CBCP Monitor Vol. 19 No. 22

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ALMOS a year after his v isit tothe Philippines, Pope Francis con-tinues to cherish his high esteemfor Filipinos.

In a brief and casual meeting with Filipino bishops attending

the ongoing Synod on the fam-ily at the Vatican, the Pope againexpressed his admiration for theFilipino faith.

“Te Holy Father said ‘I have

MonitorVOLUME 19NUMBER 22

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PROTAGONIST OF TRUTH, PROMOTER OF PEACE

October 26 -November 8, 2015

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Parishes gatherdonations for Landovictims

HEEDING the appeal of Ar chb isho p Lu is An toni oG. Cardinal agle, parishes,shrines, and chapels in the Ro-man Catholic Archdiocese ofManila (RCAM) devoted theirsecond collection of donationsin all Masses last Sunday to aidsurvivors of yphoon “Lando”(International Name: Koppu).

In a circular released lastOctober 19, RCAM Chancel-lor Fr. Reginald R. Malicdemurged parishes to immediately

remit the donations to thereasury and Accounting De-partment at the Arzobispadode Manila. Part of the proceeds

will be kept as the RCAM’sdisaster fund.

Te letter also directed thatthe special collection for “Pris-on Awareness Sunday” sup-posed to be held on the same

WHAT’S INSIDE

Marriage doesn’t take away

your freedom - quite the op-

posite, Pope says (A3)

Address of His Holiness Pope

Francis at the Conclusion of

the Synod of Bishops (B1)

Gather, A6

Tagle: Church’s commitment topoor goes beyond 2015MANILA Archbishop Luis Antonio G.Cardinal agle invites priests and pa-rishioners of the Archdiocese of Manila(RCAM) to take part in the festivities onNov. 7, Saturday, at the La ConcordiaCollege, Pedro Gil St., Manila, set to

wrap up the ongoing “Year of the Poor,”and to continue what has been done sofar for the poor.

“Tis gathering will be an opportunityto send anew and make a commitment toliving out our being Church of the Poorunder the leadership of the Commission

on Social Services and Development[CSSD],” says the prelate in a recentcircular.

While the celebration of the Year of thePoor will come to a close, agle points outthat the Filipino faithful’s “being Churchof the Poor” goes beyond 2015.

Wanted: Respect “It is a lifetime mission of the Church

in the Philippines,” he stresses. According to the first Asian president

of Caritas Internationalis, Pope Francisreminds Christians that “poverty is theflesh of the poor Jesus, in that child whois hungry, and the one who is sick, in thoseunjust society structures.”

For Fr. Luke Moortgat, CICM, headof the RCAM’s Committee on the Yearof the Poor, the year challenges the viewmost people have of the underprivileged,noting that in most cases, what they needmore than food and shelter is respect.

“While food and shelter are important,the first thing that poor people need isrespect. We know that Jesus has a speciallove and concern for the rejected, theridiculed, the poorest of the poor. He asksus to do the same,” shared in an earlierinterview.

Meanwhile, Fr. Enrico Martin F. Ado-viso, RCAM-CSSD chief, as Church ofthe Poor, all Catholics are called to “renew

their commitment to Christ’s mission,”always taking the side of the poor andthe oppressed, especially when and wherethere is injustice and a denial of basic hu-man rights.

“Te farmers that till the land to bringus food, the fisher folks who navigate theseas for us and the workers who run theindustries are still materially poor afterdecades and generations of work for liv-ing. Teir dignity as co-creator of the Lordshould be reclaimed,” he explains in his

Year of the Poor manifesto.

12.1 million poor“Te handicapped, prisoners, indig-

enous people and even the victims ofcalamities are in dire need of our com-passion to lift up their hope and spirits.Tey are all poor, and they are all sonsand daughters of our Lord. Also, the

world need to re-examine the use of our

Caritas PH rolls out P13.21-Mrelief project

HE CBCP through its social actionarm, the National Secretariat for Social

Acti on (NASSA)/Cari tas Phi lippines wil l rol l out a P13 .21 -mil lio n rel iefproject to aid areas hit by yphoonLando (Koppu).

According to NASSA/Carit as Philip-pines Executive Secretary Fr. EdwinGariguez, the aid includes provision ofready-to-eat food, drinking water, hy-giene kits, emergency shelters, and other

NASSA/Caritas Philippines Executive Secretary Fr. Edwin Gariguez during a meeting at the NASSA/CaritasPhilippines - Command Center for Koppu Response. NASSA/CARITAS PHILIPPINES

Pope Francis: I have special

admiration for Filipinos

Asian Synod bishops concerned:

Youth not getting married

WHA does the Church in Asia,a pulsating center of Catholicmembership growth, worry about?

Young people saying no to mar-riage and child-bearing.

“[Te question is] how to inspire

young people to live out their fam-ily life,” said Synod delegate Shillong

Archbishop Dominic Jala of India in anexclusive interview with CBCP News.

According to the prelate, main-stream media’s focus on issuesaffecting the Church in the Westobscures the realities that Asian

Catholics struggle with.

Brenda Kim Nayoug of South Korea was one of the lay people chosen to give a personaltestimonial at the Synod of Bishops on the Family. NIRVA DELACRUZ / CBCP NEWS

‘Creative’ class proves theologycan be ‘fun’

BUSING the myth that Teol-ogy is a boring discipline, some 60Catholic men and women foundcreative ways to make their studyof it more exciting.

Participants of the monthlytheology crash course held Sunday

at the University of Santo omasin Manila came out with presen-tations that allowed all to share

with one another what they havelearned so far about the “science

of God” from theologian Fr. Jose

Commitment, A6 Caritas, A7

Filipinos, A7 Youth, A7 Theology, A7

MERCY AND COMPASSION. Pope Francis leads a Mass to mark the conclusion of the Synod on the Family in Saint Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican on Oct. 25. In his homily, the Popecontinued his call for a “more listening” Church and urged pastors to walk alongside the faithful, being bearers of God’s mercy and compassion, especially in times of suffering.ROY LAGARDE

Synod: A listeningand humble ChurchBy Roy Lagarde

VATICAN City—Afterweeks of discussion,the Synod of Bishopsended with a resound-ing call for renewal inthe Church, looking es-pecially at the necessityof the Church to listenand be humble.

Apparently, the Synod echoedPope Francis’ vision of a “listen-ing Church” where everyone canlearn from one another, takingresponsibility for proclaimingthe Gospel.

At the end of the Synod, thefinal document or the Relatio ofthe 14th Ordinary General As-sembly of the Synod of Bishopson the Family called for a more

welcoming Church, especially for

divorced, the Catholics married incivil rites, and those in difficultsituations.

While the Church’s teachi ngremains against allowing them toreceive communion, it endorsesthe pontiff’s call for a more merci-ful and less judgmental church.

“It shows a church that is lov-ing and caring and once againembracing the families as partof herself, and not just as mereobjects,” said Archbishop RomuloValles of Davao.

Contrary to Western-dominat-Humble, A6

I L L U S T R A T I O N B Y B R O T H E R S M A T I A S

SUPPLEMENT ISSUE THE CROSS: A SUPPLEMENT PUBLICATION OF KCFAPI AND THE ORDER OF THE KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS

R O Y

L A G A R D E



A2 CBCP MonitorOctober 26 - November 8, 2015 Vol. 19 No. 22WORLD NEWS

Vatican Briefing

Pope Francis expected to visit Italian diocese of Milanin May Milan’s archbishop, Cardinal Angelo Scola, made an in-formal announcement uesday that Pope Francis will visitthe archdiocese May 7, marking the first papal visit theresince 2012.“With joy and emotion we announce that PopeFrancis, accepting our invitation, will be among us in MilanMay 7,” Cardinal Scola announced in an Oct. 27 state-

ment, posted to the diocese of Milan’s website.Te Pope’svisit, he said, “is a delicate sign of affection and esteem forthe Ambrosian Church, for the city of Milan and for all ofLombardy.”Cardinal Scola made the ini tial announcementof the papal visit during an Oct. 27 meeting with LebaneseMaronite Patriarch Béchara Boutros Raï. (CNA)

Pope advises Gypsies to cultivate responsibility, opennessPope Francis met with Rome’s Romani, or Gypsies, onMonday, asking them to take a new direction and em-bolden their efforts towards a life of inclusion, dignity, andresponsibility.”ime has come to uproot secular prejudice,preconceived ideas and the reciprocal diffidence that areoften at the base of discrimination, racism and xenophobia,”Pope Francis stated Oct. 26.Te Pope addressed thousandsof Romani in the Vatican’s Paul VI Hall, saying the nomadicethnic group should “turn the page” and begin to buildbridges of “peaceful co-habitation” with other peoples andcultures. Te Holy Father spoke these words on the 50th

anniversary of Blessed Paul VI’s meeting with Romani in acamp near Rome. (CNA)

‘Protect our common home’, world’s bishops ask climatechange conferenceNegotiators of a global agreement on climate change musttake effective action to protect creation, leading bishopsfrom around the world said.“Tis agreement must put thecommon good ahead of national interests. It is essential toothat the negotiations result in an enforceable agreement thatprotects our common home and all its inhabitants,” saidthe bishops’ Oct. 26 appeal.Te bishops’ appeal addressednegotiators at the 2015 United Nations Climate ChangeConference, which will take place in Paris in Nov. 30 – Dec.11.Te bishops said negotiators must secure an agreementthat is “fair, legally binding and truly transformational,”Vatican Radio reports. (CNA)

Marriage doesn’t take away your freedom – quite theopposite, Pope saysPope Francis on Wednesday said that contrary to modernnotions, fidelity in marriage does not rob us of personalfreedom but instead is a fundamental attribute of all humanrelationships based on love.“Freedom and fidelity are not op-posed to each other,” the Pope said in his latest catechesis onthe family, delivered during his weekly general audience in St.Peter’s Square Oct 21.Te strength and beauty of love, includ-ing in the context of friendship, come from the fact that thepersons involved are connected without loss of freedom, hesaid.“Without freedom there is no friendship; without freedom,there is no love; without freedom, there is no marriage.” (CNA)

Vatican ca lls rumors over Pope Francis’ health falseand irresponsibleTe director of the Holy See press office has denied reportsin the Italian press that Pope Francis is suffering from abrain tumor, and denounced its dissemination as “gravelyirresponsible.” Te statement by Fr. Federico Lombardi,S.J., came in response to an Oct 21 report by Italianagency Quotidiano Nazionale alleging that the Pope hadbeen diagnosed with a small but curable brain tumor.“Tedissemination of totally unfounded news regarding theHoly Father’s health by an Italian press agency is gravelyirresponsible and unworthy of attention,” reads the Oct. 21statement.Fr. Lombardi also pointed out that Pope Francis’busy schedule has continued without issue. (CNA)

Chaplains must assist military traumatized by war,pope says

As more members of the armed forces endure both physicaland emotional scars from conflicts raging around the world,Pope Francis called on military chaplains to tend to their

wounds with the healing balm of the sacraments.“At this time,in which we are living a ‘third world war fought in pieces,’ youare called to nourish the spiritual and ethical dimensions ofmembers of the military and their families, which will helpthem to face the difficulties and the often lacerating questionsinherent in this unique service to their homeland and to hu-manity,” the pope said Oct. 27.Military chaplains and someheads of military dioceses — including Archbishop imothyP. Broglio of the United States — were in Rome for a courseon chaplains and international humanitarian law, which wassponsored by the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace andthe Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue. (CNS)

Pope urges peace in Iraq; prays Christians no longer beforced to fleePope Francis called on the international community to finda way to bring peace to Iraq and the Middle East and prayedthat Christians there would no longer be forced to fleetheir homes.He also urged the Chaldean Catholic bishopsin the region “to work tirelessly as builders of unity in allthe provinces of Iraq, fostering dialogue and cooperationamong all those engaged in public life, and contributing tohealing existing divisions while preventing new ones from

arising.” Te pope met Oct. 26 with bishops who werein Rome to attend the synod of bishops of the ChaldeanCatholic Church Oct. 24-29. (CNS)

Te victory of heaven is won through small efforts, pope saysLike an athlete, Christians must train in sanctity in orderto win the “great victory of heaven,” Pope Francis said atearly morning Mass.In his homily at Mass Oct. 19 in thechapel of his residence, the Domus Sanctae Marthae, thepope reflected on the first reading from St. Paul’s Letterto the Romans in which he calls on Christians to presenttheir bodies “as slaves to righteousness for sanctification.”

Although conversion is a duty and one must train like anathlete who is preparing to compete, the pope said thatsanctification does not come from those efforts.”Te ef-forts we make, this daily work of serving the Lord withour soul, with our heart, with our body, with our wholelife only opens the door to the Holy Spirit,” the pope said.“It is he who enters into us and saves us! He is the gift in

Jesus Christ!” (CNS)

Bishops from around the worldplead for climate change actionVAICAN CIY, October 26,2015—Te presidents of the U.S.and Canadian bishops’ conferences

joined leaders of the regional bish-

ops’ conferences of Asia, Africa,Latin America, Oceania and Europein signing an appeal for govern-ment leaders to reach a “fair, legallybinding and truly transformationalclimate agreement” at a summitin Paris.

Indian Cardinal Oswald Graciasof Mumbai, president of the Fed-eration of Asian Bishops’ Confer-ences, signed the appeal Oct. 26at the beginning of a joint newsconference at the Vatican.

he appeal, Cardinal Graciassaid, was a response to Pope Fran-cis’ letter on the environment andan expression of “the anxiety of allthe people, all the churches all overthe world” regarding how, “unless

we are careful and prudent, we areheading for disaster.”Te appeal is addressed to ne-

gotiators preparing for the U.N.Climate Change Conference inParis Nov. 30-Dec. 11. Te bishopscalled for “courageous and imagi-native political leadership” andfor legal frameworks that “clearlyestablish boundaries and ensure theprotection of the ecosystem.”

Te bishops also asked govern-ments to recognize the “ethicaland moral dimensions of climatechange,” to recognize that the cli-mate and the atmosphere are com-mon goods belonging to all, to set astrong limit on global temperatureincrease and to promote new mod-

els of development and lifestylesthat are “climate compatible.”he appeal calls for decisions

that place people above profits, that

involve the poor in decision mak-ing, that protect people’s access to

water and to land, are particularlymindful of vulnerable communities

and are specific in commitments tofinance mitigation efforts.Colombian Cardinal Ruben

Salazar Gomez of Bogota, presidentof the Latin American bishops’council, spoke of the “suffering”

Amazon basin and the key roleit plays in the survival of South

America and the world. Te Latin American bishops, he said, want anend to pollution, to the destructionof the forests and the disappearanceof biodiversity, but they also want

justice for their people, the majorityof whom do not benefit from theexploitation of resources taken fromtheir countries.

Archbishop John Ribat of PortMoresby, Papua New Guinea,

president of the Federation of theCatholic Bishops’ Conference ofOceania, told reporters, “We comefrom islands, and our life is verymuch at risk.”

“We belong to those most vul-nerable groups impacted by ris-ing sea levels,” he said. Manycommunities—particularly onuvalu, Kiribati and the CarteretIslands—already are experiencingthe disappearance of land used forsubsistence farming or seeing theiragricultural land rendered unusableby the infiltration of salt water.

Climate change, the archbishopsaid, already is leading to the phe-nomenon of climate refugees.

Te appeal said that most peo-

ple—whether or not they believein God—recognize the planet as “ashared inheritance, who(se) fruitsare meant to benefit everyone. For

believers, this becomes a question

of fidelity to the creator, since Godcreated the world for everyone.”Miami Archbishop homas

G. Wenski, chairman of the U.S.bishops’ Committee on Domestic

Justice and Human Development,confirmed that the U.S. bishopsasked that a specific temperaturetarget not be in the appeal. Othersagreed, he said.

“We’re pastors and we’re notscientists,” the archbishop said.he specific temperature targetfor reversing the impact of climatechange is something for scientiststo decide, but the need to act isa moral issue, and the bishopsare competent to speak to that,he said.

People in the United States arestarting to understand how impor-tant action is, Archbishop Wenskisaid. It has been slow because “we

live in a little bit of a cocoon some-

times, and if it doesn’t affect usimmediately, we don’t react.” Archbi shop Richa rd Smith of

Edmonton, Alberta, representedthe Canadian bishops at the pre-sentation. His province, Alberta,is “fossil fuel central,” he said, yetpeople in Alberta, like in the rest ofCanada, recognize that somethingmust be done.

“Nobody wants the future placedin jeopardy because of this, andeveryone understands intergenera-tional responsibility,” he said.

“Everybody knows that we haveto move away from fossil fuels,” hesaid, but the big question is how.“Tere are some great minds outthere working on finding the new

technologies” that will provide jobsand energy without harming theenvironment. (Cindy Wooden /Catholic News Service)

Cardinal Oswald Gracias of Mumbai, India, signs a document at an Oct. 26 Vatican newsconference in which leaders of the world’s regional bishops conferences appealed foraction on climate change. From left behind the cardinal are Auxiliary Bishop Jean Kockerolsof Mechelen-Brussels, Belgium; Cardinal Ruben Salazar Gomez of Bogota, Colombia;unidentified priest; Archbishop Thomas G. Wenski of Miami; and Archbishop Richard Smithof Edmonton, Alberta. CNS PHOTO/PAUL HARING

Catholics in Cuba call on government toremove religious restrictions HAVANA, Cuba, Oct. 23, 2015—Trough oneof its media outlets, the Havana archdiocese onTursday called on the Cuban government “todefinitively remove the restrictions that weighdown upon all religious institutions, and allowthem to freely carry out their work.”

“Religious freedom is something more than

freedom of worship,” readsthe Oct. 22 editorialin Palabra Nueva, the Archdiocese of Havana’smagazine.

Te editorial discusses the role of the Churchin Cuba, including its mediation in the releaseof political prisoners who were jailed in 2003and Pope Francis’ involvement in the diplomaticthaw with the United States.

Palabra Nueva addressed the significance ofthe last three Popes having visited Cuba, begin-ning with St. John Paul II in 1998.

“Many people paid attention to his messageand invitation of openness to the world, ofhaving no fear of opening the mind and heartto Jesus Christ, the source of truth and hope,but others did not. Part of the world did listento the Pope’s invitation and began to approach(the government), but the Cuban leadershipdid not reciprocate the gesture. It is common

to conclude that visit was just a parenthesis inthe life of the country, even though in reality it

was much more than that,” the editorial stated.Te magazine noted that Benedict XVI came

“to demonstrate his support for a process of anew and long hoped for dialogue between theChurch and the Cuban Government, began in2010. He also made it clear the desire of the

Church to be part of the process of reforms thathad been initiated.”

Pope Francis’ recent visit “leaves a spiritual wake of widespread acceptance,” and the thingsthe Pope called for “have gotten through to a lotof Cubans … Only the spiritually short sighteddid not appreciate his closeness, simplicity and

his desire to communicate with all Cubans.”“In the same way, his words were well received

by the young people when he proposed to themto not stop dreaming if they really want a differ-ent world, and to not ‘shrink back’ and to ‘createsocietal friendship.’”

Palabra Nueva said that after 17 years, the seedsown by St. John Paul II is beginning to be seen.

“In reality the still weak flame of hope has beenrekindled among us, which can be strengthenedby an internal opening up and rapprochementamong Cubans. It would be a mistake to tryto ignore the revealing and painfully sincereresponse of those young people to the pope’scall to dream, ‘if they let us!’’

It stated that “a coherent step would be torecognize, once and for all, the place that be-longs to the Church in society,” not just as aninstitution, “but in its entire composition, from

the laity to the bishops, the clergy and all thosein consecrated life, since we all have a place anda mission in society. Te desire for engagementis high but it is not accompanied by laws andsocial structures.”

Te editorial recalled that on July 7, 2013President Raul Castro said that it was time forreligious institutions to help in face of the “grave

deterioration or loss of urban and civic values inthe country.”

“In reality,” the editorial noted, “there is littlethe churches and other religious manifestationsthat exist today in Cuba can do in that regard,if their ability for action is not facilitated, or ifconditions are not created that would allow them

and guarantee them their ability to act in a per-manent and transparent manner, no matter howgreat their desire to show their co-responsibilityis or how bad the loss of values by the citizens.”

Because religious freedom regards more thanfreedom of worship, “it’s not right to try to havethe Church only occupy itself with the things ofGod in the church building and keep it isolatedform the social sphere, and accept its social par-ticipation only when it suits the politicians. Teperspective should not be what suits the Churchor the politicians but rather what is best, mostbeneficial and useful for society and the citizens.”

Terefore, “recognizing the belief and religiouspractice of the majority of Cubans, and theurgency of the country to reclaim its values...and when everyone’s collaboration is neededin the process of the changes the country is go-ing through in order to avoid ‘falling into the

abyss,’ a necessary step would be to definitivelylift the restrictions weighing down on religiousinstitutions and allow them to freely carry outtheir work.”

“Now is the time. If religion is not the opiateof the people, then in whose inte rest is it to keeplit an imaginary pipe or disseminate an artificialdrug?” the editorial concluded. (CNA)

Salesians celebrate Myanmar seminary’s 25th anniversary YANGON, Oct. 26, 2015—In thetribal hills of Myanmar’s far north-ern Shan State, Catholics celebratedan important double anniversaryfor two Salesian institutions.

Spiritual catechesis and culturalcelebrations commemorated thesilver jubilees of both the SalesianParish in the Diocese of Lashio andthe Don Bosco Seminary in thetown of Hsipaw, located almost 50miles southwest of Lashio. Both

were established in 1990.“We thank the Lord for these

twenty five years. It is a remark-able length of time which could betaken as the lifespan of a genera-tion,” said Fr. Leo Mang, S.D.B,head of social communications ofthe Catholic Bishops’ Conferenceof Myanmar.

Fr. Mang explained that the Sale-sian missionaries and their friendshave stood strong in faith despitethe difficult moments of trials,persecutions and the lasting effects

of World War II.“he Don Bosco Seminary in

Hsipaw had truly sown seeds of vo-cations which are now flourishingthroughout the country whereverthe Salesians are serving the Churchin various regions in the service ofyouth,” Fr. Mang further added.

Te seminary has educated 21priests, two lay brothers and manyother people.

Cardinal Charles Bo, the Arch-bishop of Yangon, has a historyin the area. He was the apostolicadministrator of the region, thennamed apostolic prefect. He wasthen appointed as the first bishopof the Diocese of Lashio in 1990.

Bishop Philip ZaHawng ofLashio presided over the thanks-giving Mass with Fr. Charles Saw,the Salesian provincial in Myanmar.Over 25 priests, religious, seminar-ians, novices attended the celebra-tions, which included the liturgy,traditional cultural processions,and prayer dances in the events heldOct. 16-17.

Bishop Philip’s homily asked theparish to be united in faith. He

further encouraged the communityto keep the faith alive.

He thanked the Salesians mis-sionaries who had cared for theLashio diocese “from its inception.”He praised the Salesians as benefac-tors of the region.

Te celebrations also marked theinauguration and the blessing of amemorial hall.

Te Salesian missionaries arrivedin what was then called Burma in

1939. hey have been active inyouth formation, skill develop-ment and education in one of Asia’spoorest regions, known for its hillyterrain.

Myanmar is home to about800,000 Catholics who live in 16dioceses. In recent years the Catho-lic Church in Myanmar celebratedthe 500th anniversary of the ar-rival of Christianity in the country.(CNA/EWTN News)

Bishop Philip ZaHawng of Lashio says Mass at a celebration of the 25th anniversary of theSalesian seminary and parish in Hsipaw. FR. LEO MANG.



A3CBCP Monitor October 26 - November 8, 2015 Vol. 19 No. 22

VAICAN, Oct. 21, 2015—Pope Francis on Wednesday said that contrary to modern no-tions, fidelity in marriage does not rob us ofpersonal freedom but instead is a fundamentalattribute of all human relationships based onlove.

“Freedom and fidelity are not opposedto each other,” the Pope said in his latestcatechesis on the family, delivered duringhis weekly general audience in St. Peter’sSquare Oct 21.

Te strength and beauty of love, includingin the context of friendship, come from thefact that the persons involved are connected

without loss of freedom, he said.“Without freedom there is no friendship;

without freedom, there is no love; withoutfreedom, there is no marriage.”

Pope Francis observed that the sense of“honor” in being faithful appears to be un-dermined in modern times. He attributed thisto the “misunderstood right to seek ones ownsatisfaction at all costs and in any relationship,

which is exulted as a non-negotiable principleof freedom.”

Rather, he said, “Fidelity to promises isa true masterpiece of humanity! No lovingrelationship – no friendship, no form of love,no happiness in the common good – arrivesat the height of our desire and hope” without“this miracle of the soul.”

Te Pope also appealed for prayers for thebishops participating in the Synod on theFamily, which is in i ts third and final week inthe Vatican.

“May the Lord bless their work, conducted with faithful creativity,” with faith that the“Lord is faithful to his promises,” he said.

Tis year’s Synod on the Family, which ru nsfrom Oct. 4-25, is the second and larger of twosuch gatherings to take place in the course ofa year. Like its 2014 precursor, the focus ofthe 2015 Synod of Bishops will be the family,

this time with the theme: “Te vocation andmission of the family in the Church and themodern world.”

In his Oct. 21 address, Pope Francis recalled

how last week’s catechesis on the family cen-tered on the importance of promises parentsmake to their children, whereas this week’sreflection centers on man and woman’s fidelityto each other.

Te entire family is founded upon a promise,the Pope said. Te fidelity between husbandand wife brings with it the responsibility tolove and educate children, to care for elderlyparents, and to protect and care for the “weak-est members of the family.”

“Te marital promise broadens to share the joys and sufferings w ith all fathers, mothers,and children, with generous openness towardhuman coexistence and the common good.”

In contrast, the Pope said, “a family that isclosed in on itself,” is a “contradiction” of thatsame promise.

Fidelity is a self-fulfilling promise, a faith which “wants to be truly shared, and a hope which wants to be nurtured together.”

Honor and fidelity “cannot be bought or

sold,” he said.“No other school can teach the school of loveif the family cannot. No law can impose thebeauty and heritage of this treasure of humandignity, if the personal connection betweenlove and generation is not written on our flesh.”

Pope Francis appealed for fidelity in loveto be seen as honorable in society once again.

“Tis principle of fidelity to the promise oflove and generations is written in God’s cre-ation as a perennial blessing, which is entrustedto the world.”

Te Pope reflected on the family in the con-text of Saint Paul’s words on the union betweenChrist and his Church.

“Love for the human family, in good timesand bad, is a point of honor for the Church!”(Ann Schneible/CNA/EWTN News)

NEWS FEATURES

Marriage doesn’t take away your freedom– quite the opposite, Pope says

Synod: Lay group hopesfor ‘updated’ pastoralguide to marriage, familyVAICAN, Oct. 24, 2015— Asthe Synod of Bishops nears its end,one of the world’s largest family-oriented groups is looking forwardto a clearer direction in facing

challenges to modern families.By that, the Couples for Christ

(CFC) Global Mission means an“updated” pastoral programs inlight of new challenges.

“Our expectations is an updated(pastoral) guide for marriage andfamily,” said Bro. Joe ale, CFCchairman. “So this synod is veryimportant and very relevant to us.”

Divorce, migrationTe 19th day of the synod re-

sumed on Friday with cardinals,bishops, and lay leaders fromaround the world continuing totackle wide range of family-relatedchallenges in the modern world.

From abortion, divorce, homo-sexuality, divorce, poverty, migra-tion, among others, he said theseare signs of the times that must befaced and understood.

“So you have to put in currentsituation in mind. Tese are newthings that people are hoping forguidance on how to deal withthese,” said the head of the onlylay organization in Asia recognizedby the Vatican.

He stressed, however, that thenew guide must adhere to Christ’steachings on marriage and family,and not seek to destroy it.

Not ‘relaxation of dogma’“I think that’s what the Church

needs because many have left theChurch because of very stringent(rules) but I’m not saying thatthere should be relaxation of thedogma or the doctrine,” ale said.

“What Pope Francis is showingis, regardless of what it is let’s ex-tend our hands. Let us show love,mercy, and compassion. I thinkthat’s a good thing,” he added.

ale said the outcome of theSynod is very important for theCFC which is present in morethan 160 countries.

“It is very importance, especiallyto groups like us, a family renewalmovement. It’s very timely,” hesaid.

In Asia, particularly in thePhilippines, people are facing a

wide array of problems but forCardinal Luis Antonio agle, oneof the Synod presidents, it is stillpoverty that drive apart families.

Pope Francis will conclude thesynod with a Mass at the St. Peter’sBasilica on Sunday, Oct. 25. (RoyLagarde / CBCPNews)

‘Be one with Christ’ – prelate

to seminarians

GUIGUINO, Bulacan, Oct. 18,2015—“Be one with Christ in hismission.”

his is what Malolos Bishop Jose F. Oliveros, DD told diocesanseminarians of the ImmaculateConception Major Seminary-Graduate School of heology(ICMAS-GS) and the religiousbrothers of Recoleto School ofTeology during the celebrationof the Holy Mass at the NationalShrine and Parish of the DivineMercy (NSPDM) in Marilao,Bulacan on Oct. 10.

he seminarians of ICMAS-GS and RS gathered at NSP-

DM for “Communio”. the annualinter-seminary meet of the twoschools of Teology.

Referring to the event that gath-ered 107 diocesan and religiousseminarians and priests, Oliverosexplained that “communio” is tobe one with Jesus.

Not for grades“We must be in union with

Jesus our Lord,” he said.“As theology seminarians, it

is not enough that your studiesremain only in your intellect. It[studying theology] should leadyou to be one at heart with Jesusand one with Him in your life,”Oliveros added.

He also asked the seminariansto have the right intention as theystudy theology. He said, “Studynot only to learn and not only forgrades because if you lack love for

Jesus and fall short in liv ing ou tthe faith, there is no ‘communio.’

You only satisfy your curiosity.”“Your studies should bend your

knees,” Oliveros stressed.

St. John LeonardiHe set St. John Leonardi as an

example for the seminarians, say-ing: “I give you St. John Leonardias an example of someone whodevoted himself to the mission of

Jesus. St. John Leonardi lived inunity with Jesus, not only in lovefor Him, but in communion withHis mission of propagating thefaith,” he explained.

“You should also dedicate your-self to the mission of Christ,” saidOliveros.

Lastly, Oliveros pointed outthat in every celebration of theHoly Eucharist everyone becomesunited with Jesus. “We experi-ence communion with Jesus inthe Eucharist, Jesus is present inevery Eucharistic celebration. As

we gathered in the name of Jesus, we are united with Him,” he said.(Arvin Ray C. Jimenez / CBCPNews)

The seminarians of ICMAS-GST and RST recently gathered at NSPDM for “Communio”.the annual inter-seminary meet of the two schools of Theology. The event included ateam-building session where seminarians got to cement year-long friendships and

camaraderie. KEVIN MENDOZA/IAN DOLLENTAS

‘End of event kicks off more online evangelization’ – CSMSv4.0 program headMANILA, Oct. 18, 2015—Teevent proper may be over, but theprogram head of the recently con-cluded 4th Catholic Social Media

Summit (CSMSv4.) believes theend is just the start of a new dayfor all those who “plugged in” forChrist, urging them to take on thetask of winning the online worldfor God.

