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•A3 Desire for sacraments

not sufficient reason for


•B1 Pope’s preacher to RP clergy: •C1 UGNAYAN
The News Supplement
‘Give hope to people’ of Couples for Christ
annulment, pope says

Faithful urged Medical group reports


compassion for the sick 641 cases during clergy
by attending Mass congress
SHOWING its concern and solidarity with AT least 641 medical cases have been treated
the sick, the Archdiocesan Ministry of Health by attending physicians during the Second
Care will commemorate the 18th World Day National Congress of the Clergy (NCCII) held
of the Sick with a Mass at the Manila Cathe- at the World Trade Center (WTC) in Pasay
dral on February 11. City on January 25-29, 2010.
“In this celebration, we are urged to show Priests and bishops participating in the
our love, compassion, and care for the sick, national congress received not only spiritual
the aged, the disabled, and the dying,” Fr. re-charging from the series of talks and re-
Prudencio Solomon said. ligious activities during the congress-cum-
Solomon is the Minister of Health Care of February 1 - 14, 2010 Vol. 14 No. 3 Php 20.00 retreat; they also received free treatment for
Compassion / A6 Cases / A6

Around 5,542 priests and a hundred bishops


from the 87 ecclesiastical provinces nationwide
gathered for a five-day congress-retreat at the
World Trade Center from January 25-29.
The congress held in time for the Catholic
Church’s celebration of Year for Priests aimed
to provide the clergy with a deep and religious
experience that will lead them to interior
renewal and greater commitment.

CBCP urges vigilance as


questions hound poll automation
© Roy Lagarde / CBCP Media
Pope calls
By Roy Lagarde Conference of the Philippines sounded alarm over example would be to help in educating voters
what is happening “at this late hour”. regarding the AES and in using the equipment,”
Vigilance. This was what the Catho- “Even more important, many serious questions the bishops said.
about the reliability and integrity of the equipment “Let us be ever vigilant for our country. Together
lic bishops’ leadership said must be

Filipino
and the personnel involved have not been satisfac- let us be involved in the coming automated elections.
maintained, more so that the ques- torily answered,” the two-page statement read. Let us vote wisely that we may have God-fearing and
tions on the readiness to conduct the But the people, the CBCP said, must make sure honest people as our leaders,” they added.
automated election keeps hounding that there are “prepared fall back positions” that

priests to
can be quickly adopted when there will be some Discernment
the Commission on Elections. glitches in the system and in logistics. The statement is the product of the two-day
In a pastoral statement, the Catholic Bishops’ “We have to be vigilant and be involved. One Vigilance / A6

i-Proclaim! A Call for Vigilance and Involvement holiness


highlights National A Pastoral Statement of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP)
on the occasion of its 100th General Assembly held at Pius XII Center, Manila
POPE Benedict XVI called on Filipino bishops to
work for the sanctification of priests, so that they

Bible Week “Seek good and not evil that you may live.” (Amos 5,14)
may be able to fulfill their mission in the church
and in modern world.
In a letter to the Catholic Bishops’ Conference
BELOVED People of God: order—how imperative this we remind once again the of the Philippines (CBCP), the pontiff said that
God is calling us to par- task is today! The election fever Catholic laity that it is their bishops have a major role to play on how priests
ticipate in transforming our is on us! Campaign advertise- right and duty to support would exercise their pastoral functions.
society, to “seek good and not ments, presidential debates, candidates that are qualified He said a bishop’s role is to sanctify, and in
evil” (Amos 5,14). This is part and sadly, political killings, fill and have a record of striving order to do this one must first tend to his own
of our mission as People of our media. Outrageous politi- for the common good. They holiness of life.
God (cf. Justice in the World, cal violence has awakened us should not hesitate to engage “By preaching the Word, offering Eucharistic
1971). In 1991 the Second Ple- to the reality that if we do not in principled partisan politics. sacrifice, and administering the sacraments to
nary Council of the Philippines keep watch together as a nation We are asked to first articulate God’s people, the clergy in your respective dioces-
(PCP II) called the lay people our electoral processes can drag the key values and principles es ...may grow in holiness,” Benedict XVI said.
to fulfill their responsibility in us down. The existence of pri- by which we can evaluate in- The letter was read by CBCP President Bishop
renewing the political order. vate armies, the proliferation dividual candidates across po- Nereo Odchimar during the bishops’ 100th plenary
In 2001 the National Pastoral of loose fire arms, and political litical parties. This is the kind assembly at the Pope Pius XII Catholic Center in
Consultation on Church Re- dynasties are obstacles to the of politics in which Gospel Manila.
newal (NPCCR) made this task growth of a genuine democratic values form the bases of our
one of the nine major pastoral system. choice of candidates and not Apostolic blessing
© PBS

priorities of the Church. The party or family loyalties. The pope’s message was relayed by Cardinal
same call is echoed by the pas- II. Calls Tarcisio Bertone, Vatican’s Secretary of State, to
President Emeritus of PBS Board and Sorsogon Bishop toral letter last year on the Year A. Discernment B. On Automated Elections the CBCP.
Arturo Bastes, SVD, leads the enthronement of the Bible of the Two Hearts for Peace In this situation we urge once We have always hoped for a Bertone said the pope is urging Filipino prel-
together with Bp. Reniel Nebab (CAMACOP) and PBS Gen. Building and Lay Participation more all Filipinos to form circles modernized, better, and faster
Sec. Mrs. Nora Lucero during the launch of I-Proclaim!
ates to continue acting their role as the chief
in Social Change. of discernment so that they can form of voting and counting, catechists of their respective pastoral jurisdic-
AIMING to bring the Good News closer to Fili- see, judge, and act together on imbued with transparency and tions.
pinos and to encourage Christians to explore the I. Our Situation issues of public concern accord- integrity. Automated election This means, he said, that bishops must be willing
treasures of God’s word, a bible reading campaign To transform our political ing to moral values. Moreover, Involvement / A6 Holiness / A6
dubbed as “i-Proclaim” will be the heightened this

Remember souls of the Unborn this February, says Pro-life


year’s National Bible Week.
Organized by the Philippine Bible Society (PBS)
and other local churches, this bible reading was
ecumenical and public that maybe likened to Holy WHILE February evokes images of Cupid for Val- February 7. Fr. Edwin Mercado, Parish Priest, will Antipolo Bishop Gabriel Reyes will preside over the
Week’s “Pabasa” or “Pasyon.” entine’s Day and Tigers for the start of the Chinese be main celebrant of the noon time Mass. Mass and the awarding ceremony.
The activity was in furtherance of the May They New Year, the Pro-life Philippines Foundation is The gathering will be attended by vanguard pro- “Pro-Life Philippines invites all parish Family and
Be One Bible Campaign which seeks to distribute urging the Catholic faithful to also remember souls lifers such as former Manila Mayor Lito Atienza Life Apostolate groups together with their parish or-
five million Bibles to five million poor Filipino of the Unborn this “love month.” and Pro-Life Philippines Founder Sr. Mary Pilar ganizations to organize Pro-life activities to celebrate
families within the next five years. In staying committed to its pro-life advocacies, the Verzosa, RGS among others. the gift of life and promote a culture that celebrates
Nora Lucero, general secretary of PBS and Pro-life Philippines Foundation is again spearheading On February 18, a pro-life Healing Mass at the family values,” Wasan said. (CBCP News)
chairperson of the Global Board of the United Bible the celebration of the Pro-life Month this February. Sto. Domingo Parish in Quezon City will be cele-
Societies (UBS) said that through this campaign Pro-life Philippines is a staunch critic of legaliza- brated by Fr. Efren Borromeo, SOLT and Fr. George
more Filipinos will be able to personally experience tion of abortion, euthanasia, and artificial contracep- Moreno, OP while simultaneous pro-life activities
the Word of God. tion in the country as these contradict the Catholic are set to be observed in parishes nationwide.
“We want to encourage our kababayans to set Church's teachings on the value and sanctity of life. Prolife Philippines will also hold a photography
aside differences, come together and be one in According to Marita Wasan, executive director and writing contest to encourage the youth to use their
reading God’s Word. This is a public confession. of the Foundation, this year’s theme, “Buhay Mo, creative juices and find ways to promote the culture
Illustration by Bladimer Usi

We as people of God will be putting God’s Word Mahal Ko” evokes the general sentiment and spirit of life among Filipinos. Mechanics of the contests can
in the center of our national life and that we sub- of the Foundation, which speaks about two of the be browsed online at www.prolife.org.ph.
mit to the Lordship of Jesus Christ through this most valuable things on Earth—love and life. The awarding ceremonies will be the culminating
campaign,” she said adding: An opening salvo for the month-long celebration activity of the Pro-life Month, which will be held after
“We are hoping and praying that people, groups, will be hosted by the Archdiocesan Shrine of the a 5 p.m. Mass on Feb. 28 at the Shrine of Our Lady
i-Proclaim! / A7 Our Lady of Guadalupe in Makati City on Sunday, of Peace and Good Voyage in Antipolo. No less than

“Read Impact, the Asian magazine for human transformation.” Visit, www.impactmagazine.net
World News
CBCP Monitor
A2 Vol. 14 No. 3
February 1 - 14, 2010

Charity, truth and justice


must guide Vatican court,
states Pope Benedict
VATICAN CITY, Jan. 29, 2010—The Holy Father addressed members of the Roman Rota, the second Love becomes an empty
highest Vatican court, this morning for the inauguration of the judicial year. In his message, he em- shell to be filled arbi-
phasized the importance of charity, truth and justice in guiding their work, especially as it pertains to trarily. This is the
upholding the Sacrament of Marriage. fatal risk of love in
In society today, said the Holy Father, we tend to "contrast justice with charity, almost as if the one a culture with-
excluded the other." out truth."
Alluding to a specific example, the Pope explained that "some people maintain that pastoral charity "The prob-
justifies any measures taken towards the declaration of nullity of the marriage bond." lem arises
In this case, he maintained, truth "would thus tend to be seen in a functional perspective, adapting when the es-
itself to the different requirements that arise in each case.” sence itself of
Pope Benedict XVI told the members of the court that they must uphold the virtue of justice and marriage be-
also be strong, especially "when injustice seems the easiest path to follow, in as much as it involves comes more or
giving in to the desires and expectations of the parties involved, or to the conditioning of the social less obscured,"
environment." stated the Holy
Neither can they neglect charity, he added, because maintaining a "charitable perspective... will help Father, adding

© www.benediktxvi.ru
us not to forget that those before us are always people marked by problems and suffering." that the "examina-
And, in the cases of annulment, "whenever there seems to be hope of a successful outcome," said the tion of the conjugal
Pope, they must make every effort to reunite the spouses. bond in existential,
Another important issue regarding justice in annulments, added the Holy Father, involves the avoid- personalist and re-
ance of "pseudo-pastoral demands which place the issue on a merely horizontal plain." lational terms must
These cases, he said, are typified by the attitude that the importance lies in "satisfying subjective never be undertaken at the expense of indissolubility, an essential property which in Christian marriage
requests in order to achieve a declaration of nullity at any cost, with the aim of overcoming, among has, with unity, a special firmness by virtue of the Sacrament."
other things, the obstacles to receiving the Sacraments of Penance and the Eucharist." "Marriage enjoys the favor of the law," concluded Benedict XVI, "Therefore, whenever there is doubt,
This, explained Pope Benedict, "would, however, be a false advantage to ease the way towards re- a marriage must be held to be valid until the contrary is proven, otherwise we run the serious risk of
ceiving the Sacraments, at the risk of causing people to live in objective contrast with the truth of their remaining without an objective point of reference for pronouncements of nullity, transforming all con-
own individual state." jugal difficulties into a symptom of a failed union whose essential nucleus of justice—the indissoluble
"Both justice and charity require love for truth... (and) without truth, charity slides into sentimentalism. bond—is thus effectively denied." (CNA)

Secret Archives from Pius XII’s Taizé launches prayer


campaign for Haiti
time to be organized by 2015 Unites people on 12th day of every month
TAIZE, France, Jan. 28, 2010—At the request of a young Haitian,
ROME, Italy, Jan. 29, 2010—Documents regard- creating an inventory of "a very extensive mass of the Taizé Community is asking people worldwide to remember
ing the activities of the Holy See during the paper, originating from 19 years of pontificate." his country in prayer on the 12th day of every month.
pontificate of Pope Pius XII will be organized in Bishop Pagano estimated that the "technical The day of prayer, beginning Feb. 12, will commemorate the Jan.
the Vatican archives within five years. The head preparation" would be completed for docu- 12 earthquake that destroyed the Haitian capital, Port-au-Prince.
of the Secret Archives says that only "technical" ments proceeding from the pontificate of Pius On the Taizé Web site there are testimonies and appeals from
issues are keeping them from being made avail- XII by 2014-15, "then," he added, "it will be the several Haitians who volunteered with the community in years
able for study. Holy Father who makes a decision regarding the past.
In an interview with the Italian-language Il opening." One young man in particular, identified as Richard, noted that
Messaggero newspaper, the Prefect of the Vatican Pope Benedict XVI, he said, "is kept constantly his country has been "plunged into deep distress."
Secret Archives, Bishop Sergio Pagano, said that informed" of their progress. "Under the rubble the dead bodies are decaying," he said. "There
work is underway to catalogue and organize the There has been great interest in seeing the is a horrible smell in almost all the neighborhoods; we sleep in the
16 million pages produced by the Holy See from documents since they span the years of World open next to the garbage, the smell of urine and feces."
© mystra.wordpress.com

1939 - 1958. War II and will shed light on the internal Vatican There is "no more money, no more job, tens of thousands with-
Bishop Pagano explained that there is a com- activities during that time. In particular, Jewish out shelter, no water, no food, no electricity," Richard said.
plete absence of "political" motives for the lack leaders and other researchers are interested in
of access to the documents, and that the files are discovering the extent of Pope Pius XII's in- Panic
currently unavailable for "technical" reasons. The volvement in helping shelter Jews from the Nazi He continued: "A major panic has set in because the number of
problems derive from the difficulty involved in persecution. (CNA) police has diminished and many prisoners have escaped.
"Every night cases of robberies, rapes, shootings and so on

Young Catholic life is focus of Britain’s


are recorded."
"And what is even worse," the Haitian reported, "they circulate
rumors."

upcoming youth ministry congress


He explained: "Tuesday, just hours after the tragedy, a group
of thugs, with the objective of stealing what remained to the
survivors, went running around saying that the waters were
rising: 'Tsunami."
LONDON, England, Jan. 30, 2010—Britain’s national Catholic Youth “It is the first time for many years that there has been a national "Imagine people seriously injured, with broken bones, trying
Ministry Congress will take place in London on Feb. 27. Organizers event on this scale for those working with young people in our to run."
say they have scheduled some of the best known Catholic speakers Church, and we hope it marks the beginning of a fresh revitalisation He added, however, that "God is great and since he is love,
for the event, which will also present new research into the life and of national Catholic Youth Ministry, to complement and strengthen his plan of love is already prepared for us."
faith of young Catholics. the wonderful work happening in many places locally.” The young man said that the songs he learned from the Taizé
The Congress, organized by the Catholic Youth Ministry Federa- The results of a wide-ranging survey will be presented at the Con- Community, where he volunteered in 2006, have given him
tion for England and Wales (CYMFed), has as its theme “We have gress. It explored young Catholics’ understanding of their world and "strength and confidence I would never have imagined."
set our hope on the living God.” Over 700 youth leaders, chaplains, their faith and also examined the perceptions of the Church among "Ask all the peoples throughout the world, during the meetings
teachers and priests have registered to attend. Mass goers and those Catholics who do not attend church. in Taizé, to pray for 12 months on the 12th day of each month
Headline speakers at the Congress are Fr. Timothy Radcliffe, who The research was commissioned for CYMFed by the Young Chris- for the Haitian people," Richard said.
is former Master of the Dominicans, and Abbot Christopher Jamison, tian Workers (YCW), the Catholic Agency for Overseas Develop- He added: "Do not hesitate! It is very important."
a television host and author. ment (CAFOD), and the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England The Prayer for Haiti, also on the community's Web site, was
Archbishop of Westminster Vincent Nichols will deliver the clos- and Wales. written by Brother Alois.
ing exhortation at the final liturgy, CYMFed reports. Danny Curtin, YCW President, will present the research with
Other keynote speakers include Bob and Maggie McCarty, an Abbot Christopher. Charity
American couple involved with the National Federation for Catho- Curtin said it was “illuminating’ to discover how young people The community also featured the statement of Bishop Pierre-
lic Youth Ministry. Their vision helped shape the creation of the understand and practice their faith. He predicted the results will André Dumas of the Diocese of Anse-a-Veau and Miragoane, the
CYMFed. “transform” many people’s approach to working with young president of Caritas Haiti and "a close friend of Taizé."
The event’s master of ceremonies will be David Wells, director of Catholics. The prelate underlined his belief that "our charity and the way
education for the Diocese of Plymouth. “Although there are challenges in our research, it is also an op- in which we live this crisis will help increase our humanity."
Fr. Dominic Howarth, Chair of CYMFed, said the Congress is portunity of hope; hope for the Church to learn from our own young "It will help us be more generous, open and available to each
“delighted with the range and caliber of the speakers, and with the people, and hope that young people will be best served by us as other, because the symbolic ways of living together have been
support from the bishops.” youth ministers.” (CNA) destroyed," the bishop said.
He explained: "All of the symbols that join us together: the
cathedral, the president's palace, ministries, the schools, religious

Spokesman: In an iPad world, fascination can distract communities and many more places are in ruins.
"Now we have to build again to be able to live together."
Bishop Dumas encouraged rebuilding in a way that excludes
VATICAN CITY, Jan. 31, 2010—Is it possible to liever who ventures with enthusiasm and desire for the absolute and enduring truths. "prejudice and discrimination" and "in a way that engenders
meet God in the tangled maze of cyberspace? with courage into the world of social com- He concluded with an invitation to bring trust," a "way that gives rise to solidarity and an open spirit."
To this question a Vatican spokesman answers: munications ─ boiling over every day with God's love also to the world of technology: He affirmed that this disaster "gives us the possibility to re-
Yes, of course, but it also depends on us. extraordinary technological novelties, from "Let us enter the digital continent, then, with build our country in another way and understand the bond that
Jesuit Father Federico Lombardi, director the iPod to the iPhone to the iPad—must enthusiasm and creativity, courage and pru- binds us together."
of the Vatican press office, reflected on the know well the goal that guides him so that dence, to discover and know how to indicate The prelate continued, "That doesn't mean rebuilding things
conditions for evangelization on the Web he is not taken captive by fascination for the here, too, the signs of the presence of God, as they were before; instead we have a chance to build a better
during the most recent edition of Vatican means and thus loses his way." of his love for all." (Zenit) Haiti in which people are at the heart of everything." (Zenit)
Television's “Octava Dies.” "And the goal," the spokesman recalled,

Chinese Catholics follow on-line evangelization courses


The Jesuit priest based his remarks on "is encountering God, who is the ultimate
Benedict XVI's message for the 44th World meaning of the relationships of dialogue,
Communications Day. The mes- friendship and sharing
sage was released Jan. that the Web makes pos- HONG KONG, Jan. 30, 2010—Some 30 Chinese Catholics, Father Giovanni Giampietro (also known as Yan
24, though the day will sible today." from different continents, have completed their course as Po-tak) of the Pontifical Institute for Foreign Missions,
be celebrated in May. "The traps that fill the the "evangelists" of cyberspace. The head of the Online supervisor of the online school, expressed his joy for
In his message the pathways of cyberspace School of Evangelisation, headquartered in Hong Kong, students who want to become an instrument of Christ's
Pontiff affirms that are countless,” Father explains to AsiaNews that the internet is an effective evangelization.
"God’s loving care for Lombardi acknowl- means to make "the impossible possible, connecting Some graduates, who live in Australia, Canada, China,
all people in Christ edged, “from superfi- Chinese Christians around the world for their evangeliza- Hong Kong, Holland and United States, spoke of the
must be expressed even ciality to falsehood to tion, with a two-year online course which deals with the studies and their experiences via chat. Some told of
in the digital world not perversion. But there Church teachings on evangelization in the first year and their evangelization within the members of their family,
simply as an artifact are also many users who the concrete activity of evangelization in the second". non-Catholics, others of their choice of subject for their
from the past, or a seek friendship, truth The awarding of certificates at the end of the course, final project.
learned theory, but as and goodness.” took place January 17 in a Catholic school in Hong Kong. The Online School began in 2005 and was attended
something concrete, Father Lombardi ref- Some of the 29 graduates came from afar to attend the by 1,923 students, although some have left school for
present and engaging." erenced Benedict XVI’s ceremony, which was held in English, Cantonese and personal, family, health, or work problems or for issues
Father Lombardi char- image of the Court of the Mandarin and broadcast live over the Internet. with internet connections. These will be given the op-
acterized the Holy Fa- Gentiles of the Temple During the ceremony, Msgr. Dominic Chan Chi-ming, portunity to resume the progress and completion.
ther's message as “clear in Jerusalem, which was vicar general of the diocese of Hong Kong, pointed out The course is free of charge and includes evangelization
and encouraging." open even to those who how Christians, in this new technological environment, in Bible and Church teachings, the history of evangeliza-
But he offered a word did not yet know God, must make use of new media for the work of evange- tion in Africa, Americas and Asia, religions in Asia, and
of caution: "The be- but who cultivated the lization. evangelization and liturgy and media. (AsiaNews)
News Features
CBCP Monitor
Vol. 14 No. 3
February 1 - 14, 2010
A3

Desire for sacraments not sufficient


reason for annulment, pope says
VATICAN CITY, Jan. 29, 2010— True pastoral charity and concern can never lead the church to grant an
annulment to a Catholic whose marriage is valid according to church law, Pope Benedict XVI said.
"One must shun pseudo-pastoral claims" that look only at the desire of divorced Catholics to return
to the sacraments, the pope said Jan. 29 in his annual speech to officials of the Roman Rota, a tribunal
that mainly deals with appeals filed in marriage annulment cases.
The pope said helping Catholics be able to go to confession and receive the Eucharist is important,
but it cannot be done without taking into account the truth about their church marriage.
The church cannot act charitably toward its faithful without upholding justice and truth, he said.
Charity without justice is "only a forgery because charity requires that objectivity that is typical of
justice and which must not be confused with inhumane coldness," the pope said.
For the Catholic Church, he said, a marriage celebrated with the full consent of the couple and fol-
lowing the correct form is always presumed to be valid, and a valid marriage is indissoluble.
Pastors and those who work in church tribunals must beware of "the widespread and deeply
rooted tendency" to see justice and charity as totally competing values, the pope said.
Within the church, he said, the idea leads some to think that "pastoral charity could justify any step"
taken to grant an annulment for a couple who wants to return to the sacraments.
Defending the permanent bond of a valid marriage is a matter of both justice and love, he said,
because it is designed to protect the human and spiritual good of the couple and "the public good of
the church," which teaches that marriage is forever and does not use annulments as a sort of church-
sanctioned divorce.
"It would be a fictitious good, and a serious lack of justice, to nevertheless smooth the way toward

© www.flickr.com/photos/xelor
their reception of the sacraments," the pope said
Pope Benedict told members of the Roman Rota that those who work on church marriage tribunals
must cultivate the virtues of prudence and justice, but especially the virtue of fortitude, especially
"when the unjust way appears easier to follow because it means condescending to the desires and
hopes of the couple."
"Both justice and charity require love for the truth and essentially lead to a search for the truth," he
said. (CNS)

Language lessons: New media


test Vatican’s digital fluency
World Communications Day message Jan. 23, which priests to embrace these possibilities.
called for better use of new media, and said it held les- Archbishop Celli said his council is also willing to tackle an even
sons for everyone engaged in church ministry. more sensitive issue – in many ways, the core issue – of Vatican
"The risk is that our sites will merely be places where communications: the question of language.
information is posted, and not a real meeting ground," "This is a topic we need to face in an explicit manner. Many times
he said. we speak, but in a language that is no longer comprehensible," he
Archbishop Celli has helped prod the Vatican toward said. He said that's something that may be the focus of an upcoming
more interactivity. Last year, his council designed and plenary session of his council.
launched a special Vatican Web site, www.pope2you. Speaking the language of new media is a delicate issue precisely
net, to bring the pope closer to a younger audience. It because many Vatican officials do not trust these media to get it right
includes iPhone and Facebook applications, and visi- about the church, or to engage people at a more than shallow level.
tors have used the site to send nearly 300,000 e-cards to They doubt whether the language of the Internet is compatible with
their friends, each bearing a snippet of Pope Benedict's the beauty and depth of Catholic theology and liturgy.
teaching. Msgr. Paul Tighe, secretary of the communications council,
VATICAN CITY, Jan. 29, 2010—Pope Benedict XVI recently urged Last Christmas, pope2you.net invited people to send personal launched what might be called a trial balloon on the question of
the world's priests to make better use of new media, but in his own photo-and-text Christmas greetings to the pope, which were then language in a recent article in Cultures and Faith, a publication of
backyard the digital revolution is still seen as a mixed blessing. posted to a linked Flickr account. The response was overwhelming, the Pontifical Council for Culture.
The Vatican Web site remains largely a repository of printed texts, with messages from believers and nonbelievers all over the world. In While acknowledging the risks of superficiality, he said people
displayed on pages designed to look like parchment. And despite January, Archbishop Celli was busy putting together a representative should remember that the language of the digital culture would not
more than a decade of discussion about making the site interactive, selection in dossier form for the pope. substitute for dogma or theology, but would be employed primar-
www.vatican.va continues to provide information in one direction When the pope released his communications day message urg- ily to make an initial point of contact with those who are far from
only: from them to you. ing priests to take advantage of digital media, Archbishop Celli did the faith.
Some Vatican agencies have embraced the digital possibilities, something that reversed the usual hierarchy of communication in the As things stand, he said, the church relies too much on texts, which
notably Vatican Radio, which offers online broadcasts, podcasts and church: His site encouraged young people, after reading the papal often use a vocabulary and forms of expression that are experienced
RSS feeds along with photos and print versions of major stories. message, to clicking on a link and send it directly to their pastors. as "unintelligible and off-putting even by sympathetic audiences."
Other departments prefer to fly below the radar. The Congrega- Archbishop Celli, a 68-year-old Italian who has spent his entire career He said the church needs to recognize that today's younger au-
tion for the Evangelization of Peoples, for example, has posted in the Roman Curia, knows that communication novelties are usually dience is fluent in "a language rooted in the convergence of text,
exactly one new piece of information on its Web page over the last introduced very gently at the Vatican. He readily concedes that at his sound and images," and will quickly move on if their attention is
three years. age, when it comes to new media he may be part of the problem. not immediately engaged.
The impression that the Vatican is slow on the draw when it comes "We have our own digital divide. I think of myself. I was not born Msgr. Tighe said that, ultimately, the church should look to the
to Internet possibilities was confirmed recently when a "Vatican" 'digital'. I belong to a certain era that feels more at home with a book," example of Christ, who spoke to his contemporaries with words,
Twitter feed turned out to be someone impersonating the Vatican. he told reporters. He said, for example, that he was amazed at the stories and parables, as well as deeds and actions. The church can
It was a fairly innocent case of Twitterjacking, but begged the ques- Kindle but found it hard to imagine himself "sitting in a chair and also turn to its rich heritage of art and music, he said.
tion: Why doesn't the Vatican have a real Twitter feed? watching the pages of a book stream past on a small screen." "Just as the stained-glass images of medieval cathedrals spoke to
Among the few Vatican officials willing to tackle these issues head- The challenge for the church is not to encourage young priests and an illiterate audience, we must find forms of expression that are ap-
on is Archbishop Claudio Celli, president of the Pontifical Council for seminarians to use digital media, because they're already doing so, propriate to a generation that has been described as 'post-literate,'"
Social Communications. He met with reporters to present the pope's he said. The bigger problem is convincing middle-aged and older he said. (CNS)

