Monitor
CBCP
September 2 - 15, 2019, Vol 23, No. 18
Bishop to gov’t: ‘Listen
to cry’ of farmers
By Roy Lagarde
A CATHOLIC bishop
from the country’s
rice granary called
on the government
to “listen to the cry”
of farmers suffering
income loss from a
recent deluge of rice
imports.
Bishop Sofronio Bancud
of Cabanatuan said concrete
measures are needed to
address the woes of the
farmers who are struggling
to compete with imported
rice.
“My appeal to the
government, to those who
really care and pro-farmers;
they should listen to the cry
of these farmers,” he said
over Radio Veritas.
The bishop urged the
concerned agencies to
examine the current state
of the country’s 2.4 million
rice farmers due to the low
35-percent tariff under the
rice tariffication law.
Farmers are crying for help
Farmers / A5
Priest, nun face kidnapping charges
A JESUIT priest sued for sedition
is now facing new charges, together
with three other individuals
including a nun.
Police filed kidnapping and
serious illegal detention charges
against Fr. Albert Alejo, a certain
Canossian Sister Ling, former
Senator Antonio Trillanes IV, and
lawyer Jude Sabio.
Authorities said the case was
based on the complaint of a
certain Guillermina Barrido alias
Guillermina Arcillas from Davao
del Norte.
Barrido claimed she was detained
for 14 days in two convents in
2016 and was being forced to sign
a “ready-made” affidavit linking
President Duterte to narcotics and
a death squad.
The charges were filed by the
police’s Criminal Investigation
and Detection Group unit before
the Department of Justice on
Aug. 15.
“It is clear from the foregoing that
herein respondents feloniously,
maliciously, and intentionally put
Cardinal Tagle urges faithful to act on environment
CARDINAL Luis Antonio
Tagle of Manila invited
the faithful to “renew our
commitment” as keepers
of creation as he led the
opening of the month-long
“Season of Creation”.
Speaking during Mass at
the Quezon City Memorial
Circle on Sunday, Sept. 1,
he stressed that greed and
other “wrongdoing” are
the core of environmental
issues.
“We have forgotten how
to take care of our trees,
animals, waters and land.
We have become greedy,
and disrespected our
common home,” Tagle
said in his homily.
“And so today we appeal
to everyone: let us renew
our pledge to respect one
another and the web of
life,” he said.
The cardinal stressed
that there would be
nothing to celebrate “if
CBCPMONITOR@AREOPAGUSCOMMUNICATIONS.COM
PROTAGONIST OF TRUTH, PROMOTER OF PEACE
Bishops applaud SC
ruling against same-
sex marriage
CATHOLIC bishops have welcomed
a high court ruling against a
controversial petition seeking to
legalize same-sex marriage.
The bishops maintained that such
marriages should be between men and
women, and same-sex relationships
cannot be blessed.
“With its decision, our justices
decided and affirmed what is
just, natural and ethical nature of
marriage,” Bishop Ruperto Santos of
Balanga said.
“The dismissal of same sex
marriages strengthens the sanctity
and stability of marriage,” he said.
The Supreme Court on Sept. 3 thumbed
down a “premature” petition to allow
same-sex marriage in the Philippines.
The SC said that the petition violated
the principle of court hierarchy,
and that it failed “to raise an actual,
justiciable controversy”.
The high tribunal also pointed out
that same-sex marriage is a matter
better left first to Congress.
Bishop Arturo Bastes of Sorsogon
described the plea as “immoral”, as
he applauded the SC for defending the
“true nature of marriage”.
Bishop Broderick Pabillo, the auxiliary
of Manila, also called the court decision
a “good development”.
“The fight against same sex
marriage will be in the legislature. I
hope the lawmakers will give weight
Some members of the Association of Major Religious Superiors in the Philippines and their mission partners hold candles during a protest against the spate to strengthening families rather
of unexplained killings in the country and the “continuing persecution of church leaders and others who speak the truth” outside the Baclaran Church in than weakening them,” he said.
Parañaque City on September 4. PHOTO FROM JPIC-BACLARAN CHURCH
(CBCPNews)
Duterte declares ‘First Mass Day’
holiday in Southern Leyte
Jesuit Fr. Albert Alejo. PHOTO FROM THE VARSITARIAN/ARIANNE MAYE D.G. VIRI
the complainant under detention high profile personalities, including Papal Nuncio Archbishop Gabriele Caccia leads the 498th anniversary of the first Mass in Limasawa
Island on March 31, 2019. PHOTO FROM THE DIOCESE OF MAASIN
for 14 days in order to force her to Vice President Leni Robredo, some
do something against her will,” the bishops and priests. PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte has Limasawa.
complaint read. The complaint was also lodged made the first Mass held in the In 1971, on the 450th anniversary
Kidnapping and serious illegal by the CIDG over a supposed Philippines almost 500 years ago a of the first Mass, no other Cardinal
detention are non-bailable offenses. conspiracy to spread videos of fixed celebration in Southern Leyte. Julio Rosales himself led the
In July, Fr. Alejo was also among the hooded whistleblower “Bikoy” Malacañang published a new law celebration, along with some other
those implicated in the sedition and linking Duterte and his family to this week in which Duterte declared bishops and priests.
other criminal charges filed against illegal drugs. (CBCPNews) March 31 of every year as a special Now under the leadership of
holiday in the province to mark the Bishop Precioso Cantillas, the
first Mass in Limasawa Island.
The law said Duterte wanted the
yearly activity has become one of
the well-celebrated gatherings in
celebration to be called “First Mass the diocese.
Day” in honor of the first religious On March 31 this year, Archbishop
ceremony of the Catholic faith in Gabriele Caccia, the Apostolic
the country. Nuncio to the Philippines, also
“March 31 of every year is hereby went to Limasawa for the 498th
declared a special working holiday anniversary celebration of the first
in the whole Province of Southern Mass.
Leyte, in commemoration of the The event included a reenactment
first mass held in Limawasa Island, of the arrival of Portuguese explorer
Province of Southern Leyte, to be Ferdinand Magellan and his men
known as the ‘First Mass Day,’” the on the island almost 500 years ago.
law read. Father Pedro de Valderrama
“Upon proclamation of the was said to be the only priest in
People from various schools, parishes, religious communities, and civil organizations join the Walk for Creation at President, March 31 of every year Magellan’s crew, who was tasked
the start of the observance of the month-long Season of Creation at the Quezon City Memorial Circle on Sept. 1. shall be a special nonworking to celebrate Mass on the shores of
PHOTO FROM CARITAS PHILIPPINES
holiday in the whole Province of Limasawa.
we will not change our being respectful, loving, concrete and sustainable Southern Leyte,” it added. The island at the tip of Southern
relationship with one compassionate and actions that will address The new law was approved by the Leyte with a population of about
another and with the selfless,” he said. the challenges of the chief executive on Aug. 22 but was 6,000 in six villages is home to a
ecosystem surrounding Among the highlights current “ecological crisis”. only made public a week later. lone but growing Catholic parish.
us”. of the gathering was Bishop Pablo Virgilio Marking the historic event had Archbishop Caccia, in his homily,
“Thus, It is vital that we the “Walk for Creation” David of Kalookan, Vice been a yearly occasion in the province said that the birth of Christianity in
change the way we live,” attended by thousands President of the Catholic ever since the establishment of the the country inspired Filipinos “to
Cardinal Tagle pointed of people from different Bishops’ Conference of the Maasin diocese in 1968. share, to announce to people this
out. schools, parishes, religious Philippines, and Bishop The first bishop of Maasin diocese, Good News”.
“And it is not yet too late. communities, and Honesto Ongtioco of Vicente Ataviado, would cross to the Since its erection, the Maasin
We have this opportunity environmental groups. Cubao also attended the island every March 31 to celebrate diocese now has at least 43 parishes,
every day to celebrate the They also expressed event. Mass in commemoration of the first four chaplaincies, mission stations,
Season of Creation by commitment to do Environment / A5 Easter Sunday Mass held in 1521 in and quasi-parish. (CBCPNews)
A2 WORLD NEWS September 2 - 15, 2019, Vol 23, No. 18 CBCP Monitor

Vatican Briefing China’s one-child policy will leave

Pope Francis condemns euthanasia as utilitarianism,
not freedom
lasting damage, expert warns
Euthanasia is a way of treating the human person
as an object; while it may appear to give freedom, it is
really a rejection of hope, Pope Francis told an oncology
association Sept. 2. “The practice of euthanasia, which
has already been legalized in several countries, only
apparently aims to encourage personal freedom,” he
said Sept. 2. “In reality,” he continued, “it is based on
a utilitarian view of the person, who becomes useless
or can be equated to a cost, if from the medical point of
view, he has no hope of improvement or can no longer
avoid pain.” (Hannah Brockhaus/CNA)

Vatican pharmacy employs robot to improve service,

manage stock
The 145-year-old Vatican pharmacy has a new hire:
a state-of-the-art robot working behind the scenes
to manage the stockroom, retrieve medications and
deliver the drugs quickly to the sales floor. The Vatican,
which claims to have the busiest pharmacy in the world,
recently adopted the new automated system by the
Germany-based BD Rowa firm. The pharmacy’s director,
St. John of God Brother Binish Thomas Mulackal, said
the automated technology will revolutionize the way
they serve some 2,000 customers who come through
the doors each day. (Carol Glatz/CNS)

Vigano named vice chancellor of Pontifical Academy

of Sciences
Pope Francis has named Msgr. Dario Edoardo Vigano,
former head of Vatican communications, to a new position
of vice chancellor of the Pontifical Academy of Sciences BEIJING, China— Although “The typical family in China “It was a horrifying the largest population of
and the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences. Dario China announced it now has four grandparents, experience,” Mosher said, any nation, its fertility
Vigano, 57, has been serving as an advisor to the Vatican was ending its one-child two parents, and one child. speaking to host Catherine rate remains below the
communications department since March 2018, when he policy in 2015, the effects Maybe two, now. But you Hadro, “for me, and of replacement level. Mosher
stepped down as prefect of what was then the Secretariat for of the communist regime’s can see the family, which has course even more drastic and said after decades of trying to
Communications. According to the Aug. 31 communique, controversial measure will be been so important in Chinese horrifying for the women.” curtail its population, China
as vice chancellor, a role which previously did not exist, felt for generations to come, culture and history, has now Mosher praised One might now start seeking to
Vigano has been given “specific competence” over the an expert has warned. been devastated by the one- Child Nation as “a good inflate it.
communications sector of the sciences and social sciences Amid renewed calls for child policy.” documentary,” but expressed “The state is now pressuring
pontifical academies. (Hannah Brockhaus/CNA) population control in the face Mosher said the policy frustration that he feels as people to have a minimum of
of environmental concerns, a prevented 400 million births. if some members of the two children so you can see
Italian Cardinal Achille Silvestrini dead at 95 new documentary, One Child “That’s 400 million media have responded the trajectory,” Mosher said.
Cardinal Achille Silvestrini, former prefect of the Nation, has refocused wider of the most productive, to the documentary as if “We’ve gone from forcing
Congregation for Eastern Churches and a longtime attention on the one-child enterprising, hardworking hearing about China’s brutal people to stop at one child
Vatican diplomat, died at the age of 95. In a message policy, which capped the people the planet has ever population practices for the to encouraging them to
of condolence to the family of the cardinal, who died number of children for most seen,” he said. They’ve killed first time. have two and now saying,
Aug. 29 in Rome, Pope Francis noted that his decades couples in China from the off half of two generations.” “The policy started in ‘you’ve got to have two.’ Party
at the Vatican included service to seven popes. He late 1970s. One Child Nation explores 1980,” Mosher said. “It ended members have been told they
will be remembered for “a life spent in adhering to his In an interview Thursday some of the ramifications a couple years ago but there’s must have two, they must
vocation as a priest attentive to the needs of others, a on EWTN Pro-Life Weekly, of China’s one-child policy, still abuses in China. Where lead by example.”
skillful and adaptable diplomat and a pastor faithful Steven Mosher, President including human trafficking were they, for the last forty Mosher added that he is
to the Gospel and to the church,” Pope Francis said. of the Population Research and the abandonment of years in reporting on this?” concerned that China’s
(Junno Arocho Esteves/CNS) Institute, warned that infants, particularly female China announced it would demographic recession might
“generations will see their infants. The policy was relax the policy in 2015, lead it to take more drastic
Pope: Proclaim God’s love through care for needy family tree with all the often brutally enforced permitting most couples to measures to increase its
While listening to and obeying God’s word brings branches shorn away.” by sterilization or forced have two children, but experts population, such as forced
healing and comfort to those in need, it also can attract “The second generation of abortion, a practice Mosher say many of the same human pregnancies, in much the same
disdain and even hatred from others, Pope Francis said. only children have no cousins, said he witnessed during a rights abuses continue. way it acted to prevent families
Christians are called to proclaim the love of God through no aunts, no uncles,” he added. visit to China in 1980. Although China has from having children. (CNA)
their care for the sick and the needy, like St. Peter and
the other disciples who went to various cities bringing
spiritual and physical healing to many, the pope said
during his weekly general audience in St. Peter’s Square
Nigerian priest killed as car set ablaze
JALINGO, Nigeria— A Catholic priest the crisis in the area to a roundtable
Aug. 28. While Peter’s healing of the sick also “aroused
was killed in Nigeria this week when the discussion,” the bishop added.
the hatred of the Sadducees,” the pope said, his response
car he was driving was set ablaze. Shiban Tikari, chairman of Taraba
to them to “obey God instead of men” is the “key to
Fr. David Tanko was traveling within State Council, told local media that a Tiv
Christian life.” (Junno Arocho Esteves/CNS)
the Jalingo diocese of Nigeria, near the militia carried out the attack.
Lofty titles do not guarantee entrance to heaven, pope says country’s border with Cameroon, when Hammawa encouraged a peaceful
A life marked by humility, faith and love determines he was attacked Aug. 29. The priest was response to Tanko’s killing.
whether Christians enter heaven, not who they know, traveling to a “peace meeting” of local “Our basic concern now is to give him
Pope Francis said. Before praying the Angelus prayer clergymen to discuss a conflict between a befitting burial,” the bishop said.
with pilgrims gathered in St. Peter’s Square Aug. 25, the the local Tiv and Jukun ethic groups. “We don’t want any group to go on
pope said that the Lord will recognize those worthy of “We received the news of his death reprisal. Going on reprisal will only
experiencing eternal joy if they have lived “a life of faith with shock. This is sad. The diocese is worsen the situation.”
that translates into deeds” and not whether they have mourning,” Bishop Charles Hammawa The bishop announced a Vigil Mass
attended conferences or rubbed shoulders with church of Jalingo told local media. for the priest on Monday, Sept. 2 and
leaders. “The Lord does not recognize us by our titles,” “We have been preaching peace and burial the following day at the diocesan
he said. “’Look, Lord, I belonged to this association; making efforts to bring both parties in cemetery in Jalingo. (CNA)
I was a friend of that bishop, of that cardinal, of that
priest.’ No, titles do not count; they do not count,” he
said. (Junno Arocho Esteves/CNS)
First Chinese bishop consecrated after Vatican-China deal
VATICAN— A new bishop John Liu Shigong. Yao studied at the national International Religion wrote
Hypocrisy of ‘spiritual tourism’ destroys the church, pope says was consecrated Monday Yao was consecrated seminary in Beijing. From in its 2018 report that last year
Christians who focus more on being superficially in Inner Mongolia, China, in the Jining Cathedral 1994 to 1998 he was in the China “advanced its so-called
close to the church rather than care for their fellow becoming the first bishop on the morning of Aug. United States completing ‘sinicization’ of religion, a far-
brothers and sisters are like tourists who wander to be consecrated in the 26, with more than 120 a specialization in liturgy. reaching strategy to control,
around aimlessly, Pope Francis said. People “who are country after a deal on bishop priests concelebrating, a He also spe nt a pe riod govern, and manipulate all
always passing by but never enter the church” in a appointments was made with consecrator-bishop, and doing biblical studies in aspects of faith into a socialist
fully communal way of sharing and caring engage in the Vatican last year. three co-consecrators, Asia Jerusalem. mold infused with ‘Chinese
a sort of “spiritual tourism that makes them believe “I can confirm that H.E. News reports. The bishop previously characteristics.’” Christians,
they are Christians but instead are only tourists of Mgr. Antonio Yao Shun, who Beijing and Vatican taught at the national Muslims, Tibetan Buddhists,
catacombs,” the pope said Aug. 21 during his weekly has been consecrated Bishop officials signed a provisional seminary. From 1998 to 2004 and Falun Gong practitioners
general audience. “A life based only on profiting and of Jining/Wulanchabu, Inner agreement on bishop he served as secretary of the have all been affected.
taking advantage of situations to the detriment of Mongolia (China), received appointments Sept. 22, liturgical commission of the Restrictions put in place in
others inevitably causes inner death,” he said. “And the Papal Mandate, as was 2018. The Vatican-China Council of Chinese Bishops February 2018 made it illegal
how many people say they are close to the church, also stated by the Ordaining deal was intended to unify and the Patriotic Association. for anyone under age 18 to
friends of priests and bishops yet only seek their own Bishop during the ceremony the underground Church and He has been vice director of enter a church building.
interests. These are the hypocrisies that destroy the yesterday, 26th August 2019,” the Chinese Catholic Patriotic the same commission since Reports of the destruction
church.” (Junno Arocho Esteves/CNS) said Matteo Bruni, director of Association. 2004. or desecration of Catholic
the Holy See Press Office, in While the terms of the Yao’s chosen episcopal churches and shrines have
Vatican investigates abuse allegation against Chilean a statement responding to agreement have been kept motto is “Misericordes sicut come from across China,
president’s uncle media questions. confidential, it reportedly pater,” which means “Be including the provinces of
The apostolic nunciature in Chile announced “The Episcopal Ordination allows the Chinese Catholic merciful as the Father is.” Hebei, Henan, Guizhou,
that the Vatican has opened an investigation into of H.E. Mgr. Antonio Yao is Patriotic Association to Since 1957, the Church in Shaanxi, and Shandong.
allegations of sexual abuse against retired Archbishop the first to take place in the choose a slate of nominees for China had been split between Muslims, too, have come
Bernardino Pinera Carvallo of La Serena, who is the framework of the Provisional bishop. The deal has drawn the “underground” Church, under pressure from the
uncle of Chilean President Sebastian Pinera. In a Agreement between the Holy significant criticism. in full communion with Chinese government. It is
statement released Aug. 20, the nunciature said the See and the People’s Republic Contrary to usual Vatican Rome, and the state-run believed that as many as 1
preliminary investigation will determine the credibility of China signed in Beijing practice, Yao’s nomination Chinese Patriotic Catholic million Uyghurs, a Muslim
of an accusation of abuse allegedly committed “more on 22nd September 2018,” to the episcopacy was not Association (CPCA) for which ethnoreligious group in
than 50 years ago” by Archbishop Pinera who, at 103, he said. published in the daily the Chinese government China’s far west, are being
is the oldest living bishop in the world. “We are in Bishop Antonio Yao Shun, bulletin of the Holy See appointed bishops. detained in re-education
contact with the person who filed the complaint, and, 54, will head the Diocese press office, and it is The agreement between camps where they are
at the same time, we are acting in accordance with of Jining in Ulanqab, Inner unknown whether Pope the Holy See and the People’s reportedly subjected to
the principle of the presumption of innocence,” the Mongolia. The diocese has Francis appointed Yao prior Republic is meant to end the forced labor, torture, and
nunciature said. (Junno Arocho Esteves/CNS) been without a bishop since to or after the signing of the split between the two. political indoctrination.
the June 2017 death of Bishop Vatican-China deal. The U.S. Commission on (CNA)
CBCP Monitor
New cardinals: Pope’s choices
stress dialogue, care for poor
Pope Francis prays as he arrives for a consistory to create new cardinals in St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican in this June 28, 2017, file photo. The pope announced Sept. 1
that he will create 13 new cardinals at an Oct. 5 consistory. PAUL HARING/CNS
VATICAN— After the
consistory to create new
cardinals in early October,
Pope Francis will have chosen
more than half of the men
who will enter the Sistine
Chapel to elect his successor.
And despite what critics
of Pope Francis filled social
media with Sept. 1 about him
setting up the college to elect
a successor just like him,
it should be remembered
that then-Archbishop Jorge
Mario Bergoglio was created
a cardinal by St. John Paul.
And he was elected pope in
2013 in a conclave where
42 percent of the cardinal
electors were created
cardinals by St. John Paul
and the remaining 58 percent
of the voters were named by
Pope Benedict.
Personal opinions about
the needs of the church at any
given moment and about who
would be the best person to
lead obviously are at play in
a conclave. But the cardinals
also invoke the inspiration of
the Holy Spirit and make a
very solemn oath in casting
their ballots: “I call as my
witness Christ the Lord, who
will be my judge, that my
vote is given to the one who
before God I think should be
elected.”
After arriving late for
the midday recitation of
the Angelus prayer Sept. 1
because he was stuck in an
elevator for 25 minutes, Pope
Francis announced he would
create 13 new cardinals Oct. 5.
Ten of the prelates he chose
are under the age of 80 and,
therefore, would be eligible
Elevator malfunction leaves pope stuck before Angelus
VATICAN— Pope Francis begged the
pardon of the crowd gathered in St.
Peter’s Square Sunday, explaining that
he was late because he had gotten stuck
in a Vatican elevator and had to wait for
help from the fire department.
“First of all, I have to apologize for the
delay, but there was an accident: I was
locked in the elevator for 25 minutes!”
the pope said Sept. 1, after arriving seven
minutes late for the noon Angelus and
reflection.
He explained that “there was a drop
in voltage and the elevator stopped.
Thank God the fire department came—I
thank them so much!—and after 25
minutes of work they managed to make
it go. A round of applause for the fire
department!”
Pope Francis is usually very punctual
for the regular Sunday appointment, for
which he reads a short reflection and
then prays a traditional Marian prayer,
either the Angelus or the Regina Coeli,
from a window inside the apostolic
palace overlooking St. Peter’s Square.
In his reflection Sept. 1, Pope Francis
spoke about humility and humility in
September 2 - 15, 2019, Vol 23, No. 18 NEWS FEATURES A3
Leyte priest paints, sells
art to build church
Fr. Kim Margallo, pastor of the St. Josemaria Escriva mission station church in the
central Philippine city of Tacloban, stands at the site where he is building a church. UCAN
TACLOBAN City— He recruited two local artists,
placed his brush gently on Ernesto Kardante and Kim
the table after making some Clinton Gonzales, who
finishing touches to his latest painted the walls and ceiling
“masterpiece,” an oil painting of the adoration chapel,
of Jesus in agony. the first to be built on the
The priest has been painting property, which now serves
and selling his artwork in as a “catechetical chapel.”
order to build a church. “Anyone can come here to
“It’s a tall order,” said reflect and relax,” said Father
Father Kim Margallo, pastor Margallo.
of the St. Josemaria Escriva He said entering the chapel is
mission station church in the a “journey of faith” because one
city of Tacloban. “I have to is greeted by artwork depicting
use my creativity to achieve various scenes from the Bible.
what we need to achieve.” Images based on the
To finish the mission story of Adam and Eve, the
church building, the 35-year- crucifixion of Jesus, images
old priest needs to raise at of the “militant, suffering
least US$3.8 million. “The and triumphant church,” and
to vote in a conclave to elect Among the over-80 undersecretaries for migrants costly part is the detail, which even of heaven can be found
a pope. A cardinal who has cardinals is Lithuanian and refugees in the Dicastery is about 60 percent of the inside the chapel.
turned 80 before the papacy Archbishop Sigitas for Promoting Integral total amount,” he said. There are also images of
is vacant participates in pre- Tamkevicius, who, a year Human Development. The station church will saints who they can look up
conclave meetings to discuss ago, joined Pope Francis on Cardinal-designate Czerny, feature a columbary, which to and “whose lives they can
the needs of the church but a prayerful tour of the former who was born in 1949 in will serve as a “dignified admire,” said the priest.
does not process into the KGB headquarters in Vilnius. what was Czechoslovakia and and cost-effective Catholic Father Margallo also wants
Sistine Chapel and does not The archbishop had been who migrated with his family alternative to casket burial.” to attract young people into
cast ballots for a new pope. imprisoned from 1983 to Canada when he was 2, The church is being built on going to church through the
Barring any deaths or to 1988 for “anti-Soviet worked in a variety of social a one-hectare plot donated by paintings. “With our simple
resignations, once the new propaganda.” As a Jesuit justice ministries in Canada, the landowner. pictures, we invite the youth,”
cardinals receive their red priest, in 1972 he began Central America and Africa “This will become a he said. “We evangelize to the
hats in early October, the publishing the Chronicle before coming to the Vatican. landmark, a shrine,” said millennials ... They are more
College of Cardinals will of the Catholic Church in According to canon law, Father Margallo, who plans on visuals.”
have 128 members eligible to Lithuania, an underground he will need to be ordained to ask for a “first class relic” He said early Christians
vote in a conclave. Within 10 newsletter documenting a bishop before receiving his of the church’s patron saint. did not know how to read.
days of the consistory, four communist repression of red hat Oct. 5, although he The immediate concern of “They were taught through
cardinals will celebrate their the church. Despite repeated could request a dispensation. the priest, however, is money paintings. Now, we are
80th birthdays, leaving 124 questioning by the KGB, He did not respond Sept. 1 to to build his church. “We have bringing this early form of
electors. he managed to publish and a question about his possible to find ways of raising the evangelization back,” said
Of those 124, Pope Francis distribute the chronicle for ordination. cash,” he said. Father Margallo.
will have made 66 of them more than 10 years and, Pope Francis’ choices That’s why he turned to art. The priest said he knows
cardinals, which is 53 percent of once he was arrested, others continue to pay little attention “Donors can give a it will be a long journey to
the electors. The other electors continued his work. to the large archdioceses particular amount, then we finish his church, but he
will include 16 cardinals created One of the new cardinal traditionally led by cardinals, give them a token,” said the said he would persevere. His
by St. John Paul II and 42 made electors will be Guatemalan such as Milan and Venice. priest. The token of course is assignment at the mission
cardinals by now-retired Pope Bishop Alvaro Ramazzini But he will give a red hat to his artwork. station lasts only for three
Benedict XVI. Imeri of Huehuetenango, a Archbishop Matteo Zuppi “Sometimes we also years. “I gave myself a
While a majority in the human rights defender whose of Bologna, Italy, where all auction off the paintings,” he timeline. Hopefully, I can
next conclave will have Pope support for environmental but one of the archbishops told ucanews.com. Art buyers build the church,” he said.
Francis to thank for their red activists has earned him in the last 400 years had and dealers can also have “Regardless of whether I can
hats and new responsibilities, death threats. been a cardinal. The only “pre-order” oil paintings. finish it or not within three
to be elected pope a candidate Two Roman Curia officials exception was Archbishop Father Margallo said the years, I have to finish with the
must receive two-thirds of tapped to become cardinals Enrico Manfredini, who led painting project only started basic structure,” he said. With
the votes. hold positions that would the archdiocese for only eight in July. the help of his art, of course.
Announcing the new have been considered months in 1983 before he To help him, he has (Ronald Reyes/UCAN)
cardinals, Pope Francis automatic red-hat posts died at the age of 61.
said they illustrate “the before Pope Francis came on In selecting cardinals,
missionary vocation of the the scene: Spanish Bishop Pope Francis has made Retired pope responds to criticism
church that continues to Miguel Angel Ayuso Guixot, it a point to increase the
proclaim the merciful love of 67, president of the Pontifical geographical profile of of his reflection on abuse crisis
God to all men and women of Council for Interreligious the College of Cardinals.
the earth.” Dialogue; and Portuguese The conclave that elected FREIBURG, Germany—
A commitment to the poor, Archbishop Jose Tolentino him included participants Responding to criticism of
to caring for migrants and Medonca, 53, Vatican from 48 nations; the 128 notes he published about the
refugees and to engaging in archivist and librarian. electors in the expanded roots of the clerical sexual
dialogue with all people are The surprising Curia college will include prelates abuse crisis, retired Pope
characteristics many in the pick was Jesuit Father from 68 countries. (Cindy Benedict XVI said the fact that
group of 13 share. Michael Czerny, one of two Wooden/CNS) the critiques barely mentioned
God proved his point.
“As far as I can see, in most
reactions to my contribution,
God does not appear at all,”
generosity. “Jesus always shows us the others on our own initiative, but rather which is “exactly what I wanted In this 2014 file photo, retired Pope
way of humility,” he said, “we must learn let others be the ones to give it to us.” to emphasize” as the central Benedict XVI arrives for the beatification
the way of humility!” Francis noted that in the second Mass of Blessed Paul VI celebrated by
problem, he wrote in a brief Pope Francis in St. Peter’s Square at the
He explained that in the day’s Gospel, parable, Jesus addresses the host and note to Herder Korrespondenz, Vatican. PAUL HARING/CNS
Jesus attends a banquet at the home of tells him or her to invite those who according to KNA, the German
one of the leading Pharisees, and he sees cannot repay, such as the poor, the Catholic news agency. the cultural and sexual
people choosing the places of honor for crippled, the lame, the blind. In April, the retired pope revolution of the ‘60s,
themselves. “Here too, Jesus goes completely sent a compilation of what especially when many cases
So, Jesus shares two parables about against the current, manifesting as he described as “some notes” of priests sexually abusing
people vying for the best place, which always the logic of God the Father,” he on the crisis to Klerusblatt, a children occurred before that
“is a rather widespread attitude, even said. German-language Catholic time even if the public found
in our day,” he said. According to Pope Francis, the key to monthly journal for clergy in out only recently.
“And not only when we are invited interpreting Jesus’ lesson is this: “that Bavaria. In the new note, Pope
to a lunch: usually, we look for the first those who behave in this way will have Seeing the crisis as rooted Benedict said the “the general
place to affirm a presumed superiority divine reward, [which is] much superior in the “egregious event” of the deficit in the reception of my
over others,” he continued. “In reality to human repayment.” cultural and sexual revolution text” was a lack of willingness
this race to the first places hurts the Doing something for someone only in the Western world in the to engage with his contention
community, both civil and ecclesial, because you will receive something in 1960s and a collapse of belief that abuse is related to a lack
because it ruins fraternity.” return is not Christian, he said. In fact, in the existence and authority of faith and strong morals.
The first parable Jesus tells addresses the it turns relationships into commercial of absolute truth and God, the He used as an example a
guest who is inclined to take the best place. transactions. retired pope said the primary critique in the July issue of
Jesus warns against doing so, because “a “Jesus invites us to selfless generosity, task at hand is to reassert the Herder Korrespondenz by the
more distinguished guest” may arrive, to open the way to a much greater joy, joyful truth of God’s existence historian Birgit Aschmann.
leading to an embarrassing moment when the joy of being participants in the very and of the church as holding “In the four pages of the article
having to move to the last place. love of God that awaits us, all of us, in the true deposit of faith. by Mrs. Aschmann, the word
“Jesus teaches us to have the opposite the heavenly banquet,” he said. Most of the criticism, God, which I made the central
attitude,” the pope said. “We must not “Humble generosity is Christian.” though, focused on Pope point of the question, does not
seek the attention and consideration of (Hannah Brockhaus/CNA) Benedict seeming to blame appear,” he wrote. (CNS)
A4 OPINION September 2 - 15, 2019, Vol 23, No. 18 CBCP Monitor