“Of course, to the attendees,this is just the beginning—the realchallenge awaits in your personalsocial media accounts!” notedChrixy Paguirigan, who confessedto still having what she termed“post-CSMS depression” exactlya week after the event.

Connecting others to Christ She called on delegates to let

the “overwhelming revelations”they learned from CSMSv4.0 push

them forward in their mission ofconnecting Jesus to the world.

“May everyone continue to‘plug into Christ,’ the ‘Ultimate

Power Source,’” she exclaimed. Admitting she is still walkingon cloud nine, Paguirigan wenton to thank the many people whodonated time and effort to makethis year’s gathering of online mis-sionaries possible.

“o every person whose pres-ence and being contributed to thesuccess of the event, thank you soso much! Especially to the vol-unteers, sponsors and partners,”she said.

Giving one’s best Whi le she kne w the re wer e

glitches here and there, Paguiriganboasted everyone in CSMSv4.0gave his all just to come out with

a program delegates would notregret attending.

“As for perfection, all I can sayis nothing and no one is perfect.

Of course, there were lapses. Butone thing is for sure: We gave ourbest!” she explained

Accord ing to her, she missesthe endless updates she receivedand the meetings they had aheadof the event.

“See you in cyberspace, andtogether let’s fill the Online Sphere

with Christ’s Presence!” she add-ed,” she told CSMSv4.0 volun-teers and delegates.

‘Plugged-in’Organized by YouthPinoy (YP),

in tandem with Areopagus Com-munications and the Diocese ofSan Pablo, CSMS is an annualgathering of current and aspiring

online evangelists from differentschools, youth organizations, andarch/dioceses of the Philippines,

who want to win more souls for

Christ through the intelligent andresponsible use of social media.CSMSv4.0, its fourth and latest

successful installment, was heldat the Sta. Rosa City Hall Audi-torium, Sta. Rosa City, Lagunafrom Oct. 10 to 11, 2015 and wasattended by some 300 delegatesfrom the various arch/dioceses ofthe country.

It adopted the theme “Plugged-in” which was inspired by PopeFrancis’ homily at the ManilaCathedral about “networks ofsolidarity” and St. Paul’s messagein Romans 15:16 “that all maybe one voice in glorifying God.”(Raymond A. Sebastián / CBCPNews)

Pope Francis blesses a newly married couple during the Wednesday general audience in Paul VI Audience Hall on August 5, 2015. CNA

Delegate: Synod document will show Church’s care for families VAICAN, Oct. 24, 2015—

Amid the many inn uen dos ofcontroversy, whatever is discussedand finalized at the Synod will cer-tainly show the Catholic Church’s“great concern” for the families, aFilipino archbishop said.

While he refused to preempt thefinal results of the global meeting,Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma saidthe Synod expresses to familiesthe Church’s appreciation andencouragement.

“A lot of proposals and evalu-ations have been made but onething is sure… No matter whatyour situation in life, you are lovedand cared for. People should knowthat the Holy Father has great carefor them,” he said.

Efforts around the worldIf there’s anything people can look

forward to the Synod, Palma said it would be the new pastoral initiativesto address the many issues facingfamilies in the modern world.

“It makes us aware of the reali-

the six Filipinos out of the 270prelates and 18 couples fromaround the world who partici-pated in the Synod on the familyat the Vatican.

Ending on Sunday, the Synod which start ed last Oct. 4 haveopened up important discus-sions including the possibility ofdivorced and remarried Catholicsto receive Holy Communion

who are curre ntly barre d fromdoing so.

“What is important is thatalthough they cannot receiveCommunion, they are still part ofthe people of God,” Garcera said.

“No matter what condition youare in, the Church must still takecare of you because, basically, God

will never abandon us no matter what,” he added.

Indian Cardinal Oswald Graciassaid at a press briefing on Turs-day that the document will nothave all the answers, “but it willhave a direction.” (Roy Lagarde /CBCPNews)

Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma and Indian Cardinal Oswald Gracias, along with other Asian bishops visit the Philippine Embassy in Vatican City on Friday. ROI LAGARDE

Marriage is a calling, priest reminds faithful

ACLOBAN City, Oct. 16, 2015 –o dispel the images of Cupid’s bowsand hearts aflutter, a priest remindsthe faithful that marriage is a vocationmore than anything else.

“We think marriage is just be-tween husband and wife, we forgetthat it is primarily a calling andGod is always part of marriage li fe,”said Fr. Wilson Chu, co-parishpriest of the Sto. Niño Parish,adding, “We become vulnerable

withou t the pre sence o f God in ourrelationship.”

What marriage is…Te oeconomus of the Archdiocese

of Palo explained there is a need torestore the dignity and essence ofmarriage, highlighting the three char-acteristics of marriage: its sanctity; itdemands genuine lovel it is a vocation.

Like Chu, young seminary priestFr. Martin Cobi, emphasized thatmarriage is permanent, exclusive, andopen to life.

Allu ding to Jesu s’ word s in theHoly Scriptures, “What God has puttogether, let no one separate,” Cobibelieved this makes marriage a perma-nent union between man and woman.

Tis union between man and wom-

an is an attribute of marriage’s beingopen to life or pro-creation, which is

also why the Church opposes same sexmarriage, abortion, and contraception.

“It is exclusive because the marriedcouple should not look for another(partner) and should not fall in love

with another,” Cobi stressed.

No marriage from the start “Marriage is a gift from God thus

has to be treasured, protected, andnever be allowed to be taken away fromyou,” Chu explained.

He added: “Love becomes genuine when in spite of all the pains andsacrifices, the couple continues to love

more, and always find fulfillment, hap-piness and inspiration in each other.”

Cobi described marriage as a rela-tionship that is not all happiness buthas challenges too, which the coupleshould “faithfully work out together”for their good and the children as well.

He clarified that though the Catho-lic Church allows married people toremarry only after their marriage hasbeen declared by the Matrimonialribunal as void ab initio or meaningthe marriage did not exist from thevery beginning.

In case of Legal Separation, whichresults in the couple’s separation frombed and board, remarriage is not al-

lowed. (Eileen Nazareno-Ballesteros/ CBCP News)

Fr. Wilson Chu SThD, a formator in the Archdiocese of Palo urges

couples to remain the source of happiness and inspiration to theirspouses. EILEEN NAZARENO-BALLESTEROS

ties of families. It makes us awarethat efforts are being done allover the world,” said the formerpresident of the Catholic Bishops’Conference of the Philippines.

Accord in g to Da et Bi shopGilbert Garcera , while theSynod discussed a wide arrayof issues, what is important isthe prelates were able to reflectand find ways to respond to thechallenges.

“he Church must accom-pany all people of God whoeverthey are. We are sinners but theChurch must be there to guide,to help, and tell them that God

will never ever abandon us. Tatis the point,” he said alluding tothe matter of Communion fordivorced and remarried persons.

Communion for the divorced?Palma and Garcera are among



A4 CBCP MonitorOctober 26 - November 8, 2015 Vol. 19 No. 22

EDIORIAL

AN integral ecology is inseparable from the notion of the com-mon good, a central and unifying principle of social ethics.

Te common good is “the sum of those conditions of sociallife which allow social groups and their individual membersrelatively thorough and ready access to their own fulfillment”.

Underlying the principle of the common good is respect forthe human person as such, endowed with basic and inalienablerights ordered to his or her integral development. It has alsoto do with the overall welfare of society and the developmentof a variety of intermediate groups, applying the pr inciple ofsubsidiarity. Outstanding among those groups is the family,as the basic cell of society. Finally, the common good calls forsocial peace, the stability and security provided by a certainorder which cannot be achieved without particular concernfor distributive justice; whenever this is violated, violencealways ensues. Society as a whole, and the state in particular,are obliged to defend and promote the common good.

In the present condition of global society, where injusticesabound and growing numbers of people are deprived of basic

human rights and considered expendable, the principle of thecommon good immediately becomes, logically and inevitably,a summons to solidarity and a preferential option for the poor-est of our brothers and sisters. Tis option entails recognizingthe implications of the universal destination of the world’sgoods, but, as I mentioned in the Apostolic Exhortation Evan- gelii Gaudium,[123] it demands before all else an appreciationof the immense dignity of the poor in the light of our deepestconvictions as believers. We need only look around us to seethat, today, this option is in fact an ethical imperative essentialfor effectively attaining the common good.

Laudato Si’ , #156-158

RUE to what Pope Francis said at the opening of the Synodon the Family thatit is not a parliament where participants ne-gotiate or lobby but a place of prayer where bishops speak withcourage and open themselves to “God who always surpr ises us,”the XIV Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops,indeed, turned out to be so—despite Western media’s portrayalof it being a den of conservatives so afraid of change on one

hand while on the other a pack of progressives out to overhaulhackneyed Church teachings.

For the first time, CBCP News sent two professional Catholic journalists to do reportage on the Synod. Tey were fielded inresponse to the observation of Cardinal Luis Antonio agle who,in a press conference upon his return from the ExtraordinarySynod on the Family in October last year, bewailed the absenceof Asian media that may possibly see the ecclesial event froman Asian perspective—and not from Westerners’ that totallydominated the global reportage of that Synod. Perhaps bereftof the bias of the Western-dominated media, these two FilipinoCatholic journalists saw in the Synod a listening and humbleChurch motivated by a profound Christian concern for thefamily. Tey also saw in the Synod new pastoral initiatives toaddress the many issues facing families in the modern world,along the path of “accompaniment” and “discernment”.

Te Synod Fathers approved by 177 votes out of 265, a two-

thirds majority, the final Relatio of the Synod that is made up of94 paragraphs that was voted on piece by piece. Tis final docu-ment included many of the amendments to the InstrumentumLaboris presented by the Synod Fathers, making it, therefore,a collegial voice of the Assembly. It reaffirmed the doctrine ofthe indissolubility of sacramental marriage which was seen notas a yoke but rather a gift from God and a truth based on therelationship of Christ with the Church. It also presented thebeauty of the family as a domestic Church based on marriagebetween a man and a woman.

In his address at the closing of the Synod, Pope Francis said:“Te Synod was not about settling all the issues having to do with the family, but rather attempting to see them in the light ofthe Gospel and the Church’s tradition…It was not about find-ing exhaustive solutions for all the difficulties and uncerta inties which challenge and threaten the family, but rather about seeingthese difficulties and uncertainties in the light of the Faith, care-fully studying them and confronting them fearlessly, without

burying our heads in the sand…It was about urging everyone toappreciate the importance of the institution of the family andof marriage between a man and a woman, based on unity andindissolubility, and valuing it as the fundamental basis of societyand human life…It was about listening to and making heardthe voices of the families and the Church’s pastors, who cameto Rome bearing on their shoulders the burdens and the hopes,the riches and the challenges of families throughout the world.”

Or, in the words of Davao Archbishop Romulo Valles, it was about a Church “that is loving and caring and once againembracing the families as part of herself, and not just as mereobjects.”

The principle of the common good

Fruitful Synod

OPINION

The poor as the new elite

Fr. Roy Cimagala

Candidly Speaking

MonitorPROTAGONIST OF TRUTH, PROMOTER OF PEACE

CBCP

Pedro C. QuitorioEditor-in-Chief

Nirva’ana E. DelacruzAssociate Editor

Roy Q. LagardeNews Editor

Kris BayosFeatures Editor

I L L U S T R A T I O N B Y B L A D I M E R U S I

‘Catholic Divorce’

Teresa R. Tunay, OCDS

And That’s The TruthOur political circus

Conclusion

Oscar V. Cruz, D.D.

Views and Points

MISREPRESENAION has accompaniedthe Church from her very foundation by Christthrough Peter—“Te Rock”—more than twothousand years ago. Te teachings she pro-moted and the pronouncements She made, thelaws and observances She established—all thesehave undergone contrary moves at differenttimes from different sources. Bu t the Churchstill stands in all the continents of the world,has sons and daughters from people of differentraces and colors. And stand—exists, teaches,acts—She remains with her Founder until timethere is none. So it is that the civilized worldcounts time in terms of “Before Christ” and“After Christ”—the Founder of the Church.

On the occasion of the pastoral v isit of PopeFrancis to the U.S.—which was preceded byhis normative enactment towards a more fo-cused and wherefore abbreviated proceedingsspecifically in conjunction with the MarriageNullity Process in the Church—he was rathercandid in saying that such simplification and

abbreviation in no way means that there is nowsuch a thing as a “Catholic Divorce”. Instead,the said more simple and short proceedings arebut meant to affirm that once the truth of thenullity of a marriage held before the Churchis in fact established, there is no reason to stillprolong the trial. Although the Holy Fatherdid not say it, the over-all intention of theprocedural abbreviation is in accord with themaxim that “Justice delayed is justice denied”.In other words, why prolong the agony of theParties concerned when their de facto marriageis already proven as de iure null and void fromits very start.

By the way, it might be good to point outthat a “Catholic Divorce” is a big contradic-tion in terms as far as the Church herself ifconcerned: As the Catholic Church is not theauthor of divorce, neither is divorce acceptableto the Catholic Church. Tis is in line with thetruth that there are no such thing as “Catho-lic Adultery”, “Catholic Bigamy”, “Catholic

Polygamy” and other openly contradictorythoughts.

he singularity and amiability of PopeFrancis are readily perceived and felt in hisover-all spirit of “Mercy and Compassion” forthe poor and the suffering, for wrongdoersand sinners, for those who placed themselvesoutside the spiritual embrace of the Church.Tere is also something quite singular abouthim: He loves children in the same way thatchildren love him. Te Pope embracing chil-dren and children embracing the Pope—suchis dear and endearing sight. So there was thistwo-year old blond-haired child who tried toget away from the hold of her father in hereagerness to embrace the Pope. And she suc-ceeded. What a sight!

So it is that inclusion—not exclusion—is hisvision for refugees. He said that giving theman embrace is definitely the better option thanthat of building walls to keep them far. Tatis mercy! Tat is compassion!

It seems ridiculous but we, Fili-pinos, apparently have acceptedpolitical dynasties as a fact, anecessary evil, in governance. Oth-erwise why would people in a city,a province, or a region be content

with electing into many publicoffices members of just a few war-ring families? For example, a citycouncilor runs to “succeed” his/her father whose term as mayoris ending and who is running forcongressman. When he finishes histerm as congressman he wants togo back to being his city’s mayor

while his child is “promoted” frommayor to congressman to senatoror a post a cousin is vacating,such as a governor’s. Te one ruleamong these dynasties seems tobe: Make sure our family stays inpower and that our enemies don’tget a chance.

What’s sad is, few would ques-tion the status quo. Pinoys tendto observe politics as though

we’re watching a cockfight or abasketball game. Betting or not,

we’re thr il led to see how thecontest goes. And politics Pinoystyle so engrosses us that it makesour world shrink. Te media to alarge extent sets the boundaries toour daily exposure to politics, sothat our horizon seldom extendsbeyond our backyard.

A dreadful lot is happ eningin our country and around the

world today but through popularpatronage of mediocre (radio, V)programs we encourage media toneglect its primary role to informand educate our people. For in-stance, only those who have accessto cable V can see extensive cov-erage and authoritative analyses of,say, Russia’s bombing of US alliesin Syria, the misery that civiliansexperience in fleeing their coun-tries to seek refuge in Europe, orthe multi-billion pound deals theUnited Kingdom and China have

sealed to build a nuclear plant inthe UK. Te situation in the WestPhilippine Sea now seems to besimmering to a boil with China’sshrill protest over the sailing of aUS Navy’s guided missile destroyer“too close” to the land formationsclaimed by China—the mattershould be every Filipino’s concernbut this is hardly mentioned in thelocal channels’ news. Is it because

we are too shallow to care, or are we too obsessed by ou r backyardpolitics that we cannot foreseehow the refugee situation mayaffect Philippine economy in fiveyears, or see the link betweengeopolitics and our votes in thenext election?

In our myopia we are blind tothe way the addiction to powermoves world events. It would bereally tragic if we were also to re-main blind to the truth that worldpower is not worth investing hu-man energy in. History has been

harping on the glaring fact that world ly progress, achievement,or success alone does not freehumanity from injustice and allother evils it spawns. Earthquakes,hurricanes, typhoons, and flashfloods have recently spoken—inPakistan, Afghanistan, Mexico,the US, in our country—andin reducing to rubble, debris,and mud everything man-madein their paths they are plead-ing for sobriety. But like thevoices of people who say “invest inpeace, not division” their pleas aredrowned by the sound of gunfire.

Man turns against his neighborbecause he has turned his back toGod; for humanity to attain peace,man must return to God. Whoamong the candidates seeking ourvotes next year are willing to buildtheir platform on this premise andspend their billions to make thishappen? Your guess is as good asmine. And that’s the truth.

HE poor is actually all of us, since all of usare in need of God. Tat’s how poverty should

be understood in its strictest sense. Tat’s whyChrist put as the first beatitude those who are“poor in spirit” because they are the ones whoacknowledge their poverty with regard to Godand are longing to be with God.

If we understand “the poor” in this way, itcan happen that the poorest of the poor canin fact be the richest man in the world, interms of material wealth, because that manmay be farthest from God and may not bedoing anything to solve his predicament. It canhappen that the poorest of the poor is not inthe peripheries and fringes of our society, butis right in the middle of society’s mainstream.

Now that we are in the Year of the Poor, weneed to be clear about this point, before wefall into the subtle trick of the devil who canmislead us in our attitude toward the poor.

Let’s remember that the weed can actually

look like the real plant, and the devil can pres-ent himself as an angel of light. We have to

be most discerning. We should not be naïve,especially nowadays when many confusing and

albeit attractive ideologies about the poor arebombarded on us.It’s true that we have to give a kind of “pref-

erential option” to those who are materiallypoor, precisely because their needs may beimmediate. We cannot deny that there willalways be some kind of social inequality thatcauses this kind of poverty. Tus, Christ toldus: “You always have the poor with you, butyou will not always have me.” (Mt 26, 11)

Such inequality should trigger the dynamicsand initiative of concern and help. St. John inhis first letter tells us: “If anyone has the world’sgoods and sees his brother in need yet closes hisheart against him, how does God’s love abidein him?” (3,17)

We also cannot deny that there are instances when we find ourselves at a loss as to how tohelp the poor in immediate material needs.

Many times, we can only cry and suffer insilence, praying hard and thinking deeply as

to how to restructure things that give rise tothis kind of social poverty. Let’s be ready for

these occasions and exert effort not to fall intodespair. Tere’s always hope in the mysterious ways of God.

But this particular concern for the poor inimmediate material need, however, should notdistract us from the ultimate concern for thepoor in the strictest and universal sense. Weshould not forget that the ultimate concern ishow to resolve the spiritual and moral povertyof the people, i.e., how to combat temptationsand sin.

Tis is where the real battle is. It is how toconvince the rich young man in the Gospel(cfr Mt 1916-30), who actually represents allof us, to go sell everything that he has andfollow Christ. It is how to undo what Christsaid: “It is easier for a camel to go through theeye of a needle than for a rich man to enter thekingdom of God.”

We can only do this if we have the rightpoverty of spirit as described in the beatitudes.

The CBCP Monitor is published fortnight ly by the AreopagusSocial Media for Asia, Inc. with editorial and business officesat Ground Flr., Holy Face of Jesus Center & Convent, 1111F. R. Hidalgo Street, Quiapo, Manila. Editorial: (632) 404-

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A5CBCP Monitor October 26 - November 8, 2015 Vol. 19 No. 22

IN the Code of Canon Law, theSynod of Bishops is supposed to

promote the close relationshipbetween the Roman Pontiff andthe Bishops (cf. Canon 342) but

what we have learned so far aboutthe ongoing Synod in Rome is asplit between those allied withthe Pope’s vision of an inclusiveChurch and those who vehement-ly uphold the Church’s centuries-old doctrines and traditions.

Tis year’s Synod reveals a plotresembling one of Dan Brown’snovels with accusations of con-spiracy and manipulation of theprocess aimed at advancing re-forms supposedly to make theChurch more effective in dealing

wit h family issues at the costof adversely affecting Church’s

doctrines. Aske d about the veracit y of

these reports, Cardinal Don-ald Wuerl of Washington said,

“Unfortunately, we all came tothis Synod with a hermeneuticof suspicion already floating outthere. Tere are people inside theSynod who talk about this. Temedia didn’t create these stories.”

Even if the Pope already assuredthe participants of the importanceof subsidiarity, which in secularlanguage means decentralization,and openness in their discussionsand deliberations, the very obvi-ous division among participants,especially among clergymen, stillexists. elling the Synod fathersthat such a gathering is not justabout giving communion to thedivorced and remarried also didnot help. Tis controversial issue

continues to dominate the discus-sions and together with the so-

called gay or homosexual unions,they are proving to be the real

causes of division between whatthe media portrays as the liberalsand traditionalists.

John Alle n, Jr., a reno wnedVatican reporter, reported a veryinteresting remark from theBishop of the Ukrainian GreekCatholic Church (UGCC) whosaid, “Tose are important ques-tions, no doubt, but there’s a muchbigger picture of issues facing thefamily today.” Te Bishop wenton to mention some, namely:migrants, refugees, and war.

It is still not clear whether theSynod has already identified newmethods or strategies to supportfamilies in conflict zones exceptto say that the Holy Father already

called for the opening of interna-tional borders to accommodate

those affected by war and terror-ism even before the Synod began.

While the existence of myriadof family problems, like incest,violence, sexual abuse, poverty,and those mentioned by thegood Bishop of UGCC, cannotbe denied, they have not beengiven much attention in the mediaand have not been thoroughlydiscussed and debated. Why?My theory is that, these issuescan very well be addressed bypastoral or practical interventions

without these pastoral approachesnecessarily causing undue harm toChurch’s doctrines. In contrast, ifthe Church allows communionfor the divorced and remarried, itdirectly infringes on the long-helddoctrinal teaching that those in

the state of sin should not receiveHoly Communion.

Commenting on this proposal,Cardinal Peter Erdo of Hungary,

the General Relator of the Synodsaid, “he prohibition for di-vorced and remarried Catholicsto receive communion is not anarbitrary ban. he reason theycannot receive the Eucharist is notbecause of the failure of their firstmarriage, but because of cohabita-tion in their second relationship.”

While giving communion tothe divorced and remarried inthe name of mercy and compas-sion is very charitable indeed, thedoctrinal repercussions of doingsuch are enormous that criticssaid it undermines the indis-solubility of marriage (Mt. 19:6)and it amounts to an attack onthe sanctity of the Eucharist since

receiving Holy Communion in sinis sacrilegious.

It is hard to say that those ad-vocating change do not necessarily

understand the points put forwardby the doctrinally inclined Synodfathers. In the first place, these so-called liberals are made up of bish-ops and cardinals also on accountof their orthodoxy and fidelity tothe truth. Perhaps it is true thatthe change they are advocating isonly in approach, methodology,and emphasis and not on somedoctrinal substances. Te prob-lem is these proposed pastoralapproaches under the principle ofmercy and compassion put in perilthe very doctrines that the Churchis supposed to uphold and protect.

Archbishop Charles Chaput ofPhiladelphia movingly expressedthis dilemma and seemed to

provide the direction the Church

OPINION

Atty. Aurora A. SantiagoDuc In Altum

Collection Box, A7

Communion for Sinners?

Fr. Amado L. Picardal, CSsR, SThD

Along the Way

Sede Vacante No More!

Fr. Wilfredo Samson, SJ

Pitik-Bulag

A closer look at theAlDub phenomenon

HE most hotly debated issue at the just-concluded Synod of Bishops is whether toallow those who are divorced and remarried toreceive Holy Communion. In the Philippines

where divorce is not permitted by law, this maybe a non-issue. Yet there are those who have

separated from their spouses and are now co-habitating with their new partners. So in way,the issue may also concern them.

Tere are many bishops who want to holdon to the canonical restriction which prohibitscommunion to the divorced and remarried.Te reason given is that they are living insin—they are committing adultery—and can-not receive communion. It would be a scandalto allow them to do so and completely wrong.Besides being sacrilegious, it would give amessage to all that divorce and adultery is nowtolerated. Many priests, religious and lay faith-ful hold on to this canonical restriction whichthey consider as dogma and would be upset ifthis is changed.

On the other hand, there are those who wantto change the law and allow those whose mar-riages have failed and who have remarried to

receive the body of Christ in Holy Eucharist.Tey believe that God is merciful and theChurch should show this mercy to the divorcedand remarried. Tis is appropriate especiallyduring this Holy Year in which mercy is thetheme. Allowing them to receive communionis an expression of mercy. Even if they areunworthy they remain recipients of the mercyof God and the Church.

Tis debate has nothing to do with changingany doctrine or dogma. Divorce is still pro-hibited by the Church and adultery remains asin. It is about whether a canonical restrictionshould be lifted or not. I hold that this debatecannot be resolved by framing it in terms of

being faithful to the law versus showing mercy.Rather, we have to review the theology of theEucharist and discover the meaning of receiv-ing Holy Communion. What does it meanto receive Holy Communion and what doesprohibition from receiving it signify?

From the perspective of the ecclesiology ofcommunion, the Eucharist is the Christiancommunity’s celebration of communion be-tween the community and the Lord who ispresent, especially in the consecrated breadand wine. It is also the celebration of the com-munion among the members of the Church

which is the body of Christ. Te communioncelebrated and deepened in the Eucharist hasa vertical and horizontal dimension. Te Eu-charist is therefore a celebration of the unity,friendship and sharing between the communityof believers and the Risen Lord and among thebelievers themselves. Te person who receivesthe body of Christ in Holy Communioncelebrates and affirms his/her communion

with Christ and with the Church—the bodyof Christ. At the same time the person drawsspiritual nourishment from Christ through the

Church—a grace which is gratuitous.Te question then i s, does sin totally cut off

the person’s communion with Christ and Hisbody the Church? Does sin prevent sinnersfrom celebrating communion with Christ and

with the Church? Does sin excommunicatethe sinner and make the sinner unworthy ofreceiving the body of Christ?

If the answer is yes, then only a few can go tocommunion—the sinless few, for the ordinaryChristian is a sinner—in varying degrees. Eventhe pope, in an interview, defines himself as asinner. Eucharistic communion is, therefore,the prize for the perfect or righteous ones. If theanswer is: it depends on what sin, then which

sin? What about thieves, murderers, the cor-rupt politicians, or those that destroy the envi-ronment—can they receive holy communion?Should they be barred from communion? Or isit only those who have committed adultery—those who are divorced and remarried—are

the only ones considered “living in sin” andnot allowed to go to communion?

he final question is: is it true that thedivorced and remarried have totally rupturedtheir communion with Christ and the Church?Have they been excommunicated or excludedfrom the Church and separated from Christthat they do not deserve to receive HolyCommunion? If yes, then it signifies that theyhave been excluded from God’s grace and con-demned to live the rest of their life separatedfrom God in all eternity. It means that they areexcluded from receiving spiritual nourishmentfrom Christ and the Church. Tey should noteven go to Mass at all for going to the Eucharist

without partaking of the body of Christ is likegoing to a banquet without partaking of thefood from the table.

Te Pharisees and religious leaders of his

time were scandalized by Jesus who ate withsinners. hey called him a glutton and adrunkard, a friend of sinners. In the banquetof the Lord—the symbol of God’s kingdom—

Jesus welcomes even those who have beencondemned as sinners and considered by thePharisees as excluded from the Kingdom andfrom God’s saving grace and mercy.

In approaching this issue, one should avoidthe mentality of the self-righteous Pharisees

who were obsessed with the strict and rigidobservance of smallest precepts of the law andforgot to observe the greater law—of love,mercy and compassion. Jesus had harsh wordsfor them. “Woe to you….”

WE, the people of God in the Diocese of Ka-lookan, thank the Lord for the gift of a bishopin the person of Most Rev. Pablo VirgilioSiongco David, the Auxiliary Bishop of SanFernando. We are ever grateful to the HolyFather, Pope Francis, for giving a new bishopfor our Diocese.

Pope Francis appointed Bishop Ambo, ashe is endearingly called by many, as the secondBishop of the Diocese of Kalookan since itsestablishment on June 28, 2003. Te Diocesehas been without a bishop, sede vacante, since

January 25, 2013 when Most Rev. DeograciasIñiguez resigned due to health reasons. For 2years and 9 months without a regular bishop,

the Diocese had been ably administered by Antipolo Auxiliary Bishop Most Rev. Fran-cisco M. De Leon who was appointed by PopeBenedict XVI as its Apostolic Administrator.

Bishop Ambo was born on March 2, 1959 inBetis, Guagua, Pampanga to spouses Pedro Sa-hagun David of Betis and Bienvenida SanchezSiongco of Macabebe and is the 10th amongthe 13 children of the Davids. He studied inBetis Elementary School in Guagua; HighSchool at Mother of Good Counsel Seminaryin San Fernando and AB Pre-Divinity at At-eneo de Manila. He studied Teology at San

Jose Semina ry in Loyola Heights, QuezonCity, M.A. in Teology at Loyola School ofTeology; Licentiate in Sacred Teology andDoctorate in Sacred heology at CatholicUniversity of Louvain in Belgium.

He was ordained a priest on March 12, 1983

at the age of 24. Pope Benedict XVI appointedhim Auxiliary Bishop of San Fernando on May27, 2006 at age 47. He was ordained Bishopon July 10, 2006. Pope Francis appointed himBishop of Kalookan on October 14, 2015 atage 56. His Episcopal Ordination is tentativelyscheduled on January 2, 2016.

Bishop Ambo was the Parish Priest of HolyRosary Parish in Angeles City, Pampanga when

he was appointed to the Diocese of Kalookan.He is a known Bible scholar and is the Catho-lic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines(CBCP) Outgoing Chair of Episcopal Com-mission on Biblical Apostolate, a position heheld for 6 years. He is the Incoming Chair ofPermanent Committee on Cultural Heritageof the Church.

Te coat of arms of Bishop Ambo speaks ofhis ministry, Kenosis, which is translated as“self-emptying of one’s own will and becomingentirely receptive to God’s divine will.”

Our prayer, as written by Bishop Francis inagalog: “... O, loving Father, you chose himto be our Good Shepherd, to guide and lead

us to the path of holiness and fullness of life.Help him accomplish the task You assigned tohim, with strong faith and pure love. While weare preparing for his installation, enkindle inour hearts the sense of thanksgiving, solidar-ity and love as a community. All of these weask of you through Your Son Jesus Christ, inunion with the Holy Spirit through the helpand prayer of Blessed Mary, our Mother, nowand forever . Amen.”

o the second Bishop of the Diocese ofKalookan, our Shepherd, we welcome youBishop Ambo to your new home. We assureyou of our full cooperation, support, and lovethat you will never have the time to miss theflock that you will leave behind.

o our Apostolic Administrator, our Shep-herd, thank you very much Bishop Francis for

what you have done for the Diocese of Ka-

lookan, we need not mention them, our Lord Almighty already sees and knows them all. Weare grateful for your understanding, patience,and hard work. We, the Curia and Chancerystaff, will surely and truly miss your fatherlylove and care, your sweet laughter and broadsmile, your wit, and jokes. We know you willalso miss us. We wish and pray for your goodhealth and success in all your endeavors. God

bless and thanks po!***

Te Sangguniang Laiko ng Pilipinas (Laiko)held its 19th Biennial Convention at Sum-mit Circle Hotel at Fuente Osmeňa Circle inCebu City with the theme “Te Eucharist,the Family and the Parish in the Jubilee Yearof Mercy.” Outgoing National President Dr.

