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by Joel V. Ocampo At 7:00 in the evening today, February 29, 2024, the Vatican announced the appointment of Rev. Fr. Luisito Audal Occiano, a clergy of the Archdiocese of Caceres as the new Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Virac, Province of Catanduanes, and a suffragan of the Archdiocese of Caceres. The announcement was made, following the acceptance of the Holy Father Pope Francis of the resignation from the pastoral governance of the current bishop of the Diocese of Virac, His Excellency Most Rev. Manolo A. De Los Santos, D.D., who is now 76 of age, and served the said diocese since 1994. Bishop-elect Louie Occiano was born on June 21, 1971 on the Memorial of St. Aloysius Gonzaga. He studied secondary education at the Holy Rosary Minor Seminary, Naga City; Philosophy and Theology at the Holy Rosary Major Seminary in Naga City. He received his Ordination to the Sacred Order of Presbyters on November 10, 1996, a day after the ordination to priesthood of Most Rev. Rex Andrew C. Alarcon, the New Archbishop of Caceres. After his ordination, Bishop-elect Occiano continued his studies in Religious Formation and Catechesis at the Ateneo de Manila University, obtaining a Master of Arts from the Ateneo de Naga University in Naga City. According to the document released by the Vatican, Bishop-elect Occiano served in the following ministries: Parochial Vicar, St. John the Evangelist Metropolitan Cathedral, Naga City (1996); Deputy Secretary, Jubilee Executive Committee (1999); Secretary to the Archbishop; Member, Commission on Social Communications (2002); Director, Catechetical Ministry Parish Vicar, St. Francis of Assisi, Naga City (2003); Vice-Rector, Minor Basilica Our Lady of Peñafrancia, Naga City, Director, Caceres Commission on Communications; President, Tricentennial Celebration and Media Committee (2008); Member, Catechetical Ministry Council (2011); Parish Priest, St. Bartholomew Apostle, Baao, Camarines Sur (2015-2021); Rector and Parish Priest, Archdiocesan Sanctuary of Saint Joseph (2021-present) Professor, Holy Rosary Seminary (Naga City). photos from Archdiocesan Shrine of St. Joseph In one of his homilies during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, Bishop-elect Occiano said, “They say ‘Save the best for last’. Allow me to change that into ‘Save the worst to Christ.’ Because sometimes, we think that we can handle everything. We think that we are extraordinary already because of our talents, intelligence, and wisdom. We think we can handle every storm of life; but there are things that we have to consider and accept that we cannot do everything with our own hands, and save the worst to Christ. Because it is only Christ who can overcome everything. Even things that we cannot handle, that we cannot overcome.”

Homily of H.E. Most Rev. Salvatore “Rino” Fisichella Pro-Prefect of the Vatican’s Dicastery for Evangelization Section on New Evangelization At the Misa de Gracia for the Solemn Declaration of the International Shrine of Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage February 26, 2024 My dear brothers and sisters, before I make some reflections on the Word of God that we have heard, allow me to express, first of all, a word of thanksgiving. A few days before leaving, I met with Pope Francis; and I told him about my coming to the Shrine of Antipolo. And giving me the Gold Rose, the Holy Father charged me to say to all of you that he will send his own Apostolic Blessing. Then, he recommends to all of you, each of you, to pray for him. So please, remember in your prayer, the Holy Father, Pope Francis. Then, first of all, I would like to say my thank you to my dear brother, the Bishop of Church of Antipolo, His Excellency Bishop Ruperto Cruz Santos for the invitation he had extended to me on numerous occasions so that I would be present in this celebration. This local church has the responsibility of having in its land the Shrine of Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage, that we have established as an international shrine. The presence of such a shrine is a sign of grace that calls all of us to a deep witness of faith. I extend also my greetings to the representative of the Holy Father, the Nuncio, Archbishop Bishop Charles John Brown who graciously received me, and who carries out his mission to the Church in the Philippines with a great commitment. A cordial greeting to His Eminence,Cardinal Advincula, Archbishop of Manila. To all the bishops present, to the priests, deacons, seminarians, to the consecrated person, the civil authorities who are participating in this moment of celebration and prayer. And I don't want to forget Fr. Reynante Tolentino and the staff that take daily care — pastoral care—of this shrine. To all of you, my brothers and sisters: Peace, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ risen from dead. Plea for Peace We have listened to the Word of God, that illuminates our lives, and especially brings a distinctive light to the Eucharistic celebration we are expressing. We are in a shrine dedicated to the Virgin Mary, the Mother of God, who intercedes for us before all else, so that peace may reign in the whole world, and in our homes. Only if peace and serenity is present in our families, in our communities, then we can hope that it will be present in the whole world in spite of the violence of men that always claims innocent victims. Today, in a special way, we are here to ask for peace for all those regions of the world where people suffer unjustly because of the dominance of the violence of war. All the wars around the world are the monstrous face of sin. They are the expression of those who turn away from God and do not listen to His voice. We recall the word of the Psalm that bear a particular sadness: “When I speak of peace, they are thinking on the war” (Psalm 120:7). Truly, God’s thoughts are not our own (cf. Is. 55:8). Whenever we turn away from Him, the streets become filled with fear, violence, and war. Nevertheless, my dear brothers and sisters, we heard the proclamation that helps us to hope. We are pilgrims of hope in this world. To all of us falls the responsibility to be not only heralds of Christian hope but, above all, builders of hope, creating concrete signs that give credibility to our words. A Father and Mother Who Never Abandoned Us As in the opening book of the Bible, the Genesis, also today in this shrine, there is a ladder that ascends to God. Accompanying us in this ascent to heaven is the Virgin Mary. She, who at the cross was commissioned by Jesus to care for each of us, as if we were her children. And we are really her children. So, let us open today our hearts . Let us keep our gaze fixed on her face. Let us be looked upon by her with a mother's love. Never abandon us. There is no need to increase our words. She already knows what we need. We need only to trust in her help; and be certain that her closeness and sharing will never be lacking in our lives. If we are joyful, she rejoices with us. If we suffer, she suffers with us. If we address our prayer, she intercedes for it to be answered. How much confidence and consolation the words we heard bring to us today? “Know that I am with you. I will protect you wherever you go. I will never leave you.” (cf. Gen 28:15). My dear brothers and sisters, God never leaves us. In whatever situation we may be find ourselves, He remains beside us. As we heard, Mary stood by the cross as Jesus suffered and died (cf. Jn. 19:25). Her mother's heart, however, had a certainty that her Son's words would be fulfilled: "After three days, I will rise again.” How much hope Mary must have had in her heart during those three days? Inside her were alternating moments of deep sadness and sorrow; but accompanied also by the hope of resurrection. The mother of God repeats the same to each of us here, now, today, in your shrine. Where the icon shines in all its beauty, and gathers the prayers of millions of faithful who come to her to pray and be consoled. My dear brothers and sisters, can we find stronger and more convincing words than this: that God Himself addresses us today? He will be with us forever. The Father of Jesus Christ never abandons us. The message that comes from the Shrine of Antipolo becomes a true message of peace because it assures us of God's presence and closeness forever in our lives. The Mission of Pilgrims as Evangelizers Whoever experiences God's closeness becomes in turn, an instrument of closeness for those in need. There is a necessary consequence for those who make a pilgrimage to the shrine. The experience of grace lived here needs to be communicated and passed on to others. We do not live for ourselves, but rather, we are always evangelizers. A pilgrim to Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage knows that he [or she] cannot leave the shrine without taking with him the message of peace that the Mother of God gives him/her. It is certainly a message for himself, but it also becomes a responsibility for it to be shared. The pilgrimage to the international shrine has the mission of spiritually uniting Christians with all believers scattered around the world. Being an international shrine is not just a privilege that is granted but a mission that must be shared. As the Papal Bull we have signs states: “The faithful people of the Philippines have seen in the National Shrine of Antipolo Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage an inexhaustible source of inspiration and in the school of the Virgin Mary on her way to bring Elizabeth the announcement of the peace of the Messiah, they continue on their journey of adherence to the faith, and Christian witness.” This International Shrine of Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage, therefore, is open to the mission of having no boundaries but instead opening wide its doors to welcome all, especially the poorest and those in need of consolation and peace. Today the Virgin Mary repeats to each of us the same words that Jacob heard, “Know I am with you; I will protect you wherever you go; I will never leave you....” (Gen 28:15). For each of us, too, it is important to climb the ladder that leads up to heaven in order to live in fullness the eternal life that was given to us on the day of our baptism; and whose responsibility we have every day to share with our brothers and sisters who come to this Shrine. Prayer Therefore, may this house of God be a place where: faith becomes stronger, because of the unceasing prayer that goes up to the Father through the intercession of the Virgin Mary; hope is strengthened because of the journey we must make until the final goal is reached; charity is lived with an abundance of the heart in recognizing the various forms of mercy the Lord has left us. My dear brothers and sisters, may the Gold Rose that we lay at the feet of Our Lady (be a reminder) to all generations of pilgrims this life of faith, hope, and charity. Amen. Transcribed by Joel V. Ocampo Photos: Antipolo Cathedral Facebook page

by Margaux Salcedo photos from Antipolo Cathedral Facebook page Archbishop Salvatore Fisichella, Pro-Prefect of the Dicastery on Evangelization (First Section) was in the Philippines to officially preside for a thanksgiving mass for the Philippines' first international shrine, the Antipolo Cathedral, now the International Shrine of Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage. The Thanksgiving Mass was held on February 26, 2024, Monday. A highlight of the mass was the presentation by Archbishop Fisichella of a Golden Rose or Rosa d'Oro from no less than His Holiness Pope Francis. This was offered by Archbishop Fisichella himself at the foot of the image of the Nuestra Señora de la Paz y Buen Viaje (Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage). Commissioned gift from the Pope himself, the Golden Rose is considered the highest honor given personally by the Pope to a Marian image and shrine across the world. These special roses, made of pure gold, are blessed by the Pope on Laetare Sunday or the 4th Sunday of Lent, putting incense into the censer, incensing the balsam and musk, and then putting the balsam and powdered musk into the tiny cup in the heart of the principal rose. The Pope then incenses the rose and sprinkles it with holy water. It is kept until it is granted by a pontiff to an image or shrine. This is a tradition that is said to date back to the Middle Ages. In his homily, Archbishop Fisichella thanked Cardinal Jose Advincula, Archbishop Charles John Brown, and Bishop Ruperto Santos who invited him. As he honored Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage, he reminded us that Mary always accompanies us. He also stressed that we are pilgrims of hope and that it is our responsibility not only to be heralds but builders of hope.