Filipino communicators grieve over Cardinal Rodé addresses dwindling


death of Brazilian ‘Mother Teresa’ number of consecrated brothers VATICAN CITY, Feb 2, 2010─Speaking with Vati- sions are made to the ministry.
SAN PABLO CITY, Jan. 22, 2010—Filipino Catholic Neumann was called in her country as the “Bra- can Radio on Tuesday, Cardinal Franc Rodé called However, by next fall, the cardinal noted, the
communicators have joined their counterparts in zilian Mother Theresa” because of her humanitar- to attention the need for the Church to place greater congregation hopes to release a document reaf-
media worldwide in sending a message of deep ian causes. She was a Nobel Peace Prize-nominated emphasis on the vocation of the religious brother. firming the value of the consecrated lay brother in
sadness following the death in Haiti earthquake Brazilian pediatrician and aid worker. The number of lay brothers has experienced an the Church as a "figure that has a meaning in itself,
of the Brazilian “Mother Teresa” and fighter for Doctor Zilda Arns Neuman, a paediatric and "enormous decline" in the that has its own identity."
the rights of women and children. public health physician, was the founder and last few decades, explained Cardinal Franc Rodé A brother is not someone
Signis-Philippines, through its officer Bernard international coordinator of Pastoral da Criança the cardinal, who is prefect who "hasn't wanted or been
Canaberal said in a message sent through Signis- (Children’s Pastoral Action), an ecumenical orga- of the Congregation for able to... become a priest,"
Asia, “It is with deep sadness that we received this nization of the National Conference of Bishops of Institutes of Consecrated he continued. The vocation
news. We join the whole SIGNIS team around the Brazil (CNBB). Life and Societies of Ap- of the brother has a particu-
world in praying Pastoral da Cri- ostolic Life. He noted that lar mission in the Church,
for Dr. Zilda and ança helps 1,8 mil- in Christian schools alone, which is proved, in the his-
all others who per- lion children and the presence of consecrated tory of the important roles
ished in this earth- pregnant women brothers has been greatly af- of lay brothers in education
quake. We also in poor Brazilian fected, comparing 16,000 in and as saintly witnesses.
pray for strength of communities. 1965 to today's total of less Cardinal Rodé also spoke
© culturageralsaibamais.wordpress.com

their families and She also found- than 5,000. Additionally, of his plans to release a sepa-
friends.” e d a n d c o o r d i - he reported, the decrease in rate document reinforcing
SIGNIS, World nated the Pastoral brothers is greater even in mixed congregations of the "absolute necessity" of prayer for the religious
Catholic Associa- of Elderly People. priests and brothers. "So, there is a problem and life, which is made difficult by the "busy" world
tion for Commu- From 1994 to 1996, we need to do something." we live in today.
nication based in she was a member Cardinal Rodé explained that the congregation It's possible, he added, that the document could in-
Brussels, Belgium o f t h e B r a z i l i a n believes the drop is due to a "lack of attention" from clude a section written by Prefect of the Congregation
in its email message N a t i o n a l C o u n - the Church for the figure of the consecrated lay for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacra-
to all Signis mem- cil of Children’s brother. "Neither Vatican II, nor the post-conciliar ments, Antonio Cañizares Llovera addressing the im-
bers worldwide re- and Adolescent’s documents have reaffirmed the importance of this portance of liturgical formation of young religious and
ported that ‘The tragic earthquake in Haiti has Rights (Conanda). vocation," he pointed out, adding that only allu- its correspondence to the will of the Church. (CNA)
claimed the life of Dr. Zilda Arns Neumann, the As the result of her com-

Priests indignant over lack of consultation on eco zone plan


Brazilian founder of the Pastoral of Children, who mitment to children’s rights,
was on a mission in the Caribbean island. she has been awarded a num-
Relentlessly involved in favor of the rights of the ber of prizes, such as the
child, Dr. Arns opened the recent SIGNIS World Special Honour by UNICEF MANILA, Jan. 24, 2010—Church lead- Casiguran said the government should be last year to establish the Aseza.
Congress 2009 in Chiang Mai (October 17-21, 2009) (1988); the Human Rights ers have criticized the government for dealing with the affected residents on the Talaban said the affected areas are
with a keynote address on "Human Rights and Prize from the government of not consulting with Aurora villagers same level it does with the investors. mostly rice granaries and is the source
Children Rights". Brazil and from the Univer- as much as it has for the investors of He said the people who are against of food and livelihood of residents in
Zilda Arns was quoted at the recent Signis World sity of São Paulo (1997); the the planned economic zone there. the proposed Aurora Special Economic these parts of Aurora.
Congress in Thailand as saying: "I believe that Human Rights Medal from Some priests are reeling from the Zone (Aseza) are not giving up without “Aseza is not the solution for the to-
social transformation requires putting most of our the Jewish entity B’nai B’rith project, which they fear could displace a fight, as worries grow that they could tal development in Aurora,” he said.
efforts into the integral development of children. (1999); the Human Rights over 1,000 farmers, fishermen and lose their sources of livelihood. He also said that several other par-
Children, when well cared for, are seeds of Peace Prize offered by the United Dumagat natives from five villages “There is no justice here. The law just ishes under the Prelature of Infanta
and Hope." She called the media to follow the Nations, Brazil (2001); and in Casiguran, Aurora. came without the necessary public con- also made a position paper opposing
example of Jesus in giving "words of hope" not the Human Rights Prize of Fr. Jose Francisco Talaban of the sultation,” said Talaban, referring to Re- the project due to lack of consultation.
only to save children’s lives, but to build a more the King of Spain (2005). (Fr. Nuestra Señora dela Salvacion Parish in public Act 9490, which Congress passed (Jason de Asis)
just and fraternal world. Romulo O. Ponte)
A4 Opinion CBCP Monitor
Vol. 14 No. 3
February 1 - 14, 2010

EDITORIAL

In praise of the media


DESPITE a heap of Vatican documents beginning with Vigilanti
Cura of 1936 and the landmark conciliar decree Inter Mirifica
of 1963, and the annual papal messages initiated by John Paul
II during World Communications Day that exhorts the Church
to deeply engage with the media, some leaders of the Catholic
Church, at least in the country, still find it uncomfortable, to
say it too mildly, to get nudged by reporters.
Not too few are instances when press people are avoided like a
disease by churchmen because, among sundry of reasons, they
either twist the truth or barely report half of it. But worse is
the mentality that regards the media as an enemy that pounce
on matters that should be kept out of public scrutiny or, better,
hidden under the rug. That being the case, media is a creature
that must be either feared or leered.
Initially, the media was not supposed to be welcomed to
the Second National Congress of the Clergy. One school
of thought opined that allowing the press to get close to the
priests may not only disturb the Congress, which was actually
a retreat, but may open a floodgate of sensational stories as
those of sexual misconduct of a few priests which has become
a favorite journalism of American press. (But, truth to tell, it
was because of the media exposé that this evil behavior was
put to a halt—something that annual retreats or even canon
law could not easily do in centuries.)

Illustration by Bladimer Usi


This, of course, was not the one that happened. The Second
National Congress of the Clergy (NCC II) was not only a
successful renewal event of the priests; it was also a triumph
of the Catholic press. It has disproven a couple of myths about
the media. For the first time in local media history, a story
about the sacrament of confession landed on the front pages
of national broadsheets. It has floored Charles Dana’s adage
often idolized by journalists. (“When a dog bites a man, that
is not news. But when a man bites a dog that IS news.”)
Fr. Roy Cimagala
The NCC II has garnered massive media coverage. A day
after the Congress, Yahoo and Google already registered
Priests need continuing
thousands of online news about it. And this, not to mention
online networking, national TV and radio stations (without Candidly Speaking conversion
even mentioning the members of the Catholic Media Network
that boasts of 51 radio stations nationwide), and, of course, the
EVERYBODY, of course, needs it, but we, priests, especially need and Communion, spiritual reading, examination of conscience,
national print media. And not a single news report tackled on
this continuing renewal of commitment and conversion of heart. We confession, Rosary, retreats, recollections, etc.
issues that were mostly feared by church leaders.
cannot overemphasize this. That delicate and indispensable practice of spiritual direction,
Some Filipino priests in and out of the country who could not I was happy to hear from priests-friends who just came from the where one bares his heart and soul to another priest with vast expe-
attend the congress faithfully followed the retreat by being glued National Congress for the Clergy gushing over the results of that rience and the grace of state as spiritual director in order to receive
to the global internet that video streamed some parts of NCC II. five-day event. “There’s going to be a transformation among the guidance, should be promoted.
But the bigger take were probably millions of lay people who clergy and the Church in general,” everyone I talked to remarked, Sadly, this is hardly done. To me, it’s here where the nitty-gritty of
listened with their transistor radios as they prayed and reflect saying it with an air of confidence. nourishing one’s spiritual life and ministry, of correcting and heal-
with their parish priests undergoing the national retreat. I was not able to attend the meeting but my heart was all there. ing certain spiritual ailments afflicting us, and even of resurrecting
I followed it closely in the internet. Seeing the images and hearing already necrotic parts of one’s spiritual life are made. These should
The NCC II media coverage may change the mentality of some the reports were enough to convince me that the Holy Spirit was be done regularly and promptly.
church people. But then changing minds takes often too long. busy inspiring the priests from all over the country. We, priests, should understand that we have to lead the way to
For now, the media can still linger leisurely at the other side There’s magic when a big number of priests congregate, driven sanctification. This requires nothing less than continuing conver-
of the fence. And that’s understandable. by a unity of purpose. It moved me to see the juices of piety flowing sion. We have to go beyond the human conditions of our character,
clearly on the faces and in the behavior of my brother priests. These temperament, culture, etc., to be able to attune ourselves closely to

made me burst in thanksgiving. the will and ways of God.
All of a sudden, priests were acting like those old women in This is always possible, and this is actually necessary. It’s true
Commitment to work for change churches, touching the relics, sighing and even with tears emerging that we are conditioned by many human factors, but we have to go
in the eyes, waving hankies as they sang hymn to our Lady… It’s beyond them. We should not rely simply on our natural talents and
OUR mission as Church is to proclaim the Lord Jesus as nice to see their hearts melt with love, both human and Christian. endowments. We have to be actuated by nothing less than God’s
our Savior. In proclaiming him we necessarily proclaim the Kudos should be given to those who organized and ran the event. grace, achieved through living union with Christ.
Kingdom of God that he himself proclaimed. God’s Kingdom, There must have been long and tedious preparations made, and all This is in order to avoid turning our subjectivity as persons into
St. Paul reminds us, is not a matter of drinking and eating, but of it paid off. They also invited speakers who were clearly gifted and arbitrary subjectivism, our activity into activism deprived of divine
a matter of justice, peace and joy (Cfr. Rom 14, 17). It is in who served as good instruments of the Spirit. Thanks be to God! character. This is to make sure we are doing God’s work truly, and
the Kingdom of God where “Love and truth will meet; justice All these convince me that this kind of activity should be made an not just our work.
and peace will kiss” (Ps. 85: 11). Therefore, in the light of our ongoing program. True, it’s just an instrument and the attendance Priests have to enter into the very mind and heart of Christ. In fact,
mission to proclaim the Reign of God in Jesus Christ we your to it should never be mistaken as the very substance of priestly we have to live the very life of Christ, complete with the unavoidable
pastors write you this urgent pastoral letter. holiness. suffering and personal holocaust.
But it’s a wonderful and effective instrument. It’s good to hear that For this, we need to study and pray always, to convert ourselves
Recently we dedicated this year 2009-2010 in our country as the bishops are thinking of making it a regular event for the priests. into authentic contemplative souls even if we find ourselves in the
the year of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart May it be turned into a reality! hustle and bustle of daily life. This should be our default page. We
of Mary. It is a “Year for Prayer and Work for Peace Building What is really important is that the continuing activities of priestly have to be wary of the tendency to be swallowed up by an on-the-go
and Lay Participation in Social Change.” The loving oblation formation and spiritual assistance should vitally and organically lifestyle that kills prayer life.
represented by the Hearts of Our Lord and His Mother invites blossom from formal and planned congresses like the recent one. We have to spread the doctrine and the truths of faith with gift of
us to dedicate ourselves fully to the two tasks of peace building In this regard, we can think of an abiding program of both personal tongue and with abiding and consistent witnessing. We have to avoid
and social change. Evidently these tasks will require the efforts and collective formation that can include a plan of acts of piety as- just giving a performance and show out of our priestly ministry.
of the whole Church but especially the active participation of sumed with a sense of commitment, like mental prayer, Holy Mass For all this, priests have to realize we need conversion always.
the laity.
Indeed our present situation poses a great and urgent challenge Fr. Carmelo O. Diola, SSL
for active lay participation in principled partisan politics.
In spite of our efforts on political education and poll watching, A marathon for peace
we continue to suffer the stranglehold of patronage politics,
even of family dynasties in many cases. Our electoral processes Spaces of Hope
have always been tainted with dishonesty since we became
an independent nation. Vast amounts of money are spent by THIS process of peacemaking may be lik- integrity for the common good.” in the crossroads of the race routes where
candidates in order to be elected with expectations that their ened to a marathon race. Everything is grace and our capacity to there is probability of succumbing to short-
“investment” would have unaccountable financial returns. The marathon is a long-distance race take the first step is already a gift from God. cuts or of taking the easy way out. These
Politics has always been a mirror of the imbalances in our wherein long-term strategy, stamina, and There is no room for self righteousness and temptations take us off the right direction
society between rich and poor. Many even believe that politics persistence win out over speed and short finger pointing. No room also for compla- and will most likely cost us disqualification.
as practiced in our country is a structure of evil. It is alarming cuts, and reaching the finish line belongs to cency and sloth. The marshals are our accountable partners
that crippling apathy and cynicism has crept in even among those who just keep at it. A different kind of What is crucial in a marathon is that run- at the crossroads directing us to the right
our young. Let us renew our efforts to commit ourselves to preparation and training, as well as breath- ners are moving in the right direction. This route and seeing to it that we do it right to
work for change and bring hope. ing technique, is needed in a marathon. In fundamental option allows people to make arrive right.
many respects, in a marathon the journey is mistakes and even to fall short of the mark Faith-impelled social transformation calls
the destination. as long as they are willing to start over again for “marshals” who stand apart from the
A CBCP Pastoral Statement on Let me suggest five elements of a mara- or are moving towards integrity for the com- runners but, at the same time, are in the
Lay Participation in Politics and Peace, 2009 thon: starting point; companions; signposts mon good. routes and crossroads. They share the same
and marshals; refreshment; and destination. The church is called to be open to work- space as the runners yet have a different
These correspond to our strategy of pastoral ing with individuals and groups who show objective. These advocates raise questions,
accompaniment: concrete indicators that they are undertaking clarify, affirm, encourage, and rebuke, if
…A refuge, sanctuary, or space where the journey towards integrity for the com- need be. They propose, never impose. They
www.cbcpmonitor.com people come alongside in a journey together mon good. live by the spirit of caritas in veritate (“love
cbcpmonitor@cbcpworld.net towards integrity for the common good. No one runs the marathon alone. Even in truth”).
It is a trust relationship growing in a journey those who finish last are part of the group, Water and food stations are strategically
of faith, hope, and love, a call to all the faithful, each one running at his or her pace. located every 2.5 kms from the starting point
involving discipline and special skills. We recognize that we are all in this to- to the finish line. Water and runners’ food
Marathon runners gather at a particular gether, as part of the problem and part of are vital requirements to finish the race.
starting point. This designated area is known the solution. This is why in the partnership With no refueling we will never reach the
to all the runners. They have to begin here with and outreach to the PNP the motto is: finish line alive, or we will never reach the
Pedro C. Quitorio in order to be part of the race. “Underneath the uniform and the sotana are finish line at all.
Editor-in-Chief We begin our efforts for peace with the the same human beings, created in God’s im- We need to replace fluids and electrolytes
recognition, on the one hand, of man’s age and likeness, broken by sin, and needing that are shed off when we run and perspire.
Pinky Barrientos, FSP Kris P. Bayos broken condition and need for God and, on God and each other in the journey towards Non-replacement could be fatal.
Associate Editor Feature Editor the other, God who is both powerful and wholeness.” This is why Benedict XVI calls Daily guided and prayerful reading of Sa-
merciful. The capacity to exchange places, or the Church to “provide pastoral accompani- cred Scriptures, daily personal and commu-
Melo M. Acuña Laarni Bergado empathy, is rooted in the incarnation which ment to a new generation of Catholics work- nal prayers, regular confessions, our Sunday
Managing Editor Marketing Supervisor
finds its apex in Jesus’ death on the cross: ing in politics.” masses and services, our spiritual nourish-
Roy Q. Lagarde Ernani M. Ramos God exchanges places with sinful man. Signposts are visible markers—or indica- ment by way of receiving the body of Christ
News Editor Circulation Manager Exchanging places allows people from tors—that allow runners, their companions, in communion, our regular fellowship with
various sectors and backgrounds to come and marshals to gauge where they are at and fellow believers, etc.—all these correspond
Laurence John R. Morales Marcelita Dominguez alongside together in the journey towards to move on. The formation of conscience and to the vital refreshment for replacement and
Layout Artist and Online Editor Comptroller integrity for the common good. The journey the process of conversion demand visible refueling that should be made available to
towards a transformed nation does not begin fruits that provide indicators of transfor- marathoners and of which they avail.
The CBCP Monitor is published fortnightly by the CBCP Com- with persons of integrity but persons moving mation; words and good intentions are not Missing these implements will definitely
munications Development Foundation, Inc., with editorial and
towards integrity and manifesting concrete enough. (cf. Luke 3:7-14). cost us our spiritual lives, hence our inability
business offices at 470 Gen. Luna St., Intramuros, Manila.
P.O. Box 3601, 1076 MCPO. indicators of this direction. This insight cor- Marshals are our accountable partners and to arrive and finish the race of our life.
Editorial: (063) 404-2182. Business: (063)404-1612. responds to the need to provide “a refuge, shepherds who keep a watchful eye over the The finish line is the gate to heaven for
ISSN 1908-2940 sanctuary, or space where people come run/race. They are there at critical points every runner who struggles to finish the
alongside in a journey together towards when crucial decisions are to be made, i.e. Hope / A7
CBCP Monitor
Vol. 14 No. 3
February 1 - 14, 2010
Opinion A5
Jose B. Lugay Rev. Euly B. Belizar, SThD
Action plans for principled
Laiko Lampstand partisan politics By the Roadside
THE education of voters has long been an activity supported by the discernment” so that they can see, judge and act together on issues
Church of the Philippines. Hence it supported the establishment
of the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting after CBCP
of public concern according to moral values. The pastoral statement
reminded the Catholic faithful that it is their right and duty to sup- A second look at
issued a Pastoral Statement on how best the faithful can prepare
themselves for the 1992 elections. NAMFREL, a volunteer citizens’
movement first established during the presidential campaign of
port candidates that are qualified and have a record of striving for
the common good. Voters are asked first to articulate the key values
and principles by which they can evaluate individual candidates
the Second National
Ramon Magsaysay, inspired civic and religious organizations to
protect the electoral process from cheating. This was revived after a
across political parties.
The Dilaab Foundation of Cebu started the training of bishops, Congress of the Clergy
long rest by the Council of the Laity of the Philippines in 1983 by its priests, and laity on how to conduct the Circles of Discernment
President, Jose Concepcion who became NAMFREL’s Chairman. It (CiDE) and it has now reached almost a critical mass to quickly “IT was the best retreat I’ve ever made!” (I wonder how old the
became the organization which monitored the results of the election spread the selection process all over Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao priest who made this comment was). “I have never made a re-
through its quick count process. COMELEC took months to final- dioceses. treat like this!” So said some priest participants (if I may repeat
ize the electoral count and these delays provided opportunities for The participants of the CiDE sessions realize that this undertaking Cardinal Rosales’ quotes during his homily in the congress’ last
cheating—by the dagdag bawas method—in some areas controlled is only part of the PASTORAL ACCOMPANIMENT originally stated Mass) regarding the Second National Congress of the Clergy of
by political dynasties. by Pope Benedict XVI before the Pontifical Council of the Laity in the Philippines held last January 25-29, 2010. I felt bad I missed
Now COMELEC is implementing the Automated Election Sys- Rome last November 16, 2008 wherein he stated: the first national congress because I truly cherish the second. And
tem and all systems according to Chairman Jose A. R. Melo will be In a particular way, I confirm the necessity and urgency of the so do most other participants. I was outside the country then and
implemented on time for the 2010 election. The technology assures evangelical formation and pastoral accompaniment of a new on a sabbatical cum research mission when the first took place.
fast and accurate voting, counting and transmission of electoral re- generation of Catholics working in politics, that they be coherent From majority of the comments it seemed to me that the second
sults to the central canvassing centers in their respective provinces with the professional faith, that they have moral firmness, one was better received and appreciated than the first. Priests
for final collation in Manila for the proclamation of the winners by the capacity of educated judgment, professional competence have a penchant to speak their minds freely in small groups and
the Electoral Tribunal. The national positions of president, vice- and passion for service to the common good. conversations (they’re like other humans after all) and that was
president and senators will be known in record time—in a few days Dilaab Foundation recommended that the pastoral accompani- where, it appeared to me, the direction their remarks mostly took.
instead of months. While there are still doubting Thomases regarding ment would seek to: Still, some things on the minus side need not be sneezed at.
COMELEC’s readiness to attend to the many critical processes of the 1. Identify, encourage, and support lay persons who have the In sum, the experience, I think, was a mix. To the many it was
Automated Election System, there is still hope that it can creditably vocation to run for an elected position; a spiritual-social event; at the same time, it was also R & R, albeit
do its assigned function. The criticism against COMELEC is its slow 2. Provide continuing support to those who make it to ensure they on the wings of retreat.
implementation of the training of teachers, and lack of a fallback are people of integrity for the common good; I know that needs some explaining. Let me put it this way.
plan in places where the automated system can not be implemented 3. Be engaged in a trans-partisan manner, supporting people of I had taught Christology at St. John the Evangelist School of
due to technical and other reasons. Senator Chiz Escudero, Chair- integrity and parties. Therefore, non-partisan. (Note that the new Theology in Palo, Leyte for years and I remember reminding my
man of the Joint Congressional Oversight Committee on Electoral direction is for principled partisan politics.) students how the Council of Chalcedon was pivotal in our greater
System also questioned the COMELEC on some probable failures 4. Accompany the process and more specifically, individuals (i.e., understanding of who Jesus Christ is. Chalcedonian Christology
of the system. newcomers to sustain idealism and patriotism and even old-timers has made us more formally aware of the double nature pres-
Let us assume that the Automated Election System will work, who are open to re-inventing themselves) towards political maturity ent in Jesus Christ—the divine and the human. In a sense, the
will the Catholic laity be able to serve the new directions of the from a strong faith-perspective. recent priests’ congress was Chalcedonian. Some aspects of the
Church by serving as members of NAMFREL or PPCRV? (Note experience evoked of the divine; quite other aspects reminded
that both NAMFREL and PPCRV assume the responsibility for the The most nagging question asked after accepting these pastoral us priests how we and all our efforts are just too human. Even
education of voters.) The new direction of CBCP calls for another accompaniment action plans, including CiDE, was, will the Church in the conduct of the congress it was so clear.
body to do the education of voters which neither NAMFREL nor endorse to the members of the lay organizations to vote for these We are who we are because of the Spirit of God. The talks and re-
PPCRV can do. candidates identified and selected through the CiDE process? The flections of Fr. Raniero Cantalamessa and Bishop Chito Tagle made
This time the new CBCP President Nereo Odchimar in its most answer is a clear NO. However all the laity members of the Sang- priests focus on the Holy Spirit and other aspects of the faith and
recent pastoral statement, called Filipino voters to engage in prin- guniang Laiko ng Pilipinas may individually use the CiDE process the priestly ministry often taken for granted. I found it spiritually
cipled partisan politics and urged all Filipinos to form “circles of Laiko / A6 reinvigorating to once again re-focus on the Divine Person of Power
given us in a special way through ordination be recognized again
as the power that had conquered the primeval abyss in Genesis’ ac-

SOS receiver now Sr. Mary Pilar Verzosa, RGS count of creation and transformed it into a cosmos, the well-ordered
universe as we know it. Fr. Cantalamessa underscored what I’ve

SOS giver
always felt to be a neglected role of the Spirit both in the universe

Love Life outside us and the universe within us. He transforms whatever
chaos our humanity puts us in and turns it into a cosmos. That for
me leads to another insight: Without the Spirit of God our inner
A FEW weeks ago, I attended a meeting or- and above all a mother who takes care and Aircraft Maintenance Technology. I further and outer worlds return to the primeval abyss. In priests’ personal
ganized by DSWD for non-government agen- love us even though I know that she is not took up more Flying Courses at the Philip- and ministerial lives that can easily be proved. Any priest could
cies involved in shelters for abandoned boys our real mother. Oh yes, I missed our father, pine Airlines Flying School. That year, my attest to how his mere efforts alone could reap from even the well-
and girls, victims of child abuse and street but with the presence of the Village Direc- dream became a reality as I became a Second planned and systematized pastoral program a letdown instead of
children. I was impressed with the story of tor, “Papa Noel,” who hugged, talked to and Pilot Officer of Philippine Airlines, of an a success. For instance, even the seemingly well-oiled and tested
the Director of SOS Children’s Village, Mr. encouraged us, somehow the longing that I International Flight, Manila-San Francisco, B.E.C. program a priest continually struggles to launch, keep alive
Vicente Tejada so I asked him if I could relate felt for my father turned into joy, thinking California route. “I feel so blessed now! With or rekindle often becomes an exercise in frustration when it does
his story in my Love Life column. I hope you that I had two fathers. the help of my SOS family, I have finally not give any real justice to the Spirit’s role. The B.E.C. could well
will also find inspiration in reading the life of Our house was sponsored by SwissAir, reached my dream to soar up in the sky. be simply a product of hierarchical effort instead of being a fruit of
Arris Magallanes as he fulfilled his dream in and one day, a visitor came to our house. Not only that, I am now starting to have a the Spirit that it should be. That, I believe, is why in many places
spite of so many odds against him. She was a former flight attendant of the said family of my own. Together with my beloved the B.E.C. sputters and pants for air rather than ablaze with spiri-
“We used to have a happy family despite airline and her husband was a pilot. Mrs. wife, Misty, we will be building our own tual fire. Simply put, our B.E.C. programs should be truly placed
my parents’ disability—both of them are Messmer approached and asked me what I family with dedication and unconditional under the auspices of the Spirit, the real principle of evangelization.
blind—until one day they decided to sepa- wanted to be when I grow up. I smiled that love. “Memories… memories we have lots of I’m not saying it is not so right now. I’m saying that insofar as the
rate for some reason. My sister Shelo and I she had probably expected me to reply A chef them in SOS our home, I will never forget Spirit’s role is concerned there is plenty to be desired in the present
decided to be with our father and our young- or Own a restaurant, seeing me preparing the people who mold our characters, and the reality of BEC-building in our dioceses.
est with our mother. Home for us was the food for my family. But imagine her delighted benefactors who are continuously provid- Because the Holy Spirit is ‘Love in Person’, priests who move in
Quirino Grandstand, where we were also surprise when I replied, “A pilot!” ing us with the much-needed financial and his light live and move in love. Of all realities a priest deals with in
selling cigarettes as our means of living. Now, most young boys of around ten personal support.” his life, love is probably the one most taken for granted. It is a sine-
The NAYON NG KABATAAN, a govern- usually changed their ambitions from day According to Mr. Tejada, Arris, in his pi- qua-non in his vocabulary when preaching, teaching or counseling.
ment agency, referred us to SOS Children’s to day, but not Arris. According to him, his lot’s uniform, visits SOS Village many times But, if I may be allowed to put it differently, love is scarcely a reality
Village Manila. SOS accepted us and showed determination to become a pilot was instilled a year to bring snacks, school supplies, and positively and expressly acknowledged behaviorally by priests. In
us how to live a decent way of life. I was in him during an educational tour in Philip- household items. Above all, he talks to the the priests’ sub-culture love is better done than talked about espe-
ten years old when I was admitted at SOS pine Air Lines. children to encourage them to persevere so cially in ordinary conversations or in the humdrum of everyday life
Children’s Village Manila in October 1989, “At the age of 20, I graduated in col- that they will someday reach their dreams and ministry. Love sounds like a corny joke when uttered by a priest
while my sister Shelo was 12 years old. lege with a degree of Bachelor of Science in just as he has achieved his. who hardly attends priests’ assemblies and gatherings, constantly
House four or the “House of Understand- Aircraft Maintenance. After I graduated, I Indeed, our services to the least of our whines about anything, habitually gossips and backbites against
ing” became our home. Nothing compares worked in a well-known burger shop, until brothers and sisters, no matter how insig- fellow priests or cares little about his poor parishioners’ inability
to my new home, I thought to myself. I have Swiss Air sponsored my flying school ex- nificant it might seem at the moment, will to cope with his ever increasing fees for services. Another insight
a bed of my own, my sister has too, food on penses in order for me to obtain a license never be unrewarded. I am sure you also that struck some priests from my diocese was the challenge to as-
the table every meal that would not require to become a commercial pilot. Finally in have your own stories of children whose sess our diocesan structures as to whether or not they incorporate
us to sell cigarettes, brothers and sisters, 1998, I finished my bachelor’s degree in dreams you have helped attain. love. In contrast to ‘structures of sin’ should be ‘structured love’
made real in diocesan programs, policies etc. I remember a priest
asking rather soulfully if our policy of financial centralization is
Nicolo F. Bernardo driven by love or the need to implement a program.
Sublime thoughts during talks and shared reflections; near chaos
The true hero afterwards or during the in-betweens. One of the ironies of priestly