Amelita Dayrit-Go presented the President’sReport and the Laiko Statutes for approval bythe members. Most Rev. eodoro Bacani gavethe keynote address while the other resourcepersons were Fr. Ely Suico “Te Parish in the

Jubilee Year of Mercy”; Former Chief JusticeHilario Davide “Te Eucharist in the Family”;

Msgr. Roger Fuentes “Te Laity’s Role and Lifein the New Evangelization”; and Fr. AmadoPicardal “Te Basic Ecclesial Communities”.Te Eucharistic celebrants were Most Rev. JesseMercado, Outgoing Chairman of the EpiscopalCommission on the Laity, National SpiritualDirector of Laiko and Bishop of Paraňaqueand Most Rev. Dennis Villarojo, AuxiliaryBishop of Cebu.

***yphoon Lando, with international name

Koppu, wreaked havoc in the provinces of Au-rora, Nueva Ecija, Cordillera Region, and otherparts of Northern Luzon. Tere were landslidesand heavy flooding in those areas. Flood fromthe mountains rushed down to the residentialareas which caused the local government toimplement forced evacuation of the residents.Low lying areas in the neighboring provinces of

Bulacan and Pampanga served as a catch basinfor the flood. We urge the readers to respondto the call of the Church, Radio Veritas, andCaritas for donations of foods and basic needsof the victims of yphoon Lando.

*** We greet Fr. Salvador Curutchet, IVE and

Fr. Ildefonso de Guzman, Jr. of the Diocese ofKalookan a very Happy Birthday.

Collection Box Fr. Jerome Secillano, MPA

“SA tamang panahon may forever.”

he Aldub Phenomenon is like wild fire that has quickly spreadall over our archipelago, instantly capturing nationwide attentionand unprecedentedly winning the hearts of Filipinos from all

walk s of life .But what’s the secret of the instant mega success of Aldub Kalye

Serye that even those who are well educated and sophisticated areattracted to it? Nobody can deny that Eat Bulaga has unknowinglyunearthed one of our deepest longing as a nation—the DESIRE OBE INSPIRED, as manifested through the never ending “KILIGS”generated by our lovely couple Alden and Yaya Dub, coupled withthose daily “HUGOS” of inspirations that stir our dormant andforgotten Filipino values—especially the value of waiting , sacrifice,selflessness, purity of intentions, respect of elders, love of family,love of God, perseverance, and other unique Filipino traits thatbear our unique identity as a Filipino people.

We are always amused and entertained by the three colorful, fashion-able, and wacky sisters—Lola Nidora, Lola idora, and Lola inidora.Tey are so spontaneous, oozing with life and true to themselves. But

what struck us the most is their “forever love” and support for each

other—articulating our great desire to love our family through thickand thin.

Millions are glued to their televisions and You-tube everyday, look-ing forward to see what Lola Nidora will do next to test the love of thecouple. We are amused by our ever loving Lola Nidora who supportsthe budding love between Alden and Yaya Dub, yet guides and teachesthe SUPER IN LOVE couple to manage their feelings and purify theirdesires—by patiently waiting for the right time.

Te theme of WAIING PAIENLY re-echoes repeatedly in theshow, reminding the couple and us the value of delayed gratification,sacrifice, and trust. Nasa tamang panahon ang lahat ng bagay. “Waitingis a sign of true love and patience. Anyone can say ‘I love you’, but noteveryone can wait and prove it’s true.” (Aldub).

Sa AMANG PANAHON. Lola Nidora once said, “Hindi sapatang yaman para ibigin ang isang tao. Ang pag-ibig ay nararamdaman,hindi binibili, ipinaglalaban, iniingatan at ipinagkakaloob sa tamangpanahon.” She also said, “Huwag magmadali. Ang lahat ng bagay aynasa tamang panahon.” Lola Nidora is indeed a prophet shouting atus to pause ... dont’ rush ... discern ... there is such a thing as perfect

time ... in God’s time.In our present time where waiting is no longer a recognized and

treasured virtue, we found ourselves easily tempted to take the easyroad, and avoid pain, sacrifice, and self-denial. We no longer see the

wisdom of purifying our hearts’ desire. We forget that most of thetime, our impatience, our wild passion, and our inability to patiently

wait for the right time, bring unnecessary tears, hurts and failures inour life. We forgot that WAIING purifies our hearts and deepens ourcommitment to FOREVER.

Indeed, it validates one of my pitik-bulag quotes: “Maghintay nangmahusay. Hayaan nating pandayin ng panahon ang ating buhay, upangmakamit natin ang isang masaya at mabuting buhay.”

How can we forget those trying moments where Alden did his bestto prove his selfless love to Yaya Dub, by humbly submitting himself tothe tests and scrutiny of Lola Nidora? How can we ignore Yaya Dub’ssimplicity, faithfulness obedience to Lola Nidora?

Maine Mendoza’s unique talent to dubsmash songs and movie linesare just add-ons to her attractive personality. What struck us most wasMaine’s simplicity, humility, and her love for her family. She reminds

us of the Filipina woman we wish to see and emulate.Te Kalye-Serye brings laughter, joy, tears, and lots of “kilig” to our

mundane, boring afternoon. It allows us to reflect and recall our trueidentity as Filipinos in a different and subtle way. Te simple plot ofthe AlDub love story pokes our hearts and minds, and reminds us of

who we are—as a simple people, family-oriented and faithful to our loveones. We are attracted to this AlDub phenomena for it daily mirrorsback to us of who we are.

Te “Juan Luna fever” that caught our nation a few months ago hasa semblance of the “AlDub fever”—that is, A CALL O REURN toour forgotten values and heritage using a different lens. So far, there’snothing offensive in the Kalye Serye story. Like a gentle breeze thatbrings fresh air to our hot afternoon, Aldub brings zest and consolationto our tired spirits.

We loo k fo rwa rd for more k ili g and h ugo t in th e lo ve s tor y of Ald en and Yaya Dub. We a lso look for ward to dis cove rin g h owthe mystery of the life of the three Lolas will unfold before us,and how they will face together the secret past that haunts them.here is indeed unity and strength in love. And when one learns

how to love, no personal trial or family crisis will overcome us. AlDub gives us hop e and gli mpse that there’s such a thing asFOREVER.

Te AlDub fever is not all about Alden and Yaya Dub. It is all aboutus. We need small doses of daily KILIG and HUGO to awaken oursleeping spirits, inspire us, and bring fire to our weary hearts. So that

we could SMILE PA MORE and LOVE PA MORE.“No matter how long it takes, true love is always worth the wait.”

- AlDub

Understanding the Issues in theSynod of Bishops on the Family



A6 CBCP MonitorOctober 26 - November 8, 2015 Vol. 19 No. 22LOCAL NEWS

‘Yolanda’ survivors help ‘Lando’ victims KNOWING all too well their present plightof the vi ctims of yphoon “Lando” (Koppu),survivors of yphoon “Yolanda” (Haiyan) fromPalo, Leyte are at the forefront of the Church’songoing relief operations.

Indigenous communities in Barangay Cozoin Casiguran, Aurora started repairing theirdamaged homes after yphoon Koppu rav-aged Central and Northern Luzon. (Photo by:

NASSA/Caritas Philippines’ Rapid Assessmenteam) According to Fr. Edwin Gariguez, executive

secretary of the National Secretariat for Social Action (NASSA)/Caritas Phili ppines, “thespirit of Alay Kapwa is truly alive during thesetrying times.”

“We really appreciate how dioceses previ-ously affected by yphoon Yolanda imme-diately flew here to immediately respond tothe needs of the people in Northern Luzon,”he said.

Gariguez said the staff of the Archdiocese ofPalo’s Relief and Rehabilitation Unit (CaritasPalo) volunteered to take part in the rapidneeds assessment in provinces worst-hit by

“Lando” like Nueva Vizcaya and Cagayan.Te priest added that this is not the first caseof Yolanda survivors helping those affected bysimilar natural disasters.

In 2014, Gariguez recalled they were alsoamong the first to send relief aid to nearbySamar during the onslaught of yphoon Ruby.

NASSA/Caritas Philippines earlier launchedan emergency appeal to the Caritas Internatio-nalis confederation to provide Php 13.21-mil-lion worth of relief aid to 25,000 people in 15provinces affected by Lando: Aurora,Quezon,Cagayan, Nueva Vizcaya, Qurino, Nueva Ecija,Kalinga, Benguet, Pangasinan, Zambales,Rizal, Cavite, Batanes, La Union, and Abra.

Moreover, the Church’s social action arm set

up a ‘Lando’ Monitoring Center on the Catho-lic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines(CBCP) compound in Intramuros, Manila.

With its 165 member -countr ies, Carita sInternationalis is currently headed by Manila

Archb ishop Luís Antonio Cardi nal agle.(Raymond A. Sebastián / CBCP News)

Why violence againstwomen is a Synod issue

EMBELLISHING a known say-ing, it can be said that womenhold up half of the family.

Tis insight is something theChurch hierarchy is acknowledg-ing, especially during this year’sSynod on the Family where several

women were able to give personaltestimonies on issues like violenceagainst women, polygamy, amongothers which invariably affect thefamily.

In a press briefing on the Synodon Wednesday, onga BishopCardinal Soane Patita Paini Mafisaid: “As I say for our side of the

world, [violence against women]is becoming an issue and it’sgood to see women now they arespeaking out. Lots of NGOs arevery strongly bringing this up,especially the violence, so theChurch of course has always beenclear and is always for the dignityof men and women.”

Gender sensitization According to the prelate, whois the youngest member of theCollege of Cardinals, there isprogress in terms of addressingthe pressing issue of degradationof women and the Church has todo its part, alongside other groupslike NGOs.

“Because as I say, we are in aglobal world..So it’s good to see[that] there are steps comingforward…Te Church has go to-gether because [this issue] affectsthe family as I said before. Techanges in the very structure andfamily values has its genesis [in dif-ferent factors] including violenceagainst women so the Church has

to address [it],” Mafi added.In the same press briefing, Bom-

bay Archbishop Oswald CardinalGracias revealed how his archdio-cese has adopted as official policya document on women’s rights andgender sensitization drawn up byCatholic women leaders in India.

“Now the question…was ofgiving equal rights to women andrecognizing their responsibilitiesand their role in society and inthe Church. What was special—I

would think that many confer-ences must have studied this—perhaps was [we asked] the womenthemselves to make the first draft

which we took from,” explainedGracias, head of the Conferenceof Catholic Bishops of India.

‘Sons and daughters of God’Meanwhile Los Angeles José

Horacio Gomez stressed the im-portance of

respect for women “obviously with equal rights and equal re-sponsibilities and obligations infollowing the teachings of theCatholic Church.”

“I think it is important that totalk about it (the issue of violenceagainst women) and to address thosespecific problems coming from thefact that God created all of us equaland that we are all children of God,sons and daughters of God.”

Te Synod of Bishops on theFamily, which gathered 270 prel-ates and 18 couples from aroundthe world to discuss the presentstate of the family, is set to con-clude on Oct. 25 with a Mass atSt. Peter’s Square. (Nirva’ana EllaDelacruz / CBCP News)

(L to R) Tonga Bishop Cardinal Soane Patita Paini Mafi and Bombay Archbishop OswaldCardinal Gracias during a press briefing on the Synod on the Family at the Holy SeePress Office, Vatican City, Rome, Oct. 22, 2015 ROY LAGARDE

CSMSv4.0 delegates ‘inspired’ by Rosary app storyPARICIPANS of the recentlyconcluded 4th Catholic SocialMedia Summit (CSMSv.4.0) wereinspired even more to take on thechallenge of the New Evangeliza-tion after hearing the story behindMy/Phone’s Rosary app.

David Lim, president of Solid

Group Inc., the creator of My-Phone, told more than 300 “on-line missionaries of God” (OMGs)at the Sta. Rosa City Hall Audito-rium, Laguna on Oct. 11 that theRosary app was born out of hisdream of having a phone that hasa “Filipino heart.”

Phone with Pinoy heart “Calling a phone a ‘Filipino

phone’ means nothing, unlessyou put a Filipino heart into thephone,” he said.

According to Lim, who consid-ered himself a “dreamer,” MyPhonebegan when a personal phone hebrought in from his father’s factoryin China broke down.

“From Day 1, I said this is goingto be a Filipino phone. But noth-ing inside it was Filipino exceptmy heart wanting to give thisphone to marginalized Filipinos,”he added.

Lim shared how the idea for aRosary app came to him during amobile conference he attended inChina with at least 6,000 otherstore owners.

‘Rosary inside’In a three-square meter store, he

remembered seeing a man readingthe Bible who sold an MP3 withthe Rosary inside.

Lim wasted no time in askinghis technical guy to put Rosaryprayers into MyPhone. And the

rest is Rosary app history.But as soon as he finished the

Rosary app, he sensed the need toalso include prayers for exams as

well as for healing.Despite the success of the mo-

bile application, Lim pointed outthe company would not be whereit is now without the hard workthey have put in, and the manystruggles they have been throughto make a name in the mobileindustry.

Writing one’s story “hat single day when I saw

my parents very hurt becauseof the blood, sweat, and tears

whe n the y wer e bu ild ing the

brand, I told myself I wouldnever build another foreignbrand,” he said.

Lim went on to challengeCSMSv4.0 delegates to write theirown stories, and to find their placein the sun.

“You will write your ownstories. All the stories you hear

wil l never be you rs. You wil lhave to write own stories. You

have to find your uniqueness,”he stressed.

Moreover, he expressed joythat his family found God in thePhilippines and that his heart is“a hundred percent Filipino”.

Lim ended with advice hismother used to tell him as a child:

“David, listen to the people’scomplaints. When they complain,then there’s [an] opportunity toserve.”

‘Plugged-in’Organized by this year by

Yout hPi noy (YP) , Areo pagu sCommunications, and in part-nership with the Diocese of SanPablo, the CSMS is an annual

gathering of current and aspiringonline evangelists from differentschools, youth organizations,and arch/dioceses of the Philip-pines, who want to win moresouls for Christ through theintelligent and responsible useof social media.

CSMSv.4.0, its fourth and latestsuccessful installment, adopted thetheme “Plugged-in,” drawing inspi-ration from Pope Francis’ homily atthe Manila Cathedral on “networksof solidarity” as well as St. Paul’smessage in Romans 15:16 “thatall may be one voice in glorifyingGod.” (Trizia Marie Castrillowith reports from Raymond A.Sebastián / CBCP News)

David Lim, president of Solid Group Inc., the creator of MyPhone. DOMINIC BARRIOS

date be moved instead to Sunday,November 8.

Similarly, the Diocese of Bo-rongan in Eastern Samar alsoconducted what it considers itsown “urgent collection” of dona-tions for Lando victims.

“Te Bishop [Crispin B. Var-quez] requests that we make aSecond Collection in our Masses

this Sunday, 25 Oct. 2015 forthe victims/survivors of yphoonLando. Please remit the saidcollection to the Office of theFinancial Administrator as soon aspossible,” said Borongan Chancel-lor Neil Gavan enefrancia in aletter dated October 22.

Eastern Samar, particularly itsmunicipalities of Guiuan andBasey, was among the provincesthat received the brunt of Superyphoon Yolanda (Haiyan) backin November 2013. Catholicsin the typhoon-prone provincecelebrated the 55th foundinganniversary of their diocese lastOctober 22.

Earlier, members of Caritas

Internationalis in Europe and theUnited States pledged support

amounting to P8.9 million tothe Philippine Church’s ongoingrelief operations for survivors ofyphoon “Lando.”

Meanwhile, the Catholic Bish-ops’ Conference of the Philip-pines, through its social actionarm, the National Secretariat forSocial Action (NASSA)/CaritasPhilippines, will roll out a P13.21-

million relief project to aid com-munities affected by the typhoon. At least 41 individuals perished

due to yphoon “Lando,” a Cat-egory 5 typhoon that made land-fall last October 18. According tostate agencies, a total of 268,877families or 1,242,239 persons,

were affected by the storm in Re-gions 1, 2, 3, 4-A (Calabarzon),5, National Capital Region andCAR while 25,182 families or113,584 persons remains in 106evacuation centers.

Considered as the worst ty-phoon that hit the country thisyear, “Lando” caused damage toagriculture worth at least P6.43billion, and to infrastructure,

P902 million. (Raymond A. Se-bastián / CBCP News)

Gather, A1

natural resources, for more often,the destruction of God’s gift makethe poor poorer,” the priest adds.

Moortgat said it is important tofocus on those at the bottom ofsociety who make up the lowest 25percent of the population.

Te Belgian priest pointed outthat although a family of five whomake do with Php 350 or less perday (Php 70 each person per day)may be considered poor, in gen-eral, those who suffer most frompoverty are people with disabilities(PWD), particularly the mentallychallenged, among others.

He added that making opportu-nities for education, employment,and small-scale business availablecan do much in terms of raisingthe living standards of the poor.

Based on a recent Social Weath-

er Stations (SWS) survey, as manyas 12.1 million Filipinos identifythemselves as poor.

Temed “Bumangon at Manin-digan” (Rise and Stand up), Yearof the Poor is a year-round eventin line with the Catholic Bishops’Conference of the Philippines(CBCP)’s declaration of 2015,urging the Filipino faithful to dotheir part in helping the poor,especially in pushing for the truealleviation, reduction, and eradi-cation of poverty in the country.

he occasion, which comesthird in the nine-year era of NewEvangelization, prepares Filipinosahead of the 500th anniversaryof the coming of the CatholicFaith in the Philippines in 2021. (Raymond A. Sebastián / CBCPNews)

Commitment, A1

Southern Tagalog priests combine prayer, sportsHUNDREDS of priests from dioceses, vicari-ates, prelatures belonging to Southern Luzonagalog Region (SOLARE) have convergedhere from Oct. 19 to 22 for several days of

sports competitions and sessions on spirituality.Hosted by the Diocese of Imus led by Bishop

Reynaldo G. Evangelista, DD, the four-day 9thSOLARE CUP bore the theme: “PARI FOR-EVER…LARO PA MORE…#eh d i WOW”.

As the theme suggests the entire four-dayevent was a blend of spirituality, solidarity,and action. Te daily games at the ahanan ngMabuting Pastol Seminary compound alwaysstarted and ended with communal prayers,liturgy, celebration of the Eucharist and bond-ing over meals courtesy of generous donors.

Priests got talent tooLed by their respective bishops the clergy

of priests, deacons, and religious belonging

to eight dioceses, vicariates and prelaturesof SOLARE arrived at the venue on Oct.19 to compete among themselves in friendlybasketball, volleyball, badminton, lawn tennis,

swimming, table tennis, bowling, chess, dartsmatches, including the crowd-pleaser “PriestsGot alent” Night.

On uesday night, shortly after dinner the“Priests Got alent” Night was held and sawpriests, deacons, and a bishop unleashing hid-den talents of music, dances, comic timingand the like.

Te clergy of Lucena (Quezon) bested othercompetitors during the night of talents withtheir renditions of American singing sensa-tions Beyoncé, Miley Cyrus, Superman, andthe like.

Te clergy of Boac, Marinduque with no lessthan their prelate Bishop Marcelino AntonioM. Maralit, Jr. leading the group with their

musical performance using bamboo sticksgarnered second place.

Championship games

Tird prize went to a former “Singing Bee”talent of ABS-CBN, one of San Pablo’s singingpriests, Fr. Albert San Jose.

Bishops Emilio Z. Marquez of Lucena Dio-cese, Victor C. Ocampo of Gumaca, Maralit,

Jr. of Boac, Marindu que, and Evangelista ofImus were present at the event.

As of press time, priests players representingtheir respective dioceses, prelatures, vicariatesare still vying to win the championship games/

he games were held at various venuesincluding the Divine Word Seminary; Societyof St. Paul Seminary (Silang); agaytay High-lands; Samahan ng Mabuting Pastol Seminaryall in Cavite and several more. (Fr. Romy O.Ponte / CBCP News)

ed media reports, the archbishopsaid the church has not softenedits stand on the issue but ratherencouraged approaches that aregenuinely more pastoral.

“Te call is for us to take theapproach towards these couples

with mercy and compassion. Tatis the call of the Holy Father inthe language that we use,” Vallessaid.

Te vice president of the Cath-olic Bishops’ Conference of thePhilippines, Valles said this issurely where the voice of thelocal churches is vital, listening,articulating, and giving voice tothe voiceless and isolated.

He said they should be inte-

grated into the life of the churchand not made to feel that theyhave been excommunicated.

“As pastors, we would really tellthem that they have a place in thechurch. We would listen to themand that there are ways that theycan still be connected with thecommunity and with the Lord,”he said.

Change of mentality, openness Accord ing to Bishop Gilber t

Garcera of Daet, one thing veryimportant is the attitude of bish-ops, priests, and pastoral workerstoward Catholics in difficultsituations.

He said these include using less

harsh language for gays and lesbi-ans as well as cohabiting couples,

divorced, and the remarried.“Te way we deal with them isat times saddening,” said Garcera,chairman of the CBCP EpiscopalCommission on Family and Life.

“I think this is one challengefor us, particularly the church inthe Philippines, that we have tobe open, to ask forgiveness forthe many times [we] have been

judging people ,” he said.Valles said “a listening shep-

herd” is more needed and by do-ing away with rubbing salt furtherinto the wound.

For Garcera, “real conversion”must first start with bishops them-selves, a call that Pope Francis hasalready emphasized in his first

encyclical apostolic exhortation,Evangelii Gaudium.“Just to say ‘hi’ and ‘hello’ to

people instead of being so seriousall time will make a difference.

You should be a welcoming faceand presence. I think the HolyFather has been giving us thisexample,” he said.

Great concern for families Amid the many innuendos of

controversy, what were discussedand finalized at the Synod cer-tainly showed the Church’s “greatconcern” for the families, said

Archbishop Jose Palma of Cebu. Whi le they did not grab so

much attention in the secular

media, the pastoral care for the el-derly and people with disabilities,

openness to life, and the plight ofmigrants and refugees were alsotackled at the Synod.

“A lot of proposals and evalu-ations have been made but onething is sure… No matter whatyour situation in life, you areloved and cared for. People shouldknow that the Holy Father hasgreat care for them,” he said.

If there’s anything peopleshould look forward to in theSynod, Palma said it would be thenew pastoral initiatives to addressthe many issues facing families inthe modern world.

“It makes us aware of the reali-ties of families. It makes us awarethat efforts are being done all

over the world,” said the formerpresident of the Catholic Bishops’Conference of the Philippines.

Sense of collegialityTe Synod final report released

to the media on Oct. 24 showeda sense of collegiality among theglobal bishops.

In fact, only two of the 94 para-graphs showed a disparity in thevoting, both of them surround-ing the topic of pastoral care fordivorced and remarried persons.

Despite the calls by some forthe Church to change its doctrine,the document upheld the Churchteaching and practice on the issue.

“It’s therefore the responsibil-

ity of pastors to accompany thepersons concerned on a path of

discernment according to theteaching of the Church and theguidelines of the bishop,” para-graph 85 reads.

While there was an overall sup-port for the Church’s teaching andcurrent pastoral practices to re-main in place, the document alsostressed that divorced and remar-ried couples are baptized persons

who must be “more integ ratedinto the Christian community,”

while “avoiding ever y occasionof scandal.”

“he logic of integration isthe key to their pastoral accom-paniment,” paragraph 84 said,explaining that their involvementin the Church “can be expressed

in different ecclesial services.” Synod spirit

Valles said the three-week as-sembly was full of intense but sol-emn discussion on the challengesthe families are facing today.

With some mar ried cou ple sand other faith leaders pres-ent who shared their views andexperiences, the Synod enabledparticipants to learn from eachother about marriage and family.

He also said that while there were debates in drafting the finaldocument, it was done in a “veryrespectful” way, adding that there

were also lots of “touching andinspiring stories”. (With reports

from Nirva’ana Ella Delacruzand Catholic News Agency)

Humble , A1



A7CBCP Monitor October 26 - November 8, 2015 Vol. 19 No. 22 DIOCESAN NEWS

More fun striving to be holythan being spooky

AREVALO, Iloilo City—As com-mercial establishments set upHalloween decorations, a parishin Iloilo would like to show the

world that i t’s more fun strivingto be holy than trying to be scaryto mark the holiday.

Instead of the usual festival ofghouls, goons, and ghosts, theHoly Name of Jesus Parish in the

Arevalo district of Iloilo City willhold a Procession of Saints as analternative Halloween celebrationon Oct. 31.

Are val o par ish pri est Msg r. Amadeo Escañan explained that

the genuine meaning of Hallow-een is the festival of all holy menand women celebrated on the eveof the Solemnity of All Saints.

Escañan lamented that themodern celebration of Halloween,held usually in exclusive villagesand shopping malls, has degener-ated into an overly-commercial-ized event.

Solemn and fun-filled celebrationFor the alternative Halloween

in Arevalo, parish event-organizers

prepared a solemn and fun-filledcelebration for children and their

parents on Oct. 31.Te faithful will assemble at

the parish grounds at 2:15 p.m.for the Holy Mass. After whichthe presentation and processionof saints will follow in which 50children hailing from the 10 ba-rangays of the parish – each rep-resenting a particular saint- will

walk along the streets of Arevalo. As id e fr om th e Pa ra de of

Saints, there will be groupgames, drum and bugle pre-sentation, candy treats, and the

community singing of the 2015Papal Visit theme song “We are

all God’s children.”

Queen of All SaintsEscañan added that Oct. 31,

being the last day of the month ofthe Holy Rosary, will also be thecelebration of Holy Mary as theQueen of All Saints.

For this, the Parade of Saints will also be a Marian Procession with the prayer of the Holy Rosaryand the representations of theapparitions of the Blessed VirginMary, as a fitting way to honor all

the saints and their Queen. (Fr. Mickey Cardenas / CBCP News)

A past alternative Halloween celebration organized by the Holy Name of Jesus Parish HOLY NAME OF JESUS PARISH

Bishop’s reminder: NoEucharist without MaryACLOBAN City - his wasthe emphatic thought that NavalBiliran Bishop Filomeno Bactolshared in his homily yesterdayafternoon on the feast day celebra-tion of Our Lady of Fatima in Sto.Niño Church in this city.

“Had Mary not allowed herbody to be used for Jesus (to beborn) there is no basis for (Christ)to say, ‘Tis is my body’,” Bactolstressed pertaining to the HolyEucharist where the Holy Hostis consecrated into the Body ofChrist.

Mary leads to Jesus According to him, this more

vividly explains the link betweenthe devotion to the Blessed VirginMary and Jesus, calling the prayersand devotion to Mary “Cristo-centric.”

“We cannot separate Maryfrom Jesus and Jesus from Mary,”he stressed, saying further, “All

prayers for Mary end up to Jesus.”Te prelate elaborated that the

celebration of the feast day ofOur Lady of Fatima brings peoplecloser to Jesus just like praying theHoly Rosary.

It also provides “saving power”to Christ’s believers in times ofdifficulties.

Battles won by the rosary Bactol recounted the stories of

victory attributed to the people’sdevotion to the Virgin Mary, par-ticularly in praying the Holy Rosary.

He cited, for instance, the Battleof Lepanto on Oct. 7, 1571 andthe Battle of Manila Bay in 1898.

Bactol narrated how the people’sfervent prayer of the Holy Rosarylikewise led to the victory of theFilipinos during World War II in

the naval battle, known in historyas Battle of Biliran and Battle ofLeyte Gulf.

It could also be recalled that thefirst people power revolution was apeaceful and bloodless restorationof democracy due to the people’scollective prayer of the Holy Ro-sary in EDSA in 1986 instead ofviolent retaliation.

Divorce, abortion, euthanasia Bactol said though the battle

against evil is not over, especiallythese days that more people arelosing their “sense of sin”.

Tere are many people who nolonger acknowledge their sinfulacts which are morally and legally

wrong, he added. According to him, the battle

these days is in the growing cultureof corruption, drugs, and deathor divorce, euthanasia, abortion,total depopulation, and same sexmarriage.

urning back to God and to Jesu s and constan t praying ofthe Holy Rosary, he stressed, willhelp the faithful find hope andpeace and win the war againstthese evils in this modern world.(Eileen Nazareno-Ballesteros /CBCP News)

‘Communio’ gathers Bulacan’s diocesan,religious seminariansGUIGUINO, Bulacan – Diocesan and reli-gious seminarians and priest-formators fromthe Immaculate Conception Major Seminary-Graduate School of Teology (ICMAS-GS)in Guiguinto, Bulacan and Recoleto Schoolof Teology (RS), in andang Sora, QuezonCity gathered at ICMAS-GS for the annualinter-seminary meet called “Communio” withthe theme, “ANAWIM: Dahil sa harap ng

Diyos lahat tayo ay dukha” from Oct. 9 to 10.Te seminarians participated in a panel dis-cussion about the theme at the ICMAS-GSchapel. Four laymen from different sectors wereinvited to speak to the seminarians about thesituation of the poor in their respective areasof apostolate.

Attendees also took part in a small groupsharing after a period of reflection during theevent. Te guide question was, “What couldyou do in order to be an effective minister ofthe Church of the Poor?”

Scores of young seminarians also spent theday in creative team-building activities andfriendly games at the ICMAS varsity court,notably basketball and volleyball. For the not-so sporty types, a zumba session took place atthe seminary gymnasium.

o cap off first day, participants took part in

a Liturgy called Confessio Pecati, after EveningPrayers.

ICMAS-GS and RS celebrated the 14th“Communio” this year. “Communio” is theLatin word communion. Since 2002, ICMAS-

GS and RS seminarians have been meetingonce a year for sharing of thoughts on current

Church events, communal prayer, friendshipgames, and socialization. Tis activity aims tofoster camaraderie among diocesan seminarians

of ICMAS-GS and religious brothers studyingat RS. (Arvin Ray C. Jimenez / CBCP News)

The seminarians of ICMAS-GST and RST recently gathered at NSPDM for “Communio”, the annual inter-seminary meetof the two schools of Theology for team-building, pastoral input, and creative performances. KEVIN MENDOZA/IAN DOLLENTAS

non-food items like blankets,sleeping mats and mosquitonets to at least 5,000 familiesor approximately 25,000 indi-viduals affected by the recenttyphoon.

“We are aiming to help themost vulnerable people such asthe elderly, disabled, single par-ents and those who are ill fromthe worst-hit and hard-to-reach

areas. We are very thankful toour Caritas networks aroundthe globe for its immediateresponse to our appeal,” Gari-guez said.

