy of
the Word, is reserved by
the Churchs tradition to an
ordained minister. Thus it is
not permitted for a layperson,
even a religious, to proclaim
the Gospel reading in the
celebration of Holy Mass,
nor in other cases in which
the norms do not explicitly
permit it.
64. The homily, which
is given in the course of the
celebration of Holy Mass
and is a part of the Liturgy
itself, should ordinarily be
given by the Priest celebrant
himself. He may entrust it
to a concelebrating Priest or
occasionally, according to
circumstances, to a Deacon,
but never to a layperson. In
particular cases and for a
just cause, the homily may
even be given by a Bishop
or a Priest who is present at
the celebration but cannot
concelebrate.
66. The prohibition of the
admission of laypersons to
preach within the Mass applies
also to seminarians, students
of theological disciplines, and
those who have assumed the
function of those known as
pastoral assistants; nor is
there to be any exception for
any other kind of layperson,
or group, or community, or
association.
During the Liturgy of the
Eucharist the acolyte does not
prepare the chalice by putting
in wine and water but merely
offers these to the priest. Nor
does he help the priest in
elevating the chalice for the
final doxology. The priest,
and not the acolyte, invites
the faithful to make the sign
of peace and dismisses the
people at the end of Mass.
If the priest has allowed or
told the seminarian to carry out
any of these reserved functions,
then he is in error. It is also
very unwise, and a seminarian
should refuse to do so.
In some cases it could even
be considered as a usurpation
of sacred functions which
could even impede or delay
a seminarians acceptance for
sacred orders.
B3 Vol. 18 No. 10
May 12 - 25, 2014
CBCP Monitor
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Features
Progress must count the cost
The politics of development must be coordinated with the politics of ecology and every environmental cost in development projects
must be weighed carefully.
By Fr. Sebastiano DAmbra, PIME
THE Comprehensive Agreement on the
Bangsamoro signed on March 27, 2014
is an important event in the Philippines
and we have to be happy because it is a
sign of hope. Some friends asked me my
opinion about this Agreement. I told them,
I am happy, but this agreement opens new
challenges for me, the Silsilah Dialogue
Movement, and all of us.
Today is not the end of the conflict in
Mindanao, but only a good step toward
peace. There is still a long way to go
considering the opposition of groups
which have openly declared their intention
to continue to fight. This is the time, that
more than ever before, that each one has
to put away fears and prejudices and face
the reality to work together for peace.
Many know how my life in Mindanao,
since 1977, has been spent to build bridges
of friendship between Muslims and
Christians and I am still ready to continue
in the spirit of Padayon! (Move on).
Guided by this mission in 1979 up to 1981, I
helped a group of MNLF to negotiate with
the government in Zamboanga del Norte
for a peaceful solution in the area. It was
a great and painful experience that gave
me the inspiration and determination to
start, with a group of Muslim and Christian
friends, the Silsilah Dialogue Movement in
Zamboanga City in 1984.
On the day of the signing of the Agreement
in Manila, I decided to spend more time in
prayer. Yes, it is a prayer with hope, but also
with fear. What will be the plan of those
who oppose this agreement, especially those
who openly have declared that they are not
in favor of it and are ready to use violence
again to defend their position? What will
the plan of those in favor be? What will the
supporters of both camps orchestrate? And
what will we have to do?
For those who are in Zamboanga,
September 9, 2013 will remain for long
time in the memory of all. But not only
Zamboanga wi l l remember pai nful
experiences of bombing and violence in
Mindanao. Those who are responsible of
these forms of violence always justify their
actions to get national and international
attention in their understanding of self-
determination.
My refection on the signing
of the Comprehensive
Agreement on the
Bangsamoro
I believe today, more than ever before,
we do not have to look at each other as
a group who won with the Bangsamoro
Agreement or a group who lost. All of us
have to be happy because this agreement
is a new step toward peace. It is time for
all of us to be humble and rebuild what has
been destroyed. It is time to teach the young
generation that the history of Mindanao has
been so painful and we can not defend a
position guided by pre-conditions and ideas
supported by a certain reading of history.
The reading of the history of Mindanao
is open to so many interpretations. It is
time to say to one another that what is
more important is to work together for the
common good.
But, how can we move toward a better
future together when signs of radical
ideas often linked with the Islamic
religion are coming into Mindanao? At
the same time, we cannot ignore that
signs of secularism, often identified
with geographical areas of Christian
countries, may give to more radical
groups reasons to fight and justify their
actions and positions. Aware of this
situation, how will the leaders in the new
Bangsamoro territory be able to maintain
the balance and the unity among people
who are part of the same territory? At the
same time, how will the government of
the Philippines work together with the
leadership of the Bangsamoro territory and
avoid division among those who belong
to one territory, and the other in another
territory in the same country?
I believe that there are so many questions
at this point that need proper answers
that only good leaders and good people
willing to work together for the common
good can give. Our only wish and hope is
that each Christian, Muslim, indigenous
people and people of other sectors of society
remain humble and ready to help each
other, respecting the cultural and religious
identity in areas with either a Muslim
majority or a Christian majority population.
Thus, my reflection is that different annexes
of the agreement have to be implemented
with sensitivity and respect and, especially,
that there will be more sensitivity and
respect for the unwritten agreements that
will not be signed today, but are the most
important aspects and elements for the
future peace in Mindanao.
By Fr. Benny Tuazon
PROGRESS is always music to the
ear. But is it always worth it? For
the sake of progress, do we just
become deaf, bl i nd, and numb
to its consequences? Is progress
merely about profit or much more?
Leaders, decision-makers, investors,
and citizens should not just think
about profit and progress but also
the repercussi ons and possi bl e
damages to lives and properties. It
becomes more important when the
consequences are permanent and
irreversible.
The approach the world must
take should be one of prevention.
Protection of the environment is
more of freeing it from harm rather
than repairing it when damaged. The
Valdez oil spill in Alaska is a classic
example. It cost 2.1. billion dollars just
to clean it. Yet, the damage is done and
continues to haunt marine life in the
area. The cost to human livelihood,
which is hard to quantify, is not even
included yet. If enough safeguards
and extreme care in navigating the
tanker were done in the first place,
the harm could have been avoided.
According to Nat Keohane, PhD.,
Director of Economic Policy and
Analysis for the Environmental
Defense Fund: The cost of capping
global warming pollution for the next
two decades is almost too small to
measure.
In other words, prevention is not
only good because it saves the world
from a sizeable expense, but preserves
nature which usually takes so much
time to create and grow.
The relationship of the first world
and third world nations regarding
the use of resources immediately
comes to mind. Resources are factors
of industry and economy. First world
countries have a tendency to dictate
on third world countries regarding
the use of their resources. Exploitation
is prevalent. Apropos to this, Pope
Benedict XVI had this to say: The
richest nations must not unduly exploit
the resources of developing nations
without giving into the hands of the latter
the incomes derived from their land and
below ground resources.
This also happens locally, within
every nat i on. Mi ni ng, l oggi ng,
fishing, oil explorations and other
industries, benefit the investors and
leave the residents not only with
less but also an almost useless or
abused land, water, and air. Many
mountains in the Philippines have
already been swept clean of trees and
yet the people living in those places
continue to be poor. When typhoon
and rain come, the local residents
suffer the consequences. The same
thing happens with mining where the
land is left abused and useless. Add to
that the contamination of their ground
water due to the residues of mineral
processing. In fishing, seasons are not
respected. The demand for fish takes
priority over allowing them to grow
and produce offspring. It is sad when
the resources of an area are exploited
for the benefit of investors and other
countries and at the expense of the
residents.
The issue remains to be economy.
Countries, which are very concerned
of prestige, power, and purse, find
it hard to give up their exploitative
attitude. They are afraid to find ways
to obtain the balance of progress
and respect for the environment.
Between the two, they are more
willing to sacrifice latter. They
believe that the benefits of progress
can be used to address the price of
exploitation. Wrong! Very wrong!
Recent cal ami t i es al l over t he
world testify to the truth of this.
Nature, when disrespected and not
protected, has a tendency to get back
in ways and strengths that man,
even when armed with his most
sophisticated inventions, cannot
parry, elude, or handle face to face.
Many of us just watched helplessly
while Typhoon Ondoy, on that fateful
day of September 2009, washed away
and claimed lives and properties.
Whatever progress we have gained
On the day of the signing of the Agreement in
Manila, I decided to spend more time in prayer. Yes,
it is a prayer with hope, but also with fear.
A maze of issues surrounds the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro, which the different sectors,
including indigenous peoples like the Lumads of Mindanao and Sulu, continue to face.
Environmental degradation in the form of pollution of bodies of water has become the costly price of supposed progress.
was rendered helpless and useless
when nature strikes back.
Nations should be serious about
the limited supply of the worlds
resources. It is predicted that fossil
fuel would be depleted by 2030
unless new reserves are discovered.
Rainforests of Indonesia and Brazil
are being destroyed and burned by
the thousands of hectares per year.
Pope Benedict XVI, in his address
to the FAO Director General in 2006
said: The order of creation demands that
priority be given to those human activities
that do not cause irreversible damage to
nature, but which instead are woven into
the social, cultural and religious fabric of
the different communities. In this way,
a sober balance is achieved between the
consumption and the sustainability of
resources.
Responsi bl e use of resources
is encouraged. It is part of our
responsibility before God the Creator.
It must be respected. We must never
forget that it is limited. When God
promised to Noah after the Great
Flood that He will not anymore
destroy the earth, and even gave
the rainbow as a sign (We still see
rainbows today! Thank God!), God
was being true. With the sins and
disrespect our generation have done
against nature up to this day, we
would have been worthy of a Great
Flood worse than that of Noah. Yet,
God is faithful to His promise. But,
I believe, the destruction will still
happen. This time, it is not God but
us, who will bring destruction to
ourselves.
I think the environment should be put
in the category of our national security.
Defense of our resources is just as
important as defense abroad. Otherwise
what is there to defend? - Robert Redford
B4 Vol. 18 No. 10
May 12 - 25, 2014
CBCP Monitor
By Madonna Escolano
I RECENTLY climbed Mount Pulag, the
second highest peak in the Philippines.
Although I did not go up there to mend a
broken heart, I intended to have a silent
retreat in the hopes of communing with
the Lord and hearing what He has to
say to me.
I did get what I wanted! And more!
Mount Pulag stands majestically at
2,922 meters above sea level (masl),
bordering the provinces of Benguet,
Ifugao and Nueva Viscaya. After an
orientation at the DENR center at
around 8:30 a.m., our group proceeded
to the ranger station, and from there,
trekked the Ambangeg Trail through
the mossy forest to get to Campsite 2,
which according to one of our guides is
about 2,600+ masl. A heavy downpour
welcomed us just after lunch. Tired
from almost three hours of climbing, the
group decided to get our much needed
sleep and rest, before we celebrating the
Holy Eucharist. As the rain pounded our
tent, I took the time to pray, and refect
on my recent triumph of a climb to
the camp site.
Prior to the trip, some friends advised
that it is important that I get a porter,
who will carry my backpack for me, so
that I wont have diffculties climbing
the slippery, rocky trail. But at the ranger
station, seeing that the porters were
women, I decided that Id rather carry
my stuff myself. In my mind I thought,
what better way to refect on the Via
Dolorosa of Jesus.
The Way of Sorrows. I only know
it through the Bible, and through
movies, of the agony Jesus underwent
as He carried His Cross and suffered
humiliating death on the cross on
Golgotha. I can only imagine His pain;
and the movies, no matter how graphic
they are, can only show so much. I
am sure He endured unutterable and
unimaginable suffering!
Many thoughts fooded my mind as I
gazed at the tiny shaft where light came
inside our dwelling on camp. The rain
still beat on our tent, and it felt for me as
if the heavens were crying inconsolably.
I thought of Jesus humility and strength
as Pontius Pilate put Him on trial; and
of my arrogance whenever I would
rebel against the people who judge me
wrongly and at those who love to mock
me for every failure I make. I thought
about those people who jeer at me for
being a fool in obeying the will of God
in my life. Jesus gave me a good example
to follow when He was unjustly accused:
His silence was His surrender to the will
of God the Father.
And that 8-kilogram backpack of
mine? I could carry it with comfort and
ease while walking on fat ground. But
climbing up and struggling to keep my
balance as I walked on narrow, muddy
paths that several times passed through
ravines and steep cliffs made me hold on
to dear life. My backpack was no match
for the cross of Christ, but somehow, it
served as one for me as I wound my way
up the mountain. Its weight felt doubled,
even tripled, every step I made to reach
the camp site. My shoulders painfully
stung with the burden; my heart felt
like it would burst out of my chest;
and I gasped for breath to get enough
of the thinning oxygen. I prayed the
rosary while climbing up, and asked
our Sweetest Mother Mary for prayers to
have the grace of courage and strength.
I held back tears as I saw in my head
how Jesus faltered to carry His cross.
And I knew that in spite of the weight of
my sins on that cross, He carried it with
so much loveunconditional, infnite
love for me!
I have absolutely no right to complain
about my little crosses!
When the rain fnally stopped, and
after my good forty winks, our priest-
companion announced that we would
have the holy mass. It was heaven on
earth! Receiving Jesus that night in the
Eucharist was special, as I once again
thought about His offering of His life
for me and for all mankind.
The highlight of the Mount Pulag
climb is not the mossy forest, but the
grassland summit that is known for
its sea-of-clouds phenomenon. The
schedule was to get to the top early
the next day to witness it. After dinner,
the sky heavily poured again, stronger
than the earlier one, that we were all
driven back inside our tent. I barely
slept as the night turned bitterly cold
and wetter. We all begged the Lord to
make the rain stop! At around 3 oclock
in the morning, we woke up awed by
the early morning horizon blanketed
with stars! The dim glowing band of the
Milky Way arched visibly above us. It
was divinely magnifcent I think I might
have looked up with my mouth agape!
I stared up silently and sang a song in
my headWhen I gaze into the night
sky and see the work of Your fngers the
moon and stars suspended in space Oh,
what is man that You are mindful of him?
1
We started the climb up the peak at
around 4 in the morning. And so began
my mini stations of the cross!
With headlights and a trekking pole,
I followed a long line of about 50-60
people who also wished to conquer the
mountain and see the incredible view
from above the summit. As the altitude
got higher, I began to feel the diffculty to
acclimatize right away. I hyperventilated
and my heart beat faster. Several times
during the climb, I wanted to just give
up! I stopped a number of times, with
my companions unaware that I was
way behind.
Then I slipped, fell on my knees and
had my frst fall! And in those split-
seconds, was transported back in time.