Lifeguard life is how, while we try to proclaim and reflect the Christ-life, we
could end up imitating the world and the local culture instead. The
just-concluded priests’ congress provided ample samples. Please
don’t get me wrong. I am not saying we priests are incapable of
FROM tales of the Greek gods to the modern-day Avatars, human culture, language, and the geist of both the Jewish and the pagan
discipline. We are, there’s no doubt about it, thanks to years of semi-
beings have always been into myth-making. Interestingly, there is world contributed to the narratives that wrapped this figure of Jesus,
nary formation. But all those years often easily fall by the wayside
a pattern in these stories, in the common expectations of the stuff the superhero par excellence everyone can recognize.
when, during meals, we try to line up for food and beverage or
that makes a hero.
when, during group meetings, there are donations or gifts to share.
Christian authors C.S. Lewis, creator of the Chronicles of Narnia, Hero for real
Then and there we abandon years of seminary discipline behind
and his friend J.R.R. Tolkien, author of the Lord of the Rings, had Unlike the gods of old, over 80 writings have been made on the
us and reflect the local culture—that is, engage in organized chaos
this point in mind. In crafting myths and legends, they believed that story of Jesus—including the apocryphal gospels—with a common
to be able to get ahead of the rest of the pack. It is so easy to switch
they were drawing up a familiar human drama of good over evil, message that a real Jesus walked on earth.
from community to crowd in big priests’ gatherings.
with a hero to save the day. Which of these stories should we hear then? A logical standard is
Host families: blessings and ‘blessferings’ (if you know what I
By appealing to recurrent themes and paradigms of a hero, Lewis that the closer a text was written during the lifetime of a man and his
mean). We are eternally grateful and indebted to our lay host fami-
and Tolkien hoped their readers would find fiction paving way to eyewitness, the more accurate. For this reason, the Synoptic gospels,
lies. We appreciate their sacrifices and often unbounded hospital-
truth: the truth of a universal longing for a savior. And not just any especially of Mark and Mathew, are likely persuasive.
ity and generosity. (For instance, there was this family man who
savior, but a savior who defeats death. For instance, in the documentary Eyewitness to Jesus, Discovery
bought the priest he was hosting, together with a troop of other
Maybe it is human nature to long for such a “superman,” what Channel features the Aramaic fragment/version of Matthew. Based
priests lining up, tickets to the ‘Avatar’ at the Mall of Asia’s IMAX
Friedrich Nietzsche calls the “ubermench.” In fact, Nature itself on its writing style and papyrus material, the fragment is dated
theatre. Each ticket amounted to 400 pesos. This author deeply
seems to suggest what this hero should be. Leon McKenzie calls well into 40 AD—just 10 years after Christ’s death. Papyrologist
regretted he had already bought a ticket before he met the very
these great expectations “the seven resurrection themes,” and they Carsten Peter Thiede, in Jesus, Man or Myth?, explains that the
generous host.) On the other hand, I can’t help feeling for some of
are everywhere. text is compelling if the disciple Mathew is indeed the source. As a
us who had to travel for three hours in the morning daily to reach
In vegetation, seeds are “buried” in the soil but later grow into levi-tax collector, Matthew would have been used to using ancient
the venue of the congress because host families live somewhere far
living plants. In the heavens, the sun “dies” every evening but “rises” shorthand stenography to accurately keep records.
in the metropolis. There was a priest who had to share the same
every morning. In sleep, we are somehow put to death, later to wake Mark’s gospel has also been dated in 40 AD. This was confirmed
bed with a companion priest (he confessed it was the first time he
up fresh and anew. In the seasons, the death and resurrection of when fragments akin to Mark have been found in Cave Seven of the
‘slept with another man’, a pillow in between them like the Great
crops follow climactic cycles. Meanwhile, life itself is a circle of joy, Essenes at Qumran, composition of which could not be later than 50
Wall) because the host family’s only boy would not give up his bed
sorrow (death), and gloriousness. AD. Other Essene writings are also being supposed to refer to Jesus,
for the other priest. (I don’t agree either that the boy should have
This common motif in nature is also expressed in the myths of such as the Crucified Messiah Scroll only released in 1991, describ-
been deprived of his own bed even for a priest). That’s what I call
dying and rising gods. Osiris of Egypt, Attis of Asia Minor, Aion of ing a Messiah who was from “the Branch of David” “pierced” and
‘blessfering’ (from ‘blessing’ and ‘suffering’ as one). The priests
Alexandria, Antiochus of Babylonia, Dionysius of Greece, Adonis “wounded,” a “leader of a community” who was “put to death.”
took all this good-naturedly (who says priests can’t be gracious
of Syria, Bacchus of Italy, Khrishna of India, and Mithras of Persia. Even unbelievers within the “eyewitness period” (up to 100 AD)
guests too?) as extensions of their “seminary immersion days”.
Remarkably, these gods were also said to be born of a woman and took note of our Jesus, particularly Emperor Vespasian’s official
But one did wonder loudly, “I thought I was here for a retreat,
a creator, performed miracles, raised followers, instituted sacrificial historian to the Jews: the priest-Pharisee Josephus Flavius. The
not immersion”. If I may suggest to the organizers of the congress
meals, slain and rose up, and so on—so much for Dan Brown to ac- philosopher Arnold Toynbee rates him among the five greatest Hel-
(this is shared even by some priests of the host dioceses): How
cuse Christianity of being a “copycat.” lenic historians. In his Antiquities of the Jews, completed around
about religious houses, rectories, seminaries or hotels owned by
So what if Christ just “one of the boys,” just one of those superhero 93 AD, Josephus wrote:
sympathetic lay brethren to accommodate participants in future
figures we would like to set in our rooms? “About this time there lived Jesus, a wise man, if indeed one
priests’ congresses? That is, aside from the lay host families who
Before his conversion from atheism to Christianity, Lewis thought ought to call him a man. For he was one who wrought surprising
reside not too far from the congress’ venue. Another suggestion:
just that. The Jesus story is just an echo of the hero with a thousand feats and was a teacher of such people as accept the truth gladly.
Could the activities in host families’ homes be sliced down a bit
faces. But reviewing the evidence of history and archaeology, Lewis He won over many Jews and many of the Greeks. He was the
so priests don’t have to go through other ‘mini-retreats’ or ‘retreat
was convinced that it was Jesus who put flesh and reality to myth. Messiah. When Pilate, upon hearing him accused by men of the
extensions’ on top of the ‘congress retreat’ itself? To our organizers
The myths are hint that not only the Jews, but the rest of the pagan highest standard among us, had condemned him to be crucified,
and hosts: CONGRATS and A MILLION THANKS!
world, were prepared to recognize the universal Christ. Nature, Lifeguard / A6
Local News
CBCP Monitor
A6 Vol. 14 No. 3
February 1 - 14, 2010

Arroyo can’t appoint new


SC chief—Bernas new leaders
Bishop: RP needs
PRESIDENT Arroyo has no power to appoint the next chief jus-
tice of the Supreme Court, constitutionalist Fr. Joaquin Bernas,
covers appointments in the judiciary.
To preserve the credibility of the high tribunal, the Jesuit priest
SJ, said lately. said Mrs. Arroyo should instead let her successor name the next RETIRED Catholic Bishop Teodoro Bacani maintains he is against
Bernas, dean chief justice. Joseph’s Estrada’s comeback bid for the presidency, saying the
emeritus of the Ate- Bernas said Mrs. Arroyo should not let the justices fight over the country needs a new leader.
neo Law School, said issue on whether or not she can appoint the successor of Puno, who Bacani, one of Estrada’s spiritual advisers, said it’s high time
that Mrs. Arroyo will retires on May 17. to have genuine reforms in the government and that includes
be violating the Con- “The very dangerous thing here is to let the Supreme Court fight filling it up with better leaders.
stitution if she would over this, that the justices will fight among themselves. This would “Personally, I am against his candidacy because the country
insist on appoint- really destroy the credibility of the Supreme Court,” he said. really needs real reforms... wherein there is a new leader who
ing the successor of Bernas was one of the speakers during a forum, organized by the will lead us,” he said.
Chief Justice Reynato Philippine Association of Law Schools, Libertas, and Transparency Bacani, a critic of the Arroyo administration, made the state-
Puno. and Accountability Network, at the Traders Hotel in Pasay City. ment after the Commission on Elections allowed the former
The Charter, he He said there is nothing to worry about having a leadership president to run again the May 2010 polls.
said, forbids the vacuum when Puno retires because under the law, the most senior The poll body’s second division yesterday issued the ruling
President from mak- associate justice can take over from a retiring chief justice in an act- dismissing the disqualification case filed by a certain Evelio
ing appointments ing capacity until the position is filled. Pormento citing its lack of merit and adding that they would let
within 60 days be- Also present during the forum was former Senate President the people decide who will be the next president.
fore her term ends on Franklin Drilon who said that the Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) Article VII, Section 4 of the Constitution states that: “The
© www.ateneo.edu

June 30 this year. has a huge role to play on the issue. President shall not be eligible for any reelection. No person who
The prohibition, According to Drilon, the law empowers the JBC to submit its has succeeded as President and has served as such for more
said Bernas, one of nominees to the President but only on or after May 17. than four years shall be qualified for election to the same office
the writers of the cur- He said it would up now to Mrs. Arroyo’s successor to decide on at any time”.
Fr. Joaquin Bernas, SJ rent Constitution, the list. (CBCPNews) But Bacani has welcomed the Comelec ruling, adding that it
is a good decision on the part of
Vigilance / A1 the poll body to leave the matter
CBCP 100th Plenary Assembly held at the the statement furthered. must “present their platforms and convic- to the people.
Pope Pius XII Catholic Center in Manila. tions rather than attack others”. He admitted that even the 1987
Considered as the highest decision-mak- Reject surveys Constitution, wherein he was one of
ing body of the CBCP, the plenary assembly Election surveys should also not be used as Political violence the framers, unwittingly left a “gap”
meets in regular session twice a year, in Janu- a criterion for voting, the bishops said. The bishops’ collegial body said that “out- that would allow Estrada to gun for
ary and in July. The CBCP has 130 member- What the people should do instead, the rageous political violence” must awaken the Malacañang post again.
bishops, 32 of whom are retired. CBCP stressed, is to follow their conscience, the people to the reality that “if we do not “Although, I believe that the
In the statement, the prelates called on vot- not the results of pre-election surveys, in keep watch together as a nation our electoral Convention was really intent on
ers to form “circles of discernment” so they deciding who to vote for. process can drag us down.” barring all who have held the post
can effectively act together on issues of pub- “Do not be swayed by survey results or The existence of private armies, the pro- of president from running again,
lic concern according to moral principles. political advertisements. Follow the dictates liferation of loose fire arms, and political there is still a small opening that
In view of the upcoming 2010 presidential of your conscience after a prayerful and dynasties are obstacles to the growth of allows Erap to run again,” said
elections, the bishops said it is the right of collective period of discernment,” read the a genuine democratic system, the CBCP Bacani, who was a member of
the people to support qualified candidates CBCP statement. said. the Constitutional Convention.
and have good track record. “Winnability is not at all a criterion for Thus, the CBCP is calling on the men in Bishop Teodoro Bacani (CBCPNews)
“We are asked to first articulate the key voting,” it said. uniform to exercise extra-vigilance so as to
values and principles by which we can evalu- The CBCP also called on the candidates bring about peaceful elections. Compassion / A1
ate individual candidates across political to already start serving the public by being “They should not allow themselves to be the Archdiocese of Manila.
parties,” it said. “honest and sincere” in educating the people used by politicians or ideological groups. In a circular addressed to the clergy and religious in the archdio-
“This is the kind of politics in which Gos- on the real situation of the country in their Rather, they should be vigorous in disarm- cese, Solomon said the occasion is an opportunity for everyone to
pel values form the bases of our choice of campaign. ing illegally-armed elements,” the bishops show to the sick their care and concern.
candidates and not party or family loyalties,” According to the bishops, the candidates said. “Let us show to our sick brothers and sisters that we truly care for
them by inviting them to come over especially those who can attend
Involvement / A1 the mass,” the priest urged.
has been in use for some time in many countries. For the first time depend on our wise choice of candidates. Do not be swayed by “Let us show our solidarity with them by also making ourselves
in our history we are adopting one example of poll automation survey results or political advertisements. Follow the dictates of present in this celebration,” he added.
called Automated Election System (AES). But at this late hour there your conscience after a prayerful and collective period of discern- Manila Archbishop Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales will lead the
are still many questions regarding the AES that revolve around the ment. “Winnability” is not at all a criterion for voting! The vote you Eucharistic Mass for the Sick at 9 a.m. The Mass is organized in co-
readiness of personnel and equipment as well as the readiness of cast will be a vote for the good of your country and your children’s ordination with the Philippine Sovereign Military Order of Malta.
the electorate in the use of the system. Even more important, many future. Serve the common good with your precious vote! The World Day of the Sick was instituted by the late Pope John
serious questions about the reliability and integrity of the equipment Paul II on May 13, 1992. Since then, the occasion has been celebrated
and the personnel involved have not been satisfactorily answered. III. Signs of Hope every February 11, the feast of Our Lady of Lourdes. (Pinky Bar-
To be sure those who are responsible for the AES are striving to In spite of the grim scenario that some may paint that every rientos, FSP)
make the system work. election is just the same, we feel winds of change for the better.
But we must make sure that there are prepared fall back positions Many of our faithful are now heeding the call of their pastors to Cases / A1
that can be quickly adopted when there are some glitches in the be actively engaged in politics. Many are running for public office common ailments.
system and in the logistics. We have to be vigilant and be involved. issuing from the call of faith and service so that people should A medical team in charge of looking after the physical well-being
One example would be to help in educating voters regarding the no longer vote simply for the lesser evil among the candidates. of the delegates had a makeshift clinic at the WTC complete with
AES and in using the equipment. There are now many civil society groups that are concerned and medical facilities and doctors from participating hospitals.
are actively moving to ensure that this election of 2010 will be an The team reported that on the first day, the clinic had 105 patients,
C. To Candidates honest and credible one. We especially note with encouragement and 233 each both on second and third day of congress.
We ask the candidates, already at this point, to start serving many young people who go out of their way to offer their services Dr. Ricardo Ledesma, head of NCC II medical committee said
the nation by being honest and sincere in educating the people for the good of our nation. These signs are fruits of the efforts of majority of the cases attended to involved headaches, dizziness,
on the situation of our country in their campaign. They should many in the past years to educate our people to develop their social physical exhaustion, weakness, hypertension, infection and some
not campaign to manipulate the perceptions of the people but conscience and to make their faith the motivation of their political other minor ailments.
to help them to make good choices for the sake of the country. actions. Pope Benedict XVI teaches us: “Worship pleasing to God Most of the patients were in their 60’s, he reported.
They are to present their platforms and convictions rather than can never be a purely private matter, without consequences for our According to Ledesma, the excitement generated by the congress
attack others. relationship with others: it demands a public witness of our faith” could have also added to the surge of cases of hypertension among
(Sacrosanctum Concilium #83) some of the delegates.
D. To Peace-keepers Let us be ever vigilant for our country. Together let us be involved “The prevailing atmosphere at the venue starting the first day
We call on our soldiers and the police to be extra-vigilant so as to in the coming automated elections. Let us vote wisely that we may could explain the percentage of hypertension, dizziness and head-
bring about peaceful elections. They should not allow themselves have God-fearing and honest people as our leaders. ache,” said the doctor.
to be used by politicians or ideological groups. Rather, they should May our Blessed Mother, Our Lady of Peace, be our guide and “I noticed the atmosphere of tears of joy from the priests com-
be vigorous in disarming illegally armed elements. teacher in our hope for a better tomorrow. May our Good Lord re- pounded by seriousness to meet their commitment of integral
ceive our offerings of prayers, good intentions and selfless service renewal to their priesthood,” Ledesma observed.
E. To Voters for the good of our people! To Him be the glory forever. Amen. Ledesma said his team is very happy to become part of the eccle-
We appeal directly to you, our fellow countrymen and women, sial event. He is also grateful to various hospitals who have lent the
as well as to all members of our Basic Ecclesial Communities and +NEREO P. ODCHIMAR, DD services of their doctors and nurses to assist the delegates.
religious lay organizations to exercise your right to vote wisely Bishop of Tandag Hospitals who offered the free services of their medical staff
i.e. following the criteria indicated several times in our previous President include San Juan de Dios Hospital, UST Hospital, Philippine Heart
pastoral letters. Automated elections will not give us good public Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines Center, Department of Health, East Avenue Medical Center, and
officials. Ultimately the leaders that our country shall have will January 24, 2010 Quirino Memorial Medical Center.
Various pharmaceutical companies also gave free medicines to
Lifeguard / A5 the clinic.
those who had in the first place come to Jesus was the illegitimate son of a Roman is so universal, eternal, and cosmic. He was Ledesma said services to the delegates include consultations
love him did not give up their affection for soldier named Pandera—a play of words and is still, as Tolkien put it, “the eucatastro- and referrals to specialty consultants such as cardiologists, endo-
him. On the third day he appeared to them on the claim that he was son of a virgin phe (joyful happening) of man’s history.” Or crinologists, pulmonologists, gastro-enterologists and ambulance
restored to life, for the prophets of God (“parthenos”). as better said in the Christmas carol When services.
had prophesied these and countless other A Child Is Born: Jesus was the man “the The group has also provided marshalls during the procession of
marvelous things about him. And the tribe Proof not just in paper world is waiting,” the “solid dream which delegates from World Trade Center to Cuneta Astrodome on January
of Christians, so called after him, has to this Anyone who has been to Holy Land can has come true.” 29, last day of the congress. (Pinky Barrientos, FSP)
day not disappeared.” confirm that there are archaeological evi-
Some critics say that this quote was a dence too on the life and times of Jesus. In Laiko / A5 Holiness / A1
Christian forgery, since Josephus as a Jew the 1950s for example, over 100 ossuaries in selecting the candidates that they will vote for. The always and everywhere to stand up and teach those in
could not have flatly stated that Jesus is the (stone coffins) dating from the first century Principled Partisan Politics system must therefore be need of instruction and for them to “manifest ever more
Messiah. Yet all versions of the Antiquities were unearthed outside Jerusalem during done by individual lay Catholics. It is best that they clearly the spirit of God at work in the world.”
contain the disputed text; and to maintain the reconstruction of a Franciscan chapel, learn the CiDE process but should not rest there. Long In parting, Cardinal Bertone assured the bishops of the
its spuriousness, all copies must have been in what has been called Dominus Flevit before the election the list of candidates of the different pontiff’s “apostolic blessing” while commending their
in the hands of Christians and altered in the (the ‘Lord Wept’) catacombs. The sign of parties for national as well as for local positions must works for the Catholic Church.
same way. the cross was inscribed in numerous cof- already be available to the voter. All those with records Around 90 bishops were in attendance at the plenary
The clincher, Thiede explains, is that fins, including familiar New Testament of corruption and has accumulated unexplainable wealth meeting which ended January 24.
Josephus called Jesus “was,” not “is,” the names such as Eleazar (Lazarus), Martha, will have to be stricken off the list. The educational at- The CBCP has a total of 130 prelates, 32 of them are
Messiah. It is evident that the text must have Mary, Jairus, Jonathan, Joseph, Philo the tainment as well as the record of performance, specially retired.
been written by a non-Christian since a true Cyrene, Judah, Matthew, Menahem, Sa- if the candidate is a reelectionist, must be studied in ad- The Plenary Assembly is the CBCP’s highest decision-
Christian could not have referred to Jesus as lome, Simon, and Zachariah. There are vance. Selection of a candidate due to his/her popularity making body which meets in regular session twice a
a past Messiah. But Josephus would have, inscriptions such as “Jesus, remember (actors/actresses; singers, etc.) unless he/she has other year—in January and July.
since he believed that Vespasian is the true me in the resurrection” and “Jesus, have additional good qualifications is definitely discouraged.
anointed. To further corroborate its genu- mercy.” The educated lay person should find time to influence Clergy Congress
ineness, Thiede points to another Josephus Perhaps the question is not really what oc- the unchurched and the “masa” or the voters who take The pope’s message to the clergy also came in time
writing on the high priest Ananias, who curred in the past, but whether we now find orders from their employers/hacenderos. This is a per- for the 2nd National Congress of the Clergy which
executed “James, the brother of Jesus the Jesus as significant as his believers found son to person approach of educating voters, the C,D,E was held at the World Trade Center in Pasay City on
so-called Christ.” him. In my opinion, Jesus is as relevant as economic class, which compose more than 50% of the Jan. 25-29.
But that is not all. A more adverse Jewish he was. Looking into our contemporary su- voting population. PPCRV and NAMFREL’s education Over 5,000 priests attended the gathering with the
oral tradition, dating back to the first century perhero icons, in the cartoons, movies, and of voters is different from the new direction towards theme “Faithfulness of Christ, Faithfulness of Priests,”
but only later compiled as The Talmud, real-life stories, you will see intimations of principled partisan politics. It is now the laity’s turn to which the pope has chosen as the official slogan for the
made reference to “Jesus the Nazarene” the Christ and his mysteries all along. Per- form themselves into groups independent from the lay celebration of the “Year for Priests” (2009-2010).
(Jeschua Hanotsri), “the Carpenter son of haps we can collectively call them “heroes” organizations they are currently associated with and The CBCP through its Commission on the Clergy has
the Carpenter” (Naggar bar nagger), “The because we recognize the archetype of the proceed using CiDE techniques and equivalent evalua- organized the retreat-style national congress which was
One Who Was Hanged” (Talui), and “Son of savior popularized by Jesus. In them, we tion processes to vote across party lines—the choice we facilitated by Preacher to the Papal Household, Capuchin
Pandera “(Bar Pandera). These Jews believe again encounter this Christ, whose promise now call principled partisan politics. Fr. Raniero Cantalamessa. (CBCPNews)
Diocesan News
CBCP Monitor
Vol. 14 No. 3
February 1 - 14, 2010
A7

Briefing
Bacolod Bishop appeals for Haiti victims
Prelate lays down principles
for evangelizing electorates
BACOLOD CITY— Bacolod Bishop Vicente Navarra called on
the Negrenses to help the earthquake victims of Haiti. He urged
his folks to share “whatever aid they can give to the stricken
country” but suggests donation in cash for practical reasons.
"We are called to answer a Christian challenge posed by the
latest devastation in Haiti." he said. (Kate Laceda)

Center for dialogue and peace launched in Davao DAVAO CITY— Archbishop Fernando Capalla has laid down three added Capalla.
DAVAO CITY—The Silsilah Forum Davao inaugurated its cen- important guiding principles for evangelizing the electorate in the Capalla continued, “we have elected leaders who with some of
ter here in a simple but meaningful rites led by Fr. Sebastiano upcoming May 2010 national elections. us brought personal woundedness into the socio-economic political
D’Ambra, PIME on Jan. 20. The inauguration program opened Capalla also delegated the management and systems which have become corrupt and prone
with prayers led by Imam Eldio Gulisan and Sr. Helen Gaudicos direction of the diocesan-wide evangelization to abuse and wrongdoing.”
of the Teresian Daughters of Mary. The Center of Silsilah Forum of the electorate to the Archdiocesan Social Ac- “This widespread malaise negatively affected, and
Davao is located in Room 301 at the 3rd Floor of the Caritas Bldg. tion Center, Justice and Peace under Fr. Rico P. still is affecting, our sincere efforts at development,
along Claro M. Recto Ave. in Davao City. (CBCPNews) Enriquez. progress, peace and national unity,” he said.
The three guiding principles are Spiritual For the creative organization, the archbishop
Discernment, Creative Organization and Active explained that “it includes good selection of per-
Archdiocesan school offers two new doctoral programs
Witnessing. sonnel collaborators as well as good management
DAVAO CITY—The Holy Cross of Davao College (HCDC), an
In his pastoral letter, Capalla explained that of material resources. “Sourcing of funds shall
archdiocesan academic institution was granted a government
spiritual discernment includes an adequate analy- be the responsibility of the Archbishop and the
permit to open two new doctoral programs for the school year
sis of the local electorate and its underpinning Archdiocesan Finance Officer,” he said.
2009 -2010. The Commission on Higher Education (CHED)
values that cause wounds of the spirit. Capalla also emphasized on “active witness-
granted a government permit to HCDC to conduct and operate
He said that people in the city are still nurs- ing” which according to him includes voters’
the Doctor of Philosophy major in Educational Management
ing the wounds in their souls and spirit. “These education on study and choice of candidates,
Program and Doctor of Education major in Educational Man-
wounds of our hearts are expressed in many voting procedures, and use of automated ma-
agement Program. (Mark S. Ventura)
forms of animosities and conflicts within and chines, poll-watching, canvassing, post-election
among ourselves, our families, our workplaces, evaluation, monitoring of campaign promise of
Migrants’ group wants OWWA policy scrapped our communities and our country in general,” Archbishop Fernando Capalla winning candidates. (Mark S. Ventura)
ANTIPOLO CITY—Migrante International urges the govern-

DENR orders probe on logging firm


ment to repeal the Overseas Workers’ Welfare Administration’s
(OWWA) Omnibus Policies, saying that it hampers the delivery
of welfare services to the migrant workers in need. The call
came in the face of the need for Filipinos in earthquake-ravage
Port-Au-Prince in Haiti to be repatriated immediately. (Noel
Sales Barcelona) CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY— Acting En- in Gingoog City and Claveria town. areas are also prohibited.
vironment Secretary Eleazar Quinto has Acting on the move of the Higaonon peo- Quinto’s order will put to the acid test
ordered an immediate investigation into the ple, local affected residents of Gingoog City, former Environment Secretary Joselito
EMB will not issue ECC to Alsons—Rufus
alleged technical illegal logging activities of a Claveria town, and environmentalists, Quinto Atienza’s December 2009 order of audit-
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY—The Environmental Management
logging firm in Misamis Oriental province. said a team of experts is now being consti- ing all forest lease contracts which shall be
Bureau of the DENR has assured the Congressional Commit-
This as the regional office of the Environ- tuted by his office to review STC’s IFMA. undertaken by an independent body made
tee on Ecology it will not issue an environmental compliance
ment department in Northern Mindanao has The team will be composed of forestry and up of experts in environmental studies and
certificate to Alcantara and Sons Consolidated Resources, Inc.’s
voiced opposition to the proposed resolution environmental science experts not working forestry matters. An P8 million allocation is
(Alsons) P2.1 billion bioethanol plant project in remote villages
at the Provincial Board imposing a total log or affiliated with the DENR “to ensure im- set aside for this purpose.
here. EMB director Julian Amador made the assurance following
ban in Misamis Oriental. partiality and transparency in the resolution Rep. Ariel C. Hernandez of the party-list
the Ecology Committee’s unanimous decision recommending
An article in a local daily quoted an official of the STC case,” Quinto said. group Anak Mindanao (AMIN), who has sup-
to the DENR not to allow Alsons to build the project, said Rep.
of the DENR-10 as saying that a total log ban “The assessment of the STC case should ported the local people’s struggle against STC,
Rufus Rodriguez, committee vice chairperson. (Bong D. Fabe)
in the province will discourage tree planters get underway within this month as ef- urged the DENR to include in the indepen-
from planting more trees thereby adversely forts to form a dent review team
Capiz prelate calls faithful to help Haiti quake victims
affecting legitimate logging business here. panel of experts local members
ROXAS CITY—Capiz Archbishop Onesimo Gordoncillo called “In my own opinion, wala nang mag- for the purpose coming from the
on the Catholic faithful not only to pray for the victims of the tatanim pa nang kahoy, kasi hindi sila are already in the Higaonon peo-
recent 7.0 earthquake in Haiti but to raise donations. He said pwedeng mag-harvest,” DENR-10 Regional works,” he said. ple, civil society
he is saddened by the tragedy and he understood why news Technical Director for Research Danilo Ca- Local residents organizations,
footages showed people desperately and at time violently canindin said. of Gingoog City, local environ-
scrambling for relief goods from foreign countries. (Federico Cacanindin said that a total log ban in the Barangay Mi- ment groups and
Jose Lagdameo) province will greatly affect the economy nalwang in the Church.