EDITORIAL

Season of creation
ONE of the most welcome observances of the new millennium
is the annual celebration of the World Day of Prayer for
Creation. Inching laboriously to gain global traction, this was
started in 1989 by Ecumenical Patriarch Dimitrios I for the
Orthodox Church. It took almost 12 years before it caught
the attention of major Christian European churches in 2001.
The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines is globally
singled out for coming up with a stronger push in its pastoral
statement released in 2003 titled, “Celebrating Creation Day
and Creation Time.”
But this was widely popularized when Pope Francis
institutionalized the celebration of prayer for the care of
creation in September 2015—four months after release of
the encyclical letter Laudato Si’. He wrote: “I wish to inform
you that I have decided to institute in the Catholic Church
the “World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation” which,
beginning this year, is to be celebrated on 1 September, as
has been the custom of the Orthodox Church for some time”.

ILLUSTRATION BY BLADIMER USI

The Season of Creation (also known as Creation Time) is an
ecumenical celebration that for many Christian Churches, but
especially the Catholic Church, is celebrated from September 1
to October 4, which is the date of the feast St Francis of Assisi,
the patron saint of those who promote ecology.
The concern for the environment, or of the lack of it, is one
of the greatest challenges of this generation. While a good
number of multinational corporations, and even countries,
continue to play deaf ear to ecological responsibility, more
and more people are seriously crusading to save and care Concern for the Amazon Panaghoy
“for our common home”. There are already a good number
of governments that have committed to take drastic measure Bp. Broderick Pabillo
to achieve zero net greenhouse gas emissions and to limit the
average increase in global temperature to 1.5 degrees Celsius
with respect to pre-industrial levels, in accordance with the
Paris Agreement goals.
Most of the Dioceses in the Philippines, if not all, have IN one youth forum in Adamson Guyana. reclaim more lands from the forest for
dutifully celebrated this year’s Season of Creation which, University five days ago, the young The fires currently ingulfing the region agribusiness and ranchers. Bolsonaro’s
commendably enough, was spearheaded by the youth groups. students were asked, “What social is very alarming. As of August 14, the right-wing government has cut in half
issue concerns you most at the present number of fires rose to 32,728—60% of the budget of the Prev-Fire, a system
When we suffer injustice moment?” One raided up his hand and more than the average for the past three for preventing and fighting forest fires.
said: “The burning of the Amazon.” I years. Drought, a common factor in this Moreover, the presidential attacks on
admire the student. His answer shows destruction, does not explain the fires on the government agencies that monitor
WE have to expect to suffer some form of injustice here in
our earthly life. That is part of our human condition. It is that he is in touch with global issues. His this occasion, as the current dry season and combat deforestation “encouraged”
unavoidable. Sooner or later, it will surely come. It can be big concern for the on-going wild fires in is less severe than in previous years. the sectors that destroy forests illegally.
or small, but clear injustice just the same. It can even come the Amazon reflects the alarm of many Jair Bolsonaro, President of Brazil The international press has widely
not from those whom we consider our enemies, but from those people all over the world. since January of this year, is under fire condemned the government’s anti-
who are supposed to be our friends. The Amazon is one of the greatest because of these fires. “Bolsonaro Out!” is environmentalist attitudes, making
We just have to be properly prepared for it. And the secret reserves of biodiversity on earth as it has the cry heard in the streets of Barcelona, Brazil the new climate change villain.
is, as usual, to follow the example of Christ who suffered 30 to 50% of the world’s flora and fauna, London, Paris and other European cities The Church is also very much
the worst injustice ever. If we are driven by the same love and 20% of the unfrozen fresh water and in Brazilian cities as well. Brazil’s concerned about these fires. The Latin
Christ has for all of us, no form of injustice can actually get of the whole planet. Moreover, over a Amazon jungle covers 3.3 million square American Bishops in their statement on
the better of us. third of the planet’s primary forests are kilometers, accounting for around 60% August 22, 2019 stressed the seriousness
Yes, the injustice will remain injustice. It may not be concentrated there, so that its capacity of the entire rainforest. Bolsonaro and of this tragedy, which is not only of local
properly resolved humanly speaking. With the way we are, we to capture carbon and to breathe out his Environment Minister Ricardo Salles nor regional impact, but of planetary
should not expect that we can resolve all cases of injustice. Just oxygen in the planet is significant. have denigrated the environmental proportions. The international
look at what and how human justice was handed on Christ. Rightly then is it called the “lungs” of the movement and dismantled the system community is also speaking about this.
But still, if we have the charity of Christ, that injustice will earth. Its extent is enormous, covering of environmental protection, reviving It considers the uncontrolled fires as an
work out for our own good and the good of everybody else. over seven and a half million kilometers. the appetite of landholders, especially “international crisis” and it was talked
The important thing to keep in mind is to always be on the It encompasses nine countries: Brazil, cattle ranchers, for clearing land. about at the August 24-26 summit
side of charity that covers all the human needs for justice. And Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Many of these fires are the result of of the Group of Seven (G7) advanced
this means that we always identify ourselves with Christ, with Peru, Surinam, Venezuela, and French clearing the land for deforestation to Panaghoy / A5
his will and his ways. It’s only in him that the perfect justice
can be achieved, a justice that goes beyond our best ideas of
how justice ought to be. The charity-inspired justice Christ Highly successful what?
showed in his own trial may look inhuman and may even be
regarded as a perversion according to our human standards,
And That’s The Truth
but that is the justice that is perfect. It is one that does not Teresa R. Tunay, OCDS
get stuck in the immediate and short-run requirements of
justice, but goes all the way to the ultimate meaning of justice.
It is for this reason that we need to develop the proper
attitudes and virtues that would facilitate in our living out TO say that President tired.” him achieve his dream. Build is the “bangka”—nobody wins
the justice Christ himself lived. It’s is a justice that is willing Duterte’s recent trip to China He promised to raise the Build Build—at all cost? against the bangka.
to suffer, to bear the burden of the others, to obey the will of to meet up with President Xi issue of the Hague ruling More deals for our Who am I to say what I’m
God for the salvation of man. is “highly successful” is not this time—and to his credit development? Examine saying when I had at most
It is a justice that requires us to be tough and magnanimous. lying through the teeth. The he did, but did he or his them carefully and you’ll only 12 units of Economics
While it is true that we have to be sensitive and delicate, especially Palace Spokesperson was smart advisers even think or see that whether loans or in college? Zero units in
in our conscience, we should neither forget that it is also true that telling the truth, but only plan far enough to anticipate business partnerships they Political Science or Foreign
we have to learn how to be thick-skinned, how to be indifferent the truth of Malacañang’s the opponent’s next move? bear the same characteristics Service, too. Do I know
and to ignore certain things, and just move on, in spite of the perception, and therefore the It seems he went armed drawn up to favor Beijing and because I read? No Sir—I
cuts and bruises we may suffer along the way. All of these we claim of “success” only reveals with a good intention but the powerful rich. If they are don’t “know”, and I only read
should be willing to do if only to follow the example of Christ! a delusion. Malacañang encouraged only by an loans they could compromise signs. Just signs, and I’m
Remember Christ telling us how better it would be just to thinks it succeeded, but—the illusion—the illusion that our patrimony. If they are “just sayin’”.
be one-eyed or with one hand than to have both eyes and success belongs to Beijing, Xi is his friend, and a friend business partnerships, the Does anyone really believe,
hands if one part of the pair becomes an occasion of sin for not the Philippines. listens and cares about you as Pinoy or Chinoy partners at this point, that Xi is willing
us. We have to learn to suffer, always trusting in the end in I believe Duterte knows much as you care about him. besides Beijing may benefit— to dialogue with anybody?
the ever-powerful, merciful and wise will of God. that truth deep within but has And that illusion is fed by but it’s the rest of us ordinary Read the signs. From the start
Somehow when we suffer injustice, we are given the no power to either accept or another illusion: that Build brown-skinned flat-nosed of this hullabaloo Xi has—on
opportunity to become like Christ as we should be. Let’s do
reject it. That’s why he came Build Build is the yardstick of Pinoy consumer who’ll be the strength of dashes made
our best not to miss that opportunity. We have to be careful
home unsmiling, looking the Duterte administration’s making them richer. on a crummy map—violated
with our emotions and instincts that will lead us to have a
knee-jerk reaction only, unable to see the whole picture. crestfallen—but of course, success, and that he could In any case here, any deal is the Philippines’ sovereignty.
That is why, we have to make it a habit to identify ourselves the Palace will say he’s “just count on his friend to help a gamble. In a casino, Beijing And That’s The Truth / A7
more and more with Christ through regular reading and
meditating on the gospel, developing the virtues, having
recourse to the sacraments that make us Christ-like more
‘A cross without a cross’ Candidly Speaking
through their own power rather than on our own dispositions,
although the latter also are important.
Fr. Roy Cimagala
In other words, we have to conquer ourselves and our own
will and ways so that Christ can come into us, so that we can
be more and more like Christ.
AN intriguing statement, indeed! It’s of the saints, which is not meant to Thus, St. Paul, for example, also spoke

Monitor
part of the spiritual consideration be compared, much less belittle, the a lot in this spiritual language. Samples
CBCP that Opus Dei founder, St. Josemaria language of the sciences, technologies, of this can be when he said: “We are
Escriva, made on the fourth sorrowful arts, etc. It is its own species. hard pressed on every side, but not
mystery of the holy rosary. The pertinent It is a language that cannot help but crushed; perplexed, but not in despair;
point goes as follows: get into paradoxes and other figures of persecuted, but not abandoned; struck
PROTAGONIST OF TRUTH, PROMOTER OF PEACE “But don’t drag the Cross…Carry it speech if only for us to get some idea of down, but not destroyed. We always
squarely on your shoulder, because your what the heart is going through. It cannot carry around in our body the death of
Pedro Quitorio Cross, if you carry it so, will not be just be taken solely in the literal sense. It Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also
Editor-in-Chief any Cross: it will be…the Holy Cross. can use words with the view of stirring be revealed in our body.” (2 Cor 4,8-10)
Don’t bear your Cross with resignation: the memory and the imagination, and In another instance, he also said: “That
Nirva’ana E. Delacruz Ron Ramos, Sky Ortigas resignation is not a generous word. Love sparking spiritual considerations. is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in my
Associate Editor Design Artists the Cross. When you really love it, your It has a spiritual significance that weaknesses, in insults, in hardships,
Cross will be…a Cross, without a Cross. beggars description. It can only be in persecutions, in difficulties. For
Roy Lagarde Mercedita Juanite And surely you, like Him, will find Mary appreciated by those who are spiritually when I am weak, then I am strong.”
News Editor Circulation Manager
on the way.” inclined also, just like what St. Paul said: (2 Cor 12,10) He took advantage of his
Christine Paguirigan Marcelita Dominguez We need to familiarize ourselves with “We have not received the spirit of the weaknesses and other negative things as
Managing Editor Comptroller spiritual and ascetical language. It has world, but the Spirit who is from God, the reason to get closer to Christ and to
peculiarities that sometimes can appear that we may understand what God attract more graces from God.
The CBCP Monitor is published fortnightly by the
CBCP - Media Office with editorial and business offices
going against normal logic and common has freely given us. And this is what Of course, Christ himself, despite
at 3rd Floor, CBCP Compound, 470 General Luna sense. It’s the language of the heart that we speak, not in words taught us by his efforts to adapt his language to the
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supernatural world. It is the language spiritual words.” (1 Cor 2,12-13) Candidly Speaking / A5
CBCP Monitor
By the Roadside
Fr. Eutiquio ‘Euly’ Belizar, Jr. SThD
“God does not want our
blood, but our faith”—St.
Cyprian of Carthage
“For we walk by faith, not
by sight,” (2 Cor 5:7)
SOMETIMES a priest’s
own faith journey goes
through twists and turns,
not necessarily always in his
own life.
I began to notice Fe (not
her real name) because of
three things. One, she only
received Communion on the
tongue and while kneeling
down. Two, she once told me
(before going to a confession)
that she was deaf but could
understand some of what I
say if she was close enough to
be able to read my lips. Three,
she was gravely ill—I was told
she had an advanced form of
cancer in the uterus—but still
could manage to do church
cleanup and cultivate the
flowering plants around the
barangay chapel. I genuinely
felt sorry for her. But, to my
surprise, she did not show any
form of self-pity; if at all, she
felt sorry for not being able to
do church cleanup and care
for the flowers around the
church the way she used to.
It was a Friday of August
when they called me to see
her and give her the last
sacraments. By this I took
it to mean her family and
fellow Lagionaries of Mary
Walk for Creation
IN 2003 the Catholic Bishop Conference
of the Philippines (CBCP) called for the
celebration of Creation Day and Creation
time. The bishops recommended that
the liturgies celebrate “the beauty and
pain of our world, our connectedness
to the natural world and the ongoing
struggle for social justice”. In 2015, Pope
Francis, established September 1st as
the World Day of Prayer for the Care
of Creation”. This year, it is celebrated
from September 1 to October 4.
As of press time, the Walk for
Creation is scheduled at 4:00 o’clock
in the morning of September 01 at
Plaza Aurora at Quezon Memorial
Circle, Quezon City. His Eminence
Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle will be
the Mass Presider with concelebrants
Bishop Pablo Virgilio “Ambo” David
of the Diocese of Kalookan and Bishop
Broderick Pabillo, Auxiliary Bishop of
the Archdiocese of Manila.
According to Cardinal Tagle, it is the
day when we should thank the Lord
for the gift of nature and also learn to
take care of others. Bishop Ambo also
appealed to the faithful to join the event
and show their care because “we only
have one world we live in. As what Pope
Francis said, the Earth is our common
Whatever
Fr. Francis Ongkingco
JAMIE held two identical
wooden crucifixes, one on
each palm of her hands. She
looked at one, then at the
other. Undecided, she swayed
her head trying to figure out
which crucifix to choose.
Her mind clearly discerned
which was the better one: the
one in her right hand. She
firmly gripped the cross on
her right.
“I can’t give this up!” she
exclaimed.
Jamie just came back
from a pilgrimage to the
Holy Land. She had bought
a number of souvenirs and
religious objects. She made
sure to pass the religious
items on the sacred places
she had visited to give them
more spiritual weight.
She liked the design of one
particular crucifix and bought
a two dozen of the cheaper
ones and ten specially hand-
carved ones which were more
September 2 - 15, 2019, Vol 23, No. 18 OPINION A5
Suffering faith
Active Faith
Joe Tale
thought she was already on
a pre-departure mode in her
forgotten? I already made
my confession to you not
who spent her life serving
God and his Church not merit Patron of statesmen and
life’s journey. I was in the too long ago?” I understood the gift of a miracle?” her
middle of what I thought then that she wanted me to daughter asked one of the politicians
a worthy preoccupation, administer the Anointing Legionaries who confided her
namely, looking into parish of the Sick to her. I called tearful remark to me. “And
ONE of the gaps in our troubled world today is the lack of
finances, when the secretary her husband, her daughter what did you say to her?” I
role models, those who embody the ideals of what we would
alerted me about her rather and fellow Legionaries to asked the Legionary.
like to be, or what we could become as individuals and as a
uncertain condition and her join us in Fe’s corner of the She answered, “I told her
nation. Perhaps, this gap is most felt in the field of government
family’s request that I come house where she lay calmly that we must keep praying
and politics.
before anything irreversible making herself ready for because nobody knows
Many may not know that our Catholic faith has provided
happens to her. At first, I any eventuality, including, I what God’s plan is for their
us with one such role model—St. Thomas More, he whose
thought of asking the family could only assume, eternity. mother. But I added that we
famous line is: “I am the King’s good servant, but God’s first.”
if I could come the next day. I saw her consciously must also learn to ultimately
Pope John Paul II declared St. Thomas More the Patron of
But I thought better of it and straightening herself and submit ourselves to whatever
Statesmen and Politicians in the year 2000.
instead decided to leave and clasping her hands together that plan may be.” I could
In his apostolic letter issued motu proprio making such
heed their request. in a gesture of prayer. I made not have said it better. While
proclamation, Pope John Paul II writes that the life and
Fe’s house lies at the edge the sign of the cross and led up to this writing, Fe still
martyrdom of St. Thomas More speaks of “the inalienable
of the same path that leads the prayers. Towards the holds on to her earthly life,
dignity of the human conscience” which is “the most intimate
to the barangay’s Catholic end of the sacramental rite it perhaps through the prayers
center and sanctuary of a person, in which he or she is alone
chapel. Her husband and a struck me how peaceful and of other believers, her family
with God whose voice echoes within them.”
daughter who was nursing calm Fe was; she seemed hopefully grows in faith.
I wonder how many in government and politics right can
a baby herself met me even eager to meet her Maker My own faith journey
truthfully say that they follow their conscience in the exercise
and two Legionaries who any time. sometimes seems tossed
of their roles and responsibilities.
accompanied me at the door. The same thing was not true about in a stormy sea of
JP II continues: “Whenever men or women heed the call of
At once I requested to see to her family, naturally. Her doubt and some cloud of
truth, their conscience guides their actions reliably towards
her. Her husband took me daughter complained, with a unknowing, especially when
good…St Thomas More, because of the witness he bore …
through a narrow but well-lit tinge of hurt in her voice, that I encounter the likes of Fe
to the primacy of truth over power … is venerated as an
living room to a bed where her mother is no longer able to and their suffering faith. But
imperishable example of moral integrity.”
a very emaciated Fe lay, a take in even liquid food. When I find myself again in a safe
In these times of proliferation of fake news, there is a
thin old blanket covering I asked about her doctor’s harbor whenever the faith of
greater call for people to search for and follow the truth. And
her body. I asked everyone instructions, in so many words, her fellow Legionaries comes
because of the role of both social and mainstream media, this
to give us some privacy so I I was made to understand that out like a beacon of light
appeal for conscience and truth is also addressed to those
could hear her confessions. Fe’s fate was already considered announcing the shore.
who manage and direct the communication programs of their
Everybody in the house beyond any human effort; the After all, the Master
client politicians.
started to leave us. The house family was simply asked to himself reminds us: “Truly I
It is comforting to note that now St. John Paul II’s
being small, I realized my give their mother the best care tell you, if you have faith the
declaration of St Thomas More as Patron of Statesmen and
call for some privacy meant possible. It was clear to me that size of a mustard seed, you
Politicians was not a move of the Catholic Church alone. “Such
all persons had to go outside. the family understood this to can say to this mountain,
declaration was made also upon the petition of several Heads
I made some signs asking mean all they could do was wait ‘Move from here to there”,
of State and Government and numerous political figures.
Fe if she needed to go to for a miracle or prepare for Fe’s and it will move. Nothing
Those supporting the petition include people from different
confession. She turned to me inevitable tryst with Sr. Death. will be impossible for you”
political, cultural and religious allegiances.” These show that
and said, “Father, have you “Why would my mother (Mt 17:19).
St Thomas More “is acknowledged … particularly among those
with responsibility for the destinies of peoples … as a source
of inspiration for a political system which has as its supreme
Duc in Altum goal the service of the human person.”
In Couples for Christ (CFC), we have St. Thomas More and
Atty. Aurora A. Santiago Associates as our sociopolitical renewal ministry. St. Thomas
More is also the patron saint of the Ateneo Law School. The
fraternity I belong to in this law school, the Fraternal Order of
Utopia, has its name based on the written work of St. Thomas
home so let us take care of it.” The Sanchez gave her to his bodyguards More, “Utopia,” which describes an ideal society.
CBCP-NASSA (National Secretariat for who gang-raped her and killed her There are a few other organizations named after him. Yet,
Social Action, Justice and Peace) said afterwards, despite her plea for life. it seems our combined efforts are not yet enough, as we still
that the event is “The Web of Life, to Allan Gomez was tortured before killing do not readily see nor widely feel the impact of his values and
remind us that we are part of a single, him. Sanchez was found guilty with 7 principles in our society today. It is my hope that through
wondrously complex web of life that term of reclusion perpetua (life sentence this and following posts, and the intensified efforts of many
reflects the magnificence of the Creator.” composed of 40 years per term). similarly minded people and groups, St. Thomas More’s life
The controversy came out with the and example will be more widely known, and more importantly,
*** passage of RA No. 10592 which provides emulated and lived out. I thank an esteemed brother in CFC
There was furor in social media and that “offenders or accused who have and colleague in the legal profession, Arnel Santos, for the
demonstration of outrage from different undergone preventive imprisonment materials he provided on our common patron saint.
sectors when release papers of convicted shall be credited in the service of their
murderer and rapist former Calauan, sentence consisting of deprivation Farmers / A1
Laguna Mayor Antonio Sanchez of liberty, with the full time during
was reportedly signed by Bureau of which they have undergone preventive as prices of palay or unmilled rice dropped to as low as P7 per
Corrections (BuCor) chief Nicanor imprisonment if the detention prisoner kilo with the implementation of the new law.
Faeldon. The document allegedly stated agrees voluntarily in writing after being Some of them, particularly those from Northern Luzon, are
that Sanchez “was found to have served informed of the effects thereof and with already considering to leave their rice fields or sell their land
40 years upon retroactive application of the assistance of counsel to abide by if the buying price of palay will continue to plunge.
RA No. 10592 or the Good Conduct Time the same disciplinary rules imposed “It’s very low, and it’s almost like giving away their harvest,”
Allowance (GCTA) and was certified to upon convicted prisoners.” However, Bishop Bancud lamented.
have no other legal cause to be further the said law excluded from its coverage In July, the average farm-gate price of palay was still at
detained.” The release of Sanchez was the recidivists, habitual delinquents, P17.76 a kilo.
scheduled on August 20 and his family escapees and persons charged with President Rodrigo Duterte on Feb. 14 approved the law
was already waiting for him on that day heinous crimes. With that, Sanchez is that allowed the liberalization of the rice industry to make
outside the Penitentiary. disqualified from the coverage of this the staple food more affordable to Filipinos.
It will be remembered that Sanchez law. The economic research group Ibon Foundation had warned
was charged with 7 counts of rape and It is a good thing that the impending that the law will only made things worse for the farmers.
murder of Eileen Sarmenta and murder release of Sanchez came out in the open The agriculture department has offered a P15,000 loan
of Allan Gomez, both students at U.P. and public opinion set the tempo for assistance to help the affected rice farmers, with zero-interest
Los Baňos. After raping Sarmenta, Duc in Altum / A6
and is payable up to eight years.
But the prelate said the measure is not enough to support
farmers, one of the poorest sectors.
Soul selfie “How can they pay the loan, especially the small farmers?”
Bishop Bancud said.
Candidly Speaking / A4
language that was full of paradoxes and parables.
That is why he would often conclude his mysterious
expensive. Jamie took one there was only one cross left: wrapper to pack her treasured
preaching with the words, “He who has ears to hear, let him
of the expensive crosses and and the cheaper version of crucifix for her friend.
hear.” (cfr. Mt 11,15; Mt 13,9, Rev 2,29) Only those who are
wrapped it in silk wrapper as what she had given to Pam. [CLICK!] Jamie smiled.
spiritual and with faith can get the meaning of what Christ
a gift to her best friend Pam. Now here she was: give The sound silently but clearly
was saying.
Pam, who had been Pam that extra cross or give registered in her heart and
Thus, Christ would say, “The last shall be first, and the first
dreaming of making a her what she had bought for she knew God had just taken
last,” (Mt 20,16) and that he who loses his life will find it. (cfr.
pilgrimage to the Holy Land, herself? a selfie with her in her soul.
Mt 10,39; Mt 16,25; Mk 8,35; Lk 9,24)
was so excited to receive the “It’s her fault after all!
In the case of St. Josemaria Escriva’s “a cross without a
cross. She treasured it and She should have been more ***
cross,” what he means is that as long as we love the cross in all
gave it a special place in her careful about where she left I was quite touched by
its forms the way Christ embraced his cross, it will be a cross
desk and made sure to always it!” The thought crossed Jamie’s story. It is a rather
that, while inflicting some pain, will actually purify and redeem
carry it with her. Jamie’s mind. common experience that
us from our state of sinfulness. It would be Christ, more than
One day, Jamie received a “How can I give her everyone has. It is not the
us, who would carry that cross.
text from Pam: what’s mine? Giving her this usual dilemma of making a
And so whenever we suffer in one way or another, let’s never
[HU! HU! HU! Lost the cheaper one wouldn’t really black or white choice, that is,
forget to unite our suffering with Christ to make that suffering
crucifix you gave! So sorry… matter, sides it also came between something good and
bearable, meaningful, purifying and redeeming.
Looked everywhere but it from the Holy Land.” This bad, between virtue or vice. It
seems 2b nowhere!] other thread popped out of is more like having to choose
Panaghoy / A4
Jamie couldn’t help feeling her thoughts. the better of two goods:
bad for Pam’s lost. She “But she’s my friend! How when one is invited by God economies in Biarritz, in southern France. Unfortunately,
wondered what could make could I even think this way,” to exercise more generosity, Brazil has turned down the 20M USD the G7 pledged as
her friend feel better. She she rectified. patience, understanding and foreign aid to fight the fires. Politics, and personal pride of
thought why not give her Finally, Jamie tightly sacrifice, etc. world leaders, are taking over instead of the care of the earth!
another one, after all she still clasped the better cross and Jamie’s choice can be called In this world, we are all related to each other. Disasters in
had a few more to spare. said, “I will give this one to a ‘selfie of the soul’ because one part affects the whole world. Irresponsible behavior of
When she opened the box her!” At that, she returned there is no one to take a leaders in one country affects all. Rightly then did that young
of her Holy Land souvenirs, the cheaper cross in the box snapshot of one’s conscience, man say that he was concerned about the forest fires in the
she gasped when she saw that and began looking for gift Whisper from the Desert / A7 Amazon. Each one of us should indeed be concerned.
A6 LOCAL NEWS September 2 - 15, 2019, Vol 23, No. 18 CBCP Monitor