by Joel V. Ocampo On Thursday, February 22, 2024, His Holiness Pope Francis appointed His Excellency Most Rev. Rex Andrew C. Alarcon, D.D., until now the Bishop of Daet, as the new Archbishop of Caceres in Naga City, Camarines Sur. Archbishop Rex Alarcon was born in Daet, Camarines Norte on August 6, 1970 on the feast of the Transfiguration of Christ. He studied secondary education at the Holy Rosary Minor Seminary, Naga City; Bachelor of Arts Major in Philosophy at the Holy Rosary College Seminary in Naga City; Bachelor in Sacred Theology, Master of Arts in Higher Religious Studies, Licentiate in Sacred Theology (STL) in the University of Santo Tomas (UST). He also obtained Licenza in Storia Della Chiesa (Licentiate in Church History) from the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome in 2001. He was ordained as Deacon of Caceres on November 11, 1995; and received his Ordination to the Sacred Order of Presbyters on November 9, 1996. On March 19, 2019 on the Solemnity of Saint Joseph, he was ordained as Bishop at the St. John the Evangelist, Cathedral, Naga City, through the laying of hands of Archbishop Rolando J. Tria Tirona, OCD, the Archbishop of Caceres. The following day, he was installed as the fourth Bishop of Daet, succeeding Most Rev. Gilbert A. Garcera, D.D. who was appointed as Archbishop of Lipa. Previous Assignments As a priest, the then Fr. Rex Alarcon serve in the following ministries: Parochial Vicar, Cathedral-Parish of St. John the Evangelist (1996-1997); Secretary to the Archbishop (1997-1999); Faculty of Philosophy, Holy Rosary Minor Seminary (1997-1998); Faculty of Theology, Holy Rosary Major Seminary (1997-1999); Associate Pastor, Saint Gertrude's Roman Catholic Church, Bayville, New York City (Summer 2000); Formator and Director of Spiritual Formation, Holy Rosary Major Seminary (2001-2003); Assistant Director, Family Ministry in Caceres (2002-2004); Director, Stewardship Program of the Archdiocese of Caceres (2002-2017); Archdiocesan Archivist and Chronicler (2003-2010); Superintendent, Naga Parochial School (2007); Superintendent, Catholic Schools of the Archdiocese of Caceres; President, Catholic Educational Association of Caceres and Libmanan (2012-2018); President, Bikol Association of Catholic Schools (2012-2016); President, Catholic Educational Association of the Philippines (2016); and Trustee-at-large, Catholic Educational Association of the Philippines. As a bishop, he served in the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines in the following ministries: Member, Commission on Catechesis and Catholic Education (2019-2021); Member, Committee on Basic Ecclesial Communities (2019-2021); and Chairman, Episcopal Commission on Youth (2019 to present). Shepherd and Educator As a shepherd who worked in the Education and Formation Ministry, Archbishop Rex Alarcon emphasized the following points during the CEAP Convention Closing Mass in 2019: Teaching and preaching is service; and we preach with our lives. Our young are interested to know ‘Who they are to us.’ In view of this, we can ask ourselves: Do we really know our young people: our pupils and students, in the flesh? Do we provide space and time to truly listen to them? Brothers and sisters, may we have enough time for and with the young. They are not dependent on us. Without them, we have no work. They are not an interruption. They are the purpose of the school. The young are persons, like us, needing recognition, appreciation for what they can do, seeking answers, seeking inspirations, longing for a family. Brothers and sisters, following Jesus is not simply a professional endeavor. ‘Hindi trabaho lang.’ Hindi trabaho lang ang pagtuturo at ang paghahanapbuhay; as well as shepherding the school. Our investigation, research, teaching and governance – all that we do is not ‘trabaho lang’. It is something personal, as they involve the totality of our person. We are called to be examples of this to our young. Our young/our pupils and students, need to see that our teaching and our preaching, our running of the school is not ‘trabaho lang’. It is our life and our calling. Like Jesus we teach by example; and the best example for the young is our lives. Our lives are the best books, the living instructional material. May we show the young that our Faith is not like a uniform that can be hanged in the closet on non-class days. They need to see that our Faith is in our skin, and our blood. The people of our time want to see a living faith. May we show that our faith in Jesus, in the Trinity brings us joy and hope. The absence of God, leads to despair. We have the Gospel which brings us joy – the joy of the Gospel. The heart of Catholic Education is knowing and befriending Jesus and knowing God more deeply. A single person can make a difference in the lives of others. A single young person can initiate change for the better. Yes, youth can, yes, we can. We are Catholic Educators who believe in the power of goodness and truth. We believe in the power of the cross, for the cross is the symbol of love and life. We believe justice is possible. We believe love is stronger than fear; that mercy and forgiveness heal. As for the youth, Archbishop Alarcon once said in 2023, “Stop blaming others. Stop blaming circumstances. Rather, take responsibility for your future. Normally, the older generation feel responsible for the young. So, they are the ones who take the lead in shaping the future of the younger generation. But this mentality should be modified. The youth of today must be in the driver’s seat. They must take charge. Let us fight selfishness, indifference and apathy. Let us choose to care, to engage and make good choices. Our freedom is perfected by constantly choosing the good. Choosing evil is an abuse of our freedom.” Finally, as we continue our celebration of the Lenten Season, let us reflect on the words of Archbishop Alarcon in one of his homilies, “On the cross, while others see failure and defeat, we see life and victory –the power of God’s mercy and love.”