© emmanlouem.multiply.com
of Northern Mindanao as it will force local municipality of “We just want
For Bro. Eddie, the more candidates, the better producers and those in the wood-based in- Claveria, Misamis to ensure that
QUEZON CITY—A religious leader running for President had dustry here to import logs and woods from Oriental, environ- this review team
no problem against a Comelec ruling allowing former President other countries. mentalists, non- will be impartial
Joseph Estrada to run for president. Bro. Eddie Villanueva, Ban- But environmentalists, non-government government or- and stay true to
gon Pilipinas Party standard bearer for the May 2010 elections, organizations, Church-based groups and ganizations and its responsibil-
said that unlike other politicians, he has no plan of posing a the affected Higaonon people in Southwood Church-based ity,” he said.
legal challenge against Estrada’s candidacy. For Villanueva, the Timber Corporation’s (STC) concession area groups have alleged that STC has cut old- Hernandez also praised Quinto for “acting
more candidates running means more platforms of governance are vehemently lobbying for the immediate growth trees from identified protection swiftly in behalf of my brethren in Gingoog
for the people to choose from. (CBCPNews) passage of Vice Governor Norris Babiera’s forests inside its concession area covering and Claveria.”
proposed resolution imposing a total log ban 11,476 hectares in gross violation of its lease AMIN’s Hernandez, who hails from
Nursing topnotcher credits mother for success in Misamis Oriental. contract. Gingoog City, was referring to the 25,000
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY—The Iliganon lass who top last The group also welcomed Quinto’s move Government policy says that trees in areas signatures urging the immediate cancella-
November’s Nursing Board Exam credited her mother, a doctor, of forming an independent team of experts to at 1,000 meters above sea level are automati- tion of STC’s IFMA filed before the DENR
for her success. Twenty-eight year old Claire Morales Bontol, review STC’s Integrated Forest Management cally part of protection forests and should Central Office in Manila last January 12.
the only child of Dr. Delia Bontol and a graduate from the Iligan Agreement (IFMA) covering 11,476 hectares not be cut. Cutting of trees in watershed (Bong D. Fabe)
Medical Center College, Inc. topped all 37,527 passers in the
November 2009 Nursing Licensure Examination with an aver-
age of 87.80 percent. (Bong D. Fabe)
Academic community holds ‘record-breaking’ bible reading
Hope / A4 URDANETA CITY— The aca- the non-stop reading. reading was inaugurated at the reading activity was spearhead-
race, despite all the odds. demic community of Divine The Episcopal Commission Bonifacio Shrine on January 25 with ed by Philippine Bible Society
This is the endpoint that began with the decision to run the race. Word College (DWC) of Ur- on Biblical Apostolate has ear- the participation of national and (PBS) in coordination with ECBA
The end begins with this end in view. It starts with the decision to daneta, Pangasinan has accom- lier urged the diocesan biblical local officials, the PBS board mem- and other Christian Churches.
religiously follow a training schedule, a diet, a sleeping schedule and plished a ‘record-breaking’ bible commissions to organize in their bers and staff, partner churches, The public reading of the bible
a mind setting or praying schedule which must end in an anchoring activity—reading the entire bible respective areas continuous bible representatives from government aimed to bring Filipinos to a
that will provide the necessary focus to stick with the resolve to run in one hour. reading activity to celebrate Na- offices, schools, business organiza- greater awareness and relevance
and finish the race. In line with the celebration of the tional Bible Week. tions and other sectors of society. of the Scriptures in their every-
The 42.195 grueling kilometers, cramps, blisters, the ever present National Bible Week, the school In Manila, a continuous bible Dubbed i-proclaim, the bible day lives. (CBCPNews)
temptation to just stop running or just quit, the lingering questions recently held a modified Bible
reading activity that would involve i-Proclaim! / A1
“what for”, “why go through such hardship”—all these are defeated
by focus and the desire to finish and arrive at the destination, the the entire community reading the churches and organizations will follow suit and do Commission for the Biblical Apostolate (ECBA)
blissful and peaceful taste of victory and the eternal reward of finally whole bible in one setting. their own public Bible readings all throughout the also held simultaneous bible reading in all the 87
having the indelible mark of a “marathoner” finally resolves it all. Parts of the Bible, from Gen- year, not just during National Bible Week.” dioceses nationwide on January 30, 2010.
Running the race is definitely worth everything because such is the esis to Revelation, were divided The public Bible reading was done at the Boni- According to Fr. Oscar Alunday, executive
essence of one’s being. To finish the race is to be called to life with among the DCWU’s 964 stu- facio Shrine in Manila on January 25, 2010, the 1st secretary of ECBA, the commission intended to
and for GOD and ending at the destination which is a PEACEFUL, dents, faculty members and non- day of the week-long celebration of the National have the whole bible read simultaneously all over
blissful eternal fellowship with GOD. academic personnel, who read Bible Week. the country.
the assigned bible texts together Among the readers were national and local “Each diocese/parish will be assigned a portion to
in silence for one hour. officials, PBS Board members and staff, partner read orally. These will be done simultaneously and in
The school adjusted the pro- churches, representatives from government of- about 15-30 minutes, the bible will be read completely
gram since it is not possible for fices, schools, business organizations and other from Genesis to Revelations all over the Philippines.
students and personnel to stay sectors of society. We will have a wonderful covering of God’s Word
in the campus for 24 hours to do In a related development, the CBCP’s Episcopal all throughout the land,” Alunday said.

May They Be One Bible Campaign


“A Bible for Every Catechist” ─ this has been a long term goal of the Catechetical Ministry of the Archdiocese of San Fernando, Pampanga that found its fulfillment
when the first of a series of May They Be One Bible (MTBO) distributions took place in September, 2009. Two hundred MTBO Bibles were then distributed in the
Archdiocese’s 92 parishes. The occasion was led by Sis. Quezonia Payanan, head of the Catechetical Ministry, Archdiocese of San Fernando and Fr. Jesus Layug, the
Archdiocese’s Catechetical and Biblical Minister. The distribution was a milestone experience for the Catechists, many of whom couldn’t afford until then to have their own
copy of the Scriptures. Now they each have a personal Bible which they can bring with them anywhere they go. Having their own Bibles, the Catechists developed a
deeper appreciation of the Scriptures. It gave them a renewed zeal in sharing God’s Word to others. The avid Catechists even organized a Bible Quiz Bee for all the public
school students in the Archdiocese. The challenge was enthusiastically taken on by the students who impressed the audience and organizers with the high scores they
garnered during the Quiz Bee. Responding to the keen interest shown by the students, the Catechists also developed a parish –based Bible study program to provide
the students with a systematic and ongoing Bible training.
More Bible distributions are scheduled in different parts of Pampanga. Parishioners who complete 6 sessions on the first 5 books of the Bible (Pentateuch) will each
become recipients of the MTBO Bible. The Pentateuch sessions are ongoing in the following places: Holy Rosary Parish, Angeles with 130 participants, Mary the Queen
Parish, Guagua with 66 participants, Mother of Good Counsel Seminary, San Fernando with 73 participants and in the Most Holy Name of Jesus Parish in Bigtas, Arayat
with 26 participants.
In Deuteronomy Chapter 8, it is written that” man does not live by bread alone but by every Word that springs from the mouth of God”. The May They Be One Bible
campaign was launched to address the hunger of the soul. There is no food that could satisfy the hunger of the spirit more than the Word of God. This is why my chal-
lenge to you is to be part of this campaign to bring the Word of God to our poor fellow countrymen. Let us address the problem of hunger –not only of the body but also
of the spirit. A person who receives and obeys the Word of God will find his hunger satisfied – both physically and spiritually. Bishop Pablo Virgilio David, Auxiliary Bishop
of the Archdiocese of San Fernando, Pampanga and Chairperson of Episcopal Commission on Biblical Apostolate.
Target No. of Bibles for Distribution for 2010: 500,000 cps. Support the May They Be One
No. of Bibles Distributed (from Jan 1- 31, 2010): 11,896 cps. Bible Campaign and help bring
God’s Word to more Filipino homes.
1. RTPV Tagalog — 6,427 copies Your contribution of at least P150/
2. TEV English — 482 copies month will enable a poor family to
3. BPV Bicol — 500 copies own a Bible. For more Campaign
4. HPV Hiligaynon — 200 copies info-visit, email or call ECBA – Fr.
6. RIPV Ilocano — 2,287 copies Oscar Alunday, 470 Gen. Luna St.,
7. PNPV Pangasinense — 2,000 copies Intramuros, Mla. Telefax no. 5279386;
ecba_cbcp@yahoo.com; PBS-Mrs.
TOTAL — 11,896 copies Perry Cartera/Mrs. Juliet Rivera at
890 UN Ave., Ermita Mla.; perry@
Parishes/Communities served: 45 bible.org.ph; juliet@bible.org.ph; Tel.
Total Funds Needed for Printing and Transport of Bibles in 2010: P50-75M nos. 5267777 loc. 600/5215785 Fax
Total No. of Bibles Distributed (from Jan 2009-Jan 31, 2010): 115,827 cps. 5215803/Mobile Ph no. 09178590019
Total No of Parishes/Communities Covered: 474 /09156727492 /09182802775
A8 People, Facts & Places CBCP Monitor
Vol. 14 No. 3
February 1 - 14, 2010

Youth worldwide gather for


‘Taize Pilgrimage of Trust’
THOUSANDS of youth all over the world are set to converge for a five-day “Taize Pilgrimage of Trust”,
at Don Bosco Technical Institute, Makati City starting February 3.
The second time to be held in Manila, the international youth meeting themed “A thirst for life in fullness…
a call to transform the world”, expects to gather around 5,000 young pilgrims from various countries.
Activities of the five-day pilgrimage will include prayer, meetings and encounters of young people
in various parishes that serve as local welcome centers for pilgrims.
Pilgrims will gather at Don Bosco for their afternoon and early evening activities that include midday
prayer, workshops and evening prayer.
The afternoon workshops will dwell on themes concerning faith and social commitment, according
to Bro. Alois, prior of Taize community. The Taize prior is in town to facilitate the youth pilgrimage
together with other Taize brothers.
The main event of the gathering, which is open to the public, is the daily evening prayer coupled
with meditation, to be given by Bro. Alois.
“During evening prayers we will sing a lot because our prayers are very much based on singing
together, on worshipping God. There will always be long moments of silence together,” he said.
Taize prayers consist of solemn chanting of psalms and meditating on Scriptures passages punctu-

© picasaweb.google.fr/taizemanila
ated with long moments of silence.
“We think young people today are looking also for interiority, for spirit of adoration in prayer,” said
Bro. Alois.
“Prayer should lead us to inspire ourselves, enjoy but also to listen with our hearts when God speaks,
and that’s why we will have long moments of silence with thousands of people together,” he added.
On the fourth day of pilgrimage, the young pilgrims will meet by provinces, regions and countries to
reflect and share together on how their experience of the meeting can continue in their life when they
go back to their respective communities. Young people join the daily morning prayers of the Taize Brothers in Manila.
spiritually for the pilgrimage.
Witnesses of peace and reconciliation Volunteers and representatives of parish welcome centers were given orientations to make them
The Pilgrimage of Trust on earth was started by Bro. Roger, founder of Taize community 30 years ready for the arrival of pilgrims.
ago, to encourage young people to become witnesses of peace and reconciliation in their local com- The youth pilgrims were housed by host families in the parish. According to Bro. Andreas, 100 par-
munities, and churches. ishes in the Manila area have agreed to become welcome centers that took charge of looking for host
The Taize brothers go to different countries and cities to hold prayers meetings with young people families to take in pilgrims.
to let them experience the universality of the Church. Like a pilgrim in the true sense of the word, the youth can expect to sleep on the floor since many of
“It’s a pilgrimage of reconciliation,” Bro. Alois said. “We try to bring people together from different the host families are poor and may not have an extra room for guests.
backgrounds to listen to each other and to share.” “Simplicity is the key word,” Bro. Andreas said. This means the host family will only provide the
Attracted by the witness of unity and life of prayer, young people from all over the world come to pilgrim with breakfast and a space to lay down his/her head in the evening.
Taize, and stay with the community for few months. “The pilgrims will go to the venue by public transport. When they come on February 3, by public
“In Taize we welcome young people from all over the world every day. And each year, there are also young bus or by plane, they will have contact with the host parish already, and should know how to go there
people from the Philippines coming and staying with us [for] two or three months,” said Bro. Alois. from the airport and bus terminals,” said the Taize brother.
The five-day pilgrimage will conclude on February 7 with a Eucharistic celebration to be led by the
Increased preparations Manila Archbishop Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales.
Since last year, the Taize brothers in coordination with the Episcopal Commission on Youth have “After the five-day meeting, the pilgrims go home, but the pilgrimage continues because it is some-
started laying the groundwork by organizing retreats for youth leaders and volunteers to prepare them thing that is for life. Our life is a journey,” Bro. Andreas said. (Pinky Barrientos, FSP)

CBCPWorld provides Internet


connectivity to clergy congress
Markings CELEBRATED. Most Rev. Emilio Marquez,
THE Catholic faithful were able to follow closely the ongoing pro- Wi-fi services have also been provided to media reporters covering Bishop of Lucena, 25th anniversary of Episcopal
ceedings of the five-day retreat congress of the clergy via video and the event and to participants as well. ordination, St. Ferdinand Cathedral, January 29,
2010. A number of bishops and the diocesan
audio streaming and podcasting. The Catholic Media Network was able to transmit its audio clergy of Lucena who were participating in the
CBCPWorld, the internet provider of the Catholic Bishops’ Confer- from the World Trade Center to 32 stations nationwide: in Abra, 2nd National Congress of the Clergy concele-
ence of the Philippines has provided internet connectivity to Catholic Ilocos Norte and Ilocos Sur, La Union, Baguio, Alaminos, Pan- brated the thanksgiving Mass. Ricardo Cardinal
media that are covering the on- gasinan, Bayombong, Nueva Vidal delivered the homily where he emphasized
the primary duties of a bishop: as a father to his
going 2nd National Congress Viscaya, Baler, Aurora, Tarlac priests and a shepherd willing to offer his life
of the Clergy (NCC II) at the City, Baler in Aurora Province, for the good of his flock. Papal Nuncio in the
World Trade Center. Infanta and Lucena in Quezon Philippines, Archbishop Edward Joseph Adams,
Talks by main speaker, Fr. City, Batangas City, Occidental read the Apostolic blessing and congratulatory
Raniero Cantalamessa, OFM- Mindoro, Oriental Mindoro, words from the pope. Ordained priest on June
6, 1964, Marquez was consecrated and installed first bishop of Gumaca on
Cap, and prayers during the Sorsogon, Legazpi City, Maa- January 29, 1985. He was appointed Co-adjutor bishop of Lucena in 2002,
congress were broadcast live sin, Southern Leyte, San Jose, and succeeded as bishop of the diocese the following year.
by Catholic Media Network Antique, Bacolod, Tagbilaran,
(CMN) and Radio Veritas. Surigao City, Zamboanga, CELEBRATED. Diocese of Gumaca,
25th anniversary of foundation, January
Webcast and podcast were Sulu, Tawi-Tawi, and Mati, 29, 2010. His Eminence Ricardo Cardinal
done by Communications Davao Oriental. Vidal led the concelebrated Mass at St.
© Roy Lagarde / CBCP Media

Foundation for Asia (CFA) and Clergy participants who are Diego de Alcala Cathedral in Gumaca,
CBCPNews respectively. station managers of diocesan Quezon. Bishop Emilio Marquez, who
was installed as first bishop of Gumaca,
NCC II Congress Media radio stations anchored a pro- delivered the homily. Various religious
coordinator Msgr. Pedro Qui- gram every 6 p.m. at the World congregations and lay people who have
torio said the original plan of Trade Center, reporting on the contributed a lot in the growth of the dio-
organizers was to keep the proceedings of the congress. cese were awarded for their meritorious service to the diocese. Gumaca’s
current bishop, Most Rev. Buenaventura Famadico was appointed second
retreat proceedings to retreat CMN also gave a daily news bishop of Gumaca on June 11, 2003.
participants alone. Powered by CBCPWorld, the Catholic media led by CBCPNews were able to transmit update on the congress every
However, he said it would the proceedings of NCC II during the five-day congress via video and audio streaming morning at 6 a.m. AWARDED. Fr. Ewald Dinter, SVD, for his exemplary mis-
and podcasting. sion work among the Mangyan people, January 29, 2010.
be to the participants’ advan- Meanwhile, Radio Veritas
Dinter, who spent more than 40 years of his life serving
tage if the laity would be able to follow the proceedings closely and aired interviews of congress’ participants during its daily morning the Mangyan communities of Oriental Mindoro was given
understand what is going on at the congress so they can pray for the program. the Saint Joseph Freinademtz Award for epitomizing “pro-
success of the Second National Congress of the Clergy. Catholic faithful can also hear and download podcasts of inter- phetic dialogue and inculturation on his mission contribu-
CBCPWorld provided CMN, CFA and CBCP Media with internet views of bishops and priests and other congress’ officials by accessing tion, following the charism of the SVD and its founding
connectivity through VSat system and IP Radio systems at the venue. cbcpnews.com/podcast. (Melo M. Acuña) generations.” The awarding was held at the Fr. Peter
Yang Hall, St. Jude Catholic School, Manila capping

Focolare head speaks at Clergy congress


the three-year centennial celebration of SVD’s “100
years of missionary presence” in the Philippines.
Dinter has been recently appointed as executive
secretary of the Episcopal Commission on Indig-
enous People of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines. Other
SVDs awarded with SVD Mission Awards were Fr. Leo Schmitt, SVD, with
THE president of the worldwide Focolare Move- Movement for Unity in Politics. tay and Cebu from January 17 to St. Arnold Janssen Mission Award for building low-cost housing for the poor;
ment was among the group of lay sharers who Voce visited Focolare centers in Manila, Tagay- 31. Her stay in the country was and Fr. Wilhelm van Kuijk, SVD, a 98 year-old missionary who has spent
spoke last January 28 during the 2nd National part of her two-week visit of 61 years in the Philippines, with Centennial Award, for his missionary and
Congress of the Clergy. Focolare communities in Asian religious commitment. The awardees received a gold-plated medallion and
a P50,000.00 cash reward each. The SVD Mission Awards was launched
Maria “Emmaus” Voce, head of Focolare was countries that also included Ko- last year by the Society of Divine Word in partnership with St. Jude Catholic
one of the five lay persons who shared with the rea, Japan and Thailand. School during the centennial celebration of SVD’s missionary presence in
clergy their experiences on the struggle to live a Voce took over the helm of the country. The awards aim to recognize Catholic and non-Catholic indi-
life of holiness in a secular world. the movement upon the death viduals, groups, and institutions that greatly contributed to the realization
of SVD’s mission in the country.
Other sharers include retired Chief Justice Art of Focolare founder Chiara Lu-
Panganiban, youth Darren Bancod and couple bich on March 14, 2008. She was
Leopoldo and Nena Repotente. elected president during the general assembly closely with Chiara Lubich since 2002, reviewing
Aside from witnessing at the National Clergy of delegates in Rome on July, 2008. A Focolarino the Focolare statutes.
retreat, Voce also spoke to the Focolare community priest, Fr. Giancarlo Faletti, was elected as co- The Focolare Movement was founded by Chiara
at the Philippine International Convention Center president. Lubich in December 7, 1943. It has now spread in
© www.focolare.org

(PICC) on January 24. A Focolarina since 1963, Voce worked in Is- 180 countries and counts with more than 2 million
She had a media conference on the same day tanbul, Turkey for 10 years involving herself in supporters.
where she talked on the Economy of Communion ecumenical and interreligious dialogue with the Focolare centers which, now has 140,000 in total
(EoC), which many economists think to be the Orthodox Church and the Muslim world. membership are found in 88 countries worldwide.
solution to poverty in the Philippines, and the Maria “Emmaus” Voce Voce, who is a lawyer by profession, had worked (CBCPNews)

Church holds scholarship fundraising concert Thomasian priests gather for alumni homecoming
A BENEFIT concert named “Aming Handog,” was Cuison, Fernan Estrada, Manuel de los Santos, Jim THOMASIAN priests and bishops gathered for their homecoming at the University of Sto. Tomas (UST)
held recently at the Jimmy Fernandez Stadium in Cerezo, and Eric Galivo. on January 29 right after the conclusion of their five-day retreat-congress at World Trade Center.
Dagupan City. The Calasiao Children’s Choir also had a special The Thomasian clergy homecoming focused on the theme “Faithfulness of Christ, faithfulness of
Organized by the Archdiocese of Lingayen- participation in the concert. priests”, following the theme of the clergy congress and the Year for Priests.
Dagupan, it was an event aimed at raising money “Aming Handog” was hosted by actors Jomari The assembly also included discussion of planned activities that will involve Thomasian priests for
to provide scholarship for the archdiocese’s poor Yllana and his brother Ryan. Dingdong Dantes the forthcoming quadricentennial anniversary of UST in 2011. UST Rector Magnificus Fr. Rolando
students. also performed during the show. de la Rosa, OP led the discussion of the preparations for the upcoming jubilee celebration.
“We need to sponsor more students to pursue The concert’s proceeds, according to Villegas, Priests celebrating their jubilees were feted with a program to mark the milestone in their priest-
their college education and contribute to nation will also be used to sustain the various other pas- hood. Among the jubilarians were Manila Auxiliary Bishop-Emeritus Teodoro Buhain, who will
building,” said Archbishop Socrates Villegas. toral programs of the archdiocese for the youth. celebrate his golden jubilee, and Fr. Isidro Abano, OP., his silver jubilee.
The concert, held last Jan. 15 featured the “We need to upgrade the formation programs of The priests were ferried by buses from the congress’ venue to UST Central seminary. The homecom-
“Fathers,” a group of eight singing priests of the our catechists teaching religion in our public schools ing kicked off with a dinner-program at 7:30 p.m. followed with the oath-taking of newly-ordained
archdiocese. and sustain our charitable and developmental Thomasians at the Central Seminary Garden.
The group is composed of Fathers Jerry Cera, programs for the economically poor brothers and Host of this year’s alumni gathering was Batch 1985. (CBCPNews)
Antonio Quintans, Edilberto Calderon, Julius sisters,” he said. (Kate Laceda)
CBCP Monitor SPECIAL ISSUE
Vol. 14 No. 3
February 1 - 14 , 2010 2nd National Congress of the Clergy B1
5,542 priests and bishops attend clergy congress
MANILA, Jan. 29, 2010─The 2nd daily liturgy so they distributed priests, Cantalamessa was heard De Villa said the From the Vatican, 14 January 2010
national congress of the clergy risographed copies to those who to have remarked: “Only in the number of participants
(NCC II) which ended today had none. Philippines can these things remained intact un-til
drew some 5,542 priests and “The priests are so very nice. They happen, so many priests in one Wednesday evening based on
His Eminence
bishops representing 87 arch/ understood, nobody complained gathering.” the food stubs they collected at Gaudencio B. Cardinal Rosales
dioceses nationwide and few that one has not what the other According to De Villa NCC II meal time. Archbishop of Manila
priests abroad. got. I guess that’s also a gift of the surpassed the international gathering “On Thursday some of them 121 Arzobispo Street
Organizers said the surge in spirit,” De Villa said. of priests in Ars, France held August started to leave because there was Manila
the number of participants was The retreat-congress which last year in terms of number of an ongoing celebration in Lucena
unexpected that they ran out of started Monday had Fr. Raniero participants. That international for the 25th anniversary [of the
kits and other materials. Cantalamessa as preacher, a retreat assembled only about 1,500 Episcopal ordination] of Bishop
Former Ambassador Henrietta Capuchin priest and preacher to priests worldwide, she said. Emilio Marquez. The Diocese of Your Eminence,
de Villa, chairperson of the NCC II Papal household. Cantalamessa also addressed Gumaca is celebrating its silver
Central Coordinating Committee Cantalamessa spoke on the the laity last January 28 on jubilee also,” De Villa explained. The Holy Father was pleased to learn of the
said they had only 5,300 prepared need for interior renewal and led the topics “The Relationship But according to De Villa
kits for participants. the priests into meditation on the between the Clergy and Laity” and some of the bishops who went
Second National Congress of the Clergy in the
“We added another hundred, for three important elements in the “Marriage and Family according to join the celebration in Lucena Philippines, and he has asked me to convey to you
the rest we just gave plastic folders life of the clergy—the Eucharist, to the Bible.” and Gumaca also came back and to all those taking part in this conference an
with handles,” she said. the sacrament of reconciliation He also addressed the Franciscan the following day to join the assurance of his spiritual closeness.
De Villa said they also ran out and celibacy. family on January 29 after the closing Eucharistic celebration. In this Year for Priests, His Holiness asks
of liturgy booklets used in the Seeing such a big assembly of clergy congress. (CBCPNews) the clergy to embrace ever more fervently the
three evangelical counsels of poverty, chastity
and obedience (cf. Letter Proclaiming a Year for

Pope’s preacher to RP clergy: Priests, 16 June 2009). On the occasion of the first
centenary of the death of Saint John Vianney, Pope
John XXIII set these evangelical counsels before

‘Give hope to people’


priests as “the surest road to the desired goal of
Christian perfection” (Sacerdotti nostri primordia,
1 August 1959). Poverty enabled the Cure of Ars
to give everything over for the good of his church, the
poor, and the children he loved so dearly. Chastity
enabled him to “touch” the Eucharist daily and
MANILA, Jan. 24, 2010— Priests must guard against his reflection to the priests would deal on helping contemplate it blissfully. Obedience enabled him to
becoming limited to sacramental ministry and them “experience Pentecost” so that they could
effectively conduct their ministries.
dedicate himself fully to the demands of his daily
must help lay people in solving various social
problems the country is facing, a Vatican “I think this retreat will gain for the nation ministry and prevented him from fleeing his post
official said. because this is a retreat for the entirety of the when faced with difficulties.
Fr. Raniero Cantalamessa, preacher in the clergy, not just the diocese,” he said. By following these counsels, the Holy Father
household of Pope Benedict XVI, said the Cantalamessa, a Franciscan Capuchin, is confident that those taking part in the
ordained priest best serves his people by said he has visited the Philippines four Second National Congress of the Clergy in the
promoting royal priesthood at a moment times. But this time around, he said,
of crisis. he was looking forward to meeting Philippines will shine more brightly as an authentic
“The more priests become servants Filipino bishops and listening to their “sacramental representation of Christ, Head and
of Jesus in spirit, the more we can serve concerns. Shepherd” (Pastores Dabo Vobis, 11). In this
the people in many capacities including “I come to the Philippines with way, renewed in their dignity and refreshed by the
(through) social justice and giving hope great joy, especially on this occasion font of the Holy Spirit, all the clergy will dedicate
to the people,” Cantalamessa said. with so many priests and bishops.
The Vatican official made the I have preached many retreats
themselves more vigorously to the sacred mission
statement yesterday in a and this is one of the largest,” of preaching the Word of God and offering the
press briefing at the Ninoy he added. Cantalamessa was Holy Eucharist, thus uniting themselves ever more
Aquino International met at the airport by Papal closely to the life of the Holy Trinity.
Airport after his arrival. nuncio Archbishop Edward Entrusting all of you to the intercession of the
He said that aside from Joseph Adams and former
celebrating the Eucharist and Philippine Ambassador to
Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church, the Holy
other sacraments, the priest’s the Vatican, Henrietta de Father willingly imparts his Apostolic Blessing.
ministry also involved Villa. Cantalamessa also Assuring you of my own prayers for a fruitful
working toward integral said that Benedict XVI has and successful meeting, I am
human development at the sent a message to the
heart of a renewed social Filipino priests which
would be read by
Yours sincerely in Christ,
order. Cantalamessa is in
Manila to give a series of Archbishop Adams
talks to Filipino clergy and at the opening of Tarcisio Cardinal Bertone
laity in the 2nd National the Congress on Secretary of State
Congress of the Clergy Mon-day.
which opens Monday (Roy La-
with over 5,000 priests garde)
expected to attend.
According to him,

From the Vatican, 19th January 2010

His Eminence
Gaudencio B. Cardinal Rosales
Archbishop of Manila
121 Arzobispo St.
Intramuros, Manila

Your Eminence,

It gives me great pleasure during this Year for


Priests to be able to send this greeting to the priests
of the Philippines who have gathered with you for
the Second National Congress of the Clergy in the
Philippines, taking place, as it does, from the 25th
to the 29th of January in Manila.
This year, inaugurated by our beloved Holy
Father, Pope Benedict XVI, is “meant to deepen
the commitment of all priests to interior renewal for
the sake of a stronger and more incisive witness to
© T. Aljibe

the Gospel in today’s world” (Letter Proclaiming the

Bishop, priests march in pro-


Year for Priests, 16th June 2009). The theme chosen
for the Year, “Faithfulness of Christ, Faithfulness
of the Priest”, leads us all to consider how we can
deepen and strengthen the discipleship, by which alone

cession as Clergy Congress ends


we can become true witnesses and missionaries both
to the flock of Christ already established and to
the vast swathes of humanity that await the Word
of salvation, peace and consolation.
MANILA, Jan 29, 2010─The five- to share his life to others through poverty urges one to action. The cardinal also recalled the examples While I avail of the opportunity to express to
day 2nd National Congress of the service. “What is being done for the of St. John Mary Vianney, whose 150th Your Eminence my sentiments of cordial esteem, I
Clergy came to a close today with “Like the man who masters poor in our country today?” he anniversary is being celebrated by the
around 5,000 priests and bishops suffering, the priest is the man asked. universal Church by proclaiming a Year warmly encourage all the participants in the Congress
walking the 1.2 kilometers of the Eucharist, the Sacrament “The poor in the Philippines for Priests. in this spiritual and practical undertaking, and
distance from World Trade of the Body and Blood of Jesus now number more than 65% He said the Year for Priests is a “call willingly beg God’s blessing upon them through the
Center to Cuneta Astrodome for Christ and the Sacrament of of the population… There is a to renewal in the striving for spiritual intercession of the saintly Cure d’Ars, John Mary
the 3:30 p.m. Mass. Communion,” he said. feeling of urgency to address perfection which is the root of the Vianney, and under the protection of the Blessed
The clergy, led by their The Cardinal explained that hunger of the people who live effectiveness of priestly ministry.”
respective bishops marched saying “This is my Body” at in the slums, the sick and the “This is the compassionate way for Mother of God, Mary the Mother of Priests.
through Roxas Boulevard consecration means “Jesus must jobless,” the cardinal said. Benedict XVI to say that the priests today
towards Cuneta Astrodome be received and shared.” The cardinal had initiated the must renew themselves in holiness,” Sincerely yours in Christ,
in Pasay City, waving banners In the past, he said, it was the Theology of Crumbs, also known he said.
bearing names of their respective vertical dimension of communion as Pondo ng Pinoy, which other Participants to the 2nd National Claudio Cardinal Hummes
dioceses. and sharing that was given local churches have adopted to Congress of the Clergy came from 87
The closing Eucharistic primary value, neglecting the help the poor in their areas. arch/dioceses across the country.
Prefect, Pontifical Congregation for the Clergy
celebration was led by Manila horizontal dimension which “Rather than be accused of There were also some delegates
Archbishop Gaudencio Cardinal means reaching out to others doing the littlest or less, let us from the arch/dioceses of
Rosales. in need. in the name of love of God, Chicago, Los Angeles, Madrid,
In his homily, the Cardinal He said the situation of a great consistently do our littlest for the Mongolia and New York. (Pinky
stressed that the priest is called number of Filipinos living in poor,” Rosales said. Barrientos, FSP)