Bishop: Wasting food is a ‘serious sin’ Marian Youth Congress draws

thousands in Naga City
A CATHOLIC bishop has
joined his voice to the THE Marian Youth Congress
campaign against food waste, in Naga City has attracted
calling it “morally wrong and more than 8,000 delegates
a serious sin”. from all over the Bicol region
Bishop Pablo Virgilio on Aug. 27 to 28.
David of Kalookan said that The annual gathering was
wasting food is unacceptable, timed as the Caceres archdiocese
especially in a poor country prepares for the feast of Our
like the Philippines. Lady of Peñafrancia next month.
“It’s absurd to even think The event reflected on the
about the amount of food that theme “I am the servant of
goes to waste in a country the Lord; may it be done to
where so many people go me according to your word”, be happy before Jesus, we
hungry,” he said. anchored from this year’s World should be at peace before
According to data provided Youth Day (WYD) and National Jesus, we should not be afraid
by the UN’s Food and Youth Day (NYD) celebrations. before Jesus,” Tirona said.
Agriculture Organization, The gathering was opened The whole-day event
roughly one-third of food with a Mass officiated by featured Marian catechesis and
produced is lost or wasted Archbishop Rolando Tria animations and was highlighted
globally, which amounts to Tirona of Caceres at the city’s with a procession from the
about 1.3 billion tons per JMR Coliseum. coliseum to the Minor Basilica
year. In his homily, the of the Our Lady of Peñafrancia.
In the Philippines, the archbishop called on the The Caceres archdiocese
Food and Nutrition Research young people to draw will also be hosting the NYD in
Institute reported that a to promote solidarity with profit organizations. donated,” he also said. inspiration from Mary as the 2021, which is also the 500th
Filipino household wastes people in need. “It is easy to address the In several occasions, Pope “model” of service. year of Christianity in the
43 grams of rice daily, as His words came after typical concern of people in Francis had also denounced “As servants, we should Philippines. (CBCPNews)
well as 8 grams of other food a lawmaker filed the food business about being the “nasty habit” of food
items, such as fish, meat and proposed “Zero Hunger held liable in case the food waste, saying that throwing Duc in Altum / A5
vegetables. Act” before the House of that they donate gets spoiled away food means throwing justice to prevail. However, Justice Secretary Menardo
The World Hunger Report Representatives. in transit or due to improper people away. it was not what happened Guevarra ordered BuCor to
2018 also showed that about Among the provisions of the handling,” David added. “It is scandalous today not in other controversial cases. suspend the processing of
13.3 million Filipinos are measure include mobilizing “That’s precisely where to notice how precious food is It is reported by Philippine GCTA beneficiaries after his
considered food-insecure. food establishments to the charitable organizations as a good, and how so much Daily Inquirer on August premature announcement
For this reason, the donate surplus food to come in, to assume good ends up so badly,” he 29, 2019 at Inquirer.Net of the impending release of
prelate is supporting efforts chosen charities and non- responsibility for what is said. (CBCPNews) that a total of 1,914 convicts Sanchez was met with public
of heinous crimes were anger.
Church issues prayer against dengue, leptospirosis among the 22,049 prisoners
who were released from
***
With all these controversies,
MANILA’S Roman Catholic Church protection of everyone from these and more than 208,000 from January 1 to jail after their GCTAs were the Philippine National Police
has issued a special prayer for the other illness”. August 10. recomputed. They were (PNP) should also conduct an
healing of those suffering from The prayer is to be recited kneeling Hospitals, particularly in Manila, convicted of murder and impartial investigation on
dengue and leptospirosis as the after the post-communion prayer at are also bracing for a surge of patients rape, robbery with violence, the “suspicious” killing of
death toll from the diseases reached all Masses in the archdiocese starting because of disease-carrying floods. violation of Dangerous Drugs Ruperto Traya Jr., a Bureau
over 900. Sunday, Sept. 1. Based on the latest data, the agency Act, parricide, kidnapping of Corrections (Bucor) chief
The “oratio imperata” was released The health department has earlier has recorded about 981 leptospirosis with illegal detention and administrative officer III,
on Friday because of the “alarming” declared a “national dengue epidemic” cases all over the country, with 113 destructive arson. We call whose death was being linked
number of those afflicted by the diseases after the mosquito-borne disease had deaths. on the government agencies to the cancelled release of
in the country. claimed more than 800 lives so far this The figure, however, is lower than the to conduct an investigation Sanchez. Traya’s division
Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle is year. 2,618 cases of leptospirosis with 256 on the veracity of this report was in charge of collating
requesting the faithful “to pray for the The agency reported that dengue deaths reported in the same period in because the provision of R.A. and processing all paperwork
healing of those who are sick and for the cases in the country have also reached 2018. (CBCPNews) 10592 is very clear, those regarding the re-computation
convicted of heinous crimes of the credits of convicts’
are disqualified from this good conduct time allowance
Families play key role in encouraging vocations, says CBCP head law. The BuCor should not be under the retroactive R.A.
the only one to consider who 10592. The investigation will
PARENTS play a pivotal role in the would be qualified under this not only give justice to the
discovery and promotion of religious law. There is a big temptation victim, but will also identify
vocations, the head of the Catholic for corruption in the lowering the real motive behind his
Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines of detention period and murder.
said. granting release to convicted
Speaking at a diaconate ordination persons. Department of
Sept. 2, Archbishop Romulo Valles of
Davao said that family is the first school of Environment / A1
discipleship or the “seedbed of vocations”.
“God’s calling is easier to hear when Since 1989 the Orthodox for worship, and to open
it is made or heard in the context of a Christians have marked ourselves to listen to His
family that has faith,” Archbishop Valles Sept. 1 as a day of prayer for voice, heard in the cry of the
said in his homily. creation, a tradition adopted earth and the cry of the poor,”
While promoting vocations in parishes by Pope Francis in 2015. Fr. Leydon said.
or schools are helpful, he stressed that He urged the faithful to see For his part, Fr. Edwin
nothing beats the role of families as the September as a season to raise Gariguez, Executive Secretary
“basic venue” to encourage vocations. awareness about environment of Caritas Philippines said
“Faith in the community is also very protection, until Oct. 4, the , “we cannot be business as
important. It makes easier for people feast of St. Francis of Assisi, usual”.
especially today to appreciate the patron of the environment. “The church, as much as
whispering of the holy spirit,” he said. According to Fr. John the government and all other
In a ceremony at the San Pedro Leydon, chairperson of the sectors are challenged to take
Cathedral, Archbishop Valles ordained Global Catholic Climate climate emergency seriously,
Archbishop Romulo Valles leads a Mass in which he ordained three new deacons at the San Pedro Cathedral in
3 new deacons for the archdiocese. Davao City Sept. 2. PHOTO FROM THE ARCHDIOCESE OF DAVAO Movement – Pilipinas, “the and treat it with urgency,” Fr.
With friends and family at the planet is in crisis”. Gariguez said.
cathedral, he welcomed Michael Ondras, of service to be a deacon but this is just Also present during the ordination He said that the Church is “We cannot just be
Jr., Ruperto Jamili III, and Alfredo transitory to become a priest later,” the were Archbishop Emeritus Fernando coming to “a deeper awareness bystanders anymore. If we
Bustamente, Jr., who have completed archbishop added. Capalla of Davao, Bishop Abel Apigo of of who we are supposed to be want to be called sons and
theological formation. “We will accompany the journey Mati, and dozens other priests. in this situation”. daughters of God, then, by
As deacons, he told them that they of our people to the kingdom fo God. In recent weeks, Archbishop Valles “We are being called to all means, we have to start
are called to be servants and “a kind of That is the signpost of the Church, the had also ordained three men to worship God as our Creator. caring for one another, and for
serving that requires us to be the last”. ministry of the servants of the Church,” the priesthood for the archdiocese. The Season of Creation is our common home,” he said.
“That is the orientation of the kind he also said. (CBCPNews) a special time we set aside (CBCPNews)

Cubao diocese officially opens sainthood cause of ‘Servant of God’ Darwin Ramos
THE sainthood cause of a former
street child was formally opened
Wednesday, nearly seven years
after his death.
The cause of Darwin Ramos
was set in motion by the Diocese
of Cubao, the ecclesiastical
jurisdiction where he died at age
17 on Sept. 23, 2012.
Bishop Honest Ongtioco made
the official announcement during
Mass Aug. 28 at the Cubao
Cathedral.
“He was known to be a simple
and holy man,” Ongtioco said.
“This whole process is not just
about his life but also about us. We
are all called by God to holiness,”
he said.
During the ceremony, the bishop
announced the creation of an
investigative body to verify whether
Ramos has indeed practiced
“heroically” the Christian virtues.
The task of the body is to use
all the juridical and canonical
means to prove that candidate for
beatification “is already enjoying
the beatific vision together with
God and the saints”.
“So this is the primary task.
The body will try to prove if the
servant of God has the reputation
for goodness to be declared as
such,” said Fr. Danilo Flores, the
promoter of justice.
“We also have to prove if he can
be a model especially for the youth
in the Philippines,” he said.
French Dominican priest Fr.
Thomas de Gabore, the cause’s
postulator, met Ramos in the last
few weeks of his life and described
him as “a simple teenager”.
“But in his heart, his spiritual life
was very impressive. He was deeply
devoted to Jesus Christ despite
suffering,” he said.
The Vatican in March gave the
diocese the green light to start the
diocesan process.
The process includes compiling
and gathering documentary and
testimonial evidence about his life
and holiness.
Once completed, the documentation
French Dominican Fr. Thomas de Gabore shows the petition to introduce the Cause for Beatification of
THE SERVANT OF GOD, DARWIN RAMOS, DURING A CEREMONY AT THE CUBAO CATHEDRAL AUG. 28. ROY LAGARDE
from the local inquiry will be sent to
the Vatican Congregation for Saints’
Causes, which reviews the gathered
information.
If he is found to have led a heroic
life of Christian virtues, the church
bestows the title “venerable.” The
next steps would be beatification
and canonization.
In general, two miracles
determined to have occurred
through the candidate’s intercession
are needed for sainthood—one each
for beatification and canonization.
Ramos spent his childhood in the
slums of Pasay, where he scavenged
the streets with his younger sister.
He was later diagnosed with
Duchenne muscular dystrophy,
a genetic illness characterized by
muscle weakness.
In 2006, he was rescued by
the Tulay ng Kabataan, a non-
governmental organization that has
been helping street children, where
he discovered the Catholic faith.
Over the years, Ramos’ physical
condition worsened but despite it,
he reportedly uplifted the spirit of
other kids and his caretakers with
the way he lived his illness.
Fr. De Gabore also said that not
a day passed that the boy did not
take time out to entrust himself to
Jesus.
“That is why I believe in my
heart that he is already in heaven.
But I have to prove it at the
tribunal and the Church,” he said.
(CBCPNews)
CBCP Monitor September 2 - 15, 2019, Vol 23, No. 18 DIOCESAN NEWS A7

Bishop backs proposed Mass commemorates victims

‘no homework’ policy
A CHURCH official is all
for the proposals to ban
homework for kindergarten
to high school students as
part of the reforms in the
country’s educational system.
Bishop Roberto Mallari,
chairman of the Episcopal
Commission on Catechesis
and Catholic Education, said
that students deserve quality
time with their families.
“Schools should design
academic and non-academic
program schedules in a way
that will not affect family
time, and that includes no
assignments on weekends,”
Mallari said.
The prelate stressed
the need to also balance
a student’s academic and
family life for his or her
development to become more
holistic.
Academic life is necessary
to propel success and a good
future for young people.
to do things together in the
name of holiness, such as
sharing stories, playing,
celebrating occasions, and
attending church, among
others,” added Mallari.
Separate measures
proposing a no-homework
policy were filed in Congress
by Deputy Speaker Evelina
Escudero and Quezon City
Rep. Alfred Vargas.
Escudero’s bill promotes
a no-homework policy for
kinder to grade 12 pupils and
limit school activities to the
campus while Vargas’ version
wants to ban homework
during weekends.
Bishop Mallari added that
schools must realize that
developing a student is not
just limited to spending
extensive time in academics
and related activities.
“Learning is not purely
academic. Value formation
is a central point. And
of Davao night market bombing
A MEMORIAL Mass has been
held in Davao City on Sunday,
Sept. 1 to mark the third year
of the night market bombing
that left 15 people dead.
Led by Archbishop Romulo
Valles, the service included
prayers for the families of the
fatalities and those hurt in
the attack.
Massgoers also offered
flowers for the victims at the
“Tree of Life” memorial marker
built at the ground zero of the
Sept. 2, 2016 bombing.
Speaking during the Mass,
Archbishop Valles said that
besides remembering the
pain, the event was about
showing the victims that they
“are not forgotten”.
“We share your memory,
painful as it is, we share your
burden and pain,” he said.
The prelate, who is also Archbishop Romulo Valles leads the commemoration of the third anniversary of the night market bombing in Davao City Sept. 1.
the president of the Catholic PHOTO FROM DAVAO CITY GOVERNMENT

But there are certain limits
that school dynamics needs
to understand and widely
consider,” he said.
“Family life is sacred as
it creates opportunities for
children and their parents
value formation happens
significantly at home as
the students learn and
realize to be more giving,
collaborative, and live a life
with Jesus and Mary,” he
said. (CBCPNews)
Bishops’ Conference of the
Philippines, also noted the
“goodness that swelled” after
the “evil” incident.
“In a sense, there was that
tragic event but right away we
stood up with goodness and
unity,” he said.
And in the fight against
“misguided” people, the
archbishop added that
cultivating good and growing
in love are the best ways to
counter evil.
“This is cliche… but the
only thing we can do is to
counter that evil with goodness
and love for each other,”
Archbishop Valles added.
“That tragedy produced in
us a common humanity, a
common identity in us all as
Davaoeños and that is what
we are celebrating today,” he
also said. (CBCPNews)

Bishop to young people: Put

freedom to good use
Members of Singles for Christ gather for the SFC Metro MANILA REGIONAL CONFERENCE IN
ANTIPOLO CITY AUG. 25. SKY
ORTIGAS
MEETING about 2,600
members of Singles for
Christ, a Catholic bishop
called on young people to
make careful use of their
freedom.
Speaking during Mass at the
SFC Metro Manila Regional
Conference in Antipolo City
Aug. 25, Bishop Francisco
De Leon said that freedom
means always choosing the
good.
Reflecting on Sunday’s
Gospel, he reminded the
crowd that man and woman
are created in the image and
likeness of God.
However, he said that
sin always has a way of
“distorting the original
beauty that hinders us from
entering God’s kingdom”.
“We are originally
beautiful, human nature is
good,” De Leon said in his
homily. “But this disuse of
freedom of what is originally
good and beautiful is now
ugly.”
SFC members from Metro
Manila and other regions
Whisper from the Desert / A5
except the person himself
who is alone with God. Our
Lord is simply waiting if he
will choose the better part
out of love for Him and our
neighbors.
Our Lord Himself invited
the rich young man to follow
him. There was no coercion
whatsoever. He left the
young fellow to decide for
himself whether to sell his
possessions and follow Him.
A similar idea is expressed
in another parable of Jesus
where a king invited guests
to his banquet and how those
invited took it lightly and
never went.
Our spiritual selfie moment
need not take place only
on extraordinary cases. It
can be easily snapped with
gather every year in a per-area
grouping for a conference full
of various activities such
as talks, workshops, and
competitions.
The prelate pointed out
that if people want to enter
God’s kingdom, they must
take up their own cross and
follow Him.
“Let us once again begin
the exercise of self-denial,
discipline, and charity,” De
Leon added.
“The Lord is calling us to go
back to our origin, to what is
true, good and beautiful,” he
also said.
Established in 1993, SFC is
one of the family ministries of
Couples for Christ (CFC) to
cater to the pastoral needs of
single men and women from
21 to 40 years of age.
To date, SFC has about
65,000 members all over the
world covering the different
continents including Europe,
North and South America,
Asia, Middle East, Africa and
Oceania. (Sky Ortigas/
CBCPNews)
the constant practice of the
examination of conscience.
This powerful and fruitful
ascetical norm invites us
to enter within our hearts.
There, we converse with God,
with the help of His grace, to
consider certain decisions.
It is in this examination, a
loving dialogue with Jesus,
that the soul is able to discern
better our Lord’s promptings
to be more grateful, detached,
penitent and apostolic. It is
here, as we learn to refined
our response, where we
surrender to God that which
perhaps, we were thinking of
reserving for ourselves: our
comfort, leisure, plans and
possessions, etc.
Perhaps, like Jamie we too
will here that [CLICK!]
Gov’t restores 3 historical churches
in Dumaguete diocese
THREE historic churches restored
through a government grant amounting
to more than P70 million were officially
turned over by the National Historical
Commission of the Philippines (NHCP)
to the Diocese of Dumaguete recently.
Msgr. Julius Heruela, chairman of the
Diocese of Dumaguete’s Commission
on Church Cultural Heritage said the
restored churches gave them a “sense
of our history because the church was
restored closely to the original and
sense of our faith because it helps us
remember our elders on their worship
on this very church and the beauty and
antiquity of the Church helps feel the
presence of the sacred.”
The churches restored were the St.
Isidore the Farmer Parish Church in
Lazi, the St. Nicholas of Tolentino Parish
Church in Dauin, and the St. Isidore the
Farmer Parish Church in Zamboanguita.
The restoration started in 2018
and received a combined government
funding through the NHCP of almost
P70 million. P40 million was allotted
for the Lazi church, P20 million for the
Dauin church and P10 million for the
Zamboanguita church.
Dumaguete Bishop Julito Cortes was
present for the ceremonial turnover.
He also led the re-dedication of the The restored historical churches of the Diocese of Dumaguete. PHOTO COURTESY OF MSGR. JULIUS HERUELA
churches and celebrated the Holy Mass.
Msgr. Heruela said the restoration Vatican II that is why they took away in Siquijor province.
of the historic churches is a delicate the retablo.” The official unveiling of the historical
process since the project needs to be He also said such an aversion for the markers in the Dauin and Zamboanguita
faithful to the original design of the Catholic retablo and an over-emphasis on churches were also held. The Lazi
structure. the simplicity or bareness of the sanctuary Church already has a historical marker
“There are lots of researches to be could be attributed to being influenced by installed.
done in restoring a church… to keep the protestant or modernist art. The NHCP will add the three churches
materials used or closer to the original “I could say also they were influenced to its National Registry of Historic Sites
but it should provide the needs of our by protestanism. How I wish to keep the and Structures.
worshippers,” he said. original retablo more Catholic. When we The National Museum of the
Asked about some priests and liturgists look (at) heaven there is the presence of Philippines hailed as a National Cultural
who would want to take away the ancient the saints and martyrs,” he added. Treasure the St. Isidore the Famer
retablos (a retable or reredos above an NHCP deputy executive director Church in Lazi, which is noted for its
altar, whether a large altarpiece painting Carminda Arevalo headed a six-member grand convent. It is also a nominee to the
or an elaborate wooden structure with team from the commission for the UNESCO World Heritage list of Baroque
sculptures), Msgr. Heruela said, “there official turnover of the churches on Churches of the Philippines. (Rommel
was a wrong interpretation of the August 26, in the municipality of Lazi Lopez/CBCPNews)
And That’s The Truth / A4
Xi ignored an international Philippine Sea issue alone. weakening we shouldn’t be His will.
body’s decision, trampled The Dragon knows its mere spectators entrusting our Solutions that come from
upon other nations’ rights, size and strength, and so he future too much in the hands human expertise without
broke his promises not to advises House Lizard: If you of our leaders. Remember the guidance of prayer will
militarize his reclaimed want to soar, just ride along. and take to heart “Ne’er shall remain ambiguous—even the
islands. (Fun Tagalog translation: invaders conquer our sacred godless would be better at
How can you dialogue with “Dragon ako, ikaw butiki ka, shores… Sa manlulupig, di ka that. But we who are called by
someone like that? He’s kung gusto mong lumipad pasisiil…” from our national His name—it will do us good
unstoppable. Megalomania nang matayog, sumakay ka anthem? The anthem means to remember what we often
knows no reason. And when na lang, kapit ka sa batok ko nothing if it is just sung—for sing in church: “If my people,
Xi told Digong that the matter ha, gaya ni Daenerys.”) love of country we have to who are called by my name,
of the Hague ruling should I may not be in love with feel it, think it, act it, breathe will humble themselves
never be raised again in his Digong but I can empathize it, pray it. and pray and seek my face
future visits, he virtually with him. On that trip, he But take heart. Despite and turn from their wicked
slapped our president with failed, not just once but twice. our leaders’ half-truths, we ways, then I will hear from
that old map! He spat not First, to get Xi to dialogue on can still do something to rise heaven, and I will forgive
just on Digong’s face, but also the ruling; second, to stop the above the situation. We can their sin and will heal their
on the face of the Filipino! signing of more deals. I fear pray, not only the prayer land.” (2 Chronicles 7:14).
What’s sad is, the Palace that this August trip may be we read in church for three Too esoteric for comfort? If
downplays that aspect of the the second to the last nail on minutes and forget forever, we cannot believe in God’s
visit. It says the relationship our sovereignty’s coffin. It’s but solitary prayer in stillness promise conveyed by these
between China and the only Digong’s failure, not the and silence that seeks the words, then we should stop
Philippines is time honored Filipino people’s. face of God and disposes us calling ourselves Christians.
and not defined by the West When our president is to surrender, in humility, to And that’s the truth.
A8 PEOPLE, FACTS, AND PLACES September 2 - 15, 2019, Vol 23, No. 18 CBCP Monitor

Iloilo priest ordained bishop for Cebu

archdiocese in emotional ceremony
IN a ceremony filled with tears
and applause, a 50-year-old priest
was ordained a bishop at the Jaro
Metropolitan Cathedral on Aug. 27.
Bishop Midyphil “Dodong”
Billones said Tuesday was an
overwhelming, emotional day, but
he looks forward to his new role
with the Church.
“I really have nothing much to
offer after all the many years but
everything comes from God,” he
said.
Archbishop Jose Lazo of Jaro,
together with Archbishop Jose
Palma of Cebu and Archbishop
Emeritus Angel Lagdameo of Jaro
ordained Billones to the episcopacy.
In July, Pope Francis appointed
Billones as auxiliary bishop of Cebu.
It’s been 15 years that a bishop
from the Jaro archdiocese has been
appointed.
Around 2,000 people packed
the cathedral for the celebration,
including Cardinal Luis Antonio
Tagle of Manila, Papal Nuncio
Gabriele Caccia, and 20 other
bishops.
More than a hundred priests
from the archdioceses of Jaro
and Cebu also graced the
celebration, including some
political leaders.
In his homily, Cardinal Tagle
reminded the new bishop that
“the episcopal office, at heart, is a
network of relationships”.
“Without those relationships,
the ministry aspects might be done
efficiently but not really done by a
bishop. Maybe done by a functionary
but not really a minister,” he said.
The moment turned emotional for
Billones and some people around
when the cardinal wished that
his family was present during his
ordination.
“But I believe they are here. And
the family of God is here… bound
to you not by blood, by love,” Tagle
said.
The bishop was born on July 4,
1969, in Pan-ay, Capiz, the first of
two children of Andres and Mila.
“They have all gone ahead of me
but today they are present in this
bigger family,” Billones said as he
shed tears.
An auxiliary assists the bishop —
in this case, Archbishop Palma — in
carrying out his duties.
Billones said it was Palma, who
was then a priest of Jaro, that
helped him “go forward” and pursue
the priesthood.
“I look forward to continue
being guided by him and hopefully
become his extension in loving the
people entrusted to him by Christ,”
Bishop Midyphil Billones has been ordained as Auxiliary Bishop for the Archdiocese of Cebu at the Jaro Metropolitan Cathedral in Iloilo City Aug. 27. PHOTO
he said. FROM THE ARCHDIOCESE OF JARO
The prelate also went emotional
when he addressed the seminarians the real meaning of priesthood is Pontifical Gregorian University. for Theological Concerns at the
at St. Joseph Regional Seminary in fatherhood,” Billones added. After returning from his studies Federation of Asian Bishops
Jaro where he served as rector Billones was ordained a priest on in Rome, he was appointed Vice- Conferences (FABC).
since 2013 until he was appointed Oct. 2, 1995. Rector and Human Formation The bishop was also among the
bishop. From 2004 to 2011, he underwent Director at St. Joseph Seminary, drafters of the new Ratio Nationalis
“How can I forget to thank God study leave in Rome where he later becoming its rector. for seminary formation. (With
for my dear seminarians, my sons… obtained his Licentiate in Sacred Billones also served as one reports from Jane Sampiano/
they who have taught me that Theology and his Doctorate at the of the theologians in the Office CBCPNews)

