Monitor

CBCP

JANUARY 9 - 22, 2017 VOL 21, NO. 1

CBCPMONITOR@AREOPAGUSCOMMUNICATIONS.COM

PROTAGONIST OF TRUTH, PROMOTER OF PEACE

Parishes make
silent protest
against EJK
SEVERAL dioceses and parishes
across the country hold a silent
demonstration against the surge of
killings linked to the governments
war on drugs.
The silent protest, according to
the Caritas Philippines, is a show
of support to calls for an end to
the extrajudicial killings of drug
suspects.
Fr. Edwin Gariguez, executive
secretary of Caritas Philippines,
said more parishes are joining the
protest as more than 6,000 bodies
have piled up since President
Rodrigo Duterte took office in
July.
Killing of drug traffickers
without due process, even in the
name of a just cause, is morally
unacceptable, said the priest.
What is also alarming, he said, is
that the poor are most vulnerable
to loss of life and the violation and
suppression of their rights.
Unfortunately, reports show
that majority of those killed are
poor people residing in squatter
areas, said Gariguez.
President Dutertes claim of
ensuring and protecting those who
have less in life becomes merely lip
service should the State continue to
violate and disregard the rights of
the poor, he added.
In Iloilo, at least 97 parishes have
placed streamers with messages
calling for the respect of the
dignity of life.
Jaro archdiocesan Social Action
Center director Msgr. Meliton Oso
said they are now in the process of
creating a council that will oversee
the drug rehabilitation program for
drug surrenderees.
We are looking at a therapeutic
community-based rehabilitation
program in coordination with the
barangay local government units,
explained Oso.
Earlier, the Archdiocese of Nueva
Segovia in Ilocos Sur also made a
similar gesture to protest the spate
extrajudicial killings.
Gariguez is urging other local
Caritas networks to join in the
protest and stand firmly behind
the cause.
We support and encourage all
forms of campaigns by the Dioceses
to stop the extra-judicial killings
and other morally unacceptable
acts of the government, he said.
(CBCPNews)

Cardinal
Tagle to drug
surrenderers:
Dont waste
blessing
of hope

Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle of Manila, Bishop Jose Bantolo of Masbate and other priests sing with former drug dependents and volunteer workers from
the Fazenda de Esperanca drug rehabilitation center in Masbate City after the Mass of Hope at the Manila Cathedral, January 8, 2017. ROY LAGARDE

Mercy meeting wont

ignore killings bishop
By Roy Lagarde

THE 4th World Apostolic

Congress of Mercy (WACOM4) in the Philippines
will be characterized,
among others, by the respect to the basic rights
of individuals and to the
value of human life, a
Catholic bishop said.

Bishop Ruperto Santos of

Balanga said the WACOM will
reflect not just on the Divine Mercy
devotion but also on the reality that
the host country is facing human
rights crisis as the fatalities in the
governments war on drugs pile up.
Mercy is connected with life and
life is connected with environment,
he said in a press briefing in Manila
on January 3. In general, it is
always to love life, to live life and
to defend life. Its always focused
on life.
So there would be a message
Mercy / A6

Bishop Ruperto Santos speaks during a press conference in Manila on Jan. 3, 2017. MARIA TAN

Lay groups taking the streets vs summary executions

P R O T E S T E R S
composed of various
lay church groups
will take the streets
of Manila to show
their rejection of the
wave of extrajudicial
executions in the
country.
Sangguniang Laiko
ng Pilipinas President
Zenaida Capistrano
said the Walk for Life
on Feb. 18 is among
the opportunities
for the lay people to
show that they care
for others, especially
the poor.
In a press conference
Jan. 11, she said its
about time for the lay
faithful to express their
opposition to the more
than 6,200 unexplained
killings and as well
as governments plan
to restore the death
penalty.
We, the Filipino
Catholic lay faithful
signify our protest
against all forms of

threats to human
life and dignity that
are coming from the
economic, social, and
political structures and
authorities, Capistrano
said.
We have all the
chances to do what
is expected of us.
Let us express to the
government our real
sentiments. Let us go out
and tell them that we are
against this culture of
death, she added.
Organizers said the
march will converge
at the Quirino
Grandstand in Manila
that is expected to be
attended by different lay
organizations.
Capistrano said those
planning to attend are
encouraged to bring
their own sloganbearing placards,
banners, as well
as white and yellow
flaglets and ribbons to
echo their call for the
protection of life.