Visit www.clergycongress2.org for podcasts, photos, video clips, and other updates on the Second National Congress of the Clergy
B2 Special Issue CBCP Monitor
Vol. 14 No. 3
February 1 - 14, 2010

The 2nd National Congress of the Clergy


A call to a retreat

© Roy Lagarde / CBCP Media


By His Eminence Gaudencio B. priest in his spiritual life and direction reform in the Church must radically

John Mary Vianney and the priest


Cardinal Rosales on which depends the effectiveness of touch the renewal of the Clergy. The
his ministry. The Holy Father further pivotal statement of the Vatican Council
indicated that the exercises of the whole II Decree on Priestly Training, said it
FIVE and a half years ago (July 2004) year are to help the priests, and through all for the renewal of the priests and
we welcomed you, dear Brother the entire People of God to rediscover the renewal of the Church when it
TWO women were dusting the pews and kneelers in the small village church and
Bishops and Priests to the First National and reinforce their knowledge of the declared, “The Council is fully aware
a group of out-of-town guests were making a visit to the parish church. One of the
visitors was heard to complain that the kneelers were dusty in the dimly lit church. Congress of the Priests right here at the indispensable gift of Grace which the that the desired renewal of the whole
Hearing the frank but uncalled for remark, one of the cleaning women immediately World Trade Center (WTC) in what Priesthood represents for the priests Church depends in great part upon a
rebutted by saying, “Yes, our church may be dusty and dark, but we have a holy we thought was the unprecedented, themselves, the whole Church and for priestly ministry animated by the spirit
pastor.” That village was Ars in southern France, and the pastor was Father John historic and grace-filled gathering the world. To the priest is addressed of Christ and it solemnly affirms the
Baptist Mary Vianney. of some four thousand priests in the the imperative of renewing and critical importance of Priestly training”.
The simplicity of his life, the poverty of his rectory, there was nothing there Philippines. It was reported then strengthening his spiritual life where (Optatam Totius. Introd.).
that was beyond need or bordered luxury; the abstemious routine in his day, the that there were talks, reflections and Christ is better known through prayer, Thus, the 150th anniversary of the
unheralded prayer that sewed his daily schedule including hours and hours in the moments in adoration prayers that discipline, study and contemplation of death of the Cure d’Ars, Saint John
confessional spoke convincingly of his holy life. To nobody’s surprise, the pastor of caught the priests in rapt attention and the Word and Eucharistic Adoration, Mary Vianney, became the occasion
Ars was recognized as a saint even before he died. We have a holy pastor! Holi-
ness is what Pope Benedict XVI wanted the priests today to recoup, and so, on
fervor where one “could hear a pin enabling him go out and recognize the for the Holy Father to call the Priests
the 150th anniversary of the death of St. John Mary Vianney, he announced that drop.” The proceedings of that congress people particularly the poor among his all over the world to focus their prayer
2009-2010 should be celebrated in the whole Catholic world as the Year for Priests. were caught in a book titled HISTORY flock. As Christ Jesus was constantly and reflection on the great gift of their
It is a call for renewal in the striving for spiritual perfection, which is the root of the AND GRACE, a copy of which was sent among the poor, the poor will surely priesthood, and what the Church
effectiveness of priestly ministry. This is the compassionate way for Benedict XVI to all participants. usher the prayerful and impressionable could be when priests reverence and
to say that the priests today must renew themselves in holiness. We thought we already established priest to Jesus and the portals of the live the great gift and mystery of their
The priest will, therefore, start his renewal on what is essentially priestly. The history then, and we remembered that Kingdom. (Matthew 25:31-46). Priesthood.
priest is a creature of the Holy Spirit by virtue of his anointing. Anointed by the Holy historic event with a unique plaque in Like the Eucharist, or perhaps as Faithfulness of Christ is actually
Spirit, he is claimed in that Spirit, to belong so completely to God. Like a calf that is the walls of WTC. Today we inform the extension or the continuation of the holiness of Christ, for He has been
branded (by a signum/sigillum) it shouts to all that it already belongs to an owner.
you, dear Brother Bishops and Priests, the Eucharist, the poor open our eyes faithful to the Father, and completely
Res clamat domino! Once branded, the calf has a declared owner.
Once anointed, the priest shouts to the entire world that he already belongs com- that right in this one-hectare hall of the to MEET Christ. “For I was hungry faithful to what He is: to the Father as
pletely, and for all times, to God! Once claimed completely by God, half measures World Trade Center we have broken and you gave me to eat…” Enter the a loving Son, and to the Good and the
and temporary commitment will not work. His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI chose our own record by filling this hall with Kingdom –receive the Love of My Love that He shares with the Father
to capture the truth of this commitment in the theme: FAITHFULNESS OF CHRIST. more than 5,000 priests. Father. and the Spirit. For Christ, to be faithful
FAITHFULNESS OF THE PRIEST. For a whole year, if not for a long stretch in our Why do we convene the Second Aware of the singular gift of the is to be holy.
lifetime, the fidelity of Jesus Christ to who and what He is will remain material for National Congress for Priests today? Priesthood for the Church and the Priests also are called to be faithful.
our reflection. Shifting to the fidelity of the priest the same meditation will help us Truth to say there had already been priest himself, the Holy Father, in At Ordination the priest enters a new
pursue the holiness that the renewal aims to achieve. two attempts to assemble the priests effect, is telling us that to encourage relationship with Christ Jesus. He is
The root of fidelity goes beyond the observance of law or duty. Gifts and graces again since the 2004 Congress. The first the priest’s renewal in that gift, called anointed by the Holy Spirit whereby
come before obligations. Even children know this truth that if they are shown love,
it is easier to obey. It is only because we have been gifted so much with graces and
try was at the prodding of the priests- the priesthood, is to renew the Church. he is signed with a special character in
flavors that we can respond with obedience to laws and obligations. Graces must participants themselves of the First Renew the priest; help the renewal of which he is claimed by God as His (as
come to our realization first, before we can speak of our duties. This is also the Congress, soon after its conclusion. the priests, and you help the renewal God’s own), configuring him to Jesus
reason why love sets in first, before we become conscious of our obligations. And It was something like the continuing of the Church. Christ, enabling the priest to act in the
if anyone were to synopsize the whole relationship, then, the only way to condense fervor of a lasting grace that, like the Historically, any reform in the person of Jesus, the head. Singled out!
all relationship (between gifts and duties) is to say that love must prevail. And Jesus dying embers from the furnace, must be institutional Church and the People of Anointed! Claimed! Configured! How
said it all, “All laws must become love.” (Matthew 22:38). fanned once again into a flame and must God demanded at the onset the renewal closer still can any person be to Jesus,
Love improves all relationship and ensures all obligations as well. Love even not be allowed to die. There is spiritual of the Clergy. In the same homily, dear Brothers in Priesthood. A new
enables people, especially parents and married people to make sacrifices for their hunger in the priests, and that passion the Holy Father said that “there are Creature in the Holy Spirit.
loved ones.
among them to meet brothers again also sad situations which can never In that relationship Jesus called his
Allow me to tell this story—if this will help—of a Pinay (RP woman) in her late
middle age whom I personally met when once I attended a meeting in Rome. In the and that desire must be encouraged be sufficiently deplored, where the disciples friends “I call you friends
course of our long conversation after a Mass in Filipino, she revealed that she was and sustained. Church herself suffers as a consequence and not servants.” There enters a
once a principal teacher in a public high school in her province. When I asked what The second attempt was two years of infidelity on the part of some of relationship of trust, an openness of
she was doing in that great Italian City, she said that she was working as a domestic ago when the Holy Father Pope her ministers. Then it is the world mind and heart. “Friends; because I
helper (atchay). Sad and homesick, she managed to smile (as most Filipinos would Benedict XVI presided at the Sydney which finds grounds for scandal and have made known to you everything
do) and blurted out: “Bishop, I have five children: two are in college, two in high World Youth Day (2008); that occasion rejection.” True there were weak pastors I learned from my Father” (John
school and one, a six grader. You understand that my salary cannot make both we wrongly speculated as the timely in the Church, but there are also many 15:15). Here the priest is called to the
ends meet. I love my children and would not like any of them to miss their higher invitation to the Holy Father to pass heroic and saintly priests in its rich faithfulness of a friend.
education. If I borrow money, I cannot pay back the loan. My conscience tells me I by the Philippines to visit and address history. It has always been taught by “I commission you to go out and bear
must not steal.” I was struck by her brave words: “I love my children. My conscience
tells me I must not do wrong.” Love is the key to her making that sacrifice.
the Bishops and Priests assembled in the Church that ‘the presence of Christ fruit, fruit that will last.” Here the priest
Sad as the story is because of absence from loved ones and the precarious the Second National Congress of the in the minister does not mean that the is called to a mission and he becomes a
conditions of life, ties and binding emotions in the family, you and I must be proud Clergy. priests were preserved from all human disciple with a mission. He is then called
that there still exists this kind of Filipinos—products of strong Christian families and Grace has indeed its own time. But weaknesses, the spirit of domination, to the faithfulness of a disciple.
values which today are being sabotaged by unknowing politicians. when the Holy Father announced error, and even sin’ (CCC1550). The After the resurrection at the first
Love for the family motivates thousands of Filipino parents here and abroad to last April (2009) that June 2009—June priest’s need to be holy is even greater appearance of Mary of Magdala, the
make sacrifices for their loved ones. Matured love is equated with sacrifices and 2010 was going to be the YEAR FOR than that of the faithful wanting to be Risen Lord told her, “Go to the brothers
pains. PRIESTS, the CBCP Commission holy. and tell them that I am ascending to
In the priesthood, as in shepherding, even if the priest loves his flock or loves to on Clergy immediately resumed its It must not be forgotten that the my Father and your Father.” Jesus
serve the flock or sheep, he pledges his love to God in order that he may serve.
original plan to convoke the Second Golden years of the Church were always addressed the apostles as brothers;
The greatest measure of love is for someone to give his own life for a beloved.
Thus, the priest may be asked to die many times by giving up his position, surrender National Congress for Priests. The same rooted in the times when there were beyond mission Jesus entered a more
his ambition and make do with less even amidst plenty for the sake of many who Congress plan, already in preparation, many zealous and saintly priests. The profound relation with the apostles.
have none. Pastoral Charity is the name of this kind of love lived by the priest who was ratified by the Catholic Bishops’ unique spiritual symbiosis between He called them to the fidelity of a
imitates Christ in his self-giving and service and enables him (the priest) to think, Conference of the Philippines’ General the holy priests and the holiness of the brother.
act and relate with people like Jesus Christ. (PDV, 23). Assembly last July 2009. Church had never been as convincingly Friend, disciple and now brother!
Like the man who masters suffering, the Priest is the man of the Eucharist, Sacra- Following the theme for the Year for articulated as in the glorious and Each of these brings the priest to a new
ment of the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ and the Sacrament of Communion. In Priests, this Second National Congress sometimes painful history of the Church world of relationship, each calling for a
the past we were reminded that the way of communion and ultimate sharing was will dwell on the FAITHFULNESS OF in the last 2,000 years of its existence. The profound commitment to faithfulness:
stressed mostly as communion in the vertical dimension. This is correct and still CHRIST, THE FAITHFULNESS OF THE correlation between the two (the Church as a friend: in order to share; as a
true today. But the horizontal dimension of communion was badly neglected in the
past. Sharing BREAD with others, breaking Bread to be shared will make Jesus
PRIEST. For this event it is our privilege and the Priest) cannot at any time be disciple: to a mission and as a brother:
present in our communities. and joy that the Reverend Father ignored. Holy priest can only mean a to love.
The poor in the Philippines now number more than 67% of the population; they will Raniero Cantalamessa, OFMCap., holy people of God. The opposite is even In the hierarchy of graces that leads to
become poorer, we are told. There is a feeling of urgency to address the hunger of Preacher to the Pontifical Household more sadly true, that any degeneracy the Priesthood, the primacy is given to
the people who live in the slums, the sick and the jobless. “This is my body” means since 1980, accepted our invitation in the institutional church can also be the gift of our vocation. The call of God
“Jesus must be received and shared.” The bread consecrated is the body of Jesus. for him to lead us in the reflections on connected to the decay in clerical life comes in many, varied and mysterious
But it could also mean the littlest thing that we can offer and share with others. It the same theme chosen by the Holy and behavior. “Talis sacerdos, qualies forms. And as we reflect on our vocation
can be time; it can be a gesture; it can be a crumb or it can be a smile. Father. ecclesia”. The Cluniac Monastery again and again, we realize that the
“What is being done for the poor in our country today?” We were suddenly The purpose of the Year for Priests Reform, the Mendicant Orders Reform call involves not only following Jesus,
shaken like an earthquake with rating of 9 in the moral Richter scale in one of our
is to encourage every priest in striving and the Counter Reformation’s Council but necessarily the call to change, to
meditations this week.
for spiritual perfection, the Holy Father of Trent that institutionalized Priestly conversion, to a renewal. “The time is
It was suggested by some that the Theology of the Crumbs, better known as Pondo
Vianney / B6 said in his General Audience address formation in Seminaries, as we know fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is
(June 25, 2009). It is a renewal for every them today, made us recall that any Retreat / B6
2nd National Congress of the Clergy
CBCP Monitor
Vol. 14 No. 3
February 1 - 14, 2010
B3

Interior
change, a
gift of being
chosen

© Roy Lagarde / CBCP Media


By Archbishop Edward Joseph what was good and true in his life, in living: that is, a living with God, and a

Learning from the Crucified Christ


Adams his Jewish heritage, but he understood living with each other, in love.
everything: wisdom, truth, the law and As in the case of Paul, we must always
the prophets in a new way. pluck up courage and do what we have
ON behalf of the Holy Father Pope He becomes an “apostle,” like the been called to do, to tell others. And
Benedict XVI, I greet with affection the twelve, to the point of being able to cry we can do what we have been asked if IT is not easy to address a gathering of priests. They are the toughest audience to
priests gathered here for the Celebration out: “He who had set me apart before we beg our Lord to continually change please. Not only are they critical with your diction and grammar, they also look for
of the Holy Eucharist as we begin this I was born, and had called me through us, to continually work the miracle of new things and new insights. What more can you actually say to a group of people
Second National Congress of the Clergy, His grace, has revealed His Son to me, conversion in us, so that the message who have heard it all, and have said it all?
the most important event in the calendar that I might tell the Gentiles about Him” we preach will ring true and others who If you come to think of it, priests are probably over-educated. They spend four
of this Year of the Priest. (Gal 1:15ff). will join us in wholehearted conversion years studying philosophy, four years studying theology, and then one year in
“Ananias, go and seek Saul; I have And so we see in the conversion of Paul and followed us in mission. Spiritual-Pastoral formation gives them a crash course on psychology. So newly-
chosen him to announce my name to a change in one man that also inspires As together we are united here at the ordained priests are philosophers, theologians and psychologists, all rolled into
one. No wonder that when a seminarian does not proceed to the priesthood, the
all peoples.” wonder in us. altar, we pray the Risen Lord for the grace
most logical career he takes is to become another “over-educated professional: he
“Praise the Lord, all nations! Extol Saul, the persecutor of the Christians, to carry out what He has called us to do. becomes a lawyer. This sense of knowing too much can be a bane to the life and
him, all peoples! For great is his steadfast has become Paul, the Apostle. He who On the path that is before us there are ministry of priests. When sent to a far-flung parish, the young priest can easily be
love toward us; and the faithfulness of hated Jesus of Nazareth has now begun so many obstacles: for this, our prayer the most educated person in the community. This status may help him in his ministry,
the Lord endures forever” (Ps 117 [116]: to proclaim the holy name and to “go out must become ever more assiduous, more but it can also be a hindrance. The local mayor consults him on every project, and
1-2). With these words from the Psalmist, to all the world and preach the Gospel to convinced, more fervent. the priest begins to think he knows everything about politics. He knows a thing or
we already hear of God’s plan for all every creature.” The Conversion of Paul, Never must we succumb to two about food supplements, and he thinks he knows better than the local doctor.
the nations. through this experience of Paul, Sacred discouragement; never must we allow The women-folk confess the sins of their husbands to him, and this gives him the
The prophet gives us a glimpse of Scripture enables us to understand that ourselves to be worried by our lack of presumption that he knows everything about everybody in the community.
conversion comes about through God, and human success. Also here the example This is how a priest can think he is powerful. He knows too many things, some-
the mysterious work of God, who acts
times too much for his own good. Because everybody listens to him, he forgets to
to draw all humanity to Himself in a that conversion is preliminary to mission. of St. Paul helps us. Even though he listen to everybody else. He is the teacher, and he presumes everybody to be his
saving embrace. The conversion of Paul makes clear to was afflicted by every kind of trial and student. When a priest makes this presumption, he loses his vocation to serve.
This picture of a God who wants to us that a change of heart is essential not suffering, he never lost heart. He rejoiced When he thinks he knows everything, he learns nothing from anybody. And it is not
save us is echoed in today’s Gospel, only to become disciples of Jesus Christ to in his infirmities – what he endured for possible to serve someone from whom one has nothing to learn.
which presents us with the mandate believe in the Christ and His Gospel but Christ – because, he tells us, he was Our Lord reminds us today: “Avoid being called teachers. Only one is your teacher,
Jesus gave his Apostles before his also to carry out the mission to humanity strongest when he was weak. the Messiah.” The priest is first of all, a disciple, and he must learn from the Master.
Ascension into heaven: “Go into all the that the Lord has entrusted to us. What might seem obstacles to our There are three ways for priests to learn from Jesus. First, he must learn from Jesus
world and preach the Gospel to the whole It is only through such a conversion—to mission becomes, in the light of faith, crucified. Much of what we learn about the Lord in Theology does not come close
of creation” (Mk 16:15). With powerful such change of mind and heart—that the secret of its success. The presence to the knowledge we gain from Jesus teaching from the cross. There is no other
way to learn from the cross except by carrying it ourselves.
words Christ confirms His Father’s Christ’s disciples are able to do what they of the cross and the crucified Christ
We have been told that priestly life is all about carrying one’s cross, yet, in our
universal will to save and entrusts the are called to do: to bring the news of God, in our lives gives us the certainty that, initial experience of priestly life, there is actually very little cross to bear. At the initial
sacred mission to His apostles, the first and of a new life of love to our world. when we seem defeated, we are at the years, there is only wild adulation, abundant gifts, unmitigated affirmation. But the
priests of the Church. This interior change, this conversion, moment really victorious, conquerors; cross that we have to bear is not the opposite of these, but the exercise of restraint
Yes, it is in this God that we put our is, first of all, a gift from God, a gift of indeed, in the words of St. Paul, “More in the face of adulation, gifts and affirmation. The first lesson of Jesus crucified is
hope, the God who loves all of us human being chosen, but it is also a change than conquerors.” thus to “deny yourself, take up your cross and follow me.”
beings and who, mysteriously, calls us to of life we must want, and that, for It is the logic of the cross. On the human The intellect is not the quickest to learn among the faculties of man. It is rather
Himself and asks us to work with Him ourselves and for others, we must ask plane the cross of Jesus is a failure, the heart. But unlike the intellect which compounds its knowledge by adding more
in His saving mission to humanity. for, in prayer. absolute devastation; but precisely here while keeping what has been learned earlier, the heart forgets its previous knowl-
In the Acts of the Apostles we hear thus it derives that explosive newness edge when it adopts a new object of affection. The mind learns by compounding.
This morning we will reflect on all of
The heart learns by substituting. The mind may be able to hold together contrary
this. We do so as, in this Year for Priests, how Ananias sought out Saul and in that has changed the face of life and ideas, but the heart cannot love two contrary things at the same time. When you
we observe the feast of the Conversion of what condition he found him; Ananias human history. teach the heart to love the things of the heart to love the things of the world, it will
St. Paul and open this Second National found Paul, still groping in the dark, In entrusting his mission to us, Jesus jettison its desire for Jesus. You cannot love God and mammon at the same time.
Congress of the Clergy. but immersed in prayers. “get up, get has not only guaranteed for us His When a heart desires all things at the same time, it is bound to be broken.
It was on the road to Damascus that to the street called straight,…and seek presence until the end of the world, He Learning from Jesus is knowing how to seek him with single-minded devotion.
Christ chose Paul and called him to someone by the name of Saul, Saul of has promised us, and has given to us, A priest begins his life and ministry with the love of Jesus in his heart. After some
Himself. Tarsus; he will be praying.” the power of His Spirit. time, he begins to wonder whether he has made the RIGHT choice. Actually he
Until that moment, the Pharisee Saul It is a lesson that we must understand; The Apostle Paul teaches us to have did; the reason why he has begun to doubt now is because he did not make Jesus
had fought against the followers of conversion leads one, more and more, an unshakeable faith, yes, to be intrepid the ONLY choice.
Second, the priest learns from Jesus by learning from “other Christs,” his brother
Jesus with every possible means. From to seek God, in prayer. messengers of hope and witnesses of the
priests. The trouble with our priestly culture is that we do not usually learn from
Jerusalem, he had traveled to Damascus Like St. Paul, someone who has been God of love, to live immersed constantly our fellow priests. Among the overly-educated, nobody wants to be a student. Yet,
to oppose and to imprison those who touched by God wants to come closer to in the light of mystery and in the power there is so much to learn from each other’s experiences, struggles, pains and
had been spreading the teaching of Him and so he reaches out, in prayer, to of Christ, always convinced that God joys. Among priests, there can be so much heated and excited discussions about
Jesus. Saul wanted to prevent Jews from God who has mysteriously entered into is with us. politics, sports, and business, but when the matter turns to personal and spiritual
abandoning the ancient traditions of and has begun a change in his life. This celebration of ours and all that life, everybody becomes deaf and dumb.
their fathers for this “new way,” of the In fact, a new life has begun for those we do in these days of intense priestly There is so much to learn from elderly priests. The trouble with young priests is
Nazorean and His followers. who have been called, those who have prayer can be seen as emblematic: they that when elderly priests begin to talk about how life was like before Vatican II, they
And then, near Damascus, it happened. been chosen, and through prayer, that life indicate the path on which we must begin to walk away. Yet, it is not so much the stories that matter when it comes to
in which Christ has become the center, is travel: prayer, conversion, mission. elderly priests, but their testimony of life lived in fidelity and constancy.
Saul is bathed in a light from heaven. He
Parish priests can be good mentors to parochial vicars, even if, or especially
falls to the ground, and Christ makes nourished and becomes ever stronger. Prayer however is the first element, if, they –the parish priests—are such heavy crosses to bear. This also applies to
him aware of his error. Such as continuing change, such as a prayer that is more intense than what Bishops. When your parish priest or bishop is such a heavy cross to bear, embrace
At the gates of Damascus, when he continuing transformation of one’s life, thus farr have we elevated to God, a him. Anyway, it can also be the other way around. Do you wonder why during the
meets the Risen Christ, Saul learns is the answer not only to our prayers for common prayer that places us together rite of ordination, the bishop embraces the newly ordained priest? He is embracing
the truth. The reality of Christ and his ourselves, but also for others. before Christ, a prayer that begs for a new addition to his many crosses!
death and resurrection, upon which the Our prayer not only helps us to know our conversion and our rededication But even in spiritual and moral matters, the lay faithful too have something to
work of the world’s Redemption was better the God who has intervened in to mission. say. We should not presume to know their needs by merely conducting surveys
accomplished, become present before our life but already, by praying, we have We know that when we pray united in and workshops. The best way a priest can know the condition of God’s people is
Saul, takes possession of him. begun our mission to bring others to the Lord, He is in our midst. We pray in through the confessional. Like St. John Mary Vianney, a priest should spend much
time in the confessional to know the real needs of the people he serves. We do
Saul, now Paul, learns that the God God: even those who, in a sinful world, Him, with Him, to Him, this morning. We
not know the needs of people by virtues they exercise; we know their problems by
of his fathers is the God of all, even the are farthest away from living the Gospel will pray this way throughout this week. the sins they commit. In listening to God’s people, the priest must give preference
gentiles, and that the love of that God of love. With Him we can do the impossible, to the poor. For a priest, it is not always a choice between the rich and the poor.
is not only for the Jews but for everyone The conversion of Paul from persecutor impossible for man but not impossible Sometimes, it is a choice between the self and everybody else. Self-interest can
without exemption. to apostle helps us to understand that to for God: to revive among us the faith of determine a priest’s attitude towards the rich and the poor. Because the poor could
Jesus reveals himself fully to Paul, and work for God and His plan is possible the ancient Church, to become ever more, be a burden to him and the rich could pander to his every need, the choice is not at
Paul is changed, transformed. St. Paul only thanks to a sincere interior change, like Paul of Tarsus, apostles of the God all difficult to make. When a priest opts for himself, the poor always takes the last
was not transformed by a thought but a change in us that means the uprooting of love: for our parish, for our diocese, place. The quality of our service is determined by the direction of our desires. If our
by an event, by the irresistible presence of the selfishness of the heart, and for our country, for our world. hearts are directed towards the self, we become masters to be served. When our
substituting it with love. This change So be it. Amen. hearts are directed to God and his people, we become the servants of all.
of the Risen Lord whom subsequently
May Mary, the handmaid of the Lord, teach us to serve without thought of personal
he would never be able to doubt, so comes about by a miracle of grace, a gain. May she teach us to always do what her Son tells us to do. Amen.
powerful had been the evidence of this grace that we must pray for. (This piece is a homily of Archbishop
encounter with the Christ, the light of In a world still divided and torn apart Edward Joseph Adams, Papal Nuncio, at (Homily delivered by His Eminence Ricardo J. Cardinal Vidal,, Archbishop of
truth, the light of God Himself. by so many tensions, we priests of God, the opening Eucharistic celebration of the Cebu, during the Second National Congress of the Clergy held January 25-29,
This experience expanded Paul’s friends of the Lord, are called to witness Second National Congress of the Clergy, 2010, at the World Trade Center, Pasay City.)
heart, opened it to all. He did not lose to all the newness of a different kind of January 25, 2010)
Special Issue on the 2
Wide media cov