Skeptics and unbelievers might
say that if Jesus were really God, He
would have carried His cross without
stumbling. He would not have been
sentenced to be crucifed in the frst
place! But Jesus was human too; and in
His humanity, has allowed Himself to
feel the weight of our sins. He allowed
Himself to fall, so that when I do
collapse myself, He would completely
understand and would not reproach me
for being a weakling! Many times in my
life, I questioned God why He allows evil
things to happen to good people; why
He allows heartaches and anguish in the
world. I know better now. If the Eternal
Father allowed Jesus to fall, surely there
are lessons to be learned from my own
defeats, and something good shall
defnitely come out from my failures.
His ways and thoughts are, after all, not
my ways and thoughts. Admitting that I
am weak and in need of a Savior, who is
also my Strength, is the only way I can
conquer my fears and become what He
wants me to be!
I fell a second time. I thought of our
dear Blessed Virgin Mary, and begged
Her, and Saint Joseph, to walk with me
and fnish that feat. Oh, the sorrows our
dear Lady felt, piercing Her heart, when
she saw her Beloved Son so helpless
and at the mercy of evil men! But Jesus
second fall was not a sign of weakness,
for in that second fall was triumph
over failure -- His expression of selfess
love. Although my entire body felt like
quitting, my heart and my resolve would
not. With God, giving up is never ever
an option!
On the way up, I brought with me a
bag with my camera, an extra jacket, and
my valuables. It was not heavy at all, and
yet with every step of the ascent, it felt
like carrying a bag of stones. My body
ached, the weight seemed to crush my
shoulders, and it felt like my chest would
break in two! One of the guides they
called a sweeper (who is responsible for
making sure that nobody gets hurt and
left behind), approached me and offered
to carry my belongings. He encouraged
me to persevere during the rest of the
trek. He was my Simon of Cyrene.
But Simon actually, reminded me of
myself. How many times have I been
reluctant to carry my crosses? Carrying
them has benefted my soul. I know
better now to fx my eyes on Jesus,
especially when the road gets bumpier
and the pain gets more excruciating,
because in so doing, I shall be able to
bear my cross with greater fortitude and
abandon myself to the will of the Father!
I was not the only one who was at the
verge of quitting. There were others who
almost gave up, too. Though I myself
had diffculties, Gods grace allowed
me to encourage a fellow trekkera
co-pilgrim in this vale of tears. I
remembered how Jesus comforted the
women of Jerusalem. Even in my own
sufferings, Jesus has showed me how to
be compassionate and attentive to the
needs of others.
The elevation, the shortness of breath
with every exertion, the rapid pulse
and the near blackout spells, made
me fall a third time, my face almost to
the ground. I would have really given
up, but thinking about Jesus third fall
and knowing that He understands all
my heartaches and sufferings from His
own experience gave me more than
enough reason to persevere. I look up
to Him for courage when my heart and
soul cries out that I can no longer bear
any more pain. His example helps me
to rise and stand up from every fall, no
matter how diffcult, because He shall
always be with me.
That third fall made me think about
all the people I know who are suffering.
I am not the only one who goes about
my daily existence carrying my cross.
I thought of one man who knew a lot
about suffering and who has inspired
me so much in my faith journey. Id say
that I grew up with him. In the crucial
moments of my teenage and young adult
life, he was a source of encouragement
and he ignited in me a desire to embrace
a life in service of God.
Saint John Paul II, the pope of my
youth, lost his mother when he was in
third grade, then his brother after three
years. He went home one day and found
his father dead. At twenty years old, he
was an orphan. He did hard labor in a
stone quarry. His beloved Poland came
under Nazi rule. He had many of his
friends shot by the Gestapo or killed
in concentration camps. He was shot
by an assassin and almost got killed.
Parkinsons disease rendered him
immobile, which also later distorted
his physical appearance and left him
unable to speak.
2
As Pope, when Saint John Paul II
talked about following Christ and
carrying ones cross, I am all ears!
In his apostolic letter Salvifci Doloris,
Saint John Paul II said, But in order to
perceive the true answer to the why of
suffering, we must look to the revelation
of divine love, the ultimate source of the
meaning of everything that exists. Love is
also the richest source of the meaning of
suffering, which always remains a mystery:
we are conscious of the insuffciency and
inadequacy of our explanations. Christ
causes us to enter into the mystery and to
discover the why of suffering, as far as
we are capable of grasping the sublimity of
divine love.
In order to discover the profound
meaning of suffering, following the revealed
word of God, we must open ourselves
wide to the human subject in his manifold
potentiality. We must above all accept the
light of Revelation not only insofar as it
expresses the transcendent order of justice
but also insofar as it illuminates this
order with Love, as the defnitive source
of everything that exists. Love is: also the
fullest source of the answer to the question
of the meaning of suffering. This answer
has been given by God to man in the Cross
of Jesus Christ.
3
As we got nearer the peak of Mount
Pulag, I had to remove some layers of
my clothing because I felt stifed. I still
had enough clothes to protect me from
the cold; and I couldnt help but think
about the time Jesus was stripped of
His garments. What a way to leave life
as He entered it, detached from worldly
comforts! It was a lesson for me to also be
detached from the world, to not cling on
treasures that moth and rust destroys; for
Gods unselfsh love for me is all Id ever
need, and His grace is suffcient always!
Finally, I was 2,922 meters above
sea level. I reached the summit and
conquered Mount Pulag! I tested my
limits, and have overcome myself.
We did not witness the sea-of-clouds.
Venus however showed herself at dawn
till twilight. Slowly, a burst of crimson,
vermilion and gold glowed in the
horizon. At 5:45 in the morning, Brother
Sun exploded into a breathtaking display
of radiant colors! It was the best sunrise
I have ever witnessed so far. The nearby
peaks, at least from my vantage point,
seemed to have come alive from a
painting by Monet, ET Compton or Van
Gogh! The camera may have captured
a bit of its grandeur, but no one paints
the way Gods fngers do!
I sat with legs stretched on the grassy
summit, and took-in every bit of beauty
that was around me. I was totally at a loss
for words to describe the grandeur and
majesty of what our Eternal Creator has
done. Spectacular is an understatement!
The glorious sunrise made me think
about the resurrection of Jesus. The path
I took and the diffculties I overcame was
a lesson to see Gods wisdom even in
seemingly insignifcant sufferings. There
is power in weakness and good even in
my small crosses. His gift of Faith has
allowed a fountain of humility to fow
and obedience to the will of the Father
easier to do. The grace to hold on to Hope
allowed me to trust in His providence
and mercy. And love Oh, the love that
knows only to endure and persevere!
Darkness can only be scattered by
light, hatred can only be conquered by
love, Saint John Paul II once said. I
love because God loved me frst. Even
in my shortcomings and sinfulness,
the Lords overpowering love allows
me to love. And just when it felt like
I was almost empty, God had put me
exactly where I was so that I can bask
in His unfathomable love for me and
be flled again.
I always love to quote Saint John
Paul II whenever I fnd myself trying
to seize a moment or make sense of
my current circumstance. In the
designs of Providence, there are no
mere coincidences. I would have been
somewhere else that day. If I had it
my way, I would have been in another
place where my heart really longs to be.
I make plans, but Gods will prevails.
And so there I was, feeling like a little
child on top of the world, closer to
heaven, encompassed by my Heavenly
Fathers love.
The victory that is in the Cross of
Christ! There would be no resurrection
and ascension without Calvary and the
crucifxion.
I would not have witnessed the
splendor of Gods creation if I had not
labored to climb the summit.
So what have I gained from the trek
up Mount Pulag besides sharing in the
littlest of proportions in the passion of
my Lord Jesus Christ?
My dear St. JP IIs words would sum
it best: Do not forget that true love
sets no conditions; it does not calculate
or complain, but simply loves The
love that is my mission: too deep to
comprehend, too grand to take in, but
one that I have to embrace.
Thus to share in the sufferings of
Christ is, at the same time, to suffer for
the kingdom of God. In the eyes of the
just God, before His judgment, those
who share in the sufferings of Christ
become worthy of this kingdom.
4

(Endnotes)
1
The Majesty and Glory of Your Name,
Composed by Tom Fettke
2
A Popes Answer to the Problem
of Pain by Christopher Kaczor http://
www.catholic.com/magazine/articles/a-
pope%E2%80%99s-answer-to-the-
problem-of-pain
3
APOSTOLIC LETTER SALVIFICI DO-
LORIS OF THE SUPREME PONTIFF
JOHN PAUL II, Section 13 http://www.
vatican.va/holy_father/john_paul_ii/
apost_letters/1984/documents/hf_jp-
ii_apl_11021984_salvifci-doloris_en.html
4
SALVIFICI DOLORIS, Section 21.
Features
At 5:45 in the morning, Brother Sun exploded into a breathtaking display
of radiant colors! It was the best sunrise I have ever witnessed so far. The
nearby peaks, at least from my vantage point, seemed to have come alive
from a painting by Monet, ET Compton or Van Gogh!
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Of Mountains, Crosses and Victories
Go up to the mountain, go up to the glen, where silence will touch you and heartbreak will mend. (Van Morrison)
B5 Vol. 18 No. 10
May 12 - 25, 2014
CBCP Monitor
DEAR Brothers and Sisters,
1. The Gospel says that Jesus went
about all the cities and villages... When
he saw the crowds, he had compassion
for them, because they were harassed
and helpless, like sheep without a
shepherd. Then he said to his disciples,
The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers
are few; pray therefore the Lord of the
harvest to send out laborers into his
harvest (Mt 9:35-38). These words
surprise us, because we all know that
it is necessary frst to plow, sow and
cultivate to then, in due time, reap an
abundant harvest. Jesus says instead
that the harvest is plentiful. But
who did the work to bring about these
results? There is only one answer:
God. Clearly the feld of which Jesus
is speaking is humanity, us. And the
efficacious action which has borne
much fruit is the grace of God, that
is, communion with Him (cf. Jn 15:5).
The prayer which Jesus asks of the
Church therefore concerns the need to
increase the number of those who serve
his Kingdom. Saint Paul, who was one
of Gods fellow workers, tirelessly
dedicated himself to the cause of the
Gospel and the Church. The Apostle,
with the awareness of one who has
personally experienced how mysterious
Gods saving will is, and how the
initiative of grace is the origin of every
vocation, reminds the Christians of
Corinth: You are Gods feld (1 Cor
3:9). That is why wonder frst arises in
our hearts over the plentiful harvest
which God alone can bestow; then
gratitude for a love that always goes
before us; and lastly, adoration for the
work that he has accomplished, which
requires our free consent in acting with
him and for him.
2. Many times we have prayed with
the words of the Psalmist: It is he who
made us, and we are his; we are his
people, and the sheep of his pasture
(Ps 100:3); or: The Lord has chosen
Jacob for himself, Israel as his own
possession (Ps 135:4). And yet we are
Gods possession not in the sense
Statements
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Vocations, Witness to the Truth
Message of Pope Francis for the 51st World Day of Prayer for Vocations
11 May 2014, Fourth Sunday of Easter
of a possession that renders us slaves,
but rather of a strong bond that unites
us to God and one another, in accord
with a covenant that is eternal, for
his steadfast love endures for ever (Ps
136). In the account of the calling of the
prophet Jeremiah, for example, God
reminds us that he continually watches
over each one of us in order that his word
may be accomplished in us. The image
is of an almond branch which is the frst
tree to fower, thus announcing lifes
rebirth in the springtime (cf Jer 1:11-12).
Everything comes from him and is his
gift: the world, life, death, the present,
the future, butthe Apostle assures
usyou are Christs; and Christ is
Gods (1 Cor 3:23). Hence the way of
belonging to God is explained: it comes
about through a unique and personal
relationship with Jesus, which Baptism
confers on us from the beginning of
our rebirth to new life. It is Christ,
therefore, who continually summons
us by his word to place our trust in
him, loving him with all the heart,
with all the understanding, and with
all the strength (Mk 12:33). Therefore
every vocation, even within the variety
of paths, always requires an exodus
from oneself in order to centre ones
life on Christ and on his Gospel. Both in
married life and in the forms of religious
consecration, as well as in priestly life,
we must surmount the ways of thinking
and acting that do not conform to the
will of God. It is an exodus that leads
us on a journey of adoration of the Lord
and of service to him in our brothers
and sisters (Address to the International
Union of Superiors General, 8 May 2013).
Therefore, we are all called to adore
Christ in our hearts (1 Pet 3:15) in order
to allow ourselves to be touched by
the impulse of grace contained in the
seed of the word, which must grow in
us and be transformed into concrete
service to our neighbour. We need not
be afraid: God follows the work of his
hands with passion and skill in every
phase of life. He never abandons us!
He has the fulflment of his plan for us
at heart, and yet he wishes to achieve
it with our consent and cooperation.
3. Today too, Jesus lives and walks
along the paths of ordinary life in order
to draw near to everyone, beginning
with the least, and to heal us of our
infrmities and illnesses. I turn now to
those who are well disposed to listen
to the voice of Christ that rings out in
the Church and to understand what
their own vocation is. I invite you to
listen to and follow Jesus, and to allow
yourselves to be transformed interiorly
by his words, which are spirit and life
(Jn 6:62). Mary, the Mother of Jesus and
ours, also says to us: Do whatever
he tells you (Jn 2:5). It will help you
to participate in a communal journey
that is able to release the best energies
in you and around you. A vocation is a
fruit that ripens in a well cultivated feld
of mutual love that becomes mutual
service, in the context of an authentic
ecclesial life. No vocation is born of
itself or lives for itself. A vocation fows
from the heart of God and blossoms in
the good soil of faithful people, in the
experience of fraternal love. Did not
Jesus say: By this all men will know
that you are my disciples, if you have
love for one another (Jn 13:35)?
4. Dear brothers and sisters, this
high standard of ordinary Christian
living (cf John Paul II, Apostolic
Letter Novo Millennio Ineunte, 31) means
sometimes going against the tide and
also encountering obstacles, outside
ourselves and within ourselves. Jesus
himself warns us: the good seed of
Gods word is often snatched away by
the Evil one, blocked by tribulation, and
choked by worldly cares and temptation
(cf Mt 13:19-22). All of these diffculties
could discourage us, making us fall
back on seemingly more comfortable
paths. However, the true joy of those
who are called consists in believing
and experiencing that he, the Lord,
is faithful, and that with him we can
walk, be disciples and witnesses of
Gods love, open our hearts to great
ideals, to great things. We Christians
were not chosen by the Lord for small
things; push onwards toward the
highest principles. Stake your lives
on noble ideals! (Homily at Holy Mass
and the Conferral of the Sacrament of
Confrmation, 28 April 2013). I ask you
bishops, priests, religious, Christian
communities and families to orient
vocational pastoral planning in this
direction, by accompanying young
people on pathways of holiness which,
because they are personal, call for a
genuine training in holiness capable
of being adapted to every persons
need. This training must integrate
the resources offered to everyone
with both the traditional forms of
individual and group assistance, as well
as the more recent forms of support
offered in associations and movements
recognized by the Church (Novo
Millennio Ineunte, 31).
