Monitor

PHP

20.

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CBCP

VOLUME 19
NUMBER 24

PROTAGONIST OF TRUTH, PROMOTER OF PEACE

CBCPMONITOR.COM

THOUSANDS of students
across Palawan province will
take part in a day of prayer on
Dec. 2 for the peaceful resolution of disputes in the West
Philippine Sea next week.
Organizers of the prayer
gathering to held at the Puerto Princesa Citys Sports
Complex said it is vital to
pray for peace as tensions
around the strategic waterways mount.
Its going to be a prayer
of the rosary and the target is
to gather 16,000 participants
who are mostly students
from different colleges and
universities, Puerto Princesa Bishop Pedro Arigo told
Radio Veritas.
He said the gathering
also aims to raise awareness
among the people about the
issue and the current situation in the contested territories, which Beijing refers to
as South China Sea.
Prayer, A6

WHATS INSIDE

A3 - Vatican
monitoring situation
in Central Africa but
pope plans to visit

B1 - Jubilee of
blessings, mission
of renewal

Church to Catholics:
Kneel before the poor
By Roy Lagarde

The Catholic hierarchy

has renewed its call for
the care of the countrys most vulnerable,
encouraging families to
build their lives on humility and compassion.

In a pastoral exhortation, the

Catholic Bishops Conference of
the Philippines (CBCP) urged the
faithful to kneel down before the
poor families.
CBCP president Archbishop
Socrates Villegas of LingayenDagupan said kneeling down
does not just mean seeking mercy
for their sins but is also a gesture
of compassion for our fellow
wounded sinners.
We kneel down before the poor we
have ignored,
Villegas said.
Kneel, A7

READY FOR IEC. The 26,000-sq.m. International Eucharistic Congress (IEC) Pavilion in the San Carlos Seminary
compound in Mabolo, Cebu City was opened to the public for the first time during the turnover ceremony held on
Nov. 21. The photos show the interior and exterior views of the pavilion which has a seating capacity of 12,000
for IEC delegates from across the globe. IEC will be held on Jan. 24 to 31, 2016. SAMMY NAVAJA

Cardinal Tagle elected to

new synod council
CARDINAL Luis Antonio Tagle of Manila was again elected to a 15-member
council of cardinals and bishops to prepare for the next synod.
Twelve members of the ordinary council of the Synod of Bishops were elected
by the synod father at the end of the Oct.
4 to 15 assembly at the Vatican.
They will assist current synod Secretary
General Cardinal Lorenzo Baldisseri and
Undersecretary Bishop Fabio Fabene in their
works until the next assembly of the synod
of bishops, an advisory body of the Pope.
Synod follow-up
The new council, made public by the
Vatican last Saturday, is significant because these prelates will also coordinate
the follow-up to the synod on the family.
According to the Catholic News Service,
the body is composed of members who
took strongly divergent positions at the
synod particularly on giving communion
to divorced and civilly remarried Catholics.
The council is composed of a perma-

50 years after Vatican II, PH BECs

still a work in progress priest
FIFTY years after the Second Vatican
Council (Vatican II) ushered in an era
of renewal, a priest admits the countrys
Basic Ecclesial Communities (BEC) continue to face challenges as members heed
the call for a new way of being Church.

Archbishop Luis Antonio G. Tagle of Manila. CNA

nent secretary general and undersecretary

as well as 15 members three from each
continent with Asia and Oceania counted
as one and three papal appointees.
Council of cardinals
Aside from Cardinal Tagle, those

Synod, A6

Put a human face on the

economy, APEC leaders urged

A private motorist near the intersection of MIA Road and Quirino Avenue in Paraaque City
offers a woman who wears what appears to be a hijab (Muslim headscarf) a ride to her
destination after countless are stranded because of APEC rerouting. RAYMOND A. SEBASTIN

A PHILIPPINE cardinal called

on leaders of Asia-Pacific nations meeting in Manila this
week to push for an economy
guided not only by market
forces but also by human
values.
Cardinal Orlando Quaevedo
of the Cotabato diocese said
global leaders must never lose

CBCPMONITOR@CBCPWORLD.NET

sight of ordinar y and poor

people as they make economic
policies and market dynamics.
Citing a pastoral exhortation of the Catholic Bishops
Conference of the Philippines
in July 1998, the cardinal said
the current global economy
should have a human face.
APEC, A7

Ongoing journey
They have already emerged in most
dioceses and parishes, but the realization
of the vision of a Renewed Church in Vatican II and PCP II in the BECs remains
an ongoing journey, bemoans Fr. Amado
L. Picardal, C.Ss.R, executive secretary of
the Catholic Bishops Conference of the
Philippines (CBCP)s Episcopal Committee on BECs, in his paper Basic Ecclesial
Communities Today.
Representatives of BECs from 75 arch/
dioceses in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao are in Metro Manila from Nov. 11
until Nov. 14 for the 3rd National BEC
Assembly in Paco, Manila, where they

BECs, A6

Archbishop Socrates Villegas, CBCP president, on Wednesday, Nov. 11, reminded delegates of the ongoing
National Basic Ecclesial Communities (BEC) Assembly about their role as catalysts of change at San
Fernando de Dilao Parish in Paco. ROY LAGARDE

Bishops decry slow

justice for Maguindanao
massacre victims
CATHOLIC bishops from
Mindanao decried the slow
pace of Maguindanao massacre
case that left 58 people dead,
including 32 journalists, six
years ago.
Bishops Martin Jumoad of
Isabela and Dinualdo Gutierrez
of Marbel said a lot needs to be
done to eliminate delays in the
justice delivery system.
The wheels of justice [are]
very slow, Bishop Jumoad
lamented.
According to Gutierrez,
the inefficient justice system and the governments
lack of political continue to
let suspected massacre masterminds and other criminals
off the hook.
It has been six years but the

Basilan prelate called on the

faithful not to get tired of seeking for justice for the victims
in what is touted as the worst
recorded attack on journalists
the world has known.
Let us continue our advocacy for justice and peace so
that justice will prevail. Lets
not be discouraged, stressed
Jumoad.
The National Union of
Journalists of the Philippines also lamented how the
government is not making
progress in securing convictions for the killings.
Six years after Ampatuan,
six years of continued impunity, six years of unfulfilled
promises and broken dreams,
it said. (CBCP News)

Witnessing attracts more vocations

ILLUSTRATION BY BROTHERS MATIAS

Thousands to
gather in prayer
for peaceful
resolution of PHChina sea row

November 23 December 6, 2015

A CATHOLIC priest cannot

recommend enough the power of
attractive witnessing when inviting people, especially the youth, to
consider a life entirely consecrated
to God.
Today, attraction plays a very
important role to young people. It
is an action and power of inciting
interest. Pope Emeritus Benedict
XVI was very clear in saying the
Church grows by attraction,
that people are drawn to Christs
love manifest in the spiritual and

charitable works of his followers,

says Fr. Richie Gomez, vocation
director of the Missionaries of
the Sacred Heart (MSC), in an
emailed reflection.
How do I attract with my witness?
In line with this, he calls on fellow priests and religious involved
in the vocation ministry to ask
themselves the question: How do
I attract with my witness?
Quoting Pope Francis, Gomez
Vocations, A7

A2 WORLD NEWS

Pope sends condolences after deadly terrorist attack in Mali

Pope Francis condemned the senseless violence of Fridays terrorist attack on a hotel which killed at least 22 people in Mali,
and prayed for the conversion of hearts. The Pope was appalled by this senseless violence, and strongly condemns it,
reads the telegram, signed by Vatican Secretary of State Pietro
Parolin, according to Vatican Radios translation from French.
The Pope implores God for the conversion of hearts and the gift
of peace, and invokes abundance of Divine blessings on all those
affected by this tragedy. The Nov. 20 attack saw gunmen enter
the Radisson Blu Hotel in the Malian capital of Bamako. (CNA)
Vatican charges five in leak of confidential docs
The Vatican has formally indicted five people for the recent leak
and dissemination of private financial documents, including two
former members of a Holy See commission and two journalists.
A Nov. 21 communique from the Vatican announced that the
five would stand trial for the unlawful disclosure of confidential
information and documents. Those being charged are Spanish
Msgr. Lucio Angel Vallejo Balda, Italian PR woman Francesca
Chaouqui, Nicola Maio (Vallejos secretary), and journalists
Gianluigi Nuzzi and Emiliano Fittipaldi. (CNA)
Eat with your family, not with your smartphone, Pope says
For Pope Francis the dinner table is a key place to strengthen
family bonds and foster a sense of togetherness, which he said
can often be thwarted by an excess attachment to technology. A
family that almost never eats together, or that never speaks at the
table but looks at the television or the smartphone, is hardly a
family, the Pope said Nov. 11. When children at the table are
attached to the computer or the phone and dont listen to each
other, this is not a family, this is a pensioner! Francis spoke to
the thousands of pilgrims gathered in St. Peters Square for his
Wednesday general audience. (CNA)
Vatican clarifies Mother Teresa canonization report
Despite rumors that a date has been set for Mother Teresas canonization, the Holy See Press Office told CNA Wednesday that
the cause for sainthood has not concluded, and no date has been
officially set. Fr Ciro Benedettini, vice director at the Holy See
Press Office, confirmed to CNA that there is a project, a study
being carried out on the potential future canonization of Blessed
Mother Teresa. However, he said, there is nothing juridical in
place yet, as the setting of a date would require the sainthood
cause to be concluded and the Pope to give his consent. (CNA)
Pope encourages Church in Slovakia to welcome migrants
Speaking to the Slovak bishops who were in Rome for their
five-yearly ad limina visit, Pope Francis reminded them that the
Church is called to welcome immigrants and to reach out to
the other, including by ministering particularly to the Romani
people. With globalization, he said Nov. 12, at times we perceive
threats to less populous nations, but at the same time elements
that can offer new opportunities. One opportunity, which has
become a sign of the times, is the phenomenon of migration,
which demands to be understood and confronted with sensitivity
and a sense of justice. The Church is required to proclaim and
bear witness to the welcome of the migrant in a spirit of charity
and respect for the dignity of the human person, in the context
of the necessary observance of the law. (CNA)
Education is too selective, elitist, pope says
The educational alliance among families, schools and states is
broken, causing a serious situation that leads to selecting to
educate only supermen chosen solely based on intelligence
or wealth, Pope Francis said. Behind this, there is always the
ghost of money -- always, he said. Education has become
too selective and elitist. It seems that only those people or
persons who are at a certain level or have a certain capacity
have the right to an education. The pope held an impromptu
question-and-answer session Nov. 21 during an audience with
more than 2,000 participants in a conference marking the 50th
anniversary of the Second Vatican Councils Declaration on
Christian Education and the 25th anniversary of Ex Corde
Ecclesiae, St. John Paul IIs apostolic constitution on Catholic
universities. (CNS)
Vatican monitoring situation in Central Africa, but pope plans
to visit
Despite the ongoing violence in the Central Africa Republic,
Pope Francis wants to visit the country Nov. 29-30, plans for the
visit are in place, and the security situation is being monitored,
the Vatican spokesman said. Jesuit Fr. Federico Lombardi, the
spokesman, told reporters Nov. 19 that nothing had happened
to change those plans. The Nov. 13 terrorist attacks in Paris, he
said, obviously led to heightened security measures at the Vatican
-- I would not deny that -- but they have had no bearing on
the decision to visit the Central African Republic where people
have been dying in civil strife for years and where Catholic,
Protestant and Muslim leaders have worked and continue to
work for peace. (CNS)
Pope highlights need to address impact pollution has on
human health
Pope Francis encouraged greater attention to those whose
health is affected by environmental degradation and pollution.
He said he meets so many sick people, especially children,
during his weekly general audience or on a parish visit, who
are afflicted with a rare disease that doctors cant explain.
These rare diseases are the consequences of the illnesses we
inflict on the environment. This is serious, he said Nov. 19.
The pope was speaking to hundreds of scientists, health care
professionals, theologians, diplomats and other experts taking
part in an international conference sponsored by the Pontifical Council for Health Care Ministry. The conference, Nov.
19-21, discussed the culture of health and welcoming in
serving humanity and the planet. (CNS)
Laity are disciples, not second-class members of church,
pope says
Laypeople are not second-class members at the service of the
church hierarchy, but are disciples of Christ called to enliven
every environment, every activity and every human relationship
according to the Gospel, Pope Francis said. The pope sent a
message Nov. 10 to Cardinal Stanislaw Rylko, president of the
Pontifical Council for the Laity, and participants of a workshop
marking the 50th anniversary of the Second Vatican Councils
Decree on the Apostolate of the Laity, which defined the role,
vocation and mission of laypeople in the Catholic Church. In
his message, the pope said that the Second Vatican Council did
not just highlight the importance of the laity in the church, but
defined their role as a vocation. (CNS)

CBCP Monitor

Paris archbishop: When the pain

is too great, we cling to God
PARIS, France, Nov 18, 2015--In
a Mass at Notre Dame Cathedral,
the archbishop of Paris said that
despite the uncertainty and grief
surrounding the terrorist attacks
in the city last week, God is the
source of strength and hope.
Its an understatement to say
that the savage killings of this
black Friday have plunged entire
families into deep distress, Cardinal Andr Vingt-Trois reflected
in his Nov. 15 homily. And this
anxiety is all the more profound
when there arent any rational
explanations that would justify the
indiscriminate execution of dozens
of people they didnt even know.
When the pain and confusion
become too great to bear, the cardinal asked, Who can we turn to
in this trial?
He proposed that there are
ultimately only two options: the
tranquilizers of this world or the
God of life.
The Mass at Notre Dame was offered for the victims of the Nov. 13 attacks in Paris. At least 129 people died-and over 300 more were injured--in
a series of bombings and shootings
throughout the city. ISIS has claimed
responsibility for the attacks.
Cardinal Vingt-Trois reflected
on how the Christian faith can be

Memorial for Paris attacks at Bataclan Theater, Paris. FREDERIC LEGRAND-COMEO

of some help to us in the confusion

that has fallen upon us.
In addition to the pain and unanswered questions surrounding
the attacks themselves, he said, the
atrocity of Nov. 13 reminds all the
mourning people of France and
the whole world of the inescapable reality that whether close or
far offour existence is marked by
death. We can try to forget it, get
around it, to want to soften and
lighten it, but its there.
We dont know the day or
the hour of our own end, and

not knowing this troubles a lot

of people. But we all see--and
what happened this week reminds us cruelly, that deaths work
never ends and sometimes strikes
blindly.
While it may not be possible
to fully understand the evil that
happens in this life, believers can
hold on to hope and bear witness
to it as they comfort the suffering,
Cardinal Vingt-Trois said.
Strength in face of these trials,
he explained, comes from our
confidence in God and our ability

to rely on him.
So we cant allow ourselves to
be stopped by the misfortunes of
life or the suffering that were enduring, as if this had no meaning.
Through them, we can discover
that God is knocking on our door
and wants to call us again to life,
and open up to us the ways of
life, he said.
This confidence in God is a
light on the journey of life, the
cardinal said, encouraging those
gathered to put our trust in God,
who is the God of life. (CNA)

Five religions in Thailand send powerful

message to people of Paris
BANGKOK, Nov. 21, 2015--Uniting with
other major faith groups at an interreligious
March for Peace, Thai Catholics on Thursday
offered prayers for the victims of the recent
terrorist attacks in Paris.
The world is tired of hatred and hungers
for peace, Monsignor VissanuThanya-Anan
told CNA.
This peace march, a symbol of solidarity
with prayers for the victims, is also a chance
to show that all religions can live and work
harmoniously together and work for the good
of the society and country as good citizens,
he said.
Msgr. Vissanu serves as deputy secretarygeneral for the Thai bishops conference.
He formerly worked as undersecretary of
the Pontifical Council for Interreligious
Dialogue.
On Nov. 19, he joined Bishop Joseph ChusakSirisut of NakhonRatchasima in leading
the Catholic delegation priests, religious and
a group of school children at the peace march
in front of the French embassy.
The march was held to offer prayer and solidarity following the Nov. 13 terrorist attacks
throughout the city of Paris, France. ISIS has
claimed responsibility for the attacks, which
left 129 dead and more than 300 injured.
Thailands five major religious groups were
all represented at the event. Members of the
Buddhist, Muslim, Christian, Hindu and
Sikh communities each offered prayers from
their own faith tradition and signed a book
of condolences.
Bishop Chusak, who is the head of the
Thai Catholic bishops office for interreligious
dialogue, led the Catholic portion of the
prayer service.
Muslim leaders at the march voiced their

Bishop Joseph Chusak (5-R) at the Interreligious Peace March for victims of the Paris attacks in Thailand on November
19, 2015. MONSIGNOR VISSANU/CBCT.

pain and anguish at the news of terrorist attacks and rejected the idea that their religion
condones violence.
The religious leaders also presented French
ambassador Gilles Garachon with a joint
statement that read, We join in prayer for
the dead, the injured, and the families affected by this tragedy. May the Merciful
Almighty grant the victims eternal rest and
offer consolation and hope to the injured and
their families.
Our march for peace today is a symbol
of the unity of the five major religious traditions in Thailand. Together we implore the
Almighty above to inspire and strengthen us
for the building of peace.
Violence resolves nothing, and we vigorously condemn every act of violence
perpetrated in the name of religion, they
continued. We invite all to join hands with
us to build a sustainable peace through justice,
solidarity, and non-discrimination with regard

to nationality, religion, caste and color.

Msgr. Vissanu stressed that the Catholic
Church is very close to the victims of suffering, persecution and calamity.
Pointing to the Holy Fathers continued appeals for peace, he said, We are inspired and
take heed of the teachings of Pope Francisto
seek paths for resolving conflicts and to work
for building peace and dialogue.
He also emphasized that his a joint responsibility, saying, We need the cooperation
and goodwill of every responsible citizen to
uphold the fundamental rights and dignity of
every human person.
The monsignor recalled the Bangkok
bombing in August that killed 20 people and
injured 125.
The world stood united in solidarity and
prayer with Thailand, he reflected, and
now it is also our reciprocal duty to pray
for othersduring this difficult moment of
grief. (CNA)

Preschooler whose celebration of Mass went viral dies of cancer

SAO PAULO, Brazil, Nov 20,
2015--A young Brazilian boy
whose solemn reenactment of the
Mass drew hordes of online traffic
has passed away after nearly two
years of battling an aggressive form
of cancer.
Rafael Freitas, age 4, loved to
pretend to celebrate Mass. He said
he wanted to be Pope someday.
On Nov. 14, he passed away,
according to his family.
In a Facebook post reflecting
on his life, his father Randersson
cited the Psalms: You show me
the path of life. In your presence there is fullness of joy; in
your right hand are pleasures
forevermore.
Last year, a video of Rafael
pretending to celebrate Mass went
viral, receiving hundreds of thousands of views. The boy, then 3
years old, was receiving treatment
at a childrens cancer hospital in
Sao Paulo, Brazil.
Randersson said that the boy
would invite all the patients at
the hospital to the common area
to attend his Mass.
According to the diocese of
Barretos, Rafael was in his home
town of Conceio das Pedras a
time between treatments.
There, after seeing his fam-

CNA

Vatican Briefing

November 23 - December 6, 2015 Vol. 19 No. 24

ily and spending a few weeks at

home, he had to be hospitalized
in a neighboring city, where he
passed away shortly after 8:00 pm
Saturday, the diocese said.
His parents said that he developed a devotion to the Mass from
an early age.
When he started walking just
after he turned one year old, Rafael
started imitating the priest every
time we went to Mass. When the
priest raised up the chalice, he
would raise up his little cup in
the pew, Randersson told CNA
several months ago.

In early 2014, doctors told

Rafaels parents that the little boy
was suffering from a stage 4 form
of childhood cancer that affects
the nervous system and the bones.
Rafael received chemotherapy
in March 2014 at Childrens Hospital in the city of Barretos, but
doctors said there was no hope he
would recover.
Once at the hospital chapel
where Rafael attends Mass with his
parents, the boy asked the chaplain
for a peculiar gift: a paten, the
small golden plate used at Mass to
hold the Host. The priest gave him

one and also gave him a small tunic and stole made just to fit him.
The priest thought Rafaels request was so beautiful that he gave
him a whole set of unused liturgical objects. The day he received
them he must have celebrated 300
hundred Masses, his father joked.
He was still celebrating Mass at
11 oclock that night.
His father said it was the best
gift his son could have received.
We (his mother and I) are
extraordinary ministers of the
Eucharist and we strive to attend
Mass every day, Randersson said.
The burial for Rafael took place
Nov. 15 at Conceio das Pedras.
After saying goodbye to their
son, Rafaels parents decided to
donate their little boys belonging
to childrens institutions.
They hope that this can be one
more way for their young son to
touch the lives of others.
Earlier this year, Randersson
told CNA that every day when
Rafael is asleep we pray for him
and consecrate his life to God,
we ask that he can fulfill the mission that Jesus has for him. And
as his name Rafael means Gods
medicine, we pray that that he
can cure people from the absence
of God. (CNA)

CBCP Monitor

A3

November 23 - December 6, 2015 Vol. 19 No. 24

Vatican monitoring situation in Central Africa,

but pope plans to visit
VATICAN, Nov. 19, 2015--Despite the
ongoing violence in the Central Africa
Republic, Pope Francis wants to visit the
country Nov. 29-30, plans for the visit are
in place, and the security situation is being
monitored, the Vatican spokesman said.
Jesuit Father Federico Lombardi, the
spokesman, told reporters Nov. 19 that
nothing had happened to change those
plans.
The Nov. 13 terrorist attacks in Paris, he
said, obviously led to heightened security
measures at the VaticanI would not
deny that but they have had no bear-

ing on the decision to visit the Central

African Republic where people have been
dying in civil strife for years and where
Catholic, Protestant and Muslim leaders
have worked and continue to work for
peace.
Domenico Giani, the head of Vatican
security, will leave for Africa before the
pope goes Nov. 25, Father Lombardi said.
He will visit the Central African Republic
and make a final security assessment.
Before arriving in the Central African
Republic, Pope Francis is scheduled to
visit Kenya Nov. 25-27 and Uganda Nov.

27-29. It will be Pope Francis first ever

visit to Africa, Father Lombardi said.
The pope wants to go to the Central
African Republic. The plan continues to
be to go to the Central African Republic.
We are all working in that direction. And,
like any wise person would do, we are
monitoring the situation, Father Lombardi said. As things stand now, we plan
to go to Central Africa.
The country has been the scene of violence and upheaval since 2013. Although
religious leaders insist the conflict is political and ethnic, the fighting has divided the

country on religious lineswith mostly

Muslim rebel forces battling mainly
Christian militias. Despite the presence
of U.N. peacekeeping troops, the violence
increased in September and October.
Pope Francis plan to visit a mosque
in Bangui, the capital of Central African
Republic, may take on more significance
globally in the wake of the Paris attacks,
Father Lombardi said, but the visit was
on the papal itinerary long before the
attacks. I do not think his message will
change, although how it is perceived
could change because of Paris.

If miracle approved, Blessed Teresa could

be canonized Sept. 4
VATICAN, Nov. 20, 2015--The
Vatican calendar for the Year of
Mercy deliberately set aside Sept.
4, 2016, as a possible date for the
canonization of Blessed Teresa of
Kolkata, if her sainthood cause is
concluded by then.
The canonization would be
celebrated by Pope Francis in St.
Peters Square at the end of a threeday pilgrimage of people who, like
Blessed Teresa was, are engaged in
corporal works of mercy.
Sept. 4 is a hypothesis or plan
within the calendar for the jubilee
year, Jesuit Father Federico Lombardi, Vatican spokesman, told
Catholic News Service Nov. 19.
The Italian news agency AGI reported Nov. 18 that a panel of physicians convoked by the Congregation
for Saints Causes agreed there was
no medical or natural explanation
for the recovery of a Brazilian man
suffering from multiple brain tumors. His healing after prayers for
the intercession of Blessed Teresa
was submitted as the miracle needed
for her canonization.
Father Lombardi urged caution, however. The process is
still underway and official communications will be given at the
appropriate time.
Members of the Congregation for Saints Causes still must

It also is foreseen that Pope Francis will

use an open popemobile in Central African Republic, just like he will in Kenya
and Uganda, the spokesman said.
A reporter asked Father Lombardi if
it was true that the Vatican had ordered
both a white and a black bulletproof vest
for the pope to wear in Central African
Republic. This is the first Ive heard of
it, the spokesman responded. It would
be odd, though, to ride around in an open
popemobile but wear a bulletproof vest.
I hadnt heard this and I dont believe it.
(Cindy Wooden/Catholic News Service)

Holy Door in St. Peters Basilica

uncovered as Jubilee nears

The Holy Door unveiling at the Recognitio ceremony in St. Peters Basilica on November
17, 2015. LOSSERVATORE ROMANO.