Homily of His Excellency Most Rev. Dennis C. Villarojo, Bishop of Malolos Solemn Canonical Coronation of the National Pilgrim Image of Our Lady of Fatima February 25, 2024 | Second Sunday of Lent National Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima, Valenzuela City, Diocese of Malolos Your Eminence, Your Excellencies, dear Archbishops and Bishops, my brother priests ... dear sisters and brothers in Christ: At the outset, I would like to welcome all the archbishops and bishops here present, to share our joy and to honor Our Lady. I welcome in a particular way His Eminence Jose Cardinal Advincula, who sets foot for the first time in our National Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima as Cardinal-Archbishop of Manila. I welcome in a special way, our Apostolic Nuncio to the Philippines, the Most Rev. Charles John Brown. I thank him for gracing this event, the canonical coronation of the image of Our Lady of Fatima. Through his presence, this canonical coronation is truly conferred by the Holy Father himself, our dear Pope Francis; because a canonical coronation means that the Holy Father has recognized the importance and significance of the image to the life and faith of the people who venerate it. A Witness to a Miracle What is the importance and significance of this image of Our Lady? There are many replicas of the image of Our Lady of Fatima. Some older, some more beautiful, some more venerated than the image that we are to crown today. Some images are venerated because miracles are attributed to them; but we do not attribute a miracle to this image. Instead, this national pilgrim image of Our Lady of Fatima is a witness to a miracle. What miracle are we talking about? We need to be reminded, lest we forget, that from February 22 to 25, 1986, that people rose to reclaim their freedom and dignity without use of violence or shedding of blood. During those days, Our Lady was present through this image, not as a standard of battle but the symbol of peace. Not as a talisman for good fortune, but the plea for justice. In recalling the miracle at EDSA, we are, however, confronted by a reproach. You speak of EDSA as a miracle. How has its promise been fulfilled? Do we have peace now much more than we had before? Did it attain justice for all, or only for one part of a divided nation? Promise of Peace First, let us examine the notion that EDSA was a promise. It was not. EDSA did not promise anything. It was instead, the fulfillment of a promise: If my people will humble themselves and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then, I will hear from heaven and I will forgive their sins, and heal their land (2 Chronicles 7:14). That was the promise at EDSA. It was fulfilled. At Fatima, Our Lady told the children: Lucia, Francisco, and Jacinta, [that] God would grant peace to the entire world if her requests for prayer, reparation, and consecration were heard and obeyed. That was the promise. EDSA was a fulfillment. Three years after EDSA, in 1989, a series of non-violent revolutions swept across Europe. From Poland to Hungary, to Germany, from Czechoslovakia to Romania, and eventually to Russia. The wall that divided Eastern and Western Europe fell without a bullet being fired. EDSA may not be the only spark that started it all, but it was certainly the model that revolutionized all revolutions. From there on, revolutions are no longer fought with arms, but with rosaries and flowers. In Lithuania, a former Soviet Republic, they did not put-up barricades made of twisted steel and quarried stones; but mounds of wooden crosses and rosary beads. At Fatima, Our Lady gave us the Rosary as a weapon for this. At EDSA, Our Lady fulfilled her promise. She gave us peace because nuns, priests and the faithful knelt on the hot pavement and prayed the rosary like they have never prayed before. At EDSA, soldiers could not fire at the crowd because the old women praying the rosary in the front lines reminded them of their own mothers and grandmothers praying the rosary at home. Formula for Peace If EDSA was a fulfillment of a promise, why did we not fully benefit from it? Perhaps because when the freedom bell rang, and shouts of joy and gladness echoed throughout the land, we celebrated as if we were the ones victorious and looked on the other half of our nation as losers; but EDSA was not a victory for one party and the defeat of another. It was not a triumph of one family vanquishing another. It was as the fulfillment of a promise — a particular instance of the Triumph of the Immaculate Heart of Mary. The heart of a mother beats for all her children. Siblings at war with each other are a cost of much grief for a mother. Our Lady at Fatima gave us the formula for peace: prayer, penance, consecration, and reparation. Prayer, because it is God who guides our feet into the way of peace. Penance, because sin is the hindrance to peace. Consecration, because our hearts need to be renewed. Reparation, because justice is attained by repairing, not by dismantling or demolishing. Listen, Ponder, and Act EDSA was our Mountain of Transfiguration. Like Peter in the Gospel, we missed the important part of its message. Peter, James, and John saw Jesus transfigured, flanked by the figures of Moses and Elijah, representing the Law and the Prophets. In the Transfiguration, Jesus is revealed as the fulfillment of the Law and the Prophets, but all Peter could think of was to build a tent for each of them. When we are confronted with divinity, when we receive divine revelations, our first impulse is to commemorate, institutionalize, raise a monument, build a temple. Yet, revelation seeks to ensoul rather than to be enshrined. It seeks to animate, rather than to be entombed. “This is my beloved son. Listen to him.” The Transfiguration was not a moment of seeing, but of listening. When we see, we focus only on the spectacular; but when we listen, we hear the truth. The spectacular can awe us into paralysis. Truth on the other hand, compels us to action. In the Transfiguration, as at EDSA, we must listen and ponder as Mary did (cf. Lk. 2:19). The difference between Mary and the apostles is that when confronted with a revelation, the apostles were self-referential. Take for example Peter, who saw the miracle of a great catch of fish. What was his response? “Get away from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man” (cf. Lk. 5:8). Then at the Transfiguration, he said, “Master, it is good for us”, “for us”, “to be here” (cf. Mk. 9:5). Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee made a shameless demand, “When your Kingdom is established, command that my sons sit at your side, one on your right, the other on your left” (cf. Mt. 20:21). Finally, the quarrel among the apostles. “Who is the greatest among us?” (cf. Mk. 9:34). Mary, on the other hand, always referred herself back to God. At the Annunciation, seeing the vision of an Angel, she said. “I am the handmaid of the Lord. Let it be done unto me according to your word” (Lk. 1:38). At Cana, when the wine jars went dry, she tells the servants “Do whatever he tells you” (Jn. 2:5). We were witnesses to God's almighty hand at EDSA. We cannot look back to it by merely placing ourselves on either side of the line that divides our country. That would be self-referential. We cannot say “it was bad for me” or “it was good for me”; and then shift from one side to the other, depending on who has the upper hand. Like Our Lady, we must listen, ponder, then do whatever the Lord tells us. EDSA was the fulfillment of a promise. It was the triumph of Mary’s Immaculate Heart. Yet it is also a work in progress. May we find the courage to accept the truth about ourselves as a nation, to look beyond our self-interest. Then set out to do whatever the Lord tells us. Transcribed by Joel V. Ocampo photos from National Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima (Valenzuela City)

by Joel V. Ocampo photos from Archbishop Isao Kikuchi February 22, 2024. His Excellency Most Rev. Pablo Virgilio S. David, Bishop of Kalookan and current President of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippine (CBCP) was elected as the next Vice President of Federation of Bishops Conferences of Asia (FABC). Cardinal Filipe Neri António Sebastião do Rosário Ferrão of Goa, India was elected President while Archbishop Tarcisius Isao Kikuchi, S.V.D. of Tokyo was re-elected as Secretary General. Their term will begin in 2025. Love for the Word of God As an ordained minister, Bishop Ambo, as he was fondly called, had a great love for the Scriptures, the Word of God. From 1986 to 1991, he studied Textual Critical Exegesis, Licentiate and Doctorate in Sacred Theology at the Catholic University of Louvain in Belgium, and at the École Biblique et Archéologique Française de Jérusalem (French School of Biblical and Archeological Research). When he was still the parish priest of Holy Rosary Parish in Angeles City, Pampanga, Bishop Ambo held monthly Bible Study sessions called “Biblia at Kape” (Bible and Coffee) where the participants can listen to Bible Studies while eating pan-de-sal and coffee. With this regular formation session, the parishioners were able to eat the literal bread and the spiritual bread that comes forth from the mouth of the Lord (cf. Deut. 8:3). In addition to this, he also presented the “BFAST” (Bible for Faith and Action Sharing Team), a modified version of the Lectio Divina. With this BFAST, he encouraged the faithful, especially members of mandated organizations to form small groups, share the word of God with a cup of coffee and pan-de-sal. This BFAST is now incorporated in the MTBO+ Bible produced by the CBCP Episcopal Commission on Biblical Apostolate (ECBA) which he led as Chairman in the past. In January 2011, Bishop David introduced the Mensahe Ni Apu (Message of the Lord). He printed the words of Jesus Christ, written in the Four Gospel on colorful sheets of paper, placed them in a jar and told the parishioners to pick one. He said, “Today is National Bible Sunday. On this day, the Lord Jesus wants to give his message to all present in this place. So, pray to Him, pick a sheet of paper, and that will be His message to you.” After some months, during the Season of Lent, Bishop David formally launched the Mensahe ni Apu in the Archdiocesan Shrine of Christ our Lord of the Holy Sepulcher, commonly known as Apung Mamacalulu Shrine. In this shrine, devotees line up towards the miraculous image of Apung Mamacalulu (Sto. Entierro). Before reaching the image, devotees write their Mensahe kay Apu (Message/Prayer to the Lord). Then, they will pray to Apung Mamacalulu, the Lord who bestows mercy. Afterwards, the faithful will pick the Mensahe ni Apu in a box, placed near the image. The Mensahe ni Apu served as the answer of Apung Mamacalulu to the faithful. With this, many Kapampangan faithful found the Word of God comforting in times of sorrow, guide in times of decision making, strength in times of challenges, and hope in times of hopelessness. As a Bishop, he was also one of the five bishops sent by the CBCP to participate in the 2008 Synod of Bishops on the Word of God in Vatican City. The Ambo Incidentally, when he was installed as the new bishop of the Diocese of Kalookan, Bishop David said in his homily, “Ambo ang itawag n’yo sa akin.” (You call me ambo.) I am just a stand from which the Word of God is proclaimed.” (Ambo in the Christian liturgy, is a raised stand used for reading and proclaiming the Word of God.) True enough, he allowed the Word of God to be proclaimed through him.