CARDINAL Luis Antonio Tagle of

Manila called on drug surrenders
not to waste Gods blessing of
hope.
Celebrating the Mass of Hope
on the first Sunday of Epiphany
at the Manila Cathedral, he
urged them to look to Christ,
for only He can bring lasting
fulfillment.
God wanted to accept us all.
I hope that we will not waste the
blessing He is giving us, Cardinal
Tagle said in his homily.
God said that we all commit
mistake but He has always been
there will never get fed up. Dont
be afraid. Come to Him. Dont be
indifferent, he said.
Dozens of reformed drug
addicts helped by the Fazenda
da Esperanca (Farms of Hope),
a Catholic drug rehabilitation
farm, and other surrenders
who are still undergoing
rehabilitation attended the
liturgical event.
After recently setting up an
extension program in the Diocese of
Masbate, the Fazenda da Esperanca
also signed a partnership with the
Manila archdiocese.
The collaboration aims to further
strengthen the archdioceses
ongoing program to provide
drug surrenders psycho-spiritual
rehabilitation.
Launched in October last
year, the Sanlakbay Para sa
Pagbabagong Buhay program
is the archdioceses response to
the thousands of drug users who
voluntary surrendered to the
police authorities.
The cardinal added the Farms
of Hope is a community-based
approach to help drug dependents
where they can slowly be integrated
back into society.
No person will be discarded by
Jesus. Every person is welcome
to follow the light and hope.
Every life has hope, he said.
(CBCPNews)

Archbishop hits fake news

ARCHBISHOP Socrates
Villegas of LingayenDagupan has denied a
newspaper report that
he criticized President
Rodrigo Duterte in his
New Year homily.
The archbishop
described the Manila
Times report titled
Duterte no protector of
Filipinos Archbishop
Villegas as fake
and was deliberately
manufactured.
This is fake news!

Archbishop Villegas
said. Please be truthful.
Do not use the Church to
spread lies.
The report claimed
that in his homily at the
Dagupan Cathedral on
Dec. 31, the archbishop
supposedly said that in
pushing for the revival
of the death penalty,
Duterte will be killing
people, especially the
poor.
Although the Church
Fake / A6

Act against condom distribution

Relatives of victims of alleged extrajudicial killings speak during a press conference in Manila with Bishop
Broderick Pabillo, Dec. 14, 2016. ROY LAGARDE

Manila Auxiliary
Bishop Broderick
Pabillo, chairman
of the bishops
Commission on the
Laity, also emphasized
the need for the clergy
to strengthen the
Churchs teachings on

the value of human life.

He lamented that
many Filipinos are
indifferent, with some
even approving, the
killings of suspected
drug pushers and
users, where majority
of the victims are

among the poor.

On the part of
the clergy, it is a real
challenge for us to teach
the faithful that being a
true Christian means we
have to care for others
also, Pabillo said.
(CBCPNews)

A M I D S T
t h e
heightening concern
about extra-judicial
killings (EJKs) and
the death penalty bill,
a prominent family and
life advocate warned
the greater threat
is actually the push
for the distribution
of condoms planned
for immediate
implementation by the

Department of Health
(DOH).
In his message to
pro-life advocates on
the feast of the Holy
Innocents, Frank
Padilla, Servant
General of Couples
for Christ Foundation
for Family and Life
(CFC-FFL), cautioned
that acceptance
Distribution / A6

A2 NEWS

January 9 - 22, 2017 Vol. 21 No. 1

Bishops mention immigration policy, heritage

in National Migration Week statement

A woman holds a childs hand as they arrive for a rally in support of immigrants rights in New York City Dec. 18, 2016. Cardinal Daniel N. DiNardo of Galveston-Houston and
Archbishop Jose H. Gomez of Los Angeles called attention in a Jan. 6 statement the hardships and contributions of immigrants to American society as the U.S. church prepared
to observe National Migration Week. CNS PHOTO/GREGORY A. SHEMITZ

