Santhos Digal

The collaborative body relaunches its mission with first meeting in years. Christian and Muslim leaders together call for the reinclusion of Sulu in the Bangsamoro autonomous region, to safeguard the achievements of the peace process. The satisfaction of the Silsilah movement: ‘Important step at this historic moment when divisions and conflicts emerge in the Philippines and in the world’.

The president of the Bishops' Conference, whom Pope Francis announced among the new cardinals, has been bishop of Kalookan since 2015, one of the hardest hit by Duterte's extrajudicial killings in the fight against drugs. A courageous voice in defence of the weak, he has created 20 missionary stations for a Church closer to the poor. The tenth cardinal in the history of the Philippine Church, he joins Tagle and Advincula in the electoral group.

The Commission on Elections will accept nominations or certificates of candidacy between 1 and 8 October for the May 2025 midterm elections; 12 senate seats are among the most coveted positions. Bishop Ruperto Cruz Santos calls for Church and government to work together. He appeals to politicians to think about the “welfare of the community”.

The Philippine Church held its annual Sunday dedicated to catechists, holding a national fundraiser to support this ministry. Delegates from every diocese met in Jaro from 9 to 12 September. The importance of passing on the faith to the new generations was highlighted. For Bishop Galbines, only those who have "seen the Lord" can share his love.

More than 300 believers from different Christian denominations participated yesterday in an initiative to mark the Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation. Organised by the Philippine Laudato Si' Movement with various religious institutions, the event included prayers, reflections and awareness-raising initiatives on renewable energy. Bishops' Conference president Bishop David: “Indigenous peoples teach us about the bond between all creatures”.

The Asian equivalent of the Nobel Prize was awarded to four individuals from Bhutan, Indonesia, Japan, and Vietnam as well as an organisation from Thailand: Karma Phuntsho for his contribution to Bhutan’s cultural heritage, Miyazaki Hayao for the use of animation to illuminate the human condition, the Rural Doctors Movement in Thailand for its commitment to public health. The ceremony will be held on 16 November in Manila.

Bishop Vergara formally opened the cause of a laywoman who passed away at age 75 in 2011 and dedicated her life to the service of the diocese and the poor in Metro Manila. In 2002 Pope John Paul II had presented her with the Mother Teresa of Calcutta Award.

For the Philippines, this is a historic result after the first ever gold by weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz in the 2020 Olympics. Philippine bishops praise the discipline, determination, and devotion shown by the 24-year-old athlete, who trained in Japan.

About 250 priests from all of the country’s dioceses are meeting in Manila to reflect on sharing the pastoral ministry following the path traced by Pope Francis. For Bishop Pablo Virgilio David, president of the Bishops' Conference, “synodality brings in the wisdom of not monopolizing the mission. The mission is about the Church.”

Bishop Ruperto Cruz Santos appealed to the faithful on the occasion of the World Day that the UN is celebrating today with a special focus on minors. There are still many people, the prelate stressed, who live in conditions of modern slavery. It is especially important to protect children, the most vulnerable victims.

Called Gaemi in neighbouring countries, the typhoon is now moving over Taiwan. At least 13 people have died and hundreds of thousands have been displaced in the flooded area that coincides with large parts of the large suburbs of the Philippine capital. People are reported still waiting for rescue on rooftops. Prayers for the rains to stop.

The devastation caused by Typhoon Hayan 11 years ago has strengthened the faith of people in Leyte, which is hosting the 22nd National Conference of Youth Ministers (NCYM) until Sunday. Hundreds of delegates are attending the biennial event to look at the role of youth in the Church. Archbishop John F. Du tells young people: “Hope is present because of you.”