Santhos Digal

Representatives of the Catholic Educational Association of the Philippines visited Christian schools in Zamboanga. Students are offered outreach and community service programmes to empower people to live with the region's painful past.

Renamed the 'Lasallian Institute for Evangelisation and Catechesis', it has been training religion teachers for public schools in the capital and other areas of the country since 1952. Archbishop Fisichella praised its commitment "in the development of leadership in catechesis and faith education".

The movement for interreligious dialogue founded in Mindanao by Fr Sebastiano D'Ambra, a PIME missionary, is also active in offering prisoners training courses for when they regain their freedom. But because of the slow pace of the Philippine justice system, many remain in prison longer than they should. "I pray that during this Lenten period they can be released," said Giljohn G. Rojas, coordinator in Zamboanga prison.

The archbishop of Goa was elected today in Bangkok by the heads of the continent's Bishops' Conferences. Next January he will become the third Indian to head the collegial body, taking over from Card Bo, Archbishop of Yangon, who led the organisation since 2018. Created in 1970, the latter serves as a point of reference today for the synodal journey.

According to UNICEF Philippines, 95 children die every day from malnutrition, while 27 out of 1,000 never reach the age of five. Reversing course is a huge undertaking that also starts with the “Fast to Feed” campaign organised by the Philippine Church to provide a meal to malnourished children during Lent via “Pondo ng Pinoy”.

In his homily, the archbishop of Manila urged the faithful to “engage in more listening and dialogue", via approaches that, while upholding the Church's teachings, avoid judgement and condemnation, helping young couples on their journey. More than 80 groups were present.

Pope Francis instituted the International Day of Prayer and Awareness against Human Trafficking, to be observed on 8 February. A network of Catholic nuns fighting this scourge urges the Philippine government to do more to provide protection and prevention.

Two million people participated today in the capital in the traditional event, one of the most important and popular for the Philippine Church. The statue enclosed in a glass case, to ward off assaults from the crowd. The first celebration without any particular restrictions, after the closures and constraints imposed by the pandemic.

He led the Church in Davao from 1996 until 2012. Archbishop Paul Cuison remembers him as "our man of peace, instrumental in organizing the Bishops-Ulama Conference for Interreligious Dialogue in the Philippines, around which he was able to gather several leaders."

In parishes across the country but also in the diaspora of migrants in every corner of the world, the tradition of Simbang Gabi, the dawn celebrations on the days of the Christmas novena, is renewed. Bishops' Conference president Msgr. David: "They help us to truly welcome Christ into our lives."

The south of the country is still shaken by the jihadist attack on the mass on 3 December, which also distances the prospects of the return of displaced Muslims from Marawi. Interfaith groups are responding to the violence with initiatives of dialogue and confrontation. Hundreds of people of all faiths have joined the initiative. Conversion of hearts and safe spaces against those who feed terror.

Archbishop Msgr. Gilbert Garcera presided over the solemn mass, along with other bishops and priests. Hundreds of the faithful were present to pay tribute to the work of the women religious. In his homily, the prelate emphasized their contribution through "prayer, adoration and sanctification."