Let us dispose our hearts therefore to
being good soil, by listening, receiving
and living out the word, and thus bearing
fruit. The more we unite ourselves to
Jesus through prayer, Sacred Scripture,
the Eucharist, the Sacraments celebrated
and lived in the Church and in fraternity,
the more there will grow in us the joy
of cooperating with God in the service
of the Kingdom of mercy and truth, of
justice and peace. And the harvest will
be plentiful, proportionate to the grace
we have meekly welcomed into our lives.
With this wish, and asking you to pray
for me, I cordially impart to you all my
Apostolic Blessing.

From the Vatican, 15 January 2014
FRANCIS
Church People and
Workers in Solidarity,
Reclaim the Dignity of
Human Work!
Statement of Church people
Workers Solidarity (CWS)
International Workers Day
(May 1, 2014)
THE annual celebration of Labor Day on the frst day of May
is a good opportunity for the Church to express his gratitude
to the workers, his special concern for their welfare and once
again put forward its social teachings on labor which serves
as a reminder to promote ethical, just and humane policies in
the world of work.

Situation of the Workers
The workers are faced with multifarious problems - Growing
legalization of contractualization/joblessness. It gravely
undermines workers rights to security of tenure, self-
organization, and collective bargaining agreement (CBA).
President Aquino has kept the contractual-employment legal
and more widespread through Department Order 18-A Series
of 2011.
In January of 2014, Philippines jobless rate rose to 7.5%, up
from 6.5 % in the previous period. Such employment situation
gives us a glimpse of how millions of Filipinos are unable to
cope with rising prices of petroleum and basic commodities.
Unjust wages - The present statistic shows that the proft of
Address of Pope Francis to the UN
System Chief Executives Board for
Coordination
Consistory Hall, 9 Mary 2014
MR. Secretary General,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I am pleased to welcome you, Mr. Secretary-
General and the leading executive offcers
of the Agencies, Funds and Programmes
of the United Nations and specialized
Organizations, as you gather in Rome for the
biannual meeting for strategic coordination of
the United Nations System Chief Executives
Board.
It is signifcant that todays meeting takes
place shortly after the solemn canonization
of my predecessors, Popes John XXIII and
John Paul II. The new saints inspire us by
their passionate concern for integral human
development and for understanding between
peoples. This concern was concretely
expressed by the numerous visits of John
Paul II to the Organizations headquartered in
Rome and by his travels to New York, Geneva,
Vienna, Nairobi and The Hague.
I thank you, Mr.
Secretary-General, for
your cordial words of
introduction. I thank all
of you, who are primarily
responsible for the
international system,
for the great efforts
being made to ensure
world peace, respect
for human dignity, the
protection of persons, especially the poorest
and most vulnerable, and harmonious
economic and social development.
The results of the Millennium Development
Goals, especially in terms of education and
the decrease in extreme poverty, confrm the
value of the work of coordination carried
out by this Chief Executives Board. At the
same time, it must be kept in mind that the
worlds peoples deserve and expect even
greater results.
An essential principle of management is
the refusal to be satisfed with current results
and to press forward, in the conviction that
those gains are only consolidated by working
to achieve even more. In the case of global
political and economic organization, much
more needs to be achieved, since an important
part of humanity does not share in the benefts
of progress and is in fact relegated to the status
of second-class citizens. Future Sustainable
Development Goals must therefore be
formulated and carried out with generosity
and courage, so that they can have a real
impact on the structural causes of poverty
and hunger, attain more substantial results in
protecting the environment, ensure dignifed
and productive labor for all, and provide
appropriate protection for the family, which
is an essential element in sustainable human
and social development. Specifcally, this
involves challenging all forms of injustice
and resisting the economy of exclusion,
the throwaway culture and the culture of
death which nowadays sadly risk becoming
passively accepted.
With this in mind, I would like to remind
you, as representatives of the chief agencies
of global cooperation, of an incident which
took place two thousand years ago and is
recounted in the Gospel of Saint Luke (19:1-
10). It is the encounter between Jesus Christ
and the rich tax collector Zacchaeus, as a
result of which Zacchaeus made a radical
decision of sharing and justice, because
his conscience had been awakened by the
gaze of Jesus. This same spirit should be at
the beginning and end of all political and
economic activity. The gaze, often silent, of
that part of the human family which is cast off,
left behind, ought to awaken the conscience
of political and economic agents and lead
them to generous and courageous decisions
with immediate results, like the decision of
Zacchaeus. Does this spirit of solidarity and
sharing guide all our thoughts and actions,
I ask myself?
Today, in concrete terms, an awareness
of the dignity of each of our brothers and
sisters whose life is sacred and inviolable
from conception to natural death must
lead us to share with complete freedom
the goods which Gods providence has
placed in our hands, material goods but also
intellectual and spiritual ones, and to give
back generously and lavishly whatever we
may have earlier unjustly refused to others.
The account of Jesus and Zacchaeus teaches
us that above and beyond economic and
social systems and theories, there will always
be a need to promote generous, effective and
practical openness to the needs of others.
Jesus does not ask Zacchaeus to change jobs
nor does he condemn his fnancial activity;
he simply inspires him to put everything,
freely yet immediately and indisputably, at
the service of others. Consequently, I do not
hesitate to state, as did my predecessors (cf.
JOHN PAUL II, Sollicitudo Rei Socialis, 42-
43; Centesimus Annus, 43; BENEDICT XVI,
Caritas in Veritate, 6; 24-40), that equitable
economic and social progress can only be
attained by joining scientifc and technical
abilities with an unfailing commitment
to solidarity accompanied by a generous
and disinterested spirit of gratuitousness
at every l evel . A
contribution to this
equitable development
will also be made both
by international activity
aimed at the integral
human development of
all the worlds peoples
and by the legitimate
r e di s t r i but i on of
economic benefits by
the State, as well as indispensable cooperation
between the private sector and civil society.
Consequently, while encouraging you in
your continuing efforts to coordinate the
activity of the international agencies, which
represents a service to all humanity, I urge
you to work together in promoting a true,
worldwide ethical mobilization which,
beyond all differences of religious or political
convictions, will spread and put into practice
a shared ideal of fraternity and solidarity,
especially with regard to the poorest and
those most excluded.
Invoking divine guidance on the work
of your Board, I also implore Gods special
blessing for you, Mr. Secretary-General, for
the Presidents, Directors and Secretaries
General present among us, and for all the
personnel of the United Nations and the
other international Agencies and Bodies,
and their respective families. Thank you
very much.
Church People / B7
We Christians were not chosen by the Lord for
small things; push onwards toward the highest
principles. Stake your lives on noble ideals!
This involves challenging all forms of injustice and
resisting the economy of exclusion, the throwaway
culture and the culture of death which nowadays
sadly risk becoming passively accepted.
Child labourers hammer rocks at a gold mine in the
Philippines.
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B6 Vol. 18 No. 10
May 12 - 25, 2014
CBCP Monitor
Ref lections
Bishop Pat Alo
Bo Sanchez
ENCOUNTERS
SOULFOOD
By Fr. Sal Putzu, SDB
PROFESSION of our faith and our love for
Christ in words is good and needed. But along
with the wordsand even more important
than theyis our profession of faith and love
for him through our lives.
Actions speak louder
than words. The world
is filled with crowd-
drawing speakers and
charismatic preachers,
but it is always in dire
need of real, consistent
Christians. For most
of us, an authentic
Christian life is the only
profession of love for
Christ we can offer, and
the only one which most
people are inclined to accept. The testing
ground of our love for Christ is not the pulpit,
nor the microphone of a Radio or TV station. It
is our life the way we relate to God and respond
to the needs of our fellows human beings, be they
near us or far away...
WE live in a pathologically dissatisfed world.
And Im going to tell you why.
Because we love to compare.
Go around the world and discover that people
arent happy with their bodies. Filipinos want
to be fair complexioned like Westerners and so
buy bleaching stuff. Westerners want to own
bronzed-bodies like ours and so purchase tanning
lotions. Those with moles have them removed
while those who dont have any strategically
On the way to the home prepared for us by Jesus
5th Sunday of Easter, Jn 14:1-12 (A) May 18, 2014
The testing ground of our love for Christ is not
the pulpit, nor the microphone of a radio or TV
station. It is our life the way we relate to God and
respond to the needs of our fellows human beings, be
they near us or far away
No matter how hard you work, therell still be
some people who will be richer than you are.
And therell be some people who will be more
beautiful, have more sex appeal, have more boyfriends,
and have more problems.
By Fr. Sal Putzu, SDB

WHEN we refect on what Jesus is in
Himself and for us, we cannot help being
amazed at the richness of the meaning
of His titles as we can derive them from
todays Biblical readings.
St. Peter speaks of Him as the LIVING
STONE and the CORNERSTONE upon
whom the building of the Church rests.
(See todays Second Reading, vv. 4 and 7.
The frst title sounds contradictory for
a stone is surely a dead thing. Not so
with Jesus. He has all the solidity of the
stone, while at the same time being full
of life. And, more than that, from Him all
other stones that make up the Church of
God derive their life and solidity, thereby
becoming, in turn, living stones.
As the original Living Stone Jesus is
then the source of our life and the reason
for our presence and role in the Church.
Without him there would be no Church
as a spiritual edifce. There would be
no other smaller living stones used
by God to construct the Temple of His
wonderful plan.
The image of Jesus as Cornerstone,
instead, connotes both solidity and
primacy. It is like speaking of strong
foundations and supporting beams
in a building. No house would stand
without them. Likewise, without Christ
as its cornerstone, there would be no
enduring Church. Persecutions and
defections would have soon reduced it
area, regardless of age, profession, or
social status. People do die at all ages,
in the most varied circumstances. And
no one can boast: Death will never
catch me! Death does catch all. What
makes the difference is the way we
look at it.
With his promises, recorded in
todays Gospel, Jesus tells us that we
should look forward to our death as the
moment when He will come to take us with
Him, so that where He is we also may be.
(See v. 3.) Such is our eternal destiny,
our supreme calling. There is no greater
view and aspiration than this.
Some may laugh at such an assurance.
Their perception has become so
materialized that they are not able to
conceive anything that stretches beyond
the confnes of what can be seen, touched,
measured, or weighed. They even look
at the believers as self-deluded people
who try to fnd refuge in imaginary
worlds that are only the fruit of their
disappointments in life
But we know that our faith in eternal life
has a much more solid foundation than our
frustrations. Its foundation is no less than
the word of Jesus Himself, who is THE
WAY, THE TRUTH, and THE LIFE. He
is the one who said that He has gone to
prepare a place for us and promised that
He would come back to take us where
He is. This is what we to believe and
continue to hope in. This is what gives
us joy and light even in the dullest and
darkest moments in this earthly life.
To love in words and deeds
To respond to Christs love for us throughout
our life, in constant faithfulness (and not just
occasionally), is a daunting task. And we are
weak. We often falter and fall! Jesus knew it, and
that was why he promised his disciples (and us)
that he would not leave them/us orphaned (Jn
14:18). He promised to stay with us to the very
end to guide and support us. (See Mt 28:20.)
Jesus presence is made operative in our
existence through the action of the Spirit, the
supreme Gift of the Risen Lord. Life may get
hard for us. We may be misunderstood or
even persecuted because of our faithfulness
to God. This already happened to Jesus. It
will surely happen to us if we remain faithful
to him. Then it will be helpful to remember
the saying of Peter: It is better to suffer for
doing good, if that be the will of God, than
for doing evil (1 Pt 3:17).
Occasional failures may occur, but a real
disciple keeps rising and forging ahead, in
spite of all diffculties from within and from
without. In the midst of
all diffculties we should
keep in mind Jesus
wonderful promise:
Whoever loves me will
be loved by my Father,
and I will love him and
reveal myself to him . . .
and we will come to him
and make our dwelling
place with him. (See Jn
14:21.23.) This will make
our earthly life a foretaste
of heavena unique privilege reserved for
those who really love Christ and show it by
the way they live.
These are words worth remembering and
believing. Their fulfllment will make our life
the greatest success ever.
Stop Comparing Yourself
implant beauty spots. Some people want to shed
a few pounds to look like Ally Macbeal while
others want to gain some baby fat to look like
Drew Barrymore. When are we ever going to
stop and simply be happy with how we look?
We live in a sick world, I tell you.
And that sickness is comparisonitis.
Take a look at wealth.
When we drive our old Toyota, it really
A thrilling life
PEOPLE would think that only a life exposed to worldliness
is full of events that can thrill the heart or mind of man. But
nothing may be further from the truth. The lives of the Saints
were presumably full of God-inspired thrills and happiness
even if they preferred lives of humble obscurity. They lived
not to show off sanctity or holiness, but mainly to do their
duties in the circumstances God placed them. Yet such lives
dedicated to the love of God and the fellow-men and women
were not bereft of thrills and happy moments that make life
interesting and colorful.
Yes, a life of goodness and love also comes gifted by God
with those gifts of the spirit and occasions of great happiness
that can surely satisfy the natural desires of the heart, since God
who is the source of all happiness would not deprive His true
servants of their own fair share of joys, happiness and glory.
Though, of course, the main assurance of the Saints that
contents their hearts desires is the assurance of a place in
Gods heavenly kingdom. What will it proft a man to gain
the whole world but lose his soul in the end? (Mt. 8:36).
Soulfood / B7
to nothing. But the Church has survived
for two thousand years a clear sign that
it rests on a most solid cornerstone!
But Jesus is not only the source of the
solidity of the Church over the centuries.
He is also the foundation of our hope that
there is LIFE beyond the barriers of time and
space. He is the one who has prepared
for us a future of unending happiness. His
fnal plan is that He and all His disciples
will be together for ever in the Fathers
housethat is: HEAVEN! That is our
real homeland and lasting abode!
This certainty is one of the factors
that marks the difference between
believers and those who are not sure
or fatly deny that there is life after
death. The latter view death as the end
of everything they are and have. Hence,
they look to it either with fear or with
resigned fatalism. When they reach old
age, they see themselves like bundles of
garbage on the sidewalk, waiting to be
collected by the basureros and dumped
into Smokey Mountain.
The believers, instead, see death as
a second birththeir entry into eternal
life. That is why they wait for it with
expectation and hope. They are like
retired people waiting for the bus or
boat that will take them on a pleasant
excursion an excursion that will last
forever!