Homily of H.E. Most Rev. Charles John Brown Apostolic Nuncio to the Philippines February 16, 2024 | San Nicolas de Tolentino Cathedral, City of Mati, Davao Oriental Celebration for the 40th Founding Anniversary (Ruby Jubilee) of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Mati My dear brothers and sisters in Christ: It gives me so much joy and an immense happiness for me as a representative of Pope Francis, and in his name, to be with you this morning in your beautiful Cathedral of Saint Nicholas of Tolentino to celebrate this Mass, this jubilant celebration in recognition of the 40th Anniversary of the Creation of the Diocese of Mati, which happened on the 16th of February, 14 years ago today, in 1984. I was extremely grateful to your beloved Bishop, the Most Rev. Abel C. Apigo, D.D., Bishop of Mati, who wrote to me and invited me to share your joy, to share your rejoicing on this Ruby Jubilee. It's wonderful to be accompanied also by His Excellency, the Most Rev. Romulo G. Valles, D.D., the Archbishop of Davao; and His Excellency, the Most Rev. Guillermo V. Afable, D.D., Bishop of Digos, who have all come here to be with you this morning, to celebrate this momentous and joyful milestone in the history of the Catholic faith, in this part of Davao Oriental. We just heard in the Second Reading from the Letter to the Hebrews (13:1-8) these words, “Remember your leaders who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever” (v. 13) — and in a certain sense, that is what we celebrate on this 40th Anniversary: the faith in Jesus Christ, which is the same yesterday, today, and forever. The motto, which has been chosen for this 40th Anniversary Celebration is “Synodal Journey in Faith, in Gratitude, and in Mission”. Gratitude and Faith Gratitude and faith — they kind of go together, they're linked. We give gratitude to God today, thanksgiving to God, a great hymn of praise and jubilant thanksgiving rises up from the Cathedral here in Mati to the heavenly Kingdom, in which we rejoice in the gift of faith. We have gratitude for the gift of faith. We think about — as we’ve heard in that second reading — our leaders who spoke the word of God to us. We consider their way of life. We imitate their faith. That's what gives us the experience of gratitude. We think about +Bishop Patricio Alo, who for 30 years, from November of 1984 until 2014, was your shepherd here in the Diocese of Mati. We give thanks for your current shepherd, the second Bishop of Mati, Bishop Apigo, who has been here as your Bishop in this wonderful diocese. So gratitude and faith, gratitude for faith. What is faith? Faith is the gift of God so that we know the truth. The truth of why we are on this earth. A truth that left to ourselves — by ourselves, in isolation — we are not able to completely understand. We only understand the truth of our human existence by listening to others. By listening to our leaders in the faith, by looking at the example of their lives. Jesus says in the Gospel of Saint John, “You will know the truth and the truth will set you free” (Jn. 8:32). That is what it means to have faith — to know the truth. What is the truth? The truth is that God exists. That God is real. That God created each and every one of us so that we may know Him and love Him. None of us created ourselves. None of us did. All of us received our existence. We opened our eyes as little babies on this earth. Maybe we were in Mati. Maybe we were in Davao. Maybe in my case, we were in New York City. We opened our eyes. We looked around. “Why am I here?”, “Who made me?”, “How am I supposed to live?” Faith is the answer to those questions, because faith points us to the truth. The truth that we are made by God, that we are loved by God, and that Jesus is the Way that leads us to know God completely. That Jesus is “the way, the truth and the life” (Jn. 14:6). “You will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.” (Jn. 8:23) That is the gift of faith. That's what we celebrate this morning. That's what fills our hearts with gratitude. Because just like none of us created ourselves, none of us is able to give ourselves the faith. Faith comes, as Saint Paul says, from hearing, from receiving (cf. Rm. 10:17). We receive the faith from somebody else: from our parents, our priests, our teachers. That is the gift that we celebrate today. Faith makes us open to God's blessings. Today we celebrate these 40 years, the abundance of God's blessings showered upon the people of Davao Oriental through the Diocese of Mati. All the blessings that have been bestowed on you in these years. So, gratitude and faith. Mission There's a third word written in your motto and written behind me in the tarpaulin for this celebration, and that word is “mission”. So, we have gratitude for everything that we've received, for all the blessings, especially the blessing of faith, but also, we have the theme of mission. What does mission really mean? The word “mission” comes from the Latin word “to be sent”. To be sent — a mission is something that we are sent on. That word “mission” we use for sending. In war, armies send missiles against each other. “Missile” comes from the same world as “mission”. A missile is something like a rocket that is sent. We have the word in English for a letter, which is not used very often. What we call a letter that you receive — that you send — a missive. All of these words of 'sending'. We as Catholic people are sent. We are on a mission. This word “mission” is so beautiful, meaning “to be sent”. It also relates to what we are doing this morning here in your beautiful Cathedral of Saint Nicholas of Tolentine. What are we celebrating? In your language of Cebuano, we're celebrating the “Misa”. The Misa comes from the same word as mission: misa = mission. When Catholics used to go to Mass and the Mass was in Latin, the last words (and some of the older parishioners here may remember this), the priest said in the Latin Mass are three words: “Ite, missa est”. So, Catholics would go home, they heard those words “Ite, missa est”. They say, “Where were you?”, “I was at the Misa” because they heard that word: “missa”. It means “to be sent” in Latin. “Ite” the first word means “go”. Ite. Go. “Missa est” has the idea of something being sent, and we are sent from the Misa, which is the Mass, to bring God's love all over our world, all over our small world of our diocese and the entire world. So, to be a Church in mission must be connected to the Misa, the Mass, and it means “to be sent”. A Church in Mission cannot stand still. Standing still is the opposite of mission. We cannot stand still as a Church. Forty Years: the Synodal Journey That's why we celebrate these forty years. That’s why we're celebrating forty years of movement. Right? Forty years of progress, forty years that will now continue into the future. That leads us to, I would say, the last word that I'd like to mention to you this morning, this idea of missa being sent, the Misa, which is the Mass, — we can't stand still, we need to move, because Pope Francis has asked all of us to keep moving. What am I talking about? He's asked all of us in the Catholic Church to embark on the synodal journey, which is part of your motto for your 40th Anniversary: the Synodal Journey. Synodal is another word. It's not Latin. I was talking about Latin words and you were listening very patiently to me. Synod is a Greek word, a Greek word, not Latin. It comes from two words put together, the second part, the “odal” comes from the Greek word, “the way” = “odos” (οδος) is “the way”, “the path”; and “sún” (σύν) or “syn” is “together”. So synodal means “together on the way”, “together on the path”, “moving together". Which is what we do — moving together. The word synodos (σύνοδος) in Greek was used to refer to a “caravan”. Imagine a caravan in the old times, in ancient times, between men and women, and children. Maybe carrying merchandise from one city to another, with animals, camels, and donkeys, and people. People moving together. That's what the synodal element is. That's what synodos means in its root sense: means to be a caravan. In a caravan, not everyone does the same thing. In a caravan, some people are scouts. They go forward to find the proper way for this caravan to travel. Others are there protecting the caravan. Others are there, maybe gathering water or food for the people on the caravan. That's what Pope Francis wants us to think about in the Church today. We all have different functions. I'm so happy to see the concelebrating priests here in great numbers from the Diocese of Mati, and maybe from other dioceses as well. What a beautiful gift is the priesthood. Priesthood is a vocation in this caravan. To be a priest is different from being a religious sister. Also, the religious sisters who are here in big numbers. All of you lay people, fulfilling your roles as lay people in the Church. You have bishops here, priests, religious laypeople, all these different vocations. We’re all walking together, doing different things with different functions. Value Your Vocation Is one vocation better than another? No. Every vocation is different. Each of us is equal in the eyes of God. Our responsibility is to live our vocation to the full, no matter what it is. Whether a mother of a family, whether a teacher in a Catholic school, whether a parish priest, whether a Papal Nuncio, whether a teaching sister. Do your vocation the way God wants you to do it. Then what happens is this caravan moves harmoniously, and the caravan becomes kind of a symphony or an orchestra. In a symphony or an orchestra, everyone is playing different instruments, but not all playing the trumpet. They have different instruments in an orchestra, but it harmonizes and makes something beautiful, bigger than the sum of its parts. That's what the Church is. That's what this synodal process is. To respect everyone's vocation. To value your vocation. To live your vocation to the full. Walk in the Path of the Saints Brothers and sisters, this caravan that I'm talking about doesn't only exist at this moment in February 2024. It is a caravan that we belong to, that passes through history, through