WASHINGTON, Jan 7, 2017

Urging Americans to look at
their families for stories of
immigration, the president
and vice president of the
U.S. Conference of Catholic
Bishops called attention to the
hardships and contributions
of immigrants to American
society as the U.S. church
prepared to observe National
Migration Week.
Cardinal Daniel N. DiNardo
of Galveston-Houston and
Archbishop Jose H. Gomez
of Los Angeles also said in
a Jan. 6 statement that the
week is an opportunity to
embrace the important work
of continuing to secure the

border, to welcome the stranger

and serve the most vulnerable
as components of a humane
immigration policy.
National Migration Week
was to be observed Jan. 8-14.
This year, we are invited to
create a culture of encounter
where citizens old and new,
alongside immigrants recent
and long-standing, can
share with one another their
hopes for a better life, said
the statement marking the
observance, which began 25
years ago as a way to reflect
on how immigrants and
refugees have contributed
to the church. Jesus, Mary
and Joseph knew life as

refugees, so let us also begin

this encounter within our
very own families.
The prelates said migration
is an act of great hope
and those who are forced
leave their homelands suffer
devastating family separation
and most often face dire
economic conditions to the
point they cannot maintain
a very basic level of living.
War and persecution
force refugees to leave their
homelands, they said. They
urged Catholics to seek stories
from their families about how
their parents, grandparents
or great-grandparents left
their homelands.

Let us remind ourselves

of those moments when our
loved ones were forced to seek
the mercy of others in a new
land, the statement said.
Though the United
States has a great national
heritage of welcoming
the stranger, fear and
intolerance have occasionally
tested that heritage, the
statement said, adding that
whether immigrating from
Ireland, Italy or countless
other countries, previous
generations faced bigotry.
Thanks be to God, our nation
grew beyond those divisions
to find strength in unity and
inclusion. (CNS)

Egyptian cathedral restored after December bombing

CAIRO, Egypt, Jan 5, 2017The
Egyptian army corps of engineers has
completed the restoration of Saint
Marks Coptic Cathedral in Cairo, where
a terrorist attack last month left 27 dead.
In a statement published on their
Facebook page, the Egyptian Army
reported that the areas of the church
damaged by the attack were quickly
repaired by direct order of President
Abdel Fattah Sisi so that Coptic
Christians could celebrate the feast of
Christmas there.

Coptic Christianswho represent 10%

of the population of Egypt and often face
building restrictions and other obstacles
in practicing their faithcelebrate
Christmas on January 7.
The Coptic Cathedral of Saint Mark,
located in the Al Abasiya neighborhood,
was damaged Dec. 11 by a suicide
bombing. The target of the attack was
the Saint Peter and Saint Paul chapel,
an annex to the cathedral, where Mass
was being celebrated at the time.
ISIS claimed responsibility for the

attack, which is among the deadliest

against civilians in Egypt in recent years.
The majority of the dead and injured
were women and children.
This church is also the seat of
the Egyptian Coptic Church and is
the cathedra of Coptic Patriarch
Tawadros II.
Pope Francis condemned the attack,
saying that in face of violence, there is
only one possible response: faith in God
and unity in human and civil values.
(CNA)

Bishop offers prayers after Brazil prison riot leaves 56 dead

RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil,
Jan 4, 2017A local bishop
called for prayer and prison
reform efforts after a 17hour prison uprising in the
Amazon city of Manaus,
Brazil, left at least 56 dead.
The incident is a very
sad and apprehensive
situation, said Auxiliary
Bishop of Manaus, Jos
Alburquerque de Arujo.
He asked all the people
of the country to unite in
prayer.
Late in the day on
January 1, a riot broke out
in the AnsioJobim Prison
Complex. According to
authorities, the riot was
caused by an internal dispute
between criminal gangs

inside the prison: the local

group, Family of the North
(FDN), massacred members
of the First Command of
the Capital (PCC), which
is based in the south-east
region of the country.
International drug
trafficking is a major
problem in the northern
area of Brazil, where
Manaus is located. Criminal
gangs exert significant
influence from inside
prisons in the region.
Before the riot, some
prisoners escaped from
Manaus and another prison in
the area, but official numbers
have not been disclosed.
During the uprising, 12
prison guards were also

taken as hostages, but they

were released unharmed
after negotiations with the
authorities.
It was the second
deadliest prison riot in
Brazil, following the 1992
riot in Carandiru, So Paulo
state, where 111 prisoners
died.
Among the problems
plaguing the Brazilian prison
system is overcrowding.
The AnsioJobim Prison
Complex has the capacity
to house 454 inmates, but
is currently flooded with
1224 prisoners, according
to the BBC.
In an interview with
Vatican Radio, Auxiliary
Bishop Albuquerque de