Most people use to consider old
age and retirement as a sort of pre-
departure area. But the truth is that all
of us, in this life, are in the pre-departure
Communications / B1
dead on the side of the road;
he takes responsibility for him.
Jesus shifts our understanding:
it is not just about seeing the
other as someone like myself,
but of the ability to make myself
like the other. Communication
is really about realizing that we
are all human beings, children
of God. I like seeing this
power of communication as
neighborliness.
Whenever communication is
primarily aimed at promoting
consumption or manipulating
others, we are dealing with a
form of violent aggression like
that suffered by the man in the
parable, who was beaten by
robbers and left abandoned on
the road. The Levite and the
priest do not regard him as a
neighbor, but as a stranger to be
kept at a distance. In those days,
it was rules of ritual purity which
conditioned their response.
Nowadays there is a danger that
certain media so condition our
responses that we fail to see our
real neighbor.
It is not enough to be passersby
on the digital highways, simply
connected; connections need
to grow into true encounters. We
cannot live apart, closed in on
ourselves. We need to love and
to be loved. We need tenderness.
Media strategies do not ensure
beauty, goodness and truth in
communication. The world of
media also has to be concerned
with humanity, it too is called
to show tenderness. The digital
world can be an environment
rich in humanity; a network
not of wires but of people. The
impartiality of media is merely
an appearance; only those who
go out of themselves in their
communication can become
a true point of reference for
others. Personal engagement is
the basis of the trustworthiness
of a communicator. Christian
witness, thanks to the internet,
can thereby reach the peripheries
of human existence.
As I have frequently observed,
if a choice has to be made
between a bruised Church
which goes out to the streets
and a Church suffering from
self-absorption, I certainly prefer
the frst. Those streets are the
world where people live and
where they can be reached, both
effectively and affectively. The
digital highway is one of them,
a street teeming with people
who are often hurting, men and
women looking for salvation or
hope. By means of the internet,
the Christian message can reach
to the ends of the earth (Acts
1:8). Keeping the doors of
our churches open also means
keeping them open in the digital
environment so that people,
whatever their situation in life,
can enter, and so that the Gospel
can go out to reach everyone.
We are called to show that the
Church is the home of all. Are
we capable of communicating
the image of such a Church?
Communication is a means
of expressing the missionary
vocation of the entire Church;
today the social networks are
one way to experience this call to
discover the beauty of faith, the
beauty of encountering Christ.
In the area of communications
too, we need a Church capable of
bringing warmth and of stirring
hearts.
Effective Christian witness is
not about bombarding people
with religious messages, but
about our willingness to be
available to others by patiently
and respectfully engaging their
questions and their doubts as
they advance in their search for
the truth and the meaning of
human existence (BENEDICT
XVI, Message for the 47th World
Communications Day, 2013).
We need but recall the story
of the disciples on the way to
Emmaus. We have to be able
to dialogue with the men and
women of today, to understand
their expectations, doubts and
hopes, and to bring them the
Gospel, Jesus Christ himself,
God incarnate, who died and
rose to free us from sin and
death. We are challenged to
be people of depth, attentive to
what is happening around us
and spiritually alert. To dialogue
means to believe that the other
has something worthwhile to
say, and to entertain his or her
point of view and perspective.
Engaging in dialogue does not
mean renouncing our own ideas
and traditions, but the claim that
they alone are valid or absolute.
May the image of the Good
Samaritan who tended to the
wounds of the injured man
by pouring oil and wine over
them be our inspiration. Let our
communication be a balm which
relieves pain and a fne wine
which gladdens hearts. May the
light we bring to others not be
the result of cosmetics or special
effects, but rather of our being
loving and merciful neighbours
to those wounded and left on the
side of the road. Let us boldly
become citizens of the digital
world. The Church needs to be
concerned for, and present in,
the world of communication, in
order to dialogue with people
today and to help them encounter
Christ. She needs to be a Church
at the side of others, capable of
accompanying everyone along
the way. The revolution taking
place in communications media
and in information technologies
represents a great and thrilling
challenge; may we respond to that
challenge with fresh energy and
imagination as we seek to share
with others the beauty of God.
From the Vatican, 24 January
2014, the Memorial of Saint
Francis de Sales.
1987 - Social Communications At The Service Of Justice And Peace
1986 - Social Communications And The Christian Formation
Of Public Opinion
1985 - Social Communications For A Christian Promotion Of
Youth
1984 - Social Communications Instruments Of Encounter
Between Faith And Culture
1983 - Social Communications And The Promotion Of Peace
1982 - Social Communications And The Problems Of The
Elderly
1981 - Social Communications And Responsible Human
Freedom
1980 - Social Communications And Family
1979 - Social Communications: Protecting The Child And
Promoting His Best Interest In The Family And In Society
Paul VI
1978 - The Receiver In Social Communications; His
Expectations, His Rights, His Duties
1977 - Advertising In The Mass Media: Benefts, Dangers,
Responsibilities
1976 - Social Communications And The Fundamental Rights
And Duties Of Man
1975 - The Mass Media And Reconciliation
1974 - Social Communications And Evangelization In Todays
World
1973 - The Mass Media And The Affrmation And Promotion
Of Spiritual Values
1972 - The Media Of Social Communications At The Service
Of Truth
1971 - The Role Of Communications Media In Promoting
Unity Among Men
1970 - Social Communications And Youth
1969 - Social Communications And The Family
1968 - Social Communications And The Development Of
Nations
1967 - Church And Social Communication: First World
Communication Day
Themes / B1
B7 Vol. 18 No. 10
May 12 - 25, 2014
CBCP Monitor
Social Concerns
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suits us fne. We feel blessed
in fact when the rain pours
outside and we feel snug and
cozy on its faded upholstered
seats. But the moment we see
our own offcemate (or neighbor,
or buddy, or cousin, or brother)
drive his sleek black Lexus, we
automatically feel like third class
children of God. Next time we
drive our bumpy, noisy, rusted,
dilapidated Toyota (notice how
all the defects come out all of
a sudden?), we feel deprived,
dispossessed, pariahs, total
failures, debased, and only a
little higher than the insects of
the earth.
Listen carefully.
Bill Gates total assets is $60
billion. Thats more than the GNP
of some small countries. Tiger
Woods earns $80 mi l l i on
simply by smiling on TV with
a Nike shirt. And some of the
stars of TV sitcoms are paid $1
Million per episode.
My point? No matter how
hard you work, therell still be
some people who will be richer
than you are. And therell be
some people who will be more
beautiful, have more sex appeal,
have more boyfriends, and have
more problems.
Try it for once. Stop looking
around. Dont compare!
Dont compare her nose with
your nose.
Dont compare his wife with
your wife.
Dont compare his salary with
your salary.
Dont compare her breast size
with your breast size.
Dont compare her kids
report card with your kids report
card.
By Fr. Shay Cullen
IT was a solemn moment in the great
meeting hall in the Vatican where the
joint agreement and statement was
to be signed by representatives of the
great world religions. It was not some
lofty, irrelevant declaration to work for
mutual respect for different faiths, but to
launch the Global Freedom Network.
Its goal is to eradicate modern forms of
slavery and human traffcking.
The agreement to work together was
because they shared abhorrence at the
growing numbers of victims and the
searing personal destructiveness of
modern slavery and human traffcking.
The statement calls for urgent action by
all other Christian Churches and global
faiths. This is a historical cooperation
agreement and gives hope to many that
people of faith will work together to
stop it or reduce it signifcantly.
Pope Francis was represented by
Bishop Marcelo Sanchez Sorondo,
chancellor of the Pontifcal Academy
of Sciences and Social Sciences. Present
too were Mahmoud Azab, on behalf of
the Grand Imam of Al Azhar, Egypt;
Rev. Sir John Moxon, representing
the Archbishop of Canterbury; the
Most Reverend Justin Welby; and
Andrew Forrest, founder of the Walk
Free Foundation. It is an important
undertaking and a major change in
church policy and practice. In the past, it
was generally ignored, now it is taking
center stage.
This modern form of slavery comes
as bonded labor where people are
enslaved to pay a debt, or pressured
and threatened if they dont work,
amounting to unpaid labor and at
Religions unite against traffcking of persons
worst, traffcked into sex slavery. The
International Labour Organization
estimates that women and girls
represent the largest share of forced
labor victims with 11.4 million traffcked
victims (55 percent) compared to 9.5
million (45 percent) men. Most of the
girls and women are forced into sex bars
and clubs and brothels that are operated
with local government permits in the
Philippines and elsewhere.
Thousands of young teenage children,
mostly girls are lured away from their
families and villages with offers of fne
jobs and are sold into brothels from
where they have no escape. There
is an estimated 25 million people in
slavery today, an illegal business that
generates as much as US$34 billion a
year. It is estimated that US$15 billion
is generated in the developed countries.
The traffcking of children and rape
even in a police station is shocking, but
all too frequent. Take the case of the
latest child victim at the Preda center
for abused children. Jezebel was only
13 years old when her stepfather tried
to rape her, but she was quick and agile
enough to escape his clutches and ran
away. She found a job in a store in Limay,
Bataan, but was accused of stealing and
was brought to the Limay police station.
There, after a while, she was forced
into an empty cell by a prisoner trustee
and was raped. The police offcer on
duty saw her being raped and ignored
it. Some days later, Jezebel with her
trusted aunt, went back to the police
station to fle a charge of rape, but the
female police offcer did not give them
a certifcate to have a medico-legal
examination and they were advised
to forget it. A case was filed, but
after several months, the prosecutor
in Balanga, Bataan has yet to act on
it. Thats the state of justice and the
Church and human rights advocates
ought to take up this case and go write
to the media, the Secretary of Justice
and the Secretary of Interior and Local
Government about this case.
The Vat i can press st at ement
underlined just how important this
move is where millions of children are
raped every year like Jezebel. According
to the Joint Statement, Modern
slavery and human trafficking are
crimes against humanity. The physical,
economic, and sexual exploitation of
men, women and children condemns
30 million people to dehumanization
and degradation. Every day we let this
tragic situation continue is a grievous
assault on our common humanity and
a shameful affront to the consciences
of all peoples. Any indifference to
those suffering and exploitation must
cease. We call to action all people of
faith and their leaders, all governments
and people of goodwill, to join the
movement against modern slavery
and human traffcking and support the
Global Freedom Network.
This is such a serious and growing
problem that action groups need to
raise in protest; it demands, too, that the
government fght it, not support it. That
seems to be case at present. We have
to take a stand and speak out. Silence
can even be misunderstood as consent.
The faith that does not fow over into
action for justice is dead, says Saint
James. We cannot be the walking dead,
we need to be flled with the spirit and
have compassion and concern and take
action. Faith is at its highest point when
we become disciples of Jesus and go
imitate the good done by the Samaritan.
There is an important challenge to all
of us in this statement and initiative.
Taking action to save the victims of
abuse and exploitation is what Jesus
of Nazareth did and expects the same
from His followers. (shaycullen@preda.
org, www.preda.org)
Panelists take part in a press conference on human traffcking at the Vatican Press Offce, April 10, 2014.
transnational corporations grew
from 20100 % the highest since
1940s. On the other hand, the
International Labor Organization
(ILO) said that the growth in the
salary of workers throughout
the world from 2008 to 2009
decreased by 50%.
In the Phi l i ppi nes, the
imposition of the Two-Tiered
Wage System has meant a wage
cut and a wage freeze. Millions of
Filipino workers continue to lose
human dignity with very meagre
wages and substandard quality
of work. But still the Aquino
government has continued to
reject calls for a signifcant wage
hike. Even the Phil. Institute
f or Devel opment St udi es
(PIDS), which help government
planners and policy-makers in
the executive and legislative
branches of government
suggested in removing the
minimum wage to allow more
workers to be employed.
The right to organize - The
Aquino government continues
to implement the same anti-
labor policies as the previous
administrations. The unwritten
incentive for foreign investors:
Come to the Philippines
where labor is cheap, docile,
not unionized. In practice, the
workers are unjustly terminated
when they are suspected of
organizing themselves.

Migrant Filipino workers
The Philippine government
has called OFWs as the countrys
modern heroes. However, these
praises ring empty considering
the governments unwillingness
to stop the staggering outfow of
5,000 Filipinos leaving daily in
search of employment abroad,
only to be exploited by their
foreign employers. Added to
this is the deathly infow of six to
ten bodies of OFWs repatriated
every day citing data from
Migrante International.

Teachings of the Church on
Labor
In his Labor Day message
on May 1, 2012, Cardinal Luis
Antonio Tagle stated that the
Church teachings constantly
reiterate that the workers are
more important than capital and
proft and the workers are the key
part of business and production.
The growth of material or
fnancial side of production is
also vital, but should never be
a reason to exploit workers.
Putting emphasis on capital
and profts will always bring
damage to the dignity of workers
including their families and the
entire society. Priority is still the
dignity of man created in the
image of God.

Call to Action
In the face of such miserable
plight of the Filipino workers,
we, from the Church people
Workers Solidarity (CWS) join
hands to advance the struggle
of the workers. In the context
of worsening conditions of
the workers, CWS which was
convened by church people
and workers organizations on
September 12 15, 2011 in Cebu
City, is determined to pursue the
struggle for workers dignity and
rightful recognition as partners in
the pursuit of peace and progress
in the country.
CWS affrms the dignity of
work based on the dignity of
workers as co-creators of God
and aims to live by the principle
of putting the interest of labor
above that of capital: workers
rights over proft.
Lastly, CWS pay its highest
tribute to its co-convenor, the
late Fr. Joe Dizon, a patriot and
humble servant of the working
class people. His life as a priest
was devoted to serving and loving
the workers and building various
types of workers associations and
unions. He immersed himself in
workers struggle till his death.
His commitment and legacy will
linger forever in the minds and
hearts of the people.

Uphold workers rights!
Reclaim the Dignity of the
Human Work!
No to Contractualization! Pass
P125 Wage Hike Bill Now
Reference:
Sr. Lydia Lascano, ICM
Convenor, Missionary Sisters of
the Immaculate Heart of Mary
Fr. Greg Obejas, OSM
Convenor, Parish Priest, St.
Joseph the Worker Parish
Mahabang Parang, Angono Rizal
Dont compare his prayer
group with your prayer group.
Dont compare her cellulite
deposits with your cellulite
deposits.
For crying out loud, stop
comparing and start living!
And youll be happier with
your life, I guarantee.
This is crucial: The most
diffcult thing in the world is to be
who you are not. Pretending and
trying to be someone else is the
offcial pastime of the human
race. (I dont think dogs and
cats and cows and horses have
this problem.)