Augustinians back in New Novaliches bishop pays tribute to predecessor

Ilocos after 120 years
Bishop Renato Mayugba leads the inauguration of the Augustinian Mission in Pallas
Valley, Vintar, Ilocos Norte Aug. 28. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
AFTER 120 years of absence
in the Ilocandia, the Order of
Saint Augustine (OSA) has
returned to Ilocos, among
their important mission
territories during the Spanish
regime.
The Filipino Augustinian
Friars from the Province of
Santo Niño de Cebú were
welcomed in Ilocos Norte
during a Mass on Aug. 28,
Memorial of St. Augustine,
presided over by Bishop
Renato Mayugba of Laoag.
The bishop entrusted to
them a new mission station in
the valley of Pallas in Vintar
Town. Four Friars will form
a local community as they
do the pastoral care of the
faithful in the valley.
The Augustinian Friars
from the older “Provincia del
Santísimo Nombre de Jesús,”
now based in Valladolid,
Spain were responsible for the
evangelization of the Ilocos.
In 1572, the Spanish Fray
Alonso de Alvarado, OSA
joined Juan de Salcedo
in discovering the north.
That became the ripple that
started the proclamation of
the Gospel in the Ilocandia
which had gone far and wide
up to the present.
The Augustinians are
credited to be the founders of
the old Ilocos towns including
the construction of now
world-renowned churches of
Paoay and Santa María. One
of the churches they built is
already a Basilica, the church
in Badoc.
“Practically, everything
that you see in a town were
their contribution to the
human development of our
ancestors,” says Fr. Ericson
Josué, a Doctoral Student
in History at the Pontifical
Gregorian University in
Rome.
“They built our churches
and parish houses, they did
the urban planning of the
old towns, they constructed
the old municipal halls and
schools, they directed the
building of roads and bridges
that connected the towns,
they introduced weaving
of cotton and directed the
digging of irrigation canals,”
the student-priest said.
The Ilocanos gave a warm
welcome to the Augustinians
as they return to their old
mission territory. However,
this time, it is a different
taste of Augustinians that
they encountered: Filipino
Augustinians.
“May their mission in
Ilocos serve as an apology to
the wounds and clashes that
were provoked more than a
century ago, which even led
to the separation of some
Filipinos from the Roman
Catholic Church with the
foundation of the ‘Iglesia
Filipina Independiente’ led
by Ilocanos Isabelo de los
Reyes and Padre Gregorio
Aglipay. May the healing
power of the Gospel bind the
unresolved wounds of the
past,” Josué said.
Meanwhile, Augustinian
Fr. Joseph Farrel, the Vice
Prior General of the Order
who is based in Rome, has
extended, in the name of
the Prior General, best
wishes and prayers to the
missionaries in Pallas Valley
as they start their missionary
endeavor. (Buena Luz/
CBCPNews)
BISHOP Roberto Gaa
thanked his predecessor
Antonio Tobias and called his
contribution to the diocese
“very great” during his
installation as the new head
of Novaliches on Aug. 24.
Bishop Tobias retired last
June 6 although he continued
to oversee the diocese as
apostolic administrator until
Gaa formally assumed his
post.
In his message at the
ceremony at the Good Shepherd
Cathedral, Bishop Gaa paid
tribute to Tobias for his “ardor
service for God’s people”.
“He’s been a great vessel of
the spirit to bring life, vitality,
and firmness in faith, to bring
resolute for God’s people,” he
said, drawing applause from
the crowd.
“These are very big shoes
to fill but I trust in the Lord,
who has guided the diocese,”
Bishop Gaa said, as he asked
Tobias for guidance in the
great task ahead of him.
More than 1,500 people
turn out for the ceremony
to welcome the third bishop
of the 16-year old and fast-
Mindoro’s major seminary celebrates 50 years
THE boat-type seminary building of St.
Augustine Major Seminary (SASMA)
has sailed to a new milestone this week
as it celebrated its golden jubilee in
Tagaytay City.
The three-day celebration, from Aug.
26 to 28, was highlighted with Masses,
the unveiling of Golden SASMA Emblem,
talks, and an alumni homecoming.
Fr. Andy Peter Lubi, rector of SASMA,
said among their 600 notable alumni
are Fr. Florentino Concepcion, former
Pampanga governor Among Eddie
Panlilio, and Fr. Gabayno Oybad.
Fr. Concepcion founded eight institutions
in the towns of Bulacan and in Tondo,
Manila catering to the needs of abandoned
elderly and disadvantaged children and
youth including drug victims, sexually
abused and children with special needs.
He also established 3 schools for
children of poor families, in cooperation
with the Chalice Canada and Angelo
King Foundation.
Panlilio, meanwhile, was the director
of Social Action Center of Pampanga
which worked with communities
displaced by lahar following the 1991
eruption of Mt. Pinatubo. He was
suspended from the priesthood when
he ran for public office.
He was also named “Filipino of the
Year” for 2007 by a major news daily.
In 2008, the Mindoreños witnessed
the ordination of the first Mangyan
apostolate.
Today, the area is the
location of a huge church that
has been under construction
since 2016 and touted to
be the symbol of the rapid
growth of the diocese, which
now has nearly two million
Catholics.
“I think we have lifted
ourselves up from being
a mission area, totally
dependent on the Archdiocese
of Manila and now standing
on our own feet,” he added.
Gaa, 56, was ordained
The Most Rev. Roberto Gaa was installed as the third bishop of the Roman Catholic priest in September 2000
Diocese of Novaliches on Saturday, Aug. 24. ROY LAGARDE for the Manila archdiocese.
On June 6, Pope Francis
growing diocese. Pangarap Village. appointed him as bishop of
Bishop Gaa was installed “And even then we have land Novaliches.
by Cardinal Luis Antonio problems and the people at that The bishop has asked the
Tagle of Manila, in which time were being driven out. faithful for prayers as he
Novaliches is one of its Now, even the church is being starts his new ministry.
suffragan dioceses. driven out,” Bishop Gaa said. “Continue to pray and
The canonical installation Back then, Novaliches was guide us so that everything
took place two days after his also considered a “mission we do will be according to the
episcopal ordination at the area” because it needed many will of God,” he said.
Manila Cathedral on Aug. 22. catechists, “just too much Also present during the
The bishop is not new to that maybe even the diocese ceremony were Archbishop
the diocese. In 2001, when could not afford,” he said. Gabriele Caccia, the Apostolic
Novaliches was still under Within the diocese is also Nuncio to the Philippines,
the Manila archdiocese, Gaa the slum district of Payatas and eight other bishops.
was assigned at a parish in where the prelate also had an (CBCPNews)
St. Augustine Major Seminary (SASMA)
priest, Fr. Oybad, now serving as the and Reynaldo Evangelista of Imus,
diocesan social action center director. Roberto Mallari of San Jose, and Bishop
“What the priest eats at SASMA is the Narciso Abellana of Romblon were also
same as the rest of the community. It’s in attendance.
simple living that I appreciate most,” When the first batch of seminarians of
says alumnus Doi Fuerzas of Bohol. St. Augustine Minor Seminary (SASMI)
According to Fr. Lubi, accountability, in Calapan came to the Divine Word
and service are other core values in the Seminary in Tagaytay City in 1968 for
seminary. their Philosophy course, they lived with
The celebration was graced by Cardinal the SVD (Societas Verbi) novices.
Luis Antonio Tagle of Manila, Papal The following year, Msgr. William
Nuncio Archbishop Gabriel Caccia, Duschak, SVD, then Apostolic Vicar of
SASMA alumni Bishop Oscar Solis, Calapan, decided to establish SASMA, with
the first Filipino appointed to the US Fr. Ewald Dinter, SVD, as the first rector.
episcopacy and now serving the Diocese “SASMA has been home to more
of Salt Lake City, and Archbishop John than 600 alumni diocesan priests from
Du of Palo. different dioceses, religious priests from
Bishops Buenaventura Famadico of different congregations and laypersons
San Pablo, David William Antonio of from all over the Philippines”, Fr. Lubi
Ilagan, Crispin Varquez of Borongan, said. (Madonna Virola/CBCPNews)
CBCP Monitor
Pope Francis invites the faithful to pray, reflect and act to protect an endangered environment in a message released to mark the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation. VATICAN MEDIA
Message of His Holiness Pope Francis
for The World Day of Prayer for
the Care of Creation
“AND God saw that it was good”
(Gen 1:25). God’s gaze, at the
beginning of the Bible, rests lovingly
on his creation. From habitable land
to life-giving waters, from fruit-
bearing trees to animals that share
our common home, everything is
dear in the eyes of God, who offers
creation to men and women as a
precious gift to be preserved.
Tragically, the human response
to this gift has been marked by sin,
selfishness and a greedy desire to
possess and exploit. Egoism and
self-interest have turned creation, a
place of encounter and sharing, into
an arena of competition and conflict.
In this way, the environment itself
is endangered: something good in
God’s eyes has become something
to be exploited in human hands.
Deterioration has increased in
recent decades: constant pollution,
the continued use of fossil fuels,
intensive agricultural exploitation
and deforestation are causing global
temperatures to rise above safe
levels. The increase in the intensity
and frequency of extreme weather
phenomena and the desertification
of the soil are causing immense
hardship for the most vulnerable
among us. Melting of glaciers,
scarcity of water, neglect of water
basins and the considerable
presence of plastic and microplastics
in the oceans are equally troubling,
and testify to the urgent need for
interventions that can no longer
be postponed. We have caused a
climate emergency that gravely
threatens nature and life itself,
including our own.
In effect, we have forgotten who
September 2 - 15, 2019 Vol. 23 No. 18
we are: creatures made in the image
of God (cf. Gen 1:27) and called to
dwell as brothers and sisters in a
common home. We were created
not to be tyrants, but to be at the
heart of a network of life made up
of millions of species lovingly joined
together for us by our Creator. Now
is the time to rediscover our vocation
as children of God, brothers and
sisters, and stewards of creation.
Now is the time to repent, to be
converted and to return to our roots.
We are beloved creatures of God,
who in his goodness calls us to love
life and live it in communion with
the rest of creation.
For this reason, I strongly
encourage the faithful to pray in
these days that, as the result of a
timely ecumenical initiative, are
being celebrated as a Season of
Creation. This season of increased
prayer and effort on behalf of our
common home begins today, 1
September, the World Day of Prayer
for the Care of Creation, and ends
on 4 October, the feast of Saint
Francis of Assisi. It is an opportunity
to draw closer to our brothers and
sisters of the various Christian
confessions. I think in particular
of the Orthodox faithful, who have
celebrated this Day for thirty years.
In this ecological crisis affecting
everyone, we should also feel close
to all other men and women of good
will, called to promote stewardship
of the network of life of which we
are part.
This is the season for letting our
prayer be inspired anew by closeness
to nature, which spontaneously
leads us to give thanks to God the
1 September 2019
Creator. Saint Bonaventure, that
eloquent witness to Franciscan
wisdom, said that creation is the first
“book” that God opens before our
eyes, so that, marveling at its order,
its variety and its beauty, we can
come to love and praise its Creator
(cf. Breviloquium, II, 5, 11). In this
book, every creature becomes for us
“a word of God” (cf. Commentarius
in Librum Ecclesiastes, I, 2). In the
silence of prayer, we can hear the
symphony of creation calling us to
abandon our self-centredness in
order to feel embraced by the tender
love of the Father and to share with
joy the gifts we have received. We can
even say that creation, as a network
of life, a place of encounter with the
Lord and one another, is “God’s
own ‘social network’” (Audience for
the Guides and Scouts of Europe, 3
August 2019). Nature inspires us to
raise a song of cosmic praise to the
Creator in the words of Scripture:
“Bless the Lord, all things that grow
on the earth, sing praise to him and
highly exalt him forever” (Dan 3:76
Vg).
It is also a season to reflect on
our lifestyles, and how our daily
decisions about food, consumption,
transportation, use of water, energy
and many other material goods, can
often be thoughtless and harmful.
Too many of us act like tyrants with
regard to creation. Let us make an
effort to change and to adopt more
simple and respectful lifestyles!
Now is the time to abandon our
dependence on fossil fuels and
move, quickly and decisively,
towards forms of clean energy
and a sustainable and circular
economy. Let us also learn to listen
to indigenous peoples, whose age-
old wisdom can teach us how to
live in a better relationship with the
environment.
This too is a season for
undertaking prophetic actions.
Many young people all over the
world are making their voices
heard and calling for courageous
decisions. They feel let down by
too many unfulfilled promises,
by commitments made and then
ignored for selfish interests or out
of expediency. The young remind us
that the earth is not a possession to
be squandered, but an inheritance
to be handed down. They remind
us that hope for tomorrow is not a
noble sentiment, but a task calling
for concrete actions here and now.
We owe them real answers, not
empty words, actions not illusions.
Our prayers and appeals are
directed first at raising the awareness
of political and civil leaders. I think
in particular of those governments
that will meet in coming months
to renew commitments decisive
for directing the planet towards
life, not death. The words that
Moses proclaimed to the people
as a kind of spiritual testament
at the threshold of the Promised
Land come to mind: “Therefore
choose life, that you and your
descendants may live” (Dt 3:19).
We can apply those prophetic words
to ourselves and to the situation of
our earth. Let us choose life! Let us
say “no” to consumerist greed and
to the illusion of omnipotence, for
these are the ways of death. Let us
inaugurate farsighted processes
PASTORAL CONCERNS B1
involving responsible sacrifices
today for the sake of sure prospects
for life tomorrow. Let us not give in
to the perverse logic of quick profit,
but look instead to our common
future!
In this regard, the forthcoming
United Nations Climate Action
Summit is of particular importance.
There, governments will have
the responsibility of showing
the political will to take drastic
measures to achieve as quickly as
possible zero net greenhouse gas
emissions and to limit the average
increase in global temperature to
1.5 degrees Celsius with respect to
pre-industrial levels, in accordance
with the Paris Agreement goals.
Next month, in October, the Amazon
region, whose integrity is gravely
threatened, will be the subject of
a Special Assembly of the Synod
of Bishops. Let us take up these
opportunities to respond to the cry
of the poor and of our earth!
Each Christian man and woman,
every member of the human family,
can act as a thin yet unique and
indispensable thread in weaving
a  network of life that embraces
everyone. May we feel challenged
to assume, with prayer and
commitment, our responsibility for
the care of creation. May God, “the
lover of life” (Wis 11:26), grant us the
courage to do good without waiting
for someone else to begin, or until
it is too late.
From the Vatican, 1 September 2019
FRANCIS
B2 FEATURE
The Judicial Office in the Church
By Fr. Jaime B. Achacoso, J.C.D.
IN Part II of this article, we saw
the stepwise consolidation of
the processal relation as follows:
(1) The petition establishes the
relation judge-petitioner. (2) The
citation establishes the relation
judge-respondent. (3) The joinder
of the issues or liticontestatio
establishes the object of the
litigation. Once the situation of
the litiscontestatio has been
produced, the judge shall “furnish
the parties suitable time to present
and complete proofs” (c.1516).
What follows next is the probatory
stage of the trial.
1. The Probatory Stage (cc.1526-
1586)
The probatory stage (also called
instruction of the case) is the
processal stage during which the
parts adduce (propose) evidence
(data) to prove the alleged facts.
These include those related to
any exceptions, counter-claims, or
incidental questions introduced
by the parties. Proof is the
demonstration of a doubtful and
controversial fact by the litigants
before the judge, through evidence
and arguments recognized by the
law.
a. Kinds of proof:
1) Declaration by the parts:
regulated in cc.1530-1538.
2) Documentary proof:
regulated in cc.1539-1546.
3) Declaration by witnesses:
regulated in cc.1547-1573.
4) Declaration by experts:
regulated in cc.1574-1581.
b. Evaluation of the Proof.
The judge has to make do with
the probatory means to reach a
certainty based on probability
(beyond reasonable doubt). This
certainty is something juridical,
a formal evaluation which makes
the uncertain (but alleged) fact
equivalent to reality. The judge
makes the distinction between:
1) Full proof: That which is
sufficient in itself to generate
certainty. The Law itself provides
the following as sources of full proof:
-Judicial confession in a private
matter (c.1541).
-Public documents (c.1541).
-Witnesses under certain
conditions (c.1573).
-Legal presumptions (c.1585).
2) Semi-full proof: That which
needs concurrence of other proofs
Dedication Rites for a Church
(Father Edward McNamara, professor of liturgy and sacramental theology and director of the Sacerdos Institute at the Regina Apostolorum university,
Q: Our bishop passed away a couple of
years ago. The see is now vacant. We
only have the college of consultors,
appointed by the bishop before his
death. Recently the senior one of
the college of consultors blessed or
dedicated a church. My question
is, can he can use the formulas of
dedication of the church, usually
used by a bishop? Is it a blessing
or a dedication in this case? Is the
effectiveness of the rite different if
done by a bishop? — D.Z., Beijing
A: This is perhaps more a question
of canon law than liturgy, but I will
attempt to respond as best I can.
First of all, we can see what canon
law says about who has authority in
a diocese and what happens when
the diocese is vacant.
“Can. 134 §1. In addition to
the Roman Pontiff, by the title of
ordinary are understood in the
law diocesan bishops and others
who, even if only temporarily, are
placed over some particular church
or a community equivalent to it
according to the norm of can. 368
as well as those who possess general
ordinary executive power in them,
namely, vicars general and episcopal
vicars; likewise, for their own
members, major superiors of clerical
religious institutes of pontifical right
and of clerical societies of apostolic
life of pontifical right who at least
possess ordinary executive power.
Ҥ2. By the title of local ordinary
are understood all those mentioned
in §1 except the superiors of
religious institutes and of societies
of apostolic life.
Ҥ3. Within the context of executive
power, those things which in the
The Instruction of the Case
to generate certainty. The Law
provides the following as sources of
semi-full proof:
-Judicial confession in public
matter (c.1536, §2).
-Extra-judicial confession
(c.1537).
-Private documents (c.1542).
-Witnesses in general (c.1573).
-Experts (c.1579).
-Judicial presumptions (c.1586).
c. The Collection of Proofs
is regulated in detail by the CIC.
Among other details, the following
are noteworthy:
1) Timing: Except for a serious
cause, the judge is not to proceed to
gather proofs before the joinder of
the issues (litiscontestatio) (c.1529).
2) Declaration by the parts:
The judge can interrogate the parts
in whatever moment of the trial
(c.1530), observing cc.1532-1534.
The part legitimately interrogated
must answer truthfully (c.1531,
§1). It is up to the judge to evaluate
what conclusion can be drawn from
the silence of a part who refuses to
answer (c.1531, §2). Unless a serious
cause counsels otherwise, he may
administer an oath to the parts to tell
the truth; such oath is compulsory
for matters affecting public good.
3) Judicial Confession: A
written or oral assertion against
oneself made by any party regarding
the matter under trial, made
before a competent judge, whether
spontaneously or upon interrogation
by the judge. It can constitute full
proof.
4) Documentary Proof. “In
every type of trial, proof by means of
both public and private documents
is admitted” (c.1539). The requisites
are:
a) Original or authentic copy
(c.1544).
b) Integral: It is up to the judge
to admit and evaluate documents
“shown to have been erased,
corrected, interpolated, or affected
by another such defect” (c.1543).
c) Deposited with the chancery
of the tribunal, so that they may be
examined by the opposing party
(c.1544).
d. Witnesses. The word wit/ness
is a compound word (like gover/
ness or high/ness) which means
a person having wit or knowledge
that comes from one or more of
the five senses (or wits)—i.e., not
answers the following query:)
canons are attributed by name to the
diocesan bishop are understood to
belong only to a diocesan bishop and
to the others made equivalent to him
in can. 381, §2, excluding the vicar
general and episcopal vicar except
by special mandate. […]
“Can. 368 Particular churches, in
which and from which the one and
only Catholic Church exists, are first
of all dioceses, to which, unless it
is otherwise evident, are likened a
territorial prelature and territorial
abbacy, an apostolic vicariate, and
an apostolic prefecture, and an
apostolic administration erected in
a stable manner. […]
“Can. 416 An episcopal see is
vacant upon the death of a diocesan
bishop, resignation accepted by the
Roman Pontiff, transfer, or privation
made known to the bishop. […]
“Can. 419 When a see is vacant and
until the designation of a diocesan
administrator, the governance of a
diocese devolves upon the auxiliary
bishop or, if there are several, upon
the one who is senior in promotion.
If there is no auxiliary bishop,
however, it devolves upon the college
of consultors unless the Holy See has
provided otherwise. […]
“Can. 421 §1. The college of
consultors must elect a diocesan
administrator, namely the one who
is to govern the diocese temporarily,
within eight days from receiving
notice of the vacancy of an episcopal
see and without prejudice to the
prescript of can. 502, §3.
Ҥ2. If a diocesan administrator
has not been elected legitimately
within the prescribed time for
whatever cause, his designation
devolves upon the metropolitan, and
(Part III)
Pope Francis meets Jan. 29, 2019, with members of the Roman Rota. CNS/VATICAN MEDIA
just speculative knowledge. The
following are rendered incapable to
witness by the law itself:
1) Minors less than 14 years
old, and mental retardates
(although the judge may hear them)
(c.1550, §1).
2) The parts themselves, their
representatives and advocates,
and the judge (c.1550, §2, 1°).
3) A priest regarding what he has
known through Confession (c.1550,
§2, 2°).
e. Experts. An expert is a specialist
who is learned, experienced, and
skilled in his or her science or
profession, and whose scientific
report is required either to prove
some fact or to diagnose the true
nature of something (cf. c.1574).
An expert can be summoned by the
judge to supply further explanations
which may seem necessary (c.1578,
§3).
f. Publication of the Acts
1) General Principle: “After
the proofs have been collected, the
judge by decree must, under pain of
nullity, permit the parties and their
advocates to inspect at the tribunal
chancery the acts which are not yet
known to them” (c.1598, §1).
2) Exception: The second part of
c.1598, §1 states an exception to the
general principle above: “However,
in cases concerned with the public
if the metropolitan church itself is
vacant or both the metropolitan and
the suffragan churches are vacant, it
devolves upon the suffragan bishop
senior in promotion.
“Can. 422 An auxiliary bishop
or, if there is none, the college of
consultors is to inform the Apostolic
See of the death of a bishop as soon
as possible. The one elected as
diocesan administrator is to do the
same concerning his own election.
“Can. 423 §1. One diocesan
administrator is to be designated;
any contrary custom is reprobated.
Otherwise, the election is invalid. […]
“Can. 425 §1. Only a priest who
has completed thirty-five years
of age and has not already been
elected, appointed, or presented
for the same vacant see can be
designated validly to the function
of diocesan administrator.
Ҥ2. A priest who is outstanding
in doctrine and prudence is to be
elected as diocesan administrator.
Ҥ3. If the conditions previously
mentioned in §1 have been
neglected, the metropolitan or,
if the metropolitan church itself
is vacant, the suffragan bishop
senior in promotion, after he has
ascertained the truth of the matter,
is to designate an administrator
in his place. The acts of the one
who was elected contrary to the
prescripts of §1, however, are null
by the law itself.
“Can. 426 When a see is vacant,
the person who is to govern the
diocese before the designation of a
diocesan administrator possesses
the power which the law grants to a
vicar-general.
“Can. 427 §1. A diocesan
September 2 - 15, 2019 Vol. 23 No. 18
good, in order to avoid very serious
dangers, the judge can decree that
a given act is not to be shown to
anyone, with due concern, however,
that the right of defense always
remains intact.”
3) Additional proofs: In order
to complete the proofs, the parties
may propose additional proofs to
the judge; when these have been
collected, there is an occasion for
repeating the decree (of publication)
if the judge thinks it necessary
(c.1598, §2).
g. Conclusion of the Case.
When everything pertinent to the
production of proofs has been
completed, it is time for the
conclusion of the case (c.1599, §1).
The conclusion in causa is
the closing of the evidentiary or
probatory stage of the trial (not of
the case or instance, which does not
take place until the pronouncement
of the sentence).
The conclusion takes place
whenever any of the following is
verified (c.1599, §2):
1) Instance of the parts: The
parties declare that they have
nothing more to add.
2) Lapse of probatory stage
deadline: The time set by the judge
for proposing proofs has expired.
3) Judicial declaration: The
judge declares that the case is
sufficiently instructed.
The conclusion in causa has the
administrator is bound by the
obligations and possesses the power
of a diocesan bishop, excluding
those matters which are excepted
by their nature or by the law itself.
Ҥ2. When he has accepted election,
the diocesan administrator obtains
power and no other confirmation is
required, without prejudice to the
obligation mentioned in can. 833, n. 4.
“Can. 428 §1. When a see is vacant,
nothing is to be altered.
Ҥ2. Those who temporarily care
for the governance of the diocese
are forbidden to do anything which
can be prejudicial in some way to
the diocese or episcopal rights.
They, and consequently all others,
are specifically prohibited, whether
personally or through another,
from removing or destroying any
documents of the diocesan curia or
from changing anything in them.
“Can. 429 A diocesan
administrator is obliged to reside
in the diocese and to apply Mass for
the people according to the norm of
can. 388.”
Although our reader has not
specified the matter, I think that,
given that the vacancy has lasted
over two years, we can presume that
the priest he calls the senior member
of the College of Consultors is, in
fact, the diocesan administrator
and has thus most of the powers of
the bishop except in some special
matters — for example, those that
require episcopal character such as
the conferral of the sacrament of
orders. There are also some other
juridical acts that he may never carry
out, others only with the consent
of the college of consultors, and
others only after a year of vacancy
CBCP Monitor
following effects:
1) No further evidence: The
principal effect of the conclusion in
causa is the non-admission of any
further evidence, except for special
reasons enumerated in c.1600,
§§1-2.
2) Exclusion of third party: A
secondary effect is that a third party
may no longer intervene in the case
(c.1596, §2).
2. The Discussion Stage
(cc.1601-1606)
After the period for the publication
of the acts, followed by the decree
closing the case, the third stage of the
process begins: The Discussion
Stage. It is unfortunate that the
Code does not start a new Title with
c.1601, in order to highlight this
fact; instead, the last two acts of the
probatory stage have been lumped
together with the discussion stage
under Title VI: Publication of
the Acts, Conclusion of the
Case and Discussion of the
Case (cc.1598-1606). It seems the
limited number of canons involved
influenced the codifiers to create this
title which straddles the second and
third stages of the process.
a. General Notion and
Principles
This stage gives the parts a last
chance to discuss their respective
Judicial / B7
has passed.
The Ceremonial of Bishops, No.
867, says the following regarding
the dedication of churches:
“Since the bishop has been
entrusted with the care of
the particular Church, it is his
responsibility to dedicate to God
new churches built in his diocese. If
he cannot himself preside at the rite,
he should entrust this function to
another bishop, especially to one who
is his associate and assistant in the
pastoral care of the community for
which the church has been built, or,
in altogether special circumstances,
to a presbyter, to whom he shall give
a special mandate.”
In the light of the above, and
especially considering that the
vacancy has persisted for over a
year and it is unclear when the
current situation will change, the
diocesan administrator would have
the authority and jurisdiction to
celebrate the rite of dedication of a
new church.
In celebrating the rite he would
omit those ritual elements which
are tied to the episcopacy such as
the use of miter and pastoral staff.
In this, the diocesan administrator
differs from other priests who are
equivalent in law to bishops in a
stable manner such as a territorial
abbot or an apostolic prefect. These
are often granted the right to use
some episcopal insignia in the
exercise of their office.
Apart from these external
elements, however, the dedication of
the church would be perfectly valid
and no supplementary rites would
be required when a new bishop
eventually arrives.
CBCP Monitor September 2 - 15, 2019 Vol. 23 No. 18 FEATURE B3

‘Toilets just like home’ or toilets of the third kind?