Arajo said that the voice

of the Church in Manaus
is one of great lament
and profound sadness; we
are all united in prayer:
priests, deacons, pastoral
workers, we bishops and
those serving in prison
ministry.
This is a very sad
situation, which presents
a great challenge to us,
to address the conditions
in our prisons with
serenity and much justice,
respecting human rights
and trying to make peace
come about in our prisons,
something which is not
happening in Manaus or
in our country, he said.
(CNA)

Catholics skeptical over Indian court ban on use of religion in elections

NEW DELHI, Jan 7, 2017Indias
Supreme Court has barred the use
of religion in political elections but
Christian leaders say confusion exists
as the court has not clarified its earlier
ruling that Hinduism is not a religion
but a way of life.
The Jan. 2 ruling said political
candidates, either directly or through
their agents, cannot ask people to vote on
grounds of their caste, race, community
or religion as India is constitutionally a
secular state and necessarily implies
that religion will not play any role in the
governance of the country.
It said an election would be void if a

candidate sought votes on the basis of

religion.
On the face of it, it is a welcome
ruling but some confusion exists as
the court has not clarified its 1995
judgment that Hinduism cannot be
considered a religion but only a way of
life, said Bishop Theodore Mascarenhas,
secretary-general of the Indian Catholic
bishops conference.
The judgment could have been more
complete and global had the court
pronounced that seeking votes on the
basis of the Hindu religion is against
the secular ideals of India, said Bishop
Mascarenhas.

Supreme Court lawyer M. P. Raju

told ucanews.com that this judgment
can be potentially misused. A
candidate may seek votes in the name
of Hinduism and say he or she is only
seeking votes in the name of Hindu
culture while a Muslim or Christian
seeking votes using their religion can
be taken to task, he said.
Raju clarified that a law against the
use of religion already existed in India
and that the court was only considering
the question of whose religiona
candidates, his opponents or voters
should not be used in political appeals.
(UCAN)

