Church

MANILA - Bishop Jose Colin Bagaforo of the Diocese of Kidapawan was reelected as chair of the Episcopal Commission on Social Action, Justice and Peace and at the same time the President of Caritas Philippines during the CBCP’s 126th plenary assembly on Saturday at the Marzon Hotel in Aklan province’s Kalibo town.

MANILA - Bishop Pablo Virgilio David of the Diocese of Kalookan was reelected to head the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP).

The 64-year-old prelate was chosen for the position on the first day of the CBCP’s 126th plenary assembly on Saturday at the Marzon Hotel in Aklan province’s Kalibo town.

Around 80 bishops are currently gathered for the three-day assembly– the highest decision-making body of the CBCP.

David will be taking the role for a second, and last term of another two years.

ZAMBOANGA CITY - Archbishop-elect Julius Tonel has vowed to listen to his flock as he forms vision for the southern Philippine archdiocese of Zamboanga.

A day after his appointment, the prelate was still in “disbelief” with his new ministry but he said “the mission must go on”.

The challenge, according to him, remains the same: how to bring the Gospel closer to the people in the best way possible.

“So I will do a lot of listening,” Tonel said, adding that it’s the best way he can have as a base to serve the people.

ROME— The Vatican announced the date and theme for the third annual World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly.

The event will take place this year on July 23, the Sunday before the feast of Sts. Anne and Joachim, the grandparents of Jesus, and the theme for the day, selected by the pope, will be “His mercy is from age to age” (Lk 1:50).

According to the Vatican Dicastery for Laity, Family, and Life, the theme is linked to the theme for World Youth Day 2023, which also comes from the first chapter of the Gospel of Luke: “Mary arose and went with haste” (Lk 1:39).

1st Reading – Acts 10:34A, 37-43

Peter proceeded to speak and said:

“You know what has happened all over Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached, how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power. He went about doing good and healing all those oppressed by the devil, for God was with him.

We are witnesses of all that he did both in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a tree.

VATICAN— Pope Francis washed the feet of 12 young men and women, inmates at a juvenile prison in Rome, during a Mass of the Lord’s Supper on Thursday.

The pope presided over the livestreamed Mass for more than 80 inmates, family, staff, and guards in the chapel of the Casal del Marmo juvenile detention center on Rome’s outskirts on April 6.

In an off-the-cuff homily, Francis reflected on the meaning of Christ’s choice to wash the feet of his disciples.

“Washing the feet was a habit at that time,” he said. “But who washed the feet? The slaves.”

Good Friday of the Lord’s Passion

1st Reading – Isaiah 52:13-53:12

Behold, my servant shall understand: he shall be exalted and extolled, and shall be exceeding high.

As many have been astonished at you, so shall his visage be inglorious among men and his form among the sons of men.

He shall sprinkle many nations: kings shall shut their mouth at him. For they to whom it was not told of him have seen: and they that heard not have beheld.

Who hath believed our report? And to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed?

Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion

At The Procession With Palms – Gospel – Matthew 21:1-11

When Jesus and the disciples drew near Jerusalem and came to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciple  saying to them, “Go into the village opposite you, and immediately you will find an ass tethered, and a colt with her. Untie them and bring them here to me.

And if anyone should say anything to you, reply, ‘The master has need of them.’ Then he will send them at once.”

MANILA – Catholic priests on Saturday invited the faithful to attend the Palm Sunday Mass on April 2, the start of the Holy Week.

According to Fr. Earl Valdez, Quiapo Church spokesperson, they will have regular Mass schedules on Sunday.

“We only have a regular Mass schedule, but we have something called the Grand Entrance at the first Mass in remembrance of the Lord's entry into Jerusalem. The grand entrance is like a reenactment,” he said in a message to reporters.

Hourly Masses at the Quiapo Church on Sunday are from 4 a.m. to noon and 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.

MANILA – The social action and humanitarian arm of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) urged the faithful to take time to do charity works aside from joining traditional religious activities during the Holy Week.

Caritas Philippines president Bishop Jose Colin Bagaforo on Monday said Catholics may also consider helping those in need during Lenten observance.