And the easiest thing in the
world is to be yourself.
Be happy. Live! There must be
a reason why God made you tall
or short or fat or thin or bumpy
all over.
Love who you are!
Maliksi as PCSO chair?
Sad but not surprising
MANILA, May 9, 2014 An anti-
gambling crusader does not welcome the
rumored appointment of former Cavite
congressman Ayong Maliksi as head of a
state-run lottery, but he wasnt surprised.
Retired Archbishop Oscar Cruz said
its sad that someone linked to jueteng,
an illegal numbers game, is being
considered as chair of the Philippine
Charity Sweepstakes Offce.
I think he is a suspect in jueteng
payolasThere are suspicions that are not
too consoling, as far as he is concerned,
Cruz said.
Unconfrmed reports said that Maliksi,
a member of the Liberal Party, is likely
to be the replacement of resigned PCSO
chief Margarita Juico.
The founder of the Krusadang Bayan
Laban sa Jueteng said this is not surprising
though, since the Aquino administration
is not a known hater of the multi-million
underground lottery.
What is nice with this administration
is that jueteng is de facto legal, Cruz said.
When the president was asked before
why doesnt he stop jueteng, he said it is
not his priority -- and it remains so until
now, he added.
On Friday, Malacaang announced the
resignation of Juico as PCSO chair, citing
family reasons as what prompted her to
quit her post.
Juico yesterday resigned from the
PCSO, saying she wants to spend more
time with her family.
Maliksi is reportedly set to replace Juico,
but has to wait for the expiration of the
one-year ban on appointments for those
that ran and lost in the May 2013 polls.
Maliksi lost his gubernatorial bid in
the last national elections. (CBCPNews)
WHILE the countrys Gross Domestic Product (GDP)
may skyrocket by up to 7.2 percent, millions of Filipinos
remain unemployed, leaving an economist to coin the
term jobless growth to describe this economic paradox.
We are experiencing jobless growth, Dr. Rene
Ofreneo, former dean of UP School of Labor and
Industrial Relations (SOLAIR) puts it.
Despite a much-touted increase in GDP under the
Aquino administration, experts and labor groups say
the said development has yet to be felt.
According to Kilusang Mayo Uno chairman Elmer
Labog, who spoke at the weekly Tapatan sa Aristocrat
media forum together with other economic experts, the
GDP growth booty seems to be limited to an elite few.
The 7.2 growth that they are talking about is not being
felt at the bottom. It looks like its only for those high up
in society, he said in the vernacular.
Ofreneo also explained that the country is experiencing
extensive precarious labor: unstable, uncertain,
unprotected and unstandard kinds of work. He added
that the countrys formal economy serves as a mere
coping mechanism.
Just to get a job, [people] will get into anything, he
added. Ofreneo emphasized the need to create decent
Many jobless despite GDP
growth economist
jobs to have a decent economy.
Federation of Free Workers president Atty. Sonny
Matula, on the other hand, noted that the GDP contribution
of the agriculture sector, from where majority of the
countrys work force comes from, has been decreasing.
[This] mean(s) the GDP that should be providing more
jobs to most of our people is now decreasing, Matula
explained, noting that there is something wrong with
the policy of the government. (Chrixy Paguirigan)
People look at job listings at the 2014 Labor Day Job
Fair at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City, 1
May 2014.
THE BEGINNING

This was how the Pious Union of
the Sons of Holy Mary Immacu-
late, from which originated the
Sons of Holy Mary Immaculate
(SHMI), a Pontifcal Religious
Congregation founded in Genoa,
Italy in 1860 by Venerable Fr. Jo-
seph Frassinetti (the brother of St.
Paola Frassinetti, the foundress
of the Sisters of St. Dorothy) and
recognized as religious Congre-
gation of Pontifcal Right in 1904
by Pope St. Pius X, started their
Philippine mission in 1989. Be-
ing missionaries with the charism
of promoting priestly and sustain-
ing religious vocations and of at-
tending to the education of the
young, under the special guid-
ance of Mary Immaculate, the SHMI initiated in a foreign land in the
Far East which they have little knowledge of.

Rev. Fr. Luigi Fain Binda, then
Superior General, foresaw the
presence of the Congregation in
this part of the world to bring to
the Filipino faithful particularly
to the youth the ideals and teach-
ings of the Venerable Founder
Fr. Joseph Frassinetti. Fr. Binda
together with Rev. Fr. Crisante
Barberini, General Bursar at that
time, fearlessly set foot on Philip-
pine soil on January of 1989. Fr.
Binda foresaw the presence of
the Congregation in this part of
the world to bring to the Filipino
faithful particularly to the youth
the ideals and teachings of the Venerable Founder Fr. Joseph Frassinetti.
The Congregation upon its arrival in Manila was received by the Repara-
trix Sisters of the Sacred Heart in their convent in Merville Subdivision
generously assisted the fathers in their pastoral undertakings.
To prepare themselves for this most important mission, Fr. Barberini was
like Moses in the mountain who relentlessly prayed for 40 days in the
chapel of the Sisters while Fr. Binda was the herald in the battlefeld
enthusiastically encouraging young men to join the Congregation dur-
ing his vocation campaigns in the provinces.
God rewarded their faith and fortitude with the assistance of the Repara-
trix Sisters of the Sacred Heart when they were joyfully welcomed by the
late Jaime Cardinal Sin on January 25, 1989 in Villa San Miguel as they
presented their noble intention and plan to start their mission. He gave
them his blessings and integrated them into the local Church, the Arch-
diocese of Manila. They established the frst community of the SHMI in
Merville Subdivision, Paraaque City where they started accepting boys
who were willing to take journey towards religious life and priesthood.
A JOURNEY OF FAITH
by Ms. Evelyn M. Opeda and Rev. Fr. Michael F. Mata, SHMII
THE PIONEERS
On August 21, 1989, the late
Rev. Fr. Augusto de Angelis, a
SHMI priest for the past 19 years,
a real Son of Mary who was faith-
ful to their rule of life, devoted,
obedient and with a sense of duty
and whose wealth of experience
ranged from being an Educator,
Missionary and Councillor Gen-
eral, accepted his new overseas
assignment. He said, In three
months I will turn 45; something
has to change in my life and this
is the moment I have been wait-
ing for. I want to give more to the
Lord. I have seen with joy the
frst vocations from the Philip-
pines; they are a challenge for my comfortable life: the challenge of leav-
ing behind an easy life and of becoming a missionary. I am not afraid,
anyway, I speak a little English and if I can be of help for the Congrega-
tion, with the help of God I will go. And so together with then Bro.
Paolo Pirlo, they arrived in Manila on October 11, 1989.
Indeed, God was preparing the SHMI for a signifcant task as Bro. Paolo
QUALITY CATHOLIC PUBLICATIONS (QCP)
In 1990, the house in Merville, Rev. Fr. Paolo
Pirlo started preparing a rosary guide for chil-
dren which he intended to distribute during
his rounds in schools in diferent parts of the
Philippines for vocation campaign. In his vis-
its, about 10,000 rosary guide booklets were
given among students and teachers. An ava-
lanche of requests of the booklet came from
the parts of Luzon, from the Visayas, and from
Mindanao. Faced with the need to respond to
such huge demands, Fr. Paolo conceived the
idea of a publication giving birth to the Quality
Catholic Publication - where Q stands for
quality materials, C for Catholic since all the
products of the publication adhere strictly the
doctrine and teachings of the Catholic Church
and P stands for publication.
Since then, a series of My First books were published - My First Catechism,
My First Bible, My First Book of Saints and My First Holy Communion. In the
year 2000, the QCP started publishing calendars in line with the celebration of
the Jubilee Year. Aferwards, there came a series of publication on Sacraments to
provide liturgical instructions and guides in the conduct of catechism and other
pastoral program in the parish. By the year 2012, a new series of books for adult
catechism were published. The frst was The Apostles Creed followed by The
Ten Commandments, The Sacraments and on Prayer. In recognition to the My
First Rosary guide which ushered the birth of the QCP, Sem. Christofer Denzell
Aquino came up with improved designs and layout for its 2013 edition.
QCP becomes the source of doctrinal and liturgical information and reference
for the faithful who want to deepen their faith in God and their knowledge of the
teachings of the Church. Today, challenged by the advent of the modern instru-
ments of social communication, QCP continues its commitment in bringing the
Gospel of the Lord Jesus to every Filipino faithful.
THE MARITAS APOSTOLATE
Maria and Caritas or Maritas is the apostolate of the seminarians of the Fr. Joseph
Frassinetti Seminary. Believing that they cannot call Mary their Mother unless
they took care of her poor children while putting their trust in her maternal care,
the seminarians launched this apostolate on the Ash Wednesday of 1991 by con-
tributing 10% of their savings in the white box marked MARITAS.
Guided by their principle of Never to give rice without praying frst; never to
pray without giving rice later, they embarked on their frst mission in Smokey
Mountain, the legendary garbage dumping area in Tondo, Manila where most of
the poorest of the poor live and earn their livelihood by collecting bits and pieces
of plastic and bottles. They start their weekly Saturday afernoon gatherings with
songs, prayers and meditation on the Word of God. They never gave a thought to
the proverb of which is better to teach them how to fsh or to give them the fsh to
eat? They simply shared their sack of rice, musical talent and most specially their time
with them. For the seminarians, the poor were not simply poor but their friends.
One day, on their way to buy a guitar, they saw Precious, their little friend who
lives in a kariton in the vicinity of University of Santo Tomas, alone and sad. Upon
learning that it was her birthday, they immediately bought a cake in a nearby bakery,
gave her a gif bringing indescribable delight to her and the whole neighbourhood
where an impromptu celebration was held. This incident gave the seminarians of the
Sons of Holy Mary Immaculate awesome joy and the insight that the music of the
love for others far more surpasses the music of the guitar, sweeter than the melody of
the Cherubim and Seraphim. On another occasion, they gave back the lost happiness
and dignity of working honestly to a carpenter whose working tools were stolen and
lost his job by buying a new set of tools for him. MARITAS only proves that faith
with action is really matters as they give glory and honor to God.
THE CALL TO SHEPHERDING
As God willed it, the SHMIs calling was not only limited to the formation of fu-
ture priests and religious but also to the shepherding of His children especially the
disadvantaged and less privileged at the parochial level.
The years 2002-2003 were very remarkable and rewarding for the SHMI because
while they were praying to be entrusted with a parish, God blessed them with
two parishes Levitown Estate in Better Living Subdivision, Paraaque City and
Salawag, Dasmarias, Cavite.
MARY IMMACULATE PARISH DIOCESE OF PARAAQUE
During one of Rev. Fr. Paolos leisurely ride on his bicycle from the seminary, he
was providentially led to Levitown Estate in Better Living Subdivision, Paraaque
City where he discovered the Immaculate Conception Chapel (ICC). His inquiry
led to the initial negotiations in 2002 for the pastoral care of this chapel which
was established in 1992 as a sub-parish of the National Shrine of Mary Help of
Christians Parish (MHCP). With the blessings and support of the Archdiocese of
Manila, represented by then Bishop Socrates Villegas, Bishop Jesse Mercado, Dis-
trict Bishop of Pasay, Paraaque, Las Pias
and Muntinlupa (PPLM), Rev. Fr. Francis
Gustilo, then Provincial Superior of the
Salesians and Rev. Fr. Gaudencio Caran-
dang, Jr., parish priest of MCHP at that
time, the laudable project got underway.
ICC became a chaplaincy and its name
changed to Mary Immaculate Chapel
(MIC) on August 17, 2003 with Rev. Fr.
Michael Mata as the frst chaplain. Rev.
Ven. Fr. Joseph Frassinetti
Fouder of the Sons of Holy Mary Immaculate
fnished his Post-graduate studies at the University of Santo Tomas and was or-
dained to the priesthood in Verona, Italy on December 7, 1991. Since then, he
has been assigned to the country as the Local Superior, Rector of the Fr. Joseph
Frassinetti Seminary and Director of the Quality Catholic Publication (Q.C.P.).
On December 8, 1992, the Fr. Joseph Frassinetti Seminary located at
Isabella de Rosis St., in Multinational Village, Paraaque City was blessed and
inaugurated by Jaime Cardinal Sin. It is in this seminary where the present Rector
Fr. Paolo Pirlo assisted by Fr. John Paulo Bautista and Bro. Bryan Campo pro-
vide the aspiring candidates to religious life and priesthood are received to get an
in-depth training and knowledge of the charism and apostolate of the Congrega-
tion while they acquire their college degree in the nearby Rogationist College
Seminary. They are frst painstakingly molded, guided and nurtured spiritually,
morally and physically in this hallowed ground and later a year of formation in the
Holy Mary House, their novitiate home in Merville under the spiritual guidance
of Fr. Dick Eslopor, the present novice master, before being sent to Italy for their
fnal formation as Sons of Holy Mary Immaculate. At present, there are 21 priests,
2 Deacons and 18 Religious brothers who are serving in mission houses in Italy,
Argentina, Chile, The Philippines, Mexico and Poland.
Fr. Saul Maquinto took over as chaplain in the later part of 2004 and as
parish priest on December 7, 2004 when MIC was declared Mary Im-
maculate Quasi-Parish (MIQP) with the signing of the Memorandum
of Agreement between the Diocese of Paraaque and the Congrega-
tion of the SHMI and the proclamation of the Decree of Erection. It is
certainly auspicious that the declaration of MIQP should occur on the
second anniversary of the creation of the Diocese of Paraaque and the
100th year foundation of the SHMI. Gods awe-inspiring plan is cer-
tainly being manifested!
With the installation of Rev. Fr. Eric Gonzales as the new parish priest
on January 7, 2007, he was tasked with the supervision of the Church
construction in solidarity with Fr. Paolo and with the parishioners. The
ground breaking for the construction of the new Church took place on
September 8, 2008 and on December 8, 2010 with the signing of the
Decree of Erection, Rite of Dedication and the celebration of the Holy
Eucharist presided by Bishop Jesse Mercado, MIQP was ofcially de-
clared as parish and now known as Mary Immaculate Parish, the 50th in
the Diocese of Paraaque. Rev. Fr. John Peter Sescon is its current pastor
with Rev. Fr. Michael Mata as its parochial vicar.
MARY IMMACULATE PARISH DIOCESE OF IMUS
On September 8, 2003, Bishop Luis Antonio Tagle, then Bishop of the
Diocese of Imus, under which jurisdiction Barangay Salawag belongs,
issued a decree erecting the Mary Immaculate Parish and entrusting
to the SHMI. Its frst parish priest was Rev. Fr. Nestor Escamis as-
sisted by Rev. Fr. Lito Barber.