CBCP Monitor

Vatican Briefing

Pope kicks off New Year renewing zero tolerance

policy on abuse
In a letter sent to bishops around the world for the
feast of the Holy Innocents, Pope Francis lamented
the many children who suffer from war, slavery and
various forms of abuse, including within the Church.
The Church not only hears the cries of pain of her
children who suffer from war, slavery and malnutrition,
he said, but she also weeps because she recognizes
the sins of some of her members: the sufferings, the
experiences and the pain of minors who were abused
sexually by priests.It is a sin that shames us. Persons
responsible for the protection of those children
destroyed their dignity. We regret this deeply and we
beg forgiveness.Francis condemned the sin of failing
to help, of covering up and denial and the sin of the
abuse of power that happened in many cases. (Elise
Harris/CNA)
Pope to diplomats: Peace must be more than a theory
Following a year marred by war and terrorism, Pope
Francis told diplomats Jan. 9 that for 2017, peace has
to be more than just an idea or a nice theory, but must
be actively pursued with concrete policies aimed at
promoting the common good and the dignity of the
human person. Pope Francis spoke to the Diplomatic
Corps Accredited to the Holy See as part of his
traditional exchange of New Years greetings with the
diplomats. There are currently 182 ambassadors of
other countries to the Holy See, 88 of whom reside
in Rome. For him, part of the peace-building process
means eradicating the causes of violence and injustice,
one of which is the deplorable arms trade and the
never-ending race to create and spread ever more
sophisticated weaponry, which he has frequently
condemned. (Elise Harris/CNA)
Cardinal Mueller: No problem with doctrine in
Amoris laetitia
The Vaticans doctrinal head has challenged several
cardinals public questioning of the doctrinal validity
of Amoris laetitia, saying the document is very clear
on doctrine, and that making the discussion public is
harmful to the Church.Everyone, above all the cardinals
of the Roman Church, have a right to write a letter to
the Pope. However, I was amazed because this was
made public, almost forcing the Pope to say yes or no,
Cardinal Gerhard Mller, prefect of the Congregation for
the Doctrine of the Faith, said in a Jan. 8 interview with
Italian TV channel Tgcom24.I dont like this, he said,
adding that it does damage to the Church to discuss
these things publicly. (Elise Harris/CNA)
Pope to parents: Teach your children the faith by example
Pope Francis Sunday baptized 28 babies during Mass
in the Sistine Chapel, reminding parents that by asking
for the Sacrament of Baptism, the gift of faith, for their
child, they have a responsibility to guard it and to help
it deepen.The faith is to believe what is the truth. God
the Father who sent his son, and the spirit who gives
life, he said Jan. 8. But faith is also to trust in God,
and that you must teach them, with your example, with
your life.Pope St. John Paul II started the custom for
the Pope to baptize babies in the Sistine Chapel on the
Feast of the Baptism of the Lord. In his homily, Pope said
faith must be lived, a journey that must be walked and
which must give witness.(Hannah Brockhaus/CNA)
A new vocational culture is needed in the Church,
Pope Francis says
A fresh and courageous perspective is needed when
it comes to helping youth discern and discover their
vocation, Pope Francis said on Jan. 5, emphasizing the
importance of personal holiness and the commitment
to serving others.(Today) there is the urgency to bring
into the Christian community a new vocational culture,
the Pope said in his prepared Jan. 5 remarks. He said a
vocational pastoral outreach with broad horizons and
which comes from the breath of communion, is needed.
Francis spoke to participants in a Jan. 3-5 convention
organized by the Italian Bishops Conferences office for
vocations, titled Rise, go and do not fear. Vocation and
Holiness: I am on a mission. (Elise Harris/CNA)
Terminally ill Army sergeant, who used military grit
to meet pope, dies
Cheryl Tobin, a former master sergeant with the Army
who used her military might to flag down the pope for
a blessing, died in her sleep New Years Eve. She was
48.Terminally ill with a rare form of cancer, Tobin went
on a pilgrimage to Rome and Assisi in May thanks to the
generosity, prayers and assistance of many people who
wanted to help her fulfill her dream. Despite the fatigue
that came from radiation treatments, chemotherapy
and surgery, Tobin was able to climb the Holy Stairs on
her knees, climb to the top of St. Peters Basilica, and
climb atop a plastic chair to wave hard and high above
the crowds during Pope Francis general audience May
11.Her enthusiasm caught the guards attention and
they let her pass the barricades to meet the pope and
receive his blessing and embrace. (Carol Glatz/CNS)
Vatican says 3.9 million pilgrims visited during
Jubilee year
More than 3.9 million pilgrims visited and attended
papal events, liturgies or prayer services during the
Holy Year of Mercy in 2016, the Vatican said.The
Prefecture of the Papal Household, the Vatican office
that coordinates the audiences and distributes the free
tickets to papal audiences and liturgies, said a total of
3,952,140 people attended a papal event at the Vatican.
The Vatican released the statistics Dec. 29.Although the
total was slightly higher from the 3.2 million visitors
received by Pope Francis in 2015, for a jubilee year it
still fell short of the 5.9 million pilgrims who visited
in 2014.Terrorists attacks in Europe throughout the
year are also thought to have discouraged visitors from
traveling during what are typically busy tourist seasons
in Italy. (Junno Arocho Esteves/CNS)

CBCP Monitor

NEWS A3

January 9 - 22, 2017 Vol. 21 No. 1

Jubilee of Mercy prepared us for Year of Parish

MANILA As the Church in the
Philippines celebrates the Year
of the Parish as a Communion of
Communities, some parishioners
look back on the Jubilee Year of
Mercy, recalling how the event
gave them a foretaste of the local
Churchs current pastoral focus.
What I experienced in the Year
of the Jubilee of Mercy is the love of
God that I felt, not only personally
but also in our community, said
Kathleen Amparo, a parishioner
of Christ the King Parish, Batasan
Hills, Quezon City, in Filipino.
She said parish activities included
visiting the sick and those in prison
and assisting the needy.
Amparos co-parishioner, Orly
Damian, shared a similar experience:

In my spiritual journey in this Year

of Mercy, I had more inspiration
and motivation to pray, especially
in times that I was struggling in my
mission in [the] BEC.
The parish comes alive
In doing my mission in serving
the parish, there are times that I
doubt, he explained. But since I
became regularly active in serving
the parishthats I believe is through
the mercy of the Lord despite all my
shortcomings, all my sinsHe gave
me the opportunity to serve more
and learn moreto pray more to
Him and love Him more.
Another parishioner of the
said parish, Abet Jaramillos,
emphasized: The Jubilee Year of

Mercy was very memorable to me.

First, on a personal level, I became
closer to God. Second, I was able
to see that our community became
more alive due to the appearance of
the BEC in our parish.
Our parish actually became alive.
Through participation in the BEC,
we became more comfortable with
each other in doing each activity of
our parish. We saw the presence of
God, he said. Amparo, Damian,
and Jaramillos are all members of
the Basic Ecclesial Communities
(BEC) of the said parish.
Meanwhile, Aurora Cantero of
Sto. Nio De Congreso Parish,
Bagumbong in Caloocan City
stressed that the Jubilee of Mercy
enabled deeper service in Church

Want to have St. Josemara

Escriva in your parish?

through the BECs.

3 in 1 celebration
The most important experience
I had in this Jubilee of Mercy is the
grace of unity or [the chance] to sort
out the little misunderstandings
in life, which shouldnt actually be
a cause for misunderstandings in
the first place, she said. Another
important experience was that my
service in the Church deepened
through the BEC. It is actually in
the BEC that I felt the true love
of my brothers and sisters in the
grassroots, added Cantero.
In the Diocese of Novaliches, the
Year of the Parish as Communion
of Communities was officially
launched on Dec. 9, 2016 during

a three-in-one celebration held at

Mary the Queen Parish of Teresa
Heights, Quezon City.
The three-in-one celebration
also simultaneously closed the
Jubilee Year and the Year of the
Eucharist and the Family in the
diocese while celebrating the 14th
Foundation of the Diocese on Dec.
7 and Novaliches Bishop Antonio
R. Tobias, D.D.s 51st sacerdotal
anniversary on Dec. 21.
Previously, the diocese held on
Nov. 19, 2016 a theological pastoral
conference on The Parish as a
Communion of Communities at the
St. Paul Shrine, Casa Milan, Quezon
City to prepare the faithful for the
opening of the Year of the Parish.
(Minnie Agdeppa/CBCPNews)

What an Italian bishop saw at his first exorcism

ROME, Italy Archbishop Erio
Castellucci has a response to those
who think the devil is not real:
theyre mistaken.
All you have to do is witness
an exorcism to understand that
evil is a specific entity, as well as
a reality, he told the Italian daily
Il Resto del Carlino.
The Archbishop of ModenaNonantola had seen possessed
persons throughout his life,
but he had never witnessed an
exorcism. Then one of the two
priest exorcists in his archdiocese
called him. The priest had a
difficult case.
The exorcist visited the
archbishop and invited him to
witness the rite.
Come, he said to me, because
this man has been possessed for
a long time, he comes to me once
a week and your presence, as a
bishop, may have an influence,

the archbishop recounted.

Archbishop Castellucci said
he understood the urgency of
the case when he saw how the
possessed person reacted to the
exorcism.
On July 3, 2015, Archbishop
Castellucci went to a parish church
in Modena where exorcisms are
performed. The exorcist and
the possessed person, a middle
aged man, were there. He had
barely entered when the demonpossessed man started to shout,
Get out, get out of here, you will
have a bad death.
The man then fell into a trance.
Then it seemed as if he had
woken up and in an instant drove
his fingernails into the back of my
hands, Archbishop Castellucci
continued. He had a diabolical
look on his face and he uttered
unrepeatable insults and curses.
The possessed man told me I

would die in a traffic accident and

while he was saying it he looked
pleased.
Archbishop Castellucci reflected
on the claim, saying My life is in
the hands of the Lord Jesus and
certainly not in that demons. I
wasnt worried at all. The word of
God teaches that the curses are
ineffective.
After this experience, the
archbishop said that he does
not rule out the possibility of
participating in other exorcisms.
The Italian exorcists themselves
lament that they are few in number.
Archbishop Castellucci said
discernment was important
regarding alleged cases of
possession. Many cases belong
more to the competence of a
psychiatrist than an exorcist.
He also stressed the importance
of prayers of deliverance to help
disturbed persons heal. (CNA)