A mosaic of Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta in St. Pauls Cathedral in Tirana, Albania. The founder of the Missionaries of Charity
is a native of Albania. CNA

review the physicians report

on the healing. If the members
have no further questions, Pope
Francis would be asked to issue a
decree recognizing the healing as
a miracle worked by God through
the intercession of Mother Teresa.
With the decree, the pope
would survey the worlds cardinals

and set a date for a consistory of

cardinals who live in or could
come to Rome for the occasion.
They would be asked to recommend the pope canonize Blessed
Teresa; if the pope agrees, he
would set the date for the ceremony.
AGI had reported the likely date

of the canonization would be Sept.

5 Mother Teresas feast day
and the anniversary of her death.
However, Sept. 5 is a Monday
in 2016 and Father Lombardi
said the canonization would not
take place on a Monday. (Cindy
Wooden/Catholic News Service)

Latest Ratzinger Prizes highlight Lebanese and

Brazilian gifts to theology
VATICAN, Nov. 18, 2015--A Brazilian priest
and a Lebanese scholar were awarded on Monday the 2015 Ratzinger Prizes, in recognition
of their work in theology.
With these two figures, the list of theologians who have deservedly received the
Ratzinger Prizes is further enriched not only
quantitatively, but also qualitatively, Archbishop Luis Francisco Ladaria Ferrer, S.J.,
secretary of the Congregation for the Doctrine
of the Faith, said Nov. 16.
The two honorees were announced during a
press conference at the Holy See Press Office.
Professor Nabil el-Khoury, 74, is a professor
of philosophy and literature at the Lebanese
University of Beirut and the University of Tubingen in Germany. He has translated the entire
works of Joseph Ratzinger into Arabic, and has
been involved in many theological projects
and has authored numerous academic articles.
Father Mario de Frana Miranda, S.J., 79,
is from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. He joined the
Society of Jesus in 1955, and is a past member
of the International Theological Commission.
He has written many articles and 14 books,
and has contributed to 31 other books. He has
also served on the editorial boards of several
magazines.
He has taught at the Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro and at the Society of
Jesus Faculty of Theology in Belo Horizonte,
Brazil. He has collaborated with both Brazils
bishops conference and the Latin American
Episcopal Conference.
The Ratzinger Prize was begun in 2011

to recognize scholars
whose work demonstrates a meaningful contribution to
theology in the spirit
of Cardinal Joseph
Ratzinger, the Bavarian theologian who
became Benedict
XVI. The prize is
awarded by the Ratzinger Foundation,
which was founded
in 2010 with Benedict XVIs approval
to study and promote
Vatican City - June 16, 2015. Pope emeritus Benedict XVI meets with seminarians
his writings as a theo- from the diocese of Faensa-Modigliana, Italy on June 16, 2015 at the Vatican Gardens.
logian, as a cardinal Diocese of Faenza-Modigliana.
in charge of the Vaticans Congregation of
Mgr. Giuseppe A. Scotti, the Ratzinger
the Doctrine of the Faith, and as Pope.
Foundation president, said the foundation
Archbishop Ladaria noted that this years works to create a future where man and
honorees represent Latin American and Eastern God are capable of a full and constructive
Catholicism.
dialogue, capable of giving life to man and
He said Latin America has given the Church the world.
its first non-European Pope in modern times,
Past Ratzinger Prize honorees include
through whom the Church has offered a new University of Notre Dame theology professor
and very eloquent proof of its catholicity. He Father Brian Edward Daley, S.J., French lay
also cited St. John Paul IIs emphasis on the philosopher Remi Brague, Italian patristics
importance of the Eastern Catholic Churches, scholar Manlio Simonetti, Anglican professor
and the need for the Church to breathe with Richard Burridge of Kings College London,
both lungs, east and west, with greater mu- German theology professor Christian Schaller,
tual knowledge of these two great traditions. French scripture professor Anne-Marie PelThe archbishop is a member of the Ratzinger letier, and Polish biblical scholar Monsignor
Foundations scientific committee.
Waldemar Chrostowski. (CNA/EWTN News)

VATICAN, Nov. 19, 2015--Hidden since the Jubilee of 2000, the

Holy Door in St. Peters Basilica
was revealed Tuesday as the brick
wall covering it was removed in
anticipation of the Holy Year of
Mercy launching next month.
Cardinal Angelo Comastri, the
Archpriest of St. Peters Basilica,
led a special recognitio ceremony, culminating in the removal of
the brick wall.
According to a Nov. 17 communiqu from the Vatican, after
the cardinal presided over a procession and brief prayer service,
workers began to remove the wall
brick by brick, beginning with
the extraction of a small zinc box
containing mementos from the
Jubilee of 2000.
Opened with a type of blowtorch, the box held several documents of certification for the
closure of the Holy Door in 2000.
It also held the keys with which
Pope Francis will open it Dec.
8 the Feast of the Immaculate
Conception when this years
Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy
officially begins.
Also inside the box were the
parchment deed for the previous
jubilee, a few bricks and several
commemorative medals.
The boxs contents were entrusted to the Master of Ceremonies for
St. Peters Basilica, Msgr. Guido
Marini, who was also present for
the recognitio ceremony. Additionally, Archbishop Rino Fisichella, President of the Pontifical
Council for the Promotion of the
New Evangelization, was also in
attendance.
Each of the four major basilicas
in Rome has a holy door, which
are normally sealed shut from
the inside so that they cannot
be opened. The doors are only
opened during jubilee years so
that pilgrims can enter through
them in order to gain the plenary
indulgence that is connected with
the jubilee.
Holy Doors in Romes other
major basilicas will be opened
throughout the Jubilee year. St.
John Laterans door will open Dec.
13, St. Mary Majors Jan. 1, 2016,
and St. Paul Outside the Walls will
open Jan. 26, 2016.

The rite of the opening of the

Holy Door is intended to symbolically illustrate the idea that
the Churchs faithful are offered an
extraordinary path toward salvation during the time of jubilee.
One of the novelties for the
upcoming Jubilee of Mercy is that
for the first time Holy Doors will
be designated in every diocese
throughout the world.
For the first time holy doors will
be designated in dioceses, and will
be located either in the cathedral,
in a church of special significance
or a shrine of particular importance for pilgrimages.
Though the Jubilee for Mercy
doesnt begin until Dec. 8, Pope
Francis announced his intention
to open the Holy Door in the
Central African Republics capital
10 days early, during his Nov. 2530 visit to the African continent.
In his Nov. 1 Angelus address,
Francis said that he would jumpstart the Jubilee by opening the
diocese of Banguis Holy Door
while in the Central African
Republic, as a sign of prayer
and solidarity for the war-torn
nation.
Francis also spoke of the significance of the Holy Door during his
Nov. 18 general audience. Sitting
in front the St. Peters Basilica,
where he will open the Holy Door
in just three weeks, he described it
as the great door of Gods Mercy.
On the threshold of the Year of
Mercy, I want to reflect today on the
meaning of the Holy Door, he said.
Its a door that opens in the Church
in order to reach out to those who
for many reasons are far away.
He said that families are also invited to open their doors to meet
Jesus, who waits for us patiently,
and wants to bring us his blessing
and friendship.
A Church that is not hospitable
or a family closed in on itself
would be a terrible reality that
mortifies the Gospel and makes
the world more arid, he said.
The jubilee was announced by
Pope Francis during a March 13
penitential service, the second
anniversary of his papal election.
It will close Nov. 20, 2016, the Solemnity of Christ the King. (Elise
Harris/CNA/EWTN News)

Bishops reminder: Recognize Jesus as King

PARAAQUE City, Nov. 22,
2015--A member of the Philippine episcopate reminded the
faithful on Saturday, the eve of
the Solemnity of Christ the King,
to imitate Jesus and to acknowledge His reign always for them
to gain eternal life.
Let us follow Christ, His example. Let us proclaim His reign
and work hard to extend His kingdom of justice, peace, love, and
forgiveness, stressed new Antipolo
Coadjutor Bishop Francisco M.

de Leon in a homily for the Mass

he presided over at the Cathedral
Parish of St. Andrew in La Huerta,
Paraaque, his hometown.
Beyond procession
According to him, the celebration of Christ the King should go
beyond the customary procession
and the veneration of images and
pictures of Jesus in royal garb.
Instead, its focus must be on
the God Who assumed flesh,
becoming like us except in sin,

and is king of the truth whose

boundless love brought about the
salvation of mankind.
Keep this in mind: Those who
want Jesus to be His king must
be ready to be like Him, he explained, underscoring the fact that
His royalty did not prevent Him
from offering His life on the Cross.
Reflecting on this, De Leon
pointed out that Christs kingship
differs from that of earthly monarchs because His originates from
heaven, and that His mandate is

not to be served but to serve.

Unique kingship
Unlike the kings of Europe
and even the king of Thailand,
Christ was born not in a palace,
but in a manger When He
died, He even had to use the
tomb lent by Joseph of Arimathea, realizing that He did not
have His own, he said.
De Leon noted further that
Christ the King came not to
save people from their enemies,

rather from themselves, and did

so through the Cross.
While artists often depict
Christ the King literally as one
seated on a throne, crowned, and
holding a scepter, the bishop affirmed no representation captures
the Lords kingship better than of
Him hanging lifeless on the Cross.
King of the Cross
According to De Leon, the
Crucifixion was the reason why
many among His first disciples

left, since what they were hoping for was a leader who had the
means to free them from their
Roman oppressors.
The Cross is an not obstacle
but our stairs to life everlasting.
We should not be ashamed to
acknowledge that Christ is our
king, the prelate declared.
The kings of Europe, of Thailand, of other countries will come
and go, but Christ will remain king
forever, he added. (Raymond A.
Sebastin / CBCP News)

A4 OPINION

November 23 - December 6, 2015 Vol. 19 No. 24

CBCP Monitor

EDITORIAL

THE 3rd Basic Ecclesial Communities (BEC) National

Assembly held recently in Manila was an opportunity to
revisit an ongoing pastoral priority of the Catholic Church
in the Philippines. This pastoral approach, which is seen as
a new way of being church, was formally adopted in 1991
at the celebration of the Second Plenary Council of the
Philippines (PCP-II). Its ecclesial blueprint, however,
was already budding at the aggiornamento of the Second
Vatican Council in 1965.
Admittedly, its concrete realization had been quite slow.
Understandably, it had to be that sluggish because, just like
the renewal brought about by Vatican II, it needed a radical changing of perspectives. In a Church that for ages had
been used to a different ecclesiological model--which was
more personal than communitarian, cultic than social--the
introduction of a new ecclesiology was an uphill climb.
The impetus of the BEC had sideswept the eager beaver to
precarious extremes. In some BEC communities, the basic
church had become exclusive to the detriment and exclusion
of the un-churched and the unregistered. It was a betrayal of the
spirit of the renewal and a stifling of the Holy Spirit that blows
where it wills. Not a few had been denied the sacraments or
funeral services because they were not part of the hamlet.
After decades of navigating this new pastoral, which had
been filled with tremendous challenges, especially at the parish level, the Church emerges fully armed with the lessons of
time and theology. The coming of Pope Francis, who moves
with inclusivity, mercy, and compassion, will certainly give
fuller meaning to the BEC, to a better way of being Church.

Pollution, waste and

the throwaway culture
SOME forms of pollution are part of peoples daily experience.
Exposure to atmospheric pollutants produces a broad spectrum of health hazards, especially for the poor, and causes millions of premature deaths. People take sick, for example, from
breathing high levels of smoke from fuels used in cooking or
heating. There is also pollution that affects everyone, caused
by transport, industrial fumes, substances which contribute
to the acidification of soil and water, fertilizers, insecticides,
fungicides, herbicides and agrotoxins in general. Technology,
which, linked to business interests, is presented as the only
way of solving these problems, in fact proves incapable of
seeing the mysterious network of relations between things
and so sometimes solves one problem only to create others.
Account must also be taken of the pollution produced
by residue, including dangerous waste present in different
areas. Each year hundreds of millions of tons of waste are
generated, much of it non-biodegradable, highly toxic and
radioactive, from homes and businesses, from construction
and demolition sites, from clinical, electronic and industrial
sources. The earth, our home, is beginning to look more
and more like an immense pile of filth. In many parts of the
planet, the elderly lament that once beautiful landscapes are
now covered with rubbish. Industrial waste and chemical
products utilized in cities and agricultural areas can lead to
bioaccumulation in the organisms of the local population,
even when levels of toxins in those places are low. Frequently
no measures are taken until after peoples health has been
irreversibly affected.
These problems are closely linked to a throwaway culture
which affects the excluded just as it quickly reduces things to
rubbish. To cite one example, most of the paper we produce is
thrown away and not recycled. It is hard for us to accept that
the way natural ecosystems work is exemplary: plants synthesize nutrients which feed herbivores; these in turn become
food for carnivores, which produce significant quantities of
organic waste which give rise to new generations of plants.
But our industrial system, at the end of its cycle of production
and consumption, has not developed the capacity to absorb
and reuse waste and by-products. We have not yet managed
to adopt a circular model of production capable of preserving
resources for present and future generations, while limiting
as much as possible the use of non-renewable resources,
moderating their consumption, maximizing their efficient
use, reusing and recycling them. A serious consideration of
this issue would be one way of counteracting the throwaway
culture which affects the entire planet, but it must be said that
only limited progress has been made in this regard.
-- Laudato Si, nos. 20-22

Monitor
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A new way of being Church

Living Mission
Fr. James H. Kroeger, MM

Three Servants of
Gods Poor

Year of the Poor Reflections

REPEATEDLY, Pope Francis has
explicitly stated that he wants a
Church which is poor and for the
poor. As the Year of the Poor
declared by the CBCP draws to a
close, we realize that our commitment must be fervent and constant. We can take encouragement
from the lives of three servants of
the poor.
Peter Claver, born in Spain in
1580, entered the Society of Jesus
in 1602. In 1610 he sailed for
the missions, arriving in Cartegena (modern Colombia), the
principal slave market of the New
World. Approximately a thousand
Negro slaves arrived every month.
Ordained in 1616, he dedicated
himself by a special vow to the
service of slaves from Western
Africa for 33 years.
Peter waited for the slave ships
to arrive with their human cargo.
Then, he and his interpreters, carrying baskets of food, would board
the ships and greet the slaves.

Peter would also go down into

the stench-filled holds to minister
to the sick and dying. When the
slaves were brought ashore, he
visited them, gave them religious
instruction, and ministered to
their needs until they were sold
and transported to other parts of
South America.
Peter himself said that he must
have baptized about 300,000 of
them. He tried to follow them to
the plantations, encouraging them
to live as Christians. He tried to
prevail upon their masters to treat
them humanely. His service to the
poor extended until his death in
1654; he is rightly known as the
Saint of the Slave Trade.
Vincent de Paul, born in 1581
in France, was radically committed to serving Jesus by serving
the poor. He founded a religious
community, Congregation of the
Mission (the Vincentians), for two
purposes: the formation of priests
and service of the poor. He viewed

The Year of Mercy and

Philippine society
FOREIGNERS often say Filipinos are friendly and hospitable.
Does that mean we are also a
merciful people? It seems we are.
Invariably Filipinos admit to doing or saying kind things to others
out of awa or kalooy (Tagalog
and Waray words for mercy,
compasson or pity). We are
appalled when children are made
to beg on the streets or work for a
pittance (although we still tolerate
these practices). We applaud the
media when they expose sexual
or physical abuse of children,
maltreatment of women, senior
citizens as well as persons with
disabilities. No matter how late,

we have laws that already protect

their rights and welfare. Even the
World Bank sang the praises of
the Philippine government for its
conditional cash transfer program
for the poorest of the poor, hailing
it as one of the best, if not the best,
in the world. In fact, we are so
merciful as a people that we easily
forget the sins of past presidential
dictators, grafters, and plunderers
(of course, after a long course of
public shaming through the media
and public discourse).
Filipinos have short memories, say Filipino observers
themselves. Which explains why
very few today appreciate the real

Candidly Speaking

these two goals as intimately interrelated.

For Saint Vincent, in imitation
of Jesus, we ought to have his
same spirit and imitate Christs
actions, that is, we must take care
of the poor, console them, help
them, support their cause. If
you consider the poor in the light
of faith, then you will observe they
are taking the place of the Son
of God who chose to be poor.
Since God surely loves the poor, he
also loves those who love the poor.
It is our duty to prefer the service of the poor to everything else
and to offer such service as quickly
as possible. Do not become
upset or feel guilty because you
interrupted your prayer to serve
the poor. One of Gods works is
merely interrupted so that another
can be carried out. Charity is
certainly greater than any rule.
Jean Vanier, a committed Catholic layman, founded the first
LArche in France in 1964. The

closest English word to the French

LArche is Ark, a safe and secure
place to live. Today, there are nearly
150 communities in 35 countries,
including the Philippines.
A LArche home is a special
form of community where people
with developmental disabilities
(psychological, physical, medical,
etc.) live in community. These
people, though often shunned
and rejected by the world, live
together with their care-takers.
The LArche community message
is that the poor and weak are
potentially a source of life, hope
and peace to others.
The spirituality of LArche incorporates an inward movement
towards God hidden in the depths
of our own vulnerability, and an
outward movement towards our
brothers and sisters, especially
those who are poor and in need.
For Vanier, To live with Jesus is to
live with the poor. To live with the
poor is to live with Jesus. Serving
the Poor is Serving Jesus.

By the Roadside
Rev. Eutiquio Euly Belizar, Jr., SThD
horrors of Martial Law, with its
gruesome human rights violations, forced disappearances, and
rigged elections or, more recently,
the Jueteng-gate of the Estrada
years leading to his conviction
and incarceration, the Im sorry
rigged-presidential-election controversy or the moderate-yourgreed scams of the GMA era,
the Reproductive-Health-Billpassage-for-DAP arrangements
or the super typhoon Yolanda and
Mamasapano debacles of the current administration, among othersthey all seem to be mercifully
shelved in the public unconscious.
Are these enough evidence to

warrant the claim that we are a

merciful people?
Then, pray explain explain why:
1. We have an endless array of
bashers and nay-sayers who
love to put down not only celebrities and politicians in private and
public fora, including the so-called
social media, but also ordinary
citizens who happen to offend their
tastes and political-cultural-personal ideologies or idiosyncrasies?
2. Our election campaigns are,
as a rule, not a competition of or
dialogue over ideas and platforms
but cut-throat wars of vilification
versus vilification?
By the Roadside, A6

Integrity and competence

Fr. Roy Cimagala

THESE are what we have to look

for in choosing our public officials.
Of course, to be realistic, we have
to put these qualities in the context of the candidates popularity
and electability. But for Petes sake,
lets not make mere popularity
the main guide in electing our
officials.
We have to go beyond looks,
PR gimmicks, smart sound bytes,
spins, and vote-getting machineries. Sad to say, we cannot help but
observe how local candidates tend
to congregate around national candidates and political parties with a
vast and deep war chest. They are
there more for the fund of it.
Neither should we go by mere
genealogy and pedigreethat one
is the son or daughter of so-andso, or that his father or mother
died in some dramatic circumstances. This is a dangerous way

to elect officials. Its like impulse

buying that leaves many of us with
the buyers remorse.
Neither still should we be
guided by some forms of kinshipblood, political, cultural,
social, geographical. While these
factors and conditions have their
valid values, they can only play a
secondary role. They should never
be the primary criteria. Of course,
a big no-no is choosing candidates
on the basis of who give us more
money, dole-outs and other forms
of perks. This way can only spelldisaster.
We should not even be guided
solely by the candidates fame or
their mass appeal, though that
would already be a big help. We
have to be wary of image-building
tactics that do not necessarily
show the true character of the
candidates.

We should not be nave as not

to consider the many subtle forms
of propaganda that sway peoples
favor unfairly. We have to discern
whether that mass appeal that
candidates may have, spring truly
from some divine or humanly
legitimate charisma, or it is simply
a product of some witchery.
What we should look into in
vetting the candidates is their
track record, their performance
in public service, their achievements, their mistakes and how
they handled those.
Integrity and competence
should always go together. Integrity without competence would
not give us good governance.
Neither competence without integrity. They are supposed to have
a mutual relationship.
Integrity evokes a sense of completeness and wholeness as well as

order, harmony, consistency, honesty. For us, it is crucial because it

is something to work and live out,
protect, defend, and even fight for.
It does not come automatically
with our DNA.
We have to know its real essence,
its firm basis and real source. We
have to know the different elements involved in achieving it as
well as the techniques and skills
to get the act together. Hopefully
we can develop a clear and correct science about it, both in its
theoretical and practical aspects.
Offhand, we have to be clear
that the ultimate foundation,
source and goal of our integrity
is God, our Creator and Father.
Hence, we have to understand that
the pursuit of integrity cannot be
done outside of this original religious context. Any understanding
Candidly Speaking, A7

CBCP Monitor

OPINION A5

November 23 - December 6, 2015 Vol. 19 No. 24

Solidarit

Whatever

Collection Box

Fr. Jerome Secillano, MPA

Fr. Francis Ongkingco

THE violence that has killed over

a hundred innocent people in
France has also left millions the
world over deeply wounded! As
I continue to follow the news, I
could not help but feel a tinge of
bitterness and helplessness about
the wave of terrorism sweeping
the globe. It felt like 9/11 all over
again! I could best only pray.
I recall how once the Prelate
of Opus Dei, Javier Echevarra,
before the plague of terrorism
that was then common in Spain,
exhorted us to learn how to pray
and forgive. At one moment in
that gathering, he let out a heartfelt cry that perhaps, also revealed
what he was striving to apply to
his own spiritual life: But do
you [and I] really ask our Lord
for peace and to learn to forgive
those responsible?!!!
I was struck by this sincere
exhortation, because it shattered
the mold of solidarity that I had
mistakenly understood and comfortably lived.
The recent sad events in France
as well as in other parts of the
world, remind us to re-examine
how we live the virtue of solidarity. Solidarity is a firm and
persevering determination to
commit oneself to the common
good; that is to say to the good of
all and of each individual, because

we are all really responsible for

all. (Catechism of the Catholic
Church, 1948).
Sometimes, before natural
disasters and violent upheavals,
it seems very easy to express or
live the virtue of solidarity. We
witness countless individuals and
institutions immediately appealing to some minutes of silence to
remember the victims of certain
atrocities or injustices. There are
also numerous concerted material
efforts attempting to promptly
alleviate victims of typhoons,
earthquakes, and wars.
But surely, the virtue of solidarity cannot be reduced to only
physically or materially helping
our unfortunate brethren. In fact,
not everyone has a chance to be
involved in these material and
social projects. How else could
we live solidarity, as in the present
case of our brothers and sisters
in France?
Naturally, it begins with our
constant prayers! But we cannot
forget that prayer is said best
when it is backed by action.
What kind of action? From this
part of the world, the Philippines, we may not be able to
send something more personal
or heart-warming to the relatives of the victims. The most, I
could imagine, would be to click

on any hosting social networks

that would electronically convey
our condolences (together with
a million others) to the victims
in France.
Can we do something more?
I believe we can.
***
Father, is it alright for me not
to play shooting video games? A
grade school boy asked me.
What do you mean, Brad?
I asked.
Coz I saw what happened
in France, and I thought that by
playing my game, I was like being
a terrorist too.
Of course not, Brad. I dont
think you will ever be like them.
But I think your sacrifice of not
playing any violent games is a
wonderful way to tell yourself
and others that you are one with
the French victims and their
relatives.
Thanks, Father.
***
I believe this short and enlightening conversation is a wonderful
expression of solidarity lived in
the most personal and authentic
level. It is an example of how to
avoid an artificial form of compassion and sincerely sharing
in what our brothers and sisters
the world over are suffering and
enduring of the scourges of ter-