The construction of the new
Church commenced on March
25, 2004 and was completed for
the blessing on December 8,
2005 during the term of Rev.
Fr. Michael Mata in attendance
of the SHMI Superior General
Rev. Fr. Luigi Fain Binda and of the three Counsellors General Rev. Fr.
Attilio Benvenuti and Rev. Fr. Marcello Miotto and Rev. Fr. Augusto
de Angelis, all of whom approved the proposal for the construction of
the Church. The parochial community of SHMI in the Diocese of Imus
presently are composed of Rev. Fr. Alan Ybaez, Parish Priest, assisted
by Rev. Fr. Lito Barber and Rev. Fr. Jennil Tonel.
ST. JOSEPH PASTORAL STATION ARCHDIOCESE OF
LINGAYEN-DAGUPAN
God must have been very
pleased with the sublime ser-
vice that the SHMI is uncon-
ditionally ofering Him that in
His own time, Archbishop So-
crates Villegas of the Archdio-
cese of Lingayen-Dagupan sent
a letter to Fr. Paolo on January
7, 2011 inviting them to visit
him in Dagupan which he did
together with Rev. Fr. Dick Es-
lopor, Rev. Fr. Alan Ybaez and Rev. Fr. Eric Gonzales on February 3.
The following day, the Archbishops ofcial invitation for the Sons of
Holy Mary Immaculate to take care of the pastoral station was received
which Fr. Paolo wholeheartedly accepted on February 11.With the well-
attended celebration of the Holy Mass on February 20, Archbishop Vil-
legas issued two decrees establishing the Pastoral Station of St. Joseph
in Barangay Payas, Santa Barbara, Pangasinan, and appointing Fr. Alan
as the priest-in-charge. Presetly, Rev. Fr. Albert Failago administers the
spiritual needs of the faithful of the Pastoral Center.
SHMI MONTESSORI SCHOOL - SALAWAG
To mark the celebration of the Silver Jubilee of the presence in the Phil-
ippines, the Congregation of the Sons of Holy Mary Immaculate, true
to their charism of giving quality Catholic education to the young, con-
structed the SHMI Montessori School in 2013 and is now accredited to
open its doors to pre-school students for the coming school year 2014-
2015. The school will be blessed by the Most Rev. Reynaldo Evange-
lista, Bishop of Imus on May 31, Feast of the Visitation of the Blessed
Virgin Mary.
The Congregation of the Sons of Holy Mary Immaculate in the Philip-
pines continues to grow and strengthen by the grace of God, faces the
challenges and demands of our times with renewed missionary zeal and
pastoral creativity. With God who directs everything that happens, His
wonderful plan for the Filipino faithful through the SHMI was achieved
by Fr. Bindas and Fr. Barberinis JOURNEY OF FAITH. n
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For this publication, we express our heartfelt gratitude
for the generous fnancial support of :
Abba, Father of All Mankind Warriors in Christ Movement,
Mr. and Mrs. Christie Nora, Mr. and Mrs. Ramon Alano,
Mrs. Olivia Begre, Mr. and Mrs. Lauro Diaz,
Christerina and Chrisyrina Nora, Mr. and Mrs. Efren Reyes,
Alice Sinaca, and Mr. and Mrs. Reynaldo Yniego
God Bless you and all your loved ones!
The Cross
A Supplement Publication of KCFAPI and the Order of the Knights of Columbus
Vol. 18 No. 10
May 12 - 25, 2014
CBCP Monitor
C1
KCFAPI joins KC Luzons 10th
Annual Family Day and Mini
Olympics
THE Knights of Columbus Fraternal
Association of the Philippines, Inc. (KC-
FAPI) and various Knights of Columbus
councils across Luzon joined the Luzon
Jurisdictions 10th Fr. George J. Willmann,
SJ Family Day and Mini-Olympics held at
the Marikina Sports Complex last May 1.
The ceremonial lighting of Olympic
fame was led by KCFAPI Executive Vice
President, Ma. Theresa G. Curia and H.R.
& Corporate Communications Manager,
Ma. Kristianne G. Pascual along with
Luzon State Warden, Pascual C. Carbero,
Luzon State Advocate, Justice Jose C.
Reyes, Jr., and Luzon State Council Direc-
tor Elmer Z. Eroles.
KCFAPI delegates took home a total
of twenty four (24) medals for win-
ning in the following sports events:
100 Meter Dash (Female: 17 years old
and below - Individual event) Gold
Medal for Regina Marie Manuel; Free
Throw Shooting (17 years old and below
Individual event) Silver Medal for
Gion San Sebastian; KC Henyo (Male/
Female Pair) Bronze Medals for the
mother and son tandem of KCFAPI
EVP Ms. Ma. Theresa G. Curia and son,
Dominic; Tug-of-War (Group event)
10 Bronze medals and Ball-over-under
relay (Group event) 10 Bronze Medals.
(KCFAPI News)
2014 Fr. George J. Willmann, SJ
Awardees for Academic Excellence
THE Fraternal Ben-
ef i t s Group of t he
Knights of Columbus
Fraternal Association
of t he Phi l i ppi nes,
Inc. (KCFAPI) pres-
ent s t he 2014 f i rst
quarter qualified ap-
pl i cants for the Fr.
George J. Willmann,
SJ Award f or Aca-
demi c Exc el l enc e,
which is conferred to
inspire the members
of the Knights of Co-
lumbus family to excel
academically which
could serve as an asset
in forming a strong
Christian society.
The program was di-
vided into 4 divisions,
namely: Elementary
Level (Valedictorians
of the Graduating class
of 2011-2013), High
School Level (Valedic-
torians of the Graduat-
ing class of 2011-2013),
College Level (Cum
Laudes and higher of
the Graduating class
of 2011-2013 and must
be at least a four year
course) and passers
of BOARD/BAR ex-
amination from July
1, 2011 to December
31, 2013.
The Fr. George J.
Willmann, SJ Award
for Academic Excel-
lence was sponsored
by KCFAPI to recog-
nize the members of
Knights of Columbus
and their immediate
families who have ex-
celled in their studies.
There are 6 quali-
fied individuals one
high school and 5 col-
lege graduates/board
passers namel y Al
Adri an A. Andri on
(Valedictorian), Romeo
S. Dellomes, Jr. (Cum
Laude, BS Electronics
and Communications
Engineering), Dennis
S. Del Rosario (Doctor
of Medicine), Edyne-
Vi e T. Agui l ar ( BS
Nursing, Board Pass-
er), Kathryne Mary P.
Mabitasan, (BS Nurs-
ing, Board Passer), and
Katherine S. Castro (BS
Nursing, Board Pass-
er). (KCFAPI News)
The Central Luzon Believers (CLB) led by KCFAPI Area Manager Efren
Casupanan (seated, center) recently conducted their Fraternal Counselors
meeting at the Paradise Resort in Malolos City, Bulacan with KCFAPI Vice
President for Fraternal Benefts Group, Gari San Sebastian (seated, 4th
from left).
A surprise visit from a super
typhoon Yolanda survivor
REV. Fr. Joseph B. Orsal (center), a
priest from Sapao, Guiuan, Eastern
Samar, visited the KCFAPI Head of-
fce in Intramuros, Manila recently
to claim the maturity proceeds of his
beneft certifcate.
According to Rev. Fr. Orsal, the
proceeds of his matured beneft cer-
tifcate will be used for the construc-
tion of his parish that was destroyed
by super typhoon Yolanda. The
calamity left their parish with forty
six (46) casualties.
When asked what was his primary
reason for availing insurance protec-
tion from KCFAPI, he answered, To
save money for future use; Insurance
helps a lot especially if you need mon-
ey urgently. Madali mag loan sa inyo.
If only I knew this (insurance
program) when I was still younger
I could have availed more insurance
protection from KCFAPI. Keep up
the good service you provide to your
clients, he added.
Fr. Orsal currently maintains four
more beneft certifcates in-force. (RJ
Mariano)
FBG holds Fraternal Service Training Program
THE Fraternal Ben-
efits Group of the
Knights of Colum-
bus Fraternal Asso-
ciation of the Philip-
pines, Inc. (KCFAPI)
held a two-day Fra-
ternal Service Train-
i ng program l ast
April 22-23, 2014 at
the KCFAPI Center
in Intramuros, Ma-
nila.
Ten new Frater-
nal Counselors from
Manila, Bulacan, La-
guna and Cagayan
attended the event
which was facili-
tated by Fraternal
Benefi ts Servi ces
Manager, Michael
P. Cabra.
The training pro-
gram aims to give
knowledge about
the products being
offered by the As-
soci ati on as wel l
as its advantages
to the members and
t hei r i mmedi at e
families.
Aside from the
product specifica-
tions, the training
program likewise
provides ideas re-
garding basic in-
surance processes
and new marketing
strategies in order to
equip the new Fra-
ternal Counselors in
their new roles.
For inquiries re-
garding schedules
of succeeding FST
programs, pl ease
contact the KCFAPI-
FBG department at
telephone numbers
(02) 527-2243. (FBG
News)
Fraternal Benefts Services Manager, Michael P. Cabra together with the participants
of the April Fraternal Service Training (FST).
KCFAPI employees together with their families support the Family Day and Mini Olympics of the Luzon Jurisdiction.
KCFAPI Executive Vice President, Ms. Ma. Theresa G. Curia (2nd from left)
presents a check to Rev. Fr. Joseph B. Orsal (center) representing maturity
proceeds from his beneft certifcate during his visit to the KCFAPI Head Offce
in Intramuros, Manila. Looking on are (from left to right), KCFAPI VP Actuarial
& Business Development, Mr. Angelito A. Bala, VP Finance and HRCC, Ms.
Mary Magdalene G. Flores and VP Information and BC Holders Services, Mr.
Ronulfo Antero G. Infante.
KCFAPI employees together
with their families play as one in
the ball-over-under relay event
during the Luzon Jurisdiction's
10th Annual Family Day and Mini
Olympics held last May 1, 2014
at the Marikina Sports Complex.
J
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The Cross
C2 Vol. 18 No. 10
May 12 - 25, 2014
CBCP Monitor
ANSWER:
Filipinos value education more than any
other expense item in a household. Parents
give utmost importance to a childs educa-
tion. To some, education is a privilege, to
some it is a luxury, but for the vast major-
ity, education is a necessity to gain access to
numerous opportunities and be successful
in life.
Setting a fnancial goal such as college
fund is totally different from actual pooling
of funds as savings. Filipinos are known as
great planners but not known as great sav-
ers. However, saving for a childs education
needs is no different from saving those hard
earned money for a dream house. To assist
or overcome this saving trait vulnerability,
one merely needs discipline to set aside a
fxed amount periodically for a couple of
years or so. Such is the KCFAPI Enhanced
College Savings Plan.
KCFAPI designed this college plan to
primarily protect the parents against the risk
of not having funds to pay off the college
tuition of a child-scholar. The plan provides
college benefts spread over eight semesters
with the frst instalment upon attainment of
age 16. The annual college benefts increase
by at least ten percent to offset or mitigate
the effects of infation and increase in tuition.
The child-scholar is likewise covered with
insurance until age twenty one. For a brief
period of six years, the plan becomes fully
paid after six annual instalments. The payor
is likewise insured against death or total
and permanent disability such that in the
unlikely event of death prior to the comple-
tion of payment of the plan, all contribu-
tions remaining unpaid or outstanding are
waived, thereby, assuring the child-scholar
of the promised college benefts. In case
of emergency, the payor can likewise take
out cash.
Remember that only children of Brother
DURING my moms collegiate days,
she complained of stomach pains
which she attributed to ulcers as a re-
sult of drinking softdrinks on an empty
stomach. She didnt bother to have it
checked though.
She was a very bright student hav-
ing graduated Cum Laude from the
University of the Philippines in 1952
with a Bachelor of Science degree
in Pharmacy. After graduation, she
worked as an over-the-counter pharmacist at the Far Eastern
Drug in Chinatown, Manila. She met my father there and my
father was immediately love-struck over her that he almost
started to win her heart at that moment.
They got married on February 14, 1954 and were blessed
with four children, two boys and two girls. Shortly after I was
born in 1955, my mom told my father that there was no more
room for improvement in their employment at the Pharmacy.
She then opened the idea of resigning from work and take the
risk of having their own business instead. My father agreed
despite the fact that both of them were receiving a premium
in salary on top of a rent free house provided by the employer,
a beneft extended only to them.
Our house got burned down in the early sixties when our
business was still at its infancy and was very vulnerable to f-
nancial constraints. My mother, bullstrong as she is, helped my
father start all over again with her uncanny resourcefulness.
What seemed to be a softdrink-related ulcer caught up with
her about two years later. She underwent an emergency lapa-
roscopy because of extreme stomach pains. It was supposed
to be an open close operation but the attending chief surgeon
insisted that they proceed as theres nothing to lose anyway.
She had stomach cancer which was removed completely
along with hundreds of nodules in other parts of her internal
organs. She was given fve years to live with the frst year as
very critical. Her weight dropped to 60 lbs. from 120 lbs. before
the operation. She was bed-ridden for about a year before she
started to recover and regain her strength.
I only knew about this during the wake of my father when
one of the assisting surgeons visited us. That was already about
ffteen years after my moms operation. The doctor confded
to me that my mom was not supposed to live for more than a
year. He also told me that the chief surgeon had already passed
away several years earlier.
During the mid-nineties, she started to lose her eyesight and
according to doctors she was suffering from macular degen-
eration, an irreversible eye disease which would eventually
lead to blindness. She went to the United States to have a
second opinion and the fndings were the same as that of her
doctors in Manila. It deteriorated so bad that she had to use a
magnifying glass to read three inch pentel pen written words.
And fnally all she could see was light and the ghostly fgures
of people around her.
She took this second challenge with stride. She just contin-
ued with what she usually does, pray. Unable to work and go
anywhere, all she did was pray. She pitied herself but was not
remorseful. She just continued to pray and was very confdent
that she would beat the odds and will overcome this disease.
In just about a year, she started to regain her eyesight until
she completely recovered. Her doctors in Manila and in the
United States were baffed at her recovery.
She was born on November 8, 1927. Shes eighty six now
and getting weaker by the day. Her mind also has started to
wane. Yet she is still alive despite her stomach cancer ffty
years earlier, despite losing and regaining her eyesight twenty
years ago. She got lucky twice over or was she blessed with
two miracles in her life?
Looking back at my mothers life makes me believe that she
is truly blessed. So much so that it is very diffcult to believe
that she just got lucky. With all the other things I could no
longer write in my short space, I frmly believe that my mom
was so blessed and that blessing extended to us, her chil-
dren. Had she succumbed to stomach cancer, as the doctors
predicted, or had her eyesight left her, our lives would have
changed drastically.