time. We think about this moment, 2024, all of us in this caravan, that is the Diocese of Mati, going forward together towards the Kingdom of God; but especially when we celebrate 40 years of your diocese, we think about the people who we like to say the ones who went before us, the ones who went before us here in the Diocese of Mati. You've had missionaries, teachers here: Augustinians, Jesuits, PME Fathers (Pretres de Missions Etrangeres) from Quebec, Maryknoll Fathers. All of these leaders, to go back to the Second Reading, spoke to us the word of God. We as a caravan are following in their footsteps. They went before us. We are walking in their path. So, this caravan can also be thought of as a procession, as a kind of procession that leads us to heaven. In the front of the procession, we have Mary, our Blessed Mother, we have the 12 Apostles, maybe a little bit after them, we have the Fathers of the Church, the early authors: St. Augustine, Saint Jerome and the others. We have the virgin martyrs of Rome, these early Christians who are in front of us: St. Agnes, St. Cecilla, St. Anastasia, St. Lucy, the virgin martyrs. Then getting a little bit closer, we see the saints of the Middle Ages: St. Dominic, St. Francis. Then even closer to us, we will see San Lorenzo Ruiz, the saints of the Philippines, San Pedro Calungsod. Then, even closer to us, we see the Pope who created your diocese: a saint — St. John Paul II. Not so far in front of us. He only died less than 20 years ago. So, then every closer we see St. Mother Teresa of Calcutta, and all the saints. So, we're walking in this path, we're walking in this caravan. For us as Catholics, if we want to know the way forward, we need to look at the people who went before us. If we want to know the way forward, how should we act as a Church? Non-Catholic forms of reform say “I’m not going to pay attention to the things who went before me. I'm going to go this way.” That's not a Catholic way. The Catholic way you say, “My eyes are on the saints that went before me." They are the mile markers. They're the road signs. They're the directors that lead me to heaven. I'm gonna walk in the path of the Saints. This caravan, this synodos, also exists through time. That's why it's a perfect theme for your 40th Anniversary — forty years. People in this diocese who have gone before us in these 40 years, and then we think even before those 40 years, all the missionaries who worked here, all the Catholics who lived here in Davao Oriental, we give thanks for all of them today. So, my brothers and sisters in Christ, you can see that for me as your Papal Nuncio, it gives me so much joy and happiness to accept the invitation of your beloved Bishop Apigo, to be with you this morning, to rejoice in the gift of faith, that beautiful gift. Remember the leaders who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life. Imitate their faith. That means, walk in their footsteps. That is what the synodal path of the Church is all about. Because Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever. My dear brothers and sisters in Christ, in the name of Pope Francis, I wish you a most blessed Ruby Anniversary, and most blessed 40th Anniversary. May God bless you; and may Our Lady, the Mother of Jesus, always intercede for you. Thank you. Transcribed by Joel V. Ocampo Photos and video: Diocese of Mati Watch the mass and listen to the homily in full here:

Homily of H.E. Most Rev. Charles John Brown, Apostolic Nuncio to the Philippines Solemn Declaration of the International Shrine of Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage, Antipolo City January 15, 2024 Your Eminence Jose Cardinal Advincula, Archbishop of Manila; Your Eminence Orlando Cardinal Quevedo, Archbishop-Emeritus of Cotabato; Your Excellency, the Most Rev. Ruperto C. Santos, Bishop of Antipolo; You Excellency, the Most Rev. Pablo Virgilio David, President of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP); Madame First Lady, Marie Louise Araneta Marcos; brother bishops, concelebrating priests, male and female religious, brothers and sisters in Christ, devotees of Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage: It is a huge joy and a privilege for me, as your Apostolic Nuncio to be with you this morning in Antipolo, for this solemn declaration, and I must say, sumptuous liturgy, in which this beautiful shrine is elevated to the status of an international shrine, an International Shrine of Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage here in Antipolo. Our Lady of Antipolo and the Filipino People As all of us know, the image of Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage arrived first here in the Philippines almost 400 years ago, in 1626. She has an intimate and important place in Filipino history. Indeed, it was in 1868, that young Jose Rizal was brought here by his father, Don Francisco, to pray in thanksgiving in front of this image, for having, in his case, Jose’s safe delivery when he was born. Then, in 1926, as we heard, she was canonically crowned by the Archbishop of Manila. Seventy years ago, in 1954, this shrine was declared a national shrine in testimony of all of the privileges and blessings that have been bestowed throughout the years, to all the people who have come here to pray to Our Lady. So, that was seventy years ago, 1954. Now here we are, 2024, in which this shrine is now elevated to the status of an international shrine. As we heard in the decree of the Section for Fundamental Questions regarding Evangelization in the World, from the Dicastery for Evangelization signed by Archbishop Fisichella (H.E. Archbishop Salvatore Fisichella, Pro-Prefect, Section for Fundamental Questions regarding Evangelization in the World). I'd like to mention three things this morning which come to my mind and reflect on this beautiful image of Our Lady, and her role in the history of the Philippines; and indeed, her role, her place in Philippine Catholicism. Evangelizing Power of Popular Piety The first is the phenomenon of popular piety, of popular religiosity. The religiosity of the masses, of everybody. The wonderful popular piety which is so evident here in the Philippines. Indeed, it was only last month that all of us were gathered for the Simbang Gabi Masses in anticipation of Christmas — a beautiful example of your Philippine popular piety. Then about two weeks ago, we had the Traslación in Manila, the Black Nazarene, the Nazareno Negro. This amazing, incredible procession of Jesus carrying the cross which was witnessed and participated in by literally millions of people. Last Sunday in Cebu, we had the Sinulog-Santo Niño Festival, which was also attended by millions of people. Here in Antipolo, and indeed in Manila on April 30th and May 1st, you have the Alay Lakad Procession, the wonderful pilgrimage on foot here to pray to Our Lady. All of these are examples of the richness, the patrimony, the treasure of Philippine popular religiosity, popular piety. I am here to tell you that for me, as a non-Filipino, who has lived here for three years, it is so edifying and so wonderful to see this evidence of the popular piety of the Filipino people. Pope Francis, whose representative, of course I am, here in the Philippines has spoken about the evangelizing power of popular piety. In his “programmatic” Apostolic Exhortation published back in 2013, the famous Evangelii Gaudium, he says the following: “Popular piety enables us to see how the faith, once received, becomes embodied in a culture and is constantly passed on” (EG #123). “Embodied in a culture” — that is exactly what we see in the Philippines. Faith, embodied in a culture manifested in popular piety. A faith that arrived and was received here 503 years ago, which has penetrated the culture, the minds, the hearts, the history of the Filipino nation. All those examples that I just recited to you, the Simbang Gabi Masses, and so forth. You think also of the Santacruzan phenomenon, the kind of beauty pageant connected to the finding of the Holy Cross. This beautiful, intimate relationship between your culture as Filipinos and the Catholic faith. Pope Francis wasn't the first Pope to note how important popular piety is. In fact, next year in 2025, we will celebrate the 50th anniversary of another Apostolic Exhortation that was published by St. Pope Paul VI, back in December of 1975. So next year, as I said, will be the 50th anniversary. Pope Francis quotes from St. Pope Paul VI, when he's talking about popular piety. St. Pope Paul VI said this about popular piety, and it's something written 50 years, 49 years ago but is still so important for us today in the Philippines. Speaking about popular piety, the Pope said. “Above all one must be sensitive to it, know how to perceive its interior dimensions and undeniable values, be ready to help it to overcome its risks of deviation. When it is well oriented, this popular religiosity call be more and more for multitudes of our people a true encounter with God in Jesus Christ” (Evangelii Nuntiandi #48). “A true encounter with God in Jesus Christ” — that's what we have in Our Lady. Our Lady always directs us to Jesus as we heard in the Gospel today (Jn. 2:1-11). Words that are written in Latin here in your beautiful shrine: Quodcumque dixerit vobis facite. “Whatever he tells you, do it.” That's what Mary is doing: directing us to Jesus. Popular piety, it has incredible richness here in the Philippines, a precious resource for your church. (We were reflecting on that just this week in Manila, in the Philippines Conference on New Evangelization. Indeed the 10th such conference.) Popular piety is a manifestation of people's connectedness to the faith. Now certainly, all of us want Catholics to participate fully in the Sacramental life of the Church. That's our goal as priests and bishops — to bring people to participate fully in the sacramental life of the Church, to receive God's grace through the sacrament. Popular piety can be a link, a connection to many people who may not be practicing their faith by coming to Mass every Sunday, but still have this wonderful, beautiful connection to the Church and have faith. So, for