By Bishop Pablo Virgilio David

SHOULD we or should we not

require the construction of “toilets
of a third kind” in public places
and private establishments in order
to avoid discrimination? As an
ordinary citizen of this country,
may I humbly add a little thought to
the free exchange of ideas over the
burning issue of the day?
STILL NEEDED: RESTRICTED
TOILETS FOR WOMEN
Why is it necessary to retain
restricted toilets for women and for
female PWDs? Let’s admit it, women
have greater need for closeted toilets
than men do. In fact most men
can make do with just the urinals.
(NB. Most people would rather do
their “major” toilet activities in the
comfort of home toilets, which, by
the way, are not segregated! )
So, why not be partial to women’s
needs? Notice how often women
have to queue for their turn because
the closeted toilets for women are
never really adequate. Research has
shown why UTI is more common
among women than among men
in the Philippines; they often have
to wait in line much longer in the
women’s room. Ironically, in the
traditional “Men Only” toilets, the
closets are often underutilized. I
have always felt sorry for the long
line of women spilling outside the
women’s toilet waiting for their
turn (such as in airports and malls)
while the men go through the ritual A government worker places an “All Gender” sign in a restroom of the Quezon City Hall compound. PHOTO FROM QCPAISD
of relieving their bladders a lot
more quickly. Why? Because in between them. In short, he is women’s as in the men’s rooms is attendants don’t seem to mind In a nutshell: let’s keep the two
addition to the closeted sections, conscious of the guy standing next not fair at all, considering that we cleaning the men’s toilets even while toilets: one, RESTRICTED (i.e.
you’d often find a huge row of urinals to him and feels awkward about his have, in addition to the closets—a men are using them. But the women for women only), and the other,
in the men’s room. Sometimes I private parts being seen by him. For long row of standing urinals! will certainly mind a male toilet UNRESTRICTED (i.e., just like
honestly feel like persuading some most men in normal circumstances, INVASION? attendant mopping the floor while home), meaning free for all God’s
courageous women in the queue to the urinals with proper dividers Actually, women are more they are using the closets. children!
invade the closeted toilets inside are really quite enough. We have particular about men entering the The solution? Keep the women’s Let me repeat—our real issue is
the men’s room, especially when very minimal toilet needs. We women’s toilets than men are about rooms restricted only to women and NOT EQUALITY BUT EQUITY.
I see that most of them are vacant don’t need to put on or remove a women entering the traditional female PWDs. And please, add more Our differences from each other go
anyway. sanitary napkin. We don’t need to men’s toilets. Proof? Watch how closeted units inside. Since even with differences of needs, including
NO NEED FOR RESTRICTED wipe ourselves after peeing. We the women shriek when a man these restricted toilets are often not toilets. At the end of the day, what
TOILETS FOR MEN don’t even have to pull down our strays into the women’s toilet. I’ve enough for women’s needs, allow the matters most is that we learn to treat
There are only two reasons why a underwear to pee! Isn’t that a huge never seen men shrieking because overflow of women into the other each other with respect. Let it be
man would opt for the closet even advantage? a woman who could not hold her side, which can be simply called: JUST LIKE HOME: following basic
if some urinals are available: one, Honestly I think what women need bladder dares to enter one of the “JLH—just like home” toilets. These rules of charity and sensitivity to the
he needs to do a major transaction; is not equality but equity. Installing closets available in the men’s room. “omnibus” toilets will be open to all: next user. Do we need to legislate
or, two, the urinals have no dividers an equal number of closets in the In malls, the female toilet men, women, children, PWDs, etc. that?

