Church

MANILA — Pope Francis has condemned assaults by a breakaway Muslim rebel group that killed at least nine civilians in Southern Philippines, calling the act senseless”.In simultaneous attacks, outlawed Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters killed (BIFF) seven farmers and two other civilians in Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao, and North Cotabato provinces on Christmas eve.Responding army soldiers also killed four rebels in the Sultan Kudarat attack.The Pope, who visited the top Catholic country in Asia almost a year ago, said he was saddened by the attacks and asked all believers to reject violen

Vatican (CNA/EWTN News) - The joy we receive from Christ’s birth has the power to counteract doubt and indifference, in a world that is 'merciless to the sinner and lenient to the sin,'” Pope Francis said during Midnight Mass for Christmas. Joy and gladness are a sure sign that the message contained in the mystery of this night is truly from God,” the Pope said in his Dec. 24 homily for Mass celebrated in St. Peter’s Basilica. There is no room for doubt let us leave that to the skeptics who, by looking to reason alone, never find the truth.

Below is the Christmas message of His Eminence Orlando Cardinal Quevedo, OMI, DD, archbishop of Cotabato Beloved People of Cotabatoand
The message of Christmas is Peace. On the hills of Bethlehem,
an angel from heaven announced the birth of Jesus and a multitude of heavenly
host” sang to poor shepherds, Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth
peace among those whom he favors. (Luke 2:14)The Christian Scriptures tell us that the baby is Jesus. We,
Christians, believe in Jesus as God who became Man, the Son of God, the Lord

Simbang Gabi traces its roots to Mexico when, in 1587, the pope granted the petition of Fray Diego de Soria, prior of the convent of San Agustin Acolman, to hold Christmas Mass outdoors because the church could not accommodate the huge number of people attending the evening Mass. Traditionally, Christmas Day in the Philippines is ushered in by the nine-day dawn Masses that start on Dec. 16.

A Holy Year is one of the most important times in the Catholic Church. But since they typically happen just once every quarter century, they're often misunderstood. Given that this year's Jubilee of Mercy is an extraordinary one, it's even more confusing. Here are answers to some of the most common questions about the Jubilee of Mercy. 1. What is a Holy Year? Jewish tradition inspired the Catholic Church to start celebrating the Jubilee, or Holy Year. (The words are interchangeable.) The Catholic tradition was started in the year 1300 by Pope Boniface VIII.

MANILA -- Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle urged the people to stop merciless corruption and the abuse of those who are weak. Itigil na ang corruption na walang habag. Itigil na ang paglapastangan sa mga babae at mga bata na walang habag,” he said in his Homily at the start of the celebration of Jubilee of Mercy at the Manila Cathedral on Wednesday.He added, Spread mercy and respect, stop abusing those who are weak. Respond with mercy in helping and guiding those who need help.

MANILA – In a show of unity, the Dioceses of Dipologo, Ozamis, Pagadian, Iligan, and Marawi released on Nov. 11 a statement against coal mining and coal power plants, common concerns in the area. As Bishops of the Dioceses of Dipolog, Ozamis, Pagadian, Iligan, and Marawi (DOPIM), which comprise the civil provinces of Zamboanga del Norte, Misamis Occidental, Zamboanga del Sur, Lanao del Norte and Lanao del Sur, we completely oppose the operation of coal mining and coal power plants most especially within the aforementioned provinces.

(This was preached by Fr. Catalino G. Arevalo, SJat the funeral of Bishop Freddie Escaler on December 1, 2015, Church of the Gesu, Ateneo de Manila University, Quezon City.) When Jesuit Father Federico Escaler was named Bishop and ordained on 31
July 1976 at the Manila Cathedral, there were two rather unusual features in
the consecratory rites. One, a bishop did not preach the homily instead Fr.
Horacio de la Costa, recently back from his Roman assignment as General
Assistant at the Jesuit Curia, did. And Two, Fr Ted Grech, a former Maryknoll

MANILA — The former Bishop of Kidapawan, Federico Escaler, has died on Saturday, aged 93.The Jesuit prelate had been ill and passed away peacefully in his family ancestral residence in San Miguel, Manila on Saturday morning.

MANILA -- A ranking Church official called on global leaders attending a summit of Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation in Manila to make policies that would empower” the poor and the marginalized.Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Socrates Villegas, CBCP president, said APEC leaders should roll out inclusive reforms that would improve the living conditions of the poor.According to him, empowering the poor also means letting their voices be heard, saying it is one of the best ways to fight poverty.More than dole-outs It’s not just about helping the poor that way.