Initial reports from the dioc-esan social action centers revealthat 15 provinces—Aurora, Que-zon, Cagayan,Nueva Vizcaya,Qurino, Nueva Ecija, Kalinga,Benguet, Pangasinan, Zambales,Rizal, Cavite, Batanes, La Unionand Abra—are the worst-hit areasduring the onslaught of yphoonLando. At the grassroots, the 16dioceses in Central and SouthernLuzon, Cagayan Valley, Cordil-lera, Ilocos and Calabarzon arecoming to the aid of the typhoon

victims.“We are still waiting for more

data from our assessment teamson the ground. Tese areas maystill change depending on theneeds of the affected dioceses,”Gariguez added.

Pledges and support to thevictims of yphoon Lando fromother Caritas organizations

worldwide are being extended toNASSA/Caritas Philippines. Sofar, CORDAID (Caritas Nether-

lands) has pledged 40,000 EURto the yphon Koppu emergencyresponse activity.

Gariguez said regular updatesabout the program are being pro-vided through SMS, electronicmails and the social media sitesof NASSA/Caritas Philippines.Te yphoon Koppu MonitoringCenter has already been activatedthrough the following emergencyhotlines: (02) 527-4163 and0927-610-9977.

Te Global Caritas Interna-tionalis with its 165 membercountries worldwide is currentlybeing headed by its first AsianPresident, Manila ArchbishopLuis Antonio Cardinal agle.

(Myraine Joly Carluen-Policar- pio / CBCP News)

Caritas, A1

Why young people aren’t marrying“Tese issues that have been so much high-

lighted in the West, they have become notexactly non-issues but certainly they are not theones that really engage our mind and attentionrather it’s a question of how to help the manyyoung people because our population in Asiais largely composed of the youth,” he added,noting how in his country, 30 to 35% of thepopulation are young people.

Tis reality was given a face when BrendaKim Nayoug of South Korea was able to ad-dress the bishops at the Synod and talk about

what in her count ry is called the “Sampo

generation”, an increasing number of youngpeople who choose to forego courtship, mar-riage, and childbirth.

In a Radio Vatican report, she is quotedas saying in her Synod presentation: “Manyof the young generation have given up these

three things because of their social pressuresand economic problems. Tere are so manyyoung people who are suffering due to unem-ployment, they unfortunately postpone theirmarriage, and forget that marriage is a callinggiven by God.”

“Te younger generation like me are suffer-ing [very much] because they have a long timeto study. In Korea it’s obsessive eduation. It’sbeen hard for the young generation and alsofor my parents’ generation, too,” she explainedin an exclusive interview with CBCP News.

Attitude change

According to Nayoug, the cost of educationin Korea is rising and the work force is highlycompetitive leaving many young people joblessand unable to afford education for themselvesor for their future children.

She notes how an attitude of concern to-

wards young people would be a huge step forthe Catholic Church.

“Showing the attitude, I guess it is impor-tant. Tey (young people) want somebodyto help but nobody is concerned about the[younger] generation. Te young generationneeds to be welcomed and encouraged but noone takes care of them. And I think that atti-tude showing the welcoming attitude for them,that’s quite enough for them,” added Nayoug.

In her final words to the Synod delegatesshe said, “Dear Fathers, married life is a long

journey. Tere might be lots of possibilitiesto get lost or to be wounded on their journey

of life, therefore the Church should open upand truly accompany us at the various stagesof our married life, so that we do not give upbut instead find for ourselves the beauty of theChristian family.” (Nirva’ana Ella Delacruz/ CBCP News)

Youth, A1

Antonio E. Aureada, O.P. regent of

the US Graduate School.hrough short skits, reports,

and monologues, among others,participants were able to translatethe otherwise abstract and esoterictheological concepts like the infor-mative (dianoetic), transformative,and performative (dynamic) as-pects of “Dabhar Yahweh” (Wordof God) in a language everyonecan understand.

Using drama, one group actedout the significance of conver-sion, and how a woman who hasheeded the Good News of Jesuscan effectively transform herselfand the people around her intobetter Christians.

Another team gave new mean-

ing to the act of drinking to pointout that faith in God is like waterthat that has the power to quenchthirst.

Majority of the attendees hailedfrom the different dioceses ofMetro Manila and nearby prov-inces who have active roles in theirparishes, and who would love toshare with fellow parishionersthe knowledge they get from the

course.

Estelita C. Laurel, 78, a cat-echist from Mary Mirror of JusticeParish, Comembo, Makati City,said she believes learning theology

will help her improve her identityas a Catholic.

For 22-year old catechetical in-struction teacher Gabriel M. Ple-garia, from Binangonan CatholicCollege Elementary Department,Rizal, the crash course will en-able him to deepen not only hisknowledge of doctrines, but moreimportantly deepen his faith.

Mellanie A. Barsolaso, 34, agrade school teacher from HolyFamily Academy, Angeles City,Pampanga, joined the course asa way to confirm that what she

imparts to her pupils is correct andin line with what the Magisteriumteaches.

Te next session of the theologycrash course is on Nov. 22. Forfurther information, interestedparties may contact (+63) 927-3967-776, (+63)939-462-6733,and/or (+63)906-410-0010.(Raymond A. Sebastián / CBCPNews)

Theology, A1

special admiration for the Fili-pinos,’” Cebu Archbishop JosePalma quoted the pontiff as say-ing. “Basically, he is taking us aspeople of great faith.”

Daet Bishop Gilbert Garcera saidthe Pope also recalled with “great hap-piness” the “Lolo Kiko” Filipinos nick-name that Filipinos fondly gave him.

“He was really laughing and was

so happy about it,” Garcera said. According to Palma, it created a

good impression on the Pope howelderly are held in high regard inthe Philippines.

“It’s a sign that I am appreciat-ed. I am loved in the Philippines,”Pope Francis said, according tothe Cebu prelate. (Roy Lagarde /CBCPNews)

Filipinos, A1

should take when he said, “Weneed to be a welcoming Churchthat offers refuge to anyone hon-estly seeking God. But we need toremain a Church committed tothe Word of God, faithful to the

wisdom of the Christian tradition,and preaching the truth of JesusChrist”. In short, an inclusivechurch is indeed a necessity but it

should not be one that is “doctrin-ally corrosive”.

he Synod fathers, whileheavily involved in debatesand discussions as to what theChurch should do in face ofmounting challenges against thefamily, are tasked merely to setforth recommendations and notto settle matters or to draw updecrees. It rests with the RomanPontiff to ratify the decisions of

the Synod (cf. Can. 343). heseclerics can debate all they want,

but clearly the buck stops withthe Pope.

With the controversies it hasgenerated, the results of thisgathering of bishops will be highlyanticipated. What the Pope will doafter all has been said and done inthe Synod floor is worth waitingfor. he expectation is so highthat no less than the divorced and

remarried Catholics and those tak-ing up their cause are hoping for

a more inclusive Church. At theother side of the fence are those

waiting for the Pope to reinforcehis role as defender of faith andmorals and enforcer of ecclesiasti-cal discipline.

Early in his papacy, Pope Francissaid, “If the church is alive, it mustalways surprise.” Will we be in fora big surprise? It remains to be

seen but maybe it is best that webe prepared too.

Collection Box, A5



A8 CBCP MonitorOctober 26 - November 8, 2015 Vol. 19 No. 22PEOPLE, FACTS, AND PLACES

Markings

Appointed. Pope Francis hasappointed San Fernando AuxiliaryBishop Pablo Virgilio David asthe new bishop of the Diocese ofKalookan. The appointment wasofcially announced on Oct. 14at 12:00 noon, Vatican time, 6:00p.m., Manila time. To date, Davidis serving as vice chairman of theCBCP Permanent Committee onCultural Heritage.

Died.San Carlos Auxiliary BishopEmeritus Salvador Trane Modestopassed away on Oct. 11 at thePerpetual Succor Hospital in CebuCity.He was 85. San Carlos Bish-op Gerardo Alminaza presidedover Modesto’s funeral Mass onOct. 19, 10:00 a.m. at the SanCarlos Borromeo Cathedral.

Tagle to speak atpoverty confab

MANILA Archbishop Luís Antonio G.Cardinal agle will lead the speakers in aforthcoming forum aimed at coming up

with a unified solution to poverty by look-ing at the problem from different angles.

Te prelate has been jointly invited

by the Social Action Center of Pam-panga (SACOP) and the University ofthe Assumption (UA) to discuss how theCatholic Church in the Philippines andas a whole views this reality most Filipinosknow firsthand.

Called by the secular media as the“Asian Francis,” agle currently heads theCatholic Church’s charity arm, CaritasInternationalis.

Te Catholic confederation consists of

160 member-organizations from aroundthe world committed to serving “thepoor, the vulnerable, and the excluded”regardless of race and creed in order tobuild a world founded on justice andfraternal love.

Dubbed “Kanawan,” Kapampangan fora “state of well-being,” the conference onintegral development and social respon-sibility is set to gather in one venue themovers and shakers from the academe,business, government, and civic groups.

Acco rding to Fern ando E. Santos ,UA’s director for external affairs, otherspeakers expected include Camarines Sur3rd District Rep. María Leonor “Lenny”Robredo and Gawad Kalinga founder

Antonio P. Meloto.he widow of the DILG Sec. Jesse

Robredo is slated to talk on poverty fromthe perspective of a public servant.

Meanwhile, Meloto will share his in-sights on poverty as a social entrepreneur.

Organized by the Archdiocese of SanFernando (ASF), through SACOP, intandem with UA, Asia’s first archdioc-esan university, Kanawan is scheduledon Nov.12 at EPHAHA DevelopmentCenter, San Fernando City, Pampanga.

Besides serving as the archdiocese’sculminating activity for the Year of thePoor, the event will mark the silver jubileeof SACOP. (Raymond A. Sebastián /CBCP News)

Manila Archbishop Luís Antonio G. Cardinal Tagle. FILE PHOTO

Marian seminar dedicatedto priest’s memoryhe Missionaries of Mary (M.O.M.)dedicated the Marian Encounter Seminarheld on Oct. 25, 2015 at the an YanKee Student Center, University of Sto.omas in memory of its spiritu al director,Fr. Aloysius S. Alino. Fr. Aloy, as he was

fondly called, who passed away on Aug.30, 2015.He had been the spiritual director of

M.O.M. for the past 20 years.he topics of the seminar revolved

around the theme, “Mary, a Model ofFaith, Hope, and Charity.” Te seminarcoincided with the Catholic faithful’scelebration of October as the month of“Our Lady of the Rosary.”

Te resource persons were Fr. FrancisGustilo, S.D.B.; Fr. Antonio Aureada.

O.P., Regent, U.S.. Graduate School;and Fr. John Barro, Director for SpiritualDirections, Holy Apostles Seminy.

Fr. Choy Ramos, S.S.S. of the BlessedSacrament Fathers Congregation presidedover the Eucharistic celebration.

According to press release issued byM.O.M, the group is a lay Marian com-munity with the objective of helping inthe Church’s thrust for evange lization byorganizing seminars, outreach projects,retreats, and recollections. hese areaimed at promoting a Marian spiritualitythat will lead people towards a deeper andcloser relationship with Christ.

Te seminar was conducted in part-nership with Radio Veritas (846 AM)(CBCP News)

Catholic Answers speaker inPH to discuss ‘guy issues’

MALES of all ages, especially high schooland college students, are invited to anupcoming talk with no less than renownedapologist from Catholic Answers MattFradd, where they can ask him about spe-cifically “guy issues” and how to addressthem with the Lord’s help.

“We from Filipinos for Life believe thatyoung people everywhere need to realizethe truth about their dignity in Christ andtheir eternal destiny as adopted childrenof God. We also believe that this can onlybe possible by God’s grace and by teach-ing it in a way that will appeal to them,”notes Anthony James Perez, president ofpro-life, pro-family group Filipinos for

Life , in a letter posted on the group’sofficial website.

Dubbed “For Boys Only: Te Manalk,” the forum is set on Nov. 6, Friday,1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., at St. Mary’s Col-lege Auditorium, 37 Mother Ignacia Av-enue, Barangay Paligsahan, Quezon City.

In the talk, Matt Fradd, whom Perezdescribes as “a highly sought-after speakerand apologist of Catholic Answers (catho-lic.com),” will answer all the questionsteenage boys have about themselves,

chastity, true manhood, and love.“With Matt’s vibrant love for the faith

coupled with his humor, eloquence, and warm personality, he is able to speak tothe hearts of his audience about how truemanhood is expressed in chastity and inbecoming who God meant them to be,”he explains.

According to Perez, Fradd is also ex-pected to tackle issues like the damagecaused by pornography and how real mencan stay away from it, “bringing backchivalry, and swimming against the tideof popular but erroneous opinion.”

For more information on the speaker,interested partiesmay visit: http://matt-

fradd.com/about/ickets to the event are now available

and are priced at Php 300 each.Interested parties may use the following

bank account for payment: BDO, C/A2478003549, Filipinos for Life Familyand God Inc.

For inquiries, reservations, and pur-chases, contact Filipinos for Life at (+63)922-827-6662 or Email at [email protected]. (Raymond A. Sebastián/ CBCP News)

Free concert to benefit hearing-impaired held

HE Hangad Music Ministrycelebrated its 24 years in theindustry in a free concert onOct. 25 that will benefit peo-

ple with hearing difficulties.Dubbed “WonderfullyMade,” the night of music

was held at the St. StanislausKostka Chapel, Ateneo deManila High School, LoyolaHeights, Quezon City.

Since 1991, Hangad hasperformed in inspirationalconcerts, served in variousliturgical services, launcheda string of classics, and con-ducted workshops for choirs

in and around Manila.he group consists of

friends, young professionals,and students, whose love for

music equals their passionto evangelize others throughsongs.

Tey began as Ateneo HighSchool batchmates who only

wanted to sing for Masses andretreats.

A quarter of a century andeight albums later, Hangadnever tires of crediting the“mighty power of God” forits success.

Meanwhile, Hangad’s ben-

eficiary this year, the CatholicMinistry to Deaf People, Inc.,(CMDP), has been helping thedeaf community by providing

scholarships, religious educa-tion, and interventions duringcrisis situations.

CMDP was fo rma l l yformed in 1990 by Sr. RitaMarie Pickhinkie as a non-profit, non-government orga-nization to serve deaf peoplein the country.

It envisions a society wherethe deaf have access to educa-tion, employment, and spiri-tual formation, and where they

live in a safe and inclusiveenvironment.

CMDP also dreams of a world where the potential of

the deaf to live a full life andto help in the growth of thecountry is “amply recognized,encouraged, and lovingly har-nessed.”

o date, the organizationcovers Metro Manila, and itsboard is chaired by no lessthan Cubao Bishop HonestoF. Ongtioco with Fr. Joelabora, S.J. as his vice-chair.(Raymond A. Sebastián /CBCP News)

The Hangad Music Ministry. HANGAD MUSIC MINISTRY’S FACEBOOK PAGE

WAN to meet new fri endsand gain confidence while

learning more about thefaith? Ten come to the CFC– Singles for Christ (SFC)

West C sector’s Mega Chris-tian Life Program (CLP)every Saturday at the FEU-NRMF Medica l CenterChapel, West Fairview ParkSubdivision, Quezon City.

“We will teach them howto be confident of themselvesbecause they are the truechildren of God and thatGod will never leave themin times of depression andloneliness.

We wil l intr odu ce themto new friends with JesusChrist as the center of their

relationships,” said SonnyRodriguez, a SFC Coordina-

tor serving at the said CLP.

Jesus EncountersTe CLP is a 12-week pro-gram featuring various talkson the basics of the Christianfaith presented in a refreshingmanner, often with creatives,videos and personal sharingfrom SFC members.

According to Rodr igue z,the CLP will open up a

whole new world to youngprofessionals who may beneglecting their faith lifebecause of career and otherconcerns.

“Our theme is Encounters with Jesus Christ. We hopethat our speakers may be ableto re-introduce them to Jesus

Christ in this fast paced world. We will teach them to pray in a

manner that they have not donebefore,” he added.

Reflective of many youngpeople’s concern, the CLP will also prime them for theirvocation in life, he said.

Permanent partners in life“..(W)e pray that they

may be able to find theirpermanent partners in lifeas member of Couples forChrist in the future,” saidRodriguez.

Speakers include Bro.Val Jaring, a medical doc-tor; FEU Chaplain Fr. FalkiFlacasantos will give talk 2,“Who is Jesus Christ?”; Bro.Mandy Constantino, a Sec-tor Governance team mem-

ber of Couples for Christfor talk 3, What it means

to be a Christian; Bro. Boy-ing Fajardo, also a CFC

elder will deliver talk no.4, “Repentance and Faith”;Bro. Sonny Rodriguez, anarchitect and environmentalplanner for “Receiving thePower of the Holy Spirit”;Bro. Mel Serrano, for “Life inthe Holy Spirit”, is the ownerof Holy Angles Academyand Belarmino Academy inQuezon City and is also aCFC elder and missionaryto Myanmar as well as Bro.Nelson Robles, CFC West Csector head

Te final talk will be onDec. 5, 2015. Tose inter-ested to join may contact

Jhonse n Sal es at +63 923

560 6252. (Nirva’ana EllaDelacruz / CBCP News)

‘Jesus Encounter’ seminar for yuppies ongoing



B1CBCP Monitor October 26 - November 8 , 2015 Vol. 19 No. 22

Dear Beatitudes, Eminences and

Excellencies,

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

I would like first of all to thank theLord, who has guided our synodal pro-cess in these years by his Holy Spirit,

whose support is never lacking to theChurch.

My heartfelt thanks go to CardinalLorenzo Baldisseri, Secretary Generalof the Synod, Bishop Fabio Fabene, its

Under-Secretary, and, together withthem, the Relator, Cardinal Peter Erdő,and the Special Secretary, ArchbishopBruno Forte, the Delegate Presidents,the writers, the consultors, the transla-tors and the singers, and all those whohave worked tirelessly and with totaldedication to the Church: My deepestthanks! I would also like to thank theCommission which made the report;some of them were up all night!

I thank all of you, dear Synod Fathers,Fraternal Delegates, Auditors and As-sessors, parish priests and families, foryour active and fruitful participation.

And I thank all those unnamed menand women who contributed gener-ously to the labors of this Synod byquietly working behind the scenes.

Be assured of my prayers, that theLord will reward all of you with hisabundant gifts of grace!

As I foll owed the labours of theSynod, I asked myself: What will itmean for the Church to conclude thisSynod devoted to the family?

Certainly, the Synod was not aboutsettling all the issues having to do withthe family, but rather attempting to seethem in the light of the Gospel and theChurch’s tradition and two-thousand-year history, bringing the joy of hope

without falling into a facile repetition of what is obvious or has already been said.

Surely it was not about finding ex-haustive solutions for all the difficulties

and uncertainties which challenge and

threaten the family, but rather aboutseeing these difficulties and uncertain-ties in the light of the Faith, carefullystudying them and confronting themfearlessly, without burying our headsin the sand.

It was about urging everyone toappreciate the importance of the in-stitution of the family and of marriagebetween a man and a woman, based onunity and indissolubility, and valuing itas the fundamental basis of society and

human life.It was about listening to and making

heard the voices of the families and theChurch’s pastors, who came to Romebearing on their shoulders the burdensand the hopes, the riches and the chal-lenges of families throughout the world.

It was about showing the vitalityof the Catholic Church, which is notafraid to stir dulled consciences or tosoil her hands with lively and frankdiscussions about the fami ly.

It was about trying to view and inter-pret realities, today’s realities, throughGod’s eyes, so as to kindle the flame

of faith and enlighten people’s heartsin times marked by discouragement,social, economic and moral crisis, andgrowing pessimism.

It was about bearing witness to ev-eryone that, for the Church, the Gospelcontinues to be a vital source of eternalnewness, against all those who would“indoctrinate” it in dead stones to behurled at others.

It was also about laying closed hearts, which bare the closed hearts which fre-quently hide even behind the Church’steachings or good intentions, in orderto sit in the chair of Moses and judge,sometimes with superiority and super-ficiality, difficult cases and woundedfamilies.

It was about making clear that the

Church is a Church of the poor in spiritand of sinners seeking forgiveness, not

simply of the righteous and the holy,

but rather of those who are righteousand holy precisely when they feel them-selves poor sinners.

It was about trying to open up broad-er horizons, rising above conspiracytheories and blinkered viewpoints, so asto defend and spread the freedom of thechildren of God, and to transmit thebeauty of Christian Newness, at timesencrusted in a language which is archaicor simply incomprehensible.

In the course of this Synod, the

different opinions which were freelyexpressed—and at times, unfortu-nately, not in entirely well-meaning

ways—certainly led to a rich and livelydialogue; they offered a vivid image ofa Church which does not simply “rub-berstamp”, but draws from the sourcesof her faith living waters to refreshparched hearts.[1]

And—apart from dogmatic ques-tions clearly defined by the Church’sMagisterium—we have also seen that

what seems normal for a bishop onone continent, is considered strangeand almost scandalous—almost!—fora bishop from another; what is con-sidered a violation of a right in onesociety is an evident and inviolable rulein another; what for some is freedom ofconscience is for others simply confu-sion. Cultures are in fact quite diverse,and every general principle—as I said,dogmatic questions clearly definedby the Church’s magisterium—every

general principle needs to be incul-turated, if it is to be respected and

PASTORAL CONCERNS

Synod Hall, 24 October 2015

R o y L a g a r d e

Without ever falling into the danger of relativism or

of demonizing others, we sought to embrace, fully and

courageously, the goodness and mercy of God who

transcends our every human reckoning and desires onlythat “all be saved.”

The Synod experience also made us better realize that the

true defenders of doctrine are not those who uphold its

letter, but its spirit; not ideas but people; not formulae but

the gratuitousness of God’s love and forgiveness.

Address of His Holiness PopeFrancis at the Conclusion of the

Synod of Bishops

applied.[2] Te 1985 Synod, which

celebrated the twentieth anniversary ofthe conclusion of the Second VaticanCouncil, spoke of inculturation as “theintimate transformation of authenticcultural values through their integra-tion in Christianity, and the taking rootof Christianity in the various humancultures”.[3] Inculturation does not

weaken true values, but demonstratestheir true strength and authenticity,since they adapt without changing;indeed they quietly and gradually trans-form the different cultures.[4]

We have seen, also by the richness ofour diversity, that the same challenge isever before us: that of proclaiming theGospel to the men and women of to-day, and defending the family from allideological and individualistic assaults.

And without ever falling into thedanger of relativism or of demoniz-ing others, we sought to embrace, fullyand courageously, the goodness andmercy of God who transcends our everyhuman reckoning and desires only that“all be saved” (cf. 1 m 2:4). In this way

we wished to experience this Synod inthe context of the Extraordinary Yearof Mercy which the Church is calledto celebrated.

54). It does have to do withovercoming the recurring temptationsof the elder brother (cf. Lk 15:25-32)and the jealous labourers (cf. Mt 20:1-16). Indeed, it means upholding allthe more the laws and commandments

which were made for man and not viceversa (cf. Mk 2:27).

In this sense, the necessary humanrepentance, works and efforts take on adeeper meaning, not as the price of thatsalvation freely won for us by Christ onthe cross, but as a response to the One

who loved us first and saved us at thecost of his innocent blood, while we

were still sinners (cf. Rom 5:6).Te Church’s first duty is not to hand

down condemnations or anathemas,

but to proclaim God’s mercy, to callto conversion, and to lead all men

and women to salvation in the Lord

(cf. Jn 12:44-50).Blessed Paul VI expressed this elo-quently: “”We can imagine, then, thateach of our sins, our attempts to turnour back on God, kindles in him amore intense flame of love, a desireto bring us back to himself and to hissaving plan… God, in Christ, showshimself to be infinitely good… God isgood. Not only in himself; God is—letus say it with tears—good for us. Heloves us, he seeks us out, he thinks ofus, he knows us, he touches our heartsus and he waits for us. He will be—soto say—delighted on the day when wereturn and say: ‘Lord, in your good-ness, forgive me. Tus our repentancebecomes God’s joy”.[5]

Saint John Paul II also stated that:“the Church lives an authentic life whenshe professes and proclaims mercy…and when she brings people close to thesources of the Saviour’s mercy, of whichshe is the trustee and dispenser”.[6]

Benedict XVI, too, said: “Mercy is in-deed the central nucleus of the Gospelmessage; it is the very name of God…May all that the Church says and doesmanifest the mercy God feels for man-kind. When the Church has to recall anunrecognized truth, or a betrayed good,she always does so impelled by mercifullove, so that men may have life and haveit abundantly (cf. Jn 10:10)”.[7]

In light of all this, and thanks to thistime of grace which the Church has

experienced in discussing the family, we feel mutually enriched. Many of ushave felt the working of the Holy Spirit

who is the real protagonist and guideof the Synod. For all of us, the word“family” does have the same sound asit did before the Synod, so much sothat the word itself already containsthe richness of the family’s vocationand the significance of the labours ofthe Synod.[8]

In effect, for the Church to con-

clude the Synod means to return to ourSynod, B7

Pope Francis prays with the assembled cardinals and bishops on the 19th day of the Synod on the Family at the Vatican, Oct. 23, 2015.



B2 CBCP MonitorOctober 26 - November 8 , 2015 Vol. 19 No. 22PASTORAL CONCERNS

By Fr. Jaime B. Achacoso, J.C.D.

AS we saw in Part I of this article, acareful consideration of the text of thenew motu proprio, especially of thesupposedly new canons to replace anentire Chapter of the Code of CanonLaw, shows that the Roman Pontiff isanything but radically innovative of theCanonical Order. In fact, except for onevery clear innovation—doing away withthe hitherto automatic elevation of apositive sentence for nullity of a marriageto an appellate court—the supposedlynew canons are for the most part simplya regrouping of already existing canons,so as to maintain the total number ofcanons comprising the aforementionedChapter of the Code—dealing with Casesto Declare the Nullity of Marriage), andnot upset the overall scheme of the Codeof Canon Law.

In this Part II, we shall consider thecriteria that were followed in reforming

the canons regarding the process for thedeclaration of marriage nullity in theCode of Canon Law.Fundamental Criteria governing theReform

As the motu proprio itself stated, thereare some fundamental criteria which have

governed the work of reform:

I. – A single executory sentence in favor

of nullity. – It seemed appropriate, in the first place, that there is no longer requireda double conforming decision declaring thenullity of the marriage to enable the par-ties to be able to contract a new canonicalmarriage. Instead, moral certainty, reachedby the first judge under the norm of law, isconsidered sufficient.

Te key concept here is moral certaintyof the invalidity of the marriage. Tisis equivalent to the concept of beyondreasonable doubt , which is the criticalpoint in the civil courts. It is at the ser-vice of reaching this moral certainty thatthe entire judicial process is structured,especially the constitution of the judicialcontradictorium—i.e., the constitutionof opposing parties, each one makingallegations and presenting evidence toprove such allegations, with the oppos-ing party contesting such evidence, withthe end of arriving full proof of the truthbeyond reasonable doubt.

Until the effectivity of Mitis iudex this coming 8.XII.2015, a sentence of

nullity had to be automatically elevatedby the Defender of the Bond to an ap-pellate tribunal, such that only in thecase of a confirmatory sentence wouldsuch decision of nullity be executory.

In the contrary, the matter would haveto be elevated to the Roman Rota forfinal resolution. Tis not only made theprocess longer but also more expensive: inthe Philippine National Capital Region,most 1st Instance (diocesan) ribunalsnormally charge between P30,000 to60,000 (although much lower charges arenegotiable for pastoral reasons) and theNational Appellate Matrimonial ribu-nal (at the CBCP headquarters) followsthe same criterion. Furthermore, the 1st Instance Process normally takes at least1-2 years, while the Appellate ribunaltakes another 3-6 months on the average.

Mitis iudex effectively shortens theentire process to what it should takethe diocesan tribunal to reach moralcertainty—i.e., not more than 12 monthsaccording to c.1453—and mandates thatit should cost nothing. Tis is the mainand only real innovation of the motu

proprio.

II. – A single judge under the respon-

sibility of the bishop. – Te constitutionof a single judge, who nevertheless is to bea cleric, is in the first instance committedto the responsibility of the bishop, who inthe pastoral exercise of his judicial power

is to take care that no laxism whatever isindulged.Tis norm is already laid down in the

present CIC, c.1425, §4: If it happens thata collegiate tribunal cannot be established

for a trial of first instance, the conference ofbishops can permit the bishop to entrust casesto a single clerical judge as long as the impos-sibility of establishing a college perdures; heis to be a cleric and is to employ an assessorand an auditor where possible.

III. – Te bishop himself is judge. – Inorder that the teaching of the SecondVatican Council may finally be put into

practice in an area of great importance,it was decided to make it clear that thebishop himself, in his church of which heis constituted shepherd and head, is by thatreason himself a judge among the Christian

faithful entrusted to him. It is greatly hopedthat in large as well as in small dioceses thebishop becomes a sign of the conversion ofecclesiastical structures and does not leavethe judicial function in matrimonial mat-

ters completely delegated to the offices of hiscuria. Tis is especially true in the briefer

process which will be established to resolvethe most evident cases of nullity.

Tis not a novelty, but rather a re-

minder of an already existing principleand norm, enshrined in the CIC, c.1419,§1. Te diocesan bishop is the judge of the

first instance in each diocese and for all casesnot expressly excepted by law; he can exercisehis judicial power personally or throughothers in accord with the following canons.

What is a novelty is the introduction ofa new procedure for the exercise of this

judicial power by the bishop, as outlinedin the following number.

IV. – he Briefer process (processus

brevior). – Indeed, aside from expeditingthe ordinary process for the declarationof nullity, a form of briefer process isdesignated – in addition to the currentdocumentary procedure – to be appliedin cases in which the alleged nullity of themarriage is supported by particularly cleararguments. It has not entirely escaped usthat a briefer process can endanger the

principle of the indissolubility of marriage.For precisely this reason we have chosen

Streamlining the processes for thedeclaration of marriage nullity:

Understanding the Motu Proprio Mitis

Iudex Dominus Iesus (Part II)

Wearing the Rosary as a NecklaceQ: I have seen people wearthe rosary as a necklace and,in fact, I had a fifth-graderask me during CCD if that

was a sin. I told her that Ididn’t believe it was a sin perse, but that as it is a wonder-ful prayer and most favored

by the Blessed Mother, that Ithought it disrespectful, notvery reverent (regardless ifthe rosary is blessed or not).Te student promptly askedabout my decade rosarybracelet, “What about wear-ing it like a bracelet?” It’s agood question, in light of thecross and rosary “look-alikes”that seem to be ubiquitousthese days in fashion jewelry.

What do we tell young girls?-- J.M., Leavenworth, Kansas

A: Te closest resemblanceto a norm on this topic isfound in Canon 1171 ofthe Code of Canon Law.

o wit: “Sacred objects,

set aside for divine worshipby dedication or blessing, areto be treated with reverence.Tey are not to be made overto secular or inappropriate use,even though they may belongto private persons.”