An Unthinkable,
Barbaric Act
POPE Francis expressed his deep sorrow for
the terrorist attacks that bloodied France,
late on Friday, causing many casualties. He
condemned the massacre as an unspeakable
affront to human dignity.
Everyone was shocked with the series of
terrorist attacks in Paris, France in November
2015, Friday the 13th. It was an unexpected
tragedy when everyone was set to enjoy Friday night after a long weeks hard work. As
expected from terrorists, they would go on
sneak attacks in crowded places, where the
most number of people are. As what happened, multiple shootings and grenade attacks occurred on that Friday night. Targeted
were a concert hall, a sports stadium and a
restaurant. French President, Francois Gerard
Georges Hollande, who was watching the
football game between France and Germany
nearby, was immediately evacuated from the
stadium.
Dozens were killed during the Eagles of
Death Metal concert inside the Bataclan concert hall and as of presstime, there are 129 casualties, 350 injured, and still counting. Eagles of
Death Metal are known for free-spirited garage
rock and raunchy humor but are not generally
known for politics. Three suspected Islamic
extremists opened fire as the band performed
at the Bataclan concert hall, killing 89 people
before dying from their suicide vests. President
Hollande named the Paris attacks an act of
war by the Islamic State.
Days after the carnage, ISIS (Iraq-Syria
Islamic States) claimed responsibility. It is
a jihadist militant group in Iraq and Syria
influenced by the Wahhabi Movement. Abdelhamid Abaaoud, the presumed mastermind
of the devastating attacks in Paris, was killed
less than a week after the massacre. He was
said to be so slippery that he could move
undetected between Syria and Belgium, his
home country. Explosions and gunfire rang
out as French police stormed a building in the

Duc In Altum

Atty. Aurora A. Santiago

Paris suburb of Saint-Denis where Abaaoud

was believed to be hiding. Authorities said a
woman blew herself up and a man was killed.
French authorities identified Abaaoud as the
son of Moroccan immigrants who grew up in
the Belgian capitals multiethnic Molenbeek.
Hours after the bloodbath, French authorities closed all its borders; some European
countries followed suit. It was believed that
some ISIS came with the refugees who flocked
to Europe. It was then they took noticed that
most of the refugees are male and young adults
with good physiques.
The ISIS announced that their next targets
are the United States, United Kingdom,
and even the Vatican. Let this unthinkable
barbaric act be stopped. Let us pray that the
perpetrators of these killings be enlightened
and be enveloped with the merciful intercession of our Blessed Mother. Let us pray for
the safety of our Holy Father.
***
We will continue to state here the need for
the re-installation in the SMARTMATIC
PCOS machines of the 4 security features Ultra Violet Detectors, Source Code Review,
Voter Verification Paper Audit Trail and
Digital Signatures - in order to have a clean
and honest election, upholding the true will
of the people by protecting the sanctity of the
ballot. All of them are very important security
features which were deleted during the 2010
and 2013 elections. Let us pray that those
features be re-installed so that the voice of
the people will be heard.
***
The Holy Year of Mercy will open on Dec.
8, 2015, the Solemnity of the Immaculate
Conception. Pope Francis stated that after
the sin of Adam and Eve, God did not wish to
leave humanity alone in the throes of evil. So
he turned his gaze to Mary, holy and immaculate in love, choosing her to be the Mother of
mans Redeemer. When faced with the grav-

Spaces of Hope

rorism, slavery, prostitution,

abortion, drugs, famine, and war.
We wouldnt be consistent with
living solidarity with France (or
any place or people for that matter) if for example, after painting
our profiles with the French
national colors, we nonchalantly
upload loud party and outing
pictures a few minutes later. Or to
join social networks condemning
violent injustices and afterwards
shift to watching a violent film
or wasting hours playing Grand
Theft Auto. Perhaps, they are
just movies or games? True, but
it reveals a lot about our inner
conviction and attitudes. It shows
how sensitive and refined we are
to take upon ourselves what others are genuinely suffering. Solidarity becomes a form of prayer,
but one that is not only said with
our lips. It is a prayer united to a
personal conviction that leads to
our personal conversion.
Through these hidden but effective acts of solidarity, we are
truly accompanying our suffering
brothers and sisters throughout
the world. And in some mysterious way, which we may never be
aware of, they too, in their own
violent trials , may be praying
and offering it for you and even
the very ones responsible for these
acts of terrorism.

ity of sin, God responds with the fullness of

mercy. Mercy will always be greater than any
sin, and no one can place limits on the love
of God who is ever ready to forgive. I will
have the joy of opening the Holy Door on the
Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception. On
that day, the Holy Door will become a Door
of Mercy through which anyone who enters
will experience the love of God who consoles,
pardons, and instils hope.
He further said On the following Sunday,
the Third Sunday of Advent, the Holy Door of
the Cathedral of Rome that is, the Basilica
of Saint John Lateran will be opened. In
the following weeks, the Holy Doors of the
other Papal Basilicas will be opened. On the
same Sunday, I will announce that in every
local Church, at the cathedral the mother
church of the faithful in any particular area
or, alternatively, at the co-cathedral or another church of special significance, a Door
of Mercy will be opened for the duration of
the Holy Year. At the discretion of the local
ordinary, a similar door may be opened at
any Shrine frequented by large groups of
pilgrims, since visits to these holy sites are so
often grace-filled moments, as people discover
a path to conversion.
Pope Francis will open the Holy Door on
the 50th anniversary of the closing of the Second Vatican Ecumenical Council. The Jubilee
year will close with the liturgical Solemnity
of Christ the King on Nov. 20, 2016. As the
Holy Door is sealed, we shall be filled with
a sense of gratitude and thanksgiving to the
Most Holy Trinity for having granted us an
extraordinary time of grace.
***
We greet Fr. Leo Gilbero of the Diocese
of Kalookan Happy Sacerdotal Anniversary.
Happy Birthday to the Curia Staff November
birthday celebrators Kathy de Leon, Jennebeth Reyes, and Rolando David, from the
Diocese of Kalookan.

Gays, Divorced, and

Remarried in the Synod
on the Family
The Synod of Bishops ending last Oct. 25 was sort of anti-climactic.
The contentious issues which consumed many of the participants were
left without definitive answers much to the consternation of those
hoping for clarity in so far as their status in the Church is concerned.
Except for the recognition of gay or homosexual unions, which the
Synod fathers emphatically thumbed down by a vote of 221-37 but not
without reiterating that those with homosexual tendencies be respected
in their dignity and not be discriminated (Relatio, par. 76), the relatio
synodi (synod report) spoke mostly about recognizing the circumstances
and understanding the context of these controversial marriage issues
as they happen to couples and the pastoral approaches needed to lead
couples to a fuller participation in the life of the church.
Fr. James Martin, SJ, a columnist of America Magazine said, The
report is an agreement in ambiguity. Meaning, the report made sure
that the contentions of both liberals and traditionalists were accommodated at the expense of a more precise statement on where the divorced
and remarried stand on the issues.
Those who crafted the report should be commended though for their
ability to weave through the discordant voices in the Synod resulting
in a more objective and balanced declaration of the participants stand.
According to Cardinal Gerhard Mueller, Prefect of the Sacred Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, the Vaticans doctrinal czar, There
was tension between doctrine and pastoral approach, but it is the task
of the synod to see these two aspects together. Every Catholic bishop,
in his person, is a teacher of the faith and also shepherd of the flock.
Faithful to this task, the group, composed of ten prelates chosen
from the Synod fathers, carefully wrote upholding Churchs teachings
on the matter and in a sign of liberality acknowledged the need for the
divorced and civilly remarried, who are baptized, to be more integrated
into the Christian communities in the diverse ways possible, avoiding
every occasion of scandal. They must not feel excommunicated, but
they can live and mature as living members of the Church, feeling it
to be a mother who always welcomes them, taking care of them with
affection and encouraging them in the path of life and the Gospel
(Relatio, par. 84).
To effect this approach, the report said, The path of accompaniment
and discernment orient these faithful to an awareness in conscience of
their situation before God. Conversation with the priest, in the internal
forum, contributes to the formation of a correct judgment on what
places an obstacle to the possibility of a fuller participation in the life
of the Church and on the steps that can favor that participation and
make it grow (Relatio, par. 86).
Though less than what the divorced and remarried were perhaps
expecting, the Synodal report opened a window of opportunity for
the former to finally achieve what they hope for. The report added,
Moreover, it cannot be denied that in some circumstances the guilt
and responsibility of an action can be diminished or annulled (Code of
Canon Law, 1735), because of different conditions. As a consequence,
the judgment on an objective situation must not lead to a judgment on
subjective guilt (Pontifical Council for Legislative Texts, declaration
of June 24, 2000, n.2a). Therefore, while upholding the general norm,
it is necessary to recognize that the responsibility for certain actions or
decisions is not the same in all cases (Relatio, par. 85).
An objective reading of the foregoing tells us that on a case to case
basis, with proper discernment and examination of conscience through
the help of a priest or bishop in the internal forum and for as long as it
may not create scandal, the divorced and remarried may possibly have a
fuller participation in the life of the church. The problem is it is not clear
whether this fuller participation also includes receiving communion.
The vague declaration of the Synod report should not dampen though
the expectations of those batting for a more inclusive church. The fact
that the document recognized the different circumstances and contexts
of each marital case may already be considered a significant step toward
that direction. Whereas before, it was easy for the Church to say that the
divorced and remarried should not receive Holy Communion or those
in de facto unions (cohabitation) were living in sin. With this document,
especially if ratified and adopted by the Pope, clergymen, and the laity alike
will now be more compassionate and understanding when dealing with
these people. But how to translate these compassion and understanding
into concrete actions will, of course, continue to be a work in progress.
What the Synod achieved was not a radical change in doctrines, for
simply there were none, but a consideration, affirmation, and acceptance
of the many issues that threaten the family. These issues cannot simply be
ignored anymore and the Synod fathers prompted by mercy and charity took
themselves to task to make the church more effective in addressing them.
This Synod of Bishops reiterated once more the beauty of the family. The Synod fathers also realized that to preserve its beauty requires
more than just being fixated with the Churchs narcissistic tendencies
by simply adhering to her laws and regulations. Pope Francis said of
the Synod, It was about listening to the voices of families and pastors,
and seeing reality through Gods eyes to offer hope and encouragement
in a world of growing crisis and pessimism.

Doable after all

Fr. Carmelo O. Diola

IN a video interview earlier this year,
Archbishop Jose S. Palma of Cebu noted
that the 51st International Eucharistic
Congress which was thought at first to be
overhwelming is, in fact, very doable.
In about two months the Catholic world
would be celebrating the much-awaited
51st International Eucharistic Congress
in Cebu from Jan. 24 - 31, 2016.
This is a graced-filled, once-in-alifetime experience for most of us. As we
know, this happens once every four years
as Catholics all over the world gather
to publicly proclaim the Eucharist as
central to their lives. The gathering also
rotates among six continents. The probability of the IEC happening again in the
Philippines in our lifetime is not high.
In fact, this is only the second time
it will be held in the Philippines. The
first and only time was in Manila in
1937 when a seven-year old boy named
Ricardo Vidal received first communion

while a four-year old named Gaudencio

Rosales witnessed the event.
This will be held in Asia, the continent
where Christianity began; and in Cebu,
the cradle of Christianity in the biggest
Roman Catholic nation in Asia. It also
comes at a time when the Church seems
to be returning to its beginnings with
all the challenges it faces as a religious
body. For Catholics this is a tremendous
spiritual boost.
The 51st IEC is an opportunity for
delegates and pilgrims to celebrate in
Philippine soil and to be reminded of
our missionary vocation as a Eucharistic people, particularly in Asia where
dialogue with the poor, the youth, and
other religions loom large.
The congress is open to non-Catholics
as well. In our broken world, the act of
breaking bread beautifully witnesses to
the power of God to bring healing and
wholeness to individual lives, families,

groups, and the world. It connects us to

one another and to those who hunger
for God.
***
One of the rooms in the very inspiring St. John Paul II National Shrine
in Washington D.C. is dedicated to
his view of the Eucharist. The room
highlights the words, The Church has
received the Eucharist from Christ her
Lord not as one gift however precious
among so many others, but as the gift par
excellence - for it is the gift of Himself...
(Eucharist in the Church, no. 11).
There are other international gatherings of Roman Catholics, like the World
Youth Day and the World Meeting of
Families. The latter, recently held in
Philadelphia, was attended by Pope
Francis himself. The former, to be held
in Poland will also have Pope Francis
present.
While the absence of Pope Francis

for the 51st IEC comes as a disappointment to many who had passionately
anticipated his presence, the realization
that the Eucharist is gift par excellence
should boost the spirit of delegates and
pilgrims. After all, the Petrine Office is at
the humble service of this communion.
Next years IEC theme, Christ in You,
Our Hope of Glory (Colossians 1:27)
has a special resonance with the host
country whose faith remains joyful, resilient, and event defiant despite its share
of natural disasters - an earthquake that
shattered many places of worship and the
strongest storm ever to make landfall.
A most moving image of this power of
the Eucharist is Pope Franciss breaking
of bread with survivors of Superstorm
Yolanda last January 2015 in Tacloban,
Philippines. There, amid very wet,
windy, and trying conditions brought
about by another tropical storm that was
on signal number 2, he came, oblivious

to the dangers and inconveniences. Who

can forget the Pope covered with yellow
raincoat over his liturgical vestments?
Who couldve remained dry-eyed as he
spoke words of mercy and compassion?
***
To join the IEC is to receive very
special blessings so as to be a very special blessing to others. The Eucharist
is celebrated daily for eight days in a
multi-lingual manner ministered by the
best choirs and music groups of a people
whose jewels are its faith and its music.
Five thousand first communicants
include 500 street children. More than
a million pilgrims are expected to join
a street procession and the Mass of the
world, a beautiful opportunity to witness
to the social dimension of our Christian
faith.
Very beautiful socio-cultural events
have also been lined up even as we preSpaces of Hope, A6

A6 LOCAL NEWS

November 23 - December 6, 2015 Vol. 19 No. 24

CBCP lists 15 ways to

fight climate change
WITH Paris Summit just around the corner,
the Philippine Catholic bishops offered some
ways for the people to implement and initiate
a big change that could save the planet.
These are 15 concrete steps to combat climate change which, according to experts, is
already starting to worsen.
In a statement entitled On Climate
Change: Understand, Act Pray, CBCP president Archbishop Socrates Villegas called on
the faithful to act against the global warming.
Concrete steps
He particularly urged the parishes, Catholic schools, and the youth to support the
resolution of the National Climate Change
Commission of the Philippines to reduce
the national carbon emissions by 70 percent
by 2030.

So what can you do to take action?

1. Grow a tree
2. Switch off and unplug
3. Good bye plastic
4. Segregate
5. Reduce, reuse and recycle
6. No to burning of wastes
7. Promote renewable energy
8. Bring your own tumbler
9. Use energy efficient appliances
10. Walk, bike or carpool
11. Recycle electronics and batteries
12. Environmental and energy awareness
13. Save water: use pails, dippers, and cups
14. Think before you print
15. Support earth products
Villegas said such actions by the faithful
are vital as called for by Pope Francis through

his encyclical, Laudato Si: On Care for Our

Common Home.
Paris summit
According to him, it is a powerful document that has caught the attention of people
throughout the globe.
Its multi-layered message urges all to come
together to care for our earth, our common
home, noted Villegas.
More than 100 world leaders are expected
to gather in Paris for the international climate
negotiations and forge a global climate change
deal next month.
The CBCP head emphasized the urgency of
addressing climate change before it is too late.
The urgency is clear. Global warming, caused by
the way we human beings use this planet, is no longer
disputable, he added. (R. Lagarde / CBCPNews)

Govt learned nothing from Yolanda group

A FAITH-BASED organization has made known its extreme disappointment over the
governments failure to learn
from the lessons of Yolanda
(international name: Haiyan)
given its alleged lip service
on disaster preparedness, and
the consent it granted foreign
businesses to use the countrys
natural resources through development projects like mining, logging, reclamation, and
like activities it believes could
worsen the effects of climate
change.
Contrary to government
claims that it has done its job,
the thousands of people living in
temporary shelters, the pathetic
shelters it built, news of unspent
funds, and rotting relief goods
expose a lack of any comprehensive relief and rehabilitation
program, the National Council
of Churches in the Philippines
(NCCP) laments in a statement
on the 2nd anniversary of the
super typhoon.
Grievous sin
It points out that while disasters
as effects of climate change are
sure to still hit the Philippines in
the years to come, the experiences
with Yolanda and even typhoon
Lando (international name:
Koppu), prove how ill-prepared
is the government in handling
disasters.
Worse, in its failure to do what

Cardinal urges BECs

to serve the outcasts
CARDINAL Luis Antonio
Tagle of Manila called on the Basic
Ecclesial Communities (BECs) to
turn their attention to the marginalized people.
In his talk during the 3rd BEC
National Assembly at the Paco
Catholic Church on Friday, the
cardinal urged BECs to embrace
the outcasts of society.
BECs should say no to exclusion of communions, Cardinal
Tagle said.
I hope that all BECs will be examples of including the excluded,
outcast ones. Every Christian
community shall do its share in
enriching personal and communal

encounters, he said.
Echoing Pope Francis call to
serve the poor, the cardinal also
urged the BEC leaders, workers
and volunteers resist the economy
of exclusion.
We should say no to the economy of exclusion and inequality, he said.He added that since
there must be shared responsibility in the life and mission of the
Church, it is hoped that BECs will
strengthen lay participation.
Every Christian grows in faith
within a community, Tagle also
said. And we are all equal in
Christian dignity. (Myraine
Carluen Policarpio/CBCPNews)

May your tribe increase,

Archbishop tells BEC workers

Archbishop Jose Palma of Cebu gives a message to thousands of BEC workers during
the recent BEC National Assembly at Paco Catholic School, Manila. ROY LAGARDE

Two typhoon Yolanda survivors share about their lives two years after the disaster at a disaster risk reduction summit in Cebu
City recently. RAYMOND A. SEBASTIN

it claims to know should be done,

the government has committed
a grievous sin against its own
people. Equally evil is the obvious
insensitivity to the rights of the
people as human beings. How can
the government deny the squalor
brought about by this insensitivity
and callousness? NCCP notes.
The group goes on to express
fear that big corporations complicit with those in the government
continue to exploit the earths

resources without concern for

people and the next generation.
Giving away our natural resources to foreign business is not
only insensitive to future generations of Filipinos. It also increases
our vulnerability to disasters that
are becoming more destructive,
it stresses.
PH least responsible
According to NCCP, poor and
vulnerable countries like the Phil-

ippines are the least responsible

for climate change.
Why should we be the ones to
suffer most for the transgressions of
rich and powerful countries to our
mother earth? it asks, referring to
the forthcoming COP 21, or the
2015 Paris Climate Conference,
where world leaders will meet to
discuss the means to achieve a
legally binding and universal agreement on climate. (Raymond A.
Sebastin / CBCP News)

BECs, A1

celebrate together the half-century since the

closing of Vatican II.
We gather here today BECs from all over
the country to rejoice in our being-in-oneness. This event further encourages all of us to
celebrate the renewal that has been happening
within the Church for 50 years ago since Vatican II ended, shared Picardal in an interview.
Already but not yet
In the same study, the Redemptorist missionary goes on to point out that various shapes
and forms of BECs have arisen nationwide,
mostly in chapel-centered rural communities
with 30 to 200 families, bemoaning, however,
that they are a not yet-yet-already reality.
While a growing number have social action component like programs for sustainable
agriculture, livelihood projects, peace advocacy, environmental protection, micro-finance,
community-based health program, skills training, and good governance, among others, he
laments that the majority (around 74%) have
yet to integrate social action dimension in
their activities.
Unsupportive clergy
Picardal also expresses concern that many
of the clergy seem to lack interest in BECs,
considering that BECs thrive where priests
actively promote them.
In response to this concern, some seminaries and formation programs all over the Philippines have incorporated the BEC thrust. The

structures of some seminaries and houses of

formation are patterned after the BEC cells.
They do not only talk about BECs but live it
as a way of life among themselves, he says.
Some dioceses are also integrating BEC
formation for the newly-ordained deacons or
priests. Some have also incorporated this in
the ongoing formation program for the clergy.
Seminars and retreats about priestly ministry
and BECs have been given, he adds.
BEC problems
Other areas of concern Picardal points out
are as follows:
Lack of effective means for forming and
sustaining BECs
The vision of BECs, as promoted by PCP
II, is not fully understood and owned.
BECs are considered as simply activities
(Bible-sharing) instead of a culture or a way
of life
BEC is reduced to a handful of people/
cell or Family Groupings composed of 6 10
people who gather for Gospel-sharing.
There is a tendency to regard the BEC cell/
neighborhood grouping as the BEC instead
of being part of the local community. This is
a misunderstanding of BEC. Consequently, it
is difficult to determine how many BECs there
are because the number of cells are counted
rather than the actual BECs.
Very few men and youth are actively involved in BECs are women.
The poorest of the poor (especially in urban

areas) are not involved in BECs

Many BECs remain prayer/bible-sharing
groups without social concern.

Many BEC social action programs are
not sustainable or lacking in effectiveness and
do not lead to social transformation or poverty
alleviation.

Some BECs on maintenance mode
are slowly stagnating.

Many BEC formation program lack
systematic and sustainable evangelizing component.

