Church

The Jolo cathedral was reopened Tuesday, nearly six months after the twin bomb attacks that killed 20 people and scores injured.

Hundreds of people gathered for the reconsecration of the Cathedral of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, which also marked the feast of their patroness, Our Lady of Mount Carmel.

The Mass was led by Archbishop Gabrielle Caccia, the Apostolic Nuncio to the Philippines, along with retired Cardinal Orlando Quevedo and several other bishops and priests.

The Church’s migrants ministry has backed the creation of a separate executive department to handle concerns of Filipino migrant workers.

The bishops’ Episcopal Commission on Migrants and Itinerant People said that such move would address bottlenecks in delivery of services for overseas Filipino workers.

“With this, the welfare and wellbeing of our OFWs will be specifically attended,” said Bishop Ruperto Santos, ECMI chairman.

The term of the newly-elected chairmen of the CBCP Episcopal Commissions, Committees and Offices will be from December 1, 2019 to November 30, 2021.

Episcopal Committee on Basic Ecclesial Communities:

Bp. Jose A. Cabantan

Episcopal Commission on Biblical Apostolate:

Bp. Sofronio A. Bancud, SSS

Episcopal Office on Bioethics:

Bp. Ricardo L. Baccay

Episcopal Commission on Canon Law:

Bp. Jacinto A. Jose

The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) reelected Archbishop Romulo Valles of Davao as its president. 


The vote gives Archbishop Valle, 67, his second and last term to lead the conference, during their plenary assembly in Manila on Saturday.


His reelection would also make him more visible face of the church as it gears for the 500th anniversary of the arrival of Christianity in the Philippines in 2021.


Archbishop Valles was first elected CBCP head in July 2017, succeeding Archbishop Socrates Villegas of Lingayen-Dagupan. 

The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) will elect a new set of leaders when it gathers Saturday for the three-day biannual plenary assembly.

Fr. Marvin Mejia, CBCP Secretary General, said the bishops will elect a president, vice president, 9 regional representatives and 29 commission and committee chairs.

Archbishop Romulo Valles of Davao and Bishop Pablo Virgilio David of Kalookan, current president and vice president respectively, are both in their first terms in office.

Newly ordained and installed Bishop Cosme Damian Almedilla celebrated his first Mass in Butuan Tuesday announcing himself as both a father and servant in the diocese.

The around two-hour service at St. Joseph Cathedral was the first and among the celebrations to get Almedilla acquainted with his new flock.

More than 3,000 gathered at the cathedral to meet the man who will serve as the third bishop of the diocese in the southern region of Mindanao.

MANILA — A bishop on Saturday appealed to the faithful to refrain from using water to celebrate the feast of St. John the Baptist on Monday, June 24 as the country is experiencing a water supply shortage.

“It is very advisable and within a very good cause that we refrain from dousing/playing with water as celebrate the feast of St. John the Baptist,” Bataan Bishop Ruperto Santos said in a text message.

He instead urged the public to save water and use it only for their daily needs.

Pope Francis has tapped Fr. Jose Rapadas to lead the Diocese of Iligan in southern Philippines.

The bishop-elect is just 46, the youngest Filipino bishop serving in and outside the country today.

The appointment was announced in Rome at 12 noon (6:00 p.m. Manila time) on Thursday.

Rapadas will replace Bishop Elenito Galido who died on Dec. 5, 2017. Since then, Bishop Severo Caermare of Dipolog has been overseeing the diocese as apostolic administrator.

The Catholic Church will celebrate the Basic Ecclesial Community (BEC) Sunday for the first time, giving more importance to its vision for “a new way of being Church”.

Archdioceses and dioceses across the country are expected to come up with activities on June 16, which also falls on the Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity.

In preparation for the celebration, some dioceses have already held seminar workshops to prepare the parish leaders including the youth.

Bishop Leo M. Dalmao, who was ordained the fourth bishop of the Prelature of Isabela in Basilan yesterday, received strong words of encouragement from Archbishop of Ozamiz Martin Jumoad, his predecessor.

“People depend on you. Have courage and be strong,” Jumoad told the first Filipino Claretian to be ordained bishop, in a ceremony held at the Sta. Isabel de Portugal Cathedral in this city.

“Bp. Leo, trust your priests,” added the prelate, saying that the new bishop should love the priests of Basilan even if they commit mistakes.