Santhos Digal

In the Diocese of Novaliches, the Salvatorian Pastoral Care for Children programme supports women and children in dealing with trauma. The experience, cared for by women religious and volunteers, has expanded to 73 parishes in the Philippines. Sr Mary Adeline Abamo in charge: "Ministry relevant and necessary".

Bishop David, president of the Bishops' Conference, issued an appeal for dialogue between Manila and Beijing at the end of the recent bishops’ assembly. "Nobody wants war,” he said, stressing the need for dialogue. A prayer will be broadcast and recited across the country. A close encounter between two rival coast guards ships risks degenerating into a geopolitical conflict.

Tomorrow students from regional Catholic universities will meet virtually with the pontiff in an event promoted by The Building Bridges Initiative. The focus will be on topics concerning spirituality and social issues. For Card de Mendonça, young people have the task of bringing together realities that are apparently distant and different from one another.

The election during the 2024 general assembly which took place in Lima, Peru. He succeeds Irish priest Fr. Tim Mulroy and will remain in office for the next six years. A priest since 2009, he has carried out his ministry in Taiwan and also in China and the Philippines. Founded in 1918, today they are present in 15 countries.

He died of a heart attack at the age of 69. Since the years when Duterte was mayor of the capital of Mindanao he had fought against his death squads engaged in the ‘war on drugs’. A Redemptorist missionary, he made a great contribution to the grassroots ecclesial communities.

The measure had 126 votes in favour and 109 against. It still needs the approval of the Senate to become state law. In the name of its Constitution, which protects the family, the Philippines is the only country not to have this institution in its legislation. The Catholic Church opposes the law that has been debated for years.

Bishop Pablo Virgilio David, who chairs the Bishops' Conference, calls on faithful to “accompany" the civilian supply mission promoted by the Atin Ito Coalition NGO. About 200 volunteers, 100 fishermen, and five boats evaded China’s naval blockade reaching the disputed Scarborough Shoal.

The situation is reported in a study by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), which matters worse in the southern part of the country, especially in Bangsamoro. About 51.3 per cent are male, and 48.7 per cent are female. Through its educational establishments and institutes, the Church helps young people enter the labour force.

The University of Santo Tomas announced a new course on the 58th World Communications Day, to start with the next academic year. For Prof Felipe Salvosa II, it will provide the tools to assess “the impact of misinformation and disinformation on various fields of study and the democratic system”. The course "Digital Literacy, Fact-Checking, and Verification" is a response to Pope Francis' message on the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI).

The organisation founded by Fr Sebastiano D'Ambra, a PIME missionary, celebrates its foundation in May 1984 in Zamboanga, a province where Christians are a minority. Its focus is young people, trained to become worthy leaders, dedicated to building peace. “We are gathering stories of individuals who have experienced the spirituality of life,” said Fr D’Ambra.

The Botika sa Kapilya (Chapel Pharmacy) programme provides drugs and medical consultations to poor people in the region, thanks to the Jesuit missionary, with the help of Catholic health workers, who are also catechists. About 102 people have benefitted from the initiative that reaches out to people struggling with hunger and the effects of El Niño.

Senator Risa Hontiveros introduced a resolution ahead of Earth Day on 22 April. “As stewards of the Earth, we have a moral imperative to protect our environment for future generations,” said Caritas vice president Bishop Alminaza.