Message from the Archbishop

Sa pagdatong kan banal na panahon nin Cuaresma, an Simbahan giraray hinahalat na manumpungan an saiyang Esposo na si Cristo sa saiyang pagkabuhay-liwat. Sa paghalat asin pag-puka kan bilog na simbahan asin komunidad pinapa-orog an pagpamibi, paggibong karahayan asin pagsolsol, tanganing magin makahulugan an bagong buhay na ipinangako kan Kagurangnan duman sa krus.

Sa katotoohan, an krus iyo an nagtataong kahulugan sa lambang buhay niatong mga Cristiano. Sa mga tataramon kan satong Santo Papa:

It is often a spectacular scene to behold how the revered Christmas season lightens up the souls of people, enabling each one of us to sing a happy Christmas tune. For a time it helps us forget the daily grind and complexities of life. But then again the Christmas spirit is not simply a feeling to enjoy.

In an interview regarding his new book entitled “Light of the World: the Pope, the Church and the Signs of the Times,” Pope Benedict XVI said that the use of condoms may be a sign of moral responsibility in some specific situations when the intention is to reduce the risk of HIV infection.

In my first pastoral letter, I stated the reason why the Church has the right and duty to speak about socio-political issues. In the second, I set forth the guiding moral principles that have helped us in our discernment of the issues contained in the RH bill. In the third, I dealt with the special concerns on the bill and the Church response to these issues. Now, what do we do next?

"So you must live like people who belong to the light, for it is the light that brings a rich harvest of every kind of goodness, righteousness and the truth."[1] Impelled by these words of the Apostle Paul, I feel there are things to be clarified in the RH bill, so that the continuing dialogue, between the Church and the government on the issue, may truly be the common concern of all of us, who are called to live not us unwise but wise men.

The tercentenary of the gift of devotion to Ina, Our Lady of Peñafrancia, has brought us together to celebrate as a community and as a Church. The celebration has offered us great joy to remember with gratitude the many blessings that God has bestowed upon us through Ina; and has given us hope to share this gift of devotion with loving concern to those in need especially the poor.

Nais kong talakayin ang tema ng Sex Education na siyang mainit na pinagtatalunan sa kasalukuyan pagkakataon. Mangyari pa, marami ang aspekto o angulo ng temang ito na mahahalaga rin naman na maaari natin pagusapan, lamang maikli ang panahong magagamit natin sa pagkakataong ito. Kaya naman sa ngayon ay pinili ko ang tungkol sa karapatan ng ating Simbahan Katolika na makialam sa usapang ito at kung bakit dapat pahalagahan ang sinasabi ng ating Simbahan tungkol sa temang ito.

Namomotan kong mga tugang sa pagtubod: Saaga na ang eleksyon. Boot kong ipadagos an pag-gampan ko kan sakuyang katongdan bilang saindong Arzobispo, bilang sarong Pastor, sa pag-pagiromdom saindo.

I am sincerely happy and grateful to be celebrating this Chrism Mass with you, especially with you, my brother priests. Up until this morning when I vested for our Mass, I was not sure I could make it. But the Lord is kind...and I stand here before you.

Mga tugang, patapos na an banal na panahon nin Cuaresma. Napapanahon na hapoton niato an satong sadiri: Ano na an naginibo niato tanganing makapuli kita sa Mahal na Dios?