Some dioceses and parishes rely on sanctions
policy to coerce people to participate in BEC
activities (certification). Inactive members are
not allowed to have their children baptized,
married in Church, or given no funeral Mass.
Vatican II @ 50
According to the Picardal, what Catholics
know today as BECs is actually a fruit of the
said Ecumenical Council that convened at
various times between 1962 and 1965.
He defined BECs as small communities of
Catholic Christians within the parish who
come together to pray, to listen to the word
of God, and to discuss ideas for social action.
So its a way of getting more members of the
Church involved in the life and mission of the
Church. In their community meetings, there
is always an ongoing evangelization that takes
place, he added. (Raymond A. Sebastin /
CBCP News)

SAYING that participation is

key to the Basic Ecclesial Communities, a Catholic archbishop
has one wish for lay BEC leaders,
workers and volunteers: May
your tribe increase!
Archbishop Jose Palma of Cebu
on Thursday recognized the efforts
of lay people, who are gathered for
the BEC National Assembly at the
Paco Catholic School, in the evangelizing mission of the Church.
For many years, the Church
has been mostly clerical. But now
with the BEC, you know too well
that this is our Church your
Church, Palma said in his homily during a Mass held to end the
days session.
When I think of BEC, it always reminds me of you our dear
lay people. Thank God that you
realize, it is your duty and your
role to participate, he said.
He lauded the active participation of lay faithful in the BEC,
which is an expression of a new

way of being Church, despite the

many difficulties and challenges.
But you know this is your role,
privilege and duty as well coming from the Lord, said Palma,
former president of the Catholic
Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP).
In the Philippines, adequate
training and formation of lay pastoral workers, both full time and
volunteer, and BEC leaders remain
among the challenges.
Fr. Amado Picardal, executive
secretary of CBCPs Committee
on BEC, there is an increasing
number of BEC volunteers and lay
formators in recent years.
He said these formation teams are
composed mostly of part-time lay
volunteers who are fully committed
to assist in the formation of BECs.
They need ongoing formation
to deepen their commitment and
develop their skills in evangelizing, organizing and mobilizing,
Picardal said. (CBCPNews)

Synod, A1

elected were Cardinal Christoph

Schnborn of Vienna; Cardinal
Wilfrid Fox Napier of Durban
(South Africa); Cardinal Oscar
Andrs Rodrguez Maradiaga of
Tegucigalpa (Honduras); Cardinal
Peter Kodwo Appiah Turkson,
president of the Pontifical Council
for Justice and Peace; Cardinal
George Pell, prefect of the Secretariat for the Economy; Cardinal
Marc Ouellet, prefect of the
Congregation for Bishops; Cardinal Oswald Gracias of Mumbai
(India); Cardinal Vincent Nichols
of Westminster; Cardinal Robert
Sarah, prefect of the Congrega-

tion for Divine Worship and the

Discipline of the Sacraments;
Archbishop Charles Chaput of
Philadelphia; Archbishop Bruno
Forte of Chieti-Vasto (Italy); The
three named by the Pope himself
are: Chaldean Catholic Patriarch
Louis Sako of Baghdad; Archbishop Carlos Osoro of Madrid;
and Archbishop Sergio Da Rocha
of Brasilia, Brazil.
Cardinal Tagle served as one of
3 presidents of the synod general
assemblies on the family held at
the Vatican in 2014 and in October this year. (Roy Lagarde /
CBCPNews)

Prayer, A1

The purpose of this is for the

people to get involved and to intensify our prayers so we should
never lose hope, the prelate said.
In July this year, the Catholic
Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) issued a mandatory prayer for the faithful to
recite for the peaceful resolution
of the territorial row between
China and the Philippines.
The CBCP also said the ora-

tio imperata seeks to guide the

countrys leaders who brought
the issue before an international
forum for arbitration.
The archbishop said that the
Oratio Imperata also seeks to
guide the countrys leaders,
who are currently in The Hague
and are tasked to deliver the
arguments of the Philippines
arbitration case against China.
(CBCPNews)

Spaces of Hope, A5

By the Roadside, A4

3. Human and animal rights

groups who loudly cry foul over
mistreatment of criminals or animals but are often short of words
over victims of violent robbery,
assassination, abortion, and other
manifestations of disrespect for
human life and property?
4. People who say and do the
(morally) right things are often
scoffed at or ignored, while people
who say and do the (politically)
correct things receive awards and
citations?
5. Victims of wrongdoing such
as tanim-bala (plant-a-bullet

CBCP Monitor

scam) are detained and traumatized by strict legal procedures

while their perpetrators are vigorously defended or go scot-free?
6. Farmers do not have enough
food, carpenters have no decent
housing, fishermen cannot fish
because their government cannot
defend them from bullying by
foreign ships?
7. Moreover, if we are a truly
merciful people why is virtue in
our society trampled upon with glee
while crime is granted impunity?
8. Moreover to moreover, if
we truly value mercy, why do

we easily judge and condemn

those who make little mistakes,
such as mispronouncing words
or making ungrammatically correct statements, when we exempt
ourselves from accountability for
misappropriating public money?
Pope Francis says mercy is no
abstract idea but a concrete face
to recognize, contemplate, and
serve and reminds those of us
who profess Christ that mercy
is the very foundation of the
Churchs life (Misericordiae
Vultus, no. 10). Mercy and justice
must embrace but mercy must

outlast justice in the end, so we

say. But the face to recognize,
contemplate, and serve is not only
our own but Gods in the poor, the
neglected, the marginalized, the
lowly of society.
Filipinos have a long way to go
in seeing and showing the face of
God as mercy. It is small wonder
then that we need the Year of
Mercy to make us sit up, listen
to, and make visible the proclamation: The Lord, the Lord, a
merciful and gracious God, slow
to anger and rich in kindness and
fidelity (Ex 34:6).

pare to share our warm hospitality

as a people. A brief parish-immersion experience is offered while a
youth encounter is organized on
the afternoon of the fifth day.
Highly sought-after speakers
from all over the world will give
talks on various dimensions of the
Eucharist. An opportunity to visit
and interact with faith communities in Tagbilaran and Tacloban is
likewise offered to give delegates
a taste of the joyful, resilient faith
of Filipinos. A delegation from the
Diocese of Vancouver, Canada is
even preparing to have a Table of
Hope - a meal - with 500 street

and other poor children in Metro

Cebu.
Yes, the 51st International
Eucharistic Congress is not only
doable but its spirit is already
happening in our preparations.
As Pope Francis says in his video
invitation for the IEC, It is a
blessing to break and share bread
with people from many nations.
In the name of the people of the
Philippines whomremain hopeful
amidst great trials and sufferings,
I invite you to join the 51st International Eucharistic Congress in
Cebu, Philippines...
The joy awaits.

CBCP Monitor

DIOCESAN NEWS A7

November 23 - December 6, 2015 Vol. 19 No. 24

IEC Pavilion consecrated to Christ the King

CEBU City--At least 7,000 people on
Nov. 22 trooped to the Eucharistic Pavilion which was opened to the public for the
first time for the structures consecration
to Christ the King.
Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma led
the Eucharistic celebration inside the
three-storey structure that was built
for the forthcoming 51st International
Eucharistic Congress (IEC)an event
which is expected to draw about
15,000 delegates from different parts
of the world to Cebu City from Jan.
24 to 31, 2016.
The Pavilion, which the faithful saw
for the first time that day since its turn
over by its contractor to the Archdiocese
of Cebu, was specially consecrated as the
Catholic Church celebrated yesterday the

Solemnity Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of

the Universe.
Consecrated to Christ the King
We are ready for the International
Eucharistic Congress. (And) we consecrate this Pavilion to Christ the King,
said Palma in his homily while drawing
applause from the huge crowd.
A portion of Pope John Paul II Avenue, particularly in front of the archdiocesan seminary compound where
the Pavilion is located, was closed to
private vehicles yesterday afternoon as
part of the traffic rerouting dry run for
IEC 2016.
The stretch starting from F. Cabahug
Street (corner Leona Cakes and Pastries)
in barangay Mabolo to the Technical Edu-

In Iloilo, we plant
trees, not bullets

cation and Skills Development Authority

office in barangay Lahug was closed to
private cars today from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m.
for another traffic dry run.
Passenger jeepneys and taxicabs, however, can take their usual routes.
Palma said some activities, including
a concert to be participated in by 400
priests in the archdiocese, are scheduled
inside the Pavilion to test the facility
before the start of the IEC.
Msgr. Joseph Tan, media liaison officer
of the Cebu Archdiocese, said a total of
7,344 individuals joined the Eucharistic
celebration at the Pavilion yesterday.
The figure, he said, was based on the
number of new chairs that were brought
in and occupied by people during the
event.

Cebus newest landmark

Present during the Mass were Archbishop Emeritus of Cebu Ricardo Cardinal Vidal, Cebu Auxiliary Bishops
Dennis Villarojo and Oscar Florencio,
and Bishops Antonio Raola, Christian
Noel, and Ireneo Amantillo, as well as
about 60 priests.
Duros Development Corp. (DDC)
turned over the Eucharistic Pavilion to the
Archdiocese of Cebu last Saturday.
DDC shouldered the full cost of building, amounting to about Php 550 million.
In exchange, the Archdiocese of Cebu
will give the construction company usufruct rights over parts of the seminary
property.
Also in attendance were Cebu City
Mayor Michael Rama, Rep. Raul del Mar

of Cebu Citys north district, and former

Congressman Eduardo Gullas.
Cebus newest landmark, which
stands on a 25,754-square meter lot
behind the archdiocesan seminary in
Mabolo, Cebu City, features a huge
plenary hall, a chapel, theater, and six
function rooms.
The Pavilion will be the main venue of
the 51st IEC which normally takes place
every four years to promote an awareness
of the central place of the Eucharist in the
life and mission of the Church, to deepen
ones understanding of the liturgy, and to
draw attention to the social dimension of
the Eucharist.
The last time the IEC was held in the
country was in 1937 in Manila. (Archdiocese of Cebu/CBCP News)

Davao hopes climate lessons will reach kids, grassroots

DAVAO CityThe Archdiocesan
Social Action Center (ASAC) of
Davao hopes that the lessons of
climate change will trickle down
to the younger generation and the
grassroots.
Sr. Ma. Marissa Arado, TDM,
coordinator of ASAC Davao said
she has observed that not everyone
has understood the issue of climate
change even if Pope Francis himself has spoken about this concern
through his encyclical Laudato Si
We need to strengthen our
efforts to increase their awareness
about this issue. We have already
experienced typhoons and other
natural calamities. We should not
wait until another disaster will
strike our city before we act on
Climate Change, stressed Arado.

The Ascension of the Lord Parish in GSIS Heights in Matina, Davao City has put up an
organic vegetable garden, small poultry and fish pond, Laudato Si Garden, named after
the popes recent encyclical. ASAC DAVAO

60,000 signatures
With the Global Catholic Climate Movement partnering with
different dioceses in the Philippines including the Archdiocese of
Davao in gathering at one million
signatures to petition the world
leaders who will meet in Paris in
December to respond to climate
change, she realized that there is
a need to increase the awareness
of young people and the people
at the grass-roots level.

Though only 60,000 signatures

have been gathered from the Archdiocese of Davao, they are still
hopeful the leaders of the different
countries will act with urgency
to reduce carbon emissions that
worsen global warming.
Members of the Parish Social
Action Ministry (PSAM) gathered
the said signatures from the Basic
Ecclesial Communities of the 37
parishes in the archdiocese and
several Catholic schools in the city.

The poor and the children

are the ones mostly affected
during calamities. I hope our
leaders will be more proactive
in this issue especially that
natural calamities are inevitable, she added.
Simple acts of concern
Arado suggested that parents
can teach their children to care for
their environment by conserving
electricity and water, specifically

training them to switch off lights

and close faucets when not in use.
We are living in this generation
that is literally power hungry. We
should educate the children not to
own too many gadgets that require
power. At least we should also
tell them not to overcharge their
gadgets, she said, explaining that
a higher demand for electricity
means more carbon emissions in
the atmosphere.
She said some parishes are
walking their talk about caring for
environment by putting up their
own organic gardens to encourage
parishioners to do the same.
The Ascension of the Lord Parish in GSIS Heights in Matina,
Davao City has put up an organic
vegetable garden, small poultry
and fish pond, Laudato Si Garden,
named after the popes recent
encyclical.
Parish priest, Fr. Leonardo
Dublan, Jr. is also the director of
ASAC.
Another parish, the St. Francis
of Assisi Parish in La Verna, Buhangin, Davao City has also put
up an organic vegetable garden
in front of the parish church for
consumption and for selling to
parishioners. (John Frances C.
Fuentes/CBCP News)

Vocations, A1

JASAC staff members in tree-planting activity.

JARO, Iloilo City--In stark contrast to the dreaded bulletplanting or tanim-bala scam
that is making the countrys
airports notorious, this Catholic
archdiocese launched a massive
tree-planting program in response
to the Popes call for all the faithful to work together to take care
of our Common Home.
Volunteers from various parishes came together in a treeplanting activity on Nov. 14 in
Mt. Upao, San Dionisio, Iloilo,
to plant the initial 5,000 trees
of the 150,000 committed earlier
by the Archdiocese of Jaro in
time for the celebration of the
feast of the Archdioceses patroness, St. Elizabeth of Hungary, on
Nov. 17, and also in line with
Jaros 150th anniversary of existence as a diocese.
Jaro Archdiocesan Social Action Center (JASAC) Director
Msgr. Meliton Oso said the
tree-planting is a joint project
of the JASAC, the Parish Social
Action Ministry, and the Barangay Councils of San Nicolas,
Capinag, Pase, Tiabas and Sua.
Oso said that to assure their
growth, the first 5,000 trees
planted will be nursed by the
residents of the five barangays
in San Dionisio.
The Social Action Center
Director explained that the treeplanting project is their response
to Pope Francis who, in his en-

JASAC

cyclical Laudato Si encouraged

ways of acting which directly
and significantly affect the world
around us, such as avoiding the
use of plastic and paper, reducing
water consumption, separating
refuse, planting trees, or any
number of other practices.
In the local Church in Iloilo,
we would like to underline in
particular the planting of trees,
stressed Oso, citing the influence of earlier prelates like the
late Jaro Archbishop Alberto J.
Piamonte.
Regarding reforestation, in
particular, here in Iloilo, our
forest cover is only about 2%
falling too short of the ideal
40% forest cover needed to balance our oxygen requirement. To
regain this ecological balance in
Iloilo we should plant 19 trees
for every tree that we see now, or
plant 20 trees for every tree that
we cut down, Oso said, quoting Piamontes Feb. 16, 1994
pastoral letter Let us take care
of this earth God.
Convinced about the importance of trees to life in general
and to human life in particular,
the JASAC director appealed to
everyone, saying, We are inviting
you and your organizations to join
us in our tree-planting program.
We hope to see you for the sake
of Mother Earth and the generations yet to come. (Fr. Mickey
Cardenas/CBCP News)

APEC, A1

And the human face speaks

about the development of the
poor people, Quevedo said
over Radio Veritas.
He said the current economic philosophy does not
s t r i c t l y f o l l ow t h e t r i c k l e
down theory because it only
befits the big businesses, while
the poor and the marginalized
are the last to be attended to.
A long time, the benefits
will go down to the poor. And
we think that should be turned
around, explained the prelate.
World leaders started arriving
in Manila on Tuesday, Nov. 17
for the the Asia-Pacific Economic
Cooperation (APEC) summit.

Among them are Presidents

Barack Obama of the US, Xi
Jinping of China, Enrique
Pea Nieto of Mexico, and
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
Quevedo called on APEC
leaders to also help address
hunger and poverty, saying
economic growth should benefit the poor.
We should not be avidly following a trickle-down
economy system but something that is bottomup
so that the poor people can
feel and enjoy the benefits of
economic development, he
added. (CBCPNews)

goes on to challenge them to take every opportunity to allow the Holy Spirit provoke
curiosity in onlookers who see Christians
serving the poor, the elderly, the sick, and the
helpless.
Let the onlookers wonder: Why are they
doing this? he says, echoing the pontiff.
Gomez expresses lament that many young
people are ambiguous about their relationship
with the Church.

Rich young man

According to him, some of them are groping
in faith, others are totally indifferent, but most
are just confused.
Confused with so many options that the
world offers: to decide between the better or
the best, the good or the right, the nice or the
beautiful. Indeed, that is quite difficult, the
priest explains.
Gomez points out the story of a rich

young man asking Jesus how to attain

eternal life (Mt. 19:16-22) makes sense to
those who are discerning and making lifechanging decisions.
Eternal Life, if I were to stretch the term a
little bit, in this modern world may also refer to
finding meaning and purpose. In other words,
the quest of young people today is how to make
life meaningful and finding their purpose, he
adds. (Raymond A. Sebastin / CBCP News)

Competence requires a working knowledge

of the common good and of what it requires.
It involves a good understanding and practical
skills to live the social principles of solidarity
and subsidiarity. It demands one to have a clear
vision of the goals toachieve. Otherwise, there
would be disorder and chaos.
It requires continuing formation, continuing effort to know the concrete conditions and circumstances of the relevant
issues and situations of ones work. Thus
constant updating of relevant knowledge
and skills is needed.

It urges the officials to always polish their

virtue of prudence, making due study, consultations as well as timely decisions and
action. It requires the officials to know how
to coordinate the different elements of his
office. It also involves a certain sensitivity
to changes taking place and the ability to
correspond to them without getting lost in
the essentials.
With what we are seeing in this funny but
painful episode of the tanim-bala in NAIA,
lets hope that we can learn the lesson of how
to choose our leaders and public officials.

Candidly Speaking, A4

of integrity outside of this would be compromised right from the start.

Even if our concept of God and of how to
relate to Him is not yet clear, we have to hold
it as a necessary prerequisite, at least theoretically, because it would be funny to look for
the origin, meaning and purpose of integrity
simply in ourselves or in the world.
That way of pursuing integrity would make
it a mere human invention, and given the way
we are, we could not help but be subjective
and therefore prone to have different versions
of integrity.
Kneel, A1

We kneel down in sorrow for

our abuses against the weak and
the vulnerable.
Kneeling disposes us to receive
and share mercy. Kneeling humbly
reminds us that we have fallen and
in our fallen yet forgiven condition, we must show mercy to one
another, he added.
The prelate stressed the value
of kneeling for renewal, a virtue
of humility and mercy which the
present generation have compromised with the throw away
consumerist culture.
The CBCP issued the statement on Tuesday, Nov. 24 for
the forthcoming year of renewal
dedicated to mercy, the Eucharist
and the family.
Missionary disciples
The pastoral exhortation also
expressed concern for the Filipino
family which the Church envisions to be missionary disciples
of the Eucharist but is threatened
from within and without.
Let us kneel again at home
for the family prayer and for
feet washing, said Archbishop
Villegas. The family that prays
together stays together. The family that kneels together will be
refreshed and renewed together.

Echoing Pope Francis message

during the recent World Meeting
of Families in Philadelphia, he
called on Filipinos for an openness
to miracles of love for the sake of
families.
Where siblings wash one
anothers feet and parents do the
same; where the culture of family
kneeling is present, the dream of
renewal in family life will not be
far from sight, he said.
The family that kneels together
will remain young and fresh and
new. Kneeling empowers families
to stand up against the storms
of life. Kneeling is strength, the
archbishop added.
More urgent
For Caritas Internationalis
President and Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle of Manila, the world
today is in dire need--more than
ever--of the Year of Mercy amid
recent episodes of violence.
He said the recent spate of
senseless terror attacks are but
just the consequences of the lack
of mercy in the word.
Yes, I believe it (Year of Mercy)
has become more urgent, Tagle
said in interview over Vatican
Radio on Nov. 23.
We have to ask what happens

in the human heart when it loses

mercy. It can be blind to power
and it can do things that are terrible, he said.
The prelate said he is hoping
that the upcoming Jubilee of
Mercy would awaken minds and
hearts even of non-Catholics.
We are very hopeful that this
Jubilee Year of Mercy will be able
to respond to the great needs of
our society. This is a blessing not
only for the Catholic Church but
for the whole world, he said.
Open doors of charity
The Jubilee for Mercy is set to
begin on Dec. 8, but Pope Francis
will jumpstart the celebration on
Nov. 29 by opening the diocese of
Banguis Holy Door while in the
Central African Republic.
It was in March 2015 when the
Pope announced an extraordinary
Holy Year of Mercy from Dec. 8,
2015 until Nov. 20, 2016 in his continued push for a more open, compassionate, and merciful church.
After the Holy Door of St.
Peters is opened on Dec. 8, the
Holy Doors of the other papal
basilicas will be opened in the
subsequent days.
The pontiff has also requested
that every diocese throughout the

world open a similar Door of

Mercy for the local celebrations
of Jubilee.
In Manila, Cardinal Tagle will
lead the celebration of the Holy
Year at the Manila Cathedral at 3
p.m. on Dec. 9.
Also in the Philippines, the
CBCP will open the Year of the
Eucharist and the Family on Nov.
29 as part of the nine-year preparation for the Jubilee of 2021, the
500th anniversary of Christianity
in the country.
The Year of Mercy calls for
conversion. Mercy is Gods gift to
us and the human heart must ask
who are we to deserve this compassion and love? And this is already
the beginning of conversion,
added the prelate.
He also said the Pope wants the
Church and the faithful to open
not only jubilee doors of basilicas
but also open doors of charity.
He encouraged the faithful to
continue making acts of mercy
such as giving food to the hungry,
visiting the prisoners or the charity
wards of hospitals, home for the
elderly and orphanages, among
others.
They are also places to visit and
Im sure there will be a lot of indulgence and blessings, added Tagle.

A8 PEOPLE, FACTS, AND PLACES

Filipinos in New York

honor immigrants
patron saint

November 23 - December 6, 2015 Vol. 19 No. 24

CBCP Monitor

Antipolos new coadjutor

bishop asks for prayers
FORMER Antipolo Auxiliary Bishop
Francisco M. de Leon on Saturday,
the eve of Christ the King, invited
Catholics in his hometown of Paraaque
to pray for him after receiving the unexpected news that Pope Francis had
officially made him the coadjutor bishop
of his diocese.
Pray for me, the prelate urged the
faithful after celebrating Mass at the Cathedral Parish of St. Andrew in La Huerta,
Paraaque, where he was born and grew
up, and whose parochial school he is a
graduate of.
As a coadjutor bishop, I reserve the
right to succeed the incumbent bishop
of Antipolo, Bishop Gabriel Reyes, in the
event that he retires, the prelate pointed
out in a brief explanation.

Coadjutor
De Leon shared that at exactly 7:00
p.m. (12:00 p.m. in Rome), he was informed that the Holy Father had given
him this new appointment.
Starting tonight I am no longer the
auxiliary bishop of Antipolo. I am now the
coadjutor bishop of Antipolo, he said in
an impromptu announcement which the
congregation received with an applause.
De Leon went on to share that when he
was auxiliary bishop he would ask Reyes
how he could better serve him.
Now that he is a coadjutor, the prelate
quipped that he can now freely greet him,
How is your health, Bishop?
De Leon became auxiliary bishop of
Antipolo in June 27, 2007 and was formally installed pn Sept. 1, later that year.

Latest appointment
Before his latest appointment, he had
served as apostolic administrator of the
Diocese of Kalookan from Jan. 2013 to
Oct. 2015.
Meanwhile, besides De Leon, Nueva
Segovia Auxiliary Bishop David William
V. Antonio also received a new appointment from Pope Francis, as Apostolic
Administrator of the Apostolic Vicariate
of San Jose, Mindoro, a Vatican Radio
article confirms.
The same report adds that other
than retirement, the resignation and
death of the incumbent automatically makes the coadjutorunlike
an auxiliarythe next lead bishop of
a diocese. (Raymond A. Sebastin /
CBCP News)

Lumads open identity museum in Baclaran

Filipinos in New York gathered at the Shrine of St. Frances Xavier Cabrini on Nov. 15 to celebrate the life
of the Italian-born saint who migrated to the United States and became the patron saint of immigrants.
KRIS BAYOS

FILIPINOS in New York gathered at

the Shrine of St. Frances Xavier Cabrin
on Nov. 15 to celebrate the life of the
Italian-born saint who migrated to the
United States and became the patron
saint of immigrants.
Overseas Filipino workers, led by
the wife of Consul General Mario
Lopez De Leon, Eleonor, attended a
Filipino Sunday Mass on the feast day
of Mother Cabrini which was presided
by newly ordained Fr. Adolfo Novio, a
Filipino priest under the Archdiocese
of New York.
In his homily, Novio joked that
Mother Cabrini must be exhausted
in interceeding for the prayers of immigrants these days because of the
upcoming presidential elections in the
United States.
Anti-immigrant sentiments
Among other presidential candidates
with strong stands against illegal immigrants, businessman Donald Trump
said he is keen on getting rid of illegal
immigrants if he wins the race next
year.
Hindi na nagpapahinga sa langit si
Mother Cabrini para mabigyan tayo ng
papel (Mother Cabrini must have been
sleepless in praying and interceeding so
that our immigration documents would
be processed, Novio said, eliciting

laughter among Massgoers.

Despite this, Novio urged Filipino
immigrants who are still struggling
to maintain a legal identity to stay in
the United States to pray for Mother
Cabrinis intercession.
Powerful intercessor
I have heard a lot of testimonies from
people who were blessed with miracles.
With the intercession and prayers of
Mother Cabrini, naayos mga papel nila
(their documents were processed), he
said.
Data from the Department of Foreign
affairs show there are at least 10 million
Filipinos residing and working overseas.
According to the Philippine Consulate
in New York, there are 3.5 million Filipinos in the United States alone.
To recall, Trump said he plans to deport 11 million illegal immigrants in the
US should he win the 2016 presidential
elections.
Mother Cabrini founded the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of
Jesus to care for the poor children in
schools and hospitals in Italy. In 1889,
she brought six nuns when she migrated
to the US where she built orphanages,
hospitals, and schools to care for and
serve the needs of Italian immigrants
until she died on Dec. 22, 1917. (Kris
Bayos / CBCPNews)

Items currently on display at the Museo Lumad. RAYMOND A. SEBASTIN

LUMADS encamped in the

compound of the National
Shrine of Our Mother of Perpetual Help in Baclaran for
over a week now have taken to
building a tent museum just
outside the Marian shrine in a
bid to show other Filipinos the
heritage next generations risk
losing if persecutions against
the countrys indigenous peoples (IP) continue.
We Lumads ourselves
initiated, conceptualized,
and manage this museum.
This means that this is the
story of our peoples, they
say in a collective statement,
stressing that its perspective
is neither that of the state
nor of what they refer to as
the semi-colonial and semifeudal culture.
Museo Lumad
Called Museo Lumad, the
exhibit features items the various native tribes of Southern
Philippines commonly use like

ethnic garments, accessories,

household utensils, musical
instruments, and bags, among
many others, that attest to
their own unique cultures.
In a leaflet they distributed,
the Lumads point out that
their makeshift museum differs from mainstream academic ones that display Lumad
images and objects as pretty
relics, but are disassociated
from the strengthening of their
mass movement.
According to them, the
Museo Lumad bares two sides
of the prevailing situation in
society.
Living museum
They explain: It shows the
good aspects of our culture
which we need to develop,
especially our communal traditions and principles. But it
also shows what have been
destructive to our nature, and
what has been negative in our
practices.