It is probable that this law does

not fully apply to our case, since

it refers primarily to sacred objects for liturgical worship suchas chalices and vestments ratherthan to rosaries. At the sametime, the intimation to treatsacred objects with reverence andrespect can logically be extendedto rosaries, crosses, medals andsimilar items.

Also, wearing a sacred object

is not the same as using it in a

secular or inappropriate manner.In fact, many religious congrega-tions wear the rosary as part oftheir habit, usually hanging froma belt. Tere are also several his-torical cases of laypeople wearingthe rosary for devotional pur-poses. For example, in his book

“Te Secret of the Rosary,” St.

Louis de Montfort illustrates thepositive results of this practice inan episode from the life of King

Alfonso VI of Galicia and Leon.I think that the key to answer-

ing this question can be foundin St. Paul: “So whether you eator drink, or whatever you do,do everything for the glory ofGod” (1 Corinthians 10:31). In

other words, there should be no

indifferent or irrelevant actionsin the life of a Christian.

If the reason for wearing arosary is as a statement of faith,as a reminder to pray it, or somesimilar reason “to the glory ofGod,” then there is nothingto object to. It would not be

respectful to wear it merely as

jewelry.Tis latter point is something

to bear in mind in the case of wearing a rosa ry arou nd theneck. In the first place, whilenot unknown, it is not commonCatholic practice.

Second, in relatively recenttimes, certain controversial pub-lic figures have popularized the

fashion of wearing the rosary

as a necklace, and not preciselyin order to “do all to the gloryof God.” It would also appearthat in some parts of the UnitedStates and elsewhere, wearingrosary beads around the neck hasbecome a gang-related badge ofidentification.

Hence, while a Catholic may

wear a rosary around the neckfor a good purpose, he or sheshould consider if the practice

will be positively understood inthe cultural context in which theperson moves. If any misunder-standing is likely, then it wouldbe better to avoid the practice.

At the same time, as Catholics we should presume the good

intentions of the person wearing

a rosary unless other externalelements clearly indicateotherwise.

Similar reasoning is ob-served in dealing with ro-sary bracelets and rings, al-though in this case there isfar less danger of confusion

as to meaning. Tey are nevermere jewelry but are worn asa sign of faith.

According to some sources,small single-decade rosariesor chaplets were developedin times of persecution, asthey were easily hidden andcould be used without at-tracting undesired attention.hey also became popularamong Catholic soldiers onthe frontline especially dur-ing World War I.

Far more important thanthe visible wearing of a rosaryis actually using the rosary,including publicly, for prayer.Ten it is truly done “to the

glory of God.”

It would also appear that in some parts of the United States and

elsewhere, wearing rosary beads around the neck has become a

gang-related badge of identification.

C N A

Vatican City - October 14, 2015. A newly married couple waiting for a blessing from Pope Francis in St. Peter ’s Square during the Wednesday general audience on October 14, 2015.

Nullity, B7



B3CBCP Monitor October 26 - November 8 , 2015 Vol. 19 No. 22 FEATURES

Paul VI Audience Hall 17 October 2015

Address of His Holiness Pope Francis at theCeremony Commemorating the 50th Anniversary of the

Institution of the Synod of Bishops

YOUR Beatitudes, Your Emi-nences, Your Excellencies, Broth-ers and Sisters,

As the Ordinary General As-sembly is in full session, thiscommemoration of the fiftiethanniversary of the institution ofthe Synod of Bishops is, for allof us, a cause for joy, praise andthanksgiving to the Lord. Fromthe time of the Second VaticanCouncil until the present As-sembly, we have experienced evermore intensely the necessity and

beauty of “journeying together”.On this happy occasion I of-

fer cordial greetings to CardinalLorenzo Baldisseri, the SecretaryGeneral, the Undersecretary,

Archbishop Fabio Fabene, theOfficials, the Consultors and theother collaborators in the GeneralSecretariat of the Synod of Bish-ops, those who are behind thescenes and work late each evening.I also greet and thank the SynodFathers and the other participantsin the current Assembly, as well asall those present.

At this time we also wish to re-member those who, in the courseof the last fifty years, have offeredtheir services to the Synod, begin-

ning with the successive GeneralSecretaries: Cardinal WładysławRubin, Cardinal Jozef omko,Cardinal Jan Pieter Schotte and

Archbishop Nikola Eterović. I alsotake this opportunity to expressmy heartfelt gratitude to those—both living and deceased—whocontributed so generously andcompetently to the Synod’s work.

From the beginning of myministry as Bishop of Rome, Isought to enhance the Synod,

which is one of the most preciouslegacies of the Second VaticanCouncil.(1) For Blessed PaulVI, the Synod of Bishops wasmeant to reproduce the imageof the Ecumenical Council and

reflect its spirit and method.(2)Pope Paul foresaw that the orga-nization of the Synod could “beimproved upon with the passingof time”.(3) wenty years later,Saint John Paul II echoed thatthought when he stated that “thisinstrument might be further im-proved. Perhaps collegial pastoralresponsibility could be more fullyexpressed in the Synod”.(4) In2006, Benedict XVI approvedseveral changes to the Ordo Syn-odi Episcoporum, especially inlight of the provisions of the Codeof Canon Law and theCode ofCanons of the Eastern Churches,

which had been promulgated inthe meantime.(5)

We must continue along thispath. Te world in which we live,and which we are called to loveand serve, even with its contradic-tions, demands that the Churchstrengthen cooperation in all areasof her mission. It is precisely thispath of synodality which Godexpects of the Church of the thirdmillennium.

***

What the Lord is asking of usis already in some sense presentin the very word “synod”. Jour-neying together—laity, pastors,the Bishop of Rome—is an easyconcept to put into words, but notso easy to put into practice.

After stating that the peopleof God is comprised of all thebaptized who are called to “be aspiritual house and a holy priest-hood”,(6) the Second VaticanCouncil went on to say that“the whole body of the faithful,

who have an anointing whichcomes from the holy one (cf. 1

Jn 2:20,27), cannot err in mat-ters of belief. Tis characteristicis shown in the supernaturalsense of the faith (sensus fidei)of the whole people of God,

when ‘from the b ishops to thelast of the faithful’ it manifestsa universal consensus in mattersof faith and morals”.(7) Tese arethe famous words infallible“in

credendo”.In the Apostolic Exhortation

Evangelii Gaudium, I empha-sized that “the people of God isholy thanks to this anointing,

which makes it infallible in cre-dendo”,(8) and added that “all thebaptized, whatever their positionin the Church or their level ofinstruction in the faith, are agentsof evangelization, and it would beinsufficient to envisage a plan ofevangelization to be carried outby professionals while the restof the faithful would simply bepassive recipients”.(9) Te sensus

fidei prevents a rigid separationbetween an Ecclesia docens andan Ecclesia discens, since theflock likewise has an instinctiveability to discern the new waysthat the Lord is revealing to theChurch.(10)

Such was the conviction under-lying my desire that the peopleof God should be consulted inthe preparation of the two phasesof the Synod on the family, as isordinarily done with each Lin-eamenta. Certainly, a consulta-tion of this sort would never besufficient to perceive the sensusfidei. But how could we speakabout the family without engag-ing families themselves, listening

to their joys and their hopes, theirsorrows and their anguish?(11)

hrough the answers given tothe two questionnaires sent tothe particular Churches, we hadthe opportunity at least to hearsome of those families speak toissues which closely affect themand about which they have muchto say.

A synodal Church is a Church which listens, which realizes thatlistening “is more than simplyhearing”.(12) It is a mutual lis-tening in which everyone hassomething to learn. Te faithfulpeople, the college of bishops, theBishop of Rome: all listening toeach other, and all listening to theHoly Spirit, the “Spirit of truth”(Jn 14:17), in order to know

what he “says to the Churches”(Rev2:7).

Te Synod of Bishops is thepoint of convergence of this lis-tening process conducted at everylevel of the Church’s life. heSynod process begins by listen-ing to the people of God, which“shares also in Christ’s propheticoffice”,(13) according to a princi-ple dear to the Church of the firstmillennium: “Quod omnes tangitab omnibus tractari debet”. TeSynod process then continues bylistening to the pastors. Troughthe Synod Fathers, the bishops actas authentic guardians, interpret-ers and witnesses of the faith ofthe whole Church, which they

need to discern carefully fromthe changing currents of public

opinion. On the eve of last year’sSynod I stated: “For the SynodFathers we ask the Holy Spiritfirst of all for the gift of listening:to listen to God, so that with him

we may hear the cry of his people;to listen to his people until we arein harmony with the will to whichGod calls us”.(14) Te Synod pro-cess culminates in listening to theBishop of Rome, who is called tospeak as “pastor and teacher of allChristians”,(15) not on the basisof his personal convictions but as

the supreme witness to the fidestotius Ecclesiae, “the guarantor ofthe obedience and the conformityof the Church to the will of God,to the Gospel of Christ, and tothe radition of the Church”.(16)

Te fact that the Synod alwaysacts cum Petro et sub Petro—in-deed, not only cum Petro, butalso sub Petro—is not a limita-tion of freedom, but a guaranteeof unity. For the Pope is, by willof the Lord, “the perpetual andvisible source and foundationof the unity both of the bishopsand of the whole company of thefaithful”.(17) Closely related tothis is the concept of “hierarchicacommunio” as employed by the

Second Vatican Council: theBishops are linked to the Bishop

of Rome by the bond of episcopalcommunion (cum Petro) while,at the same time, hierarchicallysubject to him as head of the col-lege (sub Petro).(18)

***

Synodality, as a constitutiveelement of the Church, offers usthe most appropriate interpretiveframework for understandingthe hierarchical ministry itself.If we understand, as Saint JohnChrysostom says, that “Churchand Synod are synonymous”,(19)inasmuch as the Church is noth-ing other than the “journeyingtogether” of God’s flock along

the paths of history towards theencounter with Christ the Lord,then we understand too that,

within the Church, no one canbe “raised up” higher than others.On the contrary, in the Church,it is necessary that each person“lower” himself or herself, so asto serve our brothers and sistersalong the way.

Jesus founded the Church bysetting at her head the ApostolicCollege, in which the Apostle Pe-ter is the “rock” (cf. Mt 16:18), theone who must confirm his breth-ren in the faith (cf. Lk 22:32). Butin this Church, as in an invertedpyramid, the top is located be-neath the base. Consequently,

those who exercise authority arecalled “ministers”, because, in

the original meaning of the word,they are the least of all. It is inserving the people of God thateach bishop becomes, for thatportion of the flock entrusted tohim,vicarius Christi,(20) the vicarof that Jesus who at the Last Sup-per bent down to wash the feetof the Apostles (cf. Jn 13:1-15).

And in a similar perspective, theSuccessor of Peter is nothing else ifnot the servus servorum Dei.(21)

Let us never forget this! For thedisciples of Jesus, yesterday, today

and always, the only authority isthe authority of service, the onlypower is the power of the cross.

As the Master tells us: “You knowthat the rulers of the Gentiles lordit over them, and their great menexercise authority over them. Itshall not be so among you; but

whoever would be great amongyou must be your servant, and

whoever would be first amongyou must be your slave” (Mt20:25-27). It shall not be soamong you: in this expression wetouch the heart of the mystery ofthe Church, and we receive theenlightenment necessary to un-derstand our hierarchical service.

***

In a synodal Church, the Synodof Bishops is only the most evi-dent manifestation of a dynamismof communion which inspires allecclesial decisions.

Te first level of the exercise ofsynodality is had in the particularChurches. After mentioning thenoble institution of the DiocesanSynod, in which priests and la-ity are called to cooperate withthe bishop for the good of the

whole ecclesial community,(22)the Code of Canon Law devotesample space to what are usuallycalled “organs of communion” inthe local Church: the presbyteralcouncil, the college of consul-tors, chapters of canons and the

pastoral council.(23) Only to theextent that these organizationskeep connected to the “base” andstart from people and their dailyproblems, can a synodal Churchbegin to take shape: these means,even when they prove wearisome,must be valued as an opportunityfor listening and sharing.

he second level is that ofEcclesiastical Provinces and Ec-clesiastical Regions, ParticularCouncils and, in a special way,Conferences of Bishops.(24) Weneed to reflect on how betterto bring about, through thesebodies, intermediary instances ofcollegiality, perhaps by integrat-ing and updating certain aspects

of the ancient ecclesiastical or-ganization. Te hope expressed

by the Council that such bodies would help increase the spirit ofepiscopal collegiality has not yetbeen fully realized. We are stillon the way, part-way there. In asynodal Church, as I have said,“it is not advisable for the Popeto take the place of local Bishopsin the discernment of every issue

which arises in their territory. Inthis sense, I am conscious of theneed to promote a sound ‘decen-tralization’”.(25)

Te last level is that of the uni-

versal Church. Here the Synod ofBishops, representing the Catholicepiscopate, becomes an expressionof episcopal collegiality within anentirely synodal Church.(26) wodifferent phrases: “episcopal col-legiality” and an “entirely synodalChurch”. Tis level manifests thecollegialitas affectiva, which canalso become in certain circum-stances “effective”, joining theBishops among themselves and

with the Pope in solicitude for thePeople God.(27)

***

he commitment to builda synodal Church—a mission

to which we are all called, each with the role entrusted him by

the Lord—has significant ecu-menical implications. For thisreason, speaking recently to adelegation from the Patriarchateof Constantinople, I reaffirmedmy conviction that “a careful ex-amination of how, in the Church’slife, the principle of synodalityand the service of the one whopresides are articulated, will makea significant contribution to theprogress of relations between ourChurches”.(28)

I am persuaded that in a syn-odal Church, greater light canbe shed on the exercise of thePetrine primacy. Te Pope is not,by himself, above the Church; but

within it as one of the baptized,and within the College of Bishopsas a Bishop among Bishops, calledat the same time—as Successorof Peter—to lead the Church ofRome which presides in charityover all the Churches.(29)

While reaffirming the urgentneed to think about “a conversionof the papacy”,(30) I willinglyrepeat the words of my predeces-sor Pope John Paul II: “As Bishopof Rome I am fully aware [...]that Christ ardently desires thefull and visible communion ofall those Communities in which,by virtue of God’s faithfulness,his Spirit dwells. I am convincedthat I have a particular responsi-bility in this regard, above all in

acknowledging the ecumenicalaspirations of the majority of the

Christian Communities and inheeding the request made of meto find a way of exercising theprimacy which, while in no wayrenouncing what is essential to itsmission, is nonetheless open to anew situation”.(31)

Our gaze also extends to hu-manity as a whole. A synodalChurch is like a standard lifted upamong the nations (cf. Is 11:12)in a world which—while callingfor participation, solidarity and

transparency in public adminis-tration—often consigns the fate ofentire peoples to the grasp of smallbut powerful groups. As a Church

which “journeys together” withmen and women, sharing thetravails of history, let us cherishthe dream that a rediscovery ofthe inviolable dignity of peoplesand of the function of author-ity as service will also be able tohelp civil society to be built upin justice and fraternity, and thusbring about a more beautiful andhumane world for coming genera-tions.(32) Tank you.

Footnotes:1) Cf. FRANCIS, Letter to the General

Secretary of the Synod of Bishops,Cardinal Lorenzo Baldisseri, on theelevation of the Undersecretary, MgrFabio Fabene. to the episcopal dignity,1 April 2014.2) Cf. BLESSED PAUL VI, Addressfor the Opening of the rst OrdinaryGeneral Assembly of the Synod ofBishops, 30 September 1967.3) BLESSED PAUL VI, Motu proprio

Apostolica Sollicitudo (15 September1965), Proemium.4) SAINT JOHN PAUL II, Address forthe Conclusion of VI Ordinary General

Assembly of the Synod of Bishops, 29October 1983.5) Cf. AAS 98 (2006), 755-779.6) SECOND VATICAN ECUMENICALCOUNCIL, Dogmatic Constitution Lu-men Gentium (21 November 1964) 10.7) Ibid., 12.8) FRANCIS, Apostolic ExhortationEvangelii Gaudium (24 November2013), 119.9) Ibid., 120.10) Cf. FRANCIS, Address to theLeadership of the Episcopal Confer-ences of Latin America during theGeneral Coordination Meeting, Riode Janeiro, 28 July 2013, 5,4; ID.,

Address on the occasion of a meetingwith Clergy, Consecrated Persons andmembers of Pastoral Councils, Assisi,4 October 2013.11) Cf. SECOND VATICAN ECUMENI-CAL COUNCIL, Pastoral Constitu-tion Gaudium et Spes (7 December1965), 1.12) Apostolic Exhortation EvangeliiGaudium, 171.13) SECOND VATICAN ECUMENI-CAL COUNCIL, Dogmatic ConstitutionLumen Gentium, 12.14) FRANCIS, Address at the PrayerVigil for the Synod on the Family, 4October 2014.15) FIRST VATICAN ECUMENICALCOUNCIL, Dogmatic ConstitutionPastor Aeternus (18 July 1870), ch. IV:Denz. 3074. Cf. Codex Iuris Canonici,can. 749, § 1.16) FRANCIS, Address to the ThirdExtraordinary General Assembly of theSynod of Bishops, 18 October 2014.17) SECOND VATICAN ECUMENI-CAL COUNCIL, Dogmatic Constitu-tion Lumen Gentium, 23. cf. FIRSTVATICAN ECUMENICAL COUNCIL,Dogmatic Constitution Pastor Aeter-nus, Prologue: Denz. 3051.18) Cf. SECOND VATICAN ECUMENI-CAL COUNCIL, Dogmatic ConstitutionLumen Gentium, 22; Decree ChristusDominus (28 October 1965), 4.19) SAINT JOHN CHRYSOSTOM,Explicatio in Ps. 149: PG 55, 493.20) Cf. SECOND VATICAN ECU-MENICAL COUNCIL, Dogmatic Con-stitution Lumen Gentium, 27.21) Cf. FRANCIS, Address to the ThirdExtraordinary General Assembly of theSynod of Bishops, 18 October 2014.22) Cf. Codex Iuris Canonici, cann.

460-468.23) Cf. ibid., cann. 495-514.24) Cf. ibid., cann. 431-459.25) FRANCIS, Apostolic ExhortationEvangelii Gaudium, 16. cf. ibid., 32.26) Cf. SECOND VATICAN ECU-MENICAL COUNCIL, Decree ChristusDominus, 5; Codex Iuris Canonici,cann. 342-348.27) Cf. SAINT JOHN PAUL II, Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation Pas-tores Gregis (16 October 2003), 8.28) FRANCIS, Address to the Delega-tion of the Ecumenical Patriarchate ofConstantinople, 27 June 2015.29) Cf. SAINT IGNATIUS OF AN-TIOCH, Epistula ad Romanos, Pro-emium: PG 5, 686.30) FRANCIS, Apostolic ExhortationEvangelii Gaudium, 32.31) SAINT JOHN PAUL II, EncyclicalLetter Ut Unum Sint (25 May 1995), 95.32) Cf. FRANCIS, Apostolic Exhorta-tion Evangelii Gaudium, 186-192;

Encyclical Letter Laudato Si’ (24 May2015), 156-162.

R o y L a g a r d e



B4 CBCP MonitorOctober 26 - November 8 , 2015 Vol. 19 No. 22

By Robert Z. Cortes

HE Synod of Bishops on the Fam-ily had hardly concluded last Sunday,and both “conservative” and “liberal”camps raced to express their dissat-isfaction over its balanced outcome.But this rejection from both campsis probably a good sign. It literallycaptures the Chu rch being a “sign ofcontradiction”—that is a good thing.

Vatican II was also rejected by liber-als and conservatives. Conservativesrejected it outright. Te liberals’ rejec-tion of Vatican II came in the form ofabusing and perverting it.

But that Vatican II was a gift to theChurch and came at just the momentit was needed in history is a no-brainer.It has been affirmed as such by popes

who are saints or saintly, beginning with Saint John XXIII all the way toPope Francis himself. We lay peopleonly need to remember that it wasthrough Vatican II that the universalcall to holiness took real traction.

So the controversy surrounding theresults of the Synod on the Family is

not new, not surprising, and should notbe cause for concern. Te importantthing is that the Synod, as Vatican II,has confirmed the perennial teachingsof the Church, this time on marriageand family. Moreover, through thisSynod, the Church has shown to the

world, yet more deeply, a truth she hasalways taught and practiced from thebeginning: the primacy of mercy.

Mercy, as Pope Francis suggests inthe document that established the Yearof Mercy, begins with the “opening ofour heart.” And indeed, this Synodhas fearlessly manifested this opennessof the Church’s heart that began withVatican II. In the words of VaticanRadio, more than breaking new theo-logical grounds, the Synod showcased

the Church’s “new, more inclusive way of worki ng, which began withthe questionnaires sent out to familiesaround the world and concluded withthe intense small group discussionsinside the Synod Hall.”

Lest that last sentence give the jittersto some faithful, here’s the antidote:the word “inclusive” was understoodin a very Catholic way by the SynodFathers. Te upshot is that the phrases

with the most unanimity in the finaldocument on the Synod focused on theSynod Father’s union with the Pope,on reaffirming the family as “school ofhumanity” and “foundation of society,”

the importance of grandparents in thefamily, and the necessity of sacramentsin marriage. In others words, “inclusiv-ity” begins with being “rooted within”the very Church Magisterium articu-lated by Pope Francis in the monthsleading up to the Synod.

Yet even the most contested phrases(84 – 86), which centers on the di-vorced and the remarried are hardly asource of concern. Indeed, they onlyhighlight even further that the Churchreally is a Mother of Mercy; and this,despite and perhaps, precisely by, beingfaithful to her own teachings.

Tese paragraphs emphasize that thedivorced and the remarried “are bap-tized, they are brothers and sisters…”and thus, “must be more integratedinto the Christian communities in thediverse ways possible, avoiding everyoccasion of scandal.” As well, “it’stherefore the responsibility of pastors

to accompany the persons concernedon a path of discernment accordingto the teaching of the Church and theguidelines of the bishop.”

But it’s not as if the paragraphs are just handing out Kleenex for dryingtears. Instead, they hold up the di-

vorced and the remarried to a seriousdegree of responsibility by asking themto make an examination of conscienceon “how they behaved toward theirchildren when the marriage enteredinto crisis; … what the situation isfor the abandoned partner; … whatexample this offers to the youth whomust prepare for marriage.” Tis istough love, a characteristic of all goodparents.

One sentence, in my opinion, shoneabove all: “For the Christian com-munity, taking care of these peopleis not a weakness in its own faith andits witness as to the indissolubility of

marriage; indeed, the Church expressesits own charity through this care.”Tisis “caritas in veritate” (charity in truth)in all its splendor.

If one asked how the final documentachieved this level of charity, the an-swer would be within the Synod it self.

A venerable professor of my university, who was present in the Synod proceed-ings as a consultor, told me that he wasparticularly impressed at the charitythat he saw among the bishops. Oneanecdote he narrated illustrates this. “ABrazilian bishop made a proposal thatdid not get sufficient votes. When an

Argentin ian bishop’s better proposal was then accepted, he sa id to the for-mer, ‘If you want I can integrate youridea with mine.’”

Equally moving, as well, he said, was the reminder (later incorporated)from bishops who had suffered muchunder communist rule “to speak of the

mystery of the Cross as the basis andsource of all Christian life in families”for through it “difficulties and suf-ferings in family life are transformedinto acts of love.” He even added thata Jesuit provost who was in the Philip-pines for some years spoke to him of

the joy we have in our country, a joyrooted in the family.So for all the reported “inside stories”

of machinations and strife, we nowknow there are also untold stories of

joy and hope. Perhaps, then, amidst thesuggestions that the Synod of Bishopsonly left the Church in confusion,there is reason to believe, instead, thatit happened was quite a good thing.

(Robert Z. Cortes is a PhD student inSocial Institutional Communication atthe Pontifical University of Santa Croce,Rome. He has an M.A. in Ed. Leadership

from Columbia Universi ty, N.Y.)

PASTORAL CONCERNS

An Inapod, B7

By Bishop Jose C. Sorra

HE publisher of the ANINAPOD (“One Called”),the official publication of theLegazpi Diocesan Sub-Commis-sion on Vocations, requestedme to share in a nutshell mypersonal priestly vocationstory.“Who or what made youdecide to be a priest?” was thesuggested banner-questionfor the article to address. Andoffhand my simple answer is:I wish I had a foreknowledgeof the answer, but I honestly

hadn’t.I was early on in my teens

during the 2nd World War,hardly knowing where myright or left hand was, so tospeak. But from out of theblue, an elderly grim-looking

wom an hur r ie dl y co mi ngout of the church blurtedout, “Hey, boy, look here, youshould be a priest!” I sharedthis crazy call later with myboyhood chums who laugh-ingly retorted, “She must be thementally-disturbed woman whodaily begs alms and seeks shelte raround the parish church?”

I suspected, too, she was. At any rate , overtime I could

sense her crazy-sounding words seemingly seeping intomy consciousness and appar-ently hounding me even inmy early teenage years… untilone day I found myself withtwo of my boyhood peers inthe seminary. But HOW and

WHY in the fir st pla ce didI get in there was even thenmore a mystery to me!

Anyway, one of our semi-nary subjects was religion.

And the Holy Bible was one re-quired book to read and own.Our Spanish priest-teacher inreligion brought up in class astory-passage from the Book of

Jeremiah which reads:

“he word of God came tome, thus: Before you were born

I dedicated you, a prophet to thenations I appointed you. “Ah,Lord God!” I said; I am too

young .” But the Lord answere dme: Say not, “I am too young.”o whomever I send you, youshall go; whatever I command

you shall speak. Have no fear before them, because I am with youto deliver you, says the Lord .”

he Lord then extended hishand and touched my mouth,saying: “See, I place my wordsin your mouth! his day I setyou over the nations and overthe kingdoms. o root up andto tear down, to destroy andto demolish, to build and toplant.”(Jeremiah 1:4-10).

In light of the Lord God’s Word to Jeremiah, and if I mayask, how in the world couldyet an unborn human fetusknow or decide on the answerto such a question as: Who orwhat made you decide to be a

pries t/prophet and why?For it is only in faith are we

able to know and understandthe true answer to the Who,What, and Why —questionsto your becoming a Priest.Mature Faith, indeed, in theWord of God Who alone callsand chooses from all-Eternity

whom He want s to anoin t in

time to be His Priest, Prophet,and king-Servant—for HisPeople.

hus all the “One Called”could do is prayerfully andhumbly just respond—likeMary—“FIA, Lord … be itdone to me according to yourword.” And som e Scri pturescholars opined that Mary

was then only about 14 or 15years old when the Lord Godchose and called her the mostblessed among women to be the“Mother of God.” And Marywas even deeply troubled by suchwords of the Angel and won-dered what his greeting meant.So not even Mary would be

able to answer such question,as Who or What made her de-

cide to be the Mother of God. And to the publi sher’s othe r

question, like: What wouldbe your advice to seminariansor message to young men andwomen who may have some in-clination to the priestly or reli-

gious l ife— my simple response would be a Vocation literarypiece I once wrote and coachour Gregorian Minor Seminary contestant, competing in aninter-high school oratoricalcontest. As part of their Eng-lish speech-training, we chal-lenged them to compete withone another in an in-housepublic-speaking, and the bestspeaker to represent the semi-nary in the yearly oratoricalcontests among sectarian and

non-sectarian schools. Here- with was the oratorica l pi ece,delivered by the winning semi-nary contestant:

“Ladies and Gentlemen,look at me….ake me for aseminarian or a young priest, itdoesn’t really matter, but manya young pretty, charming girlhas time and again asked methis question: “Joey, but whydid you become a priest? Andto this, I could only answer

with a shy smile and perhapseven also a deep blush, I couldsense, in my face..

“he Honorable Membersof the Board of Judges, dis-

tinguished Guests, Ladies andGentlemen:

“If you promise you cankeep a secret, right now I’llgive you one. Believe it or not,but every time I go out in my

whi te cas sock for a wal k oron an errand, I noticed thatthe girls look at me and someeven giggle; the boys appar-ently just stare at me, whilethe young men seem to frownor sneer at me. But the elderlyfolk apparently admire andrevere me, while the childrenliterally mob me – more per-haps for candies or estampitas!I don’t know if they were ju stflattering me or massaging myvanity, but the fact is, I felt,I was just the most watchedyoung man.

“he girls exclaimed: “Say-

ang …, he is too handsome! Why d id he ever want to be apriest?” he men say: “If he isnot a sissy … a fool or a brokenhearted, he would not havethought of becoming a priest.”On the other hand, the oldfolk say: “Oh, yes, he wishes tobecome a priest because he is re-ally pious and prayerful, besideshis uncle is a priest, his Mamo’ !”

“Well, everyone seems toknow why I want to becomea priest. Maybe their reasonsare right or maybe they are

wrong—like t he men who saythat perhaps I was a broken-hearted lover. But the truth is,

I was not and I’m not. In fact,modesty aside, I opted to enter

‘The girls exclaimed:

“Sayang…, he is too handsome!

Why did he everwant to be a

priest?” The men say: “If he is

not a sissy … a fool or broken-

hearted, he would not have

thought of becoming a priest.”’

A yes nod to the Synod

‘An Inapod’the seminary much earlier thanI should – if only not to breakeven more hearts!

“Ladies and Gentlemen:ake a second good look atme right now. As you see,I am neither short nor tall,my complexion neither blacknor white—but perhaps I amhandsome, too, says my grand-mother.

“Perhaps, I could have beenanother Fernando Poe or Jo-seph “Erap” Estrada, or even

just another Dolphy or Panchi-to. But, if that is too presump-tuous of me, then perhaps Icould just be a plain actor—toplay a plain actor’s role.

“After all, I believe, I’m actu-ally playing a role now—thatof a simple priest who, believeit or not, is called to be a fol-lower of Christ, or chosen tobe an Alter Chris tus, anotherChrist. For, indeed, a priestis the hands , the mouth andthe ears of Christ. People seeChrist through the priest. Christteaches through the priest. Christabsolves sins through the priest.

And Chris t give s hims elf dail yto people—as food in the Eu-charist— through the hands ofa priest.

“Probably, I could have been

an architect or an engineer. After all, shapes and figure s aremy first love…. But, I optedinstead to be a spiritual engi-neer who could build for youa bridge that would link timeand Eternity … a bridge that

would span the yawning a byssbetween this City of Man andthe City of God, between thiscursed valley of tears and theheavenly bliss above… a bridgethat would lead you home tosuch exceedingly beautiful,out-of-this world Mansioncalled – Heaven.

“Honestly, I could havebeen a success ful weal thybusinessman, a top economist,

a shrewd stockbroker or an ex-pert banker who could rake in

millions of dollars and pesosfor my family. But, indeed, Ishied away from all these op-portunities simply because, Ifelt, He was calling me, as Hedid the tax-collector Matthew,to be what I am now—Christ’sspiritual banker of treasureswhere neither rust nor mothconsumes, nor thieves breakthrough.