Therese of Lisieuxs parents inspired this drug rehab project

Fr. Willy Ong, with the collaboration of other devotees, installed portraits of St. Josemara, the Saint of the
ordinary people, in more than 500 parishes, schools and other institutions. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

MANILA As part of the desire to

spread the devotion to the saints,
especially to St. Josemara Escriva,
whose birth anniversary, Jan. 9,
coincides with the feast of the Black
Nazarene- Fr. William Ong, chaplain
of Dualtech Training Center, with
the collaboration of other devotees,
initiated the project of installing
portraits of the saint in churches
and other institutions all over the
Philippines.
By now, we already installed St.
Josemaras picture in more than
500 places: parish churches, schools,
seminaries, hospitals, offices You
name it, disclosed the priest.
If a church or any place in your
community is interested to have a
portrait of St. Josemara, I can be
contacted through my Facebook page
(FrWilly Ong). I will facilitate and
if needed seek sponsors for the
installation of the portrait of the saint
in any place where there are people
interested in seeking Christ through
the teachings and intercession of this
saint, promised Ong.
Saint of the Ordinary
St. John Paul II called St. Josemara
the Saint of the Ordinary because he
showed ordinary people how to seek
holiness and to do apostolate in daily
life, said Ong, recalling the saints
canonization in 2002.
It is our hope that the faithful
of the parish, or persons even

non-Catholics who visit schools,

hospitals, offices, where the images of
St. Josemara are installed, get to know
the saint and, through him, develop a
deeper relationship with Jesus Christ,
explained the priest.
Stories of conversion
As examples, the priest gave
accounts of volunteer catechists who
were inspired by St. Josemara.
We installed St. Josemarias picture
in every school we taught catechism.
There were teachers who went to
confession after missing the sacrament
for many years; one teacher asked to
be baptized. One teacher was ignoring
us because she thought we were a
religious cult. But when we talked
to her about the sacraments and
invited her to go to confession before
Christmas, she realized that we are
Catholic and she started helping us in
all our activities. She even invited us to
another school to give a talk on chastity
for first-year college students.
According to the Catechism of the
Catholic Church, sacred images in our
churches and homes are intended to
awaken and nourish our faith in the
mystery of Christ.
Through the icon of Christ and his
works of salvation, it is he whom we
adore. Through sacred images of the
holy Mother of God, of the angels and
of the saints, we venerate the persons
represented, the Catechism says. (Fr.
Mickey Cardenas/CBCP News)

MONTEVIDEO,
Uruguay A project to
end the drug scourge
in Uruguay has drawn
inspiration from the
recently canonized
parents of the Little
Flower Saint Therese
of Lisieux.
Saint Louis Martin and
Saint Zelie Guerin, whom
Pope Francis canonized
in October 2015, are the
namesakes of a chapel
in the headquarters of
the Renacer Project.
The Catholic initiative,
whose name refers to
being born again, has
worked for 28 years to
aid the full rehabilitation
of drug addicts and their
families.
Cardinal Daniel Sturla
of Montevideo celebrated
the dedication Mass on
Dec. 28, the Solemnity
of the Holy Innocents.
How good it is that
this chapel is dedicated
to those holy parents,
a holy couple. Here we
see the victory of love,
purity, beauty, and the
joy of the family gathered
together, he said.
The Mass featured the
enthronement of first
class relics of the couple,
which came directly from
their shrine at Alenon,
France.
In his homily, Cardinal
Sturla recalled the
history of these two