A Lumad elder. RAYMOND A. SEBASTIN

The Lumads go on to call

the mini exhibit a living museum in that it tells of their
heroic movement against ethnocide as well as the struggle
for the defence of their ancestral lands.
This museum strengthens
our unity and involvement
with the majority of the Filipinos who are oppressed and
are also struggling for national
sovereignty because the history
of the Filipino people is tightly
connected with the history of
the Lumad peoples, they add.
Vulnerable IPs
The Lumad Development
Center Inc. (LDCI) notes that
what is ordinarily and collectively known as Katawhang
Lumad actually consists of
18 different but related ethnic
groups scattered across the 19
provinces of Mindanao.
Viewed as vulnerable
groups, they live mainly in
hinterlands, forests, lowlands,

and coastal areas and are generally neither Islamized nor

Christianized.
For their part, the Lumads
fault the erosion of their cultures to the national oppression of indigenous peoples,
which they claim is based on
the usurpation of our ancestral
lands, institutionalized discrimination, and state violence
against their people through
the years.
Open to public
As indigenous peoples, we
need to face the problem of
our fading cultures. This museum is one way to strengthen
our fight to defend our ancestral lands, they say.
The public is encouraged to
visit the Museo Lumad located
near the newly-built Carillon
bell tower of the Baclaran
shrine.
Admission is free but donations are welcome. (Raymond
A. Sebastin / CBCP News)

5 individuals to receive Titus Brandsma Awards

FIVE individuals have made it to the
roster of awardees for this years Titus
Brandsma Award of the Titus Brandsma
Media Center, a Carmelite Media Ministry.
Titus Brandsma Award is a biennial
award given to individuals and groups,
especially to journalists in print and
broadcast media who have lived out in an
exemplary way the virtues of Blessed Titus
Brandsma, a Carmelite priest, journalist
and educator who was martyred in 1942
in the Dachau Nazi concentration camp
for writing and defending the truth.
The awarding ceremony, which is set
on Nov. 27, at the Titus Brandsma Media
Center in New Manila, Quezon City, will
honor Fr. Franz-Josef Eilers, SVD; Yvonne
Chua; Raymund Villanueva; Abner Francisco; and Gary Granada.
The body is awarding the following for
excellence in their respective fields:
Fr. Franz-Josef Eilers, SVD, for Leadership in Social Communication
A renowned speaker in different courses
and workshops on social communication,
culture and globalization, Fr. Franz-Josef
Eilers, SVD is actively promoting communication in the Church, especially in
todays age of Internet and communication technology.
Eilers continues to serve as professor of
Social Communication and Missiology
at the Divine Word School of Theology
in Tagaytay City and University of Santo
Tomas in Manila. He has also authored
books on Social Communication that
animated not only the Church in Asia but
all over the globe. Aside from that, he is
a Consultor of the Pontifical Council for
Social Communications at the Vatican in
Rome where he also teaches in schools like
the Gregorian and Salesian universities
and he is also a professor at the College

of Development Communication of the

University of the Philippines Los Baos.
Eilers used to be the Executive Secretary
for the Office of the Social Communication (OSC) of the Federation of Asian
Bishops Conferences (FABC) in Manila.
Yvonne Chua for Leadership in Journalism
Yvonne Chua has lived the best of both
worlds of the academe and media practice.
A journalism professor of the University of the Philippines College of Mass
Communication where she handles basic
to advanced Journalism courses at the
undergraduate and Masters levels, Chua
is also the co-founder of Vera Files, an
online investigative news agency where
she writes, edits, and manages the website
that discusses in-depth stories.
Her award-winning stories on corruption led to reformation in various government agencies because of her expertise, especially in Data Journalism where she uses
data culled from different researches and
investigations and utilizes them to give a
picture of the different issues like the unexplained wealth of government officials,
discrepancies in textbook procurement
in public schools, lack of accountability
and transparency in government institution, among others. Chua was the former
managing editor of Malaya, a publication
in the Philippines.
Aside from her teaching and media
stints, she has also edited and co-written
books on investigative reporting while
sharing her expertise as member of the
editorial advisory board of Asia Pacific
Media Educator, a journal of the School
of Journalism and Creative Writing of the
University of Wollongong, NSW, Australia. She is a member of the Technical
Committee for Journalism of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED),

and editorial consultant of Tulay publication for 20 years already.

Raymund Villanueva for Emerging
Leadership in Journalism
Raymund Villanueva is the Director
for Radio of Kodao Productions, Inc., a
multimedia radio and production group
based here in the Philippines that has won
awards and citations from different awardgiving bodies. Known for his passion as
a journalist and a storyteller, Villanueva
has written articles on peace and conflict,
disasters, human rights, social justice,
among other issues in bulatlat.com and
other outlets. His works include the story
on the massacre of a Blaan family and a
photo essay on the Banwaon Children
of Balit.
Though he has fearlessly faced the different threats that come with the profession, Villanueva always tells students and
fellow media practitioners that safety is a
must in performing ones duties.

In all these, I am happy and still

alive. I have every intention to stay this
way for some more decades. Because no
story, no photograph, no film, no broadcast, is worth dying for, Villanueva said
during one of the workshops he handled.
Abner Francisco for Leadership in
Community Communication
A journalist for print and radio, Abner
Francisco has been hailed for his works
not only as a journalist but also as a
community catalyst and facilitator. He
is known for uplifting the lives of the
people in North Cotabato and Mindanao
through his brand of innovative and participatory journalism.
Francisco is noted for his leadership
and advocacy for good governance in the
province being the convener when the
Watchful Advocate for Transparent, Clean
and Honest Governance (WATCH)
North Cotabato, a media-citizen initiative started.

Gary Granada for Leadership in Culture and Communication

Gary Granada is an award-winning
composer for his pop/folk music artistry
and known for his songs like Salamat sa
Musika, Kahit Konti, Mabuti Pa Sila,
Saranggola sa Ulan, among others. A
musical genius who produced jingles
that became popular songs like Kapag
Nananalo/Natatalo ang Ginebra, Iba na
ang Pinoy, Alay Mo Buhay Ko, Bangon
Na, Mag-impok sa Bangko, Lakbayin
Natin ang Pilipinas, and Tagumpay
Nating Lahat, Granada has also written
books used to teach about nationalism,
globalization, womens rights, and intellectual property to students in the middle
school up to college.
In his book which also includes chords
and lyrics of his songs, Granada said he
is first of all, a teacher who happens to
know about music. He taught at the
University of the Philippines College of
Development Communication and College Algebra at the UP Los Baos.
Titus Brandsma Awards is a prestigious award-giving body that has
recognized different individuals in the
mainstream media for their exemplary
works like Kara David and Howie
Severino of GMA News, Patricia Evangelista of Rappler, Carol Arguillas of
Mindanews, to name a few through
the Titus Brandsma Media Ministry
of the Order of Carmelites (O.Carm.),
an 800-year old religious order in the
Catholic Church which is also present
in the Philippines.
The Carmelite fathers media apostolic ministry is named after Blessed Titus
Brandsma, who died defending defended
press freedom and the right to education.
Pope John Paul II beatified him on Nov.
3, 1985 by. (CBCPNews / Carmelite
Media Ministry)

PASTORAL CONCERNS B1

November 23 - December 6, 2015 Vol. 19 No. 24

LOsservatore Romano

CBCP Monitor

The Holy Door unveiling at the Recognitio ceremony in St. Peters Basilica on November 17, 2015.

Jubilee of blessings,
mission of renewal
CBCP Pastoral Exhortation for the Jubilee of Mercy
and the Year of the Family and the Eucharist
Let us kneel before the Lord who made us. (Psalm 95:6)

THE Year 2016 will be a year of many

blessings for us in the Philippines. It
will also be a year of mission for the
Kingdom.
From December 8, 2015 until November 20, 2016, the Church all over
the world will observe an extraordinary
Jubilee Year of Mercy as decreed by Pope
Francis in the papal bull Misericordiae
Vultus. We stand in faithful communion
with the Holy Father as he prays that
the Church echo the word of God that
resounds strong and clear as a message
and a sign of pardon, strength, aid, and

restore a contemplative view of creation

as Pope Francis invites us, we must learn
to kneel again by the feet of the Lord
and be caught in awe at the wonder of
His tenderness and mercy.
If we want renewal, let us learn to
kneel again in body, in heart and attitude.
Begging for mercy, we kneel in repentance. Adoring the Eucharist, we
kneel down and worship. With humble
service, we kneel in the family and wash
one anothers feet. If we dream of renewal, let us kneel again in repentance,

mercy. Kneeling symbolizes someone

who has fallen but trusts in the loving
mercy of God. When our bodies fail to
move with the prayer dispositions of the
heart; when we lose the importance of
kneeling and bowing, our prayer can
become dry and even boring. Praying
with the body by kneeling or bowing or
raising our hands can ignite the dying
embers of our spiritual lives.
John Cassian (360-435) taught
The bending of the knee is a token
of penitence and sorrow of a penitent
heart. Furthermore, St. Ambrose of

Where love and service prevail instead of pride and grudge

keeping; where the humility of pardon and being pardoned
prevails over revenge and bitter resentments; where siblings
wash one anothers feet and parents do the same.
love. May she never tire of extending
mercy, and be ever patient in offering
compassion and comfort.
In the Philippines, we shall open
today November 29, 2015, the First
Sunday of Advent, the Year of the Eucharist and the Family, as part of our
nine year preparation for the Jubilee of
2021, the five hundredth anniversary
of the first Mass and first baptism in
the Philippines. We also eagerly await
the celebration of the Fifty First International Eucharistic Congress in Cebu
come January 2016.
2016 will also celebrate the twenty
fifth year of the convocation of the
Second Plenary Council of the Philippines, the greatest ecclesial event in the
Philippines in the twentieth century.
In this forthcoming year of renewal
dedicated to mercy, the Eucharist and
the family, under the light of PCP II,
how shall we as a people respond?
As your brothers and pastors in
the faith, our answer is If we want
renewal, let us learn how to kneel
again. Our generation seems to have
lost the religious gesture of kneeling;
we have become more a clapping generation. We seem to have compromised
the virtue of humility with a culture of
self-security and independence. Our
throw away consumerist culture can
hardly imagine kneeling down before
one another, like the Lord who washed
the feet of His beloved ones. If we are to

in adoration and in service.

For Mercy Let Us Kneel
We cannot celebrate mercy without
repentance.
Then Stephen fell to his knees and
cried out in a loud voice, Lord, do not
hold this sin against them; and when
he said this, he fell asleep. (Acts 7:60)
Merciful like the Father, we are called
upon to pray on behalf of humanity for
the forgiveness of sins. We need constantly to contemplate the mystery of
mercy. It is a wellspring of joy, serenity,
and peace. Our salvation depends on it.
Mercy: the word reveals the very mystery of the Most Holy Trinity. Mercy:
the ultimate and supreme act by which
God comes to meet us. Mercy: the fundamental law that dwells in the heart of
every person who looks sincerely into
the eyes of his brothers and sisters on
the path of life. Mercy: the bridge that
connects God and man, opening our
hearts to the hope of being loved forever
despite our sinfulness. (MV #2).
Celebrating the Jubilee of Mercy, we
are also invited to kneel down in humility and repentance especially in the sacrament of reconciliation where we kneel
down to confess our sins and receive
pardon. Kneeling is a very important
gesture in our Christian culture that
we must regain and safeguard. Origen
said kneeling is necessary if we want to
admit our sins before God and seek His

Milan (Hexaemeron, VI, ix) said The

knee has been made flexible so that by
means of it, more than any other limb,
our offences against the Lord may be
mitigated and Gods displeasure may be
appeased, grace called forth.
Kneeling down is not just an act
to seek mercy for our sins, it is also a
gesture of compassion for our fellow
wounded sinners. We are invited to
kneel down to bind the wounds of those
who are bleeding and hurting. Indeed,
mercy is not only an action of the
Father, it becomes a criterion for ascertaining who his true children are. (MV,
#9). Kneeling disposes us to receive and

assured will inherit the Kingdom. We

kneel down in sorrow for our abuses
against the weak and the vulnerable.
We kneel to seek mercy from those
we have marginalized and misjudged,
suspected and gossiped about. We need
to kneel down and seek pardon for our
misplaced prudence and cowardice to
stand for the Lord and die with Him.
If we want renewal, we must learn the
humility of kneeling from the heart and
with the knees.
It is easier to remember that we are
sinners when we kneel. It is easier to
share the same mercy kneeling down,
not from a higher moral level but from
our shared sinful condition. Miserando
atque eligendo.
Mercy is the very foundation of the
Churchs life. All of her pastoral activity
should be caught up in the tenderness
she makes present to believers; nothing
in her preaching and in her witness to
the world can be lacking in mercy. The
Churchs very credibility is seen in how
she shows merciful and compassionate
love.(MV, #10) We share this mercy not
as dispensers of grace from our judges
thrones but from the common ground
of our sinful condition.
In Adoration Let Us Kneel
In January 2016, our feet and our
knees lead us to Cebu for the Fifty
First International Eucharistic Congress
echoing the words of Saint Paul to the
Colossians Christ in you, our hope of
glory (1:27).
If we dream of renewal, let us rediscover the power of kneeling again in

wrote in his book The Spirit of the Liturgy that Hebrews regarded the knee as
a symbol of strength. To bend the knee
is therefore, to bend our strength before
the living God, an acknowledgment of
the fact that all that we are we receive
from God.(p.191)
Kneeling is part of our Christian
culture. We cannot abandon or set aside
the culture of kneeling in favor of the
culture that says as freemen we must
face God on our feet. Bending the knee
before the tabernacle in genuflection,
kneeling down at the celebration of the
Eucharist, kneeling down to adore the
exposed Blessed Sacramentthese are
little but sublime acts of adoration that
we must preserve and protect.
Kneeling at the consecratory words
over the bread and wine is not only an
act of humility but a bowing welcome to
meet the Lord who Himself has stooped
down to reach out to us. Though he was
in the form of God, he did not regard
equality with God something to be
grasped. Rather, he emptied himself
becoming obedient to death, death on
the cross. (Phil 2: 6)
If you want renewal, kneel again. We
kneel to atone for the countless profane
actions against the Eucharist. As we
bow down and adore the Eucharist,
we also beg for mercy for the sacrilege
and desecration the Sacred Species are
repeatedly subjected to in many communities. We seek pardon for liturgical
experiments and abuses; the narcissism
among ordained ministers seeking
popularity rather than piety; for taking
the Mass for granted; for the irreverent

How can we be renewed without prayer? How can we

pray without kneeling for repentance? How can we receive
mercy if we are proud and self-secure?
share mercy. Kneeling humbly reminds
us that we have fallen and in our fallen
yet forgiven condition, we must show
mercy to one another.
We must kneel down in contrition
before God for our sins against Mother
Nature. We kneel down in sorrow for
the scars on nature, the destruction of
complex living systems sacrificed on the
altar of economic progress.
We kneel down before the poor we
have ignored; they whom the Lord

silent adoration of the Blessed Sacrament the Lamb of God.

Then I heard every creature in heaven
and on earth and under the earth and in
the sea, everything in the universe cry
out: To the one who sits on the throne
and to the Lamb be blessing and honor,
glory and might, forever and ever. The
four living creatures answered, Amen,
and the elders fell down and worshiped
(Rev 5:13-14).
Then Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger

attire and the cold interior disposition

when we attend Mass.
Returning to Cardinal Ratzinger,
there is a story that comes from the sayings of the Desert Fathers, according to
which the devil was compelled by God
to a certain Abba Apollo. He looked
black and ugly, with frighteningly thin
limbs, bit most strikingly, he had no
knee. The inability to kneel is seen as
the very essence of the diabolical (The
Jubilee, B7

B2 PASTORAL CONCERNS

November 23 - December 6, 2015 Vol. 19 No. 24

CBCP Monitor

Novelties in the processes for the

declaration of marriage nullity:
Understanding the Motu Proprio Mitis
Iudex Dominus Iesus (Part IV)
AS we saw in Part I of this
article, Pope Francis solemnly
declared what seemed like a
sweeping innovation of the
process for the declaration of
marriage nullity: Having duly
considered the matter we decree
and define that in Book VII of
the Code of Canon Law, Part
III, Title I, Chapter 1, Cases to
Declare the Nullity of Marriage
(cc.1671-1691), shall from the
8th day of December 2015 be
replaced in its entirety ()
In Part III, however, a simple comparison of the new
canons 1671-1691 with the
corresponding existing canons 1671-1691 of the Code
of Canon Law (the canons
governing the process for the
declaration of marriage nullity),
showed that for the most part
the new canons were a simple
re-arrangement of the former
ones, for the sake of accommodating a few new canons,
while respecting the limits of
the Chapter in question (i.e.,
cc. 1671-1691). These few really novel canons comprise two
normative innovations, which
we can now focus on under two
headings.
I. The Decision of the Court
of 1st Instance is Executory
Canons 1682-1683 of the
CICwhich established the
automatic elevation of the 1st
Instance sentence favoring nullity to an appellate tribunal
will be totally replaced come
8.XII.2015. Instead, the following norms shall take effect:
1. No more automatic elevation of 1st instance decision of
nullity to an appellate tribunal.
Can. 1679. The sentence
which first declared the nullity
of the marriage, when the deadlines ordered by cc.1630-1633,
becomes executed. This means
that after the period for appeals
(15 available days after the
notification of the publication
of the sentence, as per c.1630)
lapses, the 1st instance sentence
of nullity of marriage becomes
executory.
Furthermore, this norm shall
begin to apply to sentences
declaring the nullity of marriage published on the date of
effectivity of Mitis iudex (i.e.,
8.XII.2015) and onwards.
Can. 1682, 1. After the
sentence, which declared the
nullity of the marriage, has been
executed, the parties whose marriage has been declared null can
contract a new marriage unless a
prohibition attached to the sentence itself or established by the
local ordinary has forbidden this.
2. As soon as the sentence
is executed, the judicial vicar
must notify the local ordinary
of the place in which the

marriage was celebrated. The

local ordinary must take care
that the declaration of the
nullity of the marriage and
any possible prohibitions are
noted as soon as possible in
the marriage and baptismal
registers.
2. However, there remains a
right to appeal the 1st instance
decision of nullity.
Can. 1680, 1. The party,

in the same manner as the first

instance with appropriate adjustments.
4. If a new ground of nullity of the marriage is alleged at
the appellate grade, the tribunal
can admit it and judge it as if
in first instance.
In this regard, another novelty introduced by Mitis iudex
is the proper appellate tribunal
for matrimonial cases. Up to
now, the appellate tribunal of

of the third grade for the new

proposition of the case according
to the norm of c.1644, if new
and grave proofs or arguments
are brought forward within the
peremptory time limit of thirty
days from the proposed challenge.
The tribunal of 3rd instance is
the Roman Rota.
II. The Briefer Matrimonial
Process before the Bishop

declared:
1st The ordinary contentious
process, before a tribunal, with
all the formalities and time
limits.
2nd The documentary process,
by which the diocesan bishop
or the judicial vicar or a judge
designated by him declares the
nullity of a marriage by sentence, if a document subject to
no contradiction or exception
clearly establishes the existence

CNA

By Fr. Jaime B. Achacoso,

J.C.D.

Vatican City - June 24, 2015. A married couple in wedding attire in St. Peters Square waiting for a blessing from Pope Francis at the Wednesday general audience on June 24, 2015.

who considers himself or herself

aggrieved, as well as the promoter
of justice and the defender of the
bond, have the right to introduce
a complaint of nullity of the
judgment or appeal against the
sentence, according to cc.16191640.
2. After the time limits

2nd grade for matrimonial cases

in the whole Philippines has
been the National Appellate
Matrimonial Tribunal (NAMT)
established by the CBCP with
offices at the CBCP Bldg. in
Intramuros (Manila). Henceforth, the appellate tribunal
for matrimonial cases in the

The other real innovation

to be introduced by Mitis
iudex come 8.XII.2015 is the
so-called briefer matrimonial
process before the Bishop, as laid
down in the new cc.1683-1687.
Can. 1683. The diocesan bishop himself is competent to judge
the cases of the nullity of marriage

of a diriment impediment or a
defect of legitimate form, provided that it is equally certain
that no dispensation was given,
or establishes the lack of a valid
mandate of a proxy. These are
cases when a document constitutes full proof of the invalidity
of the marriage. In these cases,

The briefer matrimonial process being introduced by Mitis iudex is

a real judicial processadversarial in nature (at least potentially),
albeit conducted in a summary way.
established by law for the appeal and its prosecution have
passed, and after the judicial
acts have been received by the
tribunal of higher instance, the
college of judges is established,
the defender of the bond is
designated, and the parties
are admonished to propose
observations within the prescribed time limit; after this
time period has passed, if the
appeal clearly appears merely
dilatory, the collegiate tribunal
confirms the sentence of the
prior instance by decree.
3. If the appeal is admitted, the tribunal must proceed

suffragan dioceses shall be the

Metropolitan Tribunal, whereas
the appellate tribunal for the
Metropolitan Tribunal shall be
a suffragan tribunal chosen by
the Metropolitan in a stable
manner. It has to be pointed
out, however, that this norm
is actually contained in c.1438
for the generality of cases; what
Mitis iudex now does is to include the matrimonial cases in
this general norm.
3. The right to appeal extends
all the way to the 3rd grade.
Can. 1681. If an executive
sentence has been issued, at any
time one can go to a tribunal

with the briefer process whenever:

1 the petition is proposed by
both spouses or by one of them,
with the consent of the other;
2 circumstance of things and
persons recur, with substantiating
testimonies and records, which do
not demand a more accurate inquiry or investigation, and which
render the nullity manifest.
1. It is a real contentious
process, different from the
documentary process which is
more administrative rather than
judicial. Up to the moment,
there has been two ways for
the nullity of a marriage to be

the formalities of the ordinary

contentious process are omitted, except for the citation of
the parties and the intervention
of the defender of the bond.
Despite it being called a process,
for all intents and purposes it is
really more of an administrative
actbecause of the absence of
an adversarial situationeven
if undertaken by the Judicial
Vicar.
In contrast, the briefer matrimonial process being introduced
by Mitis iudex is a real judicial
processadversarial in nature
(at least potentially), albeit
conducted in a summary way.

2. The conditions for its application are set forth in c.1683

as follows:
1 the petition is proposed by
both spouses or by one of them,
with the consent of the other;
2 circumstance of things and
persons recur, with substantiating
testimonies and records, which do
not demand a more accurate inquiry or investigation, and which
render the nullity manifest.
The mens legislatoris can be
gleaned from the tenor of the
conditions (aside from the
previously discussed hermeneutic key): this procedure
favors agility of the process, but
without detriment to the truth
and the indissolubility of marriage when validly contracted.
Hence, the following factors
must concur:
Absence of contention between
the spouses as regards the petition
for a declaration of nullitybecause they are both proposing
it, or one is proposing it with
the consent of the other (as
c.1683, 1 states), or one is proposing it and the other one is
not objecting after due notice.
Manifest nullity due to recurrence of negative circumstances
of things and persons, with
substantiating testimonies and
records which do not require
more inquiry.