“Similarly, I could have beena physician, a heart-surgeon—but I chose to be a divine phy-sician for the simple reasonthat where the medical powerof a heart-surgeon ends, therethe power of a divine physicianonly begins.

“Certainly, it is indeed goodand noble of a young man tobe a dedicated doctor to spendhis life healing the physicalailments and aches of the sick… arresting ailing humanity’sundue haste towards the grave.Honestly, however, Ladies andGentlemen, as Priest I coulddo even more for you and yourfamily. For I could certainlyprescribe for you a spiritualaspirin that would soothe thequalms of your conscience, as

well as a sacramental sedative that could calm down andcontrol the raging passion and

concupiscence of the flesh.“Honestly, Ladies and Gen-

tlemen, I did choose to becomea priest because, I felt, I havesimply been lured by this of-ten-misunderstood mysteriousthing—called Divine Love. It

was really this Love that appar-ently touched me upon the aw-ful sight of so many city-streetchildren from broken homesroaming the streets and risk-ing against the speeding trafficfor a measly penny, as well asthe many beaten and battered

women, and sexually -abu sedinnocent boys and girls, stilllicking their traumatic woundsfor life. And it is perhaps this

Love that prodded me to leave

R o y L a g a r d e



B5CBCP Monitor October 26 - November 8 , 2015 Vol. 19 No. 22

• We denounce in the

s t ronge s t t e rms the k i l l -ings and violence in theircommunities, and we jointhem and other concernedagencies in the demand fora thorough investigation ofthe incidents, with appro-priate action being taken toprevent such incidents fromhappening again;

• We a l so support them o v e o f h u m a n r i g h t sgroups to invest igate thev a l i d i t y c o n c e rn i n g t h emilitarization of their com-munities, as well as theiractions in defense of theirancestral lands, and theirsupport and promotion ofthe environment in theirareas;

• We uphold their rights

for se l f -determinat ion asc i t i z ens o f th i s count ry

STATEMENTS

Franciscans’ Statement of Solidarity with the Indigenous Peoples

PEACE in our Lord Jesus Christ! We all look forward to the 5th Cen-

tenary of the Christian faith in ourcountry which we will celebrate in the

year 2021. In these years leading to it,Mother Church offers us various activi-ties and efforts which, whether directlyor indirectly, are building us up into thismilestone in our life as Filipino Catho-lics, as missionary disciples of Christ.

I would like to speak especially tothose responsible for youth ministry inthe dioceses, as well as youth ministersand leaders in youth groups, in parishes,in schools and other settings. Tereare many activities this year until nextyear in this regard, and I would like toaddress you in the hope of giving us alla certain focus, a shared passion anddirection amidst all these engagements.

On November 5-7, our country hoststhe first International YouCat Congressin agaytay City with the theme, “Echo-ing God’s Promise of Mercy”. It is a fit-ting prelude to the Holy Year of Mercy

which our dear Pope Francis declaredto start this December 08.

November 11-14 will find Churchleaders and BEC workers coming to-gether for the 3rd CBCP-BEC National

Assembly, which also marks 50 Yearsof Vatican II Renewal focusing on theBEC as a Community of MissionaryDisciples and Church of the Poor.

We, your Bishops, declared this as-sembly to be one of the culminatingactivities of the Year of the Poor. Amongthose invited from each diocese are atleast five youth representatives.

On the same dates, we shall gather inthe Archdiocese of uguegarao, fromNovember 11 to 15, for the National

Youth Day (2015) with our theme,

“Blessed are the pure in heart, for theyshall see God”. After our national cele-bration in 2011, we come together againthis 2015; the ECY and the Archdioceseof uguegarao are preparing a warm

welcome for you, an experience of theBeatitudes which hopes to mirror ourbeing blessed as Filipinos with the faith

we have received almost 500 years ago.

Immediately after the NYD, until the18th of November, we will convene theyouth ministers coordinating and rep-resenting the different Regional Youth

Coordinating Councils (RYCC’s) forthe NYCC, or National Youth Coor-dinating Council. We end 2015 withthe local celebration of the National

Youth Day (2015) in our own par-ishes and communities, set every yearon December 16, and preceded bythe Youth Ministry

Awa rene ss Weekevery December 09to 15.

We es pe ci al lyhope that the del-egates to the u-guegarao celebra-tion will continueto be afire with theexperience, and bemotivated to or-ganize their ownlocal NYD celebra-tions in the samespirit, proclaimingthe same blessedmessage.

Te first monthof January willfind the universalChurch convergingin Cebu City forthe 51st Interna-tional EucharisticCongress, on Janu-ary 24 to 31, to bepreceded by theheological Sym-posium on January20 to 22. A specialfeature of this congress is the IEC

Youth Day: a 3-day program designedespecially for young people on January27 to 29. Te Archdiocese of Cebu,through its Commission on Youth, hasalready extended its invitation to you,through your Bishops and diocesanyouth coordinators (ministry offices)!Tis event is especially significant be-cause Christ, youth, and hope—aren’t

they all interconnected?Of course, 2016 is our very own Year

of the Eucharist and the Family, part ofour nine-year pilgrimage to the Jubilee

of 2021, which we began in 2013 withthe Year of Faith, then 2014, the Yearof the Laity, and 2015, the Year of thePoor. Various initiatives are being set upby the Commission on Family and Life

which I enjoin all of us to take part in.Next year too, the youth of the world

will have an appointment with Pope

Francis for the 31st World Youth Day, inPoland, in the homeland of St. John PaulII who started the World Youth Day! Withthe Holy Father, we will ponder on mercy,

within the meaningful context of the Ju-bilee of Mercy, and within our context ofthe Year of the Eucharist and the Family.

And those are only until middle ofnext year! Tat is why as a Bishop who

‘To Become Encounters with Christ’ A Message of the ECY Chairman, especially to youth ministers, in view of upcoming youth

ministry-related activities and events

AF E R th e ce le br at io n of

Indigenous Peoples’ Sunday(Oct. 11) and our annualretreat (Oct. 19-23) , we,members of the FranciscanCustody of St. Anthony ofPadua , that min i s t e r s inthe Visayas and Mindanaothrough our schools, par-ishes and other institutions,recognize our ministry to

the indigenous peoples als oas part of our Vision-Mis-s ion . In v i ew o f re centincidents in Mindanao thatinvolved them, we want tobe in solidarity with themthrough this public state-ment.

• We acknowledge withrespect and love their pres-ence and culture as integr alto and an enrichment of

our national identity andculture as Filipinos;

to share in the p rogre s s

and benef its in the areasof heal th care , educat ionprograms and the rest, togive them the opportuni-ties to update themselvesand live with some financialautonomy and true humandignity;

•Finally, last but not least,

we re spec t an d ca ll fo r th eprotect ion of the expres-s ions of their indigenoustraditions and belief system,being with them as broth-ers, as we prepare for thetime when the Spirit willr evea l the i r re ad ine s s toreceive the Good News of

Jes us .

In the spirit of dialogueand respect for people and

all creation inspired by ourFather St . Francis of As-

s is i , and in oneness with

the direction given to theChurch today by Pope Fran-cis , we pray for peace inour country and the Lord’sblessing on our ministry toour indigenous peoples, as

we si gn th is do cu me nt th is23rd day of October, 2015 ,in St. Francis Friary, PuntaPrincesa, Cebu City.

BRO. FELIX C. JUNGCO, JR ., OF M

Custos, with 55 signaturesof friars in the school, parishand health-care minist r ie sin Samar, Biliran, Cebu,Basilan, Balo-i, Kidapawan,

Za mb oa ng a de l Su r, Le yt e:t he so l emn p ro f e s s ed , t hestudent fr iar s in SAMI,and the novices in Ormoc.St. Francis of Assisi Fri ary, 2

Capricorn St., Punta Princ-esa, 6000 Cebu City.

A press release:

Rural Missionariesoppose dislocation of

Lumad caused byexpansion of corporate

plantations

HE Rural Missionaries of the Philippines (RMP) expressedits opposition of dislocation of the Lumad people in theircommunities caused by land grabbing and expansion ofcorporate plantations in Mindanao which was causal to theholding of the nationwide caravan Manilakbayan 2015.Te group co-convened the Network Resisting Expansionof Agricultural Plantations in Mindanao (REAP MindanaoNetwork) on its launching at the College of Education ofUniversity of the Philippines, Diliman. Te network aimedto create awareness and take actions against the monopolycontrol of agro-corporations over hundreds of thousands ofhectares of land in Mindanao.

“We join the resistance against expansion of plantationsin Mindanao that displaces our Lumad brothers and sisters,to protect the dignity of their lives and culture, as well asthe environment, we urge the church sectors, the Catholiccommunity, to do the same,” Sr. Francis Aňover, RSM, RMPnational coordinator said during the activity.

RMP said that Mindanao hosts the largest plantations ofrubber, banana and pineapple in the country such as of thegiant fruit companies Del Monte, Sumifru, Dole and theirsubsidiaries. Teir plantations have displaced and con-tinue to encroach ancestral lands of Lumad communities inBukidnon, South Cotabato, Sarangani, Compostela Valleyand Davao provinces. At present, about 1 million hectaresof land are being converted into oil palm estates locatedin Sultan Kudarat, North Cotabao, Caraga and NorthernMindanao region.

Te religious group also held the Aquino administrationaccountable for this act for corporate greed as control overthe lands is usually through government-led initiatives such as

the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) program, agri-businessventure arrangements (AVAs) and other non-land transferschemes that violates the rights of the indigenous people toancestral land and culture, as well as the farmers’ rights togenuine land reform.

“As we have been tasked by God to protect our brothersand sisters and His bio-diversed creations, we are duty-boundto oppose this plunderous act that instigates the poverty andhunger of hundreds of thousands of Lumad, including help-less children,” Aňover said.

RMP also urged parishioners near UP Diliman campusto visit the Manilakbayan 2015 camp-out beside Com-monwealth avenue and to donate food, mattresses and theirother needs. Te Lumad from Mindanao would be at theuniversity until November 1.

Reference:Sr. Francis Anover, rsmNational Coordinator

October 28, 2015

planning sessions and meetings, as wecommunicate with one another clearlyand charitably, as we raise funds, etc.,and especially as we come together in

prayer—using the Word of God, theEucharist, in our personal and com-munity prayers.

Pray for us. Pray with us. Let usalways be connected to and in Christ.Let everything we do in youth ministry,

whether small meetings or big gather-

ings, let them all be rooted in Christ, in-

spired by His Spirit, reaching fullness inChrist. I bless you all, with your parentsand families, and your communities,from my heart. May God bless you all.

+LEOPOLDO C. JAUCIANBishop of BanguedChair, Episcopal Commission on YouthOctober 13, 2015

R o y L a g a r d e

C B C P N e w s

cares for you, and who wishes that theseopportunities are truly maximized forthe grace that they can give all of us, Ispeak to you, youth ministers, to my

fellow youth ministers: Let us prepare well for these events. Let us study themin the context of our own programs andinitiatives in our own local churches,

whether those of our youth commis-sions or those organized by and withother church ministries.

Let us do our best that our local

churches are represented in these eccle-sial activities. Sa dami ng mga gawain,sa bigat at halaga ng ating misyon, let ushelp one another to keep our gaze fixedon Christ. Let each moment of theseengagements become encounters withChrist—as we fill up registration formsand send them on time, as we travel

with our young people, as we undertake

Bangued Bishop Leopoldo C. Jaucian, Episcopal Commission on Youth chairman



B6 CBCP MonitorOctober 26 - November 8 , 2015 Vol. 19 No. 22

between the anonymous wid-ow featured in today’s Gospelpassage and the shamelessgreed of the scribes who “de-vour the savings of widowsand recite long prayers forappearance’ sake” (Mk 12:40).

oday’s First Reading and theGospel episode contain a chal-lenge for all of us: the challengeto imitate the generosity, faith,and love of the two poor wid-ows. Such a demand confrontsus whenever we are temptedto be over concerned aboutour future material needs.

If we have such a frame ofmind, it is very difficult forus to share our resources

with th e poor a nd t o gi ve f orthe needs of the Church. Wehave to overcome this dangerby trusting fully in God’sprovidence.

he First Reading and theGospel contain also a message ofhope— a hope rooted, first ofall, in the certitude that Godnotices and appreciates eventhe small acts of generosity

which p eopl e of ten ignore ordespise. He will leave nothingunrewarded of what is offeredwith a sincere heart. Unlikemost of us, God looks at the

intention, rather than theamount given or the result

REFLECTIONS

P a o l o d e M a t t e i s

R a y m o n d S e b a s t i a n

Bishop Pat Alo

Bo Sanchez

ENCOUNTERS

SOULFOOD

FROM looking at my own life, and in the lives of the peopleI help, I realized there are three degrees of gratitude:

Selective Gratitude

Tis is when you’re thankful for Big icket items only. You win the Lotto. You get a new car. You finally pass the board exam after 9 tries. Your daughter finally gets married at 52. Your visa is approved after 16 denials. Your adulterous and drunk husband finally changes. Or

dies. (Whichever comes first.)Everyone starts with Selective Gratitude.

But sadly, this feeling of gratitude is rare. Because Big icketitems are rare too. And usually, it disappears rather quickly.Selective Gratitude is great.But if you want to be really happy, you need to graduate to

a deeper form of gratitude…

Simple Gratitude In Simple Gratitude, you’re thankful even for the small

things in life. For the roofover your head, for theleftover food on your table,for the semi-neurotic familyaround you. Stuff you takefor granted.

Remember this famousquote? I once was sad for Ihad no shoes, until I met aman who had no feet.

One day, my friend com-plained about his decreas-ing hair. I told him to thinkpositive: his hair wasn’tdecreasing, it was his fore-head that was increasing.He didn’t believe me andbecame more depressed.

So I texted him thisslightly-edited version ofthe line above: I once wassad for I had no hair untilI met a man who had nohead.

I think that sobered himup. If you were to choose between baldness and beheading,

what would you choose?oday, he shines his head and calls himself Bruce Willis.But do you know that there’s something even more powerful

than Simple Gratitude?

Sacred Gratitude

In Sacred Gratitude, you’re thankful for life itself. You’re thankful that you’re alive. You’re thankful that you exist. You’re thankful that you breathe! You’re thankful for the adventure of daily life, with all its

ups and downs, highs and lows, and twists and turns.Tis kind of gratitude doesn’t depend on situations anymore.

And there’s a big difference between knowing you need tobe grateful, and actually having every cell of your body sing-ing, “Tank You!”

Tis is Sacred Gratitude.It’s one of the sweetest things in the world.Nothing can touch you. You’re at peace.

When you have Simple Gratitude—and especially SacredGratitude—you receive so many blessings.

Why?Because when you become grateful, you also become a

Blessing Magnet.

Peaceful

cemeteriesLIFE is meant to liberate a person from deceiving attempts todemean his/her human dignity in order to ensure protectionof one’s human rights. Sometimes agitators do not seem torealize where or what they are agitating for. Tey say theyfight for the rights of man yet in sequel to their acts comethose riots where more and more victims are piled up. Tinkthat the first right of man is—life.

Will the acts of violence leading to bloodshed justify thecause for life’s defense? Such bloodletting in the name of

justice is pure deception, revenge, and vic timizing. Tesad thing about this is when protagonists are false proph-ets using the name of the Church, yet mouthing violence,anger, and hate in their hearts. Just look at the victims.Is that justified?

Te Spirit says: “Let not your anger reach sundown so asnot to give the devil a chance to set a trap for you” (Eph.4:26). May true peace reign in our hearts so that one’s lifemay follow in the footsteps of the Sacrificial Lamb, whoseBlood was shed to restore Divine Justice and a reconcilingspirit of dialogue for life in the whole of creation.

What kind

of Gratitudedo you have?

The Church has also an immense number

of “ordinary believers”—the common

Christians whose lives are characterized by

a simple, strong faith and a practical love

for God and neighbor.

There’s a big

difference

between

knowing

you need tobe grateful,

and actually

having every

cell of your

body singing,

“Thank You!”

This means that even the poorest

can become rich in God’s sight

by offering their modest gifts

with a pure intention. The Lord

rejects nothing of what is offered

Him out of love.

32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Mark 12:38-44 (B)

November 8, 2015

Solemnity of All Saints, Matthew 5:1-12a (B)

November 1, 2015

We salute all our heroes and heroines

What makes small people great

By Fr. Sal Putzu, SDB

EVERY nation has its own heroes andheroines—outstanding citizens who haveaccomplished memorable deeds and re-main an inspiration for all generations. Anation needs these “exceptions.” But a na-tion needs also “ordinary citizens”—people

who lead a normal li fe, exerci se their p ro-fession with honesty and perseverance, paytheir taxes and are law-abiding. It is alsoof this “common stuff” that great nationsare made.

Te Church has her heroes and heroines,too – real giants by all standards, who showwhat heights a human being can reach in the

practice of the vi rtues codified in the Gospeland exemplified in Jesus Christ. Te Churchprobes the genuineness of their worthand the exceptional degree of their virtuesthrough a thorough inquiry called the“process of canonization.” Tose who passthis “test” are “canonized,” i.e., are includedin the list of the “Saints.” Te Church needsthem as much as a nation needs heroes andheroines.

But the Church has also an immensenumber of “ordinary believers” —the com-mon Christians whose lives are character-ized by a simple, strong faith and a practicallove for God and neighbor . . . people who

fulfill their duties —day in, day out—withdedication and generosity, without ever losing

sight of the future of happines s which God hasin store for those who live according to His law.

Teir life is by all standards “ordinary” butby no means mediocre. Tey may occasion-ally be “weak,” but are never resigned to be“weaklings.” Tey readily grant that theydon’t have the stuff of the great achievers (thecanonized saints), but never accept to be the

perpetual “losers” in their struggle against evil.Tis type of admirable “ordinary Chris-

tians” live in our communities, our neigh-borhood, our houses . . . . Heaven is fullof them. You and I are expected to be likethem, for all of us are called to live as “chil-dren of light.”

oday’s feast in honor of the “UnknownSaints” is both a reminder and an encour-agement. It is a reminder to honor these“unsung heroes” of God’s family on earth.But, most of all, it is an encouragementto join their ranks and march with themtoward the homeland of heaven under thebanner of the Beatitudes.

By Fr. Sal Putzu, SDB

HE poor widow thoughtthat nobody would noticeher as she dropped her simpleoffering into the large basinof the temple treasury. Shedid not fee l ashamed, ofcourse, for she was offeringher contribution only for theLord--and the Lord knew thatshe was giving even more thanshe could afford.

here is an extraordinaryresemblance between the gen-

erosity and simplicity of thiswidow praised by Jesus (see Mk12:43f) and that of the widowof Zarephath (presumably apagan), who shared with theprophet Elijah the little shehad left for her own and herson’s sustenance. (See 1 Kgs17:15.)

heir offering was more thanan act of generosity. It was alsoan act of faith, of total relianceon God’s providence, for theyhad offered all that they hadto live on. (See Mk 12:44.)

And they had offe red it withan immense love – the silent,discrete love of the simplepeople whose only treasure

and sure hope is God.here is a striking contrast

attained.his means that even the

poorest can become rich inGod’s sight by offering theirmodest gif t s with a pureintention. he Lord rejects

nothing of what is offered Himout of love. Such is the basicconviction that grounds the“Pondo ng Pinoy” Movement.Indeed, it can be said that theLord values more the crumbs ofthe poor than the baskets filled

with big loaves presented by thewealthy.

Such a loving attentiongiven by God to what is smalland humanly insignificantapplies not only to materialofferings, but also and espe-cially to non-material ones:

to the simple acts of respect,condescension, solidarity,forgiveness, patience, love...

with which we ca n embroid erour days and enrich our lives.Nothing is lost of what is of-

fere d t o God. Its fru it rema ins

in us, multiplied a thousandtimes.



B7CBCP Monitor October 26 - November 8 , 2015 Vol. 19 No. 22 SOCIAL CONCERNS

Synod, B1 An Inapod, B4

Nullity, B2

love concretely.

true “journeying together” in bringingto every part of the world, to everydiocese, to every community and everysituation, the light of the Gospel, theembrace of the Church and the supportof God’s mercy!

Tank you!

Footnotes:

[1]Cf. Letter of His Holiness Pope Francisto the Grand Chancellor of the PonticalCatholic University of Argentina on theCentenary of its Faculty of Theology, 3March 2015.[2] Cf. Pontical Biblical Commission, Fede

e cultura alla luce della Bibbia. Atti dellaSessione plenaria 1979 della PontificiaCommissione Biblica, LDC, Leumann,1981; SECOND VATICAN ECUMENICALCOUNCIL, Gaudium et Spes, 44.[ 3 ] F i n a l R e l a t i o ( 7 D e c e m b e r1985), L’Osservatore Romano, 10 December1985, 7.[4] “In virtue of her pastoral mission, theChurch must remain ever attentive tohistorical changes and to the developmentof new ways of thinking. Not, of course,to submit to them, but rather to surmountobstacles standing in the way of acceptingher counsels and directives” (Interview

with Cardinal Georges Cottier, in La CiviltàCattolica 3963-3964, 8 August 2015, p. 272).[5] Homily, 23 June 1968: Insegnamenti VI(1968), 1177-1178.[6] Dives in Misericordia, 13. He also said:“In the paschal mystery… God appears tous as he is: a tender-hearted Father, whodoes not give up in the face of his childrens’ingratitude and is always ready to forgive(JOHN PAUL II, Regina Coeli, 23 April1995:Insegnamenti XVIII, 1 [1995], 1035).So too he described resistance to mercy:“The present-day mentality, more perhapsthan that of people in the past, seemsopposed to a God of mercy, and in fact tendsto exclude from life and to remove from thehuman heart the very idea of mercy. The wordand the concept of ‘mercy’ seem to causeuneasiness…” (Dives in Misericordia [30November 1980] 2).[ 7 ] R e g i n a C o e l i , 3 0 M a r c h2008: Insegnamenti IV, 1 (2008), 489-490. Speaking of the power of mercy, hestated: “it is mercy that sets a limit to evil.In it is expressed God’s special nature – hisholiness, the power of truth and of love”(Homily on Divine Mercy Sunday, 15 April2007: Insegnamenti III, 1 [2007], 667).[8] An acrostic look at the word “family”[Italian: “famiglia”] can help us summarize theChurch’s mission as the task of: Forming newgenerations to experience love seriously, notas an individualistic search for a pleasurethen to be discarded, and to believe onceagain in true, fruitful and lasting love as the

sole way of emerging from ourselves andbeing open to others, leaving lonelinessbehind, living according to God’s will,nding fullment, realizing that marriage is“an experience which reveals God’s love,defending the sacredness of life, every life,defending the unity and indissolubility of theconjugal bond as a sign of God’s grace and ofthe human person’s ability to love seriously”(Homily for the Opening Mass of the Synod,4 October 2015: L’Osservatore Romano,5-6 October 2015, p. 7) and, furthermore,enhancing marriage preparation as ameans of providing a deeper understandingof the Christian meaning of the sacramentof Matrimony; Approaching others, sincea Church closed in on herself is a deadChurch, while a Church which does leaveher own precincts behind in order to seek,embrace and lead others to Christ is aChurch which betrays her very missionand calling; Manifesting and bringing God’smercy to families in need; to the abando ned,to the neglected elderly, to children painedby the separation of their parents, to poorfamilies struggling to survive, to sinnersknocking on our doors and those whoare far away, to the differently able, toall those hurting in soul and body, and tocouples torn by grief, sickness, death orpersecution; Illuminating consciences oftenassailed by harmful and subtle dynamicswhich even attempt to replace God theCreator, dynamics which must be unmasked

that in such a procedure, the judgeis to be the bishop himself who, dueto his pastoral office, is with Peterthe greatest guarantor of Catholicunity in faith and in discipline.

Tis is the second novelty of themotu proprio: a briefer process for the declaration of marriagenullity. Tree clarifications needto be mentioned regarding thisso-called briefer process:

1) It is different from what isknown as the documentary process already provided for by c.1686:

A marriage can be declared invalidon the basis of a document which

proves with certainty the existenceof a diriment impediment, a defectof lawful form or the lack of a valid

proxy mandate; the document mustnot be open to any contradiction orexception. It must be equally certainthat no dispensation has been given.When a petition in accordance with

c.1677 has been received allegingsuch invalidity, the judicial Vicar,

or a judge designated by him, canomit the formalities of the ordinary

procedure and, having summonedthe parties, and with the interven-tion of the defender of the bond,

declare the nullity of the marriageby a judgement.

2) In contrast to the afore-mentioned documentary process ,

which requires the presence of adocument proving with certaintythe existence of a diriment impedi-ment, a defect of lawful form or alack of a valid proxy mandate, thebriefer process only requires thatthe alleged nullity of the marriageis supported by particularly cleararguments. o avoid arbitrarinessin the determination of such clar-ity, this briefer process can onlybe used by the bishop himself, asthe surest guarantee that Catholicfaith and discipline regarding theindissolubility of marriage is up-

held. In this sense, it is not a realnovelty—since the Bishop has al-

ways been the ultimate judge in hisdiocese—but rather just a novelconcrete application of an alreadyexisting principle and norm.

V. – Te appeal to the Metro- politan See. – It is appropriate thatthe appeal to the Metropolitan berestored, especially as the office ofhead of the ecclesiastical province,which has been stable for centuries,is a distinctive sign of collegiality inthe church.

Tis is the counterpoint—thecheck and balance—to the firstprinciple enunciated above. Tefact that the sentence of nullityby the tribunal of first instanceis executory does not precludethe possibility of an appeal tothe contrary, especially takinginto consideration a more funda-mental principle enunciated inc.1643: Cases concerning the status

of persons never become an adjudgedmatter, not excepting cases which

concern the separation of spouses.Terefore, a sentence of mar-

riage nullity in the first instancecan be appealed to the Metro-politan See. Te novelty lies in

that such an appeal will have tobe made at the instance of any ofthe parties or the defender of thebond, with the latter not beingbound by Law to do so.

VI. – Te proper task of episcopalconferences . – hese conferences,which above all should be driven byapostolic zeal to reach the dispersed

faithful, should feel strongly the dutyof participating in the above men-tioned conversion while absolutelyrespecting the right of the bishops toorganize judicial power in their own

particular churches. (…) Te epis-copal conferences, working togetherwith the judges and safeguardingthe just and fair remuneration of

the workers in the tribunals, shallinsofar as possible take care to as-

guided by Vitoon Panyakul,manager of AC, and chiefinspector Ong Kung Wai.

Following this certificationby AC-EU, the most well-known and highly respectedGerman organic certificationagency Naturland has also issuedits certification for the Aeta-Preda

organic mangos.

Naturland has the higheststandards for organic certificationarising for the commitment andbelief of its founding members

that the environment must beprotected from the harm ofchemical farming that damages

Although poor and living in remote mountains as subsistence

farmers in areas with little educational opportunities, where

most villages are without electricity or roads, they have shown

remarkable intelligence, organization ability, wisdom and ingenuity.

By Fr. Shay Cullen

FOR the first time in Philippinehistory, mango fruits grown andharvested by the indigenouspeople of Zambales and Bataanhave been internationally certi-fied as organic and recognized

as a top export product that canhelp hundreds of indigenous

Aeta families. Tey alone havereached the highest standards oforganic certification this Septem-ber 2015.

Te Aeta indigenous mangofarmers associations organized bythe Preda Fair rade Project ledby team leader and agricultur-ists Donard Angeles and RogerHermogino and community or-ganizer Shawn Dave Brooks havepassed the grueling three-year,rigorous, intensive preparationas organic farmers.

Although poor and living inremote mountains as subsistencefarmers in areas with little educa-

tional opportunities, where mostvillages are without electricity orroads, they have shown remark-able intelligence, organizationability, wisdom and ingenuity.Tey have reached this presti-gious organic standard for theirchemical-free organic mangoproduction. Tey made it by thecooperation of several organiza-tions working for the bettermentof the indigenous people and theenvironment.

Teir mangos have been finallycertified organic by AC-EU, theprestigious organic certificationorganization that has perhapsthe most rigorous standards andinspection criteria in the world.

AC-EU i s a highly regardedtraining and certification orga-nization of experts in organiccriteria and standards accreditedby the EU. Products claiming tobe organic cannot be sold underthe much-desired organic labelin any EU country without sucha certification as that issued by

AC-EU.Te Organic Agriculture Cer-

tification Tailand (AC) agencyis reputed to be one of the moststrict and yet most creditable andprestigious organic certificationagencies. It works in the Philip-pines with the assistance of theOrganic Certification Center ofthe Philippines (OCCP). heprogress over three years was

and pollutes the land and riversand the resulting food productscan be harmful to people.

From Germany, the effort was guided and supported byManfred Fuerst, head of theNaturland Certification of non-OECD countries and NaturlandGeneral Manager Steffen Reese.

He came himself to the Philip-

pines to visit the Aeta Ffrmersand the Preda Fair rade organicmango project. .

Tis achievement of the Aeta

farmers and the Preda Fair radeis highly significant. It has beena long process assisted by the

German Catholic developmentagency Misereor as part of itscommitment to assist indigenouspeople and sustainable agricul-ture and protect the environmentand combat climate change.

he organic certificationopens the doors to a huge marketin Europe especially in Germany

where organ ic certi ficat ion is

required on most high–qualityfood products. Te Aeta-Predamangos are expertly processedby Profood International in Cebu

into mango puree. Profood is inpartnership with Preda Fair radeand meets all the organic criteria

for processing the mangos to theorganic standards of AC.

Te organic mango puree isshipped to Dritte Welt Partners(DWP) of Ravensburg, the Ger-man trading partner of Preda Fairrade headed by Tomas Hoyer.Mr. Hoyer came to visit the Aetafarmers and the Preda organic

project and made a film about it

in April this year.Te puree is used in a wide

variety of DWP food productsin Germany and distributed by

DWP throughout the chain of World Shops across Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Italy.

Preda Fair rade also donatesto the Preda Foundation to sup-port projects that release andprovide shelter and educationfor jailed street children andchildren rescued by Preda so-cial workers from brothels andabusers.

Last September 15, Mr. Chris-

toph Straesser a leading memberthe German parliament andcommissioner for human rightsand German Ambassador to thePhilippines, Mr. homas Os-sowski, met with Preda ExecutiveDirector Francis B. Bermido Jr.to visit a government child de-tention center in Manila.

Tey drove to Zambales anddiscussed the situation of humanrights in the Philippines and theimpact of Fair rade. Tey vis-ited the Preda children’s homesfor child victims of humanrights violations. Te German

Ambas sador’s Cup, a famousgolfing tournament, was heldthis October for the support of

the Preda children’s homes. Teevent raised a large donation thatgoes to help many more childrenin need. Fair rade earningsalso help the farmers and thechildren.

he hope of the farmers isbeing realized by the growingdemand by discerning customersfor organic products in Europe.Te Aeta-Preda certified organicmango puree is already findingits way to the German and Aus-trian World Shops in a varietyof products from chocolate toyogurt.

Te great challenge now forthe Aeta farmers and PREDAFair rade is to expand member-

ship of the association, to trainthe new members to meet thecriteria and standards for organicproduction and to maintain it.