Visit www.clergycongress2.org for


2nd National Congress of the Clergy
verage puts NCC2 in spotlight
Prelate says clergy congress a respite MANILA, January 31, The gathering was also Trade Center.
shown live on major broadcast The Communication
2010─THE national networks and cable news Foundation for Asia (CFA)
media spotlight shined channels. video streamed selected parts
MANILA, January 25, 2010—The Golgotha and Jerusalem they have ears, lips, face and body of Jesus
Second National Congress of the all been refreshed and renewed. for the world which is an ongoing intensely on the 2nd Msgr. Pedro Quitorio, of the event through the
Clergy attended by the country’s Archbishop Villegas said every process,” he added. National Congress of the NCC2 Media Committee co- internet facilities provided by
coordinator, said the NCC2 is CBCPWorld which, for its part,
more than 5,500 Catholic priests priest should continuously pursue Asked of his thoughts about state- Clergy, as the Catholic an event of the Church and not
is a “Galilee” or a respite from the his “ascent to the mountain of God” ments that priests should not med- also maintained the official
daily grind. referring to the need for ongoing dle in political concerns, the prelate media joined forces in only of the clergy, thus the need website of the clergy congress.
Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop formation and commitment to his said “Ang politika ay isang human giving them blow by blow for media coverage. TV Maria documented the
Socrates B. Villegas said the fact mission. activity; take God away from any
that the country’s human activity
account of the event. The media coverage, he whole congress, while Eternal
said, was very instrumental in Word Television Network
priests have gath- Archbishop Villegas said priests should and it becomes making the lay faithful “journey (EWTN) broadcasted some
At least eleven Catholic news
ered together is look for the face of Jesus Christ in their a curse.”
agencies have collaborated in a with their priests in prayer, video footages of the event.
already worth H e sa i d i t
celebrating. flock as laymen should look for the face of is true priests social media effort to cover the reflection and renewal”. CBCPNews podcasted the
“Ang pagtiti- Jesus Christ in their priests. He said, “we should not med- congress from print, broadcast, “The media, especially the congress at www.cbcpnews.
Catholic media, believes that com/podcast and serialized news
pong ito’y pag- (the priests) are the eyes, ears, lips, face dle in partisan to online and then feed it to the
it can help bridge the clergy
papakita ng pag- politics but it is stories for global readership. The
kakaisa na nara- and body of Jesus for the world which is the priests’ duty mainstream media.
in congress with the praying, Manila Archdiocesan Office
rapat lamang na an ongoing process.” to bring God into As a result, the NCC2 generated listening and learning Christian of Communication covered
ipagdiwang,” the politics because an unprecedented number of community in their homes,” the event by posting talks and
country’s youngest archbishop told Asked what priests and laymen it is a human activity. stories in the country’s major Quitorio said.
CBCPNews.
photos of the congress at www.
would look for in each other, Arch- “Christ-less politics would be a newspapers, television and The Catholic Media Network rcam.org.
He added the country’s priests bishop Villegas said priests should scourge and business and culture radio broadcasts over the five-
have gathered together to pray and look for the face of Jesus Christ in without Christ would not be a bless-
(CMN) with 51 radio stations The Mission Communications
day event. nationwide broadcasted some Foundation, Inc. recorded
to study from what the congress’ their flock as laymen should look ing for humanity,” he added.
speakers would reflect on. for the face of Jesus Christ in their The country’s clergy first gathered The congress-related mentions parts of the clergy congress; the closing ceremonies of the
The prelate said the Congress is priests. He said the face of Jesus for the National Congress in July on the Internet had also reached and so did Radio Veritas with clergy congress at the Cuneta
just like “Galilee” where they gather is in the face of everyone. 2004 with some 3,500 priests in around 500,000 over Yahoo some of its morning programs Astrodome and for later airing at
strength so when they return to their “We (the priests) are the eyes, attendance. (Melo M. Acuña) alone after the five-day event. aired right from the World IBC Channel 13. (CBCPNews)

podcasts, photos, video clips, and other updates on the Second National Congress of the Clergy
Special Issue
CBCP Monitor
B6 Vol. 14 No. 3
February 1 - 14, 2010

Christ, Priest and Victim


By Most Rev. Patricio Bu- which alone is pleasing to God. Thus one with our people in their suffering, concretely possible through the Holy
Impressions on the Congress
(www.cbcpnews.com/podcast)

Christ stands in front of God as the but also to be ready to take on their Hour. It is an hour we set aside each
zon, SDB one and only true priest. suffering. “I rejoice in my sufferings day to keep alive in our awareness
I THINK it is a Christ
Our priesthood is a participation for your sake, and in my flesh I am the Lord’s personal and unique love experience what we are having
in the one priesthood of Christ. Our filling up what is lacking in the afflic- for us. It is nothing else than entering now at the moment. With this
IN our work of vocation promotion, the
question we usually ask our young primary task and commitment then is tions of Christ on behalf of his Body, into his presence and basking in his encounter with the clergy and
applicants is, “Why do you wish to to configure ourselves to Christ, the which is the Church.” (Col 1:24) It is love. As our good preacher told us reflecting upon our role as
enter the seminary?” To which their whole Christ, Priest and Victim. By said that the Cure of Ars would give on the first day of our retreat, what priests of Christ; and also for
usual reply is, “To become a priest.” our ordination we are called to offer light penances to his penitents while happens in the Eucharistic adoration me, it has given me once again
We would then press them with a the sacrifice with Christ as priest, as he would take on himself the heavier is the meeting of two glances, ours the chance for renewal to serve
follow-up question, “Why do you want well as to offer ourselves with him burden of atoning for their sins. and the Lord’s. What is important is God better in the priesthood.
to become a priest?” And their answer as victim. Like Jesus, we are called to be ready that we allow the glance of the Lord to
In the priesthood we live accord-
The biggest challenge for us
would be something like, “To offer my to redeem our people that they may penetrate us, that look of love which
ing to the mold of Christ? Or is it live. We may not have the opportunity is far more far tender and intense priests, I guess, is to care for
life to God…to serve Him…to serve each other as priests, to be in
the Church…” or some other expres- still according to the mold of the Old to literally offer ourselves as ransom than our own.
Testament or of some other type? for them, like St. Raymond Nonnatus Love is basically a relationship. communion with each other.
sions to the same effect.
I used to smile at the naivete of Contrary to other types of priesthood, and the Mercedarians in the days of The one necessary investment for ─Tabuk Bishop Prudencio Andaya, CICM
such answers. Often, I couldn’t help Christ’s priesthood is not about po- the crusade. But each day offers count- any relationship to develop is time.
but wonder if these young applicants sition, power or prestige. “His state less occasions to suffer for our people. To be tamed, the fox asked the little
really knew the full implication of was divine, yet he did not cling to his To attend their pastoral needs often Prince to meet him each day at a IT’S an invitation for the priests to be really faithful to their
what they aspired for. But for all their equality with God but emptied himself requires of us to forget ourselves and definite place and specific hour. In vocation especially in their pastoral ministry, showing the
to assume the condition of a slave, to die to our comfort and convenience. the end, it was the heart of the little
simplicity and innocence, I knew that Lord’s compassion and to reflect on the love of God for all of
many of them were sincere. and became as men are; and being As one of our old missionaries used to Prince that was tamed, and from that
as all men are, he was humbler yet, say, “Much to suffer, much to offer; little experience, he learned the great se-
us instead of just demanding duties or obligations from the
When I was tasked to give the parishioners. I think the bigger challenge for priests today is
homily for this Mass, the organizers even to accepting death, death on to suffer, little to offer; nothing to suffer, cret that only in being ready to waste
cross.” (Phil 2:6-8). nothing to offer.” time with the beloved can we grow to really be able to reflect on gospel values of love and sharing
of the Congress asked me to focus
In the Old Testament, the priest was Indeed, the call to be a priest-victim in relationship. for each other. In a world that has become secularized and
our reflection on the theme of the day,
which is OBLATION, “our personal a man of great power and influence. is daunting! It is already difficult to pay We are priests for the Eucharist. materialistic we need spiritual values.
offering of self, as well as of the The high priest in the time of the Mac- the wages for our own sins, how much “Do this in memory of me.”(1Cor ─Cagayan De Oro Archbishop Antonio J. Ledesma, SJ
corporate body of priests to God, cabees exercised both religious and more to take on those of our people! 11:24) But we are also the victim in
the Father, in accordance with his political authority. In Christ’s own time, How can we have the courage to live the Eucharist we offer. To celebrate the
holy will.” The scenario I mentioned the priests and religious leaders were such a vocation? rite of the Eucharist is the easy part of THIS gathering of around
earlier could well be our own story. key players in the social and political I remember the days following my our priesthood. All twelve apostles,
arena. We have similar picture in other
5,500 priests is really a miracle.
We too gave similar answers when appointment as Bishop of Kabanka- except one, were present in the first
religions. Through the caste system, lan. Totally disoriented, I decided to Eucharist at the Lord’s Supper. To live Seeing thousands of priests
we applied for the seminary. We were in a spirit of solidarity and
then young and idealistic, ready to the priestly class succeeded in en- take an Ignatian retreat at the Jesuit the Eucharist is the more difficult part.
trenching themselves above the social Retreat House in Banawa, Cebu, if All twelve apostles, except one, were brotherhood, singing and
give our life in total service to God.
Indeed, that was one shining moment ladder. Today we witness the repudia- only to regain my bearings. One of absent at the offering of the Supreme praying really uplift the spirit.
in our life—a moment of pure and tion of theocracy in some Islamic states the meditations my director gave me Sacrifice on the Cross. We are called This is my second time to
generous oblation. as sheer clerical dominance. was on the Good Shepherd. When I not only to perform the rite of the attend the priests’ congress. In
What happened since then? In his book “Jesus of Nazareth.” came to the verse where Jesus said, Eucharist but also to fulfill it in our this congress I am seated with
How come that through the years, Pope Benedict XVI tells us that the “I lay down my life for my sheep,” I own life. How did the Lord pass from the Capuchins and Pangasinan
temptations of Jesus in the desert was deeply disturbed. I wrestled and celebrating the Eucharist at the Upper
we gradually took back the gift of clergy. My former professor in
self we had liberally offered in the were actually three forms of but one agonized with the words. Deep in my Room to accomplishing in on Calvary?
single temptation—the temptation heart, I knew I could not own them. I
Philosophy is also seated with
beginning? How did our young and The gospel tells us that after supper
to power. At every instance, Jesus have been called to shepherd God’s Jesus spent the night in prayer before us in the same table. I wanted
generous heart turn into a hesitant to go to him for confession but
and calculating compromiser? Could vehemently rejected the temptation, flock in Kabankalan, and like the Good submitting himself into the hands of
for he believed that his mission can Shepherd I too should be ready and his captors. In that hour of prayer he the line of those confessing to him was long. A priest confessed
it be that we really did not understand
what we were entering into when we be accomplished only by the greater willing to lay down my life for my sheep. clearly saw the full implication of the to me and I also confessed to him. It is really an encounter with
joined the seminary? That we did power of love, his humble and self- But in all sincerity I knew I was neither Passover meal he had partaken. The the priests and with the Lord.
not know the full implication of our sacrificing love. The devil left Jesus ready nor willing to do so. It was my bread that he broke with his disciples ─Fr. Oscar Alunday, Executive Secretary, CBCP’s
vocational response? in the desert only to return again. saddest realization. I have always was to be realized in the breaking of Episcopal Commission on Biblical Apostolate
In the Philippine society, the figure Since then he has kept on returning been afraid of pain, even more so, his own body. He shuddered in fear at
of the priest is both important and and tempting the Church. We know of death. Hence, I could not honestly the prospect to the point of sweating
attractive. He is seen as one who from history that time and again the tell the Lord, “I lay down my life for my blood. He pleaded and bargained with
Church had succumbed to the temp- sheep.” Since it was a Friday, I made his Father. In the end, he surrendered
The talk is a spirit-filled
represents the people in front of God. talk. The Holy Spirit is really
He stands above the people and a tation. And we also know that when the Way of the Cross at the park behind completely to the will of his whose
the Church was most powerful, she the retreat house that afternoon. As love was the only certainty that served working through the speaker
little below God. Thus people readily
lavish him with respect and favor. was most vulnerable. I walked from one station to another as light in his darkest hour. Christ’s and as a result of this, even
Moreover, in our culture, the priest’s In our country the temptation is and retraced the steps of Jesus to definitive act of oblation was made though the crowd is big, the talk
ascendancy over the people is more present and real. There is a general Calvary, it slowly dawned on me that in that hour of prayer. The journey penetrates our hearts and keeps
pervasive and goes beyond his reli- perception that the Church in the Jesus went through every pain and that led him to the sacrifice of Calvary us to reflect on our experiences
gious function. Rightly or wrongly, he Philippines is powerful. As the days suffering for me, to save me. Then I was merely the unfolding of the total in our priesthood.
of the election are approaching, po- began to realize how much I am loved. surrender he had made in the garden
represents his people not only in front ─Msgr. Jaime Villanueva,
of God but also in front of men. Thus litical candidates seek the blessing I had never felt so much loved, so infi- of Gethsemane.
or anointing from the bishops and nitely loved. By the time I reached the
Archdiocese of Palo
the priesthood is a position of privilege Finally, it is important for us to note
and power. In public gatherings, the priests. While we easily condemn twelfth station, I could hardly see the that the holy hour is the one personal
priest stands side by side with the the brand of patronage in Philippine crucified Lord; my eyes were welling request Jesus makes to those whom
politics, we can also run our parish with tears. I told Jesus hanging on the he considers his closest friends. “Wait This is my first time to attend and it is really an inspiring
mayor and the local officials (as we
can also find the bishop side by side like a personal fiefdom; and we can cross, “Lord, now I’m ready to die for here and stay awake with me…” (Mt experience. The spirit really leads me to experience this. The
with the national officials, or even with be despotic, too. It is not uncommon you.” After a few seconds, I seemed 26:38) Sadly, his first invitation was not topic that is being shared really helps me in renewing my
the President). This is the side of our to hear our own people referring to to hear from the depths of my heart heeded. “So you had not the strength commitment in the Lord and in following Christ.
priesthood that we are familiar with, us more as hari, than pari. The let- the Lord answering, “No, don’t die for to stay awake with me for an hour?” ─Fr. Romulo Maypa
and feel comfortable with. ter to the Hebrews teaches us that me. Live for my people.” (Mt 26; 40) May we not disappoint
There is however another dimen- our priesthood is not about power “Do you love me? Feed my lambs, the Lord as he offers to us the same
sion of our priesthood which we often or prestige but humility and divine feed my sheep.” We shall have the invitation and privilege.
intimacy—in a word, holiness. generosity and the joy of feeding the Our mass today is offered in honor
UNANG una, sa pag-
forget. Christ, the Priest, is also Christ, organize palang nito feel ko
the Victim. Our call to configure to The other dimension of Christ’s Lord’s flock, even with our own body of Mary, the first and perfect Disciple.
priesthood is his victimhood. Our vo- and blood as He did, if we love him. “Do whatever he tells you,” is her talaga yung concern ng ating
Christ is a call to identify with the
whole Christ—Priest and Victim. “But cation calls us to conform ourselves But we can only love to the point of message to us, priests gathered in simbahan at ating mga obispo
when Christ came as High Priest of to Christ the victim, “the lamb of God giving up our life if we personally this congress. Let us ask her to teach sa mga pari. Naiintindihan ko
the good things that have come to who takes away the sins of the world.” experience Christ’s own victimal love us the ways of her Son so that the kung paanu nila gustong ayusin
be, passing through the greater and Typified by the escape goat of the Old for us. This was the clear realization I greater miracle may be realized in yung buhay ng mga pari. Hindi
more perfect tabernacle not made Testament, Jesus takes upon himself had on the hills of Banawa that Friday us, a miracle greater than the trans- lang pagka-pari kundi pati
the sin of humanity. He is the redeemer afternoon. “This is love: not that we formation of water into wine – our own
by hands, that is, not belonging to
transformation and configuration to
buhay ng paglilingkod. Na-feel
this creation, he entered once and who bought us back with his own blood, loved God, but that he loved us and
who ransomed us with his own life. To sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice Christ, the High Priest-Victim. ko yun kaya I made it a point
for all into the sanctuary, not with the to attend this convention.
explain the mystery of our salvation to for our sins.” (1Jn 4:10) O Mary, Mother of Priests, pray
blood of goats and calves, but with ─Msgr. Bobby Olaguer,
ordinary people, I would simply ask I always believe that for us humans for us. Amen.
his own blood, thus obtaining eternal
them to look at the crucifix and say to love can only be a response. I can love Diocese of Parañaque
salvation.” (Hb 9:11-12)
themselves, “They got the wrong man. only if I have experienced being loved. (This is the full text of the homily
Thus, Christ not only perfected
He shouldn’t be there. He is innocent. And my capacity to love is proportional delivered by Most Rev. Patricio Bu- IT is a beautiful event. It’s marvelous to see the gathering
the priesthood of the Old Testament,
The cross is for the sinner and the to the intensity of that experience. Dear zon, SDB, Bishop of Kabankalan, on of the 5,500 priests and fresh, young, enthusiastic-looking
but also rendered all other types of
damned. I should be there. I am the one brother priests, allow me to end with the third day of the 2nd National Con- priests. My impression of the people and the Church in the
priesthood ineffective. Being God
who sinned and merit condemnation. a fraternal invitation. “Remain in my gress of the Clergy held January 25-
and man, he is the perfect priest who Philippines is that there’s a lot of life, there’s a lot of promise
But Jesus, knowing I cannot bear the love.” (Jn 15:9) the Lord tells us. Let us 29, 2010 at the World Trade Center,
alone can worthily represent man
Pasay City. Due to space limitations, and hope in the congress.
before the Father and intercede for sentence, took my place.” heed his call and remain in his love by
Our victimhood is call to compas- keeping ever afresh in our heart and other homilies could not be accom- ─Fr. Francis Donnelley, Companions of the Cross
him. Submitting himself as victim, he
sion. We are called not only to be mind his self-giving love. This is made modated, to our regrets—eds)
offers the perfect sacrifice of himself

Vianney / B2 Retreat / B2

ng Pinoy, be offered to the Local Churches just concluded Second NCC. Thank you close at hand. Repent, and believe the may question. So what? There is always ceaseless invocation to the Heart of
in the Philippines. Rather than be accused for encouraging and praying for us. Gospel” (Mark 1:15). Our vocation is an opening in the Kingdom of the Father Jesus to keep us from the terrible risk
of doing the littlest or less, let us, in the Let us together ask Mary Mother of basically to conversion—to constantly if only we are impressionable enough to of harming those whom we are bound
name of love of God, consistently do our Jesus, Queen of Families and Mother of change, to turn again and again to grace, Jesus assures us. There is always a to save…”
littlest for the poor. Let us remember the the Priests to teach us only one way, the God—that we may become generous door for the answers that are generous, Dear Brothers, let us cultivate this
prayer that “there is nothing little, if done one that leads to her Son, Jesus. Mary, and faithful companions of Jesus in the hesitant, for the maybes and even same emotion in order to carry out
for the love of God.” teach us simplicity of life learned by Jesus the ministry of evangelization. St. Paul for the downright No’s. But in all of our ministry with generosity and
The Spirit is the paraclitus! The retreat of Nazareth. Teach us to make simple writing to the Ephesians underlined the these and other possible responses, dedication, or to preserve in our souls
prayer said that we, bishops and pastors, wishes and humble desires. Encourage need to change this way, “You were to any response to a call demands a a true ‘fear of God’ : the fear of being
are paracletes, the ones who console us that the littlest thing we can do out of put aside your old self, which belongs conversion. able to deprive of so much good,
and defend. It was said that those who love for God is greatest when we awake to your old way of life and is corrupted Have we forgotten the story of Jesus through our negligence or fault, those
approached the Curé d’ Ars coming from in eternity with Jesus your Son. by following illusory desires. Your when he narrated that two sons were souls entrusted to us, or God forbid,
near and far and from across the seas And to all who participated in this mind was to be renewed in spirit so asked by their father to go out to their of harming them. The Church needs
were not only helped to regain grace grace-filled Second National Congress of that you could put on the New Man that farm and help the farm work, and the holy priests; ministers who can help
and forgiven. They left the confessional the Clergy—the Bishops, the Clergy both has been created on God’s principles, boy who said that he did not like and the faithful to experience the merciful
joyful, peaceful and consoled. Fr. John religious and Diocesan—Maraming in the uprightness and holiness of the he would not go was the one who love of the Lord and who are his
Mary Vianney even took the greater part Salamat Po. I have a feeling that you truth” (Ephesians 4:22-24). Part of the changed his mind (heart) and went convinced witnesses. In the Eucharistic
of the penance and left the little portion will come again for the Third National spirituality of the priest is to continually out to help. Put all your imagination Adoration, let us ask the Lord to set the
to the penitent. Congress for Priests. change that he may constantly put on into the answer “NO” of boy. Stretch heart of every priest on fire with that
The soul of this saintly man who The Sisters of Consecrated Life, the the mind and the ways of Jesus Christ the imagination a little further when ‘pastoral charity’ which can enable him
was tenderly cared for, sensitive to the Contemplatives who prayed and made with whom he is a brother, friend and the boy, saying nothing, went out and to assimilate his persona “I” into that
point of being impressed by anything sacrifices for us. To all Friends and disciple, but nonetheless still a faithful worked in the farm? No! then he went. Jesus the High Priest, so that he may
and even simply by the suggestion, or benefactors of the priests in this Second servant of the Word. What happened? be able to imitate Jesus in the most
simplest/littlest hint of good. His was NCC. Maraming Salamat Po. There can be no vocation unless there Put yourselves into the boy’s life complete self-giving. May Mary the
the conscience of a true Christian, able To the host families and all you lay is conversion. In the priestly life and (these five days) …and you will be Virgin Mother obtain this grace for
to feel the weakest hint of good, able to people who represent those who prayed ministry we priests cannot proceed, ready to listen to Father Raniero us. May She accompany us during the
pursue what is good and true for himself for and encourage the renewal of your unless to Jesus Christ, we concede! But Cantalamessa. Year for Priests so that we are able to
and others, his home, his church and his priests—Salamat Po. again the manner of response differs It is our prayer that our retreat be sound and enlightened guides for
troubled country that had turned violent And to our commanding general, from person to person. Simon Peter’s director, Father Raniero Cantalamessa, the faithful whom the Lord entrusts to
after the French Revolution. Ambassador Henrietta T. de Villa and ultimate “Yes, you know that I love you” will lead us in prayer and reflection our personal care. Amen!
There were still some who said that John her most efficient but hidden army was different from Paul’s “who are you, towards a renewed priestly ministry Thank you and God bless
Vianney was not a saint, then, there should of hundreds of unseen volunteers— Lord.” Francis of Assisi’s rejection of and life. everyone!
be none. As a young boy he would not Lubhang Naparaming Salamat sa wealth and luxury to embrace Poverty I end by repeating the words of His
even lead their donkey for pasture without Inyong Lahat. was different from John Mary Vianney’s Holiness Pope Benedict XVI when (This exhortation was delivered by His
falling on his knees and say a prayer. He march to leave the army and tilling the he concluded his homily on the day Eminence Gaudencio B. Cardinal Rosales
started saintly as a young lad and closed (Homily delivered by His Eminence farm to join the seminary. Dramatic he opened the Year for Priests at the in the afternoon of the first day of the
his life as St. John Mary Vianney. Gaudencio B. Cardinal Rosales, Archbishop changes in people’s lives show us how Basilica of St. Peter. Congress, January 25, 2010. Rosales is
Dear Brothers and Sisters, religious of Manila, during the Closing Mass of the different were the calls, for example, “Dear Priests, the call to conversion the Archbishop of Manila and former chair
and the laity present with us today. Your Second National Congress of the Clergy in Augustine, Ignatius and Blessed and recourse to the Divine Mercy also of the Episcopal Commission on Clergy of
Bishops and priests have just completed on January 29, 2010, Cuneta Astrodome, Charles de Foucauld. applies to us, and we must likewise the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the
their retreat reflection and prayers in the Pasay City.) But these examples are saints, one humbly address a heartfelt and Philippines)
2nd National Congress of the Clergy
CBCP Monitor
Vol. 14 No. 3
February 1 - 14, 2010
B7

Notes on the Conferences of


Fr. Raniero Cantalamessa, OFMCap
By Teresa Tunay GIVES LIFE IN CHRIST JESUS HAS SET deeds of God. “The Holy Spirit has achieved we should do this, do that, etc. because in YOU TO MY LIFE.”
YOU FREE, HAS SET ME FREE FROM THE a radical conversion in the hearts of the the end the priest will be crushed beneath As a final stroke, the master storyteller Fr.
LAW OF SIN AND DEATH! Otherwise, they people. That is the most important change a mass of duties. The main goal of this Cantalamessa recounted another experi-
January 26, 2010, AM will go out elsewhere to hear this liberating in the life of the priest. Before Pentecost, year is to help the priest to get in touch with ence he had while he was in a home in Italy.
FATHER Raniero Cantalamessa, OFM- message—there is no condemnation!” the apostles were concerned about making the living Jesus. What Jesus can be to a A visitor showed up at the door, obviously
Cap and preacher of the Papal household, Priests, he continued, should not talk to the a name for themselves. When Jesus was person is simply to be discovered through uninvited. The host (who perhaps consid-
began his first conference by leading the people all the time about duties or sins, but away they discussed who would be greatest the Holy Spirit. ered this visitor an important person) got
priests in the singing of Veni Creator. He must proclaim this liberating message. He among them. After Pentecost they forgot While asking the audience if they were embarrassed for her home was not ready for
said there was a special reason for begin- said that any religion or religious philosophy about themselves, completely fascinated tired, he smilingly said, “A little penance is guests, so she closed the doors of the rooms
ning the priests’ retreat singing the Veni starts telling people what they must do— about the glory of God.” part of a retreat” and proceeded to stir the in disorder (and therefore unpresentable)
Creator, which, since it was composed by duties—if they want to achieve salvation or Fr. Cantalamessa continued that the radi- audience by asking the priests to repeat after and kept the visitor in the living room. “This
a German archbishop, Rabanus Maurus illumination. Christianity starts telling the cal change consists in that they pass from him: JESUS IS LORD. GOD RAISED HIM is not what we will do when Jesus comes
in the 9th century, has accompanied the people what God has done for them. The being self-centered to being Christ centered. FROM THE DEAD. He then added that the to us—we don’t close the rooms in disorder
Church throughout the second millennium gift comes before the duties. Of course there Are we living for our self or living for God, he simple exercise is not a joke or an exaggera- within us. These are in fact the places we
in every solemn occasion like priestly and are commandments, he noted, but these are asked the audience, then pleaded, “In this tion. “When we say those, it will save the should open to Him. Let us open our weak-
episcopal ordinations, ecumenical council, observed not just to gain grace but as an act moment while we are speaking, please, in world. Jesus came for all humanity, even nesses, our failures, our sexual life … He is
synod, pastoral reunion. Besides being an of gratitude because we have been saved, your heart, decide. Or if you have already those who don’t know him still. There are a very delicate friend.”
ongoing invocation of the Holy Spirit upon not in order that we might be saved. decided, renew your decision to build the no limits to Jesus.”
the Church, there is a whole history behind Fr. Cantalamessa suggested a change city of God.” The speech of Peter which is very im- January 27, 2010, AM
the title “Creator”—the title that led the in priests’ pastoral approach, saying that Fr. Cantalamessa then enjoined the portant in our ministry, contains the model THE third talk of Fr. Raniero Canta-
Church to the full certainty of the divinity of when Jesus came to the world he said “The priests: “Repeat after me: I DO NOT SEEK for every evangelization, Fr. Cantalamessa lamessa, OFMCap, at the ongoing National
the Holy Spirit. Kingdom of God will come to you,” and not MY OWN GLORY. I WANT TO SEEK THE said. At the center and at the root of every Congress of the Clergy revolved around the
“In our Christian experience,” said Fr. Christian evangelization, there must be that Eucharist, dividing the Mass into Word, Con-
Cantalamessa, introducing his topic, “when kerygma, the proclamation of what God has secration and Communion and expounding
we are touched by the Holy Spirit, we realize done in Christ. Devotions, lectures, ethics, on each topic to enjoin the priests towards a
that we are touched by God Himself, not by everything must come later. He said that if we more alive celebration of the Sacrament.
some intermediary creature.” He said that must evangelize the world we must proclaim Opening the talk was the singing of Veni
according to St. Ambrose, it is written that the death and resurrection of Christ, and that Creator, led by the speaker, with the whole
God created heaven and earth but the earth funerals are the best occasions to say that congregation joining.
was empty, there was darkness and chaos. in Jesus death has been conquered. Fr. Cantalamessa began his conference
But when the spirit of God started hovering Fr. Cantalamessa went on to explain by asking the audience, “Why do people find
over the abyss, the chaos was transformed an important difference in the order of two our Mass so boring?” He said that if priests
into cosmos, which means something beauti- events, dying and rising. Death is suffering, realized what a tremendous thing it is to be
ful and harmonious. God is always Creator while rising is glory and joy. He said, “In hu- able to evoke the sacramental presence
because creation is an ongoing process, and man experience, there is always disorder. of Jesus in the Mass, they would make a
the Holy Spirit is the one who continually Humans always seek pleasure, but pleasure greater effort to celebrate the Eucharist in
leads the world from chaos to cosmos, from in humans is always followed by punish- such a way that it will be more alive and
confusion and division into a new harmony ment. Drugs, sex abuse, etc. JESUS has attractive. When a priest pronounces the
and order. The Apostles experienced this at completely reversed this order: suffering, words at Mass, he is not simply mouthing
Pentecost; so did the Church in attaining the then joy. We must explain to people the im- a formula; he is bringing the presence of
ecumenical council: the contrasting ideas portance of this because even young people Christ in the celebration.
and positions little by little unified by the are convinced that Jesus is the enemy of There is a need for priests to more deeply
Holy Spirit so that they could go out and joy.” He then cited a campaign where posters understand the Eucharist, he said, to feel
announce to the people “we have decided were spread in buses of Europe and other what they do and say during the Mass.
in the Holy Spirit.” cities. The poster said “God probably doesn’t When they read the Word, it should come
Linking this concept to the ongoing priests’ exist so stop worrying and enjoy life.” It is a alive, because they are not just reading a
retreat, Fr. Cantalamessa said each person tremendous lie being fed to young people, story that happened in the past, but some-
is a small cosmos, a microcosmos, a little that if you stop believing in God you can thing truly alive and acting in the present.
universe in itself, and although we are enjoy life, he said. In that sense, priests should be “actors”, he
nothing compared with the immensity of the Fr. Cantalamessa elaborated: “Even in added, enabling those stories to be acted in
universe, in a sense we are greater than reckoning time, the contrary happens: our the present. When, for example, they read
the whole universe because without spirit day begins in the morning and ends in night. the healing episodes, they should drive the
we contain and encompass galaxies. As a In Scripture, it is always evening and then point across to the people that many of us
“small cosmos” each of us is led by the Holy morning. A life with Jesus is a night which need healing, not just healing of our bodies,
Spirit from our personal chaos into cosmos, ends in day, and a day without sunset. We but spiritual healing.
a new personal harmony. must preach about resurrection. People He then proceeded to speak about the
“If we are sincere, we must admit that our need to hear that after the suffering in the wonder of Consecration, when the priest
heart resembles very much the primordial world, God will give joy.” says, “This is my Body”. To emphasize his
chaos,” Fr. Cantalamessa noted, “there is He gave an anecdote about a certain point, Fr. Cantalamessa led the priests in
darkness in us, a struggle between flesh Serrafin of Sarro who lived in 19th century singing a verse “in the song in English that I
and spirit, contrasting plans and ideas.” A Russia for ten years without speaking to like best”—Here I am, Lord. He said that more
retreat, he continued, is a time for the Holy anybody. He was perceived as a holy man, than just recalling the words that our Lord
© Roy Lagarde / CBCP Media

