Latest Church News

MANILA, Jan. 3, 2012—With millions of devotees expected to join the annual fiesta of the Black Nazarene, Church officials are coordinating with city officials for a peaceful and orderly procession of the miraculous image from Luneta to Quiapo Church on January 9. Quiapo church officials led by parish priest and Rector Msgr. Clemente Ignacio have been in meetings with City Hall officials, National Parks Authorities and other line agencies of the government since last August to ensure a safe and orderly transfer of the icon. Considered the biggest fiesta celebration and longest procession in the Philippines, the annual religious event usually draws around 6 to 7 million devotees nationwide.

MANILA, Jan. 2, 2012—Since national basic education curriculum will be extended from 10 to 12 years starting next school year, the Catholic Educational Association of the Philippines (CEAP) will gather representatives of private Catholic schools nationwide to discuss preparations on the looming shift to the government’s Kindergarten to 12th grade (K+12) program.

MANILA, Dec. 31, 2011–The crusade for a culture of life is an advocacy of truth, and based on the goings-on in 2011 alone, the pro-life advocacy has covered a lot of ground and, inadvertently, saw much success in promoting the truth.

Though reproductive health (RH) legislation in the Philippines is not new — being proposed, discussed, rejected and resurrected for decades now — 2012 saw significant developments in its promotion as well as in its opposition. The year ended with the RH bill reaching the period of interpellation in both chambers of Congress, heated debates in progress when legislative sessions went on adjournment on the final month of the year. Mass actions such as rallies and prayer vigils to express opposition to the bill happened not just in the country’s capital, but in many other cities in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. Civil society seemed to wake up to the folly of the legislative measure and wanted to be heard loud and clear.

Message of His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI for the Celebration of the World Day of Peace, 1 January 2012

My dear brothers and sisters in Jesus Christ:

Maayong Bag-ong Tuig kaninyong tanan!

As we thank God for the many blessings He bestowed on us last year, we offer Him praise and thanksgiving as He brings us to another year, the New Year 2012.

MANILA, Dec. 27, 2011—Environmental advocacy group, Kalikasan People’s Network for the Environment (KPNE) asserted that the Aquino administration should be held accountable for what happened in two of Mindanao’s key cities, Iligan and Cagayan de Oro, for allegedly “coddling” loggers and lack of disaster preparedness that could have saved thousands of lives.

ILIGAN City, Dec. 26, 2011—A Catholic bishop urged people to look deeply into the issue of environmental destruction that contributed greatly to the tragedy that struck the cities of Cagayan de Oro and Iligan.

Iligan bishop Elenito Galido called for a communal action to protect and preserve the environment from further destruction.

Christmas is a time of rejoicing. But this year in Cagayan de Oro we mourn and express our condolence for all those who have perished in the wake of Typhoon Sendong on Dec. 16-17.

In some places entire families have been washed away by the rampaging waters of Cagayan de Oro River. Others died in their sleep trapped inside their homes by the sudden rise of flood waters that reached unprecedented levels past midnight.

BACOLOD City, Dec. 22, 2011— In response to the invitation of the Episcopal Commission on Youth to plant at least one million trees nationwide, the Diocesan Commission on Youth planted at least 300 seedlings at Sitio Lantawan, Brgy. Guimbalaon, Silay City last December 11.

The Episcopal Commission on Youth (ECY), on the celebration of its 25th year, has urged the Filipino youth to concretely express their love for Mother Earth by protecting, preserving and restoring the environment through various activities, including tree planting.

ILIGAN City, Dec. 21, 2011—Relief and rehabilitation should not only be limited to those whose homes were swept away by flashfloods, but help should also be extended to families whose houses were partially damaged by the typhoon, a priest said.

This, according to Iligan Social Action Director Fr. Albert Mendez, who assessed the situation after meeting evacuees in various government facilities and churches in the city.

MANILA, Dec. 21, 2011—Migrante chapters in different parts of the Middle East opened their lines to receive donations for the victims of the flash floods in Cagayan de Oro and Iligan cities, Mindanao, which has already claimed hundreds of lives, most of them children.

In a statement, John Leonard C. Monterona, regional coordinator of Migrante-Mideast said that they had already coordinated with different Filipino communities and migrant workers’ organization in Saudi, Qatar, and in United Arab Emirates.