us as Catholics, it's not a matter of choosing sacramental life of the Church versus popular piety crosses Catholics. There's never a question of choosing one. Catholics are never really saying “sola”, not really saying “sola scriptura”. We say, “scripture and tradition”, we say, “God and man”, we say, Mary is “Virgin and Mother”. Also, with popular piety — sacramental life of the Church, yes, and the popular piety, both “and”. They reinforce one another, and one can lead to the other. That's why we need to appreciate [and] love popular piety. It’s also a way in which people can come to a greater understanding of the beauty, and richness of sacramental life in the Church. Synodality My second theme this morning is synodality, which we've heard so much of in these days, and expressed so beautifully this morning here in the Shrine of Our Lady here in Antipolo by more than eighty bishops, gathered here in this beautiful shrine. Together, we bishops, are devotees of Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage — we come to share in the popular piety of our people. We know that Jesus says in the Gospel, “I praise you, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and the learned, and revealed them to little children” (Cf. Mt. 11:25). That thirst for God, which the poor and the simple people have, it is so beautiful; and for us as bishops to participate in that, to walk with our people, to listen to our people. That is the reason why we are present today, and so many people are inside and outside the shrine praying with us. Pope Francis’ expressions of popular piety have much to teach us. It has much to teach us, we who are bishops. There has to be in a spirit of synodality, that reciprocal listening, listening one and another. Pope Francis also says, he gave this line, this quote, when he was participating in the Synod in Rome last October. He said this, “When you want to know what Holy Mother Church believes, go to the Magisterium. That is, the bishops. Because it's their task to teach it to you. But when you want to know how the Church believes, go to the faithful people.” “Go to the faithful people.” That's what we as bishops are doing this morning. We're all crowded together, in and outside the shrine with our faithful people — to listen to them, to observe them, to see their faith, to be edified by their faith. Because “faith comes from hearing” (cf. Rm. 10:17a). We, in a certain sense, hear the faith of the people by being close to them. We listen to their faith and they listen to us. As you’re listening to me, preaching this morning. This beautiful reciprocal listening, which is the essence of synodality. Migration and the Our Lady of Good Voyage Third and finally, we have the theme which is so important here in this wonderful shrine: migration. Our age here in this Millennium, the beginning of the third Millennium, our age is really characterized by massive migration, a phenomenon of international migration. That's why it's so appropriate, so perfect that in this year, your shrine is elevated from the status of a national shrine for the Philippines to be an international shrine, for indeed, all of Asia, and indeed the whole world. Because today's world is international, globalized, as we like to say. That's especially true for Filipinos. I think overseas Filipino workers, OFWs officially are numbered at about 2 million, but there were something like 12 million Filipinos living outside the Philippines. Indeed, a majority of overseas Filipino workers are women. So, we have this amazing phenomenon of migration. So, the fact that this Church and Our Lady as the Mother of Peace and Good Voyage, is connected with migration is so important for us in our time. Think, brothers and sisters, how many people have come here to pray in front of this image of Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage? How many OFWs have come to pray to her before setting out on their journey, their voyage to the Gulf States, or to Europe, or to America? How many, even mothers with tears in their eyes, entrust their children and their family to Our Lady’s care and protection as they leave to go to work overseas? Our Lady looks with compassion and love on those people. She is here to be a mother to them. We are here, as bishops and people in political life, to protect our overseas Filipino workers. Be sure that they are treated with dignity and respect in every situation. Migration in the Philippines is also, I must say, “an experience of evangelization”, as the Pope likes to say. Because Filipinos are bringing the faith of the Philippines, the Catholic faith, all over the world. Indeed, we have the joy this morning to have among our concelebrants, and Auxiliary Bishop-Elect from no place other than Philadelphia, State of Pennsylvania, USA, the Most Rev. Efren Veridiano Esmilla, who was, I think was richly from Laguna; and on March 7th will be ordained a Bishop and Auxiliary Bishop in Philadelphia. What a wonderful sign of the internationality of the Catholic Church of the Philippines. You have then, truly, as we said back in 2021, you have been “Gifted to Give”, and you're giving that gift all over the world. Our Lady here in Antipolo is really the mother of that gift, because that gift is Jesus. That gift is Jesus whom we are bringing in every corner of the world. Conclusion So, my dear brothers and sisters in Christ, you can tell for me as your Apostolic Nuncio, it gives me a lot of joy, and a little bit of emotion actually, to be with you this morning for this wonderful declaration of your shrine as an international shrine. This elevation in recognition of the internationality of Philippine Catholicism. We pray with our hearts filled with gratitude for everyone who will come here to the shrine to ask Our Lady, to present to Our Lady all of their petitions, knowing that Our Lady will look on them with compassion and love, and present those petitions to Jesus and listen to the words of Our Lady about Jesus, “Do whatever he tells you” (Jn. 2:5). Transcribed by Joel V. Ocampo Photo credit: The Antipolo Cathedral

Cardinal Luis Antonio Gokim Tagle, Pro-Prefect of the Dicastery for Evangelization (Section for the First Evangelization and New Particular Churches), received the highest French order of merit, the National Order of the Legion of Honour, from the Ambassador of France to the Holy See. Her Excellency Florence Mangin, Ambassador of France to the Holy See, bestowed the award upon His Eminence Cardinal Tagle on February 15, 2024. “Mr. Cardinal, it is an honour for me to present you with this decoration, by which France wishes to honour your remarkable career as a man of the Church at the service of the common good.” the French ambassador said. Present to witness this were Filipino priests from various religious orders now based in Rome: Fr. Gerardo Francisco Timoner, OP, Master of the Order of Preachers (Dominicans); Fr. Ted Kalaw, General of the Adorno Fathers; and Br. Armin Luistro, General of the De La Salle Brothers. Also present were Msgr. Jan Limchua, Papal Chaplain; Fr. Bonifacio Lopez, Chaplain of Sports of the Diocese of Rome; Fr. Gregory Ramon Gaston, rector of the Pontificio Collegio Filippino; and Fr. Andrew Recepcion, Spiritual Director of the Pontificio Collegio FIlippino. For the Philippine government, Philippine Ambassador to the Vatican Maila Macahilig and Philippine Ambassador to Italy Nathaniel Imperial were also present. Congratulations, Cardinal Tagle! Photo credit: Fr. Danny Huang SJ

11 February 2024 photo from USCCB “It is not good that man should be alone”. Healing the Sick by Healing Relationships “It is not good that man should be alone” (cf. Gen 2:18). From the beginning, God, who is love, created us for communion and endowed us with an innate capacity to enter into relationship with others. Our lives, reflecting in the image of the Trinity, are meant to attain fulfilment through a network of relationships, friendships and love, both given and received. We were created to be together, not alone. Precisely because this project of communion is so deeply rooted in the human heart, we see the experience of abandonment and solitude as something frightening, painful and even inhuman. This is all the more the case at times of vulnerability, uncertainty and insecurity, caused often by the onset of a serious illness. In this regard, I think of all those who found themselves terribly alone during the Covid-19 pandemic: the patients who could not receive visitors, but also the many nurses, physicians and support personnel overwhelmed by work and enclosed in isolation wards. Naturally, we cannot fail to recall all those persons who had to face the hour of their death alone, assisted by healthcare personnel, but far from their own families. I share too in the pain, suffering and isolation felt by those who, because of war and its tragic consequences, are left without support and assistance. War is the most terrible of social diseases, and it takes its greatest toll on those who are most vulnerable. At the same time, it needs to be said that even in countries that enjoy peace and greater resources, old age and sickness are frequently experienced in solitude and, at times, even in abandonment. This grim reality is mainly a consequence of the culture of individualism that exalts productivity at all costs, cultivates the myth of efficiency, and proves indifferent, even callous, when individuals no longer have the strength needed to keep pace. It then becomes a throwaway culture, in which “persons are no longer seen as a paramount value to be cared for and respected, especially when they are poor or disabled, ‘not yet useful’ – like the unborn, or ‘no longer needed’ – like the elderly” (Fratelli Tutti, 18). Sadly, this way of thinking also guides certain political decisions that are not focused on the dignity of the human person and his or her needs, and do not always promote the strategies and resources needed to ensure that every human being enjoys the fundamental right to health and access to healthcare. The abandonment of the vulnerable and their isolation is favored also by the reduction of healthcare merely to a provision of services, without