Spirit to perform this marvelous activity in us, and people started coming to him (as usual) uttered in the last supper, the priest ought to
transforming our cares into a cosmos, into for healing and to get relief from suffering. be able to say, from the depths of his being
a new harmony “which consists precisely in And he would greet them with “My joy, that the Eucharist is his body, too.
our conformity with the image of God, the Christ is risen!” It is Jesus Christ using his voice, his hands,
image God has of us, in fulfilling the will of Using this anecdote, Fr. Cantalamessa his movements. “You must be Eucharist!” he
God for us.” exhorted the priests to say to the person next exclaimed. The priest offers his body during
In short, he said, the church needs her to him, CHRIST IS RISEN! He added that the Consecration, and the body, in the Bible,
perennial Pentecost. “The Church needs fire “We can not always proclaim it with words, is not simply “this body” made up of different
in her heart, words on her lips, prophecy in body parts, but the whole of the person, his
her outlook. The church needs to rediscover “Convert, convert and believe in the gospel!” time, his gifts, his will, etc. When he says
the eagerness, the taste and certainty of This does not mean, however, that duties “This is my body”, he offers his whole being
truth that is hers.” and ethics may be neglected—but only put to be “given up” just as Jesus’ body was.
Fr. Cantalamessa said that by using the in the right place. Nowadays, he said, we The priest, with all reverence, should let
word “priesthood” in place of “Church”, we live in a culture where authority doesn’t work the words sink into himself so that he may
discover the greatest need of the priesthood anymore. Priests, therefore, must give a realize he is not simply repeating what Jesus
nowadays. As the Church needs, so does stronger reason to attract people instead Christ said—he is not merely “celebrating
priesthood—a perennial Pentecost. “A re- of presenting a God that is always giving Mass”, he is offering himself.
treat like this is a Pentecost or it is almost precepts and threatening punishments. Similarly, when he says “This is my blood”,
nothing,” he said. He spoke of his vision As a note of inspiration, Fr. Cantalamessa he is offering his life as well. In the Bible,
which is a form of promise: that the venue said that priests must show people a thirst for Fr. Cantalamessa explained, “blood” is not
of the congress, the World Trade Center, life, for love and for infinity. “Show him God, simply an organ or a part of the body; blood
is becoming a cenacle which people enter and you will see this person follow you,” he is life itself. “When you shed blood, you
with exultant faith although confused and said, “Who is pushing him? Nobody. He offer your life,” he continued. When the
disoriented, and from which they emerge is attracted. Christianity, our faith, must be priest offers the body and blood of Christ
renewed and empowered with enthusiasm proclaimed and lived by attraction because he offers his own body and blood, his whole
and authority. of love.” They will come because the reason being, his own life.
Being “filled with the Holy Spirit” means is deep: Come because God loves you, and Elaborating on the body, Fr. Cantalamessa
being filled with the love of God. When the you need love! asked what the body means among young
Apostles, at the moment they were filled people. What are young people told about
with the Holy Spirit, appeared to be differ- January 26, 2010, PM their body? For such things as advertise-
ent men, completely changed, filled with the FATHER Cantalamessa’s second talk, ments, he said, the body is a merchandise.
love of God. He stressed the importance of delivered in the afternoon on January 26, The priest with the new consciousness of
this retreat becoming a new Pentecost for 2010, was preceded by a group singing “This is my body” can expand as well the
the clergy—experienced love of God. “We of Veni Creator. He explained that in the consciousness of the young to be able to
priests, we need, we need badly to make second verse of Veni Creator, the action of look at their bodies not just as “merchandise”
such experience, because our main contribu- the Holy Spirit is expressed through some but as their whole person, their life, energy,
tion to the people of God as priests is not just titles, each of which contains a whole rev- dreams, enthusiasm, purity and dignity.
to provide the sacraments or good teach- elation on the Holy Spirit: Paraclete, Gift When the priest is convinced of Christ’s
ing, although they are very important, but of God, which is almost synonymous with Presence in the Eucharist, and his very own
when the people of God approach a priest, sanctifying grace… Living Water, fire, love presence along with it, whatever he does
what they are secretly looking for is to get and spiritual anointing. after Mass—whether it’s teaching, visiting
in touch with the love of God the Father, to “I’m convinced that the anointing of the the sick, hearing confessions—he brings this
have an experience of God’s love… God spirit is almost everything. The anointing Presence to whoever he meets.
has created us precisely for that purpose, to we receive at ordination can become ac- After leading the priests in the singing of
share His life and love with us... and unless tive,” he said. Limiting himself to the title yet another verse from “Here I am, Lord,”
we priests have made such experience or “Paraclete”, which is not neutral and which Fr. Cantalamessa spoke about Communion.
are strongly convinced of being loved by alludes to the personality of the Holy Spirit, “When we receive Communion,” he said, we
God, we cannot lead people to this liberating Fr. Cantalamessa said, “Paraclete is a per- receive not only Jesus but the Holy Trinity”.
experience—God’s love. son, a consoler, defender, someone who Because we invite Jesus to our soul, we
© Roy Lagarde / CBCP Media

Fr. Cantalamessa, emphasizing the value can speak, testify, even suffer.” are able to enter the mystery of the Trinity.
of the word “love” said that even if all the In the New Testament, it is a title that Communion with Christ is also communion
pages of the bible were to be destroyed or means a personal relationship, he ex- with one another; the “body” in Communion
damaged so that only one page is left, and plained—it is “not a title to simply study or is also the Body of Christ, the Church. And
that only one line could be read, this line understand, but a title we must imitate and communion with the Body of Christ is espe-
would be the “God is love.” All the bible realize. We priests, pastors, bishops—we cially communion with the poor, particularly
would still be saved because its whole is must be paracletes. Priests are consolers, the oppressed and the marginalized.
contained in “God is love.” He then led the encouragers and defenders. It is what God Fr. Cantalamessa added that when Je-
priests to proclaim loudly: GOD IS LOVE! is asking from us all the time in the Bible GLORY OF CHRIST. AMEN.” but we can always do so with our life, our sus Christ comes to us in Communion, He
WE HAVE A LOVING GOD! without us realizing it. He said that the first apostolic preaching expression, our smile!” Fr. Cantalamessa experiences everything in us, sickness, op-
The preacher then led the priests to points “God says to the prophets, ‘Console, my is the model of every apostolic teaching. himself is a very smiley person, with an pression, joy, etc. “Because He died young,
for reflection—Do we priests believe in the people.’ In order that we might be able to The first and most important action of the open, bright face, so it was not difficult the human Jesus did not know what it was to
love of God for us? Do I believe that I am console those who are in any kind of tribula- Spirit is to make Jesus alive; gospel should for him to infect the priests with his light be old, but when old people receive Him, He
unique for Jesus as any child is unique for tion, we should console them in the same lead us to Jesus. disposition. The hall thus resounded with experiences what it is to be old.” Likewise,
her mother? Does the love of God pass from consolation we receive from God, not mere Fr. Cantalamessa shared a personal CHRIST IS RISEN! he said, because the human Jesus was
me to the other? The love of God flows like human consolation. The Holy Spirit needs experience: “When the Lord allowed me a Fr. Cantalamessa began to conclude his male, he did not know what it was like to be
a river, he said—if one stops it and keeps our hands and our hearts. Priests receive new experience of Jesus, I knew Jesus as a talk with a note of encouragement: “Let me a woman, but in Communion He is able to
it for oneself, one loses it. “We must start this title as a mission, as a task,” he said. living person. I used to know Jesus through give you a new title—FRIEND. Jesus said, ‘I know. It is because in Communion, we are
loving each other, loving our fellow priests, Fr. Cantalamessa read from scripture dogma, heresies, but not Jesus. I was struck call you friend.’ Jesus wants to be our friend, one. Thus, Communion is the prolongation
our people especially people we don’t re- about the Paraclete, and the reaction of men reading this: I have left everything in order an incredible friend! If this retreat will lead of Jesus’ humanity, but humanity lived in us,
ally love… not just the sympathetic people to gifts. “Anytime there is a great manifesta- that I may know Him. He said “him.” For you to discover a new friend in Jesus, if the in those who receive Him.
but any one. tion of God, the reaction is marvel, perplexity. Paul, Jesus is a living person–Him, Him. And priests can go home with a new presence in
Quoting from St. Paul’s letter to the It is the same as the reaction of Moses when I understood. My brother priests I consider their heart, oh, the Church in the Philippines (As of press time, the transcripts of
Romans, Fr. Cantalamessa enjoined the he saw God on Mt. Sinai”, he said. it a privilege to infect you with my desire to will have a new life! Jesus is so respectful, the talks of Fr. Cantalamessa are not yet
priests “to proclaim sometimes to the people, The day of Pentectost is a marvelous mo- have more people have this encounter with so delicate, He doesn’t come when he is available—hence, these notes, which of
THERE IS NO CONDEMNATION FOR ment in the Bible, he said; despite the many the living Jesus.” not invited.” He then rallied the priests to course is a poor substitute. For lack of space
THOSE WHO ARE IN CHRIST JESUS!! languages spoken at Pentecost, they could Fr. Cantalamessa said the danger in say (and repeat after him) tonight: “JESUS, notes of his other conferences could not be
FOR THE LAW OF THE SPIRIT WHICH understand. Apostles proclaimed the great Year of the Priest is to multiply the virtues, TAKE THE REINS OF MY LIFE, I INVITE accommodated --eds.)
B8 Special Issue CBCP Monitor
Vol. 14 No. 3
February 1 - 14 , 2010

Clergy congress delegates


MANILA, Jan. 28, 2010—The more than and fruitfulness of the Clergy Congress,”
5,000 priests and bishops’ participants the cardinal said.
to the national congress of the clergy Auza expressed his gratitude to the

donate 1 million to Haiti


held January 25-29 at the World Trade Philippine bishops and clergy for the
Center, Pasay City, have donated one generosity shown to the people of Haiti.
million pesos to the devastated Caribbean “If you want the contribution to be
nation of Haiti. used for specific aid projects, please
Aspecialcollectionthatyielded988,675.35 don’t hesitate to indicate to me what the
pesos was made during the morning mass Philippine Church would like its aid to
on the third day of the congress. be used,” Auza said.
The collection filled three cartons, of The just concluded clergy congress has
bills and coins in various denominations proven to be an inspiring experience on
and currencies (Euro, US, Australian, the part of the participating clergy.
Hong Kong dollars, Yuan). Fr. Joey Faller, a priest famous for his
Manila Archbishop Cardinal Gaudencio healing ministry earlier said that the
Rosales filled up the remaining balance to “gathering is already an inspiration for
make the amount to a million pesos. us to go on our journey with the Holy
Rosales said he was touched by the Spirit guiding the Church.”
clergy’s expression of solidarity with the “[It is] very exciting to see 5,500 or so
people of Haiti. priests gathered solely to pray, celebrating
“I was moved to tears when I learned we the Eucharist, reciting the Holy Rosary
have collected that much amount,” he said. and going to confessions and observing
Ambassador Henrietta de Villa, the Holy Hour,” Faller said.
chairpersonoftheNCCIICentralCommittee The series of conferences were given
said the 1 million pesos collected will be by Fr. Raniero Cantalamessa, OFMCap,
matched up with another million by the preacher to the papal household.
Mary, Mother of the Poor Foundation. The congress ended January 29 with a
In an email sent to Apostolic Nuncio final conference by Cantalamessa in the
to Haiti, Bernardito Auza, the Cardinal morning and the closing Mass at 3:30 p.m.
notified the Filipino archbishop of at the Cuneta Astrodome, Pasay City.
the donation made by the congress’ A massive procession of bishop- and

© Roy Lagarde / CBCP Media


participants. priest-delegates at 2 p.m. from World
“This is an expression of the Filipino Trade Center towards Cuneta Astrodome
priests’ solidarity and concern for our preceded the Eucharistic celebration.
brothers and sisters in Haiti. As soon as Included in the procession were the
we have organized the amount, we will images of Jesus on the Cross, Our Lady of
send it to the office of Your Excellency. Fatima, St. Joseph, St. John Mary Vianney
Please continue to pray for the success and his relics. (CBCPNews)

Compliments from: MAC en COLET Ni Bladimer Usi

SM Megamall * The Podium

Buhay Parokya
Look for the
images of the Holy

The people behind the Second Rosary, Holy Water


Container, and Bell

National Congress of the Clergy


(Illustration by
Bladimer Usi)

National Organizing Committee


CBCP Episcopal Commission on Clergy
• Chairperson – His Eminence Gaudencio B. Cardinal Rosales
• Exec. Secretary – Msgr. Jose C. Bernardo, Jr.

Central Coordinating Committee


• Chairperson – Amb. Henrietta T.de Villa
• Plus Chairs/Coordinators of Clusters & Working Groups

CBCP Concerns & Speakers Bureau


• Secretary-General – Msgr. Juanito S. Figura
• Asst. Secretary General – Msgr. Joselito C. Asis

Ways & Means


• Chair – Manuel V. Pangilinan
• Treasurer – Amb. Henrietta T. de Villa

Finance
• Coordinator – Msgr. Rolando de la Cruz

Central Coordinating Secretariat


• Coordinator & Chief of Operations – Elizabeth P. de la Fuente
• Coordinator – Fr. Enrico Ayo
• Maricar T. de Villa

Coordinating Clusters/Committees
Program
• Chair – His Eminence Gaudencio B. Cardinal Rosales
• Coordinator – Msgr. Jose Bernardo
• Program/Plenary Sessions & Journal Writing – Fr. Francis Gustilo, SDB
• Program Floor Direction – Msgr. Gerardo Santos
• Speakers & Bishops’ Participation – Msgr. Juanito Figura
• Documentation Services – Msgr. Hernando Coronel
• Liturgy – Msgr. Andres S. Valera/Fr. Genaro O. Diwa
• Cultural Night/Interaction with Youth – Fr. Francis Gustilo, SDB

Site Management & Technical Services


• Chair – Fr. Dave Concepcion
• Physical Facilities & Technical Services – Jess de la Fuente
• Staging/Sounds & Lights – Jess de la Fuente/Bobby Roces
• AV presentations & Requirements of Materials – Benjie Mirasol
• Venue Facilities – WTC - Lila Cailles/ WTC - Anabel Mariano
• Ushering Services – Marivic Roldan
• Operational /Communication Task Force – Mr. Danny Olivares

External Services
• Chair – Msgr. Vicente Bauzon
• External Services – Hilario Dimagiba
• Catechesis , Promotion & Interaction with Host Families – Msgr. Esteban Lo
• Arrival & Departure – Vicky Borres
• Housing – Mr. H. Dimagiba
Manila – Fr. Jerome Secillano
Makati – Fr. Vic Apacible
Cubao – Fr. Jose Tupino III
Kalookan – Fr. Alex Amandy
Paranaque – Fr. Rolando Agustin
Pasig – Fr. Mariano Baranda
• Transportation – Fr. Antonio Navarette/LTO Contingent
• Security & Traffic Management – Msgr. Clem Ignacio/Alberto Laurel/Paul Hinlo
• Medical Services – Dr. Ricardo Ledesma

Support Services & Attendance Promotions


• Chair – Fr. Rufino Sescon, Jr.
• Support Services & Attendance Promotions – Rowena Abugho
• Attendance Promotions – Rowena Abugho
Luzon – RCAM
Vis/Min – CBCP
• Prayer Campaigns & Vigils
• Concessionaires – Hilda Rizari

Media
• Chair – Marixi Prieto
• Coordinator – Msgr. Pedro Quitorio III
• Co-Coordinator – Fr. Antonio Cecilio T. Pascual
Radio – Fr. Francis Lucas
Print – Peachy Yamsuan
TV – Fr. Lito Jopson
Internet – Sr. Pinky B. Barrientos, FSP

Internal Services
• Chair – Henrietta T. de Villa
• Internal Services – Elizabeth dela Fuente
• Registration – Epi Joaquin/Batch Joaquin/Yda Rodolfo
• Food & Beverage Services – Zeny Mendoza/Zeny Rotea
• Pope Pius XII (Accom. for Bishops) M. Campana
• Pre-event Office Pope Pius XII – Alice Saguid
• Program Outreach at Araneta – Noli Yamsuan/Maribel Descallar
• Photo Documentation & Miscellaneous Services – Noli Yamsuan
CBCP Monitor
Vol. 14 No. 3
February 1 - 14, 2010
C1

The News Supplement of


Couples for Christ

CFC Kicks Off 2010 With Assemblies in the words of many, one of the best
they have attended. The talks centered
stepping up of evangelization and mis-
sion work, as evidenced by recorded
on the elements of the Bible verse: increases in membership in 2009. As
“Accepting the Call,” “One in Christ,” Executive Director Joe Yamamoto not-
“Rooted in Christ,” “Journey in Faith,” ed, these are remarkable in view of the
and “Filled with Thanksgiving.” “storms” that the community has been
As is usual in CFC activities, the cel- confronting -- the creation by a break-
ebration of the Holy Eucharist was the away group of another community in
highlight of the event. On the last day 2007 and the confusion and dissension
of the retreat, Bishop Pablo Virgilio S. being sowed by another group as a
David, DD, auxiliary bishop of San Fer- result of the CFC’s decision in 2009 to
nando, Pampanga, celebrated the Mass, let go of the governance and structure
assisted by Fr. Paul Uwemedimo. of Gawad Kalinga.
In his homily, the bishop stated that The year of fullness in Christ has be-
we can only achieve “Fullness of Life” gun. All over the world, CFC members Joey Arguelles: “Our interior growth
if we learn to love in the same uncon- are now gearing up for the work that is a life-long journey of faith.”
ditional manner as Christ did. Fullness lies ahead, for the demands of love and
of life is not something that comes from service inherent in the desire to be truly
outside us but is nurtured in our hearts filled in and by Christ.
through our commitment to love, not in
the human way of “eros” (or physical Visit couplesforchristglobal.org,
love), or of “filia,” (romantic love), but the CFC official
of “agape,” or love that radiates from website, to view
the love of Christ himself. the video of Bishop
Araneta Leaders Conference He also exhorted the CFC members David’s homily, as
By Zeny Gimenez present to be “Today” people, as dif- well as more stories
ferentiated from “Yesterday” people or about the recent
those who dwell in the mistakes of the CFC assemblies.
COUPLES for Christ got off to a rousing start in 2010 with past and wallow in self-pity because of
a series of hugely-attended assemblies, beginning with the these and from “Tomorrow” people or
traditional Leaders Conference at the Araneta Coliseum on those who anchor their lives on what is
Saturday, January 9. More than 12,000 leaders of Couples for yet to be. The bishop said, “Jesus is a Lito Tayag: “Choosing to accept God’s
Today person. He challenges us to live call allows us to enter the door to spiri-
Christ from all over the Philippines and the world gathered in the here and now.” tual freedom and a more renewed life
to hear their marching orders for the year, anchored on the He further stated, “The seed of our in Christ.”
theme “Fullness of Life in Christ,” taken from Colossians humanity is love but it must grow. Je-
sus wants us to keep struggling to grow
2:6-7: “Since you have accepted Christ Jesus as Lord, live in in love. If you live only in yourself, you
union with him. Keep your roots deep in him, build your lives will keep falling back into eros and filia.
on him, and become stronger in your faith, as you were taught. To love in Christ is to eventually grow
And be filled with thanksgiving.” into fullness of life in Christ.”
The huge assemblies are indicative
This was followed by the Global is protected and is enabled to indeed of what Chairman Joe Tale has referred
Mission Congress on January 10 at the move forward in our mission. It was to as the “fresh springtime” of CFC
Marikina Convention Center which also during the Congress that future -- the increased sense of belonging and
had as its theme “Building our CFC plans for the community, in support solidarity among the members and the
Global Community Life on Christ.” of our mission, were revealed. These
The choice of theme was affirmed by include the establishment of a Pastoral
the Mass celebrant, Bishop Francisco Institute and a Leadership Institute,
de Leon, Auxiliary Bishop of Antipolo. designed to build upon the founda-
He said it was providential that CFC tion that CFC is anchored upon. The Manny Garcia: “Living with a grate-
chose to use “Christ” instead of Jesus announcement that CFC has plans to ful heart is an attitude of the heart
because Christ means “the Anointed,” build its very own home by its 30th an- and a condition of the soul.”
the “suffering one.” This implies that niversary in June of 2011, was met with
the community life we all choose to live loud roars of approval and delight. (See
is appropriately anchored on suffering related story on page 3.)
and service, rather than on prestige The next activity, the annual weekend
and glory. The Congress was again an retreat that is also anchored on the 2010
overflow activity. Only a maximum theme, celebrated a number of firsts.
of 500 were expected to attend but the Traditionally, the weekend retreat
projections were way off – more than would be exclusively for the Metro
670 leaders came to discover what the Manila sectors and foreign guests; this The sharers, clockwise from top right: Tess
year has in store for them as partners time, the retreat was opened up for Arguelles, Aileen Serrano, Jimmy Santiago,
Nina Ponte, Teisha Uyquiengco, Biboy
in mission with each other, with the leaders of Luzon. Again, normally the IC member Melo Villaroman, Jr. leads the Arguelles, Ditas Garcia,Bong Arjonillo and
Church and with Christ. retreat would be at the Baguio conven- assembly in a vibrant praisefest. Bong Bernardo.
At the Mission Congress, the partici- tion center; this time the retreat was held
pants were reminded that as we face the at the Subic Exhibition and Convention Rouquel Ponte: “The key to being
threat of disunity and discord, there Center to accommodate the more than one in Christ is to follow His com-
is a need for everyone to defend the 4,000 leaders who motored from as far mand to ‘Love one another.’”
community with the armor of truth, to north as Apayao and from as far south
be counted as part of the global army as Bicol.
that would ensure that the community The “Fullness in Christ” retreat was,

Joe Yamamoto: “When we are deeply


rooted in Christ, then we are able to
follow His command to love, even
Global Mission Congress Bishop Pablo Virgilio David, DD those who are difficult to love.”

CFC Partners With ECBA On Bible Project


COUPLES for Christ recently affirmed its intention to be a major Word. He shared that this appreciation is founded on the fact that
partner of the Episcopal Commission on Biblical Apostolate his siblings are members of CFC.
(ECBA) in the latter’s “May They Be One” Bible campaign, which The bishop presented copies of the “May They Be One” Bible
seeks to promote awareness of, and love for, the Bible. in the various dialects to CFC leaders, again in another symbolic
In a symbolic gesture of acceptance and commitment to this gesture in the hope that very soon, every home in the Philippines
partnership, CFC Chairman Joe Tale, together with Nora Lucero, will have a Bible.
president of the Philippine Bible Society, accepted a Bible from The campaign has as its theme “Working Together for National
ECBA Vice-Chairman Bishop Renato Mayugba, DD, auxiliary Transformation through God’s Word.” The campaign aims to
bishop of the diocese of Lingayen-Dagupan. The ceremony was promote a groundswell of support for the printing of millions of
a highlight of the CFC Leaders’ Conference held at the Araneta Bibles through individual minimum gifts amounting to P450, suf-
Coliseum last Saturday, January 10. ficient for three Bibles that will go into three homes.
Bishop Mayugba, who was the main celebrant at the Holy Mass CFC is exhorting its members to support this campaign, and
that kicked off the conference, expressed his appreciation for CFC’s to begin with the provision of Bibles to its poor members, par-
commitment to its evangelistic mission, to family life renewal and ticularly those falling under its ANCOP programs – the poor in
to being partners of the Church in its work of proclaiming God’s CFC-managed GK sites, the prisoners and the migrants.
C2 Ugnayan CBCP Monitor
Vol. 14 No. 3
February 1 - 14, 2010

PRAY DEEPLY, PRESS ON, LIVE OUR CULTURE!


DEAR Brothers and Sisters in Christ, and for the victory of His oneness and fullness in CFC. If we are rooted in Christ, then He will nourish
us everyday, and it is His love that will flow in the veins of our life and mission.
Our CFC theme this year, Fullness of Life in Christ (Colossians 2:6-7), wonderfully affirms that living
in union with Christ, and deeply rooted in Him, strengthens us in our faith journey, and allows us to (2) Press on with the Mission! Move Forward to Fullness!
be so full of thanksgiving that we simply give our all to serve Him and to try our best to be a blessing
to others. Our Mission to proclaim the fullness of God’s love, to strengthen families, and to uplift the poor
is the most important job in the world, one that heals future generations, rings through eternity, and
This wonderful passage from the Bible are not just verses to be read or reflected upon. For the past claims victories across the infinite horizon only visible to Him! Let us not allow ourselves to be dragged
28 years, these words have consistently been our guide in bringing to fullness Christ’s presence in our down or distracted by what is not of the Lord. Let it be Christ that becomes our focus, our “one thing”
own families and workplaces, through God’s gift of Church and Community. We believe God calls that allows us to strain forward, in hope, as we help build His Church of the Home and Poor. Let us
each of us by name, to be part of His mission in Couples for Christ, so that we can truly experience the not drag others down, nor allow others to drag us down. Rather, let us together move forward in our
fullness of His love, hope, and purpose. mission to fullness!

Fullness is as great a challenge as it is a gift – Christ invites us to be part of His continuing mission (3) Nurture our CFC culture
so that more families around the world, and more poor around us, will experience the fullness of
life in Him. Our full-packed Araneta Leaders Conference and Global Summit Congress defined for Let us deliver our mission in a way that nurtures God’s gift of culture to CFC. The culture that flows
CFC our mission for 2010. These major events made it very clear that the Lord wants each one of us to out of our CFC Vision, Mission, and Core Values is a gift the Lord gives us so that we can be one with
do more. CLPs and entry camps across CFC and Family Ministries are intensifying as we find strategic the mission of His big Church. CFC culture is also His way to enable us to pass on His beautiful life and
and creative ways to reach out to couples and families engulfed in the noise and needs of the world. purposeful mission to our children, and our children’s children. The best way to protect and nurture
Our ANCOP work with the poor is poised to grow exponentially. As we deepen work in CFC-managed our CFC culture is to live it out by example, even if others sometimes fail, and to firmly but lovingly
GK sites and continue to volunteer in GK-managed sites, we will expand holistic work in new sites, in correct those who deviate from it. Therefore, rather than ask, “what is happening to our culture?”
Prisons, with Migrant Families, and our own needy CFC brethren. the better question to ask and act on is, “How am I contributing to the culture that God wants for
Couples for Christ?” The channels of authority in CFC have been established precisely to allow each
While we engage in the mission of the present, we also set our sights on the future the Lord wants and everyone to have access to avenues by which questions, doubts and, yes, grievances, can be ad-
us to pass on as a legacy – our children, and our children’s children basking in the fullness of CFC life dressed in a loving and caring way. Open letters and critical comments are vexations to the spirit, as
and mission, flowing from the humble work He has started and nurtured in our hands. And we wait are temptations to leave the very community that has fostered and nurtured our faith. The greatest
with expectant hope for the reality of seeing our very own CFC home established. At the January 10 challenge to our CFC unity are moves to form communities within CFC which, rather than unite, tend
Global Mission Congress, in a totally unexpected and unscripted way, brethren from all over the world to divide and to foster even greater resentments. Even with our best human intentions, these actions,
pledged to commit personal funds for the construction of a CFC building. In a matter of minutes, a which are incongruent with our CFC culture, provide room for the evil one to drag down the commu-
total of P5.28 million was raised as seed money. We see this as another affirmation of the faithfulness nity’s work, erode oneness, and distract the Community from its Christ-centered mission. We, your
of God’s plan for CFC; an assurance from our God that He will indeed provide for our every need. We co-servants in the International Council, have already taken concrete steps to dialogue and to address
dream of inaugurating, by June 2011, CFC’s permanent home. the specific issues that have been raised.