Every mom is a blessing. To all children like me, let us show
and let our moms feel how much we love them before its too
late. Please allow me also to dedicate my piece to my loving
wife Annie, the best mother to our children.
Happy Mothers Day!
THE Season of Easter this year ushered in
so many blessings for the Catholic Church.
Foremost of them was the canonization of
John XXIII and John Paul II on April 27. This
blessed occasion was historic and unprec-
edented. In his homily during the canoniza-
tion, Pope Francis lauded them thus: These
were two men of courage, flled with the
parrhesia of the Holy Spirit, and they bore
witness before the Church and the world to
Gods goodness and mercy. Both popes
were also referred to as the architects of renewal of the Church as
she enters the threshold of the millennium.
This Easter also saw the holding of State Conventions of the three
Jurisdictions of Luzon (May 10), Visayas (May 17-18) and Mindanao
(May 9-10). The KCFAPI lent its presence and collaboration to all
three conventions. I was tasked to be the guest speaker during the
state dinner of the convention of Mindanao where I talked about the
theme, Be protectors of Gods Gifts. This theme was taken from the
homily of Pope Francis during his inauguration to the Petrine min-
istry on March 19, 2013 where he exhorted all Catholics to respond
to Gods call through the example of St. Joseph to protect Christ in
our lives, so we can protect others, so that we can protect creation!
Another blessing is the Asian Conference on the Family that will
be held in Manila on May 13-16, 2013. This big event is a joint initia-
tive of the Pontifcal Council for the Family of the Vatican and of the
Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP). With the
theme Families of Asia: Lights of Hope, this four-day gathering
aims to refect on the Charter of the Rights of the Familyits mes-
sage, challenges, and impact on families in the Asian context30
years after it was promulgated by the Holy See on October 22, 1983.
This Charter, which came two years after the Apostolic Exhortation
of Pope John Paul II on the role of the Christian family in the modern
world (Familiaris Consortio) was intended to provide a formula-
tion of the fundamental rights that are inherent in the natural and
universal society which is the family.
My family has been chosen to be one of the sharers of this confer-
ence. After the reading of the Message of the Holy Father, we take
up the topic: Sharing of a Three Generation Family: Love is a many
splendored thing. There will three sub-sharings. First, me and my
wife Gigi; Second, my son Governor Hilario P. Davide III; and, third,
my grandson, Hilario Jose F. Davide IV. Like the Holy Family of
Nazareth, every Asian family is a part of the history of a people; it
cannot exist without the generations who have gone before it.
Vivat Iesus!
Hilario G. Davide, Jr.
Chairmans Message
Presidents Message
Michael P. Cabra
My Brothers Keeper
Mother: Underinsured yet the
most priceless in the family
Roberto T. Cruz
Giving Value to Our Mothers
Ma. Theresa G. Curia
Arsenio Isidro G. Yap
Mother
FAQs / C3
WHY are many mothers smart?
How come that it is almost
always true that Mother knows
best?
Is there a school for moth-
erhood? Motherhood seems
almost a grace that dawns and
incarnates on any woman who
accepts being a mother.
I have not heard any mother
resigning from being a mother,
have you? Once a mother, al-
ways a mother seems more true.
No wonder Oprah Winfrey once
said that for her, the hardest profes-
sion in the world is being a mother.
And yet, many women like to be
mothers. In fact, many of us who
are mothers, despite the diffcul-
ties of multi-tasking, despite the
diffculties we go through at work
or in social life, still fnd our being
mothers to be the most fulflling
function that we have.
What is really special about
being a mother? How come we
never graduate from being one?
Indeed this is a special reality, be-
cause it is not work. It is an honor.
In fact it is almost a reward.
Truly an award - because only
mothers experience the exquisite
joy of unconditional loving,
which we feel when our children
need us most, only mothers feel
the deep peace amidst the pains
and sacrifces we bear for our
children. Pains of motherhood
never defeat us; they rather
provide us the opportunities
for total trust that there is a sure
source of strength and energy in
the midst of every trial.
We, Mothers, know that our
lives reach fulfllment when we
see our children happy; some
become successful, but we just
want them really to be at peace.
Our love never becomes less
when our children are not per-
fect, or when they fail, or even
when they fail us. Similarly,
when our grief overcomes us as
they leave us or when they go
wrong, that grief never devas-
tates us, but only makes us lean
on Gods presence more.
Our Good News is this: Our
existence levels us up at the
onset and fowering of mother-
hood. Why so?
1. We truly become co-creators
of God when we conceive.
2. We share the love, compas-
sion, self-giving, self-emptying
of God as we perform our tasks
as mothers.
3. We get sanctifed as we aid
in the sanctifcation of our chil-
dren and family.
The other Good News is this:
Motherhood does not refer only
to physical Motherhood. We
can also be spiritual, psychologi-
cal, surrogate, foster, adoptive
and adopted mothers. This is
because mothers are those who
nurture, nourish, sacrifce, give
their lives to and for others.
Truly, we all receive the gift
of motherhood from God, who
is motherly. But if God is moth-
erly, conversely, motherhood
is godly. Indeed, mothering is
sharing deeply in the image and
likeness of God who is the source
of life, supportive, protective,
caring of lives.
The last piece of Good News
for today is that Motherhood is
not limited to those who con-
ceive and give birth physically. It
even transcends gender because
mothering is grounded on par-
enting. So to everyone, welcome
to the club of mothers. Nobody
is excluded from this.
HAPPY MOTHERS DAY!!!
(The author is the Executive Vice
President of the Knights of Colum-
bus Fraternal Association of the
Philippines, Inc. KCFAPI and
the incumbent Daughters of Mary
Immaculate International Vicarial
Regent of the Vicariate of the Im-
maculate Conception, Diocese of
Malolos.)
MOM'S value is priceless, but if you had
to put a peso fgure on the things she does
for the family, her worth would be more
this year over last. From yaya to cook to
household fnancial manager, a mother does
a little bit of everything. I believe the value
of the tasks a typical mother does is much
higher than the previous. On the contrary,
based on studies, if you paid a man to do
tasks like cooking, helping with homework,
and cleaning up, the salary would be even
bigger. A man putting in the same hours for
the same tasks would earn 8 percent more.
The imbalance is refected in life insur-
ance. Among individual policies sold to
married couples, the amount of coverage on
women is substantially lower. Many families
couldn't afford to pay for the services that a
mom does for free. That's why it's important
to consider what a parent provides when
deciding how much life insurance to buy.
It's no secret that moms shoulder a lot.
Based on statistics, she shops, cooks and
cleans for the family 90% of the time. As
what most insurance analysts say, Both
parents should be insured even if they dont
work outside the home. Besides replacing
lost income, life insurance can also be used
to pay for the services a parent provides the
family, such as child care.
To calculate how much life insurance to
avail, consider everything that a parent does
for the family and how much it would cost
to replace what that parent provides. Let
us not assume our in-laws or own parents
will pick up the task if one of our loved
one passes away. They might not have the
physical capability or time to assume that
responsibility, no matter how devoted they
are to their grandchildren.
Mothers tend to be underinsured. Accord-
ing to LIMRA (Life Insurance Management
and Research Association), a global research
and consulting group, about 57 percent of
women have life insurance - roughly the
same portion as men -- either through a
group policy at work or an individual policy
they own. But married couples are less likely
to buy individual coverage for wives than
husbands, and the amount of coverage
purchased for women is about 69 percent of
men's coverage. Two-thirds of single moms
have life insurance, but among women with
coverage, only one-third of single moms say
their families could cover expenses over
a significant length of time should they
die, according to LIMRA. Calculating how
much to purchase depends on a family's
circumstances. Besides paying funeral and
other fnal expenses, loved ones can use life
insurance proceeds to replace lost wages,
help pay off a mortgage, pay for the kids'
college education and assist with the daily
expenses of running a household.
If you're wondering what to get Mom for
Mother's Day, simple gifts, time spent with
family, and maybe a little pampering are the
way to go. Based on surveys, 61% of moms
say they prefer homemade presents from the
kids, and 17% of moms don't want gifts from
their children. Asked to name the favorite
gifts they've ever gotten from their kids,
cards and artwork top the list, followed by
breakfast in bed. Most moms want to spend
FOR this article, we will be talk-
ing about Mothers Day. Since
both my mother, Margarita, and
my mother-in-law, Salud, have
gone ahead to their permanent
resting places, allow me to greet
the mother closest to my heart
my wife, Lou, a Happy Mothers
Day!!!
Mother s Day celebrations
have now evolved into a multi-
million business endeavor. Prac-
tically all sales establishments
look forward to this special day
as they know they will enjoy
brisk sales of those sentimental
or sometimes, simply regular gift
items. Regardless of the gift,
it is the thought that counts
to express ones love and ap-
preciation to these extraordi-
nary people we call Mothers.
Unfortunately, often times, the
mother is taken for granted
as the children are so used to
the norm of her taking care of
practically all their needs their
whole life.
The Mother is the real founda-
tion of the Home as she serves as
the familys chef, teacher, nurse,
formator, laundry woman, clean-
ing lady, confdante, buddy, ar-
chivist, sometimes driver, body-
guard, and many other mundane
roles. Finding time to do all these,
the mother is a Superwoman
who accomplishes all these on
her own. Yet she still needs to be
charming, beautiful and lively
by the time her husband and
children reach the house.
For someone who is doing so
much for each of us, it becomes
immoral when we fail to ex-
press our appreciation and grati-
tude to them. For some, it even
turns tragic when they sud-
denly run out of time to thank
their mothers when the special
lady is suddenly called to leave
her earthly existence. So, grab
the opportunity to say Thank
you to your Mom while she can
still hear you say it. Her hearing
such sincere words of apprecia-
tion from us will mean the world
to these unsung heroes.
For our KC Foundations, KC-
FAPI and the K of C as well, we
have such a Mother or more
aptly, a Parent figure who
we need to thank Fr. George
J. Willmann, SJ. who served as
both Mother and Father to the
Knights of Columbus in the
Philippines. For without Fr.
Willmanns thirty-nine years of
devoted service, guidance, lead-
ership, support and love, our
organizations probably might
have not survived the tests of
time and we would not be where
we are now - together as Brother
Knights within a strong and suc-
cessful K of C family.
We now have a timely oppor-
tunity to show our appreciation
to Fr. Willmann as our Parent
and reciprocate all his good
works by supporting the Cause
for his beatifcation. We can ef-
fectively do this by helping to
create more public awareness
of the fame of his sanctity (fama
sanctitatis). But first, we our-
selves must really get to know
him well. For this, our readers
are invited to visit and tour the
Fr. Willmann Museum at the 2nd
foor, Fr. George J. Willmann, SJ
Memorial Building, Gen.Luna
St. corner Sta. Potenciana St.,
Intramuros, Manila.
Get to know this saintly in-
dividual who, like a loving
and caring mother and/or fa-
ther, nurtured the Knights of
Columbus in the Philippines,
KCFAPI and both KC Founda-
tions (KCPFI and KCFGJWCI).
Just like what we should give
to many of the mothers around
us, this is the best time for us to
show and proudly declare our
gratitude and appreciation for
Fr. George J. Willmann, SJ.
Let us do what we can while
we can still make an impact for
our beloved mothers as well as
for our K of C parent, Fr. George
J. Willmann, SJ.
Angelito A. Bala
FAQs
Question: Does KCFAPI have a child education insurance
plan? What are the features of the plan?
My Brother's Keeper / C3
The Cross
CBCP Monitor
Vol. 18 No. 10
May 12 - 25, 2014
C3
Walking Closely With Others in Faith
The Churchs pastoral care of the family demands
neither excuses nor condemnation, but Christs path of compassion
By Supreme Knight Carl
A. Anderson
GEORGE meditated on that: What
doth it proft a man if he gain the whole
world, and suffer the loss of his immor-
tal soul? He thought: If I become a
doctor, I might keep some people alive
for fve or ten years more but in the
end they all die and stand before God
to be judged..and then what? .. If
I become a lawyer, I could keep some
people out of jail for fve or ten years
but inevitably they all die and stand
before the great white throne of God
to be judged..and then what? .. If
I become an architect or an engineer, I
build buildings, or bridges, or railroads
but with time they all come tumbling
down, and I am standing before that little
green door of death .. and then what?
At the tender age of 17, in that Jesuit
High School, he thought of death and the
meaning of life were crucial issues to him.
High School was a joy! He was play-
ing handball in the school yard before,
between, and after classes. He was
playing tennis. He was writing for the
school magazine, debating, working in
the school canteen, working in the book-
store. He had friends. It was a boys
school, but they went to parties now and
then, here and there. He learned to waltz.
Once, when the whole family was
gathered in the living room, little Ruth
stalked in from the outdoors and an-
nounced: Of all the children in this
family, the brightest are the youngest
two! She was referring to herself and
to Ed. George listening, was in no
mood to contradict this. He felt that
Ruth and Ed really were the bright-
est. He was doing well in school. He
was learning. He was happy. He
was at peace. And this was enough.
He was enjoying life as a teenager.
What impressed him about the young
Jesuits was this: They were so positive!
They never seemed to say a negative
word. They were trying to get the best
out of the boys in class, in elocution, in
dramatics, in debating, in football, in bas-
ketball, in track, in writing for the school
publications.. they were flled with en-
ergy, and enjoyed what they are doing!
(To be continued on the next issue.)
The Gentle Warrior
By James B. Reuter, SJ
Part IV of Chapter One of the Gentle Warrior series
CHAPTER ONE
--------------------
Training
THE past year has been a re-
markable time in the life of the
Church. Pope Francis has cap-
tured the worlds attention not
by great gestures, but by simple
ones: riding a bus, kissing per-
sons with disabilities, washing
the feet of poor women, embrac-
ing prisoners and meeting with
penniless immigrants.
As I said soon after his elec-
tion, it was as if the cardinals had
been reading Pope Benedict XVIs
encyclical Deus Caritas Est when
they elected Pope Francis. And in
the months that have followed,
we have seen in his personal wit-
ness the wisdom of St. John Paul
IIs call for Christians to practice
a charity that evangelizes.
Many have been attracted by
the candor and willingness of
Pope Francis to face hard ques-
tionsespecially in his apostolic
exhortation Evangelii Gaudium.
In this document, he reminds us
that there are areas where we can
do better as Christians, both as
individuals and as a community.
It is clear that the popes direct-
ness arises from a confidence
that is grounded frmly in the
joy of the Gospel.