3. The procedure for its application is clearly outlined in
the following canons, which
made the rearrangement of the
former cc.1684-91 necessary:
Can. 1684. The libellus
which introduces the briefer
process, in addition to those
things enumerated in can. 1504
must:
1 set forth briefly, fully, and
clearly the facts on which the
petition is based;
2 indicate the proofs, which
can be immediately collected by
the judge;
3 exhibit documents on
which the petition is based in
an attachment.
Can. 1685. The judicial vicar,
by the same decree which determines the formula of the doubt,
having named an instructor
and an assessor, cites all who
must take part to a session
which must be held no later
than thirty days according to
can. 1686.
Can. 1686. The instructor,
insofar as possible, collects the
proofs in a single session and
is to establish a time limit of
fifteen days to present the observations in favor of the bond
and the defense briefs of the
parties, if there are any.
Can. 1687 1. After he
has received the acts, the diocesan bishop, having consulted
with the instructor and the
assessor, and having considered the observations of the
Marriage, B4

Local Customs vs. Liturgical Law

(Father Edward McNamara, professor of liturgy and dean of theology at the
Regina Apostolorum university, answers
the following query:)
Q: I train altar servers in a parish. I
was trained under the old Mass.
Due to this I always refer to the missal, the General Instruction of the
Roman Missal (GIRM), and Bishop
Elliotts Ceremonies of the Modern
Roman Rite, Revised before training or correcting the servers. There
is increasing guidance to follow local traditions rather than making
corrections. How much flexibility
is there in the GIRM? May a pastor
change or interpret the GIRM? -K.R., Virginia Beach, Virginia
A: In this case it depends on the
kind of local traditions we are talking about.
One form of local tradition might
actually be national liturgical local

law which has been duly approved by the

Holy See. In this case it is not a violation
of the law but a specific application of
it to local circumstances. For example,
the Latin text of the GIRM says that
priests should not leave the sanctuary
during the sign of peace. The U.S.
bishops sought and were granted specific exceptions to this rule which were
incorporated into the English translation
published in the United States.
Other local traditions may acquire the
force of law through legitimate custom.
According to the Catholic Encyclopedia, A custom is an unwritten law
introduced by the continuous acts of
the faithful with the consent of the legitimate legislator. Custom may be considered as a fact and as a law. As a fact, it
is simply the frequent and free repetition
of acts concerning the same thing; as
a law, it is the result and consequence
of that fact. Hence its name, which is
derived from consuesco or consuefacio
and denotes the frequency of the action.

(Cap. Consuetudo v, Dist. i.)

The overall rule regarding customs is
found in canon law. To wit:
No. 23. Only that custom introduced by a community of the faithful
and approved by the legislator according
to the norm of the following canons has
the force of law.
No. 24 1. No custom which is
contrary to divine law can obtain the
force of law.
2. A custom contrary to or beyond
canon law (praeter ius canonicum) cannot obtain the force of law unless it is
reasonable; a custom which is expressly
reprobated in the law, however, is not
reasonable.
No. 25. No custom obtains the force
of law unless it has been observed with
the intention of introducing a law by a
community capable at least of receiving law.
No. 26. Unless the competent legislator has specifically approved it, a custom
contrary to the canon law now in force

or one beyond a canonical law (praeter

legem canonicam) obtains the force
of law only if it has been legitimately
observed for thirty continuous and
complete years. Only a centenary or immemorial custom, however, can prevail
against a canonical law which contains a
clause prohibiting future customs.
No. 27. Custom is the best interpreter of laws.
No. 28. Without prejudice to the
prescript of -> can. 5, a contrary custom or law revokes a custom which is
contrary to or beyond the law (praeter
legem). Unless it makes express mention
of them, however, a law does not revoke
centenary or immemorial customs, nor
does a universal law revoke particular
customs.
The text of Canon 5 mentioned above
says:
No. 5 1. Universal or particular
customs presently in force which are
contrary to the prescripts of these canons
and are reprobated by the canons of this

Code are absolutely suppressed and

are not permitted to revive in the
future. Other contrary customs are
also considered suppressed unless
the Code expressly provides otherwise or unless they are centenary or
immemorial customs which can be
tolerated if, in the judgment of the
ordinary, they cannot be removed
due to the circumstances of places
and persons.
2. Universal or particular customs beyond the law (praeter ius)
which are in force until now are
preserved.
As can be seen above, the canons
distinguish between different kinds
of custom. First, there are customs
against the law; that is, they go
against the word of the law itself or
are illegal.
Second, there are customs beyond the law; these are customs
which regulate practice in areas

Customs, B3

CBCP Monitor

FEATURES B3

November 23 - December 6, 2015 Vol. 19 No. 24

Catholic Jubilees Date Back to Year 1300

Holy Door at
St. Peters Basilica
unveiled for Jubilee
of Mercy

Claritas

THE Holy Door at St. Peters Basilica on Tuesday evening was

freed of the brick wall which has hidden it since the Holy Year
of 2000.
The Recognitio ceremony took place in the evening of November 17, 2015 and was led by the Basilicas Cardinal Archpriest
Angelo Comastri.
After a procession and short prayer service led by Cardinal
Comastri, workers began to carefully remove the wall, extracting
a small, metal box which conserved mementos from the Great
Jubilee of the year 2000.

By Fr. Thomas Rosica

IN St. Peters Basilica during
the Communal Penance Service
Pope Francis announced last
Friday, March 13, the celebration of an extraordinary Holy
Year. This Jubilee of Mercy
will commence with the opening
of the Holy Door in St. Peters
on the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, 2015, and
will conclude on November 20,
2016 with the Solemnity of Our
Lord Jesus Christ, King of the
Universe. At the start of the new
year, the Holy Father had stated:
This is the time of mercy. It is
important that the lay faithful
live it and bring it into different
social environments. Go forth!
The Jubilee announcement
had been made on the second
anniversary of the election of
Pope Francis, during his homily
for the penitential liturgy with
which the Holy Father opened
the 24 Hours for the Lord.
This initiative, proposed by
the Pontifical Council for the
Promotion of the New Evangelization, promotes throughout the world the opening of
churches for an extended period
of time for the purpose of inviting people to the celebration of
the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
The theme for this year has been
taken from the Letter of St. Paul
to the Ephesians, God rich in
mercy (Eph 2:4).
The opening of this next Jubilee will take place on the fiftieth
anniversary of the closing of the
Second Vatican Council in 1965.
This is of great significance, for it
impels the Church to continue
the work begun at Vatican II.
During the Jubilee, the Sunday readings for Ordinary Time
will be taken from the Gospel
of Luke, the one referred to as
the evangelist of mercy. Dante
Alighieri describes him as scriba
mansuetudinis Christi, narrator
of the meekness of Christ. There
are many well- known parables of
mercy presented in the Gospel of
Luke: the lost sheep, the lost coin,
the merciful father.
The official and solemn announcement of the Holy Year
will take place with the public

proclamation of the Bolla in

front of the Holy Door on Divine Mercy Sunday, the Feast
instituted by Saint John Paul II
and celebrated on the Sunday
after Easter.
In the ancient Hebrew tradition, the Jubilee Year, which was
celebrated every 50 years, was
meant to restore equality among
all of the children of Israel, offering new possibilities to families
which had lost their property
and even their personal freedom.
In addition, the Jubilee Year was
a reminder to the rich that a time
would come when their Israelite
slaves would once again become
their equals and would be able
to reclaim their rights. Justice,
according to the Law of Israel,
consisted above all in the protection of the weak (St. John Paul

tury. The last extraordinary Holy

Years, which were celebrated
during the previous century,
were those in 1933, proclaimed
by Pius XI to celebrate XIX hundred years of Redemption and in
1983, proclaimed by John Paul
II on the occasion of the 1950
years of Redemption.
The Catholic Church has
given to the Hebrew Jubilee a
more spiritual significance. It
consists in a general pardon, an
indulgence open to all, and the
possibility to renew ones relationship with God and neighbor.
Thus, the Holy Year is always an
opportunity to deepen ones faith
and to live with a renewed commitment to Christian witness.
With the Jubilee of Mercy,
Pope Francis focuses attention
upon the merciful God who

In the ancient Hebrew tradition,

the Jubilee Year, which was
celebrated every 50 years,
was meant to restore equality
among all of the children of
Israel, offering new possibilities
to families which had lost
their property and even their
personal freedom.
II,Tertio millenio adveniente13).
The Catholic tradition of the
Holy Year began with Pope Boniface VIII in 1300. Boniface VIII
had envisioned a Jubilee every
century. From 1475 onwards
in order to allow each generation
to experience at least one Holy
Year the ordinary Jubilee was
to be celebrated every 25 years.
However, an extraordinary Jubilee may be announced on the
occasion of an event of particular
importance.
Until present, there have been
26 ordinary Holy Year celebrations, the last of which was the
Jubilee of 2000. The custom of
calling extraordinary Jubilees
dates back to the XVI cen-

invites all men and women to

return to Him. The encounter
with God inspires in one the
virtue of mercy.
The initial rite of the Jubilee is
the opening of the Holy Door.
This door is one which is only
opened during the Holy Year
and which remains closed during all other years. Each of the
four major basilicas of Rome has
a Holy Door: Saint Peters, St.
John Lateran, St. Paul Outside
the Walls and St. Mary Major.
This rite of the opening of the
Holy Door illustrates symbolically the idea that, during the
Jubilee, the faithful are offered an
extraordinary pathway towards
salvation.

The Holy Doors of the other

Basilicas will be opened after the
opening of the Holy Door of St.
Peters Basilica.
Mercy is a theme very dear
to Pope Francis, as is expressed
in the episcopal motto he had
chosen: miserando atque eligendo. This citation is taken
from the homily of Saint Bede
the Venerable during which
he commented on the Gospel
passage of the calling of Saint
Matthew: Vidit ergo lesus publicanum et quia miserando atque
eligendo vidit, ait illi Sequere
me (Jesus therefore sees the tax
collector, and since he sees by
having mercy and by choosing,
he says to him, follow me).
This homily is a tribute to divine
mercy. One possible translation
of this motto is With eyes of
mercy.
During the first Angelus after
his elections, the Holy Father
stated: Feeling mercy, that this
word changes everything. This
is the best thing we can feel: it
changes the world. A little mercy
makes the world less cold and
more just. We need to understand
properly this mercy of God, this
merciful Father who is so patient
(Angelus, March 17, 2013).
In his Angelus on January 11,
2015, he stated: There is so
much need of mercy today, and
it is important that the lay faithful
live it and bring it into different
social environments. Go forth!
We are living in the age of mercy,
this is the age of mercy. Then,
in his 2015 Lenten Message, the
Holy Father expressed: How
greatly I desire that all those
places where the Church is present, especially our parishes and
our communities, may become
islands of mercy in the midst of
the sea of indifference!
In the English edition of the
Apostolic ExhortationEvangelii
gaudiumthe termmercyappears
32 times.
Pope Francis has entrusted
the Pontifical Council for the
Promotion of the New Evangeliza- tion with the organization
of theJubilee of Mercy.
List of jubilee years and their
Popes:
1300: Boniface VIII

LOsservatore Romano

A Holy Year mint issued by Clement X in 1675.

The Holy Door unveiling at the Recognitio ceremony in St. Peters Basilica on
November 17, 2015.

The zinc box contained several documents certifying the closure

of the Holy Door at the end of the last Holy Year. Also included
were the keys which will allow Pope Francis to open the Holy
Door on December 8th of this year, as well as the parchment
deed, some bricks, and several commemorative medals.
Also present for the event were the Master of Ceremonies of
St. Peters Basilica, Mons. Guido Marini, who received the documents and objects of the Recognitio ceremony, and Archbishop
Rino Fisichella, President of the Pontifical Council for the Promotion of the New Evangelization.
Holy Doors will also be at the other major basilicas of Rome:
St. John Lateran, St. Mary Major, St. Pauls Outside the Walls.
For the Jubilee Year of Mercy, Pope Francis has also asked for
Holy Doors to be established at Romes Sanctuary of Our Lady
of Divine Love, and the Diocese of Romes Caritas Hostel on Via
Marsala. (Vatican Radio)
1350: Clement VI
1390: proclaimed by Urban VI,
presided over by Boniface IX
1400: Boniface IX
1423: Martin V
1450: Nicholas V
1475: proclaimed by Paul II,
presided over by Sixtus IV
1500: Alexander VI
1525: Clement VII
1550: proclaimed by Paul III,
presided over by Julius III
1575: Gregory XIII
1600: Clement VIII
1625: Urban VIII
1650: Innocent X
1675: Clement X
1700: opened by Innocent XII,
closed by Clement XI

1725: Benedict XIII

1750: Benedict XIV
1775: proclaimed by Clement
XIV, presided over by Pius VI
1825: Leo XII
1875: Pius IX
1900: Leo XIII
1925: Pius XI
1933: Pius XI
1950: Pius XII
1975: Paul VI
1983: John Paul II
2000: John Paul II
2015: Francis
In the years 1800 and 1850,
due to the political circumstances of the times, there were
no jubilees.

Customs, B2

where the law itself is silent. In legal

Latin, the phrase praeter legem (outside of the law) refers to an item that
is not regulated by law and therefore is
not illegal.
Some liturgical experts argue that it
is almost impossible to establish a custom contrary to law with respect to the
liturgy since the legislator, in this case
the Holy See, has reserved all essential
elements regarding the liturgy to its definitive approval. Therefore, it is argued,
it is impossible to fulfill the conditions of
Canon 23 regarding the approval of the
legislator except in the case of centenary
or immemorial customs.
On the other hand, the 2004 instruction Redemptionis Sacramentum
described a series of abuses in the
celebration of the Mass. On eight occasions it reprobates certain grave abuses,
occasionally using the formula: This
practice is reprobated, so that it cannot be permitted to attain the force of
custom.
This would seem to at least imply
that the Congregation for Divine Worship considers the possibility that some
liturgical abuses might be able to attain
the force of custom. It would appear to
be an open question among canonists,
and as this is not my field I can only
acknowledge the existence of a debate.
If it is true than only centenary and
immemorial customs can prevail, then,

since the decree approving the first edition of the new missal is from 1970, that
of the third typical edition in Latin in
2000 and the approval of the English
translation is from 2011, one cannot
usually speak of such long-term customs.
Also, these decrees usually contain the
phrase anything to the contrary notwithstanding which some canonists
consider as an implicit revocation of the
earlier law and its replacement with the
new, even though, as a universal law, it
would not revoke legitimate customs if
there are any.
Even if a diocese or parish could
develop a legitimate liturgical custom
contrary to liturgical law, it is difficult
to determine if a community intended
to introduce a law as required by
Canon 25. It is also difficult to prove
the continued use of the practice as per
Canon 26.
For example, Canon 528.2 says the
following about the duties of the parish
priest: The parish priest is to take care
that the blessed Eucharist is the center
of the parish assembly of the faithful. He
is to strive to ensure that the faithful are
nourished by the devout celebration of
the sacraments, and in particular that
they frequently approach the sacraments
of the blessed Eucharist and penance.
He is to strive to lead them to prayer,
including prayer in their families, and to
take a live and active part in the sacred

liturgy. Under the authority of the diocesan Bishop, the parish priest must direct
this liturgy in his own parish, and he is
bound to be on guard against abuses.
Thus it would be enough for one
parish priest to have fulfilled his duty
to remove abuses for the custom to be
interrupted. Even if the custom is later
reintroduced, the 30-year period would
have to start again.
Again, no custom can prevail if
specifically reprobated. For example,
Redemptionis Sacramentum formally
reprobates the following practices: The
priest breaking the host at the time
of the consecration (No. 55); priests
or deacons varying the liturgical texts
(No. 59); non-ordained faithful delivering the homily (No. 65); distributing
unconsecrated hosts or other edible or
inedible things during the celebration
of Mass or beforehand after the manner
of Communion (No. 96); suspending
the celebration of Mass in order to
promote a Eucharistic fast (No. 115);
using common or domestic vessels for
the celebration (No. 117); celebrating
Mass with just the stole over a habit or
ordinary clothes (No. 126); priests who
are present at the celebration but abstain
from distributing Communion and
hand this function over to laypersons
(No. 157).
The above-mentioned instruction lists
many abuses besides those specifically

reprobated, and sometimes uses other

expressions such as This abuse must
be immediately set aside. It is clear that
the legislator considers all of the abusive
practices mentioned in the document
to be not reasonable (see Canon 24.2
above), and therefore they should cease.
It would be difficult to argue for their
continuation as legitimate customs after
the publication of that document.
When dealing with customs that are
beyond the law there is probably more
room for legitimate customs to develop.
Father Mark Gantley, a canon lawyer, on
EWTN offered the following possible
example: A person might argue that
the use of a unity candle in a wedding
ceremony is a legitimate practice on the
basis of a custom that is apart from or beyond the law. The law neither prescribes
nor prohibits the use of the unity candle.
So a legitimate custom of using a unity
candle could meet the qualifications of
a legal custom, provided that it met the
other requirements of the law.
Thus, having considered all this, I
would say that our reader should generally defer to the GIRM in all areas where
the liturgical documents are clear, and
he should direct his servers accordingly.
This is also the best way to guarantee
an authentically Catholic celebration
of the liturgy.
If there are local traditions and customs in areas where the GIRM is silent

or less specific, then it would be possible

to follow the local tradition.
A pastor is not a legislative authority
and thus cannot make an authentic or
official interpretation of the GIRM.
Only the Holy See can do that. A pastor
can, and often must, interpret how to
apply the GIRM to the specific logistics
of a parish building but cannot change
anything that is essential.
As Redemptionis Sacramentum
concludes:
186. Let all Christs faithful participate in the Most Holy Eucharist as fully,
consciously and actively as they can,
honoring it lovingly by their devotion
and the manner of their life. Let Bishops, Priests and Deacons, in the exercise
of the sacred ministry, examine their
consciences as regards the authenticity
and fidelity of the actions they have
performed in the name of Christ and
the Church in the celebration of the Sacred Liturgy. Let each one of the sacred
ministers ask himself, even with severity, whether he has respected the rights
of the lay members of Christs faithful,
who confidently entrust themselves and
their children to him, relying on him to
fulfill for the faithful those sacred functions that the Church intends to carry
out in celebrating the sacred Liturgy at
Christs command. For each one should
always remember that he is a servant of
the Sacred Liturgy.

B4 PASTORAL CONCERNS

APEC: the
Greed of Nations

November 23 - December 6, 2015 Vol. 19 No. 24

CBCP Monitor

Who really benefits from the APEC?

These
multinationals
work through
organizations
like the
APEC.They
are stealing
the natural
resources of
poorer nations
for a hundred
years.

It is only when
there is an
end to global
injustice and
greed and
when fairness
and dignity
and human
rights are
fully respected
will there be
peace and true
prosperity.

Militant groups, led by Bayan, called on the government to reconsider its position on APEC and other existing free trade agreements which they claim failed to be felt by the
ordinary Filipinos. Among other issues, they called on government to stop killing indigenous people from Southern Philippines.

By Melo Acuna
AGAINST a backdrop of pomp
and glamour for the visiting
dignitaries and thousands of
their APEC 2015 delegates
replete with detailed media
coverage of their arrival, conference, and gala dinners,
thousands of Filipinos call on
government to reconsider its
position and commitments to
globalization and free trade
agreements.
No less than Filipino Cardinal Orlando B. Quevedo,
OMI called on the Philippine
government to give APEC a
human, a Filipino face.
While its theme appears responsive to the regions ideals,
many deem it far-fetched that
its vision will be realized within
the next decade or so.
Permanently contractual
Aptly conceived Building
Inclusive Economies, Building
a Better World, this years economic leaders summit meeting
will not alter nor improve the
Philippine landscape as most
workers remain under fivemonth contracts as Rudy (not
his real name) who works from
6:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. at the
International Media Centers
washroom.
While he hopes to become
a regular employee, he may
remain permanently contractual since his contract may
no longer be renewed should a
demand for washroom cleaners
cease to exist.

APEC Business Advisory

Council (ABAC) chair Doris
Magsaysay-Ho said the prevailing contractualization may
not necessarily be a problem
because she herself keeps good
employees in her turf.
Big business interests
Contracting workers has
become a norm in Philippine
labor since 1989 and unfortunately, precisely during the first

He added while trade is not

a crime, neither should it be
used as weapon against another
sovereign country.
But the Philippines,
though an active member
o f APE C s i nce i t s i ncep tion, still relies on foreign
remittances from millions of
Filipinos worldwide and revenue receipts from Business
Process Outsourcing (BPO)
companies.

The reality is most people in

Metro Manila and other growth
centers live in squalid conditions
where sanitation is almost
unheard of.These individuals
have flocked to metropolitan
areas hoping to find jobs as
farming and land ownership
have remained in the backwaters
of government priorities.

half of then President Corazon

C. Aquinos term.
During yesterdays APEC
Chief Executive Officers summit at Makati Shangri-La Hotel, no less than Jack Ma,
chairman of the Chinese ecommerce giant Alibaba Group
Holding Ltd., said he realized
globalization only served rich
countries and big business.

More active micro-smallmedium enterprises

While Trade Undersecretary
Adrian Cristobal, Jr. remains
optimistic trade will prosper
under APEC and other multilateral agreements, the fact
remains that the current economic slowdown has affected
most developing countries like
the Philippines. The Philip-

pines is an export-oriented
economy and definitely when
a meltdown occurs, first world
economies would cease, if not
scale down, its purchases except for the basic necessities.
He said micro-small-medium
enterprises should be encouraged to play a more active role
in the regional marketplace.
Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas
reported some USD $ 20.4
billion has been sent to the
Philippines from January to
September this year.
The countrys BPOs, which
do not encourage employees to
form unions, contributed some
USD $18.9 to the economy.
Reality of poverty
The reality is most people
in Metro Manila and other
growth centers live in squalid
conditions where sanitation is
almost unheard of.
T h e s e i n d i v i d u a l s h a ve
flocked to metropolitan areas
hoping to find jobs as farming and land ownership have
remained in the backwaters of
government priorities.
Despite the national governments decision to appropriate
more funds, the results have
remained dismal. IBONs executive director Sonny Africa
said inclusive growth will never
be realized until the countrys
agriculture and manufacturing be seriously enhanced and
improved.
He said with the country
bent on importing its chief
staple, farmers would definitely
turn to other activities.

Melo Acua

ANDREAS De la Cruz is a forty year old fisherman from Masinloc, Zambales and he has a story of triumph and loss to tell and
all of it is due to the obsession of powerful nations to control and
dominate and occupy the lands and seas of other smaller nations.
A few months ago Andreas set out to the rich fishing grounds of
Scarborough shoal, about 60 kilometers from the beach where he
lives in a small house with his wife and tree children on the edge
of the West Philippine Sea. His Banka boat, yellow and white with
green outriggers made of bamboo poles tied together with nylon
gut cut through the ocean swell by a the noisy power of the motor.
The reef is well within the 200 mile Philippine exclusive
economic zone of the Philippines. Andres told that he and his
father and grandfather and his ancestors fished off the reef even
in primitive canoes with sails for generations. He has had a good
healthy life from fishing the reef and as prices and demand for good
fish rose so did his earnings. He was able to send his children to
a good school on his earnings. They rose out of the poverty and
have more secure better lives. But that came to an end one tragic
day over two years ago
When Andreas and his neighbor came to their customary fishing ground the say a big naval
vessel ahead of them and were
hailed over a loudspeaker to
stop and turn around as they
were they were illegally entering the waters of China.
Andreas was shocked, he
said, it was like an invasion of
the Philippines. The Chinese
navy and captured the shoal
which is like a submerged
coral island. He evaded the
navel cutter that tried to get
close and swamp his little
motorized Banka boat. He
swung around to pass it and
headed toward the shoal with
the ship coming after him.
Then he made a fast tight turn
and ran past it before it could
make a slow wide turn and he
was far away. The small naval
battle was over with Andreas
and his little Philippine flag
the victor.
Darkness saved him and
being a Filipino of courage
with Juanito his helper they lowered the nets near the submerged
shoal. He did not chance to light the gas lamp to attract them yet
he soon a big catch. The other fishing boats had apparently turned
back when confronted by the Chinese Cutter and the ocean was
his. In triumph he arrived back with a full load to the amazement of
the village. They were now marginalized, cut-off from their source
of livelihood and faced ruin and poverty. Thats how the power of
great nations crush there smaller weaker neighbors.
The once impoverished and weak communist China was defeated by the capitalist juggernaut and decided if China cant beat
them then let China join them. And so China did. It has to its
credit and praise lifted hundreds of millions of starving Chinese
from dire poverty in just thirty years or so. Today it is a thriving
capitalistic economic power ruled by a one party communist state.
What a contradiction in terms and in reality.
Like the Western capitalist empires of the past and present
that oppress and exploit the poorer nations in the world through
multinational corporations, povety and inequality grow. These
multinationals work through organizations like the Asia-Pacific
Economic Cooperation (APEC).They are stealing the natural
resources of poorer nations for a hundred years. China is now
doing the same in the West
Philippine Sea and beyond.
It is developing into a superpower with global interests
and hungry for raw materials
to satisfy its insatiable desires
for unlimited growth.
Andreas is just one of
the millions that has been
marginalized by capitalist
greed, many more suffer
the worse by Western liberal
capitalism that China once
condemned. China is not
interested so much in the fish
of the Southern Oceans but
the oil and minerals below
the ocean floor.
The Asia-Pacific Economic
Cooperation (APEC) meeting of 21 heads of states was
held in Manila last week. It
drew thousands of protesters
demanding true fairness and
an end to the land grabbing
of the Philippines by China
and the exclusion of the poor
from the Western dominated
world economy.
We have at last a prophetic fearless Pope Francis, he is giving
voice to the voiceless. In Bolivia last year he made a powerful
statement that ought to have been repeated at the APEC meeting.
He told the thousands of the poor that he stood with them
in their demands for justice and social and economic inclusion.
Let us not be afraid to say it: we want change, real change,
structural change, the Pope Francis told the cheering crowds referring to the unjust globalization of the economic system that has
imposed the mentality of profit at any price, with no concern for
social exclusion or the destruction of nature. He went on gto say:
This system is by now intolerable: farm workers find it intolerable, laborers find it intolerable, communities find it intolerable,
peoples find it intolerable. The earth itself--our sister, Mother
Earth, as Saint Francis would say--also finds it intolerable, he said.
Million of hungry people are left out of a just and fair world
and find it intolerable to live with such poverty and denied a life
of dignity and purpose and justice they grow up with hatred and
anger and release it through violence and terrorism and barbarity.
It is only when there is an end to global injustice and greed and
when fairness and dignity and human rights are fully respected
will there be peace and true prosperity.