The will to live By Bishop Pablo Virgilio David

IN 1 Kings 19:4-8, we hear about the prophet
Elijah’s struggle with depression. We are told
that when Elijah heard that all the prophets
of Israel had been eliminated upon the order
of the murderous Queen Jezebel, he went into
hiding. Conscious that he was now all alone
and was bound to suffer the same fate anytime
soon, he lost his will to go on living. And so he
embarked on a suicidal journey into the desert.
“Elijah went a day’s journey into the
desert, until he came to a broom tree and
sat beneath it. He prayed for death saying:
‘This is enough, O LORD! Take my life, for
I am no better than my fathers.’
He lay down and fell asleep under the
broom tree,
but then an angel touched him and ordered
him to get up and eat.
Elijah looked and there at his head was a
hearth cake
and a jug of water. After he ate and drank,
he lay down again,
but the angel of the LORD came back a
second time,
touched him, and ordered,’
Get up and eat, else the journey will be too
long for you!’
He got up, ate, and drank; then strengthened
by that food,
he walked forty days and forty nights to the
mountain of God, Horeb.”
Elijah prayed for death; God sent him an
angel instead—in order to wake him up, feed
him, and prod him to carry on with his journey
to the mountain of the Lord. (Doesn’t this
make it obvious why God does not always
grant our prayers? Sometimes we do not even
know what we are asking for.) God answers
Elijah’s prayer by giving him, not what he
asks for, but what he needs—a companion on
the journey.
A few weeks ago, the happy news about
the passing of the Mental Health Bill into
a Law was hardly even noticed by many
Filipinos. Filipino psychiatrists tell us that the
general awareness of Filipinos about mental
health remains very low. Only a very small
percentage of Filipinos would think of seeking
professional help when they go through an
episode of depression. Most of them would
rather suffer alone or quietly than bear the
brunt of being labeled by the uninformed as
“abnormal” or outright “crazy.”
Even those who have lost a family member
to suicide would rather keep quiet about
the tragic incident. I have encountered
instances among Catholic families in similar
circumstances who have not even bothered
to request for a funeral Mass or a blessing
for their family member. Almost always,
they presuppose that the mortal remains of
people who have committed suicide cannot
be allowed to enter Church premises or
receive a proper blessing because they have
“committed a mortal sin.” They are usually
surprised when I explain to them that yes, a
person indeed commits a mortal sin if he takes
his life, presuming that he is in a right state of
mind. Thank God for modern psychology, we
have come to understand the complexity of the
human psyche a little better. The insight that
depression is a disease makes it easier for us to
comprehend that sometimes, the sufferer can
become a hazard to himself. When a person’s
depression leads to suicide, I usually prefer
to say, “No, he did not kill himself; it was
depression that killed him.”
How else are we to understand the high
incidence of substance use disorder in our
country? The theory that it is drugs that
cause addiction has long been debunked
by psychologists. They are the symptom,
not the problem. People who struggle with
depression will desperately seek ways of
coping, and not all are able to find positive
ways of coping. Those who are unable
to help themselves or seek professional
help can end up killing themselves slowly
through substance abuse. A person who, for
whatever reason, has lost the will to live,
will tend to treat his life like trash. I wonder
if that’s the reason addicts are sometimes
called “junkies”. The term is bad enough;
the present government has invented an
even worse label for them—zombies. No less
than the president has repeatedly referred to
addicts as “non-humans”, as “walking dead”.
I cannot think of a more heartless approach
to the disease than the present government’s
brutal drug war. If they think their “Shape up
or be killed” approach can solve the problem
of addiction, they are terribly wrong. The
threat will only force them to hide, rather
than seek help. The stress can only further
aggravate, not solve, addiction. One does not
even have to be a mental health practitioner
to be able to say so; it is plain common sense.
Who, for heaven’s sake, will persuade those
in authority to go for a more civilized, a more
humane, and more realistic approach to the
problem of substance abuse?
In the Old Testament, the characters
referred to as “angels” are not always
understood as supernatural beings. The
Hebrew term Mal’ak literally means a
“messenger”. Elijah himself, as a prophet,
was God’s messenger. But in a situation in
which the prophet himself has lost his will to
live, God sends another “messenger” to assist
him. Look what the angel does in the story: he
accompanies him, wakes him up every now
and then, gives him food, and prods him to
carry on with his journey.
I wish to see the day when signs printed
on tarp will be posted in all the parishes of
our diocese saying, “Nadi-depress ka ba?
Nawawalan ka ba ng ganang mabuhay?
Naghahanap ka ba ng mahihingahan ng iyong
pinagdadaanan sa buhay? Magtext lamang at
makipag-appointment sa ‘Kaagapay MInistry
Office’ ng ating parokya. Mag-request ng
isang volunteer na makikinig at aantabay
sa inyo.” Thanks, in a way, to the drug war,
we have been forced by circumstances to
mobilize volunteers for this new ministry of
non-professional counseling which we have
called “Kaagapay”. Thanks also to the help of
professional psychologists and psychiatrists,
our Kaagapay volunteers continue to undergo
serious training programs for this new
ministry of pastoral accompaniment of people
with substance use disorder towards recovery,
through our SALUBONG Community-Based
Drug Rehabilitation Program. I am confident
that long after the drug war has ended,
our “angels” in the Kaagapay Ministry will
continue to be of great service in our parishes.
(Note: Sourced from a Facebook post of
Bishop Pablo David dated August 12, 2018)
B4 FEATURE
Stewardship is humble discipleship
(Homily delivered by Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio G. Cardinal Tagle during Mass to conclude the Stewardship Summit held at
MY dear brothers and sisters, Hi!
Buhay pa ho ba? (crowd answers)
Buhay na buhay pa! Naku, salamat
sa Diyos and we thank God for
sustaining us this whole day and
from the energy that I feel from
you parang you want to stay until
tomorrow parang hindi naman.
And we really thank God for this
day. You have learned a lot already.
Magaganda yung mga sharing
so, siguro when you go home,
spend some time in silence. Yung
tumahimik, magdasal, ano kaya ang
sasabihin pa ng Panginoon sa atin?
After all, all of these things is really
a formation in discipleship.
We are here not just for increasing
collection or managing resources even
if they are in themselves very good
and very much needed sa lipunan at
sa simbahan. Pero sa atin ito ay isang
napakahalagang bahagi ng isang pang
habang buhay na paglalakbay, ang
pagsunod kay Hesus.
A discipleship that leads to
mission. The disciple, that student
of Christ, the one who encounters
Christ. Only Jesus, only Jesus could
teach us how to be a good custodian.
A good steward especially of other
people. And tomorrow po, sabagay
Sunday ano na to, tomorrow, we
start the Season of Creation. Magkita
kita tayo alas singko ng umaga. Ay,
walang sumagot. Ipagdarasal ko na
lang kayo doon sa Quezon Memorial
Circle. Walk for Creation.
Ako po ay natutuwa kasi po when
I was bishop in Imus, I started
the Season of Creation. And some
people were asking, “Ano ba yan
naging orthodox ka na ba? Naging
protestant ka na ba? Sabi ko hindi,
it was even provided by CBCP. Pero
parang, nung paglipat ko po dito,
sinimulan din natin yung Season of
Creation. Lo and behold, it’s now
nationwide, it’s now nationwide.
Ngayon it’s my turn to ask them,
“Ano naging orthodox na rin kayo?
Naging protestant na ba kayo?
And the Season of Creation is
really an expanded, an expanded
school of stewardship. Ano yan
eh, sama sama yan eh, human
ecology, environmental ecology
of the resources, all of that, all of
that under the heading of “you are
stewards”.
Medyo i-konekta ko lang ho, kaya
pa ba ninyo? Konekta ko lang sa mga
readings.
The first point po, the readings are
about humility, very clearly about
humility. No description, I mean
no definition of humility. Ang hirap
i-define ang humility. Kaya pag
tayo kung minsan gusto natin clear
definitions. Ang mga mahahalagang
bahagi ng buhay hindi nade-define.
You just describe that is why Jesus
does not define. Jesus tells parables,
stories and you get the point.
In the First Reading from the
Book of Sirach, ito maganda ho, di
ba, yung giver of gifts, kapag may
nagbibigay sa inyo ng regalo, our
response is we love that person,
we appreciate that person. We like
that person. Pero sabi ng Book of
Sirach, mas minamahal ng iba ang
mapagkumbaba. Kung mahal mo
yung nagbibigay sayo, mas mahal
mo yung hindi mayabang. While
you appreciate people who give you
The signs of the times and the need for
compassion, conversion and change
WE, Missionaries of the Sacred Heart –
Philippine Province, meeting in a Provincial
Conference, are convinced of Pope Francis’
advice to view reality from the “periphery”
and not from the center in the light of the
Gospel (EG, 51). We are inspired by our
Founder, Jules Chevalier, when he said:
“From the love of his heart comes the infinite
mercy that Jesus shows towards sinners and
that tender compassion for those who suffer”
(Chevalier, Le Sacre-Coeur, 214). We are
heartened by this call of Jesus: “Come to me,
all you who labor and are heavily burdened
and I will refresh you. Take my yoke upon you
and learn from me for I am meek and humble
of heart; and you will find rest for your souls.
For my yoke is easy and my burden light
(Matt 11:28-30)”. And thus, we are deeply
moved by the following reality as one Sign
September 2 - 15, 2019 Vol. 23 No. 18 CBCP Monitor
the Paco Catholic School on August 31, 2019.)
Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle of Manila presides over a Mass for the Stewardship Summit at the Paco Catholic School on August 31, 2019. PHOTO COURTESY OF ERIC PAUL GUANLAO/RCAM-AOC
gifts, you appreciate more those who who have the seats of honor all the to accept that. So, ipanalangin natin Kung magpa-fund-raising ba ako
are humble. time. But in your mindset you’re yung humility na yun. And part of halimbawa, ministry to the people
So, kahit bigya ka ng bigay ng gifts thinking of the lowly ones. being humble custodians is to take with disabilities para dun sa mga
kala mo maraming magmamahal So, pati sa kainan, ano ho ang care of the humble ones of the world nagsa-sign language, ewan ko
sa’yo. Mamahalin ka kung ikaw sinasabi ng humility dito sa ating the way Jesus wants us. You want kung ilan ang makukuha ko dyan.
ay mapagpakumbaba. And the stewardship? Malaki po. Kasi to be humble then take care of the Pero kung para sa ano ho, meron
humble person sabi dito, knows his po ang steward, siguro lumabas little ones. pa nga ano eh, o sige magbibigay
or her strength and also his or her naman kanina, ang steward is not Pasintabi po ho kasi napapansin kami sabing ganun, “Ipapangalan
limitations. an owner. An owner or those who ko pati sa resources in the spirit of ba sa amin yung buong building
So, humility is really truth. Yung pretend to be owners, they become ano, kapag magpa-fundraising ka, na mag-co-contribute kami?” “Ah,
pagtanggap ng katotohanan kung proud. Akin ito. But to maintain para sa, o, sige ipapaayos natin yung ganun ho ba?” Anong tawag dun,
sino ako. At sabi dito, the greater the spirit of custodianship, ako altar, yung retablo, makakakuha custodian?
you are, humble yourself the more. ay hindi nagmamay-ari, ako ay ka niyan, may iba nga lalapit pa. Tama na. Tama na. Maano ho
Ang isang tatak ng kadakilaan ay ang tagapangasiwa, at tagapag-alaga “Huwag nyo na ho ipagsasabi pero tayo doon ho, kaya maganda ang
pagiging mababang loob. para sa nagmamay-ari, that requires ako na ho sasagot nun” ganyan. paalaala ng ating Pagbasa ngayon
Maraming mga ganon, alam natin humility. False pride destroys Mag-ano ka, o tayo po, mag-re-raise ano ho. And let us, let us allow these
yun eh. Maski naman sa ordinaryong stewardship. tayo ng fund para sa catechetical readings to continue reverberating
buhay and in the Gospel, Jesus saw Even in creation, kapag tayo ay program, naku pahirapan yan, in our minds and our hearts as we
in the meal, in a meal setting how nagpanggap na tayo ang may-ari ng pahirapan. Halimbawa yung continue reflecting on the many
the guests were parang vying for the kalyeng yan, ng lupang yan, ng ilog Sanlakbay, yung ating drug rehab things that had surfaced and had
seat of honor. And that occasion, the na yan, then, dahil ako ang may- program para sa parishes, naku po been shared today and with the
parable, yung seat of honor, kaya ari, kung ano ang gusto kong gawin ho, ano yan, (crowd laughs)alam common orientation of stewardship
sinabi ni Hesus kapag inimbitahan gagawin ko. But a custodian is not niyo na ang ibig kong sabihin. Siguro in your parish, in your locality, in
ka, huwag mo naming i-pressume like that. A steward is a disciple. He kailangan nating pag-isipan yung your concrete situation. Hanapin
na ikaw ang guest of honor. Sa or she tries to discern, what is the sinasabi ng Gospel. ninyo. Ano ang panawagan ni Hesus
kuwento ni Hesus, umupo kaagad mind of the true owner and I will Bakit kapag seat of honor sa inyo diyan sa inyong lugar?
yung tao sa seat of honor kasi nasa take care of what the owner has nagkakandarapa pero kapag yung Papaano iyan isasabuhay?
isip niya, “Wow ako sigurado ang entrusted to me according to the for the least, the ganun, parang Marami pa sanang ikukuwento
guest of honor. Para sa akin ang owner’s desire. So, stewardship is matamlay. Palagay ko mababago kaya lang bukas na doon naman sa
upuan na iyan”. Sino nagsabi nun? humble discipleship. na yan. Napapansin ko yan eh, Season of Creation. Pero magkasama
Wala naman eh, Ikaw! That’ means Kayo po ako maingat na maingat basta may mga fund-raising kapag po talaga yan eh, magkasama. Ang
you’re expecting other people to din po ako eh. Halimabawa, minsan tungkol sa, eto nga eh, ipapa-aircon pag-aalaga sa mundo, pag-aalaga
treat you that way and nakakahiya kapag kausap yung mga, halimbawa natin ang ating simbahan, naku, ano sa kapwa and all of that rooted in
kung hindi pala sa iyo. So, you wait, magsisismula ako ng homilya, may yan, nakakayanan yan, nakakayanan our identity - I am not an owner,
you wait. nagsabi sa akin niyan eh nung yung monthly bills. Ok, stewardship, I am a steward. And so, a steward
And then part of that humility is parish priest ako, “Father bakit mo ok yan. Pero tanong ko, kamusta follows an owner. I am a disciple.
you do not respect only and invite kami tinatawag, my parishioners, naman ang monthly collection And I execute what my master wants
only those who always occupy seats pag-aari nyo ba kami?” Oo nga for the support of public school me to do.
of honor because you would get naman hindi nga pala. Si Hesus students? Meron ba? Baka nga wala Simbahan ho kayo bukas kala nyo
something in return. Give honor ang shepherd, kami ang custodians. eh. Pang aircon meron kaya it’s not exempted na kayo ha kasi Season
to the poor, the beggars, those And the good news is, the good just about managing money, it is of Creation bukas para naman
who cannot repay you. Give them shepherd is risen and will not die about discipleship. maano natin yung isang aspeto pa
the honor. Show them that you are again. He will not retire. Kami If I don’t follow Jesus, I might put ng stewardship.
honoring them. magreretire eh, pero the good my priorities in things that may be Let us pause and allow the Lord to
So, even in giving honor you choose shepherd will not so, he must good but not the priority of Jesus speak again in our hearts.
the humble and in your humble remain the owner and lahat tayo ay who is the true owner and I am a
mindset, you associate not with those custodians. But it requires humility caretaker. (Sourced from: www.rcam.org)
Official Statement of MSC Philippines Province On the Killings throughout the land
of the Times: members of the New People’s Army or its In the name of the God who calls us to
Above all, the almost daily killings sympathizers, again invariably in the name Conversion, we plea: Give the poor who are
happening throughout the land that victimize of the War against Drugs and Terrorism and into drugs a chance to reform themselves just
the poor and church people. In Negros Counterinsurgency. In the urban areas of as you are given the chance for conversion
Island, four Catholic Bishops have issued Manila and in the peripheral nooks of Luzon, to mercy and justice! Put an end to this
an Obligatory Prayer to stop the killings and Visayas and Mindanao, the killings are done impunity to kill which is really in your
massacres of the poor done in the name of either by men in uniform or by assassins political will power to stop!
the War against Terrorism and Communist riding in tandem. As we plea for Compassion and Conversion,
Insurgency. In Cebu, the Catholic Archbishop We MSC declare that we take the side of we also ask that we engage one another in a
has urged the faithful to recite the “Oratio the poor seriously. The Signs of the Times fruitful and honest Conversation on what is
Imperata” to stop the killings done in we cite above plea for Compassion and best for our people and our common home
the name of the War Against Drugs. In Conversion and Conversation for Change and even in the midst of war. For God’s love and
the Lumad ancestral lands in Mindanao Transformation. justice which we share are more powerful
and Northern Luzon, indigenous people, In the name of the God of Compassion, than the greed and self-interest that divide us.
human rights advocates and defenders we urge the killers and the brains behind
and the clergy and the lay especially of the them: Stop the killings of the poor! Stop the
Protestant Church and the Iglesia Filipina attacks against human rights advocates and Missionaries of the Sacred Heart
Independiente are killed, after their Bishops, defenders! Stop persecuting the pastorally- Philippine Province
Priests and Lay Leaders were demonized as engaged Church people, both clergy and lay! August 2019 Provincial Conference
CBCP Monitor September 2 - 15, 2019 Vol. 23 No. 18
Angelus Address of His Holiness Pope Francis at
St. Peter’s Square on September 1, 2019
(Before the Angelus)
DEAR Brothers and Sisters, good
morning!
First of all I apologize for the
delay, but there was an incident:
I was stuck in the elevator for 25
minutes! There was a voltage drop
and the elevator stopped. Thank God
the firemen came—I thank them so
much!—and, after 25 minutes of
work, they succeeded in making it
go—an applause for the firemen!
 This Sunday’s Gospel
(Cf. Luke 14:1.7-14) shows us Jesus
going to dine in the house of a
ruler of the Pharisees. Jesus looks
and observes how the guests run—
hasten to take the first places. It’s
a rather widespread attitude, also
in our days, and not only when
one is invited to a lunch: generally,
the first place is sought to affirm a
presumed superiority over others.
In reality, this seeking of the first
places hurts the community, be it
civil or ecclesial, because it destroys
fraternity. We all know these people:
climbers, who always climb to go
up, up… They harm fraternity, they
damage fraternity. In face of that
scene, Jesus tells two brief parables.
The first parable is addressed to
one who is invited to a banquet, and
He exhorts him not to put himself
in the first place, “lest—He says—a
more eminent man than you be
invited, and he who invited you both
will come, and say to you, ‘Give place
to this man!’’ —a disgrace!  “Then
you will begin with shame to take
the lowest place” (vv. 8-9). Instead,
Jesus teaches to have the opposite
attitude: “When you are invited,
go and sit in the lowest place, so
that when your host comes he may
say to you, ‘Friend, go up higher!’”
(v. 10). Therefore, we must not
seek of our initiative the attention
and consideration of others but, if
anything, let others give it to you.
Jesus always shows us the way of
humility—we must learn the way of
humility!— as it is the most genuine,
which also makes it possible to
have genuine relationships. True
‘Along the Road to Emmaus and Back to Jerusalem’
WE, the 205 superiors and delegates
of the AMRSP Convention of 2019,
have gathered here in Iloilo City to
reflect on the theme of “Consecrated
Persons Accompanying the Filipino
Youth in mission: Beloved, Gifted,
Empowered.”
Along the Road to Emmaus
Resource Persons
At the convention, we listened
intently to the talks of Bishop
Leopoldo Jaucian, SVD, DD, Chair
of Episcopal Commission on Youth
on the theme of the convention;
Archbishop Antonio Ledesma, SJ,
DD, of Archdiocese of Cagayan de
Oro on “The National Situation
from the Mindanao Perspective;”
Ms. Leslie Ann Rosal of Ateneo de
Manila, Theology Department, on
“#Millennials: Understanding the
Filipino Youth Towards Church
Transformation and Mission;”
Bishop Mylo Hubert Vergara,
Diocese of Pasig, on “P/Reaching
to the Post-Millennials in the
Philippine Contemporary Culture;”
Sean Patrick Lovett, the Vatican
Chief Correspondent and Vice
President of the Center for Research
and Education in Communication
on “Impacting Young People’s
Lives Through Communication,
the Greatest Thrill;” and Fr. John
Era, CM, on “The Clergy Sex Abuse
Scandal: The Challenges and
Opportunities Accompanying the
Youth in the World Today.”
The Filipino Youth
We also listened to the reports
of our mission partners which can
help us deal with the youth, and
engaged in the Faith Conversation
with Fr. Mark Lester Senina, the
Diocesan Youth Director of Jaro,
and his staff, and lastly, dialogued
with the youths themselves, face-
to-face in their schools.
As a result, we came to know more
about them, their characteristic
traits, their confusions, their
anxieties, their loneliness, their
disbeliefs and their need to be
humility, not feigned humility, that
which in Piedmont is called mugna
quacia, no, not that, <but> true
humility.
In the second parable, Jesus turns
to the host and, referring to the way
of choosing the guests for the feast,
He says to him: “When you give a
feast, invite the poor, the maimed,
the lame, the blind, and you will
be blessed, because they cannot
repay you” (vv. 13-14). Here, too,
Jesus goes completely against the
current, manifesting, as always,
the logic of God the Father. And
He also adds the key to interpret
His address. And what is the key?
A promise: if you do so, “you will be
rewarded at the resurrection of the
just (v. 14). This means that one who
behaves this way will have the divine
reward, much greater than the
human repayment: I will do you this
favour, expecting that you will do
me another. No, this isn’t Christian.
Humble generosity is Christian. In
fact, the human repayment usually
falsifies relationships, renders them
“commercial,” introducing personal
interest in a relationship that should
be generous and free. Instead, Jesus
invites to selfless generosity, to open
the way toward a much greater joy,
the joy of being sharers in the very
love of God, who awaits us, all of us,
in the heavenly banquet.
May the Virgin Mary, “humble
and higher than a creature” (Dante,
Paradise, XXXIII, 2) help us to
recognize ourselves as we are,
namely, small, and to rejoice in
giving without a return.
(After the Angelus)
TODAY, September 1, is the
World Day of Prayer for the Care of
Creation. It’s an ecumenical prayer,
which encourages awareness and
commitment to protect our common
home, with a more sustainable
personal and family life. From
today on,—until October 4, feast
of Saint Francis of Assisi,—is a
favourable time to praise God for
all His creatures and for assuming
AMRSP 2019 Biennial Convention Statement
listened to without judgment.
“Standing still and looking sad”
(Lk 24:17b), they are afflicted
by what is happening around,
they find themselves in a world
threatened by climate change,
injustices, corruption and violation
of human rights.
Climate Change
Pope Francis called the situation
of the environment a climate
emergency that threatens the very
survival of the human race. We
heard the cry of the earth as it
groans from the heavy burden
imposed by consumerism and
materialism. Present and future
generations will live in a world of
death and destruction if we do not
take radical steps to stem the tide
of climate change.
Injustices
We listened to the cry of the
poor wallowing in abject poverty
both in the urban and rural areas.
Worldwide, the richest families
control more than half of earthly
goods. Inequality, exclusion and
inequitable distribution of resources
have impoverished and forcibly
displaced so many, killing the
dreams of our youth for a humane
life. Laborers are in a continuing
diaspora, searching for greener
pastures abroad only to fall victim
to human trafficking. Back home,
they work under unjust conditions,
plagued by contractualization.
Corruption
Billions of pesos are lost every
year to graft and corruption. The
public coffers have become the
milking cow of those in power,
further entrenching a system of
patronage and privilege. Good
governance and accountability is
a goal we have yet to achieve even
as pockets of hope bloom in some
areas.
Violation of Human Rights
Peace remains elusive in our
beloved land as violence and conflict
responsibility in face of the Earth’s
cry.
I greet you all, from Italy and
from various parts of the world. In
particular, I greet the Ukrainian
pilgrims—  Slava Jisusu Khristu!—
that have come from several
countries, on the occasion of the
Synod of Bishops of the Ukrainian
Greek-Catholic Church, which will
take place in Rome in the coming
days. I greet the Sisters and young
people in formation of the San
Giuseppe Benedetto Cottolengo
Institute. Thank you!  Thank you for
your witness! Thank you for what
you do and for what you teach; go on,
go on! The cyclists of Cunardo and
the faithful of Cerro di Bottanuco;
the Catholic Action group of Lecce
and the young people of San Matteo
della Decima, Gallo Ferrarese and
Capriate San Gervasio.
Next Wednesday, God willing, I
will leave for an Apostolic Journey
to Africa, to visit the populations
of Mozambique, Madagascar and
Mauritius. I ask you to accompany
me with prayer, so that this pastoral
visit will bear the desired fruits.
Next October 5, I will hold a
Consistory for the appointment of
ten new Cardinals. Their provenance
expresses the missionary vocation
of the Church, which continues to
proclaim the merciful love of God
to all men on earth. Here are the
names of the new Cardinals:
Monsignor Miguel Angel Ayuso
Guixot, President of the Pontifical
Council for Inter-Religious
Dialogue;
Monsignor Jose Tolentino
Calaca de Mendonca, Archivist
and Librarian if the Holy Roman
Church;
Monsignor Ignatius Suharyo
Hardjoatmodjo, Archbishop of
Jakarta;
Monsignor Juan de la Caridad
Garcia Rodriguez, Archbishop of
San Cristobal de la Habana;
Monsignor Fridolin Ambongo
Besungu, Archbishop of Kinshasa;
Monsignor Jean-Claude Hollerich,
Archbishop of Luxemburg;
continue to escalate. Killings have
become the norm. Conflict has
disrupted the formation of the
young especially the lumads, as
their indigenous schools have been
ordered closed by the government.
Political prisoners have risen in
number as peace talks have bogged
down.
Accompaniment
Like Jesus who walked with his
two disciples going to Emmaus,
listening to them, interpreting the
Word of God, staying with them and
sharing a meal, we, major religious
superiors and our members in the
congregations, will accompany the
present youth and let them realize
that God has been with them,
lovingly gazing at them, in this
broken world.
“Stay with us, because it is
almost evening…” (Lk. 24:29b)
Like the two disciples, the youth
invite us to stay with them. As
servant-leaders, we bend low to
serve them who are the least, the
last, the lost and the lonely.
As shepherds of the flock, we
use our power and authority with
dignity and humility, at the service
of hope and healing, of mercy and
compassion - OF JOY AND OF
LOVE.
Back to Jerusalem
Like the two disciples, the youth
hopefully go back empowered
as we affirm their inherent role
in continuing God’s mission to
“proclaim the gospel until the ends
of the earth (Mk 16:15). They are
ready for action, empowered by the
Holy Spirit to do wonderful things
in the Church and in the world.
Christus Vivit
His Holiness Pope Francis, in this
Post Synodal Apostolic Exhortation
Christus Vivit, reminds us adults,
that “… Jesus has no use for adults
who look down on the young or
lord it over them” (CV 14). He also
calls us to accompany the young
Pope Francis leads the Angelus from the window of his studio overlooking St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican
Sept. 1, 2019. VATICAN MEDIA
Monsignor Alvaro Leonel
Ramazzini Imeri, Bishop of
Huehuetenango;
Monsignor Mattep Zuppi,
Archbishop of Bologna;
Monsignor Cristobal Lopez
Romero, Archbishop of Rabat;
Father Michael Czerny, S.J.,
Under-Secretary of the Migrants
Section of the Dicastery for
the Service of Integral Human
Development.
Together with them, I will join to the
members of the College of Cardinals
two Archbishops and one Bishop, who
have distinguished themselves for
their service to the Church:
with our wisdom, bringing forth
from our store things both new and
old (CV 16).
Confessio
Sad to say, we have been remiss
of this duty. We bow our heads
in shame and beat our breasts
for the transgressions, abuses, in
particular sexual abuses committed
by consecrated persons. We humbly
ask for forgiveness and mercy and
do justice to the victims.
To the World
Action Points
Therefore, believing that we are
sent to evangelize the world, we
commit ourselves to the following:
1. To renew our ministry
with the youth.
a. Pastoral conversion: to walk
with the young, to acknowledge
their situation, and to recognize
and listen to where they are.
b. Accompaniment of the youth:
to facilitate transformative and
holistic formation of the youth,
to ensure a safe and caring
environment.
c. Continuing synodal process: to
foster inclusive participation of the
youth in discerning and responding
to present challenges.
2. To set up an inter-
congregational office
and provide personnel to
saf eguar d in g min or s an d
vulnerable adults.
3. To undergo ecological
conversion to stem the tide of
climate change.
a. Transitioning from fossil fuel
to clean energy
b. Total ban of single-use plastics
c. Advocate for the rights of
nature.
4. To educate our students
and parishioners that the
present social conditions
affecting them are rooted in
the unjust social structures in
STATEMENTS B5
Monsignor Michael Louis
Fitzgerald, Archbishop Emeritus
of Nepte;
Monsignor Sigitas Tamkevicius,
Archbishop Emeritus of Kaunas;
Monsignor Eugenio Dal Corso,
Bishop Emeritus of Benguela.
Let us pray for the new Cardinals
so that, confirming their adherence
to Christ, they may help me in my
ministry as Bishop of Rome for the
benefit of all the holy people of God.
And I wish you all a happy
Sunday. Please, don’t forget to
pray for me. Enjoy your lunch and
goodbye!
the Philippine society.
a. Fight against forced
displacement and human
trafficking.
b. Support Talitha Kum and
other initiatives to stop human
trafficking.
c. Support campaigns to end
contractualization and other unjust
labor practices.
5. To promote peace and
peace building efforts
a. Support Bangsamoro
Autonomous Region in Muslim
Mindanao (BARMM).
b. Act as convenors for dialogue
and mediators for peace processes.
6. To promote good
governance.
a. Organize and support initiatives
to push for greater transparency
and accountability of government
agencies and offices.
7. To promote human rights
and human dignity.
a. Denounce red-tagging of
individuals, organizations and
communities, and actively support
victims of the government’s
harassments and intimidations.
b. Submit report to the UN Office
of High Commissioner on Human
Rights
In the face of these realities,
daunting challenges and these
commitments, we, consecrated
women and men, go forth with
the youth with hearts burning
with renewed hope and joy,
proclaiming, ‘the Lord has risen
indeed!’, preaching repentance for
the forgiveness of sins in his name.
(Lk. 24:34,47).
For the Participants to the AMRSP
Joint Biennial Convention
Fr. Cielito R. Almazan, OFM
Sr. Marilyn A. Java, RC
AMRSP Co-Chairpersons
Iloilo City, July 17, 2019
B6 REFLECTIONS
The church as a community of
mercy and compassion
24th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C, (Luke 15:1-32)
September 15, 2019
By Msgr. Lope C. Robredillo, SThD
HOW DO WE understand ourselves
as a Christian community? It is
strange that people usually are
proud of their communities of faith
on account of their achievements—a
good retreat house, an elegant
chapel, and a flourishing cooperative.
We say that it is strange because the
picture of a Christian community
that appears in the New Testament
is not one that is concerned with
its achievements, but one that is
concerned about its very life, and
the quality of that life.
In his letter to the Colossians, for
instance, St Paul wrote: “I want you
to know how hard I am struggling for
you and for the Laodiceans and the
many others who have never seen
me in the flesh. I wish their hearts
to be strengthened and themselves
to be closely united in love, enriched
with the full assurance by their
knowledge of the mystery of God,
namely, Christ” (Col 2:1-2). In these
words, Paul virtually described
the identity of the Church: it is a
community united in love, enriched
by the knowledge of Christ. Of
course, this implies that there is no
such a Christian as an individual
one; to be a Christian is to belong
to a community. And what unites it
is not so much law and authority as
love and knowledge in Christ. It is
this love relationship that identifies
the Church. If it is asked how are
we, the Church, to be recognized as
Christian, it is not by the badge we
wear, the idiom we use, but by the
love we profess in the community.
As John puts it, “this is know all will
know you for my disciples: your love
for one another” (John 13:35).
Obviously, though, the individuals
who form the community are far from
perfect. They are people who are all
too human. There are always failures
in love within the community.
It would be presumptuous of its
members to profess that they are set
apart from the rest of humanity in
virtue of their perfection. In the Old
Testament, God constituted Israel a
chosen people; but as the 1st Reading
notes, after Yahweh solemnly made
a covenant with them, displaying
his mighty power at Sinai as he gave
them the Ten Words, the Israelites
committed apostasy by creating
for themselves a molten calf (Exod
37:7-8). Paul himself is an example
If Christians were only more enterprising
about discipleship
25th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C, (Luke 16:1-13)
September 22 2019
By Msgr. Lope C. Robredillo, SThD
IN THE LATTER part of
his Communist Manifesto, Karl
Marx says that philosophers
have hitherto explained the
world; the point, however,
is to change it.  The maxim
might well be paraphrased and
applied to being Christian.  To
be Christian, it is not enough
to explain the world in terms
of Christian faith; it is more
important to use that faith
in changing the world.  It is
appalling to note that many
people see what is wrong
with our world today, but
even as Christians, they do
not do anything to contribute
to the transformation of the
world so that it may conform
to the Christian vision.  They
are satisfied with their own
of a Church member who is far
from perfect. In the 2nd Reading,
which is an excerpt from his letter
to Timothy, he said, “I was once a
blasphemer, a persecutor, a man
filled with arrogance” (1 Tim 1:13);
he claimed to be the worst sinner (1
Tim 1:15). In today’s Gospel, Luke
prefaces the three parables with
these words: “The tax collectors and
sinners were all gathering around
to hear him, at which the Pharisees
and the scribes murmured, ‘This
man welcomes sinners and eats with
them’” (Luke 15:1-2). It is possible
that Luke’s community demanded
the exclusion of sinners, or at least
some stringent requirements from
them. Anyhow, the parables clearly
indicate that there were sinners in
the community.
But precisely because the quality
of its life is important, the Christian
community should be a community
not only of love, but also of mercy
and forgiveness. The community
cannot deal with sinners by isolating
them, or excluding them from the
fellowship of God’s people. One
does not preserve the sanctity of the
community by punishing sinners;
that would in the end reduce the
community into thin air. On the
contrary, it is the combination of
love and mercy that makes the
community whole. Even though
he claimed to be the worst sinner,
Paul confessed that God has treated
him mercifully (1 Tim 1:13b). As for
Israel’s idolatry, God allowed himself
to be persuaded. He relented in the
punishment he had threatened to
inflict his people (Exod 32:14). In
the parables of the Gospel today—
the lost sheep, the lost coin, and the
lost son—the same point is being
driven home: the Christian God is
a God of mercy and compassion.
These parables were taught to
explain why Jesus accepted the
tax collectors and sinners into his
company: God does not seek the
destruction of sinners, but their
acceptance to the community of the
rule of God; all he wants is to save
the lost, and celebrate their finding
in joy.
This message is not without
relevance. The last time I went to
the US, I was struck by a regular TV
show, “People’s Court,” where cases
were resolved in a jiffy. Having seen
lives, living isolated existence
untouched by what is happening
around them.  This, however, is
far removed from the teaching
of the Church.  As Vatican II,
in Gaudium et spes, notes, the
Christian community is truly
and intimately linked with the
world and its history.  And
the 1971 Synod of Bishops,
in  Justice in the World, even
says that participation in the
transformation of the world is
a constitutive dimension of the
Church’s mission.
In changing the world, the
Christian knows of course that
it must begin with the change of
attitude of people who maintain
the world.  After all, economic,
cultural and political structures
are simply consequences of
many episodes, I got the impression
that if the show tells us anything, it
tells us that many people have no
tolerance for the slightest human
mistake. That we think we are
always right, and that we value
money more than forgiveness in
human relationships and healing of
broken bonds—this seems to be the
bottom line of the show. Indeed,
how often it seems that we have
little tolerance for the spiritually
or morally lost! We have very
few nice things said about them.
But today’s readings have one
message: If God showed mercy and
compassion to the people of Israel
despite her idolatry, if he forgave
Paul despite his claim to being the
worst sinner, so Jesus calls us now
to show mercy and compassion to
the lost, and rejoice in their return
to the fold. At the heart of every
member of the Christian community
should be mercy, compassion for the
wayward members, and joy in their
conversion.
We cannot be indifferent even
to a single sinner. We cannot
be assuaged by the thought that
we can exclude them, since there
are still many members who are
faithful and good. The life of each
one, sinful though he may be, is
important. We can never give up a
lost member. After all, the Church
is not a community of self-righteous
people. If it is a community known
by the love that prevails among its
members and by their knowledge of
the Lord, then it must love and have
compassion for everyone, including
the lost. According to Paul, our
vocation is to be an example to
those who would later have faith
in Christ, and gain everlasting life
(1 Tim 1:16b). And we cannot be
that kind of community if we are
quick to condemn sinners, and
separate ourselves from them.
On the contrary, that would even
make hypocrites out of us. Which
is why, every time we celebrate the
Eucharist, we pray: “Lord, look not
on our sins, but on the faith of your
Church.” More positively, we say
in the Roman Canon (Eucharistic
Prayer I, 1970 text): “Though we
are sinners, we trust in your mercy
and love. Do not consider what
we truly deserve, but grant us your
forgiveness.”
human outlook and attitudes.
In the 2nd Reading (1 Tim 2:1-
8), St Paul speaks of leading
“undisturbed and tranquil
lives in perfect piety and
dignity” (v 2) which, in his
own cultural context and time,
could be achieved by peaceful
relationship with the Emperor
and those in authority (vv 1-2);
but in our own context, we can
lead really peaceful lives if we
are able to acquire outlook and
values that are not foreign to
Christian ones.  At present, the
world is still far removed from
authentic tranquility because
many people still think that
happiness and undisturbed
life can be secured by making
a god out of money.   But far
Christians / B7
September 2 - 15, 2019 Vol. 23 No. 18
We are precious to God
24th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C, (Luke 15:1-32)
September 15, 2019
By Fr. Sal Putzu, SDB
WE manifest the value we attach to
what we own by the care with which
we use it or the way we keep it, and
especially by the pain we experience
when we lose it. That is why Jesus
used the parables of the lost sheep
and of the lost coin to impress on his
audience how dear each individual
human being is to God.
We are precious to Him
because He has created us in
His image and likeness, and
has destined us to share His
life for ever. And the proof of
how dear we are to God is in what
He does when we run the risk of
getting lost.
When this happens, He does not
sit back and conclude, in a detached
manner, that such has been our
choice and that He respects it. Nor
does He find consolation for our
loss in thinking that, after all, He
still has so many other people who
remain close to Him . . . . We are
not just precious to Him. We are
UNIQUELY PRECIOUS to Him
and He loves each of us as if
he/she were the only one who
exists. Both parables in today’s
Gospel passage speak of ONE getting
lost, be it a sheep or a coin.
That is why, when we make a
wrong choice, God does not get
resigned to the idea that we should
suffer the consequences for it. He
would not get resigned to this loss
even if we were the only ones to
be lost. This is the reason for
the Incarnation. This is the
reason for all that Christ did
and endured in order to find
the “lost sheep” and bring
them home to the safety of
the Father’s house. There is no
greater sign of how precious each
of us is to God than the incarnation,
Learning to be resourceful
in the things that matter
25th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C, (Luke 16:1-13)
September 22 2019
By Fr. Sal Putzu, SDB
IT seems an established fact that
many of those who concentrate only
on earthly values (those we call the
“unbelievers”) are cleverer and more
enterprising than those who profess
to believe in God and in the afterlife.
Perhaps this is a pattern as old as
mankind, and one wonders why
things should be so . . . .
The only plausible
explanation is that many of the
so-called “children of light” (the
believers) have failed to appreciate
the relationship existing between
this world and the world to come;
between what they do and the
“coming” of the Kingdom. They
have failed to understand that
the Kingdom of God is in the
making already now, and that
all Christian believers are the
laborers sent by God to work
in it and make it grow as fast as
possible and as best as they can.
It is most unfortunate that many
Christians, for centuries, have
viewed their lives on earth only as
a sort of “waiting room” in which
all that they did was intended to
be for the salvation of “their soul,”
as well as for the salvation of the
souls of others. The dimension of
commitment to the promotion
of temporal and human values
as part of the earthly stage of
God’s Kingdom was mostly
neglected. There have been
exceptions, of course. Numerous
CBCP Monitor
suffering, and death of God’s Son.
The reaction of the shepherd and
the woman when they lose what they
hold so dear is one of ANXIOUS
CONCERN and ACTIVE SEARCH
in view of finding that one lost item.
The meaning of all this is that God’s
LOVE for sinners does not
just wait patiently for them to
come back. Instead, it goes in
search of them, as if nothing
else mattered.
The case of Paul’s conversion in
today’s Second Reading is a practical
example not only of God’s immense
patience with sinners (see v. 16),
but also of how mercifully and
generously He deals with them. (See
v. 14.) Each of us could tell the same
story, for all of us have experienced
God’s merciful love not just once,
but numberless times.
Today’s parables also tell us that
when God manages to rescue a
sinner (symbolized by the finding of
the lost sheep/coin), He REJOICES
and CELEBRATES with His
“friends and neighbors.” Love
rejoices and celebrates and invites
others to be part of it! It is the pure
rejoicing that replaces the past
sorrow and overflows on all those
who shared the pain of the loss. It
is just right that all the friends of
God should rejoice. They are part
of His “family.” We should feel part
of the family!
So the two parables do
not just tell us how precious every
human being is to God, but also
how much we should share in His
appreciation and love for each
human person, participate in His
concern over those who are in
danger of getting lost, and be one
with Him in rejoicing over the
finding of the lost brothers or sisters.
saints of active life and missionaries
have always been in the forefront in
the building up of the Kingdom not
only in the hearts of the individuals,
but also in their own society. Their
enterprise, ingenuity, dedication
and perseverance have been
monumental, amazing, and often
heroic.
Unfortunately, saints and
missionaries have always
been far too few. They have been
the pinch of leaven which is expected
to raise the whole dough. But when
we consider that every Christian
believer is expected to be
“leaven,” “salt of the earth,”
and “light of the world,” we
have to admit that the great majority
of them (of us!) have failed to live up
to the demands of such a duty.
Eternal life and its superior value
was often brought in to justify
or compensate for the lack of
appreciation and commitment to
social justice and the creation of
a more human and fair society.
God’s help and providence were
all too easily called in to make up
for one’s lack of vision, foresight,
enterprise, determination . . . . God
was expected to straighten
up too many crooked lines; to
complete too many unfinished
projects . . . . And yet those
Christians professed to believe that
God has given men intelligence,
Learning / B7
CBCP Monitor September 2 - 15, 2019 Vol. 23 No. 18
How we can save the planet and ourselves
By Fr. Shay Cullen
THE ongoing burning of the
rainforests in Brazil under the newly
elected president Jair Bolsonaro
is an indication of the destructive
power of a dictatorial leader. He is
allowing thousands of hectares of
rainforest to be cut down and burnt.
Toxic fumes engulf many Brazilian
towns. He is changing the forest into
grazing lands for beef production.
It is disastrous, it adds to global
warming as the rainforest absorbs
huge amount of CO2. Billions of
cattle raised for beef emit millions
of tons of methane gas annually that
contribute to global warming. It is
a policy whereby the rich get richer
and the indigenous people lose their
ancestral forestlands.
In the Philippines, more than
90% of the original rainforest cover
has been destroyed. Illegal logging
companies find ways to circumvent
the ban of logging and continue
to eat away at the environment
destroying species and plants.
Activist defending the remaining
forests have been killed. A Global
Witness report released on July
29, 2019 ranked the Philippines as
the worst violator of the rights of
environmental and land defenders
in 2018.
One of most influential Philippine
environmentalists was Gina Lopez, a
good of friend of mine, who passed
away recently at 65. She was from a
leading family and became the most
active and dedicated secretary of
the Department of Environment
and Natural Resources (DENR)
and closed 29 mines for destroying
the environment .She was known
as a person of great integrity.
She served for 8 months but won
the ire of the pro-mining group
members of the Commission
on Appointment composed of
Senators and Congressmen and
her appointment was not confirmed.
She continued supporting many
NGO environmental causes and
received a UN award for her work
in child protection.
At the Preda Foundation,
conservation work goes on. We
are planting 3000 more mango
trees with the Aeta indigenous
upland farmers of Zambales. This
is to give them more livelihood,
prevent landslides and soil erosion,
protect hundreds of species and
off-set carbon emissions to help
Judicial / B2
positions, especially taking into
consideration that the overall view
of the case does not really come until
the publication of the acts.
Even if the pertinent canons speak
of the parts being involved in the
final discussion stage, in general,
the advocate and the defender of
the bond prepare all the discussion
papers.
The final discussion is
predominantly in writing, although
the judge may permit what may
be called as a n c i l l a r y o r a l
discussions.
Like all the stages of the process,
only those things, which are taken
down in the acts, shall be considered
in the final deliberation of the
tribunal for sentencing. Thus:
a) It is absolutely forbidden that
information given to the judge by
the parties or the advocated or
other persons remain outside the
acts of the case (c.1604, §1).
b) In case a moderate oral debate
has taken place, for it to have bearing
on the case it must be taken down by
a notary (cc.1404, §2 & 1605).
b. Presentation of Defense
Briefs
After the conclusion of the case, the
judge is to determine an appropriate
period of time for the presentation
of defense briefs or observations
(animadversions) (c.1601).
These are final comments—a sort
of recapitulation—of each party,
Learning / B6
creativity, strength, . . . to take
care of His creation! They professed
that Christ gave his disciples the
mission to proclaim the Good News
of the Kingdom, and to make this
Good News a reality. Too much
of these wonderful assets
were left dormant, for too
long a stretch of centuries!
Thank God, things are no longer
so, after Vatican II and, here in the
Philippines, after PCP II.
Jesus’ lament, expressed in the
form of a proverb, that “the children
reduce global warming, see photos
on www.preda.org and www.
predafairtrade.net. Once in the
early 1950s, when I was growing up,
we had an organic vegetable garden.
I ate the beans and peas raw. They
were delicious. That was before the
destructive onslaught of chemical
farming in the 1960s where there
was widespread, indiscriminate,
spraying of pesticides in the United
States and in Europe. They were
fossil-based synthetic fertilizers
and they poison and damage the
planet. Farmers were persuaded to
use them.
Chemical farming changed
everything in agriculture and the
food production industry. The
publication of the challenging
environmental science book “Silent
Spring” by Rachel Carson in 1962
challenged the chemical industry
and caused an uproar, thus, the
environmental protection movement
was born. Today, environmentalists
and conservationists are fighting to
preserve the planet’s ecosystems
and reminding us that all life on
earth and our lives depend on
preserving the balance of nature
in a healthy environment where
the oceans, forests, plants, crops,
insects, animals and all wild life
can live and thrive in harmony in a
sustainable way.
The latest UN report, the first
in 15 years, predicts that up to a
million plants and animals and
fish are in danger of extinction in
the next twenty or thirty years. It is
happening by allowing deforestation
and spewing plastic into the oceans
and rivers. If the killing of the
magnificent elephants for their ivory
continues at the present pace, they
will be practically extinct in fifty
years time.
Twenty thousand elephants are
being killed every year, that is 55 a
day. This is shocking and avoidable.
Some countries in Africa have strong
protection measures, others do not.
Some Asians want the elephant
tusks carved into ivory ornaments
and they pay high prices. Although
the trade in ivory is now banned,
China may circumvent it. Some
very ignorant and deluded people
with weak procreation ability think
rhino horn has medicinal properties
to aid their drooping and flagging
sexual prowess. They are wrong, it
especially after having read the acts,
to round off his case.
If the parties neglect to prepare
a defense brief within the time
available to them, or if they entrust
themselves to the knowledge and
the conscience of the judge, the
judge can pronounce sentence at
once (c.1606).
The defense briefs and
observations are to be in writing,
unless the judge with the consent
of the parties decides that an
oral debate before the tribunal is
sufficient (c.1602, §1). However,
if the defense briefs together with
the principal documents are to be
printed, the prior authorization
of the judge is required, but with
the obligation of secrecy if it exists
(c.1602, §2).
Such defense briefs and
observations should be
communicated to the parties
(c.1603, §1).
c. Presentation of Rebuttals
(or Rejoinders)
After the defense briefs
and observations have been
communicated to each one, both
parties are permitted to present
rejoinders within a short period of
time set by the judge (c.1603, §1).
Only the promoter of justice and
the defender of the bond have the
right to reply again to the rejoinder
of the parties (c.1603, §3). (To be
concluded.
of this world” are more resourceful
in dealing with their own generation
than are “the children of light,” leads
to his invitation to his followers to be
as clever and enterprising in
the pursuit of their wonderful
goal of building up God’s
Kingdom as the “unbelievers”
do their best in pursuing
their worldly objectives. This
invitation is addressed to us, today.
It is an urgent appeal, for there is so
much to do, so much negligence of
the past that we need to make up for.
Smoke from the fires raging in the Amazon forest is visible on NASA’s Earth Observing System Data and Information System Worldview application Aug. 21.
Leaders of the Latin American bishops’ council urged international action Aug. 22 to save the rainforest as massive fires continued to burn. NASA
is useless as a medicine.
The South African government
won permission to open the rhino
population to trophy hunting. It is “a
kill them to save them” policy. It is
all wrong. The Northern white rhino
is now extinct, and if this policy
continues then the Southern black
will be extinct too. It is ignorance,
quackery, and greed that cause mass
extinction. Only about 5,000 black
rhinos exist today, almost 2,000 of
them in South Africa. At the turn
of the century there were many
thousands across the continent.
The UN report says one million
species are at risk of extinction
and humans are causing it. We
have to change our life-style, stop
eating beef, eat more fish and be
more vegetarians. The fish too
are endangered poisoned by the
millions of tons of plastic dumped
in the oceans. Despite this gloomy
picture, there is hope to preserve the
planet and wildlife. Brian O’Donnell,
Christians / B6
from bringing us peaceful
lives, such an outlook brings
about the opposite.   As Paul
observes in the same letter,
“those who want to be rich
are falling into temptation
and a trap.  They are letting
themselves be captured by
foolish and harmful desires
which drag men down to
ruin and destruction.  The
love of money is the root of
all evil.  Some men in their
passion for it have strayed
from the faith, and have come
to grief amid great pain (1 Tim
6:9-10).
The 1st Reading (Amos 8:4-
7) provides us some examples
of the staggering toll when
one has such an outlook and
makes accumulation of wealth
the purpose of his existence.  It
leads to unscrupulousness and
dishonesty: “We will diminish
the ephah, add to the shekel,
and fix our scales for cheating”
(v 5b) (Which reminds us
of the trader who keeps his
thumbs on the scale!)  It brings
about injustice against the
poor: “We will buy the lowly
man for silver, the poor man
for a pair of sandals; even the
refuse of the wheat we will
sale” (v 6).  It virtually results
in the thought that religion is
an obstacle to making money:
“When will the new moon
be over and the Sabbath that
we may display the wheat?”
(v 5a).   Today, the effects of
such an attitude are even more
lamentable.  In his Centesimus
annus, John Paul II speaks
of the radical capitalist
ideology which is unconcerned
about marginalization and
exploitation of the poor.  And
the Bishops of the Philippines
see these words realized
in what is happening at
present:  jobless growth,
without new opportunities for
employment; ruthless growth,
Director of the Wyss Campaign
for Nature, said in a statement
during the ongoing conference in
Geneva that there is still time to
halt the mass extinction. They are
working with National Geographic
to preserve 30% of the planet by
2030 called the “Global Deal for
Nature”.
Another 100 groups of scientists
and environmentalists working
together have a plan to preserve half
of the planet by 2050. It means that
they will campaign and lobby for
an end to the plundering of natural
resources, massive extraction of
minerals and deforestation. It is
widespread in the Philippines and
is destroying the ancestral lands
of the indigenous people. They will
promote massive planting of trees
and the banning of plastics as much
as they can.
The irresistible urge for capitalists
to have endless economic growth
and development is destroying
benefiting mainly the wealthy;
voiceless growth, without
extension of democracy
or empowerment; rootless
growth that causes cultural
identities to wither;
f u t u re l e s s g ro w t h   t h a t
destroys the environment
(CBCP,  Exhortation on the
Philippine Economy).
For Christians, the message
is clear: if we, as individuals
and as community, wish to
live tranquil lives, we should
stick to the Good News: God
is One, and One also is the
mediator between God and
men, the man Jesus Christ
(1 Tim 2:5).  At the heart of
our lives is thus the One and
Only God, and therefore we
cannot substitute another god,
the money-god.  The proper
attitude to life is to place God
above everything else, and
our chief concern is not how
to further accumulate wealth,
but how to lead a life that is
pleasing to God. The pattern
of that kind of life is given in
the life of Jesus himself—he
gave himself as a ransom for
all (1 Tim 2:5).  Once we make
the One and Only God our true
God in life, once we make the
life of Jesus the pattern for
our lives—one that is lived
for the sake of others—then
salvation and tranquility of life
are possible.  recalling this parable, Luke
 In such a life, what happens
to our wealth?  It ceases to
be an end; on the contrary, it
will be used in a way that is
in accord with one who has
made the life of Jesus a pattern
for his life—that is to say, it
will no longer have a special
place in our heart. For such a
life is diametrically opposed
to the one lived for the sake
of Mammon, wherein one is
fraudulent, treads upon the
poor and even goes to war for
the sake of it.  Deep in our
SOCIAL CONCERNS B7
the environment. The Rome
Statement in 1972 on the “Limits
to Growth” foresaw the present
disaster of unlimited economic
and population growth on a
planet with finite resources. The
warming of the planet is also
causing the extinction of species.
The development banks have
funded coal-fired power plants,
polluting industries and especially
the plastic-based industries. A
faster switch to renewal sources
for electricity is the answer.
Electing people to government
with a strong commitment to the
environment is the only hope to
change damaging policies and to
save the planet together with the
many actions and projects of the
public. It is the healthy, chemical-
free environment that will provide
us humans with a sustainable
planet and provide healthy organic
food free of deadly pesticides and
chemicals.
heart, we know that these two
concerns of our lives—for
God and for Mammon—are
so opposed to each other that
we cannot give ourselves to
God and money at the same
time.  The reason for this is
that “no man can serve two
masters.  Either he will hate
the one and love the other
or be attentive to the one
and despise the other” (Luke
16:13a).  This being the case,
the right attitude toward wealth
is therefore to make good use
of it so as to reap eternal
reward or, as Luke would have
it, to have a “lasting reception”
(Luke 16:9).
 The problem today, however,
is that, if the world economy,
wars and the poverty of the
Third World are any index,
those who make a god out of
money—and the power that
goes with it—seem to be more
enterprising than us Christians
who ought to make Jesus’
life a pattern for others.  Yet
we can learn from them.  In
today’s Gospel (Luke 16:1-
7), Jesus told us the parable
of the cunning manager who,
to solve the crisis he brought
upon himself, reduced the
amount his clients owed to his
master to the effect that these
accepted him after losing
his managerial position.  In
wanted to bring home this
point—if Christians would
be more enterprising in
proclaiming and living the
message about a life patterned
after Jesus’ than the sons of
darkness in furthering their
self-interest, we can certainly
change the world, make it a
better place to live in, and
thereby realize some pockets
of the Kingdom of God here
on earth.  And peace, which
assures tranquility of life, will
be within our reach.
B8 ENTERTAINMENT September 2 - 15, 2019 Vol. 23 No. 18 CBCP Monitor