these being accompanied by a “therapeutic covenant” between physicians, patients and family members. We do well to listen once more to the words of the Bible: “It is not good for man to be alone!” God spoke those words at the beginning of creation and thus revealed to us the profound meaning of his project for humanity, but at the same time, the mortal wound of sin, which creeps in by generating suspicions, fractures, divisions and consequently isolation. Sin attacks persons and all their relationships: with God, with themselves, with others, with creation. Such isolation causes us to miss the meaning of our lives; it takes away the joy of love and makes us experience an oppressive sense of being alone at all the crucial passages of life. Brothers and sisters, the first form of care needed in any illness is compassionate and loving closeness. To care for the sick thus means above all to care for their relationships, all of them: with God, with others – family members, friends, healthcare workers – , with creation and with themselves. Can this be done? Yes, it can be done and all of us are called to ensure that it happens. Let us look to the icon of the Good Samaritan (cf. Lk 10:25-37), to his ability to slow down and draw near to another person, to the tender love with which he cares for the wounds of a suffering brother. Let us remember this central truth in life: we came into the world because someone welcomed us; we were made for love; and we are called to communion and fraternity. This aspect of our lives is what sustains us, above all at times of illness and vulnerability. It is also the first therapy that we must all adopt in order to heal the diseases of the society in which we live. To those of you who experience illness, whether temporary or chronic, I would say this: Do not be ashamed of your longing for closeness and tenderness! Do not conceal it, and never think that you are a burden on others. The condition of the sick urges all of us to step back from the hectic pace of our lives in order to rediscover ourselves. At this time of epochal change, we Christians in particular are called to adopt the compassion-filled gaze of Jesus. Let us care for those who suffer and are alone, perhaps marginalized and cast aside. With the love for one another that Christ the Lord bestows on us in prayer, especially in the Eucharist, let us tend the wounds of solitude and isolation. In this way, we will cooperate in combating the culture of individualism, indifference and waste, and enable the growth of a culture of tenderness and compassion. The sick, the vulnerable and the poor are at the heart of the Church; they must also be at the heart of our human concern and pastoral attention. May we never forget this! And let us commend ourselves to Mary Most Holy, Health of the Sick, that she may intercede for us and help us to be artisans of closeness and fraternal relationships. Rome, Saint John Lateran, 10 January 2024

Homily of H.E. Most Rev. Charles John Brown D.D., Apostolic Nuncio to the Philippines Holy Mass for the 27th Death Anniversary of Bishop Benjamin de Jesus, OMI Our Lady of Mt Carmel Cathedral, Jolo, Sulu | February 4, 2024 My dear brothers and sisters in Christ, I have been looking forward and waiting for this day for a very long time. It gives me so much joy and indeed it is a privilege and an honor for me as your Apostolic Nuncio, as the representative of Pope Francis in the Philippines, to be with you here this morning in your famous and wonderful storied Cathedral of Our Lady of Mt Carmel here in Jolo, Sulu Province to celebrate the 27th anniversary of the death — you can say of the martyrdom — of your beloved bishop, His Excellency Benjamin de Jesus — Bishop Ben, Padil Ben, as he was affectionately called. I am so grateful to your Bishop Charlie Inzon, OMI for having invited me to come here to Jolo. I have been asking him — I have been telling him — for a long time about encountering with you, to see you, to be with you in the name of Pope Francis, and to thank you for your witness to faith all these years. The fact that all of you are here together in this Cathedral this morning on this day, on the 27th anniversary of the death of your beloved Bishop Benjamin who died in 1997 ... 27 years ago. You're here today, together, as a witness of continued faith. That is so beautiful. I wanted to come and see that with my own eyes. And looking at you, I see that. I see the radiance in Christ shining in your faces. Thank you for your witness to the faith. Bishop Benjamin de Jesus Your beloved Bishop Ben was ordained in Rome, at the Vatican, by a saint — Pope John Paul II — on January 6th 1992 at St Peter's Basilica, And he was chosen as the first Filipino Apostolic Vicar of Jolo. Before him, all the other Apostolic Vicars were not Filipino, mostly Americans. He was the first Filipino. He came here, was installed as your Apostolic Vicar on the 15th of February 1992. So that on this day —27 years ago today — on the 4th of February 1997, when his life on this earth came to an end, his life in heaven began ... when he was killed here not far from where you are seated here, outside the Cathedral. Our Lady of Mt Carmel I didn't have the joy, obviously, of knowing Bishop Ben but I read a little bit about him in preparation for my visit here this morning and I noticed that he had a sister who was a Carmelite nun. A cloistered Carmelite who was living in Baguio, in Ilocos Norte, and it was an interesting coincidence or correspondence that has been noted by people that she was a Carmelite nun and apparently Bishop Ben wore a Carmelite scapular as a bishop and this Cathedral, as all of you know, is dedicated to Our Lady of Mt Carmel. So Our Lady's presence — Mary's presence — was so much a part of Bishop Ben's life. We can thank God for that. Witness to the Gospel The readings this morning are really perfect for our celebration, especially the Second Reading which we heard from St. Paul's First Letter to the Corinthians. St. Paul said this: If I preach the Gospel, this is no reason for me to boast, for an obligation has been imposed on me, and woe to me if I do not preach the Gospel. (1 Corinthians 9:16) Woe to me if I do not preach the Gospel. St. Paul goes on to say: I've made myself a slave to all so as to win over as many as possible. To the weak, I became weak to win over the week. I have become all things to all people, to save at least some. All this I do for the sake of the Gospel, so that I too may have a share in it. (1 Corinthians 9:19-23) That beautiful witness to the Gospel, that is what Bishop Ben did with his life. And that is why it gives me so much joy and a privilege for me to be with you this morning. Holy Ground But as all of you gathered here in the Cathedral of the Lady of Mt Carmel know better than I, Bishop Ben was not the only one who lost his life here during those very, very difficult years — some 30 years of violence and suffering here in Jolo. And as I come here to your Cathedral, I can't help but think of that morning of January 27, 2019 — which is now 5 years ago — in which 20 people died in a bombing here and around this very  Cathedral. When a Cathedral is dedicated, it is dedicated really on the celebration of the mass, on the altar, the blood of Christ on the altar. ... The altar is anointed with holy oil. Then the mass is celebrated. The altar is dedicated by the the sacrifice of Christ - the body and blood of Christ, by the holy sacrament of the Eucharist. Your Cathedral is in some ways doubly consecrated. The blood of Christ on the altar and the blood of believers on the floor of the church, the floor of this Cathedral. That is an honor or a consecration that few Cathedrals have. So when you come into this Cathedral you are coming into holy ground. Holy Ground. Sanctify the place. The place where the blood of martyrs, especially those 20 people we think about who died in 2019 — only 5 years ago. Martyr Martyr. What is martyr? The word martyr comes from the Greek word "to be a witness". You know what a witness is in a court of law. A witness is called to give testimony, to say  something that is true. A martyr gives witness to something that is true not by words but by his or her love. By shedding his blood in testimony to his or her faith. A martyr is one who loses his life or her life in testimony to her faith, saying I will believe, even if it means I will lose my life. A martyr is one who seeks peace and reconciliation. Think about Jesus on the cross. Our Lord, our Savior, God made man, Son of Mary. What does he say on the cross? Father, forgive them, they do not know what they are doing. Jesus died asking forgiveness for those who killed him, for those for those who put him to death. He is our he is model, he is our guide. He is God made man. He shows us how to live. A martyr is one who seeks peace and reconciliation. Who is the first martyr after Jesus? (Of course, after the church, protomartyr, the first martyr.) St Stephen. Who was put to death in Jerusalem, stoned to death. And the Acts of the Apostles tells us that St. Stephen, as he was dying, fell on to his knees being stoned to death. What did he say? Lord, do not hold this sin against them. Lord, do not hold this sin against them. He was praying for those who were putting him to death. That is what a Christian martyr is: praying for our persecutors, loving our persecutors, interceding for our persecutors. That's what Jesus does on the cross. That's what St. Stephen does in his life as a martyr. Sanguis martyrum semen Christianorum. That's Latin. What does it mean? In English, "The blood of martyrs is the seed of Christians." When the blood of martyrs is poured out, as here in your Cathedral, Christians rise up. We are edified, built up by the witness of martyrs, even by the witness of martyrs here five years ago. Of course by the witness of your wonderful Bishop Ben, Bishop Ben de Jesus. The Preaching of the Martyrs The blood of martyrs is the seed of Christians because it is an evidence of faith. It's a testimony that makes us believe in the truth of the Gospel. And that's why St Paul says, Woe to me if I don't preach the Gospel. Let me preach the Gospel, St. Paul says. We preach oftentimes without preaching. I'm preaching to you this morning with words. But more powerful preaching comes without words. The preaching of the martyrs. The death of Bishop Benjamin outside of this Cathedral. Those who died outside this Cathedral in 2019 in other bombings. "Woe to me if I preach the Gospel." But let's preach without words. Mother Teresa Mother Teresa of Calcutta. Interesting, she died the same year as Bishop Ben — 1997. She died in September at a ripe old age in Calcutta where she had served for many, many years. September of 1997, maybe ten months after Bishop Ben. Mother Teresa has a beautiful prayer that she has for nuns — her sisters — to pray at mass when they receive Jesus in the Eucharist. It's about witnessing our faith not by words but by our example. She uses the imagery of fragrance, of aroma, like perfume. Interestingly, I told you, the altar when it is dedicated is  anointed with chrism. Chrism is a holy oil with perfume, a fragrance. It smells beautiful. We are supposed to be a fragrance of Christ so that people can smell our Christianity even when we're not speaking. This is why Mother Teresa uses it as prayer. Let me read it to you. After receiving Holy Communion, she says, Dear Jesus, help me to spread Your fragrance wherever I go. Flood my soul with Your spirit and life. Penetrate and possess my whole being so utterly, That my life may only be a radiance of Yours. She uses the image of light.  