Melo Acua

By Fr. Shay Cullen

Marriage, B2

defender of the bond and, if there are any,

the defense briefs of the parties, is to issue
the sentence if moral certitude about the
nullity of marriage is reached. Otherwise,
he refers the case to the ordinary method.
2. The full text of the sentence, with
the reasons expressed, is to be communicated to the parties as swiftly as possible.
3. An appeal against the sentence
of the bishop is made to the metropolitan
or to the Roman Rota; if the sentence was
rendered by the metropolitan, however, the
appeal is made to the senior suffragan; and
against the sentence of another bishop who
does not have a superior authority below
the Roman Pontiff, appeal is made to the
bishop selected by him in a stable manner.

4. If the appeal clearly appears

merely dilatory, the metropolitan or the
bishop mentioned in 3, or the dean of the
Roman Rota, is to reject it by his decree at
the outset; if the appeal is admitted, however, the case is remitted to the ordinary
method in the second grade.
Conclusion
From the foregoing, it can be seen that
the over-riding motivation for the new
norms is a pastoral onei.e., to facilitate
the removal of the burden of a non-marriage from the spouses. However, this is to
be done without detriment to other rights
and obligations, stated in the General Norms
contained in the last of the new canons:

Can. 1691 1. In the sentence the

parties are to be reminded of the moral
and even civil obligations which can
bind them both toward one another and
toward their children to furnish support
and education.
2. Cases for the declaration of the
nullity of a marriage cannot be treated in an
oral contentious process, mentioned in cann.
1656-1670.
3. In other procedural matters, the
canons on trials in general and on the ordinary contentious trial must be applied unless
the nature of the matter precludes it; the
special norms for cases concerning the status
of persons and cases pertaining to the public
good are to be observed.

CBCP Monitor

STATEMENTS B5

November 23 - December 6, 2015 Vol. 19 No. 24

Popes Address on the Mission and Formation of Priests

(Given to the participants of the Congress organized by the
Congregation for the Clergy on the occasion of the 50th
anniversary of the Conciliar Decrees Optatam Totius and
Presbyterorum Ordinis, November 23, 2015)
LORD Cardinals. Dear Brother Bishops and
Priests, Brothers and Sisters,
I give each of you my cordial greeting and
express my sincere gratitude to you, Cardinal Stella, and to the Congregation for the
Clergy, for inviting me to take part in this
Congress, fifty years after the promulgation
of the Conciliar DecreesOptatam Totiusand
Presbyterorum Ordinis.
My apologies for having changed the first
plan, which was that I should come to you,
but you saw there was no time and I have
also arrived here late!
This is not about a historical recalling.
These two Decrees are a seed, which the
Council sowed in the field of the life of the
Church; in the course of these five decades
they have grown, they have become a luxuriant plant, certainly with some dried leaves,
but above all with so many flowers and fruits
that embellish the Church today. Reviewing
the path accomplished, this Congress has
shown these fruits and has constituted an
opportune ecclesial reflection on the work
that remains to be done for the Church in
this vital realm. There is still work to be done!
Optatam Totius and Presbyterorum Ordinis were recalled together, as the two
halves of a single reality: the formation of
priests, which we distinguish as initial and
permanent, but which constitutes for them
a unique experience of discipleship. It is no
accident that in January of 2013 (Motu proprioMinistrorum Institutio) Pope Benedict
gave a concrete, juridical form to this reality,
attributing also to the Congregation for the
Clergy competence over seminarians. In this
way the Dicastery itself was able to begin to
be concerned with the life and the ministry
of presbyters from the moment of their
entrance in the Seminary, working so that
vocations are promoted and looked after, and
can flower in the life of holy priests. A priests
path of holiness begins in the Seminary!
From the moment that a vocation to the
priesthood is a gift that God makes to some
for the good of all, I would like to share
some thoughts with you, beginning in fact
from the relation between priests and other
persons, following n. 3 of Presbyterorum
Ordinis,in which is found something like
a small compendium of theology of the
priesthood, addressed in the Letter to the
Hebrews: Priests who are taken from among
men and ordained for men in the things that
belong to God in order to offer gifts and
sacrifices for sins, nevertheless live on earth
with other men as brothers.
Let us consider these three moments:
taken from among men, ordained for
men, present with other men.
The priest is a man that is bornin a certain human context.There he learns the first
values, absorbs the spirituality of the people,
gets used to relationships. Priests also have
a history; they are not mushrooms that
appear suddenly in the Cathedral on the
day of their Ordination. It is important
that formators and the priests themselves
remember this and are able to take into account this personal history throughout the
path of formation. On the day of Ordination
I always say to priests, to new priests: remember from where you were taken, from the
flock, do not forget your mother and your
grandmother! Paul said this to Timothy, and
I also say it today. This means that one cannot be a priest thinking that one was formed
in a laboratory, no. It begins in the family
with the tradition of the faith and with all
the experience of the family. The latter must
be personalized, because it is the concrete
person that is called to discipleship and to
the priesthood, taking into account in every
case that Christ is the only Teacher to follow
and to whom one should configure oneself.
In this regard, I like to recall the fundamental center of vocational pastoral care
that is the family, domestic Church and first
and fundamental place of human formation,
where the desire can germinate in youths of a
life conceived as a vocational path, to follow
with commitment and generosity.
In the family and in all other communitarian contexts--school, parish, associations,
groups of friends--we learn to be in relation
with concrete persons, we let ourselves be
shaped by our relation with them, and we
become what we are also thanks to them.
A good priest, therefore, is first of all a
man with his own humanity, who knows his
history, with its riches and its wounds, and
who has learned to make peace with it, attaining in depth serenity, proper of a disciple
of the Lord. Therefore, human formation is a
necessity for priests, so that they learn not to
let themselves be dominated by their limitations, but rather to put their talents to fruit.
A priest who is a tranquil man will be able
to spread serenity around him, also in difficult moments, transmitting the beauty of
the relation with the Lord. Instead, it is not
normal for a priest to be often sad, nervous
or hard of character, it is not good and does
not do good, neither to the priest nor to his
people. However, if you have an illness, if
you are neurotic, go to the doctor! To the

spiritual doctor and to the clinical doctor:

they will give you pills that will do you good,
both will! But please, let not the faithful pay
for the neurosis of priests! Do not beat the
faithful; have a heartfelt closeness to them.
We priests are apostles of joy, we proclaim
the Gospel, namely, the Good News par
excellence. It is certainly not us who give
force to the Gospel--some believe this--but
we can favor or set obstacles to the encounter
between the Gospel and persons. Our humanity is the clay vessel in which we guard
Gods treasure, a vessel that we must look
after, to transmit well its precious content.
A priest cannot lose his roots; he always
remains a man of the people and of the culture that generated him. Our roots help us
to remember who we are and where Christ
has called us. We priests do not fall from
on high, but we are called, called by God,
who takes us from among men to ordain
us for men. Allow me an anecdote. In the
diocese, years ago ... Not in the diocese, no,
in the Society, there was a good priest, good,
young, a priest for two years. He became
confused, spoke with the Spiritual Father,
with his Superiors, with doctors and said:
Im going, I cant anymore, Im going.
And thinking of these things--I knew his
mother, humble people--I said to him: Why
dont you go to your mother and speak to
her about this? He went, spent the whole
day with his mother, and returned changed.

A good priest,
therefore, is first of
all a man with his
own humanity, who
knows his history,
with its riches and
its wounds, and who
has learned to make
peace with it...
His mother gave him two spiritual slaps,
told him three or four truths, put him in his
place, and he went forward. Why?--because
he went to the root. Therefore, it is important
not to remove the root from where we come.
One must engage in mental prayer in the
Seminary ... Yes, certainly, this must be done,
learn .... But first of all pray as your mother
taught you, and then go ahead. But the root
is always there, the root of the family, as you
learned to pray as a child, also with the same
words, begin to pray like that. Then you will
go forward in prayer.
Here is the second passage: for men.
Here is a fundamental point of the life
and ministry of presbyters. Responding to
Gods vocation, we become prieststo serve
brothers and sisters. The images of Christ
that we take as reference for the ministry of
priests are clear: He is the High Priest, in
the same way close to God and close to men.
He is the Servant that washes the feet and
makes himself close to the weakest. He is the
Good Shepherd who always has as his end
the care of the flock.
These are the three images we must look
at, thinking of the ministry of priests, sent to
serve men, to have them attain Gods mercy
and to proclaim His Word of life. We are not
priests for ourselves and our sanctification is
closely connected to that of our people, our
unction to their unction: you were anointed
for your people. To know and to remember
that you are ordained for the people--holy
people, People of God--helps priests not
to think of themselves, to be authoritative
and not authoritarian, firm but not harsh,
joyful but not superficial, in sum, Pastors
not functionaries. Today in both Readings
of the Mass one sees clearly the capacity to
enjoy that the people have, when the Temple
is repaired and purified and, instead, the incapacity for joy that the heads of the priests
and the scribes have in face of the expulsion
of the merchants from the Temple by Jesus.
A priest must learn to rejoice, he must never
lose, even better, the capacity for joy: if he
loses it, there is something that is not right.
And I tell you sincerely, I am afraid of stiffening, I am afraid. From rigid priests ... stay
far away! They bite you! And there comes
to mind that expression of Saint Ambrose,
4th century: Where there is mercy there is
the spirit of the Lord, where there is rigidity,
there are only His ministers. Without the
Lord the minister becomes rigid, and this is
a danger for the People of God--be Pastors,
not functionaries.
The People of God and the whole of humanity are the recipients of the mission of
priests, to which the whole work of formation tends. The human formation, the intellectual and spiritual formation come together

naturally in that pastoral care, to which they

furnish instruments and personal virtues and
dispositions. When all this is harmonized
and amalgamated with genuine missionary
zeal, throughout the whole of life, the priest
can fulfill the mission entrusted to him by
Christ to His Church.
In fine, what is born of the people, with the
people must remain; the priest is alwayswith
other men,he is not a professional of pastoral
care or of evangelization, who arrives and
does what he must perhaps well, but as
if it were a profession and then goes to
live a separate life. One becomes a priest by
being in the midst of the people: closeness.
And permit me, Brother Bishops, also our
closeness as Bishops with our priests. This
is also true for us! How often do we hear the
laments of priests: But, I called the Bishop
because I have a problem ... The man or
woman secretary told me he was very busy,
that he was going about, that he cannot
receive me for three months ... Two things.
The first. A Bishop is always busy, thank
God, but if you, Bishop, receive a call from
a priest and you cannot receive him because
you have too much work, at least pick up
the telephone and ask him : Is it urgent?
Its not urgent? When? Come that day ...,
thus he feels close. There are Bishops who
seem to distance themselves from priests ...
Closeness, at least a phone call! And this is
the love of a father, fraternity. And the other
thing. No, I have a conference in that city
and then I must make a trip to America, and
then ... But, listen, the decree of residence
of Trent is still in force! And if you do not
feel like staying in the diocese, resign, and go
around the world doing another very good
apostolate. However, if you are Bishop of
that diocese--residence. These two things:
closeness and residence. But this is for us,
Bishops! One becomes a priest to be in the
midst of the people.
The good that priests can do is born
especially from their closeness and from a
tender love for persons. They are not philanthropists or functionaries; priests are fathers
and brothers. A priests paternity does so
much good.
Closeness, depths of mercy, loving look:
to make one experience the beauty of a life
lived according to the Gospel and the love of
God that makes itself concrete also through
His ministers. God who never rejects. And
here I think of the Confessional. Ways can
always be found to give absolution. Receive
well. However, sometimes one cannot
absolve. There are priests that say: No, I
cannot absolve you of this, go away. This is
not the way. If you cannot give absolution,
explain and say: God loves you so much,
God wishes you well. There are so many
ways to come to God. I cannot give you
absolution, Ill give you a blessing. But come
back, always come back here; every time you
come back I will give you a blessing as a sign
that God loves you. And that man or that
woman goes away full of joy because he/
she has found the icon of the Father, who
never rejects; in one way or another He has
embraced him/her.
A good examination of conscience for
a priest is also this: if the Lord returned
today, where would He find me? Where
your treasure is, there will your heart be
also (Matthew 6:21). And, where is my
heart? In the midst of the people, praying
with and for the people, involved in their
joys and sufferings, or instead in the midst
of the things of the world, of earthly affairs,
in my private spaces? A priest cannot have
private spaces, because he is always either
with the Lord or with the people. I think of
those priests I have known in my city, when
there was no telephone secretary, but they
slept with the telephone on the night table,
and at whatever time the people called, they
got up to anoint: no one died without the
Sacraments! Not even in rest did they have
a private space. This is apostolic zeal. The
answer to this question: where is my heart?
This can help every priest to direct his life
and ministry to the Lord.
The Council left precious pearls to the
Church. As the merchant of Matthews Gospel (13:45), today we go in search of them,
to bring new impetus and new instruments
to the mission that the Lord entrusts to us.
One thing I would like to add to the
text--forgive me!--is vocational discernment,
admission to the Seminary. Look for the
health of a boy, his spiritual health, material, physical and psychic health. Once, just
appointed Novice Master, in the year 72, I
went to take to the psychologist the results
of the personality tests, a simple test that
was done as one of the elements of discernment. She was a good woman, and also a
good doctor. She said to me: This one has
this problem but he can enter if he goes this
way ... She was also a good Christian, but
in some cases she was inflexible: This one
cant--But, Doctor, this boy is so good.
Now he is good, but know that there are
youths that know unconsciously, they are

Popes Address to
Pontifical Council
for Health Care
Ministry
(Given to the participants
of the 30th International
Conference of Health Care
Ministry on the theme, The
Culture of Salus and of
Hospitality at the Service of
Man and of the Planet, held
on November 19-21, 2015 at
the Vatican)
DEAR Brothers and Sisters,
Thank you for your reception! I thank His Excellency
Monsignor Zygmunt Zimowski for the courteous greeting he
addressed to me on behalf of all those present, and I give my
cordial welcome to you, organizers and participants of this
30th International Conference, dedicated to The Culture
of Salus and of Hospitality at the Service of Man and of the
Planet. A heartfelt thank you to all the collaborators of the
Dicastery.
Many are the questions that will be addressed in this annual
meeting, which marks the 30 years of activity of the Pontifical Council for Health Care Ministry (for Health Pastoral
Care), and which also coincides with the 20th anniversary of
the publication of the Encyclical Letter Evangelium Vitae of
Saint John Paul II.
In fact respect for the value of life and, even more so, love
of it, finds irreplaceable accomplishment in making oneself
close, in taking care of those that suffer in body and in spirit:
all actions that characterize health care ministry. Actions and,
even first, attitudes that the Church will highlight especially
during the Jubilee of Mercy, which calls us all to be close
to our most suffering brothers and sisters. In Evangelium
Vitae we can trace the constitutive elements of the culture
of salus: namely, hospitality, compassion,
understanding and
forgiveness. They are
the habitual attitudes
of Jesus in his relations
with the multitude of
needy persons that
approached him every
day: the sick of all
sorts, public sinners,
demoniacs, the marginalized, the poor,
strangers ... And, curiously, in our throwaway culture, they are
rejected, they are left
to one side. They dont
count. Its curious ...
what does this mean?
That the throwaway
culture is not of Jesus,
its not Christian.
Such attitudes are
those that the Encyclical calls positive requirements of
the Commandment
about the inviolability
of life, which, with
Jesus, are manifested
in all their breadth
and depth, and which
again today can, better yet, must, distinguish health care
ministry: they range from caring for the life of ones brother
(whether a blood brother, someone belonging to the same
people, or a foreigner living in the land of Israel) to showing
concern for the stranger, even to the point of loving ones
enemy. (n. 41).
This closeness to the other--true, not feigned closeness--to
the point of regarding him as someone that belongs to me--an
enemy also belongs to me as brother--surmounts every barrier
of nationality, of social extraction, of religion ... as the Good
Samaritan of the Gospel parable teaches us. It also surpasses
that culture in a negative sense, according to which, be it in
rich countries or in poor ones, human beings are accepted or
rejected according to utilitarian criteria, in particular, social
or economic utility. This mentality is parent of the so-called
medicine of desires: an ever more widespread custom in rich
countries, characterized by the quest at any cost of physical
perfection, in the illusion of eternal youthfulness; a custom
that in fact induces to discard or marginalize those that are not
efficient, those who are regarded as a burden, a disturbance,
or are simply ugly.
Likewise, making oneself close--as I reminded in my
recent Encyclical Laudato Si--also implies assuming unbreakable responsibilities towards Creation and the common
home, which belongs to all and is entrusted to the care of
all, also for the coming generations.
The anxiety that the Church nourishes, in fact, is for the
fate of the human family and of the whole of creation. It is
about educating everyone to look after and to administer
Creation as a whole, as a gift entrusted to the responsibility of
every generation, so that it is handed all the more whole and
humanly liveable to the coming generations. This conversion of
the heart to the Gospel of Creation implies making our own
and rendering ourselves interpreters of the cry for human dignity,

This conversion
of the heart to
the Gospel of
Creation implies
making our own
and rendering
ourselves
interpreters of
the cry for human
dignity, which is
raised above all
by the poorest
and excluded, as
sick and suffering
persons often are.

Health Care, B7

B6 REFLECTIONS

November 23 - December 6, 2015 Vol. 19 No. 24

I have overcome
the world

JESUS told us that in Him we shall find peace (cf. Jn.

16:33), continuing that you will suffer in the world. But
take courage! I have overcome the world. Has he really
overcome the world? I believe so. How? Through His
death and resurrection He has opened Heavens gate for
us all; also, because the bigger number in the world are
those who freely chose to become Christians, without being forced at all. This is not a matter of force or pressure.
Jesus attitude is one of love and gentleness, to invite
people to the truths about God and our final destiny, this
being done with full
respect to each persons
free conscience, unlike
the forces of terror that
arms themselves with
threatening death-dealing tactics.
It may take time to
discover the truth but
with time and patience
we shall be victorious.
As St. Faustina expresses
in her Diary, Divine
Mercy in My Soul
(1514), I have learned
that the greatest power
is hidden in patience. I see that patience always leads to
victory, although not immediately, but victory will become
manifest after many years. Patience is linked to meekness.
Jesus has conquered sin and death because He died and
rose from death for the sake of truth and love. Those who
follow Jesus willingly are there because they sincerely seek
for the truth that sets us free (Jn.8:32), and the Reign
of God that declares Fortunate are the meek and gentle,
they shall possess the land (Mt. 5:5).

It may take
time to discover
the truth but
with time
and patience
we shall be
victorious.

Bo Sanchez

SOULFOOD

Just diamonds

LET me tell you a story about true wealth.

One day, two very proud Jewellers were in the street, debating who had the biggest, most beautiful diamonds.
Ive got the biggest diamonds! shouted one man. The
other said, Well, Ive got the most beautiful diamonds!
Their voices were loud and angry.
A third man approached them and smiled, My name is
Ibrahim Matta Zakariya Yunus Al-Yasa Efraim Dawud bin
Tariq bin Khalid Al-Fulan.
What? the two Jewellers asked.
Just call me Ibrahim. If thats still too long for you, you
can call me Ib. Im also a Jeweller. May I tell you a story?
Before they could answer, Ibrahim continued, One day,
I was going to another city to sell my diamonds. And I had
to cross a large dessert. But that day, a fierce sandstorm came
out of nowhere. It was the biggest and fiercest sandstorms
Ive ever experienced in my entire life. And I got lost in the
desert. After many days wandering, I was dying of starvation
and thirst
Oh no said the Jewellers, What did you do? The
two men had totally forgotten their argument and were now
totally mesmerized by Ibrahims story. (That is why one of my
crazy friends proposed that when Congressmen are fighting
in congress, they can show Telenovelas during their session
breaks. He said there would
be less fights.)
I sat on the sands, giving
up all hope, Ib said, but
mindlessly, I went through
my bags for the hundredth
time, looking for food. I
imagined that perhaps there
were breadcrumbs that fell
at the bottom of my bag
and I could lick my bag. Lo
and behold, I saw a hidden
pocket I didnt see before. I
opened it and saw a black
pouch! Oh, you can imagine
how excited I was. Perhaps
it was bread. Or nuts. Or
dried fruit! And so with
trembling fingers, I opened
it
Was it food? one Jeweller asked.
Water perhaps? the
other one said.
Neither. With great dismay and utter frustration, I saw
that the pouch was filled with nothing else but diamonds. It
was just diamonds!

There are
many rich
people who are
dying on their
death beds,
surrounded by
their millions,
but their hearts
are hungry for
loveand they
find none.

0
FRIEND, there are some things more important than money.
As I write this, there are many rich people who are dying
on their death beds, surrounded by their millions, but their
hearts are hungry for loveand they find none.
Dont get me wrong. Money is important. After all, we
need to feed our families.
But our souls real food is love.
So yes, earn money. You need it.
In fact, be an expert in how money worksso that you
have passive income flowing into your lifeso that you can
focus on more important things.
Dont center your life on money.
Center your life on love.
Spend time with your family.
Invest in your friendships.
And give your life to God.

1st Sunday of Advent (C), Luke 21:25-28, 34-36; November 29, 2015
By Fr. Sal Putzu, SDB
GOD does not wait till the end
of the world to judge us. We shall
have to face Him as our Judge at
the end of our life, even if the sun
keeps shedding its light as usual,
and the rest of mankind may
be enjoying perfect tranquility.
On that day (or night), we shall
see the end of our world--of the
relationships we have established
with things, places, and people.
The question, then, is not if
this world of ours will end. It
shall surely end, for us, when
we die. It is not even when and
how it will end, for that is not
for us to know. Rather, what
matters is HOW we will reach
the end i.e., what will be the
disposition of our heart when
we meet the Lord at our death.
That will be the most dramatic
moment in our existence, since
our eternal destiny will depend
on that encounter. Hence, the
exhortation to be vigilant at
all times and pray.
To be vigilant, in this case,
does not mean to be like a sentry on the lookout for possible
attacks from external enemies,
though we live in an unfriendly
world, and the great day will
close in on us like a trap (Lk
21:34). Rather, it means that we
have to guard ourselves against
our sinful inclinations fanned
by the devil, and the moral
disorder which both original

Govert Flinck

ENCOUNTERS

Preparing to welcome the Lord

with faith-filled expectation

sin and our personal sins have

introduced into our lives.
We all have a continuous
insurgency problem. But
the situation of permanent red
alert in which we have to live
should not paralyze us. We are
expected to take the initiative
and conduct ourselves in a way
pleasing to God, ever bent on
making still greater progress
(1 Thes 4:1).
All this is far from easy. A very
strong enemy has infiltrated
our lives, and we are weak and

wounded. We need desperately a

powerful ally on whose help we
can rely. His presence in us will
be not only the most effective
deterrent against the enemy,
but also a factor of internal
stability. God Himself is such
an Ally, and prayer is the supply
line through which we come to
share in His strength.
By opening our hearts in
prayer to Him, we begin to enjoy already now that life-giving
communion which is the essence
of the afterlife for all those who

say Yes to Him. If we place

ourselves in such a disposition,
nothing, not even death, will
frighten us. And actually, we
shall be able to raise our heads
with trust-filled hope . . . to
stand secure before the Son of
Man (Lk 21:28.36).
Let this be our disposition this
Advent as we take our first steps
in the Year of Faith, the year
of new beginnings and new
fervor, in the Era of the New
Evangelization.