Buhay San Miguel Brothers Matias

Unplanned
TERIBOL OG Bladimer Usi

DIRECTOR: Cary Solomon, Chuck Konzelman

LEAD CAST: Ashley Bratcher, Brooks Ryan, Robia Scott
SCREENWRITER: Cary Solomon, Chuck Konzelman
PRODUCERS: Chris Jones, Joe Knopp, Daryl Lefever, Cary
Solomon, Chuck Konzelman EDITOR: Parker Adams
MUSICAL DIRECTOR: Stephen Blake Kanicka
PRODUCTION COMPANY: Soli Deo Gloria GENRE: Biopic, Drama
CINEMATOGRAPHER: Drew Maw
DISTRIBUTOR: Pure Flix LOCATION: United States
LANGUAGE: English RUNNING TIME: 106 minutes

Technical assessment: 4
CINEMA rating: V14
At the college’s career day
fair, Abby (Ashley Bratcher)
signs up as a volunteer for a
Planned Parenthood clinic in
Texas, having been convinced
that she would be helping in
its mission to help pregnant
women who are not yet ready
to become mothers. She is
aware, however, that abortion
is a staple in the clinic. In time
she rises from being volunteer
to employee to clinic director
— even earning an “Employee
of the Year Award” — doing
her job with conviction in
spite of opposition from her
family, her husband, and
the daily pro-life protesters
outside the clinic’s fence.
One day she is needed
to operate the ultrasound
machine during an actual
abortion being performed.
Glancing at the sonogram, she
sees how the fetus frantically
tries to avoid the suction tube
(the doctor has introduced to
the uterus) but is eventually
dismembered and sucked out
of the womb anyway. Shaken,
she runs to the restroom in
tears. In the eight years she
has worked at the clinic —
and even though she herself
has had two abortions before
— this is the first time she
is witnessing what really
happens during an abortion.
The experience becomes a
life-changing moment for her.
Based on the book of the
same title, Unplanned is the
true story of Abby Johnson
who was a persuasive pro-
choice champion until the
truth jolted her to fight for the
unborn from the other side
of the fence. Even if it had
been fiction, it would still be
a credible and powerful story
of conviction and conversion,
with actors playing their
roles as though their careers
depended on it. In spite of
the film’s politically divisive
theme, the screenplay and
cinematography combined
to create a dramatic
arc that is emotionally
compelling sans melodrama.
Conversations, whether
Buhay Parokya
Moral assessment: 4
MTRCB rating: R13 FIND 3 MISSING THINGS:
1. JESUS CHRIST
casual or confrontational,
2. SAINT PETER
moved the story forward in a
3. HOLY CHALICE
most natural manner, leaving
no cracks for proselytizing
to seep through. The lyrics
of the well-picked songs
complemented the visuals,
while the flashbacks enhanced
the narrative flow. Unplanned
owes much of its technical
excellence to its boldness in
graphically presenting the
truth of abortion.
There is neither sex, nudity,
substance abuse, nor profanity
in Unplanned, and yet the
Motion Picture Association
of America (MPAA) rated
it “R” (Restricted), which
means “Under 17 requires
accompanying parent or adult
guardian.” The MPAA rating
has reportedly been assigned
for “some disturbing/bloody
images”, prompting pro-life
entities to lament the fact
that in many states of the US,
the law requires no parental
consent or involvement in
abortion:
“A 14-year-old can walk
into a clinic and get an
abortion without her parents
even knowing,” Co-directors
Konzelman and Solomon said
that “we consider the MPAA’s
current standards to be deeply
flawed, insofar as they allowed
scenes of remarkably graphic
sex, violence, degradation,
murder and mayhem to have
a PG-13 rating, whereas our
film, highlighting the grave
dangers of abortion in a
straightforward manner, is
considered dangerous for the
American people to view.”
The few critics who bothered
to review it have also bashed
Unplanned, dismissing it
as “pure propaganda”,
“scaremongering”, and
“medically inaccurate.”
But CINEMA sees that the
film highlights compassion,
familial support, courage to
fight for one’s beliefs, and
the humility to be sorry for
one’s wrongdoing. Abortion
may be a hot political issue,
but in Unplanned, it becomes
personal.
Sixteen-year-old Dora her aunt, and to attend high First, the plot may be with fellow humans in order

Dora and the Lost City of Gold
DIRECTOR: James Bobin
STARRING: Isabela Moner,
Eugenio Derbez, Michael Peña,
Eva Longoria, Danny Trejo
SCREENPLAY BY: Nicholas
Stoller, Matthew Robinson
STORY BY: Tom Wheeler,
Nicholas Stoller
BASED ON THE SERIES: Dora
the Explorer
CREATED BY: Chris Gifford,
Valerie Walsh Valdes, Eric
Weiner
PRODUCER: Kristin Burr
GENRE: Adventure, Drama,
Action
MUSIC BY: John Debney
EDITED BY: Mark Everson
CINEMATOGRAPHY: Javier
Aguirresarobe PRODUCTION
COMPANIES: Paramount
Players, Nickelodeon Movies,
Walden Media, Media Rights
Capital, Burr! Productions
DISTRIBUTED BY: Paramount
Pictures
COUNTRY: United States
LANGUAGE: English RUNNING
TIME: 1 hour 42 minutes
Technical assessment: 4
Moral assessment: 4
CINEMA rating: V13
MTRCB rating: PG 13
(Isabela Moner) has lived
since she was a child in
the Peruvian jungle with
her parents, archaeologists
Elena (Eva Longoria) and
Cole (Michael Pena) who
homeschooled her for 10
years. Her parents, both
professors, agree that the time
has come for Dora to have
human friends, for although
she is a healthy, happy child,
all she has interacted with
are the animals — snakes,
frogs, et al — she meets from
day to day with her talking
monkey friend, Boots (voiced
by Danny Trejo). Her two
other friends are imaginary
— a talking backpack and
a talking map. Planning
to pursue their search of
Parapata, the lost city of gold,
Dora’s parents send her off
to Los Angeles to live with
school with her long-missed
cousin and childhood friend
Diego (Jeff Wahlberg). In LA,
Dora finds herself in a jungle
of classrooms populated by
wild animals of a different
kind: jeering, jealous peers
who find her weird. During
a field trip to the National
Museum, Dora is kidnapped
along with cousin Diego and
two other classmates. And so
begin the (mis)adventures in
Dora’s search for her parents.
Dora and the Lost City
of Gold is the popular
Nickelodeon animation TV
series (2000) given flesh
and blood on film. Even if
you never met the wide-eyed
cartoon Dora the explorer, you
will find enough to entertain
you in the film version, if you
will but set aside your adult
cynicism and prejudices.
formulaic but is nonetheless
attention-grabbing for adults.
Second, the actors did their
job well, especially Moner
who is convincing as a naïve
teenager who may be lacking
in people skills but is well-
equipped to single-handedly
conduct a jungle survival
course. Third, the pacing is
fast, and the action, together
with the CGI and dialogue,
will keep you awake from
start to finish, without raising
your blood pressure as a
Tomb Raider or an Indiana
Jones movie might.
What’s the take home
value of Dora and the Lost
City of Gold? The movie
underscores the importance
of balance in one’s life. While
going natural and pristine is
commendable, humans also
need to be able to socialize
to be challenged and to grow.
Human beings need to belong
in a community for support
and companionship in life’s
journey, and to succeed at this
a person is helped by a loving
and caring family.
Openness to learning is
another value — the city kids
in high school learn that
they’re not superior to others
simply because they think so
as a pack. Also, while one’s
attitude of positivity can be
irritating to some, in the
long run it helps to keep
one going against all odds,
as shown by Dora whose
cheerfulness and optimism
held the group afloat even
when they thought the quick
sand would swallow them all
alive. Clean wholesome fun
and adventure for the whole
family.
 THE CROSS
A Supplement Publication of the Order of the Knights of Columbus and KCFAPI
CBCP Monitor Vol. 23, No. 18 September 2 - 15, 2019

The Philippine State Deputies

receive Pinnacle Awards

(L-R) Bro. Rene V. Sarmiento, Luzon North State Deputy; Bro. Jose C. Reyes, Jr., Supreme Director and Immediate Past Luzon North State Deputy, Vice Supreme Master Ruel D. Tecson; Most Rev. Honesto F. Ongtioco, DD, State Chaplain – Luzon North; Bro. Ramoncito
A. Ocampo, Immediate Past Luzon South State Deputy; Bro. Anthony P. Nazario, Immediate Past Visayas State Deputy; Bro. Bonifacio B. Martinez, Luzon South State Deputy; Bro. Gerry Eutemio T. Mission, Mindanao State Deputy; Bro. Teofrido B. Lagria, Visayas State
Deputy and the delegates of the K of C Jurisdictions in the Philippines during the 137th Supreme Convention from August 6 to 8, 2019 in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

THE Pinnacle award is
the highest honor given
to a jurisdiction who
demonstrated achievements
across different membership
categories which include
intake, net membership
growth, active councils and
recruitment of younger
members in the Order.
For Columbian Year 2018
to 2019, all the 4 jurisdictions
in the Philippines received
the most coveted awards
given during the 137th
Supreme Convention held
at Minneapolis, Minnesota.
5 Jurisdictions were given
the award. Amongst the
awardees, the Luzon South
Jurisdiction headed by
Worthy State Deputy (WSD)
Ramoncito A. Ocampo
was the highest pointer
with 175.59%, the highest
amongst the entire order. It
was followed by the Mindanao
Jurisdiction headed by WSD
Gerry Eutemio T. Mission
with 135.06%; Luzon North
Jurisdiction headed by
Supreme Director and WSD
Jose C. Reyes, Jr. and Visayas
Jurisdiction headed by WSD
Anthony P. Nazario.
The Century Club Award
was given to Council 5617:
Our Lady of Grace Parish,
Caloocan City of Luzon South;
Council 6155: Our Lady of
Nieva, Caloocan City of Luzon
South; Council 6400: Barotac
Nuevo of Visayas; Council
10695: Holy Cross, Valenzuela
of Luzon North; Council 5894:
Banate, Iloilo of Visayas;
Council 16698: Panitan
National High School, Capiz
of Visayas; Council 8987:
Maria Auxiliadora, Maypajo
Caloocan of Luzon South;
Council 16029: Queen of the
Holy Rosary, Iloilo of Visayas;
Council 9179: Archbishop
Cipriano Urgel, Tacloban City
of Visayas; Council 16888:
VMA Global College, Bacolod
City of Visayas; Council
1000: Manila of Luzon
South; Council 15770: Capiz
of Visayas; Council 16245:
Sto. Nino de Baseco, Port
Area Manila of Luzon South;
Council 16966: Camp Martin
Teofilo B. Delgado of Visayas
and Council 16844: Our Lady
of the Sea, Intramuros Manila
of Luzon South. This award
was given to Councils who had
additional 100 members over
suspensions and withdrawals.
The Visayas, Mindanao and
Luzon South Jurisdictions
who were able to establish
50, 55 and 70 Round Tables,
respectively, received the
Round Table awards. While
the Luzon North Jurisdiction
was the recognized as one
of the Jurisdictions with the
most recruiters who belong
to the VIP (Very Important
Proposers) Club.
It is indeed a very wonderful
2018 – 2019 Columbian
Year for the Order of the
Knights of Columbus in the
Philippines as they continue
to be recognized orderwide
every year. Vivat Jesus!

Visayas Jurisdiction KC Updates:

welcomes New State Deputy
THE Visayas Jurisdiction welcomes the
Columbian Year 2019 to 2020 with a
new State Deputy in the person of Sir
Knight Teofrido B. Lagria. Bro. Fred,
as he is fondly called in the order,
hails from Borongan City Eastern
Samar. He earned his Bachelor’ Degree
in Civil Engineering at the Divine
Word University in Tacloban City and
earned MS Civil Engineering Units
at the University of the Philippines
Diliman, Quezon City. He is a registered
Civil Engineer and is currently an
Account officer of the Land Bank of the
Philippines – Samar Lending Center.
He also worked as a Diocesan Engineer
of the Diocese of Borongan Research
& Development Office, Field Engineer
at Al’s Enterprises & Construction
and Site Inspector at the Department
of Public Works & Highways Easter
Samar Roads Project.
Prior to his assumption as State
Deputy, he has been a member of the
Knights of Columbus for the past 29
years and occupied various functions
within the order. He was a Trustee
(1996-1999) and later on became the
Grand Knight (2000-2001) of Sta.
Maria Council No. 4526. Later on he
became the District Deputy of District
V - 82 from 2006 to 2010, Provincial
Visayas State Deputy Teofrido B. Lagria
Deputy from 2010 to 2012 and Regional
Deputy from 2012 to 2015. He served
as Visayas State Executive Secretary
from 2017 to 2018 and Visayas State
Secretary in 2015 to 2017 and 2018 to
2019 prior to his election in his current
role.
Bro. Fred is married to Ethel Aurelia
Lagria, a Physician from the City
Government of Borongan. Their
marriage is blessed with two kids,
Raymond Freth and Timothy who are
both active members of the Order.
Luzon South State Deputy Bonifacio B. Martinez; District P26 Deputy
Petronilo P. Magno, Jr.; Luzon South Relief Chairman Luisito Wong and
Officers of Pagkakaisa Council 8688 during their installation last August
(L-R) Past Supreme Director and Past Luzon Deputy Bro. Alonso L. Tan;
20, 2019 at the Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary Parish, Paranaque City.
Bro. Alejandro V. Alvaira, Luzon North State Ways and Means Chairman;
Supreme Director and Immediate Past Luzon North Deputy Jose C. Reyes,
Jr.; Dennis C. Dayson of Council 11602, Dingalan, Aurora, grand prize
winner and Luzon North State Deputy Rene V. Sarmiento last August 24,
2019 during the awarding ceremony of “Pondo Para sa Konseho” held at
the KCFAPI Center Intramuros, Manila
Visayas State Deputy Teofrido B. Lagria and VP – FBG VisMin Bro. Anthony
P. Nazario with the attendees of the Grand Knight and Financial Secretary
Training for the Diocese of Catarman held last September 1, 2019 at the
Advance Studies Center of the University of Eastern Philippines.
Visayas State Deputy Teofrido B. Lagria and VP – FBG VisMin Bro. Anthony
P. Nazario with the attendees of the Grand Knight and Financial Secretary
Training for the Diocese of Calbayog held last August 31, 2019 at the
Samar State University

KC Foundations Update: Mindanao State Deputy Gerry Eutemio T. Mission, State Officers and
Attendees of the Mindanao Grand Knight and Financial Secretaries Training
AUGUST 26, 2019 - The Knights of in the Diocese of Malaybay last August 31, 2019.
Columbus Fr. George J. Willmann
Charities was filled with joy as one
of its scholars was accepted to the
presbyterate.
Rev. Fr. John Harvey D. Bagos of the
Diocese of Novaliches was accepted to
the presbyterate by His Excellency, Most
Rev. Roberto Gaa, DD, bishop of the
diocese, with its Bishop Emeritus Antonio
Tobias at the Cathedral and Shrine of the
Good Shepherd. Also present during the
occasion were priests from the diocese,
religious men and women and the laity.
Fr. Harvey will now take place as the The Knights of Columbus in the Philippines extends its warm felicitations
Diocesan Youth Coordinator. to the newly appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Cebu, Rev. Fr. Midyphil Billones
Let us continue to pray for our priests (now Bishop-elect) from the Archdiocese of Jaro. Fr. Billones was a KC
Priest-Scholar who earned his Doctorate in Sacred Theology degree in the Let us congratulate the newly elected President of KCFAPI, Bro. Bonifacio
that they may be faithful and humble year 2011 at the Pontifical Gregorian University, Rome, Italy through the Fr. B. Martinez. He is also the KC Luzon South State Deputy and Treasurer of
servants in the vineyard of Jesus, the McGivney Fund for Advanced Studies for Priests in the Philippines. (Photo Keys Realty and Development Corp. He is one of the Board of Trustees of
Good Shepherd. (JSServiento) Rev. Fr. John Harvey D. Bagos taken during the FBG Day last November 2018 at Iloilo City) both KCFAPI’s Foundations.
C2 September 2 - 15, 2019, Vol 23, No. 18 THE CROSS
Bonifacio B. Martinez Jose C. Reyes, Jr.