Light. Her words: fragrance and light. Shine through me, and be so in me That every soul I come in contact with May feel Your presence in my soul. Let them look up and see no longer me, but only Jesus! Stay with me and then I shall begin to shine as You shine, So to shine as to be a light to others; The light, O Jesus, will be all from You; none of it will be mine; It will be you, shining on others through me. And then these words: Let me preach You without preaching, not by words but by my example, By the catching force of the sympathetic influence of what I do, The evident fullness of the love my heart bears to You. To preach without preaching — that's what martyrdom is. The most eloquent form of preaching: to show by our actions that we believe, that we are Christians, that Jesus is our Lord and Savior. Words are easy. Actions are more difficult. Inter-religious Dialogue Finally, this morning I think I'd like to also mention the importance of inter-religious dialogue and peace, peaceful co-existence. As I said earlier, the difficult period of 30 years of violence, of hatred. But now thanks be to God and as I mentioned when mass begin, thanks to the prayers of many, certainly the prayers of Bishop Ben and others, peace seems to be flowing. The Bangsamoro peace process is something we must all thank God for. This peace process, which is moving forward is so important. We need to pray for peace and work for peace. Between religions. Between believers. Because we are all sons and daughters of Adam and Eve. We are all brothers and sisters by our humanity. Whether we're Catholic, whether we're Muslim. We're all brothers and sisters in the same humanity. Which is lovely, because we are brothers and sisters. Albania Before I came to your wonderful country, the Philippines, I was the Nuncio in a small country in Europe called Albania where the majority of the population was Muslim. Where Catholics are about ten percent, more or less, of the population, a little bit more than you are here in Jolo. Ten percent of the population was Catholic. But Albania has been known for really wonderful, good relations between Christians and Muslims for a long time. Really good brotherly relations for a long time, between a Muslim majority, and a Christian minority. A real blessing, an example to the world, in Albania. One reason maybe that in the last decade of the 20th century  both Christians and Muslims were persecuted, faced violence, from atheists. It was the atheists that did the persecutions. The Muslims and Christians - Christians and Muslims - were being persecuted together, drew us together, in Albania. And they had a strong and beautiful relationship between Christians and Muslims. In fact Pope Francis visited Albania. It was the first country he visited in Europe after he was elected Pope, one of the smallest countries in Europe. He wanted to visit Albania first ... in September of 2014. And I want to read to you (what he said) in Albania because I think it's something that is good for all of us - Muslims and Christians - here in Jolo, Sulu, to think about. What Pope Francis said - this was in September 2014 - what he experienced in Albania shows is that: A peaceful and fruitful co-existence between persons and communities of believers of different religions is not only desirable but possible and realistic. The peaceful coexistence of different religious communities is, in fact, an inestimable benefit to peace and to harmonious human advancement. This is something of value which needs to be protected and nourished each day, by providing an education which respects differences and particular identities, so that dialogue and cooperation for the good of all may be promoted and strengthened by mutual understanding and esteem. It is a gift which we need to implore from God in prayer. May Albania always continue to walk this path, offering to other countries an inspiring example. ” (Address to the Authorities, 21 September 2014). Peace The example of inter-religious co-existence — peaceful co-existence — is so important for us in the entire world. Here in Jolo, Sulu, throughout the entire world. To remember that we are all sons and daughters of Adam and Eve, or all common humanity. We have differences in our religious but that shouldn't in any way stop us from being kind. From treating people with respect. From treating people with all the respect they are due no matter their religious beliefs. It is my joy, a privilege for me to be with you this morning. I see, as I said, the light of Christ shining in your faces. You are a witness, all of you this morning, to the continuing faith of the Catholic people here in Jolo, after everything you went through. So I came to honor you. Of course I came to honor your bishop, Bishop Ben, on his 27th anniversary. But I came also to honor you. To encourage you. To thank you for your witness. As always, we need to pray to Our Lady, as Bishop Ben did to Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, our Blessed Mother, who takes care of us, who knows us so well, who is really Our Queen and Our Lady in heaven, who has such a maternal, motherly concern for us. So dear brothers and sisters in Christ, we have to pray to Our Lady of Mt Carmel. Remember to pray for Pope Francis. I, as the representative of Pope Francis, always ask people to pray for Pope Francis. Whenever I see him in Rome he always asks me, "Are you asking the Filipino people to pray for me?" I say, "Yes, I am. The Filipino people are praying for you, Holy Father." And I will tell him that you here in the Cathedral of Jolo are praying for the Pope. Thank you. And God bless you. Video, photos, transcription by Margaux Salcedo

by Clyde Ericson Nolasco Today, February 10, is the feast of St. Scholastica. St. Scholastica was known for her simplicity and faith. Inspired by the way of life of her brother St. Benedict of Nursia, she established a monastery for religious women. Every year, the twins would spend time to share things about God. Sensing that her death would come soon, she begged her brother to stay overnight but he refused. He turned to God and a heavy downpour occurred preventing Benedict from leaving the place. He said, “God forgive you, Sister. What have you done?” To which Scholastica replied, “I asked a favor of you and you refused. I asked God and he granted it.” Days after, Scholastica died and Benedict had a vision of his sister’s soul turning into a dove flying heavenward. Important Cultural Property A wonderful tribute to St. Scholastica was enacted last February 8 when the Representatives of the National Museum of the Philippines, officials of the City of Manila, school administrators and  superiors of the Benedictine Sisters of Tutzing unveiled a marker declaring the five buildings St. Scholastica's College Manila or St. Scho as an important cultural property. The five buildings are the St. Scholastica’s Building, St. Cecilia’s Hall, St. Benedict Building, St. Hildegard, and the St. Scholastica’s Chapel. Built between 1914 to 1936, the European origin of the designs can be seen in the columns and arches of these structures. photo from St. Scholastica's College Manila St. Scho Manila was established in 1906 by the coming of the first five Missionary Benedictine Sisters from Tutzing, Germany - Mo. Ferdinanda Hoelzer who was the Mother Prioress, Sr. Petronilla Keller, Sr. Crescentia Veser, Sr. Winfrieda Mueller, and the novice Sr. Alexia Ruedenauer. The first location of the school was in Moriones, Tondo with only 58 students. A year later, with the increase in number of students, the school transferred to San Marcelino St. With the need for a much bigger space, the school transferred to 1523 Pennsylvania Ave., now 2560 Leon Guinto St., Malate, where the school has been located since 1914. illustrations from giyusepi Now Open for Boys St. Scho, for a period of time, was an all-girls Catholic school that had previously accepted males but only for specific tracks in Senior High School and some undergraduate degrees in college. However, before the end of the year 2023, St. Scho announced that the school is now accepting boy students for preschool, all senior high school strands and all college courses. The school hopes to offer holistic Benedictine education to more young people producing empowered, socially aware and responsible Filipino citizens. Br. Bernard Oca. FSC, the 74th President of the De La Salle University was once a Gratia boy (how St. Scho preschool boys were called back in the 1950s). photos from St Scho Manila Grade School The legacy of over 100 years of Benedictine education in the country continues with their established program offerings and important contribution to our local culture.