We, your co-servants in the CFC International Council, are excited and hopeful in the Lord as, together The history of CFC is not just an account of a faithful people serving God, but a story of our God
with you, we embark on our Mission adventure this 2010. We shall tread the path of blessing and trials, who loves us so much. Despite our imperfections, He calls and blesses each one of us to be part of
but more importantly, we will savor the promise of an adventure with and for Christ. We shall abide the joy and victory of His fullness. We have celebrated and thanked God through many wonders and
in the Lord’s promise that He will guide and protect us through all storms and trials. blessings. We have weathered and overcome many trials, only because He, the God of our Mission,
has been with us in the middle of our deepest storms. Blessed to be part of His chosen people, we
In the midst of this current challenge, let us continue to support one another and persevere in protect- look forward, hopeful, excited, and strong, because we desire only to love and serve our God, our
ing and preserving our CFC way of life. We ask that, as one community, we commit to: Fullness. And in our moments of human trembling, He will be in front of us, proclaiming in His
voice of love and power, “Fear not, stand your ground, and watch the victory the Lord will win for
(1) Pray deeply and fast. you today!” (Exodus 14:13)

The purest, simplest, and most powerful message the Lord has for all of us, in our 2010 theme is Be mightily blessed with God’s fullness!
this – “Keep your roots deep in Me!” Let us be rooted in Christ primarily through more dedicated
prayer, where we commit time to listen to Him, to pray for our families, our leaders, and people who THE CFC INTERNATIONAL COUNCIL
need healing from sicknesses and hurts. Let us commit to fast, at least one day a week to reinforce our
prayers. Let us seek our Blessed Mother’s intercession for our individual and community’s mission, (The CFC International Council issued this letter to all CFC brethren last January 20, 2010.)

By Joe Yamamoto, CFC Director

Rooted in Christ
“SINCE you have accepted Christ Jesus as Lord, live in union with life in Christ is to lead a life of holiness and righteousness that can
him. Keep your roots deep in him, build your lives on him, and be shared graciously with everyone.
become stronger in your faith, as you were taught. And be filled 2. We become strong and resilient. – To be rooted in Christ is to
with thanksgiving.” Colossians 2:6-7 be able to sink deeply into a life of faith that has such a sure founda-
tion that no matter what storm or challenges come our way, we not
CFC’s theme for 2010 is taken from the above passage, a most af- only survive but thrive! Natural calamities such as typhoons leave
firming verse because it speaks of what we, as CFC members, have an aftermath of wide swaths of destroyed and uprooted trees. Of
been striving for, what we have been trying to live out for the past these, only those with strong trunks and even stronger and deep
28 years of our existence. It speaks of a process that one undergoes roots survive. Men and women who are fully aligned and rooted in
before he or she can become “filled.” It evokes the promise of a life the Lord survive whatever trials they have to endure. They are not
that is so embedded in unity with Christ that there is nowhere else exempted and immune from the hardships and tests in the world
to go but to be “stronger” in our faith. but they are likely to get through because of their strong Christian
When the Lord wants His beloved to enjoy the fullness of life, He foundations.
does not accomplish this through a random experience but rather 3. We become a blessing to others. - Just like a verdant and strong
through this process. He allows His people to intentionally grow by tree, a renewed and deeply rooted Christian can provide spiritual
starting an intimate and nurtured relationship with Him. Through shade to others and share the bountiful fruits of transformation.
our openness to the call, the Lord works out the process of trans- Because they confidently and joyfully share and proclaim Christ
formation within us. He starts by planting a seed, and allowing it to consistently in words and in action, they truly are powerful and
grow so that, rooted in Him, we may bear much fruit in our lives. Vic Gutierrez of the Ligaya ng Panginoon (third from left) recently met with Joe eloquent witnesses to lives enjoyed in the fullness in Christ.
and Mila Yamamoto and Nonoy and Marivie Dalman. He was accompanied by 4. We become people of God. - When Christ lives in and through
Ernie Santiago of CFC New Jersey (third from right).
The Lord as the Sower us, the truth of being a people of God cannot be denied. The proof is
Our evangelization process began when the Lord sowed His in community to a tree that has many branches where each forms in our becoming living witnesses and examples to the transforming
Word through the Christian Life Program. Most of us experienced a vital part of the whole. As a community, we should honor and power of the love and grace of God.
a spiritual high and we embraced our new life with zeal and enthu- respect one another and be obedient to the shepherds that have 5. We abide in God. - To abide is to remain, to stay closely con-
siasm. But our life in the Lord remains imperfect for we continue to been assigned over us. nected, to settle in for the long term. When Jesus invites us: “Remain
cling to our bad habits and human weaknesses. Like the different It is not enough to be faithful. We are likewise called to be FRUIT- in me as I remain in you.” (John 15:4), He asks us to settle into a deep
types of people that Jesus mentioned in the Parable of the Sower, FUL. Jesus declared “it was not you who chose me, but I who chose and personal relation with him as a personal Savior. He wants us
we have had different responses to God’s call. There are varying you and appointed you to go and bear fruit that will remain…” (John to settle for the long term and the long haul. He promises that we
degrees in which God’s Word has taken root in our lives, such as 15:16). The only way to be fruitful is to be always connected to Christ will not only be useful but fruitful as well. He guarantees that if we
the following: and to live a life in communion with Him: “I am the vine, you are remain in him, his promise that “… ask for whatever you want and
the branches. Whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much it will be done for you.” (John 15:7) rings true and is fulfilled. It is
1. The devil comes and takes away the Word. (Luke 8:12) The evil fruit, because without me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5) truly amazing that Jesus reiterates the word “abide” (or remain), ten
one plants doubt and unbelief in our hearts and we easily give in. Being fruitful is our special way of giving glory to God: “By this times in this particular chapter to serve as powerful reminder to the
2. We receive the Word with joy but because we are not rooted in is my Father glorified, that you bear much fruit and become my solemnity and veracity of his promise.
Christ, we fall away when trials come. (Luke 8:13) disciples.” (John 15:8)
3. We hear the Word and for a while we seem well on the way to A story goes that in the German Rhine Valley, some very old
spiritual growth, but anxieties, riches and pleasures choke the Word The Joy of Fruitfulness and yet fruitful and verdant grape vines have continued to remain
and we fail to produce mature fruit. (Luke 8:14) Jesus taught his disciples how to be firmly rooted in him, through productive for so many generations. How can those vines survive in
4. We embrace the Word with a generous and good heart and we the Word of God, and through his deep loving and self-sacrificing that inhospitable environment? The answer was simple -- the roots of
bear much fruit through our perseverance and by the abundance of love for them. Jesus demonstrated to his people that to be fruitful the ancient plants were deep and long and were traced to the distant
God’s grace.(Luke 8:15). When the Word of God falls on good soil, is also to be joyful (John 15:11). Jesus is the vine, and by being con- river. Two truths become evident in this story – the value of deep
He ensures the bearing of much fruit, foremost among which are nected to him we are expected to bear fruit, especially that which roots and the connection to the source of nutrients and life.
the fruits of the Spirit (Gal.5:22) will remain. The lowly bamboo provides another parallelism. The root system
We need to possess the following characteristics that ensure that of the bamboo is intertwined and interconnected such that the trees
Establishing Strong Roots we remain so rooted: are able to withstand storms and landslides. A single bamboo is
A tree produces much fruit when the roots are deep and strong. hardy but a thicket of bamboos is truly resilient and interrelated.
What starts as a fragile plant becomes a productive and fruitful tree 1. CARE -- The Father cares for us just as a loving vine dresser The bamboo is also known for being versatile. CFC can be like the
through patient and attentive care and the provision of abundant would. Not only has He created us, and therefore owns us, but He bamboo thicket. By being deeply rooted in Christ, we can continue
‘spiritual’ water and nutrients. cares for us with an eternal love. to remain strong and faithful.
Matthew 7 tells of a wise man who built his house on solid rock 2. PRUNING -- Anything that is a hindrance in our growth and
foundation; like the wise man, we need to build our life on the solid strengthening of our roots is subject to God’s pruning. What is so Meaningful Relationships
foundation of embracing God’s Word, obeying it and living it to the great about this is that at the same time that He prunes us, He also Our spiritual journey began by building a relationship first with
full. More emphatically, our Lord reminds us we will not be able to fills our weaknesses. God and from there to others, beginning with our nuclear family.
enter the kingdom of heaven even if we profess and call Him Lord 3. PARTNERSHIP -- God does not force us to be fruitful; rather Like ripples that progressively move from the center, renewed
but only when we do the will of the Father in heaven. it is by being connected to the Vine that we are rendered full of individuals inspire because they make manifest God’s presence in
If obedience and following the will of God is our way to fullness potential for usefulness. their lives.
of life, then we need to realize that this also means practicing active 4. PROMISE -- During our prayers, we implore God to answer us To be rooted in Christ is to dwell deeply in our foundations in
submission to His Church, and to our anointed leaders, including but it is only when we abide in Him that we can trust and in faith, Him. But our horizontal relationships are also very important and
our civil and community leaders. await the fullness of His response. we need to make every effort to make the bond more strong and
LAYOUT BY LAURENCE JOHN R. MORALES

5. PURPOSE -- By bearing much fruit, we are able to truly glorify meaningful, especially in the context of community life. This begins
Called to Faithfulness and Fruitfulness our Lord. with our spouse and children. It includes our pastoral and service
Once we respond to the personal call of God for renewal and 6. OBEDIENCE -- What is the only precondition to all these? That relationships. Then it needs to extend to those who are in need of
transformation, we can rest in the knowledge that He will continue we obey God. We are to remain in Him, receive from Him, and be our care and love. This completes the cycle, for when we begin to
the work of molding and shaping us according to His great design. fruitful for Him. love God with our whole being and when we love the Christ who
We are God’s work in progress, a work that will show great results is present in our neighbor in need, we have Christ’s presence all
only if we cooperate and allow Him to work through us and in us. A Life Transformed around us. He is above us, beneath us, in front of us, at our back
Our faithfulness to Him is key; our claim that Jesus is in us will only If I am rooted in Christ, what are the effects? and most of all, He is within us.
be genuine through our unwavering faithfulness to Him. It is only when we are deeply ROOTED IN CHRIST that we will be
Our faithfulness extends to those who walk the same road, who 1. We become full of life. – Once rooted in God who is the giver of able to follow the command of the Lord to LOVE, even at the most
share the same vision with us. Our Lord himself has likened being life, physical and spiritual growth becomes a reality. To be full of difficult of times and the most difficult of persons.
CBCP Monitor
Vol. 14 No. 3
February 1 - 14, 2010
Ugnayan C3

Being Light In The Darkness


By Arnel Santos This was the message Fr. Francis B. Lucas imparted to the members of the CFC Mission Core Group
during the Teaching Night held at Xavier Gymnasium on January 19, 2010.
THE sense of the sacred, the sense of love and care, and the sense of gratitude and thanksgiving -- these Fr. Francis, a Catholic priest for 35 years and a mass media consultant, opined that there is so much
are the values we lose in times of crises, disasters and darkness in this world. We need to rediscover darkness in our modern world. He called attention to the fragmented media, the rabid materialism,
them, and in the process, develop our strength from within so that in the midst of darkness, we can the rural-urban intersect, climate change and the absence of healthy relationships. In the Philippines,
become light. he stressed, “2009 was the most violent year in Philippine history,” citing the violence of the twin de-
structive typhoons and the violence of man in the Ampatuan massacre.
He said that brokenness, poverty and the current crises are a result of sin, and the global economic
disparity is attributable to war and violence. The culture of death is destroying us from the inside out.
As a consequence, he said that we as a people have lost these senses – of the sacred, of loving and car-
ing and of thanksgiving.
He deplored that we have lost the sense of the sacred in our relationships, particularly with our God,
citing the disrespectful way Catholics regard the Blessed Sacrament, that most holy of holies because
it is the body and blood of Jesus Christ. He mourned the loss of the sense of wonder and awe that we
used to accord the Eucharist, and the absence of respect at the moment of Consecration, when many
people choose NOT to kneel, or worse to sit and even to text and talk at the precise moment the priest
consecrates the host.
Some have lost the sense of true loving and caring, as seen by the crimes we see around us and by
our very disregard of how our actions hurt those we love. He particularly deplored that we have lost
our sense of thanksgiving, of being grateful to those around us and to the God who makes all things
possible.
Fr. Francis emphasized that in the midst of this darkness, we must recover “our strength from within.”
In times of crisis, “we need a bedrock of faith that can propel us beyond the physical and emotional
trauma we experience.” This is because “disasters destroy first and foremost the spirit of the person.”
To find our inner strength, we must nurture our spiritual and prayer life. According to Fr. Francis,
even the secular world has already discovered spirituality and prayer as positive influences towards
physical and mental health.
“Thanksgiving”, Fr. Francis concluded, is “thanks-living.” “It is not only God we forget to thank
but also the people who helped us many times in our lives, those who helped us but whom we failed
to notice.”
Fr. Francis is presently the National Director of CBCP Episcopal Commission on Social Commu-
nications, and the President of the Catholic Media Network. He is also the Chairman of Asian NGO
Coalition (ANGOC).

Caring for Filipino OFWs in Israel


By Zeny Gimenez Francis, St. Clare, St. Michael the Archangel, and this time he knew that the Lord was calling It was in this same year, as a young priest in
among others, stood. Again, I only knew who him to the priesthood. But there was a qualifica- Jerusalem, that he would come in contact with
FR. ANGELO Beda Ison, OFM, doesn’t quite fit they were from later research. All these saints tion. “I knew I was somehow destined to be a the Filipino community. “I was the only Filipino
the image of a Franciscan friar. He looks like were talking among themselves. What struck me priest in the Holy Land.” priest there so I guess it was only natural that
a scholar, and so he is, being fluent in many was that there was pure white light coming from Fr. Angelo did further research and was led to they would come to me for advice, for spiritual
languages, among them, Spanish, German, both heaven and the earth and it was enveloping the Franciscan Order based in Washington, D.C. guidance.”
Italian, Hebrew, Arabic and Latin. Actually he the saints.” His search ended when he discovered that the By 1996, CFC would find its way into Israel.
looks more like a father. And that is, he states, Fr. Angelo woke up and could make neither Franciscans are called “Custodians of the Holy It was Fr. Angelo who would guarantee to the
what he is most proud of. “I am father to 40,000 heads nor tails of the dream. “So I researched,” he Land.” He applied and was accepted in the Fran- patriarchs of the Church there that it was alright
Filipino OFWs in Israel, 90% of whom are health says. His research led him to the Alexian brothers ciscans’ Washington, DC monastery. In 1991, as for them to welcome CFC into their midst. “You
caregivers. The rest are in the different embas- where in 1981, he took a vocation weekend, took a novice, he was sent to Jerusalem for theological see, they had to overcome their initial distrust of
sies as cooks, chauffeurs and housekeepers.“ the requisite oral, written and psychological tests studies from which he graduated “magna cum charismatics.” Since that time, with Fr. Angelo
He has been pastor and shepherd to his flock and passed them all. He joined the Alexian broth- laude.” Fr. Angelo laughs to recall that “I was as supporter and friend, CFC has grown to about
since 1991. ers and for six years, felt like he was in “heaven.” only pasang awa in college, and suddenly I had 700 members.
Fr. Angelo’s story is of a strange journey of But after six years, he again felt a strong calling, perfect grades!” “So I have been in Israel for about 20 years,
discovery, one that has ended in joy and the and I have seen for myself what CFC has
peace of knowing that he is exactly where he done for the Church there, “ Fr. Angelo
(and the Lord) want him to be. says. “CFC is the work of the Spirit, just as
His journey starts in the 60s where, as charismatic movements are the work of the
a scion of the largest “balut” producer in Spirit. CFC members are able to influence
Pateros, he had everything he needed and other people through the witness of their
wanted. He finished an accounting and transformation.”
auditing course in San Beda and, because his Fr. Angelo confesses that he “really
family had the means, took further studies in likes” CFC because the members have
Germany. He would eventually find a job influenced the behavior of the Israeli
in an international bank there. “But I was people, even the behavior of Israeli em-
searching. I was happy but I did not feel at ployers toward their employees. He says,
all fulfilled,” Fr. Angelo narrates. “Employers now know that Filipinos need
His search took him to a kibbutz in Israel to go to Church every weekend and that
where he stayed for a year, a stay that would they are good people. Many of them are
begin his love affair with the country. But proud of their Filipino employees. Would
his search did not end here. The beginning you believe that CFC members who are
of the end of his search came in a dream. yayas or caregivers bring their employers’
“I had a very strange dream. One day, kids to Church, with the express consent
at around 3 AM, I dreamt of a Franciscan of the employers themselves? And they
monk. I did not at first know that he was bring their sick Israeli patients to me to
Franciscan. I only came to realize this much be prayed over!”
later. The monk invited me to “Come see Fr. Angelo admits to being himself
my Church.” I replied that I was too busy touched by the experience of seeing CFC
and I don’t even go to church. But suddenly grow in Israel. He says, “Filipino Christians
the doors behind the monk opened and should be the real face of Christ in Israel.”
there was the church, with a magnificent Meet Fr. Angelo Beda Ison -- friar, scholar,
“retable” at the center around which St. Fr. Angelo, seated, second from left, with the IC and guests father, ardent supporter of CFC.

“At Last, I Am E-pinoy!” CFC’s New


By Edren A. Baguioro
WHEN e-Pinoy was launched early 2009, my wife Mhel urged me
In my initial interview, Jun Muyco of Source Asia, CFC’s partner
for e-Pinoy, walked me through the different processes. Being a CFC
brother, he also assisted me in every way he could, so that I would
Home Gets
Initial Boost
to give it a try. I was freelancing at that time, meaning, I had no be able to pass the stringent tests that came with my application.
permanent job. So I said, “Why not?” The process was not easy, but despite that, I made it to the two-week
So one day in May, 2009, I logged on to www.e-pinoy.org and reg- Basic Safety Training required for seafarers in T.M. Kalaw, Manila.
istered. After a few days, someone from e-Pinoy called me to verify Shortly after that, we went to the hands-on Fire Fighting and Survival
my data. When they finally called me for an initial screening, my Training in Sta. Rosa, Laguna.
UPON Joe Yamamoto’s announcement at the Global Mission
wife and I thought it was going to be easy, since e-Pinoy mentioned I thought, This is it! My dream of working overseas is slowly
Congress of plans to build a CFC Building, in a totally unscripted
that they gave preference to Couples for Christ members. My wife becoming a reality! I truly want to give my family a better future,
development, the leaders present spontaneously agreed to begin
and I have been active in CFC for almost six years. and working overseas, with a CFC-assisted company at that, was
the effort to raise the funds needed to build the CFC building. In
It was not as easy as we thought. First we had to shell out some truly an answer to our prayers.
rapid fashion, one by one, leaders stood up to pledge either their
money for the medical examinations and training courses that I had The Lord has paved the way for this opportunity to come our way,
individual donations or their province’s commitment. By the
to undergo in order to qualify for the job. You see, I applied for the and I was determined not to pass it up. And He really sends people
end of half an hour, to the amazement of everyone, the pledges
position of Plumber, since it was one of the urgent requirements to help us achieve our dreams. One engineer who interviewed me
amounted to P5.28 million.
that the luxury liner company needed. I am a graduate of Electrical even gave me materials to study for my trade test, and challenged
This amount has been deposited in a special fund. Committees
Engineering, but I decided to apply for this available position. In me to get at least a grade of B+ so I could qualify for employment.
have been formed and will begin meeting on a regular basis to
my freelancing days in construction as a sub-contractor, I had basic At last, my visa application interview finally came and to me,
push this project forward – to raise the target funds, to design the
knowledge of plumbing anyway. Also, I knew that once I’m in, it this was where God truly made His presence felt. I was face to face
building, to prepare the documentation, to excite the community
would be up to me, through my hard work and perseverance, to with the interviewing consul, while Mhel waited for me outside the
to be indeed of one heart and mind in fulfilling this dream.
show I am capable of being moved to a more suitable job later on. embassy. I thought it was going to be a walk in the park, but the
At the initial meeting of the Building Steering Committee last
consul had a different plan. He began questioning my employment
January 27, one of the members, George Campos, commented on
records, finally concluding that I may not be truly qualified for the
the reading for the day taken from 2 Samuel 7:4-17. He confessed
job I was applying for, despite passing all the tests. He was ready
to being struck by the following verses (4-7) : “But in the same
to give me the blue rejection slip, but I held my ground. Calmly, I
night the word of the LORD came to Nathan, saying, “Go and
explained to him that despite what my employment records showed,
say to My servant David, ‘Thus says the LORD, “Are you the one
I had the experience as a freelancer, and I was confident that I would
who should build Me a house to dwell in? For I have not dwelt
be able to perform what the job entails.
in a house since the day I brought up the sons of Israel from
Mhel had been praying fervently for the Holy Spirit to guide me
Egypt, even to this day; but I have been moving about in a tent,
as I answered the consul’s questions. Her prayers were answered
even in a tabernacle. Wherever I have gone with all the sons of
for after my calm but fervent assertion of my capabilities, the consul
Israel, did I speak a word with one of the tribes of Israel, which
hesitated, and finally, gave me the go signal. I had a visa!
I commanded to shepherd My people Israel, saying, ‘Why have
I left the Philippines for Canada last January 18, 2010 and boarded
you not built Me a house of cedar?’”’
the luxury ship that same day. It will be 10 months before I can
The committee took this as affirmation that indeed, after 28
see my family again. But I am thankful. Thankful to the Lord for
years, we need to build our home; we need to have a permanent
the opportunity for a better life for my wife and children; thankful
base from which our mission work will radiate.
to e-Pinoy for really walking me through and helping me qualify;
Donations toward attaining this dream of our very own CFC
and thankful for CFC brethren who made e-Pinoy possible and for
building may be deposited in the following accounts set up for
praying with me and my wife as we prepared for this.
this purpose: China Bank dollar account number 129-705931-3
For inquiries about e-Pinoy, call Shok Ariola at +63-929 9574108
or China Bank peso account number 129-140551-0. Payee is
or at mfcariola@yahoo.com and/or Junie Romero at junieromero@
Couples for Christ Global Mission Foundation, Inc.
Edren and Mhel Baguioro sfcglobal.org
C4 Ugnayan CBCP Monitor
Vol. 14 No. 3
February 1 - 14, 2010

CFC-Negros Oriental Stages Christmas Play


By Vic B. Jurlano
COUPLES for Christ in Negros Oriental pulled
out all the stops in presenting the Christmas
story last December 12 at the St. Paul University-
Dumaguete Auditorium. Almost 3,000 elders
and members from the province, including the
CFC Provincial Area Council and the family
ministries and other service areas, watched as
their fellow-CFC showcased their acting talents
in a stage play entitled “Sugilanon sa Pasko” (The
Christmas Story).
Members of other religious and renewal organi-
zations, students and members of the clergy from
the diocese and from the neighboring province of

Most Rev. John F. Du, Bishop of Dumaguete sharing light moments with CFC Provincial Area Head Hermie and Remy Vargas and some of the cast and production team members after the play.

Siquijor, including the Most Rev. John F. Du, D.D, TV/stage actor and director in Visayas and Min- The event was a CFC fund-raising activity to
Bishop of the Diocese of Dumaguete and spiritual danao . Fermin, along with his brother Jun,who generate start-up funds for CFC ANCOP in the
director of CFC Negros Oriental, also watched is also a professional radio/TV/stage soap actor, province. “More than a fund-raising event,” CFC
the play. Bishop Du was so impressed that he gladly consented to serve as director for free, say- Provincial Area Director Bobby Mercado said, “the
even went on stage after the play to congratulate ing, “Para sa Ginoo ni,” (This is for the Lord). play was a way for us as an entire community of
the cast and production team for an excellent Fermin and Jun are members of the Oasis of Love, CFC in the province to come together to honor
presentation. a Cebu-based Catholic renewal community. and glorify the Lord Jesus.” Provincial Area Head
The play, with a cast of 95 members and a pro- The play touched not just the hearts of the audi- Hermie Vargas called it “God’s miracle” that the
duction team of more than 100 volunteers, re-lived ence but most especially the cast and crew. At the play was staged so successfully and involved the
the Biblical story about the birth of Jesus and the Empowerment Workshop with cast and service entire provincial community.
chain of events that became part of the Christmas teams held in October 2009, Fermin shared how The play was a brainchild of the Provincial
story. the Lord has put his life in order after years of Special Events team led by Vic Jurlano, who also
Joseph and Mary, (SFC members Dondon Floren and Jeceli The fine performances of CFC talents were due sinful living, and how he sees his participation wrote the script, based on the 2006 movie “The
Nobleza), comforted by Mary’s parents Joaquim and Anna largely to the guidance and direction of Fermin in the play as God’s promise of showing him Nativity Story” directed by Catherine Hadwicke
(Al and Lyn Villahermosa). Collantes Gomez, a professional Cebuano radio/ the way. and written by Mike Rich.

CFC Work With The Poor Gets Support IC Welcomes New


From Ancop USA And Canada Spiritual Adviser
COUPLES for Christ, ANCOP Canada Temy Pangilinan, President of ANCOP building of homes for the poor and the
and ANCOP USA signed a Memoran- Canada; Nick Borja, CFC National Di- implementation of programs on educa-
dum of Agreement last January 27, 2010 rector for Canada; and Ricky Cuenca, tion, health and livelihood.
in a bid to formalize and concretize Chairman of both ANCOP Canada and Ricky Cuenca hailed the partnership,
ANCOP’s support for CFC’s work with ANCOP USA. calling it a “milestone.” He further said
the poor. The MOA is a significant break- that “this is clear affirmation that the
The MOA was signed by members through in CFC’s expanded and more Lord is guiding and directing the CFC
of the CFC International Council and wholistic work with the poor. Under community towards this new phase of
the top officials of ANCOP, namely: the MOA, the partnership covers the our work with the poor.”

Msgr. Aganon, seated center, with the IC and some of the council wives.

THE International Council welcomed and Bishop Honesto Ch. Pacana, SJ,
their new spiritual adviser, Monsignor DD, of the diocese of Malaybalay, for
Allen Aganon, when he recently visited Mindanao.
the CFC Home Office. Fr. Aganon was During the Mass that he concelebrat-
designated the spiritual director for the ed with Fr. Paul Uwemedimo at the CFC
IC by Cardinal Gaudencio Rosales dur- Home Office on January 20, Fr. Aganon
ing a meeting that the cardinal called confessed his surprise at his appoint-
in mid-January. He joins the other ment. However, he also welcomed it,
spiritual advisers of CFC, namely: stating that he hopes to be able to really
Bishop Ramon B, Villena, DD, of the get to know CFC, and the IC, better in
diocese of Bayombong, for Luzon, the future.
Photo shows the members of the IC and the ANCOP officials: (From left, seated) Ricky Cuenca, Temy Pangilinan, Joe Yamamoto, CFC Executive
Director, Joe Tale, CFC Chairman. (Standing, from left: Rudy Lubis, Nick Borja, IC members Melo Villaroman, Lito Tayag, Rouquel Ponte, Manny
Bishop Leonardo Y. Medroso, DD, of Fr. Aganon recently arrived from a
Garcia and Joey Arguelles, Mannix Ocampo, ANCOP coordinator and Ethel Balenton. the diocese of Tagbilaran, for Visayas five-year mission stint in Peru.

Singapore: Setting the World on Fire


By Iris Joy Durendes Suministrado was the self-evaluation process where each participant
reflected on his or her own attitudes, capabilities and
CFC Singapore and its family ministries underwent the motivations. One-on-one dialogues were held after this
CFC World on Fire Mission Volunteers Training from self-evaluation process.
January 16 to 17. Beng de Leon, Singapore Missions During the missions workshop, the participants were
Head, conducted the training with the help of the CFC divided into five mission teams. This time the practical
International Missions team led by Clarke Nebrao and aspects of mission work were discussed with the various
Matthew and Nida Vergara. mission teams doing their own planning with regard to
More than 60 members and leaders of the commu- their desired mission area and how to raise their own
nity discovered what mission is all about through the funds. The five teams have committed to go to Australia
sessions and the talks which focused on the attitudes a (Darwin and Perth), Indonesia, Thailand and Johor Bahru
missionary must possess. The highlight of the weekend (Malaysia) within this year.

CFC clusters in California were active in conducting Christian Life Programs during 2009. Photo shows
the CLP participants who completed the CLP conducted by the Antioch-Pittsburg-Concord Chapter (North
California) in late October 2009. From left: Ero and Julia Ouiya from Nigeria; Rose Necor, facilitator;
participants Rey and Lita Calumpong; Willie and Linda Ilas; Robert and Kelley Todd, originally from
Russia; Rey and Nellia Palma; Allan and Lucybel Alvarez. Seated are Dan and Lucy Francisco, Chapter
Head of Antioch-Pittsburg-Concord Chapter.

CFC World in Pictures

Cambodia conducted a Marriage Enrichment Retreat I and II for couples. Shown in the photo are the
participants to the retreats held in Phnom Penh, and the service team, composed of Singles for Christ
members. Also in the photo are the speakers from Manila, including: George and Cynthia Campos,
Cesar and Sylvia Cruz, Clarke Nebrao and Bong Arjonillo.

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