One of the popes most im-
portant actions so far has been
scheduling a synod of bishops
in 2015 for the pastoral care of
the family. Like St. John Paul
II, Pope Francis has decided to
center his frst synod on the fam-
ily, refecting both his confdence
and pastoral spirit.
In 1994, John Paul II recalled in
his Letter to Families: In the frst
days of my ministry I wrote
thatman is the way of the Church.
With these words I wanted frst of
all to evoke the many paths along
which man walks and at the same
time to emphasize how deeply
the Church desires to stand at
his side (1).
He continued, Among these
many paths, the family is the frst
and most important. It is a path
common to all, yet one which is
particular, unique and unrepeat-
able, just as every individual is
unrepeatable (2, emphasis in
original).
Pope Francis has also recently
spoken in such terms, urging
priests to accompany those
in failed marriages. Do not
condemn, he said. Walk with
them and dont practice casu-
istry on their situation.
Pope Francis reference to ca-
suistry is thought-provoking.
During the 17th century, in his
famous Provincial Letters, Blaise
Pascal criticized the Jesuit casu-
istry of his day that attempted to
excuse homicide, abortion, lying
and a variety of sexual and other
misconduct. It was argued that
the moral norms taught by the
Church could be modified by
individual circumstances and,
therefore, such actions might not
always be sinful.
News media reported on Pope
Francis remarks with headlines
like, Accompany, dont con-
demn those in failed marriages.
But because of his reference to
casuistry, they may have missed
the popes full meaning. It might
have been more accurate to say,
Accompany, dont condemn
but dont excuse, either.
A legalistic mentality tends to
reduce a choice to two extremes:
condemn or excuse. This was the
choice the Pharisees presented
Jesus in the case of the woman
caught in adultery. Jesus chose
a different way: forgiveness, and
the truth spoken in love.
We might ask another ques-
tion: What does it mean to ac-
company?
In Familiaris Consortio, John
Paul II followed up on the work
of the 1980 Synod on the Family
by urging greater pastoral care
of Catholics in failed marriages.
He also gave us a comprehensive
pastoral blueprint for the evan-
gelization of all Catholic couples.
By announcing a new synod,
Pope Francis has again called
on the universal Church to
confront the extraordinary chal-
lenges facing families today.
Certainly, more must be done
to accompany families, but we
must also be candid. Too often
during the last 30 years the mes-
sage of Familiaris Consortio has
been ignored or forgotten. As a
result, millions of Catholics have
never received the catechesis,
preparation for marriage and
pastoral care envisioned by this
great document. If they had been
accompanied in this way, who
knows how many marriages
might have been strengthened
and saved?
In the days ahead, let us all
take more seriously the call of
these two great popes to accom-
pany our families more closely
with candor and compassion.
Vivat Jesus!
Knights are given the privilege to avail of this child education plan,
Enhanced College Savings Plan. If one does not have any children
but wishes to get one for his niece or nephew or grandchild, one
can still arrange with the KC father of the child that you will act
as the payor of the plan but will relinquish all other rights to the
childs parents or legal guardian. College and other benefts are not
transferrable to any other child as the contributions were based on
the original childs age.
FAQs / C2
time with their families on Moth-
er's Day. 69% said spending the
day with the whole family was
their favorite way to enjoy the
holiday. Only 7% said that they
will spend time by themselves or
with their husbands without the
kids. Almost 18% said with the
kids, without the spouse.
As far as the best possible
purchased gifts, a day at the spa
and a weekend getaway with
the family topped the list. Gift
cards, a weekend getaway with
her husband, dinner at the best
restaurant in town and choco-
lates followed closely.
Thinking about a vacuum
cleaner or electronic gadget?
Think again. Household appli-
ances and electronics were the
least popular choices.
Happy Mothers Day to all
Moms out there!
My Brother's Keeper / C2
BEHIND every great man is a
mother
It isnt just a single day. Like
Christmas, you can show ap-
preciation and admiration of
your mothers sacrifices and
love everyday when you get
a chance. But why is it that
theres just one particular day
dedicated for mothers?
The reason Anna Jarvis, the
one who founded Mother s
Day, lobbied the U.S. govern-
ment until her last breath to re-
move the said holiday from the
calendar is the thought that it
has been commercialized (used
for businesses and/or fund-
raising) and has lost its true
essence. She sought this day as
a way to honor the sacrifces of
mothers for their children. It
was also in commemoration of
her mother who held Mother's
Day work clubs, organized
Mother's Friendship Day, and
initiated a Mothers' Friendship
Day for Union and Confederate
loyalists during the American
Civil War. Forty-nine years
after the war, on 1914 President
Woodrow Wilson officially
declared Mothers Day as a na-
tional holiday to be celebrated
every second Sunday of May.
On that year, it was the 10th
of May that falls on the second
Sunday and which was also the
date that the American Civil
War ended on the year 1865.
The second Sunday of May is
widely observed and accepted
across the globe as Mothers
Day, including the Philippines.
In other countries, Mothers
day is viewed in different dates
and forms. In United Kingdom,
for instance, they celebrate
Mothering Sunday since the
16th century every fourth Sun-
day of Lent which signifes the
faithful visiting of ones Mother
church. Later on, it evolved and
was merged with the American
Mothers Day celebrating the
day as well by children giving
gifts to their mothers. But it
is still viewed in its historical
sense by many churches, in
tribute to Mary the mother of
Jesus Christ and the notion of
the Mother Church.
Although the mere point of
this day is to remind everyone
to even just simply acknowl-
edge the value of their mothers.
A reminder about the simple
things that your mother does
like getting up earlier than you
do to wake you up and prepare
your breakfast and stuff before
you go to school or to your
work; to see you get to work
on time with a full stomach in
a clean uniform so you can do
your job properly and be suc-
cessful. Yes, just the simple act
of your mother waking up an
hour or two earlier than you do
will turn you into someone the
world could look up to. Hey, its
not just a woman who stands
behind every successful man,
but a mother.
Scientifically speaking, a
mother has greater effect on
a child right from her womb.
What more that she is the one
who nurtures and cares for her
children more closely. Lets
take for example, the Statue of
Liberty which was designed by
French sculptor Frdric Au-
guste Bartholdi. He looked for
iconic heroes to use as models
for the statue that can signify
respect, liberty, and love but
found none. In the end he chose
his own mother. Well, what do
you know? Bartholdis master-
piece became famous and its
his mother.
"No man is poor who has a
godly mother." Says the man
who says no to slavery and hap-
pens to be the 16th president of
the United States of America,
honestly hes just honest Abe.
What more can we say about
this great man, will his huge
statue sitting and watching
people pass by his memorial
located in Kentucky be enough?
With all his remarkable works
as a leader for the development
of his country, he had always
remembered and appreciated
how his own mother nurtured
him even if she left him earlier
and joined her Maker. As Abra-
ham Lincoln said, I remember
my mother's prayers and they
have always followed me. They
have clung to me all my life."
His mother is apparently God-
fearing and so he was brought
up the same way, he fought for
the equality of all men for we
are all children of God. He has
been loved and remembered
by his countrymen as a great
leader. And it is all simply be-
cause mama taught honest Abe
really well, honestly!
Speaking of children of God,
should we look any further?
Who is the Mother of all that has
carried, nurtured, and suffered
out of love for her son? Who in-
nocently and purely accepted a
calling with all her heart even if
she was still quite too young to
be a mother. Who was brought
up by St. Anne who so badly
wanted to have a child but
never gave up and never been
overpowered by anguish by
still putting her faith in God.
And at an unexpected time,
a daughter was given to her
who would exalt her soul and
will bear the Son of God, Jesus
Christ. Mother Mary of Christ
wholeheartedly welcomed
Jesus despite the trials and sor-
rows that have been foretold that
she will encounter. She has been
a great mother behind the great
Jesus Christ, and that would ut-
terly be an understatement that
no word could ever describe and
recognize the love and sacrifce
she has bestowed on her son and
to all of us. Do you think we will
have a Jesus Christ to save us all
if Mary hadnt accepted her call-
ing? Do you think Jesus Christ
would have grown a healthy
boy if Mary was a selfsh and
careless parent?
None of these great men
and all others, that would cer-
tainly fll this whole page if we
mention them all, would have
made the legacy they left to the
world if they didnt have their
mothers who looked after them,
nurtured them, taught them
well, and most of all loved and
supported them all the way
through.
But not to be biased, even
fathers can be great mothers as
well. Even the unmarried ones,
the ones who are regrettably
incapable to bear children, the
estranged ones; we can all be
mothers in different forms and
be a mother behind someone
who could be a great someone
too. We all have this calling to
curate the part as faithful and
loving disciples of Christ. As
we are called to be mothers or
fathers, we are also called to
steward the role of being faith-
ful and loving children of our
parents and of God. We are all
as well destined to greatness in
different ways with our great
mothers at our sides. And even
if were not there yet, we owe
her, our mother. With even just
a simple thank you ma, I love
you. Jesus managed to do it
even with his limited breaths.
Remember, to His mother He
says, "Behold thy son," and
to John He says, "Behold thy
Mother." Jesus lifts His voice
and says to His mother, "Wom-
an, look at John. From now on
He will be your son." Then He
spoke to John, "John from now
on she is to be your mother."
And with that, John took Mary
to his own home. Jesus settled
fully His duties to man and to
God. He was not willing to die
and leave anything undone that
He ought to do. So He prepared
for His mother's future. Imagine
that remarkable moment as
Jesus sets a wonderful example.
No gift to your mother can
ever equal her gift to youlife.-
Anonymous (Concha Luz F.
Angeles)
Special Feature
The Cross
C4
Vol. 18 No. 10
May 12 - 25, 2014
CBCP Monitor
RESOLUTIONS APPROVED
DURING THE 13th LUZON
STATE CONVENTION OF THE
KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS
IN THE PHILIPPINES
Reaffirming our loyalty and ex-
pressing our sincere gratitude and
appreciation to the Supreme Knight
Carl A. Anderson, Supreme Board of
Directors and the Supreme Officers
for their continued support to the
Luzon Jurisdiction.
Expressing our appreciation to the
Most Rev. Pablo Virgilio S. David
D.D., Auxiliary Bishop of the Arch-
diocese of San Fernando, Pampanga
for his unwavering support to the
Knights of Columbus in the Luzon Ju-
risdiction and for being the Keynote
Speaker during the 13th Luzon State
Convention held in Manila Grand
Opera Hotel, Manila, Philippines on
May 10, 2014.
Expression of our warmest con-
gratulations to his Eminence Orlando
B. Cardinal Quevedo, OMI, D.D., on
his recent appointment by his Holi-
ness Pope Francis as member of the
College of Cardinals.
Mandating all Councils in the Lu-
zon Jurisdiction to hold annually a
Walk for Life activity as an expression
of our support to the pro-life initia-
tives of the Knights of Columbus.
Expression of our support to the Su-
preme Council in pursuing the cause
of the Sainthood of Venerable Servant
of God, Father Michael J. McGivney.
Expression of our frm commitment
to support the Knights of Columbus
Ultrasound Initiative which seeks to
provide medically certified pro-life
pregnancy centers with modern tech-
nology to monitor the health of babies
in the uterus and to allow mothers to
visually experience their development.
Formal establishment of the Food
Bank program, an initiative of the
Knights of Columbus Luzon Jurisdic-
tion in collaboration with the Knights
of Columbus Fraternal Association of
the Philippines, Inc. and the Knights
of Columbus Philippines Foundation,
Inc., in line with Saint John Paul IIs
pronouncement of Charity that
Evangelizes, that will conduct a
year round relief drive, which could
immediately address the needs of a
calamity stricken area in the future
and its rehabilitation.
Expression of our commitment to
vigorously pursue and continue with
the pro-life initiatives of the Knights
of Columbus despite the decision of
the Supreme Court of the Philippines
declaring several key provisions of
the Reproductive Health Law as un-
constitutional and monitor the imple-
mentation of the law to guard against
violation of rights of the individual.
Di rect i ng al l Counci l s of t he
Knights of Columbus in the Luzon
Jurisdiction to regularly adopt in all
its Council meetings and activities:
1. the recitation of the Prayer for
the Canonization of Fr. Michael J.
McGivney as the Opening Prayer;
2. the recitation of the Prayer for the
Cause of Fr. George J. Willmann, SJ
as the Closing Prayer;
3. the mention of Fr. George J.
Willmann, SJ in prayer intentions
in all the Eucharistic Celebrations
of the Mass sponsored by Knights
of Columbus Councils;
Directing all Councils of the Knights
of Columbus in the Luzon Jurisdic-
tion to promote awareness on the
cause of Fr. George J. Willmann, SJ
for his elevation to the honors of the
altar through:
1. the celebration of various impor-
tant historical dates pertaining to
Fr. George J. Willmann, SJ such as
his birth date (June 29) and death
anniversary (September 14);
2. inclusion by the Council Lecturer,
in the performance of his regular
Lecture series/talks to the Council,
of a portion about Fr. George J. Will-
mann, SJ, his works, his traits and
his accomplishments for the Knights
of Columbus in the Philippines.
Expression of our warmest congrat-
ulations to Most Rev. Socrates B. Vil-
legas D.D., Archbishop, Archdiocese
of Lingayen-Dagupan on his election
as President of the Catholic Bishops
Conference of the Philippines.
Expression of our sincere gratitude
and appreciation to the Supreme
Council of the Knights of Columbus
for its financial assistance to the vic-
tims of the flooding in Central Luzon
brought about by the monsoon rains
in 2013.
May 10, 2014
Manila Grand Opera, Manila
Notice:
To all Brother Knights who wish to
have their Council activities / events
published on The Cross Supplement,
kindly submit your materials (write
up and photo) to Ms. Gladys or Ms.
Kristianne of the Human Resources &
Corporate Communications Department
(HRCC) via this email address: thecross.
hrcc@gmail.com
Please note however that materials
received by HRCC are subject to the
evaluation and approval of the editorial
committee of KCFAPI.
Area Managers and Fraternal Counselors together with their families during their incentive
trip to Corregidor.
THE first quarter incen-
tive program qualifiers
of the Fraternal Bene-
fits Group (FBG) of the
Kni ghts of Col umbus
Fraternal Associ ati on
of the Philippines, Inc.
(KCFAPI) experienced
the panorami c dri ves
and natural beauty with
historical value of Cor-
regidor last April 25.
This incentive program
is intended for the Asso-
ciations regular and ap-
prentice Fraternal Coun-
selors (FCs) and Area
Managers (AMs).
Thi s i s j ust one of
the several incentives
given by the insurance
arm of the Knights of
Columbus in the Phil-
ippines. Other FCs and
AMs are encouraged
t o par t i ci pat e. ( FBG
News)