President’s Chairman’s Message

Message
Ora et Labora

Life is better when we are ready NO matter how busy we are, we should God’s help lessens stress, knowing help us fix our schedule and to give us
find time for God through prayer. In that God is the source of what is best. time for everything that is good.
AS cliché as it sounds, but nothing beats a person who is ready my case, I make sure God is first every I entrust to Him big and small things, On Pope Francis’ reflection on the
for everything and anything. When life knocks as hard in any day. In my experience, early morning and everything falls into place. Having visit of Jesus to Lazarus’ sisters, Martha
circumstance, what do we always say? It could not have turned Liturgy of the Hours followed by Holy experienced God’s generosity in my life, and Mary, we are reminded that Jesus
out this way if I only. . . It always starts in that phrase, “If I Mass in Villa San Miguel is the best time I make sure I express my gratitude in has commended Mary, who chose the
only”, if only I am ready, if only I have prepared financially, if for God – to praise and thank Him, and word and deed as well. I offer praise better part; that is, to listen to Jesus
only I am ready emotionally, physically and spiritually and the offer the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. I feel and thanksgiving and I help others in first. In the meantime, Martha was
list goes on. What if we can do something about this “if only well-equipped to hurdle the challenges in return. troubled and anxious about many things
list that we have”? my work, in my relationships within and I advocate “Ora et Labora” when I to show hospitality – important but
Not so long ago, getting insurance and investment is quite outside the family, my services in various evangelize. I warn those who ask our secondary. This passage reminds us that
a taboo because of our local cultural resistance. Since we organizations that I am affiliated with – community for prayers in getting a job “the wisdom of the heart lies precisely
have this conventional way of thinking that for insurance, first and foremost, with the Knights of - “If God answers our prayers, do not in knowing how to combine these two
for example, is that we are praying for something to happen Columbus. use your job as excuse for not being able elements: contemplation and action.”
while on the other hand for investment is that our money is As I Bedan, I learned about prayer and to attend our prayer meetings.” Take Let us always put our heart in
safer when we can see and touch it every time we wanted to. work, and following our patron saint, note that St. Benedict mentioned “Ora” everything we do and work diligently,
Have you noticed that in banks we are okay with withdrawing St. Benedict, I have been dependent on (Prayer) first before “Labora” (Work). especially for the good of the Order,
through an automated teller machine (ATM) and cannot do God’s help in everything I do. Asking When we pray first, we can ask God to brother Knights. Vivat Jesus!
the same thing when we are depositing? It is the same concept.
While for the former, our concept of crossing the bridge when Juan Karlo S. Serviento
we get there is still dominant.
For quite a period of time, Knights of Columbus Fraternal
Association of the Philippines, Inc. (KCFAPI) has been Pondering the Words
providing us with this kind of service. Not only that the
company is liquid but also exclusive to all our needs as brother
knights. KCFAPI got it covered, from insurance to investment A missionary to the youth
and most importantly not only for us brother knights but for our
families as well to our wives, children and even grandchildren.
There may have been a lot of options other than our own ON the 14th of September, we death. On the other hand, he a religious, belonging to they are loved, gifted and
insurance and investment policy. However, what I can will be commemorating the also embodied the triumph of the Jesuits, one charism he empowered.
guarantee is that in KCFAPI, all of you, brother knights, and 42nd death anniversary of the the Holy Cross. His life and embodied was his love for On the occasion of his death
your family is our topmost priority. We are innovating based Servant of God Fr. George J. ministry have shown us how the youth. As our national anniversary, let us once more
on each of our brother knight’s needs. Willmann. The Holy Mass will to carry our crosses in our hero said, “The youth is respond to the call of Fr.
In the long run, if not now, we would like you to perceive be presided by the Apostolic lives with faith, hope and love. the hope of the country”, George. It is not merely for
insurance not as an added unnecessary cost rather an Nuncio to the Philippines, The Order of the Knights he also was a firm believer the Order, but for the Church.
investment to accomplish beneficial things for you and your Most Rev. Gabriele Caccia, of Columbus focuses on in the cause of the young. Being living witnesses of his
family because life is better when we are ready. DD at San Agustin Church, those two. Apostleship and For him, there is hope and life, may we be advocates of
Vivat Jesus! Intramuros, Manila, 9:00 in the Cross. Fr. George has there will be hope even on the youth and lead them to
the morning. left an impact to everyone he the darkest nights our youth Christ, the victor upon the
Arsenio Isidro G. Yap Fr. George J. Willmann has met. His life showed us may experience. Holy Cross.
was born on June 29, 1897 , how to become true apostles The Columbian Squires in We also ask you to fervently
A Brother’s Insight the Solemnity of the Apostles
Peter and Paul. He died on
and modern evangelizers.
This 2019, the Year of the
the Philippines, the Catholic
Youth Organization, both
ask the Lord for the grace that
one day, Fr. George be raised
September 14, 1977 which is Youth, we can also bring were initiated by Fr. George. to the honors of the altar that
the Feast of the Exaltation forth the mission he has As he once said, “The Squires we may have our intercessor
of the Holy Cross. Two great started. More than being the of today will be the Knights of to the Divine in all our needs,
feasts of the Roman Catholic Territorial Deputy then, he tomorrow.” He truly has deep aspirations and triumph for
Church coincides on his life. is also a missionary to the affection for the youth. He is our good and the good of the
Mary, Mother of God And yes, as the two apostles youth. Accounts of his life always in the sense of looking Order.
lived, he also lived a life of showed us how he focused forward merely focusing Servant of God, Fr. George
MAMA MARY was about 13 or 14 when she gave birth to love to the church even unto on his youth ministry. As on youth development as J. Willmann, intercede for us.
baby Jesus. If our Lord Jesus Christ was born in year zero as
he died in 33 AD, then Mama Mary would be 2,032 or 2,033
years old by now.
Erwin John B. Mallari
We commemorate her birth anniversary on September 8,
barely a few days as of this writing. Although human, she was
fortunate enough to be chosen to bear in her womb, baby Jesus.
EJ’s Corner
That’s why we call her, Mother of God. She could not have
been just chosen randomly. She must have possessed certain Unang Sigaw ng Nueva Ecija
qualities that endeared her to our Almighty God the Father.
We could only imagine those qualities, pious, immaculate, and
respectful among so many others. PATRIOTISM is one of four cardinal Valley and Mountain Province. they reached the provincial Capital of
On top of those qualities, she could have been very beautiful principles of the Knights of Columbus. By 1896, people became weary of our San Isidro, the men furiously fought the
and very attractive. Someone who would command a second It is defined as devotion and vigorous conquerors and staged a revolt that is now Spaniards, killing the commander of the
look if you caught her by the corner of your eye. Someone support for one’s country. Let us look known as “Unang Sigaw ng Nueva Ecija”. Guardia Civil Joaquin Machorro on the
whose presence demands attention but in a very endearing back 123 years ago, as heroes from On September 2, 1896, a revolution was 1st day and driving out the rest of Spanish
and respectful way. the province of Nueva Ecija ignited a led by led by General Mariano Llanera, troops on the third day.
She could have been so prayerful that one can’t help but revolution who fought for the freedom assisted by General Manuel Tinio and Because of the bravery shown by its
notice her reverence for God. She shows so much respect of our country. Pantaleon Valmonte of Gapan City, people, Nueva Ecija is represented as
towards God our Father and likewise to her parents that there is Nueva Ecija is a province found in Nueva Ecija and Colonel Alipio Tecson of one of the eight rays of the Sun on the
not a single entry that would depict her with a negative attitude. Central Luzon and is known as the “Rice Cabiao, Nueva Ecija together with about Philippine flag. Leaders of the revolution
Her dedication to her daily routine of prayers and respect Granary of the Philippines” because it 3,000 volunteers. Posessing only about were also immortalized by naming after
to her parents and others made her the suitable mother of our produces the largest rice yield in all of 100 rifles, the revolutionaries decided to them several municipalities and streets
Lord Jesus Christ. Her simplistic yet profound ways must have the country. The province was under send 500 men together with the Cabiao all over the province. Finally in 1992,
endeared her to all who have come to know her. They are so the Spanish regime by the 1700’s when Brass Band under the guise as peaceful Republic Act 7596 was enacted, declaring
enamored and captivated by her charm so much so that they the Spaniards conquered Manila and marchers for the freedom of those arrested September 2 as Nueva Ecija Day in honor
have nothing but respect and admiration for her. had their upward trek towards Cagayan by the Spanish government. As soon as of Unang Sigaw ng Nueva Ecija.
She was the role model of the family and the community.
She has a character worth emulating and most probably
had influenced more people rather than be the one to be Atty. Luis Voltaire D. Formilleza
influenced. Her parents, Joachim and Anne were among those
she had influenced as their story came after Mama Mary’s To Sixty More Years and Beyond
popularity became apparent, her virtuous more pronounced,
her dedication and relentless service to her Son, our Lord Jesus
Christ were unceasing and without let up.
Her parents Sts. Anne and Joachim undoubtedly raise her
pretty well, but I personally believe that she had done more
than expected and had influenced them more than they had
influenced her. It has been almost a year since I assumed We are not just an Insurance Business or relationship with each other, benefit
If we could find such a woman today, we could all say that our office as Legal Services Manager The Insurance Code of the Philippines from each other’s acts. What does these
Lord Jesus Christ can be reborn again as such a woman would for Knights of Columbus Fraternal (IC) has a particular chapter (Chapter two things altogether imply? Unlike
be worthy of bearing the Son of God. But could we? There are Association of the Philippines, Inc. VII) which exclusively discusses Mutual commercial insurance business which
about 3.8 billion women today. Surely there should be at least (KCFAPI). And I must say, I am still Benefit Associations. The distinct seek to enter into contracts (insurance
one who could match her virtues? in the institutional learning curve in characteristic of an MBA under Sec. policies) to gain profit out of the product
Brother’s Insight / C3 so far being able to catch up with the 403 of the law states that it exists “[M] line that they offer with the intention
vast number of matters endorsed to ainly for the purpose of paying sick of assumption of risks for a fee, our

THE CROSS
me for proper action. From simple
contract reviews with suppliers and
service providers, to actual court cases,
A Supplement Publication of the compliance to regulations and corporate
Order of the Knights of Columbus and KCFAPI housekeeping. It is indeed an honor and
a blessing to have been given this kind
Editorial Board
of trust by the management and I look
Jose C. Reyes, Jr. Bonifacio B. Martinez forward to more challenges ahead.
Chairman President ***
Recently, a particular concern came
Msgr. Pedro C. Quitorio III across my desk which caught my
Spiritual Director attention. It called me to delve into
the essence of our Association not just
Mary Magdalene G. Flores
Editor-in-Chief as an insurance business but rather as
a Mutual Benefit Association (MBA).
Jhon Lyndon D. Palafox, Juan Karlo S. Serviento Although all employees and BC Holders
Associate Editors recognize that we are what our franchise
is, a look back at the underpinnings and
Jerome P. De Guzman, Erwin John B. Mallari, Kris Jay Rolex A. Yngco nature of what an MBA is all about, made
Contributors
me realize and appreciate KCFAPI more,
not from what I initially thought it was
The Cross is published monthly with its business at KCFAPI, General Luna cor. Sta.
Potenciana Sts., Intramuros, Manila with tel. no. (02) 527-22-23 to 27 (trunk line) local (an insurance business) but what it truly
200, 201. Email Address: kcfraternal@kofc.org.ph. Website: http://www.kofc.org.ph is all about.
benefits to members, or of furnishing
financial support to members while out
of employment, or of paying relatives
of deceased members of fixed or any
sum of money, irrespective of whether
such aim or purpose is carried out by
means of fixed dues or assessments, or of
providing, by the issuance of certificates
of insurance, payment to it members of
accident or life insurance out of such
fixed and regular dues or assessments
xxx”.
We note certain things based on the
above. First, all other IC provisions
pertinent to insurance business applies
to a MBA, except those which are
exclusive under Chapter VII. Hence,
in interpreting the law, the general
provisions yield to special ones when
dealing with specific peculiarities of
MBAs. Second, the restrictive purpose
by which a MBA exists, reinforces
mutuality whereby parties in interaction
Association works differently. It exists to
maintain the beneficent and harmonious
co-existence of the Order of Knights of
Columbus in the Philippines (KC) and
its members by being the facilitator
and enabler of help in times of need
such as unemployment, accident, death
or other calamities. The term “mutual
benefit” cannot be more obvious. The
insurance business is not our end, rather
it is the means of achieving the mutually
desired benefits between and among the
membership of KC.
Membership Certificates
Our special peculiarity as MBA is
reinforced by our issuance of Benefit
Certificates which binds us with KC
members and their families. Such is
not for the sake of novelty, but rather
intrinsic to our nature. Sec 406 of
the Insurance Code provides: “Every
mutual benefit association licensed to do
Beyond / C3
THE CROSS September 2 - 15, 2019, Vol 23, No. 18 C3

Half measures
We must respond to challenges as Catholics by making a commitment to Christ and the mission of evangelization
SUPPOSE IT’S TIME to change the
oil in your car. The owner’s manual
specifies that the engine requires
five quarts of oil, but you put in only
two and a half. Some days later, the
engine light comes on and your car
stalls in traffic. Listening to a chorus
of angry horns and epithets, you
think to yourself: “Maybe I should
have put in the full five quarts.”
Half measures. We’re tempted
to use them all the time. You
probably have your own examples of
halfhearted efforts that made things
worse instead of better.
We also can be prone to half
measures when it comes to our
Catholic faith. In many parts of
the world, including the United
States, Mass attendance is down.
Our absent Catholics aren’t merely
out of town; many are gone. For
a variety of distressing reasons,
they are disconnected from the
by Supreme Chaplain Lord, the Church, the Mass and
Archbishop William the sacraments. Studies reveal the
sad fact that there are now more
E. Lori disaffiliated former Catholics than
those who are practicing.
We talk a lot about evangelization,
but things continue to get worse. So
what’s the answer?
St. Paul VI reminded us that
evangelization is not merely one
of the things the Church does;
the mission to spread the Gospel
constitutes the very heart of the
Church’s identity. The Church exists
to proclaim, spread and celebrate the
Good News by word, sacrament and
charity. Woe to us if we do not preach
the Gospel! (cf. 1 Cor 9:16).
The Gospel, after all, is not merely
words. It is the incarnate savior who,
in his boundless mercy, has forgiven
our sins and unlocked the gates of
heaven.
The answer, then, is not to stop
talking about evangelization. Rather,
the problem is how we go about this
work. Not unlike the disciples prior
to the coming of the Holy Spirit
at Pentecost, we hesitate to “cry
out full-throated and unsparingly”
(Isaiah 58:1) in bearing witness
to Jesus. We are likewise prone
to half measures in repenting and
believing in his Gospel; in instilling
the teaching of Christ in ourselves
and our families; and in living the
Gospel both in our personal lives and
in the wider society.
When the sound of the trumpet is
faint, it’s no wonder so few hear it.
Take, for example, a parish that is
stagnant and shrinking. Its leadership
might be tempted to address
the problem with half measures,
tweaking what’s usually done by
adding more friendly greeters at
the door of the church or additional
opportunities for socializing after
Sunday Mass. Nothing is wrong
with these things; in fact, they are
very important. But lacking genuine
missionary conversion, moved by
the Holy Spirit, a parish will not
experience renewal.
Genuine missionary conversion
includes an urgent summons to
prayer and repentance, first and
foremost exemplified by the parish
clergy and leadership. It also
requires concentrated attention
on good preaching and reverent
liturgy; abundant opportunities
for eucharistic adoration and
confession; personal outreach
to absent parishioners; sound
catechesis for parishioners of all
ages, especially the young; support of
married couples and families; loving
assistance to the sick and the dying;
generous outreach to the poor and
vulnerable; and more.
What about growth in the
Knights of Columbus? Here, too,
half measures will not do. For
example, a business-as-usual
membership drive may not bring
the desired results. But when
a council prayerfully commits
itself to implementing the Faith in
Action model, it can truly make an
impact. When Knights are seen as
growing in their relationship with
Christ and in their life of prayer,
banding together to serve actively
the needs of the wider community,
living the vocation of marriage and
family joyfully and generously, and
protecting vulnerable human life
lovingly — others will want to join.
People are hungry. They are
searching. They are looking for
the real deal. Let’s be done with
half measures, especially in this
season when we celebrate the full
outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon
his Church.

The Gentle Warrior Sta. Martha Parish (Pasig City)

celebrates its Jubilee Year
By James B. Reuter, SJ
CHAPTER FIVE
THE WAR YEARS good at self-entertainment, we have a problem. You
asked the Scholastics have two big scenes, back
“On one occasion a squad studying theology to put on to back. We can do it, but
of Kempeitai (Jap Gestapo) a play, especially for the 460 we need time. And the show
raided our Ayala Club. I refugees. Their purpose was should not stop, for that scene
was reading my Breviary in clear: cheer them up! Make change.” Horacio said: “How
a corner, when suddenly, them smile! If possible, make much time do you need?” The
startled out of my quiet, I them laugh! stage manager said: “Three
looked up to face a furious The young Jesuits minutes”.
Kempei threatening me with understood this situation very So Horacio de la Costa went
a drawn revolver. Together well. It was precisely what they back to the cubicle in which
with the others, I was forced did at Woodstock. Horacio de he was billeted, in the Manila
out on the basketball floor. la Costa wrote a play called: Observatory. There were four
There was much questioning, “Fiesta”. It was in the style young Jesuits in a room built
demanding of identification of Kuwentong Kochero — for one. It was night. Everyone awaken an answering echo in
papers, rough jiujitsu in “A Psychopathic Drama was hungry. The Japanese the lutes of Leyte. Somewhere
which Jap soldiers were so Having One Horse, Three were patrolling outside. He in the rugged north, a peasant
adept. I received an unusual Acts, Six Scenes, And Plenty sat down at his desk, and woman croons her child
amount of questioning. Why, Singing… The characters will wrote a three-minute piece, to to sleep; and the Visayan,
they repeated, should a priest be discovered at the back, cover the scene change. listening, remembers the cane Photo taken after the Holy Mass for the opening of the parish Jubilee Year.
be found in such a place? For because nobody knows yet “There is a thought that fields of his childhood, and
what good purpose was I in who are the characters.” comes to me sometimes, his own mother singing the STA. Martha Parish of five in the afternoon with the
a sports club? It must be a It was the story of the as I sit by my window in self- same song. Kalawaan, Pasig City opening of the Jubilee Door
subversive gathering. But we little town of San Belarmino the evening, listening to the “We are again one people celebrated the Opening of wherein the local ordinary
held our ground and finally — because the new Jesuit young men’s guitars, and when we pray. This is our their Jubilee Year last July 28, uses a hammer and knocks
were allowed to continue. theologate was called after watching the shadows deepen other treasure: our Faith. It 2019 with the theme : “Sta. thrice on the door to signify the
“By mid-1942, six months Saint Robert Bellarmine. on the long hills, the hills of gives, somehow, to our little Martha: Huwaran at Modelo presence of the Holy Trinity
after Pearl Harbor, we again Napoleon, the mad genius of my native land. uneventful days, a kind of ng mga Kabataan sa Taon ng during their whole journey
had more than 2000 boys crime, is stealing intelligent “You know, we are a splendor; as though they Hubileyo ng ating Parokya.” as a parish. The Holy Mass
in our clubs in the enemy- animals — including Tarzan, remarkably poor people. had been touched by a King Their parish priest, Rev. followed as the faithful have
occupied city. Also, we the intelligent horse of Mang Poor, not only in material and did you ever notice how Fr. Hernandez P. Mendoza, entered the church.
reopened the Sampaloc Teban, and the intelligent goods, but even in the riches they are always mingling — Jr., a KC Priest Scholar and During the homily, Bishop
School for the poor.” rooster of Badong, the sailor of the spirit. I doubt whether our religion and our music? now one of the newly-elected Vergara emphasized on three
The spirit of George was home from the sea. The local we can claim to possess a All the basic rites of human Trustee of the Knights of things: the door, St. Martha
contagious. The Superiors pulis call in the F.B.I. from truly national literature. No life — the harvest and the Columbus Fr. George J. and the faithful. He said that
of the Society of Jesus also the United States, and these Shakespeare, no Cervantes seed-time, the wedding, birth Willmann Charities, Inc. the Jubilee is not for the
reopened classes for the Irish F.B.I. agents come to San has yet been born among us and death— are among us (KCFGJWCI) initiated the faithful, but for each one’s
young Jesuits who were still Belarmino thinly disguised as to touch with immortality drenched with the fragrance event and was attended by co-faithful. At the end of
in the process of formation. a Coney Island side show. that which in our landscape, of incense and the coolness the KCFGJWCI represented the celebration, the Plenary
Philosophy and theology were Just the preparation of in our customs, in our history, of music. by its Supervisor, Juan Karlo Indulgence granted by the
taught in the Padre Faura this show was a blessing to is most memorable, most “These are the bonds that S. Serviento. Holy Father Francis was
compound, although the place everyone. At every rehearsal intimate, most ourselves. If bind us together; this is the The opening of the Jubilee imparted to the parish and
was crowded with refugees, the young Jesuits laughed we must needs give currency soul that makes us one. And Year was led by the Bishop of its pilgrim by the Bp. Mylo
no one had enough to eat, until they cried. Hernando to our thoughts, we are forced as long as there remains in the Diocese of Pasig, Most Rev. and will take effect during the
there were Japanese guards Maceda, a very quiet to mint them in the coinage these islands one mother to Mylo Hubert C. Vergara, DD, whole year provided that the
at every door, and sandbags young man, and sick with of a foreign tongue; for we sing Nena’s lullaby, one boat with priests and deacons from person is in the state of grace.
across the front gate. tuberculosis, lying flat on do not even have a common to put out to sea with the the diocese. It started at exactly (JSServiento)
By 1943 the refugees, his back on the stage, with language. immemorial rowing song, one
interned at Padre Faura, his arms and legs up, like a But poor as we are, we priest to stand at the altar and Brother’s Insight / C2
were desolate. It looked puppy dog, laughing. When yet have something. This offer God to God, this nation
as if the war would never the cast is enjoying the show, pauper among the nations may be conquered, trampled But do we really need another Mama Mary? Are Mama
end. There was no mail. No the audience enjoys it. The of the earth hides two jewels upon, enslaved, but it cannot Mary’s virtues and character now a passé as she had lived
communication with those refugees loved every minute in her rags. One of them is perish. Like the sun that more than 2,000 years ago? That the standard in her days is
they loved at home. Morale of it. our music. We are sundered dies every evening, it will rise no longer applicable today? Of the 1.2 billion Catholics all over
was low. The people in the During rehearsals, the one from another by eighty- again from the dead.” the world of which only 120 million are practicing Catholics,
compound were miserable. Scholastic who was stage seven dialects; we are one the odds are against Mama Mary. 120 million is only 1.5% of
The Jesuit Superiors, manager came to Horacio de people when we sing. The (to be continued on the the world’s total population of 7.7 billion and finding a Mama
knowing that the Jesuits were la Costa and said: “Skeezix, kundimans of Bulacan next issue) Mary of biblical times is next to impossible.
However, Mama Mary is still relevant today as in the past.
Her piousness, her immaculateness, her respectfulness among
Beyond / C2
others still remains and are worth emulating, worthy of
business as such shall issue membership Counselors Our fraternal counselors counsel. They anybody’s admiration. For as long as the 120 million promoting
certificates to its members specifying The mutuality which exists between provide fraternal guidance and not and believing her cause, trying to touch the passive hearts of
the benefits to which such members our members and the Association is merely sell insurance products. the remaining 1.08 billion Catholics, hoping to reach to the rest
are entitled. Such certificates, together constantly nurtured by our fraternal Indeed, I am thankful to have come of the population of the world, Mama Mary remains as alive
with the articles of incorporation of counselors who we do not merely treat across the inquiry that was endorsed today as she did more than 2,000 years ago.
the association or its constitution and as like ordinary agents in commercial to me for it made me appreciate and For us 1.5% who believes in Her, Mama Mary is very much
bylaws, and all existing laws as may be insurance. Our fraternal counselors do understand the importance of what we relevant not only in the past but even more so today and
pertinent shall constitute the citation and not merely assume the role of knowing do every day- beyond the meetings, tomorrow for thousands of years to come. She will always be
the member. The membership certificate and offering the various products which paper works and hearings. I am indeed the Mother of Our Lord Jesus Christ, the Mother of God, the
shall in a form previously approved by the Association offers to its membership. privileged to have been welcomed to one and only, Blessed Virgin Mary.
the Commissioner. “ Their roles go beyond that. an institution which is celebrating its We the 1.5% are trying to reach out to the almost four billion
Thus, one who holds a BC does not Our Fraternal Counselors take it upon sixty first anniversary of not just doing women to be at least a tenth of what Mama Mary is all about.
merely have on his hands an ordinary themselves to know their brother knights business but of being of service. And so We do not expect you to be Catholics but we expect you to be
insurance policy. He has with him proof and their families so that he can best shall it be for the next sixty years and a woman worth emulating. A woman who would be dedicated
of membership to our MBA and to his give them that financial advice on what beyond. KCFAPI will stay strong and and understands her role as a woman. A woman who would
assent to the core beliefs and principles investment can work for them so that continue its resolve in protecting the protect and support her children with enough dedication to
on which it stands on- the tenets of KC they can maximize the benefits of being interests of its members and as well as see them through life and be the children that they should be.
anchored on charity, unity, fraternity a member of our fraternity. Thus, I find serving our Mother Church through the If you cannot be a tenth of what Mama Mary is, we at least
and patriotism. it more apt to say that they do not simply cultivation of Christian family life. Vivat expect you to play your role as a woman, a harbinger of life,
Not just Agents but Fraternal offer or accept proposals for business. Jesus! not death.
C4 September 2 - 15, 2019, Vol 23, No. 18 THE CROSS

KCFAPI commemorates the legacy of

Fr. Michael J. McGivney

Bro. Arsenio Isidro G. Yap, Chairman of the Foundations, Msgr. Pepe C. Quitorio III, KCFAPI officers and employees during the wreath laying ceremony for the death anniversary of Fr. Michael McGivney in his mural at the KCFAPI Center Intramuros, Manila last August 13, 2019.

THE KCFAPI community
memorializes the legacy of Fr.
Michael J. McGivney, founder of the
Order of the Knights of Columbus
last August 13, 2019. This date
coincidentally fell between his 167th
birth on August 12 and 129th death
anniversary on August 14.
Fr. McGivney founded the Order in
his parish at New Haven, Connecticut
with European immigrants
as its first members. One of his
major objectives for the fraternal
organization is to provide financial
aid to its members and immediate
families, a mission that still holds
true until present. The order that he
founded is now the world’s largest
catholic fraternal organization with
more than 2 million members across
17 countries.
In 1996, a Cause for his
canonization was opened by the
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of
Hartford. Pope Benedict XVI
declared him “Venerable” on March
15, 2008.
A mass was offered at the Fr.
McGivney Oratory located at the
KCFAPI Center in the morning.
During his homily, Msgr. Pedro
Quitorio III said that Fr. McGivney
was ahead of his time. He is the first
person who founded an organization
that is not devotional. Though he
only live for 38 years, he was able
to institutionalize charity ahead of
Church. He became the pioneer of
his time in caring for the last and the
least of our brethren.
Today, in the modern world, his
legacy lives through the charitable
projects of the Order and the caring
for our brother Knights and their
immediate families.

KCFAPI President Bonifacio B. Martinez; Guest Speaker Jonathan L. Ravelas from BDO, KCFAPI Officers and Fraternal Benefit
Managers during the Economic Briefing held last August 29, 2019 at the KCFAPI Center Intramuros, Manila.

Earthquake and Fire Safety Seminar

The KCFAPI Chorale headed by EVP – OIC Ronulfo Antero G. Infante together with Bro. Ewin Dawal and Sis Teresa Dawal, past Hermana
Mayor during the first Novena Mass for St. Augustine and Sta. Monica at the San Agustin Church Intramuros, Manila last August 19,
2019 wherein the Association was one of the sponsors of the Novena.

KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS FRATERNAL ASSOCIATION OF THE

PHILIPPINES, INC.

JOB OPENINGS!
Knights of Columbus Fraternal Association of the Philippines, Inc. (KCFAPI), the
fraternal benefits arm of the Order of the Knights of Columbus in the Philippines is in
search of the following qualified individuals:

 Corporate Audit Supervisor ( must be a CPA )  Aircon Technician ( HTMC ) Attendees of the Earthquake and Fire Drill Seminar last August 29, 2019 at the KCFAPI Center Intramuros, Manila
 Actuarial Associate  Service Director ( HTMC )
 Accounting Staff  Service Office Staff ( Cabanatuan ) KCFAPI, through the Administrative Services Francisco R. Montevirgen, also conducted
 Marketing Staff – Life
 Marketing Staff – Non life ( Mace )
Department, organized an Earthquake and a lecture on Fire Safety. SFO3 Montevirgen
 Training Manager Fire Safety Seminar last August 29, 2019 at cited the numerous incidentsof fire in
the KCFAPI Center.. Manila, how it happened and how it could
The seminar was conducted by SFO2 have been prevented. After the lecture,
Claudie Monette B. Facundo, Fire Safety the participants were given a hands-on
Officer assigned to KCFAPI. She gave experience in operating fire extinguishers.
a lecture which covered topics related The session is very informative and helpful
Visit us at the KCFAPI Center, Gen. Luna cor. Sta. Potenciana Sts., Intramuros, Manila 1002 or call us at 0906-297-8303 for to Earthquake preparations and Fire in preparing the Association in dealing with
Globe, 0949-135-8105 for Smart and (02) 527-2223 local 201. You may also send your resume to hrcc@kofc.org.ph
prevention. Another guest speaker, SFO3 earthquake and fire disasters.(MPCabra)