A Vatican tapestry of Louis and Zelie Martin, who were canonized on Oct.
18, 2015 in St. Peters Square. MARTHA CALDERON/CNA

saints. Both had asked

to consecrate their lives
to God. Louis wanted to
join the monks of the
Great Saint Bernard
Monastery in the Alps.
Zelie wanted to join the
Daughters of Charity of
Saint Vincent de Paul.
Neither one was
accepted since God had
another plan for them.
They met and their
rapport was so quick
that they were married
on July 13, 1858, just
three months after they
first met.
Nine children were
born to this union,
four of whom died

prematurely. Among the

five surviving daughters
was Saint Therese, the
future patron saint of the
missions.
Cardinal Sturla quoted
the words Saint Therese
dedicated to her parents:
They were more worthy
of heaven than of earth.
The joy of a truly
Christian family is to
experience the joy and
honor it means that
Jesus has laid his eyes on
one of their children and
called him or her to the
priestly or religious life.
And until there are many
families in Uruguay who
feel that, how far we

will really be from being

Christians, the cardinal
said.
For the cardinal, the key
to this marriage was the
systematic life they lived
of daily Mass, prayer,
meditation and teaching
the children about God
from an early age.
Christian parents
know that the most
important thing they
can hand on to their
children is the faith. It
is the footprint that God
left in each one of us,
he said.
The Chapel of Saint
Louis Martin and Saint
Zelie Guerin is the
Renacer Projects third
chapel. Its dedication
coincided with the
25th anniversary of the
ordination of its founding
priest, Carmelite Father
Gustavo Larrique.
What do Zelie, Louis
and their daughters hand
on to us from this place,
which was a stable and
now is a little chapel?
The beauty of marriage,
the beauty of the family.
That great school of
humanity and holiness,
Fr. Larrique said near the
close of Mass.
With the Renacer
Project, he explained,
we try to tell everyone
that life is a very precious
gift, and that you have to
take care of it. (CNA)

Kidnapped Salesian priest appeals for Pope Francis help in video

ADEN, Yemen A Salesian priest
kidnapped in Yemen on March
4 personally appealed for Pope
Francis help in an unconfirmed
video posted to YouTube Dec. 26.
Dear Pope Francisas a father,
please take care of my life, Father
Tom Uzhunnalil said. My health
is deteriorating; I am in need of
hospitalization soon. Please come
to my help quickly.
The priest also urged the Church
and government in his home nation
of India to come to his aid.
Several months have gone by
and my captors have made many
contacts with the government of
India to get me released, the priest
said. I am very sad that nothing has
been done seriously in my regard.

The five-minute video was the

first apparent communication
from Fr. Tom since his abduction
March 4 during an armed attack
on a Missionaries of Charity-run
retirement home in Aden, the
provincial capital of Yemen. The
priest had overgrown hair and
spoke slowly from a prepared script.
I request also the other bishops
all over the world to come to my
help to save my life, Fr. Tom said.
I very much depressed. I request
also my fellow human beings of
different governments to consider
me as a human person and come to
my help on a humanitarian level to
get me released and save my life.
I need your help. Please help me.
Pope Francis did appeal for the

priests release April 10 after his

Sunday Regina Caeli address in St.
Peters Square.
I renew my appeal for the freeing of
all kidnapped persons in armed conflict
zones, the Pope said. In particular, I
wish to remember Salesian priest Tom
Uzhunnalil, who was abducted in Aden,
Yemen last March 4.
No one has claimed responsibility
for the kidnapping. The Indian
government has reportedly
had difficulty brokering for the
priests release because of political
instability in Yemen.
Fr. Tom garnered international
attention last spring when rumors
spread that he was to be crucified
on Good Friday. Those rumors were
later discredited.

Yemen has been embroiled in civil

war since March of 2015, when Shia
rebels attempted to oust Yemens Sunniled government. Saudi Arabia has
led a pro-government coalition. Both
al-Qaeda and the Islamic State have
set up strongholds in the country amid
the power vacuum. More than 6,000
people have been killed in the conflict,
according to the United Nations.
The Apostolic Vicariate of
Southern Arabia urged Christians
to pray for Fr. Tom in a Sept. 2
interview with CNA.
Fr. Tomhad returned to Yemen,
asking me and the provincial for
permission, Bishop Paul Hinder
told CNA. I told him: If you want,
I will help you enter my country.
Certainly today its painful to think

A screen capture from the video purporting to

show Fr. Tom Uzhunnalil, the priest kidnapped by
militants in Yemen.

about.
But I am still convinced it was
right, Bishop Hinder said. In
war you can never predict what
happens.(CNA)

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