How to bring about an effective moral reform

2nd Sunday of Advent (C), Luke 3:1-6; December 6, 2015
By Fr. Sal Putzu, SDB
ADVENT is a golden opportunity to plan
and carry out a Comprehensive Spiritual
Reform (CSR). This is particularly relevant
and needed in this Year of the Eucharist and
of the Family.
John the Baptist, a man of faith, impresses
on us the absolute need of such a reform,
outlines its radical demands, and stresses its
all-embracing character. Such a reform encompasses the whole of our person and our
activity. It concerns our mind, our heart,
our hands. This means it should affect our
outlook, our attitudes, our actions positively.
In practice, this CSR can mean very different things for each one of us. But it also
includes certain common lines of action

which apply to all of us.

The first fundamental step in our CSR
is the rediscovery of our need for God.
Without God, we cannot be, we sing in a
well-known song. But often, in practice--if
not in theory--we may have come to behave
as if God were an expendable item in our
life! Advent is a time to make our own what
we sing in the song: Come, fill my world.
Come, fill my life. Come take my hand and
walk with me!
The second step may consist in realizing
that our set of values may need to be reviewed and properly prioritized. It is not
a matter of renouncing earthly values and
concerns, but of giving them their proper
place in a well-crafted faith-inspired value
system.
Our CSR will surely entail the pulling

down of the mountain ranges of our pride,

our prejudices, our insensitivity to the
needs of our neighbor. We have to fill the
ravines of shady dealings and selfish motives, and to straighten up the twisted paths
of degrading compromises. All these wrong
attitudes and actions have to be buried once
and for all under a solid layer of honesty,
sincerity and openness. In this way, our life
can become a beautiful reclamation area,
crisscrossed by the spacious highways of the
love of God and neighbor. As Paul suggests
in todays Second Reading, we have to let
love increase more and more and learn to
discern what is of value (Phil 1:9.10).
Each of us can make this program more
detailed and relevant. If we do not get it underway right now, and do not succeed, this Year
of Faith will remain fruitless for us.

Mary, the masterpiece of Gods merciful love

24th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Mark 8:27-35 (B) September 13, 2015
By Fr. Sal Putzu, SDB
THE title Immaculate Conception sounds familiar to Catholic
ears. But the meaning which we
should associate with this term
may not always be as correct or as
rich as it should be. In fact, some
wrongly interpret it as virgin
birth, while others seem prone
to reduce it to Marys perfect
chastity.
Fortunately, the majority understand the title Immaculate
Conception correctly as the
preservation from original sin,
in view of, and thanks to, the
merits of Jesus Christ.
For us, born in sin and soaked
in sin, it is extremely difficult to
get an adequate idea of all that
her Immaculate Conception
entailed for Mary.
Immaculate Conception
means total perfection at
the very beginning of Marys
existence. She started existing
as perfect as a creature can be,
in all aspects of her being. She
was the flawless realization of
Gods creative and redeeming
power. This means that Gods
love filled her to capacity. As a
consequence, she enjoyed an
undisturbed harmony in her
relationship with God, within
herself, as well as with others and
the rest of creation.
Although this privilege refers
only to the instant of Marys
conception, its effects/fruits
lasted and grew throughout her
life. They affected all that she did
and was.

Maria Tan

Bishop Pat Alo

CBCP Monitor

In fact, the absolute perfection

which characterized Mary from
the first instant of her existence
was neither lost with the passing of time, nor did it remain
static. The perfect child grew
into a perfect adolescent, and
eventually into a perfect mature
woman who persevered in the
state of total perfection till the

end of her life. Perfection, in

Mary, was a way of life. And all
this, thanks to the dynamic character of Gods gift and Marys
response to it.
Such a wonderful outcome
should not be taken for granted,
for Mary responded in freedom,
not out of compulsion. Adam
and Eve also had been created

immaculate. Yet, when put to

the test, they failed miserably.
Mary was tested, too. But, at every test, she grew in her openness
to God in humble acceptance of
His will, and in the sincere desire
to cooperate with her Son in the
salvation of all men.
There is a lesson and a challenge for us all here. Though so
deeply affected by the tragedy of
the first Fall, at our baptism we,
too, have been given a considerable degree of immaculateness not because we deserved
it, but only because of Gods
immense merciful love. The
challenge consists in preserving
such a gift in spite of all difficulties, in reconquering it after
every defeat, and in growing in it
by cooperating with the divine
grace that is made available to
us in so many ways.
Finally, the celebration of the
feast of the Immaculate Conception, right at the start of the
Extraordinary Jubilee Year of
Mercy, is an invitation to all of
us to take Mary as our model as
we prepare to commemorate of
Christs Birth. We should do our
best to imitate her faith, generosity, availability, and eagerness to
welcome the Lord in our lives.
Note: Since today is the
opening of the Extraordinary
Jubilee Year of Mercy, an
alternative reflection may be
made by reading attentively and
prayerfully some paragraphs of
Misericordiae Vultus (The
Face of Mercy), Pope Francis
official proclamation of the
yearlong observance.

SOCIAL CONCERNS B7

November 23 - December 6, 2015 Vol. 19 No. 24

Making a living, one stitch at a time

Michelin San Diego/CRS.

CATHOLIC Relief Services

(CRS), with DEC funding, is
supporting families to recover
their livelihoods or start new
ones.
Such is the case with Ida Colasito, a 75-year-old widow from
Opong, Tolosa in Eastern Samar.
She is one of the 755 graduates
of the alternative livelihoods
program. Together with 19 other
beneficiaries, Ida participated in
the 20-day training on tailoring
conducted by the Technical Education and Skills Development
Authority (TESDA). She did not
miss a single training day.
Ida recalled how happy she
was when CRS enrolled her to
be a beneficiary of the training
program after she had already
received gardening and farming inputs in the first phase of
the CRS livelihoods project. At
first, tailoring was not included
as a livelihood option, but
Ida advocated for the option
because she already had some
experience sewing bags for a
living. CRS response to Typhoon Haiyan has incorporated
beneficiary preferences from the
beginningdesigning the program based on feedback from
the beneficiaries themselves.
When Ida expressed her desire
to strengthen her tailoring skills,
CRS listened and added it as an

The Tip Box

Ida Colasito with her sewing machine provided by CR. The sewing machine helps her make
bedding and clothing for her growing list of customers.

option. Eighteen other families

also selected the option.
Although she already had
tailoring skills, she thought
the training was very beneficial
because she was able to acquire
an official national Certificate
2 from TESDA on completion
of the course. Ida said that right
after the assessment examination she received a call from a
director of a non-government
organization, offering her a job

conducting training in another

municipality on tailoring for
single parents like herself. Ida
greatly values her certificate
because it helped boost her
confidence to accept more orders and to train others. She is
looking forward to developing
her skills as a trainer.
Ida expressed her gratitude to
CRS for providing her with a
sewing machine and other tailoring inputs which she has used to

sew curtains, pillow cases, bed

sheets, seat covers, and costumes
for her growing list of customers.
She is also very happy that she
was able to obtain new patterns
from the training because her
old designs were washed away
during Typhoon Haiyan.
There is still a long way for
Ida to expand and grow her new
tailoring business, but she is
working towards it one stitch at
a time. (Arven Dela Cru)

WHEN an opportunity comes, grab it! This is the idealism of a humble mother named Lovelyn Clavines. She is
a student of the Livelihood project implemented by Capiz
Archdiocesan Social Action Center (CASAC) funded by
Caritas Italiana. She is an Out of School Youth (OSY).
Lovelyn is already a mother at the age of 22 and was not
able to study in college because of financial incapacity. She
had a dream to become a teacher. Unfortunately, this dream
did not come into reality when she got pregnant. Then she
became hopeless and worried about her future. At present,
Lovelyn has two kids: a 6-year old boy and a two-year old
girl living with a hard working husband.
When typhoon Yolanda devastated Capiz, Lovelyn was
truly hurt because
they lost their
house and resources. She said
there was no end
to the difficult
situation that we
found ourselves
in. She and her
husband decided to live at her
mothers house
and she started to
look for a job to
help her husband
in attending to
the needs of their
children.
CASAC was
a blessing Lovelyn uttered with
a smile when she
Aside from offering massage services, heard that the
Lovelyn Clavines also sells bread commission is
outside of their house.
looking for interested OSYs to join the training. Despite her age, Lovelyn
grabbed the chance to enroll. The only thing that she had
is the willingness and the faith hoping to pass and to be
counted as one of CASACs OSY students. After the interview, Lovelyn received the good news that she will attend
the first training in Hilot Wellness and Massage.
Now, she attended different vocational courses offered by
CASAC and it helped her a lot particularly when they are
having their IGP (Income Generating Program) The tip
box was my saving grace. That through the IGP program
of CASAC I could buy something for my kids, now, I can
afford to buy their favourite hamburger, provide our daily
needs and still I have small amount left from my income
to save for emergency cases .The highest tip that I received
was P1,000 and I was very happy that time. Meanwhile,
Lovelyn have fears especially hearing negative feedbacks
from customers. But for her it is common and it inspired
her to improve her skills.
Indeed CASAC contributed happiness, strength and new
beginning to Lovelyns life. Hardships and poverty tested her
determination. Her experiences made her strong in order
to face the challenges and but also grab opportunities that
the future will reserve to her and her family.
Caritas Italiana

CBCP Monitor

ON a typical day Enrequita Valiente, 62

years old, a widow, would watch over her
grandson running and playing around the
house while at the same time cultivating
and watering her vegetable plants. Even
with just few front teeth, the genuineness
of her smile can still be seen.
Her husband died of ulcer years ago.
Her five children now have families of
their own. One of her daughters left
her child to her. Her grandson is now
2 years old.
Even if shes disappointed with her
daughter for leaving her son with her,
she eventually learned to accept the
situation and focused on rearing and
nurturing her grandson.

Mayad gd tana ang my aram! Enrequita beams when asked if she will also
send her grandson to school as soon as
he is ready. She believes that education
is important and it is something that
nobody can steal.
The vegetable seeds she availed from
DSAC were sweet potato cuttings,
pechay, eggplant, tomato, raddish,
hantak and okra. She would earn P500
per month in selling her vegetables to
her neighbors. The income she earns
helped her in buying groceries, rice,
soap and viand. She also eats what
she plants in her backyard. She also
teaches her grandson to eat vegetables
at a young age.

She is also one of the beneficiaries

of the communal hand pump in the
area which is used by three families.
Before the construction of the hand
pump, she used to walk more than 50
meters far just to fetch water for daily
use and watering her vegetables. At an
old age it is beneficial to her that the
hand pump is nearer. She could now
water her vegetable plants more often.
She prays for good health always so
she can continue planting and also the
energy to sustain their needs especially
that of her grandchild. She hopes one
day her grandson would grow up to be
loving, God- fearing and always have
the heart ready to forgive.

For Love and for Service Let

Us Kneel
In this Year of the Family and
the Eucharist, we are invited to
kneel down to bring renewal to
the family. We kneel to serve like
the Lord. We envision every Filipino Catholic family to be missionary disciples of the Eucharist.

Jesus got up from the meal, took

off his outer clothing, and wrapped
a towel around his waist. After
that, he poured water into a basin
and began to wash his disciples

Typhoon Yolanda survivor Enrequita Valiente is also a beneficiary

of a communal hand pump aside from vegetable seeds.
Health Care, B5

Jubilee, B1

Spirit of the Liturgy, 193)

All the families of the nations
shall bow down before him.
For dominion is the Lords and
he rules the nations.
To him alone shall bow down
all who sleep in the earth;
Before him shall bend all
who go down into the dust. (Ps
22:28)
If we want renewal in spirituality, we must recover the Christian culture of kneeling.

Caritas Belgium

My Grandma, My Mama

feet. (John 13:4)

Let us kneel again at home for
family prayer and for feet washing. Where love and service prevail instead of pride and grudge
keeping; where the humility
of pardon and being pardoned
prevails over revenge and bitter
resentments; where siblings wash
one anothers feet and parents do
the same; where the culture of
family kneeling is present, the
dream of renewal in family life
will not be far from sight.
The family that prays together
stays together. The family that
kneels together will be refreshed
and renewed together. The family that kneels together will
remain young and fresh and new.
Kneeling empowers families to
stand up against the storms of
life. Kneeling is strength.
As it is with the family, so it
is with the Church and her pastors. The Church is not ours. The
Church is Christs. We who are
only stewards, not master build-

ers, must return to the spiritual

value of kneeling for prayer and
stooping for feet washing. The
mandate the Lord gave on Holy
Thursday to Do as I have done
is a daily obligation we must
fulfill with humility, with joy,
with faith, with love.
Kneeling for Renewal
In the Jubilee Year of Mercy,
this Year of the Family and the
Eucharist, let us return to the spiritual value and beauty of kneeling.
Tertullian even went so far as saying
No prayer should be made without kneeling. (De Oratione, 23)
How can we be renewed without prayer? How can we pray
without kneeling for repentance?
How can we receive mercy if we
are proud and self-secure?
How can we worship without
kneeling down when the Apostle
himself says At the name of
Jesus every knee should bend of
those in heaven and on earth and
under the earth.

How can we show that we are

His disciples without kneeling
down to wash one anothers feet
as He has mandated? By love we
will be known as His disciples.
In this Year of Mercy let us
kneel again. If we want renewal,
let the heart and body kneel.
Let the mind and the legs bend
before the Lord. Let the soul
and the knees bow togetherin
worship and humility.
May Mary Mother of Mercy
teach us her humility and lead
us by the hand to adore her Son
and serve like Him. Amen.
From the Catholic Bishops
Conference of the Philippines,
November 29, 2015, First Sunday of Advent
Sincerely yours,
+SOCRATES B. VILLEGAS
Archbishop of Lingayen
Dagupan
President, Catholic Bishops
Conference of the Philippines

which is raised above all by the

poorest and excluded, as sick and
suffering persons often are. In the
now imminent Jubilee of Mercy,
may this cry find a sincere echo in
our hearts, so that in the exercise
of works of mercy, corporal and
spiritual, according to the different responsibilities entrusted to
each one, we can also receive the
gift of Gods grace, while we ourselves render ourselves channels
and witnesses of mercy.
I hope that in these days of
reflection and debate, in which
you also consider the environmental factor in its aspects linked
in the main to a persons physical, psychic, spiritual and social
health, you are able to contribute
to a new development of the
culture of salus, understood also
in an integral sense. I encourage
you, in this perspective, to always
have present in your endeavors
the reality of those populations,
which in the main suffer the
damages that stem from envi-

ronmental degradation, grave

damages, often permanent to
health. And, speaking of these
damages that stem form environmental degradation, it is a
surprise for me to find--when I
go to the Wednesday Audience
or to parishes--so many sick
people, especially children ... The
parents say to me: He has a rare
illness! They dont know what it
is. These rare illnesses are the
consequence of the sickness that
we inflict on the environment.
And this is grave!
Let us ask Mary Most Holy,
Health of the Sick, to accompany the works of your conference.
We entrust to her the commitment that, daily, the different
professional figures of the world
of health carry out in favor of the
suffering. I bless you all from my
heart, your families, your communities, as well as all those you
meet in hospitals and in nursing
homes. I pray for you and you,
please, pray for me. Thank you.

B8 ENTERTAINMENT

November 23 - December 6, 2015 Vol. 19 No. 24

Moral Assessment

CBCP Monitor

Buhay San Miguel

Brothers Matias

Lolo Kiko

Bladimer Usi

Abhorrent

Disturbing
Acceptable
Wholesome

Exemplary
Technical Assessment

Poor
Below average

Average

Above average
E
xcellent

LUNGKOT at kawalan ng layunin ang naramdaman ni Lola

Feliza (Tomas) matapos mamatay
nang kanyang asawa kaya naisip
niyang sundan ang kanyang pangarap na makatapos ng Grade 6.
Lakas loob siyang nag-enroll at
papasok bilang regular na magaaral sa kabila ng alinlangan ng
punong guro, sariling takot at
pangungutya ng ilang bata, lalo
ang class bully na si Buboy (Villar). Pagsusumikapan ni Lola
Feliza na tupdin ang mga gawain
at sumabay sa mga aralin. Subalit
pahihirapan siya ng sutil na si
Buboy, tulad ng ginagawa ng nito
sa ibang mga kamag-aral. Magkakaroon naman si Lola Feliza ng
mga personal na layunin tulad ng
pakikipagkaibigan at paglalapit ng
loob kay Buboy. Para makadagdag
sa gastusin, magtitinda si Lola
Feliza sa palengke subualit hindi
makayanan ng kanyang katawan
ang pagod at mapipilitang tumigil
sa pagpasok. Magiging daan si
Buboy para maipagpatuloy ni Lola
ang pag-aaral hanggang sa tuluyan
siyang makapagtapos sa Grade 6.
Pinagsumikapan ng Old Skool
na iayos at bigyang diin ang
pagkwekwento higit sa anumang
aspeto, kaya naman malinaw
ang daloy, buo ang mga tauhan
at makatwiran ang mga motibo.
Medyo nagkulang lang sa pagpapaliwanag kung bakit pinapayagan
ng paaralan ang kabastusan ni
Buboy nuong una. Matalino ang
pagkakadirehe rito, walang OA
na iyakan pero tagos sa puso ang
lungkot ni Lola Feliza, walang
umaatikabong aksyon pero pananabikan mo ang tagisan ni Buboy at
Lola Feliza at walang nakakainsultong komedya pero may kiliti ang
bitaw ng usapan. Higit sa lahat,
totoo ang daloy, mga problema at
ang sagot na inihain kaya malalim
ang kagat sa puso at pitik sa pagiisip. Kaya naman hindi nahirapan
ang mga nagsiganap na isapuso
ang pagkatao ng kanilang mga
ginampanang tauhan. May mga
pagkukulangang man sa disenyo
at drama ng pag-iilaw ay sinalo

naman ito ng swabeng timpla ng

musika na sumasabay sa kasalukuyang damdamin ng eksena. Payak
man ang kabuuang aspetong
teknikal nito, matagumpay pa rin
ang pagkakasalaysay ng kwento at
ng mensahe.
Ang Old Skool ay isang pelikulang puno ng pag-asa. Pag-asa
sa pagsusumikap. Pag-asa sa pagabot ng mga pangarap, Pag-asa sa
pagmamahal, Pag-asa sa pagbabagong buhay. Pinakamalinaw na
mensahe nito ang pagpupursige at
pagsusumikap na tuparin ang mga

OLD SKOOL
LEAD CAST: Tessie Tomas,
Angel Aquino, Buboy Villar
DIRECTION: Cia Hermosa
Jorge
GENRE: Drama
DISTRIBUTOR: Star Cinema
TECHNICAL ASSESSMENT:

MORAL ASSESSMENT:

CINEMA Rating: VA
MTRCB Rating: G

pangarap. Hindi balakid ang ang

pisikal, emosyonal o pinansyal na
kalagayan, bagkus, dapat magsilbi
itong mga inspirasyon at dahilan
upang lalong pagsumikapan na
marating ang rurok ng husay ng
iyong pagkatao. Napakainam na
pagtatapos sa pag-aaral ang ginawang motibo ng pelikula dahil
sa panahon ngayon ay dumarami
nang kabataan ang hindi na nakikita ang halaga ng edukasyon.
Ang pumapangalawang malakas
na mensahe ay ang pagtanggap
at pagmamahal bilang tugon sa
pagmamalupit at masasamang
ugali. Mas lumambot ang puso
at nahikayat magbago si Buboy
nang pakitaan siya ni Lola Feliza
ng malasakit at pag-uunawa. Katulad ng panawagan sa atin bilang
mga Kristyano, awa at malasakit
ang una nating ipakita sa mga
nangangailanganlalo iyong mga
naliligaw ng landas. Napapanahon
ang pelikula at bagay sa anumang
gulang ng manunuod.

UNANG magkikita nang ilang saglit si Wendy (Jennylyn Mercado)

at si Sean (Sam Milby) nang magbanggaan ang kanilang mga sasakyan
sa kalye. Magtatagpo silang muli sa eroplano, bilang magkatabi ng
upuan sa business class, at mag-iinisan sila sa buong haba ng biyahe
mula Maynila hanggang New York, kung saan inaasahan ni Wendy
na makapiling ang kanyang tunay na ama. Magkikita ang mag-ama
pero hindi matutuloy ang pagpisan ni Wendy sa ama pagkat tutuol
dito ang babaeng kinakasama nito. Habang namomroblema kung
saan tutuloy si Wendy, susulpot muli sa eksena si Sean, na tila hindi
umalis habang naghihintay sa ama si Wendy. Nagmamagandangloob, kukupkupin ni Sean si Wendy sa kanyang apartment sa New
York. Sa madaling salita, magkakaigihan ang dalawa hanggang sa
magkasundong magpakasal. Dito magsisimula ang gulo sa matamis
nilang pakikipag-ugnayan.
Bagamat may mga parteng nakakaaliw sa mga eksena ng The prenup, gaya ng mga kuha sa New York at ang pagkakagayak ng bahay/
tindahan ng pamilya ni Wendy, marami din namang mga aspeto na
hindi pulido ang pagkakagawa
tulad ng tunog (na minsay nakabibingi), ang kawalan ng orihinal
LEAD CAST: Jennylyn Merna musical score, ang mababaw na
cado, Sam Milby, Gardo
characterization, ang editing na tila
Versoza, Dominic Ochoa,
may bungi, at ang dialogue kung
Jaclyn Jose, Tirso Cruz III
saan nangingibabaw ang bastusan
DIRECTOR: Jun Lana
SCREENWRITER: Jun Lana
sa kapwa. Sayang ang kahangaGENRE: Romantic Comedy
hangang talino sa pagganap ni
DISTRIBUTOR: Regal EnterMercado na ipinakita niya sa
tainment
pelikulang Rosario; sa The prenup,
LOCATION: Philippines; New
kahit carry niya ang rom/com,
York USA
RUNNING TIME: 1 hour 58
hindi nito hinamon ang husay ng
minutes
artista. Ang mismong istorya ng
TECHNICAL ASSESSMENT:
The prenup, tulad ng mabilisang

pag-iibigan nila Wendy at Sean,

MORAL ASSESSMENT: ay mukhang minadali din, tinuhog
CINEMA rating: V14
ang mga pira-pirasong kuwelang
eksena at kinoronahan ng isang happy endingsa tingin kaya ng
mga producers ay sapat na ito para katalinuhan ng mga manunuod?
Gasgas na ang tema ng The Prenupguwapong binata, magandang
dalaga, magkakatagpo, magkakaibigan, pero tututol ang kani-kaniyang
mga pamilya. Ang isa kasiy ubod ng yaman at ang isa namay
hindi nila kauri, ika nga. Para hindi siguro malaglag ang predictable na
kuwento, tutukuran ito ng bagong elemento: parehong lalaki ang mga
adoptive parents ng ulilang si Wendy. Hindi mapigilan ng CINEMA
na magtaka kung walang hidden agenda ang The prenupbukod sa
mga binabaeng nag-ampon kay Wendy, ay may bakla at tomboy din
sa dalawang pamilyang sangkot. Ang pagtatapos ng pelikula ay hati,
ika nga: bagamat tumpak, itoy artipisyal; hindi ganitong kasimple
ang resolusyon ng ganoong mga situasyon sa tunay na buhay. Buti
pa ang mga fairy tales, pinahihirapan muna ang mga karakter bago
makamtan ang matamis na happily-ever-after.
Hindi nababagay sa mga murang isipan ang pelikulang ito gawa ng
ipinakikita nitong kagaspangan ng asal at ang bunga nitong kabastusan
sa pananalita. Maaaring magdulot din ng kalituhan ang pelikula sa
mga bata na dapat ay pinalalaki sa wastong pagpapahalaga sa pagkakaiba ng kasarian ng babae at lalaki.

THE PRENUP

Buhay Parokya

Look for the images of Holy water,

Archangel Gabriel and Saint John Paul ii.
(Illustration by Bladimer Usi)