Tey will also be highly mo-tivated by the high price paidby Preda Fair rade, which is200 percent higher than the lo-cal market farm gate price andby other Preda developmentprojects in the remote villagesof the Aeta people, the originalinhabitants of the Philippines.

All this has been achieved bytheir amazing ability and dedica-tion to plant thousands of treesto preserve and improve theirancestral lands and domains andto provide a happier life for theirchildren.

Aeta Farmers and Preda Fair Trade Certifed Organic

sure that cases are free of charge,and the church, showing herself tobe a generous mother to the faithfulin a matter so closely linked to thesalvation of souls, might manifest the

freely-given love of Christ by whomwe all have been saved.

Tis is possibly the third nov-elty (if it can be called that at all)introduced by the motu proprio:the episcopal conference hasthe obligation to make cases ofmarriage nullity as far as possible

free of charge. Tis was a generalprinciple in the existing legisla-tion, but the present motu proprio effectively enforces it.

VII. – An appeal to the ApostolicSee . – It is necessary, in any case, toretain the appeal to the ordinaryribunal of the Apostolic See,that is, the Roman Rota, respect-ing a most ancient right, so as to

strengthen the bond between theSee of Peter and the particular

churches, in any case taking care,in the discipline of such appealto limit any abuse of the right, soas not to jeopardize the salvationof souls. Te law proper to the

Roman Rota, however, is to beadapted as soon as possible to therules of the reformed process, asnecessary.

Tis is nothing new, but is just areminder of an existing norm anda logical extension of principleV, in the matter of the hierarchyof instances and the principle ofc.1643 stated above.

VIII. – In favor of the EasternChurches . – Lastly, in view of theparticular ecclesial order and disci-pline of the Eastern Churches, wehave decided to issue separately,at this same time, the norms toreform the discipline of matri-monial processes in the Code of

Canons of the Eastern Churches.(To be concluded)

father, mother, brothers and sisters,and home—if only to share the love-broken pieces of my heart with thesecountless pitiable hapless souls.

“And, indeed, it was this sameLove for these suffering victims ofinhumanity that gave me the courageand the heart: to console the u n-con-solable, the compassion to heal the

wounded-a nd-wo unding vict ims ofthe cycle of sin, the charity to forgiveeven the humanly unforgivable, andeven also the generosity to ministerand share the divine Sacramental Gifts of His love—inclusively to all whomay have or may not have anything

to give in return.“Ladies and Gentlemen: Nowthat you know the reason or reasons

why I opted to become a pri est, willyou still call me: a fool , a sissy, anda broken-hearted lover? Besides, willyou still scream to me: SAYANG?”

(Most Rev. Jose C. Sorra, D.D.,is Bishop-Emeritus of the Diocese ofLegazpi)

and resisted in full respect for the dignity ofeach person;Gaining and humbly rebuildingtrust in the Church, which has been gravelyweakened as a result of the conduct andsins of her children – sadly, the counter-witness of scandals committed in theChurch by some clerics have damaged hercredibility and obscured the brightness ofher saving message; Labouring intensely tosustain and encourage those many strongand faithful families which, in the midst oftheir daily struggles, continue to give a greatwitness of delity to the Church’s teachingsand the Lord’s commandments; Inventingrenewed programmes of pastoral carefor the family based on the Gospel andrespectful of cultural differences, pastoralcare which is capable of communicatingthe Good News in an attractive andpositive manner and helping banish fromyoung hearts the fear of making denitivecommitments, pastoral care which isparticularly attentive to children, who are thereal victims of broken families, pastoral carewhich is innovative and provides a suitablepreparation for the sacrament o f Matrimony,rather than so many programmes whichseem more of a formality than trainingfor a lifelong commitment; Aiming to loveunconditionally all families, particularlythose experiencing difculties, since nofamily should feel alone or excluded fromthe Church’s loving embrace, and the realscandal is a fear of love and of showin g that

P r e d a



B8 CBCP MonitorOctober 26 - November 8, 2015 Vol. 19 No. 22

Look for the images of Pope Francis, Saint

John Paul II, and All Saints.

(Illustration by Bladimer Usi)

Bladimer UsiLolo Kiko

Buhay Parokya

ENTERTAINMENT

Technical Assessment

Poor

Below average

Average

Above average

Excellent

Moral Assessment

Abhorrent

Disturbing

Acceptable

Wholesome

Exemplary

MAGBUBUKAS ang pelikulasa araw ng kapanganakan ni FelixManalo, Mayo 10, 1886, sa isangpamilyang saradong Katoliko.Ipapakita nito ang mga maha-halagang yugto sa buhay ni “Peles”(Dennis rillo) mula sa pagkabatahanggang sa pagtatatag ng Iglesiani Kristo at kanyang kamatayannoong 1963, at magwawakas itosa paghirang sa kanyang anak nasi Erano bilang bagong pinuno ngitinatag niyang simbahan.

May balitang ang Felix Manalo

ay kalahati lamang sa haba ngorihinal na pelikula—anim naoras. Marahil ay ninais ng mgaproducers ng pelikula na itampoknito ang talambuhay ni Manalo atipapanood sa mga kasapi ng Igle-sia sa kanyang kabuuan, ngunitiniklian ito para sa publiko pagka’tang karaniwang “moviegoer” ay

walang tiyagang upuan ang mgapelikulang hahaba pa ng dalawangoras. Dito nagmumula ang mgakakulangan ng pelikula.

iyak na “nosebleed” ang editorsa pagbubuo ng Felix Manalo.

Ang resulta? “Major surgery”, ikanga. Kung ang Felix Manalo ayisang tao, inoperahan ito: iniklianang bituka, tinapyasan ang baga,

binawasan ang utak, tinanimanng “pacemaker”, at inalisan ngapdo. Bagama’t natuhog nito angmga makahulugang bahagi ngkanyang buhay, hindi nito sinisidang lalim ng pagkatao ni Manalo;sa halip, naging isang paglalahadito ng simbahang INK, kungpaano ito umusbong, naitatag, lu-mago, at lumalago. Kung gayon,maaaring hindi ito tangkilikinng mga manonood na gustongmaaliw sa sinehan; kung ikawnga’y nagbabayad para malibang,bakit panonoorin mo pa ang FelixManalo? Kung siryoso ka namanat gusto mong higit pang alaminang tungkol sa INK, may Googlenaman para sa higit na malayangpananaliksik.

Hindi kataka-takang naging150-milyong piso ang budget ngFelix Manalo: bukod sa maram-ing tanyag ng artista at 7,000ekstrang ginamit dito, kitang-kitana pinaggugulan din ng salapi atpanahon ang kanyang productionsets, costumes, atbp., kaya lamang,halatang bago ang mga ito—mukhang hindi pa natitirahanang mga bahay kubo, wala panglibag ang mga kawayang bakod,kasasabit pa lamang ng mga kur-tina, malutong pa ang unipormeng mga sundalo, etsetera, etsetera,etsetera. Hindi maitatanggi naang “nagdala” ng talambuhay naito ay si rillo, na marubdob naginampanan ang papel ng yuma-

ong Manalo, katulad ng kapani-paniwala niyang pagganap bilangisang bakla sa teleseryeng “MyHusband’s Lover”.

Sa mabilisan at nakakalitongpaglukso ng kuwento sa pagitanng mga eksena sa buhay ni Mana-lo, maraming bagay sa kanyangpagkatao at sa mga pangyayari ang

napawalang halaga. Kapalit nitoay ang mga detalyadong tagpongnagpapakita ng pagrerehistro ngINK, ang pagtanggap ng gobyernorito bilang isang lehitimong reli-hiyon, ang pagpapakita ng mganapakaraming retrato ng kanilangmga sambahan at kasapi mulanoon hanggang ngayon pati na saibang bansa. Ipinagtataka tuloyng karaniwang manonood: “Anobang talaga ang pakay ng peli-kula—ipakilala si Manalo o angkanyang iglesya?” ila nanunudyo

naman ang pagkakataon nang ila-bas ang “pakita” o trailer ng FelixManalo habang umaalingasaw paang krisis ng INK gawa ng pagka-katiwalag sa iglesya ng mismongina at kapatid ng ikatlong pinunonito, si Eduardo Manalo—isangpangyayaring nag-iwan ng lamatsa mata ng madla na dating nag-akalang matibay ang pagkakaisang INK. Ang iskandalong itoang naging sanhi ng protesta nglibo-libong kasapi ng INK labankay Justice Secretary Leila de Limasa EDSA, na ikinayamot namanng mga motoristang naipit nangilang araw sa trapik na idinulotnito. Hindi masisisi ang mgamanonood kung pagtatakhan nila

ang “timing” ng Felix Manalo.Ngunit ano man ang inyongisipin, hindi “naghahanap ngaway” ang Felix Manalo. Iniwasannitong lumabas na nanghahamonsa ibang relihiyon habang isina-salarawan nito ang paghahanapsa katotohanan ng isang disentengtaong ang palayaw ay “Peles”.

Ano ang aral na maiuuwi ngmga manonood ng Felix Manalo?Hind saklaw ng CINEMA angsumangayon o sumalungat saturo ng anumang relihiyong iti-natampok sa anumang pelikula,ngunit bilang pangkalahatangaral, mawiwika ng CINEMA nakung sa paghahanap ninyo ngkatotohanan ay nanaisin ninyongpag-aralan ang turo at Banal naKasulatan ng isang relihiyon, hu-

wag ninyo itong gawing mag-isa

at makontento sa sarili ninyongpang-unawa. Ang nagmamahal sakatotohanan ay hindi nag-aatubil-ing magpakumbaba at humingi ngliwanag mula sa tamang authority,sa mga bihasa na kinikilalang maykaalaman, kapangyarihan, kara-nasan, karapatan, at tungkulingmagpaliwanag nito.

DIRECTOR: Joel LamanganLEAD CAST: Dennis Trillo, Bela

PadillaSTORY and SCREENPLAY:

Bienvenido SantiagoGENRE: BiographyDISTRIBUTOR: Viva Films

(2015)RUNNING TIME: 2 hrs. 55

mins.TECHNICAL ASSESSMENT:

½

MORAL ASSESSMENT: ½MTRCB rating: GPCINEMA rating: V14

FELIX MANALO

DIRECTOR: Chito RoñoLEAD CAST: Kris Aquino, Claudine

Barretto, Kim Chiu, Iza CalzadoGENRE: Romance/DramaCINEMATOGRAPHER: Neil Daza

RUNNING TIME: 120 minutesTECHNICAL ASSESSMENT:

MORAL ASSESSMENT: ½CINEMA rating: V18MTRCB rating: R13

ETIQUETTE FORMISTRESSES

Buhay San Miguel Brothers Matias

MAALIK na magkakaibigan sila Geor-gia (Kris Aquino), Stella (Iza Calzado),Chloe (Claudine Barretto), at Charley(Cheena Crab). Lahat sila’y mga tina-tawag na “kabit” bagama’t hindi ganoonang turing nila sa sarili nila pagka’t maysinasabi naman sila, matalino, at pawangmatagumpay sa kani-kaniyang karera.Hihilingin ng “partner” ni Georgia na

si Rob (Freddie Webb) na pagbigyanang kaibigan nitong si Frank (ZorenLegaspi) na “turuan” at sanaying magingpino ang batang-batang kabit niya na siIna (Kim Chiu). Hindi sasang-ayon siStella, isang abugada, sa mungkahingiyon, ngunit itutuloy pa rin ni Georgiaang pagiging “mentor” kay Ina. Sapagsulong ng kani-kaniyang mga buhaylulutang nang isa-isa ang mga alituntuninna dapat ay matutuhan ni Ina bilangisang “kept woman”, mga tumpak napag-iisip at pagkilos na dapat diumano’ymaituro sa dalaga upang siya’y lumigaya,magpaligaya sa kanyang lalaki, at magingmalayo sa iskandalo. Ituturing na ngapat na bunsong kapatid si Ina, subali’tsasalungatin ang mga turo ni Georgiang mapusok na si Chloe na walang pak-

undangang iginigiit ang kanyang mgakagustuhan sa lalaki niya.

Makakatayong mag-isa ang peliku-lang Etiquette for Mistresses kahit hindiihambing sa orihinal na nobela ni Jullie

Yap-Daza na pinaghanguan nito. Sakalakhang bahagi ng pelikula, makatoto-hanan ang pagsasalarawan nito ng mgahirap-at-sarap ng pagiging isang “Number2” ng mga lalaking nakaaangat sa buhay.Nagampanan nang mahusay at may

damdamin ng mga pangunahing artistaang kani-kaniyang mga papel, gawa narin marahil ito ng magaling na pagdidiriheni Chito Roño. Sa mga tanging dialogueay mababakas ang kagustuhang maghatidng aral ng pelikula sa mga kababaihan,kabit man o hindi. May mga bahagingbiglang nakakabingi ang tunog, at hindirin gasinong pulido ang editing ng ilangparte. Nagsimulang “solid” at matatagang pelikula ngunit sa bandang huli’y“nagkalat” ito, nagsanga-sanga ang ku-

wento, hanggang sa katapusang “hinogsa kalburo”, ika nga.

Ang tinatawag na “etiquette” sa pelikulaay kabutihang asal para lamang sa mganakikiapid na nasa mataas na antas nglipunan, at ang pakay ng mga babaeng itoay ang iwasan ang iskandalo upang mag-

tagal ang relasyon sa lalaking may asawa.Parang sinsasabi nitong “Okey lang mag-

ing kabit basta alam mong hindi ikaw angasawa, at kumilos ka nang naaayon.” Satunay na buhay, maaaring walang mata-tawag na “etiquette for mistresses” parasa mga taong walang reputasyong iniin-gatan, mga uring “nangangaliwa” nanghantaran, at mga relasyong nagwawakassa lagim tulad ng mga nababasa sa mgatabloids—ngunit mataas man o mababaang lugar nila sa lipunan, pareho lamangsilang nakapiit sa bawal na pag-iibigan.

Hindi kinukunsinti ng Etiquette forMistresses ang pakikiapid, bagkus ti-natangka pa nitong ipaalala—matapos

nitong silawin ang manunood sa mgakarangyaang tinatamasa ng mga kabit—

na ito ay isang kamalian na dapat iwasan.Marahil sa tindi ng kagustuhan nitongiparating ang positibong mensaheng iyon,kasama na rin ang pagnananais na kilitiinpa-more ang movie fans, sumobra namanito. Higit sanang kapani-paniwala kungtinuldukan na lang ang kuwento sa mata-pat at marubdob na desisyon ng mga kabitna talikuran ang baluktot na daan. Pero

hindi ganon ang nangyari—hinabaanpa, pinalabukan pa ng mga pangyayaringminadali at hindi ipinaliwanag, naglahotuloy ang init ng mensahe, parang lu-mamig at nanigas na hot pan de sal.

Bakit hinihimay ng CINEMA angmga bagay na ito? ungkulin nitongmagbigay gabay sa balana upang mag-ing mapanuri at mapag-isip ang tao sapanonood ng sine. Ang pagbabagongbuhay ba ay ganoon lamang kasimple atkadali, parang switch ng ilaw, isang kalabitlang ay magliliwanag na? Paano na angmga nasugatang damdamin, mga nawasakna pag-aasawahan, mga nagkalamat natiwala? Ano kaya ang aral na maiuuwi ngmga manunood na buong-tahimik nasumaksi sa sampalan nila Kris at Clau-dine, pero nagtilian nang walang mayaw

nang biglang pumasok sa eksena si PioloPascual? Kumita ng 15-milyong piso ang

Etiquette for Mistresses sa unang araw nglabas nito. Ilan sa mga nanood sa unangaraw ang naliwanagan ng pelikula tungkolsa pag-ibig?

ungkol sa tema nito, mayroon pangnais bigyang-liwanag ang CINEMA—ito’y may kinalaman sa winika at binig-yang-diin ng isang babae tungkol sarelasyon nila Stella at Ambet: ito diumano

ang “love”. Love? alaga? Hindi pominamaliit ng CINEMA ang “love” nanamagitan sa isang abogadang iniwanang pananagutan sa korte upang arugainang isang lalaking nilisan ang kanyangpamilya at piniling pumanaw sa piling ngkabit. Ang sa kanila’y isang uri ng pag-iibigan, oo, ngunit pag-iibigang mapanira,naghahatid ng dalamhati at poot sa mgakinauukulan. Ito ba ang ninanais ngPanginoon para sa atin? Ang pakikiapid,ang pagnanasa o pagsiping sa hindi moasawa—ano man ang itawag dito, wisikanman ito ng pabango at itubog sa ginto—ay pakikiapid pa rin, isang paglabag sakalooban ng Panginoon. May higit pangdakilang pag-ibig ang inilaan ng Lumikhapara sa tao, isang pag-ibig na isinasa-alang-alang ang Diyos, walang bahid ng pagka-

makasarili, nag-uugat sa katotohanan atnagbubunga ng kabutihan.



The Cross A Supplement Publication of KCFAPI and the Order of the Knights of ColumbusCBCP Monitor. Vol. 19. No. 22 October 26 - November 8, 2015

Climate Change Awareness Spearheaded by

K of C in Honor of Fr. George J. Willmann, SJTe K of C North and South Jurisdictionsconducted a series of activities in honorof Fr. George J. Willmann, S.J. Instead ofthe regular annual tree planting activity,the two jurisdictions were advised by theDepartment of Environment and NaturalResources (DENR) to change their eventdue to the El Niño being experiencedtoday. Because of the said phenomenon,the Jurisdictions’ annual tree plantingactivity was deferred.

Instead, the North Luzon Jurisdictioncame up with a climate change sympo-sium, while the South Luzon Jurisdictionconducted a coastal clean-up project.

Climate Change SymposiumHeaded by State Deputy Justice Jose C.

Reyes, Jr., the climate change symposiumof North Luzon was conducted last Oc-tober 2 at the Fr. Willmann building inIntramuros, Manila in coordination withthe Archdiocese of Manila and GlobalCatholic Climate Movement (GCCM).

KC Foundaon Scholars are New CPAs

Tree (3) foundation scholars recentlypassed the Certified Public AccountantLicensure Examination given recentlyby the Board of Accountancy in thecities of Manila, Baguio, Cagayan deOro, Cebu, Davao, Iloilo, Legazpi andLucena last October 2015. Tey areMs. Katrina B. Baliling (12550 Bahayan6 Luinab, Iligan City), Mr. Michael E

Justol (Council 14986 St. Isidore Quasi

Parish, Cawayan Inabanga, Bohol), andMr. Jayvee S. Elnar (Council 3938 Du-maguete Cathedral).

Ms. Katrina Baliling, who was featuredin this section on the July 2015 issue,graduated as Magna Cum Laude at theMindanao State University Iligan Instituteof echnology with a Bachelor’s degreein Accountancy. She was born on April21, 1994 at Iligan City. Ms. Katrina is aloving daughter of Sis. Cerenia B. Balilingand Bro. Wilfredo L. Baliling. She alsoreceived a Special Achievement Awardas 1st runner up in the Philippine FinalChartered Institute of Management Ac-countants (CIMA) 2014 Global BusinessChallenge which was awarded during thegraduation rites.

Te second new CPA of the founda-tion is Mr. Michael Justol. Michael, analumnus of Mater Dei College at ubigon,Bohol, graduated this year brimming withconfidence in passing the next stage ofbeing an accounting graduate, the CPALicensure Examination. Mr. Ismael andMrs. Legoria Justol are the proud parentsof Mr. Michael. His passion in solvingmathematical equations was very apparent

in his scholastic performance.Last but definitely not the least is Mr.

Jayvee S. Elnar who graduated last April2015 from the Siliman University at Du-maguete City with a Bachelor’s Degree in

Accountancy. He is the son of Bro. Jaimeand Sis. Elvira Elnar. He was a consistenthonor student in his elementary and highschool days. He was a beneficiary of theKnights of Columbus Philippines Founda-tion, Inc. from 2010 to 2014.

As of date, the KC Philippines Foun-dation, Inc. has successfully providedassistance to a total of 440 students fromall over the country.

Congratulations to our new batch ofKCPFI CPA SCHOLARS! (ChristopherCamila)

New KCFAPI Board of Trustee:SK Reynaldo Trinidad

Born on August 03, 1955 inManuguit, ondo, Manila,Cabalen SK Reynaldo C.rinidad the youngest ofCapampangan parents from Ar ayat , Pam pa ng a is the

Mindanao State Deputyf o r C o l u m b i a n Y e a r2015 to 2017. He wasappointed in the followingpositions in KCFAPI and its wholly -owned or major ity-owned Corporations andFoundati ons: rustee ofKCFAPI, rustee of theKnigh t s o f ColumbusFr. George J. WillmannCharities, Inc. and KCPhilippines Foundation,Inc., and Director of KeysReal ty & Deve lopmentCorporation.

Bro. rinidad’s multi-awarded l e ade r sh ip inthe Knights of Columbus

began in 1992 when he wasexemplified and became

a member of San PedroCouncil No. 6532 in DavaoCity. He entered the Order

when he was still connected with Legaspi Oil Company, where he worked for 18 yearsas a Mechanical Engineer.He is now with Sto. Niño

Am ig o Po y Cou nc il o fMa-a, Davao City. Hisuntiring enthusiasm and

dedication to God and the

New KCFAPI Board of Trustee:

SK Anthony Nazario

Bro. Anthony Nazario startedhis service to the Knights ofColumbus in 1992 as a Col-lege Knight of U.P. in theVisayas College Council No.10095. He carried on his

fraternal services and becameGrand Knight, State CollegeCouncils Chairperson, andState Youth Director (2005-2006), State Program Direc-tor (2006-2007), DistrictDeputy (2009-2011), andVisayas State Secretary (2011-2015). As a State CouncilOfficer, he was appointed theChairman-Secretariat of theVisayas State Convention in2013 and 2014. He was theEditor-in-Chief of the of-ficial Knights of ColumbusDistrict publication, heMessenger for CY 2006-2007.He was appointed as the FirstChairman of the Knights of

Columbus Christian Forma-tion Program of the Visayas

Jurisdict ion. Bro. Nazario isalso one of the members ofthe Board of rustees of theVisayas Columbian Founda-tion, Inc. As a leader, he wasone of the key officers respon-sible for the achievement ofthe first Pinnacle Award ofthe Visayas Jurisdiction dur-ing the CY 2013-2014. Oneof the Outstanding District

Deputies of the Visayas Juris-

A symposium on climate change was conducted last October 2.

KCFAPI, KCPFI, and K of Cconduct relief operaonsCharity. Unity, Fraternity andPatriotism. As KC membersimbued the four principlesof the order. he Knightsof Columbus Fraternal As-sociation of the Philippines,Inc. (KCFAPI) together with

the KC Philippines Founda-tion, Inc. (KCPFI), and theKnights of Columbus (K ofC) went to areas affected bytyphoon Lando last October26 to carry out relief opera-tions.

Affe cted resi dent s fromprovinces of Bulacan, Pam-panga and Nueva Ecija werethe target beneficiaries ofmore than 600 relief bags dis-tributed by KCFAPI, KCPFI,and K of C.

he said relief operations were led by KCFAPI Chair-man Arsenio Isidro “Boy” Yap, KCFAPI Executive VicePresident Ma. heresa G.

Curia, KC Foundations Execu-tive Director Roberto . Cruz,KCFAPI Executive Secretary Annie M. Nicolas together with Area Manager Efren M.Casupanan, District DeputyCarlito G. Fernando, and someGrand Knights.

Tey first braved the stillflooded areas in Bulacan where the beneficiaries who weren’t able to come wererepresented by their District

Deputies. DD Leandro SFFlores and State ChurchDirector, George Linda, re-ceived the relief goods at St. James Parish in Paombong,Hagonoy, Bulacan. After- which, they went to the San

Isidro Labrador Council6105 in Pulilan where DDLauro L. Evangelista, GrandKnight Arturo C. Reyes, andPast GK Ronnie ayao as-sisted in the distribution ofthe goods. And to completethe outreach in Bulacan, theofficers visited St. John theBaptist Parish in Calumpit where its Vice Mayor, DDDr. Zacharias Candelaria,accepted the relief goods tobe given out to the targetbeneficiaries.

Te KCFAPI, KCPFI, andK of C officers then wentto certain devastated areasin Pampanga. DD Noel S.

Lacanilao was the one whoreceived the aid which willbe allocated to its four baran-gays namely: Pansilao, Pasig,Lanang, and Mandasig. Tenlast October 28, they set off to Nueva Ecija and handedout the relief goods withthe assistance of Area Man-ager Manuel L. Naldoza tothe distraught brothers andsisters of San Antonio andGabaldon. (KC News)

The Luzon Area Conference of the Daughters of Mary Immaculate, International (DMII) wassuccessfully held at Dagupan, Pangasinan. KCFAPI EVP, MA. THERESA G. CURIA with Sis. FelyGallardo and the other 11 officers and members of the Diocese of Malolos, Region IV emergedas the champion in the Folk Dance Competition. Archbishop Socrates B. Villegas, DD celebratedthe mass together with Rev. Fr. Jerome Cruz, DMI’s International Chaplain. THEME: “DMII:

EVANGELIZING WITH MERCY AND COMPASSION IN THE YEAR OF THE POOR”

Climate, C3

Trinidad, C3 Nazario, C3

Baliling, Katrina Elnar, Jayvee Justol, Michael



C2 The CrossOctober 26 - November 8, 2015

Vol. 19 No. 22

Arsenio Isidro G. Yap

Chairman’s Message

President’s Message

Roberto T. Cruz

Ma. Theresa G. Curia

Justice Jose C. Reyes, Jr.

Searching for Legacies

Saints - Heroes - Models

Curia Sengs

Michael P. Cabra

Will you be a Saint or just another Soul?

My Brother’s Keeper

Touching Base with the Foundaons

A Heavenly Give and ake of Prayers

When my cousin Raul Reyes was shot deadin July 23, 1964, the grief that s truck myaunt Mary was so indescribable. She crieda lot day in and day out. She howled. She wailed. She cannot be consoled in hermournful cry. Te loss of a dear son wasso unbearable, so unacceptable to her.

Anyone in her place would probably feelthe same. After all, a parent should be buried by their childrenand not the other way around.

Raul was barely twenty two when he died, a graduating studentof the College of Medicine at the University of Santo Tomas. He was the eldest among us cousins. We look up to him as a leaderand as an inspiration. I was only nine then when it happened.I could barely understand the meaning of grief, the feeling oflosing our leader and inspiration. Te loss sunk to us monthslater when we felt leaderless and without inspiration. We hadnobody to look up to.

His death marked the beginning of a very intimate celebrationof All Saints’ Day for the Generoso Family. Every year then, forat least twenty years, we would go to the North Cemetery wherehe lies and spend at least twenty four hours starting on the eveof All Saints’ Day. We as children would go around looking for what’s there to see in a cemetery. Tere are Mausoleums that areso large and look so expensive. Some even have a second floor.

One even looked like a ship complete with lights making the areaaround it festive, complete with blaring music.

Our place is very near that of Fernando Poe, Sr., father of FPJ where a lot of movie actors spend their time with the Poe Fam-ily. Te North Cemetery also boasted of mausoleums of formerPresidents and other illustrious families known to society.

Remembering our dead and praying for them is a basic offer-ing that we could do for our love ones who had gone before us.But in such a festive atmosphere, our sacrifices, our prayers aredrowned by all-day loud music, all-day drinking spree and insome instances, a ramble would erupt. Te cemetery has becomea carnival and is quite a dangerous place for children and for those who like to pray for their love ones to reminisce what they werelike when they were still alive.

November First is just around the corner. Trongs of families would once again trek to the cemetery, to pray and remember theirdead. Some would even have a party, have picnics and even havetheir meals catered, buffet style, eat-all-you-can, all day long and

even all night long with unlimited drinks. But let us not forget,our primary intention of visiting our dead – to pray for theirsouls and recall what they were like when they were still alive.Or better still, why not continue the good things they had donebefore. I think it’s the best way to remember them and continuethe legacy they had left behind.

As I have said in the past, praying for the dead, not necessarilyour dead is very beneficial to us the living. For as often as we prayfor them, they in turn also pray for us as often. It’s like a give andtake situation, the more we give, the more we will get. Te moreprayers we offer for our dead the more prayers they would sayfor us. It’s also like helping someone in need but when our timeof need comes, we have something to draw on.

Keep praying for our dead and the poor souls in purgatory andin return our rewards would be heavenly.

Visiting the Living and Praying forthe Dead

As Luzon Nor th Deputy of theKnights of Columbus, I have been vis-iting the different districts in my areaof responsibility for various reasons:installation of Council officers, GK-FSorientations, first degree exemplifica-tions, District convention, awardingceremonies, Founding anniversaries,and other special occasions. Often-times, I give them updates of what is happening in other placeshere and abroad, which would inspire them to work hard for theKnights of Columbus in their respective districts.

In my most recent trip, we braved the province of Nueva Vis-caya even though typhoon signal 3 was already raised there. Wereceived a “go” signal from our K of C officers and so we wentfor we did not want to disappoint our brother Knights who willbe coming from far places to attend the tri-District Conventionin Bayombong, which is its capital.

rue to their commitment, our brother Knights were there.I delivered my inspirational message highlighting three impor-tant matters: love for the gift of life, love for our families, andevangelization of new and old members. Using the ultrasoundon pregnant women to see for themselves the fetus inside their wombs, those contemplating an abortion shall decide to keeptheir babies. Tis K of C project saves lives of unwanted babies.In securing the future of family members through life insurance with KCFAPI, each Knight can best express their love for theirfamily members. I encouraged all of them to avail of this benefi-cial program. Finally, I urged our brother Knights to fulfill theirmoral obligation to invite every eligible Catholic gentleman to

the Knights of Columbus. I also reminded them to evangelizeour old members to ensure that they continue to be worthymodels of the K of C cardinal principles namely: charity, unity,fraternity and patriotism.

Our love for our members does not end in death. Rather, itextends to their families in life and death, when financial supportis most helpful to those who are left behind. More importantly,spiritual support to the deceased Knights’ families is also given inthe form of mass offerings, as well as individual and group prayersfor the dead. During the annual Supreme Council convention,a memorial mass is offered for our K of C brothers who havegone ahead of us.

Tis coming All Souls’ Day in particular, we pray for our de-parted brothers. Tere are many souls in purgatory who havenobody to pray for them. We are so blessed to be K of C membersbecause we have our worldwide brotherhood continuously pray-ing for our deceased brothers in the Philippines. In like manner, we are given the opportunity to also pray for the souls of K of C

members in other countries. ruly, the Knights of Columbus isuniversal in love for one another.

We honor our saints becau se they did heroicthings for the faith. But as Mother Churchproposes that we acknowledge their fidelityto the Lord, she also invites us to look atthem as models in living the faith.

It is indeed good to recognize how somemen and women have been radical followersof Jesus. Teir achievements serve as their

way of praising God fo r the grace they havereceived from the Spirit of Jesus. When wehonor the saints, we ultimately honor theGiver of gifts that they received, which en-abled them to do God’s Will. Honoring thesaints, we really honor the Source of the call,the mission and the giftedness.

So why are they our heroes and models? We regard them as heroes and models becausethey have done great things to follow theLord, and because of them we have paragonsand patterns of life that we can follow or imi-tate. Tis is important to assure the Churchof continuity. We shall be the ones who willcarry on the tradition of discipleship andproclaimers in turn of the Good News.

What did they do to be fo llowers of Jesus ,to be his friends and intimate companions?

Tese men and women arrived at momentsof total self-giving and self-surrender to theLord in their lifetime. Tey offered theirtalents, treasures and time for the needs oftheir fellow men and women. Tey have sur-rendered their lives to God in obedience toHis Will and fidelity to His Plan for them.Tese were the men and women who livedtheir lives responsibly but who were notobsessed with their personal plans. Teyhanded over to God full control over theirlives, their future and their destiny.

Such a life could not but lead them to a lifeof intimacy with the same Lord. Tey werebonded to Him in prayer. Tey talked toHim without speaking, but mostly listening.Perhaps this is what eresa of Avila means

when she said, “Prayer is not so much talking

but of loving, being with, being present tothe Energy that runs the world.”

If we dig into the lives of saints, all of themfollowed a life of asceticism. Tey lived adisciplined life of prayer and sacrifice beforethey could surrender their lives and attainintimacy with Him. Asceticism is a programof life directed toward making God the Cen-ter of one’s life. It consists of giving up whatis pleasurable, giving up capricious wantsand living simply and in strict compliance

with a life of self-denials and self-offering.Tey have worked out a schedule and habitof prayer, of discipline, of simple lifestylethat centers their lives on the Lord. Teymust have realized and acknowledged theirsinfulness and addictions and have turnedtheir lives away from them and all sourcesof temptations.

Tey have come to be naked before theLord. Nothing to hide from him, no hiddenagenda in what they did and to the people.Tey were true to themselves, honest andtransparent to others, loyal to relationships,dedicated and committed to their fields of

work. And for us, how do we start in this journey

of imitating the saints? Perhaps we can alsoattempt to adapt a disciplined program oflife of prayer, meditation, study, spiritualreading, retreats, recollections, seminars offormation. Tere is no such thing as cheapgrace. We receive the Call but we respond

with all our might. Tere is no magic orinstant sanctity.

We can imitate them also in their heal thy, wholesome ecology centered life styl e. Ahealthy lifestyle does not only consist ofgood food and wholesome recreations. It isalso a life free of addictions, compulsions,obsessions. Compulsive buying, hoarding,and consuming harm our psyche and ourenvironment. Wastefulness without sharingis as sinful as any evil act.

We also need good friends to socialize withand enjoy God’s gifts and nature with. Wemust associate with groups who are commit-ted to common projects and advocacy that

work for the common good. Communityis essential to discovering and experiencingthe Lord.

When do we reap the rewards of l iving asaintly life? Do we need to get to heaven,before we can truly say it is good to followthe saints? Tis is not the experience ofmany who struggle to follow the Lord. Mostof them find peace and fulfilment in theirlives when they do those godly acts. Most ofthem find meaning in their lives when theyassociate with good people and serve theneedy. Many find enlightenment in studyand prayer and union with Creation.

But it is also true that some who are fullydedicated to the Lord sometimes pass thedark night of the soul. Although they arefaithful, when the Lord finds them capableof bearing the pain, He suspends the goodfeelings that accompany intimacy withHim. When depression and darkness setsin despite the God-centered life, this islike being enveloped by a certain cloud ofunknowing and unseeing. But these do nottake away the gift of believing and trustingthat the storm will pass away in due time, atthe right time. In His time. And so we askourselves, is this how God treats his friends?eresa of Avila again says, “Tat is why Godhas few friends.”

We like to be Gods’ friend s; we pray that we can always choose to liv e like the sai nts.

[Te author, Ma. Teresa G. Curia, is theExecutive Vice President & Chief OperatingOfficer of the Knights of Columbus Fraternal Associat ion o f th e Phil s., Inc. (KCFAPI) andthe incumbent Diocesan Regent of the Daugh-ters of Mary Immaculate International, Dioceseof Malolos.]

All Saints’ Day is a solemn holy day of theCatholic Church celebrated annually onNovember 1. Te day is dedicated to thesaints of the Church, that is, all those who

have attained heaven. It should not be con-fused with All Souls’ Day, which is observedon November 2, and is dedicated to those

who have died and not yet reached heaven.Most of us Filipinos, both Christians andMuslims, usually spend these days prayingfor our dearly departed, be it in cemeteries,churches or even in the comfort of our ownhomes. Oftentimes, it also becomes ourfamily reunion since we only see some ofour family members during these occasions.Somehow, remembering the dead encour-aged our living family members to uniteand be together at least during this season.

When you die, will your death bring unityor separation among the living members ofyour family? Statistics shows that a numberof Filipino families with deceased bread-

winner tend to separate or part ways. It is

because the remaining members of the fam-ily can no longer afford to provide the basic

necessities of life such as food and shelter.Tis usually happens if the sole breadwin-ner has no life insurance policy. Hence, alife insurance policy or a benefit certificate

doesn’t only provide financial support for thebeneficiaries but it also serves as a bondingelement for the living family members tostay happy together.

With tha t said, we have what we call aprotection plan. It shields the beneficiariesfrom loss of income due to the death of thebread winner. As for this case, we highlyrecommend KC Family Protect 10 as thebest solution. he contribution periodis only 10 years and the breadwinner isprotected for a lifetime. For example, a40-year old brother knight availed a KCFamily Protect 10 with PhP1Million insur-ance protection. From age 40 to age 100 hislife is worth one million pesos which alsomeans 60 years of worry-free life. Te livingbenefits are provided by the accumulationof the cash values and dividends which can

be availed in case of financial emergenciesduring the protection years starting on the

third benefit certificate year. Te first yearcontribution is only PhP62,830 but hisinsurance protection is already at PhP1Mil-lion. It is like saving PhP172 a day for 10

years in exchange for a PhP1Million. Teinsured’s total contribution for 10 years isonly PhP628,830 but his beneficiaries willreceive PhP1Million anytime during the 60years of protection period. For a detailedpresentation of this remarkable product,please contact the fraternal counselors inyour respective councils.

Terefore, it’s either you are a ‘Saint’ or just another ‘Soul’. A ‘Saint’ because insur-ance claims can let the family experience agood life together and you will always beremembered as a very responsible head of thefamily. A ‘Soul’ because, like the wind you

just passed by, and with a small probabilitythat your family may continue the kind oflife you provided. You will be merely a soulleaving no legacy that your family couldhave enriched their lives with. So, when you

join our Creator, will you be a saint or justanother soul?

As th e mo nt h of Nov em be rdawns, we again prepare to troopto the memorial parks, churchcrypts and cemeteries to payour respect and remember our

beloved dead. Over the years,this routine has become moreand more difficult when we con-sider the time-consuming traffic,unpredictable travel time, heat,pushing and shoving, pollutionand so many other discomforts

which have worsened and which we now have to bear just to v isitour departed loved ones, specifi-cally on November 1 and 2.

Te pragmatic person may saythat we just spend so many un-productive and idle hours in thecemetery which becomes moreinteresting with impromptureunions and socializing sprin-kled with intermittent prayersessions. For the more serious

however, this is the special timeto remember and pray for our

loved ones and reminisce ourcherished memories with them.

Still for a few others, look-ing at the different tombstonesallows them to reflect on the

unavoidable cycle of life anddeath. As each generation fadesaway, the next one realizes that itis their turn to be positioned inthe “pre-departure area”. As thesaying goes, “we are all headedin that direction anyway. It’s justa matter of when our exact timeof passage will be”.

For this writer, when I lookat the tombstones of my lovedones, I can’t help but think ofmy own future tombstone. What

will others be saying about me?Have I created an impact onthem, if any at all? I thereforealso consider the month of No-vember as a month for reflectionto evaluate if I have made my

mark in people. If the honestanswer is “NONE”, then I still

have an unknown span of timeto do something that I can dareto label as my personal “ legacy” –first to my family and hopefully,also to society, to our country or

even to the world!Let us not forget that ourtwo Foundations, KCPFI andKCFGJWCI, thru their respec-tive scholarship grants, are ableto impart their own legacies asthey continue to offer a rarechance for a better life to all ourFoundation Scholars. Troughtheir scholarships, it is our hopethat the education they receive

will create a ripple effect which will reach far and wide to ben-efit their respective families,communities and/or parishes ordioceses.

From another perspective,November can likewise be calleda ransition Month because after

all the nostalgic memories of ourbeloved dead and our prayers

for them, we then move on andshift to an eager anticipation ofthe entry of a joyous and merryChristmas season. We start themonth with the sombre com-

memoration of All Souls’ Dayand All Saints’ Day on Novem-ber 1 and 2. But then we closethis same month with the first week of Advent ushering the joy-ous season of Christmas and thebirth of our Lord, Jesus Christ who fr eed us f rom our bondageto original sin.

Lastly, this month of Novem-ber, let us not only rememberto pray for our beloved dead,but more importantly, we mustalso take time for a personal as-sessment and prepare ourselveson how we can best create ourown impact and leave behindour own humble legacy to allthose around us when we are

finally called to board our fli ghtto eternity.



C3The Cross October 26 - November 8, 2015

Vol. 19 No. 22

A Statement of Solidarity with thePersecuted Chrisans of Iraq and Syria

Te Gentle Warrior By James B. Reuter, SJ

It was much the same when he taught Po-litical Science. Te Filipinos had declaredIndependence at Malolos in Bulacan, in1898. Tey had really defeated the Span-ish conquerors. But at the moment oftheir victory, the Americans invaded thePhilippines, and took over the revolutionfrom Spain. Te revolution continuedagainst the Americans. And the Filipinoslost more men against the Americans thanthey had lost against Spain.

Te articles, published by the Ameri-cans, always insisted that it was a legal

Part II of Chapter wo of “Te Gentle Warrior” series

CHAPER WO--------.---------

Te Ateneo de Manila

transfer of sovereignty from Spain tothe United States of America. George,thinking of the American Revolutionagainst England in 1776, wondered if theoccupation of these islands was really jus-tified. America was bringing many goodthings to the Philippines — principallyeducation, and the American democraticschool system. But George looked withgreat compassion on that Declaration of

Independence, written in Malolos — anindependence that never came. Still, whenhe taught Political Science, he taughtit carefully, trying not to rock the boat.George was a quiet, careful conservative.He never did anything on impulse.

He enjoyed his job as Moderator of themonthly magazine. Here he learned whatthe boys really thought. Here he learnedhow deeply they felt about many things.

And it was a joy to encourage the young writer, to praise him for a compositionthat was really good. When a boy wroteabout the beauty of a farm, the ricerippling in the wind, the excitement ofharvest time, the sweetness of living on afarm — George discovered that this boycame from a farm. When a boy wrote an

agonizing story of a child dying of polio,George discovered that the boy was writ-ing about his own little brother.Georgeknew that his regency in the Ateneo wasa two way street. He was trying to teach,but he was also learning. Te fact is, whenhe went to an older Jesuit, who had longyears of experience in teaching, asking foradvice, the old Jesuit said: “Tese boys arebright! Tey are restless. Tey all have ants

in their pants. But they have wonderfulideas! Get in there, and learn as much asyou can from them!” Tat is what Georgetried to do. He tried to learn, from thestudents.One day he found a high schoolboy sitting on the stairs, in the morning,before the bell rang for class, feverishlydoing his homework. George watchedhim for a moment, and then said: “Listen,son. Tat is homework. You are supposedto do that at home!” Te boy was toobusy writing even to look up. With hiseyes still on the paper that he was writing,he pointed with his thumb at a battered,soiled sign on the wall above his head.Te sign read: “Te Ateneo is your home.Keep it clean!”

(o be continued on the next issue.)

Speakers were former DENR officerand current State Ecology Chairman

of the North Luzon State Jurisdiction,Carlos I A. Gubat, who tackled the effectsof climate changes and Lourdes Arsenio,coordinator of the Manila ArchdioceseMinistry on Ecology.

Arsenio encouraged the participants tosupport their climate change signaturecampaign (hard copy and/or online).

Coastal Clean-Up ProjectBrother Knights in South Luzon led

by State Deputy Ramoncito A. Ocampopromoted a coastal clean-up project alongManila bay.

Te said project dubbed “Linis Ka-likasan 2015”, transpired in cooperation

with the DENR – Nationa l Capita lRegion (NCR) through the Manila BayCoordinating Office and was held last

October 24 at the Las Piñas-ParañaqueCritical Habitat and Eco-ourism Area(situated at the southern portion ofManila Bay).

KC Luzon to join Global ClimateMarch

Te North and South Jurisdictions ofthe Knights of Columbus in the Philip-pines will support the Global ClimateMarch to be held on November 29.

Millions of people from 2000 citiesaround the globe are expected to join

this event organized by the GCCM incooperation with the Archdiocese of

Manila.“Catholics have historically been silent

on this issue, but as the losses from cli-mate disruptions mount, we can stay si-lent no longer. We must send the message“We Care” as Catholics. We care aboutthe poorest and the most vulnerable

who are disproportionately affected byclimate change. We care about the futureof our children and grandchildren. Wecare about our common home,” Manila

Auxillary Bishop Broderick S. Pabillo,DD cited on his letter to the Knights ofColumbus.

All members of the Knights of Colum-bus were encouraged by Bp. Pabillo tohelp galvanize Catholics in their respec-tive areas to support this historic GlobalClimate March.

“On November 29, from 7am to11:30am, we will hold the Global Cli-mate Justice Solidarity Prayer March

with those in Paris. It will start at 7amin Luneta and arrive at the US paradegrounds for the concelebrated Eucharisticcelebration, an interfaith and multi orga-nizations’ solidarity message to be helduntil 12nn,” Bp. Pabillo stated.

Te event is in support of Pope Francis’brave call to action: “I beg you in thename of God, defend God’s creation.”(Yen Ocampo)

Order made him DistrictMas t e r , S t a t e P rogramDirector, State New CouncilDevelopment Chairman,Regional Deputy, DistrictDeputy, District DeputyRound able Chairman,Faithful Navigator, FaithfulNavigators Round ableC h a i r m a n , F a i t h f u lCaptain, Faithful Admiral,District Warden, RegionalMembership Director, GrandKnight , Deputy GrandKnight, Council ChurchDirector, and the CeremonialChancellor and Historian

in the 1st and 4th degreeexemplification respectively.He was able to establish animpressive nineteen (19)New Assembl ie s duringhis 3-year term as DistrictMas t e r o f D is t r i c t 12(Eastern Mindanao), and six(6) New Councils during histerm as District Deputy D08. As such and having deliveredall the requirements neededfor a District Deputy, he wasgratefully recognized and wasawarded as one of the MostOutstanding District Deputyof Mindanao Jurisdictionfor the Columbian Year2007-2008 by KCFAPI

with an equival ent award toattend the 126th SupremeConvention in Quebec City,Canada, and the 127th

Supreme Convention inPhoenix, Arizona, USA,for successfully hosting the10th Mindanao Conventionin 2008. Having severalachievements under hisbe l t , S K r in idad wasgifted with several awardsand recognitions from theCouncil, Assembly, District,State and from the SupremeCouncil.

Aside from his act iviti es inthe Knights of Columbus,Bro. rinidad is also servinghis Parish, the St. Francisof Assisi Parish, being the

Chairman of the ServiceMinistry and the ParishSocial Action Ministry, anda Lay Minister.

Bro. rinidad is a LicensedProfessional MechanicalEngineer. He graduated fromthe University of Mindanao

with a Bache lor of ScienceDegre e in Mechanica lEngineering. His family isthe proprietor of businessestablishments in DavaoCity, and is the President/General Manager of GSMANRES Construction,Inc.

His exceptional leadershipskil l s manife s t in other

profess ional , c iv ic , andfraternal organizations. Bro.rinidad was elected VicePresident for Mindanao in

the National Level of theMetalworking Industries A s s o c i a t i o n o f t h ePhilippines (MIAP) for two(2) consecutive terms, DavaoCity President of Pi OmicronI n t e r n a t i o n a l A l u m n i As so ci at io n, In c. , Da va oCity Chapter, Presidentof the Philippine Societyof Mechanical Engineers(PSME) and past NationalVice President for Mindanaoin 2 consecutive years, and anaccredited Court AnnexedMediator of the PhilippineMediation Center under

the Supreme Court of thePhilippines assigned at theHall of Justice of Davao Cityfrom 2005 to present.

He is married to S is .Rodelma M. rinidad whois also active in serving theirlocal church at Ma-a, DavaoCity. She is Past FinancialSecretary and presently theVice Regent of the Daughtersof Mary Immaculate (DMI)of St. Francis of Assisi Circle.Tey are blessed with six (6)children, five of whom arenow professionals including alawyer in the Public AttorneysOffice, a licensed mechanicalengineer, a licensed architect,

an HRM, and a computersecretariat. he youngestis still in college taking uppharmacy.

en Point Agenda Of Min-danao Jurisdiction For Co-lumbian Year 2015 -2017

1. Membership Growth –Intensify recruitment of newmembers.

2. Membership Retention And Reactivation – Minimizesuspension of councils andmembers.

3 . N e w C o u n c i lDevelopment – Reach outto far-flung areas.

4. Council Programs And Ac ti vi ti es – Buoy up KCservices.

5. Required Forms – imelyand accurate preparation andsubmission.

6. Jurisdiction Leadership– Enhance , e x pand &professionalize.

7. Councils SCA / MDAO b l i g a t i o n - I m p r o v efinancial capability, applycouncil incentives.

8 . R e l a t i o n s h i p O fCouncils And Assemblies –Reorientation of members,remove barriers, strengthenrapport.

9 . B r i n g A l l h i r dDegree o he FourthDegree – Conduct regularexemplications.

1 0 . K C F A P I -Encourage a l l membersto av a i l o f ou r orde r ’ sinsurance benefits.

diction for CY 2009-2011, and a StarCouncil Awardee when he was a GrandKnight during CY 2006-2007.

Bro. Nazario spearheaded the reliefoperations of the Visayas Jurisdic-tion managing the disbursement of$130,000 relief assistance of the Su-preme Council including local dona-tions of P300,000.00 to the victims ofyphoon Yolanda thru the distributionof food packages, fishing boats, fishingaccessories, and corn seedlings in vari-ous places in the Visayas. He is instru-

mental in meeting and surpassing the newcouncil development goal of the Visayasby achieving 250% for CY 2014-2015and the round table goal by 200% for thesame period. He is also instrumental in thefirst ever history of the Visayas Jurisdictionto attain the membership goal as early as January for the CY 2014-2015 achieving101.12%.

Presently, he works as the Senior Assis-tant Manager of the Equicom Savings Bank(Iloilo Branch). He was appointed by theSupreme Knights as the Visayas Deputy

for CY 2015-2017, a rustee of Knightsof Columbus Fraternal Association of thePhilippines, Inc. (KCFAPI) and KC Philip-pines Foundation, Inc. / KC Fr. George J.

Willmann Charities, Inc., and a Director ofKeys Realty & Development Corp.

Bro. Nazario graduated with a degreein Bachelor of Science in Accountancyat the University of the Philippines-Visayas and a degree in Bachelor of Lawsat the University of Iloilo. He is marriedto Portia J. Nazario with a daughternamed Czarina Terese.

We, officers and members of theKnights of Columbus in the Phil-ippines (KC) and the Knights ofColumbus Fraternal Associationof the Philippines, Inc. (KCFAPI)manifest our deep concern andsolidarity with our Christianbrothers and sisters in Syria andIraq who are being persecutedbecause of their faith.

We cann ot agre e more withthe conclusion of Pope Francis,

who, in his address on September17, 2015 to the participants of themeeting organized by the PontificalCouncil “Cor Unum” on the Iraqi-Syrian humanitarian crisis said: “Icannot fail to mention the seriousharm to the Christian communi-ties in Syria and Iraq, where manybrothers and sisters are oppressedbecause of their faith, driven fromtheir land, kept in prison or evenkilled. For centuries, the Christian

Muslim communities have livedtogether in these lands on the basisof mutual respect. oday the verylegitimacy of the presence of Chris-tians and other religious minoritiesis denied in the name of a ‘violentfundamentalism claiming to bebased on religion.’”

We, therefore, heed and take toheart the call of dear Holy Father:“Catholics must strengthen theintra-ecclesial collaboration and

the bonds of communion, whichunite them with other Christiancommunities, seeking also coop-eration with internal humanitar-ian institutions and with all menof good will. I encourage you,therefore, to continue on thepath of cooperation and sharing,and working together and in syn-ergy. Please: do not abandon thevictims of this crisis, even if the

world’s attention were to lessen.”

We w ill follow the initi ativeof our Supreme Knight, Carl Anders on, who, in declar ing a“Season of ruth” has dedicatedthe whole Order of the Knightsof Columbus “to raising awarenessof their plight, and the plight ofother religious minorities in theregion.” As exhorted by ourSupreme Knight, we commit as-sistance to our persecuted brethrenin any way we can, especially in

praying “for their perseverance infaith and hope, the improvementof their living conditions, and therestoration of peace in their land.”

We fervently ask the interces-sion of Our Lady of Guadalupeand of our Founder, Fr. Michael

J. McGivney, who devoted hisentire priestly ministry to the aidof migrants and the suffering.

September 15, 2015, Memorialof our Lady of Sorrows.

ARSENIO ISIDRO G. YAPKCFAPI Chairman and

Immediate Past Luzon Deputy

ALONSO L. ANSupreme Director

JOSE C. REYES, JR.KCFAPI President andLuzon North Deputy

RAMONCIO A. OCAMPOKCFAPI Corp. Sec. and

Luzon South Deputy

ANHONY P. NAZARIOVisayas Deputy

REYNALDO C. RINIDADMindanao Deputy

Climate, C1

Trinidad, C1

Nazario, C1

THE Knights of Columbus established the Father McGivney Guildto promote the cause for canonization of our founder, Venerable Mi-chael J. McGivney (1852-1890). The goal of the Guild is to spreadthe good word about his holiness of life, to encourage devotion tohis memory, and to seek his intercession before the throne of God.The Guild serves as a clearinghouse for information about FatherMcGivney, his life and works, and any favors attributed to his inter-cession. Father McGivney is a unique model today for both Catholiclaymen and priests because of his attention to the social ills and in- justices of his day and his collaboration with the people of his parish.He was zealous for the life of union with God through prayer and thesacraments, and would have been right at home in today’s world. Hewas then and would be today an eager apostle for the Gospel of life,and active in building a civilization of love.

Membership in the Guild is open to anyone who wishes to share inthis mission of making known the life and work of Father McGivney andof encouraging devotion to his memory. To join, fill out the attached ap-

plication and mail it to the address given. There is no charge to enroll,and you need not be a member of the Knights of Columbus.The Guild is anxious to receive reports of favors received through

Father McGivney’s intercession. It is not only miracles that are re-quired to move the cause forward, but witnesses to the power of theservant of God’s prayers before the throne of God.

As a member of the Guild you will receive a newsletter and peri-odic updates on the progress of his cause for canonization. We askyour prayerful support that God’s will be done and that the HolySpirit guide us at each step along the way. Welcome to the Guild!

Join the Father Michael

J. McGivney Guild!

To start your free membership and receive the Guild newslet-ter, please complete the form below and return to: Father Mc-

Givney Ofce - Philippines, Knights of Columbus Fraternal

Association of the Philippines, Inc. Center, Gen. Luna cor. Sta.Potenciana Sts., Intramuros, Manila 1004, Philippines

Name: ___________________________________________________________________________________________________

Complete Mailing Address: ________________________________________________________________________________

City/Province: _______________ Country: _______________Zip/Postal Code: ______ K of C Membership No.): _______

Mass for Guild MembersNames to be remembered for specic intentions at

the regular Mass of Guild members

1. ___________________________________________________2. ___________________________________________________3. ___________________________________________________4.______________________________________________



C4 The CrossOctober 26 - November 8, 2015

Vol. 19 No. 22

Holy Trinity Memorial Chapels and

Crematorium Celebrates 33rd Anniversary

Te Holy rinity Memorial Chapels andCrematorium, a wholly-owned companyof the Knights of Columbus Fraternal Association of the Philippines, Inc. (KC-FAPI) celebrated their 33rd anniversaryon October 9. Among the KCFAPI of-ficers who graced the event were Justice Jose C. Reyes, Jr., President, Ma. TereseG. Curia, Executive Vice President, and Arsenio Isidro G. Yap, Chairman. (Photo: Jerome De Guzman)

KCFAPI Holds Elecon Forum

with SK Rene SarmientoIn preparation for the Election2016 in the country, the Knightsof Columbus Fraternal Associationof the Philippines, Inc. (KCFAPI)conducted an election forum forits employees dubbed “KCFAPIand Elections 2016: Answers o

Your Questions” on October 19at the KCFAPI Social Hall, Intra-muros, Manila.

Retired COMELEC Com-missioner, Rene V. Sarmiento,explained the importance of elec-tion in the Philippines and how tobe a wise voter. He also discussedthe process of voters’ registration.

Some of the topics he tackled

were the Philippines’ history, suf-frage, and composition of the com-mission on election among others.

Sarmiento acknowledged KC-

New KCFC Vice Chairman:

SK Rene V. Sarmiento

Sir Knight Rene V. Sarmiento wasadmitted to the First Degree in1986. He was District Deputy ofM-44 (CY 2000-2001, CY 2001-2002). As District Deputy, heundertook numerous projects thatincluded the holding of “ClergyNight” to honor Chaplains andParish Priests and organizing“Lift High the Cross of Christ” Awards to give tribute to outstand-ing brother knights of Councilsconstituting the District. For CY2001-2002, he was awarded asthe Most Outstanding DistrictDeputy.

SK Rene is Past Grand Knight(CY 1996-1997, CY 1997-1998)of Diego Silang Council No.

7656 at the Our Lady of FatimaParish, Quezon City. Duringhis stint as Grand Knight, DiegoSilang Council 7656 received theColumbian Award (1997), StarCouncil Award (1998) and StateService Program Award (1998).He was Co-Editor-in-Chief ofthe CHIVALRY (official news-letter of the Luzon Jurisdiction)for CY 2001-2002. He is past Assistant to the Luzon Deputyand past Corporate Secretary andreasurer of the Knights of Co-lumbus Fraternal Association ofthe Philippines, Inc. (KCFAPI),CY 2001-2003. He was Faith-ful Navigator of Fourth Degree,Padre Gomez Assembly, Quezon

City for CY 2002-2003 and CY2003-2004.

He also has served some timein the government as Vice Chair-man of the GRP Panel alks withthe CPP/NPA/NDF in 1996,

Holy rinity Memorial Chapels andCrematorium (HMCC) stayed to itsvision of being “the premier provider ofmemorial services befitting the dignityof the departed” for more than 33 years.Personalized services with compassion is what Holy rinity came to be known forin the industry. And now on its 33rd year,it promises to continue the commitmentof providing dignified and genuine ser-

vices to its clientele.he celebration

of its 33rd anni-versary was held onthe 9th of October which is a day earli-er than the originalfounding date ofOctober 10. It start-ed with a thanksgiv-ing mass officiatedby Rev. Father SteveVillanueva with Eu-charistic songs ren-dered by the nunsof Daughters of St.

Francis. It was held at Fr. Michael Mc-Givney Suite of Holy rinity MemorialChapels Building along Dr. A Santos Av-enue, Sucat Road, Paranaque City.

Bro. Arsenio Isidro G. Yap, HMCC/Keys Realty and Development Corpora-tion (KRDC) President, talked about the

series of ups and downs endured by thecompany in the early stage of its existence,and that due to the patience, hard work,and perseverance of those entrusted withthe business it was able to sustain a gradualbut steady growth. He talked about theplan of creating a good impression to allthose who would visit the company bycontinuously improving the chapels andfacilities, most particularly the comfortrooms. He also mentioned about thefuture plan of expanding Holy rinityMemorial Chapels to some key cities ofMetro Manila and the provinces wherethere are KC members to provide fraternalbenefits to the brothers in other areas.Tis road map to better services wouldalso mean an increase in the funding ofthe different charities and concerns of theKnights of Columbus in the Philippines.

Bro. Jose C. Reyes, Jr, North LuzonDeputy, KCFAPI President and KRDCBoard member also delivered messages ofhope and inspiration to everyone present.

Distinguished guests were the membersof the Board of Directors and Execu-

tives of KCFAPI, KC members and theaffiliated plan companies’ officers andstaff. Te celebration concluded with theserving of a simple lunch.

Attendees of the Election forum conducted by SK Rene Sarmiento (seated in the middle)

KCFAPI FBG Vice President Gari San Sebastian (leftmost) and FBGManager Michael P. Cabra (rightmost) together with the OctoberFS participants. Te Fraternal Benefits Group (FBG) of the Knightsof Columbus Fraternal Association of the Philippines, Inc. (KCFAPI)

held a two-day Fraternal Service raining program last October 20-21at the Fr. Willmann Building in Intramuros, Manila. Te participants

were from arlac, Laguna, Cavite, Metro Manila, Bulacan, Quezon andNueva Ecija. For more information on the training program, pleasecontact the KCFAPI-FBG department at telephone number (02) 527-2243. (Photo by Kris Jay Rolex Yngco)

Key officers of the Knights of Columbus Fraternal Association of thePhilippines, Inc. (KCFAPI) held their board orientation last October 15.Updates were given by the Vice Presidents on their respective groups.(Photo by Jerome De Guzman)

as Commissioner of the 1986Constitutional Commission, as

Consultant of the PresidentialHuman Rights Committee, asDeputy/Undersecretary Presiden-tial Adviser on the Peace Process in2005, and in 2006 was appointedas Commissioner to the Commis-sion on Elections (COMELEC).

SK Sarmiento finished PoliticalScience at San Beda College andgraduated also with a degree inBachelor of Laws at the Universityof the Philippines. He is pres-ently the Managing Partner ofSarmiento, Sarmiento, Ruga andCaringal Law Firm. He is marriedto La Rainne Abad and they havethree daughters namely Gabriela, Jeremiah, and Golda.

Presently SK Rene is the State

Advocate for the Knights of Co-lumbus - Luzon North, andthe Vice Chairman of KompassCredit & Financing Corporation(KCFC), the credit and financingarm of KCFAPI.

FAPI for bringing up electionawareness to its employees and

urged the Association to bringback the “Education on Election”

with in its members. (KCFAPINews)

KCFAPI Complies with ASEAN Corporate Governance PrinciplesTe Knights of Columbus Fraternal

Associ ation of the Philippines, Inc.l d d it C t G

promotes a common governanceframework on all listed companies

th ASEAN i i l di

should operate. Adoption of interna-tional corporate governance practices

b titi t l t tt t

card as an assessment, diagnostic orbenchmark tool against internationalb t ti

Te ASEAN Corporate GovernanceScorecard aims to encourage